Chapter 170: Innocent Words, Yagami Hikari is Hungry
At this moment, Lucifer was also very interested in this seemingly cute and well-behaved little girl. Having been captured for so long by that existence that didn't look like a good thing, and then telling them to run first after coming here, she was indeed a good child. In the depths of Hell, such purity was nonexistent, and even in the mortal realm, it was a rare gem buried beneath layers of human selfishness.
Lucifer propped up her face with one hand, her crimson eyes softening as she observed the guest. She said with a smile, "Hikari-chan, right~"
"Yes! Big Sister!"
The response was immediate and crisp. Lucifer looked at Yagami Hikari's smiling face and felt an inexplicable warmth, like the sun just peeking out from behind storm clouds. It wasn't the scorching, punishing heat of the inferno she was accustomed to as the CEO of Hell; rather, it was a gentle, nurturing warmth that seemed to thaw the icy boredom that often plagued her. Lucifer could feel that this little girl was not ordinary. She possessed an aura—a literal 'light'—that naturally repelled malice.
Lucifer crossed her long legs, the movement elegant and commanding, and said to Yagami Hikari, "Hikari-chan, what was that guy who was chasing you just now? It wasn't human, was it? The stench of decay on him was quite pungent, almost offensive to my nose."
Yagami Hikari nodded repeatedly, her small hands clutching the whistle around her neck as if it were a talisman. Her expression darkened slightly as she recalled the fear. She said, "It's Myotismon, a very powerful Digimon… He wants to capture the Eighth Child to conquer the world."
"Myotismon? A vampire? What is a Digimon? Is it also a little pet? Like that yellow electric mouse Ren brought in the other day?"
Yagami Hikari thought for a moment, her brow furrowing in deep concentration. It seemed Myotismon really was a vampire in appearance and behavior, drinking data and commanding the night. As she thought, she got carried away, diving deep into the memories of her friends and their partners.
Yagami Hikari came back to her senses, realizing she needed to explain properly. She shook her head, saying, "No, Big Sister, Digimon are… digital monsters living in a parallel world made of data. They aren't just pets; they are partners. They grow and evolve through our bonds. Myotismon is an Ultimate-level Undead Digimon who uses dark magic and commands an army of Nightmare Soldiers to hurt people."
She continued, her voice trembling slightly but filled with resolve, explaining how the fog had swallowed Odaiba and how the adults were being captured.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow, listening intently. Pokémon and Digimon, she mused internally. Compared to this grim reality where demons hunt children in the streets, it seemed Ash's world was more peaceful. In that world, ten-year-olds roamed freely, battling for sport. Here, the stakes were life and death. And there weren't so many villain Pokémon actively trying to conquer the world with such organized malice. Wasn't this a bit ridiculous, letting a few elementary school children with their Digimon fight those guys?
Where are the adults? Where are the gods of this world? Lucifer thought with a hint of disdain. To place the burden of salvation on shoulders so small… it is truly cruel.
Lucifer didn't know whether to praise them for their bravery or complain about the incompetent people who chose them, but she was also somewhat surprised by the courage and achievements of those little ones. To face a vampire lord at such a young age required a spine of steel.
Lucifer nodded and said, "So your Digimon, the one called… Tailmon?"
"Tailmon suddenly said it seemed to have found something and told me to hide first," Hikari explained, her eyes misty. "She sensed the danger before I did. Then I saw a door glowing in the alleyway. At that time, Myotismon seemed to have found me—his bats were screeching—and then I ran over…"
Lucifer nodded and said with a smile, a confident expression returning to her face. "Don't worry, Ren's kick is not something that little bat can withstand. He might call himself a vampire lord, but against the owner of this restaurant, he is nothing more than a mosquito. He should be hiding to heal his injuries now and won't pose any threat."
Yagami Hikari nodded, the tension finally leaving her shoulders. She looked at Lucifer with shining eyes and said, "Big Sister! Big Brother is so amazing! He just… pow! And the bad guy was gone!"
"Hmm~ He is indeed very amazing," Lucifer agreed, flipping her silver hair with pride. "But Hikari-chan, you little children doing so many things are also very amazing. You held your ground against fear."
Yagami Hikari didn't say anything about that, but kept looking at Lucifer with shining eyes. The admiration in her gaze was thick and genuine. This gaze made Lucifer pause. It wasn't the lustful gaze of the damned, nor the fearful gaze of the subjugated. It was an innocent gaze filled only with yearning and pure aesthetic appreciation.
Lucifer, rarely self-conscious, felt a slight blush color her cheeks. She asked doubtfully, "Hmm? Hikari-chan, what's wrong? Why are you staring at me?"
Yagami Hikari looked at Lucifer with sparkling eyes and said, "Big Sister is so beautiful! Like a princess from a storybook! And earlier, I heard Big Brother say that Big Sister knows magic?"
"Hmm… I know many very powerful spells," Lucifer admitted, a playful smirk touching her lips. She raised a finger, and for a split second, a small, intricate rune of crimson light danced on her fingertip before vanishing. "I am the Queen of Hell, after all. Magic is as natural to me as breathing is to you."
"So amazing! I've always wondered if magic existed, and it really does!" Hikari clapped her hands softly.
Lucifer was also a little amused by Yagami Hikari's expression and said with a smile, "What do you want to learn magic for? To get unlimited candy? To fly to school so you're never late?"
"Then I can defeat Myotismon," Hikari replied instantly, her voice serious. "And I can also protect others and help others, and it's very cool!"
Lucifer paused slightly.
She had thought Yagami Hikari would say something childish like having endless delicious food, being admired by many people, having many beautiful clothes, or simply playing tricks. But she really hadn't expected this little girl to still be thinking about such altruistic things. Even in safety, her first thought was the protection of her friends and family.
This child is… blindingly bright, Lucifer thought. At this moment, Lucifer seemed to know why they were chosen. It wasn't just about potential; it was about the purity of the soul.
Lucifer smiled, shook her head, and whispered, "I'm really defeated… You children are truly something else."
"Eh? Big Sister, what's wrong?"
Lucifer shook her head and said with a smile, "Nothing. Just talking to myself. By the way, Hikari-chan, when you came here, what time was it in your world? Was it also almost daytime like this?"
Yagami Hikari thought for a moment, trying to calculate the timeline through the chaos. She then shook her head and said, "I don't know, because the whole city became foggy and gloomy, blocking out the sun. But I remember it was dusk before it started, and it should have only been a few hours after that."
Lucifer nodded thoughtfully. If that was the case, even if Yagami Hikari hid here until daytime, it would still be night when she returned. The vampire, being a creature of the night, would still be at his peak power. She might even encounter that vampire again immediately upon return. She didn't think that vampire would have no subordinates at all; usually, such types had minions scouring every shadow.
Thinking of this, Lucifer felt a bit helpless but said nothing to alarm the girl. Of course, she wouldn't do nothing. Cerberus—that energetic three-headed hound in human form—would wake up in the morning. Then she would have Cerberus give Yagami Hikari a small gift, perhaps a blessing or a protective charm, before she left.
To be honest, Lucifer really liked Yagami Hikari. This child gave her a feeling of a warm little comfort, a stark contrast to the rowdy demons or the complex humans she usually dealt with. Yagami Hikari also seemed much more relaxed after escaping danger, and with Lucifer constantly talking to her, her tense nerves slowly relaxed. The terror of the fog was fading, replaced by the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant.
Suddenly, Hikari tilted her head, listening intently. "Eh? What is Ren doing? Why don't I hear any cooking sounds?"
The kitchen was strangely silent. Usually, a restaurant kitchen was a symphony of clashing metal, sizzling oil, and roaring fire. But now, it was as quiet as a library.
As soon as she finished speaking, a rich aroma wafted over.
It hit them like a physical wave. Lucifer was stunned. What was it? She hadn't heard any cooking sounds—no chopping, no frying—but the food was ready? And it smelled so good?!
It was a complex fragrance. It didn't have the heavy grease of fried food or the pungent kick of spices. Instead, it was a pure, concentrated essence of meat and bone, layered with the fresh, crisp scent of herbs. It smelled like… restoration. It smelled like life itself.
Yagami Hikari also wiggled her little nose, sniffing the air like a small, hungry animal. Then she said with a surprised look, "It smells so good, Big Brother seems amazing at cooking too!"
Lucifer then brought out her abnormally high pride, puffing out her chest as if she had cooked the meal herself. She said, "Of course! Ren's cooking is the best~ There isn't a chef in Heaven, Earth, or Hell who can match him."
"Eh?! Really?!"
"Of course! You should consider yourself lucky, Little Light."
Yagami Hikari looked at Lucifer and then smiled, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes. She leaned forward and whispered, "Big Sister, are you and Big Brother a couple?"
Lucifer's face flushed a deep crimson. She stammered, caught off guard by the direct attack. She turned her head sharply, her silver hair swinging to hide her expression, and nodded.
On this matter, Lucifer would only be shy; she wouldn't have any thoughts of hiding it. She was the Queen of Hell; she took what she wanted, and she had claimed him long ago in her heart. Yagami Hikari covered her mouth and chuckled at Lucifer's reaction.
"Hehe, Big Sister is blushing," Hikari giggled.
Lucifer also knew Yagami Hikari was joking and didn't say anything, just kept her head turned, fanning herself with her hand, telling herself that children's words are innocent.
Just then, Ren walked over, pushing a wooden dining cart.
There were only three items on the cart, yet the presence they commanded was immense.
A steaming bowl of soup, though it was unclear what kind. It was a golden, translucent liquid, clear as crystal, with no impurities visible. Floating delicately on the surface were paper-thin slices of beef and vibrant green herbs.
A fragrant bowl of white rice, each grain glistening like a pearl.
And a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, condensation dripping down the side.
Although she didn't know what the soup was, Lucifer felt it smelled delicious. It was a "Clarified Consommé," a dish that required immense skill to remove all impurities while intensifying the flavor. The fact that Ren had prepared this in complete silence suggested he had used a technique to control the boiling point perfectly, preventing the violent bubbling that creates noise.
Yagami Hikari felt the same. Her stomach rumbled audibly, betraying her polite demeanor.
After placing the dishes on the table, Ren smiled and said, "Hikari, it's ready. I can tell your body seems a bit weak from the stress and running, so I didn't make you anything stimulating or heavy in oil."
He gestured to the golden soup. "After thinking for a bit, I made this for you. It's just a simple beef consommé with rice. I simmered the bones to extract the marrow's nutrients, then clarified the broth with egg whites to make it light on your stomach. It looks like water, but it holds the strength of the ox. It should be the most suitable meal for now."
[Akarin's Note: Consommé is a clear soup made from richly flavored stock or bouillon that has been clarified, a process using egg whites to remove fat and sediment.]
Yagami Hikari ran over, looking at the fragrant beef soup and delicious rice. The steam rose up, carrying the warmth of the kitchen, wrapping around her tired face. She picked up the spoon, her reflection visible in the clear, golden broth.
Yagami Hikari was hungry...
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