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Anos paused as he looked at the table full of dishes he had prepared. In his past life, he hadn't done much cooking. But now, with the mories of the original body, he couldn't help but be a little proud. It was Luna who had always been the one to take care of him, and she was often busy with work. Anos couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, especially since his cooking had already surprised her that morning. Now, seeing her face light up at the sight of a full al, he knew she was impressed.
Anos grinned, his usual confidence creeping into his voice. "Well, I may have been secretly learning how to cook for a while, but I'm sure you didn't notice. Go ahead, try it, and let know what you think."
Luna, a little stunned at first, slowly walked over to the sink and washed her hands. She took a seat at the table, adjusting the temperature of the table with a flick of her wrist, ensuring the food stayed warm.
She picked up a small bite of the dish and brought it to her mouth. Her eyes widened slightly, savoring the taste as she chewed slowly. The flavor was nothing short of amazing.
Anos leaned forward slightly, eager to hear her thoughts. "Well? What do you think?"
He watched her carefully, curious if his efforts would et her expectations.
"Did you really make this?" Luna asked, her voice filled with disbelief as she glanced up at him.
Anos smirked, his eyes gleaming with pride. "Of course, I did. Why? Don't you believe ?"
Luna blinked in surprise, taking another bite. Her eyes softened, and she finally smiled, clearly impressed. "It's really good, Anos," she admitted, the warmth in her voice genuine.
Anos grinned widely, obviously pleased. "I'm glad you like it! You'd better eat more, though. I made plenty."
Luna chuckled softly, her brow furrowing slightly. "I'm not a bottomless pit, you know. I can't eat all of this at once."
Anos raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Well, I'll just keep feeding you until you're all plump and cute. Maybe I'll turn you into a little pig."
Luna rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. His playful teasing always made her feel at ease, even if she tried to act annoyed.
"Ding… Feeling Luna's happiness, Scumbag Value 20,000."
Anos noticed the system's notification but ignored it with a smirk. He was happy to see that his efforts were being rewarded, both by Luna and the system.
With a soft sigh, Anos leaned back in his chair, his tone shifting to sothing more serious. "You know, if I co ho a little earlier in the future, I'll take over the cooking. You've been working hard, Luna. You deserve a break."
Luna hesitated for a mont, looking at him with a soft expression. She shook her head slowly, a small smile gracing her lips. "No, it's fine. I'll still cook. You've been so busy lately, and I enjoy it. It's my way of taking care of you."
Anos could sense the underlying emotion in her voice. It wasn't just about the cooking. There was sothing deeper there, a mix of affection and perhaps a tinge of uncertainty. He understood, but he wanted her to know that she didn't have to do everything on her own.
He reached out gently, his hand resting atop hers. "Luna, you don't have to carry everything by yourself. I want to share the load with you, just like you've always done for ."
Luna's gaze softened as she looked at him, her expression vulnerable for a mont. "I know… I just don't want to seem weak or like I'm relying too much on you."
Anos gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "You don't have to worry about that. It's not weakness to let soone else help. We're a team, Luna. You don't have to carry everything alone."
Her eyes shimred as she smiled, the warmth in her heart reflected in the soft curve of her lips. "Thank you, Anos. I'll try to rember that."
...
The al was almost forgotten between them, a re backdrop to the unfolding connection. Anos watched as Luna's expression shifted—her usual guarded deanor was replaced with a flicker of warmth. She had always valued her independence, yet tonight, there was sothing softer in her gaze, sothing that made Anos feel they were growing closer, not just in proximity, but in understanding.
As they finished their al, Anos leaned back, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I'm heading out later."
Luna's brows knitted together as she looked at him, her voice laced with concern. "Out again? Are you sure it's safe?"
Anos nodded slightly, his tone casual. "Yes, it's sothing I need to take care of."
Her eyes narrowed as she folded her arms. "Where are you going this ti? Is it still to that female teacher's house?"
Anos froze for a mont, his mind racing. How did she know? But before he could gather his thoughts, Luna was already holding up her phone, showing him the shared location tracker. "Did you forget? Your phone is linked to mine. I can see where you are at all tis."
Anos winced, the realization of his oversight hitting him hard. He had been careless, forgetting that their phones were linked ever since that night in the Beast Domain, when Luna had grown worried about his safety. "Right, of course... I must've forgotten." He chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Luna's gaze softened but remained skeptical. "You really were at her house, weren't you?"
Anos quickly reassured her, his tone earnest. "It wasn't what you think. She needed help with sothing, and in exchange, she gave this spirit tool." He summoned the Celestial Serpent Blade in his hand and displayed it with a proud grin. "Nothing more to it, I promise."
Luna eyed the sword for a mont before eting his gaze. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, though a part of her still felt uneasy. "I believe you, but..." Her voice trailed off, a subtle hint of sothing unspoken lingering in the air.
Anos noticed her hesitance and, with a sigh, decided to address it. "I understand if it makes you uncomfortable. But this ti, I'm heading into the Demonic Beast Domain. I'm going with a strong team from the Bounty Hunter Guild, so it won't be dangerous."
Luna's concern didn't fade imdiately, and her voice carried a touch of worry. "But if you're going with a stronger team, doesn't that an the mission is more dangerous?"
Anos smiled reassuringly, leaning forward. "The Chillwater Valley isn't that dangerous. I'll be fine, trust ."
Luna bit her lip, conflicted. She was proud of Anos, but the thought of him going into potential danger made her heart ache. She glanced away for a mont before asking, "When will you be back?"
Anos pondered for a mont, calculating the distance and ti. "Probably tomorrow during the day. It's only twenty kiloters away, but I can't say how long the mission will take."
Luna nodded, her gaze softening. "I've heard that the Beast Territory near Flower City has been more chaotic recently. Are you sure it's safe?"
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Anos nodded grimly. "Yes, there have been more demonic beasts spotted lately. But the guild and several other organizations are investigating it. I'll be fine, Luna. Don't worry about ."
She remained quiet for a mont, then spoke with a quiet determination. "Just promise you'll ssage every hour. I don't want to feel helpless while you're out there."
Anos' heart ward at her words. "I promise. I'll keep you updated every hour."
Luna smiled, though a flicker of doubt still lingered in her eyes. "Please, be careful."
"Always," Anos said with a wink, his usual confident charm masking the deeper emotions beneath. He didn't want to worry her any more than necessary.
After dinner, they relaxed on the sofa, chatting about trivial things while Anos rested his head on Luna's lap, enjoying the quiet comfort of her presence. It was rare for him to feel so at peace, and he cherished these monts.
As the ti passed, the hour grew late. The clock on the wall ticked closer to eight. "I should get going," Anos said reluctantly, pushing himself up from the couch.
Luna stood as well, her hands instinctively adjusting his clothes as she looked at him with a mix of concern and care. "Take care of yourself out there. And don't forget about your promise. Send a ssage every hour, okay?"
Anos chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Only if you give a kiss first."
Luna rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, though the affection in her gaze was unmistakable. "Go already. You're impossible."
With a grin, Anos leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. "I'll see you soon."
He stepped toward the door, but before leaving, he turned back to her one last ti. "Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it."
Luna smiled, her eyes still holding a trace of worry, but she said nothing more. Instead, she simply nodded, her heart full of unspoken thoughts.
Anos left the apartnt, stepping out into the cool evening air. As he made his way to the Bounty Hunter Guild, his thoughts were with Luna, her words echoing in his mind. He knew she cared deeply, and for that, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility to return safely.
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