THFN | Chapter 6

“Did you work all night?”

Even if that’s the case, isn’t this too much for one person? Clara was dumbfounded, wandering around the fig trees before returning to the storage.

The mountain of figs hadn’t changed at all, as if to prove it wasn’t a lie. It was piled so high it almost touched the ceiling.

“This, this…”

Even seeing it again, it was unbelievable. In five years of running the farm, he’d never seen anything like this.

Clara began searching for the child, only to find the bowl he’d left in the corner was completely empty in just a few minutes.

The bowl was spotless, as if someone had licked it clean, not a drop of broth left.

‘How long has it been since I’ve seen this?’

A plate this clean, a normal farm scene, and the result of someone’s diligent effort—it’s been so long. Picking it up, Clara trembled with overwhelming emotion.

A word slipped from his mouth like a sigh.

“Fairy…!”

A different race known for solving various tasks with outstanding magic despite having a childlike body. If not for that, how could anyone do this?

Not human, then. His expression brightened as he looked around excitedly.

In truth, Clara disliked humans.

That’s why he replaced workers every year. Some left after earning enough, but he never gave them the option to renew their contracts.

After all, if people settled and got used to this land, it would just be a hassle.

But if it were a different race?

‘Come to think of it, they mentioned being hungry and having family.’

He knew there was a severe famine worldwide. In distant places, people were eating leather and tree roots. But could fairies be hungry too?

This area still had plenty left due to good soil. Ah, but he’d never heard of fairies farming… Maybe they just gathered.

‘Did they come all the way here because they were hungry?’

Clara wiped a fig clean and popped it into his mouth. The soft flesh squished, offering a light, unburdened taste. …Sweet.

As he rolled it on his tongue, memories of countless resumes he’d read flashed through his mind.

Name: Unknown.

Name: Can’t disclose.

Residence: None.

Residence: From now on, here.

Previous job: None.

Previous job:

Unemployed. Experience: Fraud.

Experience: Swindler…

If this worker submitted a resume, it would probably look similar.

Name: Can’t tell humans.

Residence: How to tell humans.

Experience: What would humans do with it? But even if this worker submitted a messy resume, who cares? An optimistic thought rose.

Clara’s eyes sparkled like figs. Only one thing was on his mind now.

Worker.

A worker who works well, eats well, and even has a family to support. A worker so enthusiastic they’d work all night.

Likes tomatoes. Seems to like figs too.

His eyes gradually filled with joy rather than confusion.

Hired. Absolutely hired. Even if he had to pay extra to bring them in! Maybe he could bring their family too? Or maybe they’re already here. It couldn’t have been done alone.

Workers who moved in without a word and picked figs?

“…Hired!”

Clara shouted without realizing it and headed outside, eyes shining. He went to find the small worker, who seemed unlikely to be in the storage unless buried under the fig mountain.

However, the young demon, Ravid, who had been hiding among the tomato sacks inside the fig pile just like yesterday, awkwardly fluttered his black leather wings and muttered.

“Strange human…”

…Then he licked the stew still on his lips, losing himself in the sweet, savory taste.

For a while, only the sound of licking lips filled the air.

After cleaning off the grease, Ravid finally came to his senses and shook his head in surprise.

“No! I’m a demon! I can’t be swayed by food!”

Clara’s guesses were mostly wrong. Ravid was not a fairy but a demon, rumored to be evil, terrible, and cruel, and he hadn’t moved here.

But one thing was right.

Ravid tilted his head, recalling the human’s departure. He remembered the stew, rich and tender, almost burning his palate.

Gulp.

The sound of swallowing was loud.

Holding his rumbling stomach, Ravid picked up a tomato at his feet and took a cautious bite.

Ravid was hungry. He still was. Everyone at home was.

That was why he hid on this farm.

The clear juice trickled down his tongue, leaving a sticky trail. The refreshing aftertaste wasn’t unpleasant, and the slippery jelly surrounding the crunchy seeds didn’t stick to his teeth, playfully teasing his tongue.

As he savored it with closed eyes, the flesh, juice, and seeds turned into magic power, wriggling inside him. The magic, pure and flexible, felt like it had been with him since birth.

Sparkle. His eyes shone like stars.

To have such strong magic. To feel such pleasant fullness! And…

Above all, it’s delicious!

He gently sucked the juice, then chewed the now-empty skin, savoring it. It looked shriveled and odd, like an oil film, but even that was tasty. Even fun. Amazing.

One more, and he’d be full. Moving all those yesterday was a bit much, and he was a little short on strength.

With his hunger sated, Ravid finally noticed his surroundings and looked around.

Two tomato stems lay at his feet. Ten more were set aside, visible even to humans. …He’d eaten about that much yesterday, plus as many figs as his fingers.

…There were no humans, but that didn’t mean he could excuse his sneaky eating.

Ravid was a demon. Great and noble demons learned etiquette and manners from a young age, knowing how to read, write, walk, and fly with dignity.

Thus, he had to take responsibility for everything he did.

…So, to turn theft into something else, his large eyes trembled as he began rationalizing.

But about ten minutes later, Ravid cleared his throat and held his tail high, feigning confidence.

“I’m a demon, but still…”

Right. This is, what do you call it, payment.

He got it in advance. Didn’t the human say it yesterday? Payment. Since the human gave it, it’s not theft. He received payment, so he just had to work and pay it back.

From what he heard, workers were people who helped with light tasks and received plenty of food in return.

“I’m a worker, then.”

So he just needed to become that worker!

Though they hadn’t seen each other’s faces, and the original worker might have gone hungry because of him… Still, humans have private property, so they probably didn’t really starve, right?

As Ravid rationalized and worried simultaneously, a fig rolled down, unable to bear the weight. With each roll, its sweet scent tickled his nose.

“And I’ve already done a bit of work, so…”

Ravid’s eyes followed the fig as it rolled.

A temptation that seemed to say, “Aren’t you going to eat?” He already knew what it tasted like. Sweet, soft, and the crunchy seeds offered a different texture from tomatoes, tickling his tongue.

“…So I can eat a bit more, right?”

Unable to resist any longer, Ravid muttered softly and chose a slightly bruised fig, biting into it.

Juice burst into his mouth, filling it with a sweet aroma. Refreshing and soft. A different kind of freshness from tomatoes. Though rich, it didn’t linger like mud cookies.

It melted away…

Unaware of his softened expression, Ravid wrapped his arms around his cheeks, eyes narrowing in happiness. His vision blurred as he almost closed his eyes.

Even realizing this wasn’t his place, the deliciousness surrounding him was undeniable. A storage full of fresh mana-laden food. Was this heaven?

His mind, softened by sweetness, was filled only with thoughts of food. Food, food. Delicious food. Fresh mana. Soft, chewy texture. A body feeling reborn and healthy.

In the end, unable to resist his desires, Ravid decided to retreat for now.

“…This is a fair trade. Just as the human hired a worker, I received fair… compensation for my labor.”