Authors' Note(s):

Hello, again! Long time, no see! Did you miss this series? I bet you did!

It's time for another influx of new chapters, much like before. We'll be posting them all over the next week or so, one at a time.

I hope you enjoy this first chapter of arc 2, and you won't have to wait long for the next one.

-Mu

Subsc- Wrong Social Media Platform. Follow and join our discords, so we can yell at you about Rimuru's character.

-AgentT

? POV

How? How did this happen?

My plans had been ruined by that thing that stole my diary from that weasel. My connection and influence over that useless witch was near-perfect, but was instantly cut off and dispelled. Ever since then, I'd been cut off from the world, able to do nothing but turn my thoughts toward my own memories.

I couldn't even seek out a new target to sap the life out of to manifest a body, I was trapped and seemingly helpless to whatever it was that interfered with my glorious plan.

So, I sat on a bench in a copy of platform nine and three-quarters, watching people whose faces I couldn't make out, but I was sure I'd killed in one way or another, walk by. My successor had surely done a great job, even if it was clear now he'd died.

Well, failed, at least, unable to carry out our mission at this point. I was certain he was scheming to bring himself back, just like I was.

I, for one, had tried seemingly everything to make my way back out into the real world, to escape this void my little pocket dimension of memories was trapped inside. But I failed too, despite my efforts.

Then, I watched all the pathetic people milling around this space disperse into nothing, leaving me completely alone. I didn't will this, so I wasn't sure why this happened.

I looked around the space, confused, and my eyes stopped on something strange. A large, shiny blob the size of a large cart. Colored an emerald blue, and having the impression of piercing golden eyes that glared menacingly, despite otherwise not having a face.

I'd never seen such a thing before, how could it be in my world?! Everything here is made of what I know, and what I experienced in life. Something completely new and alien to me just simply couldn't exist in this space.

The blob started to distort, and there was a flash almost like a silhouette of a dragon. Large and imposing, majestic even, before standing in the place of the strange thing was a person. Slender, but not too tall, with long silver-blue hair and eyes that matched the ones I saw before, gleaming gold with a feeling that they could see right through me.

"Well, hi there–"

"Avada Kedavra!"

I immediately attacked this person since the amount of danger I was feeling from them was incredible. But, the green light of my spell just leaked out of my wand and fizzled away into the air.

"Is that how you say hi to someone? That's a pretty strange greet–"

"AVADA KEDAVRA! A-AVADA KEDAVRA!"

"You know, no matter how many times you try that. It won't work."

"A-avada Kedavra…" The spark of green light from my spell did actually escape this time, and rush toward that monster.

Only to be caught in the palm of the creature's hand and played with like a toy. "You know, this is a nasty little thing. Still, magic power is magic power." It then ate the spell. "Tastes like hatred… And a hint of fear. Cute."

"Avada Kedavra!" This time the spell was more robust, and it escape the wand before being disintegrated in a flash of golden light.

The creature in front of me glared as magic poured forth from their eyes, rending my wand useless. "Are those the only words you can say, kid?"

I knew a small bit of wand lore that would be useful in a situation just like this. I could always make another wand here, these were my memories. So, without any further thought, I snapped the wand in half and threw it toward the monster.

In a moment the wand pieces began to absorb magic power, before causing a magical explosion… Only for everything to freeze.

The magic energy reversed and drained back out of the wand, before the wand was pulled into the creature's hand and mended. "I didn't know these toys could do that. Real dangerous to give to kids, especially when they don't take good care of them." The wand then disappeared out of the monster's hand.

"Now then… are you willing to talk now? I didn't come here to play with you."

"I have no words for a thing like you!"

"Thing? Hm, been a while since I've been called that one… pretty funny coming from someone who's nothing but a chunk of soul existing in an old book, though." The monster paused for a moment, "Ya seem like the type that only gives if they get something in exchange. So, why don't we go about this a bit differently? I answer a question from you, then you answer a question from me. Truthfully, of course; I'll be able to tell if you're lying to me."

"And how will I know if you are telling me the truth?"

"I dunno, just a promise from me, I suppose. If I wanted, I could just yank the answers out of you, but I thought it would be better to have a back-and-forth like this. You're pretty vulnerable, not having an actual body and all, so extracting every bit of your memories would be childsplay for me."

"Fine. I suppose I can agree to that." It was an opportunity to learn whatever the hell this thing invading my space was, at least. I could probably take advantage of this deal to get what I wanted.

"Good. Then, sit."

"Again, I don't take orders from anyone."

The monster shrugged and sat down themself, and crossed one leg across the other as they got comfortable.

"Okay, first question."

"Who are you?"

"My name's Rimuru." it simply said, "My turn now. What's your name?"

"Tom Riddle, but you can call me Lord Voldemort."

"You seriously call yourself 'Lord'? That's hilarious!" this 'Rimuru' started laughing loudly at me, which just fueled my anger. But, I held it in for the sake of gaining information. "Well, I'm gonna call you Tom… no, how 'bout Tommy? Yeah, Tommy better fits a kid like you than 'Voldemort', let alone the added 'Lord' title."

I was highly offended, but decided to go on with my next question regardless. "What are you?"

"Oh… um, a slime. Just a slime. You probably saw my true form before I took this one for the sake of… convenience."

"A… slime?"

"Hey, it's my turn for a question, kid." Rimuru sighed a little, "How did a kid like you think any of this…" They motioned around us with an arm, "...was a good idea?"

"I do all I do, and I did all I did for the sake of the Wizarding World."

"Okay then."

"Are you the one that took my diary?"

"Yes, a piece of me did that. Just a fragment of myself that I threw into your world to have a bit of fun." Rimuru nonchalantly answered, " So… by 'for the sake of the Wizarding World,' do you mean you want to rule over it? Take it over by force? You're giving me some serious Yuuki vibes right now, boy."

"Only those fit to rule should rule, and I consider myself among them."

"Quite ambitious of you."

"I've been called that before by others."

"Well, I don't see how you're going to accomplish that from in here, and you're too dangerous to let loose unchecked. So, consider those ambitions abandoned. For your own sake."

"Do you think you can keep me trapped forever?"

"Pretty much." Rimuru stood up and stepped closer to me, "Now, be serious with me, kid. Why did you stick half of your soul in a book? I get that you want to take over the world or whatever, but how do you go from that to brutally ripping your soul to pieces and jamming one of them into an object?"

"Immortality."

"Well, that's probably the most stupid way to become immortal that I've ever heard of. Becoming a lich is fine, but what does that have to do with the soul-tearing thing? You could've just stored your soul and operated your body remotely if you wanted 'immortality'."

"I am no lich, I am the Dark Lord! The most powerful wizard in existence!"

"Whoa there, I didn't mean it in a negative way. I'm friends with a few liches, so don't go dissing them." Rimuru seemed a bit annoyed with me, but quickly hid it. "But I guess killing for the sake of immortality is understandable. Kinda. Mortals like you sometimes strive for it, I know."

'Mortals like you.' Those words grabbed my attention. Is this person immortal?

"Back to the questions. Have you achieved immortality?"

"Stumbled across it, more like. And it also depends on what you mean by 'immortal.' The weakened piece that I sent to your world isn't immortal, at least in body. Plus, I can technically still be killed, even at full power, but I'm pretty sure I'd just come back at some point after. Still not sure what my older brother did to dodge that… oh, so that's how it works in here? I'll need to be careful about what I think about, hahaha!"

I couldn't exactly understand what all this creature meant… How could one accidentally become immortal?

"I bet you're wondering more about me, huh? Well, it's my turn to ask a question first. How did you manage to pull that off in the first place without killing yourself? Splitting a soul is serious business."

"There is a ritual involved, and it costs another's life. That's all I'm willing to say. How did you become immortal?"

"There was a 'ritual' of sorts, one that cost a bunch of lives that I had to take myself. That's all I'm willing to say." The creature seemed to get a bit more sober with each word.

"Perhaps you're even darker than I first suspected."

"Oh? You don't say?" Our setting changed a bit, the platform became littered in dried corpses, suggesting this creature's crimes predated even my own. The armor they were wearing was also somewhat unusual, antiquated. "Only as dark as the void itself. What do you think of the decorations?"

"They are… Nice." I didn't know what else to say. These ones actually had faces.

"These are all people who crossed me. All of them gave me a reason to kill them. Mainly, they threatened those I care about."

The corpses almost seemed to apparate as they disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

"So… why do you want to take over the world?" It sounded like a normal ambition, yet they were patronizing it like it was said by a child.

"Of course… Well. It is simple. I wish for the world to be a better place, more welcoming to wizard-kind. The magicless humans of this world are not only filled with hatred, and willing to commit atrocity for no more reason than because they can, but they also have no use to magical kind." I was sure of that much, after many years with them.

"Oh, that's pretty funny. Got any more clown talk? I mean, you are here talking like you're the holiest saint in the cathedral, meanwhile you ended up getting beaten by an infant because you wanted to kill his innocent mother, right?" The creature began snickering at me, but no. I didn't know any of that. I wasn't clear on what's happened to me after my separation. The monster stopped snickering and stared at me blankly. "I was thinking about it before, but you really are a joke, thinking there's some holy people? Who are special? Why?"

The words legitimately did hurt, and they hurt more than I was expecting. My ideas had been ridiculed, but they'd never been called childish… Or clown-like. I had to ignore it for my goals. "What do you mean… By an infant defeating me? That… Can't be right."

"Oh, it's right, alright. Everyone on the outside knows about it. You, or some other part of you, tried to kill a whole family, but when you attempted to murder the baby of the three, the baby won. Now everyone thinks you're dead, not that I believe that, but whatever part of you pulled that stunt is probably in a very bad state. Not dead, but severely weakened. My guess is its physical body was destroyed." The creature seemed even more amused, and it was… heart wrenching. For such a silly defeat to be amusing.

"A muggle family? A muggle infant?"

"Oh? No no… At least, I think Harry is considered a pureblood. Maybe one of his parents wasn't though. So maybe that's why you were there? Even if they were both wizards, and so was their child." The creature bursted out laughing. "So I guess even you couldn't keep to your own words! Making the world a better place for wizards? All you did was leave one, and I suspect many more, orphaned."

"IF all you wish to do is torment me… Leave…" I couldn't sustain this any longer, I could feel my grip on the world waning… And I wasn't sure what would happen if I lost it.

"Torment? You consider this torment? All I was doing was making fun of a child's silly ideas. Wouldn't you do that, if confronted with the silliest thing you've ever heard?" The creature stood, and stepped onto the train platform. "I suppose I'll see you later, Tommy. Just think about what I said, alright? I may have use for you if you can take it to heart."

After that, a train actually arrived… Although it didn't look like the Hogwarts Express. Instead it looked like something I'd seen in the newspapers from another country, a long time ago.

The monster boarded the train, and the train left.

Rimuru's POV

I was playing it up a bit with Tommy, but I had to demonstrate to him just how weak he was. His ideas are dangerous, if silly, not cool or noble, or whatever. They actually made me sort of sick if anything. It really showed bare the rot of this world.

I whistled as I walked out of the girls' bathroom, knowing that everyone still thought Myrtle was inside, it was a new base of mine, of sorts. I gave up my own control of this body so that I could manifest my consciousness inside Imaginary Space, since Ciel was busy with other matters, apparently. I didn't know she was able to be busy.

I considered fixing up that cave under the bathroom to have a real secret base since it seemed like all the people who had been keeping an eye on Hebi were dead anyway. I'd need to change the statues too; gaudy old man faces sucked.

Plus, I'd need new security measures, they were pretty terrible.

What? I said I wouldn't spruce it up? Well… That was before I had the idea for a secret base, okay?

As far as school in general, a few days passed with nothing big happening, even with everyone trying to have a chat in the hall with me. Apparently, a bunch of them wanted to know what the headmaster wanted with me, but I just ignored it. Not like I needed to talk to them about that. It was a private conversation for a reason.

However, one point of interest was hearing that the kid that I arm-wrestled was out of the infirmary now. It was about time I made him hold up his end of the deal and hand over his wand.

Really, I didn't need the thing, but a deal's a deal.

Now I was enjoying some time outside, getting some fresh air, soaking up the sunshine… you know, enjoying myself.

"I don't like that look in your eyes, Rimuru…"

"What look? I'm just appreciating the scenery!"

Sebastian seemed unconvinced. I didn't know what he was getting at! I was just sitting here, looking around, and if a certain someone just happened to show their face, I might have a few words for them.

"You look more like a snake than that ring you're wearing… hey, when did you get that thing, anyway? It's super wicked!"

Putting aside the fact that he said I looked like a snake, I smiled at the compliment to my newest subordinate, "Yeah, she's beautiful, isn't she? I picked her up recently." I gave Hebi a stroke.

Hebi really was beautiful in ring form, made of magisteel and orichalcum. I knew she appreciated the compliment from me too since I was sure she heard what I just said. Hebi probably didn't care about what Sebastian said, though. Much like many of my subordinates, she only seemed to value me and my opinion.

Sebastian leaned a bit closer and stared at the basilisk ring, and I allowed it. He wasn't being that annoying. Though, when he tried to touch her, I pulled my hand away.

"If you touch, she might bite you." I matter-of-factly said, completely serious.

But that only seemed to make him think Hebi was even cooler, "Really?! What would happen from the bite? What kinda curse did you put on it?"

"Uh… I didn't put the curse on it. So I'm not sure." I had to lie, for his safety. "You'd probably die though."

"Oh. Maybe that's why you're sure you can send him to the infirmary."

"Nah, I don't need her to kill 'em. Not that I plan on killing anyone, but y'know… hmm, speak of the devil…"

I spotted my pre-... um, I mean the boy that still owed me a wand.

"You're looking scary again," Sebastian pointed out. "Are you going to hurt him? You seem like you want to."

"Nonsense. I'm just gonna go claim what's rightfully mine."

I stood up and started walking toward the same boy whose hand I'd smashed into the table while purifying every bit of magic out of his body. He seemed to be doing a lot better now, based on the wide smile he was wearing while with his friends. But, as soon as he spotted me, that dropped right off and he frowned.

"What do you want, clown-eyes?"

"You know exactly what I'm here for. Hand it over."

I held out my hand expectantly, showing him a purposefully sinister smile. I didn't go full Demon Lord mode, though; that would be too much for a human like him to handle.

The boy took a step back, looking off-put, but stood his ground.

"I don't owe you anything. Not after you made me miss classes for a whole week!"

Again, I really didn't need a second wand, but I did want to take his and snap it right in half before his eyes. That was my plan, and I wasn't going to give up on it. With how cheerful he seemed a moment ago, and how arrogant he was being with me now, I knew I hadn't taught him a harsh enough lesson.

"Hand it over, or I'll just take it myself and shove it–"

"What's goin' on over 'ere!?" A booming voice carried across the courtyard.

I turned my attention toward the source of it and saw the biggest, burliest, hairiest man I had seen in this world. Maybe he could've given Geld a run for his money when he was little. He at least can grow a more impressive beard than him. I mean, this man was like half dark curly hair; it was insane to see.

What? Is it wrong to be a little jealous of him? Maybe my body back home could grow one? A beard might be too much though, so maybe just a nice twirly mustache.

[[Both I and our daughter would be upset with this.]]

Well, since she calls you father, maybe you–

[[Health reduced from one hundred percent to eighty percent.]]

I actually saw a Halo-style shield health bar appear at the top of my vision. It was definitely a callback after seventy years. I had to wonder if the fourth game was any good, never did get a chance to play it.

((A/N: Sorry Rimuru, it wasn't.))

Then I realized I was really starting to hurt. Hey, w-wait–! I felt a sharp tightening in my chest.

[[Health reduced from eighty percent to sixty percent.]]

Ciel– StOP...! My vision got blurry and I fell to my knees.

[[Health reduced from sixty percent to forty percent.]]

I'm sorry! I'm sorry...! The pain eased up as I laid on my back on the ground, heaving. I think I could taste blood in my mouth, but it'd been such a long time that I wasn't entirely sure.

I stumbled to my feet and flashed the boy a grin, showing that I wasn't some weakling who was nearly killed for making a dumb joke. Then, the massive man reached us.

"Ya okay, lass? Just saw ya fall outta nowhere…"

"I'm fine. Just got a bit dizzy and lost my balance."

"Yea… Ya should still take ae visit ta tha infirmary."

"No, I promise I'm fine. I'll just–"

The large man interrupted me by scooping me up with one hand and draped me over his shoulder. I practically got buried in his hair!

As I was sorta carefully lifted over, my negligence led some blood to drip past my lips and onto his shoulder.

He quickly glanced over to check on me and simply went. "Blimey, y'really do need'a nurse."

Meanwhile, I was fixated on the blood. "Oh… Huh. It's actual blood. Neat." Now that the pain was fading, this was actually a pretty cool experience to have after all these years of not having blood.

"Yer harsterical." He began to walk back to the castle with the group of boys following us for a moment before he stopped and addressed them. "Yous lot better stay nearby, I'll need'ta figure out which one o' ya did this curse."

"I didn't do anything! I'm not going with you, you filthy halfbreed oaf!"

After hearing that insult, I felt pretty angry, maybe just a little livid. So, I decided these boys needed to be taught a lesson. I turned and glared at them, and to make sure it wasn't just my glare, I channeled my aura into it. I could get away with that in this form, without killing them at least.

I felt the man carrying me stiffen, "Yous lot should'a shut yer traps. This one's feistier than any magical beasties out in there forest."

"What do you mean? I'm harmless." Harmless to those I like, at least.

"Harmless is not a word I would use to describe you, Rimuru…" Sebastian muttered as he shuffled along behind, keeping his distance from the small group of other Slytherin students.

I really didn't need that from him right now, but whatever.

After scaring the source of my anger straight, our group continued in silence until the huge man reached the infirmary with me still hanging over his shoulder. You would think being carried would be something that'd bother me, but you'd be wrong. I was very used to being carried around over the years, and it always saved me the trouble of walking, so even in this case I didn't mind.

I sighed once getting there, I knew this body was still bleeding in a few places. So I did need to deal with that, but wasn't exactly sure what kinda spell to use. My regeneration was turned off at the moment, only because I needed to act the part of someone who hurt themselves accidentally.

Or got hurt. Honestly wasn't sure how Ciel intended this to be interpreted. She was being quiet about the subject.

"Oh! Mister Hagrid! Do you have a patient for me today? What happened this time?"

Hagrid? Isn't that the name the old wizard stereotype said wasn't fully human? I guess that explains his size. That also explains the 'halfbreed' comment from earlier.

"Not quite sure, Madam Pomfrey. Just collapsed right in front o' me. This lot might'a done somethin' to 'er." Hagrid explained as he set me down on one of the many beds in the infirmary.

"I said I didn't do a thing! Just ask that brat's friend, he witnessed it all! I didn't curse her, he can vouch for that." He jabbed a finger in Sebastian's direction.

"I did not see or hear any curses, but that doesn't mean there wasn't one."

"I'll just take a look at the girl. We can figure out what happened that way. Is she bleeding anywhere?"

"Tha mouth. Spat up some blood while bein' carried."

"Open wide, dearie." The old woman said and I obliged. She used a spell that made the tip of her wand light up and shined it into my mouth as she looked.

She continued inspecting me further, pressing into my stomach, staring into my eyes, lots of things. I just went along with it all so that I could get out of there as soon as possible.

"Classic spell backlash… you must have tried something complex and lost control, dearie. Very dangerous."

"No, I didn't try any spells. Nobody heard me chanting anything back there, did they?"

"Rimuru can cast spells without chants," Sebastian blurted out of nowhere. I sent him a similar glare to the one I used earlier.

"That is even more dangerous, young lady! You will do no more of that nonsense while at this school!"

"But I didn't do that here."

But the woman didn't seem to believe me at all. "Don't end up in my infirmary again for such foolishness."

"Fine. I won't." It wasn't worth arguing with someone who thought I was lying.

I moved to stand up, but the old woman held me down by the shoulder. "You need to rest a bit first. I need to make sure the damage isn't worse than I first gathered."