My Slime Wife: Training and Pampering Her Makes Me Stronger

"So, if everyone is ready..."

The lights in the hall partially went out.

The screen began to light up.

"...let’s talk about the Squad Selection."

Liam settled into his seat.

All the hunters remained attentive, finally waiting to hear what the trials they had been waiting weeks for would be like.

Some had even been waiting an entire year.

Then, two guild assistants appeared from one side of the stage.

Together, they pushed a large table with wheels.

Something covered by an enormous black cloth sat on top of it.

Liam narrowed his eyes.

The assistants reached the center of the stage and removed the cloth.

Liam immediately recognized what was underneath.

The model.

It was exactly the same one James had shown him in his office.

Lydia leaned slightly toward him.

"Is that the same model we saw before?"

Liam studied the structure.

"At first glance... I think so."

It hadn’t been that long since he had seen it, but now, under the stage lights, it seemed much more impressive.

Wayne took the microphone again.

"Before we continue, I would like to officially introduce one of the people responsible for making this Selection possible."

James appeared behind the assistants.

He was wearing his usual white lab coat.

Although this time it was much cleaner than when Liam had seen him in his office.

His face displayed an enormous smile.

He looked like a child who had just been given permission to show off his favorite toy.

"The guild instructor and one of the most renowned scientists in the study of Awakened and dungeons... James Miller."

The hall erupted in applause.

Liam and Lydia also began clapping.

Emily, however, turned her head.

Chuck was calmly eating one of the muffins they had served on the first basement level.

"Chuck."

The man continued chewing.

Emily raised a hand.

"Clap."

Chuck looked at her.

"What?"

Emily gave him a small smack on the hand.

"Clap! Don’t be rude."

Liam and Lydia couldn’t help but laugh.

Chuck looked at his muffin.

Then he looked at the stage.

Finally, he decided to shove the rest of the muffin into his mouth whole.

Emily’s eyes widened.

"No, no, no! That doesn’t count either!"

Chuck began clapping with his cheeks completely puffed out.

Lydia had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing.

On the stage, James took the microphone.

"Thank you very much."

The applause gradually died down.

"Truly, thank you very much."

James looked at the model, and his expression changed. For a moment, he seemed to be contemplating something he had been waiting years for.

"I’m very happy to see how far our research and studies have come. Just a few years ago, something like this would have seemed impossible."

Some of the hunters began murmuring.

James continued.

"In previous Selections, creating something like this was nothing more than a dream."

The anticipation grew.

Liam smiled.

He already knew what was behind that model.

Various speculations began to be heard around him.

"Could it be a new machine to measure power?"

"Maybe they completely changed the evaluation method."

"Could it be some kind of simulator?"

Liam almost smiled when he heard the last one.

’Exactly.’

James raised a hand.

"And this year, that dream has finally become a reality."

A camera installed above the stage focused on the model.

The image appeared on the enormous screen behind James.

The audience applauded again.

Although many of them still seemed unsure of what they were looking at.

James pointed toward the center of the model.

"As you can see, we have built an entirely new floor inside the As of Spades headquarters."

The camera zoomed in.

The model depicted an enormous area divided into different sections, with structures, artificial trees, water, and various elements that seemed to form different biomes.

"This entire floor has been designed to become a training and evaluation environment."

James pointed toward a huge structure located in the center.

It looked like a gigantic metal gate.

"And this machine is the heart of the entire project."

The murmurs grew louder.

"Its purpose is to recreate different types of dungeons that we already know."

Then someone shouted:

"What?!"

James laughed.

"Yes. You heard that correctly."

He pointed toward the machine again.

"Thanks to the cooperation of the various As of Spades squads, we have been able to gather enormous amounts of information from dungeons that have already been explored and conquered."

The screen displayed various diagrams.

"Maps."

Then records appeared.

"Energy readings."

Next came images of different monsters.

"Creature behavior."

Finally, various landscapes.

"Environmental characteristics."

James spread his arms.

"All of that information can be used to recreate a dungeon inside this building."

The surprise was immediate.

Some hunters stood up.

Others began talking among themselves.

There were even people who applauded enthusiastically.

James seemed unable to hide his pride.

Liam smiled.

’So they finally revealed it.’

James waited a few seconds before continuing.

"Of course, there are certain limitations. We cannot recreate absolutely every dungeon that exists in the world. But we can reproduce those for which we possess enough information."

Wayne took over.

"And thanks to this new system..."

The screen changed, and a huge title appeared.

SQUAD SELECTION

Wayne continued.

"This year’s Selection will not take place in unknown dungeons."

The audience fell silent again.

"It will take place right here."

Liam felt Lydia gently squeeze his hand.

Wayne continued.

"Additionally, this year’s Selection will be divided into three stages."

Some hunters began taking notes.

"And I want to make one thing very clear from the beginning. This is not an individual challenge."

Liam immediately remembered James’s words.

"The first stage will primarily serve to measure you as individuals."

Wayne raised one finger.

"But the second and third stages will focus on testing your abilities as hunters."

He raised a second finger.

"If you want to become part of a squad, you will have to prove that you know how to work as a team."

He raised a third.

"And that you know how to make decisions."

Lydia looked at Liam.

After everything they had discussed with James and Amber, this confirmed what they had been told.

The Selection wasn’t simply about proving who was the strongest.

Wayne took a small remote control.

"We can’t give you too many hints."

He pressed a button, and the screen changed.

Three titles appeared before everyone.

First Trial — The Trial of Strength

Second Trial — The Trial of Unity

Third Trial — The Trial of Judgment

The hall fell completely silent.

Lydia leaned a little closer to Liam.

"Weren’t they supposed to explain the trials in more detail?"

Liam looked at the screen.

"I thought so too. But it seems they changed their minds."

James took the microphone again.

"With the names of the trials and the small hints we have already given you, some of you can probably get an idea of what you’ll have to face."

James smiled.

"However, the specific rules and objectives of each trial will be explained a few minutes before they begin."

A murmur spread throughout the amphitheater.

Liam looked at the three names again.

’Strength, unity, and judgment.’

He didn’t know exactly what awaited them.

Wayne raised the microphone.

"We can’t tell you much more."

He looked at the hundreds of hunters.

"So all that remains for me is to wish you the best of luck."

Some of them began to smile.

"I hope everyone can accomplish their goals."

Wayne paused.

"And remember something important. If you don’t pass this time, you can always come back next year."

The atmosphere relaxed slightly.

"Don’t give up."

Then, the lights of the amphitheater began to change.

Wayne slowly lowered the microphone.

And a different voice echoed through the speakers.

"Have a great Selection, hunters!"

Liam immediately recognized the voice.

Captain Armstrong.

The entire hall reacted instantly.

The hunters began shouting and applauding. Some raised their fists.

Chuck even stood up.

"LET’S GO!"

Emily was celebrating as well.

Lydia smiled.

Liam looked at his wife.

The euphoria of hundreds of people filled the enormous hall.

Over the past few weeks, they had talked a lot about this moment.

About what it would mean to earn a place in a squad.

More work.

More opportunities.

More money.

And, above all, the possibility of leaving behind all those financial worries that had been following them for the past few years.

Liam took Lydia’s hand.

She looked at him.

"We’re going to make it, honey."

Liam smiled.

"Yeah."

He looked at the screen again, where the names of the three trials were still displayed.

Strength.

Unity.

Judgment.

’I don’t know what awaits us.’

But after everything they had been through together, Liam was certain of one thing.

He had no intention of giving up.

"But we’re going to pass all three trials."

Lydia squeezed his hand.

"Together."

And while the entire amphitheater continued celebrating the beginning of the Squad Selection, Liam smiled.

This time, he didn’t just want to become part of a squad.

He wanted to prove that he and Lydia belonged there.