— –Souei– —
As the leader of Tempest's Shadows, he bore the duty of drifting through the West like a phantom, ensuring that every hidden cell met his expectations. He guided, corrected, sharpened their edges, then vanished again to the next kingdom. It was a rhythm he had grown used to by now. One made all the easier by his Body Double Skill that allowed him to make clones of himself.
It was during these quiet inspections that he heard them. Not just words whispered over tankards or muttered in markets, but the deeper truth of Humanity.
"A Nation of Monsters? It should have been struck down the moment they began to gather. This is all Dwargon's fault. What then? Will Daemons start building their own cities? Are we going to see the world turn upside down?"
"I made my living hunting Monsters, selling their hides and fangs. And now it's a crime to kill them? What am I supposed to do, beg in the streets? I can't even become a farmer because of all the damn crops those damn monsters keep selling."
"Luminous should crush the filthy things before it's too late. I ran caravans for years, and ever since those damn roads of theirs showed up, my profit's gone to ash. Why should I pay tolls to use a road I've walked freely all my life? And if I don't, I've got to crawl through side paths crawling with beasts."
"They killed the nobles in Falmuth, I know they did. Who gave those Monsters the right to take a kingdom? Anyone living there now is a traitor to their own kind."
"Humans and Monsters have always been enemies. Just because some pretty Ogre woman gave a speech doesn't make us allies. Things should go back to how they were before."
On and on, the whispers poured into his ears. Markets, taverns, alleys. The air was thick with them. Complaints from people too blinded by bitterness to notice how much brighter their lives could be. Too stubborn to see the hand stretched out toward them.
If only they opened their eyes, they might know comfort. They might know security. They might understand the depth of his Lord's mercy. Instead, they snarled at it.
Humans were creatures of envy, Souei realized. The moment anyone else gained, they soured. They hated the people of Falmuth whose lives had been restored by Lord Rimuru. They resented the roads that carried them safely across nations. They cursed the food that filled their bellies.
They resented all who prospered without them.
And Souei, for his part, had never felt more disgusted. That disgust only deepened as he peeled back the curtains of noble courts, watching the rot spill out in the open. Secrets of greed, lust, cruelty, men and women who called themselves rulers yet couldn't stand beside a single commoner of Tempest.
So unlike his Lord, Rimuru, who walked the streets of Tempest with a smile. Who knew the names of each and every one of the citizens.
It was almost laughable, thinking back on it now. Not so long ago, he had wondered why his Lord had stopped short of the West. Why he hadn't simply pressed forward, taken one kingdom after another until the world itself bent beneath Tempest's banner.
After all, under Lord Rimuru there would be no hunger, no fear, no needless suffering. The world would not just survive, it would thrive. His ideals would shape it into something whole, something balanced. A world at peace.
For most, it might have sounded like an impossible dream. For Souei, it was not. He had seen enough to know better.
He had been there from the start. From a ragged goblin village clinging to survival, to the jewel of an Empire Tempest had become. He had watched with his own eyes how everything Rimuru touched flourished, how each broken piece was reforged into something stronger. Every kingdom that had become a part of Tempest's empire had become so successful and prosperous, it was hard to even imagine just how mismanaged some of them were. Just how little of their potential had been accomplished.
And yet, in the end, Rimuru had chosen not to seize it all. Instead, Humanity was placed under the wing of another. He had given Humans to Luminous in a deal behind closed doors. Two Demon Lords deciding the fate of men.
Souei had not dared to question him, but Rimuru had known anyway. He always did. The answer had come, plain and unvarnished.
"I don't like Humans." His Lord had said. "I used to be one, so I know how much of a pain they can be. It sounds silly, maybe, but Monsters are my family now. I gave each of you a name. I've bound my own soul with each and everyone of you. That's something I can't do with Humans. So no matter what, I'll never care for them the way I care for all of you. And I'd rather not burden myself, or my people, with them. With people who'll never truly be Tempestians."
At the time, Souei had found it strange. But now, after his Shadow work across every corner of the West, he finally understood.
Humanity was rotten. Corruption ran through its veins as naturally as blood. Their words were veiled, their smiles painted over lies. They lived for themselves and no one else.
Monsters were different. Monsters lived as one. They spoke not only with their tongues, but with their very being, with their souls. In Tempest, he had seen what that unity could create, the purity of it, the potential.
Humans would never touch that height. They could not. Not until they could shed their envy, their greed, their lust for power. And to Souei, such a change was impossible. Their blood carried too many sins. A few, perhaps, stood apart, but they were rare, so rare that they seemed like accidents rather than proof of hope.
In the end, it was simple. Humans and Monsters were opposites at their core. One side destined to birth "Heroes", the other to raise "Demon Lords". They were forged to be enemies by the world itself.
No wonder Rimuru had chosen not to dirty his hands with them.
"Boss, I have the reports from our Shadows in the outskirts of the Forest." Souka said as she slid out of a nearby shadow, her tone crisp but steady.
"Report." Souei replied without turning, his voice cool as ever.
"Sections one through six are proceeding without issue. Section seven had complications, the Paladins we were expecting were delayed on the road. However, the High Orcs assigned there held the line long enough to stall the enemy without casualties. Once the Paladins arrived, the situation stabilized. To prevent a repeat, I've reassigned a few Shadows from external observation posts to track Paladin movements directly. They'll monitor from a distance."
"Good." Souei gave a small nod. "Weeks of planning and execution can't be wasted because they can't keep time. If they need handholding, we'll provide it. Is there more?"
"Yes." Souka's expression tightened slightly. "Tensions in section nine are escalating. They've sent repeated requests for aid after the first wave of attacks. As planned, no response was given, on account of their 'lack of faith' in Luminous. With no support, they've begun abandoning their homes and moving into neighboring villages."
"As expected." Souei answered before turning back to look at Souka. "Casualties?"
"One confirmed. A Human struck by a stray arrow from another villager trying to fight back. Otherwise only injuries and structural damage. Aside from that, the ransacked villages are as ordered."
A faint breath slipped past Souei's lips, almost a sigh. One dead, avoidable, unnecessary. A blemish on an otherwise flawless execution. Still, it was in the past. Dwelling on blood already spilled was pointless. The future was where the mission remained.
Souka pressed on with the rest of her report. Beyond those minor setbacks, operations were unfolding as designed. Harassment strikes pushed villages and towns near the Jura Forest into panic. Those without ties to Luminism were left to scatter, forced to seek shelter elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the faithful, the ones who bowed to Luminous, remained untouched, their safety becoming its own kind of sermon. Whispers would spread, rumors carried by frightened mouths: Luminous protects. Luminous delivers. Fear would weave faith tighter than any priest's words.
And once her foothold was secure, pressure would mount on the neighboring kingdoms. Piece by piece, rumor and fear, bribes and blackmail. Nobles already tangled in the Shadows' web would be pulled tighter until resistance snapped.
Souei could already see it. A slow, patient constriction.
The noose of Luminism, tightening around their necks.
"As for our Lord, he is starting to get quite a lot of notoriety amongst the Humans." Souka added with a smile.
"Good." Souei answered, a small genuine smile appearing on his face. "The Council of the West has called another meeting. Pothos himself will be attending, as the queen's assistant. Once we hear back, I will send new instructions. Until then, continue as ordered."
Souka bowed her head and slipped back into the darkness without another word. Souei followed a moment later, dissolving into the shadows and crossing the distance back to Tempest in silence.
He emerged atop one of the rooftops, the familiar skyline stretching before him. His gaze fell almost immediately to the city streets below, drawn to a small, quick-moving figure. A short woman with dyed blonde hair, weaving through the crowd, Bonnie.
She smiled as she greeted the travelers, though her sharp eyes never rested. Every person who passed through the city also passed through her scrutiny. Each merchant, each wandering adventurer, each caravan, measured, weighed, and, if necessary, marked for closer observation later.
Bonnie had joined Tempest Shadows not long after Lord Rimuru's coronation ceremony. And she had quickly climbed up the ranks and caught his eye.
So far, she had done nothing but excel at her duties. It was strange, it was like she was an entirely different person whenever she was given orders. Like she became even more capable than before, and that was saying a lot, since she was already quite the agent.
In fact, Souei would have loved to bring her as his left hand, standing alongside Souka as the vice-generals of Shadow. All she needed was a small push by Lord Rimuru, and she would become someone who might even be able to rival Souei's strength and capabilities.
Yet, he couldn't do that, not yet. For all the privileges she'd been granted, for all the layers of Tempest she'd glimpsed, her path had been carefully curated. The deepest secrets were kept from her, veiled with illusions and false trails. She walked through a world designed to deceive her.
Because she was a spy.
Souei's eyes narrowed, following her movements below. If she truly believed she could fool him, she was more naïve than he'd thought. He remembered her well, not as Bonnie, but as Tear. The Clown that had tossed him around before as if he were nothing. The Clown they'd been forced to run away from back during the chaos with Charybdis.
When he had first laid eyes on "Bonnie," his instincts had been clear, cut her down, bind her, and deliver her alive for interrogation. It would have been clean, efficient, final. But his Lord had stayed his hand and chosen another path.
Just as with Mjurran, Rimuru had repurposed her. Rather than eliminating the spy, he had allowed her to live, to work, to rise. The longer she remained, the deeper her roots tangled within Tempest. And in turn, even without realizing it, she became a conduit for misinformation. Half-truths laced with carefully chosen lies, seeds that would sprout confusion and mistrust among the Clowns until they had no ground left to stand on.
Souei did not enjoy it. Deception within the Shadows was poison, corrosive by its very nature. And though it was his craft, his strength, he still understood the danger of turning it inward. Every agent walked blind in some way now. Layers of truth and falsehood had to be balanced with precision. Too much of either, and the entire web would collapse.
If it had been anyone else, he would have taken the burden with pride. But this was Tear. The Clown who had slipped from his grasp once before. That failure, however brief, lingered with him still, and it made him cautious. Not fearful, Souei did not allow himself fear, but wary. Her presence demanded it.
And yet, his Lord's will was absolute. Tear would serve Tempest one way or another. Souei knew Rimuru's plan was already in motion. When the moment came, Tear's love for her Clowns would be turned back upon her, twisted until it left her no choice but to raise her hand against her own.
Souei hoped it would not come to that. He hoped the Clowns would see reason before the knife pressed too close. That they would recognize the mercy being extended to them, and accept peace over ruin.
Because if they did not, if they spat upon his Lord's kindness and chose defiance, then Souei would do what must be done. Even if it meant staining his blade with the blood of someone who had become his fellow Shadow.
That, he thought bitterly, would be the crueler choice.
— –Laplace– —
"Are you sure about this?" Laplace asked at last, his voice carrying a sharper edge than usual. He leaned back against the wall, arms loosely crossed, though his restless fingers betrayed the tension running through him.
The plan Yuuki had laid out was insane. Dangerous enough that even he, the one who laughed in the face of impossible odds, found himself hesitating. It wasn't just reckless. It was something he was afraid to do. Afraid because it would mean tearing apart the last remaining traces of stability in their lives.
"Absolutely." Yuuki's reply came with that same easy smile he always wore, a mask of confidence that looked unshakable. Too unshakable. Even now, with the weight of the choice pressing down on all of them, he seemed almost amused.
"There's no turning back from this, boss." Laplace muttered, his gaze flicking to Kagali for some measure of support, or perhaps doubt. But she only inclined her head in quiet agreement. Of course she would back Yuuki. He wouldn't have dared suggest something like this without her counsel first.
"I know." Yuuki said again, calm as ever.
Laplace clicked his tongue, trying to push back against the inevitability.
"Don't you think it's too early for this move? We've still got pieces we ain't even finished settin' on the board. What about Tear? What about Damrada? What about—"
"No." Yuuki shook his head. "It's already too late. We took too long, Laplace. The game's shifted, and if we don't act now, we'll be nothing but pieces swept aside. So we wipe the board clean, start again from zero."
The words hung heavy in the air. For a moment, Laplace said nothing. Then, finally, he let out a long, weary sigh.
"…So be it." He said, his tone low, resigned. "I'll do it." His eyes narrowed, however, the humorless edge in them uncharacteristic for him. "But I'll say it plain, we can't fall for the same damn trap Clayman did. Getting drunk on our own power, thinking we're untouchable, that's the quickest way to the grave. Sure, we've got Cerberus. Sure, we've got roots dug deep in the Empire. But Tempest?" He shook his head, clicking his tongue again. "If they set their sights on us for real, I don't think even we'll be able to hold 'em back."
Laplace had seen it firsthand the way Tempest had risen out of nowhere, a storm swallowing everything in its path. Every mission he'd taken these last few months, he'd felt them. Shadows trailing through cities, forests, even castles. Always watching. Always listening. It was a wonder Yuuki managed to keep them fooled long enough to sit here and spin schemes without a knife finding its way into their backs.
But that veil wouldn't last forever. One day, maybe soon, Tempest would notice. And once that happened, every move, every whisper, would be under Rimuru's gaze.
Back before Tempest became this monster of a nation, a stunt like this might've been clever. Now, it felt like suicide. The smartest play was obvious: throw in with Tempest, help Rimuru unify the world, and carve themselves a place at the top of his new order. That was the way to live. That was the way to win.
Because what was the goal of the Harlequin Alliance, if not to end the chaos? To build a world under Yuuki's hand where peace was more than a dream? That dream felt further than ever now, like sand slipping through his fingers. And yet, the quickest road to it might not be tearing the world down, but kneeling to the one already building it.
They had already lost Clayman. Laplace had no desire to lose anyone else. Even if it meant shaking hands with the one who had killed his friend. Because in the end, it was his friend, Clayman, who had brought his own death onto himself.
"Laplace, I know." Yuuki's voice finally cut through, calm as ever. He pushed himself to his feet, the legs of his chair scraping lightly against the floor, and came around his desk until he stood face-to-face with him. There wasn't a hint of fear in his expression, only that unshakable confidence that Laplace sometimes hated, sometimes envied. "I'm aware of the risks. I'm aware of the consequences. But I'm not walking into this blind. Trust me, the only thing I want, is for us to get our happy ending."
Laplace turned his eyes once more to Kagali, who met his gaze with the same quiet certainty Yuuki carried. It wasn't arrogance, at least, not all of it. It was conviction, the kind of belief that made people follow even when the path ahead looked like hell.
Laplace let out a low breath through his nose, clicking his tongue.
"Tch… you're a damn fool, y'know that?" He muttered, though the bite in his voice had dulled. His hands flexed once, then stilled. "Chasin' some fairy tale of peace while draggin' us along for the ride… if it was anyone else, I'd have walked away already."
Yuuki smiled at that, faint but warm, the edge of his usual mask slipping just enough to show the truth underneath.
"And yet you haven't."
"Yeah, well…" Laplace rubbed at the back of his neck, avoiding Yuuki's gaze for a moment. "…someone's gotta keep you from burnin' the whole board down while you're tryin' to save it."
That earned a quiet chuckle from Yuuki, and even Kagali's lips curved the slightest bit.
Yuuki's expression softened as he spoke again, his voice gentler now.
"I meant what I said, Laplace. I don't just want to win. I want all of us to see it through, together. You, Kagali, Tear, Footman… all of us. I'm not building a world that doesn't have all of us in it."
For a beat, everyone was silent. It wasn't unpleasant, but in a way, it felt like the calm before the storm.
Finally, Laplace moved, striding to the shelf and pulling down a dusty bottle and three glasses. The faint pop of the cork broke the silence. He poured without ceremony, the dark liquid catching the light before he gently placed his mask aside and took a slow sip.
Then, with a wry grin that didn't quite hide the determination in his eyes, he raised his glass.
"To Tempest." He said with a chuckle, the slightly nervous smile on his face becoming genuine as he saw Yuuki and Kagali grab the other two glasses he had poured. "Long live the Emperor."
— –Mariabell Rosso– —
Truly, ever since the Slime's Empire had risen, the world had become… interesting. Uncomfortably so. Harder to predict. Nothing ever quite unfolded as expected anymore. Every piece on the board was poisoned, and one by one her pawns were slipping through her fingers.
She had been discovered. She could feel it in the way her threads frayed, the way her influence over certain council members grew brittle and thin. Someone, probably Rimuru himself, had seen through her hand, and now those carefully cultivated puppets were being pried away. It was insidious, almost elegant. Some broke free outright, while others fell into new shackles, traded from her grip into another's. Blackmail, pressure, persuasion, it didn't matter. What mattered was that her monopoly on control was eroding.
Still, amidst all this, the board had shifted again. A new distraction. Another piece moved where she had not expected.
Tempest had begun attacking the outlying villages near their borders. Not openly, not with full force, but enough to drive the Humans from the edges of the Forest.
At first glance, one might call it a declaration of war. But no, that wasn't right. If Tempest wanted war, they would not waste their strength on scattered villages. They would march on a Kingdom, crush it, and make their power undeniable. They should have had the strength to do so. Which meant… something was holding them back.
Perhaps it was their alliances. Dwargon, Sarion, their ties ran deep. And if Tempest struck too openly at its neighbors, surely those pacts would shatter. At least, that would be her expectation of King Gazel and his ever-so-righteous nature.
So, maybe these raids were not boldness at all, but restraint. The very limit of their reach, a show of strength without crossing the invisible line that bound them to their so-called allies.
Even so, blood had been spilled. Not much, no, Tempest was careful. But blood nevertheless. And Mariabell knew better than most how the smallest of sparks could be fanned into a blaze. This was only the beginning. The first cracks in the dam.
How amusing. Only weeks ago, her greatest concern had been the possibility of Luminous and Tempest drawing closer. Hinata's visits to that cursed city had unsettled her, forcing her to prepare contingencies for an alliance she could not allow. But it seemed whatever bond tied the two Demon Lords together was too thin, too fragile to hold back the inevitable.
No, this would end differently.
Soon, Luminous would be forced to act.
Soon, the two false gods themselves would clash.
And yet…
"It's a trap, isn't it?" Mariabell asked, her fingers drumming once against the armrest before stilling. Her gaze lifted to look at the older man across from her, her grandfather.
"How so?" Granbell replied smoothly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His voice was calm, measured, the sort of tone that belonged to a man who already knew the answer but wanted to hear her say it.
"The fights." Mariabell said, narrowing her eyes. "They're too clean. Too staged. They never strike blindly. It's always the same, villages unaffiliated with Luminous, never the faithful. And then, suddenly, a new Champion calling himself a 'Hero' steps into the light to fight back against the Monsters from Tempest? After all these years? Where was he hiding, and why emerge now of all times?"
"What if…" Granbell countered lightly, the corners of his mouth curving further upward. "They simply fear open war? With Luminous, with the entire West. Perhaps this is nothing more than probing, testing the waters. As for this so called 'Hero…'" His eyes narrowed, though his smile never faltered. "Do not concern yourself. Not yet. I will investigate it personally. In fact, leave the Champions and whoever calls himself a Hero to me."
Her tongue itched with questions, but Mariabell forced them down. If Granbell withheld a truth, it was deliberate. It meant he believed she wasn't ready to know it, or that the knowledge itself was dangerous. And that in itself was unusual, rarely did he keep secrets from her now. Which meant that Granbell had plans for the Champions of the West. Perhaps those pawns would soon matter more than she thought.
"I had thought they were testing the waters too, at first." Mariabell admitted, voice softening as she reclined back. "But the slime isn't that reckless. I've studied him long enough to know better. He wouldn't invite hostility for so little. His empire is already massive, he gains nothing from a handful of scattered villages. Even if it's to showcase strength, he achieves nothing but the image of a villain. He paints himself as the enemy."
"Oh?" Granbell's tone was light, almost teasing now. "And why would he do that?"
"Because of Luminous." She answered firmly, her confidence crystallizing as she caught the subtle flicker of approval in her grandfather's eyes. "This isn't a clash born of chance, it's an arrangement. Luminous and Tempest reached some hidden accord, and this is the performance. They want to seize the West not just through wealth, but through faith itself. They'll smother the board without raising a true war. The West will deliver itself into their hands, first to Luminous, as she gains prestige resisting Tempest's 'threat,' and then, by extension, to Rimuru."
At her words, Granbell finally nodded his head.
"I agree…" he said at last, the faint smile gone, his expression sharpening into something colder. "I will ask Luminous directly. But I have no doubt you're right, an agreement has been struck."
Then, to Mariabell's quiet surprise, she saw him sigh. A simple exhale, yet it carried a weight she so rarely witnessed.
"I had hoped Tempest would mirror the True Dragon that shields them." Granbell admitted, his voice low and edged with frustration. "Reckless. Overconfident. Relying on brute force alone. But no… they are the opposite. They slither unseen, waiting in the grass, and when they strike it is with precision. And still, not a single word has left Luminous' lips. Nothing to the Seven Luminaries. Nothing to her followers. Though I doubt she would lie to me, even as Gran, the silence itself reveals more than words. I suspect only she and Hinata know the full extent of their bargain."
Granbell rose from his chair, the movement slow but deliberate, and crossed to the window. His gaze fell on the streets of Siltrosso, the kingdom they ruled, the kingdom already slipping beneath the currents of Tempest's schemes.
"We stand in a difficult position, Maria…" Granbell murmured, his voice heavy, his eyes distant. "War in the West will be the East's invitation to strike. And yet, it is no longer within our hands to prevent it. The pieces are already placed. All that remains is to face the consequences of Tempest's greed. We are a powder keg, my dear, waiting for the spark."
Mariabell froze. It wasn't just his words, it was the way he spoke to her using her grandmother's name, Maria. A name he had never called her. That he said it now… she almost felt as if he were seeing someone else through her.
"It all leads back to you, doesn't it, my old master?" Granbell whispered, eyes narrowing in the reflection. Then, with a final sigh, his shoulders straightened, and the frail weight of age lifted from him. In its place returned the man of legend, the one she could never bend to her Greed. Granbell Rosso, the Hero of Light.
For a fleeting instant, Mariabell was reminded of why her grandfather remained untouchable. His presence was overwhelming, not because of power alone, but because of will. He was unyielding.
"Tell me, Mariabell." Granbell said at last, his voice cool and probing. "What path do you see forward? We were too slow. Our economic web frays, our pawns vanish one by one, and time grows short. We must move quickly, but without recklessness. Do we confront Luminous now, before her influence solidifies? Should we expose her hypocrisy, reveal to the world that their god is nothing but a Demon Lord consorting with Rimuru?"
"No." Mariabell's answer came sharp, without hesitation. Her chin lifted, her eyes clear. "People would rather live in a beautiful lie than face the ugly truth. They will turn their backs on reality if it means comfort. As long as Luminous wears her mask well and offers them hope, they will embrace her falsehood and reject us for daring to shatter it."
"Good." Granbell praised, finally turning to look at her, directly in the eyes. "Then?"
"We use this as our opportunity to tighten our grip once again on Human Kingdoms." She finally said. "We have been playing the long game all along, because we didn't want anyone to notice our influence. But it's too late for that, we have been spotted, and they are moving against us now. So we need to fight back using even more pressure. While Tempest and Luminous are too busy playing their game, we will use that distraction to seize control by force. Once we have the right pawns, we will be able to dismantle what they have worked on."
"Is that really the only card you'd play?" Granbell's brow rose. His tone was gentle but probing. He wanted more. He always wanted more.
"No." Mariabell's smile was calm, dangerous. "We were slow. We lost the initiative. That's true. But losing the first move isn't losing the war. We change the terms. We stop trying to prevent conflict and start preparing to profit from its wake. You said the East would strike if war broke out in the West, let them. Tempest will take the brunt. Their empire is a literal wall protecting the rest of the West from Nasca. If their alliances hold, Luminous will be dragged in. If they do not, Tempest will fracture under pressure."
"You plan to use the Empire as your pawn?" Granbell asked, amusement and reproach crossing his face. He shook his head once, disappointed. "Your Greed won't work on them, Mariabell. You think too little of the Eastern Empire if you think you can control them. Trust me when I tell you, that your Greed will never bend the will of any who stand near the Emperor."
"It doesn't need to." She replied. "Tempest and Nasca are both predators. Both want dominion. They cannot coexist when both hunger for the same crown. If Tempest weakens Nasca, or Nasca weakens Tempest, one will stumble. When they do, the Nasca Empire will return back East, bloodied and vulnerable. That is when we strike, consolidate the West under a seemingly benevolent hand, replace fractured governors with our own, and hide our conquest in the cloak of reconstruction."
She leaned forward, voice softer but no less lethal.
"We will not win by blunt force. We win by timing. By placing the right debts, the right favors, the precise pieces in place so that when the dust settles the West turns to the Rosso not out of fear, but out of relief. They will come to us begging for order, and we will sell them salvation."
Granbell studied her for a long moment, the room filling with the quiet of two minds measuring risk and reward. Finally he exhaled, a sound that was almost a laugh.
"The Emperor will fight The Emperor." He mused, the phrase falling easy from his lips. The smile that touched his face told Mariabell there was more to it than the obvious, yet he offered no further explanation. He rose from his chair as if the conversation had reached its natural end.
"I'm going to pay a visit to this new self proclaimed Hero." Granbell announced, one hand on the back of his chair. "It's been too long since I have reached out and tried to find Humans worth recruiting in the West. I had practically given up on them by now, but if war is so close at hand, then I need to see which people have the potential in them. I will see if this Phantom Blade truly has what it takes to become someone who can protect the West." He draped a coat over his arm, the motion casual and precise. "As for you, Mariabell, I need some people found. Your puppet, Yuuki, should be able to locate them and bring them to us."
"Who?" She asked, a prickle of unease curling through her at the satisfied tilt of his smile.
"Find me every single Champion and 'Hero' in the West. Those with the most potential. Those who will become our most useful pawns in the war against the Monsters." Granbell told her, walking towards the doorway before stopping. "But most importantly, I need you to bring me the Lightspeed 'Hero', Masayuki."
"Are you trying to find and awaken True Heroes?" Mariabell finally asked, feeling as if she had found the answer, only for Granbell to let out a chuckle at her words.
"No, Mariabell. True Heroes are not something you can stumble across and cultivate." He answered. "If it were that easy, I would have done nothing but create my own army of Heroes a long time ago. Unlike Monsters, us Humans have a harder time reaching our true potential. Evolving into Enlightened, and then Saints. No, I'm not looking for Heroes, Mariabell, I'm looking for people who might be able to break through the limits of their Humanity."
— –Guy Crimson– —
"My Lord, I have finished gathering the information you requested." Mizeri said, bowing once.
Guy watched her for a moment, the faintest trace of amusement showing on his face. Then, he nodded his head, silently ordering her to continue.
Mizeri then revealed everything to him, Tempest, Lubelius, The Council of the West. Every single small movement that was happening in the world. True, neither he nor his servants were omniscient. But they were capable enough to give him a good enough picture of everything. And from the looks of it, Luminous and Rimuru were starting to play a dangerous game.
It was really a wonder that they had managed to get this far without their actions exploding back on their face. Yet in the end, Guy couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"Rudra… you really can't help it, can you?" He mused, shaking his head as if he were talking to an old friend. "No matter how small the fragment, you were born to be an emperor."
He rose then, stretching like a lazy cat, letting the motion break the tension in the room. And in the end, he couldn't help but look in the distance, in the direction of Tempest and the rest of the Human Kingdoms. The relative peace he had worked to maintain was dangerously close to breaking. And the one who would break it, was none other than his friend. It made him feel old and tired, in the best sort of way. It reminded him of the past, back when his friend still had that hunger in him.
Back before their game had begun and the rise and expansion of his empire had stopped.
Yet, in the end, he did have a role to fulfill, didn't he?
"Still…" Guy said, more to himself than to anyone else. "I ought to intervene before this spins beyond our control. Shouldn't I?"
Velzard, lounging in an ornate armchair of ice, did not even bother to look up at first. She simply snapped her book shut with a sharp crack, the sound like ice breaking across a frozen lake.
"You are unbelievable." She said flatly, with some annoyance leaking through her voice "I warned you months ago to stop it before it got out of hand. But no, you just had to see if your 'buddy' Rimuru would dance to your expectations. And here you are, still hesitating, still playing your game."
Her glare was cold enough to freeze lesser beings in place, but Guy only laughed under his breath. She wasn't wrong. She never was. Of all the creatures in the world, only Velzard could read him like a book. And yes, he was tempted. Terribly tempted. To watch, to let Rimuru Tempest Nam Ul Nasca carve his empire through the West. To see whether that shard of Rudra would truly awaken, whether the flames of The Emperor would blaze once more.
And if it came to that? Rimuru was a Demon Lord. More than that, Rimuru was his Demon Lord. A pawn he had chosen personally, placed carefully on the board.
"You have to admit." Guy said, lips curling into a grin. "This is a unique situation." His voice was light, amused, but the glimmer in his crimson eyes betrayed how seriously he took it.
Velzard answered with nothing but a roll of her eyes, the sharp motion punctuated by her reopening the book as though the conversation were beneath her.
"Whatever." She muttered coldly.
Guy tilted his head, studying her for a moment longer. Then, with a playful little sigh, he crossed the room in a lazy stride and plucked the book right out of her hands. Her frown deepened immediately, but his grin only widened.
"Alright, alright." He said. "How about this? Let's pay a visit to Tempest. It's about time you saw Veldora again. I'm sure your dear brother will be thrilled to see you."
Velzard's hand shot out, snatching the book back from his hands. She rose from her chair, as elegant as ever even with all her irritation.
"Fine. You're right." She said. "It's about time I checked on him myself." Without another word, she swept past him, her stride confident and decisive.
Guy glanced over his shoulder at Mizeri, who had been standing silent the entire time. She quickly turned her gaze toward the far wall, her expression suddenly very interested in the veins of crystal running through it. Anything to avoid his crimson eyes.
"Whatever." Guy echoed under his breath, a faint yawn escaping him as he slipped his hands into his pockets and strolled after Velzard.
— –Pothos "Shadow Charmer"– —
Fixing her hair, Helga, glanced at the mirror, making sure her appearance was perfect after their recent… entanglement.
"I can't believe they are forcing even more of these useless meetings." Helga complained as she finished fixing her hair and prepared to walk out. "They walk in circles all day, and in the end, all we accomplished was wasting our afternoons."
"They are afraid." Pothos answered with a chuckle. "Of course they'd drag their feet."
He wished he could tell her that things would only become worse soon, but in the end, he held his tongue. As much affection as he now had for the queen of Englassia, he knew better than to reveal the secrets of his mission.
The "Holy War" with Luminous had just begun.
Souei had already scheduled some of the monster tribes near the outskirts of the forest to do some superficial attacks on the human villages. Small skirmishes that would grow into the plans that his Lord had set in motion months ago. Even now, he couldn't help but be amazed at how everything appeared to be going as planned.
The council of the West was filled with fools. However, as he attended each meeting with the queen and king by his side, he couldn't help but notice the people pulling the strings in the background, people who, to his surprise, still remained hidden.
And they would remain hidden no longer.
Perhaps it was just their simple ineptitude, but Souei had informed him that Ultima, a new subordinate of his Lord, would step in directly to discover who the rat plaguing the council was. And from the way Souei addressed this Ultima, it was now only a matter of time until she tracked down the final remains of the Humans in the West who would dare to stand back against The Emperor, his Demon Lord.
"Let's go, we shouldn't be late." Helga spoke as he opened the door, leading them out of the room.
The end was near, in a way.
In his eyes, once Luminous and his Lord joined hands, and took over the West, there would be nothing left to oppose them. The East would fall with their combined attack, and soon, peace would arrive.
Just as he had expected, the council meeting was nothing but a deranged mess. Nobles playing a tug of war between each other, enough to sound important, but not pulling enough to actually make themselves responsible for anything. The topic at hand was, once again, Tempest.
Some nobles, nobles who ironically enough were being blackmailed by his fellow Shadows, were dragging their feet. Some others were claiming war, trying to force the kingdoms to unite in a fierce attack. While the rest, they were trying to sue for peace with Tempest. To come to an agreement that would let them win the war before it even started.
It was truly a marvel, seeing how deluded in their strength some of the Humans were.
It would be another day wasted.
Or so it should have been. It should have been an uneventful meeting. It should have been another day of people talking in circles. After all, Lord Rimuru had decreed it so. Yet, it was after the first hour of the meeting that Pothos felt it.
A magic circle activated, trapping and sealing away every single noble that had attended the council meeting.
The guards the nobles had brought also became alerted, raising their weapons, and even Englassia's own modified soldiers prepared to stand to defend their King and Queen. Yet, all of their actions were useless as a Kijin appeared in the middle of the room.
A Kijin Pothos did not recognize, yet, one that by all means should be a fellow Tempestian. A man, with short red hair, wearing Tempestian clothing.
It was wrong, there had been nothing of the sort scheduled. Tempest wasn't meant to take "direct" action on the council until much later. So the appearance of the Kijin meant that something had gone wrong.
"Human rulers." The Kijin shouted, giving a theatrical bow. "Allow me to deliver a message, a word from my Lord. A direct message from the God of Monsters, The Emperor, Lord Rimuru Tempest. Hear my words, or suffer the consequences."
Countless whispers filled the room in an instant, with every single ranged fighter in the room aiming their weapons or spells towards the Kijin, ready to attack at a moment's notice. Yet, in the end, none attacked. No noble wanted to be the first one to act, the first one to draw the attention of the Kijin.
"Speak." King Aegil of Englassia ordered, standing from his own seat and glaring down at the Kijin.
"God has spoken, and he has decreed the world as his own. No longer will he accept the rule of Humanity, no longer will he accept the attacks, and the constant harassment of his people. Stand down, Humans, bow your heads to Lord Rimuru, and you will be spared. There will be no further warnings."
At his words, the room instantly became loud with the nobles talking with each other, up until the point that King Aegil himself shouted, silencing him.
"Enough! Demon Lord Rimuru must have gone mad if he believes that we will accept something like that. You barge into our council, you interrupt our meeting, and you threaten us. You might think us weak, Monster, but know that we are not helpless against you. We have our adventurers, we have our armies, we have our Champions, and we have our Heroes. If Demon Lord Rimuru wants peace, then this is not the way to achieve it. Tell him to send a proper envoy, and only then will we discuss the terms of peace between Humans and Monsters."
The room went quiet at his words, with each and every guard preparing to attack.
Perhaps, that had been the best way to deal with the Kijin. Perhaps, had no one else acted, there would have been a better fate. But in the end, a single arrow flew. The arrow passed straight through the Kijin's face as if he were intangible, as if he were just a simple illusion.
Pothos' body moved without him knowing, perhaps on pure instinct, as he grabbed his sword from his shadow and stepped in front of the Queen. Yet, that very moment, he lost all sensation in his arm, and then he felt a knife pierce him directly in the heart.
"I'm sorry." An invisible voice spoke as he felt the knife leave his chest. "I truly wish it hadn't come to this."
Glancing to the side, he saw King Aegil reach for his neck as blood began to flow, and the next second, he had fallen. And, Pothos, even while feeling the blood in his chest, moved once more to defend the queen, losing his second arm in the process as he felt himself be kicked and thrown, crashing into Helga and sending both of them tumbling down a set of stairs.
The next second, all that Pothos could hear was the screams and chaos from the council room. Spells were being flung, swords were swinging, and blood was spilling.
This wasn't right. This wasn't what was planned.
It was wrong. This was not the slow collapse of Humanity. This was open slaughter. An open declaration of war. There would be no taking this back. No chance to twist the narrative in their favor. By nightfall, the West would truly be at war with his Empire.
No, that Kijin wasn't a Tempestian. But it didn't make sense. He tried to reach out to Souei, to try to get a better picture as to what was happening, but whatever spell formation had covered the place was stopping him from reaching out.
"Pothos!" Helga shouted as she held him up, reaching for his chest to try to stop the blood leaving him.
"It's fine. Just hold me." Pothos answered, and the moment he felt Helga grab onto him firmly, he dipped both of them into the shadows using his Shadow Motion. Thankfully, the king had prepared escape routes just for the royal family to use, the council was set in his kingdom, after all. And using it, he managed to drag both of them out of danger, at least for the moment.
Yet, as he emerged from the shadows with Helga, he couldn't help but feel the weakness.
"That man… he wasn't from Tempest…" Pothos told Helga as he saw the fear and questions in her eyes. And, pushing his body, he summoned forth one of the full potions from his shadow, a potion Helga instantly grabbed, yet she hesitated for a moment before she poured into Pothos' mouth.
He felt his heart and arms regenerate from the potion, feeling the strength returning to him, enough strength to escape. Yet, before he could grab Helga and sink back into the shadows with her, he saw blood leaving from her neck as she collapsed on the floor, dead.
"No…" Pothos muttered weakly as he tried to reach her body before it fell, only to feel a blade at his neck before he could move.
And the next moment, his world went dark.
— — —
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~
The clowns do a little clowning, rip Pothos and Helga(Ch 78QQ/79WN It's off by a number cuz of the Halloween chap lol.)
As for the majority of this chapter, it was meant to show just how everything was falling right into place, and everyone was beginning to plan for the false Holy War and the consequences of it before Laplace did a lil bit of murder and did the equivalent of flipping the table because you were angry you were losing.
Honestly, this chapter has been a loooooong time coming, with everything in it having been set up as early as chapter 26. There's been some cool stuff that I hid in this chap, so if you see something interesting, then make sure to drop a comment!
I wonder what everyone's theories for what's to come is!
Also, I'm trying to write as fast as I can, but like, life, ya know? Don't worry, I will carry this story to the end, it's just going to take a bit.
See you all hopefully soon!