Chapter 7: The Hero King and the Tyrant of Destruction
The city of Tempest was rising from the dirt at an impossible speed. Thanks to the combined efforts of the High Goblins, the Kijin, and Silver's [Creation] skill, the tents had been replaced by sturdy wooden houses and paved stone streets.
Silver Tempest stood on the balcony of the central administrative building, his metallic-silver hair catching the morning light. He was dressed in a sleek, dark coat he had manifested to match his serious disposition.
'Solomon,' Silver thought. 'Update on the city's defensive grid.'
[Answer: The "Silver Sanctuary" runes have been integrated into the city walls. Magicule density is being regulated by the [Magicule Generator] to ensure a comfortable environment for the residents while suppressing the "monstrous" pressure that might scare off human traders.]
'Good. We need to look like a civilization, not a monster den.'
His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp ping from the [Family Link].
'Silver! Heads up! We've got a massive energy signature coming in fast from the sky. It's... wait, is that a Pegasus?!'
Silver looked up. A fleet of winged horses was descending toward the plaza. At the lead was a man radiating an aura of absolute martial perfection: King Gazel Dwargo, the Hero King of the Armed Nation of Dwargon.
The meeting was not a friendly one. Gazel Dwargo did not come to talk; he came to test the character of the beings who had unified the forest.
"I have seen your growth," Gazel said, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "But a nation led by monsters is a threat to the world unless its leaders possess the soul of a king. Blue one, Silver one—show me your mettle!"
Before Rimuru could offer a peaceful diplomatic solution, Gazel drew his blade. The air screamed as he swung. Rimuru met him with his own sword, the two clashing in a shower of sparks.
Silver watched from the side, his silver eyes glowing with the blue light of [Wisdom King Solomon].
'Target: Gazel Dwargo. Initiate [Copy] and [Snatch] analysis.'
[Notice. Analyzing "Heroic Combat Arts." Recording "Earth Element Manipulation" and "Dictator's Pressure." Analysis 40% complete...]
"Silver! A little help here?!" Rimuru shouted, struggling against the King's overwhelming physical strength.
"I've got him," Silver said.
Silver didn't draw a sword. He simply stepped into the path of Gazel's next strike and raised a single finger. Using [Creation], he reinforced the tip of his finger with a microscopic layer of "Infinite Density Steel."
TING.
The Hero King's sword stopped dead against Silver's finger. The shockwave cracked the stone tiles beneath them, but Silver didn't move an inch.
"You have a strong heart, King Gazel," Silver said, his voice echoing with a resonance that made the Pegasus knights tremble. "But your 'Earth' is brittle. Allow me to show you a 'Refined' version."
Silver pointed at the ground. "[Creation: Gravity Anchor]."
The gravity around Gazel suddenly increased tenfold. The King's knees buckled as he felt the very earth he commanded turn against him. At the same time, Silver completed the [Copy].
"Enough," Gazel gasped, sheathing his sword as the pressure vanished. He looked at Silver with a new sense of respect—and a hint of fear. "The blue one has the heart of a mediator. But the silver one... you have the cold logic of a true ruler. Very well. Dwargon recognizes the Jura Tempest Federation."
With the treaty signed and Gazel departed, the brothers thought they could finally breathe. They were wrong.
Days later, a pink blur streaked across the sky, hitting the center of the town with the force of a falling star. The impact crater was massive. From the dust emerged a small girl with pink twin-tails, wearing an outfit that looked entirely too impractical for combat.
"I found you!" she shouted, her voice high and energetic. "I'm Milim Nava, the Demon Lord! I heard there were some interesting monsters here, so I came to see if you're worth playing with!"
The Kijin—Benimaru, Shion, and the others—immediately drew their weapons, their faces pale.
"Don't!" Silver shouted, stepping in front of them. "Stay back! You can't touch her!"
'Solomon! Analysis! Now!'
[Warning! Warning! Individual: Milim Nava. Status: True Demon Lord. Threat Level: Catastrophic. Magicule count is unmeasurable. Her "Drago-buster" energy exceeds current [Infinite Space] storage capacity by 10,000%. Physical confrontation will result in 100% total annihilation of the Federation.]
Silver felt a cold sweat run down his human back. He didn't know the "plot," but he knew a "Boss Fight" when he saw one. This wasn't a fight they could win with [Snatch] or [Copy]—her energy was too dense to even get a grip on.
'Rimuru, don't attack! We have to distract her!' Silver messaged frantically.
Rimuru, sensing the same danger, put his hands up. "Wait! Milim! You're a Demon Lord, right? You must be... bored?"
Milim paused, her eyes blinking. "Bored? Well, yeah. Everyone is too weak to play with."
Silver stepped forward, his mind racing. He remembered his life back on Earth—the one thing that could pacify a chaotic, high-energy entity.
"If you're bored," Silver said, his voice surprisingly calm, "how about a trade? We have something in this city that you won't find in the demon realms. Something... sweet."
"Sweet?" Milim tilted her head. "Is it a weapon?"
"Better," Silver said. He used [Creation] and [Infinite Space] to pull together the ingredients he had been experimenting with—sugar from the marsh-cane, cream from the forest-beasts, and berries. Within seconds, he manifested a high-end, three-tier Honey and Berry Parfait, topped with a shimmering silver glaze.
"Try this," Silver said, holding the spoon out like a peace offering.
Milim looked suspicious, but her curiosity won out. She took a bite.
Her eyes turned into literal sparkles.
"WHAT IS THIS?!" she screamed, her aura fluttering so hard it nearly knocked the surrounding buildings over. "IT'S COLD! IT'S SOFT! IT'S... IT'S DELICIOUS!"
"It's called dessert," Silver said, hiding a sigh of relief. "And we have plenty more. But we only give it to our friends. If you attack us, the kitchen closes forever."
Milim grabbed the bowl, shoveling the sweets into her mouth. "Friend! We're friends! I, the Great Demon Lord Milim, declare this city my bestie! You! Blue one! Silver one! You're my besties now!"
Rimuru looked at Silver and gave a mental thumbs-up. 'Nice save, bro. You used 'Creation' to make 'Catering.' That's a pro-gamer move.'
'It's called tactical bribery, Rimuru,' Silver replied, watching the most dangerous being in the world lick a spoon. 'Now we just have to figure out how to keep a Demon Lord from accidentally sneezing and leveling the city.'
As Milim laughed and demanded a second helping, Silver looked at his hands. He had copied the King's gravity and created a feast for a god. He still didn't know what his role was in this world's "story," but as he looked at the smiling citizens of Tempest, he knew one thing: no matter who came from the sky next, the Silver Tempest would be ready.
[End of Chapter 7]