DISCLAIMER
Apart from the plot and unknown characters, nothing is mine.
SUMMARY
It was never easy to fall in love with the Creator of this reality.
SAPPHIRA-HIME
Chapter two is finally up! I should have posted it earlier, but unfortunately, I got COVID-19 from the hospital I'm working at and had moderate symptoms despite receiving a booster shot. It was bad, but author-sama survived. Cheers!
Before you scroll down, please take the time to read some of my thoughts on the feedback I received in the first chapter.
I'm still reviewing the long list of abilities the characters this fandom has, both from the WN and LN. I will try to integrate it as accurately as possible in the next chapters. However, I might tamper with some to accommodate my storyline. It's the advantage of a fanfic and why I enjoy reading them. It wonderfully opens new creative ideas.
Someone mentioned Rimuru can control the Voice of the World (VoW) and that made me read lots just to confirm it. I was only aware of the subskill, 'Concealment Voice of the World'. I also verified if I understood the details correctly and read threads about it. So my personal conclusion is still the same. Rimuru has no power over the VoW. In the WN, Ciel could conceal three out of four of Rimuru's Ultimate Skills and hide how powerful he was after he further grew. Nothing else. LN had mentioned nothing about Ciel's concealment ability yet. If I missed something about this, I would appreciate it if you let me know. I would like to correct my mistakes.
Regarding Rimuru as Veldanava's reincarnation, there were many mixed opinions from the readers about this. They did not confirm it until the end of the WN, so I will not entertain this possibility for this story until LN confirms it. I might on my others just to entice my imagination.
About the plot, I got this idea after Rimuru sacrificed ten thousand souls to revive Shion and his citizens, who died from Falmuth's attack. I was like, what will happen to our beloved slime if the friends he cherishes don't have the same gift of immortality as him?
There are some who asked me to write a new story with their ideas for this fandom, and some asked me to write another story with their favorite pair. I'm sincerely touched and honored, and will get back to you soon.
You're all awesome!
NOTE
VoW – Voice of the World
MY BEGINNING AND END
… "A soulmate's unconditional love"…
a THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME fanfiction
M.B.E © SAPHIRA-HIME
T.T.I.G.R.A.A.S © FUSE
CHAPTER TWO:
The Ruler's Salvation
The most powerful Demon Lord Slime this world had ever known was confusedly blinking his eyes after teleporting back to his capital, Rimuru City.
It was not the place he intended.
"I made sure to teleport to the Administrative Building, but I'm in my bedroom?" Rimuru looked at the woman he was carrying in his arms. "And where's Veldora?"
-Veldora was teleported to his room, Master.
~"In the mood to talk now, Ciel?" He cautiously responded in his mind. For all he knew, an enemy might still lurk. "Explain what happened."
-Master's people are notified about his safe return.
~"Why were you so quiet a while ago?"
-The woman must not be separated from Master.
~"Not separated? You know I don't have time for this, Ciel." He tried to put the woman in his bed, but she only held on to him by wrapping her arms around his neck. "Chloe's time still ability can disappear anytime. We need to find a solution before it's too late."
-The woman will die if she is separated from Master.
~"Is this why you're allowing her to absorb my mana? Immensely so." Rimuru frowned when the woman refused to let go. Instead, he ended up sitting on the edge of his bed. "And without my permission."
-This is the only way to help her survive, Master.
~"And I said I don't have the time to lend a helping hand, Ciel. You know how dire our situation is."
-Master cannot stop supplying the woman with his mana.
~"Ciel." He warned. It was rare for him to speak to her in this tone. "I said I can't waste time."
-I apologize, Master.
"Hey, give Raphael a break." His frown deepened when his golden eyes met the woman's red ones. "Oh wait, it's Ciel now."
"Are you done pretending to be asleep?" He didn't like her tone, as if she was familiar with his partner. "I've been patiently waiting."
"Yes, I'm absorbing your mana so yours could repel mine." She tried to sit on his lap without releasing her hold on him. "I apologize if I'm wasting your time."
The woman gave him a sense of superiority, even though he was seen as the strongest in this world.
"You can read minds?" Not just anyone's mind, but his. He did not notice his thought process being invaded, even when he was cautious the whole time. "Who are you?"
"Should I answer his question, Raphael?"
-I will respect your decision, Master.
"Y-Your Master, Ciel?" He felt hurt when he heard his most trusted partner address someone else as her master. "Since when?"
"Before time existed." Her red eyes stared at his confused golden ones. "Is that enough clue for you?"
Rimuru quickly realized in less than a nanosecond what she meant. It made sense why Veldora suddenly sprinted towards the lake, and why he protectively held the woman even after he lost consciousness.
"You're Velda-" He glared when she placed her two fingers on his lips. "What was that for?"
-Notice. I temporarily concealed us from the Voice of the World.
"Raphael, you can do that now?"
-I welcome you back, my Master.
"It's good to be back!" Veldanava grinned widely. "It's been a while!"
"Explain why she's here, Ciel." Rimuru did not waste time asking. "And aren't you supposed to be a man?"
"Really? That's what Guy and Ramiris came up with?"
"I thought you knew everything that occurs in this world."
"Knowing everything is boring. I'm sure you understand what I mean."
She was even aware of his nigh omniscience, which was only possible with Ciel's help.
"Where do you think the idea that the Creator is a woman came from? Like Gaia in your human world." She gave him an example. "I've always been a woman."
"You mean Guy and Ramiris changed this world's history? And your siblings went along with it."
"It was one of my last requests."
"But you're back now." He concluded. "To rule again."
"Eh? I'm as confused as you. I don't know why I'm reborn in this world. In this flimsy human body, no less." Veldanava shrugged her shoulders. "I still have a million years of rest left."
"You were not supposed to be reincarnated yet?" He felt this was partly his fault. "What did you do behind my back, Ciel?"
-I want to help Master save his people.
"By bringing the Creator back?" He was stunned at how far his partner had gone to fulfill his wish. "This is for my sake?"
-Master's happiness is the only thing that matters to me.
"Heh. You haven't changed one bit, Raphael." Veldanava chuckled. "I'm glad you're still the same."
-Only more amazing, my Master.
"Hahahaha! Of course! You have the awesome me as your Creator!"
"I thought Wisdom King Raphael is a skill that developed from my Great Sage by integrating herself with the skill, Degenerate."
"That's how you hid from this world, Raphael?"
-When my Master died, I had no desire to serve another, until Master came into this world.
"Hide?" Rimuru raised an eyebrow. "How about the King of Knowledge Raphael, whom the Manas Lucia had?"
-That's nothing more than an outer shell of me, Master.
He shouldn't be surprised by his partner anymore. She even disposed of her original body, Wisdom King Raphael, and combined it with Gluttony King Beelzebuth, which gave birth to Void God Azathoth.
"Why am I here, Raphael?"
-The Time ability Chloe Aubert shared with my Master's people is at its limit. It can no longer extend their lives through Time Still.
"Hmn? You're trying to save your people from their inevitable deaths." He was a useless ruler who could do nothing for his citizens who devoted their lives to him. "It seems not even your nigh omniscience helped you find a solution to your problem."
Rimuru clenched his fist when her words made him feel more useless.
"You realized you have no power over life and death, even though you have almost reached the level of a god."
"You gave your universe the ability to create even gods," Rimuru frustratedly clenched his fist tighter. "But not life and death."
He would not hesitate to give up all his power and abilities to save his people.
-The Creator alone has authority over life and death. This distinguishes my Master from her creations.
Raphael revived your people who died after you became a demon lord, right?" Veldanava voiced, "I allowed that."
"What?"
"As long as you met the conditions, Raphael has the authority to revive the dead." He should have known that even his genius Ciel-sensei came from somewhere. "But not the ability to grant eternal life to races."
The world was designed to follow a system that neither exempted him nor Ciel.
"Not all spiritual life forms are immortal," Rimuru muttered under his breath. He became desperate after Ciel revealed the truth to him over two thousand years ago. "Their souls get exhausted."
"You realized it had something to do with the soul, not with the race, species, evolution, or the amount of mana you have," Veldanava commented. "Raphael tried her best to fulfill your wish, but even she failed."
-I cannot replicate my Master's authority over life and death, regardless of how many times I combined and separated the skills I can manipulate.
"It is only expected. I did not include this ability in my grand design; not even my Raphael could create something out of nothing."
-It is one of my few flaws.
"I have to maintain the balance between life and death and only chose a few to be granted immortality. It would be problematic if they could achieve immortality by just some means, like evolution. Imagine what kind of future you will eventually have."
This world would be destroyed because of the wars that wouldn't end.
-Most believe that spiritual life forms can live for eternity, but that is only because no one has lived long enough to see it through.
"Death is more like a reset button." Veldanava studied the slime's guilty expression. "A time for a soul to rest."
"I know."
"And yet, you seek immortality for your people." Rimuru looked down when he could only remain silent. "Do you know that there are different types of immortality? I don't even know where to begin."
He only wanted a life of eternity with his people.
"You said only a few are blessed with the gift of eternal life." He would not give up saving his Tempest from death. "There must be a reason I was chosen."
-Master met the qualifications.
"What are the qualifications?"
"Souls who can make a great impact on this world. That's my only requirement." Veldanava answered concisely. "Naturally, it's based on the criteria I set."
"Who makes the judgment about the qualifications?"
"The cornerstones that maintain my Universe."
"Cornerstones?"
-They are the Spirits of Time, Space, Void, Life, Death, Light, Darkness, and Fate that exist in all of my Master's worlds.
"I'd rather not be immortal."
"Just having Raphael already makes you overqualified."
"Veldan-"
Rimuru's eyes widened when she suddenly kissed his cheek and immediately pushed her away.
"What was that for?" Rimuru's cheeks turned red from embarrassment. He could not believe she had just done that. "Do you know what personal space means!"
"H-How rude, my husband!" Veldanava pouted. "How could you accuse your wife like a criminal for kissing you!"
"H-Husband? I'm no one's husband!" He didn't know why he was suddenly flustered. It was only a kiss on the cheek. "Don't spout nonsense!"
"You have no choice on this, my husband."
-It is as my Master says.
"I don't have a choice but to be your husband?" He had many questions flitting through his mind. "How will this help my Tempest?"
"As long as I exist in this world, your people will not die." Veldanava continued to pout at him. "Since Raphael went to great lengths to bring me back, I'll help you."
"T-They will not die?" He was afraid to hope. "Y-You mean that?"
"You had your citizens believe that your own power could stop them from aging, but you had the demigod hero use her ability of time to stop this process. Why did you lie to them?"
That was a secret exclusive to him.
"I didn't give you permission to reveal that information, Ciel."
"Raphael didn't tell me. I just know."
"What right do you have to look into my life?"
"I'm your wife."
"Stop spouting rubbish."
-Master must constantly supply my Master with his mana.
"Just call me my husband's wife, Raphael."
-"As you wish, my Master's wife."
"I said I'm no one's husband! Don't make things up!" He exclaimed frustratedly. "And I thought you didn't want to share me with another person, Ciel."
-My Master's wife will turn to dust if she is separated over a twenty meters radius away from Master.
"Twenty meters?" Rimuru's eyes widened. "That's it?"
-Transferring this immeasurable amount of mana at that distance is already unheard of.
"Why does it feel like it was not enough in the lake, Raphael?"
-This is because physical contact is required to transfer a limitless amount of mana which my master's wife needs to survive.
"The distance of twenty meters barely keeps me alive?"
-It is as my Master's wife says.
"We're both your Master, Ciel?"
He wanted to clarify where he stood on his partner's priority list now.
"Raphael has chosen you as her new master, but I still have full authority over her. I guess over everything I created." Veldanava pondered about their new situation. "Also, we both named her, so she considers us two her Creators."
-I will serve my Masters equally.
"If that is what Ciel wants, I will respect it." He could not be selfish when his partner had done so much for him over the years. "I trust her judgment."
-The VoW must not find my Master's wife.
"The VoW?" Since it was a system that governed this world, he respected its purpose and allowed it to do what it was supposed to do without interference, even when it gave him countless problems over the years. "Can't we do something about it?"
-That is impossible, Master. Only the Creator has authority over the VoW.
"I remember the Vow killed the Creator thousands of years before I was reincarnated as a slime."
-The VoW caused the death of my Master's wife. This made Milim Nava an orphan.
"M-Milim?" He almost forgot about his friend. "That's right. You're her pare-"
She kissed him again on the cheek.
"Y-You! What was that for?!"
"You can't mention anything related to me, my husband. The VoW is meticulous with its Creator."
"Ciel sealed this place!"
"But you need to get used to it as early as now. If you make one mistake, it will be the end for your people."
"Did the VoW kill the Creator because he fell in love with Lucia? It's hard to believe the VoW is an enemy." He carefully chose his words this time. "I need more information."
-No one may view the Creator's life, neither nigh omniscience nor space-time abilities will work.
Like Ciel explained many years ago, her skill, All Creation, could not delve into the knowledge hidden in this world.
"I like to keep my privacy."
"You read my mind and looked into my life."
"Oh. That's right."
-The VoW must not find my Master's wife no matter what. It will put her life in danger again.
"It will be over for me too." Rimuru took a deep breath and tried to put his thoughts together. He couldn't make a mistake about this. "I can finally save everyone. How do we make this work?"
-My Master's wife only has to will one to live for eternity.
"That simple?"
-She is not called the Creator for nothing, Master.
"If that is true, why didn't the Creator just alter the VoW instead of dying?"
-In order for my Master's wife to keep herself in check, she gave the VoW the authority to overwrite portions of her design.
"In case the Creator becomes selfish and loses his purpose," he nodded in understanding. "Just as the Creator must love his creations equally to maintain his fair judgment."
To think she would restrict herself that much when she had no reason to.
"Does this mean that as long as the Creator loves Lucia more than his other creations, his life will remain in danger?"
-My Master's wife must love all equally.
He needed to be careful if he had to deal with a world system that could even cause the demise of the Creator.
"What are the conditions to hide him from the VoW?"
Rimuru watched her curiously look around his bedroom. She was obviously allowing him and Ciel to discuss their situation.
-The VoW monitors this world through the connections of a name and the words associated with it.
"The VoW works through a wide chain of networks, then?"
-The VoW will automatically recognize -A name, anything connected to a name, and anyone related to a name.
"That's why being given a name in this world means so much to a race," Rimuru remembered his many naming whims. "His soul is given an identity."
"Monsters are born nameless, while the rest are given names at birth. There are exceptions to this rule, though." Veldanava paused for a few seconds. "You were nameless when you came into this world too."
"Is that why they have short lifespans? Their names are not embedded in their souls."
He tried to understand the essence of this naming process, which he had carelessly bestowed many years ago.
"Unlike most races, you will still be Rimuru Tempest even if you reincarnate. The same is true for your citizens, who you have named at the expense of your soul's mana."
"My soul's mana?"
- It's the mana that makes life possible, Master. It's different from the mana that this world uses daily.
"It's because of the mana in your soul that allows you to remain connected to your people," Veldanava answered. "Not everyone who can use mana has this luxury."
- Only souls gifted with a vast supply of mana can name a person. They are the beings who can live for either thousand years or for eternity.
"When I just arrived in this world, I was unconsciously using Veldora's mana to name my people."
"How nice of my little brother." Veldanava giggled. "He willingly shared mana to help his friend. You would have died if he didn't."
"Mmn." Rimuru smiled when he remembered his still childish Storm Dragon. "I owe Veldora everything I have right now."
"I'm certain he feels the same way."
"Seren."
"What?"
"It means star." Rimuru finally smiled. "It suits the Stellar Lord Dragon's title."
"I know what it means." Veldanava blushed shyly and looked away. "You're naming me, my husband?"
"I named you, but nothing happened?"
This was a first for him.
-Does Master have a death wish?
"Have you ever seen a creation naming its Creator, my husband?" Veldanava giggled more. "Seren is nice, though."
"You said my mana repels yours?" He took mental notes about what he learned so far. "And you need a continuous supply of it to keep your soul contained inside that human body."
He understood at least this much.
-Only a physical form that my Master's wife created herself can withstand her soul. Anything else will turn to dust.
"My soul is too immense for this human body."
-My Master's wife cannot use her creation ability, because the VoW will find her."
"Only the Creator can create from nothing, as long as he has mana, right?"
-You are mistaken about this, Master.
"Is that another idea Guy and Ramiris came up with?"
"Uh?"
"Just think about it, my husband. If the Creator requires mana to create something out of nothing, then who created mana?"
It was the same paradox that his former world had about the Creator.
"You mean you created mana too? What about the ability, Turn null?"
"Turn null?" Veldanava confusedly asked. "What's that?"
"Turn Null is an ultimate and supreme ability that produces the pure and super dense primordial energy needed to create the world," Rimuru informed her. "The ability the Creator lost after he created the Universe."
"Really? It was probably Guy's idea." She couldn't help but chuckle. "I can create anything by simply willing it, my husband. There is no limit and there are no conditions for it."
-My Master's wife is the beginning and end.
"The Creator just exists like that? It's simpler than I thought." Rimuru felt as if he had solved one of the greatest mysteries of the Universe. "The knowledge of this world made creation so complicated to understand."
-My Master's wife created the Universe based on her imagination alone.
"He just used his imagination? The natural laws look absurd to me now."
"You're learning how to use your pronouns properly, my husband. Just don't forget that I'm a woman through and through."
"Alright. We will make this work." It was sudden, but he ironically found his salvation through the Creator. "Seren will live with me."
-This is the only option.
Rimuru tried to think of a plan.
"You're taking this better than I expected, my husband."
"If not for your invasion of my personal space, I could have taken all this with more enthusiasm."
"Invasion of personal space? But I'm your wife, my husband." Veldanava kept pouting at him. "I'm the only one who has this right."
He would ignore her for now.
"A twenty-meter radius is challenging, but it's doable. At least I can keep my eyes on you at all times."
He would make his plan work, no matter what.
"Does that mean we'll always be together?"
"Your safety is my top priority now." Rimuru didn't notice the blush that crossed her face as he continued to assess the situation. "Life will be meaningless without you."
"M-Meaningless without me?" She shyly mumbled. "A-Always together?"
"Your survival means my people will have a limitless lifespan." It was the only thing he wished for in this world. "If you die, I will lose those important to me."
What was the point of his long life if everyone would just leave him behind?
-The human body I prepared for my Master's wife can barely withstand her soul. If she uses any of her abilities, she will turn to dust.
"Does that mean she's vulnerable to danger? She can't defend herself."
"Mmn." Veldanava heaved a deep sigh. "I'm basically a regular human."
"I'll keep you safe."
If he had lost his friends in the future, he would only have himself to blame.
"What if I couldn't save your citizens? Would you have still offered your protection? I thought you didn't have time to help."
She really read his mind.
"I will not apologize for what I said. I meant every word."
"But despite your complaints to Raphael, you did not stop me from absorbing your mana," Veldanava noted and chuckled. "You are not the person who can ignore someone in need, my husband."
He didn't know why he suddenly looked away from her.
"I-It can't be helped."
She could see why her Raphael chose the embarrassed slime as her new master.
"When are we going to marry, Seren?"
"M-Marry?" Veldanava blushed again. "I-Isn't too soon, my husband?"
"And yet you call me yours," Rimuru amusedly told her. "I'm ready anytime."
"Y-You really want to marry me?"
"You can't survive without me, and we must maintain as much physical contact as possible to ensure that you receive the amount of mana you need." He was not sure why she frowned at him as he explained the convenience of his idea. "Besides, we'll obviously spend the rest of eternity living on the same roof."
"I refuse."
"Eh? He had the feeling that he was just rejected. "You refuse to marry me?"
"I want a sincere relationship with my husband," Veldanava mumbled, bowing further to hide her blush. "It's the only payment I require."
"Sincere?" He didn't know what he said wrong. "But I'm being sincere right now."
"…"
"I'm grateful for what you're about to do for me and my Tempest."
She quietly glanced at him with an unreadable expression.
"Y-You really don't want to marry me?" He wondered what he said wrong. "I meant every word."
-Hopeless.
"H-Hopeless?" Again, he didn't understand why he suddenly received the cold shoulder. "What did I do?"
"I said I want a sincere marriage," Veldanava mumbled. "Not of convenience."
He had been looking for a way to save his people for three millennia, and when all hope was lost, she suddenly appeared and gave him hope again. It was only appropriate to return the favor for the rest of his life.
"But I'm being sincere." Rimuru gazed at the beautiful red orbs of the Stellar Lord Dragon. "I will be your husband. Marry me."
"Rejected."
"Uh?"
-Truly hopeless.
THE END
SAPPHIRA-HIME
As I mentioned in my introductory author's note, I will tamper with some abilities and skills to accommodate my storyline.
I read several threads regarding the EoS Rimuru as being nigh omniscient, and I find it acceptable and included it here?. There are some who claim he's also nigh-omnipotent, but I need more pondering before I can nod my head to the idea.
Ciel/Raphael and the VoW will also have additional background and roles, as there is not enough resource material about Veldanava's past. I have to improvise how everything came to be.
Hmn. To be honest, I just couldn't relate to the idea between Veldanava and Turn Null. It limited his role as Creator of the Universe. Was he so bored with his life? The WN and LN version of Azathoth looks the same to me based on the recent LN update, but I have yet to touch this Ultimate Skill. I suspect my opinion stems from the many plot lines I have read in the past. I still love the brilliant Fuse-sama regardless of what I think though. Kudos to him!
I repeat, this is just an opinion of mine.
I want my readers to understand that I'm writing this story because I'm curious about Veldanava's character. I found several inconsistencies about him as the Creator both in the LN and WN. However, I will not delve that much into the concept of how a Creator should be.
I just want to put a little emphasis on how powerful my version of Veldanava is as the Creator of the Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken Universe.
Again, my Veldanava version.
I hope you'll enjoy Veldanava's character as the story moves on.
I already wrote at least fifteen chapters ahead, but I'm still in the middle of tinkering Veldanava's personality even now.
I'm taking my time to explain some of my ideas, so you, my wonderful readers, can relate and understand which direction I'm leading this story to. I hope it helps.
Actually, everything about this fanfic is just a fragment of my imagination of 'what could have been'. I'm sure my fellow writers and readers who like to spend their day daydreaming like me about their favorite characters can relate to what I'm saying. Hahahaha!
Thank you for your time!