Chapter 100: One Day Before the Selection
Liam remained silent for a few seconds, watching the bald man trapped inside the energy cube. Beside him, Lydia remained calm, while Wayne kept an eye on the young man who had been attacked.
The young man had a few bruises on his face and his clothes were quite dirty, but he seemed to be doing better now that the fight was over.
Wayne approached him.
"What’s your name?"
The young man looked up.
"Archie Young, sir."
Wayne nodded.
"Archie Young, you shouldn’t let bullies treat you like that. It doesn’t matter if they belong to the same guild as you."
Archie smiled slightly.
Liam crossed his arms.
"If Wayne hadn’t intervened, those men would have torn you apart."
Archie let out a small laugh.
"I really appreciate the help. But it wasn’t necessary."
"Is that so?"
"I was waiting for the right moment to hit back."
Archie slowly clenched one of his hands.
A red energy traveled along his arm.
Liam narrowed his eyes.
’Is that his awakening?’
The energy seemed to concentrate around his muscles for a few seconds. However, when Archie opened his hand, it disappeared completely.
The young man smiled as if nothing had happened.
"I simply needed to find the right moment."
Wayne watched him in silence.
Then he turned toward the crowd that was still surrounding them.
"Alright, nothing happened here."
Several hunters glanced at one another.
"Go about your business."
Little by little, the people began to disperse.
Although many of them continued talking.
"Did you see those energy walls?"
"It was Vice-Captain Wayne!"
"I was more surprised by those green blobs."
"Were they part of that woman’s awakening?"
Several people discreetly pointed toward Lydia.
She simply smiled.
Archie straightened his clothes.
"I suppose I should get on with my day as well."
Liam nodded.
"Take care, Archie."
"Thanks."
Lydia raised a hand.
"I hope we see each other again."
Archie smiled.
"Maybe at the Selection."
The young man began walking away.
Wayne watched him until he disappeared into the crowd.
’Temperamental.’
The vice-captain sighed.
’He still has a lot to learn.’
Finally, Wayne turned toward Liam and Lydia.
"Well, I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow."
Liam smiled.
"Have a good day, Vice-Captain."
Wayne let out a small laugh.
Then he turned around and headed back inside the guild headquarters.
Liam and Lydia remained there, watching the entrance for a few seconds.
Then a familiar voice came from behind them.
"Want to come to the gym with me?"
Liam turned around.
Emily was standing there with a smile and a towel around her neck.
Lydia smiled.
"Thanks for the offer, but I think we’re going to rest today."
"Really?"
"Yes. We want to be in perfect condition for tomorrow."
Emily nodded.
"I understand."
She lifted the towel and draped it over one shoulder.
"For me, going to the gym is like going to therapy."
Liam burst out laughing.
"That suits you perfectly."
Emily smiled.
"Well, then, have a good day."
"You too."
"And good luck tomorrow."
Emily stopped and flexed her biceps with a proud smile.
"Luck is for those who don’t work hard."
Lydia laughed.
"That sounds exactly like something you’d say."
Emily raised a hand in farewell and began walking toward the headquarters’ gym.
Liam waited until she disappeared through the doors.
Then he looked at his wife.
"Want to take advantage of this day off and go for a walk?"
Lydia’s eyes lit up.
"I’d love to."
◇◆◇
A few hours later, Liam and Lydia were at the central park in the city.
The day was sunny.
After weeks of training, dungeons, and preparations, having a few hours without worrying about anything felt strange.
Lydia walked beside Liam while holding a huge pink cotton candy.
"It’s delicious."
Liam smiled.
"Want another one?"
"Maybe."
Liam took a small piece of cotton candy and brought it to Lydia’s mouth.
She opened her mouth slightly and ate it.
"Mmm..."
Lydia smiled.
"Thank you, honey."
A small piece had gotten stuck to her cheek.
Liam carefully removed it.
"You got some here."
Lydia giggled.
Then a message appeared before Liam’s eyes.
[Your Slime has consumed Pink Cloud.]
Liam stared at the message and began laughing.
Lydia looked at him in confusion.
"What’s wrong?"
"Pix."
Liam shook his head.
"The way she perceives the world is hilarious."
Another message immediately appeared.
[Pix: What did I get wrong this time?]
Liam smiled.
’She really never learns.’
"This is cotton candy, not a cloud."
Lydia started laughing.
Another message appeared.
[Pix: It looks fluffy like a cloud.]
[Pix: Besides, it’s the same color as the clouds in my dimension.]
Liam stopped laughing for a moment.
’Pix’s dimension... could it be like a dungeon?’
Until that moment, he had never really thought much about it.
He had always seen Pix as the little assistant who appeared to give him information, register materials, and send him messages.
But she came from somewhere else, a different world.
A dimension Liam couldn’t even imagine.
Another message appeared.
[Pix: Is that so-called "cotton candy" tasty?]
Liam smiled.
"Do you want to come and try it?"
A response appeared.
[Pix: Wouldn’t that bother you?]
[Pix: I’m on the clock.]
Liam raised an eyebrow.
Lydia looked at him.
"What does she say?"
"She’s asking if we mind."
Lydia smiled.
Then she looked toward the empty space in front of them.
"It’s no trouble at all, dear Pix."
Liam nodded.
"She says you can come and enjoy this beautiful sunny day with us."
Another message appeared.
[Pix: Really?]
Lydia let out a small laugh.
"Yes, Pix. Come."
A shower of tiny, sparkling particles appeared in front of them.
The particles began to spin, and a small figure appeared in their midst.
Pix gently floated down through the air and stretched out her arms.
"Ah..."
She closed her eyes, and a smile appeared on her face.
"It’s comforting to receive the sunlight from this dimension."
Liam smiled.
"You’ve never sunbathed before?"
Pix opened her eyes.
"Not like this."
She looked around the park.
The trees.
The people walking.
The children running.
The blue sky.
Everything seemed to fascinate her.
Lydia brought the cotton candy closer.
"Try this."
Pix stared at the huge pink mass.
"Is this the cloud?"
Liam laughed.
"Cotton candy."
"Right."
Pix moved her tiny body closer.
She bit off a piece, and her eyes opened wide.
She remained completely still for a few seconds.
Liam and Lydia exchanged a glance.
Then Pix began to smile.
"This is delicious!"
She took another piece.
"It’s amazing!"
Another.
And another.
"The clouds in my dimension definitely aren’t as tasty as these!"
Liam and Lydia began laughing.
Pix continued devouring the cotton candy at surprising speed.
"It’s sweet!"
"Yes, Pix."
"And it melts in your mouth!"
"Yes."
"And it’s pink!"
Liam burst out laughing.
"We already established that last part."
Pix ignored the comment and kept eating.
For a few minutes, Liam simply watched her.
It was strange.
He had spent so much time worrying about leveling up, making money, clearing dungeons, and making sure Lydia could evolve that he had forgotten how nice it could be to simply sit in a park.
Lydia rested her head on his shoulder.
"You know?"
"What?"
"I like this."
Liam looked at his wife.
"The cotton candy?"
Lydia shook her head while laughing.
"This. Being with you without having to worry about monsters and materials."
Liam smiled.
"We could do this more often."
Lydia closed her eyes.
"I’d like that."
Pix looked up from the cotton candy.
"Can we eat this again tomorrow?"
Liam and Lydia looked at each other.
"If we pass the Selection."
Pix tilted her head.
"Is the Selection dangerous?"
Liam let out a nervous laugh.
"Let’s hope it’s not too dangerous."
Lydia took her husband’s hand again.
Tomorrow would be the beginning of a new Chapter.
But for now, the three of them simply enjoyed the sun, the park, and a pink cloud that, according to Pix, was far more delicious than any cloud from her own dimension.