Lucy stood up just as Lily, who was ahead of Bruce, walked into the house through the door...

The moment she saw Bruce, her expression softened into something warm and relieved, like she'd been holding her breath without realizing. She walked toward him, wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist.

"You're back," she murmured, tone light but eyes shining. "How did it go? The adventurer test... everything."

Bruce nodded once, calm, steady. "It went well. Better than expected, actually." His gaze swept over Lily, still hugging her bag of sweets, then back to Lucy. "I'm now a certified adventurer. I can officially raid dungeons of my rank without restriction."

For a moment, Lucy just stared. stunned. She blinked twice, almost like she needed to confirm she heard correctly. Then her hand lifted to her lips as a shaky exhale slipped out.

"You… you really passed." Her voice flickered between disbelief and pride. "You're actually an adventurer now…"

Bruce smiled the faint, confident kind of smile that always made her feel everything would be okay. "I told you I would be."

He reached into the bag of items he brought back and pulled out two small, sleek smart bracelets. thin metallic bands that pulsed gently with energy. He knelt slightly, placing one hand on Lily's wrist. The tiny bracelet hummed to life, a soft golden glow circling her arm like a ring of sunlight sealing its bond.

A holographic interface bloomed above her wrist.

[Name: Lily Ackerman]

[Bonded-To: Bruce Ackerman as Sibling]

Lily stared with huge sparkling eyes, completely dazzled. "I look like a princess, Big Brother! Look! It glows! It's so pretty!"

She lifted her arm high like she was displaying a royal treasure to the heavens. Ash fluttered around it in circles, chirping in delight at the shiny new "toy," and Lily giggled until she nearly dropped the candy bag.

Bruce turned to Lucy next and clipped the second bracelet onto her wrist. The same soft glow pulsed as the device synced, accepting her identity.

[Name: Lucy Ackerman]

[Bonded-To: Bruce Ackerman as Parent]

Lucy swallowed. She ran her fingers lightly along the bracelet, almost afraid it would disappear if she pressed too hard. "Bruce… this is expensive. You didn't have to."

"I did." His tone was gentle but undeniable. "From now on, you won't have to worry about communication, safety alerts, or family ID issues. And..." His voice lowered, weighted with quiet steel. "Starting tomorrow... this family is also clear of every debt that's been forced on us."

Lucy froze.

Bruce's eyes sharpened, not in anger, but in hardened resolve.

"I'll settle it all. And every bit of nonsense they dragged us through..." His jaw tensed, voice quiet but laced with promise. "I'll make them pay for it. Every debt, every humiliation, every drop of stress you carried alone. They won't get away with any of it."

Lucy's breath hitched. Her eyes glazed, emotion rising faster than she expected. "Bruce..." She reached for his cheek with trembling fingers, tracing the sharp line of his jaw as though trying to ground herself. "What would I have done without a son like you?"

Bruce shook his head, covering her hand with his. "You raised me. Everything I am came from you."

She tried to smile, but her voice broke. "No. Everything you are came from your own hard work. I just… tried not to fail you."

Lily stood between them holding her candy bag against her chest, looking back and forth like she could feel a moment even if she didn't fully understand it. Ash wrapped its tail around Bruce's wrist and pressed its forehead against his palm, tiny body rumbling with affection. It stayed close, clinging like it knew how precious all this was.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Just the quiet comfort of family and dusk.

Lucy finally pulled Bruce into a soft hug. "Thank you. For everything." Her voice dropped to a whisper only he could hear. "I'm so proud of you."

Bruce held her gently, chin resting on her hair. "I won't let you down. Not now, not ever."

Later that night, lights dimmed, the house settling into peaceful silence. Lily fell asleep curled beside Ash, hugging the candy bag like a stuffed toy. Lucy turned in early too. her face calm, her heart full of glee as she went to sleep, a kind of rest she hadn't known in years.

Meanwhile, Bruce lay back on his bed, bracelet glinting faintly against the dark. He tapped its side.

And said calmly, "Bracelet call Sophie"

A soft pulse answered.

Then light spilled outward, shaping itself into a clear holographic figure atop the air. Sophie. Lying on her bed, chin resting on her hands, eyes bright with anticipation. It was obvious she'd been waiting for this call since the moment they parted.

Her entire expression bloomed the second his face came into view. "I was starting to think you'd fallen asleep before calling."

Bruce chuckled. "I wouldn't sleep without hearing you first. You know that."

Sophie smirked, but the relief in her eyes was unmistakable. "Good. I missed you already."

They talked for a long time, about nothing and everything at once. They joked about Lily stuffing Ash with sweets, discussed silly ideas of places they would go once Bruce got his first dungeon clear rewards, and teased each other over who would unlock their next Class skill first. Sophie kicked her feet idly, hair messy from the pillow, smiling at every dry retort he threw back.

Bruce watched her the whole time, expression soft in that quiet way that meant more than words. For a boy who carried the weight of his family, his future, and every challenge ahead... the hologram's light felt like the one space he could rest.

Eventually, Sophie's answers grew slower, eyelids heavier. Bruce's voice deepened, quieter, matching her calm breathing.

"You should sleep," he whispered.

"You too," she murmured back, already half gone.

The call lingered for another few seconds, no one wanting to end it first, until Bruce finally tapped the bracelet and watched her image dissolve into stardust.

The room settled into darkness, Ash curled at the crook of his neck, Lily breathing softly down the hall, Lucy resting peacefully, not in fear, but hope.

And Bruce closed his eyes, certain of one thing:

Tomorrow, everything would begin.

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