SSS-Ranked Surgeon In Another World: The Healer Is Actually OP! - Chapter 258: Moments Worth Protecting...

Chapter 258: Moments Worth Protecting…

Bruce glanced at the time. There was still some space before the meeting.

“Go get ready, Lily,” he said gently. “We’ll go buy some things.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really?!”

Before he could nod, she was already running back inside.

Bruce chuckled softly, gaze shifting to Ash hovering nearby. “…She’s a cute little girl, isn’t she?”

Ash nodded and Bruce smiled, heading into the house too after all he had to prepare himself. Ash followed closely behind…

Not long after, they emerged clean and refreshed, heading out together. Their first stop was the snack shop. Skyberry chocolate. Skyberry candy.

The shopkeeper’s face lit up instantly. “You’re back! I knew today was going to be a good day!”

Bruce didn’t disappoint. He bought plenty, for Lily, for Ash, and added a few new snacks besides. As they left, arms full, Bruce felt it clearly.

This was worth protecting.

And no matter how busy things became, he wouldn’t let moments like this disappear.

“What do you think about getting some new clothes?” Bruce asked casually as they walked.

Lily froze mid-step. For exactly half a second she stood there, processing the words, and then her eyes lit up as if someone had ignited stars inside them.

“Yes!” she exclaimed without hesitation, already bouncing on her heels.

Bruce chuckled at her reaction and waved his hand, calmly storing all the snacks he’d bought into his spatial ring. One by one, the bags vanished into nothingness, the motion smooth and practiced.

Lily stared at his hand with open admiration, eyes wide despite the fact that she’d seen the trick countless times before. Some things, it seemed, never lost their magic.

Ash followed quietly as the two of them headed toward the clothing district, wings tucked in neatly, gaze drifting curiously across the bustling streets.

Bruce let out a soft sigh as they walked. This wasn’t just for Lily. His experience in that dungeon, his battle against the Cthulhu invader, had carved a hard lesson into him. Clothes didn’t survive real battles. Neither did shoes. Or equipment.

If he wanted to be prepared for the unexpected, he needed backups. Not one or two, but dozens. Practical ones. Durable ones. Things he could lose without hesitation. He wondered why this hadn’t come to his mind after his experience in the Vr Trial…

They stepped into a large clothing shop filled with neatly arranged racks and shimmering displays, the interior warm with soft lighting and faint traces of mana lingering in the air.

Fabrics of every color and texture lined the walls, mana-stitched garments hanging beside more mundane designs, some reinforced subtly, others clearly crafted for aesthetics alone. Lily’s restraint lasted exactly three seconds.

She rushed ahead, eyes darting excitedly from rack to rack, fingers brushing over fabrics as if afraid they might vanish if she didn’t touch them fast enough.

“This one!” she said, holding up a pink dress and spinning slightly on her heel. “It’s cute!”

Bruce smiled without thinking. “It suits you.”

That was all the encouragement she needed. She was already moving again, disappearing down another aisle before he’d even finished speaking.

“And this!” she exclaimed moments later, reappearing with a darker outfit in hand, sleek and fitted, layered with subtle reinforcement along the seams. “This one gives assassin vibes. It should fit my spear!”

Bruce raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face.

“Assassin?” he repeated. “What kind of assassin uses a spear?”

Lily puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms, pouting dramatically.

“I will,” she said stubbornly. “I’ll be the first and only assassin who uses a spear.”

Bruce laughed. “That’s not how assassins usually—”

“I don’t care!” she declared proudly. “I’ll make it work.”

Ash tilted its head to the side, watching her with intense seriousness, as if genuinely considering the viability of spear-wielding assassins.

The three of them continued browsing, Lily darting back and forth between racks, occasionally holding up clothes and spinning around for approval. Bruce answered honestly every time, sometimes nodding with approval, sometimes gently steering her away from outfits she clearly didn’t need five identical copies of.

Eventually, her movements slowed. Her gaze drifted toward a glass display near the corner of the shop, voice softening as she spoke. “…Brother?”

Bruce followed her line of sight. Eyeglasses. Different shapes and sizes, some thin and elegant, others bold and angular. A few were clearly enchanted, faint runes etched delicately into the frames.

Lily picked one up carefully, as if handling something precious. “What do you think of this?” she asked, holding it up.

Bruce studied it for a moment, then nodded. “It’s okay. It’ll make you look even cooler.” He paused, then added lightly, “Fits your assassin outfit too.”

Her face brightened instantly. “I knew it!” She slipped the glasses on and turned toward him, striking a dramatic pose. “How do I look?”

Bruce smiled. “Cool.”

She beamed, pride radiating from her. At that moment, Ash suddenly darted forward, wings fluttering as it locked its gaze onto another display. It pointed insistently at a pair of small, oddly shaped glasses, tapping the glass with a claw…

Bruce blinked. “…You want those?”

Ash nodded eagerly, eyes glinting with excitement. The nearby salesman laughed softly. “It seems your pet is interested too.”

Bruce didn’t hesitate. “I’ll take them.”

Lily carefully helped Ash put the glasses on, adjusting them with surprising gentleness. They fit perfectly. The frames sat snugly against Ash’s smooth black scales, lenses catching the light as the little dragon lifted its head proudly.

Lily burst into laughter. “It suits you so well! You look so cool now!”

Ash chirped happily, puffing out its chest as if fully aware of how impressive it looked.

Bruce shook his head with a quiet chuckle before moving on to his own purchases. Simple clothes. Reinforced ones. Extras of everything. Durable boots. Gloves. Travel wear. Combat-ready outfits. He also bought some clothes for Lucy as well…

He stored them all into his spatial ring without ceremony, stacking preparedness upon preparedness.

When they were finally done, Bruce paid, the salesman bowing slightly as they left. Stepping back into the street together, Lily hummed softly to herself, Ash flew proudly with its new glasses, and Bruce walked beside them with a faint smile he didn’t bother to hide.