The monsters were shaken.

They realized that Rimuru was their only hope.

The report sent shivers down the spines of the leaders of Tempest.

Benimaru woke up on a bed in the infirmary of the recreation facility in the

labyrinth, where Souei had carried him to bed.

Not much time had passed since the siege of the Sacred Tree.

A great sense of loss made me jump out of bed.

The same was true for Gabil and Geld who were sleeping next to Benimaru.

At the same time, they woke up as if in unison.

The executives gathered in the "Control Room" set up in the labyrinth.

Eight members of the "Twelve Guardians of the Labyrinth" were present.

Diablo, Zegion, and Kumara, who were assigned to guard the labyrinth.

Benimaru, Gabil, Geld.

Ranga, who lurked in Gobta's shadow and healed his wounds.

And then...

Testarossa, who returned urgently from the Kingdom of Ingracia.

Testarossa, who had a strong sense of responsibility, threw everything into

the hands of his men and rushed to the scene, which showed the importance

of the situation.

Naturally, Shuna, Rigurd and the others in charge of politics, Gobta, Apito,

and others were also there.

Excluding those who were currently in battle, all who were able to move

were present.

Ramiris, who has become the master of the Control Room, gasped at the

report.

The labyrinth is currently under attack from hostile forces. However, the

information was far more important than such a situation.

Ramiris is filled with disbelief.

Beretta and Treyni were also upset, though they did not say much.

Charys, who had sent Veldora off to stay at home, was also unable to

maintain his composure.

It was Souei, who had been watching the situation most closely through

'Clone', who brought the report.

Souei told them that Rimuru had disappeared.

Souei told him that Rimuru had vanished.

"Is it true that Rimuru-sama disappeared?"

Benimaru was the one who asked this question on behalf of everyone, but

he did not doubt Souei's words.

On the contrary, the opposite is true.

It is only because I feel that the connection with Rimuru inside me has

disappeared that I asked him to deny his words.

"Yeah...I'm sure. There was no room for me to be in the escort..."

Souei replies with a voice filled with regret, but no one complains.

After hearing Souei's report, it seems that the result would have been the

same no matter who was there.

After all, Rimuru himself, whom everyone trusted, had been helplessly

caught in the enemy's hands. Now was the time to think of countermeasures rather than to complain and hold Rimuru accountable for his actions.

Silence reigns in the Control Room.

Then suddenly, the desk shatters with a roaring sound.

"This happened while I was with you..."

Souei, who usually keeps his cool and never gets angry in any situation,

smashed the desk in a fit of rage.

Testarossa closed his eyes and agreed with Souei's words.

Yes, it is normal to think so.

(I couldn't do anything either...)

(I couldn't do anything either...) I couldn't do anything myself. Testarossa's

mind was covered with an unshakeable sense of guilt that she had sent

Rimuru, whom she respected and respected, into the battle.

Therefore, he could not refute Souei's words. She could not even console

him.

All she can do is to contemplate her own helplessness.

This was not only Testarossa's view, but also the common view of those

present.

However, the one who reacted to this was

Diablo responded to this.

"Don't be so conceited, Souei. All you're doing is causing one more person

to die for nothing.

With a cold, disdainful look, he cuts Souei's comment to pieces.

"Kuh..."

Diablo's words are truthful, although they are not reserved or considerate.

Souei understands this and can only remain silent, unable to retort.

Souei, however, is not irresponsible enough to have the energy to talk back

at this point. He is ashamed of his inadequacy and has to bear the pressure

of losing Rimuru.

Diablo let out a sigh of relief.

"You are out of line, Diablo.

It was Testarossa who said that.

Testarossa let out a breath and continued.

"Anyone here would have been the same in the face of Milim-sama's

outburst. Diablo, isn't it the same for you?

Testarossa looks at Diablo with a look of disbelief.

Testarossa was smart enough to understand Diablo's intention. He is trying

to provoke the anger of those present by playing the role of a villain.

If we are to face despair, we must raise our emotions.

We are creatures who are consumed by despair if we only mourn.

We need the will to live.

The quickest way to get it was to burn with anger.

Diablo knew this.

And so did Testarossa. That is why he could read Diablo's thoughts and see

through them to their end. And that was something Testarossa could not

tolerate.

"Diablo, you're just going to incite everyone's anger here and get yourself

exiled, aren't you? And then you're going to challenge Feldway?"

Testarossa asks categorically.

"No."

This is why I don't like this woman, Diablo thought disgustedly.

He had known her for a long time, so he couldn't hide anything from her.

Diablo seemed to be calm, but in fact he was desperate.

Why didn't you take me with you, Rimuru-sama-?" He was trying hard to

control his grief that was driving him crazy.

Testarossa accurately sensed Diablo's state of mind.

Therefore, he mercilessly accuses him with a verbal blade.

"I heard you made a fool of yourself in front of Rimuru-sama.

What?

You couldn't do anything because you were stuck in time, right? That's not

very nice.

Hearing this, Diablo also refuted.

"kufufufu... I heard that you, too, missed a small fish, didn't you?

Diablo's eyes did not smile.

His eyes are not smiling, but they are serious, and he is ready to kill

Testarossa.

The Control Room was on edge.

Silence reigns, and everyone is sad and desperate.

Geld and Gabil, who had been wounded in the previous battle, looked

mystified and refused to open their mouths.

Kumara looked pallid and trembled.

Benimaru clenched his fists tightly to suppress the surge of anger.

Ramiris was on the verge of tears and was lying on his face.

In times of trouble, Rimuru had always been able to help.

Rimuru was gone now.

In a sense, it was fortunate that Shion, the most short-tempered person, was

not here.

If not, we cannot deny the possibility that Shion's words and actions might

have dragged us all to the worst possible way, that is, to be crushed by the

enemy.

-But that is just a possibility.

There was still one person in this room who did not waver.

Breaking the immovable silence, Zegion moved.

He uncrossed his arms and stood up.

Then he said gravely

"Nonsense. What are you worried about? What does it matter that Rimuru-

sama has disappeared?"

Zegion remains steadfast.

Zegion remained steadfast. As if questioning everyone's agitation, he said

so.

From his attitude, we could see that Zegion truly believed that Rimuru

could not be destroyed.

"If Rimuru-sama is our Lord, he will return even from the end of time and

space. If not, there must be a reason.

The time for lamenting was over.

"That's right! I, too, became anxious just because Rimuru-sama was not

here. Rimuru-sama would laugh at me like this!

Gabil also expressed his regret.

"Souei-dono's words make me doubt that Rimuru-sama has been

eliminated, but it is impossible for Rimuru-sama to be defeated. It must be

some kind of a plan.

Geld also expressed his opinion gravely.

This also made everyone think that this possibility could not be denied.

"Yes, yes! Well, I trusted Rimuru and I wasn't worried at all!

Ramiris regained his energy and said in a good tone.

The labyrinth group nodded in agreement.

"That's right! Rimuru-sama can't lose!

said Kumara.

The atmosphere was revitalized as everyone expressed their hopes for the

future.

Seeing this, Benimaru also thinks.

I wasn't the only one who relied on Rimuru-sama.

I did not mean to spoil them, but their presence made a big difference.

Just by being there, we all felt at ease.

Benimaru said to me, knowing this deeply.

"It sounds good to rely on them, but it's the same thing as putting the

responsibility on them.

It is a casual remark, but his words are very serious.

Everyone could think of something like that, and their faces tightened up.

"I think I've always left everything to him. This is a good opportunity. Let

us get through this difficult time with our own power!

Rigurd nodded his head in agreement with Benimaru's declaration.

"Yes, that's right! Let's do our best so that we can welcome Rimuru-sama

with smiles on our faces!

Souei followed him.

He thanked Zegion lightly and expressed his regret.

I'm sorry, Zegion, for not being cool about what I did.

There he is, cool as always. As if he had been distraught until a few minutes

ago, he was quietly burning with determination.

Starting with this, everyone made a declaration of their determination one

after another.

Finally, Diablo started to laugh.

"kufufufu... Oh dear, I didn't need to give you any encouragement, did I?"

Zegion responds to Diablo's aloofness.

"You're too much!"

"Is that so? If you don't wake up here, you're no good to Rimuru-sama,

aren't you?

"But that doesn't mean you have to waste your power in the face of the

enemy.

Diablo laughed as he was passed over.

On the large screen, there was an image of the "enemy" marching through

the labyrinth. As Zegion said, this is not the time to argue among ourselves.

Still, this was a necessary ritual.

At least, if they could not change their minds at this point, defeat would be

what awaited them after the battle.

Diablo had read it all.

But now that worry was gone.

You are right, Zegion. We must prove to Rimuru-sama that we can fight on

our own so that he will not be disappointed.

There is no time to be discouraged here. We must quickly destroy the fools

who have invaded the labyrinth, and at the same time, we must go to the

rescue of Carrera and the others who are now in the ice.

Now that everyone's consciousness has switched, it's not impossible.

"Yes, that's right. Let's quickly settle this world and have Rimuru-sama

come back to us.

Testarossa says with a smile. He continues, and then states his plan for the

future.

"If Veldora-sama has gone to Ultima, we don't need to worry anymore.

Then I will go to help Carrera.

Diablo nodded.

"I know you're going to ask why I'm helping you, but we have to rescue

Milim-sama's men, too. I'm counting on you."

With these words, Testarossa moved.

Now that she has approved the plan, there is no hesitation in her decision.

After looking away from Testarossa, Benimaru turned his attention back to

Diablo.

"So, Diablo, what are you going to do?"

Diablo looked at the big screen, smiled wryly, and said what he really

meant.

"I was going to get rid of Feldway and give this world to Rimuru-sama, but

I've changed my mind. If we don't strengthen the defense of this land, we

may be disobeying Rimuru-sama's order.

The tone was casual, but the content was something that could not be

ignored.

Zegion reacted with a start.

Benimaru asked on behalf of everyone.

"What? Do you think they are a threat?

Benimaru also looks at the image of the enemy.

The information of the enemy was displayed on the screen, and the

approximate existence value of the enemy was also calculated and

displayed.

They were Vega, Dino, Pico and Gracia, and Mai Furuki, the "Seven Angels

of Death".

Each of them exceeded the figure of one million easily, and some of them

exceeded ten million.

They were definitely a threat, but not enough to bother Diablo, Benimaru

thought.

"Sure, I'm not at my best right now, but Zegion is here too. You are free to

move around without any concern."

Diablo did not change his mind.

"Just in case, you know. Of course, it doesn't mean I don't believe in

Zegion.

To this, Zegion responded without seeming to mind.

"Don't worry about it. I'm just doing my job.

His words were filled with his conviction to protect all the beings in the

labyrinth.

"If you've made up your mind, I'm going to go now."

Zegion is always unfazed.

Zegion turned his back and walked away, followed by Apito, who bowed

and left.

The labyrinth has the strongest guardian, Zegion.

There was nothing to fear.

Ramiris' expression softened at this reassurance.

"Well, well. With Zegion-chan, we are safe.

Beretta and Treyni, who had remained silent, could not help but nod their

heads at these words. It was frustrating, but everyone agreed that Zegion

was a capable man.

"I'm going to concentrate on my recovery.

Geld closes his eyes.

He suppresses his impetuousness to fulfill his role, saying that it is his job

to rest now.

"I, too, must rest before my turn!

Gabil was also badly injured, though not as badly as Geld. He was more

mana-depleted than Geld, and was out of gas.

His wounds are healed, but his physical recovery has not caught up with the

others.

Like Geld, he was right to rest now.

Gabil is also worried about the old Eurazania, which he says was iced over.

He is worried about his friends Carrera and the others, but he is also

concerned about the safety of Suphia, who unexpectedly became his

girlfriend.

If it were true, I would have run away, ignoring my injuries. But Gabil had

a responsibility.

He had to understand what he could do and what he had to do now, and he

had to do it.

Gabil swallowed his many thoughts and devoted himself to his medical

treatment.

Thus, the executives of Tempest began to move.

Their faces were full of power, their anxiety dispelled.

They were shining with strong will.

They are no longer the children who can do nothing without Rimuru, as

Zegion had said. They know their roles and are doing their best to fulfill

them.

Do not disgrace the name of Demon Lord Rimuru.

To have the returning Rimuru recognize and praise their abilities.

Now is the time for them to leave the protection of their Naming parents

(Rimuru).