Italics indicate thinking


Cryer's POV

"Well, I suppose in a way it makes sense, I've heard of creatures with Mimic abilities and if one copied a human, I suppose it could take on a human form." I looked at Rimuru "though it's more like you turned into a younger Shizu."

They then transformed back into their little slime form.

"Interesting." I tilted my head "Really interesting."

"Did you really eat Shizu?" Eren asked "Like with Ifrit?"

"Yes but…it was all I could do, I'm sorry there wasn't more time to talk it over with you all first." They admitted.

"What's done is done, can't change the past." I said.

"I know, I just wish there'd been a chance to say goodbye." She frowned.

"Shizu said she was really happy to meet you guys and that her last journey was with you." Rimuru told her "Though she also said it was kinda dangerous."

"Well, that's true too." Eren laughed a bit.

The adventuring team stayed to chat a bit but it was soon time for them to leave and report back to the guild.

"There are guilds?" Rimuru asked.

"Yeah, most adventurers are part of it." Kaval explained.

"I've never really had any dealings with them myself." I said "But I hear they have lots of jobs and information networks."

"Don't worry our report will only say nice things." They assured.

"If you ever need a hand, just ask." Gido told us.

"Oh, one more thing." Kaval stopped "Can you transform into that human form again?"

Rimuru nodded and jumped up changing forms.

Already able to assume this form so flawlessly, not bad fast learner for sure.

"Thank you very much Shizu." They all said.

"The time with you really was fun, we'll become even better we swear."

"Hmm." I couldn't help but laugh a bit.

"You say that but your equipment is a bit crappy." Rimuru admitted looking at me "Let's give a nice parting gift."

"It's already prepared." I nodded.

Rimuru had asked the dwarves to prepare some new equipment for the trio, armor and weapons specifically.

"So shiny!" Eren spun around in her robe.

"One last thing before you go." I said holding a book out "I believe you wanted to read this."

"Really?" she smiled.

"I'm done reading that, simply return it in one piece when you're done." I smiled.

"I will." She nodded.


LATER

A few more days passed, construction on the village was going well.

"Hey Cryer, question." Rimuru came up to me.

"How may I help you?" I turned to the next page in my book on runic magic.

"I've been trying to process something I learned from Shizu, the person who hurt her I'd like to confront him." They spoke.

"Are you asking for my help in this matter?" I asked.

"Do you know anything about someone named Demon Lord Leon Cromwell."

I immedaitly closed my book "What could someone like you possible want with that man?"

"Huh, well he hurt Shizu so-."

"Stay away from Leon Cromwell!" I yelled "He is not someone you have any hope of defeating, you may be strong Rimuru I will admit that but a Demon Lord is not someone you can just defeat, they are of such a level that if one were to attack this village it would be decimated in a matter of seconds."

"Seriously? You know him then?"

"Our paths crossed in the past." I told him "And frankly that's all I would like to say on the matter."

"A secret huh?" Rimuru sighed.

"We all have them don't we, things we'd rather not…or just can talk about?" I looked at them "Unfortunately when you've been around as long as people like me have you accumulate quiet a lot of them. You needn't worry about them, as long as I'm in this village I'll make a point of assisting you, but I must be clear unlike the Goblins I will not be able to refer to you as Lord or anything like that, I hope just Rimuru will suffice?"

"Let me guess, something else you 'just can't talk about'?" they asked.

"Afraid so." I laughed "Though I get the feeling you won't mind someone else treating you a bit more casually."

"No, it's better, all these people looking up to me like this is kinda stressful." The slime sighed.

"They really appreciate you and what you've done for them, I think that's sweet." I smiled.

"Yeah, I just wanna make a place where everyone can live happily, and take care of the stuff that Shizu left behind." They said looking at the fallen woman's discarded mask.

"Shizu's mask, I noticed it has magic suppressing properties." I said "A mask is also useful for hiding your identity should you venture out into the rest of the world beyond the trees."

"I guess it'll come in handy." They slipped it on.

"You look even more human than I do with that on." I smiled.

"Exactly what are you anyway?" Rimuru asked.

"Something unsettling." I said "I don't mean to sound rude but I don't much like talking about myself."

Rimuru looked like they were about to ask something else when they stopped.

"Ranga?"

"The wolf, is it contacting you telepathically?" I asked.

"I think so, he went with the hunting party I think they need help." Rimuru explained.

"Alright, then lead the way." I stood up.

I followed Rimuru as quickly as I could to where a group of the goblins and Ranga were engaged in combat with a group of ogres, six to be precise.

Why are there Ogres out here this is nowhere near their territory.

There were two female ogres and four males, all were varying shapes and skin tones from large and bulky to short and frail looking.

"Who are you?" Rimuru asked from under his mask.

"I got cut I'm dying!" Gobta yelled.

"It's not deep you'll live." I smiled as Rimuru splashed him with healing potion.

"What's going on?" Rimuru asked.

"It would seem like that pink haired one in the back cast sleeping magic, and it knocked out the weaker Goblins, Gobta, Rigur and Ranga were able to resist it." I told them "I can remove this ward easily and they'll wake up shortly.

I waved my hand a few times and it glowed.

"He broke my sleeping spell." The pink haired ogre mumbled.

"I see my men are lacking in manners, can we talk?" Rimuru asked.

"Show me your true form demon." The red-haired ogre growled "You're disguising your appearance and aura but we will not be tricked."

"I don't understand what you mean." Rimuru said.

"Your mask has already exposed who you are." The red ogre said "Now I'll take your head."

Shizu wouldn't attack a bunch of ogres randomly, so why is her mask bothering them so much?

"Cryer, can you restrict the girl so she won't use any more magic." They asked.

"Sure, leave her to me." I nodded.

The girl was far shorter than most of the other ogres and her face was the most human like except for the red tear like markings coming down from her eyes. I could sense she had magical abilities but it was clear I outclassed her by a wide margin.

I held out a finger and drew a shape in the air.

"Earth Lock!"

The ground rose up around her feet and held her in place.

"Relax it won't hurt." I smiled.

The ogre stared back at me, but her attention was less fright and more curious, while I held my hand up Rimuru had already dispatched of three of the others leaving just the old man and the redhead.

"You are strong." The red ogre said "That only makes me more sure you're working with that guy, it's pathetic that we would lose to the Orc Tribe?"

"The orcs?" I mumbled I suddenly felt a change in the air "That old man. Rimuru!"

They dodged just in time to avoid their head getting cut off and only had an arm sliced up.

"If they weren't a slime that would have been bad."

"Do you want me to cast a spell?" I asked.

"No stay back!" they warned.

"Very well." I looked at the pink ogre "It seems we'll be enjoying each other's company a little longer."

"Hmm…" she looked away.

Rimuru managed to dodge a few attacks including a fire blast that he quickly returned with one of his own.

"That flame…" the girl gasped "It's not magical."

"It's made with internal power." I told her "It's quite impressive."

"I won't run from this enemy." The red ogre said.

"Wait!" the girl snapped out of my Earth Lock and ran forward "Brother!"

"She was able to remove my spell?"

"This person isn't our enemy." She said "That's not the same mask as the person who attacked our village, those goblins resisted my sleeping magic and this mage is clearly powerful, why would these people need orcs to fight for them?"

"I guess I won't be needing this." Rimuru absorbed their flames back.

"What are you?" the red ogre asked.

"Just a simple slime." They smiled "They call me Rimuru."

Rimuru, they changed forms and shrank down.

"It's always funny seeing that." I laughed.

"This mask is a gift from a friend." Rimuru explained "You can look at it and see if it's the same one as the people who attacked you."

"It's similar but clearly different." The Ogre prince said "I apologize, I mistook you for someone else. Please forgive us."

"Meh it's fine." Rimuru hopped on Ranga's back.

"Seems no one is really hurt." I told them "What should we do with this whole situation."

"Let's head back to town then, bring everyone." They told me.

"Everyone?" I asked.

"Everyone." They nodded.

"Alright." I turned to the ogres "This was please."

"Us?"

"There's some stuff I'd like to ask you." Rimuru said "Plus we're having a feast so come on. What should we call you?"

"We don't have names." The princess said.

"Oh yeah that's a thing here." Rimuru sighed.


LATER

The Goblins were having a feast now that Rimuru had a humanoid body they wanted to try eating something to taste it, of course when you go from tasting nothing to tasting something you come to enjoy it.

"So, you were attacked by orcs, how strange." I said "Why would orcs attack ogres you have the superior abilities, and they had armor."

"Yes, there were thousands of them." The red ogre said.

"Ahh that was good." Rimuru smiled "Man your sister's fun she's getting along great with the Goblinas too."

"She's used to being looked up to so she enjoys helping." He said.

"What are you going to do now, I hope you're not foolish enough to think you can attack an Orc army as just a group of six." I commented "You do have a plan right."

"Save up power and fight again." He said

"That's a terrible plan." I sighed.

"You can stay here, as my subordinates." Rimuru suggested "Food, clothes housing, better than nothing right? Sides then if those orcs show up here, we can help, since you'll be part of this village now and an increase in our battle power can't hurt."

"I'll think about it for a while." He said.

"Seems like the village is going to get a little livelier." I said grabbing a book "I'm going to find somewhere quiet to read for a bit."

"Alright catch you later." Rimuru waved.

I walked into the forest and found a nice quiet spot to read a bit.

"Hello." I looked up and saw the ogre princess there.

"Hello." She bowed her head a bit.

"Getting away from the party?" I asked.

"For now." She nodded "It's quiet here."

"Yes, I like the peace and quiet, the party is fun from time to time too though." I laughed a bit "How are you liking it here?"

"A village is nice." She said.

"That's true." I smiled "You're welcome to stay as long as you like, though I have one question."

"Yes?"

"The mask of the person who attacked your village what did it look like?" I asked.

"It was white and it had this scary face." She said making a frown "Like this, but with teeth. Oh, and it had a blue stripe down the right side."

"I see, thank you for letting me know." I looked back at my book "You may want to head back to the party Princess, I have a feeling your brother will want to speak with you and your comrades."

"Right." She nodded "What is your name."

"I am Cryer." I told her "And I must say your magic was impressive, its rare for an ogre to have such skill with debuffing magic."

"Thank you." She bowed and walked off.

Once she was gone, I sighed and turned a page in my book.

"What the hell are those idiots up to?" I mumbled.


AN

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