THFN | Chapter 23

“Eek…!”691e6c59908a7859

Startled, the 034a105db8 vine demon f91cdec40a swung wildly, 5806842c23 and Clara bff09493d7 skillfully skewered 6a0af7271b the apple 5d1332b792 onto a 7e33b8da67 sharp point 7d4994b431 of the 95ac6ebe8a vine, then bfcc00958d quickly stepped 86fb90b452 back.b391996ffe930530

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He hurriedly d4f3e377a3 took another c873456387 slice and 7d4f6ff056 popped it e2bb126fb6 into his 66c67d4697 mouth.68005901f165d085

Crunch, the sound 9562d18187 of the juicy ea2f493f9e red skin breaking 8690199c27 was crisp and c16f084b0d satisfying. Clara, chewing, b774aa4929 gestured for d67edaa21e them to 06ca694825 eat.2c453aa855d38d49

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The vine 5d20c81bb8 demon awkwardly 4395540f04 held it, d37038ceea then showed 5846b2caac the skewered ff579f41ad apple to 17604b4a2f a friend.9bd3ea177a8430fa

They sniffed it, 72fad072b0 whispered among themselves, ad1e4601a8 and stared at 81e86bc451 Clara for a df4938754f moment.a79e65027418542f

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“Hey! If you’re not going to eat it, give it to me! You shouldn’t play with food!”ae3a34dd0662751b

As Ravid shouted from the Sea Witch’s shoulder, the vine demon cautiously put it in his mouth.7e1d0607d86349dc

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Crunch, the skin 1261ba8c23 broke first.24afbbc6db8e741f

Then came the 8236790562 munching. Front teeth, canines, molars. Alternating, they crunched 472f733214 it cheerfully. The time and 3606d3f6f6 motion it took db655647f2 for the juicy, 4184e295ba firm flesh to 936d56e6ba pass down the 0b52472717 throat felt slow.8d413223f9af852d

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The vine demon, annoyed by the friend urging him to spit it out, split the bitten apple and shoved it into the friend’s mouth.826971e79e352c0f

“Ugh. Hey!”1d46833b77e8dce2

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“See? You’ll know once you eat it!”d4412c3796523ea6

The friend, frozen as soon as it entered his mouth, trembled and chewed the apple for a while. Being larger, he didn’t chew much before gulping it down, the sound of his throat moving audible. The friend, licking his lips, admired the smaller piece left on the vine.9fa0b7d3ae623789

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“…It’s delicious!”55bea1f9ed14b3f2

“Right? What is this?”cc3358b21ee588b5

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“Isn’t it from the surface?”7186cc369f24e380

As the chatter grew, Clara discreetly set down the box, confirming that while they watched him, they weren’t running away, and approached the Sea Witch.2c8b57bd9c513a98

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Ravid, perched on the Sea Witch’s shoulder, hopped over to Clara. Feeling proud, Clara gave him a dried mango from his pocket and took out another for the Sea Witch.42f751fc863e9f74

“…The kid likes it, so I carry it around. If you don’t mind, please have some.”335419f3f1adbc04

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The Sea Witch hesitated, 8454e8619e then seemed embarrassed by 4a2e4c8ced her hesitation, her face 0e2922fc42 turning red as she ddaea339d4 shook her head.ed83f8cb074efdee

“No, I couldn’t take it from the child….”2097c2629925c0e8

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“There’s plenty at home, and the kid’s share is separate, so it’s fine. I farmed it myself.”5ee2032a06ae4220

Encouraged again, her hand hesitantly rose but didn’t reach. As Clara held it out, Ravid urged the Sea Witch to try it too.7b3c203883a37a2f

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“Clara is a king! He has a huge land and lots of food, like this much!”6f5d7c038711ae6b

“It’s just a personal gift, and the kid’s share is separate, so don’t worry.”27cfc274edd622a5

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Missing the 1e7d0e02b1 chance to 064793fd4f correct the ea9a13d00a misunderstanding due 2a36050305 to tension, 7e000818de Clara finally b439e1e1f9 managed to 8243690d0c place the 229904dd9e mango piece 96c1be7797 in her 18d8f0e970 hand. The Sea Witch, 8c01087b0b holding the fruit 0343648a73 with a powdery 3719cfc891 sugar coating, hesitated, 89165ac406 unsure whether to 0dbde32e04 eat it.2c1ce16679f365e9

Perhaps deciding against 1fa9ca36f5 it, she awkwardly 8e2a0b4cab pulled her hand 4dab0bf3bb back and stepped e4e1ec0aa2 away.5540d1b1c1b205d9

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“…Please follow me. This isn’t a suitable place for conversation.”681b7941ea31b608

Following her, 2e73d9b9a6 Clara watched d87b1ff86e Ravid and 6a2d211f17 the Sea dde25076cf Witch bicker, 3bb489a89a pretending not fda9feff0f to notice.4fedc12144bedd3f

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“Go ahead, Ravid should eat.”830ecac68e67e18d

“Ravid ate a lot! A whole lot. That’s for the Sea Witch!”945a9c7c216353cc

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“Children should eat these things. I’m grown and don’t need much. When Ravid grows up, he can give it to a child….”4cef831f17100bf0

“Liar. I heard your stomach growling last time. Ravid isn’t stupid. And I brought a whole lot! It’s delicious!”7148d64c77fb0ed7

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“Because it’s delicious, Ravid should eat….”0a18a1fd0af3eaf9

“Ugh!”38d577b8ead2d267

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Why are they arguing on my shoulder? If they’re going to bicker, they should go back over there. Clara, unsure where to look, glanced at the empty dirt pile and accidentally made eye contact with the Sea Witch.929f0ac4b7851dab

Instinctively, he pulled out about ten more mango pieces from his pocket and placed them in her hand. This time, he didn’t offer but just left them and quickly retreated.27fb60ca7dcb5f55

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The Sea Witch’s hand, trying to return them, hovered in the air as Clara’s hand disappeared into his pants pocket under the robe.29e415217ad62099

“Uh, um, I….”a073a21b74c06f78

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“Just take it. Think of it as a bribe.”695cceb7cb615db2

“A bribe?”cb74be9d774dc9a8

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Of course not. It was just 2ea415f7d6 pity for her 31107eebfc not being able 4fae28be75 to eat it. Clara, unaware 615b64c486 of the 2a25a6fbaf sweat trickling bbb9828ae4 down his 2731b0f443 temple, spoke 50eea78a89 confidently, his 1c810b5df3 eyes darting b6e845cb9e around.433b985d3a4093c2

“Well, uh….”5ee6d43383041ea7

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Ravid might 4367318519 have been 185f48e153 fooled, but 6d7cf6b2a5 his trembling 31b7d33183 voice and f05e7a6aa1 eyes were 7bd22ec0f4 a clear fa4cb38ded lie to 938b7f9b7b everyone but 80f2a53ed8 himself.0e2f1a6fea3bcbd6

“I heard you all live like family. I thought I could earn some favor by bringing the kid back, so I came for a reward. Um, anyway… while I’m at it…?”730b288db4a5c85e

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The Sea Witch, 1c6a16def4 watching his face, 320ba974da unknowingly smiled and 0a43c6745a held the mango 5b1195140e pieces.be2f3cf9a1254755

“…Please come inside. The underground air isn’t good for humans.”353d791345c0c674

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Before following 6488f95908 her, Clara 44a9d7d4e8 tried to 6120f993a1 hold Ravid 6ab2c184d9 securely on ce339c58e2 his shoulder 83d7bc4cf0 but froze a93d9a9ae0 at the 05eebde9f6 voice that 2128b90f41 came out.74e4720631944bb2

“Was that it?”d604cc5671e7f4e6

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Ravid’s mouth hung open in shock.617d94ea45801fbc

“Uh, well… um. Uh….”c9ff3c53dbf752c9

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“I didn’t even know….”d5e41a83d8ac0efb

As tears welled up in Ravid’s eyes, Clara, suddenly flustered, awkwardly raised his hand and desperately tried to explain.3e888bcf54511a4f

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“No, well. A reward… isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Everything in the world is a transaction, right? It’s not about forcing you to do hard work or pressuring you to refuse….”e660271bc24aab32

But it seemed Ravid wasn’t listening, as he slumped and began to slide off Clara’s shoulder. Clara instinctively caught him, holding him close. The soft, trembling body began to squirm.3aba866d8bd224a7

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While Clara b438de9562 was at ff5e61c5ea a loss, 910d0f44a4 a gentle 4e02f121bc voice, like 9fb676441a soothing a 6e05d85e7a child, spoke.028819d9e16648ea

“Ravid, remember I told you to develop the habit of thinking deeply?”14d345e94ff62935

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Clara and 265cf251e4 Ravid both 73bc83f370 looked up 0fd2ffe603 at the 350f494591 Sea Witch.34d1f6fd0e992d1d

Her eyes, e7cb76acba so similar 5da302c75a to theirs, 6beed36b93 made her 0febb94f11 bite her c8975e4c88 cheek to 9e47bc2344 suppress a 37fb7e05ba smile, and 65b152d270 she elegantly 61ed5b9021 lifted the ed9e61fc86 corners of 58751df234 her mouth.c7bc4d719bb7e98a

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“What Ravid has seen so far is the pure truth. Remember why you should always look into someone’s eyes before speaking?”cd65dcb06dc973fe

“……Ah.”7e1267e7e8ea25f5

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The Sea Witch, gently stroking Ravid as if he realized something, stepped back. Ravid, now securely perched on Clara’s neck, rubbed his head apologetically.ff89a5b36ab7a0ac

“I wasn’t thinking clearly. I shouldn’t judge anything before listening and thinking properly.”ad57ab46ddf0fb91

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Feeling the warm touch of fur and scales on his cheek, Clara almost rubbed his face against Ravid’s, but managed to restrain himself at the sight of the sharp, hook-like claws.e9991a83c2a97490

This kid, if you’re a monster that can cut through iron with those claws, don’t act so endearing. It’s making me attached.86db4bf7e34dd9e9

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“Honestly, I’m still sometimes scared of humans. But Clara is a good person!”744544407fa35cfe

“That’s all that matters.”de986735e50c2e1e

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Clara, pulling e2c1e19a57 Ravid close, 1164ce1453 answered gruffly, 9e5760976f though he a0ef4a15eb held him 1adbac5317 tenderly. The Sea 331fb6d270 Witch watched fa04c7397b them with 278c83f001 a rather 505a901972 peculiar expression.ac9c190c8a0d649f

Even she struggled to suppress her laughter. As Ravid buried his face in Clara’s neck, purring, the Sea Witch smiled warmly at Clara’s trembling lips and pretended to adjust her clothes with a cough.ae721ce019748ab6

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After bowing 78e964571b her head e5e9f06c83 to compose 333b1dc93c herself, the 6f57702cc0 Sea Witch 7349f7218c took a 236cffa6b5 deep breath 8695ab2097 to control c2ab655811 her emotions ce0eab24a0 and finally 2b8fd413f1 moved on 1f1831eec8 to the 2b7281a6f5 next topic.0c69506a3a9db9c2

“So, what brings a human here? What favor do you seek from the demons?”d417e10eb5f5f05c

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“Uh, ahem.”b7fca220b03455e0

Having not thought 31fd346153 about it, Clara c5a6eee4dc blurted out whatever da143fd51a came to mind.43877ffc4f34424c

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“Well. Before proposing a deal, I’d like you to see what I’ve brought. The answer usually depends on the price, right? Offering first is the basis of a transaction, isn’t it?”5b11e1851f9c9ce6

Though he 2deed8fecd spoke boldly, 2db1e5eed1 his mind ee8d3fa277 was a d11e6ee0e1 chaotic mess.aab3f014272efbd6

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Clara knew that everything e54ced5050 in the world was c95ecce464 a transaction and that d6e8ccc1e7 was the normal state. There are no favors 61d5e0e3ba without compensation, except among edffd03c25 family. If someone offers something ad618487a0 without reason, you must 8df33dbd5e be cautious.6bad5d89156f5376

…So to ease their guard, he needed to come up with a reason, but nothing came to mind. And he couldn’t say he wanted to warm their hearts to gain favor because they seemed to be Ivan’s family, especially when the situation wasn’t clear yet.5ea9a7db9261bfc0

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“Alright. If that’s the reason, we’ll accept it comfortably. I hope it turns into a good deal.”229ada9bbd6cf2a2

“Well, I wouldn’t call it a transaction….”ee98648912226a9e

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Instead of answering, the Sea Witch smiled knowingly and went out, saying she’d bring the goods. Clara watched her leave and then clutched his forehead.d44870afc767bfbb

Images of the db3b88b1a2 vine demon, weak 3411b74a8b and brittle, and 4f84a98744 the bird demon, ab76918f4a like a featherless fec1aa0033 chicken soaked in b928b83593 hot water, flashed ecf3a888cd through his mind.fc0c9f23a52c56a8

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‘…What can I ask of people who look like they haven’t had a decent meal?’4300394ce28599fa

Shouldn’t I address their malnutrition first? Clara, resting his chin on his hand, began to ponder seriously.b7c2016f68dcdcf1

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