Chapter 74: Doubts During the Job
The group was inside a D-Rank Dungeon that took the form of a cave, illuminated only by small fireflies floating near the ceiling.
Their lights were faint, but enough to make out the damp rock walls and the narrow paths that stretched throughout the Dungeon.
In the middle of the darkness, a massive bat nearly six feet tall writhed as several chains held its wings in place.
Steve pulled with all his strength.
"I’ve got it!"
Lucas appeared from one side and slammed his gauntlets directly into the monster’s abdomen.
"Now!"
Liam raised his pistol.
"Got it."
He aimed and fired.
The explosive bullet struck the bat’s body, and an explosion shook the cave.
The monster screeched, the sound making the walls tremble.
Liam barely reacted before pulling the trigger again.
He seemed to be working on autopilot.
He didn’t need to think too much.
Steve restrained, Lucas struck, and Liam fired.
"Eve!"
Harper ran toward the Hunter.
Eve was sitting against one of the walls, several cuts across her back.
The bat had caught them by surprise a few minutes earlier.
Lydia was beside her.
Her body had partially transformed, causing an aloe plant to appear between her hands.
[Healing Growth]
"Stay still."
Eve nodded.
"I’m fine."
"You don’t look fine."
Harper placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I’m going to reduce the pain."
The Healer used her anesthesia ability.
Eve let out a sigh.
"Ah..."
Her expression relaxed.
"That’s much better."
Lydia smiled.
"Are you sure you can continue?"
Eve nodded.
"We still have the final boss to complete the day."
Harper looked toward Liam.
"Hey, Lydia..."
"Yes?"
"Is your husband okay?"
Lydia blinked.
"Why?"
Harper discreetly pointed toward Liam.
"He seems... distracted."
Eve looked at him as well.
"I noticed it too."
Lydia remained silent as she watched her husband.
Liam had just fired another bullet.
The bat fell to its knees.
Steve took advantage of the moment and pulled on the chains.
"Lucas!"
"On it!"
Lucas struck the monster one last time.
The bat’s body was sent flying and crashed into the ground.
The creature stopped moving.
Steve raised his arms.
"We did it!"
Lucas smiled.
"That was great!"
Liam simply holstered his pistol.
He didn’t celebrate or say anything.
Lydia watched him for a few seconds.
’He’s definitely thinking about something.’
Liam finally turned toward her.
"Lydia."
"Yes?"
"Do you want to consume it before the boss appears?"
Lydia’s expression immediately changed.
"Of course."
A small green slime emerged from her body, using her splitting ability.
The small gelatinous mass slid across the floor.
Steve watched the scene.
"Again?"
Lucas crossed his arms.
"We should be used to it by now."
The small slime jumped onto the corpse.
Its body began to spread until it completely covered the enormous bat.
Within seconds, the body disappeared inside her.
A window appeared in front of Liam.
[Your Slime has consumed Level 30 Giant Bat.]
[Your Slime has learned Echo Voice.]
Liam read the message.
"Echo Voice..."
But his mind immediately returned to another matter.
The white-haired woman, Margaret, and the Ouroboros Guild.
The card was still inside his pocket.
’Why did she offer us a job?’
They hadn’t done anything to attract the attention of such an important Guild.
Or at least, that’s what Liam thought.
They had completed an S-Rank Dungeon.
But no one was supposed to know they had been there. Even the Sub-Captains had said they would leave that part out of their reports.
’Maybe they’re simply looking for talented Hunters.’
Liam frowned.
’But why Lydia?’
He couldn’t stop thinking about it.
And there was another issue.
The squad selection was only a few days away.
If they couldn’t get into a squad...
Ouroboros could be an alternative.
But that would also mean leaving the Ace of Spades.
Liam wasn’t sure he wanted to do that.
"Liam."
Lydia’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Yes?"
"Are you okay?"
Liam looked at her.
"Yeah."
Lydia watched him for several seconds.
"You’re lying."
Liam smiled.
"Maybe."
Harper approached them.
"I told you."
Eve slowly stood up.
"You’re definitely distracted."
Liam let out a small laugh.
"Okay, okay."
He put his hands in his pockets.
"I’m just thinking about a few things."
Lydia stepped closer.
"The C-Rank Dungeon?"
Liam nodded.
"Yeah."
Lucas approached.
"You’re still thinking about that?"
"Something like that."
Steve shrugged.
At that moment...
Crack.
Everyone froze.
Another sound.
Crack... crack...
Harper looked up.
"That sounded like something big."
Steve put away his chains.
Lucas put his gauntlets back on.
Eve clenched her fists.
She was already able to stand without any trouble.
Liam raised his head.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"It’s the last boss of the day."
He looked at his group.
"We’ll take care of this and call it a day."
Lucas nodded.
"Perfect."
Steve pointed around them.
"Then we’ll look for the materials."
"Exactly."
Liam pointed toward the cave.
"We need to find enough rare stones or materials that we can sell. We already lost the C-Rank Dungeon, so I want this raid to be worth it."
Lucas smiled.
"Understood, Boss."
Liam sighed.
"I told you not to..."
Lucas was already running.
"Let’s go!"
Steve followed him.
"Don’t take everything for yourselves!"
Eve also began walking.
Harper stayed beside Lydia.
Liam raised his pistol.
"You guys look for the materials. We’ll keep the boss busy."
Lucas gave him a thumbs-up.
"Got it!"
Steve disappeared down one of the side paths.
Liam turned his attention forward.
And the cave began to tremble.
Small rocks fell from the ceiling.
The fireflies fled toward the deeper parts of the cave.
Then it appeared.
A massive figure emerged from the darkness.
It seemed to be made of several rocks fused together.
Moss covered much of its body.
Its arms were enormous blocks of stone.
Every step made the ground tremble.
Lydia moved closer to Liam and took his hand.
"I’ll wait for your signal, honey."
Liam turned his head, looked at her, and smiled.
"I always like hearing that."
Lydia smiled.
The creature let out a roar.
The sound echoed throughout the entire cave.
The fireflies quickly scattered.
Liam raised his pistol.
"Get ready."
Lydia nodded.
The creature began to charge.
Each step made the ground vibrate.
Liam waited.
He waited.
And waited.
Until the enormous figure was only a few yards away.
Then he raised his voice.
"Now, honey."
Lydia’s body began to deform.
Her human skin disappeared, and her body once again became a green gelatinous mass.
Her tentacles began to extend.
Liam loaded a bullet into his pistol.
The creature raised one of its enormous arms.
And Lydia lunged toward it.