The news came without warning. It was far too sudden.
Just as Edwin Webb was clinking cups with Rimuru, drinking tea in place of wine and reveling in the joy of their newly formed cooperation, he let out a startled "Huh?" At once, his Adam's apple, which had been bobbing as he swallowed, froze mid-motion. He choked on the tea and began coughing.
Homeworld. Planetary Governor's Office. Someone from above. Inspection team. Inspector.
Naturally, everyone in the banquet hall caught those key words.
The Imperial members of the trading team were relatively calm. But for the leaders of the Jura Tempest Federation, whose hearts had only just settled after reaching an agreement—those hearts shot right back up into their throats.
You couldn't blame the monsters for worrying. In this world's traditions, there was no such concept as work being separate from the person. This wasn't some summoned oath or magical contract. Even though Rimuru had brought certain new ideas with him, most of the world still operated on the principle that when the person dies, policy dies with them.
What if they signed an agreement with Edwin's trading team now—
And the very next moment, the Empire's official authorities refused to recognize it?
Would their contract with Edwin still mean anything?
"Rimuru-sama…" Shion spoke anxiously.
"Don't worry."
Though surprised as well, Rimuru quickly regained his composure. After giving his companions a look that said Leave it to me, his golden eyes flickered as he began to think.
When in doubt—consult Great Sage.
Rimuru: Waaah! Great Sage, what do we do? What do we do? I haven't even fully unified the Great Forest of Jura yet! We've only established diplomatic relations with the Armed Nation of Dwargon. Benimaru hasn't even returned from the Beast Kingdom yet…
In short—I'm not ready to officially deal with the Sacred Selene Empire's government forces!
[Great Sage]: No need to worry. Inspectors are responsible for examining officials, providing disaster relief, and conducting regional inspections. Random audits do not necessarily target us. Even if inspected, maintain normalcy and display a respectful, submissive attitude.
"No need to worry…"
Sure enough, after wiping the tea foam from the corner of his mouth and straightening his collar, Edwin's explanation largely matched Great Sage's assessment.
The timing was too coincidental, and at first even Edwin had been startled. For a moment, he had wondered whether the one-year development right he had secured wasn't in compliance with regulations.
But on second thought, all his procedures were legal.
An upright man need not fear a crooked shadow.
He was merely a colonial nobody who had just begun to gain some footing. Even if rival traders or enemies disliked him, they didn't have the clout to summon an Imperial Inspector of that rank to deal with him.
If they did, would he even still be alive?
Besides, if someone at that level truly wanted him gone, it wouldn't require this much trouble.
One official notice labeling him as suspected of treason would be enough.
Did they think the mercenaries he had only recently recruited—or even his closest companions—wouldn't immediately tie him up and turn him in for a reward?
"This happens often," Edwin said. "The Empire's laws are meticulous, its legal system strict. Rimuru, once we share the same banner and rank, your Monster Federation will inevitably receive visits from military police, gendarmerie, and special units from time to time. So the fundamental red lines I mentioned earlier—those must absolutely not be crossed…"
Just as Edwin finished explaining the responsibilities and authority of Imperial Inspectors, as well as certain unforgivable crimes within the Empire, and had begun painting a bright future for Rimuru—
Knock, knock.
A member of the trading team approached Edwin.
Perhaps because this new message was even more confidential, he first glanced around the hall before muttering hesitantly, "Captain… there's more news."
Edwin stopped mid–sales pitch, frowned, thought for a second, then said, "Speak. Lord Rimuru is not an outsider. He's our team's closest friend."
"It's from the Colonial Department's officials. According to the official correspondence, this inspection's focus is the civilian trading sector—including, but not limited to, verification of tax payments and the authenticity of planetary development reviews. And… our registered planet is on the random audit list."
"…What the hell."
Of course. Just what he feared.
Edwin's eyes widened. "By the canned rations of the Death Angels! By Selene above—it's real."
He hadn't broken any laws—but that didn't mean he actually wanted to stand before someone of such towering authority.
He had never even imagined something like this before.
That feeling of walking on thin ice, where a single misstep could cost you your head—being crushed like an ant.
Unless you were some kind of masochist, who would enjoy that?
"According to confidentiality protocol," the team member continued in a lowered voice, eyes darting nervously, "the Colonial Department will only inform us of the Inspector's itinerary shortly before arrival, so we can prepare to receive them. In other words… the Inspector is about to arrive."
"Captain… how should we prepare? The brothers are all rough types. We've never dealt with someone this high up."
"And you think I have?"
Edwin snapped back with a forced grin. Then he looked at Rimuru—the beautiful boy king who was standing frozen, eyes wide and mouth agape at this bombshell of a revelation.
He paused for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Lord Rimuru… we're counting on you!"
If disaster couldn't be avoided—then face it head-on.
Perhaps it was even an opportunity.
Make the most of it. Show your face before someone powerful. Leave a good impression.
Edwin's expression turned earnest and urgent as he grabbed Rimuru's smooth little hand with both of his.
"Rimuru! Perfect timing—where are those Astartes Angel–style artworks and Imperial crafts I provided you? Arrange them at once. Decorate every corner of the city…"
"And don't panic too much. Just stay calm. Show the same normal warmth and sincerity you showed when you first received my team."
Someone of an Inspector's stature had already seen all the luxury and delicacies imaginable.
Better to highlight the Monster Kingdom itself.
It would be fresh. It would prove that his planetary registration wasn't fraudulent—that he truly had discovered a highly developed extraordinary civilization.
"Got it!"
They were coming either way.
Rimuru knew there was no point in running.
He made a snap decision.
"Hakurou, Shion, Shuna, Souei, Rigurd, Treyni—inform Kaijin and Gobta—no, inform everyone. The Jura Tempest Federation—move out!"
Raising his right hand high, Rimuru declared with renewed vigor.
"There's nothing to fear. They're not devils. We'll present to this 'Inspector' the home we've built—a town where humans and monsters alike can live comfortably, peacefully, and happily!"
"This is our shared treasure. It deserves to shine!"
"Ooooh!" ×N
At that command, the previously flustered leaders instantly regained their fighting spirit.
"As expected of Rimuru-sama!"
Shion even jumped up on the spot, ponytail bouncing, before racing out of the banquet hall along with the others.
"We should prepare as well." Edwin nodded at Rimuru and gestured to his team.
Footsteps echoed in hurried succession.
Once the hall was finally empty, Rimuru wiped the sweat from his brow.
Under his silver-blue bangs, his eyes shone with determination.
"I don't know what kind of being you are… but I'll protect my home and my companions. I absolutely won't let you judge us unworthy."
...
The void.
Rippling distortions tore open the curtain of reality. A battlecruiser bearing the Imperial Capital's central insignia sailed forward, escorted by a local naval squadron, along the route toward the planet temporarily designated by the Colonial Department as Jura Tempest Star.
Seated by the wide viewport, Selene gazed out through thick crystal glass at the boundless expanse beyond.
Reflected in the crystal was her current disguise—white as the primary tone, black-and-white long hair, black eyes marked with crimson cross-shaped patterns.
"The universe is vast. But a naturally formed habitable world is one in ten thousand. A world that develops native civilization is rarer still."
"Lady—cough—Inspector, you've grown gentler."
"Yes."
Holding a delicate power shear, on a whim she was personally trimming a small ornamental tree in a potted arrangement on the table.
"Looking back now… extermination orders are rather wasteful."
Beside her, Alyssa lay sprawled across the table, swaying her head lazily.
As the green planet with extraordinarily high vegetation coverage grew closer among the stars, Selene lifted her head and set down the shears.
"So we've arrived. I wonder what that slime feels like when kneaded. Hmm… come to think of it, among the many rare beasts in my Imperial gardens, I don't believe I've ever kept a slime."
Was it simply too common and low-tier? No one had ever thought to present one as tribute.
"Still, taking the ruler of a nation and keeping him in the gardens—especially when he's voluntarily submitting as a servant-state king—improper, improper. Never mind… Alyssa."
"Alyssa is here."
"I have a small task for you. When we reach the Great Forest of Jura, catch a few more slimes. Raise them and see."
"Okay."
Rising to her feet, Selene clasped her left hand behind her back and extended her right hand forward in a grasping motion, as if holding the green planet in her palm.
She tightened her fingers slightly.
Closed her fist.
As though plucking fruit from a tree and storing it away.
"Interesting. A creator god who committed suicide for love… a nexus world with reincarnators, otherworlders, and summonees."
For Selene, tracing the origin of this world—reviewing its past and present, manifesting before her eyes the scenes of its birth along the threads of time—was not difficult.
Within those countless luminous strands that resembled woven silk, her will pierced through the ineffable boundaries of the world in an instant and reached toward the threads extending endlessly into the distance—
The story of this world's birth was simple.
The Creator God, Star King Dragon Veldanava, created this world. He wove relative omniscience and omnipotence into the "Voice of the World," engraving its rules into the world's origin.
A primordial red demon, one of the oldest Primordial Daemons, once believed himself the strongest and challenged the Star King Dragon—only to be utterly crushed and forced to become the world's mediator.
Then, as Creator God, Veldanava embarked on a journey to observe humanity.
He fell in love with a human woman.
As an immortal dragon species, he had no lifespan to speak of. Yet he still had to experience the sorrow of love between the long-lived and the short-lived.
And for reasons unknown, though he could have granted his beloved eternity, he chose not to.
Instead, he abandoned his own immortality—
Just to remain by her side.
In the end, after leaving behind degraded spiritual lifeforms born from his own genetic essence—the Four True Dragons—and a daughter born of his union with the human woman, the Creator God Star King Dragon ended his life in human form together with his beloved.
…
After watching the entirety of Veldanava's life, Selene cut off her invasive observation and restrained her own radiance to prevent irreversible damage to the world's origin.
It left her momentarily silent.
She simply accepted that perhaps her resolve could not compare to the Star King Dragon's. Without the influence of love clouding her judgment, she did not understand.
"That was true love… or something else? Never mind. He's dead."
She smiled lightly and offered no further comment.
Picking up a stack of registration documents regarding Jura Tempest Star, she tapped her fingers against them, an intrigued expression appearing on her face.
"Transmit orders. Prepare to land."
...
At the same time—
Within the domain of the oldest Primordial Daemon, leader of Primordials, the Primordial of Red.
A wild red-haired man opened his blazing crimson eyes upon the throne deep within a shadowed palace.
"Who?!!"
His roar manifested as tangible shockwaves, exploding outward from the throne like a bomb detonation.
Crack.
Columns fractured. Long cracks spread outward as a section of the central support collapsed, debris scattering.
"Who was it? Who dared peer into my past?!"
Crushing the armrest of his throne, black demonic patterns crawling across his savage face, his features twisted with ferocity.
"I… I felt fear…"
...
The Great Forest of Jura. Central City of the Federation.
By midday, the capital of the Monster Kingdom was completely sealed off.
Grand statues of heavily armored giants—fierce yet powerful—had been erected throughout the city. Crimson banners bearing the twin-headed golden eagle fluttered in the wind, drawing curious stares from visiting merchants, human travelers, and adventurers.
What sort of distinguished figure was arriving today that Rimuru-sama treated the occasion with such gravity?
And why did that trading team selling all sorts of strange alchemical products look so serious?
Just as Rimuru was speaking quietly with Edwin—
Suddenly, his body went rigid. His face turned pale.
"Rimuru-sama?"
He did not answer.
His consciousness had already entered the depths of his stomach dimension—Infinite Prison.
"My dear friend! Be careful! You must be careful! The one approaching is no ordinary being! It is peering into all of us—immensely powerful, filled with destructive killing intent unlike anything before! I can feel it!"
A massive Western dragon covered in blue and black scales reared up, lifting its head. Its vertical pupils contracted sharply.
"What's going on?"
Before Rimuru could respond—
BOOM!
A thunderous roar shook the atmosphere. Shockwaves whipped up violent winds. Rimuru's long hair flew wildly, forcing him to squint upward.
The rumble of engines grew louder from above.
A massive, elegantly streamlined shuttlecraft broke through the clouds, escorted by dozens of gunships, circling as it slowly descended.
Hiss—
The hatch opened.
A boarding ramp extended with a metallic clang onto the landing platform.
Under the gazes of countless monsters and humans—
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Synchronized footsteps echoed.
Auxiliary soldiers in fully enclosed precision power armor, armed with electromagnetic gauss rifles, formed ranks around the landing zone.
From within the ship emerged towering sanctioned xenos such as Sangheili warriors, and stunningly beautiful demi-human officials—like elven government functionaries.
Finally—
Under the escort of a tactical squad of Astartes clad in black power armor adorned with crimson wings—
Backlit by the shuttle's interior lights—
An elegant, tall figure stepped slowly into everyone's view.
She was a big sister type—and very tall.
Much taller than Shion.
Stripped of all titles and status, that was the very first thought that crossed Rimuru's mind upon seeing the so-called Inspector.
—
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