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Souma was sitting in his office, his little sanctuary of reprieve from the outside world. Yes, it was still work. Yes, people still talked to him, but at the very least, it was either work-related, or someone like Liscia. The important thing, at least for him, is that some more unsavory people wouldn't bother him here. Oddly enough, a place like this was a bit of a stress reliever, though if he had his choice, and damn what anyone else thought, he would be spending it with Liscia. Unfortunately, he was king, and there wasn't anyone willing, or more rather anyone both competent and willing, to take the position.
Well, that's not entirely true. I do still have that ridiculous offer from Rimuru…
Just as he was thinking of the blue-haired man, said blue-haired man decided to pop in his office, and even Souma was surprised at how much air he exhaled when he sighed.
"Well, nice to see you, too." Rimuru commented.
"I'm guessing this is important?"
"I mean, I thought it was, but if you'd rather sulk in here all day, I suppose the details of your summoning weren't all that important to you anyways."
Souma just wanted to rest. He would love to say that it wasn't important, and then he could get back to leisurely chucking away at his work, or maybe even just jumping into the bed that was still in his office. However, that voice inside his head, that thing called a conscience, unfortunately reminded him that Rimuru wasn't exactly your average person, and if he thought something was important, it probably was.
Looking much more alert, he held up his hand and said, "Wait. I am interested in it. What did you find."
Donning a much more serious face, Rimuru said, "Well, a lot and not so much at all. It's honestly best if you see it for yourself. Come."
Wondering what it was, Souma got up, thinking that Rimuru was going to lead him to wherever or whatever he found.
What he failed to predict was that Rimuru was actually interested, and instead proceeded to immediately teleport him the second he was near. The issue with this is that it gave him a strong case of vertigo, causing him to cling to Rimuru for support.
"Oh." Rimuru said with an apologetic chuckle, "Sorry about that. I got a little too excited there. Might have forgotten to take into account your eyesight. Anyways, after you're done feeling like throwing up, mind walking into that room for me?"
Souma was only able to muster up a groan in response, but as soon as he was able to gather his surroundings, he just looked incredibly confused.
"What exactly is this place?" He asked.
Cracking a sly smile, Rimuru said, "I don't mind answering, but do you mind letting go of my arm first? I mean, I'm flattered, but I still don't swing that way."
Souma almost looked repulsed by the notion and hastily pulled away from him. Only then did he comprehend what Rimuru was asking him. "Wait, hold on a second. Why do you want me to walk into some unknown room alone?"
"Why do you think? Because I can't do it. They're asking for my DNA, which I can't realistically provide." Rimuru answered.
"Why…? I mean, don't you have control over yourself? I still can't get that image of your cut-off hand moving by itself."
"Souma," Rimuru began, gesturing to the room. "Take a good look around you. Like, I want you to seriously look around at the level of technology here. They didn't summon you with a magician chanting 'abacadabra' and sacrificing lambs or some shit like that."
Souma took another look around the room, this time in more detail, and noticed the almost silent hums of the machinery. Moreover, he noticed just how alien-like all this was. Much like Rimuru thought, none of what was present fit the time period for this world.
Once Rimuru felt that Souma had gotten a better understanding of the situation, he continued. "Believe me, I wouldn't have brought you here if it wasn't important. What I'm afraid of is that if they are able to get some of my cells, they may be able to weaponize it, albeit pitifully."
A look of realization, dread even, came across Souma. "Wait, wait. Would they be able to replicate your abilities? Like stopping time?"
"Thankfully, no." came the response. "However, my cells are multifunctional, acting as neurons, nerve cells, and muscular cells. Sometimes all at once. To better understand, imagine a soldier who doesn't require sleep, and has vision in a 360 degree radius. And that isn't even taking into consideration how much energy my cells can hold."
Souma looked partially relieved at his response. Dealing with what Rimuru described would still be, well, quite impossible, but he was certain that Rimuru would step in if such a threat came to pass.
"Fair enough. So, back to the room, what exactly do I need to do?"
"Go in to the room and an AI voice will identify you, hopefully correctly. If not, it may ask for some DNA with a prick on your finger. After it confirms your identity, request it to give you data in physical form of exactly where and when you were summoned. I should be able to use that to travel us back to Earth."
Souma stopped at that last line. "Wait. Back to Earth? That's what this is about?! I wouldn't have joined you down here if that was the-!"
Before he could blow things out of proportion, Rimuru clarified, "For a vacation! Not to bring you back permanently. Besides, I'm sure that you have things you would like to bring back, right?"
Souma felt a bit silly when Rimuru clarified himself, though he was still confused as to how it would work. "Wait, how would we be able to take a vacation? I mean with the time… wait. Can you stop time here while we are away?"
Rimuru looked like a proud father at Souma's words. "Not quite like that. The full explanation is really complicated, but essentially it's like leaving a tracker at a point in time that I can come back to, so to this world, we would only be gone for the night, if that. As long as we don't arrive before the time we left, we should be fine."
"Before the time we left?" Souma questioned.
"Yeah… time travel isn't something I like messing with too much. At least when it comes to travelling back in time. I don't mind slowing it down, or even reversing it in certain cases since you're just messing with entropy, but travelling back is just… let's just say I hope I never find out."
"Oh." Souma said. To be honest, he only cared about the part of being able to come back soon after they left, however, something else Rimuru said bugged him. "Wait, wouldn't we be travelling back in time since I'm requesting also when I'm being summoned?"
"I highly doubt it." came the nonchalant reply. "Unless you think that magic is present literally anywhere in the same universe as Earth, I think it's safe to say that your Earth is in a completely different universe. Even if it isn't, it's one of those complicated things about time in which it flows differently for each celestial body. Besides," he added on, "even if it does come to that, I'll figure out a way to deal with the consequences. Anything else?"
With Souma shaking his head, Rimuru let the matter rest.
"Well then," he said, putting a hand on his back and gently shoving him, "off you go. Remember to ask for the data in physical form."
Souma groaned in response, but went in anyways. He got the same greeting that Rimuru did, but instead of being labeled as an unidentified individual, he instead got a different prompt.
"Movement detected. Identifying individual. Human. Not of this world. Records match that of summoned individual Souma Kazuya. Welcome, Souma Kazuya. What can I do for you?"
Still marveling at the technology, the AI's question reminded him of why he was here. "I would like data of exactly where and when I was summoned. In physical form, if possible."
"Understood. Please wait while I gather the data."
Souma watched as the walls themselves hummed to life, the lights becoming slightly brighter as power surged all throughout the room. This only lasted for maybe ten seconds before everything all of a sudden went back to normal, and a small piece of the wall opened up, no bigger than the size of a manilla envelope, and something protruded out from it.
"Here is the requested data. Are there any other requests?"
Before he answered the question he gingerly reached out and grabbed what looked like an obsidian slate with dark blue engravings which made the slate look very similar to a SIM card. Afterwards, he said, "Umm, no. I think I'm good…"
Truth be told, he had a million other questions, but didn't want to be down here forever and hoping that the machine had answers to them. However, an idea suddenly popped into his head. "Actually, can you point me to the people who built this, or who could have answers as to who built this?"
"Understood. I am unable to answer your initial query as you do not possess the necessary clearance from the northern or southern guardian. As to your secondary query, you may ask the northern or southern guardians."
"Oh. Can you tell me where they are?"
"Understood. The southern guardian's last known coordinates are 19.4285° N 99.1277° W and the northern guardian's last known coordinates are 69.6489° N 18.9551° E."
Like I can do anything with that. I'll just ask for the data in physical form and let Rimuru deal with the rest.
After doing precisely that, he left the room and met back up with a very anticipating Rimuru.
"So? I imagine those giant obsidian slates means you got something good?"
"One of them contains coordinates back to Earth, and the other contains coordinates as to the whereabouts of the northern and southern guardians."
Rimuru's eyes lit up at the second part of his statement. "Oooooh. Gimme, gimme, gimme!"
Before Souma was even able to outstretch his hands, the slates just disappeared, and the two of them were back in his office. Again, Rimuru forgot to take into account his eyesight, but at least the vertigo wasn't horrible.
"Oh, shit. Sorry again. Anyways, just relax here for a bit. I should have these deciphered long before sundown, so if you want to go and tell Liscia and the girls about our little trip, go right ahead."
Grabbing his desk for support, he said, "Wait, we're leaving tonight?"
"Yep!" came the chipper reply. "So, be ready. Oh, and Souma," he added on as he turned around to face him, "I'm presuming that you got summoned in your house, so if that's the case, we'll be summoned right back at your house. Since we'll need a place to stay for the time we're there, well, I hope that you have the space, 'kay?"
Souma still had plenty of questions, but Rimuru was simply not hearing them, instead choosing to just walk out the door and leave Souma to his thoughts and work.
—
There wasn't a whole lot for Hinata to do currently, so she was walking back to her room, or rather Rimuru's room, just to relax for a bit. The days after the war and going back to the kingdom have been quite dull, if she were being honest, but that didn't stop Aisha and Liscia from wanting to train with her. She did enjoy their enthusiasm, but there was only so much she could push them without things like the labyrinth and full potions, where they would really be able to let loose.
Alas, the only way they would be able to recreate a situation like that would be inside Rimuru's imaginary space, but she didn't feel like it was particularly necessary.
In any case, she went to open the door, and as soon as she did, she saw Testa on the bed, on her knees, looking incredibly frustrated with her hands in her head. She did quickly look up, only to see that it was Hinata entering, and put her face right back in her hands and groaned. Loudly.
"Wow. Y'know, I know I'm pregnant, but I haven't felt any mood swings yet that would warrant a response like that."
"Oh, it's not that." she responded. "Back in our world, apparently my presence is needed."
Taking a seat on the bed, Hinata prodded, "Wait, can't Cien or Moss handle it? I thought that's what you left them in charge for."
Taking her hands out of her face, Testa almost seethed back, "I did, but those… incredibly idiotic and immensely stupid idiots that somehow believe themselves to be human…" she took a deep breath. "The country of Siahon have issued an ultimatum with the Dianse Republic, stating that during the Tenma War, the Dianse Republic took land from them. They are demanding that land back, or are threatening war. The part where I come in is that, apparently, those idiots are completely ignoring Moss and Cien, citing the reason that due to their nature as stand-ins, they don't have the complete authority that I do as a diplomat."
Hinata didn't care much about politics. In fact, she still doesn't. However, being Rimuru's wife, it was pretty hard to completely distance yourself from these sorts of things. Some things would be picked up here or there, and there was one pretty big thing that she noted. "Well, that's true, but Siahon and the Dianse Republic, aren't part of the Western Nations, so it shouldn't matter either way, right?"
Dragging her hand across her face, she replied, "Normally, yes. However, both because of their border to many countries of the Western Nations, and because of the Dianse Republic's major food exports, the Western Nations want to put pressure on Saihon to come to an agreement that doesn't involve war."
Hinata looked confused. "Then, isn't that their prerogative? I'm sure that can be resolved without your help, right?"
Testa gave her a deadpanned look. "Have you forgotten my job?"
Clarity donned on her face as she remembered the demon's official job title. While yes, she is the diplomat of Tempest, because Tempest effectively has control over the Western Nations, that also makes her the de facto leader of the Nations.
"What makes this so annoying is that I know for a fact that they are only using that excuse with Cien and Moss to buy time. Even if I go back, they are still going to go to war."
Hinata understood what she meant by that as well. If Tempest didn't deploy every method they could within the constraints of how they could act, that would most likely damage their reputation going forward, allowing other nations a step in to question why Tempest should be the place where the Western Nations are headquartered. While it might die down, Hinata also understood just how much confidence and charisma affected people. Prince Elric being a prime example of that.
If someone like that came along and bit at just the right time, it could spell complications for Tempest and the Western Nations at large going forward. She doubted that it would affect Tempest a whole lot, since the only reason Rimuru even joined the Nations was due to helping his image as a guardian of humanity, again, she also understood how things like hatred and fear could be manipulated. If people like that could gain power in the various nations that make up the alliance, it could quickly spell doom for the alliance as a whole, even if the majority of people saw him in a beneficial light.
"I think I already know the answer, but can Rimuru resolve this?"
"I really wouldn't want to impose. Additionally, King Gazel pointed out that if Rimuru-sama got involved with these sorts of things, my position as a diplomat may be put into question by the people, and even perhaps the Nations."
Hinata sighed in an attempt to empathize with Testa. Ultimately, though, it really wasn't something to concern herself over. The thing that mattered right now was when she was needed back in their world.
Testa seemed to have a sixth sense for this, and said, "I'll need to go and talk to Rimuru-sama and ask him to send me back soon. I'd like to get this over with as soon as possible."
When that conversation happened, she swore more than a few death wishes on the people who made her go back instead of continuing her vacation back to Earth, but she was placated by a promise to go visit Earth with him some other time. To be honest, Rimuru didn't really see the attraction that a demon like Testa would have with Earth, but if she wanted to go, he certainly wouldn't stop her.
Perhaps she can go and spend time with Satoru-
{No. Satoru is mine.}
I was just thinking that human me could show her around-
{Satoru is mine.}
Knowing that prodding wouldn't earn him anymore brownie points, he decided to drop the subject, and after sending her back to Tempest, he turned his attention to the rest of the people in the room, and addressed Souma in particular. "Alright, so, Souma. Just in case you've forgot, these coordinates are designed to take us back to right after you were summoned. Do you remember where, and the time of day, by chance?"
Souma looked confused at the second part of the question, but instead of giving an answer, someone else asked a question. "I'm sorry, where did Testarossa go?"
Turning to Liscia, he answered, "She had some business back on our planet to attend to."
"What kind of business?"
Aisha joined in as well. "How about we go there as well? I kind of want to see what your world is like."
Souma seconded this, partly to put Rimuru on his toes, but mainly because he was interested. "I mean, makes sense. I only need a couple things from Earth anyways, and there isn't a whole bunch of things to see where I live, so we can stay there for maybe a couple days and go to your world."
Rimuru protested this. "Wait, wait, wait! I'm the chaperone of this group! Besides, there's no reason to go back to my world."
However, it was Hinata who put the final nail in the coffin. "Oh, come on, surely we can spare an extra week going back home, Mr. Chaperone~?"
There was a heavy sigh that came out of Rimuru's mouth. "Let's just go to Earth and see where it goes from there. I hope everyone's ready?"
With no objections, Rimuru snapped his fingers, teleporting everyone right in Souma's backyard. This time, however, he made sure to accommodate everyone's vision so they wouldn't get dizzy. Once everyone got adjusted to the sunlight, something was made apparent very quickly, especially to Hinata and Aisha.
"Did Earth always smell this bad?"
"At the very least, it smells better than parts of the forest."
Souma took the time to elaborate. "It's pollution. Basically, it's the effect from burning oil and coal for power. It made our world what it is today, but this is the unfortunate cost. Anyways, let's head inside."
Once inside, Rimuru gave Juna, Aisha, and Liscia some more modern clothes and Souma took them for a tour around the house after showing Rimuru and Hinata their room.
"It's quite a modest house. I must say, I like it."
"Does it remind you of your time back as a human?" Hinata asked.
"God, no. When I was a human, I lived in an apartment, and some nights it genuinely felt like I was only there to sleep before going back to work. But, one thing that I really liked was computer games, and judging by Souma's setup, we think alike."
Hinata sat down on the floor while rolling her eyes as Ciel manifested herself to use the computer.
"Do you really need to know everything about this world, Ciel? I doubt it's any different from my Earth."
{I know next to nothing about your Earth aside from your own experience.}
"Ah, so that's why you want to… wait! Are you sure you want to do that?! There's some pretty unsavory stuff on the internet!"
Ciel responded to Rimuru's panicked face with an incredibly well-practiced deadpan of her own. {Need I remind you of your memories? Or what was on your computer?}
Hinata stifled her laughter, and Rimuru tried desperately to not shout, only to pathetically fall into his slime form, making Hinata start howling with laughter. Successfully shutting him up, Ciel turned her attention back to the computer and continued with her research… which sometimes involved hacking.
"Sounds like they're having fun in there." Juna commented.
"Definitely sounds like it. But never mind that. Look, Princess! It's like magic how the water comes from this device!"
"Aisha," Liscia sighed, "Souma has said this time and time again, we have to use our names. We aren't recognized royals in this world, and according to Souma, monarchies are a thing of the past."
The three women were currently exploring the master bedroom, which was where they would be staying along with Souma. Due to this world only being humans, Rimuru needed to take some measures with Juna and Aisha's appearance. Since there was no such thing as blue hair, he changed Juna's hair to be more auburn. Aisha required something more than just a hair change, and so temporarily cast some illusionary magic on her to change her ears and her hair, which was now jet-black.
Naturally, there were some complaints thrown his way, especially with Aisha saying things like 'why aren't you changing yourself?' and the response that she got was for him to temporarily change into Satoru.
In any case, Souma came back into the room shortly after, quieting the room until Juna mustered up the courage to speak. "What kind of person was your Grandpa?"
Souma chuckled weakly to himself. He appreciated the effort to console him of his loss, but it happened over two years ago. Still, it was a nice gesture, and he figured now was as good a time as any to talk to them about him. "He was as nice a person as you could be. He taught me everything that I know, and a big part of what I believe in is due to him. Interestingly enough, he taught me the importance of having a family, one worth protecting."
All the girls felt touched by his reminiscing, at least before he suddenly clapped his hands and said, "Right. Let's see if we can get you some more modern clothes. I think you'll all really like the fabric."
After a short while, and with Rimuru's help, the three women were able to get some clothes that made them fit right in with the rest of society, and along with Hinata, they were off within an hour sightseeing. Rimuru was offered to join, but declined, saying that he had some other business to attend to, so they let him be. Souma would later apologize to his grandpa for continuing to use his credit card to buy things after his death.
As for Rimuru…
The dazzling sights, the smell of smoke in the air, the grandiose buildings, and the extravagance that basically screamed "Welcome to Paradise" was his destination, all the while having a big smile in front of one of these entrances.
Ahh, Vegas truly is better in person than in any postcard!
{I detected three homeless people get shooed off the sidewalk by police in the span of ten minutes.}
I never said it was a place known for its compassion. But never mind that. Ciel! We're hitting up every damn casino on the strip! We're not leaving until we walk out with at least five million!
Ciel felt herself deflating to the floor in his head. {Master, you have a serious gambling problem.}
Oh, forget that nonsense, Ciel. I'll be sticking to the roulette tables and the dealers. Besides! It's only a problem if you lose!
Forced to go along with his whims, Rimuru set foot into one of the casinos and racked up win after win. Unfortunately, he failed to take into account that winning too much could be a problem in of itself, and was promptly kicked out, as well as banned from all other casinos in the city.
Safe to say, he did not walk out with five million.