After finishing their verification on the 46th floor, Kousuke and the others returned to the Guild Base instead of proceeding with the dungeon raid.
They had advanced quite rapidly, but they wanted to check their standing in terms of reputation.
Their original objective wasn’t to investigate Gazenran Tower, but to establish a Crown Branch in this city.
As Gazenran Tower could be investigated anytime, it could be postponed.
The highest priority now was to increase the fame of Fang of the Divine Wolf.
Since they returned a little past noon, only Exu was at the Guild.
The others had gone out to receive requests.
Exu spoke to Kouhi. “Lady Kouhi. We have received word from the Arena Guild.”
Exu then handed over a sealed letter.
Collie’s name was written on the front, and the Arena Guild’s name was on the back.
Kouhi opened the letter on the spot.
Even without looking, she could guess the contents.
After a quick glance, Kouhi handed the letter to Kousuke. “The date and opponent for our next match have been decided.”
“Can I see it?”
“No problem.”
Seeing Kouhi nod, Kousuke reviewed the document.
It was a standard letter stating the date and opponent for the next match.
The match was scheduled for the evening, three days later, against Petr Maz, who was ranked eighth.
Upon seeing the letter, Kousuke tilted his head. “It’s good that the opponent is decided, but… three days from now is quite soon, isn’t it?”
If they had accepted a request that took them far away, they would have a no-show.
Even a forfeit would affect their rank, making it difficult for combatants to accept long-term requests.
However, Kouhi shook her head in response to Kousuke’s question. “I believe it’s because I applied stating I was available anytime. ‘A month later’ was also an option.”
The “month later” option could be extended further by submitting another application in the meantime.
While one could theoretically keep extending the match availability through this method, it wasn’t possible to maintain their rank using it.
Furthermore, if they were to undertake a long-term request and Seichun was away, they could apply for permission.
If they did not fight for over three months without such an application, their rank would be adjusted downwards.
The Arena Guild had carefully considered this, as matches between top-ranked fighters also impacted betting revenue.
Kousuke nodded in understanding after Kouhi explained it to him. “I see. Well, it wouldn’t make sense to do that and have the audience forget about you anyway.”
“Perhaps? Wouldn’t some people act arrogant, claiming they are rank holders?” Mitsuki added, following up on Kousuke’s statement.
Unknown to Kousuke and Kouhi, Osmo was actually close to being in such a situation.
It was around the time he was likely to receive a warning from the Arena Guild that Kouhi appeared.
“After all, it’s still a popularity contest. Such behavior probably wouldn’t last long, would it?”
“That’s true.”
Kouhi had driven Osmo away with exactly that reasoning, but as if unaware of this, Kousuke nodded enthusiastically.
***
With Kouhi’s match decided for three days later, Kousuke informed Ririka that they would not be raiding the tower until then.
He wanted to watch Kouhi’s match, and it went without saying that Kouhi was motivated by the fact Kousuke would be watching.
Since this was easily predictable, everyone chose to ignore it, but in their hearts, they were all thinking “Sorry for your luck, opponent.”
Putting that aside, even if they went to the tower for those two days, they wouldn’t be able to conduct any meaningful investigation.
There was no point in restricting their actions under such circumstances, so it was decided that they would have free rein until Kouhi’s match was over.
With two days of free time, Kousuke decided to return to Amamiya Tower.
He didn’t have any specific business there, but simply showing his face would make everyone happy.
Knowing this, he made it a habit to return to the Management Layer whenever he had free time.
It was difficult to do so during their travels, but when he had a short interval like this, he would use teleportation to return.
Normally, one couldn’t travel such a distance, especially back into the tower, but Kousuke’s ascension to avatar was itself a transfer to the Divine Realm.
In a sense, this was Kousuke at his best.
So, the next day, they returned to the Amamiya Tower Management Layer, accompanied by Kouhi and Mitsuki (& Nana).
The easiest and fastest way to return to the Management Layer was via the Lily Shrine.
As a result of the Lily Shrine’s ability and Kousuke’s avatar power, they could now return instantly from any continent in Asgard.
Once they returned there, they could use the Teleport Gate to reach the Management Layer.
As Kousuke and the others returned to the Management Layer, they ran into Shurein in the room with the Teleport Gate.
“Kousuke!? You’re back?”
Seeing Shurein looking at him with a surprised expression, Kousuke waved his hands. “No, no. I just came back for a break since I had some free time.”
“I see. Then I’ll finish my business quickly!”
Shurein said this and immediately activated the Teleport Gate.
She likely had business at Vermilia Castle, but she seemed quite hurried.
Of course, she probably wanted to spend time with Kousuke after finishing her errands.
Kousuke received a similar reaction from Peach and Colette, despite meeting Colette in the Elf Village.
“That’s different,” she replied.
Colette, as if she couldn’t wait any longer, headed for the Teleport Gate. She was going to inform Floria and Silvia that Kousuke had temporarily returned.
When Kousuke had returned before, she hadn’t informed them, and she had been met with sulky faces.
“I’ve had enough of that kind of experience for one lifetime,” was Peach’s comment as she saw Colette off.
Somehow, Wanri had also found out about Kousuke’s return and came to the Management Layer.
After being enthusiastically petted by Kousuke in fox form, she started playing with Nana.
As they watched the two frolic in the Lounge Space, even Floria and Silvia, who should have been busy, arrived.
Unfortunately, they didn’t bring the children with them, but it was still the first time in a long while that everyone had gathered.
Floria, true to her word, said, “I’ll definitely be back tonight,” and only stayed for a short while.
As promised, she returned at night, and they ended up having dinner together.
During that dinner, the topic of Gazenran Tower potentially being involved with a god was brought up.
All eyes turned to Silvia, who shook her head, stating she had never heard of such a thing.
“If it truly was involved, it might be a story even older than the age of myths,” Silvia concluded after some thought, but ultimately, they agreed that they wouldn’t know without investigating the tower properly.
By the way, just like when they were talking with Ririka and the others, no one dared to suggest asking the Goddesses directly.
They believed that it was better to investigate and reach their own conclusions, as asking directly would diminish the value of the discovery.
Of course, they knew the Goddesses would tell them if asked, but everyone considered that a last resort.
And so, this concludes my long-awaited homecoming.
Peach’s dialogue was omitted, but there’s a specific reason for it.
That will be explained in the next story.
