Zealot's triumphant mood was dampened only slightly by the persistent growling of his stomach. He walked briskly through the forest, the sunlight filtering through the trees casting dappled shadows on the ground. He felt invigorated from his victory and his new skill, but also aware of the toll the battle had taken on his body.
GROWL!
His city and castle loomed in the distance, its stone walls and towers a familiar and comforting sight. As he approached, he imagined the delicious meal he would cook to satisfy his hunger. His mind wandered through the possibilities: a hearty stew with freshly foraged vegetables and tender meat, a savory roast with crispy potatoes, or perhaps a spicy noodle dish to warm him up.
‘Hmm, maybe a little of each…’ he mused aloud, his mouth watering at the thought. ‘I deserve a feast after today.’
As soon as he entered the luxurious castle, he headed straight for the grand kitchen, determined to whip up a satisfying feast. He set to work, gathering ingredients and preparing a hearty meal that would restore his energy and soothe his hunger.
As the rich aroma of cooking food filled the air, he smiled with contentment. His body relaxed, knowing that a good meal was on the way. Once the meal was ready, he sat down at the dining table, taking a moment to admire the spread he had prepared.
"Looks even better than I imagined," he said to himself, taking the first bite of his meal. The savory flavors delighted his taste buds, and he savored each bite as he reflected on the events of the day.
The battle with the Red Slime King had been intense, but it had also been a valuable experience that would help him grow stronger in future challenges. As he finished his meal and leaned back in his chair, he couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of his new skill, Curse of Diarrhea.
"Well, that's one way to catch an enemy off guard," he said with a grin. "They won't know what hit them—literally!"
Curse of Diarrhea, a skill from the necromancer class, was notorious for its cunning and disruptive nature, making it one of the most challenging and unpredictable abilities an adventurer could face in battle. Unbeknownst to Zealot, he had just acquired one of the necromancer class's most potent and formidable skills.
After finishing his meal, Zealot decided it was time to unwind and head for a bath. As he made his way toward the bathhouse, he said to himself, “Alright, time to take a bath and relax for a bit—!” But before he could finish his sentence, a sudden ambush caught him off guard. He found himself surrounded by five human adventurers, their weapons drawn and ready.
To his surprise, the group confronting him was none other than Jack's party, their faces contorted with fury and intent on killing him.
“Hahaha! Gotcha!” Jack taunted.
“There's no escape this time! Kekeke!” David chimed in.
“This is your last chance! Tell us where the Demon King’s treasure is, and you’ll have a quick death! If you refuse, we’ll torture you to death!” Alicia threatened.
“That's right! Now decide, you filthy demon! Do you want a fast or slow death? Our patience is wearing thin, so don't bother trying to deceive us again!” John snapped.
“Think carefully before you speak, demon!” Carl warned with a menacing glare. “Your fate hangs by a thread.”
EYES OF TRUTH!
‘Tch! Damn it! I didn't expect them to still be alive after all this time. It appears I greatly underestimated them. Still, after reading their thoughts, it seems they have no intention of killing me right away. They want to use me to locate the Demon King's treasure room, and they're determined to keep me alive until I lead them to it.’ Zealot thought.
“What’s wrong? You seem quiet. That’s good—take your time to decide whether you prefer a quick or slow death. We’ll give you a few minutes to think it over and let us know when you’re ready,” David said.
“In the meantime, while you’re thinking, follow us to the kitchen. We’re very hungry right now. We’ll eat while you keep considering your options. And don’t even think about running away—if you do, you’ll only have yourself to blame for the consequences,” Jack said.
“Sure, let’s do that…” Zealot replied. “I can even cook for you all if you’d like.”
Despite the looming threat of death, Zealot remained calm because he had a plan in mind. He didn't want to rush his actions and instead chose to proceed cautiously. He knew they wouldn't kill him just yet, as he had read their thoughts and understood they still needed him alive to help locate the Demon King's treasure room.
The situation had taken an unexpected turn for Zealot. Jack's party had ambushed him, catching him off guard as he made his way to the bathhouse. But despite the immediate threat, Zealot maintained his composure and tried to buy himself some time. He followed them to the kitchen, willing to play along for the moment.
As they entered the grand kitchen, Zealot kept a wary eye on Jack's party. They were tense and focused, clearly determined to get what they wanted from him. But Zealot wasn't too worried about their threats; he knew they needed him alive for now, which gave him a slight advantage.
"Alright, what would you all like to eat?" Zealot asked, feigning cooperation as he surveyed the group.
"Just cook something quick and hearty," Jack replied impatiently. "We're not here for a gourmet meal. We just need some food to satisfy our hunger while you think about your decision."
Zealot nodded and began to prepare a simple but satisfying meal for the group. As he cooked, he remained vigilant, keeping track of their movements and body language. His mind-reading skill, Eyes of Truth, allowed him to stay one step ahead of them.
"Hey, demon! Don't even think about poisoning our food.” David warned. “We're keeping a close eye on you, so don't do anything foolish or you'll regret it.”
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Zealot remained composed, stirring the pot slowly as he responded, "You have nothing to worry about. I have no intention of causing any harm." He glanced at David calmly. "The meal will be safe for all of you."
David gave him a sharp look. "You better stick to that," he said. "We won't tolerate any games."
“Yes, I understand.” Zealot replied.
Once the meal was ready, he served it to Jack's party. They eagerly began to eat, their focus shifting away from him for the moment. This provided Zealot with a small window of opportunity to observe them more closely and think about his next move.
As the group ate, Zealot noticed that they seemed more relaxed and less guarded, likely thinking they had the upper hand. This was the chance he needed. He could use his new skill to disrupt their plans and turn the situation in his favor.
‘This could work,’ Zealot thought to himself, formulating a plan. ‘However, I'll wait for the right moment to use the Curse of Diarrhea on them.’
Zealot's ultimate plan was to deceive them about the Demon King's treasure room and instead lure them to the underground prison. There, they would find a portal leading to the small world where Demon Queen Terasia and her twelve Demon Royal Knights reside.
Once they reached the portal's entrance, Zealot would then activate his Curse of Diarrhea on them and escape. At that point, they would likely shift their attention to exploring the treasure room instead of pursuing him, allowing Zealot a chance to flee in peace.
Keep in mind that Zealot's level was significantly lower than theirs, so even with the Curse of Diarrhea slowing them down, he still couldn't outrun them. Due to the substantial level gap, he knew he couldn't rely solely on his Diarrhea skill. That's why he chose to distract them with the Demon King's treasure room, knowing they'd be less inclined to pursue him if their focus shifted to the treasure.
MUNCH! MUNCH! MUNCH! NOM! NOM! NOM!
"Mhm! This is so delicious!"
"H-How can this be possible?! I've never eaten anything this delicious before!"
"Hey, demon! What did you do to the food?! Why is it so tasty?!"
Coming from the modern world, Zealot naturally cooked using recipes he had learned from Earth. In contrast to the human adventurers who lived in medieval times, Zealot's dishes offered a level of flavor and complexity unfamiliar to them. Though his meals were ordinary by modern standards, they tasted exceptionally delicious in the medieval context.
"Haha… Well, I'm pleased to hear that you guys are enjoying it," Zealot responded, slightly embarrassed.
Jack's party devoured the meal with gusto, appreciating the unexpected culinary delight Zealot had prepared.
"Thank you for the delicious meal. Though it's a shame your cooking skills won't be used for much longer since you’re about to die," Jack said, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"Let's not forget what we're here for," David reminded them, his expression hardening. "After we finish, we'll give him a few minutes to decide his fate."
Zealot nodded silently, buying time while he observed the party's reactions and movements. He knew his chances of survival depended on his ability to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
"Why don't we take our time and let him enjoy a few minutes of calm?" Alicia suggested, her eyes fixed on Zealot with suspicion. "He's earned it with this meal, after all."
"Agreed," John said, his posture relaxing slightly. "We'll give him a moment."
Once they finished eating, Zealot offered them dessert—a small but sumptuous cake he had made. Jack's party accepted it readily, their earlier hostility waning in the face of Zealot's culinary skills.
"This cake is incredible!" Carl exclaimed, savoring the flavors. "I've never tasted anything like this."
"Indeed," Alicia agreed, her expression softening. "You have quite the talent, demon."
‘Hehe. This will be your last meal before you all face your demise, so enjoy it while you can,’ Zealot thought with a sly grin.
As they ate dessert, Zealot seized the opportunity to set his plan in motion. He began speaking about the Demon King’s treasure room, carefully weaving a story that would mislead them.
"The Demon King's treasure room is actually not far from here," Zealot said, his tone steady and confident. "But you'll need me to guide you through the labyrinthine passages and past the traps protecting it."
Naturally, everything was a lie. Zealot had deliberately mentioned the word "traps" solely to instill fear in them for his own amusement.
Jack leaned forward, his gaze intense. "And you expect us to trust you?"
"I'm merely offering advice and suggestions; whether you trust me or not is irrelevant," Zealot replied calmly. "You need my knowledge to find the treasure room safely. If you choose to kill me now, you risk losing the treasure forever."
The group exchanged glances, clearly weighing their options. They understood Zealot's point, but their suspicion lingered.
"Very well, we'll heed your advice," Jack decided, his eyes never leaving Zealot. "But don't even think about trying anything funny. We won't let you fool us a second time."
"Of course, I understand your concerns," Zealot replied, hiding his smirk. "You have every right to be cautious."
With the group momentarily placated, they finished their meal and prepared to depart. Zealot walked with them, careful not to show any signs of deception. He needed to guide them toward the underground prison and activate the Curse of Diarrhea at the right moment.
As they reached the entrance to the underground passages, Zealot prepared himself for the next phase of his plan. He had to time his actions perfectly to ensure his escape and lead the party toward the portal.
"Follow me," Zealot instructed, descending the steps into the dark, narrow tunnels. "The treasure room lies beyond these passages."
The group followed him warily, their weapons drawn and ready. As they ventured deeper into the tunnels, Zealot kept his senses sharp, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
He guided them through a series of twists and turns, gradually leading them toward the underground prison. When they finally reached the entrance to the portal, Zealot stopped and turned to face Jack’s party.
"This is it, we've arrived," Zealot said. "Just enter this portal, and it will take you to the Demon King's treasure room," he added, gesturing toward the portal.
Initially, Zealot's task was simply to guide them to this point and then be done. However, due to their distrust of Zealot, they changed their plans and insisted that Zealot accompany them to the Demon King's treasure room. They planned to kill Zealot only after they had secured everything from the treasure room.
"Alright, you go in first," Jack instructed Zealot. "We'll follow you in after."
Having read their minds, Zealot was aware of their change of plans and realized he needed to adapt his strategy. He initially considered using his Diarrhea skill, but deemed it too risky for two reasons: he was surrounded with little room to maneuver, and they had their weapons poised to strike if he made any suspicious moves. Not wanting to gamble with his life, he chose to comply for the time being.
‘Ugh, what a bossy guy! I don't really want to meet the Demon Queen again, but whatever. It shouldn't take long for Queen Terasia and her knights to deal with these fools anyway,’ Zealot mused with a dismissive shrug.
Though the Demon Queen would spare Zealot's life, he was not keen on facing her formidable presence and would have preferred to avoid her altogether. However, given the current circumstances, he had no choice but to meet her and would likely be questioned about his failure to return with the key, which was the blood of Demon King Zealot.
Now that the situation has reached this point, Zealot must devise a new story to persuade the Demon Queen to let him leave the small world again. In this instance, he planned to shift all the blame onto Jack's party.
Having no choice, Zealot stepped forward into the portal, guiding Jack's party into the small world where Demon Queen Terasia and her twelve Demon Knights resided.
As he emerged on the other side, he was instantly enveloped in the dark, foreboding atmosphere of the Demon Queen's domain. The air was thick with magic, and he found himself inside a luxurious palace that was both haunting and enchanting, adorned with towering obsidian structures and ominously glowing crystals.