Hell Inn: Rebirth - I Became a Chef in Hell

Chapter 240 You're Absolutely Ridiculous - S01E07

"Hey, listen... I believe Alastor wouldn't scheme against me, trust me, okay?"

At first, Shirley's voice sounded a little uncertain, but when she asked you to trust her, her expression became very firm.

...But Shirley's unfounded trust only reminds you of yourself, who just suffered a terrible fall at the hands of Alastor.

The failure was alarming.

“Shirley, you don’t understand, Alastor isn’t what you think…”

Seeing that Shirley's mind was made up, you, whose heart was filled with an unsettling unease, didn't even want to look up at the broadcast demon anymore, and could only earnestly advise the female demon in front of you.

“My dear, you know perfectly well… Alastor is a sinner lord. He may be saying some very harsh things now, but how can you guarantee that he will keep his promises and never betray you?”

"What did you give him? What did he give you? Can't I give you what he can give you?"

Worried that Shirley might make a bad decision, the dragon girl, for the first time, showed obvious anxiety on her face. She couldn't help but reach out and grab the blonde woman's wrist. Her tone wasn't harsh, but it sounded very worried.

“…Shirley, we made a promise, I have the right to know what you have done.”

"If he asks you for anything related to the soul or any kind of coercive demands... killing him now is the best option! If there are any consequences, I'll help you! I..."

Because the more she talked, the more afraid she became of facing such an outcome, and her tone became somewhat incoherent. She didn't even realize that her eyes were wide open at that moment.

She just stared intently at the blonde woman in front of her, her brows furrowed, her whole demeanor as anxious as a parent waiting at the school gate to pick up their child with separation anxiety.

The more troubled Shirley frowns, the more your heart sinks.

"But what I want to know, you really can't solve for me."

Shirley sighed heavily, then withdrew her hand from yours.

Her tone carried a resolute seriousness.

Sadness and sorrow crossed the beautiful, delicate face of the Hell Princess, but her expression was firm and resolute.

"I want to know how to fight against angels, but that's something you can't solve, isn't it?"

She looked up at you with a complicated expression.

“I made a promise with Alastor that if he ever gets into trouble in the future, I will help him with a small favor, without hurting or killing anyone…”

"...This is utter nonsense! Are you even part of this deal?!"

You were so angry at the contents of the deal that you almost laughed out loud that you interrupted Shirley. Your already tense and cold face stiffened for a moment.

Because of your emotions, you suddenly stood up with an unpleasant expression and began to reprimand me harshly.

"If you don't harm or kill anyone, what if Alastor asks you to die in his place later?!"

You couldn't help but look at the broadcasting demon standing behind Shirley, his expression inscrutable.

...It's one thing that Shirley didn't think of that, but how the hell could you not have thought of that?!

Upon learning of Shirley's deal with Alastor, you were visibly more furious than before, staring intently at the broadcasting demon as if you wanted to burn a hole in his face.

“I don’t even need to mention it! If it doesn’t hurt anyone, does anyone in this agreement include yourself? How do you know this guy won’t exploit this loophole?” You angrily waved your hand at Alastor.

"What if he made you suffer excruciating pain for him? What if he made you do something even dirtier for him? Do you think you could accept all the thoughts in that bastard's mind?"

"..."

Because Shirley's deal completely disregarded her own interests, you, who had been oblivious to Alastor, turned around in disbelief and looked at Shirley with a sense of utter despair.

“Take this as an example! He made a deal with you behind everyone's back, which is a grave betrayal to me! But I didn't mention that in the deal... But even if I had, it wouldn't be considered betrayal to this guy! If he wanted you to hurt someone, you wouldn't even know you were doing it!”

"I only regret that I didn't kill him immediately, but instead gave you the opportunity to talk to me now..."

“■■■, I believe him.”

Just as your volume began to rise unusually due to your emotions, Shirley suddenly interrupted your uncontrollable rage.

Compared to you, who was even somewhat hysterical, the blonde woman looked incredibly calm and composed.

Her reaction and handling of the situation made the current [unclear] seem like a patient suffering from bipolar disorder.

But the more Shirley acts this way, the more pain you feel.

Shirley trusts Alastor.

But you will never trust him again.

You even have reason to suspect that Alastor has actually done more things behind your back that you find unacceptable; it's just that you trusted him too much before, so you didn't know about these things yet.

"■■■, trust me, just like I trust Alastor!"

"We have no time to doubt each other now. The great purge is coming soon, and we must unite!"

"I promise you, I'll take good care of myself, okay?"

Perhaps seeing that you had fallen silent, the Princess of Hell gently comforted you in a cautious but unwavering voice.

Because of the unexpected events and the untimely betrayal, the dragon girl's black hair was now completely standing on end in shock and anger.

She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles cracking.

The Hell Princess's sincere promise and unwavering trust at this moment broke [the heart of] [the person in question].

Your worries about Shirley's future are so intense that the cracks in your heart are bleeding uncontrollably.

You hate that you can't hurt the angel, hate that you have no other way to help Shirley except to go out of your way and find reinforcements, so much so that she tells you, "You can't help, but Alastor can."

An unprecedented sense of powerlessness and self-loathing makes your heart feel like a poor-quality sponge soaked with bitterness.

The salty liquid, like tears, poured down on your chest like a torrential downpour.

"...How else do you want me to trust Alastor?"

You opened your mouth, looking bitterly and hopelessly at Shirley's determined face before you. Your voice and body sank uncontrollably, as if all your bones had been pulled out in one breath.

“He must die; I have no reason to spare him.”

"he……"

"Alastor has set his sights on you."

Your self-assured and unchangeable voice, under Shirley's gaze, drifted away on the very light breeze.

"...But you said you wouldn't harm any of the demons in the inn, you promised me! We have an agreement, just like I'll tell you everything I've done!"

Perhaps because she saw that you were determined to kill Alastor, in a moment of desperation, Shirley, whose expression had not been very good, gritted her teeth and took out the scroll of the agreement that ■■■ had once signed with her.

"■■■, please stop, okay?"

The demonized Hell Princess held the contract signed with the name of an Eastern sinner, pleading in her voice.

"But I don't care."

"All I want is for you to be safe, Shirley."

"Punish me if you want, go ahead."

You responded to her softly in your slightly tired voice.

"Shirley... Sweetheart... You don't understand. Making a deal with Alastor is too dangerous. Don't you understand? You've already gotten what you wanted. I simply killed him. It's not bad for anyone. Why do you sympathize with him? He might be secretly plotting against you..."