"What the heck...?" I mumbled while staring at the Demon named Leuvis. My eyes also went to the other Demons who were keeping their eyes on me.

Sweats dripped on my face as I covered my mouth.

I should really watch my words!

But anyway! WHAT THE HEEEECK?

"Y-You really don't accept my offering?" I asked Leuvis who was looking at me. My eyes went to Andrew who was currently sleeping on the red cart that I borrowed from Oliver. "I-I mean... Look! He looks yummy---wait that sounds wrong..."

Leuvis let out a chuckle as he shook his head.

"You are a cruel kid, to think that you are actually offering that person to me sounds funny," Leuvis shook his head. "I would like to get him as my food but I don't think taking him is a good idea."

"Okay," I mumbled. "Looks like I didn't bring the best offering."

Tsk, I failed to dispose of Andrew.

"We can't do anything about it. That man is Ratri's agent, Peter Ratri won't be able to do something to me, but the Queen won't let it slide," Leuvis explained as he glanced at Lerin. "I don't want any trouble right now."

"Why are you looking at me when you say trouble?" Lerin asked him.

"Aren't you my biggest trouble?" Leuvis told him which made me almost laugh. 

"If Lerin won't take that Human, can I take it?" A Demon with five servants asked me as he licked his lips. "It's been a while since I ate an adult, his brain would be delicious for a feast."

I suddenly felt a shiver when that Demon said that to me.

I glanced at the Demon named Luce while tilting my head. "If it won't get you into trouble, then you can---" I suddenly cut off what I was about to say when Mr. Lerin suddenly lifted my body using his big hand.

"Don't bother, Luce," Mr. Lerin told him. "If you still want to continue poaching in this area, then don't you dare mention any of it again. It will cause a lot of conflict to your favorite hobby as a poacher."

"Insolence," Luce uttered upon hearing the word 'Poachers' which Mr. Lerin emphasized.

"And you little one," Mr. Lerin told me as he placed me on his shoulders. I immediately wrapped my hands around his horn to prevent myself from falling. "Don't cause any trouble anymore," He told me as he started to walk away from them.

I glanced at the Demons who were looking in our direction.

"Why are we suddenly leaving?" I asked Mr. Lerin.

Mr. Lerin glanced at me on his shoulders.

"If you grabbed their interests, I don't think you'll be able to leave here without being hunted," Mr. Lerin suddenly explained to me. "Even if you're under Ratri's faction as an outstanding student, if they kill you while I'm not looking, I won't be able to do anything about it."

"I can't offend an aristocracy as I pleased, My master will kill me himself."

Oh, I see...

Mr. Lerin's not as bad as I thought.

"How about Leuvis and Bayon?"

"They're different, they know that you're my prey and I hate it when someone tries to steal my food."

I take it back!

"Bummer," I mumbled. "But anyway, I failed to dispose of Andrew, I hope he won't make a fuss about shooting him with a tranquilizer."

"Why do you hate that human?"

It's because he killed someone in the original manga...

And...

"He'll do something bad to my little baby."

•••••••••

I stayed in the Goldy Pond for two more days. 

Unfortunately, because of the incident that happened during my first stay in this place, Andrew became hostile and stricter with me. He didn't act rashly like he did when we came here, but I can't move freely because of his watchful eyes.

Good thing that no one mentioned to Andrew that I actually planned to give him to the Demons as their food while he's asleep. It'd cause big trouble for me if they did.

"I hope you didn't forget you're true objective in this place," Andrew told me with a stern voice. "Have you picked the suitable goods for the auction?"

"I don't like any of them," I told him blankly. "They don't suit for the auction. Although I got a list of the possible goods, I don't know if it's a good idea to choose from those kids... And stop asking me anything, you're annoying."

"Young miss," Andrew threatened me. 

KRING! KRING!

Andrew suddenly glared at me before placing his hands in his pocket.

"Mr. Ratri is calling for me, I'll go and answer this call," Andrew told me as he turned his back on me, but he glanced at me one more time. "Young miss, stay and don't go anywhere, I'll be back quickly."

I watched him as he went away from me.

"Lol, you wish," I mumbled as I immediately went out and searched for Mr. Lerin. "Do you think I'll stay because you told me? You wish."

I have to go back now.

I don't think I'll be able to take it if I stay in this place any longer.

I need to get away from here.

Today is the day when the poachers will hunt the children, and I can't do anything about it that's why I want to leave before the hunting starts.

Unlike Emma, I don't have the guts to challenge the Demons in this place. I don't have the power or intelligence to stop the poachers from hunting those children. The best thing that I can do for myself is to leave.

I... I can't do anything about it yet...

They're not ready for the battle as well...

The only thing I can do for them right now is to leave the 'Promised Pen' to them. 

I have something more important to do.

"We're going to leave without that human?" Mr. Lerin asked with a grin. "I don't a have a problem with that, but it only means that you cannot use human transportation if you come with me."

"That's okay, besides, I have a favor for you, Mr. Lerin."

"What is it?"

"Can we take this route?"

B01-14

"This place..." Mr. Lerin mumbled. His eyes immediately went to me. 

"Why do you want to go to that place? This route will consume our time longer, and that place is also dangerous for humans. This route will also take us to the Demon town. If they smell your human scent... It'll be big trouble."

"I can hide my scent and disguise as a Demon! Just take me to this route, and I'll take care of everything."

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy when Mr. Lerin gave me a pressuring gaze. 

"And if I refuse?"

"Will you refuse?" I asked him back. 

The Demon suddenly took a deep sigh before shaking his head.

 "Fine, but if you decided to escape today, our hunt will begin," He told me before he called for his Demon horse. "I'll take care of your transmitter, be glad that I asked the facility to give me the authority of the transmitter in your ears."

"How convenient," I mumbled before looking up to Mr. Lerin. I know that our relationship is like a prey-predator relationship, but I guess I can count on him more than anyone else. 

"Thank you, Mr. Lerin."

"Such an awful words," He said before placing me on the horse. "It might take us a whole day before we arrive at that place, they might be suspicious if return tomorrow."

"No one will question it if you said that you wanted to visit the 'Demon town' with me, right?" I asked him with a grin. "It's just another field trip."

"You're aware of the power that my title holds, huh? How cunning," Mr. Lerin told me. "But tomorrow is the start of your elimination exam, you told me that you can't fail. How are you going to deal with that?"

I remained silent when I remembered that Andrew had received a call from Peter Ratri. I don't know exactly the content of their conversation, but I am certain of one thing.

It's about them.

"Change of plans," I mumbled. "The Exam won't be held tomorrow. It's okay if I return late."

"And what makes you confident?"

"Grandma will be replaced."

They have already escaped.

•••••••••

B01-14

The shock was evident when the Raven-haired boy saw the tall Demon beside a familiar Little child. He was speechless---No--- He was horrified at this unbelievable sight and his horrid face was immediately replaced by anger as soon as he adapted to the situation.

He was angry but at the same time relief was evident on his face.

He saw her alive!

"So this is what you're talking about... an Escapee from Gracefield. You know how to get the news faster huh?" The Demon suddenly spoke. "But it seems like you're not going to take him back."

"I will not, and you're not going to touch him, Mr. Lerin."

"I'm not interested in your little boyfriend," The demon told her with a smirk before turning his back to the child. "But he looks smarter than you, his brain might be delicious," The demon commented.

"He's not my boyfriend!" Conny shouted angrily at him.

"Conny..." The Raven-Haire boy suddenly spoke. The boy suddenly pulled Conny behind her back as if trying to protect her. "Stay behind my back."

"Ray...?"

"Not your boyfriend?" The Demon mumbled suspiciously with a grin. "Nevermind, I'll go greet an old friend of mine. Don't wander too much, this place is dangerous. Take that thing as an example."

The Demon pointed at the dead demon to the ground.

"Okay," The little child replied as she watched the Demon walk away from them. "We traveled faster than I thought," She mumbled with a sigh.

"So you're still alive huh?" The boy suddenly spoke.

Conny immediately glanced at Ray awkwardly when she heard him say that.

"Of course! I told you I'm going to---"

BOINK!

"AWW! Why did you do that? We just meet again and this is how you're going to greet me?" Conny told him with a high-pitched voice. 

"I don't know what you did while you're in the facility, but I can already tell that you did something reckless," Ray told him as he looked down at Conny. His face suddenly soften as he avoided her gaze.

Conny felt sweats from her as she smiled awkwardly.

How did he know? By instincts? 

Come to think of it, he also slapped Norman in the original series. 

"Stop dozing off," Conny suddenly felt a pat on her head. "Stupid, I'm glad that you're alive."

••••••••••

So how did this happen? Why did it escalate so suddenly? 

The answer is simple... I am really desperate to update this story. Guess I'll just explain what happened to Conny in the next chapters. 😭

By the way! Happy 2k followers!