Shadow Husband:I Have a Hidden SSS-Class System-Chapter 52: HIDING BETTER

The second morning after regression, Rama woke to Sekar already dressed for guild work.

"Early meeting," she said, adjusting her blazer. "New A-rank dungeon appeared in Bandung. Association wants S-ranks to assess it."

"Dangerous?" he asked, sitting up.

"Probably. But that’s what they pay me for." She leaned down, kissing his forehead. "You’ll be okay alone today? Not going to do anything stupid?"

"Define stupid."

"You know what I mean." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "You’ve been... different lately. More confident. Almost like you know something I don’t."

Last time, he would’ve stammered, deflected badly, made her more suspicious.

Now, he met her gaze steadily.

"Maybe I’m just finally comfortable being your husband. Not your burden."

Her expression softened. "You were never a burden, idiot."

"I felt like one. E-rank married to S-rank. But I’m working on it. Getting stronger. For you."

She studied his face, then smiled. "Good. Keep working on it. Just don’t die doing something reckless."

"I won’t. Promise."

After she left, Rama checked his phone. Message from Yanto.

Yanto: Day 2. Still planning that Level 30 speedrun?

Rama: Already started. Hit me tonight for progress.

Yanto: Cocky. I like it. Try not to die.

Rama smiled and grabbed his gear. Before, he’d wasted the morning anxious about hiding from Sekar. Now, he had the perfect alibi—she was gone all day.

Time to grind.

The C-rank dungeon in South Jakarta was exactly where he remembered. Corrupted shopping mall. Level 20-25 monsters.

He entered alone.

No Network observers this time. He’d specifically told Yanto: "Watch from distance. Don’t approach. My wife can’t know yet."

The dungeon unfolded exactly as his memories predicted. Three goblins at first spawn point. Corrupted shopkeeper at second. Wolf pack at third.

He cleared it in twenty-three minutes, exiting at Level 10.

[DUNGEON CLEARED: CORRUPTED MALL]

[PERFECT CLEAR BONUS: +50% EXP]

[LEVEL 1 → 10]

His phone buzzed immediately. Yanto.

Yanto: ...how?

Rama: Told you. I know what I’m doing.

Yanto: That’s not an explanation.

Rama: Five more days. Then I explain everything.

He moved to the next dungeon on his mental list. B-rank cave system. In his previous life, he’d attempted it on Day 12 and almost died. Now, on Day 2, he walked in confidently.

The patterns were muscle memory now. Crystal puzzle solved in thirty seconds. Stone Guardian’s weak point struck eight times. Cave Hydra’s center head trick executed perfectly.

Forty-eight minutes. Level 10 to 15.

[DUNGEON CLEARED: COLLAPSED MINES]

[TIME: 48 MINUTES]

[LEVEL 10 → 15]

His phone buzzed again. This time, multiple messages.

Yanto: Two dungeons. One day. Level 15. What are you?

Budi: Boss, this guy’s not normal.

Ratna: He knew the Hydra trick. Nobody knows that trick.

Rama typed back to Yanto only.

Rama: Someone who’s seen the future. Five more days. Trust me.

He didn’t wait for a response. One more dungeon today, then home before Sekar returned.

A-rank dungeon. Abandoned factory. Level 30-35 monsters.

He should die instantly at Level 15.

He cleared it in seventy-two minutes.

[DUNGEON CLEARED: CORRUPTED FACTORY]

[EXTREME DIFFICULTY BONUS: +100% EXP]

[LEVEL 15 → 20]

Level 20. Day 2. Ahead of schedule.

He checked the time—4 PM. Sekar would be home at 6 PM.

Perfect.

Rama stopped at a flower shop on the way home. Bought roses—red ones. Sekar’s favorite, though she’d never told him directly. He knew from before, from a conversation they’d had at Week 8 when she’d casually mentioned it.

He also stopped at a bakery. Bought the chocolate cake from the specific shop she loved but never visited because it was "too far from her usual route."

Knowledge from his previous life was perfect for being the ideal husband.

When Sekar came home at 6:15 PM, exhausted and slightly dusty from dungeon assessment, she froze at the door.

The apartment smelled like cooking. Dinner was on the table—her favorite, nasi goreng with extra sambal exactly how she liked it. The roses were in a vase on the counter. The cake sat beside them.

"What is all this?" she asked slowly.

"Dinner. Thought you’d be tired after the Bandung trip."

"You cooked? You hate cooking."

"I don’t hate it. I’m just bad at it. But I’m getting better." He pulled out a chair for her. "Sit. Eat. You’ve had a long day."

She sat, suspicious but too hungry to argue. Took a bite of the nasi goreng.

Her eyes widened. "This is... good. Really good. Since when can you cook like this?"

"I’ve been practicing. Wanted to surprise you."

"You bought my favorite cake. From that bakery in Kemang. That’s thirty minutes from here."

"Worth it. For you."

She stared at him. "What’s going on? You’re being weird. Sweet. Perfect. You even remembered I like red roses."

"You mentioned it once. I remembered."

"I mentioned it in passing. Eight months ago."

Damn. Too much knowledge from before showing through.

"I pay attention when you talk," he said smoothly. "Always have."

Sekar set down her fork. "Rama. Seriously. What changed? You’re different. Not just stronger or more confident. You’re... you’re being the perfect husband. The one I—" She stopped herself.

"The one you what?"

"The one I always wished you’d be," she said quietly. "But could never say because I knew you were trying your best and I didn’t want to make you feel worse about the E-rank thing."

His chest tightened. Before, she’d never told him this. They’d never had this conversation. Too much suspicion, too much hiding, too much damage.

This time was different.

"I’m sorry," he said. "For being less than you deserved. For making you feel like you couldn’t ask for more. For—"

"Stop." She stood, walked around the table, pulled him into a hug. "You don’t need to apologize. You were enough. You are enough. This—" She gestured at the dinner, the flowers, the cake. "—this is just a really nice bonus."

He held her, memorizing the moment. Last time, she’d watched him die. Now, she got roses and dinner and the husband she deserved.

"I love you," he said into her hair.

"I love you too, you weird, suddenly-perfect man." She pulled back, studying his face. "But I still think you’re hiding something."

"I am."

"Will you tell me?"

"Soon. When the time is right."

"How soon?"

"One week. Give me one week to finish something. Then I’ll tell you everything."

She searched his eyes. "Everything?"

"Everything important. Everything that matters."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She kissed him. Long and deep and full of trust he didn’t entirely deserve yet.

"One week," she said. "Then no more secrets."

"One week."

They ate dinner together, talking about her day, her guild, the new dungeon assessment. Normal couple conversation.

Rama savored every moment.

This was what he’d died for. These quiet evenings. This normalcy. This love.

This time was about more than just preventing the void war.

It was about enjoying the life he’d fought to protect.

The next three days followed the same pattern.

Day 3: Two more dungeons. Level 20 to 26. Home by 6 PM with dinner ready.

Day 4: One S-rank dungeon—borderline suicidal at his level, but he knew every pattern. Level 26 to 30. Brought home takeout from her favorite restaurant and gave her a foot massage while she complained about association politics.

Each evening, he was the perfect husband. Attentive. Caring. Using forty-five days of knowledge from before to anticipate her needs.

Each evening, she grew more confused but less suspicious.

"I don’t know what inspired this change," she said on Day 4 night, "but I like it. Keep it up."

"Planning to," he said, massaging her feet while she relaxed on the couch.

"You’re still hiding something though."

"Yes."

"But you’ll tell me soon."

"Three more days."

"I’m holding you to that."

"I know."

Meanwhile, the Network was losing their minds.

Yanto: Level 30 in four days. You did it. You actually did it.

Budi: How is this possible?

Ratna: What are you?

Rama met them in the warehouse late on Day 4 night, after Sekar fell asleep.

Thirty Players assembled. All staring at him.

"Level 30," Yanto said. "Four days. You win. We believe you now. So talk. What’s this about void entities?"

"Not yet," Rama said. "Three more days. I need to handle something personal first. Then we prepare for war."

"Three more days? People could die—"

"In fifty days, a Level 73 entity will arrive. Three days won’t matter. But these three days matter to me." He looked at each face. "Trust me. I’ve fought this war before. I know what I’m doing."

"Fought it before?" Yanto’s eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

"It means I’ve seen how it ends if we’re not prepared. And I’m making sure we are prepared this time." Rama pulled up his System interface, sharing the display. "Three more days. Then I show you everything. The entities. The levels. The attack patterns. Everything you need to survive."

"Why wait three days?"

"Because I need to tell someone else first. Someone who deserves to know before anyone else."

Understanding dawned on Yanto’s face. "Your wife."

"My wife. The S-rank who can mobilize resources, coordinate guilds, speak to government officials. The person who’ll be my partner in this war. She deserves to know before I turn her world upside down."

Yanto studied him for a long moment. Then nodded.

"Three days. Then you tell us everything."

"Three days. I promise."

Rama left the warehouse and headed home. Sekar was still asleep, curled up on their bed, peaceful and trusting.

He had three more days to enjoy this peace.

Then everything would change.

But this time—this time—it would change on his terms.