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996 GBC, Baharuth, Arwintar~
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"Sigh~" A tired breath left Princess Lucia's lips as she read the contents of the parchment below.
"What is the matter, Your Highness?"
"Muna, it seems your favourite otherworlder has gotten in trouble."
The old maid shifted her weight on a single leg hearing those words, her face flashing with worry for a second.
"What happened?"
"You really took a liking to him, huh? Careful or I might get envious, Muna. I heard you two are even exchanging letters on a weekly basis." Said Princess with a chuckle, her eyes shining with amusement as she gazed at the old woman who raised her to what she is today.
"It isn't as deep as you described them to be, my actions are purely out of the consideration of the Empire, to create a favourable connection on the inexperienced young man."
"Muna with such a straight face, I would have believed that if I didn't know how much you disdain such tactics."
The old maid shook her head. "Your Highness I am your closest confidant, my feelings matter not on subjects concerning you."
"Yeah keep deluding yourself."
"Your Highness, can we focus on the present matter?" The old maid said changing the subject.
Princess Lucia wanted to continue further but she stopped herself before sighing once more.
"Yes… This report came from the Adventurer capital, Kal-El has lost control and went on a rampage. Luckily the ruler of Jura-Tempest stopped him before he did unrecoverable damage."
"There's a trial to be held in a month, good thing Rimuru Tempest gave a testimony in Kal-El's favour."
"Then what is worrying you, Your Highness? I see a case closed here." The old maid asked not seeing the problem that caused the Princess to sigh repeatedly. For all she knew the case closed the moment the ruler of Jura-Tempest sided with Kal.
"It's the prowess he showed as a Tier 2 mage and the action of Rimuru Tempest. It worries me as Rimuru Tempest is known for his charisma that could attract and befriend even difficult people like Destroyer Milim Nava and Dwarf King Gazel Dwargo."
"Are you worried about Rimuru Tempest and other forces poaching Kal to their side?"
"Frankly I am. The potential and the recent prowess he displayed attracted too much attention. We don't really have something that strongly bonds him to us."
The old maid shook her head at Princess's words, denying the possibility of Kal going against his words.
"I don't think he will leave us for another force. It's not in his nature but if it still worries you why don't you bind him with something stronger?"
"Ohh! What do you suggest?"
"Blood, Your Highness. Nothing is stronger than blood."
"Hmm? It has merits, let me think this through but first, you leave for Orario and visit Kal-El. It will pressure the authorities to quicken his trial"
"As you order, Your Highness."
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Two weeks later, Orario~
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Kal felt euphoric as the sunlight hit his face for the first in two weeks. He felt his cells coming to life and greedily absorbing the sunlight like a hungry beast.
It was a reinvigorating feeling that he almost forgot in these two weeks.
After the whole fiasco of the Hevean Arena, he was detained in the Adventure Guild's prison cell. Deprived of any sunlight.
Only after a fair trial was he allowed to roam free again, though he was banned from Orario for a year and a lifetime from Heaven Arena. Those greedy bastards needed some reason to stop him from fighting in the arena again. And they jumped at the first chance they got, not caring about the damage to the building one bit.
They made his trial especially hard and only when the court banned him for a lifetime did they settle.
"How are you feeling?"
"Reinvigorated," Kal answered truthfully, turning his head to Bellatrix who was in different attire than her regular maid uniform. She was wearing a pair of trousers and a white tugged shirt that gave her a professional vibe.
"Hmm? That's good to hear but may I ask why you're keeping your eyes closed?"
"My vision has also improved and like my hearing, I can't control them as well. So I feel it is better to close my eyes till I could get some grip on it."
"Is that also the reason you haven't breathed since the start of the trial?" The old maid questioned again, her eyes raising in curiosity.
"Yes, in fact, I haven't breathed since the incident two weeks back ."
Bellatrix's eyes widened at those. "Truly you're jesting."
"I'm afraid not." Kal shrugged.
"That's astounding. Do you not feel discomfort?"
"Well… does the feeling of pure wrongness that comes from not breathing count?" Kal asked.
"I meant body discomfort so no."
"Then no as well, I don't feel any discomfort. My body is working just the same as it was working while breathing." The old maid nodded. Just as she was going to continue someone interrupted her.
"Yo! Kal!" The newcomer made a frown appear on the old maid's face.
"Rimuru!" Kal greeted, clapping his palm with Rimuru's in a perfect dap.
"It seems you got the hang of Mana Perfection skill?" Rimuru asked, noticing Kal's closed eyes.
"Yeah, thanks for teaching me," Kal said with a smile.
"Ma, ma~ it's no big deal." Rimuru humbly waved off Kal's praise making him shake his head.
"If systematically breaking down such a complex skill is nothing much then sure, it is not a big deal~" Kal teased making the slime shyly rub his head.
"Hahaha!" Kal laughed at his reaction which Rimuru also followed after a while. But the third person with them was not sharing their mood.
"Ne Kal, what have you thought about my offer?"
"What offer?" Bellatrix finally spoke, making Rimuru notice her presence.
"Well, Rimuru here offered to help with my super senses."
"Super senses?"
"A term I use for newly awakened senses," Kal explained.
"So you're planning on accepting his offer?"
"Why not? I mean it is a tempting offer and I'm already banned in Orario so I have to leave for somewhere else anyway, not to mention Rimuru's also the reason I'm here, taking with you." Kal nonchalantly replied.
"Great!" Rimuru smiled at Kal's answer while Bellatrix went silent. She couldn't refute Kal as she knew Rimuru could truly help him.
She already knows Rimuru is suppressing Kal's hearing currently by placing small clones in his ears. And can control the number of sounds Kal picks. He can easily help Kal adapt to his new hearing by slowly increasing the number of sounds reaching him.
This gives Rimuru the perfect tool to help Kal with his hearing. Not to mention he already helped Kal by making him learn one of the basic but toughest-to-learn skills in a matter of days.
Magic Perception is a very crucial skill in the higher power circle, it not only lets you see and hear more than you normally can but also helps in battles by letting you anticipate your opponent's move by seeing the movement of their Magicules.
'The ruler of Jura Tempest taught Kal that skill in days. I don't if it's Kal's genius or his teaching I should be giving credit to.' Bellatrix thought as she stared Rimuru in contemplation for a second before she inquired Kal.
"So when are you planning on leaving?"
"Today preferably now once Rei returns after retrieving my armour and sword," Kal casually answered. "Speaking of Rei, what's taking him so long?"
"Don't know where he is, probably lost?" Kal shrugged at those words as Rimuru continued.
"As for leaving? We can do it now, I just have to inform my students of my absence for the next few days"
"Great! I'll go and find Rei while you go inform your students. We'll meet at Orario's gate in three hours."
"Perfect, then see you in three hours," Rimuru agreed before his bat-like wing unfolded and lifted him off the ground with a flap.
"Wait!" Before Rimuru could take off, Bellatrix called making him look at her curiously.
"What?"
"Could this old lady also accompany Kal to your nation, Lord Rimuru?" Bellatrix asked hesitantly, thinking Rimuru would reject her suspecting she had some ulterior motive.
"Sure!" But Rimuru's casual acceptance caught her off guard so much so that she lost her composure and almost asked; Are you seriously going to let me come so close to the ruling circle of your country? Do you have no worry I might steal some crucial information or national secrets?
"He's genuine like that," Kal said noticing Bellatrix frozen in shock even after minutes Rimuru left. "That's the reason strong people flock to him and befriend him so easily."
"Well, I'm going after Rei, see you at the entrance gate." Kal waved a goodbye before jogging towards the Adventure Guild's gate.
And only after he disappeared from Bellatrix's gaze did the old maid snap back.
"Sigh~ I'm getting too old for these young people's modern thinking." She shook her head before heading towards her rented room to contact Princess Lucia about the change of plans.
Three hours later, Kal donning his armour reached the city gates with Rei.
They approached Rimuru standing beside Ranga, talking to a flabbergasted Bellatrix.
"Sorry we got late, this guy here was nowhere to be found." Kal apologised pointing at the teen beside him.
Rimuru waved off his apologies before guiding them outside the city gate where three more wolfs less intimidating than Ranga were standing.
He told them to hop on each while he jumped on Ranga's back.
"Tempest wolves! Let's head home!"
""Aawoo~"" the wolves enthusiastically howled at Rimuru's call and quickly started racing towards the Jura-Tempest Federation.
Kal opened his eyes as the wolves moved, taking one last look at the fading city of Adventurer before he looked back to the path forward.
His eyes glowed in anticipation before he closed them back.
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[AN: If you want to read more, go to my Patr*on/41_Claws for 20 advance chapters…
P.S~ Hundred power stones for an extra chapter tomorrow]
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