CONTINUATION     OF     BOOK 14
Encounter

Chapter 123
An Important Choice

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Oh, forgot to say this.
But my girlfriend says hi and thank you for all the support!!

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9.

Reader's POV

I skipped over to Ray and Emma. 
Ray looked over to me and gave me a smile.

"I don't want to kill the demons. But I don't want my friends to get eaten either.
What now, Ray? Y/n? I don't know what I should do,"
Emma said, she looked panicked as she turned to us.

Now this is what I didn't want to talk about...
I just wanted everything to work out and all of us to be happy.

"I don't either,"
Ray then said.

Emma's jaw dropped and I tilted my head.

"You're right. The Seven Walls route is a stand-still. But even if we run away to the human world... they might pursue us or cause a war. It poses a huge risk,"
Ray started.

"Now that we know that humans are an indispensable food source to demons because of their characteristics... if we want to save all of the children raised as food, no matter what, Norman's method is the only way.
We can't do anything. There's no room for argument. Norman's right."
I almost smiled, but I kept a blank, confused face to please Ray.

"Yeah. Well, for now, there's nothing you can do,"
Ray said, putting a hand on her shoulder with a smile.

Emma's face dropped.
"Wait, what? I don't get it.
Then why did you ask me how I feel?
Don't you have a solution?!"

"Nope."
He answered.
I hid my face in his chest, hiding my giggles from Emma.

"Any advice?! Criticism?!"
She exclaimed.

"None whatsoever,"
He said, running a hand through my hair.

"Then you didn't have to expose them!! Don't dig up my true feelings that I buried, you jerk!!"
Emma told him.

"But they came out so easily,"
Ray told her.

"Huh?!"

"Your true feelings. They came out immediately.
If you're going to bury your true feelings, then take them with you to your grave, no matter what. Like bu-Y/n does,"
Ray said.

I looked up at him, narrowing my eyes.
"I do not,"
I said.

He placed a finger on my lips.
"I know you. Shush,"
He said and I did.

Emma tilted her head.

"But you can't just give up, right? I know you."
Ray said, pointing at her with his index finger.

"You won't be able to hold them in, and they'll multiply and explode in the end,"
I said softly.
I have known Emma for years, of course I know that much.

"And in your case, it's probably going to come out at the worst possible time... and you're going to interfere in the most troublesome way,"
Ray said and she tensed up, gritting her teeth.

"When that happens, you and everybody else will be in danger. It'll cause huge problem for Norman and be a hassle for Y/n and me,"
He continued. I deadpanned, turning to Emma and shaking my head on my behalf.

"If you're not convinced, you should confront him directly. Especially because this is a crucial decision.
If you let it go, you're going to regret it for sure. Worst case, it could affect you for life."
Ray said.

"I'm okay with the eradication, but you're not. You can't bury your feelings without figuring out what you should do.
Don't try to be reasonable only in a moment like this and swallow your words,"
He told her, patting her head.

"Okay,"
She said.

"So think again, from the beginning. What do you want to do, Emma?"
Ray asked.

"I don't want the demons to be annihilated.
I want to find a choice that won't have us in conflict. But there's no method.
And no one wants it. If we struggle, it might increase our danger.
And first and foremost, I don't want anyone else in our family to die.
When I think of that, I can't decide just based on what I want to do.
So apart from what I want to do... I don't know what the best thing to do is,"
Emma said softly.

I frowned and left Ray's side, wrapping my arms around Emma.
She gave me a smile and hugged back.

"Then let's take that and go talk to Norman,"
Ray said, motioning to Norman's office.

"To Norman?! But I'm still wavering!!"
Emma exclaimed.

"It's because you're wavering,"
Ray said.

"Like I said, it'll be too late when it explodes. And it's not just anyone, it's Norman. 
We're friends and we trust each other. More reason to talk frankly.
He's been a special person to all of us since way back, right?"
Ray said.

"Yeah!"
Emma said.

"And we won't get anywhere if we discuss this between us. But we'll understand more if we talk to Norman."
Ray said.

"Like what?"
Emma and I asked in unison, tilting our heads.

"First, a specific strategy. Depending on that, the possibility of causing a war might not be zero.
We should confirm that,"
Ray said.

"True,"
Emma responded.

"And for us, there's also them on our mind,"
Ray said, and somehow I knew who he was talking about.

"Sonju and Mujika,"
I said softly.

"Right. Those two haven't eaten humans,"
Ray said. 

"It's weird. "Unless they eat humans, they can't keep their form or intelligence." 
But Sonju and Mujika were in human form and intelligent. And though they "inherit characteristics of what they eat"... those two didn't change their form or appearance whether they ate birds or fish,"
Ray continued, now leaning against the railing.

"I wonder what that means?"
Emma started.

"Does it take a long time to change after they eat something?"
Emma asked.

"No. That wouldn't explain why they have a human form when they haven't eaten humans,"
Ray replied.

"Yeah..."
I muttered.

"Maybe they were lying. If not though... Sonju and Mujika were exceptions who can maintain a human form and intelligence without eating humans."
Ray said, and I nodded slightly.

There was no way they could've been lying...

"If all of the demons were like Mujika... there might be a way for humans and demons to coexist. I know... that it's convenient wishful thinking."
Emma muttered.

"Do you think Norman knows? About demons like Mujika and Sonju?"
I spoke up. 

"I wonder. But if he doesn't that would go bad,"
Ray said.

"Huh? Why?"
I asked.

"We need to tell him immediately. Think about it. 
If the assumption is true and Mujika and Sonju are exceptions who can retain their traits... we have to find out how many of those exceptions exist. 
If there are a lot, and those demons want to eat humans..."
Ray said.

"Oh,"
Emma realized.

"Even if we destroy the farms, they won't degenerate. They'll still be a threat to humans.
On the other hand... if Norman knows about them... we might be able to ask why such exceptions exist. 
Depending on the circimstances, we might get a clue... and there might be a way for demons and humans to coexist,"
Ray said.

"Ray!"
Emma exclaimed, her face lit up like a Christmas tree, well one that the lights work.

"Although the chance is one in a billion. But all of this can't wait until the plan is in motion. We need to go now. Let's immediately go to Norman and talk about this.
About Mujika and Sonju... and your doubts. 
Honestly, I think coexisting with demons is impossible. The group that tried to eat you the other day... that's the true nature of demons. But we owe Sonju and Mujika,"
Ray said.

"Choose what you want to do. I'll support you, as well as Y/n, probably.
No matter what you choose, you'll be okay. You're good at doing things even if they're impossible.
Let's create a future we won't regret,"
Ray said with a smile.

"Okay!"
Emma agreed.

"Yeah!"
I smiled.

"Thanks, Ray! My head feels clearer now!"
"You're too easy!"

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Ray, Emma, and I headed up to Norman's office.
Emma knocked on the door before trying the handle.

"Emma-"
I started.

She opened the door to reveal three people inside. 

"Who are they?"
the lady eating this huge piece of meat? said.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Ray,"
Ray told them.

"I'm Y/n..."
I said uneasily.

"And I'm Emma! We came from the BO6-32 shelter!"
Emma said.

"They're the escapees who joined us yesterday,"
one of the men said.

"Ah! From Grace Shield,"
the lady said.

"Field."
the man corrected.

"Want some?"
she asked, holding out the piece of meat.

I sweatdropped and shook my head.

"Huh? Oh, actually..."
Ray started.

"We're good for now."
Emma said.

"Um where's No-... where's the Boss? We wanted to talk to him,"
I said to them.

"Boss is out now. He had an urgent errand,"
the other man said.

"Then we'll come back,"
Emma smiled.

"Wait a minute. Stay and have some tea with us."

"We're pretty interested in you... pampered children from Grace Field."

I narrowed my eyes, looking at them.
Ray kept my hand in his, a blank look on his face while Emma looked uneasy. 

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6.11.2020
Word Count: 1539