"We're here."
At the far end of the western continent, where East and West met.
Once, this great forest had been known as the land ruled by the [Storm Dragon], but now it had transformed into a single nation: the [Jura Tempest Federation].
"...This place is still developing incredibly fast."
This was where Adelio had wanted to come.
Ever since being reborn as Rudra's new reincarnation vessel, he had drawn immense attention from the powerful figures of the [Empire] from childhood onward. Because of that, there were few places where he could truly relax as much as [Ruberios] and here.
'...If only I hadn't been born in the [Empire], I would've spent every last coin I had just to buy her a building here first...'
Of course, it wasn't just the appeal of this place as a refuge. There were also slightly materialistic thoughts, and the looming great war that would break out in the near future, both of which made him want to come here...
...In any case, Adelio, his eyes tinged with regret, turned his gaze toward the capital of [Tempest].
And Velgrynd, who had been watching him from right beside him, seemed to read something from his expression. She drew out a fan adorned with blue feathers the same color as her hair and spoke.
"Hmm. Coming to a Demon Lord's domain in your capacity as a Hero... do you perhaps want this place? If you just say the word, I can immediately—"
"—Absolutely not, so don't say terrifying things like that..."
Thousands of years ago, Rudra had once stormed Guy's [White Ice Palace] simply because he was short on money, and Velgrynd seemed to be recalling that incident as if it were nothing at all while showing signs of raising her magicules. Startled out of his wits, Adelio hurriedly stopped her and let out a sigh.
"...I've told you before, but I have no intention of fighting the Demon Lords. And I have even less intention of forcibly subjugating other countries and taking them."
Though he was Rudra's reincarnation vessel, Adelio had none of Rudra's ambition to unify the world, nor his grand cause of erasing the suffering of the world. Looking at the familiar longsword hanging at his waist, he continued.
"For Rudra's goal, defeating all the Demon Lords would be the obvious thing to do. But at least I don't want that. To begin with, I think you're mistaken about me being Rudra's reincarnation in the first place."
What Adelio wanted to tell her was simple.
Saying he would not defeat the Demon Lords meant he would not fight Guy, and that was practically the same as saying he would render meaningless the entire process of Rudra repeating hundreds of reincarnations.
In other words, for Velgrynd, who loved Rudra, this should have been the most unacceptable course of action possible—and the surest way for Adelio to break through her stubborn attachment.
"Well, if that's what you want, then I'll say it again. Do as you please."
But contrary to Adelio's expectations, Velgrynd simply opened her fan wide with an elegant smile, as if it truly didn't bother her at all.
Then, with the fan spread gorgeously like a peacock's wings, she pointed it at Adelio's chest and told him once more in a voice that held not the slightest trace of anger or rejection.
"It may be sad that Rudra's long dream would only now come to an end, but if that is your wish, then I do not mind."
Even if it were something that would harm me.
The affection Velgrynd held for him was far deeper and broader than Adelio imagined.
Perhaps even far greater than the "jealousy" her older sister directed toward her own partner.
At a loss for words once again before Velgrynd's unending affection, Adelio pressed his lips shut. Then, from somewhere in the distance, he heard a voice calling his name.
"Adelio~!"
Tearing his gaze away from Velgrynd, Adelio looked toward the source of that voice, mature yet somehow strangely girlish, and soon saw a woman with sky-blue hair waving at him from the air.
"...Rimuru."
That woman's name was Rimuru Tempest.
In the past, the two had become acquainted after saving Shizue together from nearly being killed by Ifrit, [Ifrit]. She was, like him, a reincarnator from another world.
"Come on over already~ Shizu and the others are already in the carriage~"
One of the few Demon Lords with whom he, a Hero, got along well, she had once been one of the [Ten Great Demon Lords]... no, now she was one of the final members of the [Octagram].
"...Oh? It seems you've become quite close with that Demon Lord. From what I heard, I thought you had only happened to meet a few times, and that was all. Wasn't that right, A. de. li. o?"
Unlike Adelio, Velgrynd had only heard about Rimuru through others, and this was their first time meeting in person. In a voice quiet enough that the steadily approaching Rimuru could not hear, she whispered to him.
"First there was [Blanc], the one you made a pact with last time, and then that divine progenitor's disciple and daughter as well. Somehow, it feels like more and more women keep gathering around you... but I'm sure it's just my imagination, right?"
Velgrynd was usually generous toward almost everything Adelio did, but when it came to other women, she had always reacted sensitively. Now she wore a smile that was both beautiful and chilling.
"Don't make me too uneasy. If I start feeling any more anxious than this... I may end up wanting to lock you away inside the [Empire] forever."
...Revealing just a sliver of the vast desire hidden behind her boundless affection, she let her jewel-like eyes gleam like a hunter watching its prey.
And they continued to shine that way until she boarded the carriage with him, and until the moment they arrived at their destination—[Ruberios].
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