— –Rimuru Tempest– —
"Hmm." Frey let out a soft, contented hum as she relaxed into his touch.
"For someone with wings that could slice through Magisteel, you're surprisingly delicate." Rimuru teased, carefully adjusting another feather. His fingers moved gently, plucking a few loose ones and replacing them with a handful he would pluck of his own, which shimmered faintly in their silvery-blue color.
He really was married to a bird. A spoiled bird at that.
She could've done it all herself in seconds. Frey had long since surpassed the need for manual preening. Her control over her body was absolute. Every feather was where she wanted it, and every "loose" one she'd left there on purpose for him. Still… that never stopped him.
There was something oddly therapeutic about it. And well, perhaps this was just simply their love language between each other. In addition, he could use Asmodeus to tease her while helping her with her wings, and seeing her reactions made it worth doing even more.
"I'm not the one using an Ultimate Skill for glorified feather maintenance." Frey shot back, eyes still closed, her wings twitching slightly as they fluffed out at his touch. Then, with a slow, elegant motion, she brought one wing forward and ran her fingers over the newly added feathers. "Besides, it looks better this way. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Hm, it's hard to argue with that." Rimuru chuckled quietly, his hand brushing one last time along her wing.
He finally stepped into the hot spring beside her, the steam curling softly around his body before he finally "let go." His body collapsed into that familiar gelatinous shape with a contented little plop, floating lazily on the surface of the water.
It was rare for him to fully revert to his Slime form anymore. He was just too used to being a Humanoid. For one, having hands was nice, and for another, he only really bothered to turn back when someone wanted to carry him around, usually Shizue.
He honestly wondered how her trip to El Dorado was going, considering what going there meant to her. But, he wasn't the type to spy on everyone in his kingdom. If there was something important, then Raphael would inform him. Otherwise, the news could wait. In theory, he was still on his small vacation, at least for the remainder of the night.
Then, without warning, Frey scooped him up and cradled him in her arms, letting out a breath against his slime body.
"You missed a few feathers." She murmured, glancing at her wings with mock irritation.
"I didn't." Rimuru wobbled slightly in her grasp. "You just added more when you thought I wasn't looking."
"Maybe." She said with a sly smile, holding him a little closer.
For a few seconds, they just enjoyed the moment, only letting the sounds of shifting water fill the air. And then, almost reluctantly, Frey broke the silence.
"I'm a little bored." She admitted quietly. "Maybe it's selfish, but everything's been too quiet lately. Fulbrosia's running so smoothly it might as well be automated. Even when I came to Tempest thinking I could help, everything was already handled."
Her fingers idly stroked the surface of his body with a thoughtful expression. And Rimuru, for his part, just waited. Floating in her arms silently since he knew there was more she wanted to say.
"I know you are starting your 'Holy War' with Luminous. But we both know I wouldn't be of use there. As you like to say, it would be the equivalent of sending me, a nuclear bomb versus a coughing baby, the humans." She continued. "And, while I don't mind a bit of a break… well… a girl can only do so much before she starts to get bored."
"That's fair." Rimuru answered. "Still, I'm sure things won't be as simple. Otherwise, we wouldn't have gotten the future we saw with Prophet. I'm simply enjoying things while they are still calm."
"And what then?" Frey asked, gently running her finger over his body. "I don't know how things got to that point, but you have done more than enough to prevent and prepare yourself for that future. If we lose, then our story ends there. But when we win… what then? As we are now, we're practically ageless. Strong beyond reason. Untouchable. What will we do with eternity?"
That was a question he hadn't put much thought on, if he was being honest.
"I don't know." He said at last, pulling gently away from her. His form shifted in the water rising from the water as he returned to his usual Kijin form. However, he made sure to add his pair of wings to his back. While he had wanted to enjoy using his true form for a bit, conversations like this were better done eye to eye. And well, Slime's didn't have eyes.
"I guess, for starters." He said with a small smile. "We could probably pass a few decades raising our kids."
That finally drew a real reaction. Frey let out a quiet, breathy chuckle, her expression softening.
"That would be something, wouldn't it?" She murmured as her eyes drifted to the sky. "There are going to be a lot of children running around in the future, aren't there?"
Her gaze lowered again, this time a little more serious.
"I'll admit… I wasn't the best mother with Claire and Luchia. Those were different times. I was different." She didn't say it like an apology. Just a truth she'd accepted. "But maybe… this time, I'll do better." Her lips curved faintly as she looked at the door of the Hot Springs with a smile. "Plus, I bet my kids will be cuter than Shuna's."
Rimuru chuckled at her reaction, causing Frey to let out a soft smile.
"Don't blame me." She added with a teasing glint in her eye. "Kids without feathers just aren't as cute. It's science."
"Pretty biased science." Rimuru said, amused, following her eyes to the door.
Then, they heard the door open as Shuna walked in with Shion walking behind her, and riding on top of Beretta, was Ramiris.
"Ah, Testarossa has a surprise for you." Shuna announced with a chuckle, shaking her head with a smile as she undressed. "Poor Diablo… you better be nice to him, ok? He's having a rough day." She added as she entered the Hot Springs, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Hm?" Rimuru asked, raising an eyebrow as he saw her relax in the water.
"Hehe, you should have seen the battle in the Labyrinth! Veldora was all like 'Muahaha, you survived my lighting tribulation!'" Ramiris announced, quickly throwing her dress over to Beretta as she shot to the water, making a small splash as she entered. "Man! It was awesome! I like her! Rimuru give her to me as my subordinate!"
"What's all this about?" Rimuru asked, glancing over as Shion followed suit, undressing and entering the water next to him. Using the opening to cuddle beside him.
"Shh… Ramiris." Shion whispered as she splashed some water her way, causing the small fairy to stick out her tongue in annoyance as she quickly swam next to Rimuru for protection. "It's supposed to be a surprise."
'Raph?'
[Do not worry. Testarossa's surprise will only help Tempest grow stronger. The notification was held back after you requested to not be disturbed unless it was an emergency during the remainder of your vacation.]
Well, that's fair, besides, he wouldn't mind being surprised. So he didn't ask any further questions.
"So…" Shuna asked gently, her voice soft as she closed her eyes, letting the warmth soak into her skin. "What were you both talking about?"
"Well…" Frey answered, sharing a glance with Rimuru for a moment before changing the subject. "I was just starting to talk about Luchia and Benimaru. Apparently, she's finally started her attack on your poor brother."
"Oh?" Shuna asked intrigued.
"Whether he meant to or not..." Frey continued. "...Middray seems to have helped the two of them get closer. And, she pounced on him not long after."
"About time." Shion mused as she rested her head on Rimuru's shoulder. "I saw them training once, and that girl has been ready to jump him for a few months now. Benimaru was probably too dense to figure out what she was trying to do."
That got a round of nods from the group, before Shion let out a quiet grumble.
"What is it?" Rimuru asked as he reached his arm around and began to play with her hair.
"Raja…" Shion muttered. "I really thought we were going to have a fight… but well… Shuna just wiped them all with her magic. I got all prepared and excited for a fight for nothing. Honestly, even with all my training I still feel like I am getting nowhere. I'll probably just ask Hinata for a few more spars soon."
That made Frey raise a brow, then chuckle softly.
"You too, huh?" She said. "I wouldn't mind a few spars. My wings could use the exercise. And I'm starting to get a little too comfortable."
"Oh? In that case, count me in too!" Ramiris shouted, suddenly perking up where she floated. "The Elementals have actually started properly listening to me again, so I wouldn't mind joining in! I gotta get strong enough to beat Veldora! Once I do that, I'll claim his title as Supreme Sect Leader!"
"…Oh? Did he change it again?" Rimuru asked with a chuckle.
Ramiris ignored him entirely, already swimming to the center of the hot spring with her usual dramatic flair.
"Besides." She grinned mischievously, arms raised high like she was about to perform a ritual, "Perhaps it's finally time… to unveil my grand secret technique!"
And with that, she dunked herself under the water, vanishing beneath the surface in a flurry of bubbles.
For a moment, they all just simply stared at the bubbling water.
"…Is she okay?" Shuna asked softly, tilting her head.
But then the surface of the water burst upward, shimmering wings spread wide, easily large enough to rival Frey's. And rising from the water was Ramiris. But not as they knew her.
Gone was the tiny, pixie-sized chaos gremlin. In her place stood a woman, tall, radiant, and undeniably beautiful. Her long golden hair cascaded down her back, glistening with droplets of water. Her wings shimmered with a prismatic light, and her body… well, it definitely wasn't the figure of someone who'd ever been taken lightly.
Her chest was fuller than Shuna's and only slightly smaller than Frey's, and her features had matured into something striking. Her face held the elegance of a queen with the playful spark of mischief still lingering behind her closed eyelids and smirk.
For a second, Rimuru sensed the Magicules inside of Ramiris' begin to explode in strength. It felt like watching a star being birthed. Her own aura barely contained inside her body. He didn't know where her limits would lie, but going by the myths around her, he had no doubt she was in the process of becoming an absolute monster in terms of sheer energy capacity.
Then Ramiris's eyes began to flutter open as her aura continued to rise, but never leaking out of her. But then all of a sudden it all stopped, and spiked down right away, leaving her even weaker than before. The star that was burning so bright just moments before burning out in a second.
Before she could so much as see the expressions on their faces, she suddenly shrunk once more. With a soft burst of light and a familiar puff of steam, she collapsed back into her tiny Fairy form, floating in the water with a sleepy little groan.
"…What just happened?" Shion asked with surprise, since she too, had sensed the sudden display of strength.
"I don't know what she was trying to do, but I can guess. Perhaps she was reaching too far, far too quickly, before she was ready for it, and so her attempt failed." Frey explained, her eyes wide before letting out a small teasing smile. "Or she got embarrassed and bailed."
"I did not get embarrassed!" Ramiris squeaked, barely lifting her head above the water, her cheeks puffed out indignantly. "I-I just… ran out of stamina! That was my limit for today, okay?! It's not my fault that my magicules are all super duper corrupted!"
She flailed her little arms in emphasis, sending a few tiny splashes around her as her wings buzzed behind her in the water.
"I'd like to see you try doing anything useful when your insides feel like someone poured moldy soup over your soul. I've been literally using Purifier on myself every single day! Do you know how annoying that is?! Just give me a few more years, no, months!"
She let out a dramatic huff and zipped through the air, leaving a faint sparkle trail behind as she made a beeline for Rimuru. She dove into his hair like it was her own personal nest, poking her head out between the silvery blue strands just above his forehead.
Her expression softened as she tilted her face down toward his eyes, her usual bravado cracking just a little.
"But um… pretty cool, right?" She mumbled, a light blush blooming across her cheeks as she avoided eye contact for half a second. "I-I looked awesome, didn't I?"
"Absolutely." Rimuru chuckled, reaching up to gently tap her tiny head with a finger.
— — —
Leaving the bath, Rimuru dried his hair with a towel as he strolled leisurely toward his office. His steps were light, relaxed from the soak, but his thoughts were already shifting gears. Diablo should have returned with Violet by now, so he could give her a proper name and one of the special vessels he had prepared.
But the moment he opened the door, he knew something was off. There was someone else inside he wasn't expecting. A blonde girl sat comfortably on the couch, legs crossed, helping herself to a bowl of fruit like she owned the place. She looked up at him with mild curiosity, a grape between her fingers.
The atmosphere in the room felt… strained.
Diablo stood rigidly near the far wall, refusing to glance in Testarossa's direction, but he was radiating an aura of gloom, and Testarossa an aura of smug. Violet, arms folded, was leaning against a pillar, her gaze fixed firmly on the ground, lips pressed in a thin line. And Testarossa, well, she was smiling. That wide, pleasant, almost-too-sweet smile that she always wore on her face.
Only the blonde girl seemed truly at ease.
"Lord Rimuru, welcome back." Testarossa said first, stepping forward with a graceful bow, her voice as silky as ever. "I trust your stay in Raja was… rejuvenating?"
"Indeed, Lord Rimuru." Diablo added immediately, materializing beside her with a deeper bow, just slightly lower than hers, as always. His tone was smooth, but there was a tightness to it, a barely concealed irritation simmering beneath the surface. "As requested, I have retrieved Violet. She was… understandably shaken after her loss, but she's recovered. You'll find she's more than ready to follow your orders now."
"Mm. Indeed. Indeed." Testarossa chimed, her eyes flicking toward Violet for the briefest of moments before settling back on Rimuru. Her smile widened, practically glowing with mischief. "On that note… allow me to introduce our newest guest. This is Jaune, the Primordial of Yellow. We had a short conversation, and she's decided to join Tempest of her own volition."
"Yo." The girl, Jaune, lifted a hand in a casual wave at being addressed.
Testarossa cleared her throat in annoyance. Jaune blinked, then coughed awkwardly into her fist as she stood up with a quick motion. The change in demeanor was immediate.
"I am honored." She said, bowing low before lifting her head just enough to gauge his reaction.
"Alright…" Rimuru began, pausing for a moment as he looked at the people in the room. He had two people looking at him for praise. One that wouldn't look at him, who he was just now realizing still had the Asmodeus collar he had placed on her during the battle. And Jaune… who was just there.
"First of all, welcome to Tempest." Rimuru finally spoke. "I'm guessing Diablo and Testarossa already gave you the whole welcome speech and tour. So I'll skip the formalities."
Then, turning around, he motioned for everyone to follow him.
"We can finalize the introductions on the way to the Labyrinth. That's where your bodies will be. But first…" He began, concentrating on the collar on Violet's neck and causing it to disappear. The moment it vanished, he saw Violet visibly relax. "There's no need for that any more."
"So uh… Just like that? I'm in?" Jaune asked, walking beside him. "No questions?"
"Do you want an interview?" Rimuru answered with a chuckle. "If you didn't want to be here, you probably would have left by now. So I don't have to worry about you being forced here. Plus, I trust Tess. If she says I can trust you, then I will. And I won't lie, I was planning on reaching out to you eventually. So this just speeds up things."
"Huh…" Jaune answered, glancing back to Testarossa's proud expression before nodding. "Fair."
"Lord Rimuru, perhaps you should challenge her too." Violet suggested from the back, putting on her most innocent expression. "I'm sure Jaune would enjoy seeing just how strong you really are."
Jaune let out a laugh, shaking her head as she followed along. The sound wasn't mocking, just amused, like Violet had set up the perfect little trap and Jaune wasn't about to step into it.
"I'll pass, but thanks for the offer." She reached up, brushing her fingers along the side of her neck as she grinned at Violet. "Though maybe Violet wouldn't mind getting her collar back. I heard that she—" Jaune cut herself short, catching the sharp glint in Testarossa's eyes. "…Nevermind."
Rimuru had to hold back a sigh as he led them across Tempest. If he was being honest, he was caught off guard by Jaune. But it wasn't like he was going to freak out. If he became defensive that would only make the Primordial of Yellow look down on him.
And perhaps his standards were simply out of whack now that he had three Primordials under him, but adding another didn't feel like something too crazy anymore.
"Still," Rimuru said, glancing over his shoulder at Jaune, "I'm kinda curious what Testarossa told you to convince you to join us."
"Well…" Jaune's gaze wandered, taking in the flow of life around them the smell of fresh bread, the clang of hammer against steel from a forge nearby. "She told me Tempest would make me feel alive. And that's worth a lot."
"Alive, huh?" Rimuru echoed, his eyes sliding to Testarossa.
"Indeed." Her reply was calm, deliberate, her chin dipping in a small nod. "Like never before."
"Alive." Diablo repeated, the gloominess in his voice eased, replaced by a genuine smile. "That is the best way to describe it, isn't it?"
"What is our role going to be?" Violet finally asked, her tone more thoughtful now as her gaze swept over the bustling city. "In most kingdoms, we'd be the ultimate deterrent, the weapon to make others think twice. But you don't need us for that. You're strong. Your Empire is strong, one of the strongest I've seen in my long life. It's thriving. It feels… alive. Like it's going to keep growing with or without us. Perhaps if this were another Kingdom, but Tempest simply doesn't need us. Not for war."
She then stopped, glancing at a massive statue of Veldora in the art district. The dragon's form was frozen mid-roar, wings flared, every scale carved in painstaking detail. At its base were flowers, painted stones, and small wooden carvings, gifts from the citizens. Not an altar of worship, but a gesture of respect.
"You even have Veldora with you, a True Dragon. I've met the people I will be working with in the future, and they are all highly qualified. So what is our purpose?"
"The answer is simple, isn't it?" Diablo asked, almost baffled that Violet would even need to ask. "Lord Rimuru does not gather weapons for war. He gathers people. People whose strength, knowledge, and perspective will shape Tempest into something greater than any one of us could imagine."
"That's a nice speech." Violet replied evenly, though her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary before shifting back to Rimuru. "But it still doesn't answer what you expect from us."
Rimuru slowed his pace, letting the group bunch closer as the road curved through a busy plaza. Merchants were calling out prices, a group of dwarves laughed loudly over mugs of ale, and a few children ran past with wooden swords, pretending to be knights.
"Honestly?" Rimuru chuckled. "All I really want is for you both to see Tempest as your home. I've got ideas where you could fit in, sure, but I'm open to your suggestions. If there's something you want to do, something that'll make this place better, I'll make sure you're there."
"Home?" Violet repeated, and for the first time, her mask cracked into something softer. A faint smile. "Well… that's a new one."
"If it's your home." Rimuru said. "Then you'll work twice as hard to protect it, and improve it."
Violet let out a low chuckle at his words.
"You might be onto something, Lord Rimuru." She answered.
Arriving at the Labyrinth, they moved in silence for a short while before reaching a large, reinforced door. Beyond it lay Rimuru's workshop, an orderly, almost surgical space he visited whenever he wanted to tinker alongside Raphael.
It was here that he'd made some of his greatest leaps forward. Some discoveries he'd refined personally, others he'd handed off to Tempest's researchers for further development. But the project he was about to reveal? That one, he had kept entirely to himself.
They stepped through a reinforced door into a side chamber, and Violet slowed immediately. Massive cylindrical tubes lined the far wall, each filled with a shimmering liquid that caught the light in shifting hues of gold and blue. Suspended within were bodies, seven of them, perfectly still, perfectly formed.
"Here they are… my magnum opus." Rimuru announced, gesturing toward the row of vessels. "All created the same way."
If he was being honest, a small part of him regretted summoning Diablo and Testarossa so early into this second life. If he'd waited, these vessels could have been theirs, better than anything they currently possessed. But maybe they didn't need them.
Raphael had told him that if Diablo fought Violet, he'd have an almost eighty percent chance of winning, even if she had used her control over her fragment of the Daemon World. That was already more than enough.
The bones alone were made from Aegistral, his most absurd creation to date. A metal so complex and expensive to forge that it almost felt like an inside joke between him and Raphael. He'd gathered every metal he could find, Orichalcum, Dragotite, gold, silver, Magisteel, Adamantite, Mithril, Chalmyrion, and a dozen rarer alloys, and forced them into a perfect union.
It had taken weeks of trial and error to make the metals cooperate without weakening each other. But when it worked… the result was the strongest, most adaptable material he'd ever held. Still, the cost was outrageous. He'd stopped after making seven bodies.
Was it worth it? Maybe not in the short term. Magisteel, fed with enough magicules, could mimic Aegistral's durability to an alarming degree. But Aegistral had potential Magisteel couldn't match, at least not without centuries of fuel and patience.
And the skeleton was only the start. He'd infused the bones with countless lesser Elementals, making them exceptionally attuned to channelling any form of elemental magic. Using his own body as a material, he'd shaped an internal magicule circulatory system through Universal Shapeshift. Every line, every conduit, designed to flow perfectly. Whoever inhabited these bodies would find magicule control almost effortless.
Then as if that weren't enough, he had also created a new form of synthetic flesh. Using his own Universal Thread Skill, he had created each and every individual muscle strand. With his Universal Thread, he could infuse aspects of his own Skills and resistances into the very threads he created.
For one, each and every single muscle fiber was infused with each and every one of his resistances. So whoever entered the vessel would have resistance to Holy-Demonic attacks, Physical Attack Nullification, Abnormal Condition Nullification, Natural Effects Nullification, and Spiritual Attack Resistance.
Along with said resistances, the muscle fibers were also incredibly strong. Each of them were created with the same principle as his own Steel Threads. However, rather than Steel Threads, they were something closer to Dragotite or Aegistral Threads. Created from a combination of his own Food Chain Skill to search each and every one of his subordinates for Skills that could combine with his own Universal Threads.
Skills that had been possible to find thanks to the creation of his spy organization. A good portion of them had obtained Sticky Thread and Steel Thread from him when named, and after his Harvest Festival, some of their own threads had also evolved into their own stronger form.
Truly, if it weren't for how heavily strained his soul was at the moment with his five Ultimate Skills, he might have been able to begin experimenting to create another to add to his collection from the Skills of his subordinates.
"I made every organ, every drop of blood, every…" Rimuru's hand drifted to the glass, his voice quieting before he shook his head. "Well… if I get into it, we'll be here for hours." He chuckled, though his eyes didn't leave the vessels for a few more seconds.
Turning back, he saw the longing expressions on all of his Primordials. Diablo and Testarossa were thankful for what they had, but even they were tempted by what they saw.
"This…" Violet asked, stepping next to him and reaching to touch the glass holding one of the vessels. "This will be ours?"
"Yes." Rimuru answered, letting out a small chuckle as he glanced back. "If I am being honest, the hardest part after creating them was not letting the bodies develop a consciousness of their own after soaking in the magicules. A few of my past experiments had to be stopped when the vessels suddenly awakened into Monsters."
Even now, the vessels were still floating and soaking in a bath of pure magicules, his and Veldora's combined, giving them a potency few living beings could ever achieve.
'It brings a tear to my eye, Raph.' He thought sarcastically with a soft smile.
[It was unfortunate that the creation of a magicule reactor proved impossible.] Raphael replied, her tone cold as usual, but he could feel the nod of agreement she gave him.
They'd spent weeks trying to take it one step further, experimenting with magicule veins and heart designs to create a generator, something that could provide limitless reserves or absurdly high regeneration. But even with both of their abilities, the project had ended in failure. For now.
"Now then, should we get started?" Rimuru asked.
— –Yuuki Kagurazaka– —
Yuuki lifted the porcelain cup to his lips, inhaling the faint aroma before taking a slow sip. The heat rolled pleasantly over his tongue, and he exhaled a quiet, satisfied sigh.
"How's Tear?" He asked, tone casual, though his gaze was sharp as it slid toward Kagali, who lingered in the shadow of the room's far wall.
"Her infiltration is proceeding as planned." Kagali replied smoothly. Her posture was relaxed, but the faint curl of a smile betrayed her satisfaction. "The chaos from Rimuru naming every Monster tribe in the Forest worked in our favor. She blended in perfectly… and, from the sound of it, she's enjoying herself a little too much. She's a true Tempestian now, and it's only a matter of time until she can climb high enough to begin giving us the information we need."
Yuuki's lips drew into a faint smile.
"That's good." He set the cup down with deliberate care, then pushed himself to his feet and wandered to one of the tall, cluttered shelves. His fingers traced over the spines before selecting a book, one of the many tomes scavenged from Rimuru's own creations. He flipped through it without looking at her. "For a moment, I wondered if she might've been caught. But I suppose I either underestimated her… or overestimated Tempest."
Kagali's head tilted, the faintest glint in her eyes as she shook her head.
"No." She said quietly. "I don't think it's possible to underestimate Tempest." She crossed her arms, gaze drifting upward in thought. "I've been using my Unique Skill, Planner, constantly. And the more I use it… the more I'm convinced. It's only a matter of time before they become unstoppable."
"Unstoppable, huh?" Yuuki echoed absently, eyes flicking over the lines in the book. "What about you, Kagali? What's your take? Are we doing the right thing here?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly at the question.
"Changing your mind?" She asked, not accusing, merely probing. "We've been preparing for this from the beginning. We have our foothold in the Empire. We have Mariabell. We have Cerberus. We have Tear. We've always known Tempest would be a factor, one we'd eventually have to deal with."
Her boots clicked softly as she stepped forward into the lamplight, her expression tightening.
"But the war is coming, Yuuki. Sooner than most expect. If we're going to choose a side, we need to choose now." Her gaze locked with his. "If Tempest keeps growing, your goal will slip away. The world will belong to him, not us. But…" She paused deliberately. "…we could still live in his world."
Yuuki's eyes widened a fraction at the suggestion, then he gave a low chuckle, smirk tugging at his lips. He looked down at the book in his hands, weighing it for a heartbeat before sliding it back onto the shelf.
"Live in his world, huh?" The smirk faded, replaced by a cold edge in his voice. "Easiest answer on paper. But it tastes like ash. Feels like throwing away everything we've built."
The thought had begun to creep in recently, not long after Tear had left for Tempest. They had been playing it safe this entire time, but the more he saw Tempest, the more he felt as if a noose was slowly being tightened around his neck. Like every moment he waited, he was simply sealing his fate. Now, he felt as if the noose around him was tightly grasping his neck, ready to cut off his oxygen at any moment.
Tempest or the Empire? Which would win in a battle between them? Every rational calculation told Yuuki the Empire would crush Tempest without question, yet his instincts whispered otherwise, that perhaps Tempest stood a chance no one wanted to admit.
"Any reports from Damrada?" Yuuki asked at last, his voice casual but his eyes were serious.
"He's been keeping a close watch on Falmuth… and on Tempest." Kagali replied, her gaze narrowing slightly. "He mentioned an interest in meeting Rimuru face-to-face. Perhaps it's nothing more than curiosity, but I have a bad feeling about it. He hasn't returned to the Eastern Empire in some time. As far as I know, he's still in Falmuth."
Yuuki gave a thoughtful hum, idly tapping his fingers against the arm of his chair before shaking his head.
"I trust Damrada. He's not the type to throw away an arrangement without reason. More likely it's business. Tempest keeps flooding the market with new products, it's only natural someone like him would want a closer look."
"If you trust him, then I'll trust him." Kagali said evenly, though Yuuki didn't miss the faint hesitation in her tone.
"What else?" He prompted. He could tell there was something more.
"It's about Misha." Kagali continued, a note of disapproval slipping into her voice. "She's been… getting too close to someone."
"Oh?" Yuuki arched a brow. That didn't sound like her, the woman who took what she wished for before throwing them once she was done. "Who?"
"A man who calls himself Hedylogos. He appeared out of nowhere and has remained by her side since. Skilled with taming and utilizing Monsters, exceptionally so. And, considering Misha hasn't dismissed him, I suspect he's talented in other ways as well."
"Did she use the perfume?" Yuuki asked, feeling a slight twinge of discomfort in his stomach.
"She did. And it wasn't any of the cursed perfumes I created recently. She used the one that I made back in my prime." Kagali confirmed. "That's how she first ensnared him. But there's something about him I don't like. I confronted her about it, and… she became defensive. It's not like her, and that worries me."
Yuuki let out a slow breath, not quite a sigh but close.
"I'll speak with her." He said, his voice sounding surprisingly tired. "If there's a problem, I'll find it." Then after a brief pause, he spoke up. "And what about Vega?"
"Vega seems to be the only one acting normal." Kagali replied with a weary sigh. "I never thought he'd be the one not giving me a headache right now."
Yuuki chuckled at that, easing back in his seat.
"You know…" He mused, letting the thought stretch out before finishing. "We've been playing too carefully ever since Rimuru showed up. That's our biggest mistake. We let him grow. We let him become the monster he is now. If we'd crushed him when he first set foot in Englassia, things might be very different."
His fingers trailed across the spines of nearby books as he walked, the sound soft against the silence. Then he gave a short, humorless laugh.
"This conflict between Tempest and Luminism… it's almost too neat, isn't it? A nation of monsters, pitted against the faith sworn to destroy them."
Kagali nodded her head at his words, but judging by the way her eyes widened, she too, must have understood where he was going.
"Tensions keep building. People are turning against Tempest." Yuuki continued. "But still, no war. No decisive strikes. Just some small trade disputes and posturing. Luminous hasn't even declared them a holy enemy yet. Even if war appears to be inevitable… It's like the board is being set for peace instead of bloodshed."
"You're suggesting Luminous and Rimuru are allies? That the coming war is just an act?" Kagali asked, disbelief mixing with dawning realization. "It… fits. It explains why my plans feel wrong. The pieces on the board were never what I thought they were."
"I wasn't certain either, at least, not until Mariabell confirmed that Luminous is a Demon Lord in disguise." Yuuki said. "But the more I think about it, the more it clicks. And that's why I wanted your opinion on Tempest."
His smile softened, becoming almost genuine as he met her gaze.
"If we joined them now, even if we got our peaceful world, it would feel hollow. A victory built on submission isn't a victory at all. I have a plan, dangerous, costly. It means burning our bridges in the West, putting everything on the East, and praying the chaos leaves them weak enough for us to strike."
"Set the world on fire." Kagali murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips. "And pick the bones from the ashes."
"Exactly."
"And how do you plan to do it?" Kagali asked.
"The war between Luminous and Rimuru has been teetering on the edge for a while now," Yuuki said. "But whatever they're planning, it's controlled. Orchestrated. I'd wager Hinata is in on it too. If I'm right, they'll do everything they can to keep casualties low."
He leaned forward, his smile thin and cold.
"All we have to do is create something so big, so chaotic, that the West has no choice but to step into a real war."
At this Kagali laughed, shaking her head as her expression became more determined.
"I wish you'd told me sooner," she said. "I knew you were holding something back, but now, it all makes sense."
"I was worried." Yuuki admitted. "That you'd tell me to submit to Rimuru."
It was the truth, and the thought unsettled him. The Clowns were more than allies; they were the closest thing he had to friends. Kagali was his right hand. If she began to doubt, if she urged surrender, it would chip away at him piece by piece. Eventually, hesitation would take root. And from hesitation… surrender.
It wasn't his style, but in the end, he'd do what was best for himself and his people.
And Shizue… she'd made things worse by bending the knee to Rimuru. If she'd just died, everything would have been simpler.
"Is that so?" Kagali said with a small, knowing laugh. "Well, you don't have to worry. I trust you, Yuuki. Whatever you decide, I'll follow. There's merit in both choices, I'll admit that, but giving up without a fight?" She shook her head. "That would leave a bitter taste."
Yuuki's smirk returned.
"In that case… call for Laplace. I have a job for him."
— –Rimuru Tempest– —
"From now on, you will be Carrera." He began, before turning to the woman next to her. "And from now on, you will be Ultima."
They had adapted to their new bodies extremely well, though perhaps that was to be expected. In just a few minutes, they had adjusted the appearance to match how they looked before. However, he noted that Ultima had made herself taller than before. Perhaps it was just simple competition with Carrera, especially after the latter had mocked her for being short.
He felt some of the magicules in his Stomach vanish, and as they did, the two Primordials were enveloped by cocoons, just like Testarossa and Diablo had done before her. Cocoons that quickly broke away to reveal the two Primordials.
Carrera took a deep breath, before letting out a bright smile as she bowed.
"Man, I can really feel it now." She muttered, reaching for her body and poking her own arm a few times. "I have no idea how you made this, but this feels more like me than, well, me."
Ultima, next to her, also took in a few deep breaths of her own.
"Why is the air so…" She began, testing out her new organs before shaking her head and bowing. "Thank you, Lord Rimuru. I am forever at your service."
"Indeed." Carrera followed along, bowing just slightly lower than Ultima. "Thank you, Lord Rimuru. I am at your service."
"I'm glad." Rimuru answered with a soft smile. "Take the rest of the day to acclimatize and get familiar with your new bodies. But once you are ready, go back to the Daemon Realm."
"Huh?" Ultima asked. "What? Did we do something wrong?" She asked, sounding surprisingly panicked.
"No, no. The reason I am sending you back is to bring with you your best servants. Other than the remaining five vessels here, I have a lot more in storage. They are not quite as good as these, but they are still better than most."
"I see…" Ultima answered, before bowing once again. "In that case, I will prepare to return. I will acclimatize to my new body on the way."
"Then I'll depart too." Carrera added. "No point in wasting time."
Carrera and Ultima exchanged one final look, before walking out of the room. It was clear that the two of them had a rivalry, but at least, they wouldn't let it get in the way of their jobs, if anything, it would only make them work harder.
And so, Rimuru was left with Diablo and Testarossa, who were both standing behind him with expecting looks.
"Diablo." Rimuru began. "Good job."
Hearing his praise, Diablo lit up slightly, however, his excitement lowered as he bowed.
"I cannot accept your praise, Lord Rimuru. I have failed you." His tone carried a heavy, almost theatrical gloom. "It was Testarossa who brought you a Primordial unbidden, without needing you to request it. She acted without the… friction Ultima brought."
Then, as Diablo rose, Rimuru saw Diablo's expression become more serious than he had ever seen it before.
"I vow to you, Lord Rimuru, never again. I will not merely meet your expectations, but surpass them in every regard."
Rimuru could already see where this was going. If he let Diablo stew in self-reproach, the guy would spiral, probably all the way into plotting some ridiculous, multi-century scheme to 'make it up to him.' So, Rimuru spoke in the language Diablo understood best.
"Diablo." Rimuru's Daemon Lord's Haki rolled out like a sudden, crushing tide, focused entirely on him. "I wanted to fight Violet. I wanted to see her domain in the Daemon Realm. Would you have denied me that?"
"Never, Lord Rimuru—!" Diablo stiffened, eyes widening.
"Then why call that failure?" Rimuru's voice cut through the tension, steady and absolute. "Since the moment I summoned you, you've done nothing but exceed my expectations. Remember, only I can judge you. And until I tell you otherwise, know this, you have served me well."
As Rimuru pulled back his Haki, Diablo's face brightened like a man who'd just been handed divine validation.
"I understand now, Lord Rimuru. Those words… bring me nothing but joy."
"To be fair, it's partly my fault for not rewarding you and praising you more before." Rimuru gave a faint smile. "You and Testarossa have earned yourselves a reward. Think on what you want, if it's reasonable, I'll grant it."
For a moment, he almost expected Diablo to reject the offer. But it seemed he had finally gotten the message across to him.
"You honor me." Diablo's voice was thick with restrained emotion.
"Rest for now. Come to me tomorrow with your answer."
"As you wish." And with that, Diablo vanished, leaving Rimuru alone with Testarossa.
He sighed, and she chuckled.
"This is the first time I've heard you use your 'kingly' tone with Diablo like that." She teased, her smile as polished as ever.
"Tell me about it." Rimuru shook his head. "But it was the fastest way to pull him back. Otherwise, he might've gone running to Guy Crimson to steal one of his servants… and I'm not dealing with that mess."
"Oh?" Testarossa tilted her head, her crimson eyes narrowing in amusement. "And here I thought you enjoyed watching Diablo scramble to prove himself. It's… entertaining, in its own way."
"Is that why you brought Jaune?" Rimuru asked with a teasing tone. "To make him scramble?"
"I take offense to that, Lord Rimuru." She replied smoothly, though her tone carried just enough playfulness to betray she wasn't entirely denying it. "I brought her here because, despite our differences, she is my favorite sister. And I meant every word about my feelings toward Tempest. She deserves the chance to feel as alive as I do now."
Her smile shifted, less warm now, more polished, almost ceremonial.
"But… yes." She added softly, "the main reason was to present you with a gift. A useful one. I hope she serves you well."
She closed the remaining distance between them with slow, unhurried steps, stopping just close enough for the weight of her presence to be felt. Her gaze locked on his, steady and unreadable.
"I also wanted to report." She continued. "That my mission in El Dorado has been completed flawlessly. We've secured everything we aimed for, and more. Their shipments will begin in three weeks, once preparations are finalized."
"Anything interesting to report?" Rimuru asked, leaning forward slightly.
"It's a beautiful city." Testarossa said thoughtfully. "And we'll no doubt find inspiration there for our own development. But in the end, it still pales beside Tempest." She listed a few notable details, architecture, trade patterns, the slight inefficiencies she'd already noted, before her tone shifted to something more conversational. "As for Shizue, it appears she's finally resolved her… tension with Leon."
"Really?" Rimuru raised a brow. "What, did she punch him in the face?" His tone was half-joking, half-hopeful.
"Indeed." Testarossa replied without hesitation, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. "It was somewhat messy before she got to that point, but she did. She's fortunate Leon cares for her. Otherwise, she might have walked away with more… what was it Sir Veldora called it?" She tapped a finger to her chin, pretending to search for the memory. "Ah, yes, more 'daddy issues' than she originally arrived with."
Rimuru had to hold back the urge to slap his face as he heard her. But he couldn't deny that there was at least some semblance of truth to it.
"Then, I'll consider my report complete." She finished, clearly pleased with herself. "As for my reward, is it safe to consider that it falls under the same rules as Diablo's? Anything, as long as it is reasonable?"
"Yes." Rimuru said, waving a hand casually. "Just don't overthink it too much. You already know you can ask for practically anything whenever you want. It's not like I'm stingy with rewards."
He caught the way her smile shifted, just barely. Softer, more personal.
"I see… I will keep that in mind, Lord Rimuru." She replied, her tone changing in a way that made it sound almost like a private joke between them. She dipped her head in a graceful bow, then turned toward the door.
At the threshold, she paused, glancing back over her shoulder with a faint, knowing smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, but carried something warmer in its shadow.
"Rest well, my Lord." She said, her voice just a touch softer than before. "I'll… see you tomorrow."
— — —
Special Thanks to my Beta Reader/Editor: The one, the only, the amazing @Basilisk.
Go Check out Basilisk's great story "I'm a Daemon, so what?"
https://discord.gg/WTgN9J3YgK
~A/N~
As you probably saw in this and last chapter, work has been a bit harder than usual. So I haven't had as much time and motivation to write. So until further notice, you can expect me to have a slow upload schedule. By which I mean, it might be once every other week or so, at least until work becomes a bit easier.