After that stormy night, my life changed drastically.

No—more accurately, it would be better to say the ‘management system’ was strengthened.

Thanks to Sumeragi Reiko’s overwhelming financial power, the mansion was upgraded even further.

The kitchen was outfitted with the latest professional-grade equipment, the basement was converted into an editing studio for Hibiki and the bathroom was remodeled into a massive jacuzzi spacious enough for four people.

It’s comfortable.

In terms of food, clothing and shelter, the environment is so luxurious even royalty would flee barefoot in shame.

However, there was something I lost as the price for that comfort.

Freedom and decision-making authority.

“Jō, seconds!”

“Akutsu, me too. Extra sauce, please.”

“Oh my, could I have another glass of red wine?”

In the spacious dining room, beneath a glittering chandelier, three beautiful women sat around the table.

To my right, Tennoji Karen. To my left, KuJō Hibiki. And directly in front of me, Sumeragi Reiko.

Today’s main dish was my special Bomb Hamburg Steak.

With the binder reduced to the bare minimum, coarsely ground beef compressed until it was hard as rock and topped with a demi-glace sauce simmered for three days.

The moment a knife cut into it, the overflowing juices and spice aroma that pierced the nostrils completely shattered their rationality.

“…Here you go.”

Wearing an apron, I diligently took plates and focused on service.

I was completely reduced to the feeding attendant.

“About tomorrow’s schedule,” Reiko said gracefully, bringing meat to her lips while operating her tablet.

“In the morning, transportation to the studio. In the afternoon, a script meeting with Director Hibiki. And in the evening… my ‘reservation’ is scheduled, isn’t it?”

“Hey, Reiko! You booked last week too!”

Karen protested, waving her fork around.

“Miss Karen, you’ll be on a regional shoot, won’t you? I’m simply making effective use of an open slot.”

“Grrr… When I get back, I’ll monopolize him for double the time!”

“Alright, alright, no fighting.”

I sighed as I plated salad onto their dishes.

For the past month, my schedule had been decided by their three-party conferences.

All I did was swing a pan, drive a car and keep them company at night according to the schedule handed to me.

“…I’m a pet dog at this point. Completely.”

When I muttered that, Saotome, who had been serving quietly in the corner, approached smoothly.

“Correction, Master. Not a dog, but ‘protective breeding of a rare animal.’ Endangered species are required to be treated with the utmost care.”

“That’s not comforting at all.”

I gave a wry smile.

Well, it’s not a bad life.

It’s noisy, but there’s a family here that happily eats the food I make.

A warmth I never had in my previous life existed here.

After dinner.

Just as Ai efficiently cleared the dishes and the after-meal coffee brewed by Yū was brought out.

“Now then, everyone.”

Reiko straightened her posture and looked around at us all.

Her eyes shifted from the usual carnivorous beast look to that of a cold businessperson.

“May we discuss a bit of work?”

“Work?”

I leaned back deeper into the sofa.

“Oh, another commercial? Or development of a new product?”

“No, something much bigger… a social phenomenon.”

Reiko swiped her tablet, projecting a hologram display into the air.

Displayed there were numerous SNS screens and news articles.

[Thanks to Chef Akutsu’s influence, home-cooking women on the rise!]

[Chinese woks selling like crazy! Ironworks overwhelmed!]

‘“Men’s cooking” is what makes you popular! A maJōr shift in values!’

“Lord Akutsu’s SheTube channel, The Demon King’s Cooking Classroom… its influence has already surpassed that of a single corporation,” Reiko spoke passionately.

“Women who once thought ‘cooking is a hassle’ or ‘convenience store food is fine’ are now watching your videos and grabbing kitchen knives one after another. This is a revolution.”

“Heh… well, that’s not a bad thing,” I said as I sipped my coffee.

Eating something you made with your own hands is the best.

It becomes the strength to live.

“And so, we have received a new offer from Teito Television,” Reiko snapped her fingers and the screen changed. It was a proposal document.

[New Program Proposal: Together with the Demon King]

“…Huh?”

An odd sound slipped out of me.

What kind of educational-program title is that?

“The content is simple: a ‘children’s cooking program.’”

“Hey, wait. You want me to sing and dance or something?”

“No. We would like Lord Akutsu to cook together with children and teach them the Jōy and importance of food.”

Reiko looked at me with a serious gaze.

“Children today face problems like picky eating and eating alone. We want you to drill into them the Jōy of eating with your ‘hearty meals.’”

“…I’m not a daycare worker. I’m bad with kids. They’re loud and don’t listen to reason,” I refused immediately.

Back during the decisive battle with a hundred child judges, I was fired up because it was a match—but dealing with them daily was another matter entirely.

“And we’ll need a co-star,” Hibiki said with interest, peering at the proposal.

Names were already written in the casting section.

[Assistant: Himemiya Alice]

“Geh.”

I frowned.

That national top idol.

That brat who’s been acting strange ever since I lectured her during the last special, telling her not to act like a queen.

“Alice-chan… I heard she recently changed her character,” Karen muttered.

“Apparently she sealed her ‘sadistic queen’ persona and suddenly started pushing a ‘pure and obedient little sister’ image…”

“Reforming herself is good, but her popularity seems to be declining,” Reiko added.

“That’s why her agency is begging for her to co-star with Lord Akutsu on this show to aim for her re-break.”

“Not my problem. I’m not doing it,” I crossed my arms and rejected it outright.

However, in this mansion, my right of refusal simply doesn’t exist.

“…I’m in favor,” The first to speak was, unexpectedly, Karen.

“Huh? You’re not going to oppose it?”

“Because it’s Alice, right? She has no sex appeal and she’s skinny. So I don’t think there’s any risk of cheating,” Karen nodded to herself in satisfaction.

That’s your standard?

“I’m in favor as well,” Hibiki’s glasses flashed.

“It’s visually interesting. A fierce-looking Demon King, a calculating idol and free-spirited children. This chaotic composition will definitely pull in numbers.”

Her blood as a director was clearly stirring.

“And I support it from a business perspective,” Reiko delivered the finishing blow.

“If we win over the next generation of fans—that is, children—Lord Akutsu’s position will be unshakable. And for Sumeragi Foods, contributing to food education improves our corporate image.”

The three pairs of eyes focused on me.

Karen’s ‘sense of security.’ Hibiki’s ‘curiosity.’ Reiko’s ‘calculation.’

Three different intentions converged toward a single conclusion.

“““It’s decided.”””

Their voices overlapped.

“…Hey,” My resistance was more fragile than a sandcastle washed away by waves.

“Lord Akutsu, filming starts next week. I’ll immediately coordinate schedules with Alice’s agency.”

“Oh! I’ll go observe that day! I have to make sure no weird bugs latch onto Alice!”

“I’ll handle the camera. The behind-the-scenes footage should sell well.”

The conversation moved on without me.

I looked up at the ceiling.

“…Tch. Guess it can’t be helped,” I slapped my knee and stood up.

If I’m going to do it, I don’t do things halfway.

And what Reiko said about modern children’s eating habits bothered me a little.

“Hey, Reiko.”

“Yes?”

“If I’m doing this, I’m doing it my way,” I grinned.

It wasn’t a TV-friendly smile.

It was the genuine grin of a Demon King facing prey.

“I won’t tolerate picky eating. Green peppers, carrots—everything gets turned into top-class ‘food.’ They can either cry and run away or lick their plates clean. Let’s see which it’ll be.”

At my words, the three women shuddered as if a chill ran through them.

“Fufu… thrilling.”

“Jō really is the coolest!”

“…That’s a good expression. I’ll take it.”

I tightened the strings of my apron.

The next battlefield was a kitchen studio.

The enemies were children with underdeveloped taste buds and a former sadistic idol who’d lost her way.

No shortages here.

With a single wok, I’ll educate them all at once.

And so, my new battle—the educational program Together with the Demon King—was about to begin.