Sisi smiled at Jojo and nodded. "That’s good enough, Jojo. Let’s go back."
"B-but I promised to hunt for Daddy too," Jojo said. He glanced anxiously at the crimson-eyed demon. "D-Daddy, you can eat this by yourself. I’ll get another one for Sisi..."
"No need. I just wanted to see you hunt," Kael replied. "A re yearling won’t fill . I’ll hunt a stag later."
Jojo was relieved that he didn’t have to hunt twice. It would have been difficult anyway, the herd had already fled, which ant he would have to search for another one or find a hare’s burrow.
"I’ll skin the yearling for you, Sisi!" Jojo said, then looked around in confusion. "Uhm... but I don’t see any river..."
"There is one, but it’s quite far," Kael replied. "Why don’t you just eat it? I don’t rember you ever washing your prey."
"No, no, Daddy! It’s for Sisi!" Jojo protested. "Sisi is a human. She can’t eat raw at. The prey has to be cleaned first, then roasted or boiled!"
Kael turned to Sisi, who rely shrugged. "What he said is true. But it’s all right. You can eat it yourself, Jojo. I’ll forage so edible plants for myself."
"Are you sure, Sisi? You must be tired because of last night..." Jojo said. He glanced at the crimson-eyed demon, then quickly lowered his gaze, not wanting to offend him again.
"I’m perfectly fine. Don’t worry about ," Sisi replied gently. "Go back to the cave and eat the yearling yourself. You can wait for if you want it roasted."
"No, no! I like it raw. It’s so fresh!" Jojo chirped. "I’ll leave the pelt for you, Sisi!"
"Mhm. Thank you," Sisi said, patting his head.
They watched as Jojo dragged his prey toward the cave. He stumbled occasionally as the deer yearling was heavy, but he never asked for help.
Kael felt a surge of pride in his chest.
Jojo had grown up healthy and independent, far more than he ever had when they were together.
It made Kael wonder if this witch truly was a good caretaker. The proof was right there, yet because of that damned tiger, it was difficult for him to accept.
He glanced at Sisi, who was still smiling as she watched Jojo.
’If only I had t you and Jojo without that bastard tiger. Things would’ve been much easier.’
Kael wasn’t as unreasonable as he appeared. He knew Jojo loved this woman, and she genuinely cared for his son.
But Marik was a thorn that ruined everything.
"By the way—" Sisi turned toward Kael, still wearing that sa smile. "You haven’t told your na yet."
"Huh?" Kael was caught off guard.
"You heard ," Sisi sighed. "You already know my na, but you keep calling ’witch.’ That’s not very nice. Still, I respect you as Jojo’s father—if you truly are him. So why don’t you tell your na, at least we can be acquainted until the day you execute ?"
"...Kael," he replied curtly. "Just call Kael."
"Do I really have the privilege of addressing the Beast King so informally?" Sisi giggled. "Anyway, Kael, it’s nice eting you. Please go easy on and Jojo. Oh, and don’t frown so much. You’re scaring him."
She walked away, following Jojo toward the cave.
The sight of the two of them walking together filled Kael’s heart with a strange warmth. There was a word for it—a word he had long forgotten.
He wanted to say it aloud, but it got stuck in his throat.
In the end, he remained silent, watching from afar and savoring a warmth he never knew existed.
Kael returned to the cave so ti later, carrying a fully grown stag.
By then, Jojo had already finished his al, and Sisi was roasting mushrooms for herself. Kael ended up having to eat the stag alone.
"Woah! Daddy, you hunted a big deer! That’s amazing!" Jojo exclaid, circling the stag excitedly and even climbing onto its antlers.
Jojo still wasn’t sure whether this man was truly his father or a crimson-eyed demon. But he rembered how his father used to hunt large prey for them, and how Jojo loved climbing over the carcass as if he had been the one to catch it.
"You can eat first if you’re still hungry," Kael offered.
"Nope! I’m full already, and Sisi said she wants mushrooms today!" Jojo replied. "Uhm, but Uncle Marik—"
"No," Kael cut in sharply. "Didn’t I tell you? He is our enemy. You should be grateful I didn’t kill him last night."
"Wuuu..."
This one definitely wasn’t his father, but a demon wearing his face.
His father had always said enemies must be killed to prevent future threats. But Jojo never saw Uncle Marik as an enemy. Uncle Marik never hurt him or Sisi, and he always protected them. So how could he be an enemy?
As for the tigers who ambushed them back then... Jojo still believed Uncle Marik wasn’t one of them!
Sisi stayed quiet for most of it, but upon seeing the stag, she spoke up. "Can I have so?"
"Eh? I thought you didn’t want at, Sisi," Jojo pouted. "The yearling I caught has much more tender at than this..."
"Not for ," she chuckled. "I think the eagle beastn outside would appreciate it. I’ve only seen them eat a monitor lizard, which can’t be enough, and the at isn’t nearly as good as a stag’s."
"And I should apologize to them as well," Sisi added. "They were slapped around by my vines last night. They must be sore."
Kael thought she was being overly considerate. Eagle beastn were trained soldiers, they were used to harsh conditions. They wouldn’t die just because they’d been tossed around by plants.
Still, Jojo was watching him, so Kael nodded reluctantly despite not wanting to share his hunt to anyone outside of his family.
’It would’ve been better if she had just asked for so herself,’ Kael thought. ’I would’ve given her a large cut.’
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