To The Spirits

The students started introducing themselves one by one to Rimuru. They stood in a line, clearly eager to show off their abilities to their new teacher.

Kenya stepped forward first, puffing out his chest confidently. "I'm Kenya! I'm good at fire magic. Watch this!" He extended his hand, and a small burst of flames appeared, dancing in his palm. He smirked, clearly proud of himself. "Pretty cool, right?"

Rimuru chuckled, patting Kenya on the head. "That's impressive, Kenya. You've got great control for your age. Keep practicing, and you'll be a real powerhouse in no time."

Next, Chloe stepped up shyly, her hands clasped behind her back. "I'm Chloe. I… I use water magic." She hesitated, then summoned a sphere of water in the air. It hovered gently, shimmering with a calming glow. "It's not as flashy as fire, but…"

Rimuru smiled warmly. "That's amazing, Chloe. Water magic requires a lot of focus and precision. You're doing great." Chloe blushed and stepped back into the line.

Gale came forward next, his expression stoic. "I'm Gale. I can use fire aura bullets." He raised his hand, and a fiery projectile materialized before him. With a flick of his wrist, it shot into the air and dissipated.

"Nice! Your aim is spot on," Rimuru said, nodding in approval. "That'll come in handy in combat."

Ryota flexed his arms as he stepped forward. "I'm Ryota! I don't need flashy magic. I use body enhancement skills to get stronger and faster!" To demonstrate, he punched the air, the sound of his strike echoing through the room.

Rimuru whistled appreciatively. "That's some raw power you've got there. You're going to be a force to reckon with."

Finally, Alice skipped forward, holding a small stuffed bunny in her arms. "I'm Alice, and I can control toys! Watch this." She placed the bunny on the ground, and it came to life, hopping around before somersaulting back into her arms.

Rimuru laughed, clearly entertained. "That's a unique skill, Alice. I bet you'll come up with some clever ways to use it in battle."

The introductions finished, Rimuru clapped his hands together. "You're all amazing in your own way. With some training, you'll become even stronger. Let's work hard together, alright?"

The kids cheered in unison, their excitement infectious.

Over the next month, Rimuru poured his efforts into teaching and training the children. He tailored their lessons to their unique abilities, ensuring they could develop their skills without putting too much strain on their unstable magicules.

Kenya's fire magic became more focused and powerful, while Chloe learned to shape and manipulate her water magic with greater precision. Gale worked on combining speed and accuracy with his aura bullets, and Ryota pushed the limits of his physical strength through intense training. Alice, meanwhile, experimented with controlling multiple toys at once, her creativity blossoming.

Rimuru didn't just train them physically; he also bonded with them on a personal level. He told them stories of his adventures (carefully omitting Shizu's death) and listened to their own dreams and worries. They grew to trust him deeply, looking up to him not just as a teacher, but as a protector and friend.

One evening, after the children had gone to bed, Raphael spoke to Rimuru. "Master, after thorough analysis, I have determined that the children's unstable magicules can be fully stabilized by forming contracts with spirits."

Rimuru frowned, leaning against a tree outside the guild. "Spirits, huh? That makes sense. They'd be the perfect solution for balancing the kids' energy. Do you think we can find suitable ones?"

"Yes, Master. The Labyrinth of Dwelling Spirits is the most appropriate location for this task."

Rimuru nodded thoughtfully. "Alright. That'll be our next destination. If we're lucky, we might even find a strong fire spirit for Shizu while we're there."

After a few days, Rimuru gathered the children and explained the plan. "We're going on a field trip to a place called the Labyrinth of Dwelling Spirits. It's where you'll meet and form contracts with spirits to stabilize your magicules. This is an important step in your training, so be ready."

"Spirits? Like magic fairies?" Alice asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Sort of," Rimuru said with a chuckle. "They're powerful beings made of pure energy, and they'll help you control your powers better."

Kenya grinned. "I can't wait! Let's do this!"

Before departing, Rimuru visited Yuuki to inform him of their plans. As he entered the office, he noticed Kigali, the elf receptionist, standing next to Yuuki. She seemed to be in the middle of a report but fell silent when Rimuru entered.

"Yo, Yuuki," Rimuru greeted casually. "I'm taking the kids on a little trip out of town so that they can discover new things."

Just thought I'd let you know."

Yuuki leaned back in his chair, feigning nonchalance. "Sounds fun. That'll definitely be good for them."

Rimuru nodded. "I'll keep them safe.

Yuuki waved it off. "If anyone can handle it, it's Rimuru. Just be careful, alright?"

Rimuru nodded. "Of course. Oh, and if you like that manga, I'll make you a few more copies when I get back."

Yuuki's grin widened. "Now that's an offer I can't refuse. Thanks, Rimuru."

As Rimuru turned to leave, he mentally commanded the fragment of himself he had planted earlier to stay alert for anything unusual in Yuuki's behavior.

The journey to the Labyrinth of Dwelling Spirits was lively. The kids were brimming with energy, peppering Rimuru with questions about the labyrinth.

"Sensei, what's it like?" Kenya asked, his eyes shining with excitement.

"It's a maze-like structure filled with all kinds of spirits," Rimuru explained. "It's ruled by someone very interesting, but you'll see for yourselves when we get there."

Alice tugged at Rimuru's sleeve. "Are spirits nice? Or are they scary?"

"Depends on the spirit," Rimuru said with a wink. "But don't worry, I'll be there to make sure nothing bad happens."

Chloe, who had been quiet for most of the journey, suddenly spoke up. "Why do spirits help us? What do they get out of it?"

Rimuru smiled at her thoughtful question. "Good question, Chloe. Spirits are beings of pure energy, and they like forming bonds with people. By helping you, they get to share your experiences and grow stronger themselves."

"Kind of like friends, huh?" Ryota said, grinning.

"Exactly," Rimuru replied.

When they reached the entrance to the labyrinth, the kids stared in awe at the massive stone doors covered in intricate carvings.

"This place is huge!" Kenya exclaimed, craning his neck to take it all in.

As they stepped closer, a voice boomed from the doors. "Only those who can pass the trial may enter! Defeat the guardian and prove your worth!"

Before the kids could react, a massive golem emerged from the entrance, its eyes glowing menacingly.

"Whoa! Is that the trial?!" Ryota shouted.

Rimuru stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Relax, I'll handle this."

In a single swift motion, Rimuru launched a concentrated blast of magicules at the golem. The construct shattered instantly, its remains crumbling to the ground.

The kids gawked at Rimuru in amazement. "That was awesome!" Kenya cheered.

Before they could celebrate further, a tiny fairy with wings flapped into view, yelling at the top of her lungs.

"Hey! Who told you to destroy my golem?!" Ramiris shouted, glaring at Rimuru.

Rimuru smirked. "You asked for it. Don't blame me for being efficient."

Ramiris puffed her cheeks in frustration. "Do you have any idea how long it took to make that thing?!"

Rimuru reached into his bag and pulled out a packet of cookies, tossing it to her. "Here. Consider this compensation."

Ramiris caught the packet and immediately calmed down after taking a bite. "Mmm… Okay, fine. But you owe me big time!"

Inside the labyrinth, Ramiris explained how to summon spirits. The kids took turns approaching the altar, their anticipation palpable.

"Stand before the altar, focus, and call out to the spirits. If they like you, they'll appear and form a contract."

One by one, the kids approached the altar.

Kenya summoned a fiery spirit that danced around him, merging with his magic.

Ryota bonded with a spirit that enhanced his body, making him even stronger.

Alice's spirit manifested as a playful energy that boosted her puppetry skills.

Gale's spirit took the form of a glowing aura, enhancing his fire bullets.

Finally, it was Chloe's turn. The air grew heavy as she approached the altar, and an enormous pressure filled the room. A beautiful woman-like spirit emerged, her radiant energy captivating everyone.

Before anyone could react, the spirit flew to Rimuru, kissed him, and then fused with Chloe.

"What just happened?!" Rimuru exclaimed, stunned.

Ramiris scratched her head. "That… might've been a being from the future. How is this possible, this may be dangerous!!"

Rimuru quickly checked on Chloe, Raphael ran some test on her and told Rimuru that she was fine.

Rimuru sighed, deciding to let it go for now.

Finally, Rimuru stepped up to the altar. "I'm calling for a strong fire spirit to help me save a friend's life. Please show yourself."

The room shook as another immense pressure filled the air. A powerful fire spirit appeared, studying Rimuru for a moment before entering his body.

Ramiris gawked. "That… was one of the strongest fire spirits I've ever seen!"

Rimuru tossed her another bag of cookies. "Don't overthink it."

Before leaving, Rimuru told Ramiris, "You're welcome to visit Tempest anytime. There'll be more cookies waiting for you."

"Deal!" Ramiris said, waving as they departed.

As they left the labyrinth, Rimuru turned to the kids. "How about a visit to my country before we head back to Englesia?"

The kids cheered in unison, eager for their next adventure.