Chapter 18 : Listen Carefully, All of You
Chapter 18: Listen Carefully, All of You
“The taste is good.”
Just four simple words.
Yet when they came from Hera’s eternally frozen lips, they struck like thunder, exploding throughout the entire council hall.
Every demon general wore an expression as if they had seen a ghost.
They had followed Hera for centuries.
Never—not once—had they heard her use the words “good” to evaluate food!
This was more unbelievable than the Abyss flooding upward or the divine realm collapsing!
The smile on Camilla’s face had completely frozen.
She looked at the now-empty bowl, then at Hera’s profile—which seemed ever so slightly softened from being well-fed. Deep within her eyes flashed intense jealousy and disbelief.
How could this be…
What exactly was that dish?
How could it make Hera…
Meanwhile, after hearing Hera’s praise and the System notification, Lilia felt like she was about to faint from happiness.
S+!
It was actually an S+ evaluation!
Beyond extreme perfection!
That heart was unbelievably useful!
An overwhelming sense of satisfaction and achievement filled her heart.
This felt even more exhilarating than knocking out an opponent in her past life’s sanda matches!
【Ding!】
【S+ Evaluation Rewards Settled!】
【Reward 1: D-Rank Skill · Culinary Mastery, Experience +500! (Upgraded to D+ Rank)】
【Reward 2: Function “Queen’s Recipe” Updated. Recorded Dish: Abyss Blazing Minced Noodles.】
【Reward 3: Feminization Index +3!】
【Reward 4: Loyalty +5!】
A cascade of system notifications pushed Lilia’s joy to its peak.
Loyalty +5.
What Lilia didn’t notice was that her feelings toward the woman on the throne were undergoing a subtle transformation.
Her emotions toward Hera had been fear and submission.
But now…
There was an added trace of… dependence.
And an intense desire to gain her approval.
As long as she could receive Hera’s praise, all the previous fear, disgust, and hardship seemed insignificant.
Lilia didn’t realize it, but her emotions were already beginning to sink, beyond her control.
“This dish will be added to my regular menu,” Hera’s voice sounded again, interrupting Lilia’s thoughts.
“Yes, Master!” Lilia responded immediately.
That was great! A regular menu item meant it wouldn’t count toward the ninety-dish quota! This was undeniably fantastic news!
Hera waved her hand. “You may leave.”
“Yes.” Lilia bowed respectfully, picked up the empty bowl and tray, and turned to leave.
At that moment, the previously silent Camilla finally spoke.
“Wait.”
Lilia halted.
Camilla stood up and walked toward her with graceful, seductive steps.
She looked down at Lilia, her gaze filled with provocation.
“Hera, a human maid’s ‘novel little creation’ may satisfy your appetite for a moment.”
“But the true traditional cuisine of our demon race—those dishes infused with the passage of time and the essence of the Abyss—are what truly suit you.”
Several demon generals nodded in agreement.
Indeed, although the noodles had an astonishing aroma, it was ultimately unfamiliar to them. In their eyes, it resembled more of a “snack” or “dessert.”
A true main course should be those hearty traditional dishes made from giant beast ribs or drake blood.
Camilla’s gaze returned to Lilia, her lips curling into a dazzling yet dangerous smile.
“Little maid, do you dare compete with me?”
“Let’s see whose lunch can satisfy Hera more.”
Here it comes.
Lilia’s heart skipped a beat.
She knew this succubus wouldn’t let things go so easily.
This was a blatant trap.
If she refused, it would be weakness—an admission that she was inferior. Her earlier brilliance would be dismissed as mere luck.
If she accepted, she would be using her half-baked D+ level cooking skills to challenge a Succubus Duke who had lived for who knows how long and knew Demon Realm ingredients inside out.
Her chances of winning were nearly nonexistent.
【Ding!】
【Side Mission Triggered: Succubus’s Challenge】
【Mission Description: Accept the cooking challenge from Succubus Duke Camilla and achieve a higher evaluation than her in this contest.】
【Mission Reward: C-Rank Charm Resistance Aura, Camilla Favorability -20 → 0】
【Failure Penalty: Publicly lick the tip of Camilla’s shoe.】
Lilia’s pupils shrank sharply.
This punishment!
Was the System a devil?!
Licking Camilla’s shoe tip? In front of Hera and all the demon generals?
She would rather die!
Her fists clenched tightly within the wide sleeves of her maid outfit.
Slowly, she raised her head, meeting Camilla’s provocative gaze.
Her eyes no longer held timidity or submission, but instead a calm ruthlessness forced out by desperation.
“Fine.”
Her voice rang out clearly.
“I accept your challenge.”
Camilla seemed slightly surprised by how readily she agreed, then smiled even more brightly.
“How bold. I’m starting to like you a little.”
She turned and gave a charming bow toward Hera on the throne.
“Hera, please allow me to present you with a true Abyss feast.”
With that, she swayed her hips and prepared to leave the council hall for the kitchen.
The atmosphere in the hall became subtly charged.
A confrontation between the two “favorites” of the Demon King’s Castle—sparked by a single bowl of noodles—was about to unfold.
Almost all the demon generals believed Lilia was doomed to lose.
They watched with anticipation, eager to see how this overconfident human maid would be humiliated by Camilla.
However—
Just as Camilla was about to step out of the hall—
From the throne, Hera’s cold voice rang out once more, devoid of any emotion.
“No need.”
Camilla’s steps froze instantly.
She turned back stiffly, a trace of confusion on her face.
“Hera… what did you say?”
Hera’s golden eyes swept over her coldly.
That single glance made Camilla feel as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.
Hera raised her hand, her slender finger pointing toward Lilia, who was kneeling on the ground.
“From today onward, all my meals will be handled solely by her.”
“No one else is to interfere.”
“You—understand?”