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A minute later, Venom straightened up, stretching his shoulders. All around him, the hunters lay groaning on the ground.
He turned back, picked up the unconscious clan leader again, and carried him into the heart of the camp.
The moment Venom stepped into the settlement, every man, woman, and child turned to glare at him, hands reaching for the weapons at their belts.
"…Seriously? Another fight?"
Venom glanced at the crowd around him and couldn't help but feel a little helpless. He hadn't wanted to fight in the first place, so why did people always force his hand?
"I knew it! You're fine after all!"
Out of the group suddenly ran Esdeath, who rushed straight to Venom with a bright, relieved smile.
"Of course I am. Don't you know who you're talking to?!"
Venom puffed himself up, grinning with pride at his own words.
"Oh, right. Where do you live? We should probably get out of here first."
Her voice lowered at the end, almost deflating, as the unfriendly stares from the people around them made her uneasy.
"Follow me."
Esdeath smiled and started walking away.
Venom didn't hesitate—he quickly followed after her.
Before long, they arrived at a house that looked like a small mud hut from the outside.
It seemed cramped from the outside, but once you stepped inside, you realized it had everything a home needed. Despite the poverty of the area, the place didn't feel poor at all.
Venom's eyes swept around the room. Spotting a bed in the corner, he walked over and tossed the middle-aged man he'd been carrying onto it.
Then he turned to Esdeath with a puzzled look.
"Do you have an empty room here? I need one for a bit."
"You can use mine," she said after a moment's thought, smiling softly.
"Good. Show me."
Venom nodded right away.
"This way."
Esdeath turned with a smile and led him to her room.
Venom followed her inside, quick on his feet.
Her room was sparsely furnished—just a bed and a few weapons lined neatly against the wall. It felt cold and lifeless, nothing like the kind of room a girl her age should have had.
Venom didn't dwell on it. He strode straight to the center of the room.
His body began to melt and spread, turning into a pool of thick black liquid that oozed across the floor.
Esdeath's eyes widened in shock as she watched him dissolve into that tar-like substance.
From the middle of the spreading black slime, a silhouette slowly formed.
When the liquid peeled away, lying in its place was Saeko Busujima, fast asleep, cradled on the shifting black mass.
Esdeath's jaw nearly dropped. "There's… a person in there?"
Curious, she stepped closer, staring at the strange liquid. She reached down and pinched a bit of it between her fingers.
Suddenly, a black tendril lashed out, coiling tightly around her ankle. With a jerk, it hoisted her upside down into the air.
"Put me down! Put me down!"
Dangling helplessly, Esdeath screamed in protest.
"Disobedient children deserve punishment," Venom's voice rumbled as the black liquid reformed into his hulking figure, his tone sharp with warning.
The tendrils gently wrapped back around Saeko's body, absorbing her once more, and Venom fully took shape again.
"Come with me."
He eyed the suspended Esdeath and carried her out of the room.
But the moment they stepped outside, their way was blocked—over a hundred burly men stood shoulder to shoulder, weapons in hand. Among them were even some of the ones Venom had already defeated earlier.
"Some people really don't know when to quit."
Venom sighed. He'd spared them once, and yet here they were, throwing themselves at him again. It was suicide.
Not wanting Esdeath to get in the way, he set her down a short distance away.
The crowd of men showed no hesitation now. They raised their weapons, ready to strike at any moment.
Venom raised both arms, blades ready to spring out.
"Stop!"
The order rang out from afar.
Immediately, the men lowered their weapons and turned around.
Venom paused, lowering his hands as well, and saw the middle-aged man he had rescued earlier walking toward them.
"Chief, are you alright?" one of the men rushed forward, concern written all over his face.
"I'm fine. Thank you, all of you," the man reassured them warmly.
Then he turned toward Venom. After a brief glance at him, he faced the others again.
"He may be dangerous, but he saved my life. As long as he doesn't threaten us, I don't want anyone making things hard for him."
The men murmured among themselves, debating.
Finally, one of the burly fighters stepped forward with a helpless sigh.
"If that's what you want, Chief, then we've got no objections."
The chief gave a grateful nod. "Thank you, everyone."
The middle-aged man clasped his fists together and bowed with a grateful smile.
After a few more words back and forth, the crowd slowly dispersed, leaving behind an empty clearing.
"Mind if I have a word with you?"
Once everyone had left, the man turned back toward Venom, clearly wanting a private talk.
"No problem."
Venom nodded right away—he was just as eager to get information about this world from the man.
The two of them stepped into a tent.
Esdeath immediately darted in after them, curious about what they were going to discuss.
But a second later, she came flying right back out.
"Adults are talking. Kids shouldn't eavesdrop."
Venom's voice rumbled from inside the tent.
Esdeath puffed out her cheeks, muttering under her breath. She pushed herself up, brushed the dust off her backside, kicked a rock out of the way, and stormed off in a huff.
"....."