After Milim’s introduction, which had been slightly chaotic, we moved to the dining hall. Tonight's dinner was curry. Of course, it was a makeshift version, created after Rimuru cultivated a rice-like grain and Shuna went through countless trials and errors. I had further enriched the flavor using spices and seasonings from my own world.
Thanks to years of research into various spices and condiments, the variety and quality of the local cuisine had expanded dramatically. However, since we couldn't produce them in infinite quantities, our current goal was to increase the overall yield. Specifically, we were using golems to produce sugar, and I had already ordered Mother to develop a machine capable of extracting it more efficiently.
In medieval Europe, sugar had been a luxury for the nobility—a symbol of wealth and power that was always present at the tables of kings and aristocrats. Because of this, I was preparing the means to mass-produce it.
Milim wolfed down her curry with reckless abandon, and I sat beside her, gently wiping the remnants from the corners of her mouth.
“The spices Vertis gave us made it taste even better. Thank you!”
“No need to thank me. If anything, I should be thanking you. There are very few people in my country who can cook at this level.”
I was quite fond of the food in this nation, so in exchange for the clothes they crafted for me, I regularly sent them spices and seasonings from my home.
“Come to think of it, we succeeded in extracting sugar this time. The amount is still small, but it will increase significantly soon.”
As I spoke, I placed a jar filled with white granules on the table. One by one, everyone leaned in to taste it.
“““—!!?”””
The women looked absolutely astonished. Souei merely lifted one eyebrow, his expression clearly conveying that it was incredibly sweet, while Milim simply continued to lick the sugar obsessively.
“Uh... eating too much of that probably isn't good for you...”
Knowing that the intense sweetness could provide a satisfaction more addictive than any drug, I tried to stop them, but my words fell on deaf ears.
This is exactly why I didn't want to show it to them...
Meanwhile, Rimuru was also producing honey, though the quantity he could obtain was limited.
“Hmm... about 200 grams a week should be enough, right? Just don't eat too much. In a sense, this is more addictive than narcotics.”
I handed Rimuru a sack of sugar along with the warning, though I wasn't entirely sure if he took it to heart.
Ever since I was appointed as Milim's caretaker, I had spent nearly every day by her side. To an outsider, I probably looked like a butler doing his absolute best to serve a mischievous young lady.
The next day, Milim's mood was sky-high. Instead of her usual revealing attire, she spent the day trying on various outfits Shuna had prepared, delighted by the change in style.
While Rimuru was occupied in the laboratory, I was spending time with Milim when I suddenly sensed intruders. We headed to the plaza, where a group of majin had gathered. They all shared one common trait: they were beastmen.
“Beastmen... are they from Eurazania?”
Just then, the beastman who appeared to be the leader attempted to attack Rigurd. I quickly stepped between them, blocking the attack with ease.
The majin looked shocked that his strike had been stopped. I looked at them and spoke calmly.
“Based on your appearance, you seem to be warriors from Eurazania... but what is the meaning of this outrage?”
I used a light current of electricity to bind and subdue the majin. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free. The man ground his teeth and spat out, “...I am Phobio, one of the Three Beastkings, sent here on Lord Carrion’s orders.”
“The Three Beastkings... so you're one of Carrion's direct subordinates.”
Snap.
With a flick of my finger, the electricity binding Phobio vanished. At that moment, Rimuru arrived at the plaza, having heard the commotion.
We shifted locations, and while I prepared some sweets to keep Milim in a good mood, Rimuru and the executives began discussions with Phobio.
“Here, some delicious pancakes.”
“I'll dig in!”
I topped the towering stack of pancakes with a generous drizzle of syrup for the finishing touch. Milim fell into a state of pure bliss with her first bite, while an uncomfortable silence persisted between Rimuru and the majin.
Rimuru was the first to break the silence.
“So, what exactly brings you here?”
“Hmph. There is no value in answering a lowly slime.”
At Phobio's dismissive remark, Benimaru and Shion immediately released a wave of killing intent. Sensing the tension, Rimuru quickly stepped in to restrain them.
Rimuru, who used to be quite timid, had grown accustomed to these situations; he no longer burst into tears easily in front of strangers. Though he still had much to learn, his growth was truly dazzling.
“Since you're a subordinate of Carrion, I suggest you watch your tongue. Depending on your attitude, we could easily become enemies.”
If it came to a fight, Rimuru would undoubtedly win. However, being the kind-hearted person he is, Rimuru preferred to resolve things through dialogue.
“...Hmph! Don't get cocky just because you've caught the eye of Milim-sama and the draconic lineage, slime.”
“I'd be very careful if I were you, Phobio. One more wrong word, and lightning will rain down upon your country.”
I spoke with a cold threat in my voice. Intimidated, Phobio suppressed his rage and replied, “...We came here on Lord Carrion’s orders.”
According to Phobio, he had been ordered to scout and recruit Rimuru's group as subordinates. This meant that other Demon Lords, besides myself, had witnessed the battle in the wetlands.
Upon hearing this, Milim puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, but her anger vanished the moment I brought out more pancakes.
Phobio looked at Rimuru and me, muttered, “I'll make you regret this,” and led his subordinates away. That's the kind of line only losers use.
I wondered if he would actually report the truth. A majin of his type had too much pride; he would almost certainly try to cause some kind of trouble.
Well, if he actually chose hostility, the only result would be total annihilation. Surely he isn't that foolish.
After Phobio's departure, Rimuru used their friendship to coax the details out of Milim. Through her, we learned about the schemes of three Demon Lords, including Milim herself. Once she spoke, all the mysteries were solved.
Crow and Centipede had mentioned that another force was monitoring Rimuru's group; only after Milim's explanation did we realize that force belonged to another Demon Lord.
Rimuru's head throbbed at the thought of more Demon Lords being involved. Seeing him look as if he were about to cry, I spoke to ease his mind.
“Don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility and protect you.”
Whether moved by my words or simply emboldened, he wiped the tears from his eyes and steeled his resolve.
The storm triggered by my and Milim's arrival grew even more violent, expanding into a force so massive that it could no longer be contained.
And so, while Milim remained captivated by the sweets and delicacies of Tempest...
In the Kingdom of Falmuth.
A great nation that had secured the top position in the West through the immense profits of its casinos. Its king had become remarkably wise, to the point where people claimed he had changed into a completely different person overnight.
Of course, that was only the case within the capital. Count Nidol Myagim, a noble from a neighboring region, wanted to request aid from the royal palace after the appearance of the Orc Lord. However, the palace was preoccupied with other matters. Lacking the funds to organize a proper subjugation force, he forcibly conscripted violent inmates from a correctional facility, dubbed them a "Border Investigation Squad," and ordered them to survey the forest.
***
At the same time, Shizu, who was on leave from the academy, visited the Blue Moon Adventurers' Guild for the first time in a while. However, Hughes was completely overwhelmed, frantically coordinating countermeasures against the Orc Lord.
Shizu gave a wry smile, feeling she had arrived at an inconvenient time. Suddenly, she sensed something in the corner of the building, placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, and took a defensive stance. A man emerged from the shadows.
“You noticed me?”
A blue-haired kijin stepped out of the darkness and looked toward Hughes.
“I have a message from Lord Rimuru. Listen carefully: ‘Ah, sorry, I forgot to mention it. The Orc Lord matter has been settled.’ That is all.”
Realizing he was Rimuru's messenger, Shizu lowered her guard. The three adventurers who knew Rimuru also breathed a sigh of relief, but the guild master, Hughes, remained cautious.
“Wait. I've heard of Rimuru. He's a slime and the ruler of the monster nation, correct?”
“Lord Rimuru is seeking coexistence with humans. The rumors regarding the Orc Lord were deliberately leaked so that you could prepare yourselves. It would be wise to choose harmony over hostility. Farewell.”
With that, Souei vanished back into the shadows. To uncover the true intent behind the message, Hughes asked for the cooperation of Kaval's group and the newly arrived Shizu. Together, they decided to travel to the capital of the Jura Tempest Federation—the city of Rimuru.
However, there was one fact they remained unaware of: that the nation was home to a member of the draconic lineage and a Demon Lord who stood on equal footing with one.
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