The roar of the waterfalls faded behind them, replaced by the deep, unnerving silence of the Cursed Lands. Anya stood at the forest's edge, her eyes wide as she scanned the twilight-shrouded wilderness. The air was cold, damp, and smelled of decaying leaves and something else—something wild and ancient. A knot of pure dread tightened in her stomach. How did this happen? How did... how... dammit... She could feel the tremors of her own fear. "Calm down, Anya," she whispered to herself, the sound lost in the vast quiet. "There's a chance we won't even meet them. Yes... be positive."

  Beside her, completely unbothered, Azuma sat cross-legged on a mossy stone. The boy didn't even glance at the imposing forest. Instead, his focus was entirely on a crumpled report, his brow furrowed in concentration.

  "The plant called Lumeri secretes a nectar that all monsters love," he read aloud, his voice steady. "Antheros was in charge of collecting it, but one day, she came across a demon. It had long golden ears, fur covering its body, and sharp fangs. The most surprising thing, Antheros noted, was that the demon was wearing clothes and using Lumeri to set a trap for monsters. Unfortunately for her, an A-class monster came for the nectar, and the demon nearly lost. It was then Antheros swooped in and killed the A-class monster. After that, she found a way to communicate and reach an agreement."

  He paused, a tiny frown on his face. A civilized demon? He continued reading.

  "The demon is a speedster but lacks strength, so a deal was struck: the demon provides Lumeri, and Antheros provides food. The transaction happens every month."

  Azuma finished the report and looked over at the hunting bag at his feet—the same bag now half-filled with meat from their previous hunts. Then his gaze drifted to Anya. She was frantically searching the treeline, her shoulders tense. He noted the way her hands hovered over the hilt of her dagger, her knuckles white. Anya is one of the people who goes with Mother to meet the demon... So this meeting is entirely dependent on her. I hope things go well.

  He reached into the bag and pulled out four thick pieces of meat. A small fire crackled between them as he leisurely set the meat on a roasting spit. The sweet, rich scent of the meat filled the air, mingling with the earthy smells of the forest. The minutes stretched into an hour. Anya's anxiety mounted with every passing second.

  "I can't be here anymore," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "This is... too exposed." The smell of the roasting meat only added to her panic. Doesn't he know this will attract predators? Did Rufe teach him nothing?

  She finally gathered her courage. "I don't think they're coming today. We should try another time," she said, her voice strained.

  Azuma looked up from the perfectly browned meat, his expression serene. "We will wait a bit," he replied. "I think they will come."

  Anya stared at him, a deep frown etched on her face. "How can you be so sure?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly. "They might have seen us without Antheros and left for their own safety."

  Azuma simply smiled. "I just know."

  Anya just looked at him with a frown, and then it dawned on her why he was like this. Though he often acted beyond his age, he was only a three-year-old kid, and like any other three-year-old, he had that unreasonable stubbornness. Dammit, she thought, and looked at the eerie forest. Then she realized another thing: she was in the Cursed Lands, listening to a three-year-old kid's explanations.

  Azuma saw her growing panic and sighed. Her internal monologue was practically screaming. He realized his previous explanation was not enough.

  "You said they are not from here, right?" he began, his voice low and calm, pulling her out of her spiral. "They traveled a long way for the nectar, right?"

  "Ah... yes," Anya answered, dazed.

  "That means they left their home because there's a food scarcity," he said, taking a piece of meat from the fire and tasting it. It was delicious.

  Anya frowned. "Why do you say that?"

  "Aunty, who would travel through the Cursed Lands just for monsters?" he explained. "Why would there be a shortage of monsters anywhere in a place like this? It's simple logic."

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  He took another bite. "It means there's a higher demon in their territory who is hoarding all the meat. They are too weak to fight it, so they have to hunt near the borders. The deal with my mother means they are in dire need of food. Now, tell me," he leaned forward, his voice a playful whisper, "if you were them, and you saw only the two of us, a human child and a woman, what would you think?"

  Anya's mind, distracted by his words, momentarily forgot her fear. "I... I would probably think the deal is off and that we were here to capture them," she said.

  "Hee hee, yes! That's the first thought." Azuma grinned. "But after confirming that we are just a child and a woman, with a bag full of their food, what would they do?"

  He didn't wait for her answer this time. "They wouldn't return empty-handed. They'd wait for a distraction, then steal the food and run. The report says they are speedy."

  He paused, a sly look in his eyes. He then raised his voice, shouting into the darkness. "As far as the demons are concerned, the deal was made with my mother, and this is free food! This won't cause a problem unless one of us is killed! Finally, you know you need us for the food! So, if you're going to hide all day, you'll just see me eating all of your food!"

  Anya stared at him in disbelief. Why was he shouting? Then she understood. She used her ability and felt it—two powerful auras, not far away, hiding just beyond the trees. One felt new, more powerful than the other. Sweat beaded on her back as she instinctively moved to a defensive position, her hand on Azuma’s shoulder.

  A rustling broke the silence, and two figures emerged from the dense undergrowth. The first was slender and elegant, with dog-like ears and long, sharp claws. The second was a powerful brute, with a heavy build and a thick, shaggy mane that framed a wide, powerful jaw. Their eyes were vacant, lifeless, and from their throats, a strange black orb peeked out, glowing faintly like a half-black moon. They stood silently, their gazes locked on the bag of meat.

  The air grew heavy with tension. Anya was ready to grab Azuma and run, but he remained calm. He tossed a smaller bag to the demons. "I didn't eat your part," he said simply. "I am Antheros' son. I came here with a proposition that will benefit us all. But first, let's eat. You've traveled a long way."

  He held out two pieces of roasted meat. The demons stood still, their eyes flickering with surprise. After a moment, the slender one cautiously took a piece, and the other followed suit, both of them chewing slowly.

  Azuma said, "I want to make a deal with you." Seeing the demons stop munching, he continued, "I want your help with something, and in return, I will double the food you are getting now." The demons were surprised by the words of a child, but they were dumbstruck hearing the next two words: "Every week." Then the petite, elegant demon spoke for the first time. "Every week?" she asked, her eyes glowing with anticipation.

  Azuma simply nodded. "For that, you must trust me. We are harmless, and you know you can easily overpower us. So there is no need to be so vigilant. If you cooperate, we can achieve your dream." He pointed to the food bag.

  "First, I'd like to know your names," said Azuma.

  The demons looked at each other, and the slender one answered, "My name is Shizu, and this is my friend, Goar."

  "Good. My name is Azuma, and this is Anya de Velor. You know her; she came with my mother, Queen Antheros. I came with a task in mind, and I need your help to do it," said Azuma.

  Goar, who hadn't spoken until now, rumbled deep in his chest. "Is it true?"

  Azuma, confused, asked, "What?"

  "Is it true that you will give us that much food?"

  "Yes," Azuma replied. "If you are thinking that—"

  "We accept your proposal," Shizu interrupted, her voice firm.

  Azuma paused, then asked, "How many are there in your tribe?"

  "600," Shizu replied.

  Anya looked at the demons, and the truth hit her like a punch to the gut. She had seen their eyes and knew what the number truly meant. "How many were there before?" she asked.

  "I don't know. It's been ages," Shizu whispered.

  Anya asked, "Ages? Where are you fro—"

  "Enough with the questions," Azuma said. "We don't need to know their past. Let's get to the point."

  He took a deep breath. "Listen. The strongest smelling Lumeri plant is concentrated in the swamp. And that's where we're going to collect all of it."

  Anya's panic returned instantly. She lunged forward, grabbing his arm. "That's the territory of the Armoured Scale Cobra! A high-level, evolved, A-class monster with an ability! It's on the verge of becoming a demon! Azuma, please rethink this! I was there! I wrote that report! You know how badly we were injured, and if not for your mother, we would all be dead!"

  "Wait, aunty," Azuma said, his voice grim. "I know what happened. I have read the reports. And that's what made me think of this plan."

  Anya stared at him, bewildered. She had written that report. What could he have read in it that made him think this was a good idea?

  "You said in the report that my mother figured out the cobra had laid eggs and was protecting them, so it didn't chase you guys to your deaths."

  "Yes," Anya said, her mind replaying the nightmare.

  "Great," Azuma smiled. "Then this is perfect timing. As per Vikram's description, it takes at least one or two years for an A-rank monster's eggs to hatch. For the past year, we have been able to take Lumeri with much ease, am I right?" he asked the demons.

  Shizu and Goar nodded slowly.

  "Then this is the perfect time. The eggs are due to hatch soon, so the cobra will be extra sensitive and won't leave its nest. It will also be much easier to agitate," he said, a gleam in his eyes. "It's time for the hunt."