Hell Inn: Rebirth - I Became a Chef in Hell

Chapter 112 Shirley Morningstar

Shirley's face quickly disappeared from your sight.

Countless familiar scenes flash before your eyes; those fragments move so fast, like a roll of film being stretched to its limit.

Shirley's expectant yet uneasy face, Vicky's distrust, the soul you forcibly tore apart; everything you've done... the expressions of every old acquaintance.

You thought you heard the sound of an old-fashioned projector spitting out frames one by one.

You see yourself lying on the beach looking disheveled in your own reflection.

She was a pitiful-looking girl from East Asia.

She looked like a mushy, flesh-colored plastic bag that had been soaked in water, all wrinkled and crumpled.

A milky white, gelatinous substance, mixed with red like cream, gushed out from the gap in her head. It smeared around the moss-covered rock face and her scratched face, making it look as if someone had smashed a cake on her head.

...You know that it is actually yourself, but you can't see the girl's face clearly.

You asked yourself many questions.

For example, what exactly happened before? For example, why are you repeating the scene of your death in such a strange place?

For example, why would you blurt out the name "Shirley Morningstar" when you see that blonde woman who once remained in your memory?

The ebb and flow of the tide soaked through your familiar clothes, the heavy fabric dragging your dying body toward the depths of the ocean.

In the pain, you feel as if you're taking some kind of targeted drug, forcing yourself to repeatedly chew on that name that seems to have special meaning for you, with your hazy, lucid consciousness.

As a few words take root in your mind, the image of the blonde woman gradually becomes clearer in this long and desperate nightmare.

Fragments of memory pieced together the whole picture of that blonde woman in your mind.

Through the fragmented footage, you realize that Shirley seems to be a girl who is stubborn yet a little silly.

The first time you interacted with her seemed to be on a main street.

You recall that you were preparing to go to Little Devil Castle that day to work part-time as a nanny.

After you casually saved a little devil's mother from being hit by a car, the blonde woman appeared in front of you.

"Hello! I believe you are very kind! You have the potential to go to heaven! Would you like to join my heavenly journey and stay at the Happy Hotel? I will provide you with free food, lodging, and transportation; you only need to participate in some small activities and reflections with me!"

……

Because those words were so bizarre, you remember them perfectly clearly, without missing a single word, even at such a strange moment.

A tall, beautiful blonde female demon and a white-haired female demon with a sour expression suddenly appeared in front of you without any warning.

Although you can't see what you looked like in your memory, you can guess that your expression at the time must have been quite something.

For a long time after you went to hell, you were immersed in self-loathing and feelings of anger and hatred towards this hell.

The reason you didn't immediately kick out Shirley for making those strange remarks the first time was because you always showed the most basic respect for other women.

At that moment, you just felt like you were incredibly unlucky to have run into a pyramid scheme from hell.

And to be honest, you've already been traumatized by the idea of ​​getting something for nothing—not to mention that Shirley's explanation sounds even more terrifying than that.

After all, the last time you heard such a statement was in an anti-fraud news report you saw before you died.

Thus, your first meeting with the blonde witch ended with your cold and polite rejection.

But you clearly remember that this girl named "Shirley" has not given up on getting you to join her so-called "Paradise Project".

...because she clearly didn't understand the difference between "following" and "openly tailing".

At that time, you were still worried that she would be detrimental to your work partner.

But then you think... judging from her seemingly not-so-bright way of doing things, she probably doesn't have any bad intentions, so you leave in a hurry after finishing your work and setting up the restrictions.

There are so many different kinds of demons in hell that you can't judge a person's character based on what you see or hear. So most of the time, you decide whether or not to interact with a demon based on the color of their soul.

But when you first meet Shirley, you can't see her soul.

At that time, you had no concept of your own and Shirley's abilities and status, but because your only self-protection mechanism had failed, you, who never took risks, naturally had no intention of communicating with her.

Back then, you hated gambling and didn't want to gamble on whether this strange-looking devil from hell was a good person. You just thought she was one of the many weirdos you encountered before you died.

...So you didn't expect to see Shirley again.

The second time you see Shirley is on your way home after buying groceries.

At that time, you were surrounded by a small group of sinners who had ill intentions towards you.

Since sinners who look more like humans seem to be more popular in hell, it's commonplace for you to be harassed by clueless and filthy members of the opposite sex.

You were just surprised to run into Shirley again.

In my memory, a blonde female demon in a formal suit stood angrily in front of you, holding a fork that seemed to have been broken off from somewhere, looking like a conscripted temporary guard.

She awkwardly brandished her steel fork while uttering harsh words that were out of character for demons, driving away the sinners.

Get away! You annoying guys!

'Don't go near her!'

You can hear her shouting angrily and sincerely in her sweet voice.

The female demon with sharp horns on her head did have a devilish air about her at that time, and her appearance could also be described as heroic.

But you thought Shirley would preach her ideas to those sinners just like she had to you with her own Paradise Project, and you thought you would just turn around and leave that chaotic and disgusting encirclement.

But you don't know why you didn't choose to leave. Instead, you stared at Shirley standing in front of you as if you were bewitched, without saying a word.

Actually, just by looking at Shirley's defensive posture, you can tell that she is not good at fighting at all. After all, every action she takes makes her seem silly.

You probably saw Shirley like that and just smiled helplessly.

Although you still can't see the expression on your face clearly, you can feel that your mood has strangely improved when you see Shirley for the second time.

Is it because this girl named Shirley Morningstar is silly? Or is it because she's trying to protect you in such an awkward way?

Despite her origins in hell, you feel a strong sense of harmlessness from the first moment you see Shirley.

So much so that you might think... even though you can't see Shirley's soul color, and her behavior and speech are very strange, maybe you shouldn't be so cold and harsh to her.

'Maybe she really doesn't have any bad intentions?'

You know that once you have this thought, you will soon give in to Shirley, who is begging you.

And the facts prove that you really understand your own easily influenced nature.

Because you quickly saw the scene of your promise with her in your memory.

Tell her that after you finish your part-time job, you can find a place to listen to her talk about her so-called paradise plan.

Shirley seemed surprised by the formality of your speech, but delight followed.

At that time, you didn't know why she was so happy because of your compromise.

You just feel that the end of your journey in hell is becoming a monster, and the end of your life is ending before you even realize your small wish to go home.

Shirley wants you to help her fulfill her wish to go to heaven, even if it's a lie... it won't be worse than your future.

That's what you originally thought.

Until you meet Shirley for the third time.

You feel that most of your encounters with Shirley are not very pleasant.

Because during your third encounter, you happen to meet her and she encounters sinners from hell fighting for territory.

You didn't want to see Shirley, who was trying to persuade everyone to get along, to be "dealt with" by the sinners, so you used your ability to fulfill your wish to "protect Shirley".

Since your soul was already corrupted at the time, after using your power, you predictably fell into a "frenzy" mode in front of Shirley.

...But Shirley Morningstar held you.

She hugged you.

You, covered in blood, your clothes and hair disheveled, howling in pain like a wild beast, were a wretched and pathetic sight.

You look so pathetic as you're dragged into the mire by an unknown force.

You've always felt that you're actually a terrible person.

You are cold and arrogant, always cowardly and weak, hating your hopeless future.

After you go to hell, you will always be angry about everything, blindly hating the unknown entity that sent you to hell, and fearing the road ahead shrouded in black mist.

Even if your strength is unmatched, you will still be the pitiful creature lying on the ground, suffering the backlash of your own power.

Indecent, hysterical, and hilarious—

You are a lone, drowning dog in hell, someone no one cares about.

...But Shirley hugged you, who was so self-loathing that she almost wanted to give up on herself.

Even though you've only met twice, she acted completely unlike a devil from hell.

She neither mocked, pitied, nor blamed.

She just held you, constantly comforting you, "It's okay, you'll be alright," while stroking your back with her hands, like soothing a crying child.

She looked so innocent and naive...

But that was also the first time you were embraced while enduring the pain of being contaminated.

—It was also the first time I was comforted by someone when I was all alone.