Chapter 224: My Family Is Waiting for Me [Bonus - ]

The trip back to the city was peaceful.

After spending several hours exploring the dungeon, the hunters were grateful to sit down without having to worry about anything.

Chuck occupied one of the vehicle’s seats, his arms folded behind his head.

"I definitely prefer dungeons where we can just keep hitting the boss until it stops moving."

Lucas burst out laughing.

"And what would you have done against the Sand Guardian? Kept punching it until you ran out of arms?"

"Exactly! Eventually, it would’ve had to give up."

"I think you would’ve ended up buried under a mountain of sand," Eve remarked.

"But I would’ve died doing what I love."

"How inspiring," Lena muttered from the seat across from him.

Laughter filled the vehicle.

Liam listened to the conversation while checking a few messages on his phone. James had already received the mission report and confirmed that Emma’s rescue was considered a success.

The girl had been rescued, and the Sand Guardian had been defeated.

Liam put his phone away and looked out the window.

The mission had been more complicated than expected, but it was also the kind that reminded him why he had decided to become a hunter in the first place.

It wasn’t all about ranking up, making money, or fighting increasingly powerful monsters.

Sometimes, it meant returning a daughter to her father.

And that was enough.

◇◆◇

When they finally arrived at the Ace of Spades Guild, Liam took care of submitting the full report.

James was waiting for him in one of the offices, surrounded by several documents related to ongoing missions.

"I’m glad to hear everyone made it back," the instructor remarked after listening to the summary.

"When I heard that you’d found Emma but still had to face the boss, I couldn’t help worrying."

"The dungeon boss turned out to be quite a nuisance," Liam replied.

"Conventional attacks barely did any damage. If I hadn’t figured out that it had an energy core, we probably would’ve had to find another way to escape."

James raised his eyebrows.

Liam explained what he had observed during the fight and how Lydia had used her new ability to crystallize the core before absorbing it.

The researcher listened attentively.

"Interesting. If the monster’s structure depended on that core, the sand may have been a form of protection or an extension of its energy."

"For now, all I can tell you is that it worked."

James reviewed some of the information in the report before looking at Liam.

"By the way, the hunters you took with you told me they worked well with your squad."

Liam smiled slightly.

"Yes. They were both a great help. Lucas has quite a bit of strength, and Eve can control her explosions better than I remembered."

"Are you thinking of adding them to your team?"

Liam considered the question for a few seconds.

"I haven’t decided yet. They adapted well during the mission, but I want to evaluate how they’d fit in with us permanently. Collaborating on one operation is one thing. Working together every day is something else entirely."

James nodded.

"It’s an important decision. You don’t have to make it right now."

"I know."

After finishing the report, Liam said goodbye and left the office.

He still had a few things to take care of, but nothing required his immediate attention. After that mission, he’d rather spend the rest of the day at home.

He took out his phone and sent Lydia a message.

[Liam: I’m done. Heading home.]

The reply arrived a few seconds later.

[Lydia: We’re waiting for you. And pick up some diapers if you stop by a store.]

Liam stared at the screen.

Then he sighed.

"I knew there was something I was forgetting."

◇◆◇

When Liam arrived at the apartment, the first thing he heard was the twins’ laughter.

He opened the door and found Lydia sitting on a blanket in the living room, with Lionel leaning against her legs and Liana trying to reach a colorful toy.

The slime copy Lydia had left at home had done its job without any problems. The babies were calm, had been fed on schedule, and nothing had gone wrong while their mother was away.

As soon as Liam entered, Lydia looked up.

"Finally! I was starting to think you’d decided to stay and work in your office."

Liam smiled.

"Welcome home, sweetheart. It’s your turn to change diapers."

Lydia handed him the little boy.

Liam looked at his son, who gazed back at him with an innocent expression. Lionel waved his hands and let out a little babble.

"You have no idea what you’ve just gotten yourself into, do you?"

The baby responded with another giggle.

Liam sighed and headed toward the changing table.

Meanwhile, Lydia picked Liana up and watched her husband with an amused smile.

Over the past few months, they had both learned that taking care of two babies could be more exhausting than many hunter missions. However, they had also discovered that those little everyday moments held a value neither of them had ever imagined.

When Liam finished changing Lionel, he returned to the living room and sat beside Lydia.

"Was everything all right while we were gone?"

"Perfectly fine. They ate, slept, and played for a while. The copy didn’t have any problems."

"I’m glad to hear that."

Lydia rested her head against his shoulder.

"What about you? How are you feeling after the mission?"

"Tired, but fine. I’m glad Emma was able to return to her father."

"Me too. When we found her hiding in that room, I thought about how terrifying it must have been for her to spend so much time alone."

Liam lowered his gaze toward the twins.

"It’s hard not to imagine what we’d do if either of them went missing."

Lydia fell silent for a moment.

"I think I’d go crazy looking for them."

"I’d probably destroy half the city before stopping."

She let out a small laugh.

Liam smiled, but then his expression grew serious.

"I want them to grow up knowing they can trust us. I don’t want them to be afraid to tell us about their problems because they think they have to solve everything on their own."

"Neither do I. Although that doesn’t mean we should stop them from doing anything dangerous."

"I suppose not."

Lydia gently stroked Liana’s head.

"Emma didn’t do anything wrong by wanting to help her friend. She simply didn’t understand the danger."

"And her father seems to understand that. He doesn’t want to take away her freedom, just teach her how to use it responsibly."

Liam fell into thought.

Someday, Lionel and Liana would grow up too. The time would come when they would leave home without their parents being able to accompany them everywhere. They would have friends, make mistakes, and face situations that Liam and Lydia wouldn’t always be able to resolve for them.

Accepting that wouldn’t be easy.

But being parents also meant preparing them to live without constantly depending on their parents’ protection.

"We still have a lot to learn," Liam murmured.

Lydia gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"Luckily, we’ve got time."

◇◆◇

Later, after feeding the twins and putting them to bed in their cribs, Liam and Lydia stayed beside them for a few minutes.

Lionel was fast asleep, one hand resting near his face. Liana, on the other hand, was still moving slightly beneath her blanket, as if she were trying to find a more comfortable position.

Lydia smiled at the sight.

"They’re so tiny..."

"And yet they manage to keep us busy all day."

"That’s because you don’t have much experience changing diapers."

"I’ve gotten so much better!"

Lydia stifled a laugh.

"Of course you have, sweetheart."

Liam gave her a mock-offended look, but he ended up smiling too.

Afterward, they both left the room and carefully closed the door.

In the living room, Lydia sat beside Liam and intertwined her fingers with his.

"You know? Before I met them, I thought my life was already exciting enough."

"And now?"

"Now I think we still have so much ahead of us."

Liam looked toward the hallway leading to the twins’ room.

He knew he would remain a hunter. He would continue working with his squad, exploring dungeons, and facing threats that others couldn’t handle. He also knew Lydia would stay by his side, never giving up the life she had chosen.

But now they had something more.

A family waiting for them whenever they came home.

And that certainty changed the meaning of everything else.

Liam gently squeezed his wife’s hand.

"Then we’ll keep building our future."

Lydia rested her head against his shoulder.

"Together."