Page 205 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

It’s low, barely audible, but it makes me stop before eating the donut.

Hope flickers in his eyes as he sees me stop, and I take a moment to analyze the situation.

Something doesn’t add up here.

The smell of sugar continues to taunt my nostrils, and I’d like nothing better than to bite into the donut and be done with it—at least then I’d have gotten something out of it since I’ve already used the energy.

But there’s something in the way the demon is writhing and salivating at the sight of the donut that makes me pause.

His previous angry words are now replaced with anguished ones.

It’s the greed talking. It wants something and it’s not getting it.

What happens then if he wants it and gets it?

This might backfire if it makes him grow even more, but I reluctantly part with the donut and hand it to him.

He snatches it from my hands, and to my surprise, he seems to almost…cherish it?

He takes a small bite. Then another. But it’s no longer the same frenzied feeding as before. This time, he’s savoring it.

And by the time he’s done, he’s shrunk back again.

I blink. That’s… How? How did this happen?

Before he can realize that he’s once more changed size, I leave the cabin, thank the soldier, and head back to the infirmary to help.

All the while, I keep trying to make sense of what happened. What was the difference between the first donut and the next eight? And then how did the last donut change the situation?

Was it because he craved it so much he dared to beg me for it? Is it because I didn’t want to give it to him? Do things that are not given to him matter more?

Or…is it because I also wanted it?

The first donut, I felt sad parting with. The following eight were just part of the plan. But the last one? I was salivating for it as much as he did. Does that change things? If the item being given is something precious to the giver?

It must.

Otherwise, anyone could be defeating greed demons by simply showering them with gifts.

It has to be meaningful gifts.

Charity… My eyes widen in realization. It’s not about giving someone useless things, it’s about doing a selfless act, going against one’s desires.

My heart beats faster with excitement. It’s not a foolproof theory, but it’s better than what I had before. Now it’s just a matter of trying it out to prove if it’s right.

The sirens go off on the base. Soldiers run from their posts and rush toward the runway. The doctors and a few of the nurses go to the ambulance and board it. I follow after them, excited for Mine’s return.

I might have gone against his warning not to engage with the demon, but I can’t wait to share my findings with him.

We huddle together in the back of the ambulance as the car starts heading toward the runway.

The sounds of planes fill the air. The anxiety is high as everyone tries to see if their friends made it back safely.

For some reason, I am not worried that Mine will not return. Not only did he promise me he would, but I also have full confidence in his abilities. He’s a good fighter, and that is a high praise for a human. But he ismyhuman. Of course he must be a good fighter. Otherwise, I would have never entertained his courtship.

Once we reach the runway, I scan the planes around looking for Mine’s. When I see that he’s landed, a bright smile spreads across my face. The doctors and nurses hurry to get the injured, but my first priority is making sure Mine is all right. After all, I am his personal nurse, no?

I barely get out of the car when I see him jumping out of the plane. He takes less than a second to spot me, after which he’s running at full speed toward me.

---