(ZZZzzzzz………)
On the sofa in front of the Adventurer Reception at the Golden Tree, Kaito was sound asleep, drooling. The receptionist, an angel named Ryokuri, chuckled.
“Seriously, he’s even drooling…”
Hiori and Kaoru, the cat beastkin attendants on either side, shook him to wake him up. Further out from them sat Risu, our Maid Hero, and Orca.
“…Huh, a surprise attack?!”
Nina approached with a frightening expression.
“If your enemy is me, I shall cut you down now.”
“W-whoa, I-I was just joking, I’m sorry. I got tired of waiting.”
“Ms. Nina, please forgive him. It’s getting late.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Kaito breathed a sigh of relief. The cat beastkin next to him… um, this part, I should probably handle. It’s better as a conversation between men.
“Kaito, I’m going to the final battle. The enemy is incredibly troublesome and strong, so we might not return unharmed. If you have to flee here for your life, please go and inform everyone.”
Kaito’s expression turned serious.
“Understood. In that case.”
“For now, I’ll rely on the two top heroes, Ms. Eldoria and Jian over there, as well as Ms. Mariu, Ms. Mogunami, and anyone else useful. And…”
I grabbed Kaito by both shoulders.
Yeah, since he’s still sitting, I can get a good grip… With a serious expression, I spoke.
“If we face a truly catastrophic situation, at least when I die multiple times and can’t return, I’ve decided that you, Kaito, will be my successor…”
Kaito blinked.
“…Am I still dreaming?!”
“At that time, I’ll allow you to call me ‘Master’. Though I’ll likely be dead… There is something important I want you to remember.”
I looked at the former Hero, now a Heroic Maid, at each end of the sofa, then gazed directly at Kaito, the young successor hero swallowing nervously.
“Ms. Nina and Ms. Nastasia, two Heroines, truly supported me. While a party with multiple heroes is luxurious and difficult to balance, Kaito, I want you to team up with Risu and Orca, whom I’ve called here today. From now on, forever.”
Surprisingly, these Maid Heroes have good balance. If it were just the members on this sofa, they’d be focused on healing, but with three more added, depending on the companions, it could become an incredible party.
(Yes, worthy of succeeding ‘Nina Starlights’.)
Kaito stood up from the sofa.
“Really, successor, me, no, *I*…”
“Yes, connect with everyone well and trust each other. As for the remaining three, if it were me, I’d choose a Magician, a healer, and a long-range attacker.”
For long-range, perhaps Tesmo, who recently arrived. For a magician, I could find someone from that dispatch center. For healing… well, even without one, three Hero Heals should be enough to manage.
“Then, Master.”
“Not yet!”
“R-right, then, Teacher Deles.”
“You too, ‘Teacher’…”
“Mr. Deles, it’s a request, but please give us a party name!”
Kaito and the others’ party name, huh.
“There are only five of us yet.”
“Then even a (provisional) name is fine.”
“Hmm, one young master and four women…”
Alright, I’ve decided!
“Then from today, you are ‘Prince Connect’!”
“…Connect.”
“Yes, you must connect with a focus on bonds. And since you are the Prince, it will end if Kaito is gone, so do your best.”
I have to give them this much pressure.
“Yes, Kaito will do his best!”
“Very well. Then, please wait while we are fighting.”
“Leave it to us!”
“Ms. Nina.”
“Un. I’m counting on the other four as well.”
” ” ” “Yessssss!” ” ” ”
…Even if we are completely annihilated, it’s good that a successor hero has been decided, with Ms. Eldoria and Jian to lead the immediate succession and someone to succeed us in the future.
(And while I’m at it, I’ll push the ‘seeding’ of the Angel Race and Mermaid Race onto them!)
Well, it’s not necessarily going to be a harem.
“Then, Deles.”
“Ah, the final coordination, right? But before that…”
“There’s still more?”
“Yes, well, before we go, for the very last time.”
And who I looked at was…!!
“In the end, after rigorous selection, it’s come down to two, Ms. Helen.”
“Yes, there are eight Succubus, so if we have eight Taming Monsters…”
“The Dungeon would become overcrowded.”
“But strategically, there’s no mistake.”
So, two special Taming Monsters: the White Frontbeard, who is now in human form, fluffy and muscular, and the Sexy Diamond Golem pair, who sparkle as always.
“Understood!”
“I’m grateful to be called to the final battle.”
“Now then, regarding what happens after we defeat Queen Chihi…”
I produced a scroll.
“That’s…!!”
“It’s a Race Change Scroll (Permanent). One of you can become the same race as the other.”
“Isn’t that valuable?”
“If you survive the final battle, this is the least I can give you.”
Both are rare monsters, but considering their love, it’s better for them to be the same race.
“Understood! Understood! Understood!”
“No need to be that happy. Now, Mr. Golem, which one?”
“I believe it’s better for the wife to sacrifice herself.”
“I see… from Sexy to Fluffy, huh.”
Well, if it’s what the couple has decided, then it’s fine. I should just give it to them… The Sexy Golem carefully put it away. Now, this is truly the end of caring for our companions. All that’s left is… defeating the Demon Lord!!
“Can we go now?”
“Ah, the sacrifices, or rather, the enslaved?”
Mr. Amatatsu, as we call him here.
“Then, let’s start the coordination…”
“Yes, please go ahead, Ms. Nina.”
“Ah, so, the matter of the Stampede being close…”
Now, what is the strategy for Queen Chihi?!
