The SSS Ranked Demon King Goes to the Hero Academy-Chapter 43: Tasting.

The first thing that struck Aku were the smells.

Hundreds of different smells mixed together until reaching his nose.

The fragrances blended into a sweet and pleasant smell that opened Aku’s appetite.

By logic, the demon king didn’t really need to eat, or at least that’s what Aku deduced due to how he had fused with Alexander’s physiology.

However, those smells awakened something within Aku’s body: appetite.

It was an inevitable reaction for someone who now possessed a body.

It was strange, since hunger itself isn’t pleasant, but the phenomenon that awakens hunger itself isn’t unpleasant.

Aku felt his taste buds awaken and his mouth salivate.

It was a strange, unknown sensation that the demon king was eager to experience.

"What are you doing standing there like an idiot? Come in already," the fairy growled with contempt as she began walking.

The demon king nodded as he kept observing the cafeteria.

It had a modern design to which Aku wasn’t accustomed.

White tiles and gray walls.

There were multiple oval white tables with wooden legs, and around them were matching chairs.

At some tables were some people seated, each with very different clothing and styles.

Aku supposed they were other heroes who had managed to pass the trial, though perhaps they could also be those who had lost, since they didn’t look too animated.

The bar was long, black, with several swivel stools to sit on.

"Follow me. The food is free so you can serve yourself whatever you want," Sylvie commented as she climbed with difficulty onto a stool. "There’s the menu if you want to choose something, or you can also look at the display case which also has things."

The fairy commented calmly as the waitress approached.

The woman was behind the bar, wearing a white uniform with a brown apron.

Her hair was short and brown, and her eyes were hazel.

"Hello Sylvie! Good to see you. Did you bring the hero with you?" the waitress asked with a big smile and friendly voice.

Sylvie nodded slightly, as if she didn’t care in the slightest about the comment the waitress had made.

"Give me the same as before, Claire," the fairy demanded with an authoritative and cold attitude that didn’t quite work.

Claire nodded without stopping smiling.

"Of course, and you, what do you want? You must be Aku, right?" the woman asked the demon king. "Wow, I must admit you’re even more attractive in person."

The woman added with a flirtatious tone as she smiled.

Aku was carefully observing the display cases when Claire interrupted him.

"Mmm? Yes, I’m Aku. Did Sylvie tell you about me or something? It doesn’t matter. Give me what you consider tastiest, please," the boy responded with his typical inexpressive tone.

The woman nodded immediately.

"Coming right up! You don’t seem as sweet-toothed as Sylvie, but I’ll serve you something sweet," the woman responded as she began looking for things.

She served Sylvie a cupcake with light blue frosting and colored sprinkles.

That along with a strawberry cake and a bright pink drink with gummies on the rim of the glass.

Aku was surprised by how elaborate the cake was, plus it was very eye-catching.

Though above all, Aku was surprised by how childish the design of that food seemed.

Upon realizing that, Aku felt something strange in his chest. It was strange to know that the girl who had bothered him so much was really a child inside.

For some reason, that made him feel bad, as if he regretted having treated Sylvie so aggressively.

"What are you staring at? I’m not giving you any," the fairy then said, her mouth full of cupcake.

That feeling of guilt vanished instantly.

Aku had just remembered how annoying Sylvie could be sometimes.

"Here you go, handsome," the waitress then said as she served the boy his food with a radiant smile.

Aku returned to reality as he saw what they were serving him.

"Be careful, the coffee’s hot," Claire warned, winking at Aku.

She had served him black coffee, since he looked like someone who drank those things.

"Thank you very much," the demon king responded politely.

His snack consisted of black coffee, a simple muffin, and a chocolate brownie.

Aku sniffed the air, feeling his appetite grow again.

Carefully he took the muffin and took a prudent bite.

Aku was surprised.

His taste buds activated immediately, delighting the demon king with a new sensation: tasting something he had never tasted before.

A new flavor: sweet.

The muffin was sweet, though not cloying. It was soft and warm, which made it pleasant to eat.

Aku, who had never felt that sensation before, felt a strange feeling of happiness and pleasure invade him.

It was the first thing he had tasted in his life, and the flavor was wonderful.

"Delicious," he declared quietly as he observed the muffin, as if he still didn’t believe the power that food had.

Unable to control his impulses, Aku devoured what remained of the muffin in one bite, enjoying the food even more.

Aku had experienced a sensation similar to Sylvie’s.

She came from a medieval world where, while there are pastries and sweet things, it doesn’t compare to modern food full of processed sugars and flavor enhancers.

That’s why Sylvie, who had always had a sweet tooth, was amazed the first time she tasted something so sweet.

Modern food had the same effect on them as a potent drug.

Or perhaps not quite.

After devouring the muffin, Aku noticed the steaming coffee.

Carefully the boy took the coffee cup and took a sip.

A chill ran through his entire body. The coffee tasted bitter and strong.

Normally that flavor would have caused a rejection sensation in a normal person, however Aku was more sensitive to the intensity of the flavor, not its nature.

So much bitterness didn’t cause him rejection, but quite the opposite.

The demon king finished the coffee in one gulp, enjoying every drop.

Then, the last prey: the chocolate brownie.

Aku looked at that food like a predator observing its prey, but before he could reach out his hand and take a bite, the door burst open.

"What’s up, bitches!" someone then intervened, entering the room abruptly.

The demon king’s meal had been interrupted.