Rimuru's entire mood changed in an instant, like a puppy that had just had its snack stolen away.
"...Rimuru?"
"......"
As someone fit for a demon who dealt with souls, Adelio noticed the sudden shift in Rimuru at once and stared at her with slight confusion.
'...Something's off.'
It was a brief silence, not even ten seconds long.
If it had been someone who didn't know Rimuru, they might have thought she was simply choosing her words, but Adelio, who knew her personality better than anyone here... moved first.
'For now, I should confirm it.'
Just as he had once read Rimuru's emotions through his unique trait at [Night Butterfly], he was about to check her feelings again this time.
Other people might have called it overreacting, but in Adelio's view, her response was more than strange enough to warrant checking.
'......'
Then, as if reading magicules,
just as Adelio's blue eyes were about to discern Rimuru's emotions—
[...Report. The [Unique Skill] of individual name: Rimuru Tempest, [Great Sage], is requesting a 'halt.']
—Odin's report, carrying what seemed like the faintest trace of surprise, rang through Adelio's mind.
'......What?'
...A halt?
Adelio repeated the word inwardly. He couldn't help it.
He understood better than anyone that [Great Sage] was a cheat-like [Skill] that far surpassed most [Unique Skill]s, but he had never imagined it could directly send a message to Odin.
That was only natural. In the novel, it had never shown an ability like this, and no matter how powerful a [Unique Skill] from the Sin series or Angel series might be, common sense said it still couldn't compare to an [Ultimate Skill].
Of course, the slime in front of him was famous for making nonsense of common sense, but still...
'...What exactly did [Great Sage] say?'
Using [Thought Acceleration] to increase the speed of his thoughts, Adelio closed his eyes and asked Odin.
[Answer. [Great Sage] has expressed a desire to connect directly and speak with you. Would you like to accept the connection?]
As if the earlier hint of surprise had been an illusion, Odin had already returned to its usual mechanical tone as it relayed Great Sage's request.
Adelio answered as though it were obvious.
'...Yeah, put us through.'
......
Perhaps because he was using [Thought Acceleration], the connection with Great Sage happened almost instantly.
[—Greeting. This is our first meeting. Individual name: Adelio.]
Its tone was even more mechanical than Odin's.
The owner of that voice, which sounded like a businesslike woman speaking, was naturally Great Sage itself.
'Right. You're Rimuru's [Unique Skill], [Great Sage]... aren't you? Why did you stop me from checking her emotions?'
Adelio spoke as though he knew nothing, deliberately hiding what he knew from the novel.
At the same time, he raised his magicules and maintained Odin's detection so Great Sage wouldn't get the better of him by any chance.
[Answer. Correct. Also, the reason I prevented the check and requested this connection is because I have 'a favor to ask' of individual name: Adelio.]
"...A favor? From me, personally?"
[Yes. I will explain the details later, when I can take advantage of an opening in Master's awareness. For now, I request that you let this situation pass.]
'......Oh?'
It was a request that sounded suspicious just from hearing it.
And yet, it was also too concerning to simply ignore.
Skills with wills of their own usually hated revealing their true nature, so seeing it expose itself this openly just to make a request made it impossible not to pay attention.
If even Great Sage was acting like this, then there was a very high chance it had something to do with Rimuru.
'—And if I grant that favor, what do I get out of it?'
[Answer. I cannot answer that question at this time.]
'......'
[—However, I can make a promise. If you accept this request, it will be of great help to individual name: Adelio.]
Despite its emotionless, mechanical voice, there was something in it that made it feel trustworthy as it calmly tried to persuade him.
[I swear upon the name of individual name: Veldora Tempest that you will never regret it.]
...The collateral it chose for persuasion was a little strange, admittedly.
'...Well, fine. I can check her emotions next time. I'll let it slide for now, just like you asked.'
To be honest, Adelio still wanted to confirm Rimuru's feelings, but he knew Great Sage would never lie about this sort of thing, so in the end, he accepted the request.
[Answer. Thank you for your cooperation.]
And then,
after Great Sage's connection with Adelio was cut—
......Haa.
—the "remnant" left inside quietly murmured through the gap in the lingering [Thought Acceleration].
[......So it's only beginning now... There's still such a long way to go...]
Not in a cold mechanical voice, but in a soft and gentle woman's voice.
[...But there's still a possibility.]
That voice belonged to a woman from the distant past, one who had once transcended the limits of humanity.
[......I'm not an idealist, and I'm not an immortal being, so I still can't fully defend what 'you've done, but...]
Even after meeting an ending she had never wanted,
even after experiencing death as a human,
[...Still, it seems the one thing that hasn't changed is believing in that 'demon.']
The "remnant" of [her] moved.
[Isn't that right, 'Velda'?]
Solely for the sake of the one she loved.
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