The Freed One
Wouldn’t Resurrection Festival work? My words decided『Tempest Resurrection Festival』as its official name.
And now, two days have passed since it ended…
After a knocking sound came from my door, Rigurdo and Bester came inside.
The 14 yet-living assailants.
And, all our “sources” are meekly confessing all they know.
Even the well trained Blood Shadows and Church’s messengers quickly give up and confess when a demon is presented to them
While there is a chance to resist a greater demon and inferior, an archdemon like Diablo doesn’t take “no” for an answer.
By the way, even if they had committed suicide, we can just directly manipulate their soul or tamper with their brains.
So if you want to disappear along with all of your secrets, you’d have to kill yourself by completely destroying your body.
So it would be an understatement to say that the spies of this world risk their lives.
As for the headache I mentioned earlier, that would be: what do we do with them now?
As a result, I lost the desire to kill the shabby old man and the church’s dogs.
I cannot forgive the perpetrators of that incident.
The orders came from Cardinal Nicholas.
But, as deploying the elite knights would require Hinata’s approval, they decided to send their Blood Shadows pets instead, which lead us to that tragedy.
Which I found out just as I was thinking of treating the as prisoners of war or by some other martial law.
Anyways, we can kill them at any time.
Ellen and Youmu didn’t know much about the internal dealings of the countries, so it was pointless to ask them.
Thus, I went to ask his opinion.
Entering, Bester greeted me by saying,
「It has been a while, Rimuru-sama! What a calamity we have endured」
A calamity it is. It’s not over, after all.
「That it was. There’s something I want to ask, what are human wars like?」
I tried asking Bester.
Thus, I heard about human wars from Bester.
For example, there’s a rule that stipulates that a country has to declare the war at a general conference prior to beginning hostilities.
Wars are easy to start, hard to stop. I’m surprised to see that phrase has become a rule.
First, they decide on a date for combat and use that time to evacuate civilians.
Information gathering and failure to abide by the above rules constitutes a violation of the Coalition’s code.
Any reported violations constitute transgression of the Coalition’s code.
After the war has begun there are two kinds of wars: limited war and extermination war. (Well, there’s also economic war, but let’s leave that one aside)
It’s kind of like a sport, the extremest of the extremes, though.
This is also chosen at the moment the war has been declared.
It doesn’t end until one state becomes the other’s vassal or falls completely. Not something you’d want to choose unless you had no other choice.
If you don’t, then it’s a simple war of conquest.
In other words, this type of war rarely, if ever, happens.
The Dwarf Kingdom, for example, has advanced technology and great value.
Powerless justice is useless.
Nobody wants to kill themselves by getting caught up in another’s greed.
Such are the rules set by the Conference Coalition.
Now, what about the non-members?
That’s a military nation that increased in size by absorbing its weaker neighbors.
It invades when it wants and tramples down anyone in its wake.
Death to those who disobey!
Luckily, their sphere of influence fails to extend into the Jura Forest, so there have been victims among nearby states.
The Dwarf Kingdom was somehow able to establish diplomatic relations with the Empire and so avoided a potential invasion.
Having heard this information, I can’t help but think of the Coalition as a bunch of weak states coming together for mutual protection.
Of course, even if they don’t violate the rules, it’s not like they won’t deviate from them.
I see; I understood all of this to a certain degree.
Now, as for when the war has ended…
That, too, Bester had explained.
Next, it’s rare for a country’s king to become a prisoner of war.
Refusing the surrender and slaughtering everybody would earn you animosity from other countries.
In other words, since he’s been dishonored, there’s no need to kill him. That’s how it is.
In that case, while I can just kill him off, sending him back might be a better idea.
「Thank you for your input. I’m glad you’re here, Bester」
I said.
Sorry, honestly, that’s damn creepy.
I’m glad he’s gotten rid of that sharp personality and mellowed out… but he really is just an old man.
「Oh, before I forget. On my journey to the Dwarf Kingdom, how much can I report?」
「Ah, as much as you want. They might have a useful opinion」
I gave my permission.
I thanked the bashful Bester again and had him leave.
I had taken my human form half way through the conversation.
No way… is he a lolicon? A terrifying possibility filled my mind.
I pray that’s not the case!
I think about our earlier conversation.
I still have the unique skill『Heartless One』as well.
When I though that,
≪Announcement. Unique Skill『Heartless One』has been absorbed by ultimate skill『Beelzebub』
Therefore, it has been erased and is currently unusable≫
O-oh…
To only use it once–for what purpose did I acquire it? Well, I did think that I didn’t need it, though.
I feel that the skills that I have gotten used to have greatly changed.
Well, maybe we should release the king and the messenger, but that’s something to discuss among all of us.
After knocking some information out of them, she’ll probably have me eat another one of her meals.
Doesn’t she know that she doesn’t have to feed me? Thats sickening… you know?
A conference of all department heads.
That’s what I decided to do.
That being so, there’s one more problem to solve.
I look Rigurdo in the eyes,
「How is it? Investigation going fine?」
I ask.
They were told by the “Voice of the World” about the gifts they were to receive.
Rigurdo nodded,
「We are still in the middle of surveying the population.
Their vitality has certainly increased.
Interestingly enough, the Goblin Riders and the Star Wolves have acquired the rare extra skill『Unification』」
Extra skill『Unification』means exactly what it sounds like, no hidden meaning here.
Their strength puts them at about rank A-. Even the worst among them would dominate the B ranked.
Surprisingly, all one hundred have this skill.
Rigurdo’s report continues.
Perhaps this evolution was inspired by their regret at being unable to fight.
Though these are merely extra skills, they work well together.
In other words, they obtained regenerative abilities equal to that of Orc Disaster.
Thus, along with Shion, who got carried away obtaining this absurd ability, they have been calmly enduring intensive training.
I have no words.
Though they are only C+ ranked at most right now, I have a feeling that they will become our strongest squad yet.
They have even named their squad “Yomigaeri“–those who have surpassed death.
The 4,100 hobgoblins under Benimaru’s command have evolved in an interesting way.
Just as the oni had wanted, probably; these ogres belong to the first village I had saved.
And, as our vanguards with『Fire Manipulation』and『Thermal Resistance EX』skills, the rest of the hobgoblins are thus our fire squad.
I had named them the Green Corps, but that’s no good following the evolution.
The name “green” doesn’t, however. My failure to think ahead led to this.
Monster evolution is unpredictable.
In the first place, color has no effect on their ability to freely manipulate fire.
The high orcs evolved as a herd.
Moreover, they also obtained『Full Body Armor』defense ability.
So, if I have them eat a lot of Shion’s cooking, would they acquire poison resistance? What foolish thing I thought!
They each can be evaluated as B ranked.
A squad specializing in creating walls to ward off attacks. They are Tempest’s main force.
As for Gabil’s 100 Dragonewts,
They acquired『Dragon Knight Transformation』and『Flame Breath』or『Thunder Breath』abilities.
Honestly, I still don’t really know what『Dragon Knight Transformation』does. Though they obtained it, they can’t seem to use it yet.
“So just use it when you’re in danger!” is pure negligence.
But to think that they have also acquired flying abilities and can now shoot their breath from the sky…
With their scale armor being strong as steel.
So being able to fly puts them at an overwhelming advantage over their enemies.
Unfortunately, they currently might be our strongest unit.
And thus the report continued.
All I got from that was: our strength greatly increased. Just that.
Compared to the one I annihilated, we are overwhelmingly stronger.
Our only weakness is our small numbers.
Thus we concluded surveying the populace.
According to Rigurdo, they are not yet certain.
Even I am not yet completely aware of my abilities.
Requesting that Rigurdo continue the investigation, I left the place to verify my abilities.
I headed straight to the Cave of the Seal.
Now then, let’s call forth ultimate skill『Raphael』
Here’s what I found.
Status
Species: Demon Slime
Title: “Demon Lord”
〈Great Demon Summoning〉
Ultimate Skill『Wisdom King Raphael』
Chant Annulment・All of Creation・Fusion・Separation
…Predation・Analysis・Stomach・Mimic・Segregation・
Decomposition・Supply・Food Chain・Soul Eater
Daily Skills…『Magic Perception』『Heat Detection』『Auditory
『Demon Lord’s Ambition』
Battle Skills…『Thread Manipulation』『Cloning』『Chaos Breath』
Domination』『Demon Lord Transformation』
Mimic: Demon, Spirit, Black Wolf, Black Snake, Centipede, Giant Bat, Giant
Spider, Lizard, Goblin, Orc
Resistances: Physical Damage Nullification, Natural Attack Nullification, Status
Spirit Attack Resistance, Holy Magic Resistance
That is all.
I had thought that only the name changed for many of these, but I was clearly wrong.
I can’t explain it in words very well… when I used it, time seemed to stop.
While intending to ask Raphael about each skill,
≪Announcement. As ordered,『Infinite Prison』has been analyzed.
Will you release Individual: Veldora? [YES]/[NO]≫
What an announcement it so casually made!
But… finally!
All that’s left is… procuring a spirit medium for him.
The thought of testing the skills has completely fled my mind.
I release you, Veldora!
And, I chose [YES]!