(Should I just start releasing my chaps earlier? lol. I was uploading during power stone reset, but I haven't been keeping track with that for a bit now, so it wouldn't change much on my part.)
As they passed through the door, a gentle breeze greeted them, a stark contrast to the cold stone walls of the Labyrinth they had ventured through before.
What lay ahead wasn't the typical dark, winding tunnels they expected, but rather a lush, green forest. Grass stretched out beneath their feet, swaying softly, and birds chirped happily from the trees above. The warm glow of sunlight filtered through what appeared to be the sky, and even the air felt different, fresh, and filled with the sounds of nature.
It felt more like stepping into an enchanted woodland than the depths of a dungeon.
The first floor of the Labyrinth mimicked the outside world so perfectly that the illusion of daylight was almost seamless. The artificial sun bathed the area in a bright, warm light, making it feel like they were walking under the sky.
"This… is the Labyrinth?" Gale asked, his voice filled with disbelief as he looked around.
"Yeah… it is…" Chloe echoed softly, stepping further into the clearing, her own expression filled with awe and a slight reminiscence.
Rimuru smiled at their reactions, pleased to see the surprise in their eyes.
"It's still a work in progress." He explained as they began to move through the forest, the grass crunching softly underfoot. "Since the Dryads are here most of the time, we decided to make it as comfortable for them as possible. We figured a more natural environment suited their needs better than the usual stone corridors."
He gestured around them, taking in the sight of the forest with a sense of pride.
"There's a faster way to get where we're going, but I thought I'd take you all through the scenic route. I figured you'd like to see what we've been working on. This is the floor that we have spent the most amount of time working on."
As they moved deeper into the forest, the sounds of activity began to filter through the trees. More people appeared in view, some carrying large building materials, others lounging at tables scattered throughout the forest floor, chatting casually. There were groups of Dwarves and Elves, some curiously exploring the area, while others worked diligently on their projects.
A few Elves and Dwarves, dressed in lab coats, wandered between groups of workers, stopping occasionally to ask questions or take notes. They seemed fascinated by the new environment, their expressions filled with curiosity and excitement.
As they continued their walk, they stumbled upon a massive tree, its trunk so large it looked as though it could easily encircle an entire building. The towering tree dominated the area, its roots sprawling across the ground, creating individual paths for different people to take. The group paused, staring up at the tree in awe.
"What is that?" Alice asked, her voice tinged with surprise as she pointed at the tree.
Around its base, a group of Dryads moved gracefully, directing workers in and out of the structure. The tree seemed almost alive, its bark occasionally shifting as if it could open and close at will.
"That?" Rimuru chuckled, his lips curling into an amused smile. "That's what we call aesthetics. It's actually an elevator, one that takes you from floor to floor in the Labyrinth.
The kids exchanged bewildered looks, and as they got closer, they saw the bark of the massive tree parting like a door. A group of Elves stepped out, led by a Dragonewt man dressed sharply in a suit.
The entire process was seamless, almost magical, as though the tree itself had come to life to guide them through the depths of the Labyrinth. And in part, it had, since it was the amalgamation of a good amount of Treants who had all rooted themselves together, practically becoming one.
When he brought them to Ramiris, they all expressed their desire to simply root in the ground and grow, which led Raphael to create the offer of giving them one collective name, Yggdrasil.
Ygrdassil, as it was now, was stuck in place. Unable to move, Ramiris had worked with Rimuru to connect the former Treants to the very Labyrinth. And though they were nothing but a glorified elevator at the moment. They helped bring the place to life.
The kids stared in awe as the Elves made their way past, the sheer size of the tree leaving them speechless.
"An elevator… in a tree?" Ryota muttered, still trying to process the sight.
Rimuru nodded, a knowing grin on his face.
"Yup, it's a lot more fun than a regular elevator, don't you think? Come on, follow me."
As they approached the towering tree, the Dryads stationed nearby smiled warmly, offering friendly greetings as they gracefully stepped aside to let the group pass.
The bark of the tree shifted, parting smoothly to reveal a circular room inside, entirely made of wood. It was simple yet elegant, the walls alive with faint patterns of growth, and in the center stood a large wooden platform.
Once everyone stepped onto the platform, the bark gently closed behind them. Moments later, it reopened, but the world outside had changed entirely.
Gone was the bright and lively forest of the first floor. In its place was something more familiar to the children, a return to the cold, stone aesthetic of the Labyrinth they had first ventured into.
However, this time, signs of progress were everywhere. The stone walls, though still rough, showed signs of change. The floor stretched out into a grand hallway that led toward a massive building in the distance, still under construction.
What made this construction different, though, was the method. It wasn't being built by hand. The very materials of the Labyrinth seemed to be shaping themselves, bending and forming into place.
As they walked closer, they noticed a few people.
Standing around a massive table covered in blueprints were several familiar faces. Kaijin, the brilliant Dwarven engineer, was hunched over, studying the plans intently, his hands moving as he gestured to different sections of the design. Beside him, his wife, Sumisu, stood just as engrossed in the work, her brow furrowed in concentration. To the side, Hakuro stood tall, nodding thoughtfully as he offered advice, his hands folded behind his back as he observed their efforts.
But the one who immediately drew the kids' attention was the small figure darting through the air, a bright, fluttering fairy whose presence was hard to miss.
Ramiris was zipping back and forth, her tiny wings a blur of excitement as she spoke out.
"Hmm… I think I can manage that. But I'm not sure how long it'll take… Maybe a few weeks? I could build the outer shell, but you guys would have to handle the inside. Too many details for me to keep track of. Maybe if we—" Her rambling came to a sudden stop as she turned mid-flight and caught sight of Rimuru. A bright smile spread across her face.
"Rimuru!" she shouted with delight, zooming towards him.
Within seconds, Ramiris was flying loops around him, her tiny form a blur of excitement before she finally found her place perched comfortably in Rimuru's hair. She wiggled into her "throne," peeking out from beneath his strands to grin at the group.
"Yo! What are you guys doing here?" Ramiris asked, her head poking out from Rimuru's hair. She leaned forward, observing the kids below with an impish smile. "Ooooh, actually, what do you think of the first floor? Pretty cool, right?"
They all responded with enthusiastic nods. Alice and Ryota were the first to speak up, exclaiming about how amazing and cool everything was. Soon enough, the rest joined, rambling on for a few moments as Kijin, Sumisu, and Hakuro all approached.
"Hehe, that's right! You kids aren't too bad." She declared with a smug chuckle, puffing out her small chest with pride.
"Oh, Grandpa Hakuro!" Kenya exclaimed, suddenly remembering he was here before letting out a mischievous grin. "Think fast."
Reaching for his sword, he drew it, instantly coating it in flames. But before he could even swing, he got smacked on the top of the head by Hakuro's hand, causing him to stop.
"Ouch!" He complained as he rubbed the top of his head.
"Now, now. You should slow down a little. The training grounds are still in progress, so you'll have to wait to show me your improvements." Hakuro reprimanded him, though he couldn't fully hide the small smile on his face.
"Is everything still running smoothly?" Rimuru asked.
"Yup! Nothing I can't handle." Ramiris instantly answered. "Everyone is kinda spread out right now, but we can start organizing things better once we finish with the main floors. Or well, at least with the general stuff."
"Ah, Lord Rimuru, I almost forgot. We have the list of requirements for the labs Sarion and Dwargon need. Though I can handle the requirements for Dwargon, I wanted to get your eyes on the list of stuff Sarion sent over. I'm not quite sure how to implement the things they are asking for. I've never seen anything like it before." Kijin interrupted.
"That's fine. I'll be helping build them, so I have to see them sooner or later. Just send them over to my office." Rimuru answered before turning to the small Fairy. "Hey, Ramiris, where's Zegion and Veldora at? I wanted to introduce them to the kids."
"Zegion? He should be playing around with Veldora on his floor. I think Apito, Kumara, and Silk are also over there." Ramiris answered, closing her eyes for a moment to focus. "Oh, right, Shuna's there too. Veldora was asking for her help to set up our… Cultivation Sect? I think that's what he was calling it."
Rimuru couldn't help but chuckle as he thought about Veldora's latest obsession. Though he wasn't sure why Veldora had picked up the idea of a "cultivation sect," it had certainly lit a fire under the usually laid-back dragon. As far as he could remember, he hadn't read that many cultivation novels and manhua. But maybe he should have.
Instead of lounging about all day reading manga or sparring recklessly, Veldora had thrown himself into this project with a surprising amount of enthusiasm. Whether it was out of genuine interest or simply a way to pass the time, Veldora had certainly been keeping himself busy, though most of his effort seemed to be in barking orders and watching others do the heavy lifting.
After saying their goodbyes, Rimuru, and the kids stepped onto and off the elevator again. As they stepped out, they could hear the familiar sounds of battle. Faint explosions accompanied by the buzzing of wings and magic.
It seemed Veldora had designed the sect's training grounds with the idea of constant combat in mind, no surprise, given his nature. The place was still under construction, but even in its half-finished state, it was clear that Veldora had spared no effort, or magicules, into making it extravagant.
Massive pillars carved from the Labyrinth's stone reached upward, etched with intricate, glowing runes. These runes were part of the labyrinth's rapid development, feeding off the vast power Veldora had been releasing daily to accelerate the construction process. Training arenas, meditation chambers, and open-air platforms for cultivation sparring were spread across the floor in various stages of completion, each built to accommodate both physical combat and more "magical" cultivation practices.
As they moved closer, they saw Apito was currently buzzing around at a surprising speed, deftly weaving through a relentless barrage of attacks from Kumara, who had transformed from her usual small fox form into a towering beast, rivaling even Ranga's attack mode in size and ferocity.
The clash between them was a spectacle of raw power and speed, with Kumara unleashing devastating bursts of energy while a small, nimble monkey darted about, summoning sharp wind blades that whistled through the air toward Apito. Despite the overwhelming attack, Apito moved with startling agility, narrowly avoiding each attack by inches, though Rimuru could feel the oppressive weight of intensified gravity bearing down on her from a small rabbit hiding behind the monkey. Even so, her sheer speed allowed her to stay ahead, dodging with precision and grace.
Nearby, Zegion, the large beetle, sat alongside Silk, the silent but observant Ghost Spider. Both watched the battle unfold with calm interest. Zegion was completely unmoving, focusing entirely on the battle. While Silk fidgeted by creating threads between her limbs, focusing as best as she could on the battle.
It wasn't until Zegion sensed Rimuru's arrival that the air shifted. In an instant, his gaze moved toward Rimuru, and without a word, the entire arena seemed to pause. Kumara and Apito stopped their sparring, their attention drawn to the figure they respected above all.
In an instant, the entire atmosphere changed as all of them excitedly ran up to Rimuru. Zegion had been the first one there, and he had been promptly scooped up by Rimuru, who gave his hard shell a few pats. Zegion's legs kicked out for a few moments as he was picked up, but he didn't struggle out of Rimuru's hold.
A few moments later, the rest of the group arrived, with the small monkey and rabbit that had been sparring with Apito vanishing into Kumara's tails as if they were never there.
"Could you show the kids around?" Rimuru asked after the brief introductions were exchanged. "I'll go find Veldora with Zegion."
Kumara nodded, letting out a soft bark before leading the way, Apito buzzing alongside her. They led the kids away, and Silk followed quietly behind them. Once the others were out of sight, Rimuru turned his attention back to Zegion and gently placed him down.
"I can tell you've been busy," Rimuru praised again with a smile. "Soon enough, you and Apito are going to evolve."
'It's all thanks to your help, Master.' Zegion replied through thought communication, his tone steady and formal as always. 'I can feel you helping us and guiding our evolution. Every time I struggle, I can sense your presence leading me forward.'
Though Zegion's voice remained cool and calm, Rimuru could feel the deep gratitude underlying his words. Even in his usually stoic nature, there was a hint of warmth that hadn't been there before. Rimuru couldn't help but suspect that Raphael had been quietly assisting Zegion and Apito behind the scenes, subtly nudging them in the right direction whenever they needed it.
If Rimuru were honest with himself, Zegion had become his favorite. The large, quiet beetle had a unique charm. He was always the first to greet Rimuru, allowing himself to be picked up and carried without a single struggle. It was a small thing, but it had grown into a fond habit.
"Just Rimuru is fine." He chuckled, waving off the formal tone. "There's no need to be so formal with me. Take it as one of your privileges."
Zegion paused for a moment, processing the offer. But Rimuru could feel his reluctance to accept it. As they made their way to Shuna and Veldora, Rimuru spoke up again.
"Speaking of privileges." Rimuru continued. "I wouldn't mind teaching you a few things. I've been pretty busy lately, but now that things are calming down, I can finally spend some time here in the labyrinth to train with all of you. Is there anything you'd like to learn from me?"
Zegion remained silent for a few moments, clearly deep in thought, his beetle-like gaze distant as he considered Rimuru's offer. The quiet moment stretched long enough for Rimuru to chuckle once again.
"Don't overthink it. I'll swing by and teach all of you whenever I have a chance. So whatever you pick won't be the only thing I teach you." Rimuru reassured, causing Zegion to finally speak up.
'I will leave the choice to you. I trust you will choose whatever fits me best. Whatever you want to teach me is what I want to learn.' Zegion answered.
"Hmmm…" Rimuru mused as he got lost in thought. There were many skills that would help everyone, so it would be better to save them for a collective lesson. That was until he saw Shuna in the distance. She was explaining something to Veldora, waving her hands around and pointing at different buildings.
Veldora was nodding along, following as best as he could, with a Dryad behind him, taking notes.
"How about Illusions?" Rimuru suggested.
The primary magic specialty of Ogres before joining Tempest had been Illusion, and it had served them well, especially during the battle against Jistav. Rimuru could only imagine the vast possibilities if Zegion were to master it, taking the magic to its ultimate limits.
Rimuru had experimented with Illusion Magic in the past, but it hadn't quite meshed with his own combat style. It was a fascinating and versatile tool, but with the overwhelming power of his newer Ultimate Skills like Uriel's Space Domination, Illusion Magic no longer felt necessary for him. Still, it was undeniably powerful in the right hands, and Zegion's potential seemed a perfect fit.
'Illusion?' Zegion asked with some curiosity breaking through his usual neutral tone.
"It lets you do things like this," Rimuru replied. With Raphael's assistance, he created an illusion, enveloping both of them in a completely different world.
In an instant, the cold, rough stone of the labyrinth floor transformed into a lush, green field. Crimson poppies stretched endlessly across the horizon, their vibrant petals swaying gently in the breeze. With a snap of his fingers, Rimuru made every single poppy's petals blossom into delicate butterflies, which fluttered around, filling the air with vivid color.
As Rimuru glanced at Zegion, he could see the small beetle's eyes sparkling with awe. Zegion wasn't one to show much emotion, but Rimuru could tell he was captivated by the scene before him.
As the butterflies began to dissipate, so too did the illusion, and the familiar stone floor of the Labyrinth reappeared beneath them. By now, Shuna and Veldora had noticed Rimuru, and they were making their way over.
"Yo! Bro!" Veldora called out, flashing his usual wide grin. "Come to check out my sect? I see you've also noticed the potential of my Core Disciple, Zegion."
Rimuru chuckled at Veldora's dramatic declaration while Shuna shook her head in amusement as she stepped closer to Rimuru. She greeted him with a brief, affectionate kiss before kneeling down next to Zegion, smiling softly at the Beetle.
"Oh? Interested in Illusion Magic?" Shuna asked, her warm smile radiating kindness. "I could teach you as well if you'd like." She glanced up at Rimuru with a playful glint in her eyes. "It just so happens that I'm something of an expert, after all."
Rimuru couldn't hold the smile back as Shuna mentioned the exact words he had used during their first meeting.
"Hey, don't be taking my student. I just got him." Rimuru joked.
"Your student?" Veldora asked, putting on a frown though a smile still crept onto his face. "I guess as an Elder of the Tempest Sect, he would also be considered your student. But just remember that I am the Sect Leader."
"Aye." Rimuru answered with a roll of his eyes. "I finally brought over the kids from Englassia, so they are looking around. Wanna come over and introduce yourself?"
Veldora stroked an imaginary beard before nodding.
"Hmmm… more potential disciples… I'll have to check out their.. umm… potential?" Veldora muttered before dropping the Sect Leader act. "Well, whatever, I'll figure it out eventually. Lead the way."
— — —
Sitting on top of one of the buildings, Rimuru watched as the kids continued their intense sparring with Veldora, who was laughing wildly, clearly enjoying himself. Shuna sat next to Rimuru, her head resting gently on his shoulder as they observed the scene together.
By now, enough time had passed for Gale, Ryota, and Alice to tap out of the fight, leaving only Chloe and Kenya still standing. The two of them were relentless, getting knocked down over and over again by Veldora's strikes, only to pick themselves back up, determined to continue. Each time they hit the ground, they were right back on their feet, their resolve unshaken, despite the playful but powerful force Veldora was using against them.
Veldora, for his part, was being careful, ensuring none of his strikes seriously harmed the children. But even he had to admit their strength and tenacity were impressive.
"They're actually pretty strong." Shuna remarked, her gaze focused on the ongoing battle. Her eyes lingered on Chloe momentarily, noticing the young girl's form. "That one girl is quite good with the sword, especially considering her age. Benimaru would just recklessly attack when he was that young. Hakuro had to smack him around for a couple of months to get the bad habits out of him." She finished with a chuckle, thinking back to the past.
"Chloe?" Rimuru smiled softly. "Yeah, she learns quickly. I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes a Hero in the future." Then, he turned over to Kenya, who was still charging at Veldora with his flaming sword before getting flung by a grapple.
"Same with him." Rimuru continued. "He has a Light Elemental, and he just doesn't know when to quit. That drive will take him far in the future."
"Chloe, huh?" Shuna asked. "She's the one with the Time Spirit, isn't she?"
"Yes." Rimuru answered with a sigh. "But they're gone, or at least as far as I can detect. I don't know if she sacrificed herself just to send the message, but other than the strengthened soul Chloe got, she's not there."
"Well…" Shuna began, her voice softening as she searched for the right words. "It's possible that the Time Spirit's purpose was fulfilled in guiding Chloe, and maybe that was all she needed to do. But even if she's no longer with her, that connection has clearly left a deep mark. Chloe is… exceptional. That kind of strength and determination doesn't just come from nowhere."
"In any case… if I ever see that Time Spirit again, I'll have to thank them, wherever or whenever they are." Rimuru muttered before turning to look at Shuna with a smile. "You know, you're pretty smart."
"I try to be." Shuna answered with a chuckle before looking down at the battlefield. "Do you think we should stop them? It's getting late."
"You're right. If I take any longer, they are gonna sleep through my emotional speech." Rimuru joked before standing up and jumping down to the battlefield.
"Time's up!" he shouted, immediately halting Chloe and Kenya in their tracks. Both of them froze mid-action, clearly exhausted but somehow still full of energy. "Since you two are still standing, that means it's a tie. Congratulations, you've managed to tie with a True Dragon. I doubt many people can claim that they've done that."
Veldora, who had been gearing up to protest, opened his mouth but quickly shut it again when Rimuru shot him a sharp side-eye.
"Does that mean we get a prize?" Kenya asked with a wide grin.
"Eh, sure, why not? All of you get prizes," Rimuru replied with a smirk, before pointing over at Veldora. "But first, thank Veldora for training with you. We've got one last stop before you can go unpack your stuff."
After a quick round of thank-yous and goodbyes, Veldora grumbled slightly, but it was clear he was pleased by the gratitude. Rimuru then led the group toward Yggdrasil, who opened its bark to reveal the platform once again.
Once they stepped in and the branches behind them closed, they opened back up to reveal the star-filled night sky of Tempest.
Stepping out, Rimuru pointed to a massive building still under construction, its structure looming against the horizon. It was so big that Rimuru had decided to relocate it a bit further from Tempest. Eventually this would be equivalent to the largest colleges and schools back in his old world.
"This." Rimuru began. "Will be your school once it's finished. I wanted to build something better than the school in Englassia, and something that could fit as many students as possible. So we ended up with this. Once it's completed, you'll be able to learn anything you want. Or at least, you'll be pointed in the right direction. There will even be dorms for people to stay in since, well, Tempest is pretty big now."
They all looked around in amazement, with Gale being the first to look back to notice Tempest in the distance.
"Are we… staying here instead of Tempest?" he asked, his tone hesitant. "It's kinda far to make the trip every day."
His words caused the others to pause and glance back at the distance, the realization dawning on them.
"Oh…" Alice muttered, a bit disappointed.
"No, no," Rimuru quickly reassured them with a smile. "The building you'll be staying at is in Tempest. Once this school is fully completed, Ramiris is going to set up an entrance to the Labyrinth inside it. So you'll just need to pass through the Labyrinth to get here. It should only take a few minutes. But if you'd prefer, you can also ride a Tempest Wolf or a Hippogriff over."
"Wait, so does that mean that we don't have school until this is completed?" Kenya asked with excitement.
"No, there are some smaller schools in Tempest already. You'll study there until this one is ready." Rimuru explained. "But you guys have been studying pretty hard, so you can have a few weeks of vacation to get settled before starting."
His words sparked another round of excitement in them, and as they began to mutter and excitedly talk with each other, Rimuru cleared his throat to get their attention one last time.
"Alright, alright. I know everything I showed you today might seem like a lot. We practically went through every major department of Tempest, and then we spent a few hours in the Labyrinth. But does anyone know why I gave you the full tour?"
"To show off?" Kenya asked with a grin, earning a smack on the back of the head from Alice.
"Shh. Don't be stupid. Rimuru-sensei obviously has a good reason… It was for uh… Because he wanted us to get familiar with the people… and stuff…" Alice muttered, trailing off when she realized she wasn't sure either.
"Because this is our home now." Chloe said quietly with a warm smile.
Rimuru smiled, nodding at Chloe's words.
"Chloe's right. This is our home now. But the reason goes a bit deeper. I wanted to show you all the possibilities that Tempest has to offer."
"Huh?" Ryota asked.
"You all were summoned to this world with the expectation that you would become soldiers, fighters for those who summoned you. If it weren't for the issues caused by your age, that's exactly what would've happened. Even after you got cured at the school in Englassia, the expectation was that you'd either become adventurers or join Englassia's army."
The kids' enthusiasm lowered as they heard him since they knew that was the truth. Shizue had put her foot down and stopped it from happening, but they had heard that a knight had shown up one day to try to recruit them.
"But here, we don't need you to be soldiers or adventurers. We already have plenty of fighters. What I want is for each of you to choose whatever path you want. An artist, a musician, a chef, a blacksmith, a scientist, a teacher, anything you can think of. All you have to do is ask."
His words seemed to stop time for a moment, a few of the kids clearly trying to hold back their emotions.
"Of course, you'll still need to learn the basics, like science and math." Rimuru added with a small chuckle. "But no one here is going to force you into choosing a specific path. Tempest is full of experts in all kinds of fields, and they'll be here to guide you. You'll have the best teachers by your side, and if you ever want to try something new, just ask."
He paused, his voice softening as he looked at each of them.
"I know being brought into this world by force is stressful, and some of you might even resent it. But like Chloe said, this is our home now. And you're free to build whatever future you want here."
Those words finally broke the dam, causing Alice to burst into tears before running over to hug Rimuru. Chloe was the next to follow, tackling Rimuru into a hug, which was then quickly followed by Ryota, Gale, and finally Kenya.
— — —
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?"
Support me and get five chaps ahead at p@treon.com/BonVoyageFF
https://discord.gg/WTgN9J3YgK
~Author's Note~
For anyone wondering about Veldora, he isn't gonna be all Cultivation mode all the time. It's basically his hobby. Veldora is still Veldora... well... Veldora with a touch of the 'tism. But that's just regular Veldora.