The Demon’s Menu

“You don’t want to get married?”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

Jason stopped in his tracks.

He certainly hadn’t forgotten that his main quest was: “Arrive at Hans Port by the 26th and attend the wedding.”

It was the afternoon of the 25th, and he had already reached Hans Port, so the first half of his quest was considered complete, but if the wedding didn’t take place…

The quest would naturally be a failure!

Unless there was a change in the main quest.

But based on his previous experiences, in order for the main quest to change, he must actively ‘change’ it himself, not wait for other natives to change it.

Simply put, all actions must begin with him.

While looking at the main quest introduction, Jason couldn’t help but start thinking.

If he had arrived a bit later, perhaps Gerard wouldn’t have had the chance to utter that sentence.

Or perhaps Gerard didn’t want to get married, but that was just a thought in his mind, something he would never say out loud.

Once it was said, it meant that the ruler of Hans Port had made a decision.

Without waiting for Jason to ask why, Gerard proactively said:

“The woman I am to marry is not the one I love.”

“She’s the daughter of the Duke of Fort Swallow.”

“Yes, just as you are thinking, our marriage is one of mutual benefit.”

As Gerard spoke of the marriage alliance, a look of undisguised disgust crossed the face of the ruler of Hans Port.

And the reason for his disgust was simple.

“I am very resistant to this marriage alliance!”

“Because, I believe I can make Hans Port better, not through such means, but sadly, this marriage was arranged before I came of age.”

“I seldom go against my mother.”

“She has done everything for me, and I know it.”

“But this time, I hope she can understand me.”

Gerard paused for a moment, glanced at Dennise playing with the sand, and then looked back at Jason, saying, “Jason, I’m very grateful to you. It’s your and Dennise’s arrival that made me realize what kind of life I need in the future.”

“I hope that after dinner, you can help me persuade my mother.”

Gerard was asking Jason.

Was this the opportunity to continue ‘changing’?

At this thought, Jason immediately nodded his head.

No matter what the outcome, he had to be involved.

In the time that followed, Gerard talked to Jason about various matters, including the management of Hans Port as well as some trivial matters around him, and the habitually silent Jason acted as an excellent listener.

And Dennise?

When the attendant brought a little shovel as Gerard had commanded, she became even more engrossed in her play.

She built her own castle carefree.

Even though it looked somewhat ugly, it didn’t stop her from letting out bursts of laughter.

“Jason, let’s continue playing after dinner!”

As Dennise left the beach, she said reluctantly.

Before Jason could reply, Gerard spoke up first.

“After dinner, Jason has to help me with a troublesome matter.”

“So, he won’t be able to accompany you.”

“However, Dennise, if you like the beach, I can give you a house — there are quite a few houses in Hans Port that are close to the beach.”

The light nearly sparked from Dennise’s eyes.

She almost subconsciously agreed.

But as she was about to speak, she glanced at Jason, who was expressionless, thought for a moment, and then shook her head.

Gerard looked at Dennise in surprise.

He could tell that Dennise had been very tempted just moments before.

Yet she still cared about what Jason thought.

Instantly, Gerard sent Jason an envious look.

It also solidified his resolve to pursue his own happiness.

Because, he was sure that when interests called for it, his fiancée would not hesitate to abandon him, unable to act toward him like Dennise did toward Jason.

Of course, there was no shame in that.

If necessary, he would do the same.

And this…

Only made him loathe the marriage even more.

Jason looked at Gerard’s expression, turned his head, and looked at Dennise, who was proudly expecting praise.

He raised his hand and patted her forehead.

Smack!

Amidst Dennise’s groans of pain, Jason felt more speculations arise in his heart.

It wasn’t just a direct influence.

Could indirect influence be possible too?

Or was it because I changed Dennise, and that in turn affected the entire world?

No!

That can’t be!

The idea that changing Dennise could affect the world was too exaggerated, unless she was the protagonist of this world…

Jason was startled.

He looked down at Dennise, who was clutching her forehead, baring her teeth at him, and then immediately shifted to a look of pitiful grievance when she noticed his gaze, and he couldn’t help but shake his head.

Impossible!

How could such a creature possibly be the protagonist?

Jason shook his head repeatedly.

His gaze naturally turned back to Gerard.

Compared to Dennise, Gerard undoubtedly seemed more like a protagonist.

A lord of one side, powerful, tenacious in character, and his morals… fairly noble.

Amid his thoughts, the three of them returned to the main building.

After a simple wash, the banquet began.

The dinner, held in honor of Jason’s arrival, took place in the three-story banquet hall.

Gerard was still in his knight’s attire.

Jason had also donned a suit of knight’s attire.

No need for custom fitting, wearing Gerard’s was just fine, no discomfort at all, it fit perfectly.

Dennise had put on a lace dress as well.

However, she had decided not to use a hoop skirt and simply wore the lace dress as if it were an ordinary cloth dress.

As soon as the three appeared, relatives waiting inside the banquet hall turned their eyes toward them.

Looking at Jason, wearing a knight’s outfit identical to Gerard’s, their eyes were filled with jealousy.

But they all masked it well.

And feigned geniality and liveliness.

As if the afternoon’s events had never happened.

With a glass of coconut wine in hand, Gerard moved to the center of the banquet hall.

Instantly, the hall went silent, and all eyes turned to Gerard.

Some people are naturally the center of everyone’s attention.

Every gesture they make captures the eyes of others.

Without a doubt, Gerard was not such a person.

But his status as the ruler of Hans Port made him into such a person.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to you all.”

“Tonight’s banquet is prepared for my cousin Jason.”

“I am very pleased to welcome him, who has come from afar.”

“Let’s raise a glass to him.”

After Gerard’s brief speech, he downed the coconut wine in his glass in one gulp.

The surrounding people also raised their glasses to Jason with fake smiles and downed their drinks.

Jason nodded in response.

His gaze then shifted to the direction of the dining table.

At this moment, Dennise unexpectedly became Jason’s companion.

Why it, being undead, was interested in the food of the living, it didn’t understand.

But…

It smelled so good!

Dennise swallowed saliva.

Then, as Jason stepped towards the dining table, she immediately followed.

She had her eye on a roasted lamb leg!

No one was going to fight her for it!

But someone did beat Dennise to the punch.

The young lady from Golsai, Amy with a bruised face, along with two servants like herself, stood in front of the roasted lamb leg. She extended her knife and fork, cut off the juiciest piece, and placed it on her own plate, then turned her head to tauntingly look at Dennise while putting it in her mouth.

She planned to savor it slowly.

To have a few more glimpses of the country bumpkin’s disappointed face.

However, after only a few chews, Amy felt a sensation of suffocation.

Crash!

The plate fell to the ground; she frantically clawed at her throat, trying to spit out the meat, but a deeper numbing sensation began to spread.

Immediately after, she fell silent.