Adjusting Period
The Clinic...
'She's...changed...' Shion croaked out as they saw Rimuru's new form on the bed. She's still a slime but in humanoid form. Her face is barely seen she was no different from a sculpture carving, but she was still beautiful in her glass-like appearance.
'Her new power may be too much for her former body.' Hakurou pointed out and Shion began crying. 'So she gained a form strong enough to accommodate her new gains...by the way, why're you crying?' he asked the now Wicked Oni who was bawling.
'Waaaaah! We can't cuddle anymore!' Shion wailed as in her mind, an image of her cuddling Rimuru's ball form cracked and shattered to pieces. Cuddling in her current form now? Not without setting off unfortunate implications!
'That cute huggable form will be sorely missed!' Shuna sniffled. Mourning the forever lost days of the past when Rimuru was so huggable, cuddly and soft and carry her anywhere. 'Ueeeehhh...'
The guys and the kids sweatdropped at their...skewed priorities.
'Er, you are?' Benimaru asked the newcomer who was sitting on a chair by Rimuru's bedside.
'I am a simple nameless Archdemon milady summoned to hunt down those who escaped her anger.' the man introduced himself as this got the council gaping at him.
What part of him exactly, is SIMPLE?!
Yes, they know they exist, but seeing his kind's class being summoned is incredibly rare and unheard of because as far as mages can go, only Greater Demons answer them!
'I chose to stay as I chose her as my master, so I will watch over her until she wakes.' he said with a smile. 'She will be safe. But as I found myself in enemy camp upon my summoning and milady was angry for some reason, I understand there's almost a war and she wants revenge for her slain people whom she recently revived, I advise that things must be taken care of so milady will not see unsightly things. Let us mop up the rest and reassure her its over when she wakes.'
Yeah, they remember that now...
Indeed, they all died from their injuries and from a skill from what others told them. Rimuru wept for them and tried to come up with a way to bring them back, until Ellen told her a legend that helps with chances of Rimuru pulling it off.
'We better go and see the camps...and take spoils of war as tradition for War Victors.' said Gaspar. 'We can sell them to the allied countries as we don't need them anyway and purchase goods the town needs. At least we can take the food and medicine they may have and the tents, we actually need those.'
'Inventoring all that will take hours so we better get on with it.' said Rigurd, now an Oni. 'We better inform Blumund and Dwargon that we won. Then once we inventory everything, they can choose what they like as we have no use for Falmuth War Goods as they're made for humans.'
'We have to wash those first.' Shuna reminded him. 'This'll take us a while. It will be improper to give out dirty war spoils!'
'...today's gonna be a long day isn't it?' Shion moped.
'Agreed...' they sighed a long weary sigh.
'Youm, you and the guys take care of the children for now.' said Benimaru, glancing at Rimuru's adopted children. 'We'll be very busy in the coming days to clean up.'
'Right...see you guys later.' Youm grinned weakly as Tempest mobilized to sort everything out. Again, the wolves are sent out as messengers.
xxx
On the other hand, the two allied nations are talking regarding the Falmuth VS Tempest matter until the wolves showed up.
'We are victorious.' said wolf 1 to Blumund's Royal Council. 'Rimuru-sama single-handedly defeated the entire army this morning.'
'EHHHH?!'
'Well, I DID say trying to invade a town of A-Class monsters is Grade S Stupidity.' Fuze grinned. 'How're things?'
'...milady evolved into a Demon Lord to have the power to revive the citizens Falmuth's Summoned killed. She successfully revived hundreds of our dead before succumbing to exhaustion.'
'WHAAAAT?!'
This, was big. Very big.
The King of Blumund made the decision to ally with Tempest for their safety and besides, trading granted them great economical benefits they now enjoy as well as other techniques for Blumund's future prosperity.
'Rimuru evolved into a Demon Lord? For real?' Fuze asked the wolf.
'Yes. We heard the Voice of the World.' said the wolf. 'The Adventurers and Merchants that stayed bore witness to this miracle, word will spread soon but we convinced them to stay due to politics involved. For that reason, we informed you and Dwargon, our allies.'
Yeah, they get it now.
A lot of humans witnessed the evolution through magic as well as the resurrection technique. Something they absolutely must learn.
'And also, we amassed spoils of war but due to physical incompatibility regarding equipment, we will process them first before Blumund and Dwargon may have them thus both nations may choose as they like.' the wolf continued. 'All we'll take for ourselves are the provisions and tents for housing for Construction Workers in the forests. We also have King Edmalis, some priest, High Wizard Razen and individuals identified by occupation as Blood Shadows in captivity. Rimuru-sama, Blumund's Representative and Dwargon's Representative can determine their fates when she wakes from her evolutionary slumber.'
They sent Fuze on a mission thus and Fuze used the messenger to go as soon as possible.
xxx
Dwargon...
'I see...that's good to hear.' said Gazel upon hearing the same report from another wolf, but he was worried. Thankfully he has his closest aides with him so he can throw formality out the window. His junior was forced to become a Demon Lord just to bring back her murdered people slain by Falmuth. 'But given the nature of politics, this worries me, so I'll hang out in Tempest soon when she wakes.' he said. 'Alert me when she does.'
'Alright.'
And so, it's the waiting game...
They waited for Rimuru to wake up.
As for Rimuru herself...
She was in her home, courtesy of Benimaru.
Because the Archdemon was summoned by Rimuru and is loyal to her until Contract Ends as per the norm and disappears, he allowed him to know where her house is.
Well, unknown to them the black demon has no intention of leaving so soon, not when he's dead set on serving her.
'But...why so...small?!' his jaws dropped, affronted by the size of the albeit cute cottage. 'This isn't a place a proper Demon Lord should live in!' he swayed as if to faint from shock and dismay as this was not a residence worthy of his lady! Benimaru can only laugh weakly at the shocked newcomer.
'Well, back when she was a cute adorable ball, she said she didn't need much space...well...joke's on her now because she no doubt never imagined that upon evolving, she'd grow big and her desire to adopt children was an idea out of the blue.' said Benimaru weakly, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
'As soon as she wakes, we still need her approval to renovate her house. Even if we want to do it while she sleeps, we can't just adjust her space as she may have preferences so until then, the kids will stay with me and Shuna until she is OK with renovating her house to accommodate her new size, and the fact she now has five adoptive children who'd definitely need a big space.'
So yes, the Archdemon can only sigh.
The only good thing is that the house is cute in architecture and decor, fit for a single young lady to live in.
He had nothing to do until then.
Until on the third day...
Rimuru opened her eyes.
xxx
Meanwhile...
A red demon reported to this man on an icy throne who was dressed like a rock star, Guy Crimson.
'Oho?! I see~' he looked excited and intrigued. His grin was so wide.
He just got juicy news about Tempest!
'And that guy is spotted around her? That weirdo?!' behind him, his maids sweatdropped...with good reason.
See, Guy Crimson, Rain and Misery are Primordial Demons. They're younger than True Dragons by...a couple-thousand-years.
Due to that, they gained a color and gained a reputation as heretics. Even to their own descendants.
This is because they fight using technique and wits instead of raw and sheer power, unlike usual Demons. And they have troublesome personalities too. Self-admitted at that!
But for them, the most weird, is Noir and his lineage. This is for having different values towards things other demons would consider common sense, such as the pursuit of power. And Noir eventually got bored with life and suddenly stopped training and vanished from their world. Him showing up after several thousand years, is indeed, odd. Again.
'That's it, I'm paying a visit!' he got off his throne gleefully. 'Rain, call Velzard. We're paying Tempest a visit!'
'Hai.' and she was gone.
In another room in the icy castle that would've made ELSA proud, is Velzard sipping tea and eating cake, when she heard three knocks, before Rain entered. 'Yes?'
'Master said get ready to leave...you two will visit Tempest, the monster town that appeared in Jura Forest.' Rain informed her. 'He wants to meet the newest Demon Lord who just evolved recently...Rimuru Tempest. She just woke from her Evolutionary Slumber.'
'Heee...and what's so interesting about that?' Velzard asked her dryly with a sigh.
'He says he'll tell you en route.' this got Velzard pouting.
'That guy, honestly! This better be worth it!' she stood up reluctantly and left her room with Rain.
Velzard then met up with guy outside their castle, on top of an ice cliff. 'OK Guy, out with it. What's going on?' Velzard asked Guy. 'Rain said you'd explain.'
'It's a looong story but you'll know everything while we fly to Tempest, alright? I'll talk along the way.' and utilizing flight magic, Guy began his tale...
xxx
Oblivious to incoming new visitors, Rimuru woke up and found that her wish with her evolutions are granted to her delight.
While she's sad her cute self is lost, that cute form will get her in danger as a Demon Lord, so NOPE.
She found herself dressed in a formal dress. WHY?!
She's sure Shuna won't dress her formally for bed, so who?
Snapping her fingers, she quickly switched with her casual outfits. A yellow tribal off-shoulder shirt, red shorts and a white headband before taking an orange shawl with her.
Her usage of magic however, got Noir alarmed to her presence that she is now awake, and he showed up when she got downstairs.
'Good afternoon, milady.' he greeted. 'I'm glad you have finally awoken from your slumber.'
'How long? And what happened after?' she asked as Noir guided her to the dining room like a good valet.
'Three days and 15 hours. After milady's evolution, the deceased are successfully revived by your Resurrection.' Rimuru froze in shock and gave him a 'do-you-mean-it' look and he reassured her. 'They have received immense power through the bestowal of gift and about 95% of the citizens evolved except for the Unnamed Children.'
'I see...so Great Sage succeeded...' Rimuru shook in joy. Joy that her friends are back. Noir smiled gently at the relief on her face though he had to ask...
'Great Sage?'
'My Unique Skill. He was my teacher about this world when I came to exist here.' said Rimuru. 'There was no question he couldn't answer, unless he really had no information about it which was once in a blue moon.' she joked.
/Notice./ her right eye turned red as her mouth moved to speak. /Unique Skill: Great Sage has evolved into Ultimate Skill: Wisdom King Raphael./
'Wait, what?!' Rimuru squawked out, causing Noir to whistle. Ultimate Skills are rare, valuable skills that allows one to interfere with the laws of the world itself!
'Looks like you need to catch up on latest developments as your current skills certainly evolved.' Noir smiled. 'Do you wish to eat anything while you catch up?'
'Well, some light soup for now. I never eat anything heavy whenever I wake up.' Rimuru told him. 'Before that, you once said you really want to stay after my request...are you sure though?' she asked him. 'Demon Lord I am now but I'm not exactly...lord-y in personality.'
'This one knows.'
'Well, I'm sure my friends told you how we roll here, and I expect you to follow.' Rimuru told him kindly, but seriously. 'They are now your comrades who will watch your back just as how they expect you to watch theirs in turn and work well together. We prefer teamwork and no loners allowed in here, so I hope you make good friends in your time here.' she told him. 'Let's see...how strong you are now so I'd know how much to shell out...' she reached for his face and it got him excited as his lady accepted him.
Great sage possessed her again most likely to analyze him in silence...before letting her have control. 'Alrighty...you're a really strong guy, we'll have you catch up with everybody else...Diablo.' and given how much power increase she wished her Subordinates to have, he too, received it from her and they definitely weren't kidding when people say she's generous. "Welp, my wishes are granted so its fair he should have the same."
Diablo got cocooned in a black swirl upon receiving magicules from her and he's now...dressed like Dissidia Squall Leonhart. 'I have become a Demon Duke at your blessing, milady. What are my duties?'
'Well, that would depend on your skills...'
'I lived several millennia.' Diablo smiled a big smile, making her snort.
'That means you're well-versed in laws, alternate beneficial interpretations and loopholes and know the rules, laws, customs and manners of all races and countries...' Rimuru now has a dark smile befitting a plotting ojousama. 'Once school restarts, I want you to take over my post in school as Law and Mercantilism Teacher to protect my people from being swindled as we began business with humans. I need to focus on my main jobs while also ensuring I have time for my children as well.' she asked of him.
'And after school and office hours, you will be my family's combat instructor in martial arts. I already graduated from Hakurou's swordsmanship course, my issue now is experience.' she lamented. 'Demon Lord I may be but I'm also the easiest to kill at this point, I'll bring shame to the name at this rate.' she pouted. 'Things are happening too fast when I hoped we'll enjoy peace forever, but some annoying jerks just won't leave us be.' she sighed gloomily. 'The third year of our town is the most...hectic it's like the past two years are a lie. A dream we woke up from.'
And the newly-promoted duke isn't having any of that as he went serious.
'Understood. I will be a strict instructor for milady.' he promised her with his utmost seriousness which she appreciated.
'Fufu, nothing less than that, OK?' Rimuru smiled. 'While you make me some light soup, I'll tell everyone I'm OK.' and she stood up. 'I'll be at the backyard to greet them.'
And through Thought Communication, she informed the Council and her children that she's awake, though still resting and having a light meal. Upon finding Cabal's party still around, she called them too as well as Youm.
Chaos ensued as from different places in town, they rushed to her residence.
'Rimuru-sama!' the first to come was Souei and seconds later, Gabiru and his sister Souka.
'Souei! Gabiru!' Rimuru was happy to see them back from the dead and embraced both with one arm each.
'It's thanks to milady that we're back.' said Souei as the two men leaned into her embrace and can...afford to do so just this once.
'Yeah, we can count on you to bring us back any time! Gyahahaha!' Gabiru laughed boisterously. This earned him a whack from his sister.
'Don't do something that stupid ever again!' Rimuru chided them. 'I almost lost hope until Ellen told me that story!' she cried. 'Had she never told me, none of this could be done!'
Soon, the other fast runners came and what a reunion it was between Rimuru and the deceased, and Rimuru poured her attention on the kids next.
Soon, she received updates from the Council while she ate her soup.
'I see...so most likely Fuze and Gazel will pay a visit when they get wind I'm awake.' said Rimuru. 'Ellen.'
'Yes?' Ellen piped up.
'Your story played a role in saving my people as well as my decision to become a Demon Lord...but for your safety let's keep that under wraps.' Rimuru told her. 'We'll blame everything on Falmuth as much as we can get away with when we get advice later on that will satisfy our human allies and only few knowing will be better in the long run.'
'Ehehe, I already told my dad.' said Ellen sheepishly. 'Because this story is Sarion's Royal Heirloom, known only to those with royal blood and telling it to others is serious business. That story is also why, to avoid deaths in the military, my country created Homunculus Bodies possessed by our forces, so it's no real loss in manpower.'
'How come that came to be though?' Shion asked her.
'Because Soma, the country that foolishly started that legend and the reason why the westernmost part of the world is a barren wasteland impossible to cultivate, is an elven nation that ceased to exist, and Sarion's elven ancestors got wind of it. The people of Soma scattered and to avoid that girl's wrath, Sarion never welcomed citizens of Soma or attract ruin to Sarion back then.' Ellen told them. 'Thus to differentiate ourselves, we have our own ways so Sarion knows who its citizens are, and not. To this day, the elves of Soma are outcasts even among all elves for creating that disaster and nobody let them forget it.'
'Heee...'
'That means to this day, if they're found by that girl they're dead meat.' Rimuru deadpanned. 'And anyone sheltering them is a dead man walking.' Ellen nodded. 'To protect Tempest we'll have to make measures. While I DID say monsters are welcome as long as they behave, I have my limits.' she stated with a frown. 'Troublemakers are banned as not only are they pesky, they may also set a bad impression on children who may copy.' Rimuru reminded them. 'So I wish to talk to Sarion about that at some point for technology or spells to sort out Soma Elves from others. I never thought I have to be prejudiced for all our sakes as I don't want us to be blown up...'
'OK. I'll tell that troublesome papa of mine who'll tell auntie.' Ellen grinned.
'Again, as much as possible I want to blame my rebirth on Falmuth for your safety, so we'll figure out how to make it work without attracting trouble through politics.' Rimuru told her. 'Guys, we owe Ellen our success in bringing our friends back, so let's watch her back!'
'Hai!'
'Rimuru~~' Ellen got teary-eyed, touched by her words.
'Danna, thanks a lot for that!' Cabal and Gido bowed before her.
But it's starting to get cold when they got talking.
'It was somewhat-OK days ago, how come its getting cold again?' Gale wondered aloud, shivering.
'During Winter and Spring, temperature and snow can get really unpredictable and we're long used to it.' said Benimaru. 'Looks like I'll have to melt snow off of streets again.' he said wearily.
'See to the farms guys and activate our enchantments.' Rimuru told them. 'At least our Seafood Farms are OK. Until we got politics down pat, no one outside the council is to know I'm awake. Once Blumund Representatives are here as well as King Gazel, we'll call the Adventurers and Merchants so we all have the same story.'
'Hai!'
'By the way Rimuru-sama, about your house.' Geld piped up. 'Given the situation, it's too...small for you now and worse than cramped for the children. We should rebuild.'
Rimuru looked at her tiny-as-hell house and looked sheepish.
'Now that you mention it...'
'Jeeeez ma, we're not in Japan!' Kenya moaned. 'I've seen my uncle's apartment in Tokyo that having a house is better than that apartment no better than a meat locker!' he snarked.
'We were staying with Mister Benimaru and Miss Shuna until you're awake.' said Chloe.
'You mean housing spaces in your world are THAT small?!' Melphy squawked out.
When they got wind that Rimuru was a reincarnated otherworlder from the same country as those three Summoned, they also learned that two of her children are from the same country.
The mere idea that their master is fine and dandy with small spaces when the boys revealed just now how small housing spaces are in their country blew their minds off.
'Unfortunately. It's been that way as long as we remember but cramped is still cramped.' said Ryota. 'My family lived in an apartment until I got summoned here...it was impossible to invite school friends over.'
'Riiight...I guess I'll hide out too until everything's sorted out.' Rimuru sweatdropped. 'I'll pack everything up before we tear the place down for rebuilding and devise a floor plan OK?'
'Yes, milady!' Geld nodded.
'Now then, meet and get to know your newest comrade, Diablo.' Rimuru introduced Diablo to them. 'He was an Archdemon before, he's now a Demon Duke equal to all of you in power in terms of magicules. He knows every trick in the book from past to present to protect us from future swindling attempts, so he'll replace me as Law and Mercantilism Teacher in our school once we open school for real.' she told them. 'So I hope all of you welcome him and make him feel at home while taking care of the farms today before some random blizzard hits.'
'Yes~!' Diablo knew his lady wants him to get along with everyone so he went with them.
Comrades he can trust...huh?
That's new...
xxx
'So mom, are you really OK now?' Alice asked Rimuru as they sat on the engawa.
'Yeah, but I'm still coming to terms with everything.' said Rimuru. 'Now that I know Raphael succeeded on my behalf, my anger can finally ebb away.'
'Raphael? Who's that?' Chloe asked her.
'He was Great Sage before, he evolved into Wisdom Lord Raphael so he's gotten real better.' Rimuru chimed. 'Not to mention all the cool updates I never got since I died, he managed to acquire new material for us, isn't that neat?!'
That was only possible thanks to their requests with the world during evolution and for that, they needed an upgrade with her skills. And thanks to said skills, Raphael was able to create memory orbs and flung it to Earth for her, to reach her parents and her brother.
'You mean there's more?!' Alice lit up.
'Yes! Veldora's just as happy...shall we have a marathon day out together?' Rimuru asked her children playfully who lit up at the idea.
'YAY!'
'Hey~ let us watch some good shows too~' a new voice spoke all of a sudden. That voice reminded her of Ishida Akira's villain roles...what the hell? And through magic, out came a red-haired guy dressed like a cross between rock star and cosplayer, and a pretty lady in pigtails that got the family gaping.
'Uhm...who are you?'
The guy grinned.
'I'm Guy Crimson, the world's first Demon Lord and this lady is your somewhat-aunt, Velzard.'
In Rimuru's space, Veldora was terrified.
'WHAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT?!'
Rimuru covered her ears. Hard.
'Mom?'
'...Veldora's screaming, terrified out of his wits and asking me to call an Exorcist...where on earth am I gonna find that?' her words caused Guy to sputter in laughter and Velzard to sport a VERY SCARY SMILE...
'Hooo? He said that, did he?' she cracked her knuckles, causing the small family to gulp. 'Let me see my dumb idiot of a brother in your Isolation Space?'
Rimuru has self-preservation instincts and took out Ifrit and let Velzard in by devouring her with Uriel.
'Veldora, sorry but you brought that on yourself!'
'Exorcist. Really.' Ifrit gave her a flat look. 'Veldora's strong and Velzard is stronger...if anyone capable of Exorcising true dragons, I'd love to meet them.'
'I'd sooner see an iceberg in a volcano last long!'