~Memories from the Beginning~

🎯Chapter 30🎯

Sitting around a table were demons, all equally as horrifying with their monstrous features such as their sharp teeth and tall stature.

"Well them, esteemed friends! What shall be your sport today?" A demon inquired.

"Something marbled...with more fat than muscle. Then...the white one with brown hair, around 14 years old." One demon replied.

"I just wanna mow down one of the weaklings!" One exclaimed. "Anything's fine, as long as I have a good time!"

"And you, Archduke Lewis?"

"Me? I'm still searching for the same kind of prey as I always do." Lewis replied.

"A very strong human who fights back with the eyes of a killer. Although, of late...I've been remarkably remiss about it."

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"A secret...hunting reserve?" Emma questioned, her eyes widening.

"Tell us! Is this another plantation? Or maybe they're the ones called, the 'poachers' who..."

"I knew it. You're not like the other kids. You know about the plantations...About them. This isn't one of the farms. It's a secret garden. The private property of an aristocrat called Lord Bayon. You two, me, the kids here....The only reason we're still alive is for them to hunt us." The purple-haired person revealed while pursing their lips.

'...What? No, wait. 'Demons shan't hunt humans'... to keep the promise-' Emma recalled.

"The farms don't know about this place. It's a hidden playground." Purple said.

"'All the kids', you said..." Emma trailed off.

"They are just innocent newbies. Once a month, they replace all who've been eaten." Purple frowned.

"Replace with whom...?" Emma asked.

"Farm kids mostly. They have some special privilege and use it to ship living cattle." Purple explained.

"You were saying the other kids don't know...?" Emma gulped.

"They don't know anything at all. They think they were fortunate to be born in a happy little orphanage, that they were chosen to move into a good home...And then some sort of monster kidnapped them, and now keeps coming to terrorize them. That's basically how most of them see it. Anyway, we can't stay around here. Let's hurry up and find a place to hide. There's someone I want you to meet." Purple said, waving their hand for Y/n and Emma to follow.

Then, there was a piercing scream, one that sent shivers down Emma's spine as it seemed awfully familiar. Y/n glanced at her before sighing as he followed after her running figure.

"HEY!" Purple called out for them.

-----

"I see you~" A demon cooed as it and other demons surrounded two children.

A girl held a spear as she stood beside a boy, attempting to hide her fear, but it was pretty much futile since her body continued to tremble. The boy beside her was on the ground, too scared and injured to move, so he could only stare with a horrified expression.

Watching from a tree not too far was a boy. He was under the impression that his presence was unknown and as he watched the scene, he couldn't help but feel guilty about wanting to help the kids but being too afraid to even act on it.

"I will give you kids...ten seconds!" The demon said.

"Choose one among you three for me to hunt next. Don't worry. After you decide, I'm letting the other two go. So, you, who's already been hurt? You, who managed to hurt one of my attendants? Or...you, who wants to betray your folk and run away?"