Chapter 250: Clumsy Yet Meticulous Care

Hayato suddenly dashed out in a hurry. Before Usagi could even ask what was going on, she heard the rapid sound of footsteps outside. Moments later, Hayato came rushing back, carrying two large buckets with an excited look on his face.

"Usagi, my dear! You must be starving! Look, fresh milk and... meat!" Hayato set down a wooden bucket filled to the brim with milk, and the other—overflowing with raw, crimson meat. The meat was still slick with blood, with tufts of fur clinging to it. It had clearly been hacked straight from a carcass, the rough knife marks still visible.

Usagi's eyes widened as she stared at the blood-soaked meat. Her expression immediately turned complicated. She wasn't sure whether to be grateful for Hayato's "thoughtful" gesture or horrified by his methods. "...I'll just have the milk, thank you," she sighed, a trace of helplessness in her voice.

"No way!" Hayato was adamant. He scratched his head, stubbornly insisting, "You're weak—you need to eat more! Meat will help you recover! You should get nice and plump, round and soft!" He even gestured with his hands to mimic a chubby figure.

Usagi nearly laughed in exasperation. She glanced at her own slender legs. Sure, she was weak, but she was nowhere near the point of needing to be "round and soft." Then she eyed the milk bucket—it was so enormous that it looked like it could fit her entire body inside. Finally, she cupped her hands, scooping up some milk and taking a sip. Watching Hayato over the rim of her makeshift cup, she asked flatly, "Where did you get all this? You didn't... kill someone again, did you?"

At her words, Hayato jumped like a cat with its tail stepped on, frantically waving his hands. "No! I didn't kill anyone! Really, I swear!!" He sounded utterly confident, but his expression was more like that of a child caught red-handed, desperately trying to cover up his misdeeds.

Then, suddenly, his lips curled into an eerie smile—a grin laced with something dark and unsettling. He patted the hilt of his blade, flashing his teeth. "But they did try to trap us here. Surrounding us like we're their prey... So, I figured, why not make their deaths a little quicker?"

Usagi frowned slightly. Unknowingly, a few drops of milk spilled from her hands. She hadn't witnessed what happened, but Hayato's tone and expression painted a clear enough picture. Those villagers... they must have realized she and Hayato were Ability Users, so they tried to confine them.

She was silent for a moment before looking up at him, her voice carrying both helplessness and reproach. "Hayato… you don't have to solve everything with bloodshed."

Hayato merely scratched his head, pretending not to understand, and chuckled. "Don't worry! How could I ever make my dear Usagi upset? As long as you're okay, I'll do anything!" With that, he patted the bucket of milk proudly—completely ignoring the traces of blood still smeared on its edge.

For days, Usagi drank nothing but milk. Her stomach felt bloated, as if she were filled with nothing but dairy. Still, the rest and nourishment had done her good—she had regained some strength. Though still frail, she could now hobble out of the stable with the support of the walls.

When she pushed open the wooden door, the sunlight outside was harsh on her eyes. She squinted, waiting for her vision to adjust. As the scene gradually came into focus, her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

A small village, surrounded by wooden fences. The villagers had used logs to build crude defenses, trying to guard against some perceived external threat.

"Did they really think this would be enough to trap Ability Users? How adorably naive," she thought, but didn't say it aloud.

Behind her, Hayato bounced along, his usual foolish grin in place. "See? I told you—we're trapped in here! So, Usagi, my dear, how about... we kill them?" He licked his lips, revealing his sharp white teeth, then leaned close to whisper in her ear. "I know exactly which villager is the noisiest. Want me to start with him?"

Usagi's eye twitched. She turned to look at Hayato, sighing internally. "Of all the people here, how does he have the nerve to call anyone else 'noisy'?"

She stopped walking and met his gaze. Her expression was calm, but her tone was firm. "Let's just leave. We'll head straight to Gebria. But before that..."

Before she finished her sentence, she had already started walking toward the village outskirts. Hayato, scratching his head in confusion, followed after her.

They soon arrived at a clear, flowing stream. The water sparkled under the light, a stark contrast to the bloodthirsty glint in Hayato's eyes. The gentle murmur of the current, the whisper of leaves in the wind, and the soft chirping of insects created an almost surreal sense of tranquility.

Hayato crouched by the stream, resting his chin in his hands, looking at Usagi curiously. "Usagi, my dear, what are we doing here? Did you finally decide to kill those villagers?" His grin widened in sick anticipation.

Usagi took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. Then, without warning, she kicked him—right in the back.

With a loud splash, Hayato tumbled headfirst into the water, sending a wave crashing over the rocks.

"Hey!!" He surfaced, sputtering, utterly bewildered. Water dripped from his messy hair, mingling with the streaks of blood on his face. He looked up at Usagi, his expression full of childish indignation. "What was that for?!"

Usagi crouched down beside the stream, her posture relaxed but her eyes cold and unwavering. "You're going to wash yourself. From head to toe. Every single spot. If I see even a speck of blood on you after this... you can forget about coming with me."

At that, Hayato froze. Then, like an offended cat, he flailed his arms. "Hell no! If I wash it all off, there won't be any blood left!!" His voice was both angry and petulant, like a child throwing a tantrum.

Usagi didn't respond. She simply stared at him, her gaze like an icy blade. "Are you washing or not?"

Hayato stomped his foot in frustration. "No!"

Usagi's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. She flicked a strand of hair behind her ear, her movements deliberate and full of quiet menace. "Fine. Then I'm leaving. Goodbye." She turned on her heel and started walking away.

For a moment, Hayato stood frozen. Then, seeing that she was serious, his panic kicked in. His temper vanished in an instant. "W-Wait! Don't go! I'll wash, okay?!" He frantically splashed water onto himself, scrubbing his face and arms in a messy, desperate attempt to clean up. "See? I'm washing! I'm washing real good! Don't leave me, Usagi!"

Usagi finally stopped, watching him with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Hurry up. We don't have all day."

Hayato, still scrubbing at his skin, suddenly paused and grinned mischievously. "Hey... how about you wash with me? If you don't, I won't do it properly!"

Usagi froze. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. "You—" She instinctively took a step back, flustered. "Shut up! Just hurry up and wash!"

Hayato burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the valley, utterly carefree and wild.