Chapter 251: Shingin’s Hometown, Gabrielle City

Hayato laughed recklessly, but his voice quickly died down under Usagi's icy stare. Reluctantly, he resumed washing himself in the stream. The water was freezing, but Usagi's gaze sent an even deeper chill through his heart.

Standing on the riverbank, arms crossed, Usagi looked every bit like a supervisor. Her sharp eyes scrutinized Hayato as he scrubbed away the bloodstains on his face and arms, even inspecting his fingernails. As he washed, he grumbled, "You just love bullying me. Everything has to be spotless with you. But doesn't blood look kinda cool? I think it makes me look badass."

Usagi's voice was cold. "Badass? Try walking into Gabrielle covered in blood and see if the people there don't beat you to death thinking you're a monster."

Hayato shut his mouth immediately and focused on washing. Looking down at his reflection in the stream, he watched the blood slowly dissolve, leaving the water clear once more. His face gradually emerged from the crimson tint—still a bit fierce, but much more presentable than before.

"Happy now?!" Hayato stood up, shaking the water off his hands and flashing his signature grin. "Do I finally look cool enough to meet people?"

Usagi gave him a brief glance, then bent down and picked up a small stone, handing it to him. "Brush your teeth."

Hayato froze, staring at her in disbelief. "You… You're serious?!"

Her gaze remained calm, saying nothing more. After a few seconds of hesitation, Hayato sighed dramatically and took the stone. "Damn, Usagi baby, you're ruthless."

The sound of Hayato scraping his teeth filled the air, accompanied by his muffled grumbles of protest. Usagi, meanwhile, looked out at the distant mountains, her expression carrying a hint of exhaustion and sorrow.

"Gabrielle…" she murmured under her breath, as if reminding herself of the importance of their destination.

"Will we really make it in time?"

After finishing, Hayato grinned and leaned in toward her. "Usagi, I'm all clean now. Can I finally go with you?"

She examined him briefly, confirming that he was indeed much cleaner, then nodded and started walking. Her voice was calm. "Let's go. No more wasting time."

Hayato eagerly followed, his grin widening. Watching Usagi's slender figure ahead, he chuckled. "Usagi baby, you were so fierce when you kicked me! But I kinda like it."

She halted for a second and shot him a glare. "Shut up. Say one more dumb thing, and I'll throw you back into the stream."

Hayato mimed zipping his lips, nodding obediently, though the mischievous glint in his eyes remained unchanged.

The brief moment of peace by the stream was fleeting. Deep down, Usagi knew that what lay ahead wouldn't be as simple as a village's wooden fences or a river's clear waters. Unseen dangers awaited them. And while Hayato was a reckless idiot, she had to admit—his presence somehow made the harsh journey feel just a little lighter.

Their figures gradually disappeared into the distance, leaving behind only the ripples in the water and scattered footprints in the dirt. Amid the sounds of rustling leaves and the whispering wind, Hayato's crazed laughter and Usagi's occasional scolding blended into the tranquil wilderness.

The road to Gabrielle remained distant and uncertain.

Days later, Usagi and Hayato finally arrived at Gabrielle. But as they stood at the city's outskirts, Usagi's breath caught in her throat. As expected, the city was in ruins. Shingin's dragon had descended upon this place, and the indiscriminate destruction had reduced the once-thriving metropolis to nothing but rubble.

Yet, not everyone had left. On the city's outskirts, makeshift tents were scattered across the wreckage. Despite their crude construction, the camp was well-organized. Wooden planks, canvas, and metal sheets salvaged from the ruins formed temporary shelters, complete with rough-hewn tables and chairs. Survivors bustled between tents—some repairing broken shelters, others carrying supplies. Children, blissfully unaware of the harshness surrounding them, played among the debris, their laughter mingling with the occasional sound of collapsing structures.

Usagi walked forward with unsteady steps, her eyes scanning the devastation. The once-glorious streets were now reduced to charred ruins and shattered stone. Hayato, on the other hand, scoffed, surveying the scene with an unimpressed smirk. "Huh. It's not completely wiped out yet? I expected more destruction."

Usagi ignored him and continued toward one of the tents. Before she could get close, a woman in gray clothes stepped into her path, her expression wary. She scrutinized Usagi and Hayato before speaking in a cold tone. "What do you want here?"

Usagi pressed a hand to her forehead, her voice calm. "We're just passing through. Looking for some food."

The woman's eyes flickered to Usagi's pale complexion and the way she trembled slightly. Her suspicion wavered. "You look like you've been through hell. The world isn't kind to people like us."

Then, her gaze shifted to Hayato, and her expression hardened. "But that guy doesn't look trustworthy."

Hayato blinked, then grinned, baring his teeth. "Come on, lady, how bad could I be? See? I'm standing here all nice and polite."

She ignored him and turned back to Usagi, her voice tinged with doubt. "This place has suffered enough. You're not here to cause trouble, are you? Those ability users ruined our lives. I don't want to see more of them."

Usagi cradled her hands together, her voice indifferent. "We're not here for trouble. You can relax."

The woman studied her for a moment before sighing. "Fine. You don't look like bad people. Come inside—I just finished cooking something."

She turned and led them into the tent.

Inside, though cramped, the space was neat. A layer of dry grass covered the ground, and bags of food and supplies were stacked in the corner. The woman lifted a pot from a small stove, the scent of stew—wild vegetables mixed with a small piece of meat—wafting through the air.

She ladled the stew into two bowls and handed them over, her gaze never leaving Hayato, still laced with suspicion. "You look sick. Did ability users do this to you too? We normal folks have to scrape by to survive. Praying to gods won't help."

Usagi quietly sipped her soup without answering. Hayato, however, set down his bowl, his smirk turning playful. "Now, lady, that's not quite right. Ability users are people too. Not all bad guys are ability users."

Her expression darkened. "Are you defending them? They destroyed our homes, made our lives hell. Isn't that enough?"

Hayato licked his lips, his grin sharpening into something more dangerous. "So… you think all ability users deserve to die?"

The woman flinched at his gaze, momentarily speechless. The air in the tent grew heavy. Usagi glanced at Hayato and murmured, "Don't scare people. Eat."

Hayato exhaled, rolling his eyes. "Fine. If you say so."

The woman studied them in silence, then sighed, dropping the conversation. She simply focused on her food, while outside, the ruins of Gabrielle loomed, whispering their stories of devastation and survival.