Unaware of the incoming threats,

"You said it was your idea," Amon muttered at last, breaking the heavy silence. "The Demons, the Goblins, and the Werebeasts."

Syl's jaw flexed. "It was."

"How did that happen?"

"It seemed like an appropriate way of showing my usefulness."

"Why are you so intent on showing your usefulness?"

"Those who stop being useful stop being warriors." Syl answered, deciding to skip the details.

"Interesting." Amon whispered, scratching his chin. "You used the Demons to stop the war with the Orcs, you used the Goblins to lighten the burden of having Demons around… I assume the Werebeasts filled a similar purpose. They were used to pay the Demons as well."

Syl stared at him for a moment. He had quickly grasped the strategic goals of each alliance. She found that it was much more interesting to talk to him rather than to other Hobgoblins.

"Why did you want to be part of this quest, then? Your ideas single-handedly dealt with all of the Hobgoblins' issues. Did the Hobgoblin Chief not find you useful enough?"

Her eyes narrowed, a tinge of anger piercing through her calm veil.

"The idea doesn't matter as much as the execution. Even though these ideas came from me, I was quickly forgotten. The fact that I came up with the plans was quickly forgotten."

"You expected your achievements to keep paying you dividends and interest, but that didn't happen."

"I thought that my usefulness and value would keep increasing the more we dealt with Demons, Goblins, and Werebeasts. That wasn't the case."

Amon walked closer and crouched in front of Syl.

"You want someone who values you for your ideas, and who will keep giving you credit for those ideas."

Having him so close made Syl uncomfortable. She looked away.

"I guess." The female Hobgoblin answered. "If anything, it should have been prof enough that I would be useful in he future as well. It's not like I wasn't fighting in the meantime too…"

Amon remained silent for a moment.

"Why are you staring at me?" Syl finally asked. "You're standing too close."

"I just find you interesting." He answered. "You said that Akane wasn't the one you were worried about, yet you've admitted to being the reason she was pulled into this mess."

"I did not know what kind of offerings the Werebeasts were giving."

"Why were they giving those offerings? Are they weak like the Goblins? Pressed under your thumbs?"

"They paid us for protection."

"From what?"

"From anything that gets close to them. Their greatest fear was Humans learning of their location. Our job was to keep Humans from getting close."

With Akane being half fox and half human, Amon had assumed that humans exited in this world as well. Now, he had confirmation. Not that it really mattered. Humans have trouble accepting other humans, let alone accepting a Hobgoblin who used to be human in a past life from a different world.

'Or whatever I try to spin it as.' Amon thought. 'Slight differences in skin color make some go crazy, so green skin...'

He let out a sigh.

"How many Humans got close to them?" Amon asked after a moment.

"That's a difficult question…" Syl muttered. "Humans come and go, and it wasn't about protecting them from the Humans alone."

Amon's hand slowly moved closer to her face. He took hold of her chin and forced her to look at him directly.

"Did they get their money's worth? The Werebeasts?"

It was indeed a difficult question.

Syl had proved her usefulness not just by having suggested the deals, but by having taken the Werebeasts' irrational fear into mind.

For the duration of that deal, the Hobgoblins hadn't moved even once to help or protect the Werebeasts.

However, the Chief of the Werebeasts happily paid. Syl had also suggested feeding the Chief of the Werebeasts lies, so that the Werebeasts wouldn't feel like they were paying for nothing in return. Though, of course, they were.

"You're a cunning one, huh?" Amon muttered. "A woman after my own heart."

"...?"

"Looks like you are worried about Akane after all. If she learned that it was all your fault, she might treat you differently."

"I'd rather this stay between us." Syl whispered.

"You're getting ahead of it." He smiled. "You know that once we catch the other Hobgoblins, they will tell us about all this. That's why you're telling me yourself first. To Akane, it won't make much of a difference who she learns it from. You want me to calm the storm when that happens."

"You're making me sound deceitful, when I've been telling nothing but the truth."

"You've described many things in great detail to prove your usefulness to me." Amon nodded. "I like that." He let go of her chin and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Don't worry, I'm on your side."

"You are…?"

"I don't know much about the area, and I need someone like you."

Syl stared silently for a bit.

"The two of us are more alike, than you and the girl are alike." She muttered.

"The girl has a name. But yes, I suppose you're right. We are alike in some ways. You don't have to worry about the Hobgoblins, Goblins, or even about your Chief, as long as you've truly left all sense of fealty to him behind."

"You'll help me even if Akane wants me dead?" Syl asked, confused.

"Sure." He smiled. "I can't let someone as hot as you die. It's gotta be against the laws of the universe."

"Hah… Making jokes now, huh?"

"Which joke is that?"

"You're obviously mocking me."

"What makes you think that?"

"Can't let someone as hot as you die? Please, even Goblins don't look at me."

"Aren't the Hobgoblins fighting for you?"

"The Hobgoblin Chief only wants children. Unlike Goblins, Hobgoblins pride themselves in having close to no lustful feelings."

"I see." Amon said, caressing her cheek. "So the Hobgoblin Chief wanted your children, but he never really looked at you, huh?"

"Can you drop the subject?" An embarrassed Syl complained, moving away from his hand. "Are you going to help me or not?"

"If you're nice enough." Amon said before taking a step back.

The next second, a soft thump echoed and Akane slipped out of the treeline with a bundle slung over her shoulder. Two hares dangled from a twist of vine, and the front of her shirt bulged with fruits tucked inside.

"I'm back," she announced right away.

"Welcome back," Amon said, resting his back against a tree.

Akane dropped the hares and knelt to gut them. She worked efficiently, her tail flicking from side to side.

"A balanced diet," Amon whispered with a chuckle as he noticed the fruit. "Yey."

Syl gulped but tried not to make her hunger too obvious.

Akane was so focused on preparing to food that she didn't notice.

When she did notice,

"You're going to have to feed her." Akane told Amon as she stared at Syl.

"Yeah, alright."

"I can eat by myself-"

"We're not removing the ropes."

"I refuse to be fed by hand."

"Then you can starve." Akane shrugged.

"Come on, it's not that bad." Amon chuckled. "I'm nice enough to hand-feed you, don't turn me away."

"..."

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