The next morning, when Testarossa slowly opened her eyes, she found herself lying comfortably atop Rimuru, with his arm wrapped securely around her waist. It took her a few moments to fully wake up and gather her bearings, but once she did, a deep blush immediately spread across her face as memories of the previous night came flooding back, reminding her of the night they had spent together, making use of nearly every corner of the room without a shred of restraint or embarrassment.
A moment later, however, her embarrassment gradually faded, replaced by a warm sense of happiness and contentment. Letting out a quiet sigh, she reflected on the fact that she had finally done what she had spent months gathering the courage to do. She had confessed her feelings to the man she loved, and to her immense joy, those feelings had been returned. What followed had been a truly magical experience, one so precious and unforgettable that even a primordial demoness like her had never experienced anything quite like it since the Dawn of Creation itself.
Still basking in the joy of the previous night, Testarossa eventually remembered that she still had work to do. So, taking a deep breath, she allowed herself one last moment to savor his scent before reluctantly slipping free from his embrace and climbing out of bed. As she rose to her feet, the morning sunlight streamed across her bare body as she began to stretch a little, only to immediately wince when a sharp wave of soreness spread throughout her body, particularly in one very specific area, causing her expression to tighten into a slight grimace.
"Strange... this shouldn't be happening. I am a demon, after all..." she muttered to herself, gently touching her side as a puzzled frown formed on her face.
"That's because I temporarily gave your body a few human traits for the duration of last night and throughout today." Testarossa suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her, followed by a pair of arms wrapping gently around her waist. "I wanted your first time to feel as authentic as possible, so I may have bent the rules a little. I hope you don't mind," he whispered into her ear while his long blue hair cascaded over her shoulder as he rested his chin lightly against her head.
"Good morning, Rimuru-sama," Testarossa greeted him warmly with a content smile spreading across her face as she relaxed against his chest. "As for the soreness, I don't mind it at all... in fact, I think I might even like it a little," her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink as she admitted in a small voice.
"Heh, that's good to hear, I suppose," Rimuru replied with an amused chuckle before planting a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Still, there's no need to rush back to work. You can take the day off and get some proper rest if you'd like."
"No, it's alright," Testarossa replied, shaking her head without hesitation. "There's some discomfort, certainly, but it's nowhere near unbearable. I'm sure I can manage my work just fine."
"Well, if that's what you want, just don't push yourself too hard," Rimuru said before gently turning her around within his embrace so they were facing one another. "Anyway, if you're determined to get back to work, we should probably get cleaned up first," he added with a meaningful smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he guided her toward the washroom.
"Of course, my lord," Testarossa replied with a knowing smile of her own, already having a very good idea of how the next hour or so was going to be spent.
******
Meanwhile, as Rimuru spent some quality time with Testarossa, the latest edition of the Black Quill was sweeping across the world like a storm. By now, copies had reached nearly every corner of the continent, carrying with them a headline that was impossible to ignore. Splashed across the front page was the official announcement of Tempest's debut onto the world stage as a sovereign nation, marking the monster nation's formal entry into the political landscape of the world.
******
Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion
In a courtyard filled with blooming flowers, a beautiful woman sat leisurely on a swing. She possessed long pointed ears, skin as white as fresh snow, slanted jade-green eyes, and flowing pale blue-silver hair that cascaded down her back. In one hand, she held a delicate teacup, while in the other rested the latest edition of the Black Quill, a newspaper she had become surprisingly fond of over the past few months.
The woman was none other than the High Elf, Elmesia El Ru Sarion, Empress of the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion. Widely regarded as one of the wealthiest and most influential individuals in the world, standing at the pinnacle of both political and economic power, with few who could claim to rival her status.
"Another new variable in the world... how fascinating," Elmesia mused, a thoughtful expression crossing her elegant features as she rested her chin against her fist while gently swaying back and forth on the swing as she considered the implications of everything she had just read. "But quite troublesome as well, especially now that Fulbrosia has become part of a monster nation's domain."
Once again, Elmesia let out a quiet sigh as she set the newspaper aside and leaned back against the swing's cushioned seat, already able to see the storm this new nation was about to unleash upon the world. After all, founding a nation of monsters was one thing. Turning a human kingdom into a vassal state was another entirely. But bringing a nation ruled by a Demon Lord under one's banner and making that very Demon Lord a subordinate? That was an entirely different beast altogether.
Even for someone like Elmesia, who had lived for thousands of years and witnessed the rise and fall of countless nations, this kind of debut was utterly absurd. And while she considered the endless responsibilities of ruling to be a constant nuisance and would much rather spend her days traveling the world in search of rare sweets and interesting entertainment, she could not simply abandon her duties as the ruler of Sarion.
Honestly, there were times when Elmesia genuinely envied that child, Leon, in this regard. Unlike her, he had the luxury of ruling a nation located on an entirely different continent, safely removed from this political maneuvering and the endless headaches brought about by this newly rising power.
Still, knowing there was no escaping her responsibilities, Elmesia snapped her fingers and instructed one of her guards to bring her a pen and some paper. Taking a sip of tea, she quickly drafted a letter before sealing it with her personal magical insignia. "Here, have this delivered to King Gazel of the Armed Nation of Dwargon," she instructed, handing the letter to the guard. "Also, contact Elyun and tell her to return to Sarion. I'd very much like to hear what my dear cousin thinks of the leader of this monster nation," she added with a faint smile on her lips as she leaned back into her swing once more.
******
Kingdom of Falmuth
"Nation of monsters? What a joke!" Edmaris Falmuth, King of the Kingdom of Falmuth, sneered as he crushed the newspaper in his hand.
"Calm down, brother. Those monsters aren't worth getting worked up over," Edward Falmuth replied casually from across the room as he continued reading his own copy of the paper. Unlike Edmaris, he appeared more amused than angered by the situation. "That said, Dwargon and Blumund openly backing them did catch me by surprise. Especially that little king of Blumund. I do wonder where he found the courage to make a move like that."
"What else would you expect from Gazel Dwargo when he isn't even human himself?" Edmaris scoffed, making little effort to conceal the disdain in his voice. "No wonder he always acts so high and mighty whenever he negotiates with us, yet has no problem recognizing a nation filled with those disgusting monsters." He snorted in contempt before dismissively waving a hand. "As for that little man from Blumund, what difference does it make whether he recognizes them or not? A tiny nation like that is a complete non-factor compared to major powers like us."
"True," Edward agreed with a nod. Neither brother viewed Blumund as a threat, nor did they consider it a significant player on the world stage. To them, it was merely a small kingdom that happened to occupy a convenient location. "It's a shame, though. All of our major assets within Blumund were exposed and thoroughly rooted out not long ago. Otherwise, we could have used this opportunity to apply pressure from within before making our move to bring the kingdom under our control."
"Well, even if we can't cause unrest from within, we can certainly apply pressure from the outside, can't we?" A sinister smile slowly spread across Edmaris' face as he turned toward his brother. "I have an idea. Station some of our soldiers near Blumund's borders and have them ambush any merchant caravans leaving the kingdom. After that, make it appear as though the attacks were carried out by monsters."
"And then have our people fan the flames by relentlessly criticizing their king's decision to associate with monsters despite their supposedly savage nature," Edward finished with a cruel smile mirroring his brother's own. "Though wouldn't that hurt our own merchants as well? Many of them still conduct business with Blumund regularly despite the growing tensions between our nations. Some of Falmuth's wealthiest trading houses could end up suffering significant losses if their caravans are caught up in the attacks."
"And? What's the problem with that?" Edmaris replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "As citizens of Falmuth, it's their duty to make sacrifices for the sake of the nation, isn't it?" His smile widened slightly. "Though, make a list of the merchant caravans owned by our supporters and associates and exclude them from the attacks. There's no reason for us to suffer unnecessary losses."
"Oh, what a beautifully crafted plan. I'm truly in awe of your brilliance."
The sudden appearance of a third voice caused both brothers to snap their heads toward its source. Standing a short distance away was a man dressed in colorful clown attire, an eerie mask concealing his face as he slowly applauded their conversation.
"You..." Edmaris recognized the intruder immediately, and his expression darkened as his eyes narrowed into a glare. "...What are you doing here this time? I already told you that I'm not interested in collaborating with the likes of you."
"Oh, such hurtful words. My poor heart is practically shattering, you know," Laplace replied dramatically, clutching his chest before casually dropping onto the couch beside Edward, completely ignoring the hostile stares directed his way. "But are you really sure you don't want to work together?" he asked, crossing one leg over the other. "That monster nation has become an officially recognized sovereign state, and they even managed to bring the Kingdom of Raja under their banner as a vassal state. Surely that's at least a little concerning to you?"
"So? What of it?" Edmaris raised an eyebrow dismissively. "Just because they've become an official nation doesn't mean they're suddenly on the same level as a great power like us. What can those monsters possibly offer the world that established nations like ours cannot?" he scoffed arrogantly, completely brushing aside the matter of Raja. Much like Blumund, he had never considered Raja a nation worthy of his attention. In fact, the fact that they had willingly submitted themselves to a nation of monsters only reinforced his already low opinion of them. "And do you think I don't see what you're trying to do? Let me make one thing clear. I'm not about to lose sleep over some monsters playing house in a forest."
"Ah, I see it now..." Laplace said, nodding thoughtfully. Edmaris, however, didn't miss the look in the clown's eyes that clearly called him an idiot in his face. His expression immediately darkened, but before he could snap back with an angry retort, Laplace suddenly rose from his seat. "Well, if you ever happen to change your mind, take this." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small purple orb and casually tossed it toward Edmaris. "It's a communication device that can contact me directly. So don't be a stranger, alright?" Laplace said with a playful wave of his hand, before he vanished from the room as suddenly as he had appeared.
"Brother, that..." Edward began, only to be cut off.
"Forget about that clown for now," Edmaris said dismissively, waving a hand. "I need to speak with Razen first. After that, we'll decide how to deal with him." He lifted the purple orb to eye level and examined it for a moment before letting out a derisive snort. "Besides, I doubt we'll ever have a use for this." His voice was filled with absolute confidence as he carelessly tossed the orb onto a nearby table, putting both the clown and the so-called nation of monsters out of his mind.
******
Kingdom of Englassia
Within the royal castle of Englassia, King Aegil sat upon his throne with a grave expression etched across his face as he folded the latest issue of Black Quill on his lap and let out a long, weary sigh. "Another major player is stepping onto the board, and this time it's the monsters," he said, leaning back against his throne as he pondered the future of his kingdom.
Unlike King Edmaris of Falmuth, Aegil did not underestimate the significance of the monster nation's rise. If anything, the additional details contained within the article only made the situation more concerning in his eyes. After all, Tempest had not merely declared itself as a sovereign nation but had also secured the support of both Dwargon and Blumund, establishing its legitimacy in the global trade market. On top of that, they brought the Kingdom of Raja under its banner as a vassal state and even incorporated Fulbrosia into its domain. When all of those developments were considered as a whole, the emergence of Tempest was anything but a laughing matter.
"Perhaps I should speak with the Church of God Luminous. They certainly won't tolerate the existence of a nation of monsters," Aegil said thoughtfully while rubbing his chin, since he himself was far from enthusiastic about the idea of establishing diplomatic relations with those so-called savage monsters. In his eyes, the very notion of monsters gathering together and forming a nation was absurd enough. The fact that they now sought to stand alongside human kingdoms as equals made the prospect even less appealing. After all, while he was pragmatic enough to acknowledge Tempest's growing influence, that did not mean he had to like what it represented.
After a moment of contemplation, Aegil let out another weary sigh as his thoughts drifted toward his son, Elric, and the disappointment the young prince was steadily becoming. Constantly surrounded by alcohol, gambling, and beautiful women, Elric seemed far more interested in indulging his every desire than preparing himself for the responsibilities that awaited him. Even now, Aegil was willing to bet that the boy was rutting somewhere in the city, with whichever woman had caught his attention that day.
Truthfully, Aegil would not have minded such behavior if it had remained nothing more than a harmless indulgence. As the crown prince, Elric had every right to enjoy some of the privileges afforded by his station. Aegil himself had certainly taken advantage of those same privileges in his younger years. The problem was that Elric had allowed those pleasures to consume him entirely, neglecting both his education and his responsibilities as the future ruler of Englassia. That was where Aegil drew the line. Yet no matter how many times he tried to correct his son's behavior, it always ended the same way. Elric would either ignore his words entirely or lash out before disappearing somewhere within the kingdom. Then, after a week or two had passed, he would return as though nothing had happened, only to repeat the exact same cycle all over again.
"Well, there's no point dwelling on that boy right now," Aegil muttered as he settled back into his throne. "I can only hope this is nothing more than a foolish phase and that Elric will eventually mature with age." Shaking his head, he forced those troublesome thoughts aside and reached for a file that had just been delivered to him.
******
Beast Kingdom of Eurazania
"Ha! You all did well. You almost made me break a sweat there!" Carrion, the Beast King of Eurazania, declared with a wide grin as he looked down at his three top generals, Albis, Suphia, and Phobio, who were sprawled across the training grounds with their bodies covered in dirt, bruises, and the countless minor injuries that came from sparring against their leader.
"Lord Carrion, you're simply too strong. Even the three of us together couldn't match you in a fight," Phobio admitted as he slowly pushed himself up from the ground.
"Indeed," Albis agreed with a light chuckle as she brushed the dust from her robes. "It would likely take us years to reach your level." She paused for a moment before shaking her head with an amused sigh. "Though by the time we managed that, you would have undoubtedly grown even stronger yourself. Perhaps surpassing you truly is a hopeless endeavor."
"Yep! Lord Carrion is incredible!" Suphia added enthusiastically as she sprang back to her feet with a graceful flip. "I bet you're like one of the five strongest people in the entire world!" she declared confidently as her tail swished excitedly behind her.
"Haha! That's the spirit!" Carrion laughed heartily at their praise before a fierce grin spread across his face. "But if you've all got this much energy left to stand around talking, then you've got enough energy left to keep fighting!" he declared enthusiastically, slamming a fist into his open palm.
"Bring it on, Lord Carrion!" "I'm ready whenever you are!" "I would never back down from a good fight!"
Before they could begin, however, the doors to the training hall suddenly burst open, and a guard rushed inside, heading straight for Carrion. "Lord Carrion! It's urgent! You need to see this!" the guard exclaimed, slightly out of breath as he thrust a copy of the Black Quill into the Beast King's hands.
"What has you so worked up?" Carrion asked with a frown as he unfolded the newspaper. The moment his eyes landed on the front page, however, he froze. The casual expression vanished from his face in an instant, replaced by pure disbelief. His eyes widened, and the newspaper crinkled slightly in his grip as he stared at the article. "Wait... why would she..." he muttered under his breath, reading the headline again to make sure he hadn't misunderstood it. Yet no matter how many times he looked, the words remained exactly the same.
"Lord Carrion, is everything alright?" Albis asked, immediately noticing the unusual reaction, stepped forward and asked in a concerned voice, only for Carrion to silently thrust the newspaper into her hands without a word. Curious, Albis quickly scanned the front page while Suphia and Phobio leaned over her shoulders to read along.
[Demon Lord Sky Queen Frey Surrenders Fulbrosia to the Ruler of Tempest. "Serving Lord Rimuru Would Be More Beneficial for My People," - Sky Queen Frey.]
As soon as they finished reading the headline, all three wore the exact same stunned expression as their king, exchanging speechless glances with one another. "This..." Albis, Suphia, and Phobio were simply too shocked to find the words. A fellow Demon Lord, someone who stood on the same level as their own ruler, had supposedly handed over her nation to some unknown majin and willingly chosen to serve under him. Yeah... that was far too bizarre for their minds to process.
"There has to be something wrong here... There's no way a woman like her would..." Carrion muttered, struggling to make sense of the article. "Maybe..." a dark aura suddenly flared around his body as countless possibilities raced through his mind, "...she's being blackmailed... or worse, mind-controlled... or..." His voice trailed off as he continued grasping for explanations that would make the situation seem more reasonable to his own mind.
In Carrion's mind, Frey's image was that of a proud, intelligent woman who was more than capable of ruling her own nation. That was precisely why the Beast King, who had known her for many years, found the article impossible to believe. He simply could not imagine Frey willingly surrendering everything she had built and placing herself beneath another ruler's banner unless something behind the scenes had been forcing her hand.
"Lord Carrion, why don't we gather our army and march on this monster nation and claim it for ourselves?" Phobio suggested, lifting his head proudly as though he had just proposed the perfect solution. "That way, not only can we teach that upstart majin a lesson for disrespecting Carrion-sama, but we can also make Demon Lord Frey owe us a favor for rescuing her from his grasp and whatever leverage he's using to keep her under his thumb."
As Carrion listened to Phobio's proposal, a fierce glint briefly flashed across his eyes. For a moment, he was genuinely tempted to act. However, he quickly shook his head and forced himself to calm down. "No, we can't do that. Not yet, at least," he said, recalling Frey's earlier words about Rimuru and the unbelievable story of how he had supposedly defeated Charybdis. So with considerable effort, he suppressed the wild beast within him that was urging him to march straight into Tempest and settle the matter through force. "At the very least, I need to speak with Frey first before making any kind of decision."
Hearing Carrion's decision, Phobio couldn't help but frown in dissatisfaction. He simply couldn't understand why his leader was being so cautious. In his mind, the situation was as straightforward as it could get. What was so difficult about marching into that newly established nation and claiming it by force? How could a country that had only just appeared on the map, led by some upstart majin nobody had even heard of just a year ago, possibly compare to the strength and long-established legacy of Eurazania?
Another reason Phobio was so eager to launch an assault on Tempest stemmed from Carrion's previous encounter with Rimuru. From what he had heard from Albis and Suphia, when their lord had gone to assist Frey, she had shown him very little respect. Worse still, this Rimuru had apparently taken several jabs at Carrion before casually telling him to turn back as though he were some lost child who had wandered into the wrong place. Every time Phobio recalled that story, his blood boiled with anger. In his eyes, Carrion was one of the strongest rulers in the world and a man he respected with all his heart. So, to him, disrespecting Carrion was akin to disrespecting their entire kind.
Still, despite his dissatisfaction, Phobio wisely kept his grievances to himself. Openly questioning Carrion's judgment was not something he intended to do. However, as he watched his king leave the training grounds, clearly troubled by the news concerning Frey and lost in his own thoughts, a fire ignited deep within Phobio's heart. Silently, he swore that one day he would make those who had dared to disrespect his lord pay for it in blood.
******
Kingdom of Siltrosso
"Have you found anything about her yet?" Granbell Rosso asked as he stared at his son seated across from him. It had been a week since his precious granddaughter had vanished, yet they had failed to uncover even a single clue that might point to her whereabouts.
"I'm sorry, Father. I've done everything I can, but there are still no leads," Julian Rosso replied quietly, lowering his head and avoiding his father's gaze.
"That's consistent," Granbell scoffed mockingly, not looking disappointed in the slightest by his son's answer. "To be honest, I was merely throwing a dart in the dark when I tasked you with investigating Mariabell's disappearance. Fortunately for you, I wasn't expecting much to begin with."
"I am sorry..."
"Keep your apologies to yourself. They're about as worthless as you've been to the Rosso name," Granbell cut him off with a cold, scathing remark. "Truly, Mariabell is the only hope this family, and perhaps even this world, has left."
Julian, meanwhile, kept his head lowered, but the tightly clenched fists at his sides and the hatred simmering behind his eyes told an entirely different story. Though he did his best to keep his emotions hidden, the resentment he harbored toward his father had been festering for years. Even now, he could vividly remember his childhood, back when Granbell had placed enormous expectations upon him. His father had envisioned a future where Julian would stand at the center of the West's economic web, ruling from the shadows through wealth and influence while restoring the Rosso name to the prestige and glory it had once enjoyed in the past.
Unfortunately for Julian, he was never the prodigy his father had hoped for. He was intelligent and possessed a strong physique by human standards, but neither could compare to his mother's brilliance or his father's overwhelming strength. As the years passed and that reality became impossible to ignore, Granbell gradually lost interest in him, and eventually, he stopped investing any meaningful time or effort into his son altogether. In turn, Julian's standing within the household slowly deteriorated, as everyone around him unconsciously followed Granbell's example and began treating him as someone of little importance.
In fact, even as an adult, Julian possessed almost no real authority within the Rosso household. Officially, he held a position of responsibility, but in practice, he was little more than a glorified steward tasked with managing the estate's daily affairs. Even then, his authority was severely limited, and he lacked the power to enact any meaningful changes without approval. Hell, even the servants treated him differently from how they treated Granbell. Many viewed his orders as little more than polite suggestions, fully aware they could ignore them with few, if any, consequences. Since all of them were well aware that, no matter how angry he became, Julian simply did not possess the authority to dismiss them. After all, every servant in the mansion had been personally selected by Granbell to satisfy his own paranoia and had served the household for years, some for decades. Their loyalty belonged entirely to the Rosso patriarch and him alone.
What truly broke the camel's back, however, was the arrival of Genevieve, his wife. From the moment she entered the Rosso household, she was treated with more respect than he had ever received in his entire life, both by his father and by everyone else within the mansion. The reason was simple. Granbell had become convinced that their future child would somehow be the reincarnation of Julian's mother and the one destined to restore the Rosso family to greatness. As a result, Genevieve was elevated almost immediately in the eyes of the household.
In Julian's mind, however, the entire idea of his mother returning was downright ridiculous. As if her soul would somehow find its way back here after passing through the endless cycle of reincarnation. And even if reincarnation did work that way, what were the chances that she would be reborn into this particular world? A world connected to countless others, where summoned children regularly arrived from. The odds were so astronomically small that Julian couldn't help but scoff at the very notion.
Still, putting aside his father's delusions, Julian hated the stark difference in how he was treated compared to his wife and daughter. They received the affection, respect, and attention that had always been denied to him, and over the years, that disparity had poisoned his heart against them as well. As a result, when he learned of their disappearance, he felt no grief whatsoever. Instead, he was genuinely overjoyed. That feeling only intensified when it became clear that Genevieve's fate remained unknown. More than anything, however, he took a special kind of satisfaction in seeing the distress and worry etched across his father's face. For perhaps the first time in his life, Granbell looked powerless, and knowing that the old man was finally experiencing even a fraction of the pain and anguish he had inflicted on him over the years filled Julian with a bitter sense of triumph and joy.
However, his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. After receiving Granbell's permission, one of the household servants stepped into the room and offered a respectful bow. "Granbell-sama, Yuuki-sama is here to see you."
"Send him in," Granbell replied without bothering to waste any more words than necessary.
Julian, meanwhile, frowned as his expression darkened once again. Yuuki Kagurazaka was yet another bane of his existence, a newcomer who had entered his life just as the previous two had vanished from it. Another name added to the ever-growing list of people who occupied a higher place in Granbell's eyes than his own son ever had. A familiar bitterness welled up inside him as he thought about it, unable to ignore how quickly Yuuki had earned the trust, respect, and attention that Julian himself had spent a lifetime chasing in vain.
Before he could sink any deeper into those poisonous thoughts, however, his father's voice cut through them like a knife. "If you're going to sit there cursing me and Yuuki, do it somewhere else. Don't bring that negativity into my workspace."
Julian stiffened at the accusation and opened his mouth to defend himself, but Granbell didn't even give him the chance. "Keep your excuses to yourself, boy," he scoffed before looking at him with undisguised contempt. "I am Granbell Rosso. I can read people like the back of my hand, and you, boy, are an open book to me. So once again, stop polluting my space and leave. There is no place in this discussion for someone who lacks even a shred of intelligence."
Those words immediately silenced whatever response Julian had been about to give. His face turned red with barely restrained rage, and for a brief moment, it looked as though he might finally snap. Yet, just as he had done countless times before, he swallowed both his frustration and his pride before slowly rising from his seat and making his way toward the door without uttering a single word. Before leaving, however, he paused long enough to shoot a venomous glare at Yuuki, who stood just outside the room and had almost certainly heard every humiliating word of the exchange. Then, without saying anything, Julian turned away and walked down the corridor, leaving behind the room, his father, and the familiar feeling of powerlessness that had haunted him for most of his life.
"Forgive me. It seems I overheard something I wasn't meant to," Yuuki said politely as he entered the room and quietly closed the door behind him.
"It's nothing. He's not someone you need to concern yourself with," Granbell replied, dismissively waving a hand. "Now then, you said you wanted to see me."
"Indeed, Granbell-sama. There is something important I wished to discuss with you," Yuuki said as he reached into his coat and placed a rolled-up newspaper on the table before the old man. "Although, judging by how calm you seem, I take it you haven't seen this yet."
Granbell raised an eyebrow before picking up the paper and unrolling it. Then, as he began reading, a terrifying aura slowly started leaking from his body. With every passing line, the pressure in the room grew heavier until he finally reached a particular section of the article. In an instant, he shot to his feet, nearly crushing the newspaper in his grip as his eyes locked onto the words before him.
["Some may question my decision to allow Raja to become a vassal state of a monster nation. However, my experiences have shown me that humans are capable of the same cruelty as monsters, and at times, even greater cruelty still." - Queen Towa of the Kingdom of Raja.]
The statement had been printed prominently on the second page, directly beneath the article detailing Fulbrosia's surrender to Rimuru. Accompanying it was a lengthy account of the tragedy that had befallen Raja, describing the kingdom's struggles, the hardships its people had endured, and the role Rimuru had supposedly played in helping them overcome their crisis.
"Is that girl insane!? How could she do something like this!?" Granbell roared, hurling his glass of whisky against the nearby wall, shattering the glass upon impact, scattering fragments across the room as amber liquid splashed across the stone. "Becoming a vassal of monsters? Have humans truly fallen this low!?"
"Calm down, Granbell-sama. There is no need for you to get worked up," Yuuki said, maintaining his composure despite the oppressive atmosphere filling the room. However, the moment Granbell's glare shifted toward him, he immediately raised both hands with a helpless smile. "I'm serious. What's done is done. Stressing yourself over it now won't change anything."
Granbell considered those words for a long moment before finally taking a deep breath and forcing himself to calm down. Slowly, the crushing pressure receded as he sank back onto the couch. "I understand," he said with a weary sigh. "Still, whoever this Rimuru is, he cannot be underestimated." His eyes narrowed as he glanced once more at the newspaper resting in his hand. "I can clearly see his ambitions, and I can already feel his claws reaching toward the West."
"Indeed, and that's exactly why I've come up with a plan. One that will not only help us paint Tempest as a threat in the eyes of the world, but also assist you in searching Falmuth for Mariabell-sama while taking revenge on them at the same time," Yuuki said as he sat opposite Granbell, crossing one leg over the other.
"Hmm... I'm listening," Granbell replied, fixing his gaze on the young man seated before him. Internally, however, he couldn't help but sigh as he was once again reminded that Yuuki embodied everything Julian had failed to become. Intelligent, charismatic, resourceful, and capable of spotting opportunities that others often missed. More importantly, he possessed the courage and confidence to seize those opportunities without hesitation, something Granbell had long since given up expecting from his own son.
"Well, Granbell-sama..." Yuuki began, leaning to the side and resting his head against his fist. "How do you feel about manufacturing a war?" He paused before correcting himself with a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. "Actually, let me rephrase that. How do you feel about manufacturing a massacre?"
To be continued...
******
Illustration:
Black Quill First page:
Black Quill Second Page: