"..."
One [High Elf] who wanted a vacation, and two members of [Magius].
It was oddly modest, and admittedly entertaining, to watch members of the [13 Royal Families]—said to stand at the very pinnacle of all [Elf]s—and the elite forces who protected them pleading for time off.
But that demand did not last very long.
"...So in the end."
"We wound up coming here again..."
"This is just cruel..."
Pulling out their real identities had been effective, but unfortunately for them, they had chosen the wrong opponent.
"...Haha."
The man who had taken the [Guild Master]'s side was someone who stood even higher than they did.
*
A few days earlier.
It was the very moment Eryun, Kabal, and Gido had demanded a vacation from Fuze.
"I understand that you want time off, but unfortunately, not right now."
Adelio, the man who cut off their attempt to win leave through status alone, spoke firmly with an apologetic look on his face.
"Huh...?"
"W-why not...?"
"Why?!"
Since Fuze was still reeling from the identity Eryun had revealed, Adelio answered in his place. At that, the faces of the three—who had been certain they could secure a vacation this time—went pale.
Fuze might be the intelligence chief of [Blumund], but he was still only a [Guild Master]. Their status as royalty and members of [Magius] might somehow have worked on him, but that meant nothing to Adelio, the fiance of Sylvia and Ermesia.
To begin with, even before being the fiance of the [Heavenly Emperor], he was already famous as a [Hero]. The only card they had to play had become completely useless.
"T-this is a perfectly reasonable request, brother-in-law!"
"Exactly! If you consider how much we suffered on this last adventure..."
"...I can still see those monsters right in front of my eyes!"
Even after their trump card had failed, Eryun, Kabal, and Gido still refused to let go of the idea of a vacation and demanded to know why not. But Adelio had no choice.
He also thought it would be nice if Eryun's group could get some rest, but there were no adventurers in [Blumund] he could trust more than them.
"I do feel bad about it, but I need you three to help me this time."
With that, Adelio brought up what he had just discussed with Fuze: the investigation of the great forest.
First, he intended to personally confirm Veldora's disappearance.
Second, to do that, he needed the help of Eryun and the others, who knew him well.
Those were the two reasons.
'No matter how much weight my name carries, the story that Rimuru became the new ruler after Veldora vanished... unless someone met him in person like Gazel did, it'll be hard to explain.'
Adelio's aim was simple.
He intended to make Eryun and the others witnesses to Veldora's disappearance, and then use that to build a bridge between Rimuru and [Blumund].
If that bridge was built in advance, then later, when Rimuru awakened as a [Demon Lord], [Blumund] would become the restraining force he needed. In return, he could secure [Blumund]'s active cooperation.
Support for Rimuru's goal of harmony between humanity and monsters, and cooperation as allies against their common enemy, the [Empire].
'If Rimuru starts cooperating with human nations before he becomes a [Demon Lord], then later he'll be able to blend in naturally too. For a starting point, [Blumund] is the perfect choice.'
If he started with a powerful nation like [Dwargo], other countries would only grow more wary.
That was why [Blumund], a suitably small nation with exceptional skill in information warfare, was ideal for Rimuru.
Even in the novel, one of the reasons Rimuru had been able to integrate so smoothly with humanity was precisely because of his free mutual cooperation with [Blumund].
"So... just hang in there a little longer. If this goes well, there'll be something in it for you too."
"..."
"......"
"........."
Though they belonged to the [13 Royal Families], Eryun and the others were in no position to oppose Adelio, whose standing was nowhere near comparable to the [Heavenly Emperor]'s.
*
However...
Their dissatisfaction gradually faded the deeper they went into the heart of the great forest.
Fwoooosh!!
No, it had no choice but to fade.
"Teacher. That was the last of the [Giant Ant]s."
"Hehe, well done. Looks like Adelio's side has finished too."
Two women dancing like performers within white flames,
"Maybe because Veldora disappeared, the monsters seem more restless than usual."
And an ash-gray-haired man who cut down giant monsters in a single exchange.
Watching them fight, Eryun's group could not help but understand why these people were called humanity's greatest fighting force.
It was overwhelming domination, so absolute that it left no room even for jealousy or envy.
The realm they had reached was already beyond ordinary comprehension—a domain of superhumans.
They surpassed even Hinata and Yuuki, those said to possess the greatest talent within the human sphere.
Monsters born different from the start, beings comparable to [Catastrophe]s.
"...Wow..."
"Not even the upper-ranking [Magius] are like this..."
"...If things get this bad from him just swinging his sword casually, then I can see why Lady Ermesia treasures him so much."
The sight of those monsters—who had terrified them only a few days ago—now seeming almost pitiful was more than enough to wash away every bit of resentment they had been carrying.
They had been certain that, this time too, they would have to force-march while avoiding those monsters at all costs. But forget a forced march—at this rate, this was practically sightseeing.
"...Amazing."
Eryun in particular, who had always admired adventurers more than anyone, looked at Shizue with the shining eyes of a child.
She was getting to watch Shizue fight up close—the very Shizue whose adventures and legends she had only ever heard about.
It was enough to make her think not getting that vacation had been the right choice after all.
She was that absorbed in it.
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