Whoosh... A demon wearing the black Royal Knights uniform suddenly appeared behind Zhong Chen, raising his right hand to his chest in a respectful salute.
"Lord Zhong Chen, Uzumaki Naruto, whom you asked us to keep an eye on, has graduated."
Zhong Chen, who was standing on a high vantage point watching the three below being chased by various frogs, turned around, a look of surprise on his face.
Although he had used the World Flow Rate Adjuster to speed up the world of Naruto, he hadn't expected Naruto to graduate so quickly.
For Zhong Chen, less than two months had actually passed.
"Alright, I understand."
Zhong Chen raised his right hand and waved at the Royal Knights demon. Understanding Zhong Chen's meaning, the demon bowed and then vanished from the spot.
"It seems I'll have to let these guys develop on their own for a while. I hope they haven't already added Megumin and Darkness to the party by the time I get back."
"Hahaha, that doesn't sound bad either."
With that, Zhong Chen snapped his right fingers, and a letter slowly floated to the ground, while he himself had already disappeared from his original spot.
"Wahahaha, I win!!!"
As soon as Zhong Chen arrived home, he heard Milim's unique laughter coming from the hall.
"Damn it! I don't believe it! This time, I'm betting everything I have!"
Milim looked at the two extra puddings on the plate, her face beaming, her little fangs showing.
"Hmph, hmph, then I'll gladly accept! Plate it!"
Following the sound, the hall was a chaotic scene.
On the left, Testarossa and Kochou Shinobu were quietly drinking tea.
On the right, the three shut-ins stared motionless at the game screen.
In the middle, Rimuru and Ramiris, among others, were gathered around Milim and Jashin-chan, joining in the fun.
For their Ludo showdown, everyone present had bet on Milim to win.
"Jashin-chan's Ludo skills are only good enough to beat a certain someone who's always out gallivanting."
"Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean I'm out gallivanting?! You're the one who kicked me in, alright?!"
Zhong Chen watched Rimuru, who was constantly spreading rumors, with a black line on his face.
He had deliberated for a long time back then and hadn't made up his mind, alright?
"Ahem... A Chen, you're back..."
Everyone followed Rimuru's gaze and, sure enough, a certain someone's figure stood at the doorway with a helpless expression.
"Oh my, isn't that Lord Zhong Chen? He's actually back."
"Yes, Master is actually back. I thought he'd forgotten he even had a home."
"Hmph, bad guys are always like this, playing around everywhere and not taking me... ahem... not taking us."
Zhong Chen heard Testarossa and the other two complaining, and the helplessness on his face instantly vanished, replaced by an expression of taking pride in what should be shameful. He crossed his arms and loudly declared:
"Hmph, this Lord acts as he pleases, why should I explain myself to others!!!"
"Wow!!! This guy is even more arrogant than me!"
Jashin-chan, who was rolling the dice, heard Zhong Chen's shout and looked at this brave warrior with a shocked expression.
She had almost been scared to death when she first arrived here.
Are you kidding me? God, and her own boss were both here, and that little loli with pointed ears and black hair, was she some kind of Infinite Dragon God?
Seeing this lineup, even the usually lawless Jashin-chan couldn't help but shrink her neck.
This guy in front of her could be so arrogant, truly a role model for her kind.
May Lord Satan bless you... Uh... well, she doesn't seem to have time.
Medusa quietly walked up to Rimuru and gently poked her.
"Lord Rimuru, this is..."
"A Chen... uh... that's Zhong Chen, also one of the founders of the Monster Country Federation."
"So he's a big shot."
Medusa looked at the man still posing, a shocked expression on her face, after hearing Rimuru's explanation.
"Yurine, you must stay away from this A Chen. He loves to steal money the most."
Milim still didn't miss an opportunity to badmouth Zhong Chen.
"Milim, what you're saying is definitely slander! When did I steal money? I borrowed it!!!"
Milim heard Zhong Chen's roar, blinked her little eyes twice, a mischievous smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. She extended her right hand, fingers together, palm up, towards Zhong Chen.
"Then give me back my money!"
Zhong Chen, who had been feeling righteous, immediately lost his momentum upon hearing the words "give back money" and said awkwardly:
"Ahem... I'm a bit tight on money recently... I'll pay you back when I get my allowance next month."
"I'll be very rich next month, right, Sakuya?"
Looking at her master, who was constantly winking at her, Sakuya showed a helpless smile.
"Yes, Master's allowance will be doubled next month."
"Hahaha, Milim, did you hear that? My allowance will be doubled next month!!!"
Upon receiving Sakuya's definite answer, Zhong Chen immediately felt capable again.
"A Chen, pay up! Five thousand."
Rimuru extended her right hand, a smile playing on her lips, looking at Zhong Chen.
"Master, you borrowed ten thousand lime coins from me before, shouldn't you pay it back now?"
Testarossa rested her right fist on her right cheek, her eyes full of amusement as she spoke.
"Uh... I... you also borrowed three thousand from me..."
Satan, the little loli, also briefly put down her controller upon hearing the words "pay back money" and looked at Zhong Chen with a scared expression.
"And my ten thousand, which I had planned to use for microtransactions."
"You also owe me four thousand, when will you return it..."
Bible Loli and the Infinite Dragon God also looked at Zhong Chen with wide eyes.
"Bad guy, and mine and my sister's..."
"Holy crap! This guy can owe so many people money, that's amazing!!!"
"Jashin-chan, you can't learn from him."
"Jashin-chan, if you dare to borrow money everywhere..."
Jashin-chan, who had also wanted to learn from Zhong Chen and see if she could borrow money from more people, looked at Yurine Hanazono's chainsaw, swallowed, and gave up on the idea of borrowing money.
Meanwhile, Zhong Chen looked at the many outstretched right hands in the room, couldn't help but swallow, and cold sweat began to appear on his forehead.
He didn't know why a Daluo Golden Immortal would still sweat, but cold sweat was indeed continuously flowing down.
"Uh... I suddenly remembered I have something to deal with in the Shinobi World, so I'll be going now!!!"
With that, Zhong Chen turned and ran, as if he had made some kind of resolution.
Everyone in the hall watched Zhong Chen's fleeing back and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Hmph, a mere A Chen dares to be so arrogant!"
"Is... is this really okay...? He... he won't get angry, will he...?"
Satan, the little loli, asked softly, her face full of worry.
"It's fine, A Chen isn't that petty."
"Hehe, it's fine, everyone was just playing around with him."
Hearing Rimuru's words, the worry in Satan's eyes finally disappeared.
And the actual situation was exactly as Rimuru had said; Zhong Chen, who had just walked out, immediately changed his expression.
"Hmph! Why should I pay back money I borrowed by my own ability?"
"No, it seems I can't count on my allowance next month. I need to find a way to generate more income."
Suddenly, Zhong Chen thought of a sucker, and a smile similar to Jashin-chan's appeared at the corner of his mouth.
At this moment, a certain cowardly dragon, who was sneaking around in Academy City, suddenly shivered.
He quickly looked around and, finding no abnormalities, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good, good... I wasn't discovered..."