Diplomatic Visits
A week after Benimaru's group left, the Beastketeers arrived with their own group.
Tempest was spotless top-to-bottom, and guest amenities fully-stocked.
Meat was hunted and Rimuru went south to fish for Seafood, some of which, she created out of Toriko and allowed to thrive and propagate after changing and mutating 'useless creatures' that weren't even edible nor any use. No wonder there's hardly any seafood even in Milim's Territory...
She planted valuable shellfish farms and seaweed watched over by the Orcs that would give out ten tons every harvest per specie since it will be both livelihood and business. She placed barriers that keeps out toxic algae out of her farms and only lets in good ones. She also created many seafood but she didn't create the sweet kind. Savoriness is Japanese Spirit!
And when the party began?
It was all a hit.
After having their fill of hospitality, Albis wanted to bring home the shellfish as souvenirs as well as the seaweed.
Though some stayed behind, under orders to learn Magical Engineering.
Days later, Youm and his crew paid a visit to also relax as Blumund's Guild kept them so busy they wanted a vacation in Tempest's Hot Springs for their sore muscles.
They were given A-Rank after A-Rank to build their reputation as Champions, and they had to deliver no matter what.
Not only that, they have a new party member, a pretty lady named Myuran, so Youm requested if she can have good equipment too. She was also a Mage, specializing in support magic and healing magic, and taking her in enabled Rommel to showcase his full might as a combat mage.
'Mm. The project is tough on you guys, the least we can do is equip you properly.' Rimuru agreed. 'So how are things? Been a while.'
'Yeah, we're getting good rep alright that it's going as planned.' said Youm cheerfully. 'We're also earning good money, but we also have to sneak home for the sake of my crew to sneak money to their families. With magic, sneaking in is easy-peasy! Our sole concern now is medicine since some of their relatives are severely ill but even basic service is highway robbery we gave up our stock of Full Potions, so we need a resupply...' he scratched his head. 'How are things?'
'Well, Demon Lord Karion made a business deal with us recently.' Rimuru chimed. 'We're trading seafood and medicinal ingredients as well as our engraving formula in exchange for fruit and spices. And should things go shirty, military aid on equal terms.'
'Heee...'
'Well, you can go see Kurobee and the brothers for Myuran's equipment while it's still daylight.' said Rimuru. 'Because guests come and go, we lock up the shops for security with magic an hour before sundown to prevent sticky fingers.'
'Riiiight...'
Rimuru then wore a mischievous grin that made Youm and Myuran gulp. Would they be teased after being mistaken for a couple?
'And while you're vacationing over, Hakurou contacted me that he saw you, sooo I doubt you'd be getting a vacation.' Youm whimpered. 'Have fun with Master in the coming days~!'
'Damn, I'm sober now...' he said gloomily much to his mischievous employer's laughter.
xxx
Myuran got to a Hotel Room assigned to her by the Hobgoblin Concierge.
Hotels are classy!
First-Class Treatment.
There's Breakfast in Bed, but lunch and dinner's on them outside. The baths are at the public bathhouses that's also gorgeous and very spacey, but there are strict rules. The hotel rooms have a breezy room that brings in gentle breeze so nobody will sweat in a room thanks to enchantments on windows. COMFORTABLE!
Youm would tell her that the country is vegetarian...and its news to him that seafood became in vogue because it apparently, recently just got ripe for availability that already-delicious vegetable dishes got even doggone better with seafood. And they only eat monster meat in winter. They can't farm livestock in the forest and their newly-built Chicken Farms are still...little chicks, so chicken will take a while...
Because Youm's Group was a party of Champions under Blumund's Employ but with ties to Tempest and Dwargon as well, they roam as Adventurers doing incredibly hard jobs. But they get paid in 20 gold coins per job which they divide among themselves every week because some of the men have families. However, they make their reward in loose bronze chains to avoid their families getting swindled by sleazy merchants. Only Youm, Myuran and two other guys keeps their own money as they were orphans at birth and SINGLE. So on their first month since formation, they earned a lot of gold coins in total after taking three A-Rank missions.
Because to hire a party of their size and they gained RESPECT just for possessing high-class goods, they were able to score high-paying jobs and to hire A-Rank Adventurers is 8 gold coins a day.
They would change it all into bronze coins and sneak home money to their families.
For example, 56 gold coins in just one job would equal 5600 silver. And 5600 silver would equal 560000 bronze.
Blumund has no A-Rank Adventurers. The highest they could go is B-Class due to lack of money to afford better gear to tackle the more dangerous quests. Welp, until Youm's party happened.
And Clayman ensured she would be there for their notice to spy on Tempest through the group as a honey trap.
She sighed.
So far she was treated well by Youm's group. Thankfully they were...good people and not sleazeballs who think with their smaller heads. She had friends for the first time, concern for her after several decades, and its no longer suffocating. She never had friends or fun or things that make a normal woman's day.
The days she worked turned out to be peaceful and she felt free and normal.
But alas, good things don't last long ever since she made the dumbest mistake of her life.
If its anything she wanted...it would be her freedom back.
Would she get it while she's still alive? Would she even deserve it after forced to betray in exchange for her life?
She pursed her lips in pain.
She'll enjoy what little she could get as a source of comfort while praying hard for a miracle.
This new dress she now wears...the new magic rod she has...will soon be used for evil against people who treated her well and guilt plagued her.
xxx
Dwargon...
It was a lot of fanfare.
Fairy-tale like carriages and out came three beauties. Shion dressed like the warrior she was. Shuna in her most formal Miko outfit and Rimuru dressed like a chinese princess.
Many people wondered what country they're from. If only they knew the truth!
After fanfare and diplomacy...Gazel looked like he could finally relax.
'Finally, we get that formal hullaballoo away at last.' he wasn't a fan of formalness either. 'I heard what happened from Dorf. You guys have access to Holy Magic.'
'Humans logicked their way enough to fool a whole world for ages ever since Luminism became in vogue.' said Rimuru. 'It helps that faith and belief, not magicules power up the spells. But it doesn't have to be the God of Luminism. Anyone you have unshakeable faith, trust and belief in, that person who functions as 'god' or the catalyst where the caster draws power from is sufficient. Shuna is our best Holy Magic user as she used to be the Miko or Priestess of Oni Village. We got real lucky with Shuna or my brainless idiot of an older sibling will lay waste to everything in sight for shits and giggles.'
The dwarven officials looked constipated at her words. Shion sweatdropped and Shuna smiled weakly.
Rimuru is the only intelligent offshoot of Veldora and she's thankfully, a good girl.
'Well, that secret is out of the bag, but you cannot make it public, or you earn the ire of Ruberios.' Gazel told her.
'I know. I'm not about to attract angry Saints to my infant country because we ruffled some feathers by dissecting the secret of Holy Magic.' Rimuru shook her head. 'Its too easy to figure it out, the problem is putting it to practice. Even one iota of doubt, it'll fail. It's why humans could cook up that well-spun lie to make it human-exclusive.'
'So we can do it as long as we have a person to believe in...' a scarred man behind Gazel spoke.
'Let's not make that public. Just keep it a secret with your elite troops.' Rimuru advised. 'I had my people keep Shuna's talent a secret as well for her safety.' Shion then took out wine. 'I had the brother trio visit their mom while we're still here. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning for Blumund. Wine? This isn't 'Buffing Wine' this time.' she joked. 'This is from a tree I found in the forest and cultivated it in our farms.' said Rimuru, taking a fruit out of her space. 'Sakeyashi Fruit. Inside is delicious clear liquor and poking a hole is enough to get the liquor when ripe and the shell can be eaten as a snack. We had the liquor put in these bottles. They're more delicious when warmed in winter and spring.' Rimuru smiled. 'Once we get a good crop, they'll be on the list of exported goods soon so let's edit the list later.'
'Oho! Much obliged. You keep finding weird stuff lately.' Gazel laughed as Shion poured drinks after Rimuru warmed the bottle with a poke for magic.
'Well, as a country to get good relations, you taught me to have Specialty Wares, no?' Rimuru grinned. 'My dad's magicules didn't just create idiot older siblings, but also mutated beneficial flora. We also have new seafood after making it work. It's among our gifts, I'm sure you'll enjoy them as soon, we can begin exporting.'
'Now that's to look forward to!'
xxx
That night, Rimuru went out in disguise.
After business talks, she was able to ask Gazel if he knows people who could help Rimuru find elemental spirits for the sake of a friend's last students who are in danger.
'Elves would know, but meeting one is a rare chance. Not all elves know where to find the spirits you need.' said Gazel during dinner. 'Some girls work as escorts and entertainers in bars, you can try asking them.'
So, dying her hair black and her eyes black, she was able to travel unhindered with her bodyguard girls who also had their colors changed and their horns invisible.
Upon getting to the Red Light District...
'Rimuru-sama, is this really OK? If the boys find out...' Shion shuddered as they imagined the horrified reactions of the guys back home. That three young ladies are walking in a sleazy district!
'Nothing ventured, nothing gained!' Rimuru swore. 'Children are on the line because of sleazeball countries who just redefined Child Soldier in a nasty way! Besides, let's just not tell the boys that we went here.' she said. 'And be sensitive OK? Not all girls want to work in a place like this, but they have no choice. Because here it's easy livelihood in exchange for company...or a night in bed and these jobs earn more because they risk their lives as some customers are violent. They risk their lives to survive, so be respectful to the girls who have it hard. Here, beauty and sweet words earns a lady a living while dancing on a tightrope.'
'R-right...' the girls gulped. They felt they're lucky to have a good life under Rimuru now! They never have to worry about this!
Upon going to Escort Bars where it's basically, a fancy bar with all female employees in revealing gowns, they were greeted by a dark elf.
'Oh my, it's unusual to have lady customers~'
'We're here on emergency business and a friend told me only elves can help.' said Rimuru. 'I will compensate well.' she promised the woman.
'That depends on the kind of help though. This way please.' they were led to a VIP Couch. 'So...what is this emergency?' she asked as some girls offered them drinks and snacks.
'A friend who was an Otherworlder was summoned here as a child.' Rimuru began. 'She was then infused with an Ifrit. At first, she didn't make the connection as she lived her life serving her summoner before leaving as an adventurer. She also had students at her later life. The first two were also otherworlders with Unique Skills...but in her final years of life, it's children this time. And she learned the horrible way that unless the children are stabilized, they will never see adulthood. And she realized what must be done. But she didn't have long to live...and as a friend, I inherited her dying wish.'
'I see...so it's spirits you need to help the children.' the elf said softly. 'Our meeting is destiny, Miss Slime.' she said with a soft smile, startling the girls that the lady knows what she was. 'I owe my Divinations to Spirit Magic that I'm often led to destined meetings and events. I know the location to the Dwelling of Spirits, but its rare to come back alive.' she warned as the Kijin gulped.
'Rimuru-sama...' Shuna meeped at the Elf's words anxiously.
'Nothing ventured, nothing gained.' Rimuru patted their heads reassuringly. 'Shizu's students suffered enough, constantly thinking if tomorrow is their last day on earth. As good adults, we should save them and give them a future.' Rimuru then took out twenty gold coins. 'The location please.'
xxx
'Did you have a fruitful night?' Gazel asked Rimuru over breakfast.
'Yes.' said Rimuru. 'After meeting with Blumund Royalty, I will head straight for Ingrassia alone and end the nightmare.'
'I see. That's quite the last will you're fulfilling.'
'I'll also try to see if I can take them in and take them home to Tempest.' said Rimuru. 'I'm not a Psychologist, but even I will take traumatized victims away from bad places.'
xxx
After dealing with Blumund Royals...the meeting ended well as well as making business deals.
Rimuru asked for various colored ink and a large sheet of paper from the butler. When she got the paper and colors she requested?
She turned into her Slime form and ate it!
'Eh?!' the court's eyes popped out in disbelief.
'Oh its no worry, she's just making a painting.' said Shion with a cheerful handwave as Rimuru was all jiggly...and printed out an image of her making a handshake with the king in front of the fireplace in the Meeting Room.
'WHOAAA!'
'What a lifelike painting!'
xxx
'Well, we amazed them enough.' said Rimuru as the next morning, they left in a carriage, but along the way, she got off on her own. 'Shuna, Shion, I'm counting on you to hold the fort in town OK? I will be back once my business is over.' she promised them.
'Alright. Please be careful, Rimuru-sama.' said Shuna anxiously.
'It's alright. I can change my appearance so I'll be OK.' Rimuru winked as she manifested a pair of wings. 'Don't worry about me too much because I'm one hell of a Slime!' she grinned as she set off in her journey, guided by Great Sage northwest.
Soon, she arrived in the Kingdom. It's a rather large place.
'Big as hell.' Rimuru frowned. 'Great Sage, I can't use Shizu's mask or attract unwanted trouble to myself since she's famous...so suppress my magical power to human levels.'
/Understood. But you will not be able to use magic unless you have a magic tool./ Great Sage reminded her.
'Sorta figured that out so I brought a staff just incase.' Rimuru chuckled. 'Seal my power unless I leave Ingrassia OK?'
/Understood./
'Now then, destiny awaits.' Rimuru walked into Ingrassia using her Adventurer's ID that she gained thanks to Fuze. Since she was ridiculously powerful, her rank was B as being an A will make her internationally-famous which she DOESN'T want. So she's a B-Class Adventurer for now and classified a Mage of Wizard-Class.
She also dressed like one, in a white dress shirt, a yellow double-breasted coat with dark orange buttons. Her coat has long sleeves, and the coat was long enough to cover mid thigh. While she wore shorts underneath, she does have sheer brown stockings and orange knee-high boots.
She hid herself in the countryside after landing from flight, and lined up at the back...before utilizing Shadow Step to sneak in. Why should she line up that long anyway?
But she discovered there's a barrier keeping monsters from coming in, but while she IS a monster, thanks to Great Sage suppressing her immense powers, she 'registers as human' to the barrier. Not only that, there are sophisticated Identity Checks, that she knew an Otherworlder is involved.
The security checks were akin to that of Earth's. Present ID, and the magical devices are no doubt, equivalent to scanning tech of Earth.
Who was the brain behind this?
When she was up in the sky not long ago, Ingrassia Kingdom was separated into two layers. A 'ring of town' surrounding one hell of a moat. The largest moat she's ever seen and four long bridges linking to what looks like an inner city plus another town, and at the center is a castle.
The 'ring of town' is no doubt for traders and adventurers. And a filter to keep troublesome people out whose troublesomeness awaken when drunk. And when she asked, the REAL city was through said bridges to begin with.
The buildings are big and tall. Looks like five floors each, with glass windows. Shops show all their wares. Clothing's earthly modern!
Remembering what Dino told her, this place isn't gonna last long.
She was glad she went natural. She and her people will live long and that's what matters.
She also explored the town a bit while longer...and saw the Freedom Guild that looks like a dang office building from Earth.
It sticks out like a Sore Thumb.
'Time for destiny I guess.' she mused as she entered, taking out Fuze's letter he made for her and as she went in, the glass doors slid open. Automatic sliding doors...since no magic, there's tech. Daaaamn this place is doomed...but its none of her business.
According to Gazel, each country is preparing for the Worldwide War every five centuries. Dwargon so far is spared as its inside a mountain but Gazel noted to watch out for Dino. If Dino sees how advanced his kingdom is...yeeeah, he didn't want to think about it. There's a dang good reason his grandfather built Dwargon inside a mountain. Poor dude lived through such a time.
She gave her letter to the receptionist and with a magical device, input data in.
xxx
'What?! That Slime is in Blumund now?!' Laplaced asked a figure in shadows in disbelief. But in a dark, dim-lit room they may be, but the man he spoke to, was barefoot in the office.
'Yup. She was in Blumund until yesterday...and apparently after business, is headed here.' His voice was young, something expected of a teenager. 'She just arrived today according to security. I put a watch out for a blue-haired girl.'
The blue-haired girl is the Slime Leader of the budding town of Monsters called Rimuru Tempest. A named monster powerful enough to defeat Orc Lord by herself after letting her army handle the Orc Army. While she was content with staying in her own territory, she ended up making two alliances for business trade eventually. Her town is something out of fairy tales.
'To think she would wander into the domain of the Holy Nation of the West...' Laplace swooned dramatically after twirling like a ballerina before magically conjuring a noose and mock-hanged himself. 'To think our squishy friend is suicidal...'
'That would be an amusing notion no?' came the man's jovial laughter.
'Welp, let's leave her alone for now since we got business with the west.' Laplace continued, making a ribbon out of the noose. 'Ever since Veldora's disappearance, they're gettin' way too uppity. This is a good chance to sneak in.' he suggested, tugging the ribbon tightly before making it go POOF.
'Ohya, that sounds good~' the man whistled. 'Exposing the dirty secrets they hide behind their silly little religion should be a walk in the park, yeah?'
'Awww you think too highly of me.' Laplace went 'awww' before putting a pair of fingers on his lips. 'It's as hard as a jog in the park~' and he left.
The other man then stood up.
'Nooow then, I have an interesting guest to meet.' the man mused. 'The Queen of Monsters, Rimuru Tempest.'
She was clearly a reincarnator, given her face. Who is she indeed, before she became the Slime Queen!
He got a ping from his magical device that took place of a tablet. 'Ohya, here so quick? It would take a month on foot from Jura to here...then again, she can fly...oh yeah, how'd she get in here given the barrier? I think I have to tweak security...'
xxx
The Office...
'Wah, as expected of a man doing office decor...my old office back home is uh...' Rimuru giggled as her personal office in the company she worked for is an Otaku's dream come true. Sure she has a shelf for work-related books and documents, but her furniture and wallpapers...it was often funny to see how clients react when they see her office.
The office was bare even if furniture was luxurious. The only earth thing in here, was a motorcycle model.
In Shizu's memories, there were two teenagers.
A girl who doesn't trust the world...and a boy who taught Shizu about games.
Kagurazaka Yuuki and she'll meet him soon.
'I'm here.' Rimuru blinked as a teenager in white clothes came in. 'I'm Yuuki Kagurazaka, the Grandmaster. You must be Rimuru Tempest.' he greeted. 'I had been contacted by the Blumund Branch Guildmaster but he said business is personal he can't put it in letter?' he wondered as he sat on an armchair across Rimuru.
'Yeah. Given the tech you got, an error might occur as glitches happen all the time and I doubt Shizu wants her personal affairs known.' Rimuru deadpanned. 'And it will cause a stir.'
'With magic I doubt those glitches will happen unlike Earth Tech, don't worry about it.' Yuuki laughed reassuringly. 'So where is she?'
Rimuru thought Fuze didn't tell this guy she's long dead. So she can tweak it a bit.
'She died of old age.' said Rimuru. 'Despite her young, springy appearance because she has Ifrit infused in her, she used her skill Degenerate to stay human inside. She refused to become a Majin.' Rimuru told him. 'She was 74 years old at time of death. An explosive one at that.' Yuuki frowned at this deeply, taking on a dark expression.
'What do you mean?' he asked her grimly.
'During Veldora's disappearance, Fuze ordered a party of three adventurers to scope things out, and Shizu joined them...and they came across the land I chose to build our town in. At the time we're clearing land, weeding, uprooting stumps, the works. We were all in Temporary Housing back then a year ago.' Rimuru recalled the time. 'Chased by Giant Red Ants because a dumbass poked its nest and they're near our territory. When I first met Shizu, I thought she tired too easily...big mistake the next day, when she screamed in pain...and Ifrit took over.'
'That must be quite a battle.' Yuuki noted. 'Ifrit is a high-class Fire Spirit.'
'Not really, douse him with ice and that's it.' Rimuru snorted. 'Come on, you're a teenager who played games, I'm sure you heard Final Fantasy?'
'Yeah, I played up to XII before I got taken here years ago.' Yuuki chuckled wanly. 'Douse him with ice...masaka?'
'As soon as I heard the name Ifrit, I went Shiva on him to exorcise Shizu-san.'
'Oooh...and?'
'She slept for three weeks...only waking up to tell me her tale. The past of the Explosive Monarch nobody knows about. I dunno if she told you about life in WWII before being summoned here and I learned her real age. She was dying by natural causes that she can no longer resist Ifrit and joined a party in order to die in Jura without casualty.' said Rimuru. 'She then gave me her last will.' Yuuki egged her on.
'While she's happy that you're doing well though unmarried, she worried about Hinata who's still alone to this day and asked me to tell you to marry her as she knows you in your time together as her students, as Hinata was too closed off and determined to live a lonely life.' that was a lie, she was trolling the kid who face-faulted. 'And then the little kids who have little time left in this world, and figure out how to save them.'
'She left the school to find Demon Lord Leon in order to do for them what he did for her. Oh, and punch him in the face for her assuming I live that long for that last one.'
Yuuki pursed his lips at her words.
'I see. So you're here for the children.'
'Yeah. I figured out the problem that requires a little field trip to Ulgrasia, to a location I got a seer to find for me.' Rimuru told him. 'To the Dwelling of Spirits while it's still there as location changes when the Fairy Queen feels like it not even the seer can tell when, only where. So with your permission, let me take the kids to see her.'
'Alright.' Yuuki nodded. 'Anything else of concern?'
'Yeah. I'll stay a bit to be their teacher after the field trip.' Rimuru grinned. 'Two months after returning from Ulgrasia, so can you make arrangements for me? I feel that given how things happened, the children resent the people here. They might feel better about a fellow earthling teach them.'
'I suppose that's understandable.' Yuuki stood up to go to his desk. 'This won't be easy as they're Summoned Otherworlders so I expect compensation.'
'Yeah, I got that down pat.' Rimuru changed to her slime form and took out ten large wooden crates she spat out before changing back to human. 'Manga I printed out in color and its enchanted against fire, water and staining as well as ripping and wrinkling.' Yuuki turned to her so fast with a shocked expression.
'EHHHHH?! You got printer tech?!'
'Not really, I swallow a pile of paper, glue, and a shit ton of ink and craft it in my body using my memories and magic to print it.' Rimuru giggled. 'I'm not a techie person, I was a General Contractor before I died and reborn here! Do I look like a computer specialist to you?'
'Uwaaah, thanks~' Yuuki ran for the crates and saw tankobons of manga in series popular in Shonen Jump he was delighted. Though he noted that its in native world format, not japanese. There's no kanji, hiragana and katakana and clearly edited. Not only that, the artwork matched the anime!
'As for One Piece, it's still continuing, not completed yet before I died, I printed what I could anyway.'
'Awww, its probably like Detective Conan, a series that never ends...' Yuuki sighed gloomily as he complained whiningly to her.
'Yeah, didn't end before I died either, it's a lost cause.' Rimuru told him flatly with an armfold.
And the two geeks began talking about updates Yuuki missed about the otaku world...and he wailed at how he didn't get to watch new anime movies that came out nor saw the ending of Attack on Titan he was incredibly annoyed, complaining and whining to her.