Kazuki was brushing his teeth with minty berry root paste when Smile slithered in holding a scroll.
Well—"holding" might be generous.
The slime had flattened part of his gooey body around the scroll, which was half-dissolved and half-soggy from slime saliva.
"Glrrb!" Smile chirped proudly.
Kazuki squinted. "Smile… what's in your face?"
He grabbed a towel and peeled the scroll off. The top portion was still readable, barely.
To Kazuki Amano, Wild Hero of Oiwake Province,
By the Order of Her Radiant Majesty Princess Hikaru-no-Hime,
You are hereby summoned to the Floating Palace of Hinoyama
for recognition of your recent deeds.
Arrival expected within 5 days.
Attire: Formal.
Slimes optional.
Kazuki stared at the scroll.
Then looked at Smile, who was chewing on the wax seal like it was bubblegum.
"Okay. A royal invitation. That's probably good, right? You didn't eat the whole letter this time!"
Smile burbled smugly.
Tala peeked into the room. "Did I just hear 'royal' and 'summoned' in the same sentence?"
Kazuki held up the scroll.
She read it, blinked, then nodded slowly. "Well, that escalated."
"I didn't do anything that grand," Kazuki protested. "Just gave a giant tree its flower back."
Tala arched an eyebrow. "You calmed a Kodomoku without bloodshed. That's unheard of."
"Smile technically fixed it…"
"Which only makes the story more unbelievable."
Kazuki sighed. "So… what's this Floating Palace place?"
Tala crossed her arms. "Hinoyama is the seat of the Sky Sovereign Lineage—think nobles, mages, rich sword-swinging snobs. If they're inviting you, it's not just a medal. It's politics."
Kazuki groaned. "I don't do politics."
"Too bad. You're the hot mess they picked."
Smile nodded sagely, then immediately bounced into a wall.
✦
Travel Montage! (With Problems)
Kazuki, Tala, and Smile set off the next day, riding an oversized travel beetle named Kichi, who hummed like a coffee machine and could climb mountains.
By noon they were dodging hail mana.
By evening they were being chased by a jealous wild raccoon that had a crush on Smile (long story).
By the second morning, a merchant caravan passed them and whispered,
"Isn't that the one who accidentally tamed a thunder wyvern with soup?"
And Kazuki nearly fell off the beetle.
"I DID NOT TAME IT," he yelled.
"Soup is soup," said the merchant, speeding off.
Tala snorted. "You really are developing a reputation."
✦
Floating Palace of Hinoyama – Outer Gates
Hinoyama lived up to its name—it literally floated.
The city was built on massive levitating stone islands, each connected by suspended rope-bridges laced with enchanted silk. Waterfalls spilled from the edges like hanging ribbons, and flocks of glowing birds soared between towers.
Kazuki stood at the base of the sky-lift platform, staring up.
"Okay. That's gotta be a hundred stories in the air."
Tala adjusted her coat. "Welcome to noblesville."
A guard in silver-and-sky-blue armor stepped forward. "State your name and business."
Kazuki smiled. "Kazuki Amano. Uh… accidental hero. Here for tea, apparently?"
The guard's eyes widened. "…You're him?!"
He looked at the slime, then back at Kazuki, confused. "And this is?"
"Smile."
Smile struck a heroic pose and made a little frrrp sound.
The guard whispered into a crystal.
Moments later, a bell rang. The platform hummed, glowing runes activating.
"Ascend," the guard said, bowing. "Her Radiance is expecting you."
✦
Hinoyama Inner City – Cloud Blossom Court
The court was carved of pearlwood and mistglass. Courtiers in flowing robes stood in clusters, whispering behind silk fans. Magical birds nested in sky-lanterns. The scent of plum blossoms floated in the air.
Kazuki felt wildly out of place in his borrowed formal wear—his tunic too tight, his boots too soft, and Smile resting on his shoulder like a drooling scarf.
Tala stayed close, eyes scanning for threats. "Be careful what you say here. Every smile has a dagger."
"Cool. Super reassuring," Kazuki muttered.
A gong sounded.
The crowd parted.
Down the central stair floated Princess Hikaru-no-Hime, draped in white and indigo silk, her eyes like polished onyx. She looked no older than twenty, but power shimmered around her like a second skin.
"Kazuki Amano," she said with a calm, melodic voice. "I have heard… curious things about you."
Kazuki bowed awkwardly. "Hi. Sorry if anything exploded on the way here."
Smile made a bubbly chirp.
The Princess tilted her head. "And this is the legendary slime?"
"I wouldn't say legendary. More like… creatively chaotic."
She smiled, just barely. "You saved a guardian spirit, redirected a lava beast, and, somehow, domesticated a wind wyvern by accident."
"Again, not domesticated! It just… likes my soup."
The Princess laughed softly.
Kazuki blinked. "Wait, was that a laugh? I thought noble types were allergic to humor."
"Only the boring ones," she said. "Now. Shall we speak of why you're truly here?"
Kazuki frowned. "Not for tea and medals?"
She turned serious. "No. You've drawn attention, Kazuki Amano. Not just from us… but from those who consider chaos a threat."
She gestured, and a large map unfurled, showing glowing marks across the world.
One glowed red.
"This one appeared three days ago. A mana rift opened in Tenseikai, where you fought the Kodomoku."
Tala's face hardened. "Residual backlash from the spirit bloom?"
"No," the Princess said. "Someone used that opportunity to breach the seal. Someone powerful."
Kazuki raised a hand. "Should I be worried?"
"Yes."
Smile burped a tiny fireball.
✦
System Notification
[Main Quest Updated!]
Arc Start: "The Rift That Shouldn't Be"
Goal: Investigate the new mana rift in Tenseikai Province. Allies: Princess Hikaru-no-Hime, Tala, Smile Warning: Unknown enemy involved. Presence of shadow-class entities detected.
✦
Elsewhere, Again…
In a dark, spiral hall of mirrors, Aurelis sat fuming.
"He gets a royal audience… and I get assigned boar patrol?!"
His sword flared with fire. "This isn't over."
A mirror shimmered beside him, showing Kazuki smiling awkwardly as Smile bounced in a pudding bowl.
Aurelis growled. "He's not even trying!"