Hell Inn: Rebirth - I Became a Chef in Hell

Chapter 113 "Everything."

Ultimately, your reason prevailed over your heart.

So at the time, rather than experiencing intense emotional turmoil, you felt more that Shirley had gone mad.

You weren't filming a Disney cartoon. What if you had hurt her if you hadn't stopped yourself?

But your rationality quickly crumbled due to the sudden reality.

Because after Shirley hugged you—just through contact—the part of you that had been contaminated by the second soul was purified.

...It all seems so natural that it's as if Shirley orchestrated this whole thing on you.

To be honest, when you woke up and found yourself being held by Shirley, you probably thought your expression must have been hilarious.

All you remember is Shirley hugging you with a face full of surprise, her eyes brimming with tears as she repeatedly says, "That's wonderful."

She seemed completely unaware of what was happening.

You, on the other hand, were held by Shirley like a frightened quail, your face full of confusion and astonishment.

Shirley's influence on your soul is incredible; you don't understand why her power could be the antidote to the pollution of your soul.

Fortunately, Shirley's influence on you will only be one of your many questions, and for now, it won't have a negative impact on you.

Only after she gets close to you and makes contact with you will you finally have the chance to see the color of her soul.

Shirley Morningstar's soul is pure, gentle, and romantic, like a soft flower petal.

The blonde was so beautiful and pure that she seemed out of place in this hellish place.

But you sense her strong and powerful heart, a quality that comes from growing up in love.

You are surprised that Shirley was able to purify your seemingly hopeless future, and you can't believe that your long-standing unsolvable problem could be solved so easily.

Shirley's appearance made you, who had been a headless fly for a long time, look like a complete clown.

At that time, you actually had doubts about Shirley's identity because she seemed to be deliberately hiding it.

But you also know that if you want to realize your long-cherished wish to "go home", you must hold on tightly to Shirley, who suddenly appeared as a lifeline.

To be on the safe side, after a brief conversation with Shirley, you realize that while her plan to go to heaven is still just a concept, it's not entirely unfounded.

Your situation prevents you from truly escaping hell; the moment you entertain such thoughts, the chains of hell will drag you back into the abyss.

...But what if you were granted the right to go to Heaven? Could you then exploit this loophole to escape the constraints of Hell?

You've tried every method you could think of, but most of them have failed. But Shirley's idea offers you a new possibility from a different perspective.

Although her plan to go to heaven is far off, the method is unknown, and even whether she can go to heaven at all is unknown... she has solved your problem directly at its root.

For you, Shirley is the only cure for a terminal illness.

...Besides, you think it's good to have more hope.

After all, without hope, the human soul cannot persevere.

Of course, you admit that you have your own selfish motives, because you clearly need Shirley's help more than she does in this matter.

She just needs your help to achieve her plans, and you not only enjoy the hope she provides, but you also need her to purify your soul.

After learning about your predicament, Shirley readily agreed to help you purify your soul.

Vicky, as an observer, found the inexplicable "connection" between you and Shirley strange, while Shirley simply felt that she "didn't want to refuse someone who was someone only she could help and who needed her help."

But you have new worries about Shirley, who is willing to help you, and about the future.

Because you have so many mysteries to solve, you need to quickly build trust with her and take actions that yield significant results in the shortest amount of time.

Since Shirley can only purify you when she comes into contact with your soul, but you can't be with Shirley all the time, you must stay by Shirley's side at all times if you want to maintain the ability to use your power.

You can certainly give your human soul directly to Shirley, but if you do, the second soul within you will directly take over your consciousness.

So many restrictions and conditions made you feel angry that you were being played.

These inexplicable restrictions feel like a mockery from the person who imposed them on you.

He not only blocked your path, but also told you with a grin that you'll forever be a chained dog in hell.

...But unfortunately, that person is about to miscalculate.

This anger led you to make an unprecedented decision—

You tore your own human soul apart and forcibly split it in two.

Half of it carries most of your goodwill and some emotions, memories, consciousness, and cognitions that are useless in hell; these are the most important parts of who you were in your previous life.

Half of it is all your rationality and intellect, and a portion of your fragmented emotions used to respond to others and maintain your ordinary daily life.

You decide to give the former to Shirley for purification, and the latter to be fully incorporated into the second soul to restrain His power.

In reality, after you split your soul in two, you are constantly dealing with your reason and your second soul.

However, because Shirley controls your other half of your human soul, even if your second soul completely corrupts your completely rational half, you won't do anything too outrageous.

And the part of your soul that Shirley is keeping will ensure that you are not devoured by the second soul—

As it turns out, leaving only reason to confront and integrate with the second soul has proven remarkably effective.

Although your definition of life has become increasingly blurred, most of the time you are able to weigh the pros and cons instead of doing whatever you want.

In some ways, the second soul, dominated by reason, even improves your life in hell...

And you, of course, didn't simply "sell" your most important half of your soul and all your sincerity to Shirley.

You exchanged something with her that you considered equivalent—

Her sincerity.

What you want is Shirley Morningstar's absolute trust and complete openness.

Soul transactions certainly carry significant weight in Hell, but what you're asking of Shirley is by no means something easy.

You must tell her clearly what she is thinking.

You must tell her what plans and ideas she has, and you have the right to participate.

You must tell her that she absolutely cannot deceive you, not even with a white lie.

You need to make her believe every decision you make, every single thing you do.

You need to make her believe that you would never do anything to harm her, even if she can't understand what you're doing.

If she agrees to these things, it proves that the shackles on you have nothing to do with her.

In exchange, you will use your near-unparalleled power to become the warrior of the only person in this hell who can give you a future.

If she won't harm you, then you will treat your savior with complete openness and consideration.

Moreover, at the time you were just thinking that instead of being hesitant and timid here, you might as well just go for it.

Your initial goal was simply that Shirley needed you to help her achieve her plan to go to heaven, and you hoped that Shirley's plan would set you free.

You need Shirley to extend your life and reason so that you can explore more possibilities and find the answers you seek.

……

Ultimately, you confide all this to Shirley, betting everything you have, just to gamble on the future that Shirley and you both desire.

At first, Shirley was very firm in her stance. She said, somewhat angrily and helplessly, that she only wanted your help, not to enslave your soul.

I've never seen a blonde like you actively asking for a soul-for-soul deal. She seemed terrified when you went all in and lost everything.

But after hearing what you wanted and the specifics of the deal... she chose to agree.

There's a reason why you gave your other half of your human soul to Shirley.

Sometimes, absolute rationality is just another form of madness.

Although you are currently able to control your second soul, in order to minimize losses in case of an accident—

You tell Shirley Morningstar that if you ever go insane for some reason... she can decide your fate.

Tell her that although the sinners you kill cannot be resurrected, you will never kill indiscriminately.

—'I swear by my soul.'

'As long as it doesn't endanger your life or your own interests, as long as you don't allow it...'

'I would never harm any creature from hell.'

'Especially the guests at the Joy Hotel and everything you care about.'

From this day forward, I will be your shield and your sword.

"...As long as you still believe in me, I will always stand by your side to help and protect you."

'Until our shared wish is fulfilled.'

'...'

'■■■……'

'Since you've entrusted your soul to me... I won't let you down!'

'But please believe me... I swear here and now in the name of Shirley Morningstar, Princess of Hell!'

'During the time I possess ■■■'s soul, I will never disregard her life, much less use her soul as a threat.'

'I will... cherish and protect this heavy stake as a token of the trust placed in me by [the trustor/respecter]!'

And please believe me, I will definitely fulfill your wish to go home!

'...'

'Thank you.'

'So, deal?'

'……make a deal!'

……

This time, the image freezes on a golden soul contract.

It has your signature, which you wrote with a brush and which has been replaced by ■■■, and Xia Lijuan's neat English handwriting.

—And your epic deal with the Princess of Hell began with this contract.

No one knows about this except you and Shirley.

Neither Vicky nor any of the demons in the inn, nor Shirley's father, knew that ■■■'s soul and life and death belonged to the Hell Princess.

You still vividly remember your conversation with Shirley, when the silly blonde asked you in surprise what you wanted to trade with her.

And yet you stood before her, making the first big gamble of your life without hesitation—

Everything.

……

"Pfft... Ha, ha... Hahahaha! But what have you gained now, my poor darling?"

Just as you were staring at that soul contract, Shirley's voice suddenly rang out from somewhere.

When you come to your senses, you find yourself unsteadily standing up.

Your shattered body has been soaked by the sea into a colossal form. Your movements are slow, and your blood-stained vision is squeezed by the swollen, rotting flesh, leaving only a sliver of light.

But you can still see Shirley standing in front of you?

The bones on your head, already soaked to the point of being almost limp, along with bits of whitish flesh, fell off with a "plop, plop" sound.

Looking at the blonde woman in front of you, so beautiful that she makes you feel ashamed of yourself, you want to apologize for getting into trouble, but all that comes out is the sticky, squelching sound of wet, dead flesh squeezed together.

Your actions seem to have amused Shirley? Because the smile on her face is starting to look strange.

"Look at you, you poor thing."

Seeing that you didn't react, Shirley? She reached out and gently brushed away the black hair that was caught between your rotting flesh, then narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Knowing full well that your deepest fears will bring misfortune, and having persevered for so long—oh, and look at the result?"

"A guy who was practically a god fell to the hands of an unknown nobody... It's as ridiculous as an invincible guy slipping on his enemy's banana peel and then dying!"

"...Whoosh! You're such a pathetic and pathetic clown, aren't you?"