By the time Sabrina reached the cafeteria to collect the meals, there were only a few people left.
"Hey, Sabrina—how's your first day going?"
One of the older staff members looked at her kindly, taking in the gentle, well-behaved girl before her.
Sabrina smiled faintly and nodded.
Even as she responded, her hands didn't slow.
She quickly counted out thirty to forty meal boxes, gave a small wave of thanks, and hurried off with her cart.
In the time it took her to do that, the other staff responsible for different cell blocks had already returned and begun eating.
Sabrina silently calculated the time left—and quickened her pace.
"Hey?" Someone stepped into her path. "Sabrina, you're only heading over now?"
Hannah looked at her in surprise.
Sabrina gave an embarrassed smile.
Hannah's expression softened with concern. "Are the ones in Building Three giving you trouble?"
Sabrina thought about it.
Not really…
She quickly scribbled on a note:
[It's my first day, so I'm still unfamiliar. I'll get faster in a few days. Please don't worry—I'll do my best.]
Hannah read it, visibly moved. She reached out and patted Sabrina's shoulder.
"It's rare to see someone this diligent these days," she said. "Times are hard. There's always war somewhere. People like us don't have the fortune of being Guides—but as long as we can live honestly and get by, that's enough."
Sabrina nodded firmly. That was exactly how she felt.
No envy. No self-pity. Just… moving forward.
Hannah withdrew her hand. "Go on, then. I'll save you some food!"
Sabrina nodded again, smiling gratefully as she pushed her cart and hurried back toward Building Three.
Watching her rush off, Hannah sighed softly.
Who would've thought… we'd end up with such a sincere little girl?
When Sabrina returned to Building Three, she moved much faster.
There was no need to ask what they needed now.
She opened each hatch—set down the meal—and moved on.
At 101, Tobias had just opened his mouth to speak, but she was already gone.
At 102, Xander merely glanced at the meal placed before him, still leaning back without moving.
His spirit companion—the red-bellied snake—slithered forward instead, coiling around the container and bringing it to him.
It flicked its tongue, hissing softly, urging him to eat.
Xander closed his eyes briefly, murmuring under his breath:
"…What's the point of all this…"
A life like imprisonment—stifling, humiliating.
He'd rather have died on the battlefield.
At 103, Brandon accepted the meal.
"Thank you."
Then he turned and walked away without another word.
Sabrina paused for a moment, then continued on.
When she reached 112, the person inside glanced through the transparent lid—and immediately frowned.
"Why are there carrots again? Didn't I say I don't eat those?"
Sabrina froze, then quickly turned as if to go replace it.
But all the meals were standardized—almost every one included the same dishes.
The man stood just behind the hatch.
She couldn't see his face clearly—only the narrow line of his waist.
She quickly handed over a note.
Inside, James Marrow had been about to lose his temper—but at the soft rustle, his pale blue eyes lowered.
A note.
It read:
[I'm sorry. It's my first time, so I don't know your preferences yet. Could you wait a moment? If possible, I'll go back to the cafeteria and try to get you a different one.]
The polite, humble tone eased his irritation slightly.
Leaning lazily against the door, he replied with a trace of spoiled impatience:
"Fine. Go."
Sabrina immediately turned and ran.
Hearing her hurried footsteps, several Sentinels in nearby cells tilted their heads slightly.
From above, Fang's voice drifted down, light with amusement:
"Oh my… the young master really does have it good. One word from you, and she abandons the rest of us~"
James frowned. "What's with that sarcastic tone?"
Fang sounded utterly innocent. "When was I being sarcastic? I'm complimenting you, young master."
That faint edge of mockery was unmistakable.
"Shut up," James snapped.
From 201, Gian chimed in:
"Can't stand Fang, huh? Let that dumb girl open my door—I'll tear him apart for you."
James didn't even bother responding.
Fang, however, seemed entertained. "Gian… did you finally learn to speak like a human? Did your little dog return your brain to you?"
Bang!
"Fang, you son of a bitch!"
The curses and furious barking erupted once more.
Meanwhile, Sabrina rushed back to the cafeteria.
She quickly asked the kitchen staff to help swap out a meal.
Reading her note, the woman looked puzzled.
"What's going on?"
Sabrina wrote again:
[There's a Sentinel who doesn't like carrots.]
The woman's expression turned dark.
Before Sabrina, who had ever cared about what those people liked or didn't like?
Meals were prepared in bulk and shoved in.
Eat it or don't.
Who would make a special trip back like this?
But seeing the earnest hope in Sabrina's eyes, she relented.
"…Fine. Go on."
Sabrina bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
She was just about to leave when Hannah, who was eating nearby, spotted her.
"Sabrina."
She stopped again.
Hannah waved her over. "Come eat."
Sabrina hesitated, then pointed at the meal box in her hand—then toward the detention building outside.
Hannah frowned. "You forgot one?"
There was no time to explain.
Sabrina made a quick gesture and hurried off again.
Hannah was left standing there, confused.
Back in the detention block—as her footsteps approached, the noisy corridor fell briefly quiet.
At 112, Sabrina handed over the replacement meal.
Seeing that the offending dish was gone—and noticing her slightly breathless state—James hesitated, then muttered awkwardly:
"…Thanks."
Sabrina gave a small smile and moved on.
At 120, Eugene was already there, looming at the hatch like a ghost.
"Tired from running, little girl?"
He tilted his head, watching her flushed cheeks.
"That face of yours… if I took a bite, would it be as sweet and juicy as an apple?"
Sabrina kept her face blank.
His words were unsettling—but he couldn't come out.
Without a word, she set the meal down and went upstairs.
Eugene only chuckled softly, unconcerned, and carried his food away.
At 201, Sabrina cautiously opened the hatch—then immediately stepped back.
As expected, the hyena's head lunged out again, teeth bared.
Inside, Gian's voice was dark and threatening.
"You kept me waiting this long… got a death wish? Did I say you could leave earlier? Who gave you the guts—huh?!"
Sabrina pushed the meal forward, gesturing: Are you eating or not?
The hyena snarled.
After venting his anger, Gian spat out a final threat:
"Watch yourself. Don't let me get out."
From next door, Fang chimed in cheerfully:
"Don't worry—you won't be getting out anytime soon."
With Gian's temper?
Keeping his contamination stable was already a miracle.
At this rate, he'd drive himself insane first.
Bang!
Gian kicked the wall again in fury.
Sabrina seized the moment to quickly slide the meal inside.
Fang might be overly enthusiastic, but admittedly… his ability to draw fire away from others was incredibly useful.