Bright light within the Demon King's Bestowed Restaurant reflected off high-end black accents. Elegant dining tables, comfortable chairs, and exquisite cutlery—every detail exuded luxury.
Light skipped across the corners of the tiled floor; the crystal clarity of hand-carved ice, the gloss of wine bottles, and the steam rising from freshly served dishes grew all the more striking beneath the gleaming refractions.
"We place great value on the integrity, wholeness, and natural qualities of our ingredients. If you two have any feedback or suggestions, please do not hesitate to let us know," the demon waitress said, setting their ordered dishes onto the table before Lanqi and Hyperion.
She laid the courses before them with the poise of a professional noble attendant, her movements steady and fluid.
One appetizer consisted of freshly seared beef cut into bite-sized cubes, sprinkled with herbs, fried salt-grass leaves, and translucent pear slices, all arranged over a thin slice of dark bread.
Another dish featured thick cuts of venison seasoned with salt and black pepper, seared until the crust was aromatic and crisp while the interior remained tender. Shaved black truffles nestled between the slices of venison, releasing a rich aroma, complemented by a dish of spiced snow-flakes and a glass of red wine reduction on the side.
The final course was a dessert: a spherical dark chocolate shell concealing a layer of caramel cheese, dusted with sea salt for added depth of texture. Its crisp, glossy shell promised that a light tap of a spoon would send smooth caramel sauce cascading forth.
Because the silver-haired demon had beaten them to the punch, Lanqi and Hyperion had been unable to order the higher-grade dishes.
For now, they could only order a few ordinary items.
Even so, the presentation before them was enough to feel the academy branch of the Demon King's Bestowed Restaurant's respect toward food and guests alike.
Hyperion looked at the spread on the table, unsure of what Lanqi was scheming.
"Lanqi, you can't use summons here," Hyperion reminded him in a whisper.
This Demon King's Bestowed Restaurant had a rule akin to "no pets allowed," strictly forbidding any demon from summoning familiars or summoned beasts.
Without Poet of Great Love—Lanqi's crucial endgame carry card—most of his tactics were completely useless.
Moreover, one could not verbally provoke or start fights in the restaurant either. Even if Lanqi wanted to wage psychological warfare, there was nothing he could do right now.
"Hyperion, as long as we abide by the rules here, it'll be fine, right? I want to film an educational video for the audience watching the broadcast back in the mortal realm, themed around 'Taking pride in cherishing food, taking shame in wasteful extravagance.'"
Lanqi spoke with absolute sincerity. He did not care in the slightest about the silver-haired demon's earlier targeted antics. His sole concern was that the silver-haired demon's decadent, self-indulgent squandering would negatively influence the youths watching the live broadcast back home.
As the Civilized Role Models Squad, it was their duty to lead by example.
They had to convey positive, healthy values and set a good precedent.
"What are you..."
Hyperion felt a terrible premonition rise within her, but before she could finish, she realized Lanqi had already begun.
For some reason, the color on Lanqi's face deteriorated in an instant.
"Excuse me, Mr. Manager," Lanqi called softly, raising a hand.
The manager walked briskly toward them with worldly, practiced strides. Compared to the silver-haired demon who kept the entire restaurant on edge, Lanqi and Hyperion were obviously far easier to deal with.
"Pardon me, Mr. Manager, but my chest feels a bit uncomfortable. Do you have any warm beverages that could help?" Lanqi looked at the manager, his hand trembling as he raised the glass tumbler.
His voice sounded pained and raspy, like an injured beast desperately struggling to conceal an agonizing ailment.
"Certainly. Please wait a moment."
The manager nodded, took the empty glass from Lanqi's hand, and headed toward the distant wine cabinet to tend to his request.
Next, Lanqi looked practically like someone with a severe disability. His trembling hands gripped his utensils, and as he ate, he let out low, whimpering groans.
If this had been the human realm, such dramatic behavior might have attracted crude, ill-mannered children who would mock him, perhaps even imitating his affliction.
Such behavior was undeniably vile.
Yet in a high-end restaurant of the Demon Realm, demons were rarely so childishly bored.
In the distance, at the long table on the other side of the restaurant.
The silver-haired demon cast a sidelong glance toward Lanqi from the corner of his eye. His lips curled in disdain, tinged with a faint trace of pity. He cast another brief glance at Hyperion, then pulled his gaze away, refocusing on his feast.
That Glow Demon was weak and helpless, dependent even on the female demon accompanying him for pity and care. Even if he graduated, he would remain nothing more than a pitiable wretch unworthy of serious notice in the Demon Realm.
The silver-haired demon tilted his wine bottle slightly. The deep crimson liquid flowed slowly into his glass like a thin red thread. The impatient frown on his face gradually smoothed away, replaced by indulgent contentment.
Lanqi's existence, to him, was merely a mildly amusing joke, a fleeting novelty.
It was swiftly drowned out beneath the food he devoured and the wine he drank.
The restaurant's atmosphere settled into quiet tranquility, like a black jewel box illuminated only by tiny lights twinkling like diamonds.
Cutlery and glassware rested quietly upon the black tablecloths. A small menu sat beside every table, and most of the dining patrons were either silent or spoke in hushed whispers.
Outside the window lay the nighttime scenery of Purgatory City, where lights streaked across the sky like shooting stars. The mingled aromas of Demon Realm cuisine drifted through the air, and the interplay of light and shadow wove an aura of mystery and elegance.
Beneath this cinematic framing,
in that split second when no one was watching,
Lanqi quietly cast several waves of healing magic upon the silver-haired demon.
Instantly, an excruciating bolt of sudden agony struck the silver-haired demon, completely shattering his elegant demeanor. His face contorted, his hands began to tremble violently, and a sharp wail tore from his throat.
Immediately after, Lanqi began mirroring the silver-haired demon's state, trembling as he held his spoon in perfect synchrony with the silver-haired demon's movements, crying out with the exact same rhythm and pitch.
"?!"
The silver-haired demon realized at once.
Lanqi was sabotaging him with non-offensive magic, and even deliberately mimicking his plight to humiliate him!
The silver-haired demon had intended to ignore Lanqi, never expecting Lanqi would be reckless enough to actively provoke him.
The consequences would be dire indeed.
...
Just then, the restaurant manager, who had just returned, froze in his tracks at the spectacle.
He glanced at the silver-haired demon, then back at Lanqi. Both demons looked utterly incapacitated, their movements and cries almost completely in sync.
The manager suddenly sprinted toward the silver-haired demon!
"Do not mock or mimic a disabled demon!"
The manager bellowed furiously, his palm slamming down across the silver-haired demon's head.
The blow knocked the silver-haired demon's head completely askew.
In this restaurant, insulting another customer was strictly forbidden!
...
In the distance,
Lanqi's hands continued to tremble nonchalantly, acting as though he hadn't noticed the silver-haired demon who had collapsed on the floor. He remained focused entirely on the food before him, persevering through his disability to finish his meal.
No matter how one looked at it, the silver-haired demon had just been mocking the genuinely afflicted Lanqi.
"Cherish your food—start with every little deed,"
Lanqi finally murmured with a serene expression, delivering his slogan.
And with that, the public service announcement concluded.
"???"
Hyperion's eyelids twitched violently.
In the end, she had still underestimated just how low this inhuman creature could sink!
Chapter 63