Chapter 249: The Night of the Beast Tribe

Tsubasa walked with heavy steps, each footfall feeling as if she were treading on sharp gravel. Limping back to Shingin's side, her breath was erratic, her chest rising and falling violently. Cold sweat dripped down her cheeks, and her bangs, damp with perspiration, clung to her pale yet unnaturally flushed skin as if she had just endured a grueling battle.

The moment Shingin saw her, his heart tightened, and he immediately rushed forward, his gaze filled with worry. "Tsubasa, what happened? You just went to the restroom—were you attacked? Was it the Watcher?"

Tsubasa barely managed to steady herself, her throat parched like sun-scorched desert sand. Yet, she still cast him a cold glance, her tone laced with impatience. "What? You want to personally watch me next time?"

Shingin was taken aback, his face flushing slightly before he hurriedly waved his hands. "No, that's not what I meant... It's just... You don't look well..."

Standing nearby, Yuko had been observing Tsubasa closely. Her eyes narrowed slightly, brows knitted in suspicion. This woman's origins remained unclear, and Yuko had never let down her guard against her. She had followed Shingin not only to protect him but also to prevent deceptive figures—like the shape-shifter or illusionist Chika—from fooling him again. And now, Tsubasa's condition upon returning was definitely abnormal.

"Indeed." Yuko spoke, her voice devoid of emotion yet sharply pinpointing the issue. "You just went to the restroom, yet you return looking like you've been drained of life. If you don't want to be doubted, give us a reasonable explanation."

Tsubasa scoffed, her pale face maintaining its usual indifference despite her evident weakness. "The beast tribe of the Geburia Valley released their oppressive aura—it affected me. So, we'd best leave this place immediately."

Her words left Shingin and Yuko momentarily stunned.

Shingin stared at her in shock, his voice trembling slightly. "Beast tribe?!"

Yuko's face darkened instantly. That night in Geburia City, she had sensed an overwhelming pressure, always assuming it was from some unknown human powerhouse. But now—was that force actually from the beast tribe?!

Narrowing her eyes, Yuko fixed her gaze on Tsubasa. "How do you know that?"

Tsubasa swept a cold glance over them, her voice low. "The more you see of this world, the more you'll realize that its races are far more complex than you imagine."

Shingin lowered his head, his hands clenching into fists. He struggled even against powerful humans, and now, an even stronger race had appeared... How much further did he need to grow?

Taking a deep breath, Yuko wasn't certain if Tsubasa was telling the truth. But the oppressive aura from that night in Geburia City had been real. Regardless, she couldn't allow herself or Shingin to fall into danger so easily. Resolutely, she declared, "No matter what, we must leave this place immediately."

With that, she cast another wary glance at Tsubasa, silently warning herself—this woman must never be underestimated.

In the stable, Usagi lay weakly on the bed, her breathing shallow, her face as pale as a sheet of paper. The dim light cast shadows over her delicate features, making her seem even more fragile, as if she might disappear into the night at any moment. Hayato stood beside the bed, gazing at her with a complex expression—his eyes filled with hesitation, suppressed desire, and pain.

Leaning down slightly, he softly called her name. "Usagi... can you hear me?"

Her eyelids quivered slightly, but she gave no response, trapped in a deep slumber, unable to break free.

Hayato straightened up, his hands slowly reaching toward her, fingers pausing mid-air, frozen as if caught in time. Staring at his own hands, he murmured, "I'm sorry... but you would understand, wouldn't you?"

His hands finally descended, gently brushing against her forehead, pushing away a damp strand of hair. His movements were slow and tender, as if soothing her exhaustion. However, when his fingers reached her collarbone, they hesitated before continuing downward.

The air in the stable grew thick, the only sound being the soft drip of water echoing through the silence. Hayato bent down further, his breath mingling with hers, as if testing, as if seeking confirmation of his own resolve.

Moonlight filtered through a crack in the curtain, casting ambiguous shadows over them. His initial hesitation gradually transformed into determination. In a low voice, he muttered something—words that could either be self-reassurance or a plea for forgiveness over an unexplained decision.

That night, darkness swallowed everything. The details of the room blurred, leaving behind only the intertwined silhouettes in the dim glow and an unspoken tension lingering in the air.

Several days passed before Usagi finally opened her eyes. Her blurred vision slowly adjusted to the dim surroundings. Her mind was still foggy, her body feeling as if it were bound by heavy chains, every small movement causing a dull ache. The rough straw beneath her prickled against her skin, and the air was thick with humidity, carrying the bitter scent of dried grass and the faint musk of beasts.

She could hear the distant sound of hooves. This place… a stable?

Before she could fully grasp her situation, a grinning face suddenly appeared in her view, startling her into a slight flinch. In the past, she might have screamed in fright at such a close encounter, but now, she merely felt a tightness in her chest and an urge to punch him.

Hayato clapped his hands together, laughing like an excited child. "Usagi, my dear! You're finally awake!"

Usagi frowned, struggling to sit up, only to find her body aching as if it had been dismantled and reassembled. Her head throbbed, her limbs sore, and a lingering fatigue seeped through her bones. A faint soreness crept through her body, making her legs feel weak. She pressed a hand to her forehead, her voice hoarse. "How long… was I unconscious, Hayato?"

Hayato tilted his head, grinning foolishly. "Thirty-five times the sun and moon."

Usagi blinked, quickly calculating—one month. Her expression grew complicated. Given her severe blood loss, she should have perished. Yet, she had miraculously survived for an entire month. How was that even possible?

Memories flooded back—her battle against Leo in Sonia, a night drenched in blood and peril. She hesitated, then fixed her gaze on Hayato, her voice cold. "Hayato… why did you run away in the end? Didn't you say you wouldn't stop until they were dead?"

Hayato scratched his head with a foolish grin. "Ehehe, nothing's more important than your life, my dear Usagi!"

His words were spoken lightly, but they left Usagi feeling even more conflicted. She stared at his unguarded smile, a strange emotion stirring within her. She recalled the moment before losing consciousness—Hayato holding her, his usual arrogance and cruelty gone, replaced by a desperate, almost frantic look.

But before she could fully process her thoughts, her face suddenly flushed with embarrassment. A memory surfaced—Hayato had stolen her first kiss during the chaos. The realization sent a wave of frustration and shame crashing over her, especially as she noticed her tattered clothing, the vast expanse of exposed skin, and Hayato's oblivious proximity.

"Stay away from me!" Usagi's face burned as she shoved Hayato's head aside, her voice filled with unrestrained fury.

Hayato stumbled back but continued grinning like an idiot, seemingly unaware of any wrongdoing.

Usagi took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. Pushing against the straw, she tried to stand, her voice regaining its cool composure. "We've wasted enough time. We must—"

Before she could finish speaking, her legs suddenly gave way, and she nearly collapsed again. She gritted her teeth, stubbornly trying to steady herself, but Hayato reacted swiftly, catching her before she could fall.

"Usagi, you should focus on resting!" Hayato gently pressed her shoulders down, his tone unusually serious. "Knowing Kanto and Akari, they won't come looking for us until they've had their fill of playing seven or eight more games."

Usagi was momentarily stunned. She lowered her gaze to her weak legs, then looked up at Hayato—his expression was clumsy yet earnest. She didn't argue further, but the complicated emotions in her heart only grew stronger.