I had successfully slain the demon that smelled magnificent. The demon was enormous and incredibly fat. Its body alone was enough to satisfy my appetite for days. I had already devoured its demonic energy, but this was still a beast. The grilled flesh of a beast like this was a delicacy. A rich aroma lingered around its body even after death. For demons, consuming the flesh of powerful beasts was not merely about satisfying hunger—it also nourished cultivation. Eating even a slice would make my cultivation smoother and allow my power to grow more easily.
Thinking of that, I prepared my meal.
I waved my hand, releasing my demonic energy. A massive pit exploded open beneath the ground, sending dirt flying in every direction. Loose rocks rolled into the crater while dust drifted through the air. I dropped the demon’s enormous corpse into the pit before igniting my Hell Flames. Purple flames engulfed the beast, and I covered the pit with sand.
This was how Hell Flames worked.
Unlike ordinary fire, Hell Flames originated from the depths beneath the mortal world. Its heat did not simply burn—it penetrated everything it touched. Because of that, it was perfect for cooking. Using this method always produced the most delicious meal.
Ella folded his arms.
"Hey... my king. This thing is huge. Are you really going to finish all of it?"
I didn’t even turn around.
"This meal belongs only to this Demon King. Every single piece belongs to this king. No one shall touch the meat that belongs to me."
"But can you really finish it?" Ella asked, staring at the enormous corpse. "Look how big it is."
He was already drooling.
Beside him, Casper simply smiled awkwardly, though I could tell from the way he kept glancing at the pit that he was interested as well.
"You’re too useless, Ella. There is nothing for you."
I pointed at Casper.
"I may give Casper a quarter of it. At least he has been useful by paying with his silver. But you? What exactly have you contributed to this king?"
While the demon continued roasting beneath the sand, the ground suddenly trembled.
Boom!
The earth burst open.
A small object shot out from beneath the soil before floating gently into the air.
I reached out and caught it.
It was another piece of the map.
I unfolded it slowly before the corners of my lips curled upward.
"Well... well... well..."
A satisfied chuckle escaped my lips.
"So, coming to Crayon City was not a waste after all."
This was the final fragment.
The last piece needed to complete the map leading to the scattered parts of my body.
After studying it for a while, I carefully folded it and placed it inside my spatial ring.
Humans truly were fools.
Immortals...
Cultivators...
Every one of them.
They had tried so hard to hide my body, yet these idiots had created a map showing exactly where every piece was sealed.
Did they truly believe I would never return?
Or were their memories already rotting with age?
Were their brains filled with cow dung?
How could they leave behind something so convenient for my resurrection?
How ridiculous.
Shaking my head, I returned my attention to my meal.
While I waited, Ella suddenly rummaged through a pouch at his waist.
"My king, your meal will taste even better if you sprinkle this."
"And what is that?"
I frowned at the white crystals in his palm. I had never seen such a thing before.
"My king, it’s salt. Sprinkle some on the meat. It’ll taste much better."
"Better?"
I scoffed.
"Anything cooked with this king’s Hell Flames is already more delicious than any pathetic human seasoning."
Ignoring him, I was about to continue tending the fire when Casper spoke.
"She’s right."
I glanced at him.
"Adding a little salt really will make it taste better."
After hearing Casper speak, I paused.
Then I silently snatched the salt from Ella’s hand.
Without saying another word, I sprinkled it over the roasting beast before covering the pit once again and letting my Hell Flames continue cooking the meat.
After some time, I uncovered the pit.
An irresistible aroma burst into the air.
The fragrance spread through the forest, rich enough to make even wild beasts stop in their tracks.
Before me lay a perfectly roasted beast.
Golden on the outside.
Juicy on the inside.
I sliced off one of its massive thighs and took a huge bite.
"...Hmm."
The meat practically melted in my mouth.
The flavor spread across my tongue.
I chewed slowly before nodding.
"So adding salt actually makes it taste even better."
I continued eating.
Only then did I notice Ella and Casper staring at me without blinking.
I cut off a generous piece and tossed it to Casper.
It was large enough to fill both of his hands.
Casper caught it with excitement.
"Thank you, Messenger of God."
I ignored him.
As for Ella...
I refused to give him anything.
He stared at me with pitiful eyes, his stomach practically growling.
He kept looking at the meat...
Then at me...
Then back at the meat again.
Finally, grumbling under my breath, I cut off another piece and threw it at him.
"Don’t expect this king to feed you again."
Ella caught it happily.
"For once, you’re not completely heartless."
I ignored him and continued eating the rest myself.
The beast wasn’t humanoid.
It walked on two powerful legs.
Its lower body resembled that of a giant boar, while its muscular arms looked like those of a tiger. Its face was a strange mixture of a lion, a pig, and a tiger. Its thick hide had become perfectly crispy after being roasted by my Hell Flames, making every bite unbelievably satisfying.
"Delicious..."
If I had known beasts like this tasted so good before my betrayal and execution, I would have hunted them every single day.
Just as I was enjoying my meal, the system suddenly rang inside my mind.
Warning! Warning!
Danger detected.
Someone nearby is in danger.
Young Hero, please proceed immediately and rescue them.
"What now..." I grumbled.