Victor stood in the middle of the massive, shadowy hall, his thoughts a chaotic swirl. He had faced high-pressure environments before—packed restaurants, demanding critics, impossible orders—but nothing could have prepared him for this. A tavern for demons? A system guiding his every move? And a Demon King expecting miracles from his cooking?
He took a deep breath and clenched his fists. If he was going to survive, he'd need to treat this like any other kitchen. First step: **assess the tools and ingredients**.
---
The heavy doors at the back of the hall creaked open, revealing a spacious kitchen that could only be described as *otherworldly*. Victor hesitated at the threshold, taking in the bizarre sight before him.
**The Demon King's Kitchen** was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Massive cauldrons bubbled over blue flames that emitted no heat. Rows of oversized cleavers hung from the walls, gleaming ominously. Counters made of black obsidian reflected the flickering torchlight, and shelves were lined with jars containing unidentifiable substances—some glowing, others writhing.
Victor approached cautiously. He picked up a knife, testing its balance. Surprisingly, it felt natural in his hand, almost as if it had been crafted for him.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "A kitchen is a kitchen. Tools are tools. I can work with this."
His confidence faltered when his gaze landed on the pantry. He opened the heavy wooden door, expecting sacks of flour, spices, or maybe some dried vegetables. Instead, he found **ingredients straight out of a nightmare**.
- **Screaming Tomatoes**: As he reached for one, it let out a piercing shriek, causing him to drop it in shock.
- **Nightshade Eels**: Slippery, wriggling creatures that glowed faintly in the dark.
- **Inferno Peppers**: Tiny, fiery fruits that emitted actual flames.
- **Eyeball Mushrooms**: Fungi shaped like staring eyes, blinking occasionally.
Victor stared in disbelief. "How am I supposed to cook with this?!"
---
**[System Notification!]**
**[Quest Update: Learn to Use Demon Realm Ingredients!]**
- Objective: Prepare a basic dish using Screaming Tomatoes, Nightshade Eels, and Inferno Peppers.
- Reward: Unlock Beginner's Recipe Guide.
Victor groaned. The system wasn't going to make this easy. "Fine," he muttered. "Let's start simple."
He grabbed a Screaming Tomato, wincing as it shrieked again, and brought it to the counter. With a practiced flick of his knife, he attempted to slice it in half.
The tomato let out a final wail before dissolving into a pool of red liquid that hissed and steamed on the obsidian counter. Victor jumped back. "What the hell?"
As he stared at the mess, a small voice piped up from behind him.
"You're doing it wrong, human."
Victor spun around, knife in hand. Standing there was a small, impish creature with bright yellow eyes and a mischievous grin. It was about the size of a toddler, with bat-like wings and tiny horns.
"Who—what—are you?" Victor demanded.
The imp bowed dramatically. "Skritch, at your service! The Demon King assigned me as your assistant."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Assistant? You know how to cook?"
Skritch cackled. "Not really. But I know how to handle Demon Realm ingredients! Watch and learn, human."
The imp fluttered over to the pantry, grabbed another Screaming Tomato, and deftly sliced it open. This time, the liquid stayed intact, forming a thick, rich pulp.
Victor frowned. "How did you—"
"You have to *calm it down* first," Skritch said smugly, tapping the tomato. "Otherwise, it'll fight back. Pat it gently, whisper to it, and then cut quickly. It likes respect."
Victor stared at the imp. "You want me to whisper to a tomato?"
"Unless you want another mess," Skritch said with a shrug.
Victor sighed, picked up another Screaming Tomato, and gave it a tentative pat. "Uh… good tomato? Stay still?"
The tomato trembled slightly but didn't scream. Victor quickly sliced it, and to his surprise, it worked.
Skritch clapped his tiny hands. "See? You're getting the hang of it!"
Victor shook his head, muttering, "This is ridiculous."
---
Over the next hour, with Skritch's guidance, Victor began to familiarize himself with the strange ingredients. He learned how to:
- Submerge **Nightshade Eels** in cold water to calm them down before filleting.
- Use a pair of enchanted tongs to handle **Inferno Peppers** without burning himself.
- Remove the "eye" from **Eyeball Mushrooms** before cooking, as it released a bitter liquid.
By the end, Victor had a bubbling pot of stew—a dark, rich broth with chunks of tender eel, sweetened by the Screaming Tomato pulp and spiced with the Inferno Peppers.
---
**[System Notification!]**
**[Quest Complete: Learn to Use Demon Realm Ingredients!]**
- Reward: Beginner's Recipe Guide unlocked!
Victor wiped his brow as a glowing cookbook materialized in front of him. He opened it, scanning the pages. Recipes for dishes like **Shadow Roast** and **Hellfire Curry** filled the book, each one more bizarre than the last.
He glanced at Skritch, who was eagerly slurping a spoonful of the stew. "Not bad, human!" the imp said, smacking his lips. "You might survive here after all."
Victor chuckled despite himself. "Survive? I'm going to do more than survive. If I'm stuck here, I'll make this tavern the best damn restaurant in the Demon Realm."
Skritch grinned. "That's the spirit! Now let's see if the Demon King likes your cooking."
Victor froze. "Wait, what?"
"The Demon King always tastes the first dish," Skritch said cheerfully. "He's probably on his way now!"
Victor stared at the pot of stew, panic rising. His first customer was going to be the Demon King himself?
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hall, growing louder with each passing second. Victor swallowed hard.
"Well," he muttered, straightening his apron. "Here goes nothing."