Chapter 1
The destination of Rhein's "portal" is a silvery world of ice and snow.
Unlike before, it seemed to be Guy's castle. Rhein leads me into the castle.
Shion and Diablo followed me. The temperature inside the castle was comfortable,
though it was too cold for any living thing to live outside. However, it was obvious
that something had happened to the castle, as half of it had collapsed.
"Hey, good to see you. I'm sure Milim and Dagruel will be here soon, so make
yourself comfortable and wait for them. “
Guy told me as he led me to the room.
There were several round tea tables in a hall that looked like it could be used
for a ball. Chairs were placed irregularly, so that we could sit freely.
Looking at the guests, I saw Ruminas and Leon.
Behind Ruminas were Pope Louis and the old butler Gunther.
Behind Leon were two knights, Alrose and Claude, both fully armed.
I feel a little relieved to see familiar faces. After a brief exchange of greetings,
I took a seat. Shion and Diablo don't sit down, but seem to be waiting behind me. I
wish they would sit down, but I let them do as they please.
Then, Ramiris arrived noisily.
"Hey, what's the matter with you leaving me here?
Oh! I thought we left together, but it seems we left Ramiris behind.
"Oh, what? Ramiris-sama, why weren't you with us? "
I wasn't the only one who panicked, Rhein, who was leading the way, was
too. He seemed to have assumed that I was following him, and was surprised to see
an angry Ramiris.
"Rhein, that's a mistake unlike you. I was sent by Ramiris-sama to pick you
up.". It was Mizari who said this.
Like Rhein, Mizari's face was battered and bruised, but her expression
remained crisp.
I thought they looked alike, but perhaps it was because they didn't have the
luxury of time right now, but the difference in their personalities stood out clearly.
"Rhein-chan, you seem to be distracted because of your injury! I was
wondering who I should take with me, you know! And yet! "
I noticed that Ramiris had two attendants with him.
Beretta and... Hey.
"Veldora, what are you doing? "
Ruminas reacted to my words and turned to look behind Ramiris. She sees Veldora
standing there, clicking her tongue and making a disgusted face.
"Damn you, you evil dragon. “
"Quahhhh!. When I heard that there was some kind of important meeting, I
couldn't help but participate. I was actually planning to follow Rimuru, but I was too
late. I hurriedly stopped Ramiris and offered to join him! "
Veldora did not read the situation.
She doesn't care that Ruminas is in a bad mood, she's confidently sitting on
her haunches.
Ramiris followed suit.
"That's what I'm talking about! If you can get Master to join us, you'll be in
good hands, and I hope you'll thank me for bringing him here! "
Beretta was the only one shaking her head and lamenting, but there seemed
to be no stopping the two of them.
"I'm sorry, sir. I just got careless... ... "
"No, no, it's not Rhein-san's fault. We came here in a hurry too."
Rhein looked depressed, so I comforted him.
…..
"Well, I called you here, so of course you're in a hurry. Rimuru, didn't I tell
you before that you can call Rhein and the others by their names? "
Oh, I forgot.
"Guy-sama is right, Rimuru-sama. You can call us by our names.
"That's right, sir. It makes me happy to feel like I'm known."
Mizari-san seems to understand me very well.
There are two ways in which I address others with honorific titles.
One is when I'm giving them a second glance, and the other is when I want to
keep my distance.
When I'm not close to someone, or when I should be wary of someone, I
think it's rude to call them by their honorific titles. It may be partly because I don't
want to be disliked and partly because I don't want to antagonize them.
On the other hand, when I get close to someone, I naturally call him/her by
name.
There are some people like Haruna-san or Treyni-san, who for some reason make
me want to call them "-san", but those people are exceptions.
But those people are exceptions.
At that time, I was approached by some unexpected people.
"Rimuru, you call me (Ruminas voice) by my name too, so it's a little late for
that.
"That's right. You're that brazen, don't think you can fix it now."
Ruminas and Leon.
I was convinced that they were right.
"All right, then. I'll just call you by your first name from now on."
I said, accepting Guy's offer.
Mizari and Rhein went to meet Milim and Dagruel.
We relaxed and waited. There were snacks on the table, so we spent some
time reaching for them.
After a while...
"What's going on, Guy? I've got a lot on my plate. You can call me, but you
should at least call me beforehand! Frey says that's good manners."
Milim arrived, looking full of energy.
She was still as noisy as ever, which was very typical of Milim.
"Is that so, Frey? "
"Well, yeah. Guy-sama. “
"Frey, as I was saying to Rimuru, no honorifics, please. And Karion, you guys
there. Any of you in this room deserve it."
Oh, Guy just said something I didn't expect. ... I agree. Everyone in this room
is a strong man.
If I had to pick one, I'd say Leon's followers are inferior in terms of magicule
quantity, but their skills are quite good.
On top of that, Frey-san has awakened into a "True Demon Lord" and has
reached the Million-class. It was unknown how strong he had become, but he was
not someone to be mocked as a mere follower.
As if he was aware of this, Frey-san nodded.
"Oh, thank you. I'll feel free to call you that then."
Frey-san said, looking around Guy's castle.
Karion follows suit, addressing Guy in a dignified manner.
"I've never been good at honorifics, so it's nice of you to say so. So, Guy,
what's the deal with you calling us here today? "
Like Frey-san, Karion had become a million-class man. This one had the air
of a king from the start, so he was allowed to be arrogant.
When our eyes met, he greeted me with one hand raised in the air.
Guy responded to Karion with a wry smile.
"Wait a minute. Dagruel will be here soon, so we'll talk then. But I'm still
surprised. Karion's awake, but Frey's awake too."
Well, you'd know. I knew it from the reports, but when I saw him in person,
he's stronger than ever.
"Thanks to you. Maybe Milim's calculations were right, but this war has
helped me overcome my karma as a harpy."
Frey-san smiled, and Guy nodded in satisfaction, "That's a superposition.
"Well, I guess I'm the same way. Now that I've taken care of the beastmen's
embarrassment, I guess it's not all bad to play along with Milim's schemes."
Karion laughed loudly.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about! "
"Huh, don't hide it Milim. You must have thought that if we remain weak,
we'll die in future battles, right? That's why you gave us the chance to fight the
humans."
"That's right. If this is the world Rimuru-dono wants, he won't be able to get
the soul he needs to awaken. Maybe this was his last chance? "
"You're right. Isn't that right? "
"No, no! I don't know. Stop talking nonsense and get your ass in that seat! "
Milim's attitude was one of embarrassment.
So that's what she was trying to do, I thought to myself.
But that's beside the point.
"Um, Frey-san. You don't have to address me by '-dono' or any other
honorific title."
I was trying to make a point, but Frey-san snickered at me.
"No, thank you. You're a friend of Milim, our master, so you should be
respected as -chan."
No, no, you call me Milim too.
I don't find that very convincing...
"That's why..."
"And you call me "-san" too. Can you stop that? "
He got caught in my line of questioning.
Frey-san's request was a high hurdle for me.
I don't feel comfortable calling out Frey-san, let alone Karion. What do you
call it, an aura you don't like? When I'm in front of a beautiful woman, I feel
deflated.
Milim is a child, and Ruminas is a beautiful girl, so it's safe. If they were more
mature, I might have had a little trouble reacting. If they were as disappointing as
Shion, the hurdle would be lowered and they would be fine.
"Ahahaha! Rimuru, so you're not good with adult beauties, huh? "
He saw right through me!
"Good. When I ask you for something, I'll take the form of a beautiful
woman."
"I don't need that kind of attention! If I knew it was you, I wouldn't be happy!
"
I was so annoyed that I lost all my tension.
That's why I completely ignored Guy's caution and spilled out my true
feelings.
"Huh, of course! Rimuru-sama has a beautiful secretary like me."
What, you're going to say that yourself?
"Kufufufu. Guy, you're too arrogant to think that Rimuru-sama would be
interested in you. In the first place, I can easily learn to become a woman, and if
Rimuru-sama wants me to...
If Rimuru-sama wants to... "
I don't want to, so this conversation is over.
Diablo was worse than Shion.
If I left him alone, he was going to say something crazy, so I hurriedly ended
the conversation.
I really can't handle my subordinates.
I regretted for a moment that I should have brought Benimaru with me.
In the meantime, Dagruel also arrived.
He didn't have any companions, but even by himself he looked very
intimidating.
"Oh, man, it's a terrible situation. Are you serious about this call? "
Dagruel said as he opened his mouth, and sat down on a large chair as Rhein
led him. The chair is made of massive stone, but it's funny because it looks
distorted.
Anyway, did I just point out something that no one had mentioned?
No, everyone had noticed it.
There is a big crack in the wall of this hall. Just by looking at it, it was
obvious that something had happened. He knew that it would be very troublesome,
and that was why he had diverted the topic to avoid facing the reality. It was an
escape to avoid getting involved in the situation, but now that everyone was here,
there seemed to be no choice but to get down to business.
"Well, you know, things have become a bit troublesome. For once, I really
need the wisdom of all of you."
"Well, that's pretty big of you to say."
Guy nodded, and Dagruel turned serious. Dagruel must have sensed that he
was in serious trouble. It's not just wisdom, I thought, with a faraway look in my
eyes. It wasn't just me, but Guy stood up and announced with a smile.
"Well, then, let's change places. I'm not the only one who feels this way. "
Cooperation?
I almost muttered to myself, "Don't talk in your sleep! “
I had a bad feeling about that smile, but... But... Sadly, there seemed to be no
right of refusal, so we reluctantly followed Guy's lead.
We followed Guy's directions reluctantly. It was a round-table hall that
seemed to have been isolated from the outside world. The fact that drinks had
already been prepared for us was quite impressive. Guy sits at the top, and I sit
opposite him. To my right is Milim, and to my left is Ramiris. To my right is Leon.
Between Milim and Leon is Ruminas, and facing him is Dagruel. Ramiris's chair is
small, but its seat is higher than the top of the round table. And since Dagruel's
chair is several times heavier than usual, this arrangement was well balanced. As
soon as I sat down, it was obvious that there was an empty seat lying between me
and Dagruel.
"By the way, I can't see Dino, do we have to wait for him? "
Dagruel asks the obvious question.
The other demon lords seemed to be curious as well, and their eyes focused
on Guy.
"Yeah, that's it."
Guy looked at me.
I have a feeling he's going to turn on me soon.
"Rimuru-kun."
I knew Guy knew about Dino's betrayal. I don't know what kind of
information network he has, but the fact that he talked to me suggests that he has
some grasp of the situation.
"Yes, yes. You want me to explain? Dino was a traitor. That's it! "
"Too brief! Be polite, be detailed."
"Damn, that's it"
It was useless to resist any further, so I gave up and decided to explain.
He told us that Dino, who was staying in our country, betrayed us and turned
to the enemy camp. However, he did not hide the fact that it was probably due to
the influence of Michael's "Ultimate Dominion", regardless of his intentions.
"Dino turned…"
Dagruel muttered to himself as he finished listening to my story. Dagruel,
who was a good friend of mine, must have had some thoughts on the matter.
"It seems he's only under your control, though. I haven't checked his
intentions, though."
"Michael, is it? Are you saying that a mere Skill has a will of its own?”
Yeah. Guy didn't know why Dino betrayed him.
"That's right. I don't doubt that. At this point, he's grown an ego, and he's
taken over Rudra's body and is acting as Michael."
Because I have a buddy named Ciel-san, and we have the best evidence of
that.
"Wait, Rimuru! Did you say that the Ultimate Dominion affects the angelic powers?
The question is, how can you tell the difference between angelic and demonic when
the concepts are so vague? "
Oh, Ruminas made a good point! That's what I was wondering, too.
Just when I thought that, Guy stood up.
"I'll explain it to you."
Then Guy started talking about Skill in surprising detail. It was a big secret, a
secret about the way the world works, but he was generous enough to share it with
us.
He said Veldanava has established the laws of this world, and anyone who
has administrative authority can influence those laws. Even if you don't have the
authority, you can rewrite the laws to some extent by intervening with your wish in
the magicule. In other words, this is the concept of magic, and it is a kind of
authority. Skill is a kind of systematization that can affect these laws to some extent.
Skills that reside in the soul of the willed and are activated by the pure energy of the
willed. That is the Ultimate Skill of the angelic lineage created by Veldanava, and
among them are seven powers called the Virtues.
"When I fought Veldanava, he had many powers. But, after the world was
stabilized, he left only the strongest one, the 'Justice King', and gave some of them
away and unleashed the rest on the world. As a result, those powers were taken
into the wheel of reincarnation and appeared in the world in the form of qualified
and strong souls. However, the Ultimate Skill was too strong, and it was restricted
to the unique level. It can be scattered among various Skills, or it can become a
Unique Skill of Virtue while retaining a certain amount of authority."
I feel that the Virtue Skill is in contrast to the Deadly Sin Skill. In other
words, there were virtues and sins, angels and demons. But, well, from the way Guy
is talking now, it seems that there are not seven Ultimate Skills in the Virtue system.
The 'Wisdom King (Raphael)' I got is also an evolution from 'Great Sage', and
it seems to have nothing to do with 'Virtue'.
I'm a simple guy, so Guy's explanation made sense to me, but Ruminas asked
me a question again, as if he didn't want me to hide anything.
" Guy, if you know something, tell me. Are there seven angelic systems in
total? And what are their powers? "
Now that you mention it, I'm curious too.
Of course, the other demon lords seem to be doing the same.
"Huh, you're more united than ever. All right, I'll tell you. First, the seven
virtues..."
Guy was very knowledgeable.
He said Veldanava had the Seven Virtues.
According to Guy's description...
Ultimate Skill 'Justice King (Michael)' - Its command is Mental Control
itself, the strongest power dedicated to a chain of command with real 'Absolute
Defense' like the 'Castle Guard'.
Ultimate Skill 'Knowledge King (Raphael)' ─ It is the power to manage
the laws of the world, and is specialized in support.
Ultimate Skill 'Covenant King (Uriel)' ─ Specializes in space management,
and is used for the management of all events.
Ultimate Skill 'Hope King (Sariel)' ─ The source of life, the power to
manage the wheel of samsara.
Ultimate Skill 'Purity King (Metatron)' ─ The power to sort out all mixed
laws, prevent interference, and select pure energy.
Ultimate Skill ' Charity King (Raguel)' ─ The ability to provide support
and amplification to others, and has been given to Velgrynd.
Ultimate Skill 'Patience King (Gabriel)' - It is a power to fix the state and
to deal with unexpected situations, and it is given to Velzard.
That's what I thought. To tell you the truth, I was surprised to see more
details than I expected.
"Here's a breakdown of the powers, there are only three that are known to
exist at this time. Veldanava gave his 'Justice King (Michael)' to Rudra, so he got his
'Covenant King (Uriel)' back in return. Veldanava gave his 'Justice King (Michael)' to
Rudra. This is the one that Rudra acquired and made ultimate. Probably, there
would have been some changes in performance. Well, that's lost now, so we can't be
sure."
No one interrupts.
Then Guy goes on.
"I knew the 'Justice King' (Michael) who went to Rudra had the power to
subdue others. But it's more powerful than I thought."
Then Guy stammered.
As I waited for Guy to say something, our eyes met.
"You know Rimuru, don't you? "
Well, there's no reason to lie here.
If I could, I'd pretend I don't know anything, but I can't. Since I didn't talk
about the Ultimate Dominion properly in my explanation earlier, I'll give you my
take on it. Now that the problem has grown so large, I thought it would be worse to
deceive you.
"Oh. I know him, or rather, I fought him just the other day. When Veldora
was taken over by the enemy, I thought it was over."
They took Velgrynd, too.
"Oh, yeah."
"You put me in a lot of trouble, that's why I'm in trouble! You didn't just get
me into a fight with Rudra, you got me into a full-scale war! "
I'll won’t argue the point.
But to Guy, that's nothing.
"Ha-ha-ha! It's good that we won."
"No, it's not! The labyrinth of Ramiris was destroyed by Velgrynd, and the
area around our town was turned into a hellish scorched earth. Well, the
restoration is going well, but I won't accept any more requests from you! "
I said, letting my momentum get the better of me.
Now, I hope you won't ask me any unreasonable questions for the time
being.
"Hmph, you've been doing that sort of thing with magic for a while now. Oh
well. So, what's your conclusion? "
"I was slurring my words when I said 'influence', but I'll rephrase it
correctly. Michael's "Ultimate Dominion" is a heinous power of absolute control
over the holders of the Angelic Ultimate Skill."
"That's ridiculous. “
"Unbelievable. A person who reaches the ultimate must have a strong mind.
Human or demon, it's the same. Control from others. As proof, not only Veldora, but
Velgrynd was under Michael's control. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it
with my own eyes."
I mean, I still don't want to believe it.
It was like a nightmare, something I never want to experience again.
"The Rimuru story, it's true. As proof, Velgrynd owned 'Charity King
(Raguel)'. And Velzard, as I said, has the Ultimate Skill 'Patience King (Gabriel)'."
That's what you're saying.
That's what I was thinking.
Judging from the collapse of the castle, we must have been in a fight with a
hell of an opponent.
I didn't want to admit it, but it seems that Velzard has been taken over by
Michael. My bad prediction had come true, and I felt depressed.
"Hey, Guy! Are you saying that Velzard-dono has turned against us? "
"That's right, Dagruel.”
"You're right, Dagruel. It's a big deal!
Guy's affirmation upset Dagruel. Since they've known each other for a long
time, I guess he knows how dangerous Velzard is. On the other hand, I don't know
her that well... I'm sure she's dangerous, but I'm not sure how dangerous she is.
Since I couldn't set the threat level, I couldn't really feel it.
"I'm just asking, but have you already defeated her and locked her away
somewhere? "
"Rimuru, do you really think that's such a good idea? "
No, sir.
It saddens me that Guy was so dismayed, and it saddens me that my wildest
dreams have been dashed.
"That sucks. Michael's camp now includes Velzard-san... ... "
I couldn't help but mutter something that echoed the mood of the others.
" ... ... Oh dear."
Leon seemed distressed as well.
"I suspected as much, but this is unfortunate."
Ruminas' expression is dark, too.
I think it's natural. I don't think he'll be able to beat us, since he let Guy
escape without a fight.
"Don't worry! There are still seven of the eight stars left here. Besides, the
others are strong enough too! Let's go on a rampage and show them what we can
do!"
Why does Milim look so happy?
I knew there was something wrong with True Dragon's blood.
Well, I found out that everyone was in a bad situation, but now I have more
unpleasant information to add.
"Now, to continue answering the question, whether there are seven angelic
systems in total, right? The answer is, no."
"Mmmmm. That sucks."
Ruminas looked disgusted.
"Well, do you know how much of that Angelic Ultimate Skill you have? "
Dagruel asks, and Guy answers gravely.
"I don't know all of them either. When I fought Veldanava, I couldn't even
see the bottom of it. He told me about the Seven Virtues. He also said he was going
to give each of the Seven Primordial Angels a special power."
Silence fell over the room.
In addition to the seven virtues, one for each of the seven angels. That would
make a total of fourteen...
"You make it sound like you didn't give them"
"That's right, Dagruel. The angels back then had weak egos, and some of
them couldn't handle the Ultimate Skill. That's why Veldanava gave Velzard and
Velgrynd the titles 'Patience King (Gabriel)' and 'Charity King (Raguel)'. And it
seems that he also granted powers to the eligible angels, but released the rest of the
powers he didn't transfer."
He left himself the 'Justice King (Michael)', which he traded for the 'Covenant
King (Uriel)' that Rudra later acquired.
And when Veldanava died, the 'Covenant King (Uriel)' was also lost. That
became my authority, and now it's merged with Velgrynd's Divine Flame King
(Cthugha).
I can feel the history... This is no time to escape reality. This is a time for
escaping from reality. It is a time for absolute secrecy. Anyway, now you can see
the whole picture to some extent.
"In other words, the angelic system is a pure Skill created by Veldanava, and
it is possible that there were at least 14 of them. And whoever manifests and
acquires them will not be able to resist Michael's Ultimate Dominion, right? "
"That's right.
I summed up, and Guy nodded his head in agreement.
Which brings me to my next question.
"Wait, wait, wait. Angels are okay, but what are demons? "
Oh, Ramiris asked exactly what I wanted to ask.
All eyes are on Guy.
"That's a tough one to answer, but listen. I gained the Unique Skill 'Pride'
when I was defeated by Veldanava. I've been watching him, trying to emulate his
strength, and I think that's the secret."
"What do you mean by that? Ramiris.
"Ramiris, your skills were born with you. So, you may not realize it, but
acquiring Skill is influenced by one's wishes. It depends on the individual, though."
After I said that, Guy gave me a brief explanation of Skill.
Skill is usually found in the material body, the spiritual body, or the astral
body. However, there are some special cases in which the skill resides in the soul
itself. Of course, the closer the soul is to the essence of the person, the greater the
desire, and it is natural that the thing inhabiting the soul becomes a powerful
power. In addition to this, I would like to combine it with Ciel-san's view.
It is true that there is a Unique Skill that resides in a material body.
Unique Skill 'Berserker', for example, is easy to understand because it is inherited
by Razen who took Shogo's body. There are many things like that, but I agree with
the opinion that the power rooted in the soul is more powerful. It's easy to hide, so
it's hard to be stolen, and it's also a trump card. Besides, Ultimate Skill is a soul-
level power, and I think that's why the number of people who can handle it is
limited. But that's not all. There are two ways of being rooted in the soul, not only
"dwelling" but also "being engraved". Ciel-san, for example, is completely
assimilated to my soul. It's impossible to separate them, so you don't have to worry
about them being stolen. Still, I think it's safer to keep it secret. This is also the case
with Ultimate Skill. If it is only inhabited, it may be stolen, but if it is engraved, there
is no need to worry about it. However, it would be impossible to detect it...
While thinking like this, I listen to everyone's conversation.
"Which brings me to my earlier point..."
"You said that the power Veldanava unleashed was captured by the Wheel of
Reincarnation and came to reside in a strong soul. “
"Yeah, that's right, but in my case, I didn't receive any of Veldanava's power.
Like Ramiris, I wasn't given any special powers by Veldanava. It's a power I created
myself. You see? For pure authority, a Skill was created to mimic it. And that is..."
The demonic.
"I see. So, the 'Lustful King (Asmodeus)' of I (Ruminas voice) is just an
imitation, a degraded version, isn't it? "
"No, it's not. If a Skill is the result of one's own will and desire, it has the
same power as the original. I didn't want to tell you this, but my 'Pride' has evolved
into the Ultimate Skill 'Pride King (Lucifer)'. That power is good enough for angelic
beings, and it's the strength of will that decides who wins."
"Guy, I know you're saying that. Well, okay. Just to confirm, according to you,
there are at least fourteen demonic Ultimate Skills, right? "
"Maybe. Just as demons are born to angels, demonic skills are born to angelic
skills, I think."
Hmm, I guess my prediction was right.
This world has too many connections.
If there's a causal relationship between a hero and a demon lord, it wouldn't
be surprising if there's a relationship between Skill and them...
"At the very least, Veldanava's seven virtues must have been paired with the
deadly sins that evolved from the seven deadly sins. It seems that Guy's 'Pride King
(Lucifer)' is paired with Rudra's 'Covenant King (Uriel)'.
Here's Guy's prediction.
Ultimate Skill 'Justice King (Michael)' is paired with 'Wrath King (Satanael)'.
Ultimate Skill 'Knowledge King (Raphael)' is paired with 'Gluttonous King
(Beelzebuth)'.
Ultimate Skill 'Hope King (Sariel)' is combined with 'Sloth King (Belphegor)'.
Ultimate Skill ' Purity King (Metatron)' is combined with 'Lustful King
(Asmodeus)'.
Ultimate Skill 'Charity King (Raguel)' is combined with 'Greedy King
(Mammon)'.
Ultimate Skill 'Patience King (Gabriel)' corresponds to 'Jealousy King
(Leviathan)'.
They may correspond to each other, he said.
As for me, I was at a loss for words, because I had already sacrificed the Skill.
If I make this public, I'll be in big trouble, but even if I don't say anything, I'm
afraid I'll be in trouble.
Ciel-san is not a fan of this kind of situation, and I decided to wait and see.
After Guy's explanation of the Skill, we got back on track.
"To add on to Guy's explanation, it seems that angelic Skills have an absolute
command "control circuit" built into them, and if you own one, you can't resist
Michael's orders. Dino was probably turned for that reason, so don't think of him as
an ally if you meet him.
"That's tricky. That bastard may be unscrupulous, but he's stronger than
you think."
Dagruel snorts at my words.
Ignoring him, Ruminas said gloomily.
"What's more troubling is that Velzard-dono is on the side of the enemy.
Velgrynd-dono too, perhaps? "
That was more of a problem, Dagruel pondered.
I'd like to pretend I don't know, but I have to inform you about Velgrynd.
Ramiris knows what's going on, and he'll find out anyway.
Just as I was about to open my mouth, Leon made a sharp point.
"Wait, I don't care about Velgrynd's story at this point. What we should be
looking for is whether or not anyone else has the Angelic Skill. "
That's right.
That's Leon, asking straight to the point.
As an ex-Chosen Hero, he's full of courage.
"Leon, I knew you'd bring it up! "
Guy looks pleased.
When I came up with the content of today's meeting, I knew it would be the
most important issue. The question was, who was going to say it? Because it would
make me doubt my friends. To prevent that, you have to reveal your hand.
That's why Guy and Ruminas had been revealing their authority earlier.
Those of us who were able to read this trend would have spoken up before we were
suspected. Well, I'm late to the party, too...
"Wait a minute! You're not suspecting me, are you? "
"I'm fine. You've been out of the picture all along.
That's right.
Because Ciel-san has also assured me that Ramiris' authority is a separate
category. Ciel-san said that Veldanava did not give it to him, but rather it was a part
of his power that he lost when he was no longer a god. Having heard that, I don't
doubt Ramiris either.
"Wha-ha-ha! I'm not the same. I'm not sure of my authority.
"Don't worry about Milim. A power with that kind of ridiculous power would
definitely be a Skill paired with the Ultimate Skill 'Justice King (Michael)'."
In other words, the Ultimate Skill 'Wrath King (Satanael)'. I don't know what kind of
power it is, but it doesn't seem to be a dominant relationship.”
"Well, then it's me. Actually, I don't have the same relationship with Skill as
you do. I'm more like Ramiris. I was born with the power, too."
They all fell silent at this statement, but I felt that he was not lying.
As proof, Milim, who had a keen sense of intuition, remained silent.
"I believe you, Dagruel.”
"So do I! I do too! “
"Hmm, if Rimuru and Milim say so, I'll believe it too.”
Three out of the seven of us now have faith.
With him, we have a majority, but there are more supporters.
"I'll trust you too."
"I'll trust you too! "
Leon casually lowered his guard against Dagruel, and the opportunistic
Ramiris expressed his desire not to be left behind.
With this, only Ruminas remains.
"Damn, damn. I'd love to take down Dagruel at this point, but I guess I'll have
to give up this time."
"Gah-hah! Ruminas, this is what I call virtue. Too bad! "
"Oh, no! If you're manipulated, I'll laugh at you for being so weak."
Dagruel and Ruminas don't seem to be on the best of terms. And yet, there seems to
be a strange trust between them. Well, maybe it's just my imagination.
Anyway, Dagruel is now cleared of suspicion. Ruminas has declared himself
to be the Lustful King (Asmodeus), and Guy has declared himself to be the Pride
King (Lucifer). Then, it's just me and Leon.
Let's get a head start here.
"Oh, I'll keep quiet. I have a lot of skills, but I don't want to tell you! "
I announced smilingly.
Because my Skill is weird.
Ultimate Skill 'Void God (Azathoth)' and 'Fertility King (Shub-Niggurath)'
don't seem like information that should be made public. If you try to explain them
with a serious face, people will think you're licking your chops. I was sure that no
one would trust me, so I exercised my right to remain silent.
But that was not allowed.
"You can't pass, that's why! "
Guy dismissed me out of hand.
So, it's not a good idea, is it?
No, there's still a chance.
"Hahahaha! I believe in Rimuru, so I don't care if you don't tell me! But only
if you promise to send me some honey later!"
Either way, Milim is on my side, whether I call him dependable or shrewd.
"In that case, I'll just have the cake. For three days! "
Ramiris can be bought, too. Three days is a pain, but we'll take it.
"All right, take it! I'll promise Milim three large jars of Apito honey and
Ramiris three days of my dessert! "
I said, nodding my head.
"You're in charge! I'm declaring that Rimuru will be fine! "
"I'm Long of Mocchi! Rimuru is the one who revealed the secret of the
angelic lineage in the first place. I don't think there's anything to be gained by
revealing your hand, and you can't be in control! "
Oh, Ramiris gave a decent explanation!
She's not always like that, but sometimes she's smart.
The remaining demon lords began to look convinced, as if she was too right.
"Hmm, I guess you're right. If the lord who trusted me is betraying me, that
means I'm also under suspicion. Then I should trust Rimuru! "
With a hearty laugh, Dagruel made his decision.
We now have a majority of the votes. It would be perfect if even one more
person supported me.
With this in mind, I glanced at Ruminas.
" What? I don't think so, but even I (Ruminas voice) was bought..."
I'm not going to let you finish. I'm going in here.
"Shuna has designed a new swimsuit for me.
"What? What?”
I got a bite!
It seems that Ruminas is more effective when we attack him from the inside.
"We worked with Ramiris to create the sea and the beach in the labyrinth
It was done perfectly!
It's a paradise, a completely private area... “
"Rimuru, I think you and I are going to have to have a long talk.
"The endlessly clear water gently enveloped us as we swam. The sun is
shining brightly, but you won't get sunburned because you're in a labyrinth. Of
course, you could make your skin any color you wanted."
"Wait, wait."
"There are beautiful women in unusual places who expose themselves to the
world... “
"Okay, okay. I (Ruminas voice) have some requests and plans, so I'll visit you
after this meeting is over. Are you sure you can make the time? "
" Of course, sir. So..."
"I understand. I've believed in Rimuru from the beginning."
Yes!
I unintentionally struck a gut-punch, but now my victory is assured.
" Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Is that how you want to play it, guys? "I can't
believe these Octagram guys are so easy to get hold of! “
Guy glares at me with resentment.
But it doesn't matter.
Winning is justice.
"Guy, you're going to have to admit defeat. I don't agree, but it's obvious
Rimuru isn't in control.". Leon's frustrated voice was comforting.
I've succeeded in getting him to dismiss my suspicions.
Now, there's only Leon left.
"So, Leon. What about you? "
"My Skill, the Ultimate Skill called 'Purity King (Metatron)'.
"Purity King Metatron... "
Leon answered Dagruel's question with a simple... ... What?
What did he just say?
The Ultimate Skill 'Purity King (Metatron)' is an angelic one, isn't it?
I can't even begin to describe the feeling of helplessness everyone was giving
off.
"Hey, Leon. It's rare to see you make a joke. But this is a serious meeting.
Calm down again and give me an answer."
"Guy, I don't have time for this either. The 'Purity King (Metatron)' that
we've been talking about is my right."
I'm sure everyone was thinking, "We're in trouble.”
Just when I thought the meeting was about to end, a big problem arose.
"Well, what should we do? Hey, Rimuru-kun! "
"Don't dump on me! You're so obvious that you don't even bother to hide
your vile intention of forcing me to do everything! "
"You're the one who said that! It's a good thing I'm not the only one who has
a problem with this. "
"Don't start an ugly argument with me! "
"Ha-ha-ha! But, Ruminas... I understand how Guy feels. But, Ruminas, I
understand Guy's feelings, and Rimuru can be very helpful in times like this! "
"That's right! I'll leave this to Rimuru and we'll have a cup of tea. "
Selfish colleagues.
And Ramiris, you're especially bad. I'll be sure to remember that, I tell
myself. That's why demon lords are so scary. What kind of cooperation is this?
In the midst of all this, Dagruel says in disgust.
"Rimuru, you're in trouble too. I've felt close to you since I heard that you
were forced to take Dino, and I feel sorry for you this time too.
He was such a good guy. “
A giant and a demon lord, but appearances can be deceiving.
"Dagruel-san, thank you! "
"I don't need a "-san." I'm sure that's what you were talking about."
That's right.
I should be aware of being a demon lord by now.
I think too much condescension can be harmful in certain situations.
"Thank you again, Dagruel! "
"No, don't worry about it. Anyway, is Leon all right? "
Dagruel nodded lightly, and the conversation returned to the topic at hand.
Ruminas joins in, as if the two are on the same page.
"That's it. It may look the same as always, but when Leon is in control, it's
important, right? "
Everyone's eyes focused on me.
It's best to ask him about such things, but he doesn't seem to be aware of it.
If that's the case, I'll just have to guess, but before I do, I wanted to confirm
something.
"As I said before, when Dino betrayed us, the labyrinth was destroyed and
the enemy was allowed to enter. We think he came into contact with Phantom King
Feldway."
"Once they were inside the labyrinth, complete isolation from the outside
was impossible. That's why, although they didn't seem to be able to talk directly,
they might have been able to communicate through 'telekinesis' or something."
Ramiris added to my explanation.
I t looks like he was willing to work, at least.
While reviewing Ramiris for a nice assist, I ask Guy.
"So, let me ask you, what happened here? I know Velzard-san is your enemy
and you've gone rogue, but I want to know what happened."
"You know?"
"Yes, I do. I think anyone who sees this mess would recognize it."
It was obvious to me that Guy and Velzard had fought. Otherwise, it wouldn't
be this mess. What I'm curious about is how it happened, or rather, how Velzard fell
into the hands of the enemy. Is it possible to send orders to the dominant circuit
from anywhere, or do we need to get close to it? Depending on that, the threat level
will be different. Also, Velzard and possibly Dino were given the power by
Veldanava, while Leon acquired it on his own and made it his ultimate power. The
"control circuit" may not have disappeared, but there is still a possibility that there
may be a glitch. If so, that would explain why Leon's commands are not getting
through. Anyway, it's important to get accurate information first.
"You're right, the Feldway bastard broke through the Ice and Snow
'Barriers'. It was Mizari and Rhein who greeted the bastard, and I thought I'd go out
and give him a twist. Velzard interrupted them."
Hmmm...
"So he didn't make contact, but he came close. Same conditions as Dino, but
I'm not sure what to make of that."
"So, in order to interfere with the dominant circuit, we need to get close
enough? You think this might be a trick to make us think that, don't you? "
"Something like that. “
"Leon, how do you feel about this? No.
"I don't really feel. I'm just me, and I don't feel like I'm being controlled by
anything."
Leon replied confidently, but even Lieutenant Kondou and Velgrynd were
not aware that they were being controlled. It was impossible to believe that
statement.
"In other words, your beloved is me..."
"You idiot, of course it's Chloe. You know I don't even care about you."
Oh, it's okay.
I'm pretty sure that's Leon's intention.
And it's not as if there's no evidence to support it.
<< Feldway's words were recorded in the labyrinth>>
Yes, that's right. When Feldway confronted Chloe, he said, 'Hahahahahahaha!
Oh, there it is. After all, Veldanava-sama wants me to win, doesn't she?’ That's what
he said. From this line, we can infer that even Feldway and Michael do not know
who possesses the Angelic Ultimate Skill. There is no guarantee that this is not an
act, but there is no point in doubting it. Since my intuition tells me that it is safe, I
should proceed to believe Leon.
<< Predating Leon and destroying the "control circuit" itself is a sure thing >>
Ciel-san interrupted me quite casually, but I refused to accept it.
I don't like the idea of predating Leon, physiologically speaking. Maybe that's
why I want to believe in Leon even more than I already do.
"Okay, we can't come to any conclusions here, and I doubt it, but I personally
think it's safe. So, let's just call Leon "gray as black" and see what happens! " I said.
"Are you sure, then? "
Guy asks, nodding broadly.
"I'm not certain, but I don't think the enemy has the location of the angelic
owners.
"What makes you say that? "
Dagruel asked curiously, and I offered my own thoughts.
"In Ramiris' labyrinth, there is a record of a battle with Feldway and his men.
I'm guessing from what they said that the only ones they know of who have the
power are those who were given it directly by Veldanava. If it's a self-acquired
power, they won't know they have it unless they get close."
"That's right! It's annoying that people can so easily read information from
my labyrinth, but I'm not complaining because it's being put to good use!"
To Ramiris's satisfaction, I nodded and said, "Thanks a lot, seriously. It's true
that the labyrinth is superior in every way”, so I thanked her without hesitation.
"You can praise me more! "
Ramiris was pleased.
I brushed off the comment and returned to the topic at hand.
"It's not like Leon's been spreading the word about his authority, and it's
going to take a while for people to know.
"It would be a foolish thing to do, to expose one's hand, except under such
circumstances."
Leon muttered to me in resignation.
"I see."
Guy seems to agree with me.
"Leon's right. There's a good chance they'll see through us if we get too close,
and I agree that we can't be absolutely sure, but it would be foolish to be overly
cautious and split up."
"Hmm, I have no objection to that either."
Ruminas summed up, and Dagruel agreed. The two of them seem to be on
the same page, despite their differences.
It was interesting to see them glaring at each other in a way that didn't seem
to amuse them, but it seemed to be no problem, since they hadn't lost their cool
while fighting.
"I trust Rimuru's word, and Leon's word is not a lie! "
Milim gave his seal of approval, and just when he thought the matter was
settled, Ramiris muttered something unnecessary.
"That's the thing. Leon-chan may need to be monitored, but the question is
who will take care of it! "
If I say that right now...
"Rimuru-kun.”
"Enough. All right, don't say anything else."
I gave up and decided to take over Leon's surveillance mission.
…
"Dino's departure is unavoidable, but now the seven of us are friends, I
guess. And I think everyone understands that we have a nasty enemy on our
hands."
How to keep an eye on Leon, we'll talk about that later.
"So, Guy, what are you going to do about Michael? "
I focus on Guy's statement.
"What? I'm gonna destroy him, of course.
"Hmm. So it's all-out war."
Ruminas muttered thoughtfully, but it was the consensus of everyone
present.
"Ha-ha-ha! I'm excited."
"It's time to show them what I'm made of! Whether it's Feldway or Michael,
I'll beat them with one punch!"
"Hmm, Phantom King Feldway. Now that he's back, we'll have to fight for
control of the earth."
Milim's words are too grandiose and unrealistic for Ramiris. But, well, even
if one punch is impossible, the labyrinth is super important, so I stopped making
fun of it.
"Do you have any idea how powerful the enemy is? "
Leon asked, and Guy shook his head.
"We know that the Seven Primordial Angels, including Feldway and Dino,
and Michael, who has replaced Rudra, are all generals.
"Hmm, and now Velzard-dono is also an enemy. This "Holy War" is going to
be pretty tough."
Hmm?
"Holy War? "
"That's right. Isn't the war, which takes place every five hundred years or so,
essentially Rudra's power to summon angels? "
Dagruel answered, surprising everyone, including me.
"What? Dagruel, don't talk nonsense! "
Ruminas snapped at him, but it was Guy who stopped him.
"Relax Ruminas, Dagruel was right. Rudra has the power of 'Army of Angels,
Armageddon', which allows him to summon an army of angels and control them at
will. Though it seems that Rudra had difficulty controlling it and only issued simple
commands."
Guy explains to everyone that the cycle of the summoning is about 500
years. However, the summoned angel has no body and will disappear in less than a
week at most.
After all this time, I wish he had told us this earlier.
"I have a question.
"What is it? "
"Do angels, like demons, take root in the world when they incarnate? "
Oh, I didn't have to ask.
Benimaru's wife, Momiji's race, tengu, was born from the incarnation of
angel into a wolf. It was not surprising that many such races were born during the
war.
So, I can't shake this bad feeling.
<< It's a forbidden spell: Birth-Death-Birthday. >>
You're amazing, Ciel-san. You knew exactly what I was thinking.
"Looks like you've got something to worry about. Tell me, I'll listen."
Guy asks, so I tell him.
"You guys know Kazaream the Curse Lord, right? The truth is, Kazaream is
being controlled by the enemy, and they're mass-producing undead elf."
I ordered them to interfere with the ritual every chance they got, but I'm not
sure how effective that was...
" How many tens of thousands have died? "
"Yuuki's Mixed Corps sacrificed about 60,000 people, so I'd say nearly ten
births at most."
"Hmm. You prioritized the individual instead of the number. That means he's
at least as powerful as Clayman. "
He's a perfect incarnation for the First Men.
Guy's got it wrong.
I have other concerns, so I'll correct him.
"No, I'm not. The Seven Primordial Angels were incarnated long ago. It
seems Feldway and the others were transformed in the other world. And Dino's
mate..."
I think their names are...
"Pico and Gracia! Gracia.
Yeah, that's it!
Ramiris saved our asses again, so we're grateful.
"So that means you're worried about... “
"Yes, I thought the higher angels summoned by the 'Army of Angels,
Armageddon' would be incarnated as undead elf. Angels don't have much of an ego,
right? So, if you use the soul of a person with a strong ego as the core, you could
create a strong new race that incorporates the power of angels. “
" " " ... ... " " " "
Not only Guy, but the other demon lords fell silent.
After a few seconds, they looked at each other and said, "No, that's... ... "or
"It's scary that you would come up with such an idea".
I'm not saying this because I want to. I'm not saying this because I want to,
but because I've come up with the possibility.
"Rimuru-kun, do you think the probability of that happening is high? "
"So don't talk to me like that and put the blame on me.
"All right. So, what do you think? What do you think?
"I'd try. If you fail, you'll just be wasting one of your undead selves.
"Yeah, I'd do that too. There's no point in having so many weak minions."
As Guy and I nodded at each other, the other demon lords looked at us as if
they were shocked. I don't understand. I'd think anyone would do that to increase
their strength...
"Don't look at me like that! We don't know what's really going on, but we
should assume the worst, right? "
I shouted, and opinions began to fly, led by Ruminas.
"You're right, but…"
"You're still insane. What scares me is that you think you can handle it even
if it happens."
"That's right, Rimuru. The highest angels are seraphim, but surely someone
as powerful as Clayman could withstand their power. That would make him as
powerful as an enlightened demon lord."
"Hmm. If many beings like Dagruel's are born, I (Ruminas voice) can't be too
careful. At the very least, Louis and Gunther will have a tough time."
It's not so much a complaint about me as it is a complaint about the difficulty
of dealing with them.
"Guy-san. It seems you're all frustrated. As the organizer, you should tell
them."
"I told you not to use "-san" in this situation. We're all on equal footing here.
It wouldn't hurt if you took care of it! "
"Shut the fuck up! You're the one who's putting the "-kun" on me. Why do I
have to draw the short straw in the first place? “
I shouted what I wanted to say without hesitation.
I felt better and calmer, so I let Guy go, even though he scared me.
"It's no problem. We'll just blow them all up! "
"That's right! We even have Master Veldora here, so I don't think we have to
be so scared."
During this meeting, Milim and Ramiris are always optimistic.
They look happy, and I envy them.
By the way, Veldora, the person Ramiris relies on, is probably in another
room reading the scriptures (manga). She's been reading a long historical work,
saying it might give her great wisdom.
I'm sure he's going to say something about a "trap of Confuciousness", and
it's going to be my job to think of it, so I don't feel like getting my hopes up.
Anyway, I'll consider it a blessing just to be unobstructed.
"The story is not that simple. In addition to Velzard-dono, Velgrynd-dono is
also in the hands of the enemy, isn't it? Even if we have the Veldora, the enemy will
have the advantage! In the first place, I don't like relying on that useless dragon."
That's right. Veldora doesn't seem like she can be trusted.
She's too quiet in front of her sisters, and she was recently captured by the
enemy...
"Oh, Velgrynd-san is fine."
I was on the verge of losing my mind, so I answered smoothly.
Needless to say, that was a mistake.
"How can you be so sure? "
By the time I realized it, it was too late.
I was going to be more discrete in my information, but now that I'm here, I
have no choice but to be honest.
"Due to various events in the fight with me, Velgrynd-san has broken free
from the Ultimate Dominion. And now that he doesn't have the Ultimate Skill
'Charity King (Raguel)', he doesn't have to worry about being controlled by Michael
anymore."
" " "Huh? " " "
There's nothing we can do now but play it cool.
"Well, it's been hard. I was so self-centered that I found myself winning in a
good way! "
The suspicious looks from the demon lords hurt.
But if I lose here, they'll make me confess everything.
"What the hell did you do? "
Unusually, even Guy is shocked.
"That's a trade secret”
“ What?”
As for my authority, I must remain absolutely silent.
You wouldn't believe me if I told you, and it would only arouse more
suspicion. What's more, if Leon is really under my control, my power will be
exposed to the enemy. I'm sure I'm worrying too much, but I'm determined to
prevent that from happening.
"Tsk! You're still a bullshit, stingy bastard"
It's not a matter of being stingy.
It's a strategy.
"No, no, no, Dagruel aside, we've all seen how skill evolves, right? "
"I don't have any experience either."
Right, right.
I've been annoyed, but I don't care, I'll keep explaining.
"Velgrynd-san was in a similar situation, and suddenly came to his senses
during a fight with me. He said the 'Charity King (Raguel)' evolved at that time."
It was more of an embellishment than an explanation, but it seemed that
everyone understood what I meant.
"Well... Well... "
"I don't remember, but I think that's what happened.”
"Hmm... Hmm... It's not unheard of for skills to evolve in the heat of battle.
It's not the norm, though."
"That was the case with me. Between life and death, I bet everything I had on
my potential. As a result, I became the 'Purity King (Metatron)', a decision I don't
regret to this day."
He seems to have been convinced by his own experience.
That's a relief.
If I pretend that I haven't heard about Velgrynd's current power, I can
pretend that I don't know about the Ultimate Skill 'Divine Flame King (Cthugha)'.
As a matter of fact, Ciel-san did it, so it's not my fault either.
"I thought Ultimate Skill was the pinnacle, but I guess there's more to come.
I'm not ready yet either. I guess I was too proud to think this was my limit."
Guy muttered, and this topic was closed.
I'll start with a review of the discussion again, even though I feel that it's not
moving forward very well. Identifying the enemy's forces is important, so we must
not spare any effort.
"So, Velgrynd, are you sure you're okay now? "
"Yeah. She's protecting Chosen Hero Masayuki now. Me and Masayuki have a
friendship, so we'll help each other out if we get in trouble."
"Does that mean I can count you as a soldier?
“Hmm, I don't know if I should be so selfish, but I'm sure they'll help us if we
ask.”
"Just don't antagonize them, okay? At least, I don't want to fight them again."
"You're right. It's not every day you can beat that thing, so you've done well.
Now that Velzard is against us, we can't let Velgrynd turn against us."
Guy looks annoyed, but I'm sure he means it.
After all, half of the seven of us here are unlikely to be able to take on a True
Dragon.
The only ones who can are me, Guy, and Milim.
The rest are just Dagruel.
Anyway, it's good news that we don't have any unnecessary enemies.
Oh yeah, one more thing then.
"Since we're on the topic of Velgrynd, I'll mention it here. "Of the Seven
Primordial Angels, there are four that have crossed over to the other world,
including Feldway, and three of them have attacked the labyrinth of Ramiris."
"That's right! Of course, I drove them away with my own strength."
Ramiris nodded his head, as if my comment had reminded him.
I quickly continued my explanation so as not to interrupt the conversation.
"Well, regardless of the truth of it. They called themselves Phantom King
Feldway and his 'Three Phantom Commanders'."
"Yeah. They've been trying to destroy the humans of our world for a long
time. We call them demons, but they're really phantoms.
"I thought that all enemies of mankind were called demons. The Three
Phantom Commanders, however, were destroyed by Velgrynd-san, so please keep
that in mind."
I think it was Cornu, but I heard that he taunted Masayuki, and Velgrynd
took it out on him. I could sense that Velgrynd was getting stronger, but I was
surprised that he was able to strike a blow even against someone as strong as the
Three Phantom Commanders.
However, the Cornu seemed to be less dominant than Feldway or even
Zalario. This was my impression from the way Cornu behaved in the video. At least,
as a result of analyzing the information left in the labyrinth, Ciel-san judged that
Cornu was inferior to me in terms of strength, even though we were almost even in
terms of existence value.
The reason for this is unknown, but I trust him.
Therefore, we should never underestimate our opponents, but there is no
need to be wary of those who have perished. That's what I was reporting.
"It's probably Cornu who's dead anyway. I've known him for a long time, but
I don't feel sorry for him."
Guy laughed in an unconcerned tone.
He was glad to have fewer enemies.
I was about to move on to the next report without any particular surprise,
because it was very Guy-like.
However, Milim interrupted him.
"Just in time, I have something to report! "
That's what he told me, so I decided to listen to Milim.
"Actually, Obera, of the Three Phantom Commanders, has offered to join my
crew. The meeting was held in secret, so Feldway and the others must not have
noticed! "
I wasn't caught off guard, but I couldn't react to the report.
That's what I thought.
"Oh, yeah. Nice work, Milim. How'd you get him? "
"Yeah, let's hear it. Obera wasn't as narrow-minded as Cornu and she was a
very serious woman. I don't think she had anything to do with the betrayal, but how
did it come about? "
Guy and I asked Milim in perfect synchronicity.
Our eyes met, and that was enough for us to understand each other's
thoughts. In other words, we were worried that Milim was being deceived.
We nodded at each other.
"It's a virtue. He came to me because he understood how great I was! "
Milim laughed, "It's hard being popular," but don't believe him.
"Relax. It could be the enemy's plan. “
Guy rebukes, but Milim doesn't listen.
"It's all right. Obera wasn't lying."
"Well but you know, Milim, there is a very simple strategy called "poison of
burial", which is introduced in the holy book of the Three Kingdoms, and sending
spies to the enemy camp is a common practice since ancient times. Contacting us at
this moment, when we are about to start a war, is like asking us to be suspicious,
isn't it? "
Right now, Veldora is reading this.
Now I'll be familiar with strategy," he said, "but if it were that easy to train a
military strategist, I wouldn't have any trouble. In the first place, the worldview is
too different, so I think it's only useful as a reference. Anyway, I tried to persuade
Milim, because I was sure that he was doubtful.
But Milim smiled fearlessly.
"It's all right. I had my suspicions too, so I discussed it with -chan, Karion
and Frey. And we all agreed that we trust Obera."
Well, Milim is no fool, so he did what he had to do. If Karion and Frey-san
share the same opinion, then maybe we should trust them.
"What did you discuss with Obera? "
I asked, just for the record.
"Well, you know..."
After hearing Milim's story, we decided to make our own decision.
"So, Obera is monitoring the movements of Ivaraj, the World-destroying
Dragon, in the Palace of the Unusual. huh? Then he can't afford to do anything to us,
anyway."
That was Guy's conclusion after hearing Milim's story.
Ivaraj and its subordinate cryptid are a non-negotiable army of destruction,
he said. If Obera made a move, Ivaraj might be resurrected, and therefore would be
excluded from the invasion force. But there was something that bothered me.
"If Obera is right and Feldway is willing to let the world die, wouldn't he be
willing to unleash Ivaraj on us? "
Feldway and Michael are hoping that Veldanava will be resurrected, but if
that doesn't happen, oh boy. Hope will be lost and a desire for destruction will arise.
There is nothing more frightening than a man who does not think ahead.
That's what I was thinking when I said...
"That's the point, Rimuru. I (Ruminas voice) can't believe that idea."
I thought it was a perfectly legitimate comment, but surprisingly, it was very
unpopular. Starting from Ruminas' comment, Dagruel also criticized me.
"Feldway's not stupid enough to use a monster that's stronger and more
uncontrollable than he is.
I see, Ivaraj is stronger.
"He used to be tough. Guy did it, but I was helping to keep the planet from
falling apart! "
"Hahaha! Ivaraj's destructive power can shatter the stars if he's not careful.
If we fight it carelessly, we'll be in big trouble."
"If you can only destroy the enemy, what are you going to do after that? If
this planet is shattered, we won't be talking about world domination."
I see... I see... I guess my assumption was too naive. From what I've heard
about Ivaraj, he seems to be a monster.
"Wa-ha-ha! There's no shortage of them. If he comes out, I'll take care of him
this time! "
"Rejected. “
"Rejected. “
"It's a rejection.
"Milim, I know you're strong, but you're not considerate enough. It's not for
me to say, but you need to be more considerate of the damage you're doing to those
around you.
"No, I've learned to take it easy too. That's why Ivaraj, but with a twist..."
"All right, all right, all right. Seriously, if Ivaraj comes back, I'll deal with him.
I've been meaning to get rid of that bastard. Next time, I'll make sure he's dealt
with."
Guy announced in a voice so cold it was frightening.
Of course, no one could argue with that. Milim was not happy, but he agreed
to let Guy deal with Ivaraj.
Then, the conversation returned to Obera.
"Can't you ask him about the enemy's situation or something? "
Dagruel asks Milim.
"I asked him, but he doesn't seem to know about the forces we have on our
world. Feldway is a skeptic, so he may have been wary of asking the wrong
questions that might lead to false assumptions."
"Well, Obera is right. Feldway is a sharp man, and he doesn't like his men to
think too much."
"So we're just supposed to do what we're told? "
I asked, thinking of my troublesome boss.
Guy tells me in a nostalgic way.
"Not exactly. If you're doing your best on a given mission, you don't have
time to worry about others," he says. That's the way he thinks, and that's why
Obera's response is right."
If he's trying to fool us, it's better to give him false information to make him
trust us. Instead, he said he didn't know, which seemed to increase Obera's
credibility even more.
By the way, I don't think Feldway and I are going to get along.
"You're so self-righteous that you can't think of your subordinates as
anything but pawns. You seem to think that everything you think is right."
You seem to think that everything you think is right.
Guy, hearing this, smiles at me.
"Is that a sarcastic remark? "
"No, sir! No!
Watch out. Here's a guy who's more than just self-righteous, he's dictatorial.
In Guy's case, it seems that he doesn't even consider the demons under his
command as pawns, and a careless remark might turn him into a snake.
I'll cover up the situation and continue.
"For the time being, I'm more inclined to trust you, sama. "
I said, and everyone nodded.
Now that the Obera matter was settled, I returned to the main topic. Too
many detours, too much work.
"Damn, this meeting is not moving forward. No one's hiding any more
secrets, are they? "
I complained, to which they all replied.
"You don't say! "
"You're right. “
I'm the one who seems to have the most secrets, so this comment was a mistake.
While reflecting on this, I turn my attention to the meeting.
Right now, Ruminas was in charge.
"Anyway. We don't know each other well, so we can't cooperate. So, I
(Ruminas voice) will take care of it."
So begins a list of enemy forces.
At the head of the enemy force, Michael.
Under his control is the Frost Dragon, Velzard.
Phantom King Feldway. Under his command, the Three Phantom Commanders,
Zalario. The insectar that Zalario is said to have been watching and its ruler, Insect
Lord Zelanus.
Zelanus may have his own subordinates, but since Obera doesn't know much
about them, it remains unclear. To be honest, this is the power that interests me the
most. After all, all the insector mages I know are extremely powerful. Not to
mention Zegion and Apito, Razul, the guardian god of the West, and Minaza, the
sixth-ranked "Single Digit" that Shion had defeated. Zelanus himself seemed to be in
trouble, but he seemed to have strong subordinates, so we had to be careful.
The trio consists of Dino, Pico, and Gracia.
It's not enough that they're demon lords, but we don't even know if they
have Ultimate Skill. It would not be surprising if they possessed it, but it would be
better to estimate their strength on the assumption that they do.
And finally...
"...an undead elf with an angel in its body that could rival us. Hmm, that's
tricky. I'd feel a little better if I knew at least the exact number."
"That's extravagant. It's a luxury. It's a good thing we've found out so much,
we should be thinking of countermeasures."
Ruminas rebuked Dagruel for his complaint.
"Do we have an agreement on who's going to deal with whom? "
It was Leon who said that.
It may be a waste of time, but it is not meaningless.
"Well, no. At the very least, it would be best if Leon didn't have to deal with
Michael."
I agree with Dagruel.
I definitely disagree with Dagruel's opinion, as it would only lead to
manipulation. Rather, we should cooperate with each other as much as possible to
prevent such a situation.
I was curious about the fact that not only Michael but also Feldway had the
ability to control him, but after gathering various information, I found out how it
works to some extent.
"Listen, Michael's power is transferable, and it seems that he can be lent
control at a certain level. So I think we need to keep Leon away from Feldway as
well as Michael."
As Lieutenant Kondou had done, Feldway should have been considered to
have borrowed Michael's authority.
"It's tricky. If they take control of Leon as well, the unevenness of our forces
will become even greater."
As I listened to Ruminas muttering, I remembered something I had forgotten
to mention.
"Oh yeah, Leon wasn't the only one in danger, was he?
"Mmm? What do you mean by that? "
"Well, like I said, Veldora fell into enemy hands once in a recent battle.
"Well, I've been curious about that story. You can tell me more."
Ruminas asked back with a stunned look on his face.
So I explained to him that Michael had absolute dominion over the Regalia
Dominion. As for Chloe, she's already taken care of that herself, so I'll hold off. If
things were really bad, Ciel-san would have intervened forcibly, so I believe it's safe
to leave her to her own devices.
So, I explained about Veldora's situation.
" " " ... ... " " "
"Rimuru-kun. You were the one who asked if anyone had any more secrets,
weren't you? "
Oh, no.
"No, did I say anything about that? "
"Yes, you did! “
"You did say that. “
"You said it. “
"You were saying it. “
"You were saying it.
”There was no one on my side. “
I desperately tried to explain that it wasn't a secret or anything, I just forgot
to tell them, but no one was convinced. Ramiris knew about it but pointing it out
did not improve my situation. Knowing this, I gave up and said I was sorry.
The other demon lords were getting irritated, and it was harder than I
expected to deal with the situation. Anyway, I was able to get back to the story, but
the situation was too bad when I thought about it. If our strength were only
reduced, the enemy's strength would increase. It's like a chess game in which only
one side has the ability to reuse pieces, and I don't think it's possible to win. It's my
fault that I forgot to explain it, but I'm sure it's not easy for people to hear such a
story.
"So, there is no one here who is controlled by the Regalia Dominion? "
"That's okay. The angelic dominion doesn't seem to have any symptoms, but
the Regalia Dominion is a forced dominion, so the ego disappears and the reaction
is unnatural. In fact, since Veldora and I were connected by soul, we knew that she
had been controlled by her own report."
"I see. Then how did you free Veldora? "
"That's... “ This question again.
I took a bite out of it, and Ciel-san did the Skill Alteration, but I didn't want to
be foolish and explain it. He wouldn't believe me anyway, so I had to fake it.
"It's just like with Velgrynd-san. In the heat of battle, Veldora evolved his
own powers. A triumph of trust between us, maybe."
" " " ... ... " " " "
You're all staring at me.
I'm aware that they're looking at me in a very suspicious way, but I have no
choice but to push through with this explanation.
"You know, I fought Velzard pretty seriously too, but he didn't show any
signs of evolving his powers. "
"Well, that depends on the individual, I suppose. “
As I said, it's an impossible explanation to believe.
"Individual differences, right?"
No?
I'm getting suspicious. What should I do?
You could just tell them the truth, even if they don't believe you. But in that case...
<<They'll force you to deal with all those who are in control, and they'll dig
into the Master's authority>>
That's what I thought.
In the first place, it's impossible for me to explain how to do it, since Ciel-san
is doing it, not me. I guess the right answer is to keep quiet.
"Enough. You don't seem to want to talk anyway, and you've done something
out of the ordinary. If you can tell when you're in control, then the Regalia
Dominion is no more of a threat than the Ultimate Dominion. The question is, how
do we deal with them?"
It's better to be able to tell the difference, Ruminas decided. He then said
that we should discuss how to deal with Michael and the others. I nodded my head
in agreement.
"Rather than deciding who should deal with whom, should we decide what
to do if they attack where? "
Guy nodded at my words.
"I agree. The enemy isn't stupid, so I don't think they'll try to spread out
their forces."
I f the size of the enemy is too large, or if an opponent you don't like is
attacking you, it's important to call for help immediately. However, there was a
problem with this understanding.
"That's true, but we're spread out, aren't we? Or should we all be in one
place, ready for the enemy to come at any moment? "
"Hmm, I don't think so. “
”Right? Right?"
Guy seemed convinced by my explanation.
As for me, I'm going to defend my country. Leon and Ruminas, and Dagruel
and Milim won't want to leave their countries.
Milim's case is questionable, but there is no doubt about the others.
In that case, we should have been ready to send reinforcements as soon as
any part of the country was attacked.
"You're right. I (Ruminas voice) have a duty to defend our country. In the
worst case, we should consider abandoning our territory, but that should be a last
resort."
"Yes, I agree. And rest assured. And don't worry, if Ruminas gives up his
lands, we'll take them without reservation."
"Don't be ridiculous! I'm not going to give it to you, so don't get greedy."
There was Dagruel, who wanted to seize the territory whenever he could,
and Ruminas, who wanted to stop him.
That's why there are demon lords who can't leave their lands.
"What about Guy? Ramiris is in my country, so it doesn't matter, but you
have no reason to defend this place, do you? "
"I don't. I'm worried about Leon, so I think I'm going to visit him there."
Leon looks uncomfortable, but he's right.
Leon is the one I'm worried about the most, because he hasn't been
completely cleared of suspicion yet. That's why I'm going to keep an eye on him, so
Guy's decision was reasonable.
In that case, I guess I don't need to keep an eye on him...
"Rimuru, you can afford it. Send some men to Ruminas, Dagruel, Milim, and
Leon."
Huh?
What?
Guy's sudden request left me in a state of deep confusion.
To tell you the truth, I couldn't refuse. I resisted for a long time, but Guy
didn't listen to me. Moreover, he wanted me to set up a "magic circle for transfer"
so that he could get to each territory quickly. I felt like shouting, "I'm not your man!
There was one reason I didn't. I just gave in to Guy in the spirit of "what's long is
what's short". Because Guy, with his serious atmosphere, was so intimidating that it
was a little difficult to resist him. If I push myself, I can manage, but I feel more
comfortable if I give in. It was an unavoidable measure to obey them, unless there
was no way to compromise. But then, who would be the right person to send to
where?
Someone who is good at teleportation and 'Telepathy Net' from anywhere,
strong enough to endure on their own even if something happens, and strong
enough to resist domination. In that case, the three demon girls would be perfect
for the job. However, Testarossa has been entrusted with the task of coordinating
the affairs around the empire, so I don't think I can appoint her this time. Carrera
and Ultima will be the main candidates. After that, we'll need some of the top brass.
"First, Geld for Milim. We need to get construction going again, and they
know each other, so they'll accept us."
"Hmm! He's well-liked by everyone. Oh, by the way, Midley wanted to meet
Gabil as well. He said he'd like to train with him again."
Well, that's a good idea.
I've left Gabil's training to Ultima, but it's only been a few days and she's
been looking at me like she's about to cry. I might be able to send her to you for a
break. In that case, Ultima would be a part of the package, but since we're still in
wartime, there's no need for the police. We can call them back as soon as we need
them, so I think it's safe to make the decision.
"Okay. I'll send Geld, Gabil, and Ultima to Milim's place."
"Well, I'm looking forward to it! "
Now, Milim's country is ready.
Then, the Holy Empire of Ruberios in Ruminas...
"For Ruminas, any requests on who to send? "
I'm getting smarter. I'd be furious if I said I'd send Veldora, so I figured I'd
better inquire before I stepped on a landmine.
"Hmm, I see... ... "
Ruminas said and pondered.
You were right to ask the question. After a pause, Ruminas opened his
mouth.
"I like Shion, who I'm bringing with me today. She has visited my country
before, so I know her well."
Ruminas had been raving about Shion's violin. It was no surprise that he
remembered.
"Then I'll send Shion. I'll also send Adalman and his retinue with you."
Adalman also knew Ruminas.
"They had a falling out with the Seven Celestial Saints, but they're in the past
now, so they should be fine. “
"Hmm. Since he caused me so much trouble, it might be fun to give him some
guidance myself. I'll accept, thank you."
"Yes, sir! "
Now, Ruminas' place is ready.
"So, who will you send to my country? Well, I don't know anyone, so it could
be anyone."
Hmm, I see.
Well, if you don't care who it is...
"I'll send Carrera.
"A Carrera? Carrera?
"Yeah. Speaking of the Yellow Primordial... “
"Hmm? Yellow Primordial (Jaune)?"
Dagruel exclaims with a very disgusted look on his face.
"You didn't get him, did you?
"No, not really, it just happened... ... "
"Dagruel, swallow it. I understand what you're saying, but this is not the
time to talk about it.
"By the way, Ultima stands for Violet Primordial. I (Ruminas voice) was also
disgusted, so I understand how you feel."
I heard that Ultima's territory overlapped with Ruminas' and Dagruel's, so
they must have known each other for a long time. Hearing Ruminas' comment,
Dagruel was surprised and shouted, "What?!” Dagruel shouted in surprise.
"I'm stunned, too. “
"Besides, it's not just Yellow Primordial (Jaune) and Violet Primordial
(Violet). You should know it's a little late to be discussing Rimuru's insanity."
He could say whatever he wanted.
Milim is nodding his head in agreement, but the truth is that -kun is on my
side. Oh well.
"So, Carrera for Dagruel, right? "
"Wait, wait, wait! “
Dagruel got up from his seat, shouting loudly. It looks like he's dancing with
his arms outstretched, but could this be a refusal stance?
"Objection! I think I have the right to refuse!"
The expression on his face was very desperate, showing his determination
not to take a step back. In contrast, Leon was smiling very calmly. It was as if he was
saying, "I'm glad Carrera didn't come to me.
"Listen, Rimuru. If you send that ruffian to me, it will be the end of my
Damargania. I don't want too many, but can you at least choose one with a gentle
nature? "
Character is more important than strength, says Dagruel. Even if you say so,
many of my men are troublemakers... I asked him about the details.
It seems that Dagruel's country is a decaying sanctuary called "Holy Void"
Damargania. It is a country with few resources, and many of its buildings have been
swallowed by the sand and are in ruins. And Dagruel's image of Carrera is the worst
of all worlds: a vandal who enjoys shooting nuclear magic all the time.
Dagruel's perception of Carrera is that she is worse than Milim's two names,
Destroyer.
"It's not that bad...”
"It is! " Dagruel said.
"I agree with Dagruel. I've been on the receiving end of it every day, so I can
only imagine how you feel."
Dagruel asserted forcefully, even as I tried to deny it. In addition, even the
taciturn Leon spoke eloquently, revealing Carrera's misdeeds. We have no choice
but to believe what they say. If that's the case...
"Then, I think Carrera should go to Leon. “
He knows her, and Guy is at Leon's place.
I thought it was a good idea, since Carrera would not be able to do anything
rash. But then...
"Don't be silly! Did you even listen to me? Absolutely not! That demon is the only
one I'll let set foot last in my country! "
Dagruel smiled, but Leon rejected him. The tone of his voice changed from
"I" to "me" in a fit of rage, and he seemed to be completely out of control. It was
funny, so I decided to send Carrera to him. But Guy put a stop to that.
"Rimuru, you can't send Carrera.”
"What? Why? Why not?”
"She fights me all the time, and when she thinks she's going to lose, she just
throws up and runs away, you know? This fight is not a game. I don't want to waste
my energy. You understand? "
He was right.
And Guy's eyes were serious, as evidenced by the unprecedented intensity in
his voice.
"If Carrera is going to obey your orders and take responsibility for anything
that happens, I'll think about it, won't I? But, you can't do that, can you? "
Well, I'm not so sure about that. I can stop him if I'm around, but I don't
know what Carrera will do if I take my eyes off him.
" That's right. Carrera-chan is the one who's trying to make the game of
"how many levels can you pass through" popular in my labyrinth. It's really
annoying and I want you to stop it! "
That's outrageous... As I thought, it seems that some damage has been done
without my knowledge.
"I'm going to ask Diablo about his supervisory responsibility in this matter.
I'll ask Diablo about it," he said, trying to evade the responsibility.
"Hahahaha! I like Carrera. I'd like to meet her, so she can come to my country
as my guest."
Oh, what a nice offer from Milim!
"Are you sure, Milim? "
"Of course.”
Well, then, problem solved. I'll send Carrera to Milim's country, and Ultima
to Dagruel's country. Frey-san may be angry with Milim later, but that's none of my
business. Let's get this over with before Milim changes his mind.
"Well then, I'll send Ultima and Carrera from Milim's place to Dagruel's
country in turns. It's a familiar homeland, and I'm sure Ultima won't have a problem
with that."
"I don't want to..."
"All right, that's decided. Dagruel, since that's the case, get along with
Ultima! Guy said yes.
Guy's okay with it.
Dagruel was about to say something, but it was just his imagination, and the
matter was settled.
Now it was decided who to send to Ruminas, Milim, and Dagruel. The only question
left was who to send to El Dorado, Leon's golden land...
"If Guy's going, why don't you send one of my men? Guy can keep an eye on
Leon, and I don't see the need to reduce my country's strength. " I wanted to say
this.
Why should I reduce my country's strength when a war is about to start?
Well, the three demon girls can be teleported right back to me if something
happens to them, or at worst I can summon them myself.
As for Geld, there was the reason that we couldn't stop construction forever, and
Gabil was also Geld's bodyguard. In terms of simple combat ability, Geld is the
stronger of the two. However, since Geld's main role is defense, it is better to have
an attacker. In this respect, Gabil is excellent in both offense and defense, so I
thought it would be interesting to pair him with Geld. As for Adalman and his
followers, I wanted them to concentrate on defending the labyrinth.
But...
I was worried about sending Shion alone to Ruminas' place.
His strength alone was fine, but his behavior was not. Adalman knows all
sorts of magic and can use teleportation as a matter of course. Adalman has met
Ruminas and is expected to be polite to him, so I think this appointment is
appropriate. So that's it.
There was no one left to send to Leon's country.
"Hey, hey, don't be shy. Your country is full of sentient beings."
"There are. But I need them to protect my country.
"You're worrying too much. I'm sure Veldora is there too, so don't be stingy.
Hey, how about that Benimaru guy? He's good, right? "
"Of course not! Benimaru's a newlywed. And he's got two wives! He's
pregnant with both of them, so he can't be expected to take an extended business
trip for who knows how long! "
“Benimaru is a demon, so it's okay."
I can't even laugh at that joke. Unless, of course, he wants to go.
In the days when lifetime employment was the norm, people would go on
long business trips at the worst possible time in order to measure their loyalty to
the company. For example, just after marriage or just after building a house. Unless
it was meaningful, most of the orders I heard were almost like harassment. In this
day and age, companies that do such stupid things will probably end up going out of
business. I hope that there will be no such complaints in our country.
"Anyway, Benimaru is no good. “
"Damn, that doesn't make any sense, but whatever. So...”
"Oh, I'll take Diablo! "
I forgot, since you've always been so close to me, that since you're sending
Shion, you should also send Diablo.
If I leave one of them alone, we'll have a fight.
My real secretary is Shuna, so I won't feel inconvenienced by their absence,
and I think it's the best choice.
"Diablo? "
"Yeah. He's strong, one is enough."
"Hold on a minute, Rimuru-kun."
Guy started to talk to me in a cat-like voice, but I knew it would be
something insignificant. So I ignored him and started to wrap up the conversation.
"We're having a tough time right now, too. We don't have anyone to play
with. And yet, we're sending our ace to work for us, so I'm hoping he'll be sincere."
With someone like Guy, it's better to tell him the decision than to negotiate
with him. So I told him, remembering my experience as a general contractor.
Specifically, I referred to the case in which the general manager successfully
refused to work with a JV - a construction joint venture - that was insisting on
sending out more staff. While appealing that he could not afford to do so, he refused
to increase the number of employees because he had selected excellent personnel.
From their point of view, there are many situations where they want to say, "We
need more staff because your staff is incompetent! There must have been many
occasions when they wanted to say, "We need more staff because your staff is
incompetent! “. It was a common understanding among all of us, including myself,
that there was no sincerity there. Well, it depends on your luck whether you are
really good or not.
It would have been interesting if there had been a system of appointing
employees from the government or subcontractors, so that they could be evaluated.
Well, it's useless to think about it now, and the important thing is to push Diablo to
Guy.
"You bastard…"
"What's the matter with you?”
"I... ... "
"... ... "
I waited for his reply, my heart pounding inside.
"You're getting thicker by the minute. Oh well. I'll just stick with Diablo this
time."
Phew, I won!
"I don't care who it is. Normally I'd bring in Chloe, but the way things are
going. Oh yeah, if Rimuru wants, he can come to my country with Diablo. I promised
to invite you before, but I haven't been able to do so yet."
No sooner had he basked in the afterglow of his victory than Leon made a
suggestion. Even if taking Chloe with us is out of the question, we might consider
paying her a visit.
"Okay. I'll leave Chloe with you, but if our schedules work out, I'll visit you
later. I'll contact you through Diablo if that's the case, thank you."
To begin with, Chloe's on absolute bed rest so I can't move her. I don't know
how Leon will react if I tell him that, so I think it's best to keep quiet about it.
So, I decided to accept the invitation only. It may not be so easy in this day and age,
but it is boring to just wait and see what Michael will do. As soon as I'm ready, I'll
gradually return to my daily life.
"Very well. I'll look forward to hearing from you."
"Yeah. Well, if Diablo gives you any trouble, let me know. I'll be there to
educate him whether you like it or not."
"All right. I'll call him and make sure he's taken care of."
Even though I hadn't done anything yet, I was reminded by Guy, not Leon. I
was curious about their relationship, but I guess it would be better if I didn't know.
With this in mind, we decided on our future plans.
"Well then, I'll just leave it like this. “
…..
"I'm going to go to Leon's place, so each of you do what you have to do. “
Guy announced as he returned to the hall.
"Hey, hey, no explanation for us, huh? "
"Mizari explained it to me, but I'd at least like to know what the policy is."
Karion and Frey-san were the ones who commented to Guy.
I thought that was a fair point. Guy is too hasty in his conclusions. He thinks he's the
only one who needs to be convinced, so he leaves the others behind.
However, there is no way Guy can talk like that. It's not only Guy, but also Milim and
Ramiris, Dagruel and Leon, and Ruminas who is not likely to voluntarily go to such
trouble. I've decided to be an adult and explain it to everyone.
"This is what we just discussed, and you were told about the enemy, right? "
"Yeah, I heard Velzard turned against them.
"Apparently so. And it wasn't about betrayal or anything like that..."
And this time, he explained after he'd wrapped things up.
By the way, it was a good thing that only seven of us went to the meeting. If
the squire had joined in, the discussion would have been much more difficult to
move forward. Guy's decision to anticipate this was correct, and I realized that long
years of experience make a difference. Thinking about it, it must have been hard for
Guy. As you can see from the members of demon lord, they all have their own
peculiarities. It must have taken a lot of mental strength to bring them together.
While reevaluating Guy in this way, I finished my explanation.
"I knew it wasn't like you to flounder around like this, but it turned out to be
more troublesome than I expected.
Frey-san was dumbfounded.
It's not that he can't afford it, it's just that he didn't want to hear it.
"That's the thing. Now that you've got the power. I'd like to see how far I can
go against True Dragon, but I don't think I have a chance against Velzard-dono."
Karion said gruffly, but his forehead was sweating profusely.He's probably
trying to figure out what's going on with Chan and how to fix it.
"Quah Hahaha! You said it Karion. Even I've never been able to fight you. If
you want to try, let me be your opponent first! "
"Master. I don't think this is the time. If you don't take it seriously, Rimuru
will get mad at you."
Well, I should be angry, but right now, I feel saved by Veldora's good-
natured talk. If we were talking seriously, the situation would be too bad and
depressing.
"I see. So you're going to concentrate your forces as much as possible to
counter the domination. So, this Regalia Dominion can't resist? "
"If the will is strong enough, it can be resisted. In Veldora's case, she was
targeted when her resistance was weakened by a surprise attack.
"Hmm. The original me would have been able to withstand it, but I was in
the middle of a battle with my sister in the first place. It was a bit harsh."
I wasn't strict, I was dominated.
It's useless to try to pretend that it didn't happen, so you should admit it
honestly.
While I was puzzled by Veldora, Dagruel spoke to me.
"Rimuru, why don't you send Veldora to me anyway? I'm not a big fan of Vio-
Ultima. I'm not very good with Vio-Ultima, but Veldora is a familiar face, and I know
him well."
He was suggesting that we change the dispatchers, but unfortunately the
answer was no.
"Sorry, I can't do that. Veldora's not my man, he's my friend. I can't just
decide for him."
If he's okay with it, it's none of my business. But in this case, you can't just
ignore Veldora's wishes and go ahead with the discussion. So, I checked with her.
"Veldora, you're invited, what do you do? "
Veldora smiled and said no.
"Ku ku ku . Dagruel, as much as I'd love to come and rescue you, I'm busy. I
have a job to do, guarding the labyrinth of Ramiris! "
You just want to slack off. I knew that when I saw Veldora declaring that she
would act as usual.
"Master!"
I'm sorry Ramiris, but I'm pretty sure Veldora is just trying to have an easy
time.
"Well, that's too bad. It's a shame, too, because I'd hate to be attacked by
Velzard. It would have been reassuring if you could have helped me."
"Quah, quah hahaha, quah hahaha! Well. If you're as strong as I am, you have
nothing to fear from your sister. Too bad! A shame indeed, Dagruel."
He's so obviously vain, this one.
But well, Velzard looks like a real mess, and I'm glad Veldora said no.
I feel bad for Dagruel, but my priority is the security of my country.
"Dagruel is right. I've never fought Velzard, but my gut tells me she's a tough
opponent. When she comes here, I'll have to deal with her. You should be ready to
call for backup immediately, because then you won't be able to do anything else."
Milim, who had been listening to our conversation, made a very good point.
It was a realistic suggestion, not unlike the overconfident Milim. To put it
another way, Velzard was in trouble, and since it was unlikely that she would attack
alone, we agreed that we should avoid acting alone. Frey-san and the others seemed
to agree with me.
"I see. Well then, let's make sure we don't act alone either."
"Yes, we will! Then Rimuru, I want you to bring Geld and the others to me as
soon as possible. If you want, I can pick them up myself. "
"No, I'm fine. I'll explain the situation when I get back and have them ready
for you right away."
Geld can be reached by teleport, so there's no need to panic. I'm going to
explain the situation to the officers, and it shouldn't be too late to send them out
after we have a common understanding.
"Then leave it to Rimuru."
"Right. If the enemy attacks, I'll contact you immediately."
You're right.
I didn't explain that Carrera was going, but Frey-san doesn't seem to know
what primordial is. I don't think there's any need to tell her, so I end the
conversation peacefully.
Besides, it seemed that if we were going to stall the Velzard, there was no
reason to complain about throwing in the Carrera.
"But what I'm curious about is Michael's purpose. I don't think it's just to
control this world..."
It was Louis who asked.
"Oh, that. It's the return of Veldanava. Michael and Feldway are working for
the Lord's return."
"What the...? " "
When I explained this, those who hadn't heard it before cried out in
astonishment. The information was known to my companions, but it seemed to be
quite a shock to the others.
"Well, Rimuru is right. That's what Obera, my collaborator, told me! "
Milim affirmed, and Karion muttered in frustration.
"Seriously... ... I didn't hear that."
"Well, didn't you tell me? I thought I already told you."
"No, you didn't. Well, Midley's just as guilty as me on this one. You'll have to
tell me more later."
As soon as I looked at Milim, there it was.
I heard that Milim and Midley had met with Obera, but it seems that their
conversation was not well received. That's why we have to make it a habit to report,
communicate and consult on a regular basis.
What a surprise. I forgot to tell them too, and I'm not in a position to say so.
While Milim and the others were talking, Louis said with a thoughtful expression.
"True Dragon is immortal. Don't worry, though, I'm sure it will come back sooner or
later."
"Well, yes. It's normal to think so, but Michael is an ego that arose in Skill.
Since he's an impossible being, he must be thinking in ways that ordinary people
can't comprehend."
Ruminas shakes his head, as if he doesn't understand.
Guy, however, seems to think a little differently.
"But it's true, there's no sign of Veldanava's return. I can see why Feldway
might think it's okay for the world to die."
Guy says that he believes Veldanava is immortal because he has fought him
once. On top of that, he said, he could understand why people would love
Veldanava.
"But, you know, once you die, some of your memories and personality will
be affected, right? That seems like a different person to me."
"That's a matter of sensitivity. I (Ruminas voice) think you are the same
person. After all, we have the same soul."
"Hmm, I don't know. Velgrynd-san also said 'I don't care if Rudra is
reincarnated as a bad guy or a good guy', but I thought we should care about that."
"Ahahaha! You're still stuck in the stereotypes you had when you were
human. You'll figure it out."
"I don't think so... ... "
It doesn't make sense, but for a long-lived species, ideas of right and wrong
may be just a mood of the moment. If that's the case, I'll keep my thoughts to
myself.
No, no, no, what would happen if I got involved in evil, which would be
exactly what the late Mariabell feared.
In the first place, I am selfish.
That's why I have to make sure that I don't act selfishly and bring chaos to
the world. I still do whatever I want, but I'm only working for a better world.
I swore to myself that I would never make others unhappy just for my own
amusement.
As I was thinking about this, Guy spoke to me as if he remembered.
"By the way, Rimuru, I was just wondering..."
"Hmm? I don't think you have anything to hide anymore, do you? "
"No, I doubt that, but that's okay. No, I'm just curious about Michael's
thoughts. How is he going to bring Veldanava back? "
Guy presses me, "Tell me if you know. “
I was about to say, "How the hell should I know?" when I remembered.
"Oh, he said something about that, didn't he?"
"Yeah. You did."
I muttered, and Veldora, who was listening along, nodded.
Yes, I think...
"Kufufufu. They seem to think that if they take in the power of three True
Dragons, the Dragon Factor will be complete and Veldanava-sama will be revived. I
think it's foolish, but you can't say it won't happen, can you?"
Diablo explained it to me before I could remember. I remembered it was
something like that. I had forgotten it because it didn't seem realistic and I didn't
think it would work. In the first place, the key was the "dragon factor".
<<If it's the dragon factor, Master has already got it>>.
Oh, so I've become something like a True Dragon. So it's no surprise that I
have the Dragon Factor. Anyway,Velzard, Velgrynd, and Veldora. Even if you collect
the dragon factor from all three True Dragons, it's meaningless if the most
important factor, Veldanava's factor, is missing.
If the soul is different, it's a different person.
According to Diablo, it's not impossible, but...
"Oh? That's absurd, that theory. Even if you could recreate it, it would only
be a pseudo-body, and you might be able to imitate the powers, but it wouldn't have
anything to do with the soul. “
Guy, who seems to be of the same opinion as I am, interjects.
"I don't know. It's just that we can't deny the possibility that the lost soul can
come back if we have a perfected body. “
"Well. Veldanava is a complete spiritual life form, so I don't think his soul
will be scattered like Rudra's. You're right, it's possible."
Hmm, that logic doesn't make sense.
<< There is no reason for you to come back. In the first place, I think
Veldanava is capable of regenerating itself if it intends to return.>>
That's right.
Since Ciel-san was in denial, I was confidently skeptical of the enemy's plan.
Well, it'll probably fail anyway, so we can just ignore it.
"Hmm. Then the enemy's goal may be Veldora."
Everyone in the room stopped moving.
"Huh? "
Veldora's dumb muttering echoed through the silent hall.
She seemed to have no idea what it meant, but left it at that.
What is more important now is what Ruminas has pointed out.
"Oh, that's a blind spot. Veldora was taken over once, but the Dragon Factor
wasn't taken from him then."
I guess it's not the success rate that matters to Michael, only the possibility.
Then, regardless of whether Veldanava would be resurrected or not, there was a
good chance that Veldora's Dragon Factor would be targeted. Oh no, I didn't think
of the situation where Velzard would be taken over, so I feel like I'm pretty far
behind.
"Hmm. Obera also said, I believe, that Emperor Rudra, or Michael, had
captured the Dragon Factor from Velgrynd. Now that Velzard is under control, all
that remains is Veldora! "
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What does that mean? You're saying that Velzard will
be stripped of the Dragon Factor too? “
Guy reacted to Milim's comment as if in a panic.
So I said what I thought.
"You're sure about that, aren't you? "
Guy looks unusually agitated.
"Then Velzard won't be safe, either. She's good enough to fight me on equal
terms, but she might just disappear? "
"Hmm, I don't know about that. In Velgrynd's case, one of the 'Parallel
Existence' was absorbed. The amount of magicule was probably less than 10%, but
I think that was just enough for Michael."
Hearing this explanation, Guy regained his composure.
"Hmm, well. "True Dragon's power is immense, so it can't be absorbed that
easily."
I nodded.
At the time, Velgrynd had suffered considerable damage from Carrera's
Judgment. But he still had a lot of power left. In fact, Michael had taken in
Velgrynd's power with Yuuki's power 'Steal Life', but he could not absorb it
completely. Incidentally, he also had an idea why Michael had banished Velgrynd
from this world.
"Besides, it's not only powers and factors that are taken away, but also
powers. That would remove his absolute control over the angelic system, so if we're
not careful, he'll strike back."
That's why Michael would want to use Velzard to weaken him and then take
him away and banish him.
<< I agree.>>
Well, sometimes I am brilliant.
"But, why do you need to take away their powers? If you have absolute
control, wouldn't it be wiser to use it as a pawn than to use it up and banish it? "
Well, that's true, too. Michael's power can be exercised over the power of the
ruler. I don't see any reason to take it away. I thought my reasoning was perfect,
with Ciel-san's approval...
"Now, don't you think that gathering all the power in Michael's hands is
necessary to revive Veldanava? "
Leaving me to mourn, Dagruel speaks up.
"So you don't mind ignoring demonic and other derived Skills? "
"Yes, I do. Maybe Veldanava thinks that the only pure Skill is the one he used
to possess."
Now Ruminas. Just by listening to our conversation, he seemed to have come
to a pretty profound conclusion.
"A perfect Veldanava, in other words, gathering genuine powers in order to
recreate the omnipotent being that created all powers? It sounds far-fetched, but if
that's the case, I don't think that wish is going to come true. With Leon over here,
it's impossible for them to gather all the powers."
Guy sneers at me, but I don't think it's that easy.
But I don't think it's that easy, because if he's right, he might have defeated
Michael's strategic goal at this point.
Because, you know what?
I, or rather Ciel-san, have already consumed the 'Wisdom King (Raphael)',
the 'Covenant King (Uriel)', and even the 'Charity King (Raguel)'. To my distress,
Ciel-san spoke to me.
<<Velgrynd, deprived of the Dragon Factor, could no longer maintain its
existence, and was certain to disappear even without space-time transfer.
Master released the main body before it disappeared, so I assume that all the
energy was reintegrated. >>
Hmmm...
Then why did you bother to expel it?
<< Perhaps he was afraid it would resurrect him. "Even if they took away the
dragon factor, they couldn't destroy the soul or the heart. So, I think he was
trying to prevent the resurrected Velgrynd from taking revenge on him. >>
If you don't know for sure, it means you can't be sure.
That's why Ciel-san has been avoiding this topic.
She's still a perfectionist, but it's a big help to have someone to talk to.
I wonder if Ciel-san is concerned because she doesn't know what will
happen if Velgrynd is resurrected without losing his power.
<< That's right. He's sure to disappear, but he'll probably be released from
control when he does. That would mean... >>
That would anger Velgrynd, who would still have memories of his time of
domination. If he is found to be ruling by authority, he may leave the Charity King
(Raguel) who caused it, gain his freedom, and reappear before Michael.
So, the truth seems to be that we should expel him. Since there will be no one left to
exercise the power, it makes sense to recover the useful power.
If this is the case, then the 'theory of regaining power' that is currently being
discussed is wrong.
<< In the first place, once you create a right, can you create it again and again?
>>
Yes, that's what I'm saying!
That's what I wanted to say too.
I was relieved to see that Ciel-san's self-confidence seems to be getting
better than before.
I was relieved to see that Ciel-San's confidence was improving.
Now that I've collected my thoughts, I'll join the discussion again.
"I think it's beneficial to gather power, but it has nothing to do with the
revival of Veldanava, does it? I think what we should focus on is the dragon factor."
"Are you trying to change the subject? "
Dagruel looks at me quizzically.
You seem to be fed up with inconclusive topics, but I understand the feeling.
There is nothing more meaningless than a meeting without an answer.
That's why I'm going to give you the conclusion here.
"No, it's a question of certainty. Michael didn't say anything about authority,
so I think that's an afterthought."
"Hmm, you may continue."
Well, I don't even need permission from Ruminas.
I'm not sure why you're being so pompous, but I think it's better to end the
discussion than to question it here.
This is not an escape. Never.
That's why I said what I did.
"If authority is important, I have other ideas besides Leon. So I think we
should ignore them and work to keep Veldora out of the hands of the enemy."
"Hmm, you sound confident."
"I am. I know I confused you a bit when I told you that I also lost my powers,
but please don't worry about that."
When I said that, Guy looked at me thoughtfully.
"Hmph! I hate that I still don't know why you took Velgrynd's power. Fine.
I'll trust you."
Guy's a lot more understanding than I thought.
Anyway, we've made our decision.
Some say we're just going back to the conclusion we came to earlier, but we
can't let that bother us.
"Then, yes. I guess we should be wary of letting Velzard and Veldora meet.
Good luck, Rimuru."
Guy told me.
It may look like he's trying to put the blame on me, but it's a long story, so
I'll just nod.
As is often the case when one is fed up with discussions, I was in a mood to
just let it go.
So...
"I knew it. I was in a very important position, wasn't I? "
I couldn't help but be annoyed at Veldora for saying such foolish things
without taking the discussion seriously.
Currently, we're on the back foot. We have to admit that, but we can make up
for it. Veldora has nothing to do with the Angelic lineage, and has already escaped
the control of the Regalia Dominion. The enemy is probably aware of this, so their
next move will probably be a straightforward one. If that happens, it will be an all-
out war, so I think the first priority is to get the angelic owners together first. If it
were me, I would definitely act cautiously, but I didn't know which strategy Michael
would mainly adopt. But there was no hurry. There was no doubt that the enemy's
main objective was Veldora, so we should take steps to stop them. In the worst case,
I thought it would be a good idea to eliminate Leon's "control circuit", though I
didn't want to do it.
"Well, good luck to you all. If you need anything, give me a call right away."
With Guy's words as the final conclusion, the meeting (Walpurgis), which
had been a dull affair with not the slightest sense of cooperation, finally came to an end.
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