Arthur stepped back to the group just as they wrapped up.

Ryn looked up from what she was doing and gave a short nod. "We’re done here."

No ceremony. No dragging things out.

Just clean and simple.

Torren was already stacking materials from the wolves they had taken down earlier, while Nox checked through the last of the scattered remains.

Arthur adjusted the cub in his arm, then crouched beside the pile of loot.

Ryn tossed him a glance. "Your share."

She pushed a portion toward him. It was larger than the rest, noticeably so.

Arthur raised a brow. "This much?"

Torren snorted. "Don’t act surprised. You did most of the work."

Arthur shrugged. "Still feels like robbery."

Ryn didn’t look up. "Take it."

He didn’t argue again.

Instead, he gathered it up and stored it without fuss.

Then Torren spoke again, glancing at the darker remains closer to the center.

"...What about the boss core?"

That slowed them a bit.

Ryn finally stood, dusting her hands lightly. "We split it."

"Equally?" Nox asked.

Ryn nodded. "Yeah. No arguments."

Torren looked like he wanted to say something, then paused.

"...Even with him here?"

He jerked his chin toward Arthur.

Arthur didn’t even look up. "I’m fine with it."

Ryn’s eyes flicked between them before settling it. "Then it’s equal."

That was that.

No tension or hidden complaints.

Just a quiet agreement that felt... right.

Arthur stood up after, the cub shifting slightly in his arms.

His eyes drifted toward the large body not too far away.

The boss wolf.

Even in death, it still held weight.

Something about it didn’t sit the same as the others they had killed.

Arthur walked toward it without saying anything.

The others noticed, but didn’t stop him.

He stopped beside the body and lowered himself slightly, placing the cub down gently.

The small wolf stood there for a moment, unsure.

Then slowly... it walked forward.

Step by step.

Careful.

It reached the large body and paused.

Its nose twitched slightly as it sniffed.

No sound came from it.

No cry.

Nothing dramatic.

It just stayed there.

Quiet.

Arthur watched without interrupting.

His expression softened a bit.

"...Take your time."

The others stayed back.

Even Torren didn’t joke this time.

They all understood.

After a while, the cub sat down beside the body.

Still silent.

Arthur exhaled lightly, then stood.

"That’s enough."

He reached down and picked it up again.

The cub didn’t resist.

It just settled back into his arm.

Arthur looked at the body one last time.

Then he raised his hand. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Flames gathered.

Not wild.

Not violent.

Just controlled.

They spread over the body slowly, catching and building until the entire thing was covered.

A proper burn.

No rushing it.

No disrespect.

Nox watched quietly. "...You’re serious about this, huh?"

Arthur didn’t look back. "It fought till the end."

Torren crossed his arms. "...Didn’t expect that from you."

Arthur smirked slightly. "What? You think I’m heartless?"

"Sometimes," Torren said without hesitation.

That got a small chuckle out of Nox.

Arthur just shook his head.

The flames burned steady, and none of them spoke until it was done.

Then Ryn turned.

"Let’s move."

They didn’t stay any longer.

The dungeon had already given them more than enough.

As they started walking, the mood felt different.

Lighter.

Not because they forgot what happened.

But because it was over.

Torren stretched as they moved. "First mission done... and it went like this."

Nox laughed. "You complaining?"

"I’m saying we survived."

Arthur cut in, "Barely."

Torren scoffed. "You don’t get to say that."

Arthur grinned. "Why not?"

"Because you looked like you were enjoying it."

Arthur didn’t deny it.

That was the problem.

Nox’s attention shifted to the cub again. "...It still hasn’t warmed up."

The small wolf sat quietly in Arthur’s arm, watching everything.

Alert.

But distant.

Arthur shrugged. "It will."

"You sure?" she asked.

"It’s still young."

That was enough explanation for him.

Torren leaned closer, eyeing the cub. "Didn’t take you for the type."

Arthur raised a brow. "What type?"

"Someone who picks up monster cubs."

Arthur smirked. "Didn’t take myself for it either."

That got a laugh.

Nox stepped closer. "Let me carry it sometimes too."

Arthur looked at her, then at the cub.

"...We’ll see."

She frowned slightly. "That’s not a no?"

"That’s not a yes."

Torren burst out laughing. "He’s already acting like a parent."

Nox joined in. "Yeah... you’re done for."

Arthur clicked his tongue. "You people are annoying."

But he was smiling.

He didn’t push them away.

Didn’t shut it down.

That alone said enough.

Even Ryn, walking ahead, shook her head lightly. "...Focus on moving."

But there was no edge in his voice.

Just... calm.

They kept moving through the dungeon paths.

Nox had already picked the shortest route out.

Still, it didn’t mean a peaceful walk.

The wolves were still there.

Waiting.

Watching.

The moment they stepped into another stretch of forest, movement flickered through the shadows.

Selene sighed. "Here we go again."

Arthur shifted the cub slightly, holding it steady with one arm.

"...Don’t slow down."

Then..

The wolves came.

Fast.

But this time... It was different.

Ryn moved first, cutting one down cleanly.

Selene followed, her attacks heavier, more confident.

Althea supported from the back, her timing sharper than before.

And Arthur...

He didn’t hold back.

Wind gathered around him, thin and sharp.

It moved before he did.

Slicing through the air.

One wolf dropped.

Then another.

Clean.

Precise.

Selene clicked her tongue. "You’re stealing kills now?"

Arthur didn’t even look at her as he replied. "Move faster."

"That’s not the point..."

Another wolf dropped mid-sentence.

Selene paused, then scoffed. "...Alright, fine."

The pace picked up.

They moved through them quickly.

No struggle.

No panic.

Just execution.

Even with the cub in his arm, Arthur moved like nothing was weighing him down.

That part didn’t go unnoticed.

Nox glanced at him once. "...You’re ridiculous."

Arthur smirked. "You just noticed?"

It didn’t take long.

What used to feel like a threat...

Now felt like cleanup.