Is This an Idiot?

"Bang!"

A gleaming cleaver struck the cutting board, producing a dull thud as flesh and bone were severed. Several plump birds resembling pigeons and pheasants had their heads and claws chopped off.

The Harpy, who had been specially summoned to help in the kitchen, stared blankly at the blood-soaked cutting board and the fat bird on it, its feathers plucked and its entrails ripped out.

The little guy named "Harpy" unconsciously moved his throat, and the tuft of feathers on his head trembled constantly. He glanced at Chef Samael several times, his eyes filled with a hint of unspoken words.

Hmph! Zhiyu's scared? You idiotic chatterbox!

Samael, with a sinister glint in his eyes, wielded the cleaver with ferocious force, cruelly mutilating the headless and limbless fat bird.

Afterwards, in a good mood, the ancient serpent swept the ten skeletal pieces of the corpse into the basin held by the Harpy.

"We'll roast a bird tonight, so you should eat plenty."

Samael patted Harpy on the shoulder with a friendly smile.

"Really?! That's amazing!"

The Harpy straightened her body, her eyes shining eerily.

Wait a minute! This reaction isn't right! He's definitely just putting on a brave face!

Samael's smile froze, then he shook his head and asked in a sinister tone.

"By the way, when you saw me handling these ingredients, were you trying to say something?"

"Uh-huh!"

Harpy nodded emphatically. Under Samael's eerie gaze, the Harpy involuntarily swallowed, raised her two dark blue wings, and wiped the glistening drool from the corner of her mouth.

"Can you please not throw away the innards? This stuff tastes amazing when grilled!"

At this moment, the Harpy holding the basin beside her snorted, her eyes filled with longing, and the ahoge-like feathers on her head trembled rapidly.

So, the signal this thing is transmitting should be excitement?

You weren't scared just now, you were just craving it!

So I went deep into the mountains and forests to catch these things, without even having a chance to spend time with Tina. What was the point of all that work? In the end, you got the benefit.

Samael's face was stiff, and the hand holding the kitchen knife trembled as if he had Parkinson's disease.

Calm down! Don't argue with an idiot.

The ancient snake took a deep breath, finally suppressing the urge to swing the cleaver and kill the silly bird, and forced out the sinister words through gritted teeth.

"Take these skewers! Make a fire and roast them yourselves!"

Harpy scratched his head, looking puzzled.

"Oh, when should I call you for dinner?"

"I'm full, no more!"

"Haven't we eaten yet?"

"I'm so angry I'm full!"

Realizing his carefully prepared intimidation had backfired, Samael rolled his eyes, his face darkening as he stormed off.

As they approached the door, Harpy, her gaze conflicted, bit her lower lip lightly, and finally raised her wings, cautiously calling out to the chef who was about to leave.

Samael, are you really not going to eat?

It's good that you asked more questions, Zhiyu...

At the entrance, the ancient snake paused slightly, letting out a bit of its pent-up frustration. Leaning against the stone wall, it turned around.

"I..."

The man responded with a soft hum, his voice slightly nasal, and prepared to step down the stairs.

After all, he spent so much time preparing this feast of fat birds, and if he were to miss it because of a moment of anger, it would be an even greater loss.

"If you're not going to eat it, could you give me your share?"

Harpy is so lucky! He doesn't have to fight with big guys like Hydra Cerberus for food at night. He gets to enjoy two portions all by himself!

The Harpy swallowed hard, her eyes sparkling with longing.

However, a sudden, dull echo rang out from the cave entrance, startling Harpy. Seeing the stone crushed in Samael's palm, he felt a chill run down his spine and involuntarily shrank his neck.

"Don't... don't be angry, I won't eat yours..."

Samael then looked up and stepped forward, placing his hand on the Harpy's shoulder, grinning broadly, and softly comforting her.

"Silly child, how could I be angry?"

With a sincere expression, Gu She picked up the kitchen knife from the cutting board and repeatedly sharpened its blade on a flat stone.

With his back to the Harpy, Samael held the kitchen knife in front of his eyes, rubbing the blade with his fingertips.

Immediately, the ancient serpent turned around and, with lightning speed, plucked a feather from Harpy's wing.

When he placed the feather in front of the blade and gently wiped it, the thing immediately turned to dust. Samael nodded in satisfaction, his smile widening.

"I just feel that we only caught so many birds without considering the number of people and your appetites. It seems that there isn't enough food for you all. I feel a bit sorry for you and should reflect on my actions."

The petty black demon isn't angry this time? Fine, then.

Harpy patted his chest, relieved.

Okay, hurry up and help me get this done so we can have roasted bird early tonight.

Lost in her reverie, the Harpy clenched her small fists, secretly encouraging herself. She then stepped forward, looked around, and prepared to pass on the ingredients, but the other bowl was empty.

The little girl scratched her head, looking confused.

"Samael, the ingredients seem to be gone, what are you still sharpening your knife for?"

"Yes, and it's quite fat. If we kill this one, the rest of the children should be able to eat their fill."

The ancient serpent smiled mysteriously and gently placed its left hand on Harpy's shoulder.

Is there another one here?

Following the chef's gaze, the Harpy instinctively lowered her head, her eyes finally landing on her own pair of wings. Her pupils contracted sharply, and her throat involuntarily went dry and began to move.

You don't mean to say...

At the same time, Harpy, sensing that something was wrong, felt a chill run down her spine and tried to back away as she twisted her body. However, the fingers that had been on her shoulder beforehand had already gripped her tightly like iron clamps.

"As a kitchen helper, you can help no matter what, as long as you see it through to the end."

"Since you agreed so happily before, then let's make a little more sacrifice."

Samael smiled brightly, gently comforting her, as he slowly raised the kitchen knife in his hand.

"Ah! Help! The bird's dead!"

"Don't kill me! My flesh is sour, I can't eat it!"

A moment later, the sound of rapidly flapping wings came from the kitchen, Harpy, belatedly aware of what was happening, let out a mournful cry.

After struggling with all his might, shedding feathers all over the ground, Harpy suddenly realized that the fingers gripping his shoulders had loosened slightly.

Immediately, the pale- Harpy seized the opportunity to flap her wings and leap out of the kitchen, quickly soaring through the air before plunging headfirst into the bushes outside the Arima's Cave.

On the open ground outside the cave, Snake and Tina were lazily sunbathing, completely unresponsive to the loud and boisterous Harpy.

On the contrary, Chiron, who was teaching several Typhon's Offspring, looked at the little guy fleeing for his life in mid-air as if his butt was on fire, and couldn't help but twitch his lips, then looked helplessly towards the kitchen.

"What's wrong with you now?"

Samael walked out gracefully, wiped the kitchen knife in his hand, and smiled slightly.

"Oh, it's just that the roasted bird meat for dinner is missing one person."