Starting With SSS-rank: I Get A New Skill Every Livestream

Chapter 252: You would be fine

At the dining table, Kyle sat with the rest of the Maylith family.

He felt a little out of place. Armond had only just returned home after such a long absence, and Kyle couldn’t shake the feeling that he was intruding on a long-awaited family reunion.

Still, Martha had insisted he stay, leaving him no room to refuse.

He ended up seated beside Amanda, with Martha across from them.

"You can sit here, Dad," Hades offered, getting ready to give up his chair.

Armond waved him off.

"You’re the patriarch now. Don’t give up your seat over something so trivial."

With a huff, the old man settled into the chair beside Martha instead.

Hades returned to his usual seat with a stiff smile, and at Martha’s signal, the maids began serving the meal.

"Haah, that young man really keeps himself busy," Armond sighed, referring to Tyler, who had left shortly after Amanda showed him to the washroom.

He had explained that he needed to report everything that had happened regarding Armond’s situation and still had other duties waiting for him.

"He certainly seems hardworking," Hades remarked as he picked up his spoon and scooped some soup. "I’m surprised he’s stationed here in Montclair."

"He won’t be for much longer," Armond replied. "With the dedication he’s shown, they’ve already decided to transfer him to a larger city. But the boy insisted on staying here a little longer so he could gain more experience."

Armond’s words made it obvious that the two had spent the journey from the station to the mansion talking at length.

Hades then turned to Kyle.

"When are you leaving for the academy?"

Kyle paused before looking up.

"I was told to report on Wednesday. But this morning, I received a notification saying I might have a counseling visit tomorrow."

"A counseling visit?" Amanda asked, blinking in surprise. "You never mentioned that."

Kyle gave a small hum.

"I thought it was normal."

Amanda immediately shook her head.

"Not at all, Kyle. The academy usually only informs students about the requirements and the date of the enrollment assessment."

"It could be because he’s a late awakener," Hades suggested. "Someone may be coming to explain how he’ll be evaluated. I’m sure his entrance assessment will be different from everyone else’s."

Kyle barely stopped himself from letting out a wry smile.

Another case of being treated differently.

Well, he should have expected it by now.

"I don’t believe you’ll have any trouble getting in," Armond said without even looking up from his meal. "You’ve already defeated a Special Grade."

His tone made it painfully obvious that he still didn’t believe the explanation his son had given earlier.

Under the table, Kyle quietly reached for Amanda’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before nodding.

He never looked at her, yet the way her hand suddenly tensed told him everything he needed to know about her reaction.

"I’ll do my best."

Martha looked at Kyle with a gentle smile.

"What was your family’s reaction to your awakening, Kyle?"

Amanda flinched and instinctively stole a glance at him.

She knew her mother hadn’t asked out of malice. Martha was simply curious. Someone born into a family of Nightwalkers had remained an ordinary human until only recently. Naturally, she must have assumed that his awakening had been a joyous occasion, that his family had celebrated and welcomed him into the world they had kept hidden from their youngest son.

Kyle offered a faint smile.

"They’re happy... but they’re concerned as well. Being a late awakener, it’s difficult for me to adapt. It’s also not easy to be accepted by others."

Martha nodded in understanding.

"That’s true."

Kyle simply nodded back.

He had no desire to sing the tragic song of his own life.

There was no point telling them that his parents had been so thrilled by his awakening that they hadn’t even called him.

Or that when he lay in the hospital with serious injuries, neither of them had come to see him.

He could have said it.

It would have earned him sympathy.

But that was exactly why he chose not to.

He hated being pitied, even by people whose concern was genuine.

He just... didn’t want anyone looking at him that way.

"You’ll be fine, kid."

Armond’s sudden words caught Kyle off guard, and he looked up at the old man.

Armond met his gaze.

"Your path won’t be the same as those who awakened naturally. Adapting won’t come as easily for you." He paused before continuing, "But you have something they don’t. Wisdom. Life experience. Use both, and keep a cool head."

Kyle was genuinely taken aback.

Just half an hour ago, Armond had been furious with him. Yet now, the same man was calmly offering him advice.

More than the words themselves, it was the gesture that brought a smile to Kyle’s face.

"I understand, Sir."

"Don’t be so formal, Kyle," Martha said warmly. "You can call him Gramps too, just like Amanda does."

Armond let out a disgruntled snort.

"Don’t fill the boy’s head with false hope, Martha. He hasn’t earned my blessing yet."

Martha giggled.

"And how long do you think that’ll last? The moment your granddaughter makes that adorable little face, how long can you honestly keep refusing?"

Armond closed his eyes, his expression turning unusually solemn as if he were seriously considering the impossible question.

Amanda couldn’t help smiling.

She already knew exactly how that battle would end.

"Speaking of your granddaughter," Hades asked with a smile, "how’s Melissa doing, Dad?"

That reminded Kyle of something Amanda had told him earlier.

Melissa was now living with her grandfather after the confrontation she had with her father over her creations.

"She’s doing better now," Armond replied, though the grief in his voice was impossible to miss. "What that numbskull said to her hurt her deeply... but she’s a strong girl."

Amanda’s shoulders slumped.

She could only imagine what her sister had gone through.

Knowing Melissa’s father, a man consumed by greed for power and recognition, he must have tried every trick imaginable to force her into creating weapons for him again.

But Melissa had refused.

Partly because she was no longer capable of producing masterpieces of that caliber.

Mostly because she simply didn’t want to.

After witnessing the devastation caused by one of her own creations, she had sworn never to forge another weapon for her father.

Thankfully, the head of the Maylith family had stood firmly by her side.

The rest of the dinner passed peacefully, filled with lighthearted conversation.

Kyle joined in from time to time, though it was mostly thanks to Hades and Martha, who made a conscious effort to include him, never allowing him to feel like an outsider.

Amanda found herself smiling throughout the meal.

Seeing her father treat Kyle so warmly told her almost everything she needed to know about his feelings toward their relationship.

Once dinner came to an end, Kyle rose from his seat.

"I should get going."

It was already close to four o’clock. As much as he enjoyed spending time with the Maylith family, staying any longer felt like overstaying his welcome.

Amanda stood as well, intending to walk him to the door.

"I’ll see him off."

Hades’ sudden announcement caught her by surprise.

"Then I’ll..."

She stopped when Martha gently caught her wrist.

Her mother smiled at Kyle.

"Please come again, Kyle. It was lovely having you."

Amanda frowned.

Why was her mother stopping her?

She looked toward Kyle and saw him smile before giving her a reassuring nod. Without another word, he walked away beside Hades.

Once the two men disappeared down the hallway, Amanda finally turned back.

"What was that, Mom?"

Martha let out a weary sigh before shaking her head.

"Sometimes I honestly wonder if you’ve matured enough to be dating someone."

Still shaking her head, she walked back inside.

Amanda remained rooted to the spot, tilting her head in confusion.

What exactly had she failed to realize?

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Don’t mind her. This is her first time being in a relationship so...

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