[Noir]
Out of all of the Primordials, he was the black sheep of the family. He didn't care for power, he didn't care for strength. All he wanted was to be entertained. He would follow his whims and do whatever he wanted, unlike his siblings, who wanted to become stronger. Among the seven of them, he was the only one that started out with a male form, the other six primordials starting in female forms.
One time, when he fought Rouge, the world offered him a chance to evolve, but he rejected it. It would have made everything too boring if he grew too strong.
He would occasionally appear in the Cardinal World, searching for entertainment. One day, however, he stumbled upon a peculiar girl, or should he say a mask. A mask outside of time. It was older than he was, which should have been impossible. That day, that mask became his entire existence.
He would watch the girl who wore the mask for tens of years until one day. He saw the girl meet a slime. A slime who claimed to be a Prophet. The slime told her about the future and then offered to save her. Recreating her body and making her anew. She was a whole new person after the slime rescued her. Her body was remade using her old flesh, so she didn't experience even the slightest discomfort from the change.
This action caught his attention, and as he looked closer to the slime, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement course through him. His soul was unlike any he had seen before.
Then the mask passed into his hands, and things began to happen just like he predicted. It only served to make Noir even more interested. He was unlike anyone he had ever met. He changed the rules of the game. He would name monsters like it was a joke to him, something that most people feared.
He was a contradiction within himself; he searched for power but never took full advantage of the chances given to him. He could have Awakened if he had killed all of the Orcs but chose to spare them instead. With his knowledge, he could have chosen to march onto a city and Awaken, but instead, he continued to play king.
Things only became more amusing once he heard of the Prophecy of the Harpies. The Child of the Storm. A Hero had gone out of their way to secure their allegiance, and if he knew of him, that Hero must have also been somewhat related to time.
As he followed the slime along, he couldn't hold the urge to jump out and offer to serve him. He wanted to see what this slime was like up close and if he could entertain him even more. However, he chose to be patient, choosing instead to continue watching and preparing himself should he ever summon a Daemon.
The day he saw the bodies he intended to use to summon Daemons, Noir even caused a bit of a mess. He saw as he used his own "flesh" to strengthen it, which made him more eager to be summoned. He wanted to see what having Rimuru's "flesh" be a part of him would be like.
He then saw him call himself a Hero. Saving people along the way. A Demon Lord Seed calling himself a Hero was almost as amusing as seeing the blonde Hero call himself a Demon Lord. Yet somehow, the title didn't feel wrong under him.
As he awaited being summoned, he felt another Primordial call out to him.
"Quite the interesting person you have your eyes on, Noir." She said with a beautiful smile, though it was clear there was tension between the two of them. "Here, I wondered why you had been acting so weird lately. The stir you caused some time ago drew our attention, but it appears I'm the only one who came to check it out. Jaune and Violet must still be fighting it out, it seems."
Noir eyes narrowed as he looked at her. She was the second oldest Primordial. Even she would be a hassle to fight.
"Leave now, Blanc. Sir Rimuru is going to be summoning a Daemon soon, so I must be ready for when the time comes."
Blanc looked at her fellow Primordial with some surprise, chuckling slightly.
"Sir? That's quite the surprise coming from you. I wonder if this Slime is really all you put them up to be." She mused, an evil smile appearing on her face.
'I wonder what you would think if I incarnated using the body he created instead.' She joked in her mind. However, she knew better than to say those words and rile up Noir. She had seen him in the past, and though he had all but given up on fighting, she was unsure she would be able to beat him.
"Very well, I will leave you to it." Blanc spoke before vanishing.
Noir's eyes narrowed as he watched her vanish, yet as he turned to continue admiring Rimuru, he felt a pang in his heart. He had given his attention to Blanc since he knew she could cause him some trouble, but that had given one of his lineage a chance to be summoned instead.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
[???]
She walked quietly through a destroyed city, thinking back to the days in which everything seemed perfect.
Corpses littered the street, killed in an instant before they had a chance to activate their emergency protocol. She looked at a few corpses not far away, the shattered masks revealing the faces they always kept hidden. Things probably would have gone better if it hadn't been for them.
Her mind was numb by this point, but she couldn't help but let her gaze linger on them for a moment before moving on.
There were countless feathers littering the streets, a sign of the battle that had happened. The Angels had been slaughtered, but so had her country and the people fighting to protect it. She looked on at the corpses, bottling up her emotions before continuing to march through the city.
However, as she did, she could feel the pressure become even higher and higher until, eventually, it was too much. She knew she could fix it, so all of their deaths were on her. In fact, she had tried, but they had died nonetheless.
One of her teachers had died, the other had become a heartless monster, yet she still loved him, and the last one was fighting for their lives right now, trying to make a difference.
"What do I do?" She asked, either to herself or the world, hoping for an answer.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
[The New Religion.]
A group of Majin gathered around a small table on which a small blue pillow sat.
"Our Lord is truly magnificent. Even this pillow can only capture a fraction of his magnificence." Hamlet, High Orc, bowing down to the pillow in the center, spoke. "Thanks to our Lord, my people were able to avoid disaster, and we no longer hunger."
The next one to speak was a young Frodo, a Halfling, his face filled with excitement.
"Our Lord was able to create new plants on a whim. Working with them in the fields, I can see they are unlike any I have ever seen before. They not only grow faster, but the produce is larger and even more delicious than ever. Our Lord is truly like a god."
Stepping forward next was an older Kijin woman, Mitsuha.
"Back when I used to serve as a mercenary, I found myself in the middle of a monster assault. I saved the life of a priest of Luminous, and though his teachings forbade him from working with me, he knew that the only way to save the small town was with my help, so he supported me with healing magic."
She had a small, nostalgic smile on her face as she continued.
"I grew to love him, and even though it was heresy for him, he grew to love me too. We continued to work together until, one day, we fought a battle we could not win. He gave his life to save me."
The Majin gathered gave her a few strange looks, wondering where she was headed with the story. However, it was then that they saw her place her hands near her heart.
"He tried to teach me his spells, but I could never use them. I was never able to feel that connection between me and Luminous. However, for the first time recently, I felt that connection form with my Lord. I can still not use holy magic, but I am sure that is because my faith is not yet strong enough. This has proved to me that our Lord is truly a god."
Excited murmurs began to carry across the room as she continued to show a few of her spells, all powered by her faith in Rimuru.
It was then that Hamlet stood up, a bright look on his face as he pictured the future.
"We must create a church for our Lord. Only then will everyone be able to see him for what he truly is… a god. Once we prove our faith in him is true, then we will be able to use holy magic."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
[Shizue's Students.]
"Achoo." Rimuru sneezed, a sudden chill running down his spine. Yet he just shook his head, dismissing the odd sensation after asking Sage if anything was wrong with him.
"Are you ok?" Shizue asked with some concern. She had never seen him be sick, so the sudden sneeze caught her off guard.
"It's nothing." Rimuru replied, shrugging it off just as Chloe ran up to him, her face excitedly bright.
"Look! I finished." She shouted with a smile as she waved the homework in her hands triumphantly.
"Great job!" Rimuru praised her, and as he did, Shizue couldn't help but chuckle when she saw the jealous looks of the students. She used to be the most popular teacher, but it appeared as if her title had been stolen.
At least Kenya still preferred her over him. The little rascal wanted to use a fighting style similar to her, swinging a sword coated in fire. However, her style has changed slightly since meeting Rimuru.
"Kenya, want to learn something new?" Shizue asked, her lips curling into a knowing smile. "How about the Dance of the Fire God?" She pictured Rimuru's graceful demonstration of the Sun Breathing technique, flames swirling in harmony with his movements.
Kenya's eyes widened with curiosity and excitement.
"Yes, Miss Shizue! Please teach me!"
As she guided Kenya through the intricate steps, Shizue's thoughts drifted to her other students, Yuuki and Hinata.
She wanted to trust Yuuki but couldn't help but let the words Rimuru had told her echo in her mind. If anything, she had been avoiding Yuuki because she was worried she might open up and ask him for the truth, which would only complicate things for Rimuru.
She knew he was a good kid. She had met him just a few days after he had been summoned, and she had taught him most of what he knew. She saw him rise from a nobody to the leader of the adventurers guild.
He was a hard worker who only wanted to make the world smile, but even then, just thinking about what his true personality might be was enough to give her a headache.
"Are you okay, Miss Shizue?" Kenya's voice broke through her daze. His young face scrunched with worry.
Shizue smiled, pushing her doubts aside.
"Just thinking about some complicated stuff… But promise me, Kenya, you'll grow up to be a good person, okay?"
Kenya laughed, his eyes shining with determination.
"Of course, Miss Shizue! I'm going to be the best student you've ever had! I'll be even cooler than Hinata!"
Shizue chuckled, ruffling his hair.
"I'm sure you will, Kenya. I'm sure you will." She said with a smile, though her mind now wandered to her other student, Hinata.
'I hope I can meet you soon.' She thought though she knew it would probably take some time for Hinata to show up.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
[Veldora's Slime Observation Journal]
Hey journal, it's me, ya boi Veldora. Missed me? I missed you too, boo.
Just as he wrote those words, he couldn't help but freeze.
"I really need to get out of here. I am starting to sound crazy." Veldora muttered to himself before scratching that out of his journal and starting again.
Dear Journal, my bro just beat up a big Orc. Kinda neat. He ate him up like a Reese's Puff. But dear Journal, you won't believe the audacity of this bitch.
My boy decided he was gonna name all freaking "2 million" of the Orcs. Guess who has to make up for the magicules that he doesn't have yet? That's right, me! He's lucky I am such an awesome bro. Otherwise he would have been deader than Gojo.
Erm... spoilers Journal, sorry about that.
Moving on, guess who has a new roommate? That's right! Me! Ifrit tried to be a pain in the ass, but I just showed him my massive dong- I mean- aura, and he instantly became my subordinate. This means I now have someone to watch anime with while the mean lady is away. I can even show him just how superior I am to him in every game we play.
— — —
Dear Journal, you must be wondering how my bro is doing… Well, he married a pigeon or something. That doesn't matter. What really matters is how totally awesome and cool I am.
"Ain't that right, Ifrit?" Veldora asked with a chuckle.
"Yes…." The Fire Elemental nodded with some exhaustion.
"Bwuahahahahahaaha, this is why I like you, kid. You're the best lackey to ever live. Now, come on, I wanna learn what happens here. This SAO abridged is truly a magnificent work of art. Make me some popcorn." He shouted with a bright smile, yet just as he was about to relax, he felt a chill in his spine.
"Mean…. Lady?" He asked with some fear in his voice.
[Notice. It has been found that the subject, Veldora, is slacking in his duties.]
"No, no! I swear, I was just taking a little break. Look, I am just about to start analyzing stuff. Isn't that right, Ifrit?" Veldora asked in a panic, scrambling over and dropping a bunch of the books that he had made appear. This was technically an imaginary space, so he could summon up whatever he wanted. His real mind and body were somewhere else inside of Rimuru's stomach.
[Notice. As a punishment for not fulfilling your mission, a new task has been added.]
[Begin training to hold your aura inside of your body. Otherwise, the subject will be punished to stay in the stomach since he would be a liability.] Sage's cold and uncaring voice echoed, causing Veldora to let out a single tear.
"Bro… why is there such a mean lady inside of you?" Veldora asked the nonexistent sky, not getting any answer.
Then, turning to Ifrit, who was holding a bowl of popcorn, he couldn't help but sigh.
"You were supposed to keep watch for the mean lady…"
"I'm sorry, Master." Ifrit answered, his eyebrow twitching slightly. Then, as he turned to look at the screen showcasing what Rimuru was seeing, he couldn't help but sigh again.
He had only really developed an ego after being stuck in his stomach, and now, rather than death and destruction, he wanted nothing more than freedom, but perhaps this was his fate. His punishment for constantly attacking and pressuring Shizue.
If anything, he longed for the days in which it was just the two of them, even if he didn't have a proper ego at the time.
"Come on, Ifrit, let's watch something together. I can try to hold my magicules while we watch so the mean lady won't punish me again."
Ifrit couldn't help but smile slightly as he grabbed the popcorn and sat next to Veldora.
— — —
Dear Journal, guess who doesn't have to pay any more child support? My bro just killed my daughter, lol. Tough luck, am I right? To be fair, she wasn't even my daughter. She just kinda appeared. She was a bit of a menace if you ask me, going around all brainless and destroying everything in her path.
Heh, kinda reminds me of her old man. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree? But hey, I am a good dragon now. Isn't that right?
He put her core inside his stomach, so she is probably in time out too. Good for you bro, you are a better parent than I am already…. Though I am kinda my bros dad? Nah nah, he's just my bro. It would be weird if I was his dad. If anything I'm more like a cool uncle or something.
Where was I? Oh, right, I bet you wonder what my bro is up to? He's out there calling himself a Hero. Dangerous stuff, I tell ya. The world doesn't take kindly to those who take on that title. But oh well, I can't interfere; it's a canon event, hehe.
He's going there to save some….
"Yo, Ifrit, does that girl look familiar to you?" Veldora asked as he pointed at the screen.
"Chloe? Yeah, she's one of Shizue's students. She's an expert in using magic." Ifrit answered, casually picking up all of the garbage that Veldora had thrown across the room.
"Eh, I must be imagining things. I tell ya, you spend enough time in this prison, and you start to see things… Did I tell you about the time I thought I saw my sister shaking her head disapprovingly at me? Honestly, I felt safer inside the prison than I would have outside of it." Veldora began no longer focusing on the screen.
"No, you never did…" Ifrit answered, sitting down to listen to another of Veldora's stories as the two of them set up a game.
"Boy, when I tell ya that my sister is scarier than the mean lady, I mean it. She used to beat me up for the smallest things…."
— — —
Yo yo yo, it's a me!
My bro is out here in Ramiris' Labyrinth. Honestly, I wouldn't mess with her. She's actually one of the…..
"Yo, Ifrit… why the hell is Ramiris so small?" Veldora asked, somewhat dumbfounded.
"I do not know, Master." Ifrit answered with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Ah, wait, no, I think I remember… something about Milim. I remember she got angry or something one time. Honestly, I was too busy taking a nap at the time. But I remember it was a whole mess. My bro Dagruel got his land all destroyed because of her." Veldora began, trying to jog his memories.
As the two of them continued to talk, he saw them arrive at the room in which spirits could be summoned.
"How does it feel to be back home?" Veldora asked as he ate some popcorn.
"It's…. Weird." Ifrit said, his eyes still focused on the screen as he saw some spirits he was familiar with. Back then, he was too wild and often ignored, but he wondered what they would say if they met him again.
The summoning went on, and the two of them watched as the Light Elemental appeared and got eaten.
[Notice. Using the Degenerate skill, the consciousness of the Light Elemental has been separated. Here is a new pet as a reward for learning to contain your aura. Take care of it.]
[For further rewards, continue analyzing the Infinite Imprisonment.]
As soon as the mean lady left, a small, joyful kid with long blonde hair, light blue eyes, pointed ears, and blue markings on their bodies appeared. As he turned to look at the gigantic dragon in front of him, he couldn't help but chuckle nervously.
"Hehe…. I'm in danger."
"Bwuahahahahahahaha! Look at that Ifrit! We got ourselves a new friend! Come on, I'll show you around. It's a cozy place." Veldora said, pointing at the void around them, getting distracted and turning off the 'TV.'
— — —
Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: The one, the only, the amazing @Basilisk, the Aussie @LuluViBritania (FF.N, SB, WN and QQ)/-LuluViB|99th Britannian Emperor(Discord) and @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ/WN) | kiyan_tribe( Discord)
Go Check out Basilisk's great story "I'm a Daemon, so what?"
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