Chapter 109: Never Let Sophie Cook Again
The explosion shook the entire tavern, and smoke began to seep through the hatch—thick, dark.
"What was that?!"
Max stepped back, alert.
Abby frowned.
"...That came from downstairs."
Sophie was already staring at the trapdoor.
"...What did they do now...?"
Abel didn’t say anything. He walked over quickly and carefully lifted the hatch.
The smoke burst out all at once.
"...Tch..."
He covered part of his face.
And then they heard coughing.
Several figures began climbing up, one by one.
Neros first. Coughing. Moonlight behind him, rubbing her eyes. Lamia, Varis... and the women followed.
"...Ugh..." Moon muttered.
Max stepped closer.
"...Are you okay?"
Sophie looked at the smoke.
"...What was that?"
Abel scoffed.
"...Probably the ’healer’."
He made air quotes.
"...Not everything can go the way he wants."
Varis came up last. In a robe. Barely covered. Chest exposed, completely relaxed.
The demon women were the same. Practically without clothes.
Lamia sighed.
"...You can change upstairs, in the bathroom."
Varis raised a hand.
"...Nah, no need."
He smiled.
"...This is fresher. More natural."
The women laughed.
"Our hero!"
"The brave dwarf!"
"Our savior!"
Varis blushed.
"...Uh..."
Then puffed out his chest.
"...Well, yeah..."
He cleared his throat.
"...Go get changed."
He tried to maintain some dignity.
Lamia handed them clothes from her wardrobe.
"...Here, please use these."
The demon women walked off laughing.
Abby watched the scene.
"...I don’t want to know what he did to earn that."
Neros shrugged.
"...I’d rather not know."
Max sighed.
"...I’m going to check on Dorian. We need to see if he’s okay."
Neros nodded.
"...I’ll come with—"
But before they could move, they heard laughter from below. Female voices.
Max stopped.
"...Wait..."
He looked at Moon.
"...Clear the smoke with your magic, please."
Moon nodded. She raised a hand. A soft gust of wind swept through the hatch.
The smoke dispersed.
And then they saw it. Dorian, climbing up. Escorted by the two succubi. They were whole. Complete. With all their limbs restored. Naked, as if they had just come off the operating table.
Both of them held onto his arms. Kissed his hands. Hugged him.
"...Thank you, elf..."
"...You saved us..."
Dorian... was smiling like an idiot. Completely intoxicated by the affection and the fact that everything had gone his way.
Max stared at him blankly.
"...You can’t be that much of a creep."
Dorian laughed.
"...Everything went according to plan."
He fixed his hair.
"...I deserve a reward."
Abel leaned in—and froze.
"...What...?"
He looked again. His eyes tightened.
"...Impossible..."
His expression turned bitter.
Dorian glanced at him.
"...I’ll give you lessons later, little devil."
He smiled.
"...You’ve still got a long way to go."
Abel didn’t respond.
Moon and Neros laughed.
Sophie appeared behind them out of nowhere—
YANK.
She grabbed Neros’s tail.
"—It’s not funny."
Neros tensed.
"...Ouch..."
Moon covered her mouth.
"...I didn’t laugh..."
She shrank slightly.
"...Please don’t pull my tail..."
Neros sighed.
"...Sorry, sis..."
Meanwhile, the demon women returned, now dressed in Lamia’s shirts and outfits.
They sat next to Varis, who was still in his robe.
Moon raised her hand.
"...I’m hungry..."
Max pointed to the table.
"...Sit down, food’s ready."
He looked at Dorian.
"...You too."
Lamia approached the succubi.
"...Are you alright?"
Both nodded.
"...Yes..."
"...But we don’t remember anything..."
They looked at each other.
"...Not even who we are..."
Pause.
"...But we love the healer elf."
They looked at Dorian.
Lamia smiled, a bit awkwardly.
"...That’s probably for the best... better if you don’t remember anything..."
Everyone took their seats.
Sophie watched expectantly.
"...Go ahead, try it..."
The first bite.
Silence.
Max chewed. Slowly.
Very slowly.
’...This is awful.’
The fish had bones. And it was undercooked. The vegetables were too hard, crunching loudly. The mash was bitter.
But no one said anything. Everyone smiled, pretending it was delicious.
"...It’s good..." Abby said, forcing it.
"...Yeah..." Max added, tears in his eyes.
Dorian frowned. Took a bite. Froze.
"...Sophie..."
He looked at her.
"...Where did you get the mushrooms?"
Sophie smiled.
"...From the red forest, near the lake by Morningstar Castle."
Dorian went pale.
"...Ah..."
He lowered his gaze.
"...The ones that grow where—"
He didn’t finish. He sighed. Raised a hand discreetly. A soft light spread across the table. Healing magic.
"...Excuse me..."
He stood up.
"...I’m going to the bathroom."
And quickly left to throw up, having realized those mushrooms grew in horse manure.
Moon kept eating happily.
"...It’s good..."
Neros nodded.
"...Yeah."
Max kept chewing. Crying.
’...I miss pizza... and burgers...’
Abby sighed.
She looked at Sophie.
"...Next time, I’ll cook."
Sophie blinked.
"...Huh?"
Max thought, defeated:
’We’re never letting Sophie handle the kitchen again.’
***
Moon placed her plate on the table with a huge smile.
"That was delicious."
She stretched, completely satisfied.
Neros, beside her, nodded seriously.
"Yeah. Very good, sis."
They both looked genuinely happy.
The contrast with Max was... brutal.
The human was slumped over the table, head resting against the wood. His plate was still almost full.
"...I can’t anymore..." he muttered, half crying.
From the bathroom—
"—UARGH—"
Dorian’s voice echoed, followed by an unpleasant sound.
Sophie looked at Max, a bit concerned.
"...Hey..."
She leaned slightly closer.
"...Didn’t you like the food?"
There was a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Max slowly lifted his head. Looked at her. And froze.
"...No, that’s not it..."
He forced a smile.
"...It’s good..."
He looked away.
"...I just wasn’t that hungry..."
He scratched his cheek.
"...Must be the nerves... from coming back from the castle."
And then—
—GRRRRRRRRRR—
His stomach growled loudly.
Abby rested her elbow on the table with a mischievous smile.
"...Weren’t you not hungry?"
Max turned red instantly.
"...I-it’s the nerves..."
He held his stomach.
"...They must’ve upset it..."
—GRRRRRR—
His stomach growled again. Even louder.
Sophie nodded, convinced.
"...I see..."
She smiled, more at ease.
"...Don’t worry."
She crossed her arms.
"...I hope you feel better soon."
Max gave a thumbs up.
"...Thanks..."
And dropped his forehead back onto the table. With his other hand, he held his stomach. Suffering in silence.
Lamia watched the scene for a moment, then spoke calmly.
"...If you want, you can stay the night here."
She leaned lightly on the chair.
"...You can leave tomorrow at your own pace."
No one objected. One by one, they began to stand. They gathered the plates.
The exhaustion returned.
The lights dimmed gradually.
And finally, each of them headed to their rooms.