Alkimia ~the Craft of Love~

31. vow of possession (Lean + Ariel)

I shook my head without saying anything.

The Gluttony Devil boy blinked at me, confused.

"You--" the way I spoke was draggy, "Are-- not-- lean,"

Shocked, he was, for I mentioned his weight. Whilst it was not taboo, the commonly spoken topic did usually irritate Gluttony Devils.

"My name is Lean!" the Gluttony Devil boy looked like he was about to cry, for some reason, "The only Lean!"

Oh. My mistake. 

I gave him a nod and laid down on the floor. As long as he didn't continue to eat me, we had no problem.

With that, I dozed off.

31.

As I slept, Lean the Gluttony Devil stayed sitting beside me, pouting whenever he turned in my direction.

Somewhere on my left, since the Gluttony Devil boy was on my right, my fellow little Sloth Devil rolled over.

He blearily looked at the Gluttony Devil boy who was sitting silently next to me. Figuring the other boy wouldn't do anything to us, the Sloth Devil boy snuggled closer to me so we could fall asleep together.

The Gluttony Devil boy stared at us for a long time before moving. Instead of leaving us behind, the Gluttony Devil boy separated us and fully covered me using my blanket.

Then, picking the covered me up, the Gluttony Devil boy ran away.

I had known their activities because of [Sleep Learning]. There was nothing to comment on, whether towards the Sloth Devil boy or this Gluttony Devil boy.

I knew it's normal for Sloth Devils to frequently snuggled together because sleeping with another Sloth Devil gave us a sense of peace. It was like we had someone we could count on watching our backs when we were vulnerable.

As for this Gluttony Devil boy, Lean. It was probably that he had identified me as his (meal). No way he would share me with anyone else, given how possessive the Gluttony Devils were.

Again, even after figuring out what was going on, I still felt nothing. I still could stay asleep, disregarding my personal safety. It was not that nothing surprised me anymore. It was more like, where can I get the energy to be surprised?

Allowing him to do what he wanted, I leave my fate up to Lean of Lea Tribe, a Gluttony Devil.

And he did not disappoint.

Apparently, this year's ceremony was held in Gluttony Devil's continent. It was convenient for me to be taken by Lean, no doubt about it.

Once the blanket was taken off my head, I found myself inside a laboratory. Or a place looked like it. I was put to lie on a surgical table. The room was cold but comfortable. It reminded me of my hometown.

I could continue to sleep peacefully.

"Wake up?" Lean sounded delighted as he showed me a box, "I made this for an experiment, you try it,"

It should be something to be eaten. Although I had never eaten anything in 10 years, I still knew how to eat food made in Replicant world.

Without much resistance, I opened my mouth, waiting to be fed. Lean giggled slightly as he opened the box, taking out something square-shaped, dark brown in colour. Without explaining anything, Lean put that little square in my mouth.

After I tasted it, I widened my eyes in surprise. It's chocolate!

If this was sold, Lean would become the richest among the Gluttony Devils!