Chapter 28 - The Empire
"Are you sure Souei"
"Yes, Rimuru-Sama"
"Ok. Thank you for your hard work. You can go"
It certainly is a problem. Eastern Empire is not a small nation, and if what Souei reported is correct then... I have to be careful of the Eastern Empire.
I'm glad I asked Souei to investigate the merchant that gave false information about me not only to Hinata but also to the Falmuth Kingdom. And according to Souei's report, the one who is controlling the scene from the dark is someone from the Eastern Empire.
If I remember correctly Clayman is also frequently in contact with the merchant of the Eastern Empire.
Not only that according to Yuuki there are many otherworlder living in the eastern empire.
To be more specific I'm pretty interested in the Mia girl who has quite a rare Unique Skill. Ahem, I'm not interested in her Unique Skill... But even Ciel praised her Skill so I'm just curious about her Skill.
Seems like I have to investigate the Eastern Empire. They not only manipulate Clayman but also Hinata. They are not as simple as they seemed to be.
But I have a problem. Reyhiem, the priest of the Holy Church who was supposed to send my message to Hinata didn't return. I think he is dead, it doesn't matter either way. I hope Hinata received the message of my challenge.
As for Falmuth, I think Diablo can handle the Falmuth.
"Rimuru-Sama someone killed the Reyhiem and blamed me for it"
Just as I thought, so he is dead. For God sake let me rest for a bit.
"Diablo you can do anything as long as it doesn't endanger our reputation and our original goal"
"Thank you, my lord"
Ok. Let's ignore other matters for now and focus on the Eastern empire. Ciel-San can you make a clone. A simple clone without any skill should be sufficient.
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I'm sure he can handle the Tempest until I return. I leave the Tempest into your hand for a while.
With that said I stretched out my wings as I take off to the sky and leave the Tempest.
Woah! I didn't fly at full speed before but my speed is no joke.
I think I will reach the Eastern Empire in no time.
...
So Ciel-San are you sure we are on the right track... I mean we are just walking for the last half an hour. And besides isn't she really strong. I'm sure she will be living her life in luxury, not in some random inn. I mean she is one of the strongest members of the Yuuki elite team.
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Ciel-San are you sure he didn't notice that you prey into his memories. I mean he is not strong but he is not so weak either.
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That's great. I believe in you, Ciel. If you are wondering what I'm talking about. Well, when I first meet Yuuki we talk about the other otherworlder that is living in this world, and while talking he is trying to hide something from me and Ciel-San invaded his mind.
And after seeing his memory she got interested in a girl named Mai Furuki to be more specific she is interested in her Unique Skill but I'm pretty sure she will never admit it.
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So you are saying maybe Yuuki is manipulating her. And we can use her to spy on the Yuuki movements.
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Of course, am I. But I think I'm catching too much attention because of my hair... Ciel-San covers my clothes with a cloak making sure to completely hide my hair.
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Eh..? What!! Make a cloak to be safe. It is Ok! To be safe than sorry.
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But why all the people are looking at me... Wait!! They are not looking at me they are looking behind me.
I turn around and... Sure she is the reason why all the people look this way.
A beautiful black hair girl, with mysterious black eyes with an appearance similar to a Japanese doll. She looked 15-16 years old but she has an atmosphere similar to Shuna. A perfect wife material for any Human being.
Wait! Isn't she a little stronger for a human? I mean she looked stronger than an A-rank adventurer.
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Really! That's great I didn't have to waste my time to find her. Let's meet her, with that said I move towards her as fast as I can.
"Hello miss, can you please give me some time of yours. I have some matters to discuss with you"
"And why do you think I will talk to a shady-looking person like you"
Eh? Huh! Oh, I'm wearing a cloak so I guess she is not wrong. But I have to convince her somehow.
"You are an otherworlder aren't you? I'm also an otherworlder and I have an interesting offer for you"
"Offer you say. Let's go inside the inn first"
I just nodded my head as we both entered the inn and ordered some food and beer.
Just as I thought she didn't believe in me. What should I do now?
"Miss, I'm not joking here. I don't know why are you cooperating with him but let me tell you... he is a scammer"
"..."
What with that look. She is planning to escape I can tell she is trying to escape...
She teleported away. Ciel-San let's follow her.
< Report. No crack in space was detected.
Notice. All the trials of teleportation have been cut off...
Using «Universal preception» ... Target found>>
"..."
I didn't have any words for comment. To be able to escape Ciel-San's analysis... But let's catch her first.
"Hello miss, we meet again"
"What!! How did you find me"
"You just teleported some miles away. It is not hard to follow you, to be honest..."
"…"
She teleported away again... I'm sure I will give her a long lecture if I saw her escaping next time. Ciel-San.
<<...Sigh>>
Hey, Ciel-San did you just... No, never mind. Just teleport me there.
"Miss why are you running. I didn't have any intention—"
What the hell. She appeared in front of me like a ghost. She didn't even use a skill like «Spatial Travel» so this is her Unique Skill. Not bad... But she is too slow.
Maybe she can appear in front of me out of nowhere but her attacking speed is not that good. She at least needs a second to hit me but I can hit her in less than a millionth part of a second.
"Miss... You are too slow to hit me"
I taunt her for fun. Let's disable her skill first Ciel-San use «Anti Skill»
"But I can always escape"
I'm a step ahead of you this time you little girl.
"No, you can't"
"Wha-what happened. Why my skill is not working"
"I used my skill «Anti Skill» to block your Skill... Are you willing to listen to me now"
"Do I have a choice?"
"No, not really"
With that said I told her about Yuuki. At first, she didn't believe in me but the further I told her the more she started to believe in me and she decided to cooperate with me. And I'm sure I didn't have to tell you that Ciel-San copied her Skill.
"Ok then I will meet you later"
With that said I teleported further away from her but I didn't return to Tempest. I decided to stroll around a little. But as I'm wondering I noticed a woman is following me.
And she is not a normal woman by any means. Well, I think this is it for me I have to return now...
...If she let me go that's it.
Clone Rimuru Pov
"So she leaves the runes and is coming towards Tempest"
"Yes. Rimuru-Sama"
Hmm. So she decided to battle against me. I need an opportunity to improve my swordsmanship and this is the perfect chance. She is more powerful than Shizu-San after all.
She will reach the Tempest in three days. I will handle her then.
"Benimaru, Shion, Souei, and Hakurou get ready for a battle three days later"
"Hai!! Rimuru-Sama"
Hehe. I'm waiting for you Hinata. I will show you what happened when you try to mess with me. But...
Sigh. She is a student of Shizu-San. If I hit her hard Shizu-San will definitely scold me later.
"Rimuru-Sama. You looked very cute while pouting"
"Huh! Am I pouting"
Shuna's comment catches me off guard as I notice that I'm pouting... I'm too embarrassed now to say anything.
So it's finally time. I'm waiting for you for the last three days, I hope you didn't disappoint me Hinata.
"So you decide to battle me Huh! Well, let's start then...
Benimaru, Shuna, Souei, and Hakurou make sure nobody disturbs us"
With that said let's focus on the battle.