Is it wrong for slimes to be in dungeons? (revised)

Chapter 52: A Hunger for More

(3rd Person POV)

7am, Twilight Manor.

Finn sat in his office along with Loki, Gareth, and Riveria. Last night they had gone over the plans for the day. Loki was going to take the majority of the female members of the Loki Familia and search through Daedalus street. Finn would take the male high-tier adventurers to the sewers in order to search for clues there.

However something had given them pause, or more accurately, gave Finn pause. Last evening, at around 8 a pillar of light had suddenly erupted from not too far away from the city. The signs that a deity had used their arcanum and returned to Tenkai.

However, strictly speaking they had no part in that. It was certainly eye-catching, but it had nothing to do with the Loki Familia so there was no reason for them to get caught up on it. But that wasn't how Finn felt.

Finn sat silently in the room eyeing the clock. He had postponed the original time for them to leave and search the city for the second entrance of the dungeon by a few minutes. Strictly speaking even if he wanted to investigate, it was Ganesha Familia's jurisdiction to scout the situation. They couldn't get permission to leave the city for a few days, and they couldn't simply abandon their original errand either.

As time passed, nothing happened. But, just as Finn was about to give up and move on, a knock sounded at the door. "Umm, Captain." A light voice sounded on the other side.

"Yes, Tiona?" Finn asked.

"Rimuru's here." The amazonian said, opening the door and peaking her head in.

Finn paused for a moment and made a complicated expression.

I really hoped I was wrong... He sighed internally. Things would be far more simple if he was just being paranoid, but Rimuru showing up now of all times wasn't a good sign.

"Should I...tell her to leave?" She asked after a moment of silence.

"No." Finn answered firmly. "Bring her here."

A moment passed and the expressions of those still in the room grew more concerned.

"What is Rimuru..." doing here? Riveria voiced the thoughts of everyone else in the room.

"Not sure...but it probably ain't anything good." Loki voiced her opinion.

It wasn't long before Rimuru stood at the center of Finn's office. His expression set everyone's nerves on fire. Even for a room full of first tier adventurers they still just managed to conceal their anxiety.

"Let's cut to the chase," Loki said. "What happened?"

Rimuru remained silent for a second, figuring out where to start before opening his mouth. "I can't find Amaterasu or Sophia."

"I...see." Finn resisted the urge to let out a sigh. He had foreseen such an outcome, and normally this wouldn't be much of a problem, but he couldn't bring himself to feel relief. Because last night an unknown god had returned to Tenkai. And the god that had been housing Rimuru Tempest had gone missing. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together.

This meant that Rimuru no longer had no deity keeping tabs on him, no more importantly than that the turmoil of having those close to him killed could cause massive problems for the people of Orario. Finn wasn't sure if Rimuru as a monster felt grief the same as humans. But looking at his expression, he didn't dare doubt it.

"How long have they been gone?" Riviera asked.

Rimuru's expression pulled back slightly, his eyes squinting, as if he was recalling something he'd rather not say. But he shook his head and answered, "I...don't know. A lot happened and I wasn't able to operate for almost all of yesterday. When I came to, yesterday evening, they were gone...and that white pillar appeared in the sky shortly after."