Returning from the forest, everything was calm, until that explosion happened.
BANG*
"!!!"
"...Milim?"
Apparently she had met Phobio, but I didn't expect the explosion to be as big as it was, nor that it would be so loud...
I had to hurry, there was a possibility that it wasn't Charybdis who had changed, but his receptacle.
And so I did, I used a teleportation spell that the Reader had taken from my memories and went there, quickly.
And I was right, not the fact that Phobio had changed, but the fact of what had happened.
And another, I really can't help but notice how much Rimuru's appearance has changed, after all his hair is much more purple now than before, of course most of it is still blue, but a good number of the strands in his hair are purple, and not only that, he's much taller than in the original story, instead of looking like a child he looks more like a teenager.
That's strange, I'll have to ask him later if he feels very different from before he absorbed the Orc Disaster...
Anyway, even after that, and also after that meeting Rimuru had with Phobio, nothing seemed that different from the original story.
Not even Karion seemed stronger, or his personality changed. Perhaps the theory that the external force is related to me could be true.
Well, just as I said I would, I asked Rimuru how he felt after absorbing the Orc Disaster.
"Hey Rimuru-sama, I have a question for you." I said as I approached him and Milim.
"Hm? What would be the problem Mika? You don't usually come over to talk to me hahaha" He was right, during this period I didn't have much contact with the main characters because I was too worried about what would happen in the future.
"Well... You're feeling a bit... 'Weird' after consuming the Orc Disaster?"
In response to my question, Rimuru hesitated for a moment, as if he was thinking about it.
"I didn't quite understand the question... But I think I've actually been feeling a bit different after absorbing it." Rimuru told me while holding his chin.
'So there really was something different huh?
"Like what?"
"Wait, wait, first could you explain to me why you're asking me that?"
'Oh, I forgot to come up with a reason to hide the lie...'
<
"... Well, the Orc Disaster was pretty powerful, so I was afraid you wouldn't be able to withstand all the magic."
When I finished speaking I could see that Milim was looking at me strangely, she must have realized it was a lie?
<
'Hm, I guess that could be true... I guess this "External Force" can be useful from time to time, huh?'
My statement was very innocent, but now that innocence will remain great.
Well, returning to Rimuru's case, he really had felt something different when he devoured the Orc Disaster, although he wasn't able to explain to me exactly what he had felt though. But out of curiosity, he had told me: "I had felt my 'Blood' boil I think? Something like I was on fire inside, even though I have a resistance to that kind of thing?" He had said this, followed by a confused chuckle.
I had left after asking him what he wanted.
And according to the Reader, that feeling Rimuru had could be a result of the Pyromaniac, which would make sense I guess, but my nerves tell me there's something more there.
But that's not always the case, I'll leave that part aside, I have to worry about Charybdis now. After all, I can't say exactly whether he'll be stronger, considering that neither Phobio nor the Charybdis Core were empowered.
But for now I should just wait, after all it will be a while before Phobio becomes a receptacle for the Son of Veldora.
-------------------------------------------------
Youm's group had arrived in Tempest, but I don't think they'll be of much importance to the story at the moment. In general, they are the same as in the original story.
Rimuru had asked me and Hakurou to train them, I don't know exactly why he chose me, but that was a few weeks ago, and all I can say is that it was a pleasant experience what they became afterwards, even if I already knew how it would all end.
And following the story, a Dryad will soon arrive to warn Rimuru about the arrival of the Son of Veldora. This is a tense moment for me, I'm relatively anxious about what will happen, after all, if the "Outside Force" decides to interfere again, this could become a problem.
According to the story, the Charybdis is a creature on a par with Demon Lords, and the only thing stopping it from being one is its lack of rationality. But due to the "External Force" I have to expect anything, he may just be stronger, or he may have awakened a unique ability that enabled him to develop rationality.
After all, if Orc Disaster can develop one, why couldn't Charybdis?
Now, if the two possibilities come together, I think I'll have to throw all the work to Milim, after all, if even before he had a power up he didn't even take damage properly from Rimuru and his army, she'll be our only option.
And just as expected, the Dryad had alerted Rimuru, I found out because they had come to the city to discuss the plans regarding this case.
Well, according to what the Dryad had said, nothing seems to have changed at the moment, after all Treyni-san is still managing to hold that beast off. Maybe I'm too worried? Regardless of the answer, it can't hurt to keep my guard up- '!!!!'
'Reader...'
<
'Yes, I noticed them too...' I spoke with a distorted expression. 'But immense? How complicated...'
Apparently there was someone else besides Charybdis, who could it be? One of the "clowns"? That would be a good guess, after all Footman and Tear are involved in this event... However... This second individual appears to be much stronger than them.
'Reader, isolate the energy most similar to Veldora's, and compare the , please.'
<
<
'...' Okay, apparently there's not much different so far, but what would a Demon Lord's energy be? I have no idea. 'What about the second one?'
<
"!!!"
'Five times...' My mind was spinning, what a mess this "Strange Force" was causing.
As I was leaving the city's main building, I was stopped by a familiar person.
"Master? Is everything all right?" Shiro came up behind me after I had left the structure. She looked genuinely concerned, her face, almost covered by her long white hair, staring at me with worried eyes.
"Shiro? Do you need something?" I asked, normally she joins Shuna and the other Kijins to work as a team, which is understandable, after all they are long-time friends. So it's a surprise that she doesn't follow them... Oh, and by the way, Shuna seems to be waiting just behind.
Shiro looked me in the eye and replied, "I just wanted to know if you were okay, you seemed to be very focused on something during the meeting..." His conclusion made sense, after all the idea of a Charybdis with rationality and a Unique Ability was really getting on my nerves. But she doesn't need to know that, I don't want her to worry in vain.
"There's nothing to worry about. I was just thinking about Charybdis' arrival," I said, stroking her head. "And after all, shouldn't you be helping Shuna with the chores? Come on, she's waiting for you." I turned her around and gave her a little pat on the back.
She seemed a little more relieved, which consequently made me feel lighter. Shiro followed Shuna happily, heading off to do his business.
'What an interesting girl, huh?' I thought, as I watched Shiro disappear into the crowd. 'She's a variable just like me, a character who didn't exist in the main story, and that's what intrigues me most about her...' I turned the other way and walked towards one of the entrances to the monster city.
As I walked along the roads after talking to Shiro, I couldn't help but wonder what that second power could be...
It was strangely similar to Charybdis', but at the same time... Unique in its own way?
'Reader? Could you try to classify the similarity between the two energies?' I asked him, my head burning with curiosity.
<
The Reader's answer was delayed, as if that question required calculations incomparable to the things we'd found so far. Perhaps I was being too paranoid? No... The conclusion I came to is probably the most likely one.
After a few minutes, the Reader gave me an answer.
<
'I knew it...' My concluding sentence might have seemed confusing to those around me, however, it was the most obvious conclusion.
To try to summarize my idea, Charybdis was already a powerful being even before the influence of the "External Force", and based on the increase in power of the Orc Disaster, Veldora's son should be as strong as the Demon Lords awakened at this time. But according to the Reader's analysis, his power was little more than that of an unawakened Demon Lord.
Which would be strange of course, after all the Orc Disaster after the influence of the "External Force" had a strength comparable to that of an unawakened Demon Lord. Strange, isn't it? Then it came to me, what if the remaining power, which Phobio's body was unable to absorb and awaken in Charybdis' "true" body, had separated from the main body, from the "core".
And then came my conclusion, that this remaining energy, took on a consciousness of its own, and just like Rimuru, became a 'Singularity', an existence unique to itself, or better explained, another son of Veldora, a twin to Charybdis.
'... Does this theory make sense Reader?" I asked him, as if seeking the approval of a wise man.
<
'Well, that was a short answer. I said. Despite the Reader's short answer, I felt much more relieved that I now had an answer to the current situation. But this isn't something I can talk about to others, I'll deal with it on my own, I'll take responsibility for the problem I caused.
After a short walk, I was on the road that would lead to the fight against Charybdis, the "battlefield". There was no one there, after all, the battle would still take a while to take place, although it was possible to see some soldiers preparing.
I started walking further ahead, to where I thought Charybdis would be, although I'd have to find him first, but that's a bit easier.
'Reader, do you think you can follow my strategy of how we're going to defeat both our enemies at the same time?' I asked, hesitantly.
The plan was to use a strategy shown by Ciel, during Rimuru's battle against two True Dragons, where she blocked Velgrynd's attacks, while Rimuru focused on Veldora.
I say it's great teamwork on both their parts, a mutual trust in their abilities. And right now the only way I can defeat enemies stronger than me is to rely on my trickery skills, especially the Reader.
<<...>>
'...So?' I asked, annoyed by the Reader's delay.
<<...Answer. After further analysis of the master plan, I would say that the plan could be successful.>>
'That's it!-'
<>
'Exactly!' I exclaimed cheerfully. 'You pick things up quickly! I have no idea if the Infinite Prison has the same ability as the Covenant King Uriel to block attacks, but if it doesn't work we can just use Law Manipulation.
The Reader and I talked for a few minutes before going into combat.
(Great Erudite's note: Probably next week we will have another chap, If I don't, yk, forget about this site again... Also, nothing really different in this chap, other than the ending.)