Chapter 67: The Friendship Between Demons is So Fickle!
"Whoa—! So tender!"
Minos's teeth gently broke through the seared, crispy crust of the steak, instantly meeting the soft, juicy meat within. A rich wave of beef juices burst onto her tongue, a tidal wave of flavor that washed over her palate again and again. Each drop seemed to dance in her mouth, releasing an endless, savory taste. The aroma was just as incredible; the richness of the butter, the spice of the black pepper, and the deep, mellow aroma of the beef itself all intertwined, filling her senses and shooting straight to her brain.
Minos involuntarily began to chew faster, the delicate meat slowly melting in her mouth. The slight chewiness and springy texture were intoxicating. In an instant, she had been completely and utterly conquered by the steak's deliciousness.
"What an unbelievable taste and texture! It makes you want to smile without even realizing it…"
The massive, circular bullfighting arena, built of stone and brick, roared with the sound of a thousand voices. The stands were packed with an excited crowd, their eyes glued to the center of the ring, eagerly awaiting the spectacular showdown.
Minos, dressed in a magnificent, glittering matador's costume made of silk and stitched with gold and silver thread, strode confidently into the arena, holding a red muleta. The sunlight caught the sequins on her outfit, making her shine as if she were glowing.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer's passionate voice boomed through the speakers. "Let us welcome today's champion—Minos! Her opponent is the 1,000-kilogram Demon World Bull, the 'Black Demon King'!"
"Whoooa—!" The crowd roared its approval.
In the center of the ring, with a clatter of metal, an iron gate slammed open. A massive, pitch-black bull, its body a dense landscape of muscle, charged out, its hooves kicking up clouds of sand, white steam snorting from its nostrils. Its three pairs of eyes burned with a ferocious light, and its thick, curved horns glinted coldly in the sun.
"Bring it on!" Minos declared. She tossed the red cape aside, made a fist with her right hand, and punched it into the palm of her left. Two jets of white steam shot from her own nostrils.
"MOOOO—!"
As the Demon World Bull charged toward her, she lowered her head and charged right back. The contrast between her petite frame and the bull's enormous body was a thrilling sight, and the crowd screamed with excitement.
Under the watchful eyes of thousands, with a deafening BOOM, Minos slammed her head into the bull, shattering its massive horns and sending the colossal beast flying through the air. In mid-flight, the whites of the bull's eyes could be seen, a trail of drool flying from its mouth.
"Hahaha—! I win! What a satisfying victory!" Minos declared, planting her hands on her hips and letting out a triumphant laugh.
"Uh…" The announcer was speechless. Is that how you're supposed to bullfight? Who told you to headbutt it… Wait a minute. He leaned forward, adjusting his glasses and taking a closer look at Minos. Actually, considering who she is, that seems about right. She just used the bull's own method against it!
Back in the real world.
"I really am the strongest!" Minos declared, eating with gusto.
"Sizzle—!"
Ryohei had started cooking the remaining two steaks. The rich, fragrant steam once again filled the kitchen. Jashin-chan, smelling the aroma and listening to Minos's constant stream of "So delicious," "The steak is so tender and juicy," "The noodles are amazing," couldn't take it anymore.
"Gulp—!" She swallowed hard, slithered over to the dining table, and draped an arm over Minos's shoulder. "Minos," she said, her voice dripping with hunger, "give me a bite." With our relationship, she'll definitely share, right? Jashin-chan thought confidently.
However—
"Eh?" Minos looked at her, completely unwilling. She slid her plate of Steak Udon away, guarding it protectively. "Yours will be ready soon, why are you trying to eat mine? I haven't even had breakfast yet!"
"Huh?" Jashin-chan was not happy. Medusa would have definitely shared with her. You're a bad childhood friend! She took her arm off Minos's shoulder and stood over her with her hands on her hips, her face twisting into an ugly pout. "You jerk! We've known each other for so long and you won't even give me a single bite of meat? Don't you forget whose fault it is that you're even sitting here in the first place!" Not satisfied, she poked Minos in the chest.
Minos slapped her hand away, also getting annoyed. "Weren't you the one who begged me to come to the human world to be your subject's bodyguard?"
Jashin-chan: "..."
"That's so ugly of you, Jashin-chan." Just as Jashin-chan was about to say something else, Yurine smacked her on the rear with her fan. She yelped and jumped up, clutching her backside. "What was that for?!" she whined. Yurine didn't even deign to reply, simply grabbing her and dragging her away from the table.
"That really was ugly, Jashin-chan," Ryohei said, flipping a steak in the pan. "As punishment for being a nuisance and disturbing Minos's meal, I'm giving one-third of your steak to her."
Ooh—! Is there such a good thing in this world? Minos's ears twitched as she slurped down some of the fragrant, savory udon. She looked over, her face full of pleasant surprise.
"What!?" Jashin-chan's eyes widened in disbelief. She balled her fists. "On what grounds?! I object! Whose familiar are you, anyway?! How can you side with an outside demon to bully me! You bastard—!"
"I'm your boss now. Please call me Chef Ryohei," he replied, his face devoid of emotion.
Jashin-chan: "..." "You… you, you…" She was shaking with rage. She hopped back a step, preparing to launch a Jashin-chan Dropkick to teach him a lesson.
"What do you think you're doing?"
A black aura suddenly blurred her vision. Jashin-chan froze, trembling as she looked at Yurine. "Ah… M-Me? I wasn't going to do anything!" she stammered, holding up her hands innocently.
"You'd better not be," Yurine said with a sweet smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Otherwise, I'll put you in a permanent state of regeneration."
The words, though spoken pleasantly, made Jashin-chan's body go rigid, her heart nearly stopping. So scary! she thought, clutching her chest and nodding rapidly like a cartoon cat.
Minos, watching from the side, was also a little scared. Is my first day in the human world always going to be this dramatic? Thankfully, Yurine wasn't targeting her. She quickly took another bite of her steak to calm her nerves.