Chapter 388: Pandemonica's Other Self, and a Table of Geniuses
The dining table had been exceptionally boisterous for the past two days. The arrival of Nakiri Mana and her entourage had added four more people to the mix, a fact that delighted the ever-energetic Cerberus to no end.
"Honestly, Sora," Courage said with a sigh, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "If you can't solve it, just say so. It's not some monumental task…"
Kasugano Sora whispered, her voice barely audible, "I didn't think you all would know how to do it…"
Ren let out a helpless sigh. "Let's not even get into how simple the problem is. Even if you couldn't figure it out, you could have just asked Shion and the others. They're all top students. Heck, even Tomoko graduated from a prestigious university, you know… well… except for Sonoko, maybe."
Courage nodded emphatically. "Exactly! Sora, what kind of academic background do you think the Executive Officers have? Lanterby skipped several grades to finish university!"
Lanterby shot her a look of mock betrayal. "Why are you singling me out?! That's just cruel!"
Kasugano Sora buried her face in her hands. "Suddenly, I feel like I'm the only idiot here… Wait! Cerberus, can you do it?"
The triple demon froze mid-wag, blinking her wide, innocent eyes. Her entire… well, her entire dog-self seemed to short-circuit. Cerberus gulped audibly. "Do… do what…?"
"That problem!" Sora pointed to a complex-looking equation on her homework sheet.
Cerberus tilted her three heads, pondered for a moment, and then blurted out the correct answer without a second thought.
Kasugano Sora immediately slumped onto the table, utterly defeated and motionless. So, it was true. She really was the only idiot here.
Lucifer, who had been watching the scene with a playful smile, was about to chime in when she noticed Pandemonica sitting silently at the table, her head bowed. "Pandora, what's wrong?" she asked, her brow furrowing with concern.
Pandemonica took a slow, deep breath, inhaling the air. "This rich mocha aroma…" she murmured, her voice laced with a weary appreciation. "Mr. Ren, you truly are amazing…"
The moment those words left her lips, a cold sweat broke out on Lucifer's forehead. Cerberus swallowed hard, a nervous whine escaping her throat. Pandemonica drinking coffee was a recipe for disaster.
But before either of them could utter a word of warning, it was too late. With a practiced, weary grace, Pandemonica had already lifted the cup to her lips. She still looked utterly exhausted, but the elegance of her movements was obvious.
Her refined posture caught the attention of Nakiri Mana and the others. Pandemonica was, after all, a striking beauty. Dressed in a sharp, formal suit, she exuded an air of sophisticated grace, even with the heavy fatigue that seemed to cling to her.
Lucifer was in a full-blown panic. It was too late to say anything now. There was no logical reason to stop someone from drinking a cup of coffee; it would only make her look insane and draw more attention to the situation.
Ren, however, was fully aware of Pandemonica's unique condition. Lucifer had filled him in, and a spark of curiosity lit his eyes. He was rather interested to see just how stark the contrast would be.
"Hee…"
"Hee?" The soft, unsettling giggle drew six pairs of eyes.
Pandemonica, her head still bowed as she held the coffee cup, had let out a small, chilling laugh. The sound made Nakiri Mana and her companions freeze, their gazes locking onto the demon in a mixture of confusion and apprehension.
They watched, transfixed, as Pandemonica slowly raised her head. A smile stretched across her lips, a wicked, predatory expression that looked utterly demonic. Under the stunned silence of the entire room, she finally took her first sip of coffee in who knows how many years.
The moment the liquid touched her tongue, an explosion of rich, complex flavor enveloped her senses. Pandemonica paused for a fraction of a second, her eyes widening slightly. It was the first time she had ever tasted coffee this magnificent.
But the surprise was fleeting. Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, and the strange, unsettling smile returned, wider and more pronounced than before.
Lucifer immediately covered her face with one hand. Beside her, Cerberus's entire body began to tremble.
Kasugano Sora swallowed nervously. "Sister Pandemonica… you… what's wrong with you?" she whispered.
Pandemonica set the cup down with a delicate click, her posture still the picture of elegance and grace. "Me?" she purred, her voice smooth as silk yet laced with a chilling undertone. "I'm perfectly fine. In fact, I feel much better now. Better than I have in a very, very long time."
"Ah? Oh…"
She placed her coffee cup on the saucer and began to rub her hands together, a gesture of eager anticipation.
Lucifer peeked through her fingers. "Pandora… there's no one here for you to indulge your… dark desires. Calm down. At least Zdrada isn't here… you need to calm down."
"Eh? Boss, whatever are you talking about?" Pandemonica's smile was a razor's edge. "I'm perfectly calm."
Hearing this, Nakiri Mana and the others felt their mouths twitch. She didn't look calm at all. In fact, she looked absolutely terrifying. What in the world was going on?
Lucifer leaned close to Ren, her voice a frantic whisper in his ear. "You shouldn't have given her coffee. When she drinks it, she becomes like Esdeath… no, an even more extreme sadist than Esdeath. Fortunately, she can still control herself, as long as no one provokes her…"
Ren's lips curved into a playful smirk. "Oh? That sounds interesting."
"I give up on you…" Lucifer sighed, defeated.
"But in that case," Ren mused, "wearing glasses all the time feels like a strange aesthetic choice…"
"Ren… you don't actually think demons can be nearsighted, do you?"
"Not necessarily. It just made me think of some interesting possibilities. Now then, let's eat."
"Oh…"
Seeing Lucifer pick up her chopsticks, everyone else slowly snapped out of their daze and began to eat. Nakiri Mana, Lanterby, and Cerberus, in particular, dug in as if they hadn't eaten in days.
"Mmm! As expected of Shopkeeper Ren's cooking! It's still so unbelievably delicious!"
Ren smiled and nodded. "Then please, eat more. Ms. Nakiri Mana, your stomach has had some time to adjust to normal food, so you don't need to suppress your appetite so deliberately anymore. Of course, you still shouldn't overdo it."
"Eh?! Really?! That's wonderful!" Mana's eyes lit up. "I haven't had a proper, satisfying meal in so long…"
Meanwhile, Pandemonica surveyed the mountain of dishes on the table, many of which she'd never seen before. She scratched her head thoughtfully, then used her fork to spear a piece of sizzling teppanyaki, placing it in her mouth. The moment it touched her tongue, she froze.
Teppanyaki, in essence, is a form of barbecue, but with its own unique charm and an exceptionally rich flavor profile. Its versatility is its strength—almost anything can be grilled, and each ingredient develops a distinct, powerful taste.
Naturally, Ren wouldn't use ordinary ingredients, at least not by any normal person's standards. For the restaurant, however, they were commonplace. The unique aroma and sublime texture of high-grade meat filled her mouth. A torrent of savory juices and rich sauce erupted with every chew, a sensation that was simply irresistible. This level of deliciousness was potent enough to banish any trace of fatigue. If one bite wasn't enough to awaken the senses, the next one surely would be. The fragrant, searingly hot delicacy would always have that one perfect bite, that one perfect moment, that could restore one's spirit.
True enjoyment is rarely a high-minded affair. Often, all it takes is the rich aroma of meat, the delicate freshness of seafood, the crisp snap of a vegetable, or a uniquely flavored sauce that ties them all together. Pleasure for the palate is never truly a rare thing.
Pandemonica let out a long, slow sigh of pure bliss. The overwhelming flavor was so powerful it even suppressed her sadistic second personality. She took off her glasses, which had fogged up slightly, revealing a genuinely elegant smile.
"Mr. Ren…" she said softly, her voice returning to its usual tired cadence. "You are truly amazing."
"Then let's put work aside for now," Ren replied with a gentle smile. "If it's delicious, eat more."
"Eh? Put work aside for a while…"
Lucifer paused, her chewing motion coming to an abrupt halt. A sudden, sharp premonition seized her. Something was about to go horribly wrong.
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