The maid squad is too strong, what use is there for me, the Demon King?

The magic show ended, and the crowd gradually dispersed. Gray and Philippa didn't leave the square immediately, but instead strolled around the lively area for a while longer.

They stopped to watch the street artists create impromptu works with vibrant magical paints; in front of a stall filled with all sorts of whimsical alchemical trinkets, Philippa took a keen interest in a bracelet that could automatically weave simple patterns and played with it for a while; Gray lingered briefly at a stall selling exotic spices, seemingly taking a second look at a certain seasoning with a unique spiciness.

The sunlight grew increasingly intense, and time quietly slipped closer to noon. Feeling a slight emptiness in his stomach, Gray turned to the girl beside him: "It's almost lunchtime, are you a little hungry?"

Philippa touched her belly and nodded honestly, "Yes, a little."

“Alright, I’ll take you somewhere.” Gray said, naturally taking her hand again and leading her across the edge of the square, straight to a shop with a rather peculiar and eye-catching decor on the other side of the commercial street.

The shop's signboard had a bright background with an exaggerated, smiling... bird sketch? The shop's name was even more straightforward and a bit odd—"Kenken Chicken".

Philippa stared at the cartoonish sign and store name, her amber eyes filled with deep confusion.

She had absolutely no idea what kind of shop this was from its appearance and name. Did it sell live poultry? Feather ornaments? Or... magical materials related to chickens?

However, when she subconsciously looked up at Gray, she noticed a very subtle, almost nostalgic look that seemed to flash across his face.

Although that expression was fleeting, and she quickly returned to her usual composure, it was still noticed by the perceptive Philippa.

"Grey, what is this shop...?" she couldn't help but ask curiously.

Gray looked away and turned to Philippa, explaining, "This is a restaurant that mainly sells a food called 'fried chicken'."

“Fried…chicken?” Philippa repeated the unfamiliar word, her brows furrowed, still unable to understand.

She could understand that the food was probably related to "chicken," since the shop name mentioned it, but what kind of cooking method was "frying"? In her understanding, chicken was nothing more than roasting, boiling, stewing, or making minced meat.

Seeing her confusion, Gray further explained: "This is a relatively new food preparation method. Chicken pieces coated in flour or paste are quickly fried in hot oil in a specific way, making the outer skin golden and crispy, while the meat inside remains tender and juicy."

Currently, these food products are only being tested on a small scale in the commercial street near the headquarters of the Grand Chamber of Commerce; they are unlikely to be available outside of the area.

He paused, looking at Philippa's still somewhat doubtful face, and smiled confidently, "Although you may find it a little strange, I can assure you that it will taste... delicious. It will be a different experience from any chicken dish you've ever had before."

New food? Glen Chamber of Commerce testing? Gray's guarantee? These factors combined finally piqued Philippa's curiosity and appetite.

She stopped worrying about what it would look like, nodded vigorously, and smiled expectantly: "Hmm! Now that you say so, I definitely want to try it!"

As Gray noted, "Kenka Chicken" was an exceptionally popular restaurant, being tested in the commercial street of the Grand Chamber of Commerce headquarters.

Before she even got close, Philippa was stunned by the long, winding queue outside the store that stretched almost to the next street corner.

The crowd was bustling with activity. There were parents with children, young men and women who had come together, and many people dressed as adventurers who were curiously looking around.

A tempting aroma, a blend of oils and unique spices, wafts through the air, whetting the appetite but also making one dread the long wait.

"So...so many people?" Philippa looked at the endless queue, instinctively clutching Gray's sleeve, her little face full of worry. "How long are we going to have to wait?" It wasn't that she couldn't wait, but seeing that her delicious lunch seemed to be a long way off, she couldn't help but feel a little frustrated.

Gray chuckled as he watched her droop for a moment, and patted her hand reassuringly: "Don't worry, we don't need to wait in line."

"Huh? Why?" Philippa looked up in confusion.

“After all, it’s considered ‘our own’ business, so we have to have some privileges,” Gray said casually. “Besides, I had Gamma make arrangements beforehand to reserve a private room and a back kitchen passage, so the ingredients and preparation are all done independently.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowded people before him, a slightly sly smile playing on his lips: "However, we'd better hurry up and get in."

Although it's legal and compliant, it's still not a good impression for customers who have been patiently waiting in line to see us blatantly cutting in.

Before Philippa could fully comprehend what he meant by "hurry up," she felt a tightening around her waist and was instantly pulled into Gray's arms by a gentle force.

She gasped softly and instinctively wrapped her arms around Gray's neck.

Immediately afterwards, she felt the scenery around her suddenly blur, and the light seemed to dim for a moment, as if a very faint curtain of shadows was gently enveloping them.

A strange feeling of weightlessness and slight dizziness came over me. The whistling sound passing by my ears was not the wind, but more like the subtle buzzing of space being swept by at high speed.

The whole process was faster than anyone could imagine; almost before Philippa could react, her feet were already firmly planted on the ground again.

The surrounding crowds and noise disappeared, replaced by a relatively quiet indoor environment filled with a richer aroma of food.

Feeling a little dizzy, Philippa let go of Gray's neck, shook her head, and looked around to find that she and Gray were already inside the "Chicken Nuggets" shop.

Before them was a clean and bright dining area, and not far away, there were even waiters in uniform, smiling and nodding to them, clearly not surprised by their sudden appearance.

Outside the shop's glass doors, the long queue continued to move slowly, seemingly unnoticed by anyone who had just broken the queuing rules and entered the shop in a manner that was almost "physically invisible."

Some people might catch a glimpse of an unnatural shadow flickering out of the corner of their eye, but they would only assume it's an illusion caused by the sunlight, or that they're just seeing things.

"We...we're in here already?" Philippa was still a little dazed, feeling as if she had just had a very short dream about space jumps.

"Yes, you're in." Gray released his arm around her waist, his expression normal, as if he had just done something perfectly ordinary. "This is more efficient and won't attract unnecessary attention."

Philippa blinked, looking at the crowd still waiting outside, then at the composed Gray beside her. A subtle feeling welled up in her heart—dating this Demon Lord always seemed to bring some…unusual “conveniences.”

“Let’s go, the private room is upstairs.” Gray took her hand again and, guided by a shop assistant, walked towards the stairwell.

Philippa quickly followed, her anticipation for the supposedly "delicious" fried chicken rising to a new level.