226. Manaka Request and Rimuru Tempest Joining the Chat Group.

By midday, almost all the chat group members and some of the 'non-chat group' members had arrived at the base world to attend the promised banquet welcoming the new members. As always, they chose the wooden mansion meeting room, the chat group's original residence, which is now used as a recreation area for the members after all of them decide to build their own living place in the base world. 

Thus, the place is no longer occupied, but members occasionally visit and stay overnight, as it serves multiple functions, including a group karaoke room and a training room. Furthermore, Sakuya regularly cleans the place at least twice a week to maintain the building. After all, the building is holding the most important position, being the first building that exists in the base world.

When the main character came, Kaito, wearing his usual plain white t-shirt, and Aika, wearing her school uniform (who knows why), sat side by side and held hands, making them the target of the members' gossip until the new members arrived.

...

"This new lovebird~" Miya teased both of them and then commented after looking at Aika's fatigue clearly written on her face, "Hmm... Aika-san seems really tired, huh."

"I do." Aika can only muster a wry smile while pinching Kaito's thigh, "This guy was really ruthless toward me last night."

"Uh, yeah." Kaito scratched his head being embarrassed, "I mean, our physical strength was far different so it wasn't really fair to her."

Considering how often Kaito trains himself and puts himself as a fighter, while Aika mainly acted as planned and the brain of the chat group, natural, their difference in physical strength was vastly different. Not to mention, Kaito is the fastest chat group member who gets stronger, which only took 3 and a half years to reach the 6* peak strength evaluation realm.

...

"That's not the reason to keep forcing yourself on me, Kaito." Aika jabbed at him with a stronger pinch.

"Ouch, I am sorry..." Kaito nods, acknowledging his mistake.

...

"Well, that won't be a problem for a stronger member to give Kaito-san a better experience." Manaka suddenly chimed in, looking to provoke Aika with a gloating smile, "I have confidence to give the best service for our darling."

"What do you think, Aika?"

"Hmmph. Say whatever you want, but it's not a bluff to say I was the one who popped Kaito's virginity." Aika fought back while gritting her teeth.  In her opinion, it wasn't her fault for being weak; she's, after all, not a combatant and more like a strategist.

"But I doubt he's fully satisfied." Manaka sneered at her and then added, "With my knowledge from the root and my own strength, I am 100% sure I would be better than you in bed activity!"

"You are cheating! You already get that kind of strength before joining the chat group!"

"And you joined the chat group 2 years earlier than I did. What's your excuse?"

"Homewrecker!"

"Suicidal Girl!"

"Nymphomaniac Princess!"

"Slave Driver!"

...

"Nah, nah... calm down, you guys really love fighting each other." Realizing their situation is getting heated, Kaito quickly separates them, "We are going to greet new members here, not to fight!"

"Hmmph! Whatever...!!" 

Aika looked away, seemed to be hesitant before then started walking away to the kitchen, as if she ran away from the argument, "Well, I will check the kitchen to see whether Erina and Hisako need help."

"Uh, Sure? I will stay here, I guess."

When Aika left the meeting room, Manaka, who stood beside him, then pulled Kaito closer by pulling the collar of his clothes and declared, "Then, Kaito-kun~ after Ravel, promise that you will date me!"

"Uh... I can't decide it like that."

"Remember, I have helped you immensely in the previous world~" Manaka threatened, "You aren't ungrateful person, don't you, Owner?"

"Ugh... You know I can't just decide it like that..."

Hearing Manaka's threat, Kaito quickly become nervous since this kind of thing is something he should decide willy-nilly. In order, he probably should care for Akitsu next, the quiet and yet most obedient girl who likes him. However, he can't deny that Manaka will probably help him more in the short term than anyone except Aika, whether it's physical help or mental help.

Kaito's eyes wandered around to ask for help, but his family was watching the whole thing from the side while eating popcorn and melon seeds!

Fortunately, in a seconds, Akitsu comes to the rescue, although she gives an answer that Kaito didn't expect either.

"Master, I can wait. You can do it with Manaka-san first." Akitsu said.

...?!?!

"Really?" Kaito opened his eyes wide and looked at Manaka with confusion, "You have conquered Akitsu? When did it happen?"

Although Akitsu is probably the quietest member in the chat group, Kaito had confidence that he knew her better enough among anyone in the chat group. 

After all, this quiet woman is always supportive of him, and Kaito has also done the same for her. Kaito was sure that he liked her, and Akitsu liked him too... as he could feel the connection and caring between them all the time as her ashikabi. It's just that Akitsu always has issues with expressing her emotions; she actually loves him as much as the other women around him for saving her life from misery.

In fact, the reason why Akitsu became much stronger during the Gastrea war is that Kaito also spent some points to improve her abilities. The only reason she barely spends time there usually that Aika usually gives her tasks, and both of them are quite busy most of the time.

...

"What do you think? I obviously need to get along with everyone to stay in the chat group." Manaka taunted him with a smug face and explained, "I also take care of everyone. Usually, helping them train by summoning a servant who could train with them."

Akitsu nodded with her expressionless face, "Master gets stronger, I also want to get stronger."

"Manaka-san helped me a lot, either with training or woman-related things." (Miya)

"Me too... Manaka-san is amazing. She helps teach me some healing spells I can use." (Ravel)

"I don't mind either, master. Manaka-sama really helped us a lot in the previous group task." (Sakuya)

"See? What do you think, Kaito?"

"Then, since everyone seems no mind, I will agree." 

Hearing everyone tacitly agree, Kaito finally gave in, realizing Manaka should have planned this to happen a long time ago.

Anyway, Manaka has proven herself to be able to get along with other members just fine and help him a lot, so Kaito feels obligated to answer her feelings sincerely. It would be a lie if Kaito didn't like her, after all, she also did so much for her, and appearance-wise, she might be Kaito's favorite due to her ability to change her own appearance as she wanted to.

Kaito can imagine that such an ability would make their night activity more exciting, especially since Manaka genuinely can role-play to be anything she wants to be.

>>>>>

Eventually, all the luxurious and delicious Japanese menu dishes were ready after half an hour, prepared by their chat group master chef, Nakiri Erina, and Arato Hisako. However, none of the new chat group members have come to the base world yet, wondering if they still haven't figured out how to visit the base world.

A lot of people in the meeting room have become impatient, especially people like Saber and Saitama, who are eager to eat... so Kaito figured out that he needed to ping them in the chat group.

However, when Kaito came to the chat group to check the situation, he was shocked to see that forgotten new members actually appeared in the chat group.

=====

[Owner]: "@Alien Princess, @Witch of the Void, everyone is here except you two. I wonder whether you guys are busy or need any help."

[Witch of the Void]: "Wait 30 minutes after my class is over. After that, I will be free."

[Owner]: "So you are still working despite the schedule."

[Witch of the Void]: "Well, there's only a single class today, so I feel bad to my student if I don't do it."

[Owner]: "As expected of responsible Natsuki-chan."

[Witch of the Void]: "Don't call me with suffix -chan! I will go back to work! Don't disturb me!"

[Owner]: "Sure thing~ Then, how about @Alien Princess?"

[Alien Princess]: "Ah! The ping noise again! It's the chat group!"

[Owner]: "When do you come, Princess Lala?"

[Caped Baldy]: "We have been waiting for you guys."

[Alien Princess]: "I will be there! Can I bring my sisters with me?!"

[Owner]: "Hmm... Sure? It should not be a problem to accommodate them."

Remember all of Lala's sisters with their own behavior and specialty, Kaito genuinely thinks they would be a great addition to the base world if he were able to convince them to work for him.

...

[Alien Princess]: "Thank you! I will tell them right away!"

[Railgun Girl]: "You have sisters? How many? Our room may not accommodate so many people!"

[Owner]: "@Railgun Girl, don't worry, she doesn't have 20000 sisters like you."

[Musician of Red Hair Pirates]: "Pffft!"

[SAO Blacksmith]: "Pffft!"

[Railgun Girl]: "Ah! It's your fault, Kaito! Just share the memories already."

[Mage of Exodus]: "Indeed. I am also curious what she looks like and what her story is about."

[Owner]: "Hey, calm down, you all. I will share it later, but for now, I think it's more important for us to greet new members instead of watching their memories."

[Slime King]: "Anoo.. I am also a new member here. I have checked the chat backlog... Can I also visit the chat group world?"

[Owner]: "..."

[Mage of Exodus]: "..."

[Railgun Girl]: "..."

[Owner]: "Hmm... sure?"

Looking at the new member suddenly coming out, everyone in the meeting room looked at each other before nodding together. They were afraid that none of them remembered that there were supposed to be four new 4 members-- and then Kaito realized he actually forgot the first one!

...

"Ah, crap, besides the new member slime, we also completely forgot Kazuma," Kaito said while facepalming, "That guy is probably still running at midnight."

"Ah, that pervert who got pranked." Misaka complained, "Don't bring him here. I am afraid my underwear will get stolen."

"That's actually a reasonable excuse." Nico Robin chuckles before then suddenly gets serious, "But I do need his 'cheat' to help me, whether he can help revive all the Ohara people that got killed by world government in my world."

"That... yeah." Misaka nodded quietly.

Hearing what Nico Robin said, Misaka quickly stopped her complaining, realizing she really needed to put her hatred aside for everyone's ultimate goal. Naturally, she naturally also wanted to revive any 'sister' that has been murdered by Accelerator in her world, so she can understand Nico Robin feeling.

Seeing that no one complains anymore, Kaito went back to the chat group and invited the new members alongside Kazuma, who had earlier been forgotten.

...

=====

[Owner]: "@Gender Equality Hero, come to the base world. We are going to have a big banquet!"

[Owner]: "@Slime King, can you introduce yourself first so I can figure out your identity? I do have some idea, but I just need to make sure."

[Slime King]: "Uh, my name is Mikami Satoru. I used to be a 37-year-old corporate worker before I got stabbed and reincarnated as a slime in another world."

[Owner]: "Yeah, I figured out your identity already, Rimuru Tempest."

[Slime King]: "Wow, you really know me!"

...

Rimuru Tempest, who had just woken up, named all the goblins and ogres in his new ground village really surprised. As a former adult, he can easily guess that Kaito seems to be the leader of this chat group, and he feels they didn't lie about their info coming from a different world altogether. 

Earlier, he was really surprised and concerned by the fact that this chat group couldn't be detected by "Great Sage," but it seems Rimuru can trust it and treat it as his secondary cheat after coming different world.

He is also looking forward to finding a way to transform into a human from this secondary cheat.

...

[Owner]: "I do. You are probably the only isekai I know where the protagonist turns into a slime."

[Slime King]: "So I am the protagonist, huh?"

[Mage of Exodus]: "But become slime... isn't that concerning for a new member?"

[Railgun Girl]: "Yes! Isn't slime like a low-level monster that a newbie usually hunts in the game?"

[SAO Administrator]: "Yes. In SAO, I do put a slime as a low-level monster... that's basically most games do too."

[Musician of Red Hair Pirates]: "Wow, isn't that dangerous for a new member? Are you okay?"

[Slime King]: "Thank you for your concern, but I am okay. After devouring a dragon sealed in the cave, I feel much stronger, and I should be able to defend myself for the time being."

[Mage of Exodus]: "???"

[SAO Administrator]: "???"

[Railgun Girl]: "???"

[SAO Blacksmith]: "Are you really a slime?"

Even Aika looked at him with confusion, which Kaito just nodded at her-- telling her that he didn't say any nonsense. This protagonist, although his mid-journey was quite difficult, at the beginning, Rimuru literally had smooth sailing until the demon king stuff happened.

...

[Owner]: "No need to feel bad too much about this slime; this guy probably ended up being the strongest member in the group. This guy at his final form would easily rank up to 8* strength."

[Caped Baldy]: "8* realm? This slime is so strong! I guess so many possibilities happen in the multiverse out there..."

[Railgun Gun]: "Kaito... you are not joking, right?"

[Mage of Exodus]: "Considering he's the protagonist, I am 100% believe Kaito said. But he said it was a final form... and this newbie should be at the beginning of his story, right?"

[Owner]: "You are correct, but even so, he should already be stronger than half of the chat group members right now."

[Slime King]: "What is 8* realm? That sounds amazing?"

[Owner]: "Basically, later you have enough strength to destroy the world or universe at will."

[Slime King]: "Even though I'm just a slime now?"

[Owner]: "You are the protagonist of your own isekai show, Rimuru. Besides, your Great Sage is one of the best cheats among isekai protagonists in fiction."

[Slime King]: "You even know the Great Sage? I guess you really know my story!"

...

After chatting in the chat group, Kaito then also invited Rimuru to join the banquet in the bae world. Rimuru gladly accepted the offer, but he said that he would be a little late because he wanted to see the monsters he had just named and inspect his new "home" in another world before leaving.

Judging by Rimuru's answer, Kaito could correctly guess where Rimuru was currently was quite happy for him. After all, Rimuru should hadn't met Izawa Shizue yet and could save her instead of devouring her using the chat group system to help later on.