Chapter 102 The Essence of [Beast] - I

Chapter 102 The Essence of [Beast] - I

n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Within the vast snow-laden forest, a young man and girl were leisurely strolling. "The great cold wave has just passed, it's unlikely for animals to be active," the young girl, leading the way, enthusiastically explained to the youth behind her. "However, on the flip side, if we can locate their dens, we could have a bountiful harvest!" In Ansel's perspective, the recent events had indeed cast a significant psychological shadow on Seraphina. Therefore, to help her regain her usual demeanor, he decided to accompany her on a leisurely stroll around the expansive woodland surrounding Red Frost territory, as a means to lighten her mood. "Does Seraphina always hunt this way during winter?" Ansel inquired. "Mmm... the frequency of hunting does decrease in winter," Seraphina, carefully observing the snow-covered ground, responded. "Otherwise, it would affect the harvest for the next year—unless we're having a hard time." She stared at the vast snowy surface, "And besides, it's quite... Ah! Found it!" The girl's eyes sparkled, and she began to run lightly on the snow, turning her head towards Ansel, "Ansel, Ansel! Keep up with me, I'll roast a rabbit for you later!" Ansel watched Seraphina's agile and cheerful figure, leisurely following her steps, his expression much softer than usual. He was not the type to constantly pressure himself, relentlessly pushing himself forward, because Ansel was well aware of the consequences of doing so. The young Hydral was more than happy to spare some time for himself, to do things he enjoyed as a way to lighten his mood. However, for him, there were only a few things that could serve this purpose. But now, it seemed like he had found another option. "The most common grey snow rabbit in the north, they don't fetch much in the market," Seraphina, following the barely visible snow tracks, her boots sinking silently into the snow, said, "Because they don't taste very good... but I think they're quite alright." By the time Ansel caught up with her, the young girl was already standing by a slightly raised pile of snow, gesturing for silence with her index finger raised towards Ansel. Her cheeks were flushed, and her ears were slightly pink. For an experienced hunter, catching a rabbit from its den was nothing to get excited about. But for a young girl eager to impress in front of her beloved, it was perfectly normal. Seraphina bent down, her delicate fingers penetrating the snow pile. When her arm entered the snow, it didn't make a sound. After feeling around for a few seconds, her eyes lit up, she took a gentle breath, and her leather-clad chest slightly rose. Boom! A muffled sound exploded under the snow, Seraphina's shoulder sank, and her seemingly delicate arm suddenly exerted force, directly piercing the den under the snow pile. Amidst the terrified squeaks, she caught two rabbits. "Ansel!" Seraphina held up the grey snow rabbit, shaking it in front of her face like a hunting dog that had caught its prey. She approached Ansel, excitedly showing off her catch: "Two! Ah, there's a small one in the den too. Great! I'll send you all on your way soon." The young girl licked her lips, uttering quite brutal words in a very pleasant voice. Ansel glanced at the trembling little rabbit in the broken earth den, and couldn't help but say, "It's quite cute, I thought Seraphina would let it go." "Cute? What's the use of being cute?" Seraphina pouted, "It's going to be eaten by other animals sooner or later, might as well let me eat it. Not only can they be reunited, but I'll also be grateful for its tender and delicious meat." She casually snapped the little rabbit's neck, sending it on its way with its parents, nonchalantly saying, "Wolves and foxes wouldn't thank it." Hunting animals, of course, could not possibly pose any psychological burden for a hunter. But Ansel squinted slightly, he stared at Seraphina's profile for a moment, then looked away without her noticing. The young Hydral caught a glimpse of the indifference in Seraphina's eyes, an indifference she might not have noticed herself. This indifference, was it born out of a long hunting career, or was it... her nature? Different from her indifference towards the pitiful snow rabbit, when Seraphina turned her gaze to Ansel's face, she immediately became joyful and slightly nervous, "Um, Ansel... would you like to eat the rabbit I roast?" She fumbled with her waist bag, took out two bottles of unknown contents, and looked at Ansel with some expectation, "Although, although it's not as delicious as what the maids make, but..." Ansel smiled and reached out to her, "Do you need my help with anything?" "Eh... Ah! No, no need!" Seraphina was so happy that she almost jumped on the spot, "No need! I wouldn't let you do such a thing, Ansel!" Ansel's agreement made the young girl's cheeks flush with a sweet and shy blush. For being able to show her usefulness in areas other than fighting, Seraphina was thrilled. ...Although, although it didn't have any practical significance, after all, Ansel didn't need a hunter to hunt for him, but for Seraphina, who believed that her relationship with Ansel had reached a new level, every task she could do for Ansel, and every time Ansel acknowledged her, would make her extremely happy. Clearing the snow pile, digging a pit, finding dry branches and leaves, moving two stones to serve as seats, Ansel stood aside, watching Seraphina bustling about with a smile on his face. Originally, he just wanted to keep Seraphina's mood in a good state, but now it seemed that he had also benefited a bit. However, not long after, our Miss Seraphina encountered a problem. Holding the flint, she squatted by the pit and tried hard to start a fire, but the dry branches and leaves in the pit didn't seem to be very cooperative. "What's wrong?" Ansel walked over to her, tilted his head to look at Seraphina, who was struggling with the flint and kindling, and tried hard to hold back his laughter. "The... the branches around here are a bit damp." Seraphina grumbled a bit disgruntled and aggrieved, "Why can't I start a fire like this... Ansel, wait for me a bit longer, I'll..." Puff— A bunch of flames ignited at Ansel's fingertips, falling onto the dry leaves and branches, instantly igniting a vigorous fire. "Seraphina." Ansel looked at the young woman's face illuminated by the firelight, "Actually, you can occasionally ask me to help you with something, I would be very happy." He looked at Miss Wolf's increasingly flushed face, and couldn't help teasing, "It would be best if you used that pitiful look and expression, threw yourself into my arms and begged me, just like, um... a puppy." "I won't!" Seraphina gave Ansel a punch in embarrassment, the force of which was no different from a massage. "Ansel, don't say... say such strange things." She started to skewer the cleaned rabbit, deliberately turning her head away, not letting Ansel see her face, and said in a fierce tone, "Be careful, I'll get angry! I can get angry!" "Was there anything in what I just said that would make you angry?" Ansel bent down, gently stroking Seraphina's snowy neck, his hand gradually moving down, laughing softly, "Like a puppy?" "You... you don't... ah!" The posture she had just fiercely put up collapsed in an instant due to this soft and charming exclamation. Seraphina twisted her body, her voice trembling, "Ansel, don't... do that again, I can't skewer the meat!" -->