Chapter 29 - 28: A Neighbor Comes Asking for the Wheelbarrow

Sev Steele finished freshening up and planned to head to Virenswood again. She had originally planned to chop some bamboo to weave a mat and make small bamboo furniture, but that massive battle had derailed her plans. The pots and pans at home were worn out and long overdue for a replacement. However, she didn’t dare buy a bunch of new furniture openly, as it would arouse the neighbors’ suspicions. She certainly didn’t want another scumbag like Marcus Wyatt coveting both her wealth and her body.

In truth, the original owner of this body hadn’t been bad-looking. Young and capable, quite a few men in The Slums had their eyes on her. However, because she had adopted four children, most men were deterred. After all, who would want to become an instant father to four kids right after walking through the door? But if those who had lusted after the original owner found out she had struck it rich, they would definitely start making moves.

Sev grabbed three tattered gunny sacks and slung a worn-out backpack over her shoulders, which contained a bundle of rope and two vacuum-sealed freshness bags. Just as she stepped out of her courtyard gate, she saw a man standing a short distance away.

He looked at her, his gaze and tone equally mild. "Excuse me, Miss Steele. Your kids borrowed my handcart a few days ago.

"I want to go to Virenswood to chop some bamboo today, so could you please return the cart to me first?"

Sev’s face immediately flushed beet red. She knew she had been forgetting something over the past couple of days, and this was exactly it. Rusty had originally intended to return it right after using it. However, he happened to have picked two Mutated Lemon Fruits, and Sev had sent him back to dig up the sapling, causing them to get sidetracked.

Later, feeling that she shouldn’t use someone else’s property for free, Sev had planned to make some roasted dried wild yam. She would then have the kids return the cart along with a bowl of the snacks to repay the favor. Then came the massive windfall from selling the yam. The sheer surprise had caused the whole family to completely forget about returning the cart. To have him come knocking on her door to ask for it today made Sev so ashamed she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

"I’m so sorry, Hanson! We’ve had a lot going on at home these past two days, and it completely slipped my mind!" Sev hastily apologized.

She then darted back into the house, grabbing a sealed bag of dried wild yam from the kitchen before pushing out the handcart from the corner of the woodshed.

Hayden Hanson found Seventeen very strange today. In the past, if she encountered such a situation, she would have definitely pinned all the blame on the children and given them a beating while she was at it. Today, however, she immediately took all the blame upon herself, showing no intention of shirking responsibility. He knew this woman had a fiery temper. The reason he hadn’t come to ask for the cart earlier was because he hadn’t wanted his own business to drag Rusty and the other kids down into trouble.

But after waiting around nearby for ages yesterday without seeing Rusty or the others come out, and being in a rush to chop bamboo, he had no choice but to ask for it in person. Bamboo stalks were long and heavy, and a Tactical Backpack was too small to hold them. Transporting them home was far more convenient with a handcart.

Sev handed over the handcart, passing him the bag of dried wild yam along with it.

"Hanson, I made these myself. They taste pretty good, so please don’t turn them down," Sev said politely, the blush on her face yet to fully fade.

This actually made Hayden feel a bit embarrassed. It was just a handcart. Coming to ask for it had already been a loss of face, yet she was even giving him food. He initially hadn’t wanted to take the bag, but since she had specifically asked him not to turn it down, refusing it would make it seem like he genuinely looked down on her offering.

"Ahem! So... does your family need any bamboo? I can bring a few stalks back for you while I’m at it," he said, clearing his throat.

Virenswood was so far away. Having just repaid the favor, Sev couldn’t possibly have the nerve to let him haul bamboo back for her.

"Hanson, my family does need a few stalks of bamboo. I originally wanted to rent a Tactical Backpack, but since we have the handcart, why don’t we take turns pushing it? That way, neither of us will get too tired," Sev suggested frankly.

Having experienced Marcus Wyatt’s vile behavior, Sev still had a strong guard up against men. However, the fact that Hayden was willing to lend his handcart to her kids proved he had a soft heart. Furthermore, when she gave him a bag of food today, he immediately thought to repay her with some bamboo. He clearly wasn’t the type to take advantage of others.

In the past, because the original owner loved to hit and scold the kids, Hayden had always kept his distance. He had never actively approached her to strike up a conversation like the other men. Since Sev planned to live a good life here, she inevitably had to interact with her neighbors. Compared to the others, she trusted Hayden’s character far more.

Of course, if he truly harbored any ill intentions, she wasn’t someone who would just roll over and let herself be bullied. After all, she had been raised by Mr. Hunter. Having followed him into the mountains to hunt countless times, she certainly possessed the necessary means to protect her own life.

Hayden originally hadn’t wanted to get too close to her, but since she had already put it like that, he felt it would be rude to refuse.

"Alright then, let’s go together," Hayden agreed.

Although he had been forced to leave the Mercenary Guild due to genetic collapse, as an Ability user, how could his strength be compared to that of an ordinary person? Not to mention he was a man—how could he possibly let a girl take turns pushing the cart with him!

As the two walked together on the road to Virenswood, Hayden’s quiet and reserved nature meant he didn’t initiate any conversation. Finding the silence stifling, Sev broke the ice. "Hanson, you’re an Ability user. I’m really curious, what’s your attribute?"

Seeing her candid expression devoid of any mockery, the tight knot in Hayden’s chest suddenly loosened considerably.

Ever since his genetic collapse forced him to quit the Mercenary Guild, his former friends would always cautiously avoid any topic related to Abilities whenever they visited. They assumed it was a wound in his heart that could never scab over, one that would cause agonizing pain if poked.

But he had actually long since accepted his reality. Hadn’t he just spent most of his savings on medical treatments, leaving him with only a year left to live? He only wanted to live out his final days quietly, making the most of every day. In fact, he had discovered during this time that being an ordinary person was quite nice. He no longer had to fight life-and-death battles with Mutant Beasts, nor did he have to watch out for jealous colleagues trying to sabotage him behind his back.

Even now, he was still respected in The Slums, an existence no one dared to bully. What was so bad about living like this? This woman in front of him bringing up Abilities without any reservations actually made him feel comfortable. It was because she didn’t treat him like fragile porcelain that would shatter at a single touch, but rather like a normal, ordinary person.

"I have the highly offensive Ice Attribute. In the past, when we went on missions, I usually served as the vanguard.

"And because of that, I was the first to fall into the highly irradiated zone during a mission, which led to my genetic collapse."

Hayden’s tone was calm, as if he were recounting someone else’s misfortune. Deep down, Sev’s respect for him grew significantly. Encountering adversity wasn’t terrifying; what was terrifying was remaining trapped in it, unable to pull oneself out. Someone like him, who could face his fatal illness and the ever-looming specter of death with such poise, was truly worthy of respect.

Suddenly, Sev felt much more at ease. The last time she walked this road alone, she had been constantly on edge, watching out for sudden dangers. Now, with Hayden by her side, she felt the pressure on her shoulders lighten tremendously. After all, the combat power and defense of two people far exceeded that of one. Most importantly, when faced with danger, she believed this man wouldn’t casually use her as a human shield like Marcus Wyatt would.