About three months had passed since I started acting as Rimuru's son, and I had some fun trolling him. And I think it's safe to say that Rimuru has aged a couple of years due to it.
'Great Sage, how long until your evolution?' I asked while waiting for my food.
[Notice. Approximate time for complete calculation: 28 Days.]
Good, the end game is slowly approaching, and I need to get stronger in the short amount of time I have left.
"Eat up, Cale." Rimuru said, placing a plate with a cheeseburger on it, "This is called a cheeseburger," he explained.
I looked at it confused, tilting my head slightly and looking at him, "Where is the knife and fork?" I asked.
"No, you don't eat cheeseburgers with a knife and fork. Look," He said, picking up his cheeseburger and flipping it upside down before eating it.
Who flips a burger upside down while eating? I can ask later, "Oh, I see," I said with wide eyes before cautiously picking the burger up as if it would bite me.
Oh, it's good! Is this why everybody liked Fast Food in my previous life? No wonder if it's supposed to taste good like this one.
The burger had a delicious juicy patty with a crispy exterior that gave it a satisfying crunch with every bite. The melted cheese on top added a creamy and savory element that perfectly complemented the sweet and tangy flavor of the caramelized onions, which tasted like jam. The whole burger was elevated by the addition of a tasty sauce that tied all the flavors together in a harmonious blend.
"Try it with these," Rimuru said, placing another plate before me, but this time with french fries.
I reached for the fry and savored the crispy outer layer as I bit down. I couldn't get enough of their delicious taste and satisfying crunch as I continued to enjoy the salty goodness.
"Ah, if you think this is delicious, wait until I make Ramen and Tonkatsu, but most importantly, wait until I get my hands on rice!" Rimuru said, and I could see him drolling slightly, just thinking about recreating more dishes.
"Rice? What's that, Dad?" I asked, acting confused.
"Ah, you will see when I recreate it," He said, looking proud of himself.
"Is that like those drugs in the manga you gave me?" I asked.
PFFF..." Rimuru choked on the water he was drinking before looking at me and muttering, "No, I did it again."
"Dad, are you alright?" I asked, enjoying this a bit more than I should.
"Yes, I am," He then came up to me and patted me on the shoulder, "I failed as a father..."
"Huh, why? Are the drugs they called Sour Patch Kids bad?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
We both looked at each other.
Rimuru looked dumbfounded, "Sour Patch Kids?"
"Yeah," I nodded, "They said Sour Patch Kids are the best kind of drugs."
I think Rimuru was about to start crying, "I think I need to go to sleep..."
"But Dad, you don't need to sleep..."
"I need now..."
I enjoyed messing with him. What should I do next? I started thinking of my next plan to mess with him as Souei appeared, "Lord Rimuru, we have an emergency."
"What happend Souei?" Rimuru asked
"I've spotted an armed force in the sky to the north. I put their number at around 500."
Oh, right, this should be around the time when Gazel arrives. I remember messing with him...
---
Looking up in the sky, I saw an army of around 500 flying on Pegasuses. I kinda want one of them for myself. Just imagining entering a battle on a shadow pegasus and everyone's reactions would be worth it.
"Hang on, Kaijin, what are you doing? Hurry up and evacuate." Rimuru said, noticing Kaijin, who was looking at the incoming army through a spyglass.
"Actually, I might know who that is." He looked at Rimuru," I once shared drinks with an old retired general who told me that the Dwarven King commands a top-secret force of his own."
"And you think this might be them?" Rimuru asked.
Kaijin nodded, "I do, especially since they are called The Pegasus Knights."
"I want one for myself," I said, still looking at the pegasuses and imagining myself on one of them.
"It's good to see you are well, King Gazel,"
I started tuning out their conversation and continued looking at the pegasus.
"Hah! HAHAHHAHA!" A sudden laugh from Gazel snapped me out, and I looked at what was happening, "Well, if the overseer of the forest says so herself, then it must be true! I apologize for doubting you, Rimuru!" I think I saw Rimuru deadpan, but I think that was my imagination, "However, I still need to confirm for myself. Draw your weapon!"
As I looked at them, ready to start the duel, I remembered something. For a while now, I have been thinking of getting myself a dagger or something akin to a mix between a dagger and a shortsword for my second weapon.
As I was thinking, I felt something akin to a slight breeze hit me, so I looked in the direction it came from and noticed that Gazel was using Hero's Haki.
He has gotten stronger since the last time I saw him.
After a while, Rimuru managed to undo it, and Gazel used Haze of Rumbling Heavens. This sword technique conceals the user's presence to the point of not even being detectable by Magic Sense, attacking the enemy from behind with a bottom-to-top slash followed by a top-to-bottom slash.
Well, Rimuru managed to stop it, but the technique itself is pretty impressive.
"In that case, the winner is Rimuru Tempest!" Treyni declared, and cheers erupted from Rimuru's subordinates followed it.
"Hoh, hoh, hoh..." Hakuro stepped forwards, "Well played, Lord Rimuru. But you have much to learn about the offense. The lessons will be harder tomorrow." He then looked at Gazel, "I thought my Lord's opponent seemed rather fierce with the blade, and it turned out to be you. You've made great advances."
Now Rimuru was truly dumbfounded as Gazel and Hakourou started speaking, "I remember teaching the sword to a mere boy wandering the woods. They are fond memories now.
"It is an honor to hear those words from you, savant. How long ago was that, 300 years?" After finishing their small talk, Gazel turned to me and then to Rimuru, "Is this?" He asked.
Rimuru, slightly surprised not having noticed I was standing beside him the whole time, introduced me, "Oh, this is Cale... My... Emm. Son."
"Your son?" Gazel asked.
"Well, magicule born son would be the best way to describe it."
I gave him a smile that sent shivers down his spine before he looked at Hakurou, who nodded, "I-I s-see," He placed a hand on Rimuru's shoulder, "I heard that it's best to keep kids away from feathers and any sort of sticky substance."
"Ermmm... I'll keep that in mind?"
As he said that, I kept smiling, remembering the small pranks I pulled on him when he was training under Hakurou.
---
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading this chapter.
For other LN readers. Everyone is talking about Origin Skills, while my monke brain can't remember if Origin Skills are a WN only thing or if they appeared in LN. Like for example, I know that Magicule Breeder Reactor is classified as an Origin Skill in WN but in LN it's a sub-skill of Satanael.
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