From the moment he saw the cub in the dungeon, there had been something in its eyes.

Not fear.

Not confusion.

Something sharper.

Focused.

Even now, remembering it, he could feel that same intent.

A need.

"...Revenge?"

He wasn’t sure, but it fit too well to ignore. The tainted mana, the guardian, everything that happened... the cub’s reaction hadn’t been random.

Arthur’s jaw tightened for a second, then eased.

"If that’s what it is..."

He let the thought sit there, turning it over.

Would normal training be enough? Running missions with the squad, fighting stronger monsters, growing little by little..

Would that be enough for something like that?

He shook his head slightly.

"...No."

Not completely.

There was a gap there. Something deeper than just getting stronger the usual way.

His eyes sharpened a little.

That left one option.

His system.

Intent. Growth. The only thing that had never failed him.

He had brushed against the idea earlier, but now, standing here, it felt clearer. More solid.

"...Then let’s see."

His voice was quiet, but certain.

"If it works on you too."

A small smile formed on his face.

He was not confident, but not unsure either.

Just... ready to try.

When he stepped out, the room felt the same.

The cub hadn’t moved much.

Still curled up, still in that same spot.

Arthur dried himself off, got dressed, then walked over slowly.

He stopped a short distance away and crouched.

This time, he didn’t reach out or invade its space.

He rested his arms lightly on his knees.

"Alright," he said.

The cub didn’t react.

But Arthur could tell it was listening.

"...You understand more than you show, don’t you?"

A small flick of the ear.

That was enough.

Arthur let out a quiet breath.

"Good."

He shifted slightly, making sure he stayed in place.

No sudden moves.

"I won’t touch you," he added. "Not unless you let me."

The cub didn’t move.

But it didn’t tense either.

Arthur took that as a sign to continue.

"You lost your guardian."

He spoke direct, no sugarcoating.

The cub’s body stiffened.

Just for a second.

Arthur saw it.

"...Yeah," he said softly. "I know."

He didn’t rush.

Didn’t try to fill the silence.

He let it sit.

Then...

"You followed me."

His voice stayed calm.

"Not because you trust me... but because you had to choose."

The cub slowly lifted its head.

Its eyes met his.

Sharp.

Watching.

Arthur held that gaze.

"You saw what I could do."

No pride in his voice.

Just fact.

"And you thought... maybe I could help."

The cub didn’t blink.

Arthur tilted his head slightly. "Or maybe you just didn’t have a better option."

A faint huff escaped him.

"Fair enough."

The cub’s gaze didn’t waver.

Arthur leaned forward just a little, still keeping distance.

"I get it."

His tone shifted slightly.

Not softer.

But more real.

"I wouldn’t trust me either."

That made the cub pause.

Just for a second.

Arthur caught it.

He continued.

"But I’m not asking you to trust me right now."

He tapped his chest lightly.

"I’m asking you to work with me."

The cub’s ears twitched.

Arthur pointed slightly between them.

"You... and me."

Then he pointed outward.

"Same enemy."

At the mention of that, the cub’s body reacted again.

Subtle.

But clear.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...Tainted mana."

The air shifted.

The cub’s gaze sharpened instantly.

Its body tensed, not in fear... but something else.

Something deeper.

Arthur felt it.

"...So you do understand."

He didn’t smile.

He didn’t soften it.

He leaned into it.

"The ones behind it."

A low sound came from the cub’s throat.

Not loud.

But filled with something heavy.

Arthur didn’t look away.

"They killed your guardian."

That did it.

The cub’s eyes burned.

Not physically... but the emotion behind it was clear.

Arthur felt it like pressure in the air.

Anger.

Pain.

Something held down for too long.

He didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t try to calm it.

He let it feel it.

Then he spoke again.

"You want strength."

Not a question.

A statement.

The cub’s breathing slowed, but its gaze stayed locked on him.

Arthur nodded once.

"Good."

He sat up a bit straighter.

"I do too."

That line landed differently.

The cub didn’t move, but something in its eyes shifted.

Arthur continued.

"I’m already fighting them."

He gestured slightly, recalling the dungeon.

"You saw it."

Then he added, more firmly,

"And I’m not stopping."

No hesitation.

No doubt.

That part of him was clear.

"If you stay with me..."

He paused, then let out a small breath.

"...I’ll make you stronger."

There it was.

The promise.

Simple.

Direct.

No decorations.

The cub stared at him.

Longer this time.

Like it was weighing every word.

Arthur didn’t look away.

Didn’t try to convince it further.

He had said enough.

Now it was up to the cub.

"...I don’t know exactly how yet," he admitted after a moment. "But I will."

Honest.

That mattered more.

"I’ve done it for myself."

A small smirk touched his lips.

"I’ll figure it out for you too."

Silence.

Then...

The cub moved.

Slowly.

Carefully.

It stood up, its small frame steady despite everything it carried.

Step by step, it walked toward him.

Arthur didn’t move.

Didn’t reach out.

He let it come.

The cub stopped just in front of him.

Close enough now.

Its eyes searched his.

Not just looking.

Judging.

Arthur held steady.

"...Yeah," he murmured. "Take your time."

A second passed.

Then another.

Then..

The cub lowered its head.

Just slightly.

Not full submission.

But enough.

Arthur felt it.

Something shift.

Inside.

Between them.

The cub took one more step.

Then pressed its head lightly against his hand.

Arthur blinked.

Then slowly, carefully, he raised his hand and rested it on the cub’s head.

Gentle.

No force.

The cub didn’t pull away.

Arthur let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

"...Thanks."

His voice was quiet.

Real.

"Let’s do this together."

The cub shifted closer, its body relaxing just a bit as it leaned into him.