Subaru watched as the Orcs were hard at work creating a much larger version of the Shop back in Axel. The foundation was set up to allow a basement (fully ventilated and equipped with temperature adjustments) which could be used for storage and teleportation. The main store was as a large as a modern furniture store, making it easily one of the larger buildings in Tempest.
Despite all this, the orcs were right on schedule.
He had already taken count of their current stock, even selling some of their items earlier. All he had to do was sit back and keep watch over what remained. Kazuma was out exploring Tempest and he had no idea where Kumoko was.
"Everything going well?" Rimuru asked, being carried by Shion in his slime form. "Yep, sold some stuff earlier, got to know some of the locals, it's all pretty nice." Subaru replied. "Good to hear, glad you like it." Rimuru said as he jumped out of Shion's grasp. "Still... I'm looking forward to living here." Subaru blurted out. "Yeah, more than a few other worlders have been requesting to move here as well." Rimuru said.
"Heh, I can image. Even if they aren't isekai... haven't been isekaied, they'd still want a place of actual peace and quiet." Subaru said. Rimuru nodded, his slime form giggling like a jello mold. Some of the orcs passed by, giving short bows to Rimuru as they did so.
The two sat in silence, Shion walking away to look at the contents of the carriage.
"So... how did you found Tempest? If you don't mind me asking." Subaru asked, breaking the silence. "Oh that. Well when I was Isekaied I woke up in a cave. After some exploring and meeting a Dragon I left it. Some time later I came across a Goblin village under attack by Dire Wolves." Rimuru started. Subaru nodded; 'All this, from a small Goblin Village.' he thought with a smile. "After I helped them we began to build out, we recruited some Dwarves from Dwargon to help with our shortcomings. Then the hardships started appearing." Rimuru paused at this.
"First a group of Ogres attacked, then we had to negotiate with the Lizard Folk, then came a massive Orc invasion." Rimuru quickly listed them off. "And they all live here now?" Subaru interrupted, more out of curiosity than rudeness. "Yes; The Ogres are the last survivors of their village, the Lizard Folk formed an alliance with Tempest, and the Orcs had nothing else." Rimuru replied, to which Subaru just nodded. "After that. things started to calm down. Then Millim showed up." Rimuru said, his tone sounding more tired.
"Milim?" Subaru asked, slightly terrified. "A powerful Demon lord, The niece of the Deagon I met, and a Child with the power of a thousand warheads." Rimuru answered. "And how did-" "Food, she has quite the sweet tooth." Rimuru answered Subaru's question before he could finish asking it. "Ahh, should I worry about her?" Subaru asked cautiously. "No, she's a bit destructive but never cataclysmic." Rimuru answered.
"Anyway; things kept getting out of hand. One of our neighbors began to mobilize for war against us, using our alliance with Dwargon and our location to legitimize it. Their first attack worked, we fought back, I became a Demon Lord and undid the damage they caused. Then I brought back Veldora and met the other Demon Lords." Rimuru finished his explanation. "You've been busy." was all Subaru could think to say. "Yeah, but things are calming down. The opening of the sky and expansion of land has had quite the effect on everyone." Rimuru responded. Subaru nodded, looking back at the continuing progress of their shop.
"If I may, how did your Isekai adventure go?" Rimuru asked. Subaru stayed silent for a moment, contemplating what to say. "It... it was difficult. I didn't have any sort of power like you do, I was just a normal guy in a dangerous world. But I made good progress, met many influential people and made many friends. I even helped end two dangerous creatures and stop three different powerful cultists. It was going well... then I lost it all." Subaru quickly summarized, Rimuru staying silent as he listened. "The Witch Cult and two Great Calamities." Rimuru responded.
Subaru stared him down, his eye widening in shock. "News can travel surprisingly fast. I've been reading what I can about all my new neighbors. Places like Lugunica wasted little time spreading news of the so-called Witch Cult and their Archbishops, alongside the presence of the Great Calamity Mabeasts." Rimuru said. "But How?" Subaru asked. "You came from the east, All three of you have a different form of power system with you. Kazuma has something reminiscent of Dnd, Kumoko has jumbled stacks of skills and abilities, but you have something else entirely." Rimuru said.
Subaru let out a sigh. "Don't worry, news may have reached here, but no one from Lugunica has so much as gotten close to Tempest." Rimuru said. "Probably don't like the idea if a city of monsters." Subaru said. Rimuru just nodded sadly. "Well, that might one day." Subaru said somewhat optimistically, "Someday." Rimuru responded as Shion returned.
Rem locked the door behind her, breathing heavily. Otto had quickly collapsed into a fetal position on the bed and was busy rocking back and forth. The Town of Alcanretia was... Insane. They had never seen such blatant and incredulous people, if they ever met this "Aqua-sama" that all of them were obsessed with, they'd kill her.
"Why... Why would he?" Otto muttered as he continued rocking. Rem breathed out a sigh of relief as she barred the door with a chair. "Sadly he wasn't lying, Subaru's scent is still lingering in the town." Rem said with a hollow tone. She had to resist, the people of this town aren't Witch Cultist, but she understood why most folks called them the Axis Cult rather than a church.
"He was at the Hotsprings." Rem trailed off. "Maybe... maybe he was healing there, then he left. Everyone in town has been going crazy about getting the springs dug out from the rubble." Otto shot our an idea. "Yes, let's just find where the trail leads, then get out of here." Rem responded. Otto quickly nodded, getting up and packing his bags.
Kazuma was walking through the streets, his face decorated with a giddy smile. He was wearing his classic green tracksuit, freshly repaired. Subaru was busy getting his own Tracksuit fixed up.
Its amazing just how well off and advancedTempest is.
Sure he's only here to watch over the construction of the Shop and finalize everything else. Much like how Kumoko left the moment she had the two sided Teleportation area set up. Subaru's going to stay here, get to live a calm life while watching over the shop.
He's not jealous... he's not.
Still, Subaru might not have all the peace he expects. If rumors about Rimuru's friend Milim and the eccentrics of certain people in Tempest were to be believed.
'Hey Kazuma' he heard Kumoko's voice echo in his head. "Yes I'm Kazuma." he said while turning to the source of it. Kumoko was back, a small group of Crimson Demon Clan students behind her. Every single one of them dressed in school uniforms and looking around with great wonder.
Kazuma's mood dropped. "What are you doing?" he asked. 'School was off today, so I brought some friends over after we gossiped about Tempest.' Kumoko replied. "Hey." the rest of the Crimson demons waved at him.
"You told Rimuru... Right?" he asked cautiously. 'Relax, I told him about it.' Kumoko replied while shrugging her shoulders. "I never should of brought you too the village." Kazuma muttered as he watched the Crimson Demon Girls gawk at every little thing in Tempest. "Well... At least they aren't causing trouble." Kazuma surmised as he watched the scene unfold.
"Nice to see you Kazuma." Megumin spoke up as she walked past Kumoko. "Yo." Kazuma replied while rasing his hand. "So... Have you reconsidered?" Megumin asked. "Still no, I'm not joining your Religion of Explosion." Kazuma replied. "But we're up to five members, we're halfway towards the Guilds legally recognizing us as a religion." Megumij spoke up.
Kazuma covered his face with his hands. "Who else?" he asked tiredly. "Hello new sister." A high pitched voice spoke up. Kazuma could only look on in horror as Milim greeted Megumin in such a manner. "No." he groaned out. Megumin waved back at Milim and smiled.
Kazuma decided quickly, he broke into a sprint, B-lining for Rimuru's office. 'I need to warn him.' he thought desperately as he ran. "Where's he going?" Megumin asked disappointed. Kumoko just shrugged her shoulders while Milim tiltied her head in confusion.
Subaru watched as Kazuma hid himself in the recently built cupboard of his new home. "Its too late." he whispered out. "Too late for what?" Subaru asked confused. "Megumin, the explosion loli. She's already gotten to Kumoko, now she's corrupting Rimuru's Demon Lord friend Milim." Kazuma responded. "It can't be that bad?" Subaru asked. "Everywhere shall become a crater." Kazuma responded.
Subaru just rolled his one good eye and walked downstairs. Several of Wiz's undead were busy hauling supplies and furniture onto displays throughout the vast shop.
"Sa..." A voice called out to him. He turned to see Wiz approaching him, Sophia in her arms. "Hey Wiz." he greeted while scooping the now joyful Sophia into his arms. "Hello Subaru, it's nice to see the shop is in working order." Wiz said. Subaru nodded; "Yep, they even have a home built for me on the upper floor." Subaru said fondly.
Wiz smiled; "I've got a meeting with Rimuru. But I also met some of the other people he has working underneath him. Have you seen Kazuma? I'm planning on bringing him and Vanir too the meeting." Wiz asked. "He's in the cupboard upstairs, sulking about some religion of explosions." Subaru answered, pointing his thumb towards it. "Thank you." Wiz said as she walked up the stairs.
Subaru grabbed a baby cage left near and walked to the counter. He placed it behind the counter and put Sophia in it, close enough to let him keep an eye on her, but still alowing her to get up and moved around in it. He took a quick step and left some toys in there with with, letting her have some fun while he sat at the counter.
"Just a few more days." he muttered, watching as Wiz dragged Kazuma down the stairs by his shoulder.
When they got to Rimuru's office, they weren't expecting to hear rampant laughter. "Ah Noir... Its been too long since Moi could have a chat." Vanir said loudly. "Indeed, it seems you found a rather interesting set of friends in your work lately." another voice replied. "And it seem Moi has found a boss to worship the ground he walks under." Vanir replied.
"Ah.. Rimuru is a great leader, you wouldn't understand Duke." The other voice retorted. "Oh, I can see his progress from miles away. But Moi much prefers doing Moi's own thing is all." Vanir struck back. Wiz opened the door, watching as Vanir and some red eyed demon looking man sat back and bickered over tea.
Rimuru just awkwardly waved them over. "I never knew Vanir had a friend here." Wiz said calmly. "Well, there's only one hell. So it checks out." Kazuma surmised. "Yeah, when he arrived Diablo just pulled a table out of nowhere and they started doing this. They've been back and forth for about an hour." Rimuru said as he sat back in his desk.
"Ah yes... Well there's a bit more to talk too you about than just the shop." Wiz started. "The Demon King?" Rimuru asked. Kazuma raised a brow, before remembering that Rimuru just spent half an hour listening to Vanir bicker with another Demon. "Yes, and we were hoping to exchange it for information on the Red Storms." Wiz continued. Rimuru breathed in for a second; "All right, where do we start?" he asked.