"What's wrong?" Aeris asked, worried.
"Hahaha!" Noa laughed. "We are rich. I am going to make dinner today!"
"Wait, what do you mean?"
"I don't know how, but I still received messages from the bank. They wired me $3,000, which means we can have a feast."
He was in a great mood.
As for his sister, she didn't know what to make of the situation.
Her monthly salary barely reached $2,000, and it always vanished almost instantly.
"You shouldn't spend it so casually. What if the academy adds some courses? You need weapons and gear as well. Be mindful and don't worry about us. I'm proud that I never once let you or the twins go hungry."
'She is as selfless as the memories showed me,' Noa thought.
But his desire to end her struggles and shower her in luxury still lingered, and now that he had the means to do it, nothing could hold him back.
"You saw how strong I am, right? I have weapons and don't need armor. As for the money, it will flow in before we even know. I told you—we are having a feast, and that's final."
Noa spoke as if he were scolding her.
Aeris wasn't used to others taking care of her, nor could she believe her timid brother could argue with her.
Then she saw the darkness he had to endure—the deaths and dangers.
Her eyes watered, and just as she was about to argue further, she noticed Noa's nonchalant attitude yet eager expression, silently pleading for her to agree.
So she closed her mouth and nodded.
"Hell yes!" Noa shouted once more. "What do you want to eat tonight?"
Aeris silenced him with her hand and mumbled, "Pizza."
"Pizza? I told you I was going to cook. Do you even like pizza?" he asked because not only was pizza affordable, but their family ate it at least once per month, and she barely touched it.
It seemed like she asked for it so the twins and Noa could enjoy it, but after searching through his memory, Noa understood that she wasn't eating it for their sake.
This revelation brought a smile to his face.
'I will buy so much that she will be forced to eat with us,' he thought excitedly.
There was a pizza place nearby, and after a quick detour, Noa ordered every single item on the menu, not minding Aeris's scoldings or the confusion he had caused.
It was hard to carry all of them, but he did it with a smirk on his face.
"You are so wasteful. We won't be able to finish it," she continued her usual mom-like lectures.
Noa paid her no mind, reaching home with warmth in his stomach.
The moment the doors of his old apartment creaked open, the familiar scent assaulted his nose, calming his body and mind alike.
First, he saw how tiny the rooms were.
The walls had seen better days, crumbling from old age.
The furniture didn't look too good either, appearing as worn out as Aeris's clothes, while he wore a fashionable academy uniform.
"Butthead is here," a soft voice caught his attention.
Sylas, the younger brother of the family, ran at him and bashed Noa with his head.
He didn't dodge but saw a cute girl approaching, hitting Sylas on the back.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop acting like a brat?" she yelled.
Noa finally got the chance to look at them.
Poverty could barely be felt by them, and as they looked quite alike, Noa couldn't help but laugh at their personality disparity.
"Wait, is that pizza?" Seren called out, drooling.
She completely lost her composure and devoured the food as if her stomach were hiding an abyss.
Sylas wasn't any different, enjoying the meal peacefully.
Noa liked the view he never got to see in his last life.
Even Noa from this world seldom saw such a sight, and emotions erupted in his being.
Most of them came from the determination to save the world and protect this peace, and seeing how cutely Aeris was nibbling on pizza, Noa's resolve hardened.
They couldn't finish the food.
Even Noa's augmented appetite wasn't enough.
After the eating time was over, he shared some of his experiences with his little siblings.
Sylas and Seren listened attentively.
Every child or adult dreamed of becoming an Ember because of the power, riches, and adventure they could gain.
The little ones asked countless questions, draining his energy quicker than any skill.
"Did you manage to loot monsters?" Seren asked with sparkling eyes.
"What about monsters? What did you do to them?" Sylas questioned.
Aeris tried to stop the conversation, but Noa didn't mind it.
He spent another half an hour retelling his battles until the twins finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep.
Noa put them in their bed, watching them with a smile.
'They deserve the world,' he thought. 'But we have to start with a new place and better living conditions.'
The money he got for just awakening was substantial for everyday, casual stuff, but if he wanted to guarantee their happiness and healthy lifestyle, Noa had to make more than that.
But above all, he had to gain more strength.
He couldn't stop his great momentum, thinking that his progress was enough or that Klaus's death would change something.
Nor could he lay back and underestimate the upcoming events because he knew about them.
Reality started shifting, and who knew what other uncertainties might arise?
However, Noa's plan didn't involve aiding Arthur either.
He didn't like the guy and his hidden, sinister tendencies.
The extra from the game didn't differ from Klaus, as his actions were always on the extreme end, slaying innocents for his personal gain.
Noa wouldn't act as a supporting character but would gladly use Arthur for his schemes.
With a wide smile and a fatigued mind, sleep arrived right away.
And knowing that he was about to head into the First Abyss for the second time, Noa woke up early in the morning, feeling refreshed and motivated.