章 13: Hunt

"Don't stretch your luck, child." The demon gritted his teeth.

"Games are nothing without predators hunting their prey."

Lucien was silent. He expected such a response. He guessed he wouldn't leave the game unscathed or with his whole body intact.

"System, is there any such thing as rewards?"

It takes a few seconds before the system responds in his mind.

[Yes, dear host.]

"Can I acquire them from demons?"

[It depends on what item you're asking, dear host. The demons certainly can bestow items, and the system will consider them as your reward. But it depends on what type, their uses, their levels and abilities.]

Lucien caught on to the important word. "Abilities? Items have abilities?"

[Yes, dear host. You yourself is not permitted to have innate powers like the protagonist and other characters in the story, but the system will grant you items that you can use to defend yourself against powerful enemies. Of course, demons, people, and other beings can bestow items on you which the system will categorize as 'rewards'. They will each have their own grade, level, uses, and abilities. System strongly suggests you ask for the demon to give you an item in this game.]

Lucien understands. Despite his body hurting and his head blaring in pain, his thought processing became clearer. This could be the result of sensing the immense danger he was currently facing.

"I will suggest another game."

The demon frowned. "What could be more exciting than hide and seek?"

Lucien let out a rare loop sided smile. "A game of hunting." Lucien paused. Lucien waited for the demon to respond, but the way the demon's eyes shimmered indicated that the demon is more excited about this game.

"The rules are simple. Every hour, we will alternate roles. For example, in the first hour, you are the predator and I am the prey. In the second hour, our roles are reversed. I am the predator and you are the prey. And the third hour is our rest period. In the fourth hour, the cycle starts. You are the predator and I am the prey again. And that cycle goes on until sunrise. How about that? "

The demon made a thoughtful expression. His sharp claws were grasping at his ugly saggy chin.

"Ooohh~ okay, we'll do that. If my role is the prey and you are the predator, can I attack you? "

The demon is blinded by his excitement. He was rubbing his white thin hands. Another thing Lucien notice is that the demon doesn't have blood vessels.

"No. It was unfair to me. You can only run, defend yourself, and hide, but never attack me. In that span of time, I am the predator, I am the only one allowed to attack. However, in your time as a predator, I was allowed to retaliate and attack you."

The demon frowns. "That's not fair."

Lucien patiently explained. "I am a child. I am weak. To make the game fair on both sides, you must have restrictions to balance the gap. "

Lucien silently scorned himself. A child? Me? A twenty one shut in otaku is calling himself a child... Somehow, Lucien can't make amends for that fact.

It took a couple of minutes before the demon agreed.

"Okay,"

But Lucien did not let things end there. "I still have more things to say."

"Then say it." The demon is eager to play the hunting game. He had already brandished his claws. He sharpened them and licked them with his long, unattractive tongue.

"We will play the game only at night in the span of two days. During which, you are not allowed to touch any of the children -"

"But I can eat you?"

Lucien ignored him snd went on. "The game will only conclude on the second day. If I sustain more heavy injuries and am too weak to move, you win. Only then can you eat me. If you sustain more injuries and cannot move, I win. The conclusion of this game is that one of us will die. The winner must devour the loser. "

"But I can devour you in the game?"

"No. You can attack me, render me injured, prolong my suffering, but you are not allowed to kill me within the game. Only on the second day, when the duration is over, can you kill me."

The demon weighed his choices. This condition works for both of them the best. Regardless, if Lucien lose, he still have lived for forty eight hours with the children during game time. Then his task will be done. He remembered in the fifth episode of the 'Slaying the Demons' the demon slayer finally appeared on the second day before sunrise.

He still has time to be saved.

"One more thing,"

"There's still more?" The demon was bemused. Lucien took this chance to speak clearly and directly to prevent the demon from interrupting him. He couldn't take chances if the demon refused.

"You have your fast speed, super strength, and sharp claws to overwhelm me, while I have nothing. Can you give me a weapon that can cause injury to you?"

The demon scowled. "Why should I?"

Lucien stared down at his hands. "I am a very weak and powerless child."

Demon: ...

"I am super sick. I have injuries. I can't run fast enough. I have small weak legs." -- These words are coming from a twenty one year old shut in otaku with a body of a fifteen years old.

Yep, definitely weak and helpless.

"I am helpless. The least I could have is a weapon to helplessly defend myself. "

The demon actually believed his words. The demon had already thrown Lucien twice into the wall. By now, the demon is sure Lucien has broken ribs and an aching back.

"Are you a very weak obedient child?"

"I am a very weak, obedient child."

Lucien only repeated it after the demon out of whim. And to prove his helplessness.

He did not expect the demon to give him a chocolate. Lucien dared not refuse the chocolate he stared dumbfounded at it. Before staring back at the demon.

The demon has a strange, hideous smile on his face.

"Papa loves obedient children. Papa rewards good children with chocolate."

The demon is gesturing for Lucien to eat it. Closing his eyes, praying against hope this is not a poison, he took a bite. Fortunately for him, the chocolate is quite beneficial.

After digesting the chocolate, he could feel something in his bones mend. The pain subsided and he could comfortably breathe again.