After what felt like hours, Leon and Nikko finally stepped back, their "inspection" of Elizabeth concluded. She wasted no ti pulling an oversized shirt from her inventory, slipping it over her head. Leon’s gaze lingered on the fabric a mont longer than it should have. He recognized it instantly. The sa shirt she had swiped from his room more than a year ago. He thought of saying sothing, but let it slide. Instead, he folded his arms and spoke first, voice direct and sharp.
"So, Lizzie... what new power-up did you get?"
The bluntness of his tone made it feel unreal, almost too casual given everything that had just happened. Elizabeth gave him a tired look, her voice heavy with exasperation.
"Leon, this isn’t a ga world."
"But you did get a power-up, didn’t you?" he pressed, unfazed.
That earned him a small, smug smile. "Yes. I did."
Leon leaned forward, impatient. "Then stop keeping us waiting and tell us."
Elizabeth let the silence stretch, enjoying the mont. Then, with a kind of pride that lit her face, she said it. "It’s a Saint-rank talent."
Leon’s eyes widened as though she’d just spoken sothing impossible. Beside him, Nikko straightened, her voice cool but sharp. "Saint rank?"
Leon turned slowly, his thoughts racing. "That’s... above Supre. We just don’t know how big the gap is yet."
"I could get that part," Nikko said, tilting her head. "It’s just the na. It sounds so... holy."
Leon fell silent, considering it. Finally, he muttered, "It does." Then, his eyes went back to Elizabeth, searching, unsettled. "So... what does your holy talent do?"
Elizabeth drew in a breath, lips parting to explain—
—But outside, the squad waited.
Adrian and Eden stood together, watching the still-closed door. Lately, both had felt out of place. It was one thing to be with Leon, their captain, who made even impossible things seem within reach. But with Elizabeth added to the mix, and Nikko, an S-rank powerhouse, it took either unshakable confidence or blissful ignorance not to feel overshadowed.
Still, none of that mattered now. Their squadmate had been screaming for hours, a sound that had gnawed at their nerves until it finally ended. When the door creaked open, both n stiffened.
Leon stepped out first, looking drained, as though the life had been beaten out of him. Nikko followed, carrying the sa exhaustion, though she bore it with more grace. Last ca Elizabeth, in fresh clothes, her posture steady and her eyes glowing faintly with sothing new.
Adrian was the first to speak. "Elizabeth... hope you’re alright."
Eden moved to his side, worry etched in his expression.
Elizabeth blinked at their concern, stunned for a mont. She hadn’t been with the squad long, yet the sincerity in their voices hit sothing deep. Then she smiled. "I’m more than okay. In fact, to prove it, I’ll make you all a scrumptious dinner."
Leon’s dazed mind snapped into focus at that. He shot upright, voice sharp. "No, Lizzie. You rest. I’ll be the one to make us dinner."
The room fell silent. All eyes turned to him. Even Bal’ark, looming silently in the corner, tilted its head in confusion.
Leon looked around, dead serious. "What? I’m an excellent cook."
****
Unit 1 sat gathered around the long wooden dining table, the clatter of cutlery and bowls absent as all eyes lingered on the kitchen door. The sll drifting out was promising, but no one dared speak of it.
Eden broke the silence first. He leaned back, casting a glance at Elizabeth. "You’ve been with him the longest. You must’ve tasted his food at least once, right?"
Elizabeth wore the sa uncertain look the rest carried. Her voice carried a worried lilt. "That’s the thing. Ever since I’ve known Leo, I’ve never seen him hold a kitchen knife for cooking. And I’ve known him since we were two." She paused, brows furrowed. "So it’s either he learned when I wasn’t around, which was rare or he figured it out when he was one, which sounds ridiculous. Or..." She sighed, shoulders sinking. "The last option, which I pray isn’t true, is that we’re about to have a very... morable experience tonight."
Eden swallowed hard. Adrian’s jaw tightened. Both of them began to sweat at the thought. Leon, who solved everything with brute strength, cooking? It felt ridiculous.
"I don’t think it’ll be that bad," Nikko chid in lightly, almost cheerful. "Soone who loves ice cream can’t possibly have bad tastes."
Adrian and Eden both turned their heads slowly toward her, then wisely said nothing. Elizabeth only thought to herself, ’she’s so innocent... I hope it stays that way after this dinner.’
Just then, footsteps approached. The door creaked open, and Leon strode out with a large serving pot in his hands. No one paid attention to the food at first. Their eyes locked instead on the bright pink apron tied across his chest. A giant heart sat square in the middle, nestled between the words I and Mommy. No one dared ntion it. Still, the image seared itself into their minds forever.
Leon set the pot down and returned with plates, placing them neatly in front of each of them before serving. Spaghetti and at sauce,it was simple, steaming, and surprisingly appetizing. As the aroma filled the room.
At least it looked good. At least it slled good. But they were trial takers. They knew better than anyone that appearances could deceive.
Leon raised a brow at their hesitation and said, "Bon appétit."
The group exchanged wary glances. To their ears, it sounded like so strange incantation. But then ca the sound of a swallow. They turned sharply, Nikko had already taken a bite. She stayed silent for a mont, chewing. Then, without a word, she leaned in and began devouring her plate with reckless abandon.
The others froze. But seeing her reaction, the tension cracked. One by one, they took a spoonful.
The sa word exploded in all of their minds at once: Delicious.
The table transford in an instant. Gone was the unease; now it was a battlefield of its own as they shoveled food into their mouths, rushing, scraping plates, and asking for more.
Leon only smiled faintly. "Don’t worry. I’ll make extras." He fastened his apron and disappeared back into the kitchen.
The mont the door closed behind him, Adrian muttered under his breath, almost reverent, "Is there anything he can’t do?"
Eden didn’t answer. He only sat in silence, a strange weight in his chest.
For Leon, cooking wasn’t sothing he’d picked up here. It ca from another life, another world. Back then, survival ant taking any job, even one in a cramped restaurant kitchen. And if this world weren’t so twisted with demons and trials, he could have easily beco a chef. Earth’s standards were far beyond anything the Blue Planet had to offer.
But for tonight, Unit 1 only knew one truth: their commander could cook, and cook better than anyone had dared imagine.
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