In the central meeting room of the Town Hall.
At this time, aside from Shirou Emiya, nearly all of the Monster Federation's executives had already arrived. They sat gathered around Rimuru, exchanging information and discussing strategies to deal with Charybdis.
"The current situation isn't optimistic," Traya said calmly. "The reason is still unclear, but the summoned creatures-Megalodons-appear to have attached themselves to the corpses of low-ranking dragons."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Once fully materialized, each of these monsters reaches nearly twenty meters in size. That scale is unprecedented. There are thirteen of them in total. What follows is only my sister's conjecture, but their individual combat strength is likely A-rank."
The meeting room fell silent once again.
Everyone understood what that meant.
Opponents like that were no longer merely troublesome. They were outright dangerous.
"Charybdis itself is equivalent to a Demon Lord," someone muttered. "And on top of that, thirteen A-rank monsters..."
"This really is difficult to deal with."
Although Shirou Emiya, who was currently campaigning through the forest, had been subjugating A-rank monsters one after another, that didn't mean A-rank monsters were insignificant.
On the contrary, they were extremely powerful.
They were beings that could be called disaster-class monsters.
The only reason they seemed unimpressive was because Shirou Emiya himself was simply too strong. And Gobta, who had followed him into battle time and time again, had also been tempered under Shirou Emiya's guidance into a Super A-rank monster, wielding terrifying power of his own.
But the situation now was completely different.
The monsters Shirou Emiya defeated were all solitary individuals. The enemies approaching this time were moving as a group.
That alone raised the threat level dramatically.
And more importantly, there was Charybdis.
No one believed that the monsters summoned by Charybdis wouldn't be strengthened by its abilities. Even if they were "only" A-rank, that enhancement would push them into an entirely different danger category.
It was like the ogres who became Super A-rank after being named by Rimuru.
Even though they shared the same rank, the gap between them and beings like the Orc Lord Geld or Rimuru himself wasn't small in the slightest.
"So what should we do now, Lord Rimuru?" Benimaru asked.
Before Rimuru could answer, Shirou Emiya spoke instead.
"What else can we do?" he said, his tone steady. "If that's the situation, then we fight."
"Hmph. Then there's no need to ask further," Benimaru replied immediately. "I'll begin preparations at once."
"Indeed. That's the only option."
"Of course! This is nothing for Lord Rimuru."
As soon as Rimuru's stance was made clear, the room moved as one.
No objections.
No hesitation.
Everyone immediately sprang into action, each person heading off to fulfill their role.
They were always like this.
Decisive. Efficient.
Watching the scene unfold, Fritz and the others could only stare in disbelief.
"Wait-are you serious?" Fritz blurted out. "Is that really it? Did you all actually understand what was said? The opponent is Demon Lord-class!"
"But, my friend Fritz," someone replied calmly, "even if we stall for time, reinforcements from the Kingdom of Burmund won't arrive, will they?"
"...That's true."
"I don't think we'll lose. But if something does go wrong, I'll ask you to consider how to take in the residents here."
"No-what do you mean, 'don't think we'll lose'?" Fritz raised his voice. "Even the Dryads couldn't stop that monster! This isn't something you face so casually. This is the kind of crisis that requires cooperation between nations!"
"I'm not relaxed at all," Rimuru complained inwardly.
He understood Fritz's concern.
It was only natural.
The difference was that Fritz didn't understand how they usually operated.
To an outsider, they might look calm. Almost careless.
But in reality, everyone was tense to the extreme.
Like ants scrambling on a hot pan.
At that very moment, Benimaru was rapidly mobilizing the remaining forces within the city. Gabiru had begun assembling the Dragonewt troops, organizing them into an aerial combat unit.
Rigurd, meanwhile, was coordinating the evacuation of civilians.
Under his direction, residents were being led toward the mountains, prepared to take shelter there if Charybdis couldn't be stopped in time.
After all, if the enemy was advancing with intent, then the town itself would undoubtedly be its target.
"Lord Rimuru," Vesta asked, "should I contact His Majesty Gazel?"
Rimuru thought for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"No. That won't be necessary."
His voice was firm.
"I'm quite confident we can defeat Charybdis."
Out of caution, he had already instructed Benimaru and the others to prepare as thoroughly as possible.
But truthfully, Rimuru felt no panic.
Not even a little.
Shirou Emiya was already on his way back.
And beyond that, Milim's presence alone gave Rimuru an overwhelming sense of reassurance.
Unlike the past-when Rimuru had merely placated Milim with novelties and distractions-things were different now. They had acknowledged each other as sisters.
Milim no longer hovered on the periphery.
She regarded Rimuru as family.
And if that was the case, Rimuru had no intention of hesitating to rely on Milim's power.
"Not only are you choosing to fight," Fritz said incredulously, "you're even refusing support from the Dwarf King. Lord Rimuru, are you underestimating Charybdis?"
"That's a power equal to a Demon Lord!"
"I'm not underestimating the enemy at all," Rimuru replied.
After sending Vesta away, he glanced around.
Only Fritz remained.
"That's exactly why we're preparing properly," Rimuru continued. "But you're the one underestimating us."
Fritz blinked.
"As the saying goes," Rimuru said evenly, "despise the enemy strategically, but respect the enemy tactically."
"I will never underestimate an opponent out of pride."
"...Is that so?"
Seeing Rimuru's unwavering confidence, Fritz found himself at a loss for words.
After a brief silence, he let out a bitter smile.
"Still... Mr. Rimuru, the way you think is very human. Completely lacking in what I'd expect from a monster."
"And honestly, it still feels strange that a slime is the strongest presence here."
"Human way of thinking?" Rimuru paused, then smiled faintly. "You might not believe me, but you know Shizu-san, don't you?"
"Yes."
"I'm an otherworldly visitor," Rimuru said. "Just like her."
"It's just that unlike Shizu-san, who remained human, I reincarnated as a slime."
As he spoke, Rimuru's body shifted.
His slime form dissolved, reshaping itself into a human figure.
Fritz stiffened.
The face before him...
There was no mistaking it.
He could clearly see traces of Shizue Izawa.
"Shizu-san came from the same world as me," Rimuru continued. "She passed away after entrusting her final wishes to me."
"As proof that I inherited her will, she granted me this appearance."
Fritz had heard fragments of this story before.
Ellen and the other two had mentioned it in passing, but their accounts were disjointed, missing crucial connections.
That was one of the reasons Fritz had come here in person.
Shizue Izawa was no ordinary adventurer.
She was a seasoned hero who had trained many others.
Even the current commander of the Free Guild had once been her student.
Reporting vague hearsay to his superiors was unacceptable.
He needed clarity.
Rimuru understood that.
So he told him everything.
How Shizue Izawa had lived.
How she had suffered.
How she had died.
And how he himself had been reborn.
"I see..." Fritz murmured.
"So that's how it was."
After a moment, he straightened.
"I understand. I believe you, Lord Rimuru."
"Thank you," Rimuru said, smiling gently. "I appreciate that."
"But now," he added, his tone shifting, "we should focus on subjugating Charybdis."
"You're right."
The words had barely left his mouth when another voice joined them.
"That discussion can wait."
"For now, Charybdis comes first."
Rimuru turned.
"Shirou! You're back!"
Seeing Shirou Emiya standing there, Rimuru broke into a grin and hurried over.
With Shirou Emiya present, the last lingering trace of unease vanished from his heart.
"Ah," Shirou replied. "I'm back."
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