My Slime Wife: Training and Pampering Her Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 20: Becoming Hunters [1]

Chapter 20: Becoming Hunters [1]

Liam stepped out of the dungeon item shop with a smile he hadn’t worn in a very long time.

His camera bag hung from his shoulder as always, but now it carried more than just Lydia resting inside.

It also held the money they had just earned.

Twenty thousand five hundred dollars.

An amount that, only a few days ago, would have seemed impossible for a couple who could barely afford rice and scrambled eggs for dinner.

As he walked down the shop’s front steps, a window appeared before his eyes.

[Lydia: Well.]

[Lydia: Now we can finally...]

[Lydia: Go to the supermarket.]

[Lydia: Then call the accountant.]

[Lydia: Pay off our debts.]

[Lydia: And only then will I relax.]

Liam smiled.

’Always so responsible.’

[Lydia: Someone has to be.]

[Lydia: Because I’m sure you’re already thinking about something else.]

He slipped a hand into his jacket pocket and slowly pulled out a small white card.

He turned it between his fingers.

Printed across it was a large black emblem.

An Ace of Spades.

[Lydia: ...]

[Lydia: No...]

[Lydia: Tell me you’re not thinking what I think you are.]

Liam lifted the card slightly.

’I think we should go here.’

A few seconds passed before another message appeared.

[Lydia: The guild?]

’Yeah.’

[Lydia: Do you think we’re ready to become Hunters?]

Liam spent a few moments staring at the emblem.

’I don’t know.’

’But we have nothing to lose by trying.’

Silence lingered for a moment.

Then...

[Lydia: Then let’s go.]

[Lydia: Together.]

Liam smiled.

As always, together.

He looked at the address printed near the bottom.

"It’s close..."

he murmured to himself.

"Only a few blocks away."

He started walking.

◇◆◇

Downtown was packed.

People in business suits, mothers pushing strollers, students, street vendors, cars, and traffic lights.

The constant noise of a city living through a perfectly ordinary day.

No one paid any attention to the young man weaving through the crowd.

No one imagined that the man in the worn-out suit had survived an S-Rank Dungeon.

Much less that the tiny creature hidden inside his bag had defeated a dragon.

Liam looked around.

It felt strange.

Everything looked exactly the same as it had two days ago.

And yet...

His life had changed completely.

[Lydia: What are you thinking about?]

’That nobody knows who we are.’

[Lydia: Good.]

[Lydia: That way no one will kidnap me and run experiments on me.]

Liam chuckled.

’You’re so dramatic.’

[Lydia: I’m a slime.]

[Lydia: I have the right.]

They continued walking through the crowd.

They turned one corner.

Then another.

Finally...

The building came into view.

Liam stopped automatically.

It was enormous.

Completely white.

The walls looked as though they had been carved from marble.

Huge tinted glass windows reflected the sky.

An elegant staircase led to the main entrance.

Above it hung a massive metal emblem.

The Ace of Spades.

Liam swallowed.

"So..."

"This is the guild."

People constantly entered and exited the building.

Some wore elegant suits.

Others carried briefcases.

There were janitors.

Receptionists.

Lawyers.

Accountants.

But...

There wasn’t a single person wearing armor.

No giant swords.

Nothing like what someone would imagine when thinking about a Hunters Guild.

[Lydia: I’m a little nervous...]

Liam smiled.

’Me too.’

[Lydia: But I’m excited too.]

Liam rested a hand on his bag.

’Then let’s not keep waiting.’

He slowly climbed the staircase.

With every step, his heartbeat grew a little faster.

When they reached the glass doors...

A sensor detected his presence.

The doors slid open automatically.

They stepped inside.

◇◆◇

The interior was even more elegant.

The floor was covered with enormous white tiles polished to a mirror shine.

The walls featured black and gold accents.

At the center of the spacious lobby stood a single circular reception desk.

Two employees were working there.

A man wearing glasses and a gray suit.

And a young blonde woman with her hair tied back.

Both were checking employee ID cards from people who appeared to work in the building.

Liam took a deep breath and walked toward them.

The man looked up.

He studied Liam for a few seconds before speaking.

"Excuse me."

Liam stopped.

"Yes?"

"Are you lost?"

His tone was completely serious.

Liam shook his head.

"No."

The employee looked him up and down once more.

"You don’t appear to work here."

Liam slowly took out the card Amber had given him and placed it on the counter.

"I’m here to register as a Hunter."

"Hm..."

"And to apply for admission into the guild."

The man picked up the card.

He examined it.

Turned it over.

Looked at it again.

He frowned slightly.

Then looked back at Liam.

"Where did you get this?"

Liam answered calmly.

"Vice Captain Amber gave it to me when we left a dungeon."

The man burst into laughter.

"The Vice Captain?"

"Yes."

He laughed again.

"Good story."

Liam sighed.

"It’s not a story. It’s the truth."

The man set the card back on the counter.

"And what comes next? Are you going to tell me you defeated an ancient monster all by yourself?"

Before Liam could answer...

The woman working beside him picked up the card and examined it carefully.

Then her eyes widened slightly.

"Wait..."

The man stopped laughing.

"What?"

She looked at the card again.

"This signature..."

"It’s authentic."

The man raised an eyebrow.

"So?"

The woman slowly looked up at Liam.

"I overheard some employees talking earlier. They said Vice Captain Amber and part of her squad survived an S-Rank Dungeon."

Liam remained silent.

She continued.

"Apparently... It was thanks to a Tamer and his companion beast. And from what I heard... He wasn’t even an official Hunter yet."

She looked directly at Liam.

"Could that... be you?"

Liam smiled shyly.

"That’s exactly my story."

The woman’s eyes widened even more.

The man with the glasses looked Liam over once again.

His expression remained full of disbelief.

"No."

He slowly shook his head.

"I don’t buy it."

[Lydia: This guy is an idiot.]

Liam had to hold back a laugh.

’A little.’

[Lydia: No.]

[Lydia: A lot.]

[Lydia: A complete idiot.]

Liam cleared his throat to hide his amusement.

The man was still staring at him.

"Is something funny?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Don’t worry about it."

The woman continued studying the card.

"I think it could actually be true."

The man crossed his arms.

"A guy wearing a cheap, dirty suit... Surviving an S-Rank Dungeon? Come on. Don’t make me laugh."

Liam took a slow breath.

He wasn’t offended.

After all...

Just a few days ago...

He wouldn’t have believed a story like that either.