Nasca Namrium Ulmeria United Eastern Empire
"...And that's how we lost Nazim, along with our chance to bring Charybdis over to our side," Damrada reported in a heavy voice, standing stiffly at attention with his head lowered in shame as he faced Rudra Nam Ul Nasca, Emperor of the East.
"Well, Charybdis is whatever, but losing a developed asset like Nazim is a serious blow," Lieutenant Kondou said with a quiet sigh from behind Rudra's throne. "And then there's Gradim. He's going to be a real headache once he finds out what happened to her."
"Yeah, I'm really not looking forward to seeing him again," Damrada let out another weary sigh, already realizing yet another problem he would have to deal with. "Anyway, Your Majesty, I failed you. Punish me as you see fit."
Rudra stared at Damrada for a long moment before finally speaking. "It doesn't matter," he said with a nonchalant wave of his hand. "The moment Charybdis consumed her mind, Nazim was as good as dead. So the blame cannot be placed entirely on your shoulders. And if she couldn't even handle something as simple as a mindless beast, then she was never truly necessary to us in the first place." His voice carried no anger, no disappointment, and certainly no sympathy. To Rudra, it was nothing more than a simple assessment of value. "As for Gradim, tell him Nazim died for the Empire, and that alone is a noble enough cause. If he still chooses to disturb the peace over this matter, then he can join her in the afterlife."
"That won't be necessary, Emperor," Lieutenant Kondou said. "Gradim is a veteran who has served both you and the Empire for a very long time. I'm sure he'll understand."
To outsiders, Rudra's words might have sounded cold and unnecessarily harsh, especially considering he was speaking about high-ranking officials within his own army. However, neither Kondou nor Damrada even batted an eye at his words. After all, they knew better than anyone that for centuries, the Empire had repeatedly thrown countless soldiers to their deaths in pursuit of a single goal: creating Saint-level warriors capable of awakening Ultimate Skills. It was a brutal and merciless process, but undeniably effective, as proven by the quality of the Hundred Imperial Guards, individuals who, at their very best, possessed enough power to bring entire nations to their knees on their own.
"What should we do about that blue-haired majin building a nation in Jura Forest?" Damrada asked, finally bringing up the issue that had been lingering in the back of his mind. His expression grew more serious as he recalled the encounter. "From what I saw, he could become a serious problem in the future."
"Ah, about that. According to my estimation, that demon was likely born from Veldora's magicules before his death, which would explain his abnormal strength," Rudra analyzed as he tapped his fingers against the armrest of his throne. "As for dealing with him, I say we let him grow for now. Let him build his nation and play king among those monsters," he said, a sinister smile slowly spreading across his face. "Let him disrupt the balance of power in the West and throw their fragile peace into chaos. Then, once he becomes strong enough, we'll simply bring him over to our side." As he spoke, Rudra cast a meaningful glance toward Kondou, who silently lowered his head and nodded, immediately understanding the intent behind the order.
"By the way, what do you think of that boy, Yuuki?" Rudra asked, turning back toward Damrad as a hint of interest appeared in his eyes. "Do you think he's someone we could bring over to our side?" he asked, and unlike with Rimuru, his first thought was to win Yuuki to his side. After all, even after all these years, he still had a soft spot for talented humans who were capable of carving out their own place in a world dominated by monsters and powerful races.
"Truthfully, he's not a bad kid," Damrada replied honestly after a brief moment of thought. "Talented too, but he's too cunning for his own good and trying to keep one foot on too many boats at once." A faint smile crossed his face as he recalled his observations. "The boy is already one of the most influential humans in the West, and he even has one of his own people sitting on the Demon Lord Council. Right now, he's also trying to sweet-talk his way into Granbell Rosso's inner circle and earn his favor."
"Granbell, you say?" Rudra muttered, leaning back slightly as a nostalgic look briefly crossed his face. "Ah, that old student of mine..." He let out a quiet sigh and shook his head. "It's a shame he still chose to protect the humans of the West instead of joining me." The moment passed quickly, and the faint sentimentality disappeared from his face. "Anyway, Damrada, I want that boy on our side. We could really use more people like you two. People with more brains than brawn." Damrada lowered his head without a word, silently accepting the order. Seeing that no one had anything further to add, Rudra waved his hand dismissively. "If that's all, you two may take your leave."
"Understood. Long live Your Majesty!" Damrada and Kondou declared in unison before snapping sharp salutes. Then, without another word, the two men turned and walked out of the throne room.
Once they were gone, Rudra sat in silence before he finally let out a long, frustrated sigh and pressed his fingers against his temples. 'Damn it! It hasn't even been thirty years with this body, and the stress is already becoming unbearable!' he cursed inwardly, knowing well that each reincarnation took a toll on both his mind and soul, wearing them down bit by bit. 'At this rate... it won't be long before I...' his thoughts trailed off before he could bring himself to finish it.
Just then, the door to the room slowly opened, pulling him out of his thoughts. A woman stepped inside before making her way behind him and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Hmm~ Rudra, you're always working so hard. Let me reward you a little~" she whispered sweetly into his ear in a sultry, alluring voice.
"Velgrynd, stop this foolishness," Rudra said irritably as he brushed her hands away and turned to face her, with calm yet utterly uninterested eyes, not carrying even a trace of warmth. "I've told you time and time again, I don't have time for this nonsense," he added with a hint of annoyance clear in his voice.
"I am sorry, I was just..." Velgrynd immediately shrank back, her confidence disappearing in an instant. The proud and fiery True Dragon lowered her gaze like a child being scolded, a sight that would have shocked her other siblings beyond belief.
"Stop making excuses!" Rudra snapped while gripping his head in frustration. "Thousands of years have passed, and you still act like a child, playing around and throwing tantrums whenever you feel like it!" His voice echoed through the room as his stress and irritation spilled out all at once. "Meanwhile, I'm doing everything in my power to win this game, and all you do is fool around. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if Guy ended up with the better sister as his partner!" The words left his mouth before he even cared to take them back. Then, without another glance, he abruptly stood and stormed out of the room, leaving a devastated Velgrynd behind.
Meanwhile, deep within Rudra's consciousness, an unseen entity silently watched everything unfold. As it observed the deteriorating state of the Emperor of the East, a slow smile spread across its face. A dark satisfaction filled its existence as it watched Rudra continue to break apart piece by piece. 'Soon... very soon...' it thought with anticipation. 'I will finally reunite with my true master.'
******
Tempest
After officially becoming a recognized sovereign nation, the entire nation of Tempest had fallen into a full festive mood. Every corner of the city overflowed with life and excitement. Bright flashing lights illuminated the streets while music, laughter, and the clinking of drinks echoed through the night air. Citizens and visitors alike moved through the bustling roads with smiles and laughter that filled every corner of Rimuru City, the name given to Tempest's main hub after being overwhelmingly voted in by both the citizens and the nation's top executives despite Rimuru's vehement protests. In the end, he gave in and granted their wish, deciding he would just save his ultra-awesome naming skills for something else.
Still, even in this timeline where he had become considerably more shameless than before, naming a city after himself just felt way too embarrassing. Every time he heard someone casually say "Rimuru City," a small part of him wanted to curl up and die from secondhand embarrassment. To keep his mind away from that particular source of suffering, he was currently seated with Gazel at one of the more secluded tables in the courtyard, chatting and sharing drinks while looking out at the lively scene of his people and guests laughing and enjoying themselves without worry.
"I am telling you, Gazel, just hand your nation over to me. That's the best choice you could make, you know," Rimuru said with an easy smile as he thanked the waitress who had just refilled his glass.
"And I am telling you once again that nations are not cabbages or potatoes that you can just ask for and take whenever you feel like it," Gazel replied with a long, resigned sigh.
"Are they not?" Rimuru asked with a mischievous grin. "I mean, two of them have already fallen into my hands, and the third is practically mine already. So unfortunately, I just can't relate." He placed a hand over his chest and lowered his head slightly, putting on an exaggerated tone of fake sorrow. "Truly, the tribulations of thee peasant rulers pass quite beyond my comprehension."
Gazel's eye visibly twitched at those words. For a brief moment, he genuinely considered whether flipping the table would count as acceptable diplomatic behavior. Thankfully, the years of ruling Dwargon had trained his patience to extraordinary levels. So instead of abusing the table, he calmly lifted his drink and took a long sip, forcing himself to regain control. "That may be true," he said firmly after setting his glass down, "but Dwargon is not for sale, and it won't be for the foreseeable future."
"You really think that, huh?" Rimuru scoffed before rolling his eyes at Gazel's guarded expression. Seeing the dwarf king looking at him like he was preparing for a national crisis only made him shake his head in disbelief. "Relax, I'm not going to cause any trouble for you. I respect you a little too much to pull any tricks on you," Rimuru explained as he leaned back in his chair.
"That's good to hear," Gazel said dryly, though the relief in his voice only lasted for a moment before his expression gradually turned serious. "But that thing you said just now... is there some kind of trouble brewing for Dwargon?"
"Well, not specifically for Dwargon," Rimuru replied as he lightly tapped his fingers against the table. "But you've probably noticed the Empire has been a little too active these past few years, and I don't need to tell you how much they covet Dwargon."
"Yes, that could certainly become a problem," Gazel said with a slow nod, knowing that issue all too well. The Empire had been trying to pressure Dwargon into joining them since the days of his grandfather's reign, and the pressure had continued even into his own rule. "It seems they really are desperate for a foothold in the West."
"Exactly." Rimuru nodded before a faint smirk slowly spread across his face. "However, back then, having Dwargon on their side was more of a bonus for the Empire, since Jura Forest, while incredibly dangerous, sure, was still an open route into the West if they were willing to force their way through." He raised his glass and lazily swirled the drink inside. "But now..." His grin widened slightly. "Now that I've claimed this entire forest as my territory, they're not getting past me," he said without the slightest hint of arrogance, as if he were simply stating an obvious fact. "And trying to seize the Puppet Nation of Jistav would basically mean declaring war on the Demon Lords. So..."
"...Dwargon suddenly becomes essential if they ever want to march troops into the West," Gazel finished, his eyes narrowing as the implications settled into place. He fell silent, sinking into thought as he mentally ran various scenarios in his mind. After a few moments, he finally looked back toward Rimuru and spoke again. "And I'm guessing you wouldn't be willing to form a defensive pact either, considering you're after my nation too," he said, looking directly into the blue-haired man's eyes, studying his expression carefully.
"Actually, I am willing to form a defensive pact with you, but the extent of it would only be protecting and evacuating Dwargon's citizens if your nation ever comes under attack," Rimuru explained and could not help but marvel at the look of relief that appeared on Gazel's face, even though the offer only benefited the citizens and not him personally. Really, this man truly embodied what a king of the people should be. "As for helping you defend the nation itself, I can't do that." He lifted his glass and shrugged casually. "That's one of the biggest bargaining chips I have when it comes to changing your mind."
"You really are something else, Rimuru," Gazel said with a quiet chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "What kind of schemer openly tells his plans to the very person he's trying to trap?"
"Nah, didn't I tell you already? I respect you way too much to pull tricks on you," Rimuru said with a lazy wave of his hand before his expression softened slightly as he looked at the dwarf king. "Besides, you're one of the very few people I actually consider worthy of being my equal and my friend."
"Well, that's an honor," Gazel said with another chuckle. Still, beneath the smile, there was unmistakable sincerity in his voice. Better than most, he understood exactly what kind of existence Rimuru Tempest truly was. "Still, you call me a friend and would send me to my death without lifting a finger," he added, clearly teasing and not putting much weight behind the words.
"Well, I wouldn't exactly let you die. But once I saved you, would you really be able to stand before your people and convince them that you could still protect them in the future?" Rimuru replied, raising a brow at the dwarf king, and just as he expected, the question immediately left Gazel speechless. "Besides, you should understand this better than anyone. As a king, I will always put my nation above everything else," he continued, his playful attitude having completely vanished by now. "And I have a big dream for Tempest, and to make that dream a reality, I need the entire world under my command."
Gazel remained silent for a moment, lightly tapping his fingers against the mug in front of him as he processed everything Rimuru had just said. After a while, he finally let out a quiet breath and spoke. "It must be one hell of a dream if it requires you to acquire the entire world."
"Yeah," Rimuru replied with a faint smile as he leaned back and looked up toward the star-filled sky above them. For just a moment, an image of the entire world flying his banner flashed through his mind. Yet Rimuru simply smiled. "It's a pretty damn big dream, alright."
A brief silence settled between them as the sounds of the festival carried on around them. Eventually, Rimuru pushed himself to his feet and stretched lightly. "Anyway, I have to get going. I've got another meeting to attend." He glanced back toward Gazel and grinned. "Still, enjoy the rest of the evening. I'll come join you again later."
Gazel simply nodded and watched as Rimuru walked away, gradually disappearing back into the sea of people and lights. He stared after him for several seconds before shaking his head and letting out a long sigh. "The world really isn't ready for that man," he muttered quietly to himself before picking up his mug. "Well, whatever. At least the alcohol here is good," he said and immediately gulped down the rest of his drink just as Dorf, Captain of the Pegasus Knights, and Vaughn, the supreme commander of Dwargon's military, returned and took their seats at the table.
******
Meanwhile, in some other part of the city...
"Shizu-nee! Hurry! Hurry! Otherwise all the good stuff is gonna sell out!" Framea repeated for what had to be the tenth time as she excitedly dragged her sister-in-law through the crowded festival streets.
"It's fine, slow down a little!" Shizu said with a laugh, nearly stumbling as Framea pulled her forward again. She could not help smiling at the girl's endless enthusiasm. "You don't need to rush that much. We're almost there."
And just as Shizu said, a few minutes later, they finally arrived at their destination. Ahead of them stood a crowded stall packed with people from all over the festival grounds. At the center of it all was a giant bee enthusiastically serving cups filled with all kinds of honey drinks. A large crowd had gathered around the stall, everyone eagerly waiting for the chance to get even a single cup. Judging by the excitement in the air, this place had clearly become one of the festival's biggest attractions.
"Damn it! I knew we should've come earlier!" Framea said with a deep frown, her ears drooping as she stared at the massive crowd gathered around the stall. Just looking at that sea of people was enough to make her already regret arriving late. Of course, if she really wanted to, she could easily use her position as Tempest's Quality Control Officer or pull out the ultimate trump card of being Rimuru's little sister and cut straight through the line. But in her opinion, using her brother's name for something this trivial just felt cheap and unworthy of being his sibling.
Fortunately for Framea, before she could start mentally preparing herself for the nightmare of squeezing through the crowd, Apito spotted them. The large black-and-yellow wasp immediately buzzed excitedly and made her way over, somehow balancing two cups of honey drinks on her legs with impressive precision. "Shizu-sama, Framea-sama, thank you for coming to my shop!" she said happily as she presented the drinks to them.
"Hello, Apito. I'm glad to see your business is doing so well," Shizu said with a bright smile as she accepted the drink. After taking a small sip, her eyes widened slightly in surprise. "And I have to say, this is the best honey I've ever tasted."
"True, true!" Framea gulped down the entire cup in one go before making an okay sign with her fingers. "A truly delicious three-star drink!"
"Thank you!" Apito buzzed again, looking genuinely overjoyed by their praise.
"By the way, how is your brother? Has he recovered yet?" Shizu asked, tilting her head slightly as she looked at Apito.
"For the most part, yes," Apito replied before pointing one of her legs toward a darker area behind the stall. Hidden within the shadows stood Zegion, a giant beetle possessing traits of both a stag beetle and a rhinoceros beetle. Despite his enormous frame, he remained almost unnaturally still, silently standing guard over Apito from the darkness like a loyal sentinel. Noticing everyone's eyes fall on him, Zegion slowly lifted his head and gave them a small nod in greeting before returning to his post without saying a word. "He can't wait to fully recover and finally be useful to Rimuru-sama after he saved our lives," Apito added in an admiration-filled voice.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but tell him there's no need to rush," Shizu said with a kind smile. "You'll only be truly useful to Rimuru when you're at your best."
"Yes, Shizu-sama! We will remember that!" Apito replied immediately, nodding with complete sincerity.
Just then, Framea spotted Nemu walking through the crowd. "Nemu! Over here!" she immediately called out, enthusiastically waving her hand at the young Harpy.
Hearing her name, Nemu turned and looked in their direction before making her way over. The moment she arrived, however, her attention instantly locked onto the drinks in their hands while her eyes practically sparkled as she stared at the cups, and a tiny line of drool slowly formed at the corner of her mouth.
Her reaction did not go unnoticed, and Framea chuckled before asking, "Do you want a honey drink too?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"I want..." Nemu began, nearly nodding without hesitation, but suddenly froze midway through the motion upon suddenly realizing that she did not have any money left. Not a single coin. In fact, she had already blown through her entire allowance and all of her savings at the countless shops around Tempest, leaving herself completely broke in a foreign nation. After realizing the horrifying truth earlier, she had immediately concluded that Tempest was an incredibly dangerous place for a young and impressionable girl like herself, while completely ignoring the five giant fluffy pillows currently piled around her room, along with the mountain of beautiful dresses she had purchased and the small pouch of fat that had recently begun appearing around her stomach.
This time, it was Shizu's turn to laugh softly at Nemu's pitiful expression as the Harpy stared longingly at the drinks in everyone else's hands like a starving animal. "Apito, give her a drink. I'll cover it for her," she said kindly. Hearing that, Apito immediately buzzed away in a hurry before quickly returning with another cup of honey drink, which she happily offered to Nemu.
Nemu accepted the drink with both hands and immediately took a sip without the slightest bit of hesitation. The moment she did, a blissful expression spread across her face. "Hmm~ So good~" she said in a dreamy voice before turning towards Shizu with sparkling eyes full of gratitude. "Shizu-sama, you really are a good person."
"Is that so?" Suddenly, all the bliss and joy vanished from Nemu's face, and a shiver ran down her spine the moment she heard that voice. Cold sweat began pouring down her face as she slowly turned around, only to find Frey standing behind her, looking down at her with a frighteningly sweet smile. "It's nice to see you again, my dear daughter. At the very least, now I know you're still alive and well."
"M-Mother-sama, y-you... h-here?" Nemu stammered out as her hands began trembling, causing the glass she was holding to shake along with them.
"Of course, dear," Frey replied, tilting her head slightly while somehow maintaining that same terrifying smile. "After all, you're not the only one allowed to be here, especially after coming on a mission and then abandoning everything just to go off and have fun."
"I... I... I..." Nemu desperately searched for an excuse, her mind spinning at full speed as she tried to come up with literally anything that could save her. But under her mother's gaze, every possible explanation immediately died before leaving her mouth. In the end, realizing that making excuses would only anger her mother even more, she lowered her head and shrank into herself. "I am sorry..."
"Sorry, she says," Frey scoffed as she glared down at her daughter, finally dropping part of the sweet act. "Does apologizing magically erase your irresponsible behavior? What the hell were you thinking, staying in a foreign nation for this long without sending even a single message back? Do you have any idea what kind of misunderstandings that could've caused?"
"Sorry... I overslept when I was supposed to return to Fulbrosia with Rimuru-sama," Nemu admitted quietly without lifting her head.
"Again with the excuses! You..." Frey started once more, immediately preparing to continue tearing into the trembling girl, but before the storm could fully continue, another voice calmly cut through the tension.
"Frey, don't you think that's enough?" Shizu asked gently as she reached over and carefully pulled Nemu to her side. "You've already scolded her, and she's learned her lesson. So why don't you calm down too?"
"Ms. Shizu, I appreciate the sentiment, but please stay out of this." Frey slowly turned her gaze toward Shizu, slightly narrowing her golden eyes at the black-haired girl before folding her arms beneath her chest. "This is between my daughter and me. As both her mother and her queen, it is my right to discipline and educate her whenever I see fit. I don't believe you have any place interfering in that matter."
"Well, actually, since you now serve Rimuru, and I happen to be Rimuru's wife, I do, in fact, outrank you. Which means I absolutely have the right to step in and correct you when I feel it's necessary," Shizu said with a polite yet completely unconcealed smug smile as a vein visibly throbbed on Frey's forehead.
"Now, regarding Nemu's situation, I understand why you're angry, but this isn't the way to handle it." Shizu gently patted the still trembling Harpy beside her before shaking her head with a disappointed sigh. "Even if you wanted to scold her, you should've waited until the two of you were alone instead of dressing her down in front of everyone." Her expression became thoughtful for a moment before she tilted her head slightly. "Honestly, it's surprising that you have three children and still don't understand something this basic. It really makes you wonder what kind of poor mother you are," she added, and another vein immediately pulsed on Frey's forehead.
"Honestly, Frey, I think your temper is the root of all your problems," Shizu continued while putting on a fake sympathetic expression so transparent that even Framea had to look away to hide her smile. "Or maybe it's just frustration from living this long without ever finding a partner of your own."
That last remark had done it for Frey, nearly pushing her over the edge and making her want to crash out on Shizu. However, summoning every bit of willpower she had, Frey took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. She knew that, at the moment, she was not in a position to lash out at Rimuru's official wife. Not only would it be incredibly rude, but it would also draw unnecessary hostility from Tempest's residents. Besides, scolding Nemu was one thing, but Frey personally preferred not to make a scene in public, especially with someone of Shizu's status.
"Thank you for your concern, Ms. Shizu. I will remember these kind words and repay your generosity tenfold someday," Frey said haughtily, lifting her head slightly before turning around and briskly walking away.
A moment later, once Frey was finally out of sight, Nemu let out a relieved sigh. "That was really scary," she muttered before turning toward Shizu and quickly bowing her head. "Shizu-sama, thank you for savi..." Her words were abruptly cut off when Shizu lightly smacked her on the head. "Why?!" Nemu immediately cried out, clutching the top of her head with teary eyes. "What did I do now?"
"Silly girl, you're still asking that kind of question? Of course that was for making your mother worry," Shizu said sternly as she folded her arms across her chest and looked down at her. "The banter between Frey and me is our own personal business, and while I don't agree with the way she handled things, I do agree with what she was saying. So Nemu, even if you overslept, and even if you planned on staying here a little longer afterward, you still should've informed Frey first."
"From what I just saw, Frey's parenting style does seem pretty strict, but I can tell she genuinely cares about you." Shizu's voice grew gentler as she crouched down to meet Nemu at eye level. "And that same concern could've caused friction between Frey and Rimuru if she had started thinking he did something to you." Looking directly into the young Harpy's eyes, she spoke more seriously. "So from now on, you can come here and play whenever you want, but you have to inform your mother every single time. Is that clear?"
"Yes, I understand, Shizu-sama," Nemu replied immediately, nodding with complete seriousness.
'Good, it looks like she's really reflecting on it,' Shizu thought with a satisfied smile as she gently patted Nemu on the head.
At the same time, some distance away, Frey had heard every word of the conversation thanks to her naturally sharp hearing. Her steps slowed slightly. For a moment, she said nothing, and then a faint smile gradually formed on her face. "Maybe you're not that bad after all," she quietly muttered to herself before casting one last glance in their direction and continuing on her way.
Meanwhile, after dealing with Nemu, Shizu also parted ways with the group and headed back home. Then, just as Framea was about to say, "So, what should we..." and start dragging Nemu around to sample even more of the festival's food, her expression suddenly froze when she sensed a familiar presence approaching Tempest. 'That person... why are they here now...?' For a brief moment, she hesitated before quickly making up her mind. "Nemu, here, take this for snacks," she said as she pulled out a pouch stuffed with money and handed it to the little Harpy. "Big sis has something important to take care of, so spend it wisely." Then her eyes narrowed slightly. "And more importantly, no more pillows."
Then, without giving Nemu a chance to ask questions, Framea immediately sprang onto the roof of a nearby building. Then she jumped to another rooftop, then another after that. And just like that, her figure disappeared into the colorful sea of lights and buildings surrounding the festival.
Meanwhile, Nemu stared blankly in the direction Framea had vanished for a few moments, blinking once, then twice. "...Okay," she said casually. Then, without even a hint of concern, she turned around and quietly rejoined the line in front of Apito's shop as if nothing had happened
******
Meanwhile, on a hill overlooking Tempest City, a lone hooded figure stood concealed among the natural foliage and the deep shadows cast by the night, silently observing the bustling town below.
"Tempest... a nation of monsters, just like she said," the figure murmured quietly to themselves. However, before they could continue their thoughts, the sound of rustling leaves suddenly came from behind them. Instantly, the hooded figure turned around without hesitation, only to find a rabbit girl standing there with her hands firmly planted on her hips, glaring directly at them without the slightest trace of fear.
"Mind telling me what exactly you're doing here..." Framea asked as she narrowed her eyes, "...Demon Lord Luminous Valentine?"
After Framea spoke those words, silence lingered between them for a few moments. Then suddenly, the hooded figure burst into laughter. "Ohhohoho~ how amusing." The elegant laughter echoed softly across the quiet hill. "That little timid rabbit I once took pity on and gave a name to is questioning me now." As she spoke, she casually tossed aside her cloak, revealing a beautiful silver-haired girl with striking heterochromatic red and blue eyes. Bathed beneath the pale moonlight, the queen of vampires looked almost unreal, carrying a beauty that felt more mystical than human. "However..." The amusement on her face vanished in an instant, and her expression twisted into something colder as she looked down at Framea with fierce eyes. "...what makes you think you're in any position to ask me that!?"
The old Framea would have instantly cowered beneath that pressure. But that version of her no longer existed. "Demon Lord Valentine, I am asking you again." Framea's voice remained steady as she stared directly back into the eyes of one of the world's strongest beings. "What is the purpose of your visit? Tell me honestly, or..." She was not the same naive village girl anymore, the one who occasionally wandered off in search of excitement and adventure. She was Rimuru's sister now. A citizen of Tempest. Part of a place she finally considered home. And if someone threatened that home... "...I'll beat the answers out of you!" she declared without hesitation as blue lightning suddenly crackled violently around her body.
To be continued...