Chapter 13

"Thank you for the meal."

After finishing lunch, I made the post-meal greeting.

Wow, the Demon King's Castle. The food is incredibly delicious.

The round, crusty bread, similar to a French baguette, was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, delicious even on its own, but even better with butter or jam.

The creamy corn (or something like that) soup was full of kernels, and the texture and seasoning were perfect.

The pan-fried chicken was seasoned with salt, pepper, and a hint of basil, with a crispy skin and juicy meat, topped with brightly colored red and blue roasted tomatoes that added a refreshing acidity and sweetness, and melted, rich cheese that added depth and umami.

The salad, dressed with a special dressing, brought out the flavors of the vegetables and made them even more delicious.

The ingredients might be different from those on Earth, but the taste was very similar.

Of course, all the ingredients were fresh and of high quality, and there was no compromise in the cooking. The chef's skills truly shone.

The presentation was beautiful, and it was truly a masterpiece.

Then, Dilnan casually cut the food into smaller pieces to make it easier to eat.

A man who can be so considerate and is also handsome—anyone would fall in love, right?

But I'm in love with this meal. Sorry, Dilnan. Find a pretty lady and let me feast my eyes on her.

While I was lost in these thoughts, enjoying the aftertaste of the meal, Elies, who was sitting across from me, was looking at me with a smile.

When I looked up at Dilnan, he was looking down at me with the same expression.

They both seemed to have finished eating a long time ago.

Hmm, were they watching me eat the whole time? But why would they have such expressions?

Tilting my head in confusion, I heard a sound like a suppressed cough from around me.

Looking over, I saw people covering their mouths with their hands.

...Am I that funny?

"Almost everyone here, it seems."

"Looks like everyone, including all the teams."

Dilnan and Elies whispered something scary. Am I really that much of a laughingstock? I felt a bit dejected...

After finishing the meal, not wanting to be a laughingstock, I gathered myself and slid off Dilnan's lap.

I also slid off the chair and, when Dilnan looked down at me, I insisted on holding the tray of empty plates, which he let me do.

I asked Dilnan to return the tray to the counter, but I helped out. I felt so embarrassed that I almost cried.

As I was lost in thought, my body floated up.

Oh, another hug? Dilnan.

"Yuri, wave to the people inside."

...Why?

When I looked at the kitchen, I saw all the cooks gathered nearby!

"Huh?"

"You were eating so well, they liked it."

So that's why they were laughing. I guess it's nice when customers enjoy their food.

I just need to wave, right?

Oh, they're turning around. Even with their stern and intimidating appearances, they seem kind. I feel so happy that my face relaxes.

"...Dil, don't lose to them."

"Of course not."

Some burly, mafia-don-like old man emphasized something to Dilnan. What's going on?

Dilnan's nickname is Dil. It's kind of cute.

"I won't back down either."

As I returned the tray, Elies, who stood next to Dilnan, joined in.

"Captain, do your best!"

"Wave to us too!"

What's going on? This time, a voice came from the hall.

"Yuri, welcome."

As Elies called out, I was transferred from Dilnan's left arm to Elies' arm.

Oh, Elies is actually quite muscular under the robe. I was surprised by this.

Despite the gentle impression, Elies has a physique that can match Dilnan's. Wow.

And Elies smells really good. It's not just a scent, it's a fragrance. Sniff, sniff.

"Please wave to them too."

Her beautiful face so close is making my heart race. I'm sorry for sniffing like a pervert.

I'll wave, so please put me down.

After waving and leaving the dining hall, I was still in Elies' arms. I decided to give up on various things.

Where are we going, anyway?

"Dil, what about your work?"

"It's not a big issue. The team can function without me."

Dilnan's question was met with Elies' confident response. She's so cool.

She seems capable. I can imagine her using her smile to get people to do her bidding while efficiently completing her own tasks.

If work piles up while she's away, it would be scary to catch up.

"Is this place okay?"

While thinking about Elies' work, Dilnan opened a door.

It was a small conference room.

We each sat in the chairs on the entrance side. I was allowed to sit too.

"Yuri, I'll explain what was decided while you were sleeping. Ask if you don't understand."

"Okay."

I'm sorry for sleeping through it. Please explain.

"First, Elies has granted you a provisional entry permit.

Elies is the captain of the document team in the Northern Demon King's Castle. Various applications first go through Elies for provisional approval. This provisional approval is then discussed in a meeting of all fourteen team captains in the Northern Demon King's Castle, and if the Demon King approves, it becomes a formal permit.

At this point, you've cleared the first hurdle."

I nodded in understanding at Dilnan's explanation.

The documents Elies was writing when we entered the castle were probably for this.

"Next, we need to decide on your potential team.

The fourteen teams are roughly divided into internal and external duties, but you are definitely an internal duty."

"Internal? External??"

"Non-combat teams are internal, and combat teams are external. In other words, it's roughly whether or not you specialize in combat.

However, the Northern Demon King's Castle is a small, elite force with minimal personnel. Even internal duties require a minimum level of combat ability."

I was thinking about the categories when Elies followed up with a detailed explanation.

...The Northern Demon King's Castle is truly impressive. No wonder Dilnan hunts those dinosaur-like creatures. It makes sense that Elies is also quite muscular.

Could Elies also hunt those dinosaur-like creatures? ...No, I won't think about that. Yes.

By the way, is it okay for me to be in an internal team?

"...Can I get stronger too?"

"Any weapon is fine. Magic is also an option. ...You're small, but it's all about how you use it. I said I'd train you to survive, right?"

"That's right. As a weapon, you can leverage your strengths. The cooking team mainly uses knives, and the medical team prefers surgical instruments and drugs. There are even strong fighters in the document team who use paper as a weapon. The cleaning team uses mops and brooms, and the farming team has spicy Arg bombs, which are quite unique weapons."

...Anything goes, really!

Combat teams, like the guards at the gate, probably use swords and spears and wear armor.

I can understand using knives or other bladed weapons to counter them, but paper and mops are ridiculous.

Speaking of which, does the farming team grow crops specifically for weapons? And with the adjective "spicy," it's probably a vegetable, like chili peppers.

Oh, a super spicy chili bomb would cause so much damage to the mucous membranes that you'd cry for real.

"Weapons can be custom-made by the blacksmith team if you provide a detailed description. So, you can take your time to think about your combat skills. First, we need to decide on your team."

While I was lost in thought, Dilnan provided additional information.

The blacksmith team can make anything into a weapon. They must be incredible. From the flow of the conversation, it seems like there might be a hammer-wielding person in the blacksmith team. They probably have a lot of weapon enthusiasts. That's just my bias, though.

But it's amazing that everyone, not just combat specialists, is trained to fight.

The cooking team is called a "team" rather than a "department" for this reason. It makes sense.

"I want to learn how to make delicious food."

Putting aside the weapon issue, I expressed my intention.

Eating is my identity. There's no room for doubt.

"Yuri, it's better to hear about the teams before deciding. There are different types of internal duties."

"...Well, I didn't know anything about myself, but I was really, really hungry."

Elies tried to explain, but I had to say this.

"I searched really hard for something to eat. I almost ate something, but then I met you.

And the food you gave me in the forest was so delicious that I cried. So, I want to learn how to make it."

Looking up at Elies straight, I spoke in childlike words but honestly, without lying.

I came here because Dilnan reached out to me. If possible, I want to learn the cooking of this world.

"...Your resolve is strong."

Elies smiled wryly, truly beautiful. But my resolve remains unchanged.

"...Hey, Elies."

"What is it?"

"Can Yuri's official team be the cooking team, with a secondary special assignment to the document team?"

Huh, Dilnan? Why bring up the document team now?

"Yuri is small. There are various handicaps that can't be helped. She needs sufficient sleep. We need to consider these conditions and her salary when we make the final decision. But that's later.

Honestly, even though it's an internal team, it's physically demanding. So, could you take her once a week, even if it's just for a day? She can handle simple tasks like data entry if I teach her."

"That's true. It might be necessary. ...Yuri?"

"Okay."

...That makes sense. Normally, a child like me wouldn't be hired. Of course.

When Elies called me, I looked up at her again. She was looking down at me with a gentle expression.

Why does she have such an expression?

"Could you come to the document team once a week? I'll prepare delicious sweets. How about doing some simple tasks together?"

—Why are these people so kind?

To be honest, what I'm saying is just my selfish desire.

I know cooking is physically demanding. A small child like me can't be a combat asset; I'd probably just get in the way.

Yet, Dilnan accepted me.

Not only did he accept me, but he also talked to Elies to reduce my burden, and Elies accepted it.

Moreover, Elies kindly invited me.

I was so happy that I couldn't hold back my tears. Even though I'm a child, I'm crying too much.

Ah, I need to thank Dilnan and Elies.

"Okay... I'll work with you. Thank you."

My speech was already slurred, and I couldn't speak properly through my sobs. My face must be a mess.

I could barely manage to bow to them.

"For now, it's provisional, but I look forward to working with you."

"Let's work hard to get the formal approval."

A familiar towel appeared in Dilnan's hand.

Elies' large, warm hand, gently stroking me, made me even more emotional.

For now, I've found a place and a job with kind people.