The smell filled the small apartment instantly, overwhelming in its richness. Jenna and Natasha's eyes widened almost comically—that rich, smoky scent was something neither of them had smelled since before the world fell apart, since the days of restaurants and normalcy.
The three of them sat down together at the small dining table that had probably been meant for one person originally.
On it: three roasted lamb shanks arranged like offerings at an altar, ten bottles of mineral water with condensation beading on their surfaces, and three cups of spicy instant noodles still steaming from their recent preparation.
It might've been an ordinary meal a few months ago—the kind of thing you'd grab for a casual dinner without thinking twice. But now, in this dead world where most people were eating rats or worse, it was nothing short of a banquet. A feast worthy of kings.
Elric picked up a piece of the lamb with his chopsticks, tore off a bite with practiced ease, and chewed slowly, savoring every nuance.
The taste exploded in his mouth—tender meat that fell apart at the slightest pressure, perfectly seasoned with spices he couldn't quite identify. Fat that melted just right into the muscle, providing richness without greasiness.
He barely had to chew before the flavor slid down his throat like silk, coating everything in savory decadence.
As expected, he thought with satisfaction, System products are always top-tier.
Across from him, Natasha closed her eyes as she took her first bite, her expression transforming into something almost spiritual. Her lips curved into a rare, genuine smile that erased years from her face.
"Oh my god," she whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "I've never tasted anything like this."
Jenna wasn't far behind—chewing like she hadn't eaten in days, tears almost welling up in her eyes as she muttered, "This is the best thing I've ever eaten. Ever."
Half an hour later, all that remained were bones picked completely clean and empty bottles scattered across the table.
The three of them leaned back in their chairs, stomachs full to the point of slight discomfort, faces flushed with satisfaction and warmth. For a moment, the apocalypse outside felt far away—almost unreal, like a bad dream that had finally ended.
But in Elric's eyes, something else stirred.
Floating above each woman's head, visible only to his enhanced sight, were subtle colored auras that revealed their true emotional states:
Jenna's aura, once a cool, neutral blue that spoke of pure transaction and self-interest, now glowed with streaks of red bleeding through—a sign of increasing emotional dependency, of genuine attachment forming despite her best efforts to remain detached.
Natasha's aura, already tinged with red before the meal, deepened and pulsed brighter—half-red, half-blue now, radiating growing attachment that was becoming harder to deny or rationalize away.
Interesting, Elric thought, studying the phenomenon with scientific detachment. Even food can change their emotional resonance this much.
It made sense when he thought about it logically.
Out there, beyond these walls, people were starving—eating leather boiled soft, drinking polluted water that made them sick, killing each other over scraps of moldy bread.
And here, in this warm apartment, these two women could sit in comfort and safety, eating the best meat they'd ever tasted, drinking clean water, sleeping in actual beds.
How could they not start feeling grateful? How could dependency not turn to attachment, attachment to something deeper?
The human mind rationalized its circumstances. If you relied on someone for survival, eventually you'd convince yourself you cared about them. It was a defense mechanism, a way to make captivity bearable.
"Honey," Jenna said suddenly, her voice sweet as syrup, dripping with affected affection, "I'll work hard to complete my task. I won't just freeload like some people."
She leaned over and kissed Elric on the cheek, the gesture possessive and deliberate. Then she shot Natasha a sidelong glance full of smug triumph, a look that said I'm ahead of you, and you know it.
But Natasha didn't react the way Jenna expected. Not even a scoff or an eye roll.
She just sat there, quiet, eyes lowered to her empty plate—though inside, her thoughts burned hotter than ever.
She knew arguing with Jenna was pointless. Words wouldn't change anything, wouldn't shift the dynamics or secure her position.
If she wanted to win—and she was beginning to realize she did want to win, wanted it with an intensity that surprised her—she'd have to do it with results.
She'd have to climb higher—closer to Elric, closer to the one person who actually mattered in this shelter. Become indispensable rather than just useful.
In the small hierarchy that had formed here, Elric was the leader, no question. His power, his resources, his abilities made him untouchable at the top.
She couldn't replace him.
But the position right below him—the main partner, the one everyone else answered to, the second-in-command—that was still open. That was achievable.
And for the first time in her life, Natasha, who once looked down on the idea of competing for a man's attention as beneath her dignity… found herself willing to fight for it.
Willing to do whatever it took to secure that position.
There is 25 chapter Advance with 2 chapters every day, in my patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
patreon.com/B_A_3439