"Great Sage! Why did Takumi and the other person suddenly stop moving?"
Rimuru asked anxiously, staring at Takumi and Shizu who stood frozen like statues.
Notification: Lord Takumi is currently communicating with the Spirit of Fire within the mental space of the individual Shizue Izawa.
"Oh! So Takumi was trying to properly persuade that Spirit of Fire!"
Ifrit, deep within Shizu's consciousness: Yes, yes, yes—persuasion. The kind where if you don't listen, you die.
Return From the Mental Realm
Takumi's consciousness returned and he blinked slowly, meeting Shizu's gentle gaze as she opened her eyes.
"Shizu, how do you feel now?" he asked.
Shizu touched her chest—feeling a strong, steady heartbeat. Her eyes softened.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Takumi… no, Takumi. My body feels lighter than ever before. Ifrit no longer struggles for control."
"That's good," Takumi said proudly. "It wasn't a waste of my and Ifrit's breath."
Inside her, Ifrit nearly spit flames.
Waste of breath!? You threatened my entire existence!
Shizu smiled shyly.
"Please just call me Shizu."
"Alright," Takumi replied. "Shizu it is."
Rimuru, Ellen, Kabalu, and Gido rushed toward them.
"Takumi! Is Shizu okay!?"
"Is Sister Shizue really fine!?"
"She looks normal again!"
Takumi raised a hand.
"Stop—yes, she's fine. Completely stabilized."
Everyone cheered.
"Great! Then let's celebrate!"
Takumi chuckled.
"Aren't you all going to visit Mrs. Kamado?"
Ellen froze.
"Ah! I forgot!"
She tugged at Shizu's arm.
"Sister Shizue! Let's go to Sister Kuie's house first!"
Shizu stroked Ellen's head.
"Alright. Whatever Ellen wants."
"Yay!! Sister Shizue is the best!"
Visit to the Kamado Family
The group headed to Mrs. Kamado's home.
Mrs. Kamado was delighted and immediately welcomed them inside. Nezuko shyly peeked from behind her mother, while Tanjiro rushed home from training with the patrol to join in.
They laughed, ate, and shared stories until late into the night.
Shizu's heart warmed.
Living… isn't so lonely after all.
Three Days Later – Takumi's House
Takumi's house—built beside a peaceful lakeside—was spacious and elegant. Inside Takumi's bedroom, the curtains were tightly drawn.
A quilt-wrapped caterpillar lay asleep.
Sakuya sighed.
"Lord Takumi… it's morning. Please get up."
The caterpillar stirred.
"Aahhh! Too bright! Sunlight! I'm going to die!"
Sakuya's expression twitched.
"Please… get up."
Takumi burrowed deeper.
"No! I have a disease! If I leave the blanket, I die!"
"There is no such disease." Sakuya said flatly.
She tugged at the quilt.
It didn't budge.
Takumi clung like a life-or-death koala.
Sakuya sighed again.
Then took out a knife.
Slice.
The quilt split cleanly, revealing Takumi curled up in dinosaur pajamas.
"…Are you still going to lie there?"
Takumi felt the cold air.
"…Fine, fine, I'm up."
Sakuya added:
"And today is not free. Several Ogre Clans arrived this morning, and Lord Rimuru has already gone to meet them."
Takumi bolted upright.
"What!? The Ogres!?"
"Could it be… Benimaru and the others?"
Without even brushing his hair, Takumi leapt out of bed.
Sakuya helped him dress with the efficiency of a military commander.
Even the Civilization System chimed:
System:…I want a maid too.
Takumi ate breakfast in record time and sprinted toward the town hall.
Meeting the Ogres
As Takumi approached the meeting room, he overheard Rimuru.
"Don't worry. You may stay here for now. I will send scouts to investigate who destroyed your village."
"Thank you very much!" the Ogres replied.
Takumi pushed the door open.
"Rimuru! I'm here—"
A blue-haired girl with golden eyes waved at him enthusiastically.
"Takumi! Come here! I have people to introduce!"
This was Rimuru in her new humanoid mimicry.
Of course, she used Shizu's structure—with permission—so Takumi wouldn't feel weird.
The Ogres stiffened and immediately stood.
"Lord Takumi!"
Takumi raised a hand warmly.
"No need to be nervous. Please sit. I heard Ogres arrived, so I came to see."
He turned to Rimuru.
"Rimuru, what happened?"
Rimuru summarized the situation.
Their home was destroyed by Orcs. Unlike the original timeline, they did not attack Dimensional City—they approached respectfully after witnessing the civilization and coexistence it held.
Takumi nodded.
"I understand. You are welcome to stay here and recover."
He then smiled.
"Oh, by the way… what are your names?"
The Ogres lowered their heads.
"Lord Takumi… we do not yet have names."
Takumi clapped his hands.
"Then Rimuru will name you."
Rimuru blinked.
"Huh? Me?"
"Yes," Takumi said as if stating a fact of nature. "You're our nation's co-leader. Naming them will confirm their allegiance to Dimensional City—and to you."
Inside Rimuru's head:
Benimaru and the others are mine! Mine!
Rimuru grinned.
"Alright! Let me think…"
She pointed at the red-haired Ogre.
"You shall be named—"