"What kind of recipe?"
Severian, who came to his senses, muttered timidly. Halpas approached Severian with a smile as impressive as he could.
"Ah, if the Empire passes on human recipes, the Demon Realm will also comply with the Empire's request."
"Tell you how to cook humans? I think the demon world knows that better..."
"No. I want you to teach me how to cook food, not humans. How to make cakes and steaks."
"Oh."
"All the inhabitants of the demon world fell in love with the human way of food that this little human cooked."
Halpas pointed to the small crown of Anna's head and smiled kindly. Only then did Severian's body relax, having grasped the situation.
"So that kid cooked amazing dishes in the demon world, and the whole demon world fell in love with her cooking skills?"
"Yes."
"That's why you came to sign a contract with the Empire?"
"Yes. My name is Halpas, the master of the demon world. Thank you for your continued support."
Halpas held out his huge hand and asked for a handshake. It was a hand that grew like a flying beast's claw.
Severian rolled his eyes for a moment and made a quick judgment.
'If we just pass on the recipe, will you grant the Empire's request?'
This is an opportunity. An opportunity to protect the peace of the human world and turn the game around.
Although it was embarrassing that his opponent was a demon, Severian, who had no other choice, grabbed his hand.
"Thank you for your support, too."
At that moment, the knights of the Marquis of Craig, who were sitting around, were frightened. A deranged Prince had to join hands with the devil.
A knight who barely mustered up his courage crawled up and bowed his head in front of Severian.
"Your Highness! We are guilty of death! So please don't just join hands with the devil!"
Severian was dumbfounded and skimmed through the knight.
"What crime have you committed?"
"Oh... Didn't you do this because you knew everything?"
"I don't know anything."
"In fact, the Marquis of Craig even knew that Your Highness had summoned a witch... He used that information to orchestrate a revolution, and it was a mistake."
In an instant, Halpas' yellow eyes flowed to the knight. The knight, who felt the gaze, slammed his head into the ground.
Halpas chuckled and lowered his posture towards the knight.
"Hey, knight."
"...!"
As a deep voice came closer, the knight trembled.
"Is summoning some witches even a cause for revolution?"
"Oh, no. Absolutely not!"
"Yes, absolutely not. We demons regard humans as friends, but I don't know why humans are so afraid of demons. Is it because of my ugly appearance?"
"No! The demon is very handsome!"
"Thank you. After all, we are just a pure race that is only interested in delicious food. I hope you don't misunderstand unnecessarily."
"Yes! Of course!"
"He's a good talker."
Halpas, who had just woken up, looked at Anna happily.
"I tied it well. All useless misunderstandings about the demon world have been resolved now, right?"
"...Maybe."
"Then let's discuss the contract in earnest."
A dark scroll appeared from Halpas's grasp. The scroll floated in the air and was delivered to Severian.
The scroll reads in human language:
[ 1. The Prillian Empire actively shares the food recipes that exist in the empire with the demon world.
2. The Prillian Empire and the Demon Realm interact through the 'Rift' that exists in the Kendren area and fulfills the contract
3. To prevent problems in the time and space of the 'crack', the demon world actively repairs the crack. If a problem occurs, it should be reported to the human world immediately to prevent casualties. ]
From the next item onward, it was empty. Halpas chinned the empty bottom.
"You may write the clause below as you wish. If it's not difficult, I'll accept everything."
"Can you give me some time? Since it is a serious issue, I think it will take a lot of time to think about the provisions."
"Yes. You can take it with you and have a meeting with the nobles. I'll come back in a month."
After finishing his words, Halpas flew his dark cloak and disappeared into the crack.
***
The scroll thrown by Halpas caused an earthquake-like ripple in the empire.
The large conference room of the Imperial Palace. Along with the great nobles, even scholars named Nairo gathered together and wrapped their heads.
"Isn't there another intention in the demon world? Maybe they are trying to use this contract to colonize the empire."
"Oh, if that's the case, they would have done that right away. Why did you even bother to sign a contract?"
"If we make the wrong contract, we will all become slaves of the demon world!"
"By the way, when is Grand Duke Ethel coming? It's been a while since the meeting started!"
"It's still a long time to start. We're scared, and we're talking about it in advance."
The nobles were only afraid of this situation. The survivors who went to the Demon Realm with Marquis Craig's money said, "The Demon Realm is just a world where other races live, and I am not afraid at all." However, the nobles did not believe it. This is because they believe that they must have been brainwashed or blackmailed by the demons.
The Emperor pointed at his dizzy forehead. He had a very bad headache right now. It was because he had heard the whole truth from Iberia last night.
'The truth about the demon god is the shame of the Imperial family. It must be kept in the highest secret.'
The truth of the demon world is revealed, which is the same as the shame of the imperial family 200 years ago. Therefore, the Emperor chose to hide the truth.
'The demon world has never harassed humans from the beginning. The demons are all good and pure. It must be known as such.'
The events in which the empire was covered in a poisonous cloud were simply the work of the southern barbarians. And the witch Gremory is a hero and a good witch of the empire who miraculously came back to life after stopping it. It should be so.
The determined Emperor shouted loudly.
"Everyone, calm down. Nothing has been properly revealed about the demon world yet. Don't be afraid to distort the truth with legendary ghost stories."
In the midst of the commotion, the door of the conference room opened. Then, in an instant, the commotion subsided, and everyone's eyes flew to the door.
Chession finally appeared and laughed at the sight of the terrified faces of the nobles.
"What are you all so surprised about? I just came here to attend because I was asked to attend."
The Emperor backed up to the seat close to his seat.
"Let's sit there, Grand Duke Ethel. I think I have a lot to say to you today."
As Chession sat down, the expression of the Marquis of Craig sitting far away was quite distorted.
The Emperor asked Chession directly.
"It would be better to answer everyone's questions first, Grand Duke. So, is your maid, Mori, really a witch from the demon world?"
"Yes."
The hall was in a state of turmoil. Chession continued confidently with his arms crossed.
"But is that a problem? Mori risked his life to protect the empire. From the catastrophe caused by the southern barbarians."
"But why have you hidden the fact that she is a witch until now? I think you need an explanation for the fact that you hid the witch after eradicating the witch hunt."
"I didn't hide it intentionally. I thought Mori was an ordinary witch hunt victim, so I rescued her, but after a long time. I realized that she was really a witch."
The nobles were dubious. It sounds like an excuse he had just made. As they were about to murmur, the Emperor immediately raised his voice.
"Quiet! Archduke Ethel, keep talking."
"Humans were extremely afraid of the demons without any basis, so I had no choice but to hide Mori's identity. If it were known, it would have been misunderstood. I also thought it would be better to let Mori know after it was proven that he was good."
The nobles all had a lot to say. There were many things they wanted to mention, but it was true that Mori saved the empire, so they had no choice but to keep their mouth shut.
"Look at it even now. Isn't there a misunderstanding that Mori's name is similar to the plague 'Gremory'? There was a constant buzz that Mori was the culprit behind the spread of the plague Gremory."
Just then. Someone raised their hand.
"May I speak as the summoner of the demon?"
It was Catherine Ortega.
A humming sound echoed in the hall, asking what this was all about. The Emperor nodded silently, and Catherine spoke.
"Actually, I once summoned a demon. At the time, I didn't tell the outside world because I was afraid of who would be in the family, but I thought it was time to tell you."
Embarrassed, Duke Ortega called Catherine to shut up, but Catherine continued.
"Catherine! Now that it's done, stop and sit down!"
"The demon has taught me a lot. Culture, knowledge, and the right way to live life. Thanks to that, I didn't even know what a contract was, so I was able to review it more carefully than anyone else."
A lot was omitted somewhere, but it wasn't wrong anyway.
"Demons suffer from absurd prejudice, but I want you to know that they are actually beings who, like humans, care more than anyone else. That's it."
The nobles were loud. Rhey said that it was strange that the less estranged Catherin e Ortega had changed like that in an instant.
Chession returned the favor with a faint smile to Catherine. Catherine replied with a gentle bow of her head.
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