“Flame Wolf,” led by Riku, had already become popular and skilled enough that they were considered unrivaled among the younger generation.
Even just looking at their strength, they were counted among the top ten parties operating within Amamiya Tower.
It was the general opinion of those around them that they would undoubtedly reach the top eventually.
When looking at Asgard as a whole, it had become common knowledge that the level of adventurers on the Central Continent was a notch higher.
Furthermore, the level of adventurers operating in Amamiya Tower was also high.
Therefore, becoming a top party there meant being a strong contender on a global scale.
Reaching the top at Crown, which had its headquarters in Amamiya Tower, would mean standing at the pinnacle of adventurers worldwide.
It was only natural that such rumors were circulating.
Incidentally, there were no parties currently being proclaimed as the absolute top.
This was because parties that could rank within the top ten, including “Flame Wolf,” were often acknowledged as being on an equal footing.
To put it positively, their strengths were evenly matched; to put it negatively, it was like comparing the heights of acorns.
Despite being “Flame Wolf,” while the members acknowledged themselves as top-class adventurers, they never truly thought they could actually reach the top.
The reason for this was:
“Here. Don’t you think we’ve had enough rest?”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
It was Shurein and Floria who said this to them.
“Fwahaha.”
Rushed by the two, the members of “Flame Wolf,” excluding Riku, stood up.
Currently, “Flame Wolf” was receiving training from Shurein and Floria in the training ground located in the Management Layer.
Many would frown at the sight of “Flame Wolf” showing such a pathetic display against just two opponents.
However, the individuals themselves were training with utmost seriousness.
Even so, they had improved considerably compared to when they first started.
This was because, at the beginning, they couldn’t even defeat Shurein alone.
Considering that, it could be said they had grown considerably.
And this was one of the reasons why the members of “Flame Wolf” didn’t think they could reach the top.
In essence, no matter how hard they tried, they had been taught to the core of their beings that there were opponents they simply couldn’t handle with their current strength.
Riku, their leader, watched from a short distance away with a bitter smile as they confronted Shurein and Floria.
Riku stood apart to observe the party’s coordination from an outer perspective and to consider their combat balance.
Even with Shurein and Floria present, if Riku were to join the party, it would become too easy to win.
As that wouldn’t be effective for training, Riku deliberately stayed out.
Moreover, if Riku wanted to, he could always come to the Management Layer and train alone, so there was no real need to participate.
Ideally, they would have liked to test the coordination of all six members against strong opponents, but due to Shurein and Floria’s circumstances, that wasn’t possible.
Kousuke approached Riku, who was standing there, and spoke to him.
“Riku, there’s something I’d like to ask of you, would that be alright?”
“Something happen?”
Riku tilted his head at Kousuke’s unusual request.
“No, it’s nothing major. I was wondering if you could take me along on your next adventure?”
“……What!?”
Riku exclaimed internally, shouting a grand internal retort about how it was anything but a minor matter.
With Kousuke, he could go anywhere by simply bringing Kouhi and Mitsuki, without needing to join Riku’s party.
Riku couldn’t understand why Kousuke was saying this.
Seeing Riku’s reaction, Kousuke smiled wryly and explained his reason.
“Well, if I just needed monster materials, I wouldn’t ask. This time, I want to know Sura’s strength.”
As he said this, Kousuke pointed to the slime sitting on top of his head.
Perhaps pleased to be the subject of conversation, Sura happily bounced around.
“That one? But still, there’s no need to join our party, is there?”
This was Riku’s first time meeting Sura.
It was also Kousuke’s first time bringing a slime to the Management Layer, so Riku understood it was not an ordinary slime.
However, he still didn’t know how strong Sura was.
Kousuke nodded at Riku’s words and then shared another objective.
“Yes, that’s true. But I also thought it would be good for Kari and the others to see.”
With that explanation, Riku understood that Kousuke saw this as a part of Kari and the others’ training.
At the same time, he also grasped that Sura possessed considerable strength despite her small body.
Given that, Riku saw no reason to refuse.
Rather, he felt like asking Kousuke himself.
“I see. …Though, we haven’t decided what to do next, so I’m not sure.”
As Riku said this, crossing his arms in thought, Kousuke responded casually.
“You don’t need to think too hard about it, do you? The goal is specifically to see Sura’s strength. Why not take on a request with the understanding that it won’t be a loss?”
“…I see. You’re right.”
For Kousuke, it was about confirming Sura’s strength; for Riku, it was about showing Sura’s strength to his companions, including himself.
As long as those conditions were met, the original objective could be achieved.
Therefore, there was no need to overcomplicate things.
Convinced by Kousuke’s words, Riku pondered for a while how to proceed with future plans.
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The day after finishing their special training with Shurein and the others.
The members of “Flame Wolf” were on the 43rd Floor of the Tower.
Their strength had improved to the point where they could treat that floor like an excursion.
Of course, the existence of the Safe Area also contributed significantly, but regardless, a situation unfolded before them that left them dumbfounded.
“…Riku.”
“Don’t say it. Even I didn’t expect this.”
Kari, with a face displaying a mixture of disbelief, surprise, and dejection, replied to Riku’s grim expression.
Currently, before them, Kousuke’s familiars were battling monsters that appeared on the 43rd Floor.
The monsters on the 43rd Floor of Amamiya Tower were typically around the mid-level of Intermediate Monsters.
The fact that a single slime was holding its own against such monsters was, by their common sense, utterly abnormal.
Moreover, it wasn’t a close fight; the slime was fighting with a considerable degree of余裕 (yoyuu -余裕 means surplus, room to spare, composure, giving it a bit more swagger than just “ease”).
“…I understand now why Father wanted us to see this.”
“…I don’t think it’s a problem that can be solved with just that, though?”
Riku responded to Kari’s pained utterance by shrugging his shoulders.
Riku was already accustomed to Kousuke’s unconventional nature, so it wasn’t anything new.
While he was surprised by Sura’s existence, that was all.
However, at the same time, he fully understood Kari’s point.
Ultimately, Riku could only respond in the way he did.
This time, it was everyone, not Kousuke, who was astonished by Sura.
They hadn’t yet developed the sense to dismiss it with a single statement like “Because they are beings by Kousuke’s side,” as Riku had.
