Chapter 0010: Breakfast

[The progress of the Blacklight Virus evolution and awakening has increased! Current progress: 0.2%! Additional attribute upgrades: Strength +15, Agility +15, Constitution +15, Spirit +15! Life recovery speed +200%!]

Novak awoke from a deep sleep, feeling the surge of power coursing through his body as the Blacklight Virus further evolved and awakened. The upgrades to his attributes made him feel unstoppable.

He glanced at Aria, still fast asleep beside him, and carefully rolled out of bed.

When Aria finally stirred, she reached for the empty space next to her, recalling the events of last night. As she tried to sit up, the soreness from their passionate sexual intercourse made her feel slightly aggrieved. She couldn't help but recall Novak's words from last night—how could she accept those so easily?

With a sigh, Aria got dressed and left the bedroom. But as soon as she stepped out, her mood shifted entirely. There was Novak, setting a plate of dry-fried beef on the dining table, and the aroma filled the room.

All her grievances melted away in that instant. Her delicate nose twitched as she exclaimed, "It smells amazing! You can cook? And it's so delicious?"

Aria reached for the food, but Novak gently swatted her hand away.

"Wash your hands first. They're full of germs," he said sternly.

Novak's heightened awareness of hygiene, courtesy of his Virus King talent, made him more attuned to germs and cleanliness than ever before.

Aria pouted as she headed to the bathroom, muttering under her breath, "Yesterday, my hands were all over you—there were germs everywhere then too!"

Nevertheless, the nurse washed up before returning to the table.

And then, she unleashed a whirlwind attack with her chopsticks, devouring the food with impressive speed.

Novak couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "How long have you been starving?"

Aria, her mouth full, beamed at him. "It's delicious, Novak! You're amazing! How did you make this? This definitely isn't takeout. I've tried everything in the area, and nothing tastes this good!"

Novak was used to such praise, though last night's compliments had been far more intense. "Eat as much as you like. Meals this peaceful will be hard to come by in the future."

Aria paused, sensing something in his words, but didn't dwell on it. She was content with the enigmatic man in front of her, who brought her happiness in unexpected ways.

In that moment, Aria felt that even if Novak handed her a cup of poison, she would drink it with her eyes closed.

Little did she know, Novak's words were more prophetic than she realized. After the apocalypse, while strong evolvers like him would find food and daily life even more luxurious than before, the carefree peace of mind that accompanied it would be lost forever.

Novak, feeling a bit nostalgic, glanced over at Aria. She wasn't as conservatively dressed as usual, and his eyes lingered. Aria blushed under his gaze, but instead of shying away, she straightened up a little, a playful smile on her lips.

Novak could only chuckle to himself. This brief period of peace before the end times was truly precious. And as much as she didn't know it yet, this nurse was going to be his greatest asset—his partner in acquiring virus samples and evolving his talents.

"Come here," he said.

Before long, what had started as two people sitting in two chairs had shifted into them sharing one.

Just as things started to escalate between them, an untimely phone call interrupted the moment.

Aria frowned at the ringing, and she was about to reject the call when Novak spoke up. "Don't hang up. Answer it."

She shot him a playful glance but complied, taking a deep breath before answering. As she did, she casually picked up a steamed bun, moving with a grace that belied her playful mood.

On the other end of the line came an irritated voice. "Aria! Where have you been? Why didn't you reply?"

Aria sighed. "I'm eating breakfast. And Bob, remind me—what's the nature of our relationship? It's 'Miss' El to you."

The voice on the other end faltered. "A…Aria…"

"My name is El Aria," she corrected sharply. "If you have something to say, make it quick. I'm busy." She punctuated her sentence by taking a loud bite of the steamed bun.

Bob, the man on the other end, hesitated, his voice now tinged with suspicion. "Aria, what are you doing?"

His sudden question, combined with the increasingly loud noises from Aria's end, seemed to trigger something in him. Bob wasn't experienced in relationships, but he'd consumed enough questionable media to know when something sounded off. His face flushed red with anger.

"Aria, what the hell are you doing?!"

But his outburst was drowned out by the sounds from Aria's end, which seemed to grow even louder and more provocative.

Aria, entirely unbothered by Bob's escalating fury, continued with her breakfast, maintaining her elegant composure.

Novak, too, was completely indifferent to the drama on the other end of the line.

Having lived through the apocalypse, Novak had learned that sometimes, the little things in life—like this—were the most amusing.