Chapter 45 - Nothing is free

Kui happily swam up to the little mer with his bountiful catch. The child was still sleeping, so he shook him awake.

The young mer dazedly blinked up at him. "Sit up and eat. Wait, should I peel this?" he gazed at the fish confusedly. He had not been used to eating raw fish. Even in the village, they would cook the fish, roast it, or dry it. "Should I cut it up like sushi?"

He then gazed at his nails. "This would do…" he scraped the scales off the fish and gutted it. Its gut and blood floated in the water, making it slightly cloudy. He pushed it away and continued to clean it. The fish was relatively clean after he scraped it for a while, but the scales got caught in between his nails, making it harder for him to remove. Frustrated, he left that matter alone.

Slowly, he cut the fish into smaller pieces and even removed the bones that were sticking out. "Here," he handed it to the young mer, who was looking at him peculiarly. "It's tasty."

The young mer took the pieces confusedly, gazing up at him. Sensing the mer's hesitation, Kui suggested, "Are the pieces too big for you? Shall I cut it even more?"

"No…" he put one piece in. "You're weird."

Seeing that the child was eating, he continued to clean his nails. "How so?" he distractedly whispered.

"Mers can chew through bones and scales."

Kui paused. "Really? So you can eat it just like that, guts and all?"

"Hmm…" the child had finished the cut-up pieces. "But this tastes much better; it's not bitter."

"Yes, it's the guts that make it bitter." Kui gently patted the top of his head. "Wait, I'll get a few more."

He hurriedly swam away to catch a few of the fishes that were swimming around. Mi Aok watched the man peculiarly as he stumbled to catch the fishes. 'Hybrids are supposed to be stronger, right? Why is he like a young fish… he doesn't even know how to swim properly.'

The hybrid swam to him excitedly, holding a huge carp. "Wait, I'll fillet it for you."

Aok nodded, then something came to his mind. He gazed up at the rich man who had brought them and then at the hybrid. "What did you do to get the fish?"

The hybrid froze. "N-nothing, what do you mean? He just had to feed us."

If he was a real child, he would have believed this, but he was an adult in a child's body, so he knew what was going on. That rich man had his eyes on this hybrid since the moment he brought them. He would not have given out the fish without a benefit.

His mouth tasted bitter all of a sudden.

"Here," the stupid hybrid handed the fish to him.

"No," Aok glared at him. "I don't want his fish."

"Why not?" the man scooted closer to him and gently patted his head. "Be a good kid and eat well. Only then will you be able to grow up strong."

Aok rolled his eyes. "Don't touch me," he pushed his hand away.

They both fell into an awkward silence.

Aok cleared his throat. "What did he do? Did he touch you?"

"NO! I mean, he is not that bad, I think… he gave it to us for free."

He did not believe a word that came out of this man's mouth. 'No one will give things out for free…' Aok closed his eyes tightly. He did not wish to be indebted to anyone. 'I guess I have to save this stupid brainless hybrid.'

"Don't ask for fish anymore. My situation is not because of hunger. I'm sick. I will heal in a few days. After that, we will plan our escape." He peered up at him sternly. "Until then, you are not to go to the surface or interact with him in any way possible. Got it?"

Kui pouted. "It's not like I want to… I can't keep holding my breath for a long time. I need a few intervals of fresh air," he said sheepishly. "Sorry."

"Then you mustn't look at him or Get close to him."

The water started to tremble as Aok let out a shrill voice. "He is dangerous."