A week had passed since Rimuru entered sleep mode, a low-activity state.
In the original novel, Rimuru had only named six close attendants, including Benimaru, so she woke up after about four days. But this time, she had also given names to the elder's blood relatives who had come along with those six, so the sleep mode seemed to be lasting longer.
Because of that, Adelio had suggested to [Great Sage] that it might be better to wake Rimuru up early, just in case something happened, but she—
"Objection. As long as Individual Name: Adelio remains here, the probability of any major incident occurring is high unlikely."
—had opposed the idea.
'Well... unless the [Aggressors] suddenly show up, there really isn't much danger.'
[Great Sage]'s judgment was accurate again this time.
In fact, during that entire week, not only had there been no major problems, there had not even been minor ones like arguments.
"......"
'Though thanks to that, I never got the chance to hand this over to Rimuru...'
The lack of trouble was good news for Adelio too, but this time, the situation was a little different.
There had been plenty of value in using the time to gradually teach Benimaru and Shion the [Oboro Shinmei Style], and to help Eryun's group interact with the monsters, but beyond that, it had mostly been wasted.
Originally, Rimuru should have grown stronger by absorbing Ifrit and Shizue. Since she had not absorbed either of them, Adelio had been trying to make up for that lost strength before the war with the [Orc]s began.
Just as he had done for Shizue, in his own way.
'...There's still time, so should I wait a little longer?'
Just as Adelio's worries were growing along with the increasingly aggressive advance of the [Orc]s—
"Sir Adelio!"
—good news finally arrived after a week.
**
"...I was asleep for another whole week?"
"Yes! During that time, some of the [Kijin] left to deliver news to the [Ogre] village, and the remaining [Kijin], along with your companions, are still staying here!"
Rigurdo, who had come as soon as he heard from the [Hobgoblin]s that Rimuru had awakened, gave her a rough summary of the key events from the past week.
Maybe because Rimuru had already fallen into sleep mode several times before, he seemed to be getting more and more capable at handling things.
"Ah... right, got it."
However, Rimuru's expression was not especially bright after hearing Rigurdo's report.
In particular, every time Rigurdo mentioned Adelio, her liquid body wobbled as if she were deeply uncomfortable.
'...So he still hasn't left.'
Well, of course he wouldn't leave this great forest before dealing with the 200,000-strong [Orc] army that had attacked the [Ogre]s... no, the [Kijin]. Thinking that, Rimuru muttered to herself with mixed feelings.
"......Should I be glad he's still here, or just uncomfortable about it...?"
"Pardon?"
"...No, it's nothing."
Shaking her head lightly at Rigurdo's question, Rimuru soon hopped down onto the floor.
"For now, call in the [Kijin] who are still here. After that—"
"Rimuru, you're awake?"
"—!"
Rimuru, who had just been trying to collect herself and give Rigurdo an order, jolted when Adelio's voice came from outside the hut.
"There's something I wanted to talk to you about. Can I come in?"
"Uh... huh?! Y-yes, come in!"
Rimuru was usually very good at pretending to stay calm, but there was no way she could completely regain her composure in such a short moment when she had been visibly conflicted just seconds ago.
The instant she answered and told him to come in, she regretted it, but she could not bring herself to take the words back.
Slide...
"Looks like all your magicules have recovered, at least?"
Entering the hut with his usual composed expression, Adelio looked down at Rimuru, who was practically plastered to the floor, and spoke.
"Y-yeah."
Rimuru nodded, but a trace of flustered emotion was still plainly visible on her face.
"Ahem... then I'll be taking my leave now!"
Perhaps sensing that the atmosphere between them was unusual, Rigurdo hurriedly fled the hut.
Behind him, Rimuru silently begged him to stay, but he was already gone.
And so, left alone together, Rimuru asked in an awkward voice,
"...So what was it you wanted to say...?"
The last conversation they had shared a week ago had been about introducing lovers and making small talk, so Rimuru was extremely cautious, worried that he might say something shocking again, at least to her. But when she heard what came out of Adelio's mouth, her expression turned surprised.
"I had a gift for you."
"......A gift?"
Rimuru tilted her head at the sudden mention of a gift.
And Adelio, apparently deciding it would be better to show her directly rather than explain it with words, took out the "body" he had kept stored away in subspace for a long time.
"This."
It was a body created using Sarion's magitech and the power of Shizue's [the body of a sage].
A new model [Homunculus].
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