SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will-Chapter 84: Debts Paid, Rest Denied
Arthur rolled his shoulders as he walked, the tension in his muscles reminding him just how much he had pushed himself today. The fights, the constant movement, the pressure of surviving, the focus needed to keep going without rest. It had drained him more than he admitted back there.
A tired smile formed on his face.
He had done well.
Better than well.
Yet he could not rest just yet.
There was somewhere he needed to be.
Arthur adjusted his direction and branched off from the main path, heading toward a quieter section of the trade district. The noise of the exchange hall slowly faded behind him, replaced by scattered merchant calls and the sound of tools striking metal from nearby stalls.
He knew exactly where he was going.
The storage device.
He still remembered the merchant’s sharp eyes, the bargain they struck, and the weight of the credit hanging over him. Now he finally had enough to settle everything.
Even the interest.
That thought alone lightened his steps.
He traced his memory through the rows of stalls until the shop came into view. The structure looked the same as before, modest but carefully arranged, with various tools and devices displayed neatly.
The merchant stood behind the counter, busy sorting through small artifacts.
Arthur walked closer.
"Hey," he called.
The merchant looked up immediately.
Recognition flashed across the man’s face. His brows lifted slightly, and surprise quickly followed.
"You again?" the merchant said, clearly shocked. "That was fast."
Arthur gave a small shrug.
He understood the reaction. It had not been long since he took the device on credit. Most new explorers would struggle for weeks before gathering such money.
He didn’t bother explaining.
Instead, he simply reached into his pouch and counted out fifty yen, placing the coins neatly on the counter.
The merchant’s eyes dropped to the money, then back to Arthur.
Before the man could speak, Arthur added four more yen to the pile.
"And the interest," Arthur said calmly. Then after a brief pause, he pushed another small coin forward. "Take the extra half yen as a tip. It was a good bargain."
The merchant stared at the coins for a moment.
He understood immediately.
Arthur was settling everything at once.
No excuses. No delay.
The man slowly nodded, though curiosity lingered in his eyes. He clearly wanted to ask how Arthur had raised the money so quickly, but he held himself back.
After Arthur left the shop that day, the merchant had done his own quiet research. The badge Arthur left as collateral had made it easy to find basic information. He discovered that Arthur had joined a mission to reclaim loot from an already cleared E-rank dungeon.
But that did not explain this. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
An E-rank dungeon, even with mutation rumors, should never produce such profit. Not when rewards were shared among multiple explorers.
Something about the situation did not add up.
Still, the merchant pushed those thoughts aside.
It was not his business.
A merchant cared for trade, not secrets.
He began counting the money carefully, one coin at a time, his movements slow and precise. The small clinking sounds filled the quiet space between them.
Arthur waited patiently.
Soon the merchant finished and gave a satisfied nod.
"The amount is correct."
He reached below the counter and brought out Arthur’s badge, the item that had been left as collateral. He placed it forward.
Arthur collected it without hesitation and clipped it back where it belonged. The simple act felt strangely relieving, like removing a chain he had forgotten was there.
Debt cleared.
No obligations.
No weight hanging over him.
The merchant extended his hand.
Arthur accepted it.
Their handshake was firm. The merchant felt the strength in Arthur’s grip, but also the roughness of his palm. Calluses. The marks of constant battle and training.
This was not the hand of a beginner.
The merchant’s eyes narrowed slightly, though his smile remained polite.
He made a quiet decision in his heart.
This explorer was someone worth befriending.
Not normal. Not ordinary.
But useful as a customer and valuable as a connection.
"I don’t believe we properly introduced ourselves last time," the merchant said.
Arthur gave a small nod. "Arthur."
The merchant introduced himself in return and welcomed him back anytime for future deals. Their exchange was simple, but the intent behind it was clear. Mutual benefit. Mutual recognition.
Arthur appreciated it.
He gave a small, confident smile before turning to leave.
With the debt settled, a quiet sense of freedom followed him as he stepped back into the street. The evening air felt cooler now, brushing against his skin as the tension in his body slowly eased.
But the moment he left the shop area, the exhaustion he had been holding back finally began to surface.
It hit him all at once.
His steps grew heavier.
His limbs felt slow.
The adrenaline that carried him through the day was gone, leaving behind only fatigue.
By the time he reached his room, every part of his body ached.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The silence of the space welcomed him, calm and undisturbed. No whispers. No stares. No pressure.
Just quiet.
Arthur exhaled deeply.
His armor suddenly felt unbearable.
He removed each piece slowly, setting them aside one after another. The weight leaving his body brought immediate relief, though it also revealed just how tired he truly was.
Without hesitation, he headed straight to the wash area.
Cool water ran over his skin first, washing away dirt, blood, and sweat from the dungeon. The tension in his muscles loosened as he cleaned himself carefully, scrubbing away the grime of battle.
As he let out a faint mutter.
"Days like this deserve a proper steam bath."
The thought carried a hint of longing, but also amusement. Things were different now. But in some strange way, more real.
He finished washing and dried his body, then threw on light clothing without caring much for appearance. There was no one here to see him.
Only rest mattered.
