SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will

Chapter 261: The Weight of Tomorrow

Finally, Lyra let out a small breath.

"That’s enough for today."

Everyone visibly relaxed slightly.

"Get proper rest."

"Tomorrow will be harder."

Torren looked devastated already. While Ryn smirked slightly beside him.

Arthur glanced down at Mel.

She looked perfectly fine somehow.

Actually...

She looked ready for another round.

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

"...You’re terrifying."

Soon, the squad members left the training hall with far fewer words than usual.

Even Nox, who normally had something to say about everything, stayed quiet as they stepped out together. The atmosphere around the stronghold had changed after the commander’s announcement, and everyone could feel it.

Arthur carried Mel in his arms as he walked through the evening streets. The cub rested comfortably against him, though her ears still twitched every now and then at the sounds around them.

He didn’t head straight back to the dorm.

Instead, he turned toward the same food stall from the previous day.

The moment Mel noticed where they were going, her tail immediately started wagging.

Arthur laughed softly.

"So you actually remembered."

Mel gave a small bark through their bond, and he could practically feel her excitement.

The stall owner noticed them from afar and sighed the moment he saw the cub again.

"You came back."

Arthur smiled awkwardly. "I did."

"And the wolf too."

Mel tilted her head at the man while chewing lightly on Arthur’s sleeve.

The stall owner still looked unsure, but compared to yesterday, there was less tension in his face now. Familiarity had at least softened the shock a little.

Arthur ordered the same double ration of steak for Mel and another for himself.

The man prepared it quickly this time.

Still, the surrounding stares remained.

Some explorers glanced over curiously while others frowned openly at the sight of a monster calmly sitting beside a human like a pet dog.

Arthur ignored them. But Mel ignored them even harder.

The moment the meat was served, all her focus disappeared into the food.

Arthur watched her happily tear into the steak and couldn’t help smiling.

"You really like this thing, huh?"

Mel responded by eating faster.

"Right. Dumb question."

The stall owner looked between them strangely.

"You really understand that cub?"

Arthur shrugged casually. "Enough."

"That thing’s dangerous, you know."

Arthur gently rubbed Mel’s head. "She’s family."

The man looked unconvinced, but he didn’t argue anymore.

Arthur didn’t stay there long. He wasn’t interested in becoming the center of attention for another evening.

So once Mel finished most of the food, they headed back toward the dorm.

Just like yesterday, Mel spent the entire walk focused on the remaining meat in her mouth instead of the people staring at her.

Back at the dorm, things settled into their usual routine.

Bath first.

Mel resisted a little at the beginning, especially when the water touched her fur, but Arthur had already figured out how to handle her.

"One extra steak piece tomorrow."

Mel paused.

Arthur smirked. "Thought so."

After washing and drying her properly, he finally cleaned himself up too before changing into lighter clothes.

The room became quiet afterward.

Arthur sat on the bed while Mel climbed beside him and rested against his side.

His hand moved through her dark fur slowly.

The silence gave him too much room to think.

The stronghold.

The emergency.

The Abyss worshippers.

The world changing.

It all sounded bigger than before.

Far bigger.

But strangely enough, fear wasn’t what bothered him most.

It was Mel.

He looked down at the cub resting peacefully beside him.

She was strong.

Far stronger than a normal cub had any right to be.

But she was still young.

The thought of bringing her into real battles bothered him more than he wanted to admit.

Even after everything they’d gone through together, part of him still wanted to shield her from all of it.

Mel suddenly nudged against him through the bond.

Arthur blinked.

Then he sighed softly.

"You can feel that too, huh?"

A warm feeling came from her.

Confidence.

Trust.

Dependence.

She wasn’t worried because he was there.

Arthur stared at her for a moment before laughing quietly.

"That’s unfair, you know."

Mel only pushed herself closer.

Arthur shook his head.

"Fine. I’ll protect you."

The response he got back through the bond was immediate.

Simple happiness.

That alone eased his thoughts more than he expected.

So he stopped worrying for the night and simply stayed there, running his fingers through her fur until both of them eventually fell asleep.

Morning came quickly.

Light slipped through the room while Mel woke up first again.

Arthur didn’t even need the bond to know she was excited.

Her tail already smacked against the bed before he fully opened his eyes.

He groaned.

"Why are you always awake this early...?"

Mel climbed onto him immediately.

Arthur stared at the ceiling for a second.

"Is this because of training or the steak?"

The excitement he felt from her somehow answered both.

Arthur laughed tiredly before finally getting up.

They cleaned up quickly this time.

Mel behaved far better during grooming today, mostly because Arthur kept reminding her about the promised steak later.

After polishing his armor and getting dressed, he headed toward the training hall with Mel beside him.

As expected, almost everyone was already there.

Nox stretched his shoulders while Torren adjusted his gauntlets nearby. Selene checked her arrows carefully while Althea reviewed mana circles under her breath.

Ryn stood alone practicing footwork.

Arthur could already see traces of yesterday’s skill mixed into his movements.

The guy looked even sharper now.

Nox noticed Arthur first.

"You’re late."

Arthur looked at him blankly. "I’m literally early."

"Not early enough."

Torren chuckled. "She’s been excited since morning because of the mana training."

Nox clicked her tongue. "Of course I’m excited."

Arthur smirked. "Just don’t pass out halfway through."

The group finally relaxed a little as they spoke.

Arthur paid attention quietly.

He wanted to know how serious everyone was mentally before training started today.

And honestly, he liked what he saw.