The Children
After their intense battle, Rimuru, Veldora, and Diablo made their way back to Tempest. The entire village had gathered, as the shockwaves from their fight had reached far beyond the cave. Some were worried, others curious, but as the trio approached, a wave of relief swept through the crowd.
The three of them climbed onto an elevated platform in the center of the village to address everyone. Rimuru stood at the front, with Diablo standing proud and Veldora, of course, striking yet another dramatic pose, his cape fluttering majestically behind him.
Rimuru raised a hand, silencing the murmurs in the crowd. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce someone very important to me. This is Veldora, the Storm Dragon."
The name caused a ripple of shock. Some villagers gasped, others froze in fear, while the more battle-hardened members exchanged uneasy glances.
"Wait," one Hobgoblin muttered. "Did he say Veldora? The legendary Storm dragon who was sealed in the cave?"
"Yes," Rimuru confirmed with a grin. "But don't worry. Veldora isn't an enemy."
Still, there was hesitation. One of the younger Hobgoblins nervously raised a hand. "Rimuru-sama, if I may ask… what is your relationship with someone as powerful as Veldora?"
Before Rimuru could answer, Veldora stepped forward, flexing his muscles and pointing dramatically at the sky. "Rimuru is my sworn brother! Together, we are an unstoppable force of nature! Tremble in awe at our might!"
The villagers blinked in surprise, then clapped and cheered. The fear was replaced with admiration, and murmurs of "As expected of Rimuru-sama!" and "He's incredible!" echoed through the crowd.
"Alright, alright," Rimuru said, raising his hands to calm everyone. "Now that that's settled, let's celebrate!"
That evening, the village was alive with laughter, music, and the delicious smell of food. Shuna had prepared a feast, complete with desserts that even Veldora couldn't stop devouring. The kids ran around playing, occasionally daring to approach the towering dragon-turned-human, who regaled them with tales of his past battles.
"And then," Veldora said, striking yet another pose, "with a single swipe of my mighty claws, I reduced the entire mountain to rubble! Hahaha!"
The children gasped in awe, though Rimuru chuckled, knowing the stories were probably exaggerated.
Meanwhile, the adults were equally entertained. "To think Rimuru-sama befriended the Storm Dragon himself," one said, raising a mug of ale. "We're lucky to have a leader like him."
Rimuru sat among his closest allies, occasionally joining in the conversations but mostly observing. He couldn't help but smile. Moments like this made all the challenges worth it.
[[ Flashback ]]
<
Rimuru grinned at the news. "Good to know, Raphael. If that's the case, I'll have to push myself even harder. Veldora might be annoying, but he's a great training partner."
[[ Flashback End ]]
Rimuru's Journey to Englesia
A couple of weeks later, Rimuru announced his next mission: saving Shizu's students. He gathered his generals and Veldora to inform them.
"I'll be gone for a while," Rimuru explained. "I need you all to stay alert and protect Tempest while I'm away."
Veldora puffed out his chest. "Hahaha! With me here, you have nothing to worry about, brother! I'll make sure no one dares to harm Tempest!"
Rimuru rolled his eyes. "Just don't destroy anything, okay?"
With that, he set off with Ranga.
The Country of Englesia
Englesia was a sprawling, bustling kingdom known as the center of trade and commerce. The streets were paved with smooth stone, and shops lined both sides, their signs advertising everything from exotic spices to enchanted weapons. The people were diverse, with humans, elves, dwarves mingling together.
Rimuru took his time exploring, marveling at the organized chaos. Vendors called out to potential customers, children ran through the streets laughing, and adventurers with impressive gear strode confidently toward the Free Guild.
"This place is lively," Rimuru mused, patting Ranga's head as they walked. "Makes me wonder how Tempest will grow in the future."
The Free Guild Headquarters
The Free Guild building was massive, with towering pillars and a grand entrance that seemed designed to intimidate. Inside, it was even more impressive—a sprawling lobby filled with adventurers of all shapes and sizes. The walls were adorned with quest boards, maps, and banners, while the air buzzed with conversation.
As Rimuru walked in, heads turned. His beauty was captivating, and more than a few adventurers mistook him for a noblewoman.
"Who's that?" one whispered.
"Must be a big shot," another replied.
"She is beautiful, " another exclaimed.
Rimuru approached the front desk, where a short-haired elf with a stunning figure greeted him warmly. "Welcome to the Free Guild. How can I assist you today?"
"I'd like to register as an adventurer," Rimuru said with a grin.
The elf blinked in surprise but handed him the necessary forms. "You… don't seem like the type who needs to join the guild."
Rimuru just smiled and filed the forms.
After completing the registration process, Rimuru added, "I'd also like to meet Yuuki Kagurazaka. Tell him, Shizu sent me."
"Please wait here. I'll inform him of your arrival."
Rimuru sat in the lobby, observing the adventurers.
Moments later, the receptionist returned, accompanied by another elf—a woman with striking features and an air of authority.
"I'm Kigali," the new elf said, introducing herself with a slight bow.
"Rimuru Tempest," Rimuru replied.
Raphael's voice suddenly echoed in his mind. <
Rimuru's gaze shifted subtly. "Interesting. Keep monitoring her."
Kigali studied him for a moment before leading him to Yuuki's office.
Yuuki's office was spacious, with a large desk and shelves filled with books and maps. Rimuru sat down, and moments later, Yuuki entered—a young man with a cheerful smile and an almost childlike energy.
"Ah, Rimuru!" Yuuki greeted, shaking his hand enthusiastically. "It's great to meet you. Shizu never mentioned anything about you, but anyone connected to her is welcome here."
Rimuru tilted his head slightly. "Actually, Shizu didn't tell me much about you, either. I came here to fulfill her last request."
Yuuki's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before returning. "Ah, I see. That's… unfortunate.
As they spoke, Raphael's warning echoed again. <
"Good job Raphael, RImuru said".
Rimuru kept his composure. "This guy's hiding something," he thought.
Rimuru then told Yukki that Shizu died and before she passed away she asked Rimuru to help the kids and that is the reason why he came here today.
Yukki acted like he was saddened by the news, but Rimuru knew he was faking it.
Their conversation eventually shifted to lighter topics.
"So," Yuuki said, leaning back in his chair, "I've been curious. Do you remember anything about anime or manga? I'd love to hear about it."
Rimuru chuckled. "Of course I do. I can even recreate some of it for you if you have the materials."
Yuuki's eyes lit up. "Seriously? That'd be amazing! What kind of anime do you remember?"
They spent the next hour discussing various series, with Rimuru occasionally using his skills to create copies of manga from his memories.
"This is incredible!" Yuuki exclaimed, flipping through the pages. "I can't believe you actually recreated this!"
"Glad you like it," Rimuru said, smiling. "Consider it a gift."
As Rimuru sat with Yuuki in his office, chatting about anime, manga, and their respective pasts, he couldn't shake off the nagging sense that something was off. Yuuki's overly friendly demeanor, coupled with Raphael's earlier warning about the attempted mind control, made Rimuru suspicious.
<
Rimuru nodded internally. "I thought as much," he thought. Deciding it was better to play it safe, he discreetly activated a tiny part of his body to separate and conceal itself in Yuuki's office. The fragment was so small it could easily pass as a speck of dust, but it would allow him to observe everything that happened in the room after he left.
"Thanks for the chat, Yuuki," Rimuru said, standing up with a friendly smile. "It's been enlightening."
Yuuki returned the smile, his tone as casual as ever. "Of course! I'm always happy to help someone like you. Oh, and Kigali here will take you to meet the kids."
The elf woman, Kigali, stepped forward and gestured toward the door. "If you'll follow me, Rimuru-sama," she said with an elegant bow.
Rimuru walked out with her, the small fragment of his body securely hidden in the corner of the office. As the door closed behind them, Rimuru maintained his pleasant demeanor but was already preparing for anything suspicious.
Back in Yuuki's office, the fragment of Rimuru's body began to record. As soon as the door shut, Yuuki leaned back in his chair, a sly grin spreading across his face.
"Interesting guy, that Rimuru," he mused aloud, tapping his fingers on the desk. "I didn't expect him to be this sharp. And that aura… definitely not an ordinary slime."
He glanced over at the manga Rimuru had recreated for him, flipping through the pages. "I'll admit, this is some pretty amazing stuff. But he's dangerous. I'll need to keep an eye on him."
Yuuki paused, as though lost in thought, before continuing to speak. "Kigali's already making progress on her end, but this Rimuru… He might complicate things."
The fragment silently recorded every word, transmitting the information back to Rimuru.
Meanwhile, Rimuru followed Kigali through the winding halls of the Free Guild. She moved with a calm confidence, her steps light but purposeful. Raphael's earlier analysis about her having another soul in her body lingered in Rimuru's mind, but he decided not to press the issue just yet.
As they walked, Kigali spoke. "The children you're about to meet are… unique cases. They've been through a lot, and their situation is delicate. Please don't be alarmed by their behavior."
Rimuru nodded. "I understand. I'll do my best to help them."
They finally arrived at a large training room. Kigali opened the door, and Rimuru stepped inside. Five children were scattered around the room, each engaged in different activities. Some were sparring with practice weapons, while others were seated in a corner, quietly reading or talking.
The moment Rimuru entered, the children stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at him. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to suspicion.
"Everyone," Kigali said, addressing the kids. "This is Rimuru-sama. He's here to help you, as per Shizu."
At the mention of Shizu, a ripple of emotion passed through the group. Some of the children's eyes softened, while others looked away, trying to hide their feelings.
"Shizu-sensei…" one of the children, a boy with spiky brown hair, murmured.
Rimuru stepped forward, giving them a gentle smile. "Hello, everyone. I know this might be sudden, but I'm here because Shizu asked me to take care of you. I promise to do everything I can to help."
A girl with fiery red hair crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at Rimuru. "How do we know we can trust you? Just because you said Shizu-sensei sent you doesn't mean anything."
Rimuru chuckled softly. "You're right to be cautious. But if it helps, Shizu left me something to prove my connection to her."
With a wave of his hand, Rimuru summoned Shizu's mask. The children gasped as they recognized the artifact.
"That's…" the fiery-haired girl started, her voice trailing off.
"She gave it to me before she passed," Rimuru said gently. "And she told me to protect you, no matter what."
The room fell silent for a moment. Then, one of the younger children, a boy with glasses, stepped forward. "If Shizu-sensei trusted you, then… I guess we can, too."
The fiery-haired girl hesitated but eventually nodded. "Fine. But if you mess up, we're not going to go easy on you."
Rimuru smiled. "Fair enough. Now, why don't you all tell me a bit about yourselves? I'd like to get to know you."
As the children began introducing themselves, Rimuru couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility toward them. Behind their brave faces, he could see the pain and uncertainty they carried.
"This won't be easy," Rimuru thought, "but I'll do whatever it takes to fulfill Shizu's wish."
Unbeknownst to Yuuki, Rimuru's fragment continued to record, capturing every word and action in the office. As the days went on, Rimuru would keep a close eye on both Yuuki and Kigali, determined to uncover the truth behind their motives while focusing on helping the children overcome their unique challenges.