Rather than standing around chatting, we decided to head inside.
Its furnishings were chosen by Myourmilles, and if he went on a rampage there we would incur heavy losses.
It was a special lounge where only the specially selected, or the highest of nobles were accommodated.
To reach this level, Rigurdo and the others still needed much more experience. However, since he had said something like 「This place is very calming.」, our tastes may unexpectedly match.
Since we had no other suitable rooms to accommodate him, we had no choice but to expect a certain level of damage. We couldn’t just take the strongest of the Demon Lords to a common guest lounge.
And whilst half-resignedly guiding him,
「Hey, You’ve got some good taste. I also happen to like this type of furnishings.」
Guy complemented.
I had misunderstood him as this tyrant who wouldn’t have any idea of subtle elegance.
Maybe, the more short tempered and violent ones were more likely to have peaceful hearts.
No well, it might just be my mistaken impression, but it really was the right choice bringing him here.
Sitting on a high-class wooden chair carved from aromatic woods, I faced Guy.
It looked simple at first glance, but a surprising amount of attention to details was put in……
「You’re pretty good! Our dimwits wouldn’t be able to pull this off at all.
I wonder if should I should send them here for some training?」
Well I’m glad you’re pleased.
In any case, this was the first time I had to be this careful around the other party.
Putting aside whether or not I can win against him, I just wanted to avoid conflict as much as possible.
It’s too troublesome to deal with. Because it will definitely result in some broken things.
「Oh really? You’re actually the first one I’ve brought here you know.
「Ah? So you want to make a good impression on me?」
If I had thrown away my pride, I’d be living a more or less good life snooping around in the shadows.」
I started with a jab. (EN: metaphorical)
Depending on his reaction, I was going to have to adjust my attitude towards Guy.
I suspected that he must have gotten a report from somebody, when he mentioned the Demon Lords.
After all, any spies within the country had been completely cleared out. This I could say with full confidence.
In any case, since I put intelligence gathering above all else, not letting the enemy do the same thing to us was just common sense.
I had used any and all means I could come up with to eliminate all spies within my country.
「Ahaha. Are you trying to probe me? Aren’t you interesting!
I came today because I heard you’re having a fight with the empire.
He’s here right? In this place.
And, you’ve also got a number of Demon Lord class subordinates under you.
This reminded me about that fellow you brought in during the previous Walpurgis, and that got me interested in any others you’ve got.」
Saying all that, he drank the black tea with elegant movements.
No, Demon Lords were more or less kings anyway.
Basically, he wants to see my strength. No, isn’t there more?
Isn’t he oddly interested in my dealings with the Empire?
「Indeed, I do have several Demon Lord class subordinates.
Naturally, there are others. But I have no intention to tell you about all of them.
Raising individual strength is naturally important.」
Or rather, are you an “Otherworlder”?
「Nn? Huh? You didn’t know?
「Seriously?」
「Seriously!」
Guy and I locked eyes with each other.
I had already declared this to the world, and thought it was surely passed along to the kings of each country.
I don’t think there was any miswording, but it seems I needed to consider them not receiving any information. I’ll make sure to consider it next time.
「Ahahahaha! Oh Wow! To think such a thing could happen!
You’ve got an impressive mimicry going, but this explains the reason behind your fixation.
Under normal circumstances, it isn’t something you can obtain so easily.
I was suspicious that Rudra was just performing some self-scripted act, but if that’s the case, then I’m convinced.
My bad for doubting you.」
Hm? Self-scripted?
The story goes, Emperor Rudra and Guy had been at odds for over a thousand years.
I had suddenly awakened as a true Demon Lord, and even obtained an Ultimate Skill.
According to Dino’s report, we escaped unharmed, and the imperial army was massacred.
Against only a single demon lord, could Rudra――that’s the emperor――actually suffer such a crushing defeat?
Despite wanting to wait-and-see, there was no point in suffering that much of a loss.
It seems Rudra’s purpose was likely to promote evolution amongst the survivors.
Once upon a time, when Veldora had rounded-up and killed a lot of them, since some survivors managed to evolve into Sages, Rudra didn’t feel it was his loss.
Guy also approved the Demon Lords fighting each other was also for a similar reason.
That being the case, both Guy and Rudra were fighting as if playing a long game of chess.
As if killing time, it was a game of patience.
But, the number of survivors this time was 0.
Guy couldn’t leave alone the fact that I had gained multiple Demon Lord class subordinates, and that there was not a single survivor.
A meaningless military action was something Rudra would never allow.
In Dino’s report, he hinted that he was of the same opinion. What the hell are you even doing, Dino.
So Guy suspected a self-scripted act.
Causing a grand military campaign, pretending to go to war with Demon Lord Rimuru in order to strengthen Rimuru’s forces.
In other words, I had betrayed Guy’s Demon Lord faction, and joined Emperor Rudra is it? This was the gist of his doubts.
A just recently born monster (Slime) obtaining an Ultimate Skill, normally this would be inconceivable.
Couldn’t it be that due to the Emperor’s instigation, it was given an Ultimate Skill and evolved? So he thought.
「To give an away Ultimate Skills to someone, is that even possible?」
And the receiving target must be someone above a certain strength threshold, it’s not to the extent of being a threat.」
I wanted to hear more because I had doubts, but then he just dropped a bombshell of an announcement on me.
Perhaps, Milim’s in the same category as Guy.
His words and appearance of enjoyably eating cake were in complete contrast.
Undeceived by his appearance, I needed to keep calm and organize this information.
When it comes to thinking, sugar intake is very important.
A self-scripted act. (EN: hypothetical scenario here.)
With the slime under the protection of Veldora, he would bring the Great Jura Forest together, and awaken as a Demon Lord.
However, since Veldora’s presence couldn’t be felt for some unknown reason, he didn’t completely trust this prediction.
After that, as the slime awakened as a Demon Lord, Veldora had revived simultaneously .
The slime, as one of the Demon Lords, would infiltrate Guy’s faction.
It would crush and devour Guy’s faction from the inside, befitting the name of Gluttonous King Belzebuth. (EN: Beelzebub -> Belzebuth. More info below)
This time, after getting a report about there being no survivors, he decided to drop by and check on the situation himself.
Being a simple guy, he believed my words and our misunderstanding cleared, but one wrong step would have resulted in a catastrophe.
Thanks to many little strokes of luck, the misunderstanding was cleared in the end.
「Now then, my story ends here.
Now tell me. Why are there so many of awakened Demon Lords here?”
There it is.
This had prompted Guy into thinking I was Rudra’s pawn.
Suspecting a self-scripted act, He came to find several Demon Lord in the making.
In case I was a traitor, since he had confidence to take us all on and come out on top, I guess that’s why he had room for interrogation.
If Guy wasn’t this strong I would easily beat him, but because he was too strong, we could resolve this through words alone.
Now I just had a complicated feeling.
Now with that misunderstanding cleared, I needed to explain the matter of the Demon Lord awakenings.
《Solution. There is no problem with saying it’s all through the ability of Gluttonous King Belzebuth》
The heavens hath spokenーーー!!
As expected of Raphael Sensei, a skillful dodge.
「Actually, I did it with my Gluttonous King Belzebuth’s ability.」
「Huh. How does that work?」
(Wisdom Lord Raphael sensei, how does this work?)
《Solution. By reducing the Soul’s power into Energy, it is possible to forcefully evolve those with the qualifications.》
「Gluttonous King Belzebuth has the ability to reduce the Soul’s power into Magical Energy.
「What did you say? Is that true?」
(Is this true, Wisdom Lord Raphael-sensei?)
《Solution. (I have trouble comprehending why I am being called sensei, but) it is true.》
「Of course it’s true.」
「Huh…….Then, is it also possible to do it with my servants?」
《Solution. It is possible.》
Ah, she answered me before I could even mentally ask that question.
Like a, It’s getting annoying to deal with you, kind of intention.
《Solution. I have no such intention.》
This time, I felt minute traces of anger.
Fanning the flames anymore will be bad. I should just let it go here.
「There’s probably no problem. I can’t tell for sure without trying, but it’s probably possible.」
When there weren’t signs of awakening even after using 10,000 souls, I thought it was pointless……」
The one during Walpurgis, the maid-san called Misery?」
Since they’re both Demon Lord class, I think they’re both sufficiently qualified.
But right now they’re so weak, they’re not very helpful at all……」
Hey now.
This guy’s judging criterion seems a little strange.
「So you gave 10,000 human souls to each of them?」
I tried it on myself, but that was also pointless.
So, how much do I prepare for them to evolve?」
《Solution. 500,000 will do.》
「It’ll be fine with 500,000.」
Ay, hold up!
You, 500,000 you said, are you thinking of……
《Solution. Individuals named: Gerudo ・ Adalman ・ Testarossa ・ Ultima ・ Carrera
I have counted the amount necessary for those individuals in addition.》
That’s just reckless!!
You’re totally trying to and lead the Guy ・ Crimson by the nose, aren’t you!
No, wait a second…… This means the one he’ll be after when he finds out, is me isn’t it!
《Solution. There are no problems.》
No, it’s full of problems!
This is exactly why I’m scared of fearless people.
「Ah? So 500,000 will do?
「Ah, is that so? That’s wonderful.」
At this point, I can only emit a dry laugh.
If I’m caught, I guess I can’t complain even if I get destroyed.
I didn’t have any sweat to wipe off, nor did any turbulence show on my face. It’s been a while since I last thought it’s great to be a slime.
Guy was now cheerfully eating cake.
It seemed he really liked it.
Honestly, this was annoying.
Once you had been to a certain location once, a Gate could be easily created there. If I could do it, Guy couldn’t possibly not do it.
Wisdom Lord Raphael said that we could use these without problem.
I wanted to bestow it to them immediately but,
「Wait. First, teach these two how to make this cake.」
He said.
We had been glaring at each other for a while, but it didn’t look like he’d give up.
If I wanted them to go back quickly, I can’t afford to be stingy.
it’s probably impossible to replicate it just by taste, so I’d give them the recipe too, and having them taste it once would probably make replicating it easier.
The tea from earlier was also good.
And as they took a bite of the cake,
「Splendid!」
「As expected of Demon Lord Rimuru sama!」
They simultaneously gave me high praises.
Though I think the world’s full of even more surprises if you care to look.
And in the midst of this, Ramiris suddenly burst into the room.
「I-it’s terrible! Master(Veldora) went over to Ruminas’ place!」
She shouted coming in.
It looks like I won’t be able to rest easy anytime soon.