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Alabasta · Alubarna · Royal Capital
A Royal Army soldier stood watch on the city wall, scanning the horizon, when a massive cloud of dust rose in the south.
As it drew closer, what it was became clear.
Rebel soldiers, countless in number, advancing on Alubarna like a tide.
The soldier's hand found the alarm bell before his brain had finished processing it.
"Chaka-sama! Large-scale rebel movement from the south! Estimated two million troops approaching!"
"Already?!"
Chaka pulled his cloak tighter, his voice dropping low and grim.
Then he straightened and called out across the wall.
"East, West, South, Southeast, Southwest — hold every gate! Let not one rebel step through!"
The soldiers in their armor and white desert cloaks slammed their spears down in unison.
"We swear to defend the Royal Capital to the death!!!"
Chaka looked at them. Some of the tension in his chest loosened, just slightly.
At Alubarna's West Gate, Mr. 2 Bon Clay shielded his eyes and stared at the dust cloud with an expression of pure theatrical shock.
"What a number! To think anyone would try to stop that — the Princess really is a mad clown!"
"But will the mad clown actually show up?"
The other Baroque Works members paid no attention to Bentham's commentary.
Miss Doublefinger twirled a strand of blue curly hair and spoke with complete ease.
"Heh heh. Once the fighting starts, even the Princess can't do anything."
"Let it begin."
On the wall, as the rebel army drew closer, the Royal soldiers gripped their weapons tight enough to whiten their knuckles. Squad captains barked orders to load the cannons.
"The ground is shaking, Chaka-sama."
Chaka's adjutant stood beside him, a bead of cold sweat tracing down his face.
"Two million soldiers marching together. Of course the ground shakes. Hold steady."
Chaka kept his eyes on the horizon.
On the rebel side, Koza's adjutant pulled alongside him on a camel.
"Koza-sama! Do we begin the siege?"
Koza stared at the capital without answering for a moment.
"No. Tell everyone to make camp."
He couldn't bring himself to do it without hesitation. No matter what the evidence said, he had grown up watching King Cobra lead this country. That didn't disappear overnight.
The Dance Powder incident might well be the truth. But he owed it to the citizens who followed him to see this through. And he owed the Royal Family one last chance.
He would wait.
Back on the wall, the adjutant frowned.
"Chaka-sama, the rebels aren't attacking. What are they doing?"
"I don't know. But I'm not going to complain about it."
Chaka watched the massive army settle into position below. The worry didn't leave his eyes.
Not far from the capital, moving fast through the desert, a column of several hundred riders kicked up their own cloud of dust.
"Yahoo! Charge! First place is mine!"
Kaito leaned forward on his camel and shouted, pulling ahead.
Milim was right behind him, grinning like she'd never had more fun in her life.
"Come on, little camel! Catch Kai-chan! Go, go, go!"
The rest of the group followed at a more reasonable pace, watching the two of them with varying degrees of resignation.
"Your Highness Rimuru," Vivi said, glancing between Kaito's racing camel and Rimuru beside her. "Is he... always like this?"
"Ah, well... Kai-chan can be a bit... free-spirited." Rimuru's expression carried the quiet reassurance of someone who had long since accepted this. "But when it actually matters, there's no one more reliable."
"I really did not expect this side of him," Zoro said, watching Kaito's back.
The first impression Kaito had given all of them was of a composed, immovably powerful expert. That impression was currently losing a camel race to Milim.
"Honestly though, it suits him."
"I want to join! Can I join?!"
Chopper was staring after the two racers with barely contained envy.
"Chopper." Nami's voice was gentle but firm. "Right now we focus on reaching the capital and stopping the war. Once it's over, you can do whatever you want."
"Okay!"
Slime World · Falmuth Kingdom
The city below had been reduced to rubble. Diablo stood looking at it with a cold, dispassionate expression.
"The commoners still haven't surrendered?"
The demon in the black uniform answered quickly.
"All nobles have been dealt with, my lord. However, the majority of the commoners are still refusing."
Diablo turned and looked at him.
Just looked.
"Do you not remember Kaito-sama's orders? Do I need to repeat them to you?"
The demon's composure cracked instantly.
"No, my lord! This subordinate understands!"
"If it happens again, you know what follows."
Diablo turned away.
He was displeased. Not at the commoners — at this subordinate, who had not properly absorbed Kaito-sama's instructions. If it weren't for the fact that acting on that displeasure would reflect poorly in Kaito and Rimuru's eyes, he would not have been so patient.
One shouldn't be misled by the deference Diablo showed in front of Kaito and Rimuru. Toward everyone else, he held no particular regard. Benimaru, Sakuya and a few others received a degree of consideration, purely because of their closeness to Kaito and Rimuru.
Beyond that small circle, the demons he had brought from the Demon Realm were tools. Useful tools were maintained. Tools that stopped being useful were replaced.
That calculation extended further than most knew. Even the three Primordial Demons he would later gather — they too were means to an end. A way to remain close to Rimuru.
Diablo watched his subordinate disappear around a corner, and his expression shifted into something soft and private.
'Rimuru-sama will not be eating properly without me there. Or sleeping properly.'
He shivered slightly at the thought.
"Kaito-sama. Rimuru-sama. I will be back at your side very soon."