12: Friendship
Rimuru's POV:
After their departure, we remained in silence for a few minutes.
"You fell for her, huh?" I remarked.
"Yes, I initially thought it was akin to the love I had for siblings, but over time, I realized it grew into something deeper," Veldanava confessed.
"Well, good luck in your pursuit of her affection. I doubt she'll reject you, so it should be straightforward," I offered.
"Let's hope so. By the way, how is the underworld? The absence of three primordials must have disrupted the power balance," Veldanava inquired.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I made all the primordials my subordinates, and only Guy had any territory to govern. Misery and Rain usually hang around my shop or Sophie's place, and occasionally venture into the underworld to recruit subordinates. So, the power balance remains stable," I explained.
"That's reassuring. It could have been troublesome otherwise," Veldanava noted.
"You speak as if you're the one who maintains world equilibrium," I said with a threatening tone.
Veldanava began sweating coldly. "I mean... I was on vacation."
"Whatever. I should be going then. See ya," I said before disappearing into a portal.
=============Time Skip 6 Years=============
Rudra's POV:
We find ourselves in the ice continent, facing my nemesis, Demon Lord Guy Crimson. He's incredibly formidable, to the extent that even with my full power and the boost from being a true hero, we're evenly matched. We've been locked in combat for about seven days now, and I begrudgingly admit that I'm thoroughly enjoying it. After witnessing the harsh realities of this world - where the strong prey on the weak - I've come to understand that it's an undeniable truth ingrained in their nature. Humans suffer the most, with children in slums and innocent people falling victim to corrupt individuals. Despite my efforts to intervene, I've come to realize that everyone is in constant strife until they gain some advantage.
"Hey, daydreaming during a fight isn't nice," Guy interrupted my thoughts.
"Oh, sorry about that. Anyway, let's finish this in the next round," I responded.
"I like the idea. Let's..." Guy started.
"Alright, that's enough for both of you. I believe you've had your fill of fun," Rimuru interrupted as she appeared in her usual attire, the True Dragon form.
Rimuru's POV:
Sighing, I observed the two battle maniacs before me. Despite seven days of combat, they still wore smiles hungry for battle. Well, who am I to judge? A good fight now and then is refreshing. Anyway, since they're paying attention, let's wrap this up.
"Well, never thought I'd see a Demon Lord and a Hero enjoying their battle for world peace," I remarked.
Rudra and Guy averted their gazes.
"Don't worry, I'm not passing judgment. In fact, your camaraderie is rather commendable," I added.
"What do you mean?" Rudra asked.
"Well, to put it simply, if a Demon Lord symbolizes terror, then a Hero embodies hope," I explained.
"Rimuru-sama, are you attempting to unite the world or something?" Guy inquired.
"Your guess isn't far off. You see, in this world, power reigns supreme. Rudra has likely witnessed enough misery resulting from the misuse of power during his criminal hunting," I elaborated.
"What? No! How did you know about my activities targeting criminal organizations?" Rudra exclaimed.
Guy gave Rudra a perplexed look.
"Ah, Rudra, do you even know who Rimuru-sama is?" Guy questioned.
"Well, she's Sensei's sister..." Rudra began.
"And?" Guy prompted.
"She's a True Dragon... Just spit it out already," Rudra admitted.
"Well, since subtlety seems lost on you, I'll introduce myself properly. I am Rimuru Tempest, the 2nd True Dragon, the Void Empress, and the ruler of the underworld, Chaos Creator," I revealed.
Rudra was dumbfounded.
"She's the one demons revere, our queen. She controls the reincarnation cycle and creates Demon Lords and True Heroes," Guy explained.
"Whaaat? So, the ruler of the underworld was the one who cooked for us for two years?" Rudra was astonished.
"Just so you know, I run a restaurant in the underworld and lead a lifestyle akin to humans," I clarified.
"Okay, okay. But why were we summoned if you're the one creating Demon Lords?" Rudra inquired.
I stared at him for a moment before sighing and recounting the tale.
"So, in short, you want us to maintain world balance?" Rudra summarized.
I nodded. "You don't have to do anything drastic. Perhaps you could utilize this opportunity to hunt down criminals, and Guy can assist in their eradication."
"I have no objections, Rimuru-sama," Guy confirmed.
"Yeah, it's better than idling," Rudra agreed.
"Oh, before I forget, let me present you both with the first Genesis-class weapons I've crafted as a token of appreciation for accepting this responsibility," I said, summoning two swords.
I handed them the swords, explaining, "This is the Holy Sword Excalibur, and the other is Gram. These swords are designed to withstand your full power and will grow in strength alongside you. They will only respond to your touch, enhancing your abilities. With these, you can spar at any time, while Valgrend and Velzard maintain a protective barrier."
"Speaking of Velgrend, where is she, and my sister?" Rudra asked.
"Hmm, Velzard seems to have departed," Guy remarked.
"Oh, they grew weary of watching your battle, so I granted them a respite. Velgrend and Valzard should be at the castle, and Lucia went on a date with my brother," I informed them.
The two exchanged glances and shrugged.
"Well, now that's sorted. I'll take my leave. Rudra, you can establish a kingdom in the Eastern region where Velgrynd used to reside. And I suggest you both stop being dense, or you might face the wrath of my impatient sisters," I warned before disappearing into a portal.
Rudra turned to Guy, puzzled. "Do you understand what she meant? I can't imagine Velgrend hurting me."
"I have a feeling we'll find out soon. Whenever I look into Velzard's eyes, I sense something ominous," Guy responded.
With that, the two clueless individuals headed to the ice castle, unknowingly awaiting the impending wrath of the yandere sisters. As time passed, Rudra established a small nation in the Eastern region and occasionally visited the ice continent for sparring matches. Gradually, the two grew closer to the point where they are considered family much to the annoyance of the dragons. Ten years passed, and the dragons had had enough, seeking guidance from their elder brother.
"Big brother, do you have any solutions?" Velzard asked.
Veldanava was sweating profusely. Why, you ask? Well, because he had no answers, and 'no' wasn't an option here.
Veldanava thought to himself, 'Come on, Veldanava, think. You have to devise a plan to calm these two down.'
And at that very moment, salvation arrived.
"You're all hopeless, aren't you?" came a voice.
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