I Married A Degraded Alpha
Chapter 97: The Hidden Helpers

Chapter 97: The Hidden Helpers

Once Bassus had made his delivery, he left, but not before sending his regards to Yuri on behalf of all the warriors.

Looking at all the goodies on the table, Yuri remarked, "We’ve been battling for days now. Is this their last stash?"

Perhaps they’d saved these treats, too precious to be eaten until now.

The thought warmed Yuri’s heart.

When she was battling the level-eight insectoids, she hadn’t given it much thought. Yet, here she was, receiving such care and goodwill from so many people.

"Probably. But you can’t eat any of it now, I’ll keep it safe for you," Tuss responded, stashing away the pile of snacks into his dimensional button.

Yuri’s eyes sparkled with longing. Swallowing hard, she said, "If I can’t have the snacks, bring me a few bottles of Nutrient Fluids. Make it cola flavored."

Later that night, Yuri was woken from her dreams by a steady "thud, thud, thud" sound. She sat up, blinking awake. At her movement, Tuss in the bed across from hers also woke up.

"What’s going on?" Yuri frowned.

Tuss remained silent, seemingly debating whether or not to tell her.

"You know why," Yuri asserted with certainty.

With a resigned sigh, Tuss admitted, "It’s the sound of an alpha banging his head against the wall."

"Because of a Sea of Consciousness disturbance?" Yuri immediately guessed the reason.

Tuss grunted in agreement, "Two SS-tier betas are either with the Second Commander or helping an SS-tier alpha organize. They can only organize for one alpha a day, and the lower-ranking soldiers simply don’t have their turn. The A-tier and below betas aren’t many, and they can only organize the Sea of Consciousness for one alpha a day too. Many alphas never get their turn."

He had been listening to this pounding for five nights now.

Yuri’s face contorted with complex emotions, and after a moment’s hesitation, she said, "I’ll try to see if I can help them ease it."

"Can your body take it? Maybe wait another couple of days?" While Tuss felt sympathy for the soldiers, he cared for her more.

"I’m fine. My psychic power just leveled up. It’s now full and ready for use. And I’m just helping them to ease, not to fully organize, so it won’t take much effort," Yuri shrugged nonchalantly.

Still not entirely reassured, Tuss added, "Then give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, stop right away. We’re not in a rush. Your health is the priority now."

Nodding, Yuri’s psychic power already surged out of the room.

With her eyes closed, Yuri began her work, while Tuss kept a close watch on her. At any sign of discomfort – a furrowed brow or a grimace of pain – he was ready to step in.

But there was none.

Her face was the picture of tranquility and peace.

As time wore on, the banging sounds across the spaceship became less frequent. Yuri’s eyes remained closed.

Tuss relaxed gradually from his initial anxiety. Deciding against sleeping, he took out a book and started to read.

Not until the next morning, the usual wake-up time, did Yuri let out a big yawn and said, "I’m exhausted. I need a nap. If anything comes up, let me sleep it off first."

Unable to do anything but shake his head, Tuss pulled the blanket over her.

That day, not only Yuri, but many of the soldiers woke up late, breaking their usual routine. They slept in until the afternoon.

As doors across the hallway began to creak open, everyone exchanged puzzled looks. Someone finally broke the silence, exclaiming, "Damn, you slept in too?"

Laughter and chatter soon filled the spaceship.

"I haven’t slept this well in six months. It’s so good it could make a man cry."

"I feel the same way. I was headbutting the wall last night, but then I somehow just fell asleep. Woke up feeling fresh as a daisy, head isn’t even aching."

"Same here. Look at this bump on my forehead. I was nearly losing it last night, but now it’s as if nothing happened. Feels like an S-tier beta has organized my Sea of Consciousness."

"You’re talking as if an S-tier beta has ever organized your Sea of Consciousness."

"It’s a metaphor, man! All I’m saying is it feels great. Never felt this good."

"Yeah, super comfortable. More so than any Sea of Consciousness organization I’ve ever had."

"Could it be that a beta secretly organized our Sea of Consciousness?"

"It’s a possibility."

"A good Samaritan leaving no trace."

"Well, why didn’t they help me too? Is it because I didn’t bang my head against the wall? Guess I’ll have to do it tonight."

"....."

That night, the banging against the walls grew louder.

Yuri, who was drinking her Nutrient Fluids, jumped in surprise, almost dropping her drink. She looked confused and asked, "Why is it worse than yesterday?"

Having overheard the soldiers’ conversation, Tuss, knowing the truth, kept a straight face and said, "I guess they are trying to summon you."

Yuri: "....."

Considering the increase in the number of head-banging incidents that night, Yuri had to contemplate whether she could split her psychic power to assist multiple soldiers in organizing their Sea of Consciousness at the same time.

With a determined mind, she started experimenting and, surprisingly, she managed to make it work.

Over the course of the night, she became more proficient, eventually managing to assist six soldiers at the same time with their Sea of Consciousness.

By dawn, Yuri told Tuss she was going to sleep and instantly drifted off.

Looking at her tired but delighted and excited face, Tuss suppressed his possessive desire.

After all, as long as she was happy, that was what mattered to him.

"Tuss, now I can help six people at once with their Sea of Consciousness," Yuri whispered in Tuss’ ear. "Plus, I’ve noticed something. When I assist others, my psychic power actually improves. Even though it’s just a tiny bit, it’s a lot faster than when I train on my own."

Tuss raised an eyebrow, "That’s a pleasant surprise."

Nodding, Yuri agreed, "Indeed. I didn’t notice before, probably because I was helping less. Looks like I should assist more with Sea of Consciousness organization in the future."

Tuss’s face darkened at her words. He pursed his lips, choosing to stay silent.

Yuri immediately picked up on Tuss’s mood. Turning to him, she asked, "Are you upset?"

Tuss nodded, then shook his head. "I know I should feel happy, but I just can’t. I want you to organize the Sea of Consciousness only for me. It’s my possessiveness acting up."

So straightforward. So endearing.

Yuri lunged forward, cradling Tuss’s face, and planted a firm kiss on his lips.

Tuss froze on the spot. He slowly turned his gaze towards Yuri, his eyes smoldering, as if ready to melt her.

The next second, he cupped the back of her head, meeting the lips he had been yearning for with a passionate kiss.

Tuss’s kiss was fierce and intense, lasting for almost ten minutes. Only when Yuri’s lips were numb and swollen did he reluctantly release her.

As soon as she was free, Yuri burrowed into the blankets, revealing only her big, dewy eyes. "You need to control yourself," she said.

Tuss laughed wryly, "If I didn’t control myself, you’d have been devoured by me a long time ago."