Kousuke and the others returned to Crown Headquarters using the Teleport Array, and immediately headed to a place with a Teleport Gate that couldn’t be used by the general public.
They then teleported to their destination, Slime Island, using the Teleport Gate.
“………Where is this?”
The floors of the Tower that adventurers can enter are not so different from each other that their environments can be distinguished in an instant.
However, as there were no other floors with the sea stretching out before them, Riku immediately noticed that it was a floor he had never seen before. Of course, the other party members were also looking out at the sea with wide eyes.
“It’s one of the floors in the Tower. The details… wouldn’t it be better not to explain?”
While Kousuke might have had his reasons for secrecy, he decided not to give them any unnecessary information, thinking more of Kari and the others. This was because various things at their destination were related to it.
Riku, somehow sensing what Kousuke wanted to say, nodded with a subtle expression.
As Kousuke was about to call out to the group, who were still dazed by the sea in one of the Tower’s floors, he noticed a change in the Teleport Gate before he could.
“………Huh?”
The others noticed Kousuke tilting his head and looking towards it, and they tensed up. A change in the Teleport Gate indicated that someone was coming using it. Since they were unarmed at the moment, they assumed an attack from those who teleported in and took an offensive stance. However, this did not apply to Kousuke, Riku, and Mitsuki. This was because they knew that only a select few could come to this floor. If complete strangers arrived, they would have to suspect an invasion of the Tower.
Naturally, there was no invasion of Amamiya Tower, and it was the women who appeared from the Teleport Gate. Kousuke couldn’t help but give a wry smile when he saw Mia had slyly joined them.
“………Isn’t it a bit rude to say that as soon as you see someone’s face?”
Mia protested, her cheeks puffing out slightly. Kousuke raised both hands and apologized.
“Sorry, sorry. My bad. …By the way, I didn’t expect Colette or Peach to come too.”
Colette and Peach should have been busy with child-rearing. Kousuke was slightly surprised they had made the trip to see them.
“Well, we probably wouldn’t be able to see each other otherwise, would we?”
“That’s right~”
“What? I could have come anytime if you’d just told me.”
Sensing that all the women were thinking the same thing, Kousuke said that casually. However, Shurein replied with a shrug.
“The island visit is just an excuse. If it weren’t for an opportunity like this, we probably wouldn’t all be acting together.”
“Ah~, I see. That’s true.”
Kousuke nodded in understanding at Shurein’s explanation. Colette and Peach, who were raising children, were of course busy, and the other members were also moving around busily. As Shurein said, it was rare for all the members of the management layer to act together.
Meanwhile, the members of Flame Wolf were also surprised to see Shurein and the others appear from the Teleport Gate. The most surprised was Riku, who was most knowledgeable about the management layer’s affairs.
“Mother, what’s going on?”
Riku, whose cheeks were slightly twitching at their synchronized appearance, blinked wide.
“What? You didn’t hear?”
“No, I didn’t hear anything. After watching Sura’s battle, I was brought here without a word.”
“Ah, I see. Well, it’s nothing major? Like Shurein just said, it’s an opportunity, so we’re all gathered. Nothing to worry about too much.”
Riku showed a slightly relieved expression when Floria said that, but he still hadn’t completely let down his guard.
“However, I am concerned that Father is taking the lead.”
“Ah… I see. As expected. Riku, your prediction is not wrong. And if you see Mia being so enthusiastic, shouldn’t you be able to guess?”
Upon hearing that, Riku looked at Mia again. And seeing that Mia indeed had a cheerful expression, Riku clearly put his head in his hands. Just as Floria had said, he could imagine what was going to happen next. Still, he could no longer stop this momentum himself. Knowing that he could only resign himself to it, he did just that.
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With the addition of the women, Kousuke and his group, now over ten people, walked towards the depths of the island. From then on, for the members of Flame Wolf, including Riku, it was a non-stop parade of the extraordinary. All the monsters that appeared were Slimes, and rare species just kept appearing. And this was near the Teleport Gate; as they went further, Slimes they had never seen before swarmed out. They even encountered Slime species that were already half-legendary.
Riku, noticing that his companions were losing their vitality as they moved deeper into the island, said to Floria with a hearty sigh,
“………I see. That’s why you told us to leave our equipment behind.”
Faced with such rare species, no adventurer would choose not to take their materials home.
“Ah. Because you all are too dangerous.”
However, Floria’s answer was different from Riku’s thoughts. Riku, noticing the slight nuance difference, looked at Floria, tilting his head.
“Dangerous? Slimes?”
“What are you talking about? I mean you all, of course.”
Floria said clearly, her eyes wide with surprise. Kousuke had told Riku and the others to remove their equipment to prevent the members of Flame Wolf, upon finding rare species, from going berserk and starting a Slime hunt, and at the same time, to protect their safety. Hunting one or two Slimes for rare materials would only lead to all the top-ranked Slimes on the island attacking them afterward. In such a situation, it would be impossible to survive and escape the island.
Riku, understanding that after Floria’s words, sighed again.
“………Is it that kind of island?”
“Hey now. When will you ever understand your father? He wouldn’t show a place with just Slimes to outsiders for no reason, would he?”
Floria’s blunt declaration made Riku wear a subtle, indescribable expression. Then, Kousuke, walking ahead as if to guide them, turned around and said to Floria,
“Floria. Are you praising me or criticizing me?”
“What are you saying? It’s obvious I’m bragging.”
Floria’s unexpected answer, far beyond Kousuke’s imagination, made him look surprised for a moment before breaking into a smile.
The group, having reached the summit of the mountain on Slime Island from the place with the Teleport Gate, met Rin there. The members of Flame Wolf, who were to hear about Rin’s skills and strength from Kousuke, turned completely pale as if they had received the final blow. This included the leader, Riku. Through this event, they were made to realize that even with just a single Slime, there was still a world they had not yet reached. In the end, the members of Flame Wolf (including the leader) were completely dejected.
