Disclaimer: I do not own That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, High School DxD, or
any other referenced properties. All characters depicted are consenting adults aged
18 or older.
Chapter 11
Samael POV
My week had been going pretty well so far. First, I picked up some vampires, then Sage saved me from having to find an excuse to keep them, and I finished Milim's ring. Life was good.
As I stepped through the door into the dimension, that feeling vanished.
Rimuru looked stressed. Sirius somehow looked both happy and guilty at the same time. Milim was a little annoyed, and Veldora looked like someone owed him money.
"Ok, what happened?" I asked.
At my question, everyone turned toward me. Before anything else, Milim jumped at me and kissed me.
My brain rebooted. When it finally finished restarting, I looked at Milim and smiled, then at Rimuru, who was pouting at me. I opened my other arm, and she immediately jumped into it and kissed me as well.
"I think I could get used to this," I said when we finally stopped.
"Hmm. It is not that bad," she muttered. She still sounded a little annoyed, but much calmer than before.
"Now can you tell me what happened?" I asked.
"I evolved into an Enlightened," Sirius started proudly.
"And in the process, he beat up the delegation from another country," Rimuru grumbled. Sirius started scratching his head, embarrassed.
"Ok, there is a story there. Speak," I said, looking at Sirius, but the one who answered was Milim.
"Carrion sent a delegation to Tempest to recruit the locals under his jurisdiction. They attacked Richard and destroyed half his face with a punch when he tried to explain. Sirius was there and got furious when he saw it, so he decided to retaliate. They were not prepared for him to be that strong, so they were completely unprepared when he separated the air into gases and ignited it, concentrating all the power into a single point. The world considered that enough of an achievement to evolve him."
She continued, explaining the argument they had with the delegation, how she scared them into leaving, and how Rimuru punished her for it, even though she had been a good girl and was only trying to help.
Yes. I thought I understood the gist of it.
"Good job, Milim, but next time follow Rimuru's decisions. She is the ruler of this nation. If you interfere with her choices, people will think this nation is just your vassal state and not a proper country," I said, patting her head. Then I turned to Rimuru. "This is not exactly bad for you either. Use this situation to your advantage. Declare that they interrupted alliance talks between you and Milim and that you let them leave only because of Carrion, while Milim was furious because she had just finished the talks and the next second another demon lord sent subordinates to cause trouble. If they have a problem with that, send them a warning. Maybe I will pay them a visit."
Rimuru looked at me, still a little annoyed.
"And how will it help if you visit them? It is not like you can really do something against a Demon Lord," she said sarcastically.
"If it were a true Demon Lord, you would be right, but Carrion, Frey, and Clayman are different."
She perked up, so I continued.
"They are Demon Lords only in title and have not evolved yet. Am I right, Milim?" I said, looking at Milim with a smile.
"Mhm. Those three have the potential to evolve in maybe 100 to 200 years, and they rule countries. That is why Guy let them in. That and for some entertainment, nothing more," she answered without hesitation.
I patted her head. "But how do you know that? It is supposed to be a secret." Milim ask.
I answered without hesitation as well. "I use a skill." I did not need to hide anything from her, not that I could lie to her anyway.
"A skill? Can I see it?" she asked, eyes sparkling.
"It is the same place you get your manga and games from," I answered.
"Wow, that is so cool."
Yeah, this was so like her. I had access to endless information, but why would that matter to her as long as I was her family? And I was sure that now we were. She trusted me without hesitation.
Before I could stop myself, I pressed my lips to hers and we stayed like that for some time.
"Cough, cough."
Sirius was the one who interrupted us and pointed to Rimuru and Sage.
I turned my head and saw them pouting at me.
Scene Change
I stood with Sirius on the training grounds. He was looking at me with what was supposed to be fear.
Yeah, last time I trained him, I might have gone a bit too hard.
"First, attack me with everything you have. If I remember correctly, last time you used a scientific combination to hurt me, right?" I asked.
"Yes. It was separation of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, then combining them again to create an explosion. Similar to what I did against the delegation. But against them, I created mist, condensed it around them, turned it into hydrogen, then triggered the explosion and created a shield around them to direct it upward," he answered with some hesitation.
"Good, so you used the trick I showed you." I nodded. "Seriously, your magic is extremely powerful if you know how to use it correctly. Spells that change materials using magic energy and some understanding of chemistry and physics can let you finish most fights. Add your skill that lets you control the magicules around you and... ta da. If your opponent does not have a skill to counter it, they lose easily."
I grumbled again. This was not the first time I said this, and from the look Sirius was giving me, I should probably stop repeating it.
"Now that you have evolved, your ability should have improved. So, what is it? It is not like it can become more broken than it already is," I said in a playful tone.
Sirius scratched his head and looked away.
Great.
"Tell me," I said in a firm tone.
"I can interfere with other skills. If I use more power than them, the effect goes against them with the combined power," he said with a smile that screamed "I am cheating."
(Sage, have you copied it?)
(Yes. And I made sure the skill will activate at the first sign of danger as protection. Note The skill will not affect Ultimate Skills and internal skills.)
Ok, good to know I have Sage on my side.
I looked at Sirius and he just smiled.
"From now on, you are going to train with Hakurou in swordsmanship. Your weakest point right now is your body. Before, your skill could cover for it and your body was not strong enough, but with the upgrade from your evolution, physical training will be perfect for you," I said and turned away, ignoring Sirius as he asked me to wait and the fear on his face.
Boom.
Before I could leave, an explosion enveloped me.
I looked at the culprit, Sirius, who was looking smug about it. I was not that hurt. He only destroyed one hand and my jacket.
"How did you injure me with flames? No, it was not flames. I am immune to those. What did you use?" I asked, now curious.
"You were injured?" he asked, surprised.
"Hmm. Oh yes, it regenerated the moment it happened, but you did injure me. Now answer me, please," I said with mock solemnity.
"Ugh. I used the explosion as cover and then I tried to teleport a part of your body using Apparition. Apparently, it works somehow," he said, scratching his head.
"That is a good way to use your abilities and take advantage of the fact that most enemies do not use science and will not expect it at first. But do not think it will work every time," I warned him. "When you use the same tactics every time, people learn. The best thing to do is to adapt and turn those problems into advantages. Let us play with the same scenario. What will you do if they use wind to disperse the mist?"
"Hmm. I would use the mist as cover to send spells, then I would use earth to encase them and change it into metal at the same time."
"It is a good idea," I praised. "Make people believe that the mist is the only threat."
He beamed under the praise.
"But you still think too much like a wizard," I said, and he deflated. "The best thing you could have done is to stop his breathing. Then, when he thinks that is your main plan, create needles with potions to penetrate his defenses. If that does not work, use the needles to pierce an artery or place a tracking spell inside his body so you can find him later. If you only want to incapacitate them, after implanting the needles, transform them into something denser and block their blood flow."
He looked a little terrified at that moment, but I ignored him and continued.
"But everything I said becomes obsolete if someone much stronger than you appear. First, their skin will be almost impossible to pierce without something enhanced. Second, they will have resistance to many things. Third, they will have danger awareness and will detect any attack that can actually harm them."
He looked at me like I was describing something impossible.
"But I caught you off guard," he protested.
"Yes, but here is the thing. I do not guard myself against you or anyone I trust. And the most important part is that Sage does not like my confidence. She wants me to be more cautious," I said with a sigh.
"And there is also the fact that your attack would not have caused any permanent damage to me."
"So just luck?" he said in a depressed tone.
"No, and do not think that way. Yes, I was not prepared, but that does not make your achievement any less. It just makes me look stupid. If a fight ends because of someone's inattention, that is their fault, not the fault of the one who took advantage. It is the same with the three from the best kingdom. If they see a human and think he is weak, even for a moment, it can be deadly."
"Ok, ok, I get it. But did you not say you were going to leave? So go do your thing. Maybe stop that stupid restriction of yours, take your girlfriends on a date, and get laid. You are too stiff, and you are going to sink to my level in relationships. Now that I think about it, I should give you relationship advice. You pitiful virgin, being led by your girlfriend to build a harem and you have not slept with anyone yet," he mocked.
I knew what he was doing. He was trying to help me, or at least he thought he was helping.
And the fact that he thought my relationship had a problem was annoying. I knew this situation was strange, and the fact that I let Rimuru and the girls decide many things looked odd, but the truth was that most of those things were not my business. The city? Rimuru's project that I was helping with. Dates? My passive attitude let them decide, and they tried to get my attention or, in my view, trained to spend more time with me. The fact that Rimuru was adding more girls? If I did not want that, I would not allow it. It was not like she forced me or manipulated me into accepting it.
"Sirius, I think you are right," I said. He smiled knowingly, but I continued, and his smile froze. "I should have left, but since I did not, it is better to start the training Hakurou is going to put you through."
"Wait, wait, wait. I do not think you know swordplay, right? After all, I have never seen you use a sword," he said proudly, relaxing a little.
"True, I do not use a sword," I agreed. He exhaled in relief. "But I know how to use one. Sage gave me all the information I need and modified my body to be perfect for swordplay."
"What? That is cheating. I call cheating."
I smiled and created a wooden sword, then started to approach him slowly with my best smile. I had no idea why he looked so scared. Some mysteries will never be solved.
And with that, Sirius's punishment - training - began.
Rimuru POV
I looked at the monster attacking the forest, a so-called child of Veldora, Charybdis.
From what he said, it was similar to me and Samael, born from his magicules. Because of that, people started calling it his child, but to him it was just another monster. I should not think too much about it.
Why was I thinking about it like this? Simple. If monsters spawned from Veldora are his children, then Samael and I are brother and sister. That would mean I am going to marry my brother. And Samael said he is Veldora's brother, which means he is also the brother of his own father.
Ok, girl, calm down and stop thinking about it. If someone asks, you definitely do not have a brother complex or anything like that.
Now, focus on the problem. A giant fish is attacking your kingdom, and you need to stop it.
Why not ask Milim? Because this is our problem and we need to take care of it.
Why not ask Samael to help? Because I do not want to be seen as a damsel in danger. I am as strong as he is and have all his powers. I have Sage's help, and the people of our little kingdom need to fight too. They want to protect this place. And Samael is too overprotective. He would stay on standby if I told him and would never let me think I was in any real danger.
And that is the problem. He thinks I am fragile. He thinks I need protection every moment while he goes to dangerous places like it is nothing.
This is his punishment.
Anyway, I have Milim as backup, but I am not going to tell him that. Let him panic a little for all the stupid things he did.
I stopped overthinking and looked at the battle around me.
Shion and Ranga had teamed up to attack the fish. Benimaru was grilling them alive. Shizu was doing the same, and I was thankful to her and Sirius for not telling Samael about this and keeping him occupied until we were done.
Monkey was using a giant staff for some reason and Danzo was wielding a butcher knife one and a half meters long. Yes, I named a goblin Danzo and I am proud of him. He will achieve great things. Maybe I should make him the leader of the kingdom after I retire. Or give him Rigurd's position after he retires. Thoughts for later.
I should start helping as well.
With that thought, I moved into action.
...
Ok, I said it before and I will say it again. Regeneration is nonsense.
We have been attacking this monster for hours and it is still regenerating. If I did not know that Samael's regeneration is even more ridiculous than this, I might have cried.
Most of the soldiers are starting to grow tired, and I am wondering if I should just give up and ask Milim for help.
Ask Samael? I do not even think about it. He would think I am made of porcelain and would coddle me for the rest of my life.
(Meanwhile Samael: I should protect her, but I will let her face danger because she is not property.
Rimuru: He thinks I am fragile.)
As I was pondering what to do, I found the best option. Ask Sage.
Do not judge me. I wanted to do things alone for once.
(Sage, please help.)
(You can create soldiers using blood and shadows and send them to fight.)
(Sage, he has regeneration,) I protested.
[Skill gained: Anti Regeneration]
(...Sage, how?) That was all I could say. How do you make a skill that fast, and the perfect counter I need right now?
(Sirius's skill can counter any other skill. I just separated that part and used Samael's regeneration as a base to calculate it.)
(...Sage, I love you and all, but are you cheating? Because I do not understand how you can just decide the enemy's main skill becomes useless.)
(If you want the easy way to deal with it, just teleport into a dimension using blood mist as cover, then separate the individual Phobio from the core inside.)
(Phobio? Why is he here?)
Ok, I did not understand anything anymore.
(Phobio was used as a battery and as the body for Charybdis.)
(...Sage, when did you analyze all this?) I asked.
(The moment he appeared. Samael requested that all enemies be analyzed before a fight.)
(...Begin,) I said and left her in control. I needed to think about everything that had just happened.
I felt so stupid. I should have asked for information at the beginning instead of just rushing into battle.
Ugh. Sage, please do not tell Samael what happened.
(Confirmed. Samael will not find out what happened and I will extend your transformation.)
(Wait. What does that have to do with the deal we made?)
(You asked me not to give information to Samael when he asked and in exchange, I was allowed to modify your body when you are with him. Now you are asking for something similar, so the deal becomes longer.)
(...Can we do something else?) I hoped for something better.
(Answer: do not add new girls without asking Samael first.)
(...If you stop changing my body from now on, you have a deal.)
(Deal.)
I felt like I had done something stupid and that I would find out what it was later. But really, how hard could it be to convince Samael to accept another girlfriend?
Samael POV
"We should do this more often," I said, stretching, while Sirius looked like his soul was about to leave his body at any moment. I wondered why.
His training was not that hard, and I healed him afterward. He only lost a few limbs. That is not a big deal. It is not my fault he cannot regenerate.
Still… maybe, just maybe, I had been a little too harsh.
As I pondered those very important questions, I entered the house. It was something I had realized over time. I loved walking after a training session, even if I was only supervising.
It helped me think about everything that had happened so far.
Death is not a beautiful thing. In moments like this, when I walked in silence, I found myself reflecting on how much my life had changed. I was never a social person before. I do not think I am one now either. But now I have a reason not to lock myself in an apartment and ignore the reality I live in.
And I think Rimuru is the reason I did not break.
She is impulsive, childish at times, and vindictive. But beyond all that, she is an anchor for me. A reason not to sink into depression and hide in my dimension while waiting to become stronger.
That is why I give her so much leverage in our relationship. Not too much, but enough to make her think she can get away with everything.
But I will have my revenge. I will make sure she—
[Samael, do not try to get revenge on Rimuru. You are incapable of saying no to her.]
Sage interrupted my thoughts, and I pouted.
[But what about the meal she made for me? Is that not a reason for a little revenge?] I protested.
[I disabled your senses and ensured it was not poisonous or harmful. That is why you did not react. I also allowed you to eat something that looked disgusting as punishment instead of what she originally planned.]
I hesitated.
[I am afraid to ask, but what was her first idea?]
[Changing your gender for a month. You would have been female during that time.]
…
[Thank you, Sage. Eating something disgusting is much easier than becoming a girl. Mostly because I am a man.]
I stopped thinking about it and entered the kitchen. Honestly, thinking was much easier when I used my skills.
What I saw was strange.
Everyone was already seated at the dining table and eating. That alone was unusual, since we normally waited for everyone before starting.
But the strangest part was their clothing.
They were all wearing traditional Japanese attire.
Rimuru sat at the head of the table, wearing a deep blue yukata decorated with subtle leaf patterns that blended naturally into the fabric. It fit neatly around her frame, tied with a darker blue obi that added contrast while keeping the overall look elegant and restrained. The wide sleeves draped softly, giving her a refined, traditional appearance.
Milim wore something similar, but her outfit was pink.
The moment I looked at Sage, I realized something. All three of them were wearing similar clothing, each matching their hair color.
I turned to Veldora. He was wearing a black kimono decorated with golden dragons and lightning.
Shizu wore a white kimono adorned with wands and stars. It looked more like something Sirius would wear than her. When I turned to Sirius, I saw he was wearing a black kimono similar in design to Shizu's.
"Um, can someone tell me what the occasion is?" I asked, smiling while throwing a murderous glare at Sirius. He ignored me completely and entered as if all his earlier protests had never happened. The fact that he was acting like a noble only made it worse.
"I will explain after you change," Rimuru said before I could continue. "And you are already late," she added with a smile.
I sighed and decided it was better to change and see what this was all about.
Rimuru POV
We waited until Samael left before Sage placed a barrier around the room. I smiled.
"So, everything went well, I assume?" Sirius asked first. He sat beside Shizu, one arm around her waist, pulling her closer before kissing her.
"Yes. The fight was harder than we expected, but we succeeded without any deaths. Just some injuries," I said with a smile.
"So, I did not get beaten up for nothing," he muttered.
I blinked at him.
"What happened? I do not think Samael would beat you that badly," I said, confused.
He stared at me, then smiled mischievously.
"That is true. But only when you are around," he said. "You see, he has a soft spot for all of you and hides his darker side."
I looked at Sage for confirmation.
"Samael is significantly more restrained when one of you is present. He even instructed me not to interfere when interrogating captives," she said calmly. "It is better that way."
I stared at them, unable to reconcile their words with the Samael who smiled at me.
"It is not something he does often," Sirius added, his voice darkening. "Only when children are harmed or slavery is involved."
He paused, then changed the subject.
"By the way, what kind of kimono did you prepare for him?"
I smiled.
---
Samael POV
I looked at the kimono Rimuru had prepared for me and immediately decided not to wear it. Not because I disliked it.
But because changing into a pink kimono covered in unicorns was not something I would allow to happen.
Yes. Rimuru had decided that it was appropriate dinner attire for me.
I would have my revenge.
If I had not checked the mirror, I would have realized it too late. It took only a minute to change.
I burned it and created something more appropriate. A proper version of what I had assumed the original was meant to be.
When I entered the kitchen again, I saw Rimuru smiling and decided to ignore her for now.
I walked past her and sat between Milim and Veldora.
I turned to Milim.
"So, what is the occasion?"
She smiled brightly and answered, completely ignoring Rimuru's glare.
"The kingdom's victory over Charybdis. And the new fish tank."
I patted her head and turned to Sage.
"Explain."
"Charybdis is Veldora's daughter. She can summon shark like monsters, so we placed her in a separate dimension to create an infinite food source," Sage replied calmly.
I stared at her, waiting for the joke.
She stared back.
I looked around the room. Everyone nodded.
I turned to Veldora and smiled.
"Congratulations on becoming a father," I said with a devilish grin. "Now you must do the proper thing and find a mother for your daughter."
I said it with a smirk toward the dragon, who looked absolutely mortified.
"And do not think I will let you ignore my new niece."
Yes, I knew she did not have a conscience yet. But the fact that I could make Veldora panic this much was worth it. And who knows? Maybe in the future she would develop a personality, and then I could force Veldora to take a wife.
The look of panic and betrayal on his face was priceless.
"By the way," I continued casually, turning my smile toward Rimuru, "why was I not informed about the attack on the city?"
Yes, I knew exactly what they had been doing. That was the reason Sirius's training had been so extreme. He knew and did not tell me.
I looked at Rimuru, and she immediately realized something had gone wrong.
"It was a surprise attack," she said proudly.
"Yes, yes. A surprise attack," I replied calmly. "You even told Sirius to keep me busy so I would not interfere."
"How did you know?" Rimuru asked, confused and startled.
"Did you forget that I placed an army in your shadows?" I said, mildly amused by their shocked expressions. "All of you have at least a hundred watchers. Except Milim and Veldora."
"Wait, what?" Rimuru was the first to recover. "How did you do that without telling us?" she demanded, pouting.
"First, I forgot to mention it. Second, I assumed you had already noticed. At the very least, Sirius and Shizu should have," I said, looking at them.
"Us?" they asked in unison.
"Yes, both of you. Shizu, you have experience in this world. Sirius, your skill lets you sense everything in your vicinity."
Both looked embarrassed.
"But why did you not say I should have noticed?" Rimuru protested.
I looked at her with the most innocent smile I could manage.
"Sage is constantly monitoring danger around you. Nothing will happen as long as she is active. Both of us are becoming dependent on her. She reminded me when I started training Sirius… right when the city was attacked."
Rimuru stared at me for a moment, then looked away with an expression that clearly asked to be comforted.
I ignored it with all my strength.
"Wait a moment," Sirius said, and I looked at him. "If you knew from the beginning, why did you beat me so badly? You cut off my hands ten times. And that was the easiest part."
Everyone stared at me in horror. Or, at the very least, started looking at Sirius with sympathy.
"That was because of your insults about my relationship," I replied flatly.
"That was because I needed to keep you occupied," he added quickly. "I did not mean—"
"That is true," I interrupted. "But after some reflection, I realized there was some truth in your words."
They all stiffened.
"So, after that interaction, I decided to go on a solo adventure for a while."
Their expressions clearly said, you already do that.
"What I mean," I clarified, "is an adventure lasting a month, without returning to this dimension."
Their shock was beautiful.
"You cannot do that," Rimuru protested immediately. "You promised to be here every night and every morning."
I looked at her with a sad smile.
"Yes. And that is the problem. We have both become too dependent on each other."
She looked betrayed, but I continued.
"I am not saying we will stop seeing each other or communicating. We just need time to do our own things."
She still did not look convinced.
"You could take some time off and help Shizu with the children she was teaching before coming here," I added. "From what I remember, they suffer from magicule poisoning."
Shizu nodded.
"They need to release magicules but cannot control them properly, correct?" I continued. "There are solutions. The first is naming, letting them transfer excess magicules, but that is only temporary. The second, and best in my opinion, is using spirits, the same way you do."
At her expression, I added, "Compatible spirits that will not attempt to control them."
"That could work," Shizu said thoughtfully. "The problem is finding the spirits."
"That is why I suggested both of you go," I replied. "One, it gives Rimuru an excuse to escape paperwork. Two, it is an adventure for the two of you, and some bonding time without the boys interfering."
"Hey, what about me?" Milim protested.
"You should visit your people and explain why you will accept a gate to Tempest being built in your territory," I said.
She pouted but did not argue as much as I expected.
"Wait, what about me?" Sirius finally realized he had been left out.
"You, my dear instigator, will help Rimuru with an important task," I said.
He brightened.
"You will do paperwork."
His soul visibly left his body.
Before he could protest, Sage appeared beside him.
"I will assist with paperwork. I do not believe he can complete it without causing severe administrative damage."
The last hope Sirius had was Shizu, who gently placed a hand on his back and whispered something to him.
I ignored it.
Whatever she said was enough to make him forget his misery.
Truly, men are simple creatures sometimes.
Bedroom — Samael POV
I looked at Rimuru and waited. I knew what was coming. She had stayed quiet until now, but the moment she asked Sage to keep Milim occupied for a while, I knew we were going to talk about everything that had happened tonight.
"You can start," I said calmly. "I will listen first."
After a moment, she spoke. "Why didn't you talk to me before deciding?"
She did not need to elaborate. I knew exactly what she meant.
"I thought you needed some time for yourself," I said. "Until now, all you have done is build a kingdom and steal small moments of rest in between. After Sirius pointed out that we spend too much time together and that our relationship might look unhealthy, I decided we should spend some time apart. Just a few weeks. Time for each of us to see places without the other constantly present. I wanted to make sure what Sirius said was nonsense."
She looked at me and replied in a flat tone.
"And the real reason?"
How did she catch that so quickly? Was she reading my mind? Or… Sage, did you tell Rimuru what I was thinking?
[No. She simply knows you better than you think.]
[…What do you mean?]
[Do you believe she would think that someone who goes as far as placing bodyguards in her shadows, without telling her, is the type of person who would willingly let her travel to a potentially dangerous kingdom without him, even knowing she would be completely protected?]
[…]
I stood there in silence for a moment.
Alright. I understood now. It seemed I was not nearly as good at acting as I thought.
"Fine," I said. "I will be honest."
She nodded and listened.
"I found a group of slave traders. I want to infiltrate them and uncover all the nobility connected to the operation. I needed a reason to be away without making everyone panic."
"And?" she asked.
"…When did you become a detective?" I muttered.
I let out a defeated sigh.
"The group that tried to capture you is part of that network. I want to find them on my own, without Sage's help. Call it pride or stubbornness, but I want to be the one who hunts them down. When I told Sage, she turned it into a bet. If I succeed before you and Shizu return, I get a reward."
I had the distinct feeling Sage was enjoying this far too much.
[False. Do not accuse me of something so petty without evidence.]
"And if I find evidence?" I asked back sarcastically.
[You will not.]
Something felt off. Rimuru was looking far too satisfied.
As I wondered why it felt like my two fiancées were plotting against me, Rimuru spoke again, pulling my attention back.
"Now let's talk about the most infuriating part."
She was glaring at me. Somehow, she still looked adorable, like an angry puppy.
"You are spying on me."
Wait. What?
"You placed cameras in my shadows and are spying on me," she continued. "Do not lie. I experimented with the soldiers and I know you can change your point of view through them. You said you placed them in everyone's shadows. That means you are spying on everyone. If you wanted to look, you should have just asked, not…"
She kept talking, but I was completely lost.
I did not even know it was possible to see through my soldiers.
And now I was being accused of spying.
What the hell?
Alright. Think.
Apparently, the soldiers I placed for protection could also function as surveillance, and Rimuru knew this while I did not. From her perspective, her fiancé now looked incredibly suspicious, and she needed answers.
There were two possible outcomes. One, I was actually spying, which would result in immediate punishment. Two, it was purely for protection, which would result in a scolding for doing something extremely stupid.
I was definitely in the second category. Still, apologizing and explaining first seemed like the safest move.
"…and let's not forget—"
"I am sorry," I interrupted quickly. "But can you at least let me explain myself?"
She still looked furious, but she nodded.
"I understand how it looks, but please believe me when I say I did not know I could use their vision. I know it sounds hard to believe, but—"
"I believe you."
My head snapped up instantly. The surprise must have been obvious, because she started giggling at my reaction.
"Hehehe. This is priceless," she said.
I stood there, confused, trying to process what had just happened.
"Good," she continued, smiling. "At the very least, you know you were wrong."
"Wait. You believe me just like that?" I asked, completely baffled.
"Yes and no," she replied. "Yes, I believe you. And no, not just because of your explanation." She tapped her temple. "I asked Sage first if you were spying using the soldiers, and she explained everything."
"Then why ask me at all?" I asked. "Why not just explain it from the start?"
She smiled sweetly.
"Because you made decisions without asking me, placed bodyguards without telling me, and you need consequences for that. Regardless of whether you were spying or not."
She pointed a finger at me.
"Alright," I said, giving her a small glare. "I understand."
"Good," she said far too cheerfully. "Now for your punishment."
Why did she sound so happy about that?
"First, no more bodyguards."
I nodded. I needed to trust her more, even if it made me constantly anxious.
"Second, you will tell me when you make decisions like this in the future. Any decision that affects us must be discussed first. You will not decide on your own anymore."
That was reasonable, but—
"That applies to you as well," I added. "Yes, I was wrong, but you did not tell me about the attack either."
She looked a little guilty and nodded.
"And finally," she said, "after I come back from my journey with Shizu, you will return to Tempest as well."
That one was harsh. My journey was supposed to last about another year in normal time. Now it would be cut in half. Still, I said nothing. It was easier than it sounded.
"You understand?" she asked sharply.
"Yes, I understand," I replied.
Then I smirked and decided to push my luck.
"I understand that you are using this as an excuse to make me come back sooner for the wedding."
Just like that, all her seriousness vanished, replaced by pure embarrassment.
My victory was short lived.
Sage appeared beside Rimuru and spoke calmly.
"And I will intervene if you attempt to make major decisions without discussion, if I judge them unnecessary at the time."
So she really asked Sage to be the enforcer.
I carefully did not smile.
She probably did not ask for more because she also knew she had hidden the invasion from me. If she had pushed further, I was certain she would have demanded I return immediately and abandon my unfinished business.
I escape for now any more punishment.
Sirius POV
"This day could have gone better," I muttered as I occupied the safest place I could think of: Shizu's lap.
"You did a great job," she said, gently scratching my head.
Alright. I took it back. This day was terrible until now, and suddenly it was completely worth it.
"Hehe."
I blinked and looked up at her.
"Uh?" I let out a confused sound.
"Your face shows all your emotions. It's adorable," she said with a smile.
"Ugh, that's not a good thing," I complained, faking a whine with absolutely terrible acting. "What happens if I look at other girls? You'll see it instantly."
"Hm." She tilted her head, thinking. "Then they'll have to gain my approval before entering the relationship. Maybe I can be like Rimuru in that aspect."
She smiled like she had just solved the mystery of the universe.
My head snapped up instantly, eyes wide.
"What did you just say? That was a joke, right? Right?"
Yes, lots of people fantasize about harems, but I've seen what actually happens when you have one. I don't have Samael's power or mental endurance to manage something like that. And if I ever made Shizu sad, or worse, made her cry…
A shiver ran down my spine.
Samael is my friend. I know exactly what would happen to me.
"Hehe. Don't worry," she said casually. "I'm not going to add girls without asking you, like Rimuru does. Maybe just one or two."
She looked genuinely thoughtful.
This was getting more dangerous by the second.
"Shizu," I said quickly, almost pleading, "you know you're the only one I want, right? I don't need you to do this."
"Don't worry. I'll manage it."
I felt my soul attempting to leave my body.
I couldn't even tell if she was joking anymore. Maybe Rimuru had corrupted her. I should ask Samael for help. Surely, he had some advice for situations like this.
"Hehehe. You don't have to panic," she said, clearly enjoying herself. "It's not like I've decided anything. I just thought about the possibility."
I let out a long sigh of relief.
"But," she added quietly, "I wouldn't mind having one or two sisters."
My blood ran cold.
Shizu POV
I watched Sirius panic and could not help smiling a little.
Rimuru really was a bad influence on me. Still, the idea itself did not sound that bad. Of course, only if they did not try to monopolize him. That would be the condition for me to even consider it.
I shook my head to push the thought away. This was definitely Rimuru's fault for putting ideas like that in my mind.
"We will not see each other for the duration of this adventure," I said, deliberately changing the subject.
"Yes, you're right," he replied. He leaned in and kissed me without hesitation.
After a moment, he pulled back and looked at me with unmistakable hunger. "Then let's make sure we have enough of each other to last that time."
…At this rate, I really might need to think about adding a few sisters to the relationship if he kept growing stronger.
Milim POV
I walked with Sage toward the library to read some manga. I had a feeling Rimuru was making her point very clearly to Samael right now. He really was too protective. Yes, it was true that Rimuru attracted danger like a magnet, but she had the power to protect herself or escape if things went wrong.
What annoyed me the most at the moment was Carrion.
He knew I was here and still sent his people to claim this territory as his. He made my sister stressed, and I could not even imagine how I should repay him for that.
And now for the truly shocking news I was about to announce to the others.
I was getting married.
Not only that, I was going to be part of a harem.
Having a friend who was not a Demon Lord would already be big news. But me having a boyfriend? That would be the talk of the century.
I glanced at my left ring finger, where a ring of white gold rested. A pink diamond held a black diamond shaped like a dragon inside it.
Yep. Everyone was going to be jealous of my luck.
After all, Samael was special. He listened to my rambling, took me on dates, and even when I annoyed him, he still helped me whenever I asked. He always explained his decisions, even when I thought they were boring and only pretended to listen.
He was attentive and present whenever I needed him, and he would even leave his work just to play with me if I asked.
…Okay. Stop thinking about that for now, Milim.
The real problem was how my relationship would affect the others, and what I needed to do to stop them from doing something stupid.
First, I had to make sure no one interfered with Rimuru. Obviously. I was the best big sister ever.
Now, where should I go first?
Ramiris. She would be my first visit.
Carrion could wait. He would not be a problem for the moment, especially after what his subordinate did and the pact, he now had with Rimuru.
Dino? Not even in a million years. He was too boring.
Dagruel? No. Just no.
Leon? Maybe, but he would probably ignore me until I left.
Guy? Yes. I definitely needed to tell him. And Velzard too. Maybe I could finally make those two get together. I would need a plan for that, though. Hmm. Maybe I should ask Sage.
"Hey, Sage, can you—"
I looked around.
I was alone.
Where did she go?
Well, after that, I should go visit Frey. She was my closest friend, after all. Rimuru and the others did not count. They were family.
"Hmm, did I forget something?" I said, placing a finger on my lips.
I nodded confidently. "If I forgot it, it probably was not important."
After all, I was a genius.
Oh, right. The manga.