Disclaimer: I do not own That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, High School DxD, or any other referenced properties. All characters depicted are consenting adults aged 18 or older.
Chapter 10
Samael POV
After my talk with Veldora, I finally had the perfect weapon to use against Rimuru, not a spell, not a blade, but something far more dangerous.
Information.
This was the first time she had kept a big secret from me, and I fully intended to tease her for it. Just a little. Just enough to watch her tail puff up and her face turn red. I was dying to see her reaction when I "accidentally" mentioned rumors about a monster nation forming in Jura Forest… with a suspiciously familiar capital city name.
When I entered the kitchen, Rimuru was sitting at the table, both hands wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee. Her hair was messy, her eyes half-open, her posture slouched.
But the second she noticed me.
Her entire face brightened.
A genuine smile, the kind she didn't give to just anyone.
"Morning…" she mumbled, stretching lazily like a cat. "Did you sleep well?"
"Perfectly," I said. "Though sleeping alone after so long felt… weird."
"Aha! So now you understand how lucky you are to sleep with beautiful girls in your arms every night. UmU!"
"I do. And the fact that my fiancée keeps reminding me every single day really helps."
She blinked, then squinted, then realized what I had just implied.
Before she had time to explode, I continued:
"But can I ask why Milim got permission from you to sleep with me? I was too tired to question it before, but now that I've recovered, I'd appreciate an explanation."
"Well, you see…" She fidgeted in her chair. "We were playing a game, and she won a prize and…"
"She asked to sleep with me?"
"Yes… but no." She waved her hands. "She didn't ask to sleep with you. She asked for permission to become your fiancée."
I paused.
"And your solution… was to let her sleep next to me?"
"No!" Rimuru shook her head rapidly. "She said that as your future fiancée she had the right to do that. All I did was agree she could be considered one."
I stared at her.
She stared at her coffee.
"…Why do I feel like you had this planned? First you make me take her on a date. Then both of you try to seduce me. So, what exactly is the final step? You can tell me. I won't get mad."
"I— I— I…" Her face turned bright red, smoke practically forming over her head.
I smirked.
"Let's continue this conversation later. I wanted to ask something else."
She exhaled deeply, relieved I had changed topics.
"I heard rumors," I said casually, "about a new monster nation forming in Jura Forest. Apparently, it's connected to Dwargon too."
Rimuru froze.
Completely.
She didn't even blink.
"…Do you happen to know anything about that, dear?"
"A… nation?" she repeated, trying desperately to look calm. "In Jura Forest? Huh… how interesting…"
"Very interesting," I agreed. "A new, organized, civilized monster nation. Trade routes. Infrastructure. Laws. And a name that sounds… extremely familiar."
Her tail twitched.
"I imagine the name isn't important?" she said hopefully.
"Jura-Tempest Federation. But that's not the interesting part." I leaned in, struggling to keep a straight face. "The capital's name is also familiar. Don't you think, Rimuru?"
She covered her face with both hands.
"Ah… I didn't want you to find out this early… are you mad that I kept it secret?"
"No," I said softly. "I understand why you didn't say anything."
I leaned forward, pulling her into my arms.
"And it's a perfect name. There's no reason to be embarrassed."
"I only named the country…" she grumbled. "I said it sounded nice, and when Gazel asked for the capital's name someone shouted 'Rimuru' before I could even breathe. Everyone agreed and I couldn't exactly say no…"
"Hehehe…" I tried to hold back my laughter.
Failed.
"Mini! I'm not talking to you anymore!" she snapped, turning away dramatically.
I pulled her closer again and kissed her forehead.
"I'm not laughing at the name. I'm laughing at your reaction. Honestly, maybe I should've named the capital myself. So, people would laugh at me instead. If you want, we can say I named the city. In honor of my fiancée."
Her cheeks turned pink. Soft. Warm. Fragile. A side she only showed me.
"…You…" she whispered, pushing her face into my chest like a small, embarrassed animal.
"You think you're funny," she mumbled.
"You're adorable."
She smacked my shoulder lightly.
"I wasn't supposed to hear the word 'adorable' this early in the morning…"
"Too late. Permanent memory now. And I'll probably keep saying it."
She grabbed my collar and pulled me close, pouting.
"If you say that in public, I'll kill you."
"In public?" I said innocently. "I'll only say: My Queen."
Rimuru turned crimson.
"Samael—!!"
"What?"
"You can't just say things like that without warning!"
"Yes, I can. I'm your fiancé."
She froze.
Then melted.
Then squeaked in confusion when I leaned forward and kissed her.
After a few seconds she pulled away with a pout.
"You're mean."
She leaned in to kiss me again but—
"SAMAAAAAEL!! RIMURUUUUU!!"
Milim burst through the wall.
Not the door.
The wall.
"WHICH ONE OF YOU ATE MY CARAMELSPARKLE CAKE?!"
Silence.
"What cake?" I asked, ignoring the large hole behind her.
Rimuru answered calmly:
"Milim, you ate it last night. If you want another, ask Sage."
Milim blinked.
Processing…
Then: "Aaaah! True!!"
She struck a proud pose…
…and left through another wall.
I sighed and waved a hand.
The broken wall repaired itself instantly.
Rimuru's eyes sparkled, literally. Stars formed in her irises.
"How did you do that?" she asked.
"I'll tell you if you tell me why you keep modifying your body. First the cat ears. Then a tail. Now stars in your eyes. Explain."
She froze again.
"I lost a bet with Sage…" she whispered. "It's not my fault…"
Then poof, a fluffy tail popped out behind her.
She stared at it.
I stared at it.
"…Traitor…" she whispered to her own tail.
I couldn't help it; I burst out laughing.
She glared, cheeks puffed.
"Mini… I'm not talking to you anymore!"
I stopped laughing only long enough to pull her into another hug.
Scene Change
I hid inside the shadow of a bandit I had been tailing after watching him kidnap a young woman from the town I was staying in.
With Sirius spending more time with Shizu, I had been adventuring alone — which turned out to be a blessing. No distractions. No babysitting. Total freedom to track and eliminate scum like this.
For hours I followed him. At first, I considered killing him immediately, but something felt larger. More organized. So I waited.
If he touched the girl, he'd die instantly.
But if he led me to the source, I could end the entire operation.
Eventually we reached a small cabin deep in the forest. He stopped a few meters from the door, whispered a password, knocked three times, then entered.
Inside, he stepped into a corner, tapped the floor twice, waited, then tapped once more.
A hidden trapdoor opened.
He descended.
Two armored guards stood watch at the entrance of the underground passage. They didn't question him — only nodded and let him through.
I sent two blood wolves through the shadows behind them. Not my usual ones: these were crafted from poisonous blood. Sage had modified parts of the skill to match my fighting style and simplify my battles.
Deep underground, I found rows of cells.
Men in chains.
Humans, lizardmen, ogres, elves.
All silent. All defeated.
He ignored them completely and walked deeper.
Soon, the air grew colder.
More cells.
Women this time. Humans. Ogresses. Elves. Even a dryad sealed inside a glass bottle like a collectible.
Disgust twisted in my stomach.
He dragged the kidnapped girl into an empty cell and locked her inside before heading into another room to report.
He didn't come out alive.
None of the people inside had long enough to scream.
After gathering every scrap of evidence I'd need, I freed the prisoners. The humans were shaken, traumatized, but coherent. Two of the men and three of the women turned out to be vampires.
"I'll send you to the Guild," I said, looking at the humans. "You can choose whether to return home or be relocated after that."
They nodded, and I turned to the monsters.
"I've heard there's a new monster city forming in Jura Forest. If you want, I can send you there. None of you have names, right?"
All of them shook their heads.
"Then their leader will probably name you. You'll be safe there."
They all nodded in acceptance.
Except the vampires.
They only stared at me with an expression I didn't recognize.
Hope, maybe.
"We do not wish to disturb you," the silver-haired woman said softly, "but may we speak privately?"
I raised a brow but nodded.
I cast a sound barrier around us.
"Speak."
"My lord," the vampire leader bowed deeply, "we are grateful for your help… and we wish to follow you."
"…You do realize I'm human, right?"
"My lord, a vampire as powerful as you do not need to lie to us. We can feel it. Compared to you, we are insignificant."
She knelt.
The others followed.
"But please, accept us as your subordinates. We will dedicate our lives to serving you."
I sighed.
"I don't need subordinates," I said, watching their faces fall. "But I might need your help in the future. I don't have any ties to the vampire community, and that could be useful. If you want, I can take you under my protection and give you names, assuming you don't already have ones."
"We don't, my lord," the leader said. "Before we were captured, we were exiled. Our leader dislikes the Demon Lord Valentine, and because our silver hair is similar to…"
"To Valentine?" I asked, interrupting. "He's blond."
The woman shook her head.
"Forgive us. That 'Valentine' is merely one of her subordinates. The true Demon Lord is Luminous Valentine, a woman with silver hair. That alone was enough for our leader to cast us out."
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
(What do you think, Sage?)
(…They are telling the truth. I have detected correspondence between a noble of the Holy Empire of Lubelius and the leader of this organization. If you wish, I can compile the evidence so the Guild will have everything it needs.)
"…Sage, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
(You did not ask. And you appeared to be enjoying the investigation. I concluded it was… more satisfying for you this way.)
I sighed.
I turned to the vampires.
"Wait for me at the entrance of the forest. I'll escort the humans to the Guild, then return for you."
They nodded.
Once it was only me and the humans, the muttering began.
"You should've killed those abominations!"
"Monsters are dangerous!"
"What kind of adventurer spares creatures like that?!"
I kept walking.
"May I ask why I should've killed them?" I said calmly. "Weren't all of you in the same situation?"
"Monsters are enemies of mankind!" one snapped. "They're enemies of our goddess Luminous!"
"…I don't follow the Church."
That shut them up.
"For me, things are simple. If someone is in trouble, I will help. If someone chooses evil, I stop them. It doesn't matter if they're human or monster."
I stopped walking.
"And if you keep spouting that garbage, I'll leave you here."
Silence.
Several gulps.
They behaved after that.
When I returned to the forest entrance, the five vampires were waiting, backs straight, posture perfect.
"First," I said, "I'll give you names."
Excitement. Fear. Reverence. All tightly controlled.
The leader stepped forward.
"My lord… we are ready."
I pointed to the first woman. She was trying very hard to look composed, but her shaking hands betrayed her.
"Your name is Seras."
A gentle surge of energy enveloped her.
The second girl, smaller, younger, eyes full of eager light, stepped forward almost bouncing.
"Your name is Shalltear."
She brightened instantly.
I turned to the first man, serious expression, innocent aura.
"Your name is Mika."
He bowed deeply as the magic took hold.
The second man stepped up, calm, noble posture.
"Your name is Raizel."
A pulse of dark crimson energy shimmered through his body.
And then the leader, the strongest of them.
"Your name will be… Krul."
The air vibrated for a moment.
They knelt in formation, trembling as magicules swirled around them.
"And because you are the first vampires I have ever named," I continued, "your family name will be Etame."
Their eyes widened as one.
"My name is Samael," I finished. "From today onward, you are my subordinates."
And then… all five collapsed.
I sighed, summoned a dimensional door, and dragged them inside carefully.
"I'll explain the mission when you wake up…"
Rimuru POV
Milim and Veldora were sitting on the floor playing a video game Sage had copied from Samael's memories.
Honestly, life has gotten so much better ever since I discovered the ultimate method for avoiding paperwork:
Just absorb the forms and let Sage finish them for me.
A brilliant strategy.
A flawless system.
A perfect solution to the eternal torment known as "documents."
Except…
There was a price.
Since I made that deal, Sage earned the right to "adjust" my body whenever she wanted, just to keep me from accidentally revealing this fact to Samael.
Which meant:
Cat ears, Tails, Stars in my eyes, Random sparkles.
Sometimes heart-shaped pupils.
My dignity was one thread away from collapsing. Luckily for me, she only does this when Samael is present.
But the worst part wasn't the ears or tails.
It was my… sensitivity.
Every touch.
Every poke.
Every affectionate gesture from Samael—
Amplified.
Multiplying my embarrassment by 500%.
"Sage… why are you like this…?" I groaned.
(Because your reactions increase efficiency and reduce emotional instability.)
"That's not an explanation! That's bullying!"
(Correction: optimized assistance.)
"I swear I'm going to uninstall you someday."
(You say that every time.)
I groaned loudly.
Then.
POOF.
Pink smoke burst out of me.
Samael POV
I stepped quietly into the room, ready to tease Rimuru a bit. Nothing big. Something playful.
But before I could even inhale,
POOF.
A cloud of pink smoke erupted from Rimuru.
When it cleared…
She was different.
Very different.
Long legs, small fangs, glowing crimson pupils, curved wings, a long tail ending in a heart-shaped tip.
Her body… very much not the same size as one minute ago.
A full succubus transformation.
Rimuru blinked once, looked down at herself, then whispered:
"…Sage. What. Did. You. Do?"
(Transformation triggered by emotional destabilization.)
"What destabilization?! I was just sitting!!"
She looked at me.
I looked at her.
Her face turned red so fast the air temperature rose.
"You walked in!" she shouted, pointing at me. "THIS IS YOUR FAULT!"
"…I walked through a door."
"EXACTLY!!"
Her wings fluttered wildly. Her tail curled like a terrified cat. She kept trying to cover herself even though nothing was actually revealing — the problem was the vibes.
Powerful, weaponized succubus vibes.
"…You look very cute," I said gently.
"DO NOT SAY THAT WHEN I LOOK LIKE THIS—!!"
Her voice cracked.
Her tail puffed up.
She ducked behind the table instantly.
Then Sage's voice echoed:
(Observation: This form matches Master's emotional state when Samael is present.)
Rimuru froze.
"…S-Sage… shut up…"
(Unable. Relevant information.)
"NO IT IS NOT—!!
She tried to stomp but stumbled. She flailed, grabbed the table, and hid again, face bright red.
"…Rimuru," I said softly.
"DON'T LOOK AT ME!"
"You're still adorable."
"AAAAAAHHHHH—!!!"
Her wings flapped so violently that papers flew everywhere. Then she bolted out of the room, screaming into the hallway.
Sage appeared beside me seconds later, fully calm.
"Why did you do that?" I asked. "She won't talk to me for a while now."
Sage smiled faintly. Two soft cat ears appeared on her head as a tail curled around me.
"Because" she whispered, pushing me gently onto the sofa and sitting in my lap, "you like it."
I stared at her.
Then she looked over her shoulder.
Veldora immediately pretended he saw nothing and sprinted away at lightning speed.
Milim, however…
Milim was staring at me.
With an expression that promised catastrophic trouble.
Before I could speak, she grinned and changed her outfit.
A flash of pink light enveloped her, and she reappeared wearing a cute dragonoid-style battle suit, pink and black armor molded into frilly, playful shapes, tiny horn accessories on her head, a ribbon-tied tail tip, and shimmering dragon-scale patterns glowing every time she moved.
She placed her hands on her hips.
And smiled.
A very dangerous smile.
Scene Change
I stood by the beds where the vampires I named were still sleeping.
A full day had passed since the naming, and honestly, I was beginning to wonder when they'd wake up.
Maybe it will take another day. Or two.
(Sage, is there a chance they'll develop new skills now that they've evolved?)
(Yes. Because you named them twice — once with personal names, and again with a family name, their evolution will be stronger. They may even develop sub-skills derived from your own abilities. Possible examples: regeneration, blood manipulation, shadow movement.)
That… didn't sound bad.
(Are there any other consequences from me naming them?)
(Yes. There is a possibility they have become part of your lineage.)
I blinked.
(Explain. Please.)
I'm a little worried, A little curious. A little afraid of the answer.
(Similar to demons, vampires possess lineage systems. Most vampires are born into a lineage, but humans can also be transformed and added through rituals. A powerful vampire can name a lower-class vampire to force evolution; this will change their lineage factor. For the one evolving, it is beneficial. However, once the change is complete, they are unable to surpass their lineage head. They become permanently subordinate. To rise above you, they would need to kill you.)
So… basically monster-naming rules, but with more political drama and blood taxes.
(That sounds concerning… but I suppose there's nothing I can do about it right now.)
(I have already modified the effect. They cannot disobey your orders, nor can they attack you, the restriction has been added to their genes. Do not worry. I did not remove their free will. I only ensured betrayal is impossible.)
I ran a hand down my face.
Why do I feel like Sage inherited my protective instincts…
And Rimuru's playful chaos…
And possibly a hint of sadism?
Honestly, I don't even want to imagine what Sage would do if Rimuru were ever actually threatened.
I know what I would do.
If a country attacked Rimuru, I'd destroy it, or at least every leader responsible.
If it was a normal person, I'd toss them into a void and let them think about their choices.
…Speaking of mistakes.
I still hadn't finished dealing with those adventurers who tried to kidnap and sell Rimuru.
I had no idea where they were hiding now.
(If you want to find those adventurers, I can direct you to their last recorded location. I found their descriptions in the Guild records. After tracking their correspondence, I confirmed they moved to the Kingdom of Falmuth. It will take some time to pin down their exact base, but if you wish, I can monitor them. Once you are within range, I will guide you directly to them so you may take your revenge.)
(Thank you, honey. I love you.)
(…With pleasure. I love you too.)
I exhaled slowly.
Great.
Perfect.
Amazing.
Now the named vampires were not only my subordinates…
But genetically part of my lineage.
…Did that mean they were basically my children?
No.
Absolutely not.
I refused to think about it that way.
Subordinates.
They were subordinates.
If Rimuru ever found out there was even a chance I had "children," she would skin me alive.
And Milim,
No.
Nope.
I was not thinking about Milim.
Not after what happened earlier.
Which reminded me:
I needed to prepare an engagement ring.
Again.
I turned toward the exit but stopped.
A soft rustle came from one of the beds.
Shalltear, the smallest of the vampires, shifted, opened her eyes, and pushed herself upright.
Of course she woke up first.
She really did resemble a certain character from Overlord.
Probably why the name felt so natural for her.
Naming people wasn't usually my strength, I often let them choose, but this time, everything had fallen into place.
"Good morning, little one," I said with a smile.
For a brief moment, fear flashed in her eyes.
Then recognition set in, and she smiled brightly.
"Good morning, my Lord. It is an honor to see you. Has anyone else awakened yet?"
She glanced around without really looking.
"No," I answered. "Everyone else is still sleeping. You're the first one to wake up. And from what I can see… your strength has grown."
Her smile widened, shy but proud, and the magicules around her pulsed in agreement.
"You can relax a little longer if you want," I told her gently, "or you can go outside and test your new powers. Before that, did you gain any new skills?"
Shalltear straightened her back proudly.
"Yes! I have Blood Manipulation, Shadow Movement, and Super Regeneration."
Then her expression fell into a pout.
"Unfortunately… no unique skills."
"Don't worry about that," I said, placing a hand on her head. "You still became much stronger."
She smiled instantly at the praise, though she kept glancing at me like she had something else on her mind.
"What is it?" I asked, amused.
She hesitated, then:
"I wanted to ask… why did you decide to name us? You said you had a mission for us. Will you tell me, or do I need to wait until everyone wakes up?"
"It's better to wait for the others," I replied. "For now, why don't we go outside and test your power?"
The moment I finished speaking, she lit up — jumped off the bed — and practically sprinted out of the room.
She's adorable. She looks more like a younger sister to me than a subordinate. Maybe that's why I feel the urge to spoil her. She even reminds me of my own little sister from my old world
…
God.
I had almost forgotten.
And now,
"My Lord, I'm waaaaaiting!"
Her cheerful voice echoed from outside, clearing my thoughts before they sank into places I didn't want to revisit.
I smiled faintly.
It's not good for me to dwell on things I can never return to.
Hopefully… they'll remember me after I die.
But right now, I have others to worry about.
Once I stepped outside, Shalltear immediately began bouncing around like an overexcited child, though, considering her appearance, I suppose she is one.
This area of my dimension was something Sage put together on her own: a peaceful mini home, complete with gardens and open space, meant for my new subordinates to rest and train.
"Alright, come here," I called out.
The little gremlin didn't even look at me. She was too busy hopping from shadow to shadow, giggling every time she slipped into the darkness and reappeared somewhere else. I guess gaining a powerful shadow skill is a lot more exciting when you're half her size and twice my energy.
Before I could repeat myself, she burst straight out of my shadow with her arms raised like claws.
"RAAA—!"
I looked at her.
She froze.
Then pouted.
Yeah… she definitely wanted to scare me.
"Okay, little monster," I said, amused, "since you already started playing with your shadow ability, we can move on. Let's test your other skills. How about we start with blood manipulation?"
She nodded enthusiastically, then raised her wrist and gently cut it with her nail. A small bead of blood welled up and floated into her palm, condensing into a sphere. She moved it around a bit, rotating it clumsily before trying to shape it.
First, she attempted a bird.
Then a lion.
Neither resembled what they were supposed to be, but she was trying, and honestly, for a first attempt, she was doing well. You can't expect a child to mold energy perfectly on their first day. She'd already done more than most vampires could on their first evolution day.
"Good. You did perfectly," I praised, smiling as I reached out to pat her head.
…Oh gods, she's soft. Like an actual plush toy. And warm. And fluffy. And—
"Ah—!"
I blinked and looked down at her.
Her eyes were wide.
Her cheeks puffed.
Her expression screamed betrayal.
Ah. I might have patted a little too hard.
"Sorry, sorry." I held up my hands in surrender. "If you want, I can make it up to you. Ask me for something, and I'll get it for you as an apology."
"Really!?" she beamed. "Then I want candy! And sweets! And cake! And—and—and—!"
I gently placed a finger on her head to stop her list before she reached a thousand items.
"Alright, alright. How about this: I'll give you a cake later, and I'll help you learn to use your powers better. Deal?"
"Seriously!? Yay!!"
She spun around and took off running again, arms stretched out like wings as she darted around the garden.
Her innocent excitement…
It reminded me so painfully of my little sister when she was her age.
For a moment, my chest tightened.
But then Shalltear yelled again, laughing loudly, and the heaviness faded.
I stepped forward, ready to continue her training.
Shalltear darted around the garden, jumping from one shadow to another with uncontainable excitement. Every time she popped out from a new corner, she made a "tadaa!" pose like she expected applause.
I clapped once.
She beamed so hard she nearly fell over.
"Alright," I said, "we'll continue with blood manipulation. But this time, try shaping something useful. A blade. A needle. A shield."
She nodded, eyes glimmering with focus.
She cut her wrist again, just a tiny scratch, and drew blood into her palm. It swirled into a sphere before flattening into a thin sheet… then wobbling into a sort of curved… blob.
"…Is that a shield?" I asked gently.
"A shield… ish!" she chirped.
I smiled.
"Good. Again."
We practiced for several minutes. Her control improved quickly, with sharper edges, better balance, and more defined shapes.
Then,
Fwssh.
Her shadow movement activated on its own, and she slipped through the ground, reappearing behind me.
She poked my side.
"Hit."
"…I didn't even feel your movement." I already knew where she was, but if she was having fun, why should I ruin it?
"Hehehehe!"
Gremlin. A very proud gremlin.
She tugged on my sleeve.
"My Lord, can we test something stronger? I… I feel like I can do more."
She was nervous asking, but hopeful.
"…Alright," I said. "Let's test what you can do first."
She nodded like a pecking bird.
"Good. Now we should test how far you can control your blood from."
She nodded again and started moving the blood away from her. I watched until, at a certain distance, it stopped responding.
I gauged the distance and nodded.
"About a hundred meters. Not bad for your first try."
I smiled and placed my hand on her head again. She beamed at the attention.
"Now we should test your speed. Try moving your blood from one place to another as fast as you can."
She did exactly as told.
We continued the drills until someone started clapping at the door. I didn't react at first; only Sage could let someone out of the house into this garden.
When I turned my head, I saw Krul.
"Krul! Look what I learned!" Shalltear shouted happily.
The tiny vampire who had been training with me decided that her drills were officially over and jumped into a shadow, reappearing in front of Krul. Then she sank again, emerged behind her, and let out a playful roar. This time she used blood to create a mask over her face, honestly quite impressive for someone who had just started learning.
I couldn't help feeling proud.
"Congratulations. It seems you had fun with our Lord," Krul said, smiling gently.
The little vampire nodded enthusiastically, just like she had all morning.
"Thank you for taking the time to train her, my Lord," Krul said, bowing slightly.
"Don't worry about it. It was an interesting experience, and it was amusing to see her innocence. It's the first time I've tried teaching someone. My master was… let's say, extremely strict and brutally perfectionist. I still can't match her, but seeing things from the other side, I can understand why she helped me the way she did. Teaching someone is… interesting."
I carefully ignored the fact that my master is technically my skill… and she can still kick my ass.
"By the way, what skills did you acquire after your evolution?" I asked.
"My Lord, first I must thank you for allowing us into your lineage and granting us resistance to sunlight. As for my skills, I gained Blood Manipulation, Shadow Manipulation, Super Regeneration, and a unique skill called 'Patriarch.' I still don't know exactly what it does, but I hope it will be useful to you."
(Hmm, interesting. Sage, do you have any idea what her skill can do?)
(Her skill allows her to teleport to any member of her lineage or family and to sense when they are in danger.)
(That sounds useful. If I had that, it would be much easier to keep an eye on them.)
I thought that without really focusing.
(All of your subordinates' skills can be used by you.)
(Really? How?)
(Because you named them and they became part of your lineage, I modified the rule so that any skill available to them can be transferred to you. And if you wish, I can even grant them sub-skills based on yours for them to develop. If you become strong enough, I can even grant them unique skills.)
(Sage, why do I feel like you're cheating?)
I asked with the full spirit of "what the hell."
(I used some of your skills, modified them during the naming, and created this rule for your lineage. It is not cheating. It is… progression.)
(Did you do something similar with Rimuru's skills?)
(No. I would have done so if it were possible, but it only works for those within your lineage.)
…
I sighed and decided to think about it later, preferably not while someone was still kneeling in front of me.
"You can stop kneeling. First, congratulations on acquiring a unique skill. If you want, you can train with me or stay with our little gremlin here."
I smiled and patted Shalltear's head.
"I'm not a gremlin," she protested. "I'm a proud and beautiful vampire! And in the future, I will be the strongest!"
She looked so adorable with her tiny fist raised in the air.
"Yes, yes, I'm sure you'll be very, very powerful. But for that, you'll need to train. When you reach that level, I'll personally give you a big, big cake."
…Why do I feel like she's starting to resemble Milim when she wants to be spoiled? Now that I think about it, Rimuru does the same. There's something about girls and the need to be praised or recognized.
"I will stay to train before everyone else wakes up, if that does not disturb you, my Lord," Krul said.
I just nodded, ignoring the fact that she insisted on calling me "my Lord" every time. Rimuru already taught me that it's normal for monsters to do that, and that trying to argue about it is pointless.
"Good. By the way, what did you mean earlier by 'weakness to sunlight'?" I asked.
"Yes. All lower-ranking vampires are weak to sunlight. For stronger ones, it becomes just a weakening, especially during the new moon, from what I've heard. But for the weaker versions of our species, we turn to dust if we step into direct sunlight. That is why the vampire capital was built beneath the human capital of the Holy Kingdom. Our leader created a religion around herself, she offers humans protection, and, in return, they offer us blood so we can survive. This is another reason some vampires hate her: she decided our species would no longer hunt humans."
I nodded slowly. Now I understand why they were exiled because they resembled the Demon Lord too much.
"I'll leave you to train your new skills. And for your information, the unique skill you received lets you sense whenever someone from your lineage, the one I just created, is in danger, and allows you to teleport to their location. If you train it enough, you might be able to teleport them to you as well."
"I understand, my Lord. I will work hard to meet your expectations."
"Don't worry too much about it. Work hard and you won't disappoint me. Let me know when everyone else wakes up."
"Understood!"
And with that, I left, carefully ignoring the fact that Shalltear was pouting at my back — because if I looked at her, I wouldn't be able to leave without playing with her anymore.
Rimuru POV
I looked at Milim and Sage in my office. It was the first time Sage had left the dimension, and I was happy for her… but also still furious with her.
Why she decided to turn me into a succubus in front of Samael, I don't know.
And after that, she decided to help Milim enter a relationship with Samael somehow, and she refuses to tell me how. It's not sex, that I'm sure of, because if it were, Sage would already be making wedding plans.
No, maybe Milim decided to stop holding back and just kiss him senseless and then force him to take responsibility?
That would be one way but…
"Can you stop looking at me like that, please?" Milim said.
"What did you do? I understand what Sage told me, that Samael promised to make a ring for you as well and what that implies, but I want to know how you convinced him to accept it."
"Hmm, secret!" Milim said in a sing-song tone. "Samael asked me not to tell you how I did it!"
"What if I give you four times the sweets you're getting now?" I tried.
"Nope! Samael promised me a date every month if I keep the secret!" Milim replied with a huge smile.
And I couldn't even blame her for accepting a deal like that. It's not like he wouldn't take any of us on dates if we asked, or just randomly, but all of us have a lot of work to do, and whenever we're free, we usually just enjoy existing together.
"By the way, Sage, why are you outside? Don't get me wrong, but you usually keep yourself in the dimension," I asked.
"Not much," Sage answered flatly. "I'm just making sure you don't try to add anyone else to the relationship while Samael isn't looking."
"I'm not that bad!" I protested.
"You added me to the relationship right after Samael proposed to you," she deadpanned.
"Hey! That is a misinterpretation. You should've been part of us from the beginning! You are a part of us, so it's normal to add you to the relationship!" I said, puffing my cheeks.
"And the fact that you find me attractive is just a bonus, right?"
"…Yes," I said, very quietly.
BOOM.
All three of us jumped at the explosion from outside. Before I could move, Souei teleported into the room.
"Report," he said calmly. "A delegation from the Beast Kingdom of Eurazania arrived and started declaring that, from now on, this village is under Demon Lord Carrion. When Rigurd tried to explain, their leader attacked him, damaging half his face. When Sirius saw what happened, he began to beat the delegation. The explosion came from what he described as a compression of multiple Bombarda spells detonated at a single point. He asked me to inform you that the town itself did not take damage, and the aggressor has been sent to prison for interrogation and to determine their punishment for attacking a civilian."
…
"Fuck."
Samael POV
I looked at the five people standing before me, my newly named vampires, and my thoughts were… complicated.
I didn't really need them. I had no shortage of power, information, or manpower. But the moment I told them I didn't require subordinates; their expressions became so heartbreakingly downcast that even I felt guilty. I could at least help them. Maybe give them a direction, a purpose.
Honestly, I was still hoping they'd choose to live under Rimuru instead.
"Lord?"
I turned and found myself staring at the walking bundle of energy known as Shalltear. Her eyes sparkled.
Not metaphorically.
Literally sparkled.
…Why can every girl in my life change their form, and why do all of them use that power to emotionally damage me?
"Yes, Shalltear?"
She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward expectantly.
"Can you tell us what our mission is now?"
"Hmm…" I rubbed my chin. "I was thinking of having you infiltrate your former kingdom. Gather information for me. Establish a presence. Maybe even by a house… and create a business for the future."
"What kind of business?" Mika asked.
"That's the problem," I admitted. "I'm not good with business. But I was thinking of something along these lines."
I reached into my shadow and placed a bottle of wine on the table.
The glass glowed faintly, filled with a deep crimson liquid. Something Sage has crafted, using modified fruits, enhanced with Degenerate, designed specifically so lower-rank vampires could metabolize it.
They stared at it curiously.
"Try it," I said, pushing the bottle forward.
Shalltear didn't hesitate. She poured a small cup, sniffed it, and took a sip.
Her eyes widened.
"This is delicious!"
Of course, Shalltear responded first. She was always the only one brave enough to speak her mind around me. The others followed only after watching my reaction.
Soon all five were murmuring in surprise and delight, savoring it like something precious.
I nodded.
"Yes. It's a type of wine I created to replace the blood of humans. My idea was simple: if this can fully sustain weaker vampires, then they wouldn't need to rely on feeding. Not even as a convenience."
I crossed my arms.
"I understand that vampires need sustenance. That's natural. But I want to eliminate the dependency on humans entirely, not just reduce it."
Their eyes widened, all of them.
Shock. Awe. Hope.
"We will make sure that everything you desire will happen, my Lord!" Krul was the first to speak. She dropped to one knee a moment later, followed by everyone else.
Everyone except Shalltear.
She disappeared into a shadow and reappeared on my back a heartbeat later.
"Why did you get up there?" I asked, a little confused.
"It's comfy, and I want to stay here as long as I can!" she said, smiling brightly. "After all, I'm not going to see you for some time!"
…Why do I feel like I'm going to regret letting her do whatever she wants?
Maybe I should stop her?
Before I could begin lecturing her, she vanished again and reappeared in her original spot, humming happily like nothing had happened.
"Mischievous gremlin," I muttered under my breath.
"Before I forget," I said, pulling their attention back to me, "can you tell me your skills?"
…
"So, everyone got something similar," I concluded after listening. "And only Krul and Raizel obtained unique skills?"
They all nodded.
"I already know what Krul's skill does. What about yours, Raizel?"
"Yes, my Lord." Raizel stepped forward slightly. "My unique skill is called Blood Knight. It grants me the ability to create weapons and armor out of blood if I do not have any equipped and allows me to enhance existing weapons and armor with blood. I can also summon a horse made of blood that continuously regenerates using my magicules. The most important part is a sub-ability that lets me temporarily draw upon a portion of the power of the one I serve."
…That is interesting.
"Is there anything else I should know?" I asked.
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes. My blood can change properties. It can become corrosive, poisonous, paralyzing… and, if I focus enough magicules into it, even explosive. I believe it will be very useful in battle or for intimidation, depending on your orders, my Lord."
I smiled faintly.
Of course, my first vampire knight ended up with a skill set perfectly suited for overkill.
Sage hummed in the back of my mind, clearly pleased.
I hummed and then I start speaking again "I will let you all train for the next week with your abilities and then come to send you to do your mission." I get nods from all around.
After saying that, I prepared to leave but a gremlin couldn't stop being a gremlin, so she decided to try and hide in my shadow.
"Shalltear, stay and train with the others." I said, and she teleported into Krul's shadow, then came out to pout at me.
Sirius POV
I've had a great week.
Every morning, I've gone out with Shizu, walking hand in hand through Tempest, inspecting shops, tasting food stalls, checking on construction, and relaxing in a way I didn't think I ever could.
She'd blush whenever our fingers brushed, and I'd pretend I didn't notice.
Peace like that… it was new.
Beautiful.
Addicting.
We were on our way to the next district when—
Crack.
I froze.
A sickening sound.
Flesh ripping.
Bone shattering.
Rigurd's body flew through the air and skidded across the ground.
Half of his face, gone.
The goblins screamed. The civilians panicked.
I saw red.
And then I saw him.
The bastard responsible.
A beastman with leopard-like fur, golden eyes, and a smug grin that made my blood boil.
Rigurd was trying to explain something, to be polite, and this… animal hit him for it.
Before anyone could stop me, I released my magic.
The air around me cracked, pressure bending the ground.
A trick Samael taught me, condense your mana before you let it loose, amplify control, never waste power.
My rage sharpened it to a lethal point.
I walked toward them, the leopard and his two subordinates, and they tried to speak, but it didn't matter.
I lost too many people already.
Too many friends.
To arrogant idiots who thought they were above others.
Tempest is my home now.
And anyone who harms my family…
I started simple.
A thick fog erupted around us, swallowing the street.
So dense that light itself couldn't pierce it.
And for those with magic sense?
I flooded the mist with mana, blinding, disorienting, overwhelming them instantly.
Then the spells began.
From the left, right, Above, below.
Non-lethal, but only because killing them without Rimuru's permission would cause problems.
Balls of compressed air shattered ribs.
Ropes of force slammed them into the ground.
Shockwaves flipped them over like rag dolls.
Every time they tried to stand, another attack crashed down.
Their screams echoed through the mist.
Then I changed the fog, compressed, volatile, unstable.
And I snapped my fingers.
FWOOOM—!
The entire cloud ignited in a controlled explosion, bright as lightning, loud as thunder.
When the smoke cleared, all three beastmen were sprawled across the ground, twitching in pain but alive.
Barely.
A shimmering barrier around the square absorbed the leftover blast, I layered the spell instinctively to protect the civilians.
I stared down at them, rage still burning in my chest.
"You dare attack my home?"
My voice was calm.
Too calm.
A warning in itself.
Souei dropped down beside me from the shadows, silent but tense.
"Send them to prison," I said coldly. "And report everything to Rimuru. Tell her I put up a barrier to contain the damage. She doesn't need to worry."
Souei nodded immediately and vanished with the unconscious offenders.
The moment he left,
My body finally gave up.
I collapsed to one knee.
Mana roared inside me like a tidal wave, crushing me from within.
My vision blurred.
My heartbeat thundered.
My skin felt like it was burning and freezing at the same time.
Then,
A familiar voice echoed in my head.
Not Sage.
But something… similar.
A system voice I had only heard once before.
[Individual Sirius Black has met the requirements to evolve into an Enlightened!] The world went white.
An: OK, sorry it took so long, this is the third time I've written this chapter... I hope you like it, if not, please tell me what's wrong with it and please give me your comments.