Rimuru had no idea what the others in the room were talking about. Otherwise, he would have desperately argued back.
Well, even if he argued, if asked to explain it, he really did not know why he took in a few disciples in almost every world.
It did not feel like he had any particular purpose... He had always thought knowledge was something that could be shared without any loss. Perhaps because the ways he acquired knowledge were basically freeloading and plundering, virtually cost-free, he rarely attached value to it—or rather, rarely gave it the concept of value.
Since it cost him nothing, perhaps a casual act of kindness might someday grow into a shady grove. Why not?
Coveting a world's authority was secondary. More importantly... he liked seeing his disciples grow, work hard to meet his expectations, and ultimately bear fruit. Whether it was Eler or Saten Ruiko, when they strove to surpass themselves and prove themselves, Rimuru could rarely feel that sense of how wonderful youth was, and the pride of knowing they were his disciples.
Hmm... It was like they were his own children. Did that count as his fatherly affection overflowing?!
Tch, overflowing or not, I do not care anyway.
With that mindset, Rimuru went about enjoying his little life, until three days later, New York finally could not sit still anymore, and he received a call from Iron Man.
"Hey, where are you?"
"Kamar-Taj..." Rimuru yawned lazily. "Didn't I tell you guys?"
"Of course I know you're at Kamar-Taj, but where the hell is Kamar-Taj?!" Tony, wearing a suit on the screen as though he had just returned from a press conference, asked in exasperation, "Hey, listen, kid, I've been driven crazy these past few days—we waited a whole three days for you to explain