My Slime Wife: Training and Pampering Her Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 23: Becoming Hunters [4]

Chapter 23: Becoming Hunters [4]

The glowing lines continued to race across the machine’s screen.

GOLD.

A second later...

EMERALD.

Then once again...

GOLD.

Instructor James watched the data with his arms crossed, completely focused. He didn’t even seem surprised anymore.

If anything... he looked intrigued.

Liam couldn’t take his eyes off the screen.

"So... is that good or bad?"

James looked up.

"It’s neither."

He adjusted his dark glasses before continuing.

"It’s simply... unusual."

He stepped closer to the monitor and pointed at the graphs that refused to stop fluctuating.

"When a measurement oscillates between two ranks, the lower one is usually assigned."

Liam felt a small knot form in his stomach.

"Always?"

"Almost always."

James nodded.

"But it happens very rarely. And when it does, it’s usually between Bronze and Silver."

The instructor smiled, visibly excited.

"I’ve never seen someone fluctuate between Gold and Emerald."

Liam slowly lowered his gaze.

’So...’

’If it ends up staying at Gold...’

’I won’t be able to join the guild.’

He glanced toward Lydia.

She had already been recognized as Emerald Rank.

But he...

He was still an uncertainty.

A message immediately appeared.

[Lydia: Don’t get discouraged, honey.]

[Lydia: I’m sure you’ll end up as Emerald.]

[Lydia: Besides...]

[Lydia: We still don’t even know how they decide the final result.]

Liam took a deep breath and looked back at the instructor.

"So how do you decide what rank someone gets?"

James opened his mouth to answer.

But another voice spoke first.

"There’s no need to continue this."

Millie stepped forward and looked directly at the instructor.

"We’re the proof."

James turned toward her.

The towering shield-bearer continued.

"Amber, Evan, and I. We all survived because of him."

She pointed at Liam.

"If he hadn’t come up with the plan to defeat that dragon... none of us would be standing here."

She crossed her arms.

"That alone should be enough to prove he deserves Emerald Rank."

Liam stared at her in surprise.

He hadn’t expected anyone to defend him like that.

James slowly shook his head.

"I’m sorry."

Millie sighed.

"I knew you’d say that."

"I can’t make exceptions."

The instructor pointed back at the machine.

"Rules exist for a reason."

Liam raised an eyebrow.

"What rules?"

James smiled.

"If the machine can’t determine a person’s rank... ...then the applicant has to prove it."

"How?"

The instructor’s smile widened.

"With a trial."

Liam tilted his head slightly.

James walked over to a nearby table covered with paperwork and picked up a folder.

"You’ll have to clear an E-Rank Dungeon."

Liam blinked.

"That’s all?"

James raised an eyebrow.

"’That’s all?’"

"Well..."

Liam scratched the back of his neck.

"We survived inside an S-Rank Dungeon."

Millie let out a small laugh.

James smiled as well.

"That’s exactly why we believe you have a chance."

He closed the folder.

"But there’s one condition."

Liam already had a feeling what it would be.

"What is it?"

"You’ll clear it without the help of any other hunters."

Liam ended up smiling.

"I thought it would be something worse."

James looked at him curiously.

"You don’t seem very worried."

"Because I’m not going alone."

Liam looked at Lydia.

"I’m going with my wife."

The little slime bounced once.

Plop.

[Lydia: Exactly!]

[Lydia: The two of us!]

James cleared his throat.

"There will also be a time limit."

"And if we can’t finish it?"

The instructor picked up a small radio from a metal box and held it out.

"That’s what this is for."

He handed it to Liam.

"You’ll be monitored the entire time."

Liam examined the radio in his hands.

It was surprisingly light.

"If there’s any emergency... just contact us."

Millie joined in.

"When rookies take this test, if the time limit runs out and they’re still inside... an Emerald-Rank hunter immediately enters, rescues them, and finishes the dungeon."

She smiled.

"So relax. It’s a pretty safe test."

Liam looked down at the radio again.

James continued.

"You’ll also wear a special suit."

"A suit?"

"It monitors your vital signs. If anything unusual happens... we’ll know immediately."

Millie looked back at the instructor.

"Even so... I still don’t think it’s necessary."

James let out a long sigh.

"Millie. I know what you’re thinking. But if someone who can’t even clear an E-Rank Dungeon joins the guild... all we’ll accomplish is sending them to their death."

Liam completely understood those words.

The trial wasn’t meant to inconvenience him.

It was a way to protect future hunters...

...and the guild itself.

He smiled.

"Don’t worry."

Everyone looked at him.

"I know we’ll clear it."

The little slime began bouncing across the floor.

Plop.

Plop.

Plop.

[Lydia: Of course we will!]

Millie smiled as well.

"I knew you’d say that."

◇◆◇

A few hours later...

A black pickup truck left the city.

The urban landscape gradually disappeared.

Buildings gave way to dirt roads...

...and vast open fields.

Liam watched everything through the passenger window.

He had never traveled this far from the city before.

James sat in the front passenger seat, working on a laptop filled with maps and graphs.

Every so often, he checked different readings.

Millie was driving.

The towering hunter looked completely relaxed.

As though this trip was just another part of her routine.

After nearly an hour...

The truck came to a stop.

Liam climbed out first.

Then froze in place.

Towering before him stood an enormous stone tower.

Far smaller than the S-Rank Dungeon.

Yet it still inspired awe.

Its peak vanished into the clouds.

The wind swept through the surrounding vegetation.

There were no buildings.

No people.

Only that solitary tower.

James stepped out, carrying the laptop under one arm.

"Welcome... to an E-Rank Dungeon."

Millie opened the truck’s rear compartment.

Inside were all kinds of equipment.

Weapons.

Protective gear.

Backpacks.

Medical kits.

Liam stared at everything in amazement.

"I’ve never seen so much equipment."

"Just take the basics."

James said.

"We’re not expecting you to fight like a veteran."

In the end, Liam chose a small knife, a flashlight...

...and a handgun.

He held it awkwardly.

Lydia peeked out from the bag.

[Lydia: Liam...]

’Yes?’

[Lydia: Be careful with that.]

[Lydia: You’ve never used a gun before.]

He smiled.

’You’re right.’

He looked down at the pistol again.

’Honestly...’

’I hope I never have to fire it.’

Millie helped him gear up.

She fastened light protective guards over his arms, knees, and chest.

Then...

James handed him a tight black shirt.

"This?"

"It’s the monitoring suit."

Liam slipped it on beneath his clothes.

He felt a strange tingling sensation as the fabric automatically tightened around his body.

James studied the laptop screen.

"Perfect. All sensors are functioning."

Millie tightened one final strap on his vest.

"All set."

She gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"You know the drill. If anything goes wrong... I’ll come in and rescue you."

Liam smiled.

"Thanks."

James continued checking the readings.

"Heart rate normal. Breathing stable. Communications online."

The radio emitted a soft beep.

"Can you hear me?"

The instructor’s voice came clearly through the speaker.

Liam answered,

"Perfectly."

"Excellent."

James finally closed the laptop.

"Everything is ready."

He placed it back inside the truck.

Then pointed toward the massive stone door at the base of the tower.

"Whenever you’re ready... you may enter."

Liam swallowed.

This would be his first dungeon...

...where he entered knowing exactly why he was there.

Not by accident.

Not simply to survive.

But to prove his own worth.

To become a hunter.

He looked at Lydia.

She hopped onto his shoulder.

A new message appeared before his eyes.

[Lydia: Don’t worry.]

[Lydia: Today we’re becoming Emerald-Rank hunters.]