CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: RABBIT

Sophia, standing near the cave, groaned as she eyed the girl beside her.

"Birdy, I don’t want to take this bath again. You know Mother was scared when I told her I bathed in this pool."

Calista huffed, still sulking over being tied up with vines a moment ago. "Don’t bathe if you want to stay weaker than me and always defeated by me without any effort, little kid."

The mocking lilt in her tone made Sophia’s fists clench. "Hmph, don’t get arrogant. I’ll be stronger than you in the future, and I have punched you before in the shoulder, remember."

"Yeah, yeah, and that punch didn’t even tickle me haha."

Ignoring Calista’s smug smirk, Sophia strode into the cave while grinding her teeth, she leapt into the pool.

The water soaked her clothes instantly, but she only giggled, improving her mood as the strange, tickling sensation ran over her skin, almost like the pool itself was welcoming her.

Leaning lazily against the cave entrance, Calista listened to her laugh, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

’Pfft, funny how our roles are reversed... it’s me taking care of her this time. Hopefully she won’t kick my ass if she remembers things.’

A shiver slid down her spine at the thought of her mother’s "punishment methods."

’I miss her so much...’

---

As Betty finished cooking, she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Sigh... it should be fine. It’s not like I’m some chef," she muttered.

Her so-called magnificent feast sat proudly on the table: one piece of toast, half burnt; bacon that had gone well past crispy into full charcoal; and the only truly appealing items—noodles, jam-slathered bread, and chocolate milk for Sophia.

She nodded in self-approval. "I should call Sophia out now."

But she froze at the sudden voice coming through a speaker outside.

’Huh... how are they broadcasting without electricity?’

Opening the window, she looked down to see a crowd listening intently.

"Attention, Awakeners. We have detected unusual activity outside the base. Please remain inside for the next few days while we investigate."

Betty frowned at the panicked murmurs from the civilians below. "Is the military crazy? Couldn’t they tell this to the Awakeners privately instead of making everyone panic?"

Shaking her head, she shut the window and turned back, ready to go into space.

---

Inside, Calista was grinning ear to ear as she towel-dried Sophia’s hair. Sophia stood with arms crossed, glaring up at her.

"Hmph, I wanted to bathe longer. Why’d you stop me?"

Calista shrugged, tossing the towel aside. "Wow. You didn’t want to bathe at first, and now you’re upset it’s over?"

Sophia’s cheeks puffed red as she let out a huff and stomped out of the cave.

Calista’s expression shifted the instant she felt Betty’s presence approaching. Without a word, she shifted back into her phoenix form and fluttered behind Sophia.

Outside the cabin, Betty looked around, scanning Sophia’s usual play spots.

"She usually plays around here... where is she?" she murmured, rubbing her head.

"Mommy!"

She turned toward the voice to see Sophia running toward her, soaking wet from head to toe. Betty’s eyes widened, and she quickly knelt, scooping her up.

"Dear, why are you drenched? What if you catch a cold?"

Behind Sophia, Calista rolled her eyes. "She’s strong. She won’t catch a cold."

Betty shot her a scoff. "What do you know? Hmph. I don’t want my daughter catching a cold, strong or not."

Carrying Sophia inside, Betty set her gently on the bed, grabbing a fresh set of clothes she’d already picked out. Once Sophia was changed, Betty rubbed her head with a fond smile.

"Alright, let’s go. Dinner’s ready. You can also pick some snacks—but no more than two."

[One day later]

Betty wiped crumbs from the corner of Sophia’s mouth, her eyes narrowing as she caught the girl trying to dodge her hand.

"Didn’t I say only two snacks? How many did you take today?"

Sophia pouted, legs swinging from the couch. "Mommy, I only took a little..."

Betty raised a brow and pointed at the floor, where fifteen empty wrappers were scattered like a battlefield.

"This is ’a little’? What if you get cavities?"

Sophia blinked. "What’s cavities? Is it bad?"

Betty’s lips twitched, then a mischievous smirk spread across her face.

"Do you know what cavities are? They happen when you eat too much sugar... and then those bugs you hate the most will make your teeth their home, walking around in your mouth... boo!"

She bared her teeth and widened her eyes in mock horror, looming closer.

Sophia’s eyes went wide with terror, and she swallowed hard.

"A-Are you telling the truth?"

Betty only shrugged, giving no answer.

"You’ll have to find out yourself. Should I bring out more snacks for you?"

Sophia shook her head so fast it looked like a rattle.

Betty’s lips curved into a sly smile as she straightened up.

"Alright then—no more than two next time. Promise?"

Sophia nodded obediently.

Knock, knock.

Hearing the sound, Betty tilted her head, not expecting visitors. When she opened the door, her eyes widened to find Hazel casually whistling while Maria stood beside her, waving awkwardly.

She stepped aside to let them in.

From the sofa, Sophia peeked out curiously.

Maria’s eyes sparkled the moment she saw the little girl’s big, round eyes staring back at her.

"Waaahhh!"

Without warning, Maria dashed over, scooping Sophia into her arms in a tight hug.

Sophia froze, stunned, finding herself trapped in the lap of this stranger, with two very soft cushions pressing down on her head.

"Hey... who are you?" she asked, voice muffled in confusion.

"You are so, so cute!"

Sophia yelped, feeling her chin being rubbed against like she was some prized plush toy.

Betty’s lips twitched, watching Maria handle Sophia as if she were a helpless little rabbit.

Beside her, Hazel pouted, arms crossed, muttering under her breath."She beat me when I hugged her like that... but now she’s doing the same to someone else."

Maria’s excitement finally eased when she noticed Sophia’s deadpan stare. She coughed, trying to play it off.

"Ahem... sorry. I just... couldn’t resist. You’re such a cutie."

For some unknown reason, Betty could clearly hear Calista laughing her ass off inside the space, and it only made her lips twitch harder.

Hazel looked at Betty beside her."Hey, Bennett, we came to say we’re going out of the base. Do you want to come with us?"

Betty blinked at the invitation, putting a hand on her chin.

’Should I go? I do need to get cores, but...’

Calista’s voice cut into her thoughts."Hey, Master, agree to her. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the little demon. You need to get cores."

Betty raised a brow at her enthusiasm, but in the end, she shook her head with a small sigh, then looked at Hazel and nodded.

"Okay, I’ll go. But... didn’t the military stop awakeners from leaving the base?"

Hazel shrugged, idly playing with a lock of her hair.

"Yes, but they only say that to weak awakeners—those who had absorbed only low-level cores out of fear. We’re free to go. Besides, I want to see what this abnormality is that they were talking about."

Betty nodded, scratching her head."Alright, I’ll be at the parking lot in twenty minutes."

Hazel grinned and glanced at Maria."Come on, let’s go. Our work here is done."

Maria, who had unconsciously been rubbing her chin against Sophia’s head again, froze mid-motion and laughed awkwardly. She gently put Sophia down before hurrying after Hazel.

Betty closed the door, then walked over to Sophia. She couldn’t help but giggle at the girl’s dull, shell-shocked expression, still fixed on the closed door.

Sophia finally looked up at her with pitiful eyes.

"Look, Mommy... who was she? She just suddenly came in and started hugging me like crazy."

Betty sat beside her and patted her head."Dear, she’s your mother’s friend."

Sophia groaned dramatically. "But I don’t like her at all."

"Oh, really?"

Sophia nodded firmly, then swung her tiny fist in the air as if demonstrating her disapproval.

Betty leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. Sophia giggled, wrapping her arms around her and burying her face against her waist.

"Dear, can you play with Calista for a while? I’ll come pick you up after some time."

Sophia nodded, still resting her head on Betty’s lap. Betty smiled softly and ran her fingers through her daughter’s hair in slow, soothing strokes.

---

Sophia grinned, raising her hand in greeting when she spotted Calista perched up in a tree.

"Sup."

Calista’s glare at her, as if she were not the one who suggested sending her in.

"Why are you here again, hmph."

Sophia huffed and turned her head away.

"Hah, I don’t wanna see you either. Hmph."

---

Betty wears her belt and starts putting knives in their sheath,

"Tch, it’s not much use against grade two zombies, but it reassures me."

she said patting the knifes.