âYou found out that the horses are hungry, and then nowâŠ. energy flows from the horses to Sihyeon⊠âŠWhatâs happeningâŠ..This is impossibleâŠâ
âI donât understand what you are talking, but first, letâs calm the excitement a bit.â
âOh!â
When I looked at her with a puzzled face, Lia suddenly regained her sense.
âHmmm, sorry. I got a little excited and made a fuss. Forgive me Mr.Sihyeonâ
âNo, thatâs fine. I donât mind this much fuss.â
As she bowed her head politely, I immediately replied that I was fine.
But she was very disappointed.
She couldnât hide embarrassment on her face, and looked so restless.
Contrary to her first impression of like a doll without emotions.
This maid seemed to be more sloppy and expressive than expected.
This look way more friendly and a little cute to me.
To alleviate her embarrassment, I deliberately brought up a different topic.
âCan I continue to help take care of these guys? I think I can help with this.â
âIf you are fine with it I donât have any issues.â
âThank you Lia. Guys, did you hear that too? You will be in my care from now on.â
Purleung.
Heh heh.
The horses let out a pleasurable cry as if they understood what I was saying.
I smiled and stroked the boys hairs once again.
This is how my first job at Demon Farm was decided.
After looking around the farm and chatting for a bit, the sun was already on top of my head.
âSihyeon. Iâm going to go prepare lunch now.You can go and rest in your room. Iâll call you when itâs ready.â
âAh. I didnât know you were preparing lunch, so I brought a packed lunch. You donât have to prepare my share.â
âIs that so? Then, how about having dinner together at the dinner table? I will prepare a seat for you.â
âThen..Iâll gladly accept your offer.â
After a short conversation about lunch I headed to the second floor of the farm building.
After a simple wash in the bathroom next to the room, I took out the notepad from my bag.
In the memo pad, I briefly wrote down the farm facilities I visited today and the things I did to take care of the horses.
And after idling for a while, I took out my lunch box and went to the dining room.
I bought my lunch today just in case� But still there was a little desire to taste the meal that Ms.Lia prepares herself.
Well, there will be a chance tomorrow.
I went to the dining room with a bit of disappointment.
In the dining room, three seats were set at the table that could seat eight people.
âCan I sit?â
I hesitated for a while.
At that time, Kaneff appeared in the dining room.
He walked over and took a seat at the front of the table.
âWhat are you doing.? Arenât you here to eat.?â
âAhâŠYes. Thatâs right⊠Boss.â
âSit there.â
Because there was a prepared seat I had no choice but to take the one close to him.
Kaneff still looked drowsy, and there was only an awkward silence surrounding the table.
Thanks to Lia, who appeared after a while, the uncomfortable atmosphere dispersed.
âI will bring your meal now Mr.Kaneff.â
âMmmmmâŠâŠ Do it.â
ââŠâŠ?â
Kaneffâs expression changed to a very sad and heavy expression at the notification.
I wondered if it was some special dining etiquette here, so I made a firm expression at the same time.
Lia placed the food in front of Kaneff.
I glanced at the contents of the plate with a squint.
And I quickly fell into confusion.
A black object presumed to be food is placed on a white plate, and there was a burning smell that stung my nose.
It looked like something I couldnât even bring it into my mouth.
What? Is this the way they eat in the Demon Realm?
I wondered if it was an ordinary dish in the demon world, so I pretended nothing was wrong and managed my expression.
As a citizen in the age of globalisation, we must respect each individualâs culture.
But my efforts were in vain.
Seeing the reactions of the two people which followed, I quickly realized that it was my big misunderstanding.
âLia.â
âYes. Mr. Kaneff.â
âCome here.. explain whatâs this.â
She opened her mouth with an anxious expression.
âI was a little nervousâŠâ
âItâs been several months since youâve been here, have you been nervous all this time?â
âWe have a new visitor today soâŠâ
âThen what about yesterdayâŠ? and a week ago?â
âUgh.â
Lia couldnât properly answer Kaneffâs bitter question.
I always thought that she was a maid who handled her work skilfully with a calm appearance, but that image is slowly getting shattered.
âHaaaa. How the hell do you make these charcoal lumps? Why donât you just bring the raw meat.?â
âEven if it is baked in Dragonâs Breath, it will be cooked moderately than this.â
ThatâsâŠ. an accurate expression.
My head nodded at the venomous remarks that reminded me of a British chef.
Although she has helped me a lot today, my evaluation of her didnât seem to make any sense.
When I saw Lia being scolded by Kaneff, I felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Itâs like standing next to a friend whoâs get scolded by his parents?
In that awkward situation, I counted the number of decorations in the dining room or looked at the scenery through the window.
But despite my delicate efforts, the topic of conversation quickly shifted to me.
â Wait a sec..⊠Why didnât you bring food for the guy over there.? Are you showing favouritism because he is a guest?â
I donât think favouritism is a word used in this type of situation.
Anyway, I opened my mouth to explain Liaâs position.
âI didnât know the meal was being prepared, so I brought my own lunch.â
âReally.? Then show it.â
âoâŠokayâŠ!â
âIf itâs a lie, you should eat this with me.â
Kaneff looked at me with eyes that were filled with a little anger and little bitterness.
If I didnât have a lunch box, in the momentum he might shove that black object into my mouth right away.
I had no choice but to open the lunch box.
Click. Click!
The simple lunch box was opened, and the good smell of food spread for the first time in the dining room.
Appetising side dishes along with rice that is shiny even though it is slightly cooled.
Maybe because its placed next to black object, it seemed to shine extraordinarily.
Kaneff and Lia looked at my lunch box as if possessed by something.
Watching the two of them intensely focus on an ordinary lunch box made me understand what kind of hardships they have been through so far?
I also felt a sense of pity at the same time.
Is it because of the unique characteristics of being a Korean? When someone looks at the lunch box, mouth automatically opens.
âDo you want some?â
Kaneff nodded his head.
I placed the rice and side dishes little by little on the plate prepared on the table and handed it to Kaneff.
Kaneff began to taste the food slowly.
After a while, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips, and on the contrary, Liaâs expression darkened.
âHuman! Did you make this yourself?â
âYes. I prepared it myself.â
âReally? human. No, did you say Sihyeon.? From now on, you are in charge of the farmâs cooking.â
Kaneff appointed me as the farmâs cook at his own will.
I answered with a sullen expression, recalling the conversation we had in the morning.
âBoss.. Didnât you tell me earlier that you donât care about what I do..? â
âThereâŠ. was no talk about cooking in the initial work when I talked with Ryan thatâs why ?â
âI seeâŠ.!â
Kaneff flustered.
It seemed that he was regretting what he told me earlier.
Then, with an anxious look, he pondered for a moment.
Then he opened his mouth again.
âOkay⊠As I said, I wonât force you. Let me make this as an offer instead.â
ââŠâŠ?â
âIf you were in charge of cooking on the farm. Just once! as long as it isnât outrageous, I will grant you one request.â
âHmm.â
He grants me a favour in exchange for cooking in the farm.
I reacted vaguely to his suggestion.
It doesnât look like heâs going to keep his promise, and I donât think thereâs anything special to ask.
Kaneff continued to speak hastily, as if he had become impatient with my irritable reaction.
âI donât know much about the world out there, but Iâm sure there is something I can do, to help you here. â
âI promise you with my horns!â
Seeing him swearing with a serious expression on his face, my heart fluttered a little.
âAll right. Then IâŠâ
âIt canât be!â
The moment I was about to accept Kaneffâs offer, Lia reacted violently.
âI am the maid here.â
âI am the one in charge. In human terms, I am the boss in this field and the decision is mineâ
âUgh.â
Lia suddenly stared at me with a determined attitude.
No, I didnât do anything wrong, so why meâŠ
She held out the plate to me with a frightening force.
âGive me too.â
âYes?â
âfood!â
ââŠhere.â
Taking the food on her plate, she slowly savoured them.
The more she tasted the food, the more dissatisfaction she had on her face, and at the last bite she looked like she was about to cry.
She seemed to have realized the cold reality.
Seeing this, Kaneff raised the corners of his lips.
âHow about it? Is it delicious?â
ââŠâŠâ
âOkay, Sihyeon will be in charge of the meal from now on!â
âWha⊠But wouldnât Liaâs opinion, who was still in charge of the meal, be important?â
Kaneff shoved the plate of Liaâs food at me.
In an instant, a stinky, disgusting smell stung my nostrils.
âThen would you like to eat this with me every day?â
ââŠIâll do my best.â
I felt sorry for Lia.
At the bloody threat of feeding the food on the plate, I had no other choice.
I cautiously asked Lia, who had become depressed.
âMs.Lia. Are you okay?â
ââŠâŠplease.â
âwha..what?â
âMore food, please!â
In her watery red eyes, she throws out her pride as a maid and holds out her plate.
With a pitiful heart, I placed a lot of food.
âeat a lot.â
âTh.⊠Thank you.â
Lia ate while holding back her tears, and Kaneff looked at the scene with satisfaction.
As I watched the two of them, I felt that the impression I had at the first meeting were completely false.
And then I remembered what Ryan had said on my way to work today.
-The two of them are a bit eccentric, but theyâre not bad people.
Obviously, both demons had their own unique aspects, but they didnât seem as bad as I had worried.
The first lunch on the farm was noisy in many ways.