058. Team Reorganization
About an hour after dozing off for a nap, I woke up.
"Hey, everyone, gather 'round for a sec."
I summoned all the monsters.
Since Dog Spider had evolved into Kinogine Arachne, I figured now was the perfect time to reorganize the exploration teams.
Once they were all assembled, I started announcing from Team 1.
"Team 1 stays the same. Psycho Clown and Medical Mushroom-004, keep exploring Passage 8 like usual."
Psycho Clown grabbed the map, and Medical Mushroom picked up a severed arm.
Iris-2 smartly stuck to Team 1's side.
Next, I shifted my gaze rightward.
"Team 2 is Hedgehog Summoner God."
［Doom-ba! Team 2 again-yot!］
"And Jellyfish-002 from Team 3 joins Team 2."
［Pii!］
"You guys explore Passage 7."
Passage 7 sloped upward at a certain point. But that wouldn't be an issue for exploration. Jellyfish had float magic, after all.
［I'll grab the map-yot. Doombara-babob.］
［Pii, pii.］
Hedgehog took the map, and Jellyfish grabbed a severed arm.
Iris-3 then joined them.
Next up, Team 3.
"Team 3 is Black Magma Slime-003. Take Iris-4 and explore Passage 6."
［Sreung?!］
The former headquarters guard, Magma Slime. I was deploying him to exploration this time too.
"Nah. With the seal partially lifted, I'm skipping guards for now."
I judged it fine without one temporarily. Based on experience so far, this shelter was relatively safe. When moving to vending machines, we'd stick to cleared areas. Plus, with one seal undone, I could handle monsters solo—assuming the nerf kept them at B-rank risk.
Of course, once I tamed way more, I'd assign guards again. No harm in extra safety. For now, we just lacked explorers.
［Suuuung...］
Did it think it was demoted from HQ to exploration? Magma Slime clung to my leg, shooting pitiful glances.
"Time for you to work properly. You've rested plenty. Slept all day here while others explored."
［Sreung...］
Magma Slime glanced around, fetched the Passage 6 map from near the box, and held it out to me. Then blinked rapidly, staring.
"You saying you can't make maps?"
［Sreung!］
"Don't worry. Just head straight through Passage 6 where you lived. Art Pega Unicorn handles mapping."
［Suuuung...］
Magma Slime looked dejected but accepted reality, grabbing a severed arm.
Iris-4 then latched onto the slime.
［Explorer, so I stay on Team 3?］
Art Pega Unicorn strode up and asked.
I shook my head lightly.
"No, you stay here."
［Pardon? I stay? So I'm on headquarters team?!］
"Not headquarters—standby team."
［Suddenly my dream HQ spot...!］
"Standby team, I said."
Art Pega Unicorn was now off Team 3, on standby. When an exploration team found a vending machine, she'd carry me there.
But not just waiting. I'd still have her map Passage 6 via Iris.
"Stand by here, watch Team 3 through Iris, and map Passage 6. If they find a vending machine, carry me there fast."
［Ahh, got it! Stay and map! But appointing me to HQ so suddenly... maybe sneak off for mating just us two...!］
"Standby team. How many times...?"
［Ah! Standby! Got too excited, missed it! Heard right this time! Appointed me 'cause you wanna mate, right?］
"...You hear me right?"
［Hehe. If that's your will, Explorer. I'm always ready—pounce anytime.］
"......"
Art Pega Unicorn grinned lecherously, lost in fantasy. Perverted expression.
I ignored her and looked away, calling Kinogine and Azeras.
"Kinogine. Azeras."
［Yes, beloved and revered Father.］
"Yeah... "
"You two are Team 4. Explore Passage 4."
［Yes. I'd love to stay with Father, but... no helping it. Can't defy Father's will.］
"G-Got it... "
Pruru questioned my choice.
"Paired them on purpose. Huge door at Passage 4's end—feels like dangerous monsters beyond."
"Curious about beyond that door, so skipping Passage 5 this round."
While chatting with allies, Azeras grabbed the map, Kinogine stored a severed arm between her breasts—like a pouch for valuables.
Finally, headquarters team.
"Headquarters is Melody Fox and Iris-1."
［Kyuu!］
［Confirmed.］
"Cuz she's cute."
"Kidding... Her combat's meh, and keeping her close might help unseal faster."
As I said that, Melody Fox sidled up and plastered herself against me. Still eyes closed.
［Kyuhuhu.］
She smirked with superiority. Annoying face, but cute enough to forgive.
The monsters eyed Melody Fox enviously, then bowed heads and trudged to their passages. Kinda pitiful. Once we had more, I'd move originals to HQ. Fair perk for early members.
Passage 7.
Exploration Team 2—Jellyfish and Hedgehog Summoner God—encountered a new monster mid-exploration.
—［Stop, stooop! Suspicious guy spotted-yot!］
—［Pii!］
—［Jellyfish! Dance together to summon spirits-yot!］
—［Piii!］
Jellyfish bobbed wildly in dance. Hedgehog shook hips more flashily than before, summoning undead spirits.
A humanoid monster approached slowly ahead, tongue flicking.
—［Orooro!］
—［Orooro! Chiii!］
It was a snake-human hybrid monster.