Italics indicate thinking

Bold is for attacks


Cryer's POV

I came back from my evening walk by the river after our battle with the orcs to find out Rimuru had managed to align all the species of the forest with help from the Dryads, it was one big alliance nation now. After that they named every single orc and passed out for quite a while. While things settled down, I kept filling out the library, and now that there were more people around it was becoming more popular.

"Back yet again." I looked over and saw Shuna.

"I couldn't help myself." She smiled sweetly "This book of poems is nice."

"Oh that old thing, yeah I picked it up a few years ago from a traveling merchant from Luminas, apparently it was some old hymns from the church, personally I didn't really find it all that interesting, the literary arts are nice but I prefer novels to poetry."

"Everyone has different interests I suppose, it's why I like coming here." She said "You have so many different styles and genres, poetry, novels, magic tomes, it's wonderful."

"Glad it's being received well." I said seeing some goblin children looking at a book "Education is important, sating childlike curiosity even in adults is a must."

"Yes, it's wonderful." Shuna smiled "I hope you can keep finding more books, I look forward to what you might recommend next."

"I'll be sure to keep an eye out for things you might like next time I see a merchant." I told her.

"Are you leaving?" she asked with a bit of a frown "I know you are not indebted to Lord Rimuru the way many of us here are but…"

"I'm not planning on going anywhere for now." I reassured her "I find Rimuru interesting, I feel like I'll learn more around them and you than I would on my own."

"What could you possibly learn from me?" she asked.

"Kindness, compassion…textile work." I joked when she seemed flustered by the first two.

"Well good." She smiled "It's nice having someone that's not another Kijin to talk to."

"I'm glad a princess considers someone like me polite company." I hummed.

"The way you speak about yourself is as if there's something you have to be ashamed of?"

"Maybe someday if I feel like it I'll share, as I always say, everyone has their secrets." I smiled.

"You say as much but you always seem interested in the secrets of others." Shuna smiled back "You should be a little more fair, share some of yourself and others may do the same."

"My Master, I think they'd like you." I said.

"And exactly who is that?" she asked before giggling cutely "Let me guess, that's another of your many secrets?"
"You're catching on." I said putting a book on one of the open shelves in the mystery section.

"Interesting, that's what you always call people." She looked up "Things you want to learn more about…well I suppose then I find you quite interesting as well."

"Then we'll have to learn together." I winked.

"Don't let my brother hear you say that he may get the wrong idea." She blushed a bit.

"Pardon my smugness but I could take him." I nodded.

That made Shuna laugh a bit, she stayed around the library for a little longer helping me organize and take inventory of what was present at the moment, it got rather late by the time we were done.

"I'm not a child, and Tempest isn't some terrible place, I can walk home alone." She told me.

"I don't mind, consider it my inner gentleman." I told her as we walked the streets which had started to be paved.

"I wasn't aware he was hiding." She smiled.

We had a bit more of a casual chat about how the area was changing with all the work being done before we arrived at her house.

"We've arrived, thank you for your help." Shuna said.

"I should be thanking you." I told her "You helped at the library immensely and more than you needed to."

"It's no problem, really I like being useful." She said "Healing and helping are what I do best."

"That you do." I smiled.

"Well…good night." She turned to go inside.

"Good night." I nodded back.

"Cryer?" she stopped and looked back with a smile "Sooner or later I'll find out more about you, no matter what it takes."

"Someone like you is to kind to look into my darkness." I said softly under my breath at a level I thought she would not hear.

A frown crossed her face "You're a sad soul."

She reached out and put her hand on my arm "These chains are more than weapons; they bind your heart to I suppose."

"You've been reading too many of those novels at the library." I told her with an chuckle "this isn't a storybook where a kind pure maiden like you saves the battered and emotionally bruised warrior like me."

"You are right, this is life not a book." She said "But that doesn't mean we can't strive for that same end."

"Shuna you should go." I looked behind her and saw a shadow inside her house "I think your brother is starting to worry."

"Haa…how like him." She sighed "I should get inside then before he burns the house down but remember what I said-."

She walked away and smiled "Healing and helping are what I do best."

I laughed a little, she used the same tone of voice I always use when I talk about having secrets.

"That girl, she's something else." I laughed.


For a good couple weeks things were peaceful which I liked, I kept up with my reading and as promised recommended a few books to Shuna as well. Unfortunately, my peaceful days were broken up when we got some unexpected visitors.

"You're getting a visit from a human kingdom, that's interesting for sure." Walking with Rimuru "Are you nervous?"

"Why are you so calm? Souei said they were coming from the sky." They told me in a bit of a panic.

"You didn't expect your defeat of the Orc Lord would go unnoticed, did you?" I asked "They probably want to see what all the fuss is about, and in all the political books I've read it says leaders should act with decorum so I'd suggest greeting whoever this is in a professional manner."

"I'm just trying to figure out who they are." The slime said as a platoon of Pegasus knights started to descend.

We decided to wait patiently and the knights laded and revealed they were with King Gazel from the Dwarf Kingdom.

So this is Gazel Dwargo, I've heard he's quite the king.

"It's been a while." The king said addressing Rimuru and Kaijin.

"You remember me?" Rimuru said surprised.

I heard they met this fellow while in the Dwarf Kingdom a while back, they have a way of meeting the most interesting people.

"What brings you here?" Kaijin asked.

"Not much, simply ascertaining the nature of this slime here." He said "I'm not here as a king so you can spare with the formalities."

"He says that while an army stands behind him." I joked with Shuna.

"Hush." She elbowed me.

"Ok than it's fine if I say something?" Rimuru asked.

"Of course."

Rimuru assumed their human for thinking it would be easier to talk but all that seemed to do was encourage Gazel to challenge him to a quick swordfight, physical fighters always get like this, trying to test their strength and prove themselves to each other to understand with swords rather than words. It ended up being closer than I expected but Rimuru blocked in the end and was therefor the winner of this duel.

It seemed like we would be having guests for some time now.


AN

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Pick Up- Manga Chapter 29

Be Safe, Be Happy.

Till Next Time!