"No need. I saved them simply because I didn't want children with bright futures ahead to die in a dark, sunless cave. It wasn't in the hope of receiving repayment. And there's no need for others to prepare gifts either!"
"Compared to that, although I treated your children, if today's experiences aren't handled well, it's easy for children to develop psychological trauma. So rather than thanks, it's better to go back, spend more time with your children, and properly counsel them."
Looking at the valuable gold card before him, Takeru gently shook his head and spoke directly, also reminding the other parents still present.
"I understand. We were presumptuous. However, please do come visit our inn in the future. Our main house is in Kanagawa. I will personally receive you then. Thank you again for taking care of Ai." Seeing the resolve in Takeru's eyes, Akina didn't persist further but instead extended another invitation to Takeru.
"Takeru-nii, Ai will also help entertain you!" Hearing her mother's words, Ai chimed in.
"I understand. We'll see when there's a chance. Alright, it's getting late now. Everyone, please disperse." Hearing their words, Takeru nodded lightly, then looked at the others and spoke.
"Thank you!" Seeing this, the others could only thank Takeru one after another, then left in their cars with their children.
Renge and the others also boarded the rescue team's vehicles, reluctantly bidding farewell to Takeru before leaving.
"Takeru-nii, I will definitely come find you again!" Hinatsuru, now in her family's high-end private car, was still reluctantly saying goodbye to Takeru.
"Be a good girl after you go back, okay? Take care in the future!" Hearing her words, Takeru gently waved.
After the last dozen or so people were all taken away, Takeru turned his gaze back to Hazama and Izumi.
"All the children inside have been rescued. However, it seems a few had already been eaten. This... will require your side to investigate." Takeru quickly explained the situation inside.
"Is that so? That's good then. Everything is thanks to you, Takeru-san. But... what exactly is the situation over there? Why did this happen?" Hazama first expressed his gratitude to Takeru, then hesitated before asking about the situation over there.
"That place is a special island inhabited by a large number of monsters. However, the biggest threat was these giant bats. But now, I've destroyed the bat nest over there. The rest shouldn't pose any major problems."
"And this, if I'm not mistaken, is a spatial node, similar to the function of a wormhole. The place it leads to seems to be a special world… no, more accurately, something like a secret realm."
The reason for asserting it was different from the main world was because Takeru noticed the moon in that world didn't shift, and mobile phones couldn't be used there.
Most importantly, within that space, Takeru couldn't use Shambhala to return to the main world!
"Also, the space inside isn't very large, with a diameter of probably less than a hundred kilometers. After that, a barrier-like boundary appears. Attacking the barrier can also cause spatial collapse."
"As for other things, you'll need to investigate them yourselves. Also, this node requires you to station people here to guard it, preventing other monsters from breaking in." Takeru spoke calmly.
"I understand. Then, regarding this place, our military will station troops here. Moreover, we will apply to our superiors to give you a certain percentage of all produce from the secret realm. Also, if any special items are researched, we will prioritize supplying them to you."
Hearing Takeru say this, Hazama realized the value of this special small world was definitely not low. But he knew Takeru deserved absolute credit for all this.
Combined with being the main world's only A-Rank Ability User, using these things to somewhat win over Takeru would be excellent.
Furthermore, this way, if any problems arose inside later, they could also invite Takeru to suppress them.
Most importantly, due to his merit in establishing the Ability User Organization, Hazama had now been promoted to Major General. And the greatest credit was also because of Takeru. He wanted to express his gratitude to Takeru in this way.
"As you wish." Hearing him say this, Takeru nodded lightly, then dissipated before their shocked gazes.
…
Meanwhile, Takeru, who was still investigating inside, received the memories of his shadow clone. After digesting the memory content, Takeru looked at the special fish, animals, and many plants and fruits in this world. He wasn't sure if these things were edible, but later, the country could appraise them.
Moreover, Takeru believed that since Hazama said so, then as long as these items were non-toxic, beneficial, or delicious, they would basically prioritize sending some samples to Takeru.
Many mutated animal ingredients at Takeru's home were sent by the military.
Of course, besides Takeru, Yukino and the others would also receive some, just in smaller quantities than Takeru.
Thinking this, Takeru gently shook his head, then flew towards the spatial node and quickly returned home.
The time was now past eight o'clock. At home, Karin, Miki, and Miu had returned early and were waiting for Takeru.
"I'm back!" Because he used Shambhala, Takeru directly appeared in the room.
"Onii-chan!"
"Takeru!"
With Takeru's appearance, Miu and Karin were overjoyed, running towards Takeru.
"Onii-chan, are you okay?" Reaching Takeru's side, Miu worriedly pulled at Takeru, checking him over.
"Don't worry, your brother is the strongest!" Hearing her words, Takeru said with a light laugh.
"Mhmm, I know brother is definitely the best!" Hearing Takeru's words, Miu nodded seriously.
"Takeru, should I prepare some food for you now?" Miki also asked with concern.
"No need, I've already eaten. I've been busy for hours, I'll go wash up first." Seeing Miki's concerned look, Takeru gently shook his head.
"I'll draw a bath for Onii-chan!" Hearing Takeru's words, Miu proactively spoke up.
"Mhmm." Watching Miu quickly leave, Takeru was surprised, then stared at her departing figure.
Although Miu was usually well-behaved, today she seemed a bit overly eager.
After a while, Miu found Takeru again. "Onii-chan, the bath is ready!"
"I know. Miu, do you have something to tell me?" Looking at Miu's obedient expression, Takeru spoke calmly.
"Ah, this... actually, there's a little thing. But never mind that, brother has been tired all day. Go take a good bath first. I'll tell you after you come out!"
Hearing Takeru's words, Miu was taken aback, then hesitantly spoke to Takeru.
Noticing Miu's gaze, Takeru understood Miu indeed had something, and it seemed to be something she felt guilty about.
Although he didn't know what, seeing her attitude, since she wouldn't say now, Takeru wouldn't force her.
Gently shaking his head, Takeru directly headed towards the bathroom.
Inside, Takeru washed up, then soaked in the bath.
A lot had happened today. Most importantly, Takeru realized this so-called world mutation wasn't just changes on Earth, but also connections appearing between other worlds and the main world.
'Or perhaps it couldn't be called another world, just a different dimension. So, when might it connect to worlds also possessing life? At that time, it's possible wars or similar conflicts could arise over resources or other reasons.'
Of course, it was all just Takeru's speculation, and it probably wouldn't happen that quickly in the short term.
As for later, Takeru might become invincible, so any so-called war wouldn't affect him in the slightest.
After pondering this a bit, Takeru stopped thinking about it. Compared to himself and his group, after today's events, the world would be the one in upheaval.
After all, such a large-scale beast tide today would be seen by even those who paid no attention to current affairs through various channels.
Especially the appearance of Ability Users and monsters in the everyday world would likely cause no small stir.
At the very least, the three prefectures adjacent to Chibam which are Saitama and Kanagawa, were greatly affected. Moreover, in the areas where Takeru and the others were, holidays had been announced, this time for two days.