After the fight is over and Carrion's identity is revealed the only thing left to do is explain what exactly happened. Starting at the Orc Lord fight I explain what I "believe" happened based on evidence I know exists. The other Demon Lords listen to my explanation and seem to accept it. After I finish though, I shrug my shoulders and comment. "But none of that really matters now so let's move on. For now let's get to the big question right now. Are we now considered Demon Lords now Guy?"
Guy seems to be pretty unfazed by my fight with Milim, maintaining his calm persona. He says, "Well, that was a really impressive show from both of you so yes, from today onwards I will allow you two to refer to yourselves as Demon Lords." He turns to everyone, "Are there any objections?"
As soon as he says this I also turn around and activate [Demonic Presence]. "Yeah, any objections?"
Because I'm using [Demonic Presence] instead of [Demon Lord Haki], I can target specific people. This makes it so Ramiris isn't affected at all. Not seeing my threatening appearance she yells, "None, none! I believed in them from the start! I would happily accept them!" Milim happily accepts after her as well.
When it comes to the other Demon Lord's, their acceptance isn't something they really have a choice in. Seeing me knock out Milim in a fight, most already know they are facing a country destroying threat. Knowing this they all nervously accept. Even Roy as the Demon Lord accepts. He knows I can wipe out Ruberios in less than an hour so he's responding to a possible threat, putting his pride aside for now. As they accept, the Clayman-focused part of the discussion draws to a close.
With quite a few destroyed tiles from the fight, the maids have to clean up a bit as well as prepare the dishes. Because of this we are all escorted out for a little break. During this break, I watch as Beretta asks Cerulean something. He seems to nod and hands him a bunch of body parts. After he gets them he walks up to me, "Excuse me, Lord Migeru. My apologies for asking but is it acceptable if Ramiris and I take these?" They're the old body parts of Clayman's Viola.
"Yeah, sure."
Beretta bows. "I appreciate your generosity." Alright then, not that I was going to use them for much.
"No problem," I take this chance to mess with Beretta, "but to think you care about this stuff, I think Ramiris is starting to rub off on you."
Even without a mouth I can see Beretta's shock. "Eh!? N-no, I-I..."
"Don't worry about it." Speaking of Ramiris, she immediately flies at my face.
"Can we move into Tempest!?" Talk about abrupt.
Now, for Ramiris, having her build the labyrinth early would actually be a little more convenient because we won't have to rush it as much. On top of that, it won't change much because she doesn't do much between the events of the Walpurgis and the Festival Preparation. That means, yes, I will accept. I nonchalantly say, "Yeah, sure."
"Eh!?" I hear Rimuru behind me. "Migeru, why do you always make these decisions without me!? Didn't we agree we both need to say yes!?"
Looks like he stopped with the strange shyness from before. "I didn't think it's that big a deal. Also, having Ramiris over will actually be pretty helpful."
"Eh, how?"
"That's what I was about to specify." I turn to Ramiris, "You can come live in Tempest but there are conditions.
First, you will work under the name of Migeru City and the greater Twin Capitals. What I mean is you will work for me. I'll even fund your golem research and let you work with my Ministry of Science if you want. There's lots of detailed notes on golems in Vesta's notes. This could help you with your strange addiction to building golems.
Second, if you want to build a labyrinth like I've predicted you want to, it again has to be partially under the control of Rimuru and I. I don't want you to build something in our cities without our permission. It could function as your little territory if you want but it'll still ultimately be under our control.
I'll go into the details later but those are my basic conditions. Deal?"
"Deal!"
I smile a little, "Willing to work under me that easily huh. Alright, with that, it's final."
Rimuru hears this, "A labyrinth, like the Dwelling of the Spirits? What are you planning now?"
"Like I said, I'll go into the details later, it's all planned out, don't worry. It'll actually help with increasing the flow of money into Tempest a lot. Not like we'll really immediately need it considering what Diablo is doing."
He looks a little confused, "What's Diablo doing?" He gave Diablo the same orders as before, I guess he just forgot somehow.
"What you sent him to do. I guarantee that it'll be a really big success."
As I say this, Misery walks in. She announces, "Lord Guy has declared that the Walpurgis gathering may now restart." Alright then. When I walk in everyone sits down without looking at me. It seems Guy is the center of attention now.
Guy stands up, "Given that the main subject of this gathering, Clayman's betrayal, is now settled with the rise of two new Demon Lords this would normally be the end of the gathering. But, given how an event like this doesn't come every day I shall take control of this banquet and let it continue. Now, if anyone is willing to speak up, go ahead."
Frey stands up, "If I may, I have a request."
"Go ahead."
"As of today I would like to step down from my position as Demon Lord and serve under Lady Milim."
Milim, who is in the middle of drinking with her oversized Dragon Knuckles she put on immediately after the coast was clear, spits out her drink. "Hold on Frey! I never heard of this!"
She laughs a little, "Well, naturally this is the first time I've mentioned it."
Guy looks a little confused. "Why so sudden?"
"While there are various reasons, the most important one is I feel too weak to be called a Demon Lord. After watching today's battles I realized if I were to fight Clayman, which both Demon Lord Migeru and Rimuru considered hardly a threat judging by their reactions, I would have been no match. More so, against his awakened form..."
Dagruel speaks up, "Frey, don't you specialize in high speed aerial warfare? I see no reason to depreciate yourself like this." Milim hears him say this and nods, trying to get her to not step down.
She nods her head, no, "But Demon Lords don't have the right to make excuses. Having the advantage over Clayman doesn't mean I could win. This is why I've decided to become one of Milim's followers instead." She walks over to her, "I wonder if you could accept me?"
Carrion, who has stayed quiet since my explanation, then stands up and declares, "Wait a second! If that's the case I would like to say something as well. Y'know, I've already lost to Milim in a one-on-one match and would also like to give up my position as Demon Lord to serve under Milim as well."
Desperate for a way out of this Milim says, "But I was under Clayman's control! I don't remember anything! It was all his fault!"
Carrion is quick to call her out saying, "Don't try to fool me. During Migeru's explanation he said you were never under his control."
She turns to me, teary eyed, "Help me Migeru!"
Uh, I can't! "Um, as much as it pains me, I did say that and it's true." I droop down, "Sorry Milim but I can't lie here."
"Migeru! You betrayed me!" Dammit!
As my internal conflict continues Carrion yells, "See, you can't worm your way out of this one!"
Guy asks, "Are you sure about this decision?"
They both say yes. Carrion continues, "Demon Lords are supposed to be equal to each other. After seeing such a massive gap in power I can't in the right mind accept being considered an equal to you all. I'll join Milim's faction starting today."
Guy smiles, "Hmm, I was quite fond of you. I expected you to awaken in a few hundred years."
He bows, "Thank you. I appreciate your high expectations but I've already decided."
"Then very well, from this moment Frey and Carrion are no longer Demon Lords. You are free to serve under Milim in any way you please."
Milim asks, "Are you sure!?"
Carrion comments, "Yes, I'm not gonna stop being king of the Beast Kingdom, but I am thinking about making a new structure with Milim at the top."
Frey thinks about Carrion's suggestion, "Hmm, that might be a good idea."
Milim worriedly says, "No! Don't say that! If you start "serving" me then we won't be able to talk casually anymore. You won't be able to play with me anymore and we won't be able to come up with any more fun schemes." She looks sad after saying that.
Frey smiles at her, "Don't worry. That's not true. If I serve under you, we'll spend more time together and we'd be able to do more fun things!" I can see the manipulation. And it's the same kind I used on her as well. Technically not a lie, given how it's true, but not completely true either. Sorry Milim, you just accepted getting a new slightly controlling guardian.
As I think this Carrion breaks me out of my thought process, "Besides, you're the one who blew my entire damn country away! You're going to take responsibility!"
"But-but! I'm supposed to manage my own people!"
I hear this and sarcastically say, "Yeah, because she's a fantastic leader!"
Frey continues, "Exactly, that's why we're going to help you. Don't you think it's time to take more care of your territory? I'm starting to feel bad for all those kind priests who give you all those nice offerings." Milim's brain malfunctions as she imagines the raw vegetables that they give her.
I decide to just finish the conversation for them. "Yeah, why not? It'll help you a lot Milim."
"Eh? You too!?"
"Think about it, if they help manage your country, you'll also have more time to play with Rimuru and I."
"But..." We all continue saying that she should accept at the same time. As the noise gets to her she eventually cracks and throws a mini tantrum. "Daaah! Fine! Do whatever you want!" I laugh a little at the ridiculous display for a Demon Lord.
Suddenly, I hear something that stops me immediately, "Wait, because they gave up their position then there are only 9 Demon Lords including Migeru and I. Doesn't that mean we can't be called the 10 Great Demon Lords anymore?"
The dead silence as everyone stops talking is deafening. I can't rename the Octagram either. Ranryo is the most creative name I've come up with and even then, it's partially based on Ranga's name. I'm just as clueless as everyone else here. But even still, I can't believe they care so much about a stupid name.
Leon grimaces, "So the nightmare I've heard so much about is about to begin."
Everyone flies into a small panic as the name of the new 9 Demon Lords becomes a hotly debated topic. Rimuru looks around in confusion as everyone around him basically falls into a state of hysteria over a name. Even I freeze a little, trying to come up with a name before Guy inevitably points his finger at us.
Turns out, Guy isn't the one to decide we pick. Not even Veldora like in the original. No, my own creation makes him point at us. Shion asks Cerulean next to her, "Aren't Lord Rimuru and Migeru remarkably good at coming up with names?"
Cerulean responds with, "Indeed, Lord Migeru came up with names for all 150 members of the Tempest Slime Corps and I've heard tales of the thousands of other monsters he has named."
Shion nods, "And Lord Rimuru has also named thousands of others as well."
The noise in the room stops. The other Demon Lords immediately turn their attention to us.
Guy declares, "Rimuru and Migeru. As the newly risen Demon Lords I shall grant you two the great honor to..."
Rimuru then says, "Uh, I would love to but I don't need it thank you." Rimuru smiles innocently at Guy who smiles back. A little awkward tension grows only to suddenly be destroyed and replaced with an intense hostile aura when Guy splits the table in half with his hand.
I gasp sarcastically, "Guy! You broke your table! Allow me to fix that for you!" Snapping my fingers, the table's two halves move up to each other and re-attach. As my tone grows dark I say, "I would recommend you don't try to scare my brother like that in front of me. I can assure you I won't go down easy."
With menace behind his smile, Guy says, "Are you sure you can follow up on that?"
I smile back, "Hehe, yes I can."
Rimuru fearfully looks on. Another fight isn't what Rimuru wants to see right now. "W-We'll do it! We'll do it!"
My menacing smile disappears as I ask, "Alright then. So, what's your suggestion?"
He thinks about it for a bit. He looks up at the starry ceiling and then back at Guy. "Enneagram. It means 9 pointed star, what do you think?"
Enneagram, the 9 pointed star. I guess the conditions here weren't drastic enough to change his thought process in this timeline. Makes sense. It definitely doesn't sound as good as...
I'm interrupted by the other Demon Lords praising his suggestion. I guess when you're desperate for a name, anything works. As the praising ends Guy stops everyone declaring, "Then it's settled, from this day forward we are the Enneagram. Quite a lovely name. Well, with that, the Walpurgis is almost over, now all we have to do is distribute the territories."
The distribution of territories. With there being two Demon Lords inhabiting the same place and Carrion and Frey stepping down as well, the distribution is strange. Rimuru and I are tied together dubbed the Twin Rulers and given the entire Forest of Jura. I guess that title makes it all the way here. At the same time, Milim is given all three other territories surrounding her. She's basically given nearly the entirety of the south and south-eastern part of the map. As she grimaces seeing all this Frey and Carrion immediately get to work on handling this massive territory.
As they talk about this Leon brings up, "Wasn't the puppet kingdom once ruled by the former Demon Lord?"
Rimuru asks, "The former Demon Lord?"
I ask, "Kazaream, the Cursed Lord right?"
Carrion breaks away from Frey, "Yes, it's interesting that you know about him. He was friendly with Clayman so he might have taken over his domain to cover up that he might have survived given that they were both undeads."
{Notice- Ultimate Skill [Saul] subskill [Tempest Link] has been activated.
Opening connection 1, Rimuru Tempest.
Connection 1, Rimuru Tempest has been opened.}
"Migeru, what do you know?"
"About Kazaream? He's alive."
"He is!?"
I lie and say, "Well, yeah. Don't know where he is but I've confirmed that he is in fact most likely alive. That's how I know who he is."
Rimuru thinks, "Hmm, he might not be a problem now but he might not like that we killed Clayman."
"I guess but let's not think about that for now. We don't even know where he is."
{Notice- Ultimate Skill [Saul] subskill [Tempest Link] has been deactivated.
Connection 1, Rimuru Tempest has been closed.}
With that conversation going nowhere we pay attention to Misery and Rain, who bring in some food for the ending of the Walpurgis. However, with the Walpurgis ended a few at this point are already gone. Leon and Luminous are the two big ones that have now left.
Luminous, I wonder what you're up to now. You were worried about Rimuru in the original, now how will you react? You seem to know more than in the original. On top of that Veldora didn't appear here. I wonder how you'll react to him.
{Notice- You already know what Luminous Valentine will do.}
Shut up, [Solomon]. I'm having a cool internal monologue.
{Confirmed- You're internal monologue isn't "cool."}
I don't need to know that! You're getting sassy, I don't like that.
{Error- Unable to understand your question.}
Bullshit! You know exactly what I'm saying! Moving past that, I look at the food. It looks incredible, like something straight out of Gordon Ramsay's kitchen, everything from the smell to the plating is incredible. I take one look at Rimuru whose eyes sparkle when he takes his first bite. Let's see how good this tastes. I take a single small bite and I taste something like nothing I've ever tasted before. The food melts in your mouth, hitting your tongue with an amazing meaty flavor. "My god!" Ack, the light my again. "This is incredible!"
Shuna's Perspective
I feel an intense pain in my chest, grab it then collapse.
Souei runs up to me. "Lady Shuna, is something wrong?" He pulls me up and supports my weight because I can't move my legs.
"Apologies...I'm fine...it's just, I suddenly lost all strength for some reason."
Migeru's Perspective
I wonder how Shuna would react if I told her this?
{Not well.}
Eh, what was that [Solomon]?
{Answer- Unable to answer the given question.}
Never mi...I see Milim drinking some Tempestian Liquor, Guy somehow got his hands on. Yup, not gonna happen. I use [Hermetic Reality] to teleport it to my hands.
"Eh!? Migeru, give it back!" She says, reaching for the glass.
"No, you're too mentally young for this."
"But I'm..."
"I don't care about your physical age." I point to Ramiris who can't even see well, "Look at her."
"B-but, I can handle it better than her!"
"No, you can't. What do you think, Rimuru?"
Milim tries to use baby dog eyes to get Rimuru to agree with her. "Eh, I don't think Milim should drink either. She might go ballistic if she drinks too much."
"See." I drink it all in front of her to her dismay.
"Nooooo!"
Besides that little event, the banquet goes pretty well. I don't really interact with people much so I just stand around, maybe have a little fun with Milim and Rimuru here and there, but that's about it. I do notice Guy looking at me with interested eyes though. Not what I want.
Guy is attracted to strong people with Ultimate Skills. Two things I unfortunately have. I don't want to become the next Leon here so I'm gonna have to stop that quickly. Guy jokingly made some advances on Rimuru in canon so it's not out of the question that Guy might do the same to me. Hell no! Just thinking about it freaks me out.
Before we leave I make sure to take some liquor and recreate the food. Rimuru looks at me a little confused, "What's that for?"
"Well, Veldora thought he was going to be the hero that appears at the last minute to save the day, remember? We can summon him with the [Storm Dragon Summon] skill so he probably thought we were gonna use it or something. The food and liquor is my apology."
"Oh, that's smart!"
After a few more minutes, we finally decide to leave. With Ramiris following us we begin to leave. Taking one last glance around the room, my eyes lock with Guy. He's much more serious than earlier. [Solomon]?
{Notice- Mental Barrier has been set up.}
One question, I just want to make sure. If I use my strongest attack, what are the odds Guy dies.
{Calculating- 100%}
That's what I thought. Well, dying is definitely downplaying what would happen to him now that I think about it.. More like deletion on an existential level.