Novel's Extra: I Awakened The Strongest Physique From The Start - Chapter 272

Chapter 272: CHAPTER 273 – To Seclusion.
The corridor was silent, save for the soft echoes of Alex’s footsteps as he made his way toward the secluded cultivation room.

The system space was vast, yet it always carried a certain stillness—a place of absolute control, where time itself seemed to bend to his will.

But even with that control, his mind lingered on the conversations he had just finished, each moment replaying as if burned into his thoughts.

…………….

The first conversation had been with Zahara.

Sitting beside him, her crimson eyes studied him with quiet concern. Zahara rarely raised her voice or pressed him too hard, yet the way she looked at him spoke volumes.

“You pushed yourself too far again, didn’t you?” She finally asked, brushing a strand of red hair behind her ear.

Alex exhaled, leaning back against the couch. “I had to. The beast I faced was beyond anything I expected.”

Her hand found his, fingers lacing together as she squeezed gently. “I know,” she said softly. “And I know you’ll keep doing it, no matter how much I worry.”

He turned to her, smirking. “You’re not going to tell me to stop?”

Zahara smiled faintly. “I wouldn’t waste my breath. But… I’ll remind you to take care of yourself. Because if you fall, I’ll be picking you up.”

Alex squeezed her hand in return, warmth spreading through his chest. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

After that, she asked him all about his time inside the dungeon, wanting to know what he did and what he faced.

Alex told her everything with a smile, starting with the easy battle on the first floor that ended with a surprise, the fast clearing of the second floor, the boss monster of the third floor, the combined floor’s waves, and finally the Manticore.

Zahara listened to everything with utmost concentration, her expression changing continuously.

One moment, she would be smiling with pride, and the next moment, she would grimace.

Alex, however, enjoyed his time.

He found it funny how she seemed to be imagining herself in his place, listening to his experience as if it were a tale of a hero.

When Alex asked why she was so immersed, she blamed his storytelling ability.

…………….

The next memory was of Mira.

Unlike Zahara, she never used words to express her emotions—she barely spoke. But actions had always been her language.

When he had walked into the room, Mira had immediately wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face against his chest. Her grip was tight, as if afraid he would disappear if she let go.

“…I’m back,” Alex murmured, stroking her cream-blonde hair.

Mira pulled back just enough to look up at him, her light blue eyes searching his face.

Then, without a word, she reached out and traced a finger on his body, as if wanting to see if he was injured anywhere.

“You know my injuries in the dream world won’t affect my original body, right?” Alex chuckled at her action, only to find her light blue eyes turning at him, squinted.

Seeing her expression and how her lips pressed into a thin line, disapproval clear in her expression, he understood that he should keep quiet.

“Alright, I’m sorry,” he sighed. “I messed up again.”

It was clear that Mira had already asked Sophie about his situation, and that girl had probably told her everything since he never asked her not to.

Mira, on the other hand, didn’t reply, only leaning in closer, resting her forehead against his collarbone.

Her arms tightened, fingers clutching at his back. It was her way of scolding him, of showing how much she hated seeing him hurt. He let her stay like that for a long moment, offering his warmth in return.

“…I’ll be fine,” he finally said, his voice softer this time.

Mira pulled back just enough to meet his gaze again.

Then, surprising him, she leaned up and pressed a feather-light kiss to his jaw before settling back against his chest.

Alex chuckled, knowing that his words were working; he rested his chin atop her head. “Alright, alright. I get it. I’ll be careful next time.”

It seemed that all Mira wanted was assurance, so he gave it to her.

He sat with her for a long time, caressing her back and letting her kiss him, as it was rare to see her so proactive.

Also, who would hate it when a girl as beautiful as she were to care for them?

…………….

And then there was Lilia.

Unlike the others, she didn’t know anything about his dream world or the system since she wasn’t yet his woman. Alex intended to keep it that way until she became one.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her. He did. But no one knows the future, so he doesn’t want to take risks, especially when Lilia is Anos’s child.

The same Anos who controls Eris—another one of his daughters—as if she were a puppet.

But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t notice his state.

“What’s wrong with you? Why does it feel like you’ve just ended a war?” Lilia asked dryly, arms crossed as she leaned against the wall. Her purple eyes held their usual sharpness, but there was something else beneath them—something softer.

Alex chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “You should see the other guy.”

“Knowing you, he’s probably in worse shape.”

Her words made him chuckle, and for a while, only silence remained before Lilia exhaled through her nose, her expression unreadable for a moment before she spoke again.

“…You’re leaving for a while, aren’t you?”

Alex nodded. “I need to cultivate. It won’t be long.”

She stared at him before she walked closer, her hand moving toward his shirt, fixing one of the loose buttons. “I know there are things you can’t tell me, but please don’t burden yourself more than needed.”

His expression softened as he smiled. “You don’t need to be worried—”

Lilia, however, cut him off with a huff. “Worried? As if. I just don’t want the only guy I came to like to die early.”

Alex chuckled but said nothing more.

He simply reached out, ruffling her purple hair with a smile, and Lilia, with her eyes closed, enjoyed it.

She knew these things were the only ones she could get, as she wasn’t his woman yet, but convincing herself about sharing Alex with others wasn’t easy for her.

Especially when it hadn’t even been long before she came to know about it.

She needed some time, and Alex knew it, and that was why he hadn’t tried anything with her yet.

…………….

Now, back in the present, Alex reached the door to the secluded cultivation room.

The weight of those conversations still lingered in his chest, but he felt lighter somehow, as if their presence had given him an anchor amidst the storm to come.

He would soon be strong enough to face enemies he had been avoiding for a while, and once he started dealing with them, he would have troubles coming at him endlessly.

The problem was that he already had enough trouble on his back, and more would be disastrous.

But he had some things planned, so maybe it wouldn’t be that bad.

For now, he had to focus on growing.

So taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

It was time to begin his next step.