Chapter 16-New hobby

Chapter 16: 16-New hobby

With her weapons secured, Aymara turned her attention to something far more pleasant, shopping for Nathaniel.

For the next hour, she moved through the stores with a single-minded purpose, filling her cart with everything she could imagine him needing.

Warm sweaters, thick jackets, thermal underwear, soft pajamas, comfortable shirts, trousers, socks, and gloves went in first.

Then came shoes in different styles and sizes, slippers, blankets, pillows, sheets, and several sets of soft, comfortable bedding.

She deliberately chose different colors, fabrics, and designs. If Nathaniel disliked one thing, he would have another option. If he liked something, she wanted to make sure he had plenty of it. After all, she wasn’t preparing for him to merely survive. She wanted him to live comfortably.

The quantity of her purchases soon became so outrageous that even the salespeople couldn’t hide their shock.

Aymara wasn’t buying one or two pieces of anything. She took ten of nearly everything, knowing the system would multiply whatever she placed into her storage space.

Each time another mountain of goods disappeared from their shops and into her shopping cart, the employees stared at her as though they were witnessing something extraordinary.

Some eagerly handed her business cards and offered special discounts and priority service, clearly hoping a customer who shopped this extravagantly would return. ℴℴ𝘮

Aymara simply gave them a polite smile, stored everything away, and moved on. She didn’t have time to explain that she was preparing for a world that would soon no longer exist.

Once Nathaniel’s clothing and bedding were secured, she opened her checklist again. Most of the items were crossed out, but the remaining list was still long enough to make her sigh.

Food and medicine were next. Those were far more important than anything else.

Aymara carefully went through every medical note and recommendation she had obtained, making sure she bought only what Nathaniel’s doctor had recommended.

Anything he was allergic to was immediately excluded, as was anything that could potentially worsen his condition. She wasn’t about to gamble with his health.

She stocked essential medications, allergy medicine, emergency medical supplies, bandages, disinfectants, nutritional supplements, and other necessities he might require if hospitals and pharmacies became inaccessible.

For food, she refused to rely entirely on ready-made meals. She bought sacks of rice and grains, flour, cooking oil, canned goods, vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, milk, and other ingredients that could be stored or preserved.

She added nutrient-rich foods and supplements to ensure Nathaniel would have enough nourishment even during the worst stages of the apocalypse. One by one, everything disappeared into her storage space, and the system quietly multiplied the supplies.

Aymara watched the quantities climb higher and higher until the numbers became almost ridiculous. Only then did she finally breathe out in relief. "Everything looks good," she nodded with approval.

She stared at the overflowing inventory with a small smile. Nathaniel’s clothes, food, medicine, and daily necessities were slowly being secured. Every completed item made the weight in her chest lighter.

For the first time since waking up in this second life, Aymara felt truly confident that when the world drowned, Nathaniel would have a place beside her, and this time, she would never let him slip away.

---

By the time Aymara returned to the cruise ship, evening had already settled over the ocean.

The exhaustion she’d been holding at bay all day finally caught up with her. Her feet ached from hours of shopping, negotiating, and moving from one place to another, but beneath the fatigue was a deep sense of satisfaction.

She had accomplished more in one day than she had ever imagined possible. After changing into a loose, comfortable outfit, she wandered into the kitchen.

The moment she sat down, a steaming bowl of noodles appeared before her. Wisps of steam curled into the air, carrying the rich aroma of broth, spices, and freshly cooked noodles. Her stomach immediately growled in anticipation.

"Just the aroma is driving me insane," she licked her lips greedily.

Aymara picked up her chopsticks and lazily twirled a portion of noodles around them before taking a bite. Her eyes immediately brightened.

"Delicious. Much better than those diet bites I ate for six years."

She savored the flavor slowly, letting the warmth spread through her tired body. After another bite, she leaned comfortably against the chair, realizing something that would have amused her former self.

She was becoming a big foodie. In her previous life, she had constantly restricted herself, worrying about calories, weight, and whether someone else would approve of what she ate.

Now, every delicious meal felt like a tiny declaration of freedom. Eating wasn’t merely satisfying her hunger anymore; it soothed her mind, lifted her mood, and gave her a simple pleasure she had denied herself for far too long.

She smiled as she took another mouthful. Perhaps being reborn had awakened an entirely new hobby.

"Whatever, new hobby or not. I love it and I am never letting anyone squeeze this part of me to fit their beauty standards."

She took another bite and looked out. Beyond the large windows, the ocean stretched endlessly beneath the fading sunset.

Golden light shimmered across the water before gradually giving way to deeper shades of blue.

The massive cruise ship rested quietly upon the waves, beautiful and imposing against the horizon. Yet Aymara knew that beneath its luxurious appearance, it was becoming a formidable force that would hold up against brutal enemies in the future.

She opened the system interface and checked her progress.

Ship Level: 4

Apocalypse Countdown: 4 Days.

Aymara stared at the number for several seconds, only four days remained.

Tomorrow, she would focus on securing water. After that came energy systems, defensive measures, and expanding the agricultural supplies.

The following day would be dedicated to whatever remained unfinished. Then, once the ship was ready enough, she would return for Nathaniel.

She had already arranged the next three days in her mind, each hour accounted for. There could be no unnecessary delays.

"Best to be well prepared. I can’t afford to miss anything," she checked her list again and again and ran it through the system to make sure she wasn’t missing a thing.

Once she got confirmation that she was on the right track, she sighed with relief.

Resting her chin against her hand, Aymara’s expression gradually softened. Her thoughts drifted toward the hospital.

She imagined Nathaniel stepping onto the ship for the first time, looking around in confusion as he discovered everything she had prepared in advance.

She could almost picture the surprise on his pale, handsome face. Just remembering him sitting by the window earlier that day, sunlight brushing across his features whenever he lifted his head toward the sky, made her heart ache again.

"I wonder what you’ll say when you find out I bought an entire cruise ship for you." A soft laugh escaped her lips before she quickly corrected herself. "For us."

The thought warmed her heart. The world outside was unknowingly approaching its final peaceful days, but Aymara no longer felt the same fear that had once consumed her.

Her ship was growing stronger. Her supplies were multiplying. Her food stores were expanding, her medical stockpile was growing, and her weapons were safely secured.

Most importantly, Nathaniel was still alive and safe in the hospital. As long as he remained there, she could breathe a little easier.

For the first time, Aymara genuinely felt as though heaven had decided to favor her. Perhaps this time, she really could win against the coming calamity.

She picked up another mouthful of noodles and savored it slowly, enjoying the warmth and flavor as though there were no apocalypse waiting just beyond the horizon.

Then she glanced once more at the countdown, her eyes gleaming with determination.

"Four days." A confident smile curved across her lips. "My fortress is coming together perfectly."

Far beyond the tranquil horizon, however, dark storm clouds were beginning to gather.

The world simply hadn’t realized yet that its final countdown had already begun and only days remained before the end times.