Third POV:
We're a few days after everyone returned from their missions. This evening, festivities will be thrown… If nothing comes to threaten Tempest in the meantime.
In Rimuru's office, tension was palpable. Are present the slime, Diablo, Benimaru and Souka. Mithra was outside, doing her own things.
-"I found a good hiding spot. I'll show you what's happening here." Souei talked via a magic transmitter.
-"Be careful. Depending on who's present, it will be a matter of time before you get found." Rimuru's expression was somber, he expected something dangerous to happen.
Why were they in such a crisis state? Because it seems a secret society appeared in Tempest. A few suspicious movements were noticed by the spies for two days, and Souka managed to learn the first meeting would happen right now.
-"I can see a few known faces. There's Miss Pico… Wait, Lady Shuna too?"
-"Are you joking? My own sister would be plotting something?" Benimaru looked pale, fearing his own family would do something unforgivable.
-"Don't overreact, I don't think it's what you're imagining." Diablo scrutinized the transmission, noticing a detail. "Until now, only women gathered in this room."
-"I don't like it, for a few reasons." Rimuru remembered the time he got used as a dress up doll. "Wait, it seems the last ones are coming."
Through the device, they could see Ultima enter. She looked at the gathering, and nodded toward Pico, before talking.
-"Welcome to the first meeting of our secret association. Our objective will be the greatest of all the Creation." She slammed a wall where a few inscriptions were written.
-"Here, we'll devise a way to take revenge against those who wronged us," Pico continued the speech, clenching her fist. "We'll declare war against those shitty big boobs!"
While the crowd cheered, an awkward silence fell upon the office. Until a thud could be heard.
Rimuru slammed his head onto the table a few times. He stood up and left the room.
-"Nope, I'm outta here. There's fights we shouldn't participate in. Souei, retreat while you can. And guys," he turned toward Beni and Diablo. "Forget everything."
-"Forget what?" said the redhead.
-"Exactly. You'll survive long if you're smart."
In the secret room, many girls began to share their stories. Shuna mumbled something about Shion, while Milim told how she punched Clayman in the last Walpurgis because he called her a flat board once.
Pico and Ultima were proud of the army they raised. Those two got the idea while they were having a small brawl in the Labyrinth, alongside Carrera and Gracia.
It was all fun, until Carrera got blasted right into Pico after an explosion. When she complained that the fallen angel wasn't a good cushion, but instead hard as stone, it made the two small beans snap.
Because of that, the nuclear girl became a priority target, even if she isn't included in the 'big boobs' clan.
On her side, Pico also had a feud toward Gracia. She was pissed at the body of her colleague, as she regularly 'displayed' it while doing some workout.
-"I still don't understand what I'm doing here." Said Wenti, the Death Dragon which accompanied Adalman's skeleton army. She got a name when they first arrived in Tempest, Rimuru doing it instinctively.
-"That's because you're still inexperienced. But you'll get it soon." Shuna gave her the look of a war veteran who got flashbacks. "Ah, and about Lady Lulu?"
-"That period sucker is too busy searching for a hymen to taste. And she insisted enough that she's perfect as she is, unlike a 'brat' like me. Fuck that wench." Pico spat venom for a while before noticing she got weird looks from everyone. "What?"
-"Is it allowed for an Angel of Origins to trashtalk like that? Even I wouldn't go that far, or it would break my cute young princess imagery." Ultima hesitated between laughing and being impressed.
-"First, I'm a Fallen so cut the crap. Second, da hell are you talking about? We're the same age, so stop calling yourself 'young'."
-"...Listen here, you little fuck-"
-"Hey stop it you two. Don't forget why we're here in the first place." Another girl spoke, making them remember the purpose of the reunion.
-"Oh yeah. Thanks little one, we would have forgot-" Pico bugged, asking herself what a kid is doing here.
Little by little, the other girls turned toward a little fox girl with nine tails. She's looking straight toward Ultima, who stopped moving while she's processing the info.
A few seconds later, an explosion could be heard in the streets. Kumara fled, laughing madly in her adult form. Pico and Ultima chased her, throwing insults like they were machine guns.
***
In the Labyrinth, floor of the new Treant settlement, an oversized cocoon was faintly glowing. Zegion finished his evolution, and Apito waited for two days already.
-"I'm sure he'll look cool and strong." The now humanoid bee couldn't hide her excitement. "That was his dream, I can't wait to celebrate with him."
-"I'll count on you to make him throw away his seriousness tonight." Mithra patted her head. "It would be sad if he didn't profit from the party as much as he could."
She went to pick the siblings for the festivities, after having overseen Ramiris' progress in manufacturing bodies for the Primordials' subordinates. Their lieutenants could be incarnated in a week's span. The remaining ones will have to wait another month.
In the meantime, the pixie and Veldora were busy brainstorming how to arrange traps and treasures for the dungeon. Charys went to put Scylla in her bed, as she felt tired from trashing Dino around while playing with him.
Well, the slug didn't put any resistance to begin with… Now, we could see him on the floor, having found his purpose as a snoring doormat. May he sleep well while he can, as Mithra and Rimuru would boss him around if he continues to freeload.
***
We're in the evening. RImuru announced the start of the festivities a few minutes earlier, and the streets were full of laughs, beer and smells of good food.
In the main building, most of the executives and Tempest's friends already started to enjoy themselves, and the view of the first quarrel of the night.
-"Let it go, Ciel. Why are you suddenly a pain in the ass?"
-"You're mistaken if you think I'll let you get wasted again. Remember what happened last time."
Rimuru and Ciel were fighting over the ownership of a bottle of poison, freshly brewed by Ultima. To the slime's dismay, Ciel remained dead set on stopping him from drinking, as she still disapproved of that cultural habit.
At first, Rimuru tried to make her lose her grip by tickling her, before having to resort to stronger moves. Yet, Ciel wouldn't bulge. She would even take the initiative for a while, not hesitating in biting his hand or throwing some martial arts. They were now locked into a stalemate.
-"Haaaa… That's good. We can't call it a party if there's nothing interesting happening." Mithra chugged her glass, before turning to Gazel. "Who do you think will win? Wanna bet?"
-"Heh, I'll restrain. My junior warned me about your shenanigans for money." He looked at the fighters with a smirk, shaking a glass of brandy. "A sentient Skill… Yet, it barely surprises me now."
-"Is it bad to have a coin collection? Or to keep a supply for unforeseen expenses?"
-"Apparently it's more like a dragon's hoard." He raised an eyebrow in amusement. "You missed a good reincarnation's path, here."
-"Too cliché for my tastes, and we would've been at odds, the two of us." She refilled her glass. "Does a dragon have any uses for coins anyways?"
-"Does a demon have one in Hell?"
Some time later, Rimuru and Ciel were still struggling to gain the upper hand. No victor would emerge for a while, so one of the spectators decided to intervene. The intruder attacked Ciel by surprise, sticking a bottle of booze in her mouth.
-"Mmmff? Mmmfffhh?" She was forced to gulp down its content.
-"Heeeeeyy, don't be a shore looooo-*hiccup* ooooser. Lech him profit." Shizu managed to say something understandable for her current state. She got a head start by emptying several bottles.
-"Good job Shizu, now she's done." Rimuru recovered his bottle before giving a worried look at his savior. "But, why are you so drunk already? This isn't like you."
-"Hehehehehe." She laughed nervously, her eyes began to swell up from crying. "Imma trying to forggget- *hic* What I learned about Chloe… Her being che he-hero who shaved me from Leooooon. Before leavin' me alone."
She tried to drink again, but hit herself by swinging her cup too hard, spilling liquid everywhere. Those who knew of her story realized how damaging it was. Lulu was ready to go cheer her up, but Shion reacted faster. She grabbed Shizu, carrying her outside.
-"I'll stay with her until she falls asleep. Don't mind us."
-"Heh, she got you. You won't be able to profit from her sorry state." Kumara mocked the vampire.
-"Do you really think I would act so low? I cherish her too much for that." Lulu clenched her fist.
-"So you're only targeting disposable girls? Good to know, I'll tell Hinata." Her tails wagged as she enjoyed trolling Lulu.
-"That's it. I'm done being gentle with you under the pretext you're protected by Rimuru and the gorilla." Her anger boiled up, worsened by alcohol. "You became too impudent since you got those fat mounts."
-"So when it's me they're evil, but not when it's your prey?" Kumara's eyes changed into those of a predator, as she snapped. "You're just jealous your body isn't fitting for being a dominatrix."
-"Bring it on, you virgin smelly fur."
-"Don't disappoint me, you rusty fuckface."
As those two began to stampede, Rimuru, Mithra and Gazel looked at them, baffled. The bickering itself wasn't something new. But Kumara's audacity and her starting to swear unlike before made them truly realize how much she changed.
-"...Someone here is a bad influence for her." Gazel slowly turned toward the other two, showing his disappointment.
-"Doesn't surprise me. A certain demon here can't stop talking shit and acting irresponsible." Rimuru gave the old hag a defiant look.
-"You think you're innocent, corrupting her by acting as a cute living plushie?" She popped a vein, not amused.
-"You guys… I expected better from you. Maybe I should take her with me to preserve what's remaining of her innocence?" Gazel stood up, dead serious. "A little girl shouldn't grow in depravity."
-"She never was a kid. If you want one, go find a woman. What about your dynasty?" Rimuru finished his bottle and threw it by the window. "Don't make me do it the hard way, Gazel. I'm your junior only on paper, you'll understand it fast enough."
-"That's pitiful. She's becoming a strong woman, you can't stop it." Mithra rolled up her sleeves and tied a bandana, so her hair won't bother her. "Should I show you what we're capable of?"
The three began to fight. Diablo, who wanted to stop them, was suddenly used as a hammer by someone. Wondering how this chain reaction could happen in the first place, Testarossa sighed.
-"I'm impressed and disappointed at the same time."
-"Heh, reminds me of home." Carrera returned from a raid to the buffet. "Time to dig in."
-"I see we had the same idea." Gracia arrived with a full plate competing with Carrera's. "Let's do a race."
Estimating she had enough, Testa decided to switch places and go with Shuna. The Oni princess left her table when her brother and father began to act as idiots themselves. The girls grabbed Ciel, who's starring in the void after her first drink to give her some fresh air. They passed near the Insectar siblings, who were the quieter of the room… And quickly left when they saw all the corpses behind Zegion.
-"Hum, brother. Could you stop?" Apito asked, worried about his behavior. "We aren't sure how you'll react after a while."
-"I'm sorry, but I can't. It's my duty to comprehend what is the power of alcohol if I want to become closer to our saviors, and Oryos." He took another barrel, and proceeded to empty it. "Don't worry, I'm sure it will be alright."
-"Here we go again." She rolled her eyes at her brother's dedication. "Just, don't get hurt."
As time passed, chaos spread. Many of the participants would remember this night as the stupidest of their lives.
Let's take a look at the aftermath.
***
The following day Rimuru, Ultima and Shion woke up in the kitchen. They recalled what they did before collapsing, as the fruit of their combined efforts emitted the foulest odor in existence in front of them. -"...It wasn't a dream." Ultima's face turned green.
-"I never thought we could create that kind of abomination." Shion sweated heavily, and had difficulty keeping her balance.
-"I think we all agree to dispose of that… Thing, and never mention it again." Rimuru widened his eyes, as he felt something climbing from his stomach. "I need some air… Before searching for Ciel. Sorry…"
The girls followed him soon after, leaving a pot containing an unknown moving substance without monitoring. They didn't see it when they returned to eliminate it. They thought someone else already threw it away after stumbling upon it.
In the Labyrinth, Dino woke up after his long nap. He got curious and decided to see how things were on the surface. He found Veldora on the way.
-"Hey, you're awake too?"
-"Yup, I'm quite fresh. More than the others anyways, it looked like a true battlefield in the central hall. Too bad I couldn't participate, it would've been glorious. Kuhahaha." Veldora boasted, to hide his deception.
-"Nah, that's not possible. The day you of all people act restrained and wise, is the day Guy will be submissive." Dino scratched his ears, thinking he heard it wrong.
-"Well, Charys strongly insisted that I should avoid causing a disaster, to not influence Scylla in a bad way." He smiled, leaning on the wall to act cool.
-"...The true reason?"
-"..." Veldora looked away, trembling like crazy. "He threatened to tell Velzard I didn't take my duties seriously, next time we see her."
Dino empathized with him, remembering how dangerous this sociopathic woman was. On the side, Charys looked satisfied, waiting for the child to finish her night.
In Shuna's workshop, the Oni princess and Testarossa watched over Ciel in silence. Seeing the Manas' peaceful sleeping face, washed away their embarrassment about what happened earlier.
A few hours ago. Ciel, completely under alcohol's influence for the first time of her life, had an idea.
-"Girls. Lemme dress you."
-"...What?" Shuna and Testa asked in unison.
-"I said: lemme dress you." She picked a cat-looking pajama, a deranged light in her gaze. "Don't worry, we're only girls here. And I don't bite."
-"I can't agree with that statement." Testa stepped back. "I'm sorry, but I have my pride. What if someone caught us?"
-"Ohhh, being a scaredy cat? I thought you experienced worse with Mithra." She grinned when Testa hit the wall. "I promise you, it will be a fun girls' night. Hehehehehe…"
The girls, seeing it was useless to try escaping, braced for the impending shame. For an hour, which seemed to be an eternity, they were at Ciel's mercy. They couldn't understand how she managed to muster that much strength by herself.
They had to wear all sorts of things, going from maid dresses to alluring kimonos, and passing by matching schoolgirl clothes. Thankfully, Ciel collapsed before she could force them to try swimsuits.
Now, they're waiting for the Manas to recover, before accompanying her to Rimuru. In case someone barged in the shop, they changed back to their usual clothes. It allowed Benimaru to avoid a near-death experience as he searched for his sister, as they would have blasted him otherwise.
Once the party finished, Apito returned to see her brother. When she saw he didn't feel anything weird after a while, she did as he said, and went sightseeing and befriending others. In the meantime, Zegion diligently emptied barrel after barrel, trying to experiment alcohol's effects.
When she saw him, he finished the last one, having made by himself disappear a quarter of the initial stock of the room. When he noticed her, he seemed surprised.
-"Apito, it works. I'm starting to feel a faint hot sensation. I'm not that far from getting it." He went to pick another barrel, only to realize they were all empty. "...Ah."
-"We'll need something way stronger next time." Apito couldn't hide her amusement, seeing her dear brother acting a little silly for once. It may not be what she expected, but there's a start to everything.
In the garden, Kumara and Lulu were recovering their senses with difficulty. They passed the night quarreling and doing ridiculous challenges. According to their sorry state, it appears they were forced into a par.
Carrera, who followed them after her game with Gracia, acted as a referee until she dropped on the floor. She was still in dreamland, and nothing would wake her up for another hour.
-"Good morning, sleepyheads. The grass feels good, isn't it?" Shizu greeted them.
-"Mmh? Ah, how are you?" Lulu sat, as she couldn't stand up yet. "You made us worry yesterday."
-"I'm sorry for that. But I'm better now." She sat too, her face still showed sadness, but with a hint of relief. "After letting my emotions burst, I feel refreshed. And now, I know what I'll do."
She looked at the sky, in the direction of Ingrassia. "Next time I see Chloe, I want to hear her story from the start. I can't just blame her without having the full picture."
Lulu headpatted her, while Kumara gave her a hug. They hoped it would get better for her, as they thought the future could only get better…
…While Mithra had a nightmare.
-"What did you do, Alestar? You disappeared for years, letting a false body behind you, and now you're going on a rampage?"
-"...Individual Invidia… Not programmed as a target. Step aside, you're not included in the plan."
-"Those eyes… I see. You're not the one I know. I'll have to bring you back, by force if needed."
-"Hostile action detected. Engaging self-defense procedure."
-"Please you two, I'm begging you. STOP IT!"
*Stab*
"AHHH?!" Mithra woke up brutally. She felt a crushing pressure in her heart, as if her past wound still hurted her. She took a few heavy breaths to calm down, after remembering this fatal day.
'...Heh. I'm pretty sure that was a warning. We cannot continue to act goofy all the time. The dark days will come soon… So ironic, when we're facing that light.'
She got up from a chair, and stopped for a while, wondering why she was guarding the door of her bedroom from the outside. And naked.
She opened the door, and saw someone in a deep slumber under the sheets. No doubt, it was Gazel.
'...Ho yeah. We did it last night. Well, thanks, alcohol. You're doing some wonders at times.' She slowly closed the door, and clenched her fist. 'One more reason to keep fighting. This time, we'll destroy you, and finally find our well-deserved peace.'