SSS Awakening: I Can Create Skills By Will-Chapter 83: The Weight of a Surprise

Arthur understood the situation he was in clearly.

After today, more eyes would be on him.

But he didn’t dwell on it. Instead, a small smile appeared on his face. If attention was the price of progress, then he would accept it.

And besides...

He still had one more surprise.

Minutes passed.

Even Elena, who worked with incredible speed, needed time to finish recording everything. Her fingers moved across the materials with trained precision, yet the pile still seemed endless.

At last, only a few items remained.

Arthur leaned closer and spoke softly.

"I still have one last thing."

Elena froze slightly.

She lifted her head and looked at him with open surprise, then gave a slow nod, an excited smile forming on her lips.

"Please," she said.

Arthur did not try to make the moment any more dramatic.

He simply reached into his storage and brought out the final pieces.

Large fragments of dark green flesh.

Thick bones.

A dense monster core that carried a heavy presence even without energy being released.

The moment the items appeared, Elena moved.

Her hand shot forward with incredible speed, snatching the pieces from the counter before Arthur could even blink.

Arthur jerked back slightly.

"I never get used to this," he muttered under his breath.

She didn’t hear him.

Or rather, she didn’t care.

Her full attention was on the materials. Her fingers examined the texture carefully, her eyes shining with intense curiosity. She turned the core slightly, studying the energy within.

"A hobgoblin...?" she whispered.

That single word spread like fire.

The explorers behind Arthur erupted into shocked murmurs.

"A hobgoblin?"

"He also came across it in the dungeon?"

"No way..."

The shock didn’t stop with them.

Captain Ryn stepped forward immediately, his composure shaken for the first time. His eyes locked onto Arthur as he spoke.

"You took down a hobgoblin by yourself?"

His voice carried disbelief, but also careful control.

Arthur scratched his cheek casually.

"Ah... I just got lucky and picked it up," he said with a light shrug.

The explanation sounded weak even to his own ears.

Ryn stared at him for a long moment.

Only a fool would believe that answer, and Ryn was far from one. His gaze sharpened, studying Arthur closely as if trying to peel away every layer hiding the truth.

But in the end, he said nothing.

He simply nodded once and stepped back.

The message was clear.

He did not believe Arthur.

Arthur met his gaze calmly before looking away. He steadied his breathing and relaxed his shoulders. The attention did not bother him. If anything, it confirmed something important.

They would watch him now.

And they would watch him rise.

He turned back to Elena.

She had already returned to her work, though her movements now carried more focus than before. She recorded every detail carefully, separating the materials into different categories.

Her voice eventually broke the silence.

"I will explain the valuation."

She organized the items neatly before speaking.

"Standard goblin cores, one hundred and twelve pieces. Thirty four yen."

A wave of murmurs spread behind Arthur.

That number alone was something most explorers could not gather in several runs.

"Goblin materials including claws, fangs, weapons, hide fragments, and usable bone parts. Twenty six yen."

She moved to another section, her expression growing more serious.

"Mutated goblin cores, twenty nine pieces. Their unstable nature increases their value significantly. Eighty seven yen."

The whispers grew louder.

Mutation cores were rare. Most explorers never even saw one.

But Elena continued calmly.

"Mutated goblin body materials with usable properties. Thirty nine yen."

She then placed the largest fragments forward.

"Hobgoblin materials, including intact core, reinforced bones, and high density flesh. One hundred and thirty four yen."

Even the hall seemed to fall quiet at that number.

She finished recording the final values.

"Total value of submitted materials, three hundred and twenty yen."

She paused briefly.

"Your share, twenty percent."

Her fingers moved to prepare the payment.

"Sixty four yen."

She packed the money into a much heavier pouch than before, tying it carefully before sliding it toward him.

"Here is your payment."

Arthur accepted the pouch slowly.

The weight of it felt real in his hand.

Warm.

Solid.

A quiet satisfaction rose in his chest. This was more than enough to settle his debt, and still leave plenty for himself.

"Thank you," he said sincerely.

Elena gave a small nod, though her eyes still carried curiosity. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"It is not my place to ask how you obtained these materials," she said calmly. "But... you are certainly an unusual explorer."

Arthur smiled.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

Their brief exchange felt natural, almost relaxed, despite the stunned silence around them.

He gave a small wave.

"See you next time, Elena."

"I will be here," she replied simply.

Arthur turned and walked away from the counter without hurry.

The line of explorers parted slightly as he passed. Their gazes followed him, filled with mixed emotions. Shock, envy, curiosity, disbelief.

Some looked frustrated.

Some looked inspired.

Some simply stared.

And the whispers was not close to stopping.

Captain Ryn watched him quietly from a distance, his eyes thoughtful. There was no longer simple curiosity in his gaze, but recognition.

Arthur was not ordinary.

Not even close.

Arthur ignored the attention and stepped out of the exchange area, his grip tightening slightly around the money pouch.

He could feel the next path ahead opening.

His debt would be cleared.

Arthur was glad to finally walk away from the exchange hall.

The stares followed him even as he moved farther from the counter. Explorers whispered behind him, some trying to keep their voices low while others simply stared without shame. Their eyes clung to his back like weight.

He let out a slow breath.

At least it was over.

And honestly... it was worth it.

His hand moved to the pouch hanging at his waist. He lifted it slightly and felt the weight inside. Solid. Heavy. Real. The reward for blood, sweat, and risk.

A quiet satisfaction settled in his chest.

All that effort in the dungeon had not been wasted.