Click. Clack.
Accompanied by the crisp, silver-bell-like sound of high heels striking the metal steps of the straight ladder, many years later, Rimuru would still remember that very moment—
Like a sudden revelation, as if an invisible giant hand had descended to envelop him, Rimuru faintly sensed it—the fear of the world itself, the marks that fate had carved into all living beings, being silently erased without a trace.
In that instant, he could not even describe what he was feeling.
The very space-time of the Jura Forest, where the Demon Nation's [Central City—Rimuru] was located, seemed to transform into another world entirely. It grew incomparably silent, exuding a heavy, suffocating pressure.
"I-Investigator—sir—"
Led by Edwin Webb, a civilian merchant of the Sacred Selene Empire, the mercenaries and members of the Empire's colonial trading group were the first to react. One after another, they dropped to one knee in salute.
The AI mechanized soldiers holding standard-issue weapons loosened their grips as well, letting their guns fall into the dust before prostrating themselves flat against the ground.
With the slanted afternoon sun at her back and the shuttle's interior lights framing her silhouette, the long shadow she cast resembled a dark cloud, enveloping Rimuru within it. And those bewitching eyes—black, marked with crimson cross-shaped patterns—glimmered in the shadows like pigeon-blood rubies dulled by dust.
Hey, hey—Edwin, tell me first. When facing someone at the level of an Investigator, how exactly should we, unofficial affiliates not yet certified by the Empire, show proper respect?
Rimuru kept shooting Edwin desperate glances, asking silently whether he should kneel on one knee as well. But Edwin had already lowered his head deeply.
"You are not an Imperial citizen—at least not for now. There is no need to perform hierarchical rites."
Until suddenly, a clear and beautiful female voice—crisp, tinged with a faint husky texture—echoed directly within his mind. Rimuru's eyes widened instinctively, meeting the pair of bewitching eyes that were drawing closer step by step.
"The Jura-Tempest Federation sincerely welcomes your arrival."
Rimuru hurriedly lowered his head. In a moment of panic, there was no time to think about etiquette. When in doubt—bow!
Seeing Lord Rimuru's action, the gathered monsters immediately followed suit and bowed in unison.
"At ease, everyone. Good afternoon."
From beneath her exquisitely crafted white fur cloak, Selene extended a hand clad in sharp wine-red fingertip guards and made a slight lifting gesture.
With precise control over the fundamental forces of the universe, she raised Rimuru, the merchants, and every monster and human who had come to greet or observe—an irresistible force lifting them upright. She even smoothed their clothes and straightened their hair, offering all of them an elegant, composed smile.
Being lifted without the slightest ability to resist, even having your posture corrected and your clothes tidied—no matter how naive Rimuru's ruling mindset was, he understood this was a display of power.
But... what kind of ability was that?
Rimuru: [Great Sage], did you detect anything?
[Great Sage]: The other party did not conceal it. According to analysis, she precisely manipulated multiple fundamental forces of the universe, including repulsion and gravity.
Rimuru: ...
"Citizen. Your name? Briefly introduce your exploratory findings... and your non-human friend."
While Rimuru communicated internally with the intrinsic skill construct within him, [Great Sage], Selene watched with quiet amusement. How nostalgic. She smiled faintly and swept her gaze over them, though she clearly already knew.
"Astartes First Dark Angels Legion, I—Serial Number 2256726 Colonial World, Imperial Citizen, civilian merchant Edwin Webb!"
Watching Edwin snap his heels together with a crisp clack, spine ramrod straight, face rigid as though he wished to thrust his chest outward—
While stunned by that long string of serial numbers barked out loud, Rimuru also gained a deeper understanding of the Empire's deeply ingrained and terrifying authority.
As Edwin turned his gaze toward the blue-haired, golden-eyed beautiful boy, Rimuru stepped forward instead. Taking a deep breath, he felt like an intern about to step onto an unfamiliar stage.
"Jura-Tempest Federation. Leader of the Great Monster Alliance. Rimuru Tempest. Welcome, Investigator, to the home that my companions and I have built together."
What is this feeling?
"This is a town where humans and monsters alike can live peacefully and happily. If the Investigator comes with the intention of relaxing, although this place is far from matching the interstellar metropolises within the Empire, I believe you will not be disappointed."
Now that he thought about it—wasn't this just entertaining clients and securing contracts? Making sure the customer was satisfied? Who would have thought the skills he honed in his previous life at a construction company would be used on someone of this caliber?
Right. The principles never really change.
Except... she truly had the authority to decide the life and death of him, his team, and everything they had built.
Rimuru wept inwardly.
This slime really was simple and pure at heart. A bit dazed. So much inner monologue.
But... found it.
"I look forward to it." Selene bent down gently, her demeanor warm, almost teasing, and reached out to grasp the small hand Rimuru awkwardly extended. So tiny, she thought with a faint sigh.
Not yet awakened as a Demon Lord, having evolved from a slime into a magic-born spiritual being, Rimuru stood at only about 130 centimeters tall.
From Selene's perspective—having long resided in the Imperial Capital's grand palace, where every man she opened her eyes to see was bigger and taller than the last—he truly resembled a small doll.
"Then, Investigator, where would you like to begin your inspection and evaluation?"
Selene smiled softly.
"There's no rush. First, I need to confirm something..."
That smile was elegant and beautiful, warm like the afternoon sun—yet for some reason, it sent a chill down one's spine.
"Confirm... what?"
[Great Sage]: Warning! Warning!! Warning!!! Malicious intent detected.
Within the [Infinite Prison] inside Rimuru's [Gluttony] stomach space, one of the world's only five strongest dragon species—the spiritual lifeform born from the degraded genetic factors of the Creator God Star King Dragon—[Storm Dragon]Veldora Tempest—lifted his head in terror.
"She saw me! Sh-She... she's on the same level as Big Brother!!" (PS: Though created by the Star King Dragon, among pure dragon species they call each other brothers. "Big Brother" refers to the Creator God.)
"You—"
Splurt!
"Kh—cough..." Rimuru's eyes widened. His entire body trembled as a metallic taste surged uncontrollably up his throat.
He looked up in disbelief at the white-haired beauty before him, still smiling, her bearing peerless.
Yet her crystalline, translucent eyes were cold—cold to the marrow. It was the ultimate indifference, the ultimate arrogance, and the ultimate desire for control.
"Why...?"
The tearing of his soul continued. Selene's sharp fingertip guards pierced through his delicate back. Pale blue, semi-congealed blood burst forth. Rimuru grabbed her arm, trying to activate magic—but not a single trace of power responded.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The slime's origin, now stained with purple-crimson void Honkai particles, seeped through Selene's fingers, staining his clothes and the ground beneath his feet.
Crack—crash!
In an instant, the auxiliary soldiers in the landing formation aimed their gauss rifles at the enraged monsters.
The zzzz of Sangheili warriors activating energy shields and dual energy blades rang out, followed by the whirr of Dark Angel warriors raising boltguns and igniting chainswords. The atmosphere became razor-tense.
"I-Investigator...?"
Edwin and the merchants trembled in shock. They didn't understand. Wasn't the atmosphere harmonious just moments ago? How had it turned hostile so suddenly?
"Don't you dare harm Lord Rimuru!" Shion roared, drawing her massive straight-bladed odachi and charging at Selene. "I knew humans couldn't be trusted!"
"Release Lord Rimuru!" From goblins to ogres, to lizardmen and orcs, the monsters ignored Rimuru's earlier warnings. Magic and physical attacks alike flew toward Selene.
"Nuisances. Here, you do not have the right to bare your fangs. Kneel."
Hummm—
Like mud sinking into the sea, an invisible shockwave spread outward. Even the surrounding air's magicules were stripped away and eroded. All magic based on magicules dissolved instantly. Several combat-oriented monsters who had leapt or charged forward froze mid-motion, then were slammed to their knees by unseen force.
Her cloak billowed without wind. The overwhelming momentum seemed ready to crush the cosmos itself.
Immense fear and reverence flooded every monster's heart.
The moment their eyes met hers—
A crushing pressure made these monsters, who had never so directly confronted [Destruction] and [Death], tremble uncontrollably.
When they regained awareness, every single monster—lowest to highest rank—was pressed flat against the ground, foreheads touching earth. Powerless. Unable to resist.
"Lord Rimuru..." They whimpered in despair, like wounded beasts.
Just as the ogres seemed ready to enact a tragic farewell between master and servant—
"Huh? It doesn't hurt... I'm fine?"
Still half-suspended by Selene's arm—well, more like pierced through the chest and grasped, though he technically had no chest or heart—Rimuru blinked in confusion, moving his hands experimentally. The numbness faded, replaced by an unprecedented sense of comfort and lightness.
He nearly let out a moan.
"No need to thank me."
When Selene's voice sounded again, Rimuru instinctively looked up, meeting those dignified, bewitching crimson-crossed eyes.
The instant he saw them, he felt exposed.
As if he were a naked laboratory mouse upon a surgical table.
Before he could speak, the sensation of suspension vanished.
"Oof."
Rimuru let out a soft cry and collapsed onto the ground in a duck-sitting posture.
His limbs trembled. On his small 130-centimeter body, his slender legs quivered intermittently.
"Hah... hah... I feel so empty... no, wait, this emptiness—what did you do to me?"
For some reason, a faint blush colored his cheeks. His blue-silver hair spilled messily over his delicate shoulders as he panted heavily, looking up at Selene with hollow, almost dazed eyes.
At some point, Alyssa had returned without a word. Holding several wide-eyed, fragile slimes in her arms, she stood expressionless like a statue.
"I merely confirmed the stability of this world."
Selene glanced back at the gray-furred fluffball, then lowered her head to inspect her right hand. In her palm remained a fragment of brilliant yet paradoxically dim light. Before certain faintly perceptible watching gazes, purple-crimson flashing void Honkai particles devoured that fragment.
"The space-time of this world is far too fragile... I will repair it. In the new era of Honkai, there is no vessel to carry the lingering souls of the old era."
Time anchored. Space sealed. Reincarnation bound. If you die—you are truly dead.
Want resurrection?
Fine. Ascend to the Throne of Heroes. Render meritorious service as a Heroic Spirit. Those with outstanding achievements may be granted flesh once more.
The chaotic, bus-like loose space-time where anyone could jump in and out at will would be thoroughly reformed.
No more messy summoning, being summoned again and again, reincarnating endlessly, looping two thousand years, crossing dimensional rifts three hundred years ago only to be summoned three hundred years into the future.
Such absurdities would never occur under Selene's rule—not even in colonial worlds.
This was not about whether it was possible.
It was simply that Selene did not want it.
As a responsible monarch—considerate of her subordinates and caring toward Imperial citizens—Selene had long established her governance principle for worlds with loose temporal barriers—
One cut. Clean and absolute.
No exceptions. If every world descended into temporal chaos, it would only increase the Empire's administrative and taxation burdens.
Today, I sever the river of time. All demons and monsters—disperse.
Time and space are taboo. Past transgressions are forgiven. But future meddling—then do not blame the Warp's Honkai storms.
If you become nourishment for Imaginary Space, blame no one else.
"From this day forth, you are—and only are—Mikami Satoru and Rimuru Tempest. Nothing else." The Creator God Star King Dragon Veldanava. Lucia. From now on, they have nothing to do with you.
"Huh??"
Full of question marks, Rimuru was about to speak when something seemed to dawn on him. His expression grew complicated. Then he nodded slowly.
"Thank you..."
He was not a fool. He had suspected that some powerful existence had been helping him. He just never had an answer and had chalked it up to luck.
"There is no need to worry. This is your blessing. Your talent is excellent—you have the potential for ennoblement. Your abilities remain. It is only that the dead who should have long faded from this era will no longer influence you."
Selene's eyes burned brightly. In her bewitching pupils flickered heart-stopping radiance as she gazed at Rimuru and offered her praise. Then she gave no further explanation, merely waved her hand, signaling the soldiers to stand down. As though nothing had happened.
"As for whether you believe me—that is your choice."
"..."
"Lord Rimuru..." Only then did the monsters shakily rise, tearfully looking toward their leader.
As Rimuru reassured his secretarial corps, Selene's cool voice drifted from the distant streets of the city.
"What are you standing around for? Lead the way."
"Oh—oh! Coming! Investigator, please wait..."
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