"Um… do you really want to be my friend?" Milim looked up at Zhong Chen with a serious expression and asked.
"Of course! Who wouldn't want to be friends with a girl as cute as Milim!" Zhong Chen replied with a smile that seemed to be coaxing a child.
System: Hmph! A cunning adult!
"Th-then, I agree to be your friend!"
"Wahahahaha! Take me to your city quickly! My friend!" Milim, feeling like she had made a friend, urged Zhong Chen excitedly.
"Alright, alright, I'll take my friend Milim to explore the city right away!"
"Come with me! I'll introduce you to someone first. I think you two will become good friends too!" After speaking, Zhong Chen led Milim towards his small villa.
"Wow! Is this your home? It's so beautiful!" Milim exclaimed, her eyes gleaming as she looked at the detached villa nestled by the mountains and water below.
"That's right, this is my home. How is it? Nice environment, isn't it!"
"Mhm mhm mhm! Much better than the stone house I live in!" Milim nodded repeatedly in agreement upon hearing Zhong Chen's words.
Then, as if remembering something, a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes, and she said to Zhong Chen with a playful smile: "Hehe! Since we're already friends! Then I want to live here too!"
"Of course you can! You can stay as long as you want!"
"Wahahahaha! As expected of my close friend!" Zhong Chen shook his head with a chuckle, watching Milim upgrade him from a friend to a close friend in an instant.
Some might wonder why the great Demon Lord Milim would so easily believe Zhong Chen and want to be his friend.
There are actually two main reasons. The first is that Milim herself possesses invincible strength, so she fears nothing.
The other, and most important, reason is that Milim has the ability to perceive the good and evil in people's hearts.
She could sense that Zhong Chen was full of goodwill towards her, which is why she became friends with him.
So, don't think that Milim seems naive and easily fooled. The one who truly takes her for a fool is the real fool!
"Alright, stop grinning foolishly. Come inside with me!"
"Hehe! Coming!"
As soon as Zhong Chen entered the hall, he saw Kagaya Ubuyashiki and everyone else gathered there. Seeing Zhong Chen enter, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
It turned out that Kanae Kocho had finally informed Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
Upon hearing that even Zhong Chen had gone to handle the situation with a serious expression, Kagaya Ubuyashiki immediately felt that things must be serious.
Subsequently, Kagaya Ubuyashiki brought the former Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps with him.
They were discussing how to handle unexpected situations when they saw Zhong Chen walk in with Milim.
"Lord Chen! Are you alright!"
"Lord Chen!"
"It's great to see you safe and sound!" Everyone present stood up and asked Zhong Chen with concern.
"Hahahaha! How could I, a peerless existence, be in any trouble? I am invincible!" Zhong Chen said to the concerned crowd, striking a pose that proclaimed him the strongest in the world.
"Phew… I'm relieved to see you're alright!" Kagaya Ubuyashiki finally put down his worries, seeing Zhong Chen joking with them as if nothing had happened.
It wasn't surprising that Kagaya Ubuyashiki was so alarmed this time, as the Monster Country Federation was currently at its lowest point in terms of combat power.
Not only were high-level combatants like Benimaru all in slumber, but most of the lower-tier army was also asleep.
The remaining people not only had to guard the entire city but also had to spare manpower to protect the five million children.
The most crucial point was that with Zhong Chen's departure and Rimuru falling into slumber, the safety of the entire city rested solely on him.
It would be dangerous if enemies invaded at this time.
"Lord Chen! Who is this young lady behind you!" Hearing Kagaya Ubuyashiki's question, before Zhong Chen could speak, Milim had already bounced out.
With her hands on her hips, she proudly declared: "I am Milim the Destroyer! I am a terrifying Demon Lord! Wahahahaha!"
"Demon Lord!!!"
"Is… is this the terrifying Demon Lord?" Everyone present's pupils constricted upon hearing Milim's self-introduction.
None of them had expected this seemingly adorable little girl to be the legendary Demon Lord.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Zhong Chen, who simply nodded, confirming that this little girl was indeed the Demon Lord.
"So, Demon Lord-sama has traveled a long way. It is our oversight not to have welcomed you sooner!" Kagaya Ubuyashiki bowed slightly and spoke to Milim with a gentle expression.
"Hehe! It's alright! A Chen and I are close friends! We won't mind these small things! Wahahahaha!" Looking at Milim, who was smiling like a child, Kagaya Ubuyashiki felt a surge of admiration for Zhong Chen.
How long had it been, and he had already assimilated a Demon Lord into his own ranks? One could only say, as expected of Lord Chen.
"Alright! The danger has been averted. You all should go back to your duties. I will entertain Milim here!"
"Yes! Then we shall take our leave! Lord Chen!"
"Your subordinates take their leave!" As Kagaya Ubuyashiki led everyone away, Zhong Chen also took Milim upstairs to the door of his bedroom.
Click… As the door opened, the women inside who were accompanying Rimuru also turned to look at the doorway.
"A Chen! You're back! That's great!"
"It's good that you're back safe!" Kanae Kocho and Shizue, seeing Zhong Chen at the door, finally smiled, their worried expressions easing.
"Yes, I'm back! Look how worried you all were! I told you I'm invincible!"
"Yes, yes, yes! A Chen is the strongest!" Zhong Chen looked at Kanae Kocho, who was praising him like a child, and couldn't help but laugh wryly.
"Alright! Let me introduce you all. This is Milim Nava. Don't let her appearance fool you; she is one of the Ten Great Demon Lords of this world!" Shizue's face instantly showed shock upon hearing Milim's name, and she hastily asked: "Is she the Milim, one of the oldest Demon Lords, the Destroyer?" Zhong Chen affirmed: "That's right, the Destroyer!"
"It really is her…" Zhong Chen looked at Shizue, who had fallen silent, and couldn't help but say: "Alright, Shizue! Don't worry about that. Milim means no harm! Oh, right, Sakuya, please bring some pudding!" Izayoi Sakuya, upon hearing Zhong Chen's command, bowed and left the room.
"Mmm mmm… How long have I been asleep!" Just as the others were about to converse further, Rimuru, lying on the bed, finally opened its eyes, looking at the familiar ceiling and slowly speaking.
"Lord Rimuru, you're awake! Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere!" Zhong Chen covered his forehead, sighing helplessly as he watched Kanae Kocho acting like she was caring for a patient: "Kanae! Rimuru is just evolving, not sick! You're too excited!"
"Uh…" Milim looked at Rimuru on the bed with curiosity and couldn't help but say: "From your appearance, you should have just evolved into a Demon Lord! But why do I feel danger from you!" Rimuru looked towards the voice, seeing a very cute little girl clinging tightly to Zhong Chen.
Then, its small face crumpled, and it asked Milim: "Hmph! I was about to ask, who are you, getting so close to A Chen!"
"I am A Chen's close friend!"
"What! I'm A Chen's close friend!"
"I am!"
"I am!" Zhong Chen looked at the two bickering, feeling that his future days were about to become very interesting…