Martin and Chaosgraphy exchanged a look. Nestled against Chaos’s chest, San Kumoe tipped her three heads up as though she wanted to join in, even if none of them understood what was happening.

NukEncore smiled and summoned her new staff. With one hand extended, she rolled her shoulders back, set one leg forward, and settled into a cool, slow pose that showed off her curves with deliberate confidence. The movement was unhurried, almost performative, and it stole Martin’s full attention at once.

He watched her as if she were about to step under stage lights.

She knew that stare well. With a faint, pleased smile, NukEncore let the tip of her staff sway in a lazy arc, checking exactly where his eyes would go. As expected, he did not follow the staff at all. His gaze lingered around her throat and collarbones instead, wavering over whether to drift higher or lower.

Leaning in, she denied him any easy look down her neckline. Resting her weight on the staff, she brought her face a little closer to his and met his eyes with open, playful challenge.

"Staves are cool and all, but I don’t like them. Not after summoning my flames through my hands." She lifted her right hand beside her face and slowly flicked her fingers, scattering tiny sparks of fire from her fingertips.

Warm light danced across her smile. Then she planted the staff into the ground and set both hands on her hips, arching just enough to make the pose shameless.

"Magic comes straight from the heart!" she declared.

At once, Chaos’s smile sharpened. She had recognized the little performance for exactly what it was and looked far too entertained by it.

Martin’s eyes betrayed him and dipped to her chest. Yeah, you do have a big heart.

"And?" Chaosgraphy asked. "You don’t want that staff?"

"Mhm. It’s a nice staff, but I don’t want to wield one just to use its skills. Look, we can take this pretty jewel and imbue my gloves with it, right?" NukEncore asked, her eyes wide. "Martin has a new shield too, but he always said he’d do his best to keep the Control Devil’s Shield Tether going. We’re the same!"

Martin’s expression shifted, the teasing in his eyes easing for a moment. He looked at the staff again, then back at her hands.

"...Yeah," he said. "I get it."

She lifted her chin at Chaos as if that shared connection with Martin put her ahead. Chaos only smirked.

"I see. Since we’re this close to Samu’s Restaurant, could I ask you for a favor, Martin?" Chaos suddenly chimed in.

Martin glanced up at her. "Yeah?"

"Kumoe’s such a glutton she already ate all her food. Could you cook some more for her? Pretty please?" she asked in the sweetest voice she could muster. For a top actress, she knew exactly how to pull at the heartstrings in a way very different from NukEncore, whose charm came naturally.

She lifted her pet too, letting three pairs of adorable eyes and eager, drooling nuzzles make the plea even harder to refuse.

"How can I say no to that? Kumoe’s already hungry, and she did great work against the boss. I’ll make her a bigger portion to celebrate!" Martin replied with a smile.

San Kumoe barked happily at him.

Chaos licked her lips and shot NukEncore a wide smirk, her glossy lips curling with satisfaction.

NukEncore gave a sharp harrumph and crossed her arms beneath her chest. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

That only made Martin’s gaze slide right back to her.

—

"Rangar? I have no clue where he is. Shouldn’t he be around the Light Tree’s Hub?" Samu asked after Martin and the others brought him up.

He was the only one who could help with Martin and NukEncore’s issue. At their levels, they still counted as newbies, which meant Rangar was supposed to help them. Even without that, though, he was the kind of man who would help simply because he wanted to.

Martin tilted his head and glanced back at the chef. "Well, true. It’s the end of the week, so the Light Tree should be handing out rewards."

"I’m looking forward to it!" NukEncore chimed in around a mouthful of food, her cheeks puffed out.

Samu had no words. If Martin had not stocked his kitchen with so many kraken ingredients, he would have thrown this girl out already.

Oddly, the thought of cursing at San Kumoe or Ao Tenshin had never even crossed his mind, even though the two beasts ate more than NukEncore.

Something deep in his culture made supporting adorable creatures like them feel only natural.

San Kumoe was a three-headed wolf pup, after all, so it made sense that she needed far more food. She even had a special meal of her own.

"Hmm, we should try finding Rangar," Martin said.

"Robert’s Smithy next, then?" Chaos asked. She was clearly having the time of her life watching her pup eat, and teasing NukEncore at the same time was the cherry on top.

"Yeah, but first we wait for everyone to finish eating," Martin said with a chuckle.

NukEncore looked ready to snap back, but instead she started coughing.

Samu let out a long sigh.

San Kumoe trotted along happily at Chaosgraphy’s side, all three heads looking far too satisfied after the meal. Martin walked beside them with an easy smile, while NukEncore kept pace a step away, staff in hand and her lips set in a line that tried very hard not to pout.

On their way to Robert’s Smithy, NukEncore sent Chaosgraphy a private message.

[NukEncore: You’re involving Martin in raising your pup.]

[Chaosgraphy: You noticed.]

[NukEncore: Why? What are you plotting?]

[Chaosgraphy: Kate raised a good point about Martin. He can’t compare himself to us in real life. But he’s definitely someone who holds us together in this world. I want him to become an even more important part of my life here, so that importance carries into real life too.]

Did that mean she was sure he would meet one of them in real life?

NukEncore’s steps slowed for half a beat. The playful edge left her face, replaced by a quieter, more thoughtful look. Her brows drew together slightly, and her fingers tightened around her staff before she eased her grip again.

Why did that idea bother her so much?