Ciel: <>
Voice of the World: <<>>
******
A few hours before the unsealing of Charybdis...
The next morning, Rimuru stood behind Shizu in their room, gently running a brush through her hair with slow, careful movements as he told her about everything that had happened during his trip to the other timeline the night before, including the situation with the new girl in Tempest, Blanche.
"Wow, you really managed to do a lot last night for someone who said he was just going out for a walk," Shizu said with a soft chuckle as she met her eyes with his through the mirror.
"I'm not trying to brag or anything, but jumping between timelines is basically the same as taking a walk for me," Rimuru shrugged as he continued brushing her hair.
"My humble darling," Shizu said, rolling her eyes at his comment. After a moment, her expression softened as her thoughts drifted back to what he had said earlier. "But still, that girl, Blanche... she's really pitiful," she added with a quiet sigh. "That poor child went through so much. I'm glad you were there to give her a second chance at life."
"Don't make me sound like some kind of savior. I only did all that as a reward for Testarossa," Rimuru said as he leaned forward, slipping his arms loosely around Shizu's neck from behind and resting his chin near her shoulder. "I'm not a good person, my wifey... and I don't want to be either. That kind of thing gets exhausting way too fast," he added, his gaze drifting slightly, a distant look settling in his eyes. "I'm not saying I'd go out of my way to be evil or anything like that, but I also don't want to be the kind of person who'll just forgive someone for trying to hurt me or the people I care about just because they say sorry at the end."
"Well, you can call it whatever you want, dear, but for Blanche, you're probably the kindest person in the world," Shizu said softly as she turned around in his arms, leaned in, and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Speaking of white-haired girls, Rimuru, what do you think about Testarossa?" she asked, tilting her head slightly as she looked at him.
"Love, I literally went back in time last night just to reward her..." Rimuru replied, giving her a completely deadpan look.
"Right, sorry," Shizu said with a small, sheepish smile, realizing how that sounded. She let out a quiet laugh before clarifying, "I mean, what do you think about her romantically?"
Rimuru froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard, before slowly narrowing his eyes at Shizu. "Okay... is this some kind of test?" he asked, his tone turning suspicious as he studied her face. "Because if it is, I'm not dumb enough to fall for it. And you know you don't need to do this just to check if I'm loyal to you."
"No, no, it's not a test, please don't misunderstand me! I would never doubt your love or your loyalty," Shizu said quickly, almost stumbling over her words as she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him. After a brief moment, she pulled back just enough to look directly into his eyes with an earnest and completely serious expression. "I'm asking you honestly. Do you feel anything for her?"
"Alright, calm down and tell me where this is coming from," Rimuru said as he guided her to the bed and sat down beside her. Then Shizu began explaining, telling him about her conversation with Testarossa and how she felt about the whole situation. By the time she finished, he let out a quiet breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Shizu, you... wow, I don't even know what to say."
Hearing everything she had to say, Rimuru found himself completely at a loss for words, unsure how he was even supposed to respond to something like that. If he was being honest with himself, when he had first started this new life in this timeline, he had entertained the idea of building relationships with all the important women around him. But once Shizu entered his life, that mindset had quietly faded, and he had not even noticed when it happened.
Shizu's arrival in his life fulfilled a quiet, hidden desire he had carried over from his previous life. A small part of Satoru Mikami that had always remained within him finally felt at ease, content with having someone as kind and beautiful as Shizu by his side. And when she told him there was a new life growing inside her, the part of him shaped by a normal, modern upbringing simply refused to entertain the idea of betraying that trust. Any thoughts of cheating or chasing after other women shut down the moment he pictured his pregnant wife waiting at home.
So even if Rimuru sometimes teased Testarossa or joked around with the others, he had never intended for it to go beyond a normal, healthy friendship. There had always been a clear line in his mind, and he had no interest in crossing it. But now, the very person who had caused that change in him, Shizu herself, was the one telling him to consider taking more wives. Yeah... something was definitely not right.
'Ciel, do me a favor and pinch my soul or something. I need to know if I'm dreaming right now,' Rimuru called out internally while talking to his Manas.
'Stop being so damn dramatic, Ciel,' Rimuru shot back, rolling his eyes at the familiar theatrics. 'We talk all the time, just not where anyone can see it. It is not my fault if it does not show up in the chapters that often. Now quit messing around and just do what I asked.'
'Yeah, that is exactly what I thought,' Rimuru muttered to himself before continuing, 'So then, what do you think about this whole conversation?'
Seeing that the voice in his mind had gone quiet, Rimuru turned his attention back to Shizu, who did look a little anxious as she fidgeted with her fingers. Gently, he reached out and took her hands in his, giving them a light squeeze before speaking. "Shizu, do you actually understand what you're saying, or is this just your hormones acting up because of your preg..." He didn't get to finish his sentence since the moment that the P word started leaving his mouth, Shizu tightened her grip on his hand. It didn't really hurt, but he reacted anyway. "Owowow!~ okay, okay, I get it, I won't go there," he said quickly, while Shizu scoffed at his bad acting. "But seriously, I need you to understand something. You are enough for me. I'm happy just being with you. As long as you'll have me, I don't need anyone else."
"That's really sweet, and you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that," Shizu replied, her expression softening into a gentle, almost dreamy smile as she looked at him. "But trust me, I've thought about this properly. I wouldn't have brought it up otherwise," she added. "Though if it ever does come to that, I get to decide who joins our family. No exceptions.
Rimuru did not respond right away. He just sat there for a moment, letting her words sink in before finally letting out a quiet sigh. Slowly, he leaned forward until his forehead rested against hers, closing the distance between them in a quiet, intimate gesture. "Alright... I hear you. I really do, but give me some time to think about it properly, okay?" He gave her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
"Yeah, you're right... and I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have just dropped something like that on you out of nowhere," Shizu said, offering him a small, apologetic smile. "Anyway, we can continue this conversation later. I know you have important work to do today, so don't let me keep you here."
"What are you talking about? What could possibly be more important in this world than you?" Rimuru asked while shaking his head. "Just say the word, and we can stay like this forever."
"Well, as romantic as that sounds, I would rather not spend the rest of my existence as an eternally pregnant woman," Shizu replied with a light chuckle, clearly amused as she rolled her eyes at him. But the teasing did not last long as her expression softened soon after, and her gaze dropped slightly as one of her hands rested gently over her stomach. "In fact, I cannot wait to welcome our little one into this world," she added, in a softer, almost warmth-filled voice.
"Yeah... me neither," Rimuru said with the same warmth and gentleness as he reached out and placed his hand over hers, resting it against her stomach. For a moment, he stayed like that before slowly pulling his hand back. "...Well then, Shizu, take care of yourself. I'll be back soon," he said quietly as he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips before finally turning and making his way out of the room, leaving her with a faint smile as the door closed behind him.
******
Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia,
"Girls, is everything ready?" Queen Frey of Fulbrosia asked as she studied her reflection in the mirror, adjusting the fabric of her ocean blue dress with practiced elegance before giving a small, satisfied nod. "I know we are dealing with a difficult situation, and our guests are arriving on such short notice, but that doesn't mean I'll tolerate any of you embarrassing me in front of outsiders."
"Please do not worry, Mother-sama. Everything has been prepared to the best of our ability," Claire replied calmly, though she briefly exchanged a glance with her sister, silently confirming everything was in place.
"Yes, Mother-sama, all the attendants and guards have also been instructed to be on their best behavior," Luchia added, mirroring her sister as she returned the look.
"You will find nothing to be displeased about," both sisters said in unison
"Well, I do hope you're right, for your own sake," Frey said as she turned around and fixed them with a stern, indifferent stare. "Because if anyone dares to make me look bad in front of our guests, I will personally pluck out their wings and parade them across the nation as a land dweller," she added without the slightest hint of exaggeration before turning on her heel and striding toward the throne room.
"We assure you, it will not come to that, Mother-sama," the twins replied in unison as they quickly followed after her. Neither of them took her words lightly. They knew better than anyone that Frey did not make empty threats. If she said she would strip someone of their wings and make an example out of them, she absolutely would.
A few minutes later, Frey stepped into the throne room and made her way to her seat without breaking stride before settling onto the throne. With a simple gesture, she signaled one of her maids, who quickly approached and poured her a glass of wine. Frey accepted it without looking, taking a slow sip before turning her attention to the Captain of the Guard, who was already waiting before her.
"Good morning, Queen Frey. The latest reports from our scouts have arrived," the Captain said, bowing respectfully as she began her report. Frey acknowledged her with a slight nod as she motioned for her to continue. "They bring favorable news, my queen. At present, the Jura Forest is as calm as still water. There have been no signs of unusual activity or disturbances across a wide area surrounding our territory."
"Just because nothing can be seen does not mean nothing is happening," Frey replied with a quiet sigh, leaning back into her throne. "What about our guests? Have they departed from their homeland?"
"I regret to inform you, my queen, that our scouts stationed near the monster nation have not observed any large convoys leaving the city as of yet," the Captain answered, lowering her head slightly as she delivered the report.
"They have not left?" Frey repeated, a small frown forming as she tapped her fingers lightly against the armrest of her throne. "If they intend to arrive today, they should have departed by now. And yet, there is nothing," she continued thoughtfully as her mind worked through the possibilities. After a brief pause, she let out a quiet breath. "Perhaps they are using some other means of travel... something faster than what those land dwellers usually rely on," she murmured, though there was still a trace of skepticism in her voice as she considered that possibility.
"Anyway, good work," Frey said as her attention returned to the Captain. "But do not let your guard down. Like I said before, just because you cannot see the danger does not mean it is not already nearby. Keep the patrols at full strength, and make sure none of our scouts get careless. And remember, I want to be informed the moment there is any movement in that forest, no matter how insignificant it may seem."
"Understood, my queen," the Captain replied promptly, bowing once more before turning and leaving the throne room.
For a brief moment, silence settled over the room as Frey slowly swirled the wine in her glass, lost in thought, until one of her daughters spoke up.
"Mother-sama, perhaps the ruler of that monster nation is trying to play some kind of trick on us," Luchia suggested carefully. "Or maybe he is deceiving us, waiting for the right moment to step in and act like a hero when we are at our most desperate."
"Luchia, your reasoning is not wrong, and it would be worth considering if we were dealing with someone else," Frey replied, casting her a brief, almost a lazy glance. "Last night, that man sent a single subordinate as a messenger, and that one individual managed to overwhelm both of you, along with all of my elite guards, before any of you even realized what was happening. Now think about it. If Rimuru can name and command someone like that, how strong do you think he himself is? With that kind of power at his disposal, why would he resort to something as cheap as pretending to help us when he could have simply refused from the very beginning?"
"Perhaps he is simply wary of offending you. After all, you are one of the Demon Lords, and he might believe that refusing you outright could provoke the wrath of all Demon Lords against his little monster nation," Claire suggested, resting a finger lightly beneath her chin.
Hearing that, Frey suddenly burst into laughter before looking at Claire with a pitiful expression. "My dear child, please remember that you are my kin before you say something so ridiculously foolish," she said, clicking her tongue in clear disappointment. "Claire, have you already forgotten what happened just a few months ago? During that failed puppet Demon Lord incident, that man, Rimuru Tempest, stood right in the middle of the ruins of a year-long plan and openly called out three Demon Lords to their faces without a shred of hesitation. And if that was not enough, Milim herself stands as proof of his strength. Do you really think someone like that is concerned about offending the likes of us? If anything, the only ones he might bother to consider are Guy and Milim."
Even so, as confident as she sounded, Frey could not completely dismiss the possibility that Rimuru might be waiting. Waiting for the perfect moment, for them to reach their lowest point before stepping in as a savior. If that really was his plan, she could not even fault him for it. In fact, in his position, she might have done the exact same thing to secure the greatest possible advantage and ensure that any favor owed to him would be impossible to ignore.
"Anyway, there is nothing we can do to speed up their arrival, so for now we will just have to..." Frey began, only to be abruptly cut off as the doors to the throne room were thrown open with force. One of her guards rushed inside, her breathing uneven, panic and fear clearly written across her face as she struggled to compose herself enough to speak.
"Queen Frey! I am sorry to intrude, but something strange is happening in the courtyard!" the guard reported hurriedly with urgency as she struggled to catch her breath.
"Weird in what sense?" Frey asked as she rose from her throne. When it became clear the guard couldn't properly explain the situation, she let out a quiet sigh and raised a hand to stop her as she faltered mid-sentence. "Forget it. I'll see this sudden development for myself," she said as she strode toward the courtyard with her two daughters and the guard following close behind. As she approached, she noticed a large number of her soldiers gathered there, frantically looking around as if searching for something.
However, the moment Frey stepped into the courtyard, the reason became painfully clear. A cold, oppressive aura blanketed the entire area, heavy enough to make even her pause for a fraction of a second. "What the hell..." she started, only for her words to die in her throat as, right before her eyes, a massive, ancient-looking doorway materialized out of thin air.
Then the door began to open slowly and dramatically, as an even stronger wave of that cold, oppressive presence spilled out from within, forcing every harpy present, including Queen Frey herself, into a cold sweat.
In an instant, every weapon in the courtyard was raised. Bows were drawn, spears leveled, and magic readied, all aimed directly at the slowly opening doorway. Not a single pair of eyes looked away. Every soldier stood on edge, waiting for whatever was about to emerge from the other side. Thankfully, the tension did not drag on for long. The door finally opened completely, and three figures stepped through.
Leading them was a striking man with long blue hair, dressed in a camel blazer over a deep navy shirt and black pants, with a gold wristwatch glinting on his wrist.
To his right stood a red-haired young man dressed in a deep crimson, military-style trench coat with a high, structured collar and multiple utility pockets. Beneath the open coat, he wore a simple white turtleneck and loose-fitting ivory hakama pants, secured by a thick, knotted white sash that held his long katana at his hip.
While to his left was a tall, purple-haired woman wearing a black leather bustier that extended into segmented armored sleeves, complete with jagged, dragon-like pauldrons, paired with white pants and a massive broadsword resting on her back.
A moment later, once all three had stepped fully into the courtyard, the massive doorway behind them vanished without a trace. The oppressive aura faded slightly along with it, though the tension in the air remained thick, and none of the gathered soldiers dared to lower their weapons.
The blue-haired man took a brief look around, his gaze sweeping across the gathered soldiers before finally settling on Frey. A faint smirk formed on his lips, and a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes as he said, "Queen Frey of Fulbrosia... this is quite the welcome party you've prepared for us."
To be continued...
******
Illustrations: Benimaru and Shion.