Rimuru's POV:
I've barely started the meeting with our guests when Souei and his team appear nearby, collapsing to the ground. We're all so surprised that at first none of us moves but eventually, we recover and head over. Souei doesn't appear to be too injured but he's definitely exhausted.
His team, on the other hand, all look worst for wear. The one member that seems fine must only appear so because of a potion as their clothing indicates they probably got the worst end of whatever happened. Perhaps sensing us drawing closer, Souei forces himself up.
Me: What happened?
Souei: We encountered an unforeseen variable.
Shion: Huh?
Souei: Demon Lord Clayman is dead.
There's silence as everyone takes in those words. There are more than merely those from Tempest here. Gazel Dwargo and Dolph from the nation of Dwargon are here. Fuze from the Kingdom of Blumund is also here alongside some of the adventurers we had met from his guild much earlier. Elalude Grimwald (Erald) from the Sorcererous Sarion Dynasty is also present. My subordinates alongside Veldora are here as well yet no one recovers quickly from these words. Even with our impressive roster, we're all stunned into silence. Demon Lord Ramiris seems to be the first to recover, however, which is surprising since she had fainted before any of this even occurred thanks to another matter entirely.
Ramiris: What do you mean dead? He just-
Me: Let's hear what he has to say first.
Souei: Demon Lord Clayman is indeed dead. His realm is in chaos at the moment. The territories bordering the Eastern Empire have already been annexed by the Empire and those bordering Demon Lord Milim's territory are seeking her protection.
Me: Her protection? From what?
Souei: When we arrived at the location where his capital should be, we found a massive city there instead. Such a city shouldn't even be possible given how mountainous the area should be but even the landscape has been changed.
Gazel: You're saying that a new nation has seemingly risen in his stead?
Souei: I wasn't able to confirm as we were intercepted shortly after discovering it. We tried retreating but we were so outclassed that even withdrawing wasn't possible and as such, were forced to engage.
Shion: But you won right?
Souei: No. We would have been killed right then and there if someone didn't intervene and allow us to leave.
All: Whaaat?
Souei: Throughout our fight, I got the impression that they weren't taking the fighting as seriously as they could have so I tried to head towards the city but got repelled by a barrier.
Me: So whoever they are, they don't seem to want outsiders getting in. You said someone intervened though, correct?
Souei: Yes. Shortly after Souka was injured, a female who seemed like a noble or government official stepped in and after asking us a few questions, allowed us to leave.
Shion: Don't tell me you told them about us!
Souka: We didn't but I got the impression that by not answering her, we gave up more information than a straight answer would have.
Gazel: Sounds like quite the impressive individual. Though I must say, if what you say is true then this could prove to be the start of a very major conflict on that side of the Great Forest of Jura.
Me: What do you mean?
Gazel: If this new nation has taken over from Demon Lord Clayman then most likely they will not stand idly by and watch as his territory is annexed by other surrounding nations. This would mean that they are most likely going to go to war with the Eastern Empire who has already taken some of their claimed territories and perhaps even Demon Lord Milim if she decided to support those cities near her own nation's border.
Elalude: You think they'd go to war with Demon Lord Milim?
Gazel: If she takes their territory or supports its attempt to break away then yes, I do. They've already taken down one Demon Lord so I doubt they'd think another poses any sort of threat to them in the event of a full-scale war.
Elalude: I see.
Gazel: This is perhaps why that female allowed Rimuru's subordinates to leave as well. If she's as cunning as I think she is based on what I heard, she's already figured that it'd be best to not risk making enemies of yet another nation when war with their two immediate neighbours seems inevitable.
Elalude: That does make sense. Especially if they already decided to go to war with one or the other. It might also explain how they caught on to this group's actions so quickly as well. Their guard was already heightened due to recent events.
Gazel: Indeed.
Ramiris: I still don't buy it.
All: Huh?
Ramiris: Clayman just proposed a Walpurgis to address a lot of things including the elimination of this nation. There's simply no way for him to have been eliminated that quickly. I must confirm this for myself.
Me: What do you mean proposed a Walpurgis to destroy my nation? Is that why you came rushing in here announcing death and destruction?
Ramiris: Walpurgis or as some call it, the Walpurgis Banquet. It's a meeting between all the demon lords to discuss important matters. Your death was to be one of these matters.
She explains everything to everyone there but when she's finished I finally understand why she finds it so hard that Clayman's dead. I would be sceptical too. The timing just seems too convenient. It would be one thing if we killed him but this is a new threat that no one saw coming and from the way Ramiris spoke, not even the demon lords did.
Me: Is there any way to confirm that he's dead?
Raphael: Demon Lord Milim is approaching.
Stepping aside from the group, I turn to face Milim as she approaches. Sure enough, mere moments after Raphael warns me, Milim lands before me creating some cracks.
Ramiris: Milim! Is it true?
Milim: Huh?
Ramiris: Clayman!
Milim: Oh, yeah. He's dead. I even travelled there myself to see what happened and something blasted me out of the sky but not before I witness the state of his capital for myself. I arrived to find it on fire and a large army plundering it. I considered intervening but figured it wasn't my business. Thanks to my eyes, I was even able to see him as he was killed by a girl I've never seen before. He's definitely dead.
There's silence once more but it doesn't last long. The Beastketeers from Eurazania all shift into battle position once recovering from the shock of seeing Milim but before they can do anything, Gazel speaks up.
Gazel: You said something blasted you out of the sky?
Milim: Oh Yeah. It didn't damage me, of course, but it did knock me away from the city and by the time I finally recovered a bright light lit up the sky. When I returned to the site, Clayman's castle was gone and so too was a chunk of the mountain range. Reminded me of when I tried blasting Carrion with Drago Nova.
Phobio: You'd speak so lightly of destroying our capital you-
Milim: Why are you mad? It was just a city! I'd think you'd be happy Carrion's alive and well.
Phobio: I-
Milim: Don't tell me you were stupid enough to think Frey actually killed him. I know you're dumb but that'd be a new low.
Phobio: Why y-
Rimuru: That's enough.
They continue glaring at one another but as they do, Carrion and Frey both arrive, thus silencing any doubt the beastketeers may have had that their master was alive and well.
Carrion: Stand down before you get yourselves killed.
They do, but hesitantly. Still, as Frey and Carrion enter the pavilion, something tells me there's a lot that needs to be discussed. Here I was, thinking this would be a fairly simple day yet more and more people just keep turning up. I hate these kinds of surprises.
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Demon Lords Milim, Carrion and Frey have all joined our little meeting. They've just done explaining what occurred from their end and from what I've gathered, it seems they were scheming to take down Clayman. Unfortunately, however, Milim can't tell us more about what happened after Clayman's castle got destroyed as she left to spread the news to Carrion and Frey who had been awaiting her return.
Gazel: Even with that explanation, it doesn't answer the issue we're all facing right now.
Me: The new nation that has risen in Clayman's place?
Gazel: Precisely. If it took three Demon Lords working together to plot his demise then I fear whoever simply stepped in out of the blue and eliminated him might prove to be a much greater threat than we had previously thought.
Milim: I can crush them-
Me: I don't think that's what he's referring to here.
Gazel: Rimuru's right. Though I suppose you might have your chance to fight them soon. Are you going to be supporting their western cities that are seeking your protection?
Milim: I'm not sure. Depends on how I am feeling but I might just attack for the fun of it.
Gazel: As I thought. Which further explains why the woman your subordinates met was so eager to have them leave without further fighting.
Milim: My subordinates?
Me: No mine.
Milim: Oh?
We tell her of the encounter between Souei's group and a few of their fighters. She seems surprised at first to hear that they were easily beaten and is even more surprised to hear that Souei thinks they weren't even fighting at full strength. Still, none of this does anything to shake her resolve.
Milim: This means I might just get to have a real fight again-
Me: Milim, don't underestimate them.
Milim: If they are capable of beating even me then none of you stands a chance.
Gazel: Perhaps, but we aren't the ones looking to start a fight. It'd be much better for us to try to establish diplomatic relations first though I'm not sure how much that would work since from what we've heard, they have sealed off their current nation with a barrier only they can pass through.
Elalude: What of Euranazia?
Carrion: We'll need to rebuild but as we are not near Jistarv, we should not be affected.
Me: We can provide assistance where that's concerned.
Carrion: I'd deeply appreciate it.
Me: We can begin sorting that out later then. By the way, Milim, try not to get yourself killed, alright? Still, for now, we have much to discuss.
Milim: I don't see what's there to discuss. I was planning on getting rid of Clayman. Now I am going to get rid of whoever replaced him.
Me: Souei, take the others and get some rest. You have done well. We'll let you know what we decide.
Souei nods and takes the rest of his team away. Since they've arrived, the few that still had injuries have been treated but they are all still looking pretty exhausted. As they leave, however, a Dryad arrives. It's Trya and much like the first time we met, she brings bad news.
Trya: There's a horde of monsters heading this way.
Me: What do you mean?
Treyni: What happened?
Trya: We were keeping an eye on the border between the forest and the lands of Demon Lord Clayman when we noticed what appeared to be a massive army heading towards us. I was about to contact you when we realized that this "army" wasn't attacking, and instead seemed to be running from something, and they are all heading this way.
Me: Monsters?
Trya: Yes. Ranging from ogres, orcs and goblins to demons and wights.
Milim: Sounds like Clayman's pets.
Trya: Are they invading us?
Treyni: Demon Lord Clayman is dead.
Trya, much like we were, is shocked by this but unlike before, there's no time at all to waste. Regardless of what we all have decided, we can't allow this mob to storm through the forest. Electing to go and intercept them immediately, I ask King Gazel for his assistance and both he and Fuze readily agrees. To my surprise, Elalude offers to help as well and before long, we've all gathered along the border between Jistarv and the forest thanks to the use of teleportation and the aid of the Dryads.
Gazel: How do you wish to handle this Rimuru?
Me: I would prefer to speak with them first but if they refuse, we must stop them by force.
Elalude: I agree. Even if they don't pose a threat to the forest or Tempest as a whole, they'll move through it and most likely attack one of the surrounding nations, three or maybe I should say four of which are present here.
Gazel: I agree. In that regard, we must stop them here.
As we all watch the horizon, we notice a dust cloud heading our way. Looking closer, I can make out some of the races Trya mentioned. This must be the mob though I can see why she called it a horde. It must be over 100,000 strong.
Milim: I'll get them to turn around-
Me: No, let-
Before either of us can finish our sentences, there's a bolt of red light from the sky. We all watch, half caught between surprise and horror, as it causes an explosion the likes of which we've never seen.
So bright is its light that it all but causes broad daylight to seem pitch black in comparison. Most of those standing with me are forced to avert their eyes. When it clears, there's nothing left but a scorched wasteland. Where there was once an army of monsters, there's nothing. No evidence that they ever existed remains. Tracing back to the source of the power, I notice a female in red floating high above, looking down at her work. I'm not sure if she's noticed us or not but she doesn't seem particularly bothered by our presence.
Gazel: That's what you are looking to fight?
Elalude: I'm with you there. That'd be one fight my nation certainly won't join.
Souei: That's one of the persons we fought.
Shuna: Souei! You're supposed to be resting.
Milim: That girl is from the nation that killed Clayman?
Souei: She's from the nation that's built a city where his capital once stood, yes.
Carrion: There's only one person I've seen with power even remotely similar to that.
Veldora: I wouldn't judge her just yet. That dragon didn't even remotely tap into the power she holds.
Everyone's surprised by Veldora's words. I myself, am at a loss for words but Raphael confirms it almost immediately. She explains that what occurred would be the equivalent of my water slash skill in comparison to my Beelzebub skill. It's but a small piece of the power I can exert. It's apparently the same for this girl, meaning that whatever her primary skill is, it would most likely level this entire area and probably take the entire forest with it as well.
Me: Do you know that female?
Veldora: She seems somewhat familiar but-
Milim: She's from a group of Dragons that got labelled outcasts. I thought they were all dead but apparently not. She wasn't this strong the last time I saw her, though.
Fuze: Could it be that these Dragons that you mention have formed a nation for themselves?
Gazel: From what Rimuru's subordinate has told us, that's highly unlikely. The woman that spared them seemed to hold a higher rank than that female. Without more details, we cannot speculate much further but it'd seem this red dragon is merely a subordinate of whoever's in charge.
Elalude: How will you handle this new development from Dwargon's perspective?
Gazel: Now that'd be sharing state secrets now wouldn't it? I need more information before I can make any decision. Rimuru, take great care with this matter. I'm returning to my nation. We'll need to prepare for whatever happens.
Me: Thanks for coming!
Elalude: I suppose I should take my leave as well. We still wish to enter into diplomatic relations with you, Great Rimuru, but I must consult with the Emperess and update her on this new development.
Me: I understand-
Milim: I'm leaving as well.
Me: Milim, are you still going to fight?
Milim: I have my reasons-
Veldora: Milim, be careful. If the ruler of this new nation has gotten Dragons as powerful as the one that we saw just now to bend to their will they could very well be-
Milim: I know. That's one of the things I'm hoping to find out.
Before anyone can say anything else, she blasts off. Frey leaves soon after, seemingly chasing after her. King Gazel and his knights all take their leave as well and Elalude leaves with them, though heads in the opposite direction. Carrion, on the other hand, mentions something about needing to regroup his people before leaving alongside his three beastketeers.
Fuze: I guess the meeting's over, huh?
Me: Thanks for coming to aid us again.
Fuze: Don't mention it. I'll be returning to my kingdom as well to inform the King. Something tells me things are going to get real interesting soon.
As I watch him and his men leave, I can't help but think that he's right. The timing of this all seems a bit off. We might have missed our chance to take have revenge but in doing so we may have very well found ourselves in a much bigger crisis. Either way, we can't do anything about it just now. Something tells me if we were to cross into Jistarv right now, even as a delegation, it'd be perceived as a threat.
Me: Let's head back.