— –Albis– —
Albis stood frozen, her eyes wide as the sheer intensity of the battle unfolded before her. The power on display was almost incomprehensible.
"This… is this Sir Rimuru's real strength?" Albis muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't tear her eyes away.
Ahead, Rimuru raised the spear in his hands and slammed it against the ground. The battlefield erupted in response. The ground shattered, sending debris flying, and from the ruptured earth, countless gigantic hands made of dirt emerged, grasping hungrily at Carrion.
It shouldn't have been possible. They were just hands made of dirt. Yet, even Carrion, in his Royal Beast Form, had to exert all his strength to break free from the encroaching walls of earth that surrounded him.
'Rimuru… just what are you?' Albis thought, her heart pounding in her chest. Carrion was one of the strongest beings she had ever known, but here, against Rimuru, he was just being toyed with.
'Has Lord Carrion hit him even once?' She asked herself, replaying the battle in her head before she shook her head and focused on the battle once again.
With a powerful leap, Carrion flew toward Rimuru; his halberd raised high. She could feel the force of his Battlewill surging through the air as he focused all of his strength into the weapon. When he swung it down, a barrage of Aura projectiles shot toward Rimuru with devastating speed, filling the air with a deadly storm.
But Rimuru? He simply grinned.
Albis watched in disbelief as Rimuru mirrored Carrion's movements, focusing his own Battlewill into his spear and releasing his own barrage of Aura projectiles. The two attacks collided mid-air, exploding in a brilliant display of raw energy.
The shockwave that followed was enormous, a gust of wind so strong that even Albis, who stood far from the center of the fight, had to brace herself. She planted her staff into the ground, using it to steady herself as the force threatened to push her back.
"How… how is this possible…?" Albis whispered, her voice trembling. "That's Lord Carrion's Elephant Stampede… And he just…" She trailed off, her mind racing to make sense of what she was witnessing. Carrion's signature move replicated and countered as if it were nothing.
"So what?" Phobio's voice cut through the wind, though it was tinged with uncertainty. "He's got a little strength. Lord Carrion is still standing." Despite his words, Albis could hear the doubt in his tone. He wanted to believe Carrion had the upper hand, but even Phobio couldn't ignore the growing reality of the situation.
As Carrion flapped his wings and flew toward Rimuru once more, Albis winced. She could see the determination in her Lord's eyes, but she could also feel the overwhelming force that Rimuru was still holding back.
Rimuru's spear crackled with electricity, arcs of Black Lightning dancing along its length. And then, in an instant, the battlefield was consumed by an explosion of pure lightning.
"Huh, as expected of my uncle… toying with this mere mortal. Kufufufufufu. That lion has eyes, but he clearly can't see Mt. Tai." A small girl muttered with a grin, breaking Albis' attention from the fight.
As she turned, she saw a small girl with bronze-colored skin and golden hair nodding to herself. She was wearing a kimono, and her massive grin revealed her sharp teeth.
"Did I say that right?" The small girl asked in an innocent tone of voice, turning to a taller, muscular man who resembled her. He was even wearing a similar black kimono with a pattern resembling that of dragon scales.
"Kwuahahaha. Of course, you did. You are learning my ways quite quickly." The man said with a smile. "Ramiris, good thing you noticed this fight going on. My students can finally see the scale of the battles they have ahead of them."
— –Rimuru– —
This was fun.
It was also a tad disrespectful. But he would ignore that part. He was a Demon Lord now. He could be a bit mean if he wanted to.
He had almost gotten carried away at the start by using Beelzebuth's rot. Thankfully he had realized just in time to avoid accidentally killing Carrion. The battle would have been quite short otherwise.
He had a lot of skills at his disposal, most of which could end the battle in an instant if he actually went all out. But in the end, he had settled with just one to enjoy the battle for longer. The one skill he felt the most connection with and could control the easiest, Uriel.
Law Manipulation was strong, really strong. It practically allowed him to do anything he wanted, like turning simple dirt into something close to an Ultimate Class weapon. The only requirement was focusing hard enough. Or, well, as long as he asked Raphael if he was feeling lazy. But for this fight, he had taken it upon himself to control his own skills.
[Analysis Complete. Beginning replication. Transferring information… Transfer complete.]
[Notice. Beast King's Halberd Arts has been completed.]
Well, sort of…
Raphael was keeping his spear skills and arts up to date.
'Well, as much as I am enjoying it. This battle has carried on too long, don't you think, Raph?'
[...]
'Couldn't have said it better myself.' Rimuru thought with a chuckle as he saw Carrion flying in his direction.
Carrion must have sensed the change in the air since his expression became more determined as he appeared in front of Rimuru.
"Enough running around! I know your weakness now!" Carrion roared, his voice brimming with confidence. He drew his halberd back, channeling every bit of magicules and Battlewill into the weapon.
'Hm?'
"I had to take my time preparing for this, but you can't escape me now!" Carrion shouted, the magicules surrounding him crackling violently as he prepared for his final move.
[Notice. Spatial Magic has been detected. The subject, Carrion, is attempting to lock the space around you to prevent teleportation.]
Shaking his head, Rimuru couldn't help but smile. Even with Carrion's efforts, his control over space couldn't compare to Uriel's. If he wanted to, he could escape, yet this time, he wouldn't move.
"Beast Roar!" Carrion shouted, the magicules and Battlewill fusing together to create a massive ball of Aura with what appeared to be the face of a lion hiding inside. Carrion was attempting to attack from point-blank range, giving him no room to escape.
"Everyone always forgets rule #1." Rimuru sighed. "Don't shout your attacks."
'Absolute Defense.'
The Beast Roar exploded, engulfing Rimuru in a swirling mass of destructive aura. The ground beneath them trembled as the massive energy pulse coiled and crashed against Rimuru.
From a distance, it would have looked as if Rimuru had been completely consumed by the attack, buried under the weight of Carrion's overwhelming power.
But Rimuru stood there, unscathed, his Absolute Defense keeping him completely protected. The monstrous aura roared and slammed into him, but he didn't feel a thing.
Just as Carrion prepared for a follow-up attack, he suddenly froze. His instincts screamed at him. Something wasn't right. Yet, before he could process what was happening, he felt it.
A spear.
It had broken through the Beast Roar and stabbed directly through his eye, piercing his head. Yet, thanks to the regeneration his Royal Beast Form offered him, he survived.
"What—" Carrion muttered, the words barely left his lips before the spear exploded, coursing Black Flames and Black Lighting through his body, cooking him from the inside in an instant.
And just like that, it was over.
Carrion's body didn't even have a chance to hit the ground before he vanished, only to reappear moments later, completely unharmed. The power of the Labyrinth had reset him, healing his injuries and restoring him to his full strength.
He clutched at his eye reflexively, and after a moment of tense silence, he burst into laughter.
"Kwuahahahahaha!" His voice echoed through the field as he dusted off his clothes, a massive grin spreading across his face. "I don't know whether I should be mad or if I should respect you even more!" He shouted, still chuckling. "Fight me again! But this time, don't hold back. I want to see your—"
"Bet." Rimuru cut him off with a casual chopping motion of his hand.
Before Carrion could even finish his sentence, his head rolled to the floor in a clean slice. There was a moment of stunned silence before his body blinked out of existence, reappearing in the same spot, whole once again. This time, he was on the floor, clutching his throat and coughing slightly, still reeling from the sudden decapitation.
"Oh…" Carrion muttered, holding onto his neck. Slowly, a smile crept across his face, and he let out a deep, almost relieved breath. "This makes it easier, doesn't it?" His tone had shifted, his body relaxing as if a heavy weight had just been lifted off his shoulders.
Carrion glanced over to his Beastketeers, giving them a simple nod to signal them to gather behind him. The three moved quickly, with slightly conflicted looks, as they looked at Carrion massaging his neck. Carrion, however, seemed more at ease than ever.
"Well… if I'm being honest, I'm not one for formalities," Carrion said, his voice now casual and relaxed. He scratched the back of his head with a grin. "So, how do you wanna do this? Should I just call you Boss now, or do I gotta give a whole speech? I kinda gave one before the fight, didn't I?"
"Honestly, after so many speeches today, just Boss is fine." Rimuru answered, chuckling slightly at Carrion's sudden change of behavior.
"Boss, you had me stressing." Carrion let out another hearty laugh as he heard him. "I haven't had a proper night of sleep ever since Charybdis. My Danger Sense has been blaring in my head ever since you gave me that warning. For the first time since then, it's gone silent." He sighed, stretching his arms and cracking his neck.
Behind him, the Beastketeers exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what to do next. Albis, however, was the first to take action. She gracefully knelt before Rimuru, her emerald eyes gleaming with respect.
"It's an honor, Lord Rimuru." Albis said, her words sparking the other two to follow along and kneel to pledge their loyalty.
Rimuru tilted his head, catching sight of Frey standing nearby. Her eyes carried a glint of satisfaction, her lips curving upward in a smile that spoke volumes. She had fulfilled her promise, and she looked extremely smug and happy about it.
He let out a light chuckle before addressing the Beastketeers again.
"Well, in that case… Welcome to Tempest. We have cookies."
"Cookies?" Suphia repeated, her head tilting slightly.
"It's food. I can bake some for you if you'd like." Shion chimed in with a bright smile, stepping forward. "I've actually been working on a new recipe."
"Oooh? Really?" Suphia's eyes brightened, clearly growing more comfortable now that the formalities were out of the way. "I also heard you guys have something called beer. Could I try that, too? Oh, and the mead! And the Tempestian Wine! And the…" She grinned, her demeanor shifting to one of eager anticipation, much to the slight exasperation of Albis, who shot her a subtle side-eye.
If there was one thing the Beastmen were, it was straightforward.
Their honesty was refreshing, even if decorum wasn't always top of mind, except, perhaps, for Albis, who still seemed intent on holding on to some sense of formality. Though, Rimuru had a hunch that even she would soon feel right at home here.
Out of the corner of his eye, Rimuru spotted Ramiris, a massive grin plastered on her face as she shadowboxed, imitating his earlier fight with Carrion. She threw wild punches into the air, her tiny body bobbing up and down, while Irys watched her with fascinated attention, her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to mimic the moves.
"You got the stance all wrong, Irys! It's more like…" Ramiris flailed her arms, her enthusiasm eliciting a chuckle from Rimuru. He had to admit, seeing Ramiris shadowboxing was oddly charming.
Yet after a few moments of Ramiris reenacting the fight, Veldora began walking over to the group, followed behind by the pair.
"Yo, dude, you gotta tell me when you have fights like this. Though it wasn't anything special." Veldora complained, waving a hand. "We would've missed it if it wasn't for Ramiris." He then gave a nod to Carrion and the Beastketeers. "Oh, yeah, nice to meet ya. I'm Veldora."
The Beastketeer's eyes widened as they heard him.
"To think we would meet the Storm Dragon in such a casual manner." Albis muttered, her voice filled with awe. Carrion, however, let out a hearty laugh.
"The Storm Dragon, huh? Quite the sight. I heard you used to spar with Dagruel, didn't you?" Carrion asked, his tone carrying a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
Veldora nodded, his grin widening at the mention of his old sparring partner.
"Dagruel? Oh yeah, he's great." Veldora said, his grin growing wider. "Actually, I ought to visit him sometime." He turned his gaze towards Rimuru. "Hey, Rimuru, would you mind if I go visit him? I know you were thinking about sending an envoy to Damargania. I could take my students along. They've got some pretty strong folks over there."
Before Rimuru could answer, Ramiris fluttered in front of Veldora's face.
"Oh, but you are our battery— I mean, er… well… is it rude to call you a battery?" Ramiris asked, to which Veldora simply shrugged.
"The mean lady called me that sometimes, so I am used to it. How's the mean lady doing, by the way?" Veldora asked, turning to Rimuru.
"She's doing fine, but let's not get sidetracked here. We ought to welcome them into Tempest." Then as he pointed over to the group, he had a realization.
'I've never even been to Eurazania, have I?'
[...]
'To be fair, I have been busy.' Rimuru thought with a chuckle. 'Am I going to miss anything important if we go visit right now?'
[Negative. Everything has been accounted for.]
'Good.'
"Well, first things first." Rimuru said, looking at Veldora's eager expression. "Feel free to visit Dagruel. I'll probably send some more people with you to do the actual diplomacy. This isn't a prison, so as long as you don't make a mess, you can go wherever you want."
"Aye, good to know." Veldora said with a massive grin. "But what about the Labyrinth? I don't wanna slow you guys down just because I am gone."
"Ramiris can make a door in Damargania so you can come and go. It shouldn't be too much of an issue. And it would help with setting up better trade with them in the future."
"Hmm… it should be fine." Ramiris said with a shrug. "Dagruel is pretty nice, at least to me. I'd actually would like to help him fix his land since it's sorta my fault that it got messed up."
"Wasn't that Milim who did the damage?" Veldora asked, scrunching his face as he tried to remember. "You know, when she was throwing one of her tantrums?"
Ramiris huffed, crossing her arms.
"Tantrums? Heh, you're one to talk with all your tantrums!" Ramiris laughed.
"I've been punished enough for those!" Veldora said with a pout. "I still have nightmares about my sister…" He added, shivering slightly.
"Well, if we're gonna throw blame around, I think it all goes back to Jahil's fault, actually. Those freaking elves killed her pet. But…" She sighed, shaking her head. "What's done is done. No point in dwelling on the past."
"Aye, true enough." Veldora nodded sagely before turning his attention to Carrion and the Beastketeers. "Well, enjoy Tempest or whatever. Imma head out, gotta pack for my vacation. Lemme know if any of you want to fight. My disciples need some punching ba— I mean, training partners. Might help you toughen up a bit."
Then, with a simple wave, he began walking away with Irys, though Ramiris stayed in Rimuru's hair.
"So what now?" Carrion asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well…" Rimuru mused. "It's still early enough, so how about we check out Eurazania? I know the general setup, but I'd rather see it firsthand. After that, I'll get some of my people to start working with you on integrating it with Tempest."
"Sure thing, boss. There's still a bit of clean-up going on from the… incident with Milim, but we're almost done."
"Do you need my help?" Shuna asked with a soft smile, yet when he looked at her, Rimuru could tell that she was also mentally exhausted from the busy day.
"Don't worry about it, you can head out." Rimuru answered with a reassuring smile.
"Oh, want to join me? I was going to meet up with Luchia in the hot springs." Frey asked Shuna, a slight smile appearing on her face. "She's preparing for her trip to train with Middray. And before she left with Benimaru, she had some… questions."
"Oh?" Shuna suddenly perked up as she heard her, and with a rare mischievous smile appeared on her face. "Count me in."
"Wait, you're not coming with us, Frey?" Carrion asked, sounding a tad disappointed. "You were the one who kept bugging me about joining Tempest. And hey, we've got hot springs, too."
Frey laughed softly, shaking her head.
"They're just not the same, Carrion. I'll see you later, Rimuru." She turned gracefully, walking off with Shuna at her side, the two of them already whispering to each other.
Rimuru watched them leave, a small smile lingering before turning back to Carrion and the others.
"Alright, ready to go?" He asked, and after receiving a nod from everyone, he activated Uriel and teleported everyone to Eurazania. While he might not have been there before, he could use Thought Communication with Carrion to coordinate the teleportation.
Rimuru took in his surroundings, his eyes roaming over the landscape. He had to admit, it was impressive. A massive mountain stood tall behind the settlement, with a giant waterfall cascading down its face, feeding the water systems that snaked their way throughout the country. Streams flowed down either side of the roads, and in the distance, sprawling fields of farmland stretched to the horizon.
The water was surprisingly clean, crystal clear even, and when Rimuru activated Universal Sense to scan the entire area, he found himself nodding in appreciation.
'There's definitely potential here.' He thought, even if it was… a bit simple in its current state.
While the palace was grand and the buildings were sturdy, most of the roads were nothing more than packed dirt, and the houses, though well-constructed, were modest. Simple, functional, without much flair. Like any stone house you might find along other Monster and Majin tribes.
Ironically, they were as straightforward as the Beastmen.
Well built, but simple.
'Maybe Tempest has just spoiled me.' Rimuru mused to himself. 'Even the old Ogre Village was pretty basic when I think about it.'
[Notice. Eurazania is predominantly a farming country. Their isolation from other nations has led to minimal trade and thus stagnated their architectural development.] Raphael explained.
'Makes sense.' Rimuru thought. 'Well, let's see what we can do to improve things here. Might have to gather a few people to make sure I am not messing around with their country too much.'
Eurazania, while simple, had a charm of its own. Yet, Rimuru couldn't help but compare it to other nations he'd integrated into Tempest.
Falmuth, for instance, had been far more advanced, and the process of "integrating" them hadn't required significant changes. Their existing infrastructure already aligned with what Tempest needed.
But here in Eurazania, most of the homes would likely need to be rebuilt or at least undergo massive renovations to incorporate Tempest's advanced systems, like bathrooms powered by runes for water flow and waste disposal. Just a bit of magicules was all it took to make everyday life far more comfortable, with luxuries such as warm showers.
However, the thought of tearing down someone's home or forcefully changing it without permission felt wrong. He wasn't about to bulldoze anyone's life without consulting them. It was common decency, after all.
"What do you think, boss?" Carrion asked, watching Rimuru as he observed the town.
If he was being honest, Rimuru already had a lot of farming territory. Falmuth was practically entirely farming now, with a minor focus on trade. Even Fulbrosia and Jistav were placing more focus on farming. However, he wouldn't be that quick to dismiss it just because he had excess resources.
'Raph, what do you think of their setup?' Rimuru thought, considering the terrain's potential.
[Notice. Eurazania's soil quality is above average for both crop and animal farming. However, efficiency in farming techniques could be improved by 22% with infrastructure upgrades such as irrigation and optimized pasture rotation.]
'Thanks, Raph.'
[Response. It is not a problem.]
"There are some improvements to be done…" Rimuru answered. "And we don't need to put as much focus into farming as you might have thought. But these are some minor things we can start with…" Rimuru began, listing everything Raphael had pointed out.
Carrion clicked his tongue in disappointment, his gaze drifting toward the sprawling farmland in the distance.
"And here I thought that was our best feature." He muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "But we don't have your freaky plants that taste like other plants."
Rimuru chuckled as he saw Carrion. Though he could understand the feeling of being told your country doesn't have much use. It was a rough way to put it, but it was the truth.
"Tell me more about the Beastmen's way of living. Maybe we can find something that works for both of us. Worst case, Eurazania continues as is, with some infrastructure upgrades."
"That, well, it's a long explanation." Carrion muttered, turning to look at Albis. "Why don't you take it from here?"
Albis stepped forward, clearing her throat and gesturing for the group to follow her.
"Eurazania operates differently from Tempest." She explained as they walked. "Rather than an 'equal' society like yours, here, strength is everything. The strong naturally rule over the weak, and our social system works on that basis. The weaker ones tend the fields or do lesser tasks, while the strongest hold leadership positions."
Hearing Albis, Shion perked up, a grin appearing on her face as she folded her arms.
"So, the strongest rules, huh? That's interesting. Maybe I should challenge Carrion for his title. It sounds fun! What do you think, Rimuru?" She asked, causing Rimuru to shake his head with a smile.
"You think you can take me, Shion?" Carrion asked with a raised eyebrow, his lips curling into an amused smile.
Before she could respond, Diablo, walking elegantly beside her, chuckled softly.
"I must say, such a duel would indeed be a sight to behold. It would be interesting to see how far you can push your Skill. The more I analyze it, the more amazing the gift Lord Rimuru provided you becomes. I look forward to your reign as the new Queen of Beastmen."
"Oh? You think she can win?" Carrion asked with a curious expression as he looked at Diablo.
He had been quiet for the most part, almost blending in with the background, but that was just because of his complete control over his aura. Not a single magicule was leaking from his body, making him easy to overlook.
"No way, Carrion is king 'cause he's the strongest." Suphia chimed in, walking alongside them with a proud grin.
'Don't bully Carrion too much.' Rimuru said through thought communication, pretending to look away at some of the buildings. 'Though he can get stronger than you physically through his transformation, I do think you could beat him. Give him at least a day before challenging him to a fight.'
'Really? You think I can beat him?' Shion asked with some excitement. 'I saw the fight, and he is quite good with the Halberd and Battlewill. Though It's been some time since I fought a new strong opponent.'
'Honestly, you underestimate your strength right now. What you lack in physical bursts of power you make up with Regeneration. For shorter fights, you can probably simply outheal your enemy. However, you have to be careful not to run out of energy and slowing your Regeneration in a true battle to the death.'
Then, using Universal Sense and Asmodeus, he scanned the area, measuring the strength of the Beastmen scattered throughout the land.
"You know… you all could've actually beaten Jistav. Albis alone could've taken out most of Clayman's major threats."
The mention of their 'battle' against Jistav brought conflicted expressions to the Beastketeers, and even Carrion's face darkened.
"It's because of the evacuation…" Carrion muttered, clenching his fists before releasing a deep sigh. "Normally, we're far more organized, especially when defending our own territory. But Milim… she was too much of a loose cannon at the time. If we hadn't evacuated, our people could've been caught in the destruction."
"We Beastmen are fiercely protective of our families." Albis added, her voice quieter as she recalled the situation. "The elderly and the children… they aren't fit for long journeys like the one we made during the evacuation. It drained our warriors, not just physically but mentally. Especially since they had to keep a constant eye on the weaker Beastmen. And the Forest of Jura… it's crawling with Monsters. That constant threat wore our fighters down even more."
"If we could've secured a safe place for the weaker ones, we could've reorganized and fought back." Phobio interjected, his expression bitter. "But…"
"Our Danger Sense was screaming at us the entire time." Phobio continued. "It's hard to rest when you feel like you're always in danger. It might sound stupid, but for us Beastmen, our instincts are strong. Even the smallest threat can put us on guard, which is usually good. But during the evacuation, it just put everyone on edge. And when we're protecting our families, that sense is amplified."
"In the end, it was my fault." Carrion sighed heavily, cutting in with frustration. "It was my bad leadership that almost cost the lives of our people."
"Well, that's a bit of a bummer." Ramiris said from on top of Rimuru's head.
Hearing her, Carrion burst out into a chuckle.
"I had almost forgotten you were hiding there. But you are right. We are supposed to be planning, not sulking. After all, we have rebuilt from the time when Milim—" He began before freezing, his eyes snapping towards the distance.
As Rimuru followed his gaze, he saw a pink blur barreling towards them at high speed, growing larger by the second.
'She's coming?' Rimuru thought, recognizing the unmistakable presence.
Carrion and his Beastketeers instinctively took their stances, muscles tensing in preparation. However, Rimuru could tell that the pink-haired tactical missile was heading directly towards him.
"Ramiris, you might want to hop off." Rimuru suggested, his eyes still locked on the incoming missile of energy.
Ramiris didn't hesitate, fluttering to Shion's shoulder just as Milim crashed into Rimuru with the force of a cannonball, sending both of them spiraling into the air. They tumbled together until Rimuru used his magicules to stabilize, holding Milim close as they hovered midair.
"Rimuruuuuuuuu!" Milim shouted, her voice ringing with joy. She squeezed him tightly, her cheek pressed to his, her laughter bursting out. "There you are! I've been looking for you!"
"I was wondering when you'd show up. Been keeping yourself busy, huh?" Rimuru answered as he patted her head.
Milim pulled back slightly, her wide eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. She took a deep breath, as if bracing herself, then launched into a rapid explanation.
"Well, I knew I was in trouble because I messed with Eurazania and Frey, so I thought, 'Hey, if I'm not gonna be able to eat and hang out in Tempest, I might as well wait it out.' Because if I came here, I'd just be all jealous watching everyone eat and have fun." She paused only long enough to inhale again before continuing.
"Then, while I was there, Middray came up to me like, 'Yo, Clayman made a mess. What do you want us to do? We were just following orders, right?' And I was like, 'What kind of mess?' And Middray started blabbering about this and that. So I was like, 'I don't know, man.' But then I thought, 'Wait, what would Rimuru do?'" Milim's eyes sparkled with pride. "So I dealt with it! Honestly, Middray almost cried from happiness, or at least, I'd like to think he did."
Then, as she took another deep breath, she calmed down slightly, letting out the breath slowly before looking around and asking.
"Well, anyways, what are you doing over here?"
"Eurazania is part of Tempest now, so I am trying to figure out what to do with it." He explained, causing her to nod along.
"Eurazania, huh?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully, her gaze wandering as if ideas were already swirling in her head. "Maybe I can help! Can I join in? Wait, actually, I'm not grounded anymore, right?" Her voice took on a playful lilt as she looked to Rimuru for confirmation.
"Uh, not really?"
"Great! Be right back!"She exclaimed, and without another word, shot into the sky like a comet, leaving nothing but a gust of wind in her wake.
'She's going to go grab some snacks, isn't she?'
[Affirmative.]
Letting out a sigh, Rimuru shook his head while suppressing a smile before turning back to the group.
"Well, let's get this done before she comes back. I have a feeling we are going to be too distracted otherwise."
Albis sighed softly, her brows furrowed in thought as she nodded and resumed the tour.
"Where was I? Ah, yes. While agriculture might not be our strongest point, Eurazania is excellent at raising animals. We have a few unique species of Monsters, like the Audumula Cows, that produce exceptional goods. So while we may not grow enough crops for Tempest, we excel in animal husbandry."
Rimuru listened carefully, his gaze shifting to a Beastman in the distance, repeatedly punching a tree with gritted teeth. Judging by his sweat-soaked appearance and his clothes full of dirt, he had likely been working in the fields just hours earlier.
"So, how do Beastmen go about becoming stronger?" Rimuru asked.
Albis blinked, glancing at the training Beastman before responding.
"Well, they train in their free time. If they prove their strength, they move up the ranks."
"Do they get any formal training?" Rimuru questioned, his gaze narrowing as he observed the clumsy form of the farmer-turned-fighter.
"No, Lord Rimuru." Suphia replied, crossing her arms as her eyes followed Rimuru's line of sight. "But if they're like him, they'll figure it out and get stronger."
Rimuru tilted his head slightly.
"That seems a bit wasteful, doesn't it?" He activated Universal Sense, scanning the fields, assessing each individual's latent potential. "A good number of them have promise. Without proper training, though, they'll develop bad habits, which will only make it harder to teach them down the line."
The Beastketeers shared a glance, their expressions subtly shifting as they considered his point. Yet Carrion was the first one to answer.
"Even if that's true, training resources are limited. If they don't farm, our food supply collapses. It's a tough balance. Not everyone can be a warrior. Someone has to work the fields, or we all starve."
Rimuru's eyes widened slightly. He hadn't fully considered the societal structure of Eurazania in that way. It made sense. Stronger individuals wouldn't want to farm, leaving it to those with less power.
"I see what you mean. Some sacrifices are inevitable... but maybe we don't have to sacrifice training entirely." Rimuru added with a sigh.
'Raph, what would be the most efficient way to structure their training?' He asked.
[Notice. Based on observed physical capabilities and combat instincts of the Beastmen, it is recommended to implement a rotating weekly training schedule, incorporating both combat drills and physical conditioning. Training sessions can increase efficiency by 35%. Additional resources from Tempest, such as skilled instructors or magic-enhanced training gear, will accelerate development by another 18%.]
"How about this? We set up a weekly training regimen. Groups of farmers can rotate, one day each week dedicated to combat training. That way, we won't overwhelm the system, and they'll still improve without neglecting their duties. Eurazania's combat power would rise significantly, and then, there would be less people in need of protection should another attack come."
"They could train in the Labyrinth, right? We have plenty of rooms for that. They could even join the Amethyst Guards' training!" Shion stepped forward, her expression brightening.
"Exactly. We could use the Labyrinth for training. It's equipped with everything we need. And if need be, it can be reworked to add more features." Rimuru nodded.
"But what about the farmers?" Phobio asked, concern evident in his voice. "If they're training and grow stronger, who handles the fields?"
"They can still work the fields." Rimuru explained. "They'll just be stronger and more efficient. It will just encourage everyone else to train harder so as not to fall back in their strength ranking. And if there's ever a shortage, I can move people around to cover it. In fact, I think we should also consider focusing on animal farming. Tempest has plenty of crops, but we're lacking in livestock."
Albis listened carefully, nodding as the idea took shape in her mind.
"It's… a lot to take in." She admitted. "I'm used to the way things are, but perhaps change is what we need."
"Tempest wasn't built in a day. Neither will Eurazania change overnight. But these things take time. Ideally, I would like to turn Eurazania into a country more like Tempest, but that's unrealistic, at least for a few decades." Rimuru answered with a soft chuckle.
Ramiris, who had been floating nearby, suddenly pointed toward the towering mountain and cascading waterfall.
"What about the mountain? There's gotta be something valuable in there, right?"
Carrion crossed his arms, looking up at the rocky cliffs before shaking his head.
"We've got some mines, but mostly for basic metals. Nothing too special." He answered.
"Is there any gold in the mountain?" Rimuru asked with some hope, but Carrion shook his head.
"We have some platinum, tungsten, and magisteel. But there is rarely any gold in there." He answered.
"I guess I'll have to find the gold somewhere else. We are experimenting with Orichalcum, and we are running out of gold to create it with. It's one of the things we need the most right now." Rimuru said.
"There's always Leon." Ramiris added, perking up. "He's got loads of gold! Plus, he's been wanting Shizue to visit. You could send her over to negotiate. He's actually pretty nice… once you get past the whole, how did Veldora call it again? The resting bitch face thing." She said, quoting Veldora with a nod.
"That should work. Once Shizue is done introducing and guiding Hinata, I could ask her to go." Rimuru nodded as he realized something. "Dagruel, Leon… Roy. I guess the only Demon Lord we still need to reach out to is Guy, right? Does Dino have a territory?"
"Nope, he just lazes around. Right now, he is with Dagruel, I think." Ramiris answered.
Just as she finished speaking, a sudden gust of wind swept over the group. Rimuru's eyes flicked to the sky just in time to see Milim landing with a thud, sending a small shockwave through the ground. In her arms, she balanced an impossible number of snacks, fruits, cakes, and chocolates stacked haphazardly.
"Colosseum!" She shouted, stuffing a piece of chocolate into her mouth mid-sentence. "We should build a colosseum here. It'd be awesome, and we could have some epic battles!" Her eyes gleamed with excitement, already imagining the chaos.
"A colosseum, huh?" Rimuru muttered. "It would be better to have it on the Labyrinth since people can fight to the death there. But building something outside of it for regular flights shouldn't be too bad."
"I can also drag the Colosseum into the Labyrinth for special fights." Ramiris suggested. "Should be pretty easy with Veldora's help."
'Raph, what do you think? Could you give me something to show them so they can start making plans?'
[Notice. Generating report… ]
— –Tear– —
Humming a soft tune under her breath, Tear slipped into the bustling streets of Tempest without much trouble. She wore a simple dark cloak that draped over her small frame, and she had even dyed her distinctive Magenta hair black.
Her youthful appearance blended easily with a group of older Halflings making their way from the forest, their laughter and conversation masking her silent steps.
The crowd was dense today, understandably so, given the naming and loyalty pledging ceremony taking place. The air buzzed with excitement and chatter, making it the perfect cover for her mission. Normally, slipping into a fortified city like Tempest would have posed a challenge, but today was different. Today, no one had time to notice a simple cloaked traveler.
She had left her usual clown mask behind, knowing it would only draw unnecessary attention. Instead, her current attire mirrored that of any regular adventurer, sturdy boots, a worn leather vest, and a dagger strapped to her side. Nothing suspicious. Nothing flashy. Just one face among many. Her aura was almost perfectly surpressed preventing that from making her stand out.
'Geez, Mr. Spy. You really couldn't make it easy on me, could you?' Tear thought to herself, her wide eyes scanning the bustling marketplace as she passed stalls selling everything from trinkets to freshly grilled meats.
Her stomach growled at the sight of a food stall selling strange wraps called burritos, and despite herself, she found her feet drifting in that direction.
'Mission first, burritos second…' But before she knew it, she had one in hand, taking a large, satisfied bite.
"Mmff—!" Her eyes went wide as the flavor hit her, an explosion of spices and tender meat that nearly made her forget why she was here in the first place.
'The food here is good! I ought to ask Boss to open up some food stalls of this thing in Englassia.' She mused to herself as she savored another bite.
But her focus never truly wavered. While outwardly enjoying the festival, her eyes were constantly scanning, observing.
'Tempest is a fortress.' She realized quickly.
She could feel it, the subtle but undeniable presence of Shadows lurking in every corner, hidden but active. It was only thanks to her Manipulator Skill that she could sense them, their movements like ripples across the Ley Lines of the city.
'They're good.' She thought, impressed despite herself.
The Shadows moved seamlessly through the crowd, unseen by almost everyone. But they were spread thin today, thanks to the sheer number of people present for the ceremony.
'Lucky me.' Tear giggled inwardly. It meant she had more room to maneuver.
She paused in front of a stall selling intricate jewelry, her eyes darting around as she pretended to browse. She didn't need trinkets. No, she was here for something far more important, information.
Her mission was clear.
To keep an eye on Hinata Sakaguchi. She was headed in this direction and would be entering the city soon enough. There was something going on between the Church and Tempest, and she had to try to get as much as she could.
Then were the "less" important missions.
First, she had to look for any trace of Clayman. He had vanished after Walpurgis, and though Kagali had lost contact with him, Tear refused to believe he was truly gone. Clayman was her family. Her clown brother. She would keep looking for him until there was no doubt left.
Second, she needed to gather intelligence on Tempest. Yuuki was cautious of Rimuru's growing power, and Tear's job was to figure out how this city worked. Was there a weakness? Something they could exploit? Everybody had a flaw. She just had to find it...
As she continued her casual stroll, she let her mind wander. Depending on how things went and how the city changed once the Majin and Monsters started to leave, she might have to either retreat or she would be able to try to infiltrate deeper.
She couldn't help but imagine a scenario where she infiltrated Rimuru's inner circle.
'Maybe I could join the spy network here.' She mused, her excitement bubbling up. 'How funny would that be? Me, working with Mr. Spy, pretending to be all serious, then BAM! I was a traitor the whole time! Hehehe!' She covered her mouth to stifle her giggle, earning a few curious glances from passersby.
But one thing was clear, she wasn't allowed anywhere near Rimuru or anyone too dangerous. Kagali and Yuuki had been firm about that.
'If I bump into Mr. Slime, I'm supposed to run...' She thought, glancing at a small statue of Rimuru in the marketplace.
Her lips curled into a playful pout as she stared at the small and cute slime.
'He doesn't even look that scary.' A wistful sigh escaped her.
For a moment, she imagined sneaking right up to the real Rimuru, just to see how far she could push her luck. But no. She had a job to do, and she knew better than to disobey orders, no matter how tempting the idea was.
As the hours ticked by, she continued her silent search. Her Manipulator Skill traced the Ley Lines, searching for any trace of Clayman, any lingering remnants of his presence. But nothing.
Tear's excitement began to fade into frustration. She pouted as she wandered through the crowded streets, her eyes darting from face to face, searching, hoping. Yet, no matter how many corners she turned or alleyways she slipped through, there was no sign of her beloved family member. Not even a whisper of his energy.
She had hoped for some sort of underground prison where he was being kept, but if there was a hidden prison, it wasn't in Tempest.
But just as she was about to give up, something else caught her attention, a beautiful, new structure that seemed out of place.
A church.
The grand entrance and its immaculate design stood out among the surrounding buildings, a beacon of worship for none other than Rimuru.
Tear's eyebrows shot up in disbelief as she took in the building.
'Seriously? A church… for him?' Her lips curled into a smirk. 'Well, if that doesn't scream "self-centered," I don't know what does.'
She approached the building, her eyes scanning the ornate details. Inside, she could see the faint glow of magical light illuminating the shrine dedicated to Rimuru. Banners depicting his slime form hung from the ceiling, and worshippers knelt in reverence.
'Worshipping a slime… People are weird.' She thought as she shook her head in amusement.
But then, another thought struck her, one that made her giggle.
'Oh, if this doesn't piss off Hinata, I don't know what will!'
Hinata Sakaguchi, the stern and righteous paladin. Seeing this would definitely rile her up, no question. Tear's grin widened, imagining the confrontation that could come from it. She could almost hear Hinata's scathing remarks echoing in her head.
Yet, as if remembering her mission, Tear ran to the main entrance of Tempest. Just in time to see the familiar paladin near the entrance. And in front of her was Shizue, smiling and spinning around as she began to lead Hinata into the city.
— — —
Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: The one, the only, the amazing @Basilisk, and @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ/WN) | kiyan_tribe( Discord)
Go Check out Basilisk's great story "I'm a Daemon, so what?"
https://discord.gg/WTgN9J3YgK
~A/N~
Just like Bloody Mary, Milim only showed up until after Carrion said her name three times, lol. I actually went out of my way to pace Carrion saying her name for it. It's small details like this that I like to put into chaps mainly for my enjoyment, but since Halloween is coming up, I thought I'd share this one.
Also, I remember someone asking, "What's the use of all of this if Rimuru is just going to fight and win the fight, etc. Well, I do plan on making it relevant eventually, so "it's a surprise tool that will help us later.