The First Taste of Deception

The kitchen door closed behind Sovenia, sealing off the noxious blend of death and sulfur that permeated the bedchamber. Here, the air was strikingly different, carrying the dry fragrance of spices mingled with a metallic chill.

The kitchen, though small, was laid out with remarkable compactness. At its heart stood a heavy stone counter, above which hung rows of iron pots and copper ladles of varying sizes.

Embedded in the left wall was a massive stove, its internal magic circle capable of summoning flames from the netherworld. To the right, a freezer hummed, powered by arcane runes, with a visible layer of white frost clinging to its door.

Devoid of long tables or conventional ovens, the entire space was designed for the swift and efficient preparation of ingredients. Everything within this room echoed her past life, memories so distant they were on the verge of fading, memories of a place called “China.”

Opening the freezer, she was met with a rush of icy air. Inside, an array of ingredients lay neatly arranged: precisely cut blocks of pork belly wrapped in oiled paper, a thoroughly cleaned pork hock, and several bundles of vibrant green vegetables.

Haelana VII regularly replenished and prepared these items according to Sovenia’s specific instructions. Each bundle of vegetables was tied with a red string, signifying they had been tested and confirmed non-toxic.

Sovenia took out a large piece of pork belly and placed it on the stone counter. Drawing a cleaver from its stand, she noted its considerable weight, the feel of the handle instantly evoking a long-forgotten sense of familiarity.

Once, she had been Jimi the Cruel, the Demon Queen’s most fearsome Heavenly King. Even then, in this very kitchen, she would prepare food for her own amusement, despite being able to sate her hunger through mere slaughter and combat.

This kitchen remained the sole area within the entire bedchamber where Haelana VII was forbidden to enter. The reason was simple: food represented a vulnerability, and anything consumed had to be personally controlled.

While the old woman was loyal to Jimi the Cruel, her allegiance to the Demon Queen ran even deeper.

Now, it was time to demonstrate the tactical cunning of the demon race to this foolish human hero.

Her plan was clear. Direct poisoning would be idiotic, immediately exposing her. However, if she could accustom Wawalde to her preparing his meals, then the power to administer poison would be firmly in her grasp.

To achieve this, the first step involved demolishing his taste bud defenses with sheer deliciousness. She needed to make him utterly dependent on her cooking.

After all, only when dog food was palatable would a dumb dog obediently comply.

Now, after fighting for so long, exhausted and wounded, what did this foolish dog truly need? Braised pork belly, rich with oil and sugar, would undoubtedly pierce through his sharp defenses.

Lost in thought, Sovenia washed her hands, her fair fingers arranging two strips of pork belly on the cutting board before she wielded the cleaver, swiftly slicing the meat into large chunks.

The wok already hot, she drizzled oil along its rim. Once seasoned, she reduced the flame, added cold oil, then dropped in the two-pound chunks of pork belly. The moment the sizzling oil met the pork skin, a violent crackling erupted.

With a flick of her wrist, the iron wok danced over the flames, the meat chunks leaping within, intent on rendering them dry…