The Guild and the Queen.

Shizue woke up, having had the best sleep of her life, only to realize she was still holding onto Rimuru. She was a little embarrassed at first but then realized it was one of the Rimuru pillows. She smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort from the gesture.

As she stood up and looked outside the window, she could see the villagers playing catch with Ranga, and surprisingly, a good portion of the broken buildings were fixed. People were running around with wide smiles on their faces, which made Shizue smile as well.

Stepping outside, she saw Ranga jump high to catch a ball before landing gracefully on the ground, surrounded by kids. 

"Ah, Shizue, you're finally awake," Ranga said, feeling the kids run to try to jump over him. "Master was waiting for you."

After gently shaking off the kids, Ranga gave them a few goodbyes before having Shizue jump on his back. They rode off into a mountain area hidden near the forest. As they arrived, they saw a Teleportation Circle inscribed on the ground.

"Master wanted to send a few of the Tempest Riders to make sure no more monsters started to leave the forest. So he should be back in a bit," Ranga said as he sat down and began to wait.t.

"Did Rimuru fix up the houses?" Shizue asked, looking back at the village.

"Master doesn't need to sleep, so he decided to do something while the village was sleeping."

"I see…" Shizue said with a soft smile. Just as she was about to continue asking questions, the circle lit up, and Rimuru appeared.

"Ah, Shizue, how'd you sleep?" He asked, putting the mask back on his face.

"Best sleep ever," Shizue said with a smile as she turned back to the village. "Thank you for helping them."

"Oh, yeah, don't worry about it. The old man caught me in the middle of fixing stuff up, so I decided to head out before we got stuck doing another celebration." He joked as he hopped onto Ranga, whose tail began to wag happily.

"Come on, I wanna double-check a few of the villages along the way. From what the old man told me, a few monsters are making a mess. My one rule is not to cause a mess, so I gotta go punish them, don't ya think?"

— — —

Along the way, they saw a few more villages that needed help. Since it would only take a few minutes to fix their issues, Rimuru and Shizue continued along the path to Englassia, solving small problems and setting up routes for the Tempest Riders to follow.

Shizue's expression kept getting warmer and warmer as they went, clearly touched by Rimuru's willingness to help others, even in small ways.

"Rimuru… are you sure about what you told me about Yuuki?" Shizue asked as they rode, her voice was a bit hesitant as she asked the question. She had practically raised him, so hearing that he might not be who she thought he was hurt her.

"Absolutely, I don't know everything about him, but I know he is working with Clayman, who was behind the Orc Disaster and Charybdis. If Ifrit had taken over you that day, he would have used Hinata to try to kill me, or well, used me to try to kill her. Honestly, I think he would have been fine with either outcome."

Shizue's expression became complicated. Ever since Rimuru had told her about Yuuki, she had had a lot of questions. She had some time to process the information, but now that they were getting closer to Englassia, it was all starting to come back.

"I… I will trust you, but even then…" Shizue began.

"Let's focus on saving the kids and taking them to Tempest first. I don't know Yuuki well enough to know how he would react, but if you confront him, he might hold them hostage." Rimuru began before thinking for a moment and adding.

"Honestly, I don't even know what his deal is. The little I know about him is enough to make me wary of him. I might be taking things too far, but I don't want to risk it when Tempest or the kids are on the line. If you wish, we can confront him about it later, but I would rather do it after I am sure everyone is safe."

Shizue got lost in thought for some time, before eventually nodding her head in agreement to the plan.

Thanks to Ranga's speed, they were able to cover a large portion of their trip that day, even accounting for their detours. After camping for another night, they finally reached Englassia. The kingdom was absolutely massive, with lines that were even longer than those to enter Dwargon.

Thankfully, Shizue, an A+ Ranked adventurer, was with him. With her rank, they could use a specific side door reserved for VIPs. Since Shizue knew the guard, they didn't even bother to scan Rimuru's ID.

Englassia was truly an amazing sight; the streets were clean, and the buildings were tall. The technology level seemed the most advanced that Rimuru had stumbled upon. Like on Earth, the stores had large glass panels to let people look inside. It was truly amazing just how far the technology in the city had advanced. Even the doors to the guild branch opened automatically.

Shizue used to be a frequent visitor to the Guild, so the secretary at the front desk instantly recognized her, even without the burns on her face. It also helped that the person next to her was wearing her usual mask.

In an instant, the secretary set up a meeting between them and Yuuki.

She led the way until they arrived at a small office with a large library. Inside was a young boy who appeared to be the age of a middle schooler. He had black hair and dark brown eyes, and his face instantly lit up when he saw Shizue.

"Shizu! When I heard you were back, I almost didn't believe it. But look at you. You look healthier than ever."

Shizue returned the smile.

"Thanks, Yuuki. On my trip, I figured out how to properly bond with Ifrit, which meant I could regain my health while still keeping my mind. So, I am back to try to take care of my students. I haven't figured out how to cure them yet, but I still want to take them somewhere where they would fit better."

Yuuki nodded brightly as he turned to Rimuru, playfully asking Shizue.

"Is this another stray otherworlder you picked up?" 

"I guess you could say so," Rimuru said with a chuckle as he extended his hand. "I am Rimuru."

After carefully analyzing the situation with Sage, he decided there was no need to hide his identity. If anything, it might just make him more suspicious. They didn't have all the information they needed on Yuuki, so for now, they would play the "keep your enemies closer" game.

Yuuki nodded to himself after introducing himself, taking in the information before asking Shizue.

"You said you wanted to take the kids somewhere. Where would that be? I trust you, but I can't really send them away without a proper reason."

Shizue took a deep breath, thinking for a few moments before speaking. 

"I… I am not sure I will be able to save them. So, I want them to spend their days in a place that will welcome them in. I have been spending the past few months in a place called Tempest, in the Forest of Jura, and I think they would be happy there… even if they don't... you know…" She said, her voice a bit strained since she felt uncomfortable lying to Yuuki. However, that only served to sell the illusion even more.

In Yuuki's eyes, that expression looked exactly like the times when she had failed to find a method for curing them.

"I see…" Yuuki muttered, thinking for a few moments before shrugging. "Fine, you can take them back with you if you think that's for the best. I trust your judgment enough to know you wouldn't take them anywhere dangerous."

A soft smile appeared on Shizue's face as she gave Yuuki a small bow.

"Thank you, Yuuki." She said, her voice still slightly conflicted.

"It's probably going to take a few weeks for me to fill out all the paperwork and convince the rest of the representatives of Englassia, but you can return to your class and teach the kids for a bit until the prep is ready." Yuuki said as he wrote a note in his notebook before turning to Rimuru. "What about you? Are you also going with Shizu? Or do you have other plans?"

Rimuru nodded at the question.

"I was planning on going with Shizue. We still haven't given up on finding a cure for the kids, so I wanted to meet them to see if I could figure anything out. I'm optimistic, even if I don't have everything figured out yet." Rimuru said, causing Yuuki to smile.

"Ah, that sounds about right. I was wondering if Miss Shizu had given up on them. I'm glad to see that both of you still hold hope."

Hearing that, Rimuru noticed Yuuki's body relax slightly, though his expression remained unchanged.

"Oh, and Yuuki, I have one last thing I wanted to ask you," Shizue added, catching his attention. "Could you send a message to Hinata? There's something I want to tell her. And I also want to meet her face-to-face now that I am… well… cured. Tell her it is urgent and would mean everything to me."

Yuuki nodded his head with a smile.

"I'll make sure she gets the message."

— — —

In Jistav, Clayman sat on his usual desk, playing chess alone. He was angry. First, his Orc Disaster had been killed, and then his plan to use Charybdis to enslave Frey and kill the Harpies had failed, all because of one person, Rimuru.

Tear and Footman had seen the fight between them and Charybdis, showing that Rimuru was not someone to look down on. Even if he had been working with Frey, it was still ridiculous to see the two of them take on Charybdis, a monster that should've been practically unkillable.

The pieces were all moving out of their places, and the chessboard was becoming messy in his eyes. He wanted to bring a little bit of order, but nothing was working out his way.

"Lord Kazalim… what should I do?" Clayman asked out loud as he pulled a mask out of his jacket and placed it on his face, taking in a deep breath, the sensation of the mask calming his nerves. He had been created to scheme, but no matter what he planned, nothing was working.

"You look rough." Laplace's playful voice resounded, causing Clayman to snap out of his trance. "I come with good news: the boss has a plan to help you out."

Clayman opened his eyes, removing the mask from his face as he asked.

"He is? What is his plan? Right now, the only thing that could help me is dealing with that damned slime. He has Milim and Frey under his finger, and Carrion owes him a favor for saving his servant. If Carrion abandons the plan, he has the three votes he needs to become a Demon Lord." Clayman said with some annoyance.

"Ah, yes, the slime is a tricky one. But luckily for you, he is away from home right now. He is all the way in Englassia. He left his poor country all alone." Laplace said, making a few small orbs appear in his hand, and he began to juggle.

"Englassia?" Clayman asked, his eyes widening for a few moments before a smile appeared on his face. "Ah, I see. I am assuming the boss wants to use his connections in Falmuth to make them attack first, doesn't he?" Clayman asked with a smile, his mind already putting the dots together.

"That's why you're the smart one, Clayman." Laplace answered with a chuckle. "Since Shizu is by his side, it might be harder to get the Church to join in the attack, but all the boss has to do is pull a few strings here and there."

Clayman went silent for a few seconds, standing up and looking out of his window as he got lost in thought. He began making plans in his mind before chuckling.

"I see… I have a few plans… I can send Mjurran to infiltrate Tempest in preparation." Clayman began a plan forming in his mind. 

Laplace looked on at Clayman, who looked lost in thought before making the orbs he was juggling disappear.

"Clayman, be careful." He said in an unusually serious tone.

Clayman laughed slightly, turning to look at Laplace.

"Don't worry about me. Our Lord created me specifically for this mission. Now that they have been brought back, I will not fail as long as they watch."

Laplace looked at Clayman before standing up.

"Kazalim should have the Orb of Domination ready soon. But be careful; Milim is not someone you should look down on. She has been alive longer than even our Lord. There is a reason why even Guy Crimson doesn't mess with her."

Clayman smiled, his voice turning warm as he shook his head.

"You underestimate our Lord, Laplace. If they believe the Orb is enough to control her, then I know it will work. I might have to give her the Orb myself since Frey is no longer an option, but I will make sure it all goes as planned."

Laplace gave Clayman a side eye before sighing.

"Our boss will do his best to stall them while all the pieces fall into place. We only have one shot at this. If it looks like things are not going as planned, then just back off. Remember, Clayman, be careful." 

With those words, Laplace vanished.

Clayman poured a wine bottle into his glass, taking a sip before a headache crossed his head. For some reason, some of his plans made him feel as if something was wrong. He wanted to be careful and take each step at a time, but the entire feeling felt wrong.

However, in an instant, it all vanished. One plan appeared in his mind, making him smile with satisfaction.

"You worry too much, Laplace." Clayman said as he took another sip of his wine.

— — —

As Rimuru arrived at Englassia and the wheels began to move on their plans, Shuna arrived at Dwargon. She arrived in an ornate carriage explicitly designed for travel comfort. 

Sir Barskalot pulled the carriage, and Shion and a battalion of Tempest Riders followed the carriage as guards. It was a show of power, and the people outside Dwargon looked on with amazement.

As Shuna stepped out of the carriage, she drew the eyes of everyone around. She wore a pure white dress that made her look angelic. She had Shion next to her, acting as her royal guard.

As the Tempest Knights all stood guard, they led Shuna deep into the castle. It was a show of power from the very beginning, drawing the eyes of all of the citizens as the Tempest wolves all released their magicules enough to show their strength.

Shuna walked with graceful steps, her expression revealing nothing but royal grace as she smiled at the citizens, capturing their hearts.

Once she was led inside of the palace she turned to Gazel and gave him a small bow, enough to show respect.

"King Gazel, it is an honor." She said, smiling as she saw him looking around.

Returning the bow with a nod, Gazel asked, speaking with the same formality as she did since they were surrounded by countless high ranking nobles.

"Queen Shuna, is King Rimuru not here?" 

"I apologize. My husband wished to come here to give the speech personally. However, there was a small emergency he had to take care of. Lives were on the line, so he had to pass on the responsibility to me." Shuna said, her charming smile causing all of the nobles around them to lower their guards.

Gazel went silent for a moment, thinking before asking in a lower tone of voice.

"This is not another Charybdis or Orc Disaster level incident, is it?" If it was serious enough to require Rimuru to deal with it personally, Gazel was ready to call some of his knights to support him. 

They might not have signed a treaty of military assistance, but his relationship with Rimuru was good enough to know that he would repay the help.

"No, it isn't that type of threat. However, that is as much as I can reveal at the moment, I hope you will understand. If the issue escalates, I will personally send you the message. So you need not worry." 

Gazel looked at her for a moment before sighing.

"I see… We have a feast planned, you can follow the assistants. I will finish preparing."

There was a fancy dinner where countless nobles showed up, all curious about the new Queen of Tempest. They had met Rimuru before, but when they looked at Shuna, it was like seeing a goddess.

Shuna made sure to sneakily bring up some things that could help Tempest in the future, and some of the nobles nodded their heads and agreed to some of the deals, which left Gazel to shake his head. While they saw a goddess, he saw her for what she truly was: a sneaky devil.

During the next day, after all of the preparations were complete, Shuna stepped out into the kingdom to see countless people gathered, their eager faces turned toward the balcony where she would soon speak. The streets were packed full of people, all curious about the new nation Dwargon had allied with.

Shuna took a deep breath, her elegance clear as she stepped forward. With a confident smile and an aura of absolute authority, she began her speech.

"Esteemed citizens of Dwargon, honored guests from distant lands, and noble King Gazel Dwargo, it is an honor to address you today. I am Shuna Tempest, Queen of Tempest and Ruler of the Forest of Jura, a nation forged through strength, vision, and an unwavering commitment to unity.

Tempest stands as a testament to the power of determination and the resilience of our people. Under the exceptional leadership of our King Rimuru Tempest, our nation has risen from the wilderness, harnessing both creativity and cutting-edge innovations to create a society that is both formidable and flourishing.

Our strength is not merely in numbers or resources but in the unbeatable spirit of our citizens and the alliances we have forged. We have welcomed all who seek to contribute to our vision, integrating diverse talents and abilities into a cohesive force that stands ready to defend our ideals and our people.

In Tempest, we have begun to master technology and harness the power of magic. Our warriors are unmatched, our scholars unrivaled, and our artisans unparalleled. We do not shy away from challenges; we meet them head-on with courage and resolve. Our nation is a beacon of power and possibility, a place where every individual can achieve greatness.

However, our strength is not wielded in isolation. We believe that true power is found in collaboration, in the bonds we form with our neighbors. We extend our hand not just in friendship but in cooperation, seeking to build a future where peace is maintained through mutual respect and shared prosperity.

Today, I stand before you not just as a representative of Tempest, but as a symbol of what we can achieve together. We are prepared to defend our ideals, to protect our people, and to support our allies. We are a nation that values strength, but we understand that our greatest strength lies in unity.

Let us join forces, as allies and partners, to forge a future where every nation stands strong, where every race finds its place, and where every individual can thrive. Together, we can create a world where power is tempered by wisdom, where strength is balanced by compassion, and where our combined potential knows no bounds.

Thank you for your attention, your consideration, and your openness to the possibilities that lie ahead. May our futures be bright, our alliances strong, and our shared journey prosperous."

Shuna's words echoed through the streets of Dwargon, powered by magic and leaving a powerful impression on all who heard her. Gazel, who was standing behind her couldn't help but not to himself in approval, even he wasn't sure if Rimuru could have given a speech like it.

Shuna gave the perfect blend of both, showcasing their power, yet not being overbearing and showing the friendly side of Tempest.

— — —

Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: The one, the only, the amazing @Basilisk, the Aussie @LuluViBritania (FF.N, SB, WN and QQ)/-LuluViB|99th Britannian Emperor(Discord) and @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ/WN) | kiyan_tribe( Discord)

Go Check out Basilisk's great story "I'm a Daemon, so what?" 

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