I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 125: The Demon Compendium

The mountain wind carried a scent that made Jack’s stomach clench with sudden, desperate hunger.

He pressed a hand to his abdomen as it released a growl that echoed off the rocky ledge where the God of Death’s emporium had stood just moments before.

The sound was embarrassingly loud in the silence, a reminder that divine encounters didn’t pause for mortal needs like food.

Jack turned back toward where the mysterious door had been, hoping that it might reappear.

Nothing but stone met his gaze.

”Fantastic,” he muttered, feeling Corvin shift on his shoulder. ”Stranded on a mountain with no food, and the nearest restaurant is probably a few thousand feet down and crawling with demons.”

His stomach released another demanding growl, more insistent than the first.

’System,’ he thought, ’what are my options for food out here?’

[DING!]]

[Available options: Hunt local wildlife or consume stored demon remains]

[Recommendation: Demon meat provides superior nutritional value and magical benefits]

Jack blinked, certain he’d misread the floating text. ’I’m sorry, what? Did you just suggest I eat a demon?’

[Affirmative. Demon flesh is highly nutritious and grants temporary attribute bonuses.]

[Current inventory contains: Cho (Lesser Hellfire Demon) - Fresh, Grade A quality]

’That’s...’ Jack felt his stomach turn, though whether from hunger or revulsion, he couldn’t tell. ’That’s disgusting. I’m not eating a demon. That’s insane.’

[Host energy levels dropping. Without proper nutrition, combat effectiveness will decrease by 45% within two hours]

[Upgrade Reputation Store for expanded food options?]

Jack rubbed his temples, feeling a headache building behind his eyes. ’Fine. How much?’

[Reputation Store Upgrade: 100,000 Reputation Points]

[New Section Unlocked: Survival Guides]

[Recommended Purchase: The Demon Compendium - 50,000 Reputation Points]

[Complete cooking, butchering, and utilization guide for all demonic creatures]

Jack stared at the notifications with the growing realization that his System was essentially trying to turn him into some kind of cannibal.

”This is what my life has become,” he said to Corvin, who cocked his head with what might have been amusement. ”A magical voice in my head is trying to convince me to eat demons like its bacon.”

Another stomach growl, this one painful enough to double him over slightly.

’System, if I do this, and I’m not saying I will, but if I do this, what exactly am I getting myself into?’

[The Demon Compendium contains comprehensive information on:]

[Proper butchering techniques for all demon classifications]

[Cooking methods to neutralize toxins and maximize benefits]

[Preservation techniques for long-term storage]

[Utilization of non-edible parts for crafting materials]

[Safety protocols and contraindications]

Jack closed his eyes, feeling the weight of necessity pressing down on him like the mountain itself.

He was alone in a hostile realm, with no clear path home and a war waiting for him if he ever made it back.

The God of Death had made it clear that the road ahead was filled with creatures that would happily tear him apart.

And here he was, starving, while carrying the corpse of something that apparently counted as premium dining in monster circles.

”I hate everything about this,” he said aloud, then sighed.

’Purchase both. The upgrade and the book.’

[Purchase Confirmed]

[Reputation Points: 16,096 remaining]

[The Demon Compendium acquired]

A leather-bound tome materialized in Jack’s hands, its cover embossed with symbols he didn’t understand.

The book was heavier than it looked, and warm to the touch.

Jack opened it to the first page, where elegant script began forming as he watched:

A Comprehensive Guide to Demonic Consumption and Utilization

By Master Chef Korvain the Devourer

If you’re reading this, you’ve either made some very poor life choices or found yourself in circumstances that demand extreme survival decisions. Either way, congratulations on taking your first step toward becoming an apex predator.

”Wonderful,” Jack muttered. ”Even the cookbook is judging me.”

He flipped through pages that detailed anatomical diagrams, cooking temperatures, and preparation methods with the kind of clinical precision usually reserved for medical textbooks.

The illustrations were disturbingly detailed, showing the internal structure of various demonic creatures with annotations pointing out the choicest cuts.

When he reached the section on Hellfire Demons, Jack’s stomach gave another insistent rumble that seemed to mock his hesitation.

Hellfire Demons: Grade A Quality Meat

Bone Structure: Highly flammable, excellent for fires. The calcium content is enhanced by infernal energy, making the bones burn longer and hotter than any fuel.

Meat: Rich in protein and magical essence. The flesh should be cooked thoroughly to neutralize residual hellfire toxins. Properly prepared hellfire demon meat provides significant temporary boosts to physical attributes.

Hearts: Considered a delicacy. High concentration of demonic essence. Consume with caution: see safety protocols on page 847.

Preservation: All demonic meat can be stored indefinitely in spatial storage without degradation. The magical stasis prevents spoilage and maintains nutritional value.

Jack found himself reading with growing fascination despite his revulsion. The clinical nature of the text made it seem almost... reasonable.

”Alright,” he said, closing the book with a decisive snap. ”If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right.”

He retrieved Cho’s corpse from his inventory, the demon’s form materializing on the rocky ledge with a wet thud that made Jack’s empty stomach lurch.

In death, Cho looked smaller somehow, the intimidating presence reduced to mere flesh and bone.

Jack drew his Lightning Spear. According to the Compendium, the blade would work fine for butchering as long as he kept the electrical discharge low.

’System, do I get any kind of skill for this?’

[Butchering skill available upon first successful attempt]

”Of course, there’s a skill for it,” Jack said, kneeling beside Cho’s corpse. ”Why wouldn’t there be?”

The first cut was the hardest.

Jack had to force himself to pierce the crimson skin, his mind trying to reconcile the act with everything he’d been taught about civilization and humanity.

But hunger and necessity drove his hands, and soon he found himself following the Compendium’s instructions with grim efficiency.

The demon’s bone structure was surprisingly similar to large mammals, though the bones themselves felt lighter and radiated a faint heat that would make them excellent fuel.

Jack carefully separated the choice cuts of meat, setting aside the organs according to the book’s priorities.

The work was messy, unpleasant, and took far longer than he’d expected. By the time he finished, nearly three hours had passed, and Jack felt like he’d been baptized in demon blood.

[DING!]

[New Skill Obtained!]

[Butcher (Level 1): You have learned to break down your enemies efficiently!]

[+5% yield when processing creature remains]

[+10% chance to discover rare materials]

His inventory now contained an impressive collection of demon parts:

[Cho’s Remains - Processed]

[Hellfire Demon Meat: 300 pounds]

[Demon Eyes: 2]

[Demon Horns: 2]

[Demon Hearts: 2]

[Demon Tail: 1]

[Hellfire Demon Bones: 60 pounds]

Jack stared at the list with a mixture of accomplishment and disgust. ”I can’t believe I just spent three hours turning a person, well a demon, into meat portions.”

[The horns, eyes, and tail are excellent crafting materials. Any skilled smith would pay premium prices for such components.]

”Right,” Jack said, wiping demon blood from his hands with a cloth. ”Everyone keeps telling me to find a smith. I’ll add it to my to-do list right after ’survive the demon castle’ and ’win a war.’”

[Recommendation: Consume one demon heart immediately. Hearts contain concentrated essence and provide maximum nutritional benefit. Rich in protein, B vitamins, and magical minerals.]

Jack looked down at one of the hearts he’d set aside. It was roughly twice the size of his fist, dark red with veins of orange that still pulsed faintly with residual hellfire energy.

”This is really happening,” he said to himself. ”I’m actually about to eat a demon heart.”

He gathered some of Cho’s bones and his tinder from system storage, arranging them into a small fire pit.

He pulled out a match and started to make a fire.

When he struck the match and touched it to the demonic bone, the flames that erupted were not what he expected. White-hot and tinged with crimson, burning with an intensity that made the air around it shimmer.

Jack skewered the heart on the tip of his Lightning Spear, holding it over the flames like the world’s most disturbing camping trip.

The meat sizzled and popped, releasing an aroma that was surprisingly... appetizing.

Rich and meaty, with hints of smoke and something that reminded him of expensive wine.

Something Jack was never able to have before, but he did work as a barracks at a nice restaurant before. So the aroma was familiar.

”At least it smells good,” he muttered, trying to ignore the fact that he was cooking a demon’s heart over a fire made from its own bones.

When the heart was thoroughly cooked, Jack pulled it away from the flames and waited for it to cool slightly. The meat had turned from dark red to a deep brown, and the veins of orange had faded to pale gold.

He took a deep breath, said a quick prayer to whatever gods might be listening, and bit into the heart.

The flavor exploded across his taste buds.

It was rich, complex, with a warmth that spread through his chest like fine whiskey.

It was actually... good. Really good. The meat was tender and flavorful, nothing like the horror he’d been expecting.

But as he swallowed the first bite, something changed.

[DING!]

[New Skill Obtained!]

[Devourer (Level 1): You have consumed the heart of a fallen enemy!]

[Eating the hearts of your enemies grants increased power and essence absorption!]

[Reward: +5 to all stats! +50,000 Reputation Points! +1 Demonic Essence!]

[The Abyssal Sovereign approves of your decision!]

Jack nearly choked on his second bite. ”What the hell? Demonic Essence? What did you make me do?”

[Host survival probability has increased significantly. This was the best course of action to prevent starvation and enhance combat ability.]

”That’s not what I...” Jack’s words cut off as pain exploded through his chest.