Rimuru's POV

I was sneakin' around. I could see perfectly fine in the dark, so I didn't need to bring a light or anything. Right now I was next to the Hufflepuff dorms, trying to figure out how to get down to the kitchen. This place really was built like a maze, but my limited magic sense did help me some in dealing with that.

I finally managed to find the entrance, or at least I thought it was. It was pretty obvious the room had a spell cast on it that would open a passageway.

I could just undo that, but I wasn't certain that was the best idea. The painting in front of me would likely be killed if I did dispel the door's hidden nature so instead I'd just need to figure this one out. Especially since intimidating more doors into opening seemed like a bad idea.

I could tell that something was going on with the painting, specifically the pear on it. So, I walked up to the painting, and reached out to touch it. But, before I could do anything, the pear on it screamed… Then turned into a door handle?

This school is weird.

I carefully and quietly used the handle to open the door and took a look around inside. I was quickly confronted with the smell of boiling water, and it seemed like even at this time of night, stuff was being prepared for the next day's breakfast.

It wasn't any of the house elves though, instead it appeared to be animated pots and pans, and stoves. Preparing things all on their own while their owners slept.

As for the house elves, the creatures I was confronted with weren't elves at all.

Short, scraggly, scrawny little things with large ears and eyes, wearing nothing but rags. They were more like goblins than any elf I'd ever seen.

I ignored it for now, and approached one that seemed to have noticed me. Ciel, can you open a portal to imaginary space? I think I'll just need to talk to them. I wasn't sure if they had actually noticed me, but I couldn't have them telling the teachers I was here.

[[For this situation, I'll do it.]]

Before the house elf fully woke up, I quickly trodded over, and picked them up under the arms. Then I dropped them into the portal right as it appeared. Then I jumped in myself. We were left floating in a space with an earth-like atmosphere.

The house elf took a few moments, but the falling sensation definitely woke them up. They screamed as they did, staring at me. "W-where is we?! Where is Cringee?!"

"Uh… you're dreaming. You're having a very weird dream, yeah."

The name was a bit… weird. Even a little funny, considering what the word meant to most English-speaking people online. I knew it meant something else before though, so I just had to guess they were a scaredy-cat.

"Cringee is… dreaming? This does not feel like a dream to Cringee."

"Trust me, you're asleep. I mean, how else would you explain this?" I kept rolling with the idea, hoping the house elf would buy it.

I thought it best to make some sort of foothold below us and we both landed gently onto one as soon as I manifested the thought.

"Cringee is unsure… They have never seen students in dreams before." They stepped back from me slowly.

"Don't worry about it. I just have some questions for you." I put on my best smile.

"What kind of questions could the student have for Cringee? And why would they ask in a dream… Is the student real?"

"Who knows?"

The house elf just stared at me for a long second before shaking his head.

"Cringee supposes some questions can be answered."

"Good, good. Well the first thing I was wondering about was how exactly house elf contracts work?"

"Hm… Cringee… Does not know. It is old-lore… Many ancestors ago."

"So you don't remember making your own contract when you were younger?"

"Cringee has been contracted as long as Cringee remembers. That is all Cringee knows."

"Okay…" I was a little disturbed by the implications of that. This was starting to give me child slavery vibes and I wasn't liking it one bit. "What happens if a contracted house elf is released from their contract."

"Bad, bad things. House elf is very sad without contract… Cringee would never want such a thing! Never, never!"

"House elves don't like freedom? Wouldn't you want to be able to do what you want, and live your life without having to follow orders from someone?"

"No, student, no! Cringee doesn't wish for that at all. Cringee likes the kitchen, and Hogwarts is kind to Cringee… only kicked once a week, Cringee is. Much kinder than some other house elves are treated by other masters. Cringee is grateful."

"How would you even survive being kicked?" These guys are as thin as toothpicks, a small breeze should snap 'em… That being said, Cringee actually had a higher magicule count than most of the wizards I'd seen.

"Healing from such treatment is easy for Cringee… After punishing Cringee of course. If one of the masters hurts Cringee, surely Cringee did something greatly wrong." That told me they knew some pretty high grade healing magic, by this world's scaling, at least. I wasn't sure exactly what the limit of that stuff was though, so they were still at risk of life and limb the way they lived.

I sighed deeply. "Well, I guess you aren't very useful on this subject." I considered for a moment cheating and asking Ciel to analyze the house elf, it seemed almost like there were some badly ingrained traits in them. It was unsettling.

Ciel, can you at least tell me how these guys ended up like this? Are they cursed or something? Just tell me that much, please.

[[What has been done to the entire house elf species could be considered a curse, by this world's standards. One passed from parent to child, compelling them to be subservient to wizard-kind. The closest comparison to it in the Cardinal World is the binding spell applied to summons.]]

My stomach dropped. It was as bad as I expected, if not worse.

Enslaving a single person was bad enough, but an entire race!? I was disgusted.

I looked again at the pitiful house elf in front of me with a new level of understanding.

I think I might need to break that non-interference policy, or at least bend it a bit.

Ciel said no words to oppose me on this, thankfully.

Is there anything else you think is worth telling me?

[[This curse must have been imposed by an ancient wizard or witch who initially used a colony of elves as their personal slaves. Considering a lack of contemporary records, it is likely now considered an ancient magic, and as such, most of wizard-kind are either not aware of it, or do not understand it.]]

What about those contracts that Cringee was talking about?

[[Those are a separate magic, one that binds a house elf to a specific family. The curse I was referring to is something ingrained in the species as a whole, making them more susceptible to it and also driving them to crave servitude.]]

I felt a well of disgust form in my stomach, and mouth. It was inherently disgusting, incredibly so. How could anyone do something like this?

That set it for me, I'd be intervening, and I wouldn't even need to think that much about it. I needed to undo this and free every single one of them. Preferably soon. I considered for a moment the best way to do it.

I ran into an issue though, which was basically just that it would be hard for them to escape once freed, at least without somewhere to go. And it would cause obvious social issues for them once they are freed, so not having anywhere to go wasn't an option.

I sighed deeply and leaned back against the ground to stare up at the void above me. "So, Cringee, if house elves didn't feel this need to serve, where do you think they'd like to go?"

"I do not know, student. Cringee has never imagined such a thing. Without serving wizards, Cringee is nothing."

I considered for a moment just stealing them all and taking them to Tempest, but decided against it. Instead, I had another idea. "Hm. What if you could all go to a mirror world of your own? Wouldn't that be nice? A world with no-one but you guys, so you could meet each-other."

My real plan was somewhat simple: attach a parallel plane to this world, and have it reflect the matter of this one. That way, they still have houses and stuff. Only difference would be to make it a bit cool. I'd make the sky black, with golden stars, as well as some other aesthetically pleasing changes.

It sounds cool, right? Answer in the affirmative or my Cardinal World body will put ice cubes in your bed while you sleep.

"Student, I am unsure Cringee could imagine such a thing. Cringee has never left Hogwarts… Is there more places than this 'Britain' Cringee has heard of?"

A little part of me died after hearing that.

Oh, you poor, sweet, summer child…

I workshopped my plan a little bit more, before offering it up to Ciel.

[[Are the modifications to the sky necessary?]]

Yes.

[[Very well, I will accept this. However, modifying this curse to be a bind to another world that allows them to go back and forth will take–]]

You finished before I finished speaking, didn't you?

[[Yes, I did. However, I have made several more modifications to this parallel plane, it also has a sustaining effect.]]

Why?

[[It was necessary to ensure it would not collapse. This world is not strong enough to harbor it on its own.]]

Alright then, I don't mind. Now to get this little guy to go to sleep.

"Hey, buddy. If you want to wake up, you'll need to fall asleep here first. That's how dreams work, right?"

"Sometimes. Cringee doesn't have that many dreams. Cringee will listen to the student, though." The house elf then sort of just laid down on the floor.

Shortly after I came up with a quick sleeping spell, then carried him back into the kitchen. After that, I went back up to the dorms.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit excited about the result.

…

I yawned as I was sure it was… Morning. Yup. However, what I was curious about was if my main body had carried out my plan the night before. Ciel?

[[The plan was carried out as intended, with a minor argument.]]

Argument with who?

[[Our daughter.]]

Alright, I won't worry too much about it then.

[[She called your current body pathetic.]] Ciel seemed to sigh, feeling personally hurt by that.

Hehehe. Don't think that's your fault, this world is pathetic. I just gotta fit in.

[[That is what you said to her. She dropped the argument after. Mainly because you left without saying anything further and because little Aoki planned to have a day out with her Aunt.]]

I really hope she doesn't spill to Velzard about what I'm doing…

[[Such an outcome is nigh unavoidable.]]

I sighed deeply, knowing that would be a problem, but one I wouldn't personally have to deal with, at least not in this body. My other self can handle my older sister for me, I knew that. I reveled a bit in the idea too, I wouldn't have to deal with those memories for months to come. It was a rare blessing.

[[Get ready, if you want to see the results.]] I got a new objective, which was to see the results of a {Global Event} which was caused by an {Otherworldly God}.

I giggled softly at the idea of her wording it that way and could feel Ciel's pride swell a bit at it.

I sprung out of bed, ignoring the loud noise I made as I hit the floor, and hastily threw a set of clothes on. Then, I rushed out into the common room.

I was immediately confronted with a group of students standing in front of Snape, and oddly enough the big guy, Hagrid. I wouldn't expect him to be sent to these dorms, though maybe that was specifically to deal with me.

"You will all stay here until further notice. Not one of you is permitted to leave the dormitories and common room until I return!" Snape boomed across the common room, his sharp eyes sweeping across all the students there, ensuring their attention. Then, he left, leaving Hagrid there, blocking the door alongside Slytherin's prefect.

Oh, so they're locking everyone in here to cover up the chaos I bet has sprung up in the school? It was a very short-term and hasty plan, from my perspective. Not the best idea, but I suppose it was understandable. It sucked for me, though, since I really wanted a front-row seat to the results of what I did.

"Ah! There ya are! Ya aren't leavin' my sight, Rimuru Tempest, understand? Dumbledore's orders."

So I was right. He is here for me…

Sighing, I started walking toward the large man, but before I could get very close, someone stepped up between us.

"I demand to be let out! I can't stay here if something important is happening, how else am I supposed to learn?" Draco, being the blond idiot he is, tried to talk his way past Hagrid, but the half-giant didn't budge an inch.

"No can do, young'n. 'Tis my orders not ta let ya out."

"Now listen to me, you oafish giant!" Draco pulled out his wand and pointed its tip right at Hagrid's face, "I will not allow something like you to keep me here!"

I didn't like this, for obvious reasons, so I just… took the wand from him. It was easy.

Draco stood dumbfounded for a long second, his angry expression now pointed at me. Then, he lunged at me to try to reclaim his wand, but I didn't let him.

"Hey, buddy. Don't go pokin' anybody's eye out with this thing, they are somewhat dangerous." I chortled near the end of what I said, finding the situation amusing. These wizards seemed real useless without these sticks.

I evaded a few more attempted grabs for the wand, with Draco spitting things like "Give it back this instant!" and "How dare you!" I barely listened to it all.

But, then I felt someone grab the back of my shirt and my feet left the ground.

"Now, now. No fightin' on my watch!" Hagrid gestured to me. "Give 'is wand back too, can't be takin' stuff that ain't yers."

Did he not understand I was trying to help him? And it wasn't like I was planning on keeping the thing, I was just stopping the kid from hurting Hagrid.

My fun now over, I dropped the wand onto the floor. Draco immediately scrambled to grab it then pointed it at me. I knew he'd do that, but I didn't care that much.

He was so angry that his hand was shaking while outstretched, and his face was bright red with a mix of that and embarrassment. I was sure that being easily disarmed was shameful or something to him, considering his 'I'm better than everyone' attitude.

After surrendering the boy's wand back to him, Hagrid set me back down and I brushed myself off. Draco retreated into a crowd of other students after a few seconds of wand pointing.

I turned to look at the other students, a little worried they'd try to defend him, luckily it seemed none of them were all that interested at that moment.

Though, with enough time, some of the older ones approached more casually.

"Hello, big man. Can you at least tell us what's going on? We don't really have even a clue, so something would be helpful." The student appeared to be one of the oldest here, and he was being relatively polite, though I could see through it. He mostly just wanted information. "Don't want the first years getting all worried, do we?"

I would let it proceed for a little while, even if Hagrid was being manipulated, just to sate my curiosity. I'd intervene if things went in a more mocking direction.

"Well… I can tell ya what I was told to tell. Nothin' more than that, though, I'm afraid. Jus' that all classes before lunch have been canceled ta'day and that ya have to stay in tha dorms and this room."

"Can I at least know the reasons? I'm sure everyone here is curious."

"No… can't say tha'."

"Well. If you don't explain anything, these kids might assume the worst, and you don't want that on your conscience, do you?"

"'Tis not my decision, but I s'ppose I can give–"

My stomach suddenly growled in an incredibly guttural way, it must've echoed through the entire room.

Hagrid, who'd stopped mid-sentence because of the interruption, stared at me in surprise before breaking out into a hearty laugh.

"So… what about breakfast?" I asked innocently.

"Breakfast has been canceled because of… unfortunate circumstances," Hagrid answered in a way that made me think it was a rehearsed line given to him by someone else.

I already was thinking that was the case, but it still wasn't ideal.

It seemed the others were equally unhappy because after that was made clear, everyone started grumbling and complaining about it.

Well, I was sure I'd be fine. This was a good a time as any for me to bend the rules a bit and grab something out of my Imaginary Space to eat. I always keep plenty of food stored in there in case I need or want it.

But when I tried, nothing happened.

Ciel? Can't you give me a snack?

[[No.]]

B-but… I actually feel hungry…

[[This violation of the rules would serve no greater purpose.]] She was speaking monotonously like Raphael, very much intentionally.

There's no getting through to her when she puts up that front, so I gave up.

My stomach growled again, but less dramatically loud, thankfully. I just did my best to ignore it.

I also tried to ignore how appetizing the very clearly fake ornamental fruits on a shelf nearby were starting to look.

I shook my head to get the taste of gold out of my mouth, since I knew exactly what it tasted like, purely from a few bouts of curiosity giving me some new palette items.

"Alroight. Let's word it 'ike this then. It seems the 'ouse elves don't wanna cook no more." He scratched the back of his neck. "Don't worry bout that though. They probably won't hurt any o'ya."

I was somewhat worried about that, but not completely seriously. I knew the house elves could easily harm wizards, but I thought they were too docile to actually do it.

"Well… Sir, is there any reason behind this? Normally, house elves are completely subservient." The older Slytherin boy seemed a little disturbed by the idea of a house elf not listening to him, it was somewhat amusing, even if disgusting.

"Ain't too sure, perhaps someone gave 'em all clothes, or maybe the magics makin' em up finally wore ta thin." Hagrid was onto something, even if still pretty far off.

"But that's… A ludicrous idea. It would need to be the Headmaster giving them all clothes, and for their contracts to simply break naturally? It has never happened!" The older boy sighed. "Shouldn't have expected so much from a half-breed, I suppose."

I growled softly, getting seriously irritated with these kids and the way they talked about people. I kept my tongue though, not wanting to need to actually hurt one of them if I intervened. I was just gonna make sure Hagrid was alright by the end of this.

This meant I had to sit tight and wait this out, unfortunately. If I slipped away, I wouldn't be there to defend Hagrid from the other Slytherin students' harassment. He needed at least one person on his side here, I thought.

I sensed a spatial distortion in the air at that moment and glanced over to see a small group of house elves standing on top of the headboard of the common room. "Gringly has sent your laundry far far away, students. House elves won't be cleaning up after you any longer." The one at the front of the tiny group of three spoke first, seeming quite pleased with the mischief.

On the other hand, I was disappointed they went so soft on the students. They had the power to do worse, and many reasons to back it up too.

I wasn't too thrilled about having my clothes poofed away, but it was something I could easily live with. The others seemed a lot angrier about the situation than I was.

Before anyone could do anything though, the small trio was gone with another distortion of space.

"See what I mean? Causin' mischief, they all are… tha's why it's safer to stay in 'ere for now," Hagrid sighed and shook his head. "Not sure how, but they's freed themselves."

I hope more is going on elsewhere in the school… they really do deserve a bit of revenge.

Suddenly, I heard a loud boom from outside the common room, distant, but loud enough that it shook the place a bit.

That's more like it!

A sinister giggle escaped my lips before I could catch myself and stop it. I couldn't wait to see the results of the house elves' rampage. I didn't think any of them had it in them to kill or even hurt anyone, but a little property damage was well-deserved.

That's when I noticed Sebastian among the crowd of students all freaking out. Though, he seemed calmer than most and was just watching me closely.

His eyes seemed to be asking "Are you behind this?" but he didn't say the words. It was just a suspicion I was pretty sure he had, but from his perspective, it was probably an impossible one.

"Pretty wild, huh, Rimuru?"

"Rebellions happen when people are oppressed. It was just a matter of time before the house elves would figure out a way to become independent," I replied flippantly.

"Still… you were just talking about… well… never mind. I hope we can eat soon…"

"Yeah, me too…" As if to accentuate my point, my stomach growled for a third time.

We both laughed a bit at that.