With Eurazania finally becoming a diplomatic partner, I'd assume that now Rimuru would set out to Ingraccia and become a teacher. Well once again I'm wrong cause now we got to settle our diplomatic connection with Dwargon too. This time I'm actually going with rimuru to Dwargon, I'm quite excited since it's my first time stepping foot outside of the forest. I wasn't fortunate enough to travel to new places in my previous life, so I'll take what I can get here
Thankfully I didn't need to wear a suit for this, but I chose to stay in my slime form just in case. Although as we were on our to depart, we had a quick stop
Leonardo: Kaijuno-Sama
Kaijuno: Yeah?
Leonardo: There's someone who wish to speak with you and Rimuru-Sama before you depart
As he said this, the carriage came to a halt. Everyone soon came outside followed by me and rimuru. Completely delirious, I stepped outside to see why we suddenly stopped just when we were about leave, only to be met with a small goblina girl and... a fox lycanthrope?
Goblina Girl: Ah Rimuru-Sama! Kaijuno-Sama! I made these good luck charms for your trip to dwargon
Goblina Girl: Ah Rimuru-Sama! Kaijuno-Sama! I made these good luck charms for your trip to dwargon
Rimuru: You did? I'll make sure to keep it close
Kaijuno: You're so sweet, thank you so much
Rimuru: who's this lycanthrope with you?
Goblina Girl: she said she's part of the security patrol
Rimuru:Really?
Fox Lycanthrope: Um
Kaijuno: Let me guess, you came from eurazania?
Fox Lycanthrope: Eh!?
Rimuru: Well I'm glad to have you here
Fox Lycanthrope: H-hai, happy to be here
After all that, we finally left town and head straight to the Armed Nation of Dwargon
Kaijuno:( red haired lycanthrope of the Fox breed? I swore I've seen someone like that before. Spin off I think, but where? Where have I seen this character before?)
Wise Sage:(Notice: The individual that master had met goes by the name Pho. Pho is one of the main characters of the spin off manga "Trinity in Tempest")
Kaijuno:(that's right! Wasn't there also also a harpy and a dragon newt with her too, guessing they haven't met yet)
Fortunately we were able to narrowly avoid a Lavandra tantrum beforehand since there was a more legitimate excuse for her presence as Cameilla's direct assistant and my personal bodyguard. But when we mentioned that Cameilla was coming along, Lavandra assumed that we intended to only bring her
*flashback*
Lavandra: You're taking Cameilla with you two but not me?
Rimuru: eh, well the thing is-
Not even letting rimuru, Lavandra was starting to let out her aura, making a few piles of paper fly around
Kaijuno:(activate Humility's Follower's Resolve on Lavandra)
Wise Sage:(Activating Unique Skill Humility)
Lavandra: *hic* *hic*
Kaijuno: Lavandra, you know better than to start rampaging over any little thing
Lavandra:b-but
Kaijuno: No buts! You're an adult, you need to act like it
Lavandra:Hai
Kaijuno: Alright, also you need to let someone finish what they were about to say before making your own conclusions. We already decided to have you come with us
Lavandra: Really, hooray!
Kaijuno: Don't think you're out of the woods yet though. If you act irrationally, we might reconsider whether or not to take you on future work trips
Lavandra: Got it! I won't faltter
Rimuru: Aren't you being a bit too harsh on Lavandra?
Kaijuno: I say it's necessary, it's better to be blunt with her or else she won't pick up on the memo. Afterall her cluelessness is second only to you
Rimuru:Hey!
*flashback ends*
After a long journey through the forest, we finally arrived in front of the entrance of dwargon. Instead of waiting for hours to cross the boarder, the big gate was opened by a group of guards.
Kaidou: it's great to see you again brother
Kaijin: Yeah, it's been awhile Kaidou
Kaidou: Indeed but where's rimuru? Weren't they supposed to be with you?
Rimuru: Hey Kaidou, it's been some time
Kaidou: Who might you be?
Kaijin: that's rimuru
Kaidou: Seriously!?
Kaijuno: Yup, and this is their sibling Kaijuno
Kaijuno: yo!
Kaidou: a humanoid and lycanthrope? Nevermind, welcome to the Armed Nation
Citizen 1: who are they?
Citizen 2: I'm not sure
Citizen 3: They seemed to have came from the forest of jura
Citizen 1: Really? Wouldn't they be from that place called Tempest that everyone has been talking about?
Citizen 2: Yeah, I heard about it from "The Great Monster Royals" stories being talked about in guilds
Citizen 3: Yeah, in fact I recognize the lycanthrope being prince Kaijuno
Citizen 1: no way! But if prince Kaijuno is here, then the blue haired one next to them is... the petite princess rimuru
Citizen 2: You're right! Goodness, she really is gorgeous in person
Citizen 2: You're right! Goodness, she really is gorgeous in person
Citizen 3: Indeed
Rimuru:( my pride as a man, why do they have to hurt it so much)
Kaijuno:(HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! This is absolutely GOLDEN!)
Wise Sage:[*sigh*]
Kaijuno:(cmon Wise Sage, this is hilarious)
Wise Sage:[Negative, it's childish]
Kaijuno:(hmmmmm, agree to disagree)
Our carriages were escorted throughout the kingdom, straight towards the castle of the other side of the mountain. I was astonished to see the underground steam punk like kingdom in person especially since it was my first time stepping into a fantasy kingdom in this world. When we got to the palace itself, we spoke to a couple of noble men, well more like we had Cameilla talk to the noble men while we just stood in the background. After a short while of having my subordinate socialize for me, we were led to a balcony area where we finally met up with Gazel
Rimuru:Hey Gazel, what's up
Kaijuno: Heyo
Gazel:hmph, you're on a diplomatic visit and you immediately act so casual
Rimuru: Don't be like that gazel, it is just us here afterall
Gazel: You're not wrong but you should keep it more formal when you're interacting with rulers you're not familiar with
Rimuru: Noted
Gazel: Since we're on the topic of familiarity, as my juniors, I need you to be completely honest for what I'm about to ask you
Rimuru: Alright
Kaijuno: ok
Gazel: Do you have a high-powered magical weapon that you used to kill charybdis?
Rimuru: a weapon?
Kaijuno: I mean we have a bunch of kijins, but they didn't do much against it
Rimuru: Oh wait you mean milim? She was just doing us a favor since we were struggling to take it out
Dorf: You're still insisting on that flat out lie? There's no way that girl could a catastrophe class being
Kaijuno: I mean, do you have a description of what milim actually looks like?
Dorf: eeeh
Gazel: hmmm, I believe you
Dorf: really!?
Gazel: Yes, I believe them Dorf
Dorf: If you say so your majesty
Cameilla: thank you for waiting
Gazel: What might this be?
Rimuru: it's our newest alcoholic beverage, made using imported fruits
Gazel: Really? *sips* mmm, this is tasty
Rimuru: I know right *sips*
Kaijuno: No thanks Cameilla, I'm good. Actually Lavandra maybe you shouldn't have any alcohol while in this meeting
Lavandra: what!?
Rimuru: no need to be such a buzz kill Kaijuno
Gazel: agreed, there is no need block your subordinate of some, even Dorf here is enjoying it
Kaijuno: fine, but don't say I didn't warn you
Great Sage:(Notice: Poison Resistances Succeeded)
Rimuru:(Hey! Don't take away the best part of a good booze!)
Gazel: where did you get the fruits anyways?
Rimuru: Oh well, we imported them from eurazania
Gazel/Dorf:EURAZANIA!
Gazel: You made a diplomatic relationship with the beastmaster!
Dorf: that arrogant king!
Kaijuno: I wouldn't say Carrion is arrogant, military focused battle junky sure but he's actually quite cool and causal if you interact with him
Gazel: to not only be allies with one but two demon lords, to think that your ridiculousness knows no bounds
Rimuru: to be fair, we did took care of a subordinate of his, so it more out of payment for a favor
Kaijuno: More like taking care of his problem child
Gazel:still to be able to trade material with the beast kingdom of eurazania, you hold great potential to surpass Falmuth as the most valuable nation to trade with
Kaijuno:...
Rimuru: Falmuth? I think I've heard of them before, but what is Falmuth like?
Gazel:Well Falmuth is a member nation amongst the western council. among the council, they in particuler hold high influence as one of the strongest nations within the council. But between you and me, I despise their king
Rimuru:Really?
Gazel: yes, he let's that high position in the western nation get to his head, he's too greedy for his own good. Promise me you don't get so greedy as well and while your on it, promise me so more eurazania fruit booze
Rimuru:you really can't get enough of it? No worries, I won't let such greed get the best of me, right Kaijuno?
Kaijuno:...
Rimuru:Kaijuno?
Kaijuno:huh? What!?
Rimuru: You've been silent and staring intensly for awhile there
Gazel:something bothering you?
Kaijuno: Oh! uh... I was just dozed off for a while
Rimuru:Seriously?
Gazel: you need to stay focus for these types of conversations, it's highly rude to dose off when speaking to other rulers
Kaijuno: yeah, yeah... right
Lavandra: There's nothing to be worried of! Woooooo!
Cameilla:Lavandra!
Kaijuno: I told you so! I told you so!
Lavandra: I'm confident that Kaijuno-Sama and Rimuru-Sama will wrap up an official trades relationship with eurazania like a bow!
I already stepped out of my chair to get close enough to catch Lavandra before she completely falls to the ground
Kaijuno: I'm so sorry for my bodyguard
Gazel: It's fine, go ahead and take her to her chambers
Kaijuno: Alright, rimuru stay here, I'll go take her to her room
Rimuru: Sure
Cameilla: I'll come along too
So I ended being the one to carrying Lavandra to her chambers. I kept trying to carry her on my back but she kept lean backwards and nearly falling off only to be caught by Cameilla so I ended up carrying her in a princess position just to have a good grip on her
Kaijuno:(Thank goodness my physical strength is above that of an average human. If I were to carry her with the noodle arms from my previous life, I would've resorted to just dragging her on the floor. Being confident in rimuru is expected, but confident in me as well? The most I've done as a member of the government was that meeting and yet she's feels confident about me?..... she's probably more confident in rimuru and I'm just included as part of the package.)
Cameilla:hmph
Kaijuno:?
Kaijuno: (a hmph? What is she hmphing over? Is it because Lavandra is being carried like a princess? I guess since she is technically a princess herself, she would like to experience a princess carry maybe. Should I ask her if she wants to be carried on our way back?)
Kaijuno: do.....
Cameilla: What is it Kaijuno-Sama?
Kaijuno: ah nothing, nothing
Cameilla: Alright
Kaijuno:( nevermind, it's way too risky to ask her such a question. At best, she'll think I'm romance trope loser and at worst a perverted creep)
Lavandra:mmmm, kaiji.....
Kaijuno:(Kaiji? Is this some sort of nickname or something?)
Wise Sage:[hmph]
Kaijuno:(why are you hmphing?)
Wise Sage:(Negative, I didn't say anything)
Kaijuno:(sure you didn't)
Wise Sage:(...)
We finally made it to the chambers to place the passed out Lavandra on the bed
Kaijuno: finally what a walk that was
Kaijuno:( what a handful she is. Bombastic and energetic. And yet here she is, all tuckered out. Such a moment is rare for me, to just appreciate her beauty when she's quiet and peaceful. Making no sound at all, not a single.... Damn it. What am I supposed to do when the time comes. Wise Sage could I just kill them all before they reach her and anyone else, would that bring the best outcome?)
Wise Sage:[Negative, using master's knowledge of possible outcomes, it would likely result similarly to a timeline where individual rimuru arrived early and drove off the army, resulting in the lack of need to evolve into a demon lord which in turn results in Tempest's defeat in their war against the eastern empire. In addition, without being revived with the use of demonic magic, individual Lavandra would not evolve into a wicked oni and the other fallen individuals would not meet the conditions to acquire skills like perfect memory, which could result in deaths during the fight against the crusaders. In summary, driving off the Falmuth army would result in making this a failed timeline]
Kaijuno:(Damn it! How-)
Cameilla:Kaijuno-Sama?
Kaijuno: uh, yeah! Uuuum, safe to say as punishment for her behavior, she won't come along for the next trip
Cameilla:that is only fair
Kaijuno: Alright, Shall we head back?
Cameilla: Actually while it's just us, we should go over your speech one last time before tomorrow
Kaijuno: Ugh, that speech, can't I just have rimuru do the entire public speech himself?
Cameilla: Absolutely not, you both most present yourselves as our nations twin rulers
Kaijuno:(twin rulers? Rimuru is the only one actually being a ruler, I'm practically just a literature student)
Kaijuno: fine, I still done want to be in front of crowd though
Cameilla: Well that's too bad
For the rest of the day, we did one last practice speech and was eventually joined by rimuru for the rest of the session. For the next day, me and rimuru stood infront of an audience consisting of multiple races, the majority being demi-humans. This time I made sure to use Humility to prevent me from stuttering, but I still wasn't happy about having a lot eyes look right at me. The speech itself went relatively the same as in the anime, had trouble with crowd at first, but eventually ended the speech with loud cheers and applause. As if my social confidence wasn't already crumbling, rimuru and I got lectured by Gazel and we're given a big fat zero as our final score
Safe to say I felt pretty miserable. As an attempt to cheer me up, rimuru offered me an invite
Rimuru: Hey Kaijuno
Kaijuno: Yeah?
Rimuru: wanna go out to the city with me and the dwarf brothers?
Kaijuno: go out? To where
Kaijin: Hey Rimuru-Sama and Kaijuno-Sama, what are you guys up to?
Rimuru: I was inviting Kaijuno to go out with us
Kaijin: oooooooh, you wouldn't happen to be inviting them to join us in THAT place aren't ya? Hehe
Rimuru: of course, where else would we be? Hehe
Kaijuno: what are you two referring to?
Rimuru: Oh it's this reeeeally nice place I went last time I was here.
Kaijuno: Yeah it's this bar down town of the city, it has some great booze to get hammered on
Rimuru: That's not even the best part, not only do you get to drink good booze, but you get to hangout with EILFs!
Kaijin: Doesn't that make you feel existed Kaijuno-Sama? Talking to a bunch of elves while drinking some great booze
Rimuru: Doesn't it?
Kaijuno:...Nope
Kaijin/Rimuru: WHAT!?
Kaijuno: I don't know you're preaching about socializing as if it's a good thing, also I just don't see your point in regards to elves, they're just people with pointy ears
Rimuru: Don't you dare say that about elves, they're more than pointy ear people!
Kaijin: Exactly, they're hotties with great bodies, nobody would pass up on it
Kaijuno: so you're saying that you want to take me to an elf bar that you been to last time you were here?
Rimuru: Exactly
Kaijuno:... fine, I guess. Its not like I really have anything else to do
Rimuru:Awesome!
Kaijin: I knew you would come around
Rimuru: let's invite the hobgoblins while we're at it
Kaijuno: what about Lavandra or Cameilla?
Kaijin:eh....
Rimuru: well... we were planning on just sneaking out and coming back before they noticed
Kaijuno: that is soooo idiotic
Rimuru:Eh!?
Kaijuno: First off, we're easily gonna be at the bar for hours so it's very unlikely we'll be back before they decide to check up on us. It'll even be more apparent that we sneaked out if literally EVERYONE else but them are residing in the chambers. It would also be a crowd with all of the hobgoblins, very likely that one of them could slip up and expose what happened
Rimuru: a-ah, I guess I didn't thought that far ahead
Kaijin: well what do we do about this?
Kaijuno: uuuuuuh, maybe instead of sneaking out, how about we just make a cover story on why we're heading out
Rimuru: ok but what should our cover story be?
Kaijin: hmmm, we could just frame it as reuniting with old work colleague and just bringing our two bosses to show them off
Kaijuno: that... is quite clever
Rimuru: Great! you go tell them about it, while me and Kaijin go get the Dwarf brothers ready
Kaijuno: hey wait, why me!?
RImuru: cause they're more likely to believe you
Kaijin and Rimuru rushed off before I could protest any further. Left with the responsibility, I dragged my way towards Lavandra and Cameilla, dreading how will I make this work
Kaijuno:( Damn..... Wise Sage got any suggestions?)
Wise Sage:[Suggestion: Explain how the Dwarf wanted to show off master and individual rimuru to their colleagues in detail. Use Lavandra's low tolerance of alcohol as an excuse to why they can't come along as master will be at a bar]
Kaijuno:(Thank you Wise Sage, you're truly a life saver)
Wise Sage:[Heh]
Kaijuno:(Heh)
Cameilla: Hello Kaijuno-Sama
Lavandra: Hey Kaijuno-Sama!
Kaijuno: hey, I just wanted to let you know that I will be heading out in while
Cameilla: Why so?
Kaijuno: Kaijin and the Dwarf brothers invited me and rimuru to come along to their reunion with their old coworkers
Lavandra: great, won't we be going too?
Kaijuno:No
Cameilla/Lavandra: WHAT!?
Kaijuno: The issue is, they're reuniting at their old bar hangout spot, and it hasn't been a couple of days since you acted out right in front Gazel. I'd prefer to not repeat that out in the open.
Cameilla:oh that too bad, well I-
Kaijuno:(Actually, I need you to stick with Lavandra to make sure she doesn't go on a rampage over this)
Cameilla:(...hai)
Cameilla: I shall humbly accept this
Lavandra: r-right
Kaijuno: alright, the Dwarf brothers are likely gonna take their sweet time showing us off to their friends, so we'll be expected to come back late. Go ahead and sleep in for the night.
Lavandra/Cameilla: Hai
After settling this conversation, I met up with Rimuru and the Dwarves, ready to depart to the elf bar
Rimuru: Hey Kaijuno, how did it go with them
Kaijuno: It was successful, no thanks to you. if we ended up getting caught I'm definitely gonna throw you under the bus
Rimuru: eeeh, alright! let's head out!
Dwarves: HAI!
And so we depart to down town Dwargon, passing by through many cool looking steam punk structures. lots of neat shops showing off a bunch of cool looking armor and weapons, this probably was the best part of the whole trip. When we arrived in a more run down area of the city, where we arrived to the place. I noticed it was the place, since there was a big sign say "Midnight Butterflies" on it. With no hesitation, Rimuru went ahead inside, followed by the rest of us.
Elves: Welcome
Rimuru: Hey Ladies!
Elf 1: welcome back mister rimuru
Elf 2: another slime too
Elf 3: so cute!
we were both smothered by the elves, rimuru shamelessly enjoyed all of it. As for me, of course even I was flustered by all of it. But after awhile, being the center focus of a bunch strangers just made me uncomfortable. I just kept my composure while waiting for the reason I even agreed to come here
Head Elf: Do you two want some drinks?
Rimuru: oh course, especially from such a beautiful lady
Head Elf: oh my, such a charmer
Kaijuno: no thanks I'm fine
Dark Elf: hey, mister Kaijuno, do you want to see something nice?
Kaijuno: like what?
Dark Elf: well I have the ability to see people's fortune with this fortune seeing orb
Kaijuno:(FINALLY!)
Kaijin: oh, how about we see who is Kaijuno's soulmate
Elf 1: oh absolutely
Rimuru: I'm curious to see who you'll end up with as well
Kaijuno: mmmmm, sure. I guess I want to see who could be my soulmate
This is why I wanted to come here in the first place, I never had much hope for my social life, let alone my love life. so maybe here I might have a chance, stories of isekais always had the reincarnated person have a love interest or most likely a harem. Harems might be a bit too hopeful, but maybe just having someone passionately love me would be kinda nice. If I had a physical heart, it would be beating fast in anticipation.
Dark Elf: Alright here we go then
I immediately morphed into my lycanthrope form, taking a few steps towards the orbs. I even took off my mask cause I wanted to see who my soulmate is with what is the closets to my bare eyes. I only focused on the orb itself, no focus on rimuru, the dwarves, the elves, not even the dark elf holding the orb. I kept waiting to see who will be my special someone. I was dreading the anticipation, all I could see is my face reflecting on the orb, along with the magicules flowing over my reflection, especially a lots of green covering my face
Rimuru; oh haha, pulling the same delay trick like last time. Don't keep us waiting, show us who he'll be with
Dark Elf:..... actually, I'm not playing the trick this time
Rimuru: what do you mean?
Dark Elf: well, I did perform the fortune telling, but no one is showing up in the orb
Rimuru: you don't mean
Dark Elf: yes, the orb.... isn't finding a soulmate for mister mister kaijuno
While my eyes were fixated on the orb, my hearing was still aware of the conversation. when I heard this, I swear I felt a figurative heart broke within me. I couldn't even hide how distraught I was, it was clearly written all over my face how much this destroyed me. I swiftly put my mask back on and went to a wall, refusing to look at anyone
Dark Elf: I'm so sorry!
Rimuru: hey, hey, it's going to alright. Kaijuno?
Kaijuno:...
Rimuru: it's going to be ok
This just made me so numb, I didn't want to speak to anyone for the rest of the night. I just kept getting hugs and head pats from rimuru while the dwarves tried to lighten the mood with small but it was clear that me being accidently told that I won't have anyone to passionately love me in my life just soured the occasion
Kaijuno:(this is... was just awful. The one thing I was looking forward ended up slapping me hard in the face. Hoping for someone to show up, only to see myself alone in the reflection in the colorful orb. I think the Dark Elf was trying to make me think it was someone else by moving some of the green from the side to over my eyes. Kind of a pathetic attempt to convince me it was someone else. can she even manipulate the color in the orb?)
Wise Sage:[Answer: color is made by it's source of light reflecting, absorbing, and transmi-]
Kaijuno:(I'm sorry for interrupting Wise Sage, but I'm just really not in the mood for just about anything at the moment)
Wise Sage:[... Suggestion: master should take as much time as they need to heal from this]
Kaijuno:(... thanks Wise Sage)
Wise Sage:[Notice: of course]
after a awkward while of chit chat between everyone, we finally called it a night and settled ourselves outside just before we head back to the royal castle
Rimuru: are you doing alright Kaijuno?
Kaijuno: Rimuru
Rimuru: yeah?
Kaijuno:... this trip sucks
Rimuru:...
The remainder of the night was a blur, although I doubt anything note worthy had happened since it just us heading back to the castle and sleeping in our respective bedrooms, plain as vanilla. We had a few more days to enjoy Dwargon, for most of it, I internally pondered on what to do next to hopefully forget what happened
Kaijuno:(hmmmm, what can I do? I still can't wrap my head around what I should do about my current issues. My Unique Skill Muncher still needs a serious upgrade, I still have yet to qualify as a demon lord seed, and worst of it, I can't think of a way to avoid... to avoid it while getting the best outcome. Wise Sage, is there reason why I've yet to qualify as a demon lord seed?)
Wise Sage:[Answer: The main qualification to become a demon lord seed is to possess a unique skill or be qualified to obtain one and have a minimum existence value of 200,000. Currently master's EP is approximately 75,000 which is too low to meet the qualify as a demon lord seed]
Kaijuno:(I'm not even half way there, but what could I do increase my EP?)
Wise Sage:[ Answer: It is suggested to devour many monster in order to increase master's existence value]
Kaijuno:(The issue what that is that there isn't many high ranking monster species within the forest. besides the few insectar species in the forest, their isn't many monster that would provide much for raising my ep, even if I devour multiple of them. I'm not too knowledgeable about the ecosystem overall in this world, the only extent is the ooze scale lizard that appeared in the vision of coleus ova. Is there any species that you think would be good for grinding EP Wise Sage?)
Wise Sage:[ Answer: Using the knowledge provided by master's memory of the source material, the best crowd of species for master to devour would be dragons which resides up north in Dragon's Peak]
Kaijuno: Dragon's Peak? wait that's genius! Dragons must be packing with a buffet of EP to eat, good thinking Wise Sage)
Wise Sage:[heh]
Kaijuno:( now how can I arrange a trip to Dragon's Peak? It's even more up north than Dwargon so not only it will take a couple days to get there and back, but I would likely stay there for a couple days to get enough dragons to get an EP of 200,000. I'm already taking time off school for this trip, but a trip to Dragon's Peak would easily take even longer. It would be better to do it when school isn't in session for a while... actually it's late spring right now. I could just make the trip as soon as summer vacation starts. Alright as soon as summer arrives, I'll be heading out on a dragon slaying quest.)
And so, through these sub-trying times, a new found goal has been formed along with great determination to go along with it. I was hopeful for any achievements is the near future