Chapter 58. Reorganization
After taking about a one-hour nap, I woke up.
“Hey guys, gather around for a bit.”
I summoned all of my monsters.
Since Dog Spider had evolved into Kinogine Arachne, I decided to use this opportunity to reorganize the exploration teams.
Once I confirmed that all the monsters were gathered, I started by announcing the first team.
“Team 1 will remain unchanged. Psycho Clown and Medical Mushroom, you two are together. Just continue exploring Passage No. 8 as before.”
［Kirik. Got it.］
［Bii!］
【Pururu】─Work hard, slaves!
【Yumi】─They’re not slaves, they’re friends.
Psycho Clown packed the map, and Medical Mushroom grabbed a severed arm.
Iris No. 2 subtly tagged along with Team 1.
Next, I turned to my right and continued.
“Team 2 will be led by Hedgehog Summoner.”
［Doodoomba! I’m in Team 2 again!］
“And Jellyfish, who was in Team 3, will join Team 2.”
［Pii!］
“You’ll explore Passage No. 7.”
Passage No. 7 sloped upwards at a certain point. But that wouldn’t be a problem since Jellyfish had floating magic.
［I’ll take care of the map! Doom-baraba-bap.］
［Pii, pii.］
Hedgehog packed the map, and Jellyfish grabbed the severed arm.
Then Iris No. 3 joined them.
Next was Team 3.
“Team 3 will consist of Black Magma Slime. You’ll take Iris No. 4 and explore Passage No. 6.”
［Ssss?!］
Black Magma Slime, who had been part of the base team, was now assigned to an exploration team.
【Pururu】─Haha, look at Black Magma Slime’s shocked face!
【Pururu】─Wait, did Black Magma Slime get fired from being a bodyguard?
【Yumi】─Looks like it got demoted from the base team. Poor thing.
【Pururu】─Always sticking close to Geon, sucking up the perks. Now look at it, haha.
【Mysticism】─🤭
【Rizenova】─So, Kinogine will be in charge of guarding now?
“No, now that the seal is broken, I don’t plan to have a bodyguard for the time being.”
I judged that I didn’t need a bodyguard for now.
Based on my past experience, this hideout was relatively safe.
When moving to find the vending machine, I only planned to travel through already-explored areas.
Moreover, now that one seal had been broken, I could handle the monsters by myself.
Assuming the nerf risk for the monsters was B-rank.
Of course, if I were to tame significantly more monsters, I’d eventually select a bodyguard to keep by my side.
After all, it wouldn’t hurt to prioritize safety.
For now, I simply judged that I didn’t need a bodyguard because I was short on exploration personnel.
［Ssss…］
Did Black Magma Slime feel like it was being demoted from the base team to an exploration team?
It clung to my leg, giving me a pitiful look.
“You need to start working properly now. You’ve rested a lot until now. While the others were exploring diligently, you’ve spent entire days lying around and sleeping.”
［Ssss…］
【Pururu】─Hurry up and get lost, you stupid slime!
【Yumi】─Pururu, you’re being too harsh.
【Mysticism】─Slime-trash.
Black Magma Slime glanced around, then grabbed the map of Passage No. 6 from near a box and handed it to me. It blinked rapidly, staring at me intently.
“Are you saying you don’t know how to draw a map?”
［Ssss!］
【Yumi】─Wow, you immediately figured it out. Impressive.
【Pururu】─That slime. It’s pretending to be dumb on purpose.
【Mysticism】─Yeah! It’s trying to stick close to Geon!
“Don’t worry. You just need to keep moving through Passage No. 6, where you used to live. Centaurides will take care of drawing the map.”
［Ssss…］
Black Magma Slime looked dejected, but then, as if accepting reality, it grabbed a severed arm.
Afterward, Iris No. 4 clung to the slime.
“Explorer, does this mean I’ll remain with Team 3?”
Centaurides strode over and asked.
I shook my head lightly in response to the question.
“No, you’ll stay here.”
“Huh? I’m staying? Does that mean I’m part of the base team?!”
“Not the base team, the standby team.”
“Aah! I’ve finally achieved my dream of being part of the base team…!”
“I said standby team.”
Centaurides would no longer be part of Team 3, but the standby team. Her role was to wait here and transport me to the vending machine when it was discovered by one of the exploration teams.
Of course, she wouldn’t just be sitting idle. I still planned to have her draw the map for Passage No. 6.
“You’ll stay here, monitor Team 3’s footage through Iris, and continue drawing the map for Passage No. 6. And if the exploration team finds the vending machine, you’ll serve as the transport… I mean, you’ll quickly take me to the vending machine’s location.”
“I understand! So I just stay here and draw the map! But you suddenly assigned me to the base team… Could it be you’re planning to secretly mate with me while we’re alone…?”
“I said it’s the standby team. How many times do I have to repeat it?”
“Oh! Standby team! I got so excited I didn’t hear you properly! I understand now! You assigned me to the standby team because you want to mate with me, right?”
“…Are you sure you heard me correctly?”
“Hehe. If that’s what you desire, Explorer, I’m always ready. You can attack me whenever you want.”
“……”
【Mysticism】─😡
【Pururu】─This crazy centaur. Should I sew it shut?
【Yumi】─Geez. Is mating all she can think about?
Centaurides, lost in her fantasies, grinned lewdly. Her expression was extremely perverted.
I ignored her and shifted my gaze.
Then I called over Kino and Azeras.
“Kino. Azeras.”
“Yes, my beloved and honorable father.”
“Uh, yeah…”
“You two are Team 4. You’ll explore Passage No. 4.”
“Yes, I would love to stay by your side, but… I can’t disobey your will, Father.”
“Got it…”
【Rizenova】─Kino sure is mature. So young, yet so composed.
【Mysticism】─Very dignified!
【Pururu】─?? Is it really okay to assign two SS-rank monsters together?
Pururu questioned my decision.
“I paired them up on purpose. At the end of Passage No. 4, there’s a huge door. I have a feeling that dangerous monsters are lurking beyond it.”
【Pururu】─Ohh, so you’re sending two SS-rank monsters for safety.
【Mysticism】─Safety is good!
【Yumi】─Aren’t you going to explore Passage No. 5?
“I’m more curious about what lies beyond the door in Passage No. 4, so I’ll skip exploring Passage No. 5 this time.”
While I was talking with my assistants, Azeras packed the map, and Kino stored the severed arm between her chest. It seemed like that was her pocket for storing valuable items.
Lastly, I called out the members of the base team.
“The base team will be Melody Fox and Iris No. 1.”
“Kyuu!”
“Confirmed.”
【Yumi】─Geon, why is Melody Fox on the base team?
“Because she’s cute.”
【Yumi】─?
【Pururu】─?
【Mysticism】─🧐
【Rizenova】─Question marks.
“Just kidding… Honestly, she’s not particularly good at combat, and I feel like having her around will help with unsealing the next seal.”
As I said that, Melody Fox slowly approached and clung to me.
Still with her eyes closed.
“Kyu-fufu.”
She smiled smugly, filled with superiority.
Though her expression was annoying, she was cute enough that I could forgive her.
【Pururu】─That sly little fox.
【Rizenova】─She’s not just like a fox, she *is* a fox.
【Mysticism】─Such a tease. She might not even be an animal.
【Rizenova】─She’s not an animal. She’s a monster.
The other monsters glanced at Melody Fox with envious eyes before lowering their heads and trudging off to their assigned passages.
It made me feel a little sorry for them.
When I tame more monsters later on, I’ll assign all the older ones to the base team.
I think giving the original members that much privilege would be fair enough.
***
Passage No. 7.
While Team 2—Jellyfish and Hedgehog Summoner—were exploring, they encountered a new monster.
“Stop, stop! I’ve found a suspicious individual!”
“Pii!”
“Jellyfish! Let’s dance and summon the spirits!”
“Piii!”
Jellyfish began to wiggle its entire body in a dance, and Hedgehog Summoner swayed its hips even more vigorously than before, summoning undead spirits.
In front of them, a humanoid monster flicked its tongue and slowly approached.
“Orooro!”
【Yumi】─That monster has a strange cry too.
【Pururu】─Orooro, hahaha.
【Mysticism】─🤭
【Pururu】─Is it Orakan? Nah, it’s probably Orokhan, haha.
【Rizenova】─Don’t mock our Orakan.
【Pururu】─Okay, okay, chill.
“Orooro! Chiii!”
The monster was a hybrid of a snake and a human.