My Slime Wife: Training and Pampering Her Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 39: Consuming Bullets [Bonus - ]

Chapter 39: Consuming Bullets [Bonus Chapter]

Liam let out a long sigh and rested his arms on the small metal table inside the shooting booth.

In front of him, the electronic target rolled forward once again until it stopped just a few meters away. It was riddled with holes, especially around the center.

"That wasn’t bad at all."

Lydia tilted her head to get a better look.

"Not bad?"

She said.

"A little while ago you could barely hit the paper, and now every shot landed here."

She pointed at the tight grouping of bullet holes.

"Just a few centimeters from the center."

Liam smiled with a hint of pride.

"I guess you’re right."

Out of habit, he reloaded the pistol one more time before setting it back on the table.

"It’s strange."

"What is?"

He picked up the handgun.

"This. I never thought I’d end up using one of these."

He looked back at the target.

"When I was studying photography, I also had to control my breathing, keep my hands steady, and wait for the perfect moment to press the shutter."

He scratched his cheek.

"It’s weird... but aiming a camera and aiming a pistol have a lot more in common than I expected."

Lydia smiled.

"That’s why you learned so quickly."

"You think so?"

"Of course."

She looked at the target again.

"Besides..."

She raised both thumbs.

"You did a great job!"

A warm feeling spread through Liam’s chest.

Hearing those words from her felt especially nice.

◇◆◇

Lydia peeked out of the shooting booth.

Several lanes away, Evan was still busy.

The same young hunter was continuing to receive instruction.

Once again, Evan adjusted her shoulders, corrected the angle of her wrist, and then leaned in a little too close to teach her how to breathe properly.

Lydia frowned ever so slightly.

She returned to Liam’s side.

"I think we’re going to be waiting for a while."

Liam looked toward the far end of the range.

"Yeah... He seems pretty busy."

Lydia folded her arms.

"Or pretty entertained."

Liam chuckled.

"Don’t be mean."

"I’m not."

She answered with a teasing smile.

"I’m just observing."

Then she pointed at the ammunition box.

"Hey."

"What?"

"How many magazines do you have left?"

Liam opened the box.

"One."

He picked up the last practice magazine.

"This is the last one."

An idea suddenly crossed his mind.

He looked at Lydia, then at the magazine.

She raised an eyebrow.

"I don’t like that look."

Liam grinned.

"Want to try another experiment?"

"Again?"

"Well..."

He scratched the back of his head.

"You could say that."

Lydia started laughing.

"Every time you say ’experiment,’ something weird happens."

"But it always works out."

"More or less."

"Remember when you consumed those rocks?"

"Yes."

"And the wind?"

Lydia raised both hands.

"Fine!"

She took the magazine.

"Let’s see what happens this time."

◇◆◇

The metal slowly disappeared into Lydia’s palm.

Her hand turned translucent green and gelatinous for a few seconds.

The entire magazine was absorbed.

Liam waited.

A blue system window appeared before him.

[Your Slime has consumed Strange-Tipped Objects.]

Liam blinked.

"..."

He waited for another message.

Nothing came.

Lydia tilted her head.

"Well?"

"That was it."

"That’s all?"

"Yeah."

She made a face.

"That’s weird."

Liam kept staring into the air.

Nothing.

No new skills.

No level-ups.

No explanations.

Just that strange message.

"Strange-Tipped Objects..."

He repeated it to himself.

"Pix..."

He sighed.

"Pix, did you lose your glasses again, or is the system still malfunctioning?"

◇◆◇

Right behind him, a small burst of glittering particles exploded into existence.

A rich scent of wine immediately filled the booth.

Floating upside down for a brief moment before correcting herself in midair appeared the tiny pixie.

Green hair.

Pointed ears.

Transparent dragonfly wings.

Bright red cheeks.

"Hic..."

Pix slowly opened her eyes.

"Huh?"

She looked around in confusion.

"What happened?"

Liam pointed toward Lydia.

"My wife just consumed a magazine full of bullets."

Pix blinked.

"Uh-huh."

"We thought she’d learn a new skill."

The tiny pixie slowly turned toward Lydia.

Lydia gave a small wave.

"Hi."

Pix waved back.

"Hi."

Then she looked at the ruined targets.

Then at the pistol.

Finally, she asked,

"Quick question..."

Liam had a bad feeling.

"...What’s a bullet?"

Silence filled the booth.

Lydia was the first to break it.

"What do you mean, what’s a bullet?"

Pix pointed at the now-empty magazine.

"Those little pointy things?"

Liam slowly closed his eyes.

"Yes."

"They’re what you shoot."

"Shoot?"

"Yes."

"At enemies."

Pix’s eyes suddenly widened.

"Ohhh!"

She clapped her hands together.

"Now I get it!"

Liam felt a wave of relief.

"Perfect."

"Give me a second."

A floating keyboard made of tiny blue lights appeared before Pix.

She immediately began typing at incredible speed.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

"I think..."

One last keystroke.

"...that should do it."

She smiled proudly.

"Done!"

Liam finally relaxed.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Pix started flying away.

"I have to get back now."

"Back?"

"To making my mushroom wine."

Liam’s eyes widened.

"Again?"

"Yep. It was turning out really good. Hic. See you!"

Before Liam could say another word...

The tiny pixie vanished.

Only a handful of glowing sparkles remained...

Along with the unmistakable smell of alcohol.

◇◆◇

Lydia stared at the place where Pix had disappeared.

"She’s... unique."

"I think that’s putting it mildly."

Liam continued staring into empty space with a resigned expression.

"Do you think she actually works for the system?"

"I don’t know."

"Because every single time she shows up... she’s drunk."

Lydia burst into laughter.

"But at least she’s trying to help."

"That’s true."

Liam slowly shook his head.

"She really is trying."

Just then, another blue system window appeared.

[Your Slime has learned Laser Shot.]

...

Liam froze completely.

He read the message again.

And again.

"What’s wrong?"

Lydia asked.

Liam slowly raised one hand.

"I think... she misunderstood everything again."

"What do you mean?"

"Instead of learning something related to bullets..."

He stared at the message for another moment.

"...you learned..."

He paused dramatically.

"...Laser Shot."

Lydia’s eyes widened.

"Laser what?"

"Shot."

The two of them immediately imagined it.

A bullet.

A magazine.

A gun.

And somehow...

A laser.

Lydia couldn’t hold it in anymore.

She doubled over laughing, clutching her stomach.

"That little pixie... there’s no fixing her."

Liam ended up laughing too.

"I’m starting to think our entire system runs on pure improvisation."

Eventually, Lydia calmed down.

"Still..."

She smiled warmly.

"...she may not be the best."

She looked at the sparkling particles Pix had left behind.

"But she’s trying."

Liam nodded.

"Yeah... She really is trying."

He looked back at the system message.

’I just hope this so-called Laser Shot doesn’t end up turning Lydia into some kind of space cannon.’

With Pix managing the system...

He honestly couldn’t rule out anything anymore.