Appearing inside of the Guild's main branch building, Laplace collapsed onto the couch. The rest of the clowns surrounded him, while Yuuki was sitting at his desk with a complicated expression.
"Welp, no luck. Hinata showed up, and I had to scramble away. Luckily, I was able to escape without drawing too much attention. It would have been a pain if she had chased me down." Laplace explained, stretching on the couch. "Boss, I thought you said you were gonna keep her busy. You kinda threw me under the bus with that one."
Just as Laplace was about to continue complaining, he noticed the tension in the room. Sitting up, his playful demeanor vanished, quickly replaced by a sense of dread.
"What happened?" He asked, noticing Kagali flinch slightly at the question.
"I lost connection to Clayman during the Walpurgis." Kagali began, clenching her fists as the words left her mouth. "Jistav had been overrun by Tempest. It's currently under their control. Our mission was a complete and utter failure."
"No…" Laplace whispered, feeling a mixture of anger and grief. "Is Clayman…"
"We don't know." Kagali admitted, her voice sounding slightly desperate. "I can't reach him through our connection. But it's strange. It's almost as if the connection itself is blocked. I can't feel him, but I also don't think he is dead… at least not yet."
Kagali couldn't help but close her eyes, trying to reach out to Clayman once again but feeling no response. She had created the Moderate Harlequin Alliance from scratch. Using the forbidden spell Birthday to bring them to life.
The clowns were like her children. She had even given them her names herself. However, because of her lack of strength, she couldn't engrave them into their souls. Nevertheless, the names they carried proudly made them a family.
They represented everyone she had lost. Through them, their souls lived on. And no matter what, her clowns were always there next to her.
That was why even as foolish as it seemed, she still held hope.
Laplace suddenly stood, unable to stay still as he began to pace the room. Judging by the ways his hands fidgeted, Kagali could tell that he was on the edge of losing control. Despite no longer being "Sarion", Laplace was still a good man through and through.
"Laplace…" Tear's voice was soft as she reached out, her hand trembling slightly as she grabbed his shirt, stopping his frantic movements. "It's ok… I— no, we believe in Clayman. He's the smartest one of us, remember? If anyone can get out of a bad situation, it is him."
Laplace clenched his fists, though after taking a deep breath, he relaxed.
"I warned him…" Laplace muttered, his voice filled with regret. "I warned him that he was playing a risky game. I warned him to call for us if he needed help. I warned him not to—" Laplace stopped, unable to find the right words. "The idiot got carried away, and when I had the chance to slap him into reality, I didn't take it."
The tension in the room grew until Tear brought Laplace into a hug. She was shaking slightly as she tightened her hug, clearly holding back on crying.
"Laplace…" Kagali softly spoke. "It's not your fault. It's mine. The stress of running Jistav in my stead… it must have been too much for him. I noticed he was acting strangely, but I didn't step in. I wasn't used to my new body, so I hesitated… I should have been there for him, but I wasn't."
Adapting to the Homunculus body had taken a far greater toll on her than she had anticipated. It wasn't designed for battle, barely allowing her to tap into even a fraction of her true power. Every movement had felt sluggish and unfamiliar. It took time to adjust, time she hadn't wanted to admit she needed.
She even had to spend some time adapting before being able to fully utilize her Unique Skill: Planner.
Her skill allowed her to create plans according to the circumstances, ensuring that they were always profitable and beneficial for her. Yet, because of her adaptation period, she simply trusted Clayman and Yuuki to deal with everything. It was embarrassing, but she didn't want to face Clayman without being in full control of her body. She wanted to show him how strong she still was.
And now he was gone.
It wasn't until the attack on Jistav that Kagali had forced herself to push beyond her limits, to finally unleash Planner at its full potential. Her skill had guided her decision to withdraw Footman and Tear from the battle. She hadn't known why at the time, but something deep within her had screamed that sending them in would lead to disaster. It was the only move she could make to protect what was left of her family.
Yuuki, who had been silently absorbing everything, finally broke the silence.
"I am sorry to bring this up now. But we have to begin preparing as soon as possible." Yuuki began, his voice filled with frustration, but he still continued. "Rimuru Tempest, what are we going to do with him?"
The question hung in the air for a few moments. Rimuru had been the one that made all their plans fail. From the Orc Lord, Charybdis, and even the attack on Eurazania. It could be considered a coincidence if it had happened once, but the more it repeated, the more suspicious everything got.
"Unique Skill: Architect…" Yuuki muttered, more to himself than the others. "Is that even his real skill? Or have we been underestimating him this whole time?" He leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming against the desk as he lost himself in thought. "I had a feeling from the first time we met, but there's something more to Rimuru. Perhaps he is more dangerous than I thought he was. If he was intelligent enough to keep his true abilities secret, then who knows what else he may have hidden? What else has he lied about?"
Yuuki's expression darkened the more he thought about it. He prided himself on being someone who could control the chessboard, but it was clear he had gotten too arrogant.
"What a mess." Yuuki muttered bitterly, his fingers still tapping rhythmically as if trying to find some semblance of control. "Years of work, countless resources, all undone by one freaking Slime. It's almost laughable. If it weren't so damned frustrating."
He leaned forward, his eyes focusing on Kagali.
"We still have Cerberus under our command, which means we can maintain some influence in the Western Nations. But it's not enough. We need leverage, someone who can shift the balance in our favor."
Kagali nodded, instantly knowing who he was referring to: The Rosso. A family so influential they would definitely wrap the entire West around the finger if given enough time.
"How do you think the Church will react to their actions?" Yuuki asked Kagali as he began to come up with a new plan.
"It's hard to say. Hinata Sakaguchi will be visiting Tempest soon, but her relationship with Shizue Izawa might be enough to prevent any serious confrontation. Still, there's an opportunity to exploit there. We could try to stir the pot between them, create discord, and use that as a wedge to drive them apart." Kagali began, trying to come up with any possibilities.
Yuuki leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as if searching for answers in it. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice colder than ever.
"If we kill Hinata, we sever the one connection between Tempest and the Church. And if we place the blame on Tempest, that might ignite the fire we need. But… would the Church alone be enough to take them down?"
Pausing for a moment to consider his thoughts, Yuuki couldn't help but bring his hand to his head as if feeling a headache.
"They not only have Tempest, but also Jistav and Fulbrosia. We would be fighting your own troops, and we would also have to deal with Frey herself. Dwargon claims neutrality, but their relations with Tempest are strong. If war were to break out, who's to say they wouldn't supply Tempest with resources and weapons? We could be facing a coalition, not just a single nation."
Kagali closed her eyes, allowing her Skill to take over, generating possibilities, calculating risks, and presenting her with potential outcomes.
"We could use the kids as hostages." She suggested, her voice turning colder, her anger at Leon Cromwell flaring up as she remembered their past encounter. "Shizue's relationship with Leon is strained, to say the least. If we manipulate that tension, we could spark a war between them, using both as our pawns. Leon was incredibly strong, but there is a high chance Rimuru has Awakened, and possibly even Frey."
Kagali was aware of what an Awakening was, she was not certain about the exact mechanics behind it, but she knew it had something to do with souls.
If Rimuru truly Awakened, then for all Kagali knew, he could perhaps match Leon. She didn't have enough information to come to an accurate conclusion.
"In the best-case scenario, Leon can weaken the forces behind Tempest and vice versa. At the very least, it will buy us time."
"Disguising it as Leon capturing the kids… that could work. But…" He hesitated, his expression darkening as the potential flaws in the plan became apparent. "Shizue will likely be watching over them. She's unpredictable, appearing and disappearing at will. If we make a move now, there's a high risk she'll intervene, and if she catches us mid-transfer… that would draw far more attention than we want. Rimuru is attached to those kids; if he gets wind of this, he could retaliate directly, and that's not a confrontation we want right now."
Then, raising an eyebrow, Yuuki nodded.
"But kids… they could still be useful as bait. Rimuru is a monster, and if he were to have children of his own, that would be a significant weakness. He'd be more vulnerable than ever, more emotional, and that's when we could strike. Maybe… maybe that's the key. We wait, let things simmer, and if the opportunity arises, we exploit it."
A smile crept across Yuuki's face as he adjusted his seat, the gears of his mind turning with renewed focus.
"Doesn't he send Shuna on diplomatic missions? She went to Dwargon by herself, didn't she? Sure, she had guards, but none of them would be a match for Laplace, Tear, and Footman together. Taking her out would be a direct blow to Rimuru, something that might send him spiraling."
At first, the idea seemed promising. But the more Kagali thought about it, the more a sense of unease grew on her.
"No… I have a bad feeling about that. When I analyzed the battle between Tempest and Jistav's forces, I couldn't pinpoint a strategy that would guarantee us victory. They're hiding someone. Someone strong enough to challenge even Tear and Footman. Every plan I formulate seems sound on the surface, but there's an underlying sense of danger, like we're missing a crucial piece of the puzzle."
Yuuki couldn't help but become more frustrated the more he thought.
"Maybe we do need the Rosso." Yuuki muttered, somewhat annoyed. "I was hoping to save them for later, to use them as a final card, but it seems we don't have that luxury anymore."
Shaking his head, Yuuki sighed deeply.
"I think the best course of action now is to take a step back. Let things play out for a while and observe how the pieces on the board shift. Hinata might turn against Tempest, especially if we can create the right conditions. And if we're fortunate, the Rosso family might reach out to us, offering their support to eliminate Rimuru. They have just as much at stake as we do if Tempest continues to grow unchecked."
His eyes narrowed as he considered everything.
"In the meantime, we need to prepare for the worst. Tempest is proving to be more problematic than we anticipated, and we can't afford to be caught off guard again. We should start increasing our influence within the Empire. Damrada has the connections and the means to begin laying the groundwork for us there. If we can strengthen our position within the Empire, we'll have a fallback plan if things go south with the Western Nations. We might have to head there sooner than we had hoped."
Yuuki's gaze sharpened as he focused on the clowns, asking the final question.
"But that does leave one final question… What do we do about Clayman?"
The mention of Clayman's name sent a ripple of unease through the room, the tension that had briefly subsided now returning with full force.
"If he's still alive…" Kagali began, her brow furrowed in deep thought, her mind racing through the possibilities. "We need to save him, no matter what."
"No matter what." Yuuki echoed. "We'll build our world."
— — —
Walking through the familiar halls of the school, Shizue moved alongside Yuuki as they passed a few classrooms. His usual smile was firmly in place, greeting students and teachers alike as if he were the most carefree person in the world. It was a smile that could easily disarm anyone, filled with warmth and charm.
Shizue believed in that smile. Or at least, she wanted to. She saw the same young man she had mentored and cared for.
"Shizue, all the paperwork is finally through." Yuuki said cheerfully, breaking the silence. "So you're free to take the kids away. Just make sure you look after them." He chuckled softly, his smile widening as if he was genuinely happy. "I bet they're pretty excited."
Shizue returned his smile, though there was a slight weight to it. Her thoughts were far away.
"They are." She said, placing a hand over her heart. "Honestly, I am excited too. They'll finally have a place where they can be free." Her voice softened, filled with a quiet hope. "It's amazing, isn't it?"
"Yeah, something like that." Yuuki answered, his voice light but noncommittal. "I'll miss them a bit, though. They've got such big personalities, you know? Once they're old enough to become adventurers, make sure to send them my way. I'll keep an eye on them."
Shizue's expression grew nostalgic, her gaze drifting as she remembered the young boy Yuuki had once been. The student she had found and nurtured, the one who had grown into the man before her.
"Hm… It feels almost like yesterday when I first found you." Her smile softened. "I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished, Yuuki. You've built something amazing here."
For a brief moment, Yuuki's steps faltered. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Shizue noticed the slight hesitation. Then, he laughed, almost as if brushing off the words.
"Miss Shizue, you're trying to make me sentimental, aren't you? That's not fair. You know I'm weak to stuff like that."
Shizue chuckled, his answer easing some of the tension she hadn't even realized she felt.
"Oh? Really? Do you remember when I taught you how to read? You were so eager back then, but there was this one word you always struggled with. What was it again?" Her teasing tone brought out the old dynamic between them, and for a moment, it felt like they were back in those early days
Yuuki rolled his eyes, a subtle smile appearing on his face.
"Can't say I remember." He answered, glancing around the hallway with exaggerated confusion, as if searching for something to distract from the conversation. It was a typical Yuuki move, deflecting with humor.
"Well, if you can't remember, then it must not have happened." Shizue teased, but her smile faltered slightly. She slowed her pace, the nagging voice of caution echoing in her mind.
Rimuru's warning about Yuuki surfaced again, casting a shadow over her thoughts. Could Yuuki truly be involved in something darker? Could he be hiding things from her?
Yuuki turned back, raising an eyebrow, his eyes scanning her face with a sharpness that didn't match his usual lighthearted demeanor.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice soft but probing.
Shizue hesitated, her instincts warning her to tread carefully. But she couldn't help herself. She wanted to believe in him.
"I'm fine." She finally said, though the words felt hollow. Taking a breath, she glanced up at him. "Hey, Yuuki… I've asked you this before, but… what's your dream?"
Yuuki's smile returned, as if he had been waiting for the question.
"Geez, Miss Shizue, you really know how to bring out the nostalgia, huh?" He rubbed the back of his head in that familiar, boyish way, but Shizue noticed a flicker in his eyes, brief, almost imperceptible, but it was there. "But my answer hasn't changed. I want to make the world a better place. That's why I built the guild. That's why I was brought here."
Letting out a sigh, Shizue chuckled.
"Hm… I like that answer." Shizue teased with a smile as she continued walking forward.
As they walked in silence for a few more moments, Yuuki broke it with an offhanded question.
"Shizue, could you tell me more about Tempest? I've been meaning to ask ever since you mentioned taking the kids there."
Shizue blinked in surprise. The shift in conversation caught her off guard, but it seemed harmless enough. Curiosity, maybe even concern for the kids.
"What do you want to know?"
Yuuki's gaze flicked to her, his tone casual, but his words were sharper than usual.
"You've told me how amazing it is, but you never really went into too much detail. It's weird, isn't it?"
Shizue tilted her head, a bit confused.
"What do you mean?"
Yuuki shrugged, his smile widening just a fraction.
"A kingdom filled with named monsters ruled by a slime. They took control of the entire forest, became allies with Dwargon, and there are even rumors about their alliance with Fulbrosia. It sounds… improbable. From the short time I spent with Rimuru, I could tell he was smart, but not 'build a kingdom in a year' smart."
Shizue's smile faltered as she heard him. There it was again. Something about the way he spoke felt… calculated. But this was Yuuki, after all. He was always curious, always thinking ahead. Yet, nevertheless, she still found herself carefully choosing her words.
"Well, Rimuru is remarkable." Shizue replied, her voice soft but filled with genuine admiration. "He's not just smart. He's kind and compassionate. You haven't seen him how I have. But Tempest is like a big family. You won't understand until you see it firsthand."
Yuuki nodded, his expression unreadable, though his smile never faltered.
"That's one way to do it." He mused, his tone thoughtful. "But it still seems risky. Monsters are, by nature, unpredictable. One wrong move, and everything could fall apart. Rimuru must have something more, something powerful keeping everyone in line."
Shizue frowned slightly, her instinctual defense of Rimuru kicking in.
"He doesn't 'keep them in line,' Yuuki. People follow him because they want to, because they believe in his vision for the future. Just like I believe in yours."
Chuckling once again, Yuuki shook his head.
"You always know how to see the best in people, Miss Shizue. That's one of the things I admire about you. But if you are right, then I have no doubt Tempest will have a bright future."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Yuuki snapped his fingers.
"Ah, that's right. Do you think Rimuru would want a Guild Headquarters in Tempest? As Guildmaster, I could make that happen. I'm sure it would help build up their image with the rest of the world."
The suggestion took Shizue by surprise, but in the end, it was not her decision to make.
"I don't know. But I can pass the message along." Shizue answered.
"That would be great." Yuuki answered with his usual smile. "And since I doubt I will see you again for some time. Thanks for looking out for me, Shizue."
— — —
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