Cornelia is Happy to Help

Dekan truly needed a piece of cannon fodder to test the mechanics.

Thus, Dekan and Cornelia flanked the demon student, one on each side, and escorted him toward the classroom at the end of the corridor.

It felt quite like marching a death-row inmate to the gallows.

They pushed open the relief-carved doors, which could only be described as a work of art.

A scene as magnificent as a masterpiece instantly came into view.

Compared to a cooking classroom or a kitchen, this room resembled a banquet hall; its style was much like the corridor outside, possessing the flair of an evening gala.

Bright lights glowed warm and soft, while silver candelabras and crystal chandeliers shimmered brilliantly under the flickering flames.

The reliefs on the walls were opulent and grand, and a stately Baroque-style long table sat in the very center of the room.

"Welcome to the cooking classroom. I am your teacher, Baron Batchelor, and I cordially invite you to attend my banquet!"

A deep voice echoed throughout the classroom, and the heavy doors slammed shut with a boom.

A banquet?

Did the Demon Academy hold classes at night?

Dekan followed the sound with his gaze.

At the deepest end of the classroom stood a male demon with a gloomy expression, draped in a magnificent black tuxedo.

He bowed elegantly to the three guests, then rotated his wrist, palm upward, gesturing toward the carved oak dining chairs by the long table to invite them to be seated.

He seemed to have no airs of a teacher at all.

Although this teacher's words and manners were quite friendly, Dekan knew that it was all a facade.

Because the killing intent in Baron Batchelor's eyes was not hidden in the slightest.

The demon student, dragged along by Cornelia, had already begun to tremble uncontrollably, instinctively terrified of Baron Batchelor.

At Dekan's signal, Cornelia brought the demon student to sit on the left side of the dining table.

Dekan then sat on the right side, directly opposite Cornelia.

Seeing that the three students were seated, Baron Batchelor revealed a satisfied smile.

He turned, walked to the back of the classroom, and slowly pushed out a small silver serving cart.

On the cart sat three dishes covered by silver cloches.

"Today's lesson is: Gourmet Appreciation."

"I have already prepared your meals, and I hope you will be satisfied."

Like a butler, Baron Batchelor pushed the cart to the edge of the long table and lifted one of the silver covers.

"However,"

Baron Batchelor's tone shifted, becoming somewhat high-pitched, like a proud yet neurotic artist.

"After enjoying your dinner, you must answer me: what ingredients and seasonings were used in the meal?"

"This is the examination question for today's cooking class."

"An excellent chef is one who can resonate with a gourmet."

"If you can answer more than 80% correctly, it proves that you are my honored guests and outstanding students of the cooking classroom."

"But if you answer in a complete mess, I will be very sad."

"I will have no choice but to give you the corresponding punishment..."

As he said this, Baron Batchelor could no longer suppress the smile on his lips.

The desire for slaughter was practically written all over his face.

"..."

Listening to him speak, Dekan truly wanted to slap him twice!

He was practically showing his dagger at the end of the map.

If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't beat Baron Batchelor just yet, Dekan would have already called on Cornelia to carve him up.

"So, which of you three shall begin first?"

Baron Batchelor scanned the three students at the table, asking with a somewhat sinister smile on his face.

The massive classroom was deathly silent.

Having emerged from the exam hall, even Cornelia understood that these demon games were nothing but death traps...

This was no harmonious candlelight dinner, but a banquet of slaughter on the edge of a cliff!

The silence stretched for a few seconds.

"No volunteers? Then I shall choose."

Baron Batchelor seemed somewhat impatient, his brows furrowing slightly as he spoke.

However, just as his voice trailed off.

The demon student beside Cornelia slowly raised his hand.

This made Baron Batchelor's expression brighten with delight.

However, the demon student's eyes widened as he looked at Cornelia beside him in disbelief.

His eyes were filled with a profound questioning of his own demonic existence.

Cornelia was gripping his elbow, forcibly raising his hand for him!

Cold sweat poured down his forehead as he glanced at Baron Batchelor.

Baron Batchelor's gaze was already locked onto him.

His death sentence was practically set in stone.

Then, the demon student looked with a face full of grief and indignation toward Dekan, who was sitting diagonally across from him.

If he was going to die, he wanted to die knowing the truth.

Although this girl was terrifying, she wasn't malicious enough to do this on her own.

It must have been that unscrupulous guy across from him who gave her the signal!

Dekan averted his gaze, pursing his lips and pretending to whistle.

It was indeed him who had signaled Cornelia with his eyes just moments ago: he had repeatedly glanced between Cornelia and the demon student's elbow, and Cornelia had quickly grasped Dekan's meaning.

It really was you, you bastard!

The demon student screamed in the depths of his despair.

He was in pain, he was filled with grief and indignation, but he was helpless; all that remained for him was fear.

"Then, it shall be you!"

Baron Batchelor felt very gratified that a student had finally volunteered.

He walked quickly to the demon student's side, placed the tray in front of him, and lifted the cloche.

A plate of stewed meat, overflowing with the aromas of melon, lemon, and a hint of smokiness, accompanied by a small portion of vegetables, appeared before the demon student.

"Come now, please enjoy your meal."

Baron Batchelor stepped back two paces, leaving a comfortable amount of space for the demon student.

Upon hearing this.

The demon student's hands trembled as he picked up his knife and fork, cutting the meat into tiny, tiny pieces before skewering them and slowly bringing them to his mouth.

Yet, the closer it got to his lips, the more violently his hand shook, as if he couldn't aim for his own mouth.

But Baron Batchelor did not rush him in the slightest.

Baron Batchelor seemed to thoroughly enjoy observing the demon student's state.

And so, the demon student continued to stall, glancing at the Baron every now and then.

By the time fifteen minutes had passed, he had already eaten more than half of this small, exquisite, and luxurious meal.

"Alright, it is time to answer the question."

Baron Batchelor spoke with a smile, as if he had just triggered the demon student's death countdown.

"..."

"There... there is onion, carrot, bay leaf, thyme, red wine, black pepper..."

The demon student answered tremblingly.

He was in great pain as he tried to recall the flavors he had just tasted.

The flavors were far too complex.

Even though every bite was of ultimate deliciousness.

This meal brought him no happiness whatsoever, only endless despair and fear.

It was as if this was the true flavor Baron Batchelor wanted him to savor.

In the end, he began to guess blindly, but the more he guessed, the more he realized he was drifting further from the correct answer.

The smile on Baron Batchelor's face grew increasingly indulgent, and the corners of his mouth curled into a terrifying arc.

"What a pity, you only got 37% correct; you are not a true gourmet."

A verdict filled with a sense of pleasure echoed through the classroom.

As the words fell, Baron Batchelor's neck suddenly elongated.

His skin tore as easily as a plastic bag, revealing the eerie green scales beneath, as if he were reverting to his true monster form.

This well-dressed Baron began to sway his bizarrely long neck, sneering with his now-hideous face as he stared at the demon student, whose face had turned ashen.

Finally, Baron Batchelor seemed to have finished savoring the demon student's look of despair.

His head grew to an enormous size, and he opened his blood-red maw, lunging toward the demon student like a bolt of lightning.

One bite!

Baron Batchelor swallowed the demon student whole!

There was no room for resistance.

"Crunch, crunch."

Baron Batchelor chewed a few times with a look of pure enjoyment, gulping down this feast that belonged to him.

After a deeply satisfying swallow, Baron Batchelor seemed to reach the peak of pleasure, his eyes rolling slightly upward as he laughed and retracted his neck.

He had said it from the very beginning.

This was his dinner party.

During the brief moment Baron Batchelor spent enjoying his exquisite meal.

Though Cornelia maintained a poker face.

A sliver of anxiety began to stir within her heart.

She was fairly certain now that she could not defeat Baron Batchelor.

If she failed to identify the ingredients later, she wondered if she and Dekan could work together to hold the Baron off.

She glanced at Dekan.

Their eyes met.

She noticed that Dekan's expression remained unchanged, leaning back in his chair as steady as a chess piece.

This put Cornelia at ease.

Dekan must already have a plan.