The Lesser demon’s ear (well, equivalent of it) twitches at the sound of my spear being extended. Mallory holds up her hand, signaling me to stop. I raise my eyebrow in confusion, but don’t act yet. She was closer after all, maybe she planned to take it out swiftly herself.

“You can have the jerky.” She says, much to my surprise. “Do you need help opening it?”

It shakes it’s head no.

“Alright well… Go about your day, then. Try not to kill anymore humans.”

The Lesser demon stares at her, tilting it’s head to the side. It slowly backs away a few steps, then turns around to continue out the clearing. It pauses to look back one more time.

“Small human went to water.”

And with that, it escapes into the brush, beef jerky in hand.

“What was that?”

“What was what?” Mallory doesn’t turn around. She instead goes to retrieve the empty chicken bucket. She folds it down as much as it’ll bend and puts it in her backpack.

“You just let it go. It killed someone.”

“You wouldn’t blame a starved dog for attacking it’s owner.”

“That’s not comparable.”

Mallory finally turns to face me. “Well, it’s not the demon’s fault some human put up that pentagram. Was he just supposed to let his fellow Living-Dead starve?” She pauses, waiting for a response.

“Living-Dead?”

“Ya know… like… anything not-human?”

“Did you just make that up?”

“No, I made it up a week ago.” She crosses her arms, having the nerve to get huffy with me.

I just want to know why she let a murderous demon walk away—with her beef jerky nonetheless! And what’s with this new name? ‘Living-Dead’. Let’s just call them what they are: monsters.

“Look, let’s just find that stupid kid.” She turns and starts trudging into a barely-defined path.

Technique 5: Let offending monsters off with a warning if you feel bad for them. (Pending)

Unable to argue outside of the clearing, the topic is dropped. I sigh inwardly and follow her into the brush. Tromping through more bushes and thorns and other nature-related things, we soon stumble upon a broad but shallow river.

Mallory hops into it with a splash, a twitch running up her back as she does.

“…you alright?” I whisper, joining her in the water.

“Uhh… Just… cold?”

The water really wasn’t that cold, all things considered.

“And uh, you don’t have to whisper here. Anyone bothered by it won’t come near the river.” She adds.

“Why not?”

“It’s saltwater. Same for the lake.”

“Should you… be in the water, then?”

“I’ll live. Can barely feel anything this time.” She begins to follow the river, presumably towards the lake. “I must be getting better~!”

The tremble in her voice was subtle, but I’ve learned to recognize it. However, I decide not to push the topic further. If she doesn’t want me to carry her through the water, I’m not going to force her to.