The World Is Mine For The Taking-Chapter 1202 - 184 - Slowly, But Steadily (5)

After a brief conversation with Zeruel, Juna eventually came back to where we were.

Her arms were full—completely loaded, in fact—with various ingredients bundled together. Vegetables, wrapped cuts of meat, herbs I couldn’t immediately identify. It looked like she had gone all out.

"I’ll pay for that," I said instinctively, the words leaving my mouth before I even thought twice.

"There’s no need," she replied right away, shaking her head. "You’ve already done more than enough for us. This is something I should be doing. I mean... this isn’t nearly enough to make up for everything you’ve done."

"Honestly, there isn’t anything that needs to be repaid," I said, keeping my tone calm. "I didn’t really do anything special."

The moment I said that, she stepped closer. Too close. Close enough that I could feel her presence without even needing to look directly at her. Then, gently, she leaned forward and pressed her index finger against my lips.

It was a soft gesture.

A quiet one.

Like she was telling me to stop talking.

For a second, I froze.

Her eyes were locked onto mine, and there was something in them. It was something I couldn’t quite read. It wasn’t obvious. Not blatant. Not aggressive.

It wasn’t seduction.

But it wasn’t not that either.

There was a certain depth there, something calm yet heavy, something mature and steady. A kind of presence that didn’t need exaggerated gestures to be felt.

I figured it was just her natural charisma.

The kind that came from experience.

A very experienced MILF.

That realization alone made my thoughts drift in a direction they probably shouldn’t have. Images flashed in my head before I could stop them, my imagination doing what it always did best—running wild the moment it sensed even the smallest opening.

I quietly cleared my throat.

Lately, my brain had been like this more often than not.

Maybe I was backed up.

Though, when I actually thought about it, that explanation didn’t make much sense. My sex life was more than healthy. If anything, it was excessive.

I was having sex for hours almost every single day.

So no, I couldn’t really blame it on that.

If I had to be honest with myself, the reason was simple.

I was interested in her.

That alone was enough to mess with my head.

Was it bad? Maybe. Probably. But the idea of having an oyakodon with both Juna and Zeruel sparked a thrill I couldn’t deny.

Of course, I knew better than to believe something like that would happen anytime soon.

Zeruel would never agree to it so easily.

And Juna would probably look at me like I’d completely lost my sanity if I ever said it out loud.

Still... someday.

For now, though, getting Juna to even see me in that sense felt like a distant goal.

Not impossible.

Just far away.

And honestly, it didn’t matter at the moment.

Juna turned away and began preparing the food she had planned to cook for us. Her movements were smooth and practiced, like someone who had done this countless times before. There was no hesitation as well as no wasted motion.

Meanwhile, I stayed behind and continued talking with the two sisters, the atmosphere relaxed and comfortable.

After a while, Juna returned.

In her hands was a dish that gave off thick steam, the heat rising visibly into the air. The smell hit me immediately. It was rich, deep, and savory. It wrapped around my senses before I even had time to react.

It was a dish I had never seen before.

"Braised demon rabbit legs," Juna said. "It’s one of my specialties."

So it was braised.

That explained the smell.

It was strong but not overwhelming, layered with spices and something faintly sweet underneath.

Demon rabbit meat, too.

I’d eaten demon rabbit before, but never like this. This was the first time I’d seen it prepared in a braised style. The meat looked tender, soaked in sauce, with the surface glistening under the light.

It wasn’t exactly something unheard of, but in this world, and in this life, it was new to me.

"My mother is really good at making this dish," Zeruel said. "It’s something she used to make for us all the time."

"Oh, don’t exaggerate," Juna replied with a small laugh. "I only made it when we had enough money."

"Well, it was something you always made once you woke up," Zeruel said. "W-Well... I missed it at first, but after a while, I kind of got tired of it."

"I’ve been busy with work, and it’s been bringing in good money," Juna said. "I think it’s only natural. I wanted to make something you liked, since I couldn’t cook for you for so many years."

"You didn’t really have to," Zeruel said quietly.

"I’m not complaining," Selene said suddenly, already reaching for the dish. She didn’t hesitate for even a second. The moment she took a bite, her reaction was immediate.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Her shoulders relaxed.

Then she smiled—bright and genuine—and her cheeks flushed faintly.

"Mmmmm~!!!" she exclaimed. "It’s really good~!!!"

"Fufufufu, I’m glad," Juna said, her smile soft and warm as she looked at her daughter. There was no mistaking the affection in her gaze.

I took my own bite shortly after.

And honestly?

It was incredible.

The moment the meat touched my tongue, it practically melted. The sauce was rich and deep, spreading across my mouth in layers. Sweet, savory, slightly spicy. Each flavor hitting in sequence instead of all at once.

It felt like my taste buds were being overwhelmed in the best possible way.

The meat itself was unbelievably tender. There was no resistance as well as no toughness. It broke apart effortlessly, leaving behind nothing but flavor.

"Oh..."

The sound slipped out before I could stop it.

I hadn’t meant to react like that, but the food earned it.

"Fufufu, it’s good, right?" Juna asked, clearly amused.

"It’s really good," I said honestly. "So good that it feels like this should be on the table more often."

I wasn’t exaggerating.

It tasted like something that belonged in a place far better than where we were. Something carefully perfected over time.

Now I understood why she called it special.

Given the flavor, the care behind it, and the history tied to it...

It really was special.