Mithra's POV:
Phew... That's a great weight lifted off my shoulders. For so long I was afraid he would resent me about this incident, and he simply brushed it off. That's so like him, as long he's still alive and it wasn't intentional... I'm glad to see you again Rimuru. Pfft... This name really, soo different from his previous one, giving kind of a cute vibe.
I took quite a long time, my temporary body won't hold much longer. I'll meet him in a few days, let's resume my little chat with Noir, I have gone so fast he didn't have the time to say anything. I still have a few things to finish before switching to my new job.
-"Thanks for the show, old hag, it was refreshing."
-*chuckles* "We finally had the chance to see you making such a vulnerable face, it was worth the wait."
-"Wut? What are you doing here y'all?"
The four of them are seated in those classy and comfy chairs they use in grand palaces, a great quantity of delicacies and damn good drinks on the table. Sure you know how to have a good time when you rule Demons.
-"Noir 'invited' us as soon as you went to the surface, we didn't even have the time to reconsider." The brat was drinking tea.
-"Kufufu. Oh, don't say that Violet, I bet you aren't even mad considering you got one of the best places to witness such a wonderful event."
-"Honestly yeah, but don't let it go to your head."
Argh, I forgot! This stupid weirdo has an artifact to survey the world, and I was too focused on my reunion with Rimuru to notice it, less block it. Too bad then, I'll be harassed with questions earlier than I wanted. I would have preferred to cool down and talk about the future with him before doing this.
-"Rruurrgh… If you want to ask something just do it, I won't flee."
-"Oh my, thanks for making it easy." Blanc crossed her legs, giving airs of royalty as always. "You better make yourself comfortable, because you were quite elusive all those years about your past, so we are really curious."
-"I couldn't say it better, and as the host I will start. What is the link between this Rimuru and the Creator? We heard he had a piece of Veldanava's soul within him but that's all."
-"Oh, the biggest file right from the start? Could I expect anything else from you? Nevermind, I said I'll tell you what you want. But I don't know all of it, so some pieces could be missing."
So I started telling them our story (at least my point of view and what I was told about), in a nutshell because most of it is irrelevant for now. How we came from a lower world, the same as many otherworlders; how we tried to explore a mysterious world when a dimensional gate opened one day, before it suddenly closed behind us and many others who traveled before. How we realized in this world, species could evolve quickly and individuals get strength according to their desires.
How Rimur- well, his former self, after a few decades of exploration found a ruin where he felt an ancient presence, who later was confirmed as being a piece of Veldanava's soul. He then transplanted himself inside Rimuru's mind, mainly because he finally found someone who could hear him and not be alone anymore.
-"That's a big deal y'know? It's as if this guy got the best cheat of all times, having the fucking Creator explain him everything." Violet cursed again, not fitting her 'princess' play.
-"Pfft, for sure. If you think getting advice on how to tell, with eyes only, the three sizes of a woman is a cheat code, so be it."
-"Kufufu, surely you jest."
-"Apparently not, I was told that guy was a cultured man, doubled with a chatterbox, tripled with the king of dumbasses. I'm thanking his wife for putting him on a leash and making him a more responsible guy for a while... What?"
-"...Not really what we expected about the 'great' Star King Dragon, are you sure this isn't exaggerated?" Blanc asked, her face showing disgust.
-"Hey, that's what Rimuru said, brat. I couldn't hear him, so I'm bound to whatever my son wanted to tell us."
-"Sure, sure. So the slime really was the only one who could feel him?"
-"To feel him, not really. I and two others could do it, even tell what kind of emotion he had, but that's all. A problem about having a soul and mind wavelength too different, whatever it means."
And the questions continued for a while. Apart from the first ones who were really serious, the following were more of the joking side about the apparent naivety of Veldora and Rimuru's masterful teasing. Thanks guys for sometimes appreciating such a simple kind of humor...
Maybe because it's not everyday you get to see a True Dragon being fooled like that. Even more by a blob. It lets me refresh my head before the next stinging one. Why do I have a headache in anticipation?
-"Oh yeah, before I forget. Old hag, what was the thing who made you feel down like that at the end, when the slime was going out?"
Oh fuck, not that one...
-"...There is no way for me to get out of this one?"
-"Unless you want us to make you say it by force. You know you can no longer take us all at the same time, young one."
He won't stop calling me that after almost two centuries, didn't he? But that's true, especially now that Blondie learned how to fight with a sword and I've helped her to control her spells. Even the brat stopped throwing a tantrum in a serious fight. She has a talent in hand to hand combat, and is more prone to use it.
It's not like the first time we fought, the gap in power of the four of them has sharply diminished. And my naming won't change anything because it's an equal one, it barely gives strength compared to a subordinate naming. If they wanted to put me down now, they could do it.
-"... It was a great misunderstanding."
-"Good choice Mithra, don't do it the hard way when it's useless." Blanc seated more comfortably to hear it.
-"Oh if you want to know, just shut up! But thanks for calling me by my name, 'my queen'. I'll give you a candy later as an offering."
-"Tsk! As caustic as ever."
-"... In this world, he was a ruler. And a great one, very few on the surface would get the same acknowledgment from me. He led the unfortunates of our original world who were trapped with us. I was among many things the head of Justice, his executor, and the voice of good sense in case he started to do something fucked up. Until one day he changed."
That pressure... Is it the same when a performer does his things in front of his public? You all from the artistic field got my respect for getting over stage fright.
-"He became cold, calculative, distant. He had problems for a few years prior to that, but could manage it well. It exploded when he completely slaughtered one of our latest opponents. So before it went too far, I confronted him. And it did not end well, at all. We... killed each other."
I said it. For the first time since I'm here, I put the word on what happened that cursed day. And told someone about it, well, the simplified version. It was... surprisingly easy, I just needed to say it.
-"Whoa, that's... how could I say? Tragic?" Says Blondie, using all of her brain to qualify something she still has difficulty to grasp.
-"...Want a drink young one?"
-"Thanks Noir, I need one."
Ha! He knows me, giving me the whole bottle in lieu of a glass. It will occupy my mind longer.
*Gulp, gulp, gulp*
-"Whew, feels better. You're silent now? I thought you would use this opportunity to mock me."
-"We are not 'that' insensitive, even if I'm not the best choice to say it." Violet faked a hurtful expression. "In almost two centuries, you really managed to make us accept you as one of us, so it would be hypocritical to mock you the first time you drop your guard and let yourself loose. And I don't want another spanking session if I try."
-"Bwahaha! You had me in the first half, I'm not gonna lie."
-"Hey, for once I was sincere."
I"m sure it wasn't her plan, but she made me feel a little better. And I'm glad if they really think of me like that, especially with the crazy start in our relationships, the two brats needed years to get over it.
-"If you still can answer one last question."
-"Go ahead Blanc, the worst has already come and I'm still alive."
-"Like you, he must have lost the majority of his power but, how strong was he before?"
-"...Because I said 'killed each other' right?"
-"Exactly."
Classic, they know my current abilities and heard me complain multiple times about my 'past glory', enough to be sick of it. And someone did kill me, for them it's a vital piece of knowledge when I never elaborated more than 'I was ded'.
-"My stupid son was the mightiest cockroach of the world: almost unkillable, whatever you threw at him. If he survived long enough to a specific threat, he systematically developed a resistance to it, or learned to use it. He even found how to manipulate souls, and was a true expert at it. Also, he was an irksome trickster in battle. If you can't adapt to his fucked mind, you're screwed."
-"Kufufu. Yeah, if you can swear that much, you're good. You're selling dreams the way you talk about him. Even if he's currently a slime, he can be a good surprise. I will follow his progress in this world, seeing if he can use your preparations accordingly and if he's really worthy of us."
Ha. He saw through my plans. Well, I expected as much from the weirdo, it wouldn't be too surprising if Blanc also did, she's better at plotting than him.
-"Since when?"
-"At least a century. The way you made yourself known at the surface, the times you responded to those summons, the tasks you accepted and the curious rewards you asked, it was all for when he would appear, no? You dropped a hint the first time you said only one person was worthy of your true loyalty, if he demanded it."
I did say that. Noir has a good memory when it draws his attention.
-"It wasn't hard to notice, old hag. We were all present that day, and it was too extraordinary to forget. I did ask Noir to confirm my suspicions, but we all reached the same conclusion."
-"Okay, I've underestimated you Blondie. You actually have a normal brain."
-"Hey, that's mean."
-"So? Anything to say about it? It's time to express your disapproval."
-"Why?" Jaune asked nonchalantly.
...Why 'why'? You just got confirmation I planned to make you his subordinates one way or another, you Primordials. So be angry, disgusted, do something.
-"Say Mithra, you're not the brightest of all. If You, the one who managed to defeat us, is waiting for the arrival of someone who you deem the only one deserving , it's natural for us to at least get curious," bluntly says the lil' brat, looking at me as if I'm the biggest of idiots.
-"Understandable. Hnnnngh... If you can excuse me, I need to rest before going back, so see ya."
Rimuru will take a few days to recalibrate and test his skills on the monsters in the cave. When he'll get out, we'll meet with the Dryads, informing them about our deal with Veldora. And see how the little one is doing under their care, it has been years.
I wonder how this new adventure will play. The Jura Forest has plenty of potential, and with the character I've created for the world since the first time I was summoned, we'll get leverage for diplomacy with human countries and Demons Lords alike. But we won't have too much time before the second round against 'her' starts. I hope this time we'll be ready.
***
A few centuries ago, in another world. 198 years before D-Day.
We're in an expeditionary camp. The staff tried their best to keep themselves occupied to not panic about a disastrous event that occurred some time ago.
Among them, a woman, who will in another life be known as Mithra Tempest. She perambulated, waiting to intercept someone trying to leave in an unofficial expedition. She sighed from relief when she saw him arrive on the outskirts. A young towering man, clothed like a traveler, hiding his equipment under his cape.
-"So Alestar, you're really set about exploring this world on your side?"
-"What else can I do? We're trapped here, at least 114 thousand of us officially, and we can easily double it with all the guys who came here on their own. The expeditionary forces will maintain order for a while, but we must think about the future."
-"You saw something on your last trip, didn't you?"
-"...Hey, do you think we are strong?"
-"What is this question?"
-"Answer me."
-"Our equipment doesn't work properly here, our ammunition will decrease rapidly, our warehouses will be depleted if we don't do anything and we know little about this place. Even the base camp region is still quite dangerous if you get out unprepared. And even if we have another solution with those weird powers, we don't know enough about it. So no, we aren't."
-"You're right, but it's way worse than you think."
-"Tell me."
-"We're ants. In all ways, there are out there beyond the mountains some gigantic monsters, even the locals don't dare approach them."
-"The locals, so as expected we aren't alone."
-"That's the second problem, we are the weakest intelligent lifeform here, as the last arrived. My power of regeneration and your flames and brute strength are a feat when we consider the level of humankind, but compared to them it's nothing."
-"How strong?"
-"Almost anyone can kill the two of us if they want. And they've got some people they call champions of their races, stupidly stronger than the common folk, who could end our whole race on a whim. It doesn't help that they can live centuries, maybe millennia. I don't know much about them."
-"They also have those powers?"
-"Everyone has one, but hear that, because it's a spark of hope for us. Apparently, those powers awaken depending on your desires. The stronger they are, the higher is your potential. And if you explore correctly the extent of your abilities, it's impossible to tell how much you can grow, it only depends on your dedication and your mental strength. Bending the laws of the universe isn't an impossible feat anymore."
-"So it's theoretically possible to re-open the gates to our world or another?"
-"Theoretically, I've heard about an insectoid warrior who's able to bend space and is revered as one of the strongest beings in this world. But creating a dimensional passage is WAY too difficult for him, so don't raise up your hopes too much."
-"...The others will panic if they heard that."
-"They will, so not a word about it for now."
-"Okay, stay here for a few minutes, I have to pack my things."
-"What, you're coming?"
-"Say Alestar, you're not trying to escape from me? If this damn planet is that dangerous, no way I will let you go alone. I know you're smart and have an absurdly great survival instinct, but I won't take the risk."
-"And you? I don't think the military will let the famous Major Invidia go wild when they are in such a dire position."
-"I was an extra in case of a field emergency, and we are in an emergency. They will let go after I explain it to the higher-ups, they're not dumb enough to stop me. The priority is to understand how this world works, secure a way to find food and a stable defensive position for the ordinary folks. And I'm better outside of all this paperwork, not wasting my talents."
-"Ok, I get it, do it. But don't take too long, I want to return as soon as possible to the local town, it will be our base of operations for now and we have a week of travel before us."
***
Outside the cave, 4 days after Veldora's disappearance.
Rimuru's POV:
Ha, finally I can feel the sun. I didn't think I would miss it that much. Those past days were busy, I cleaned most of the cave of its monsters and absorbed their Skills. Seriously, this [Predator] is broken, if I can use it properly I will regain my former strength faster than expected.
And [Great Sage] is a blessing, her calculative powers are the greatest help I could ever get to adapt myself to this body. Now I have a satisfying control over my spells, some flaws were even corrected.
It's nothing like the past, when I needed to calculate everything by myself without Skills as useful as her. I just had a [Thought Acceleration], that I boosted further by creating multiple annex brains all on my body. It was quite powerful, but rapidly exhausting and dangerous.
Let's wait for the old hag to come here by resting on a rock heated by sunlight. This sensation is blissful. The sound of the wind passing on the trees, the moisture of the morning dew, after 170 years in the dark, it's priceless.
Hmm? Ah she's coming. Couldn't wait to see me, huh?
-"Mornin' blue jelly, you're good with your new body?"
-"Energetic like always. So, what's next?"
-"Now you're out, we will meet with the Dryads. As the caretakers of the forest while the big guy was trapped, they must be warned of what happened here."
It's better for sure. The whole forest was protected by Veldora's aura. Without him, the stability in Jura will crumble fast. Its inhabitants are now our responsibility, and I don't plan to betray the promise we made with him.
-"Okay, I'll call them."
The old hag released a small wave of her aura, shaped in a peculiar manner. An identification for them to recognize her the next time she would come in the forest, that's what she told me. You really have a more precise control on your strength now you're a Demon. We didn't have to wait too long for a response, as three woman clothed in green giving a pleasant mystic vibe appeared before us.
-"Sup' girls, I'm back. How have you been since last time? Still obsessed with potatoes, Treyni?"
-"It's a pleasure to meet you again, Demon of Honor, especially in those troubled times. And yes, this recipe of yours is still my favorite, thanks again."
-"It was nothing. But let's cut off the small talk, we have something important to announce."
...Did I hear right? Demon of Honor, seriously? That's how they named you here? Pffft. Nononono, I must remain calm and composed. It would be a disaster for me if I destroyed her image this early, she will destroy me if that happens now, before I'm introduced.
-"I encountered Veldora in the sealed cave, 4 days ago, before his disappearance. I, and this guy over there, were tasked to protect the Jura Forest until he came back."
-"Really? For you, I can understand, even if you don't seem to be incarnated, but why a slime?"
-"Because this slime can talk, and do much more. Greetings ladies, my name is Rimuru and I was also given this task by the Storm Dragon."
-"Oh? A conscious slime? What an oddity. But a pleasant surprise, Lord Veldora must have seen something exceptional in you if he gave you such important work. Did he name you or was it...?"
-"It was the big guy. But it didn't end here as now I'm also named. You may call me Mithra. But I must tell you we're not his subordinates or anything like that. We are standing as equals."
-"Excuse me?"
I saw their faces, especially Miss Treyni. For them it's shocking news, and I feel they are only the first of a very loooong list. So we used the next five minutes to explain the whole incident -minus some details, like me having Veldora in my Stomach, because secrecy is needed about it, as I don't know enough about the current state of this world.
And it looks like they trust us, they can feel the blessing who was bestowed upon us, and the words of the Demon of Honor seems to hold a certain weight in multiple parts of the world. Good job about the character you developed, it will be useful for the future.
-"So that's how it is. If you carry his will, and as his equals, we are ready to help as much as we can."
-"Good to see you this comprehensive. But before we start to do anything, I want to see the little one. Does she do better now? Her trauma was quite severe."
-"Of course you would ask. She's better, but it's still a burden to her. Unfortunately, we cannot heal a wounded mind this easily, and she refuses to leave the Treant Settlement, even if we propose to visit some other tribes."
-"Who is this 'little one' you talk about?"
-"A little fox spirit I've rescued before an army from the Eastern Empire could capture her. Her whole race was slaughtered, and I was summoned by one of the heads of the Cryptid County to take her away from this massacre."
Oh... Yeah, what did I expect? This world, even if it seems full of wonders and fantasy-like, remains a world like the others. Wars, death, it's all too common. And I'm sure since Shooting Star's death it's gotten worse.
-"Let's go, there are many things I need to tell you about this era before we plan our moves, you'll need all the intel I could gather for choosing the best course of action."