Coco imdiately sensed a shift in the atmosphere as her words hung heavy in the air.
The room seed to grow quieter than earlier, save for the sound of her wooden utensils clicking against her plate and the gasp that Zaque let out.
She could feel the tension rising, like a storm gathering on the horizon.
The diators shuffled uncomfortably, averting their gazes from hers as the weight of the mont settled upon them, making her realize that her words had struck a nerve.
Why would it strike a nerve though? Shouldn’t they be happy that I’m going away to earn more money? Coco thought, raising an eyebrow as she shoved a spoonful of rice inside her mouth.
She shifted on her seat as the atmosphere in the room grew more and more tense, and she could feel all eyes on her— she knew that her statent had not been well received, but she’s confused.
Why would it make them uncomfortable? The question lingered in her mind and once again, no one dared to break the silence.
She could practically hear the possible thoughts racing through the minds of the diators.
"I’m planning to be a hunter and to officially beco one, I need to go to the main city to get a license." Coco said her reasoning after she swallowed the food in her mouth, "Not only that, I could look for soone who can fix this house."
Still, no one dared to break the silence.
"A licensed hunter earn more money than the ones who are not, and since I’m already hunting monsters, I decided to beco one and sell freshly caught monsters in the city as well." She explained why she wanted to beco a hunter.
She did not want them to think that she’s going to the city because they are hard to deal with.
Well, if soone was hard to deal with, especially if they were strangers, she wouldn’t have think twice of cutting them off from her life.
However, a part of her heart and mind tells her that she will feel guilty if she left them hanging.
Her predecessor abused them and forced them to work to pay off her debt that she accumulated for being alcoholic so a part of her— the good one, wants her to give them sothing before they part ways.
Fixing the house and giving them money that they could save are one of the things she wants to do to make them feel confident with themselves.
If they t under different circumstances, Coco is sure that the four of them would get along.
Shv glanced at Zaque, blinking slowly to see if she could decipher what he was thinking about based on his expression alone, but the look on his face made her look away.
He looked like he’s about to cry! Coco exclaid in her mind, swallowing the lump forming in her throat.
She reached out for her cup and grabbed it, she was quick to drink the water inside in one gulp, not caring if she would co out as rude.
"I don’t know how long I will have to stay in the city, but based on the information I gathered, it may take a month or so." Coco inford them, hoping that it would ease Zaque’s nerves.
She could see the desperation written across his face, his eyes misty and brimming with tears, not falling.
His face was pale, his jaw clenched tightly as he fought back the emotion, his breathing ragged and labored— his body stiff and his shoulders tense as he tried to maintain composure.
Despite his best efforts, Coco could tell he was on the verge of breaking down, his emotions close to the surface and ready to spill over at any mont.
Not only did he look like he was about to cry, he also looked like he couldn’t breathe and it’s worrying Coco.
"I’m planning to send money every week just as I promised so you don’t have to worry about that." Coco quickly added to her previous statent, nervousness lacing her voice.
".. When are you planning to leave?" Heiren asked, his voice barely above whisper.
Coco looked at the second husband, her eyes widening in surprise to the way he looked like he was on the verge of tears as well.
He was frowning, his eyebrows furrowed with his eyes squinted and watery, his lips trembling as he struggled to hold back the tears— just like Zaque, his body was tense, his shoulders slumped forward, his hands clenching and unclenching around his wooden utensils.
She could see the through the tough act, the battle between his emotions and his desire to keep himself together, despite whatever he was obviously feeling.
"I.. I still have to ask for the village chief to get a permit.. So, probably as soon as next week..?" Coco mumbled, trying to say the words slowly out to not alarm the two distressed diators.
She could understand why Zaque would want to cry.
The two of them has been on a good terms ever since he apologized and she has been nothing, but happy because she gained a new friend.
Heiren on the other hand? She doesn’t know what could be the reason for him to have this kind of reaction.
The two of have a ssy relationship, only talking when necessary and getting scowled at by the diator or getting shut down for whatever she wanted to do.
She could still rember what happened last ti with Heiren so his reaction left her speechless.
The table grew silent and no one except for Coco continued to eat their food— not that she wanted to them not to eat, the food taste delicious after all, but they just wouldn’t move.
Out of the four diators inside the room, Alhai and Quizen were the only who didn’t show much reaction.
At least I told them what I plan to do in advance.
Coco let a sigh through her nose and continued to eat in silence.
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