Ch.220My colleague is becoming a copy!

After washing Kana’s body directly and dressing her, we finally checked out.

“Umm…”

Kana whined again.

“What is it, Kana? Do you want something else?”

I feel like I’ve become a nanny.

This girl… once she starts giving her heart to someone, she regresses into such childish behavior. It’s cute though.

“Shota. Give me baby seed.”

Kana seemed to be fired up again.

“Really… I can’t help it.”

I smiled and decided to give her another injection of baby seed.

———-

Afterward, we headed back to our spiritual hometown, Emoshita City.

“Well then, Kana. See you tomorrow.”

I said to Kana.

“Shota. What do you do every night?”

At that moment, Kana’s eyes narrowed.

“Ah… stuff.”

I didn’t feel comfortable openly saying “monster hunting.”

“From what I can see, Umi, Taiga… and Tina seem to be joining too.”

Kana looked at me with jealous eyes.

Yeah, and Kirtan is there too. She’s a new harem member, so you could say she’s your senior.

“Sashisuseso Aiueo… and that pink-haired girlfriend of his are there too. They were whispering about something very secretively. What’s going on?”

Kana asked.

“Well…”

What should I say? I couldn’t think of a way to dodge this.

I’ve used evasive tactics with other girlfriends before. But considering they all found out eventually, it was just a matter of time.

“I want to come too.”

Kana said.

“Yeah…”

I kind of expected that.

‘Wait…’

Since it’s come to this, should I put Kana to work in exchange for affection? Honestly, that thought crossed my mind.

“Kana. Can you bring something like a sword?”

I said.

“A sword…? Why?”

Kana asked.

“I need it.”

I said bluntly.

“Hmm… I don’t feel like going all the way to my apartment.”

After that, Kana called someone.

“Hey, Thumbs-up Man. Master’s orders. Bring the sword.”

Kana just commanded Thumbs-up Man with a nod.

“Got it.”

Thumbs-up Man just accepting it…!!!

“But… why?”

Thumbs-up Man asked Kana.

“Arigiri Shota called me at night. Says he’s doing something.”

Kana said.

“I’ll come too.”

And suddenly Thumbs-up Man decided to join.

“What? No need!!”

Kana immediately shouted in an irritated tone.

“COME!!! THUMBS-UP MAN WANTS TO COME!! COME!! THUMBS-UP MAN!!!”

I immediately sent a love call to Thumbs-up Man through the phone.

Thumbs-up Man is useful manpower too! This is our chance to recruit him as well!! This transfer market is just sweet.

“Really… why does he like Thumbs-up Man so much?”

Kana immediately made a displeased face.

Anyway, Thumbs-up Man agreed to come with the sword.

———

Everyone gathered at the hideout, and Kana joined us.

“Wait. Isn’t this Kunami Company property?”

Kana said looking at the hideout. Do the rich really recognize each other?

“Ah… Madoka provided it.”

I said.

“Kujo Madoka… the daughter of Kunami Company. How did you get connected with her?”

Kana looked at me with half-closed eyes.

“Madoka is… well, we’re not dating yet, but we’re in a relationship that’s expected to lead to dating. Something like a fiancée.”

I had no choice but to admit it.

“Shota… are you a marriage scammer?”

Kana glared at me as she spoke.

“What marriage scammer!!!”

You’re making me out to be a gold digger!!

“You keep seducing daughters of successful companies… it makes me suspicious.”

Kana said.

“No!! That’s just how circumstances played out!! I have no such impure intentions!”

I tried to defend myself somehow.

Anyway, bickering back and forth, Kana and I entered the hideout.

“What? She’s here too?”

Umi said with a surprised expression.

“Hahaha! As expected of a great man!! Gathering people!”

Kirtan laughed.

“What are those horns? Are they real?”

Kana looked at Kirtan with curiosity.

“Well… it’s a long story.”

I said.

“Is she… Shota’s girlfriend too?”

Kana seemed more concerned about that than Kirtan’s inhuman appearance.

“Yes. That’s right.”

I answered.

“Hmm… I see?”

Kana’s gaze sharpened.

“Let’s all get along.”

Eri smiled and smoothed over the situation.

“Oh. Yeah. Nice to meet you, Miss Nishikawa.”

Kana looked at Eri with searching eyes. Eri was the self-proclaimed rival that Kana acknowledged.

“Anyway, explain. Everyone’s holding strange weapons… what exactly do you do at night? Random assault?”

Kana asked.

“Random assault? Don’t make us out to be criminals.”

Taiga said.

“Ah. I thought so because there’s a former biker gang member here.”

Kana responded with a sweet smile to Taiga’s words.

“Is she picking a fight?!!”

Taiga immediately tried to rush at Kana.

“Taiga!! Calm down!!”

I immediately hugged Taiga and shouted.

“Nnngh…!”

Thankfully, that calmed Taiga’s anger.

“Explain, Shota.”

Kana said to me.

“Umm…”

But the explanation is long.

At times like this, the leader should explain… I gave Sashisuse a look asking for help.

Sashisuse was completely immersed in his own world with Prill. Really… that love-crazed bastard…!! I thought he was someone who didn’t care about these things, but once he caught fire, it seemed like no one could stop him.

At that moment, someone winked at me.

It was Tina. Tina… she likes explaining things, as she did during the last Toshinbae.

“Tina. Would you kindly explain?”

I smiled and said to Tina.

“Yes!!”

Tina exclaimed with a bright face as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“Kana, if I told you that the world consists of multiple fragments… would you believe it?”

Tina spoke with an extremely serious tone.

“COME ON!!!!”

I immediately scolded Tina.

“Stop being so dramatic and just give a simple three-line summary!!”

I shouted loudly at Tina.

Last time during Toshinbae she went on about Theseus’s ship or whatever, and she still hasn’t broken that habit!!

I could already see the flow: waste 15 minutes explaining the existence of the multiverse, and only then get to the main point. Tina was too good at the anime-specific time-wasting technique.

“…Hmph.”

Tina muttered with a sulky expression.

Anyway, Tina explained as simply as possible.

———

After about 5 minutes of explanation, Kana just accepted it with a blank expression.

“So, aliens have invaded, and if we don’t stop them, Earth is in danger.”

Kana said indifferently.

“Wow… I’m amazed at your mental fortitude, accepting that so calmly, Kana.”

I said that sincerely.

“She’s crazy too…”

Umi said.

“Hey!! I don’t want to hear that from you?!”

Kana immediately got angry at Umi.

Anyway.

“Those monsters…? I’ve met them before. In that forest during summer.”

Kana said.

“Ah… summer.”

Hearing those words, Eri made a sour face.

Right. It’s not a good memory for Eri. She nearly died at the hands of a crazy nature villain. I’ve met many crazy people, but that level of madness was rare.

“I encountered it while training with Thumbs-up Man at night. It came at me, so I just cut it down. So that’s what it was.”

Kana said indifferently.

She had already defeated a monster before.

“Then you’re an experienced rookie!! Welcome!!”

I immediately hugged Kana. Yes, this valuable workforce deserves a lifetime contract.

“Yeah… I’ll work like a slave if Shota gives me enough love.”

Kana mumbled.

At that moment, someone entered the hideout.

It was Thumbs-up Man. He seemed to have properly brought both Kana’s sword and his own.

“Ah! Thumbs-up Man! You came to help!”

I said.

“Of course. You made me hold a sword again. That debt can never be fully repaid.”

Thumbs-up Man said decisively.

Really… what a cool guy…!! I resonated with the burning spirit that only men can feel.

“Ah, Thumbs-up Man. The situation is…”

Kana was about to explain tactlessly.

“Ah-ah. No explanation needed.”

I stopped Kana.

*Thumbs up*

After that, I immediately gave Thumbs-up Man a thumbs up.

“……”

Thumbs-up Man smiled at me, then returned the thumbs up.

*Thumbs up*

By exchanging thumbs ups, Thumbs-up Man and I completely understood each other.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll join as a comrade.”

Thumbs-up Man said in a gallant tone.

“Oh!! That’s it!”

And so, I immediately accepted both Kana and Thumbs-up Man as comrades. With this, our forces were greatly strengthened.

“Not a single normal person among them.”

Taiga seemed to finally realize that our party wasn’t normal.

“Isn’t it nice to be lively?”

Eri smiled as she hung laundry. Eri, who embraces everything… the best!!

———-

Anyway, we had to hunt monsters again today.

“So the dungeon opens again in a week…”

Sashisuse made a displeased face.

Right. The dungeon opens again in August.

“It’s okay, Sashisuse. Surely you won’t turn into underwear or suffer something like that again?”

I patted Sashisuse’s shoulder comfortingly.

The underwear incident seemed to have given Sashisuse a bit of dungeon phobia. But… is it really such a bad memory? I truly don’t know.

“Don’t talk about the underwear!! I warned you!!”

Sashisuse immediately got angry.

Anyway, today we continued our routine of hunting monsters while looking for the eccentric slime.

——-

“SHOTA!!! I’LL TAKE THE FLANK!!”

“GO!!”

But… Kana and Thumbs-up Man fought better than expected.

SWOOSH-!!

Kana tore apart the monsters on the flank with her sword strikes.

TING-! CLANG-!!

Thumbs-up Man displayed his skill in wielding shield and sword, protecting us so that monsters wouldn’t aggro to the rear.

Thanks to Thumbs-up Man becoming the main tank, I could focus on dealing damage.

“Tina!! Kirtan!! Let’s break through the center!!”

I led the two of them in one-sidedly ravaging the monsters.

“HYAAAH!!”

Tina immediately did a windmill, breaking the enemies’ stance.

“HAHAHA! How weak!!”

Kirtan gallantly swung his sword and charged into the gap.

“KIYOOOOT!!!”

I personally finished off the enemies that Kirtan couldn’t handle with my sword strikes.

The party definitely felt stronger.

Main tank: Thumbs-up Man.

And the positioning for close combat at the front line became more solid. Me, Kirtan, Kana, and Tina. With the four of us balanced, we rarely got pushed back.

And Taiga could guard the middle position, dealing area magic damage while engaging in close combat.

Prill was a sub-tank to be brought out when necessary, and Sashisuse firmly held the position of a burst damage dealer with close combat aptitude.

Plus, Umi increased our survivability with overwhelming healing.

It was the perfect squad. With this lineup, we could even aim for victory.

With the recruitment of two new members, the party became even stronger.

It was already balance-breaking to have so many companions in a game where 4-person parties are standard.

Taking advantage of our lineup, we hunted like crazy and raised our levels.

Before we knew it, everyone had surpassed the solid line of level 70. With so many members, we hunted monsters at an incredible pace, practically grinding them to dust.

———-

But then… we had to restrain our hunting.

About three days later, we witnessed the monsters becoming endangered.

The monsters that had invaded Earth… had reached the brink of extinction.