The Demon’s Menu

Under Gerard’s proper guidance, Jason mastered the essentials of Riding Skill by nearly noon.

While he couldn’t yet spur the horse into a gallop, he was now able to amble along slowly.

“Not bad.”

“Give it a few more days, and you’ll be able to trot.”

Gerard said.

Meanwhile, Jason was looking at the text in front of him—

[Mastered Riding Skill (Basic)]

[Riding Skill (Basic): You have had some experience with horses and know a bit about handling them, but you’re lacking in actual operation. At this stage, you can only sit on the horse’s back and move forward slowly without falling off due to the bumps.]

…

“So, if I learn on my own and meet certain requirements, I can acquire skills?”

When the personal interface appeared, it came with [Barehanded Combat] and [Firearms: Light Weapons], which were skills Jason had already mastered. He wasn’t sure if skills he acquired on his own afterward would appear.

Now, he finally had his answer.

Glancing at the [Riding Skill] that required 1 point of Satiation to upgrade to beginner level, Jason didn’t pay it any attention for the moment.

Until he acquired a significant amount of Satiation, he would choose to practice on his own.

“Hahaha!”

“Jason, you’re so slow!”

“Come on, chase me!”

Dennise rode a white horse without a saddle, charging past Jason’s side.

After waking up, Dennise had come straight to the stables, led by a servant.

She had never ridden a horse before either.

But with the guidance of a female Knight, Dennise swiftly picked up the basics of riding.

“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed that Dennise had never ridden a horse.”

“Truly a natural-born warrior on the back of a horse.”

Gerard exclaimed, but upon turning his head and seeing Jason, he quickly added, “Of course, you’re not bad either, Jason.”

If you hadn’t added that, I might’ve felt a bit better.

Jason silently watched Gerard. When the latter felt uneasy, Jason finally spoke up, “Can I take a look at the Earth Dragon and Flying Dragon skeletons you hunted before?”

“Of course!”

“If you like, I can give them to you.”

“They take up too much space when assembled, and storing them away, they lose their purpose.”

“After all, the most valuable materials from them had already been collected.”

Gerard said generously.

“Thank you.”

Jason thanked him sincerely.

At this moment, Dennise once again rode her horse around and came up beside Jason.

“Jason~ come on, chase me~”

Her voice drifted on the wind, and under the morning sun, Dennise looked back at Jason and stuck out her tongue.

Jason raised an eyebrow and continued to move along slowly.

“Jason~ Jason~”

The voice of Dennise kept coming.

This time, Jason did not frown.

The now calm him subtly chose to level up.

[Riding Skill (Beginner): Long-term training has not only given you knowledge of handling a horse but also a considerable amount of practical experience. Your riding skill has reached beginner level, and you are able to ride swiftly.]

…

Then, Dennise saw Jason, who was only supposed to be ambling along, suddenly pick up speed. It wasn’t out of showmanship, but he had genuinely grasped the essence of riding at a gallop.

Seeing Jason approach emotionlessly, Dennise was startled and immediately spurred her horse to run faster.

Thinking she had put a significant distance between them, Dennise turned around to ‘provoke’ Jason once more.

But when she looked back, she found Jason right behind her.

This forced Dennise to spur her horse to run faster again.

However, no matter what, Dennise was unable to increase the distance between her and Jason again.

This made Dennise immediately slump on the horse’s back, deflated like a sodden Samoyed, while Jason strode ahead like the owner of the Samoyed.

Gerard watched his cousin in surprise.

Then he smiled.

Truly worthy of being his cousin.

Just like himself, gifted.

“Jason, let’s go back for lunch,”

“In the afternoon, I need to deal with public affairs.”

“In the evening, I’ll take you to see my collection.”

Gerard said this, then dismounted from his warhorse, handed the reins to the Attendant, and, looking at the approaching Jason and Dennise, smiled and said, “I’ll have Reed send the bones to your room.”

…

The lunch was opulent.

Large lobster tails, doused with lemon juice.

The lobster heads were stewed in a clay pot, simmering with rice.

Batches of scallops were slowly roasted over charcoal.

Three grilled lamb legs were placed in front of Gerard, Jason, and Dennise.

“This is to make up for last night.”

“Don’t worry, it’s very safe this time,”

Gerard said with a smile.

After cheering, Dennise started eating.

Without cutting, she just tore the meat with her hands to eat.

Jason looked at Dennise with disdain, grabbed the lamb leg directly, and began gnawing on it. He bit into the curled-up meat at the top, pulled with force, and a large chunk of lamb was torn off. His teeth and tongue worked together, swiftly swallowing the meat.

Then, the front!

He bit down and pulled downwards with force.

The fat on the lamb leg immediately oozed out under pressure, and the meat entered Jason’s stomach.

Licking the fat and sauce with his tongue, Jason used both hands forcefully.

Crack!

The joint at the bend of the lamb leg gave way, revealing more meat, but Jason ignored this and instead, stuck out his tongue to lick the tendons, yanking them like pulling a ball of yarn, causing the surrounding meat to be pulled into his mouth as well.

Shortly after, only the bone remained of one lamb leg.

And then?

Even the bone was gone.

Jason’s enhanced teeth made gnawing on such bones as easy as eating tofu.

Had it not been for the sake of preserving the pure taste of the meat, he would have directly chewed it up.

The surrounding attendants were stunned.

They had never seen anyone eat like this.

But…

For some reason, they suddenly felt very hungry.

Gerard was smiling as he watched Jason.

He then suddenly felt, perhaps using knife and fork wasn’t quite appropriate?

After pondering for a second or two, Gerard readily abandoned the knife and fork and went hands-on.

Copying Jason’s manner, Gerard grabbed the lamb leg and gave it a twist.

Crack!

With a satisfying snap, the lamb leg split in two, making it easier to eat.

Big bites of meat brought a mysterious satisfaction in Gerard’s heart.

Suddenly, one lamb leg was finished.

Looking at Jason, Gerard asked,

“Would you like some more?”

“Mhm,”

Facing food, Jason, unable to hide his eagerness, immediately nodded.

“Me too!”

Holding the half-eaten lamb leg, Dennise shouted.

“One more portion for each,”

Gerard informed the attendants, but then, after a thought, he corrected himself:

“No.”

“Make it two.”

The mansion’s chefs got busy once again.

As the new grilled lamb legs were brought in, lunch heated up once more.

But at that moment, a young attendant entered with a grave expression on his face.