The sight of Rimuru Tempest, a character he'd only ever seen on a screen, was like a beacon of hope in the terrifying chaos. Gelmud, the creepy masked majin, had been relentless. But as Rin focused on the blue-haired slime-in-human-form, he realized something else: the eerie, oppressive feeling of Gelmud's presence had vanished. Had he given up the chase? Or had Rimuru's sudden appearance scared him off?
Before Rin could process this, a tall, imposing figure with long, vibrant purple hair stepped forward, positioning herself protectively in front of Rimuru. Her single horn was prominent, and her expression was fierce. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice sharp, her hand resting on the hilt of a massive odachi. "State your purpose for blocking Lord Rimuru's path!"
Rin blinked. Blocking their path? He looked down and realized he was indeed sprawled directly in the middle of the narrow forest trail they were traversing. The other green-skinned figures – goblins, now clearly identifiable as Hobgoblins, and all mounted on fearsome black wolves – tensed, their weapons glinting in the moonlight. They were clearly ready for a fight.
Right. Middle of a war. Unknown person appears. They probably think I'm an enemy. Fear, a cold trickle, tried to reassert itself. He quickly used his system, dialing down his "Fear" stat and boosting his "Composure."
"Whoa, hold on!" Rin exclaimed, raising both hands in a universal gesture of surrender. "I'm not an enemy! I'm completely lost! I don't even know where 'here' is!"
The purple-haired woman – Shion, if his anime knowledge served him right – didn't look convinced. Her violet eyes narrowed. "Lost? In the middle of a battlefield?"
Rin wanted to explain, to introduce himself so he could use his system on them, but the way Shion was gripping her sword suggested that another word might result in a very unpleasant, very swift amputation. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
After a moment that stretched into an eternity, Rimuru spoke, his voice calm and surprisingly gentle. "Shion, everyone, stand down. He doesn't feel like a threat."
Shion hesitated, glancing back at Rimuru, then reluctantly nodded, though her hand didn't stray far from her weapon. The other wolf riders relaxed slightly.
Rimuru hopped off his wolf (Ranga, Rin presumed) and approached Rin, his golden eyes curious. "You seem… out of place. 'The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed,' wouldn't you agree?"
Rin's eyes widened. That was a quote from Code Geass! "From Lelouch Lamperouge himself," Rin finished, a grin spreading across his face despite the bizarre circumstances.
Rimuru's own smile widened. "I knew it! You're from Japan, aren't you? Like Shizu-san was." He gestured to Rin's attire – fashionable jeans, a designer t-shirt, and sneakers, a stark contrast to the more practical, fantastical gear of everyone else. "Your clothes are a dead giveaway too."
"Yeah, I am. Or, well, I was," Rin said. "My name is Rin Takakura. It's, uh, a pleasure to meet you, Rimuru-san." Now that names were exchanged, his system sprang to life, data flooding his vision. He quickly scanned the group, but his primary interest landed on the imposing secretary.
[STATUS ALERT]
Name: Shion
Race: Kijin (Ogre Mage)
Level: 65
Condition: Wary, Protective (of Rimuru)
Titles: Rimuru's #1 Secretary, Former Guard Captain
Abilities: Herculean Strength, Battle Frenzy, Magic Sense (Basic), Cooking (Catastrophic)
Loyalty (to Rimuru): 98/100
Familial Love (for Rimuru): 85/100
Romantic Love (for Rimuru): 40/100 (-) (+)
Romantic Love (for Rin Takakura): 0/100 (-) (+)
Interesting. Her romantic love for Rimuru isn't sky-high. More like a deep admiration that could tip into romance if Rimuru pushed it. But Rimuru, from what I remember, isn't exactly forceful in that department.
"Rin Takakura, huh?" Rimuru said. "Well, Rin, welcome to the Great Forest of Jura. Though, it's not exactly tourist season." He turned to one of the Hobgoblin riders. "Gobta, keep an eye on Rin. We're heading to the main Orc encampment."
Rin startled. "Wait, I have to go with you? To the war?"
Rimuru tilted his head. "Leaving you here alone wouldn't be safe, especially with Orcs and who-knows-what-else roaming around. You'll be safer with us."
Rin internally groaned. He had no desire to get closer to that black flame and lightning show. He needed to convince Rimuru to leave him somewhere safe, far away. He focused on Shion first. Let's make my stay a bit more... pleasant, should I need her help later. He mentally pushed the (+) next to her "Romantic Love (for Rin Takakura)" stat, bringing it to a solid 80/100. Her other affection stats for Rimuru remained untouched, a testament to her deep-seated loyalty.
He then turned his attention to Rimuru's status, intending to subtly influence him to find a safer alternative. "But Rimuru-san, surely there's a less… direct route? Or perhaps a fortified village nearby where I could wait?"
As he tried to focus his system on Rimuru, Shion, who had been observing Rin with a new, slightly confused but noticeably softer expression since his mental adjustment, suddenly frowned. Rin's current line of questioning, his apparent reluctance to follow Lord Rimuru's sound decision, grated against her unwavering loyalty. The shift in her romantic feelings for Rin was there, a warm undercurrent, but her devotion to her master was an unshakeable pillar. And right now, this "Rin" was being annoying and questioning Lord Rimuru.
"Lord Rimuru has decided," Shion stated, her voice firm. Before Rin could react or even process the sudden shift in her demeanor, her fist shot out. Not with herculean strength, thankfully, but with enough force to connect squarely with his jaw.
Darkness exploded behind Rin's eyes. His last thought before consciousness fled was, Well… that didn't go as planned.