Chapter 30: The Diplomatic Surcharge
I float down toward the plaza, my obsidian-sheened membrane feeling heavy—not from the battle itself, but from the sheer amount of fragmented data I'm carrying. Every law I've copied is a weight, a line of code that hasn't been optimized, creating a silent, high-frequency "noise" in my core.
Notice. Soul Capacity is at 48.5%. The stabilization of [Partial Magic Interference] is causing significant internal heat. Evolution is becoming a statistical necessity to avoid system degradation.
Azathoth, tell me something I don't know. My internal Deadpool is currently screaming about "storage space full" and suggesting I delete some of the Orc traits to make room for cool shark stuff. But I'm not a fan of discarding assets without a proper write-off.
The plaza is a wreck. Milim's "intervention" saved the city, but it left a scar on the architecture that would cost a fortune in Dwarven labor to fix. I hover over a pile of rubble, watching Rimuru try to explain to a very dazed Phobio why he shouldn't trust masked clowns.
"I... I was so weak," Phobio mutters, his lion-like features twisted in shame.
"You were a bad investment for a Majin," I pulse, my voice a cold, level resonance. "But since you've officially provided us with a live-fire test of our aerial defenses, I'll consider your debt to the city partially settled. Provided, of course, your employer pays the rest."
Warning. High-density magicule signature detected. Altitude: 100 meters. Identification: Demon Lord Carrion.
A massive, muscular figure descends from the sky, landing with far more grace than Milim. This is Carrion, the Beast King. He looks at the carnage, then at Milim, and finally at the two slimes—one blue and bouncy, one dark and ominous.
"So," Carrion rumbles, his voice like grinding tectonic plates. "My subordinate caused quite a bit of trouble for you. And it seems he's being kept alive by your mercy."
"Mercy has a high overhead, Carrion," I pulse, floating up to eye level. I don't care that he's a Demon Lord; my [Transaction Domain] is already active, creating a localized "Boardroom" that signals I am not here for pleasantries. "Your 'Beastketeer' attempted a hostile takeover of our airspace. The resulting cleanup has put us behind schedule on three major infrastructure projects. We expect full compensation."
Carrion chuckles, a sound that vibrates my membrane. "You've got guts, dark one. Very well. Eurazania will pay for the repairs. And as a gesture of goodwill, we will formalize the non-aggression pact Shinji suggested earlier."
"Good. Rimuru, get the paperwork," I pulse. "And Carrion? If you ever send another pilot to my city, make sure they have a flight plan. Next time, I won't be so lenient with the late fees."
The weeks following the "Charybdis Audit" were quieter, but the pressure in my soul didn't abate. Tempest was growing. We were officially recognized by the Beast Kingdom and the Dwarf Kingdom. The village had become a city, and Rimuru—in a fit of ego—had officially named it after himself.
"The Capital: Rimuru," he announced with a grin.
"Very original," I retorted. "Let's hope the brand name carries some weight in Ingrassia."
Rimuru's mood shifted. He was thinking about Shizu. He was thinking about her "unfulfilled contract"—the children she left behind in the Kingdom of Ingrassia.
"Shinji, I have to go," Rimuru says, looking at the city we'd built. "I made a promise. Shizu's students... they don't have anyone left. They're like us—reincarnated, but their bodies can't handle the power. I have to find a way to save them."
I look at him. My obsidian surface reflects the sun setting over our new stone walls. My Soul Capacity is screaming at me to evolve, to find a catalyst to restructure my fragmented skills.
"A trip to a human kingdom?" I pulse, my internal persona already drafting a travel budget. "High risk, potentially high reward. Human education systems are a goldmine for cultural data. And if Shizu's students are as 'over-leveraged' as you say, they might provide the perfect case study for our own stabilization issues."
"So you're coming?"
"Someone has to manage your travel expenses, Rimuru," I pulse. "And I refuse to let you represent the Tempest brand in a foreign kingdom while wearing that ridiculous scarf without me there to balance the aesthetic."
Notice. Strategic Pivot: Initiating the 'Children's Arc'. Location: Kingdom of Ingrassia. Objective: Stabilization of Shizu's students and search for an Evolution Catalyst.
Azathoth, pack the bags. We're going to a human school. And if I see a single cafeteria mystery-meat that isn't appraise-worthy, I'm declaring the entire kingdom bankrupt.
Current Magicule Reserves: 58.2%. Location: City of Tempest (Departure Gates). Status: Preparing for Ingrassia. Soul Capacity: 48.5% (CRITICAL).
Chapter End.