Chapter 4
“P-put me down.”
Jeremia’s tightly shut lips finally parted when they reached the kitchen.
Even then, her protest was extremely timid, but the self-proclaimed butler demon didn’t take it to heart and gently set her down.
“Of course, if that’s what you wish.”
His touch was uncharacteristically gentle for a demon—careful and considerate.
Standing upright after being set down, Jeremia glanced at him and voiced her doubt.
“Um… You’re really a demon, right?”
“I’m not a demon right now; I’m a butler. Please call me Sebastian.”
“W-well, regardless, your essence is still that of a demon.”
For someone who hadn’t wanted a butler, she found his insistence on playing the role of a butler quite vexing.
Her sharp tone was met with a faint, somewhat bitter smile from Sebastian.
“Yes, that’s correct. My essence is that of a demon.”
As if he himself wasn’t pleased with his own identity.
Sensing a hint of unease in his tone, she watched as he opened the door to the dining room with a warm smile.
“Please take a seat and wait for a moment. I’ll bring the meal shortly.”
With that, he left her and headed into the kitchen.
Jeremia watched his retreating figure with a dissatisfied expression.
By her original plan, they should already be crafting schemes for her revenge, yet here he was, claiming he’d prepare a meal for her.
It was only natural for her to grow suspicious.
‘Is that man really a demon?’
Demons were supposed to exude malice and commit vile acts without hesitation.
Yet this demon, who had carried her to the dining room, even showed consideration in his gait.
Yes, there was a kindness about him that she had never experienced before.
‘N-no, that can’t be…’
However, such thoughts were easily swallowed by the biases ingrained in her.
Sitting at the dining table, Jeremia’s mind was already filled with doubt about him.
‘Even if he seems kind now, I bet his true nature is rotten. He must have ulterior motives for cooking.’
A demon personally preparing a meal? It was absurd and unnerving.
Surely the food would be poisoned or trigger some evil scheme upon consumption.
Realizing this, Jeremia steeled herself and glared at the kitchen door.
‘Whatever happens, I won’t let myself be deceived. My goal is revenge. That’s the reason I summoned that demon.’
Though she didn’t know why he insisted on calling himself a butler, she wouldn’t allow herself to be swayed by his whims.
Just as she resolved herself, he returned from the kitchen with a tray and approached her with a cheerful smile.
“Thank you for waiting.”
Sebastian began setting down the dishes in front of Jeremia, one by one.
Though she maintained her suspicion, the aroma wafting up from the dishes began to chip away at her wariness.
“T-this is…”
“It’s mushroom stew, prepared with herbs for added fragrance. And this is veal steak. The meat is tender, so it should be easy to enjoy.”
Yes, what lay before her were dishes.
Not some sinister concoction from Hell, but carefully prepared dishes made by human hands… or rather, dishes crafted with skill and care befitting a chef.
“You… know how to cook?”
Her surprise at the perfectly normal-looking meal made Sebastian chuckle softly.
“Yes, well, I used to be in charge of my sisters’ meals.”
“…Even demons have siblings?”
“It’s been so long since I last saw them, though.”
So, he hadn’t seen them in a long time?
Could it be that his family situation was… complicated?
“Well, anyway, please eat. You must be hungry.”
As curiosity stirred within her, Sebastian gently urged her to eat.
Jeremia, snapping out of her thoughts, turned her eyes to the food before her with a nervous gaze.
The mushroom stew gave off a savory aroma, and the steak shimmered with a glossy sheen of oil and sauce.
It was as good as anything she’d eaten at the main family home—food she hadn’t tasted since being cast out.
Without any attendants to prepare meals, her diet had been limited to stale bread purchased from the market.
‘This doesn’t mean anything.’
After all, food was irrelevant when it came to revenge.
If achieving her goal required it, she could even consider flipping the table and rejecting the meal outright.
And yet, she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the food before her.
-Gulp.
The sight of the proper meal made her mouth water, and before she realized it, her hand was already holding a fork and knife, poised to eat.
The sharp knife cut easily through the tender steak, and a piece of meat, skewered on her fork, made its way into her mouth.
Though solid, the meat melted on her tongue the moment it made contact.
Juices burst forth as she chewed, and the flavor slid down her throat, releasing a warmth that spread deep inside her.
“Does it suit your taste?”
At the gentle question, Jeremia found herself unable to respond.
When she regained awareness, her mouth was busy savoring the food.
‘It’s delicious.’
It was a feeling she wanted to deny.
Gastronomy had no place in her quest for revenge.
‘It’s delicious… so delicious…’
Yet her hands didn’t stop, and the food on her plate gradually disappeared.
‘And it’s warm…’
As she ate more, the warmth filling her body brought a lump to her throat.
Unlike the meals at the main house, where she couldn’t even properly savor the taste due to her parents’ scrutiny.
Unlike the cold, lonely meals she ate while waiting for her fiancé, whose dinner plans were repeatedly canceled.
At that moment, warmth radiated from the meal she was eating—a sensation she had never felt before.
“…Miss Jeremia?”
By the time she realized it, her vision was blurring.
Feeling the heat trailing down her cheeks, she placed the utensils down and reached for her eyes with trembling hands.
Why was this happening?
Why was she crying now when she hadn’t shed tears even after being cast out by her family?
“It’s… it’s nothing. Really, nothing.”
Embarrassed, Jeremia turned her head away from him.
But as her quiet sobs echoed in the room, Sebastian, watching her intently, offered her a handkerchief with a faint smile.
“Although I don’t know the details, it seems like something you’ve been holding in has finally come out.”
“Holding in… something?”
“There’s nothing unusual about it. When something builds up, it’s only natural for it to eventually come out.”
Encouragement that was anything but demonic.
Kindness entirely unrelated to her wish for revenge.
Though it felt threatening, like a poisoned apple, Jeremia quietly accepted the handkerchief he offered.
She wiped her tears away and waited for her emotions to settle.
All the while, Sebastian stood silently, watching over her.
“…Thank you.”
When the silence was finally broken, the words she uttered were genuinely heartfelt.
As he looked at her with mild surprise, Jeremia shyly added,
“I just… felt I had to say it.”
Perhaps it was because she had never experienced such genuine kindness before.
Deeply moved by his warmth, she expressed her gratitude, and he responded with a satisfied smile, bowing courteously.
“I’m glad you were satisfied with the meal.”
Indeed, it was the most satisfying meal she had ever had.
And if he continued to serve as her butler, she could look forward to more meals like this.
As she indulged in the thought of such a future, Sebastian, who had begun tidying up the table, casually spoke to her.
“Well then, Miss Jeremia. Now that lunch is over, would you be able to provide funds for the ingredients I’ll need to prepare tonight’s dinner?”
“…What?”
“To make dinner, I’ll need to purchase ingredients.”
He said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Momentarily dazed, Jeremia felt a wave of unease wash over her as she asked,
“Um… Sebastian, where did you get the ingredients for the meal we just had?”
“I purchased them at the market while you were asleep. I found the money in a desk drawer while cleaning…”
-Hurried footsteps!!
Jeremia bolted from the kitchen and ran to her room.
She opened the drawer where she kept her money, only to be greeted by emptiness.
“A-ah…!”
As despair welled up inside her, Jeremia clutched her head and turned toward Sebastian, who had followed her with a puzzled expression.
“You! What did you do?!”
“What do you mean…?”
“That was all the money I had! It was everything I received when I was cast out of my family!”
Having already spent much of it on the black magic book, she had barely enough left to scrape by on stale bread.
And now, it was gone—all for one meal.
And he hadn’t even consulted her!
“I see… So that was your entire fortune.”
Hearing this, Sebastian rested his chin on his hand and nodded thoughtfully.
As Jeremia glared at him, he looked back with genuine concern and asked,
“Well then, what should we do about dinner tonight?”
“Aaaghhh!”
Even after spending her last coins, he was calmly asking about dinner.
Driven to the brink of insanity, Jeremia flailed her arms and yelled at him.
“I don’t need a reckless demon like you! Get out of this mansion right now!”
Yes, Jeremia had realized it.
The warmth and kindness she had felt from him were nothing more than preludes to this moment of despair.
After all, demons were inherently wicked beings that brought harm to humans.
***
“Well, I’ve been kicked out, haven’t I?”
Having been thrown out by Jeremia, I now found myself wandering the streets, pondering my next move.
I’d thought the money in the desk drawer was just lying around to be used.
If I had known it was her entire fortune, I would’ve spent it more carefully…
No, what’s done is done. I should focus on how to fix things.
Although I’ve only been kicked out for now, if she decides to reverse the summoning, I’ll be sent back to Hell.
“Well, there’s no choice. I’ll have to earn some money by tonight.”
The question is, where can I find money to support my young lady?
The easiest option would be a day labor job, but as a stranger with no clear identity, finding someone willing to hire me would be difficult.
If I were to make money, it would have to be through something that doesn’t require credentials… Hmm?
“Wait, what’s this?”
While wandering the streets, I noticed a poster on a wall.
It was a newspaper article with the following headline:
[A Serial Underwear Thief Strikes in Herta City. Reward Offered for Information.]
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