Chapter 74: A Little Relaxation

The days passed quietly.

Zarek spent most of the first few days recovering in the apartment. His strength returned gradually, and the lingering weakness left by the fight on the fortieth floor finally disappeared.

He didn’t rush himself. There was no reason to.

The building had settled into a different rhythm while he recovered. People moved through the corridors carrying supplies, a few survivors took turns watching the entrances, and Mara continued organizing what remained of their group.

Zarek occasionally saw them when he left the apartment, but he rarely paid attention. As long as nobody bothered him, they could arrange their little community however they pleased.

Mara came by twice during those days. Both times, she had something to discuss regarding supplies or the survivors. Zarek listened, gave her permission to handle it, and sent her on her way.

He had no intention of becoming responsible for a bunch of strangers. That was what Mara was there for.

Elsa and Ayesha, meanwhile, continued their training. Their routines had become more regular, and neither seemed interested in wasting the time they had gained.

Sometimes Zarek watched them practice, occasionally offering a comment when he felt like it. He was particularly pleased with how much stronger they had become.

The apocalypse had given them plenty of opportunities to improve, and their investments were beginning to show their worth.

By the time another few days had passed, Zarek was completely recovered.

One afternoon, he sat on the couch with his legs stretched out, enjoying the quiet apartment. Ayesha was nearby, cleaning her firearm, while Elsa had just returned from training.

There was nothing urgent waiting for him. No monster to kill. No troublesome survivor demanding his attention. No reason to leave the apartment unless he wanted to.

For once, he could simply enjoy himself.

A thought crossed his mind, and he opened the Investment System. The familiar interface appeared before him.

His gaze moved to the Favorability values.

[Elsa — Favorability: 92]

[Ayesha — Favorability: 88]

Zarek raised an eyebrow.

Both numbers had increased since the last time he’d checked. Elsa was now only eight points away from reaching one hundred, while Ayesha wasn’t far behind.

Not bad.

He leaned back, looking at the two names with satisfaction. Reaching one hundred would unlock another bond slot. That alone made the progress worthwhile, though he was also interested in the returns he could obtain from their continued development.

There were still plenty of ways to make use of the system. But he didn’t feel like thinking about investments right now.

He closed the interface.

His gaze shifted toward Elsa. She was putting away the equipment she’d brought back from training, her hair slightly damp with sweat. Ayesha remained occupied with her firearm.

Zarek smiled.

He had spent enough time lying in bed. His body was back in good condition, and the building was running well enough without his involvement. It was time to enjoy the benefits of his little arrangement.

"Elsa."

She looked over. "What?"

"Come here."

She glanced at him for a moment before putting down the equipment. There was no particular urgency in her movements.

Ayesha briefly looked up, then returned her attention to the firearm in her hands.

Elsa stopped in front of the couch. "You’re looking rather pleased with yourself."

"Shouldn’t I be? I’ve finally recovered, and nobody has managed to ruin my day yet."

"Give it time."

He chuckled and shifted to make room beside him. "Sit."

Elsa settled beside him, leaving only a little space between them. She glanced at his face, then at the relaxed way he was sitting. "You seem to have gotten your strength back."

"Completely."

"Good. I was getting tired of watching you lie around."

"That’s a terrible thing to say to someone who nearly died."

"You were the one who went looking for trouble."

"And I found plenty of it."

She shook her head, though a faint smile touched her lips.

Zarek turned toward her. "You know, I’ve been rather patient these past few days."

He glanced toward the other room, then stood up.

"Come with me."

Elsa raised an eyebrow but followed him without asking where they were going. Zarek led her into the adjoining bedroom and closed the door behind them.

Elsa studied him for a moment. When he had returned from the fortieth floor, he had been covered in blood and barely conscious. For days, neither she nor Ayesha had known when he would wake up.

Now he was standing in front of her, completely recovered.

"You really gave us a scare," she said.

Zarek looked at her with amusement. "Were you worried?"

"Don’t get carried away."

"That’s not a no."

She rolled her eyes, but didn’t move away.

For a moment, they simply sat together. The apartment was quiet, with only the faint sounds of Ayesha handling her equipment nearby.

Zarek rested an arm along the back of the couch. "Come a little closer."

Elsa looked at him. "You’re getting demanding again."

"I never stopped."

"At least you’re honest."

Elsa approached without the guarded expression she used to wear whenever he called her over. She stopped in front of him, looking down at him with a faint smile.

He reached for her hand and drew her closer. She didn’t resist. Instead, her gaze lingered on his face before briefly dropping to his lips.

Zarek noticed the look.

"You’ve been unusually quiet," he remarked.

"Maybe I’m waiting for you to do something."

His smile widened. "You could always ask."

"I doubt you need me to."

That was enough for him. He pulled her closer, and this time Elsa didn’t wait for him to make the first move. She leaned down and kissed him.

For a brief moment, Elsa remained close, her forehead nearly touching his. There was no nervousness in her expression, no instinctive attempt to put distance between them.

She stayed close, making no effort to hide her anticipation. Zarek gave her a satisfied look before drawing her into another kiss.