Building a Safe Zone with My Harem In The Post-Apocalyptic World-Chapter 97: Boiled Crab

Gideon could smell the rich, hot soup coming from the two 100-quart cooking pots. They had added parts of the Geysemire’s shell, especially from its body, to make the broth richer.

It was enough to feed 200 people, which worked out perfectly since they could save the rest for dinner.

Delilah had used all the corn, carrots, and some kind of aberrant eggs from the shelves he had prepared for an entire month, and he did not even complain. The smell alone was enough to make him drool.

Still, listening to his residents talk about corn and carrots like they were the holy grail was strangely amusing.

It reminded him of when he had first started filling the storage with vegetables to improve their diet.

...

Delilah was gasping, her hands trembling as she held the corn like it was her own baby. She brushed it gently and brought it close to her face, taking in its scent.

Gideon could clearly see the amazement and disbelief in her eyes.

"So you are really able to summon everything... Is this really corn, not something that came from an aberrant?" she asked.

"I heard there is an aberrant in the South that can create living corn... but it is horrendous and tastes horrible."

"Yes, I think it’s good to have a variety of vegetables in our dishes. You know, we already eat a lot of glowbats. I’m starting to turn nocturnal."

Delilah chuckled. It was the first time she laughed at his dry joke, and it made him unexpectedly happy.

"So, I can summon more vegetables if you want."

"Oh no, thank you. You can summon anything you want, but I don’t want to owe you more," she said. "You’ve already done so much for my family, and that’s enough."

Gideon felt a bit disappointed by her response. Still, for some reason, he liked hearing her talk about her daughters.

"Summer loved corn when she was a child. Especially creamy corn soup with a hint of sweetness," she said.

"Freya never really got the chance to discover what she liked or disliked. The apocalypse took away her childhood too early. She has never even tasted lobster."

She sighed softly. "I just hope they have a good childhood."

"They do. I mean, you’ve tried your best. You’re a good mother, so they must be happy." Gideon rubbed the back of his neck, unsure of his own words.

Delilah’s face flushed slightly. "Thank you... I hope they are."

...

From then on, Gideon kept filling their food storage with all kinds of vegetables and ingredients for Delilah.

But now, seeing her on the other side of him, calmly stirring the pot, made him uneasy.

"Should I just tell her everything? I don’t want to destroy what I built.’

Gideon let out a heavy sigh. This was not an easy choice. He never thought he would end up wishing Delilah was as bold, as shameless as her daughters, just so she might want him too.

But he knew she was not that kind of woman.

For a brief moment, their eyes met. She quickly looked away, and somehow that only made his frustration worse.

Gideon stepped closer, immediately noticing how tense she was.

"Should we add some milk? It might make it creamier," he said.

"It’ll dull the crab’s flavor. Better not," she replied, still not looking at him.

"Then... more butter?"

"I’ve already added enough."

And just like that, the conversation died.

From a distance, Kilian gave him a very clear thumbs-down. Gideon rolled his eyes.

"...Can we talk after this?" Gideon said after a pause. "There’s something I need to tell you."

"I’m busy right now," she replied quietly. "If I have time later... then maybe."

She had already moved to another pot before he could say anything else.

That only made him more confused.

---

When the food was finally done, everyone took their share.

Gideon sat inside the tent, eating slowly. He barely tasted anything. His mind was stuck on Delilah, trying to figure out what was wrong with her.

The soup might as well have been water. Even the buttery crab meat, something that would have made his residents cry with joy, felt like rubber in his mouth.

"Oh my God... I can finally taste sweet corn and carrots again before I die," the old man beside him said, almost in tears.

"This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten!" a girl behind him cried.

"Praise the Lord! No, wait... praise Goddess Delilah!"

Cheers erupted around them.

Delilah’s face turned red with embarrassment. She nodded awkwardly, but then she felt it.

Gideon was staring at her. Not even trying to hide it.

Her body stiffened.

His gaze was sharp. It reminded her of the same look he had when she saw him have sex with her daughters or when he was cumming and groaned in pleasure.

She shook her head quickly. ’No. Stop thinking about that. Just eat. But... what did he want to say to me?’

The question would not leave her mind and because she was terrified she found out about what happen that night, she decided to run.

When everyone finished eating, Delilah quietly tried to slip away. She did not have the courage to face him now. Maybe in a week. Definitely not now.

But suddenly, a hand caught her wrist. She turned, and it was Gideon.

"We need to talk."

He did not wait for her response. He pulled her toward a quieter corner of the tent, where most people were busy cleaning or digging outside.

Delilah had no idea how he had already organized everything or handed out tools so quickly. Right now, all she could focus on was the ground as he stepped closer.

"Are you still upset... about Freya?" he asked.

Her eyes widened slightly. So that was what had been bothering him.

For some reason, that answer disappointed her. Even now, it was still about her daughter.

Then the unease crept in as she shake her head fast.

’No. Why am I even thinking like that? I’m not a teenager. Focus."

"So it’s not that?" Gideon frowned. "Then why have you been avoiding me?"

Delilah felt her throat tighten.

She wanted to tell him what she had seen that night. She really did. But the words would not come out.

They just stayed there, heavy and stuck.

So instead, she forced out, "I just think... it’s not right for us to get too close like this."

She hesitated for a second, then added more firmly, "That’s all."