From Trash to Demon Lord: I Can Turn Heroines Into Villainesses

Chapter 99: Mireveil’s First Banquet...

Nox slowly descended the stairs of the abandoned church when he began hearing a strange sound coming from outside.

It wasn’t roaring.

Nor shouting.

It was... some kind of song.

"Oooode..."

"Aude..."

"Aude..."

The tiny voices blended together as though all the Peques were trying to follow the same rhythm.

Nox frowned.

"...What the hell are they doing?"

He pushed open the church’s heavy door.

The swamp’s gray light illuminated the outside, and he couldn’t help but smile.

The Peques had returned.

They marched in front of the group like a tiny victorious army.

They hummed that strange song while, together, they dragged an enormous black lizard.

The creature was nearly three meters long.

Its tail carved a trail through the mud.

Its scales shimmered with different colors depending on the angle from which they were viewed.

Behind them walked Audrey, Misty, Catherine, and Claws.

Everyone looked fairly relaxed.

Even Claws wore a proud expression.

Nox rested a hand against the doorframe.

"Looks like you found something good."

The Peques raised their arms.

"Aude."

"Aude."

Then they continued singing while dragging the giant lizard toward the church entrance.

Dawn appeared behind Nox with several books stacked in her arms.

"I found something interesting."

She lifted one of the volumes.

"There are several recipes for preparing this species."

She looked at the animal.

"Although first, we’ll have to figure out exactly what it is."

Audrey smiled.

"That’s already been solved."

She rested a hand on the reptile’s massive body.

"The Peques say this is a Chameleon Lizard."

Nox examined the scales again.

With every step, the creature’s colors shifted completely.

"...That’s the perfect name for it."

Catherine let out a small laugh.

"I thought the same thing."

◇◆◇

It didn’t take long before the entire church was filled with the aroma of cooking meat.

Audrey had improvised a kitchen beside one of the broken windows.

With almost professional precision, she began removing the scales, then the fangs, and finally cutting apart enormous slabs of meat.

Dawn constantly flipped through the recipe book.

"According to this..."

She held up a page.

"...the fat should be cooked separately."

Audrey nodded.

"Perfect."

Catherine watched with curiosity.

"I never imagined you were such a good cook."

The huntress smiled without stopping her work.

"My sisters taught me."

Meanwhile...

The Peques ran around helping however they could.

Some carried dry branches, others fetched water, and one particularly chubby Peque struggled to drag a log far too large for him.

Nox eventually walked over.

"Let me."

He effortlessly lifted the log.

The little Peque’s eyes widened.

"Aude."

Nox smiled.

"Yeah."

He gently ruffled the little creature’s head.

"Nice try."

The tiny Peque proudly puffed out his chest.

◇◆◇

An hour later...

The enormous prayer hall had been completely transformed.

The old pews had been rearranged.

The Peques had improvised a large table using planks and lumber salvaged from the building.

Everyone sat around it.

Even Claws.

The enormous bear occupied nearly an entire end of the table.

The chubby Peque proudly appeared carrying a massive wooden board being used as a serving tray.

Several perfectly cooked cuts of meat rested on top.

Audrey distributed them one by one.

"Careful."

The little Peque nodded very seriously.

"Aude."

"That’s right."

Audrey replied with a smile.

"Perfect."

The little creature looked genuinely happy just to help.

When the wooden plate was finally placed in front of Nox...

The demon immediately caught the aroma.

"..."

His stomach growled.

Misty burst into laughter.

"I think someone’s hungry."

"Maybe."

Nox replied.

"Did you have to go far to find this Chameleon Lizard?"

Misty shook her head.

"Not really."

She picked up a piece of meat.

"We were just scouting the surrounding area."

Catherine continued the story.

"One of the Peques spotted the lizard first."

The little blue creatures all started talking at once.

"Aude."

"Aude."

"Aude."

Audrey raised a hand to calm them.

"One at a time."

Then she translated.

"They say the lizard tried to eat one of them."

Catherine proudly raised one of her hands.

"That’s when I showed up."

Misty pointed at the cat girl.

"She pierced its neck with her claws before it could bite the little guy."

Catherine smiled.

"Then Claws finished the job."

The giant bear let out a proud growl.

"Grrrr."

The Peques immediately started applauding him.

Some even gently patted one of his paws as if congratulating him.

Claws seemed to enjoy the attention immensely.

Nox watched the scene.

Catherine was smiling proudly.

Felix floated beside her in his tiny spirit form while chatting with several Peques.

Misty was still laughing.

And Audrey was finishing handing out the last plates.

’It feels like a family.’

The thought appeared before he could stop it.

And surprisingly...

He didn’t mind it.

◇◆◇

Audrey finally placed a large piece of meat in front of Nox.

"Try it."

Nox looked down at the plate.

There were no utensils, and everyone else was simply eating with their hands.

Even Dawn.

The demon raised an eyebrow.

"...Well."

He picked up a piece.

It was still hot.

Steam slowly rose from it.

He took his first bite.

"..."

He chewed.

Then took another bite.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"What?"

Misty asked.

Nox swallowed.

"...It tastes like chicken."

Everyone looked at him in confusion.

"What’s a chicken?"

Dawn asked.

Nox stayed silent for a few seconds.

"It’s..."

He thought about how to explain it.

"...a bird."

Audrey raised an eyebrow.

"Like the ones we hunt?"

"Smaller."

"And it tastes the same?"

"More or less."

Misty burst into laughter.

"Then we’ve officially discovered Mireveil’s chicken."

Everyone started laughing.

Tessa grabbed another piece of meat.

"Honestly..."

She chewed slowly.

"...it’s way better than I expected."

Audrey smiled proudly.

"Thank you."

Claws finished his enormous portion in just a few seconds.

Then he looked at Nox’s plate.

The bear slowly lifted one paw.

Nox stared at him.

"...Don’t even think about it."

Claws tilted his head slightly.

He made exactly the same expression as a puppy begging for food.

Misty exploded with laughter.

"No way."

Catherine started laughing too.

"Look at him!"

Even Dawn ended up smiling.

Nox let out a defeated sigh.

"Fine."

He handed over a piece.

Claws caught it with incredible gentleness.

Then he growled happily.

"Grrrr."

"I knew you’d give in."

Audrey commented.

"I always do when it comes to animals."

"I noticed."

◇◆◇

The meal continued amid relaxed conversation.

The Peques kept humming their strange victory song.

Felix tried to imitate them.

Nox finished eating first and adjusted his clothes.

He decided to make something clear before the night came to an end.

"Make sure you all get plenty of rest..."

The entire group stopped and looked at him.

"...because tomorrow we’re going to start surveying the land."

A smile spread across his face.

"And we’re going to begin conquering these lands."

Misty smiled and started clapping.

The rest of the group joined in the applause.

Together with the Peques, who knew the territory better than anyone...

And his growing group of villainesses...

Nox knew that his plan to conquer Mireveil had finally begun.