Chen Hai's return immediately attracted attention from all sides.
The Familia of Orario all wanted to seize this opportunity to discuss future arrangements with Chen Hai.
However, Chen Hai basically refused all of them.
The reason for using the word 'basically' is because he chose to accept the Demeter Familia's invitation to attend a harvest feast at their stronghold.
Of course, he did not go alone.
Those who went to the Demeter Workshop with him included Milim, Shizue Izawa, Saeko Busujima, Rei Miyamoto, and others.
Since the distance was not far, they quickly arrived at their destination.
Shizuka Marikawa and Yuriko Takagi, who had arrived at the scene, looked around.
Although they had lived in Orario for some time, they had hardly ever been outside the city and were quite interested in everything before them.
The same was true for Rei Miyamoto, Saya Takagi, and Saeko Busujima.
Having never left the city, they looked at the bustling fields and the passing members of the Demeter Familia, deciding to explore thoroughly.
Just then, the crowd began to part, and Demeter, the main goddess of the Familia, appeared in their line of sight.
"Welcome! Lord Chen Hai!"
10 Goddess Demeter walked up to Chen Hai with a beaming smile, her gaze sweeping over the other girls.
"There are many guests, please all come inside with me."
Along the way, Demeter continued.
"I have specially prepared traditional harvest festival dishes, and I hope you will all enjoy them."
Although this reception banquet was not entirely Demeter's responsibility, she and her Familia members had worked hard together for a long time, so it could be said that she had put in a lot of effort.
Demeter, very confident, led Chen Hai and his group to the stronghold's main hall.
A long table was placed in the center of the hall, already laden with tempting dishes.
There was crispy golden roasted chicken and fragrant stews;
There were also fresh fruit salads and steaming hot bread.
"Wow! It smells so good!"
Milim bounced towards the dining table.
"Everything looks delicious!"
Milim, who could be described as a 'foodie,' was very excited, with an expression that said, 'I want to taste it immediately.'
"It hasn't started yet."
Shizue Izawa, standing to one side, reminded her with a smile.
Milim crossed her arms and replied.
"I know that much etiquette, don't treat me like a child!"
If only it could always be like this.
After sighing in his heart, Chen Hai looked at Demeter.
"Miss Demeter, you've put a lot of thought into this; every dish is like a work of art."
Upon hearing this, Demeter's face flushed slightly, and she shook her head.
"It's not that amazing, just some home cooking. As long as Lord Chen Hai likes it."
"So... are there still guests yet to arrive?"
"Everyone's here, please take your seats."
After Demeter spoke, the Familia members brought new appetizers to the table.
Just then—
Hestia arrived, panting.
"I heard Chen Hai was back! And then I came to find Demeter! It looks like it's true!"
"Welcome, Lady Hestia, there's still a seat here."
Demeter was not surprised by Hestia's appearance; the extra chair showed she was prepared.
Before taking her seat, Hestia looked at Chen Hai.
"You're finally back."
"This time, I shouldn't be 'working' so quickly."
"You'll have a lot to talk about then!"
Hestia finished speaking and sat down in the empty seat.
And so, the harvest feast hosted by Demeter began.
Whenever Chen Hai tasted a new dish, he would praise it.
For example, 'This dish is great,' 'The seasoning is perfect,' and so on.
After all, the food made by a goddess was indeed very good.
Demeter responded happily, her smile even wider than before.
Noticing the increasingly harmonious atmosphere between the two, the surrounding girls also began to chat in hushed tones.
"Miss Hestia…"
Saeko Busujima suddenly whispered,
"Is Miss Demeter's cooking the best in Orario?"
"I'm not really sure about that, but she definitely studied it. She captured Chen Hai-kun's stomach right away."
Meanwhile, next door—
Rei Miyamoto bit her fork.
"That goddess, what she made this time was indeed very good…"
Saya Takagi, standing nearby, pushed up her glasses.
"Food is indeed a good way to bring people closer. I'm completely terrible at it."
Seeing this scene, Shizuka Marikawa, one of the 'older group,' smiled.
"Young people have so many thoughts…"
"Actually, Teacher Marikawa is also very young, right? And… Saya, don't overthink things just because of this meal."
After Yuriko Takagi responded to Shizuka Marikawa, her gaze fell upon her own daughter.
However, even so—
Whenever Chen Hai and Demeter exchanged smiles, the other girls' eyes would subtly change.
"This bread is so delicious."
Milim suddenly spoke, then turned to Demeter, continuing her praise,
"The crust is crispy, and the inside is soft. How did you do it? It's much better than any bread I've had before!"
"Thank you."
Hearing the compliment, Demeter smiled gently and said,
"It's mainly a matter of the heat."
"Heat… I've never cooked, so I don't understand at all."
So Milim, holding the bread, asked Chen Hai,
"Chen Hai, do you like it?"
"It would be good for breakfast sandwiches."
"So you like it?"
"Yes."
"Demeter! Demeter! Teach me how to make this!"
Hearing Chen Hai's 'yes,' Milim immediately became interested.
Even this Demon Lord had a day when she wanted to learn to cook…
Seeing this, Hestia also stood up.
"If we're learning… I want to try too."
"Count me in."
Izawa Shizue said seriously.
Saeko Busujima also joined the conversation at this point, emphasizing as she put down her chopsticks,
"I can prepare Japanese food for Chen Hai-kun…"
"Are we all going to learn to cook?"
Rei Miyamoto and Saya Takagi exchanged glances, both having the same thought.
Watching everything unfold, Shizuka Marikawa and Yuriko Takagi remained quite calm.
617 They, who were already accustomed to cooking, had the right to be calm.
Just then, Demeter suddenly spoke.
"If everyone is interested…"
Demeter scanned the scene.
"I believe that food is only meaningful when shared, so… how about everyone comes to learn cooking next time?"
"That's certainly possible."
Chen Hai was the first to agree.
Because this could avoid future disputes.
Thus, a new plan was set.
After discussing these matters, Demeter brought up another topic that greatly interested the girls.
"After you finish your recent work, what will you be doing next, Lord Chen Hai?"
"Future plans… probably strengthening and optimizing the 'Dungeon exploration' process."
"That sounds like it will take a lot of time."
"It won't take long. It's mainly about arranging a new group of 'Dungeon explorers,' about a million of them."
"A million?!"
Demeter was stunned.
She rarely heard such terms in her daily life.
Generally, a million referred to money, not… people.
"Where would so many people come from?"
Milim asked with curiosity.
"From the world I visited before,"
Chen Hai said with a smile.
"The soldiers there are all my 'workers.'"
The million-strong army from the apocalypse plane would be the new 'Dungeon explorers' and a new source of experience points.