Swearing Loyalty...

The carriage lapsed into an uneasy silence, the only sound being the gentle creaking of the wooden wheels and the voices of the Monsters marching outside. After what felt like an eternity of quiet, Hinata finally turned back toward Framea.

"Aren't the Beastfolk servants of the former Demon Lord Carrion? Why are you pleading your loyalty to Demon Lord Rimuru?" Hinata asked, causing Framea to jolt in surprise.

"Ah, that? Well… after Clayman attacked us, things have been a bit awkward over in Eurazania. Lord Carrion wasn't able to do much to help us, and it's only thanks to Lord Rimuru that we survived. So, a lot of us are leaving Eurazania and pledging our loyalty to Lord Rimuru. My dad is in another carriage with a couple of other leaders from their tribes."

"Won't that create tension between Eurazania and Tempest?" Hinata asked with narrowed eyes.

"Not really. Lord Carrion said to do whatever we wanted. He's been a bit… weird lately, so he doesn't really care if we leave." Framea answered.

'That doesn't sound like what Luminous said Carrion is like…' 

'Eurazania might be on the verge of collapse if he is letting his people leave without much of a struggle.'

'He did step down as a Demon Lord…'

After taking a moment to think, Hinata nodded before finally turning to the Elves.

"And you?"

"Hm? Me?" A blonde elf, seated closest to her, blinked in surprise and pointed to herself hesitantly. 

"Oh, we're not from Sarion. We're from a smaller Elf tribe in the Jura Forest." Her tone was calm, but there was an underlying tension in her words. "We've been having some issues lately. Gozu and Mezu fights are breaking out in our territory, and some of our people have gone missing now that our defenses are starting to break. So, we're heading to Tempest to pledge our loyalty to Lord Rimuru and ask for his help." 

Hinata's expression remained unreadable as she listened. However, after a few seconds, she spoke up.

"Why did you not ask for the help of the church of Luminism?" Hinata asked, with narrowed eyes.

Framea, next to her, jumped at the mention of Luminism, her shoulders tensing visibly. She quickly looked away, trying to compose herself, but her fingers fidgeted nervously, betraying her discomfort. Hinata's keen senses picked up on it, though she didn't comment, letting it pass for now.

The blonde elf's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the question before an awkward chuckle escaped her lips.

"Wait… you're serious?" She asked, incredulous. After a pause, she shook her head with a strained smile. "No offense, but the church of Luminism doesn't exactly have the best reputation in the Forest. We asked for help, but our tribe was too deep in the Forest for the church to offer their support to us. They won't lift a finger to help us, especially since we aren't really 'devout' worshippers of the goddess."

Hinata took a few moments before finally nodding.

"I see…" Hinata muttered.

'One of the Church's faults.' Hinata thought. 'They only serve those devoted to the faith. Others… they're left to fend for themselves.'

It was a flaw she was well aware of but one deeply embedded in the Church's doctrine. 

The Luminism faith prioritized protecting its followers, often turning a blind eye to those who did not actively worship Luminous. It wasn't out of cruelty. It was strategic. The Church only had so many resources, and when Monster attacks were so common, priorities had to be made. Focusing their protection on those who worshiped the goddess also served another purpose: it reinforced Luminous' influence.

For those who survived under the Church's protection, the message was clear. Towns and cities that were shielded from destruction stood as testaments to Luminous' power. And those that were destroyed—those that hadn't sought refuge in the faith—were reminders. The people would look out at the ruined villages, the lost lives, and they would know that only through Luminous could they survive.

Hinata didn't like it, but she understood the necessity. In an ideal world, they would be able to save everyone. But this was not an ideal world.

"Such is life." She muttered under her breath, more to herself than anyone else, before turning to look out of the window again. She should arrive at Tempest by the next day.

'I wonder what he's like.'

— –Rimuru– —

Rimuru let a sigh escape his lips as he turned to look at Shuna next to him. She was giving him a reassuring smile as she waved for Diablo to bring them some more tea.

'How many hours has it been?'

[Today has been a total of 9 hours, 38 minutes, and 23 seconds.] Raphael answered. 

[Thirteen Cyclop tribes, five Satyr villages, twenty-four Naiad communities, seven Gargoyle hordes, one Sphinx, three Naga clans, two Manticore packs, five Chimera prides, fifty Halfling villages, the Gozu, and the Mezu…] Raphael continued, recounting every race and tribe that had traveled to swear their loyalty to him.

Rimuru tuned out most of it and was already familiar with the list. Stronger races, like the Cyclops and Chimera, had tried to challenge him. Trying to take his title as Demon Lord and the entire Jura Forest as their territory.

In the end, Shion smacked them around for a few minutes before they finally surrendered to her and pledged their loyalty. Killing them would have been easy, but dealing with the tribes that had lost their leaders would have been harder. 

After they gave up, Rimuru would give them a punishment to set an example, and then he would give names to them and their tribes. It might seem stupid to name a Monster that had challenged him to a fight, but he had been prepared for it. 

That was simply the way of the Monsters.

You serve those stronger than you. It's as simple as that. It made it rather easy to gather followers.

Plus, the fights would serve as an example for the rest. Shion would smack around the strongest of their race, and then the rest wouldn't complain.

Just as he was about to relax for a moment, the door burst open, and Shion strode in, dragging two mangled but still-living Monsters behind her. They were unrecognizable at first glance, their bodies twisted in unnatural ways, no doubt thanks to Shion's Cook Skill, which had rendered them powerless. 

"Lord Rimuru." Shion announced with the same vigor she always carried, dropping the two mangled Monsters to the floor. "These are the leaders of the Gozu and Mezu tribes. They were causing a mess outside, and since they didn't stop when I asked them to, I punished them. Their tribes are waiting for your decision, and they're no longer fighting."

Rimuru glanced down at the two quivering Monsters on the ground, who were trembling slightly but still alive.

'Add the Gozu and Mezu to the list of troublemakers.' Rimuru thought with a sigh before waving his hand.

"Diablo, Shion… if you would." He asked, and in a moment, both of them stepped forward and healed the two back to their original form.

"No fights shall break out throughout the duration of the Tempest naming ceremony." Diablo announced with a slight frown. "I believe that rule was made quite clear. Was it not?"

Diablo let out some of his pressure onto the pair, with Shion following suit. Feeling the danger from all directions, the pair froze in their place. 

"You are in the presence of Lord Rimuru." Shion reminded the pair with a frown.

The Mezu leader, a man with the head of a Horse, and the Gozu leader, a man resembling a Minotaur, both snapped out of their shock and dropped to their knees as they heard her.

"Lord Rimuru, please forgive my tribe. They had nothing to do with the fight. I will take full responsibility." The Mezu leader said as he bowed his head. Fearing what might happen to his people.

"Lord Rimuru, I assure you. It was not my intention to disrespect you. I simply wanted my tribe to offer their loyalty to you first. The Mezu were ahead of us, so…" The Gozu leader's voice faltered as Diablo's pressure increased around him. "Forgive us, Lord Rimuru. Please spare my tribe. All the blame lies on me."

Hearing them, Rimuru turned to Shuna, raising an eyebrow before subtly pointing at them with his head. It had been hours of negotiations, pledges, and minor conflicts. By now, he was tired of it. 

And that was just what he was experiencing himself. He knew for a fact that the large majority of disputes had been dealt with by others.

Shuna met his gaze with a soft smile, immediately understanding his unspoken request. Clearing her throat, she activated Queen's Grace. Graceful Authority and Diplomatic Charm both activating together for a stronger effect.

"The Gozu and Mezu have been at war for quite some time, haven't they?" Shuna asked, her voice soft yet firm. Her gaze pierced through the two leaders as her Skill gently applied pressure.

" "Yes… Lady Shuna." " Both of them answered in unison.

"As citizens of Tempest, no war will be allowed between our people. You have both disrespected our laws by engaging in conflict within the boundaries of our city. However, we are not blind to your potential." She continued with a nod, her tone shifting to become warmer, more welcoming.

Both leaders slowly looked up, sensing the shift in her tone. There was no anger, just disappointment. Somehow, those simple words were enough for the two tribe leaders to look down in shame, feeling more guilty than ever for their actions.

"Both of you have brought your tribes to Tempest, which shows your initiative. The fact that you both came here today, seeking Lord Rimuru's protection, shows that you understand the value of unity. Even if you might have been at war before, know that you can contribute to this nation… together." Shuna spoke like a gentle mother, gently steering them in the right direction.

"If you swear to set aside your differences and work toward the greater good, you will find that Tempest offers far more than mere survival. It offers prosperity, growth, and a future for your tribes."

"Lady Shuna… we only wanted to prove our worth and strength. We see now that our actions were… misguided." The Gozu leader said, lowering his head as the feeling of disappointment and shame grew in him.

"We will set aside our rivalry, for the sake of our tribes… and for Tempest." The leader of the Mezu tribe nodded, his voice trembling slightly.

Both of them looked up at Shuna and Rimuru, waiting for their next decision before looking at each other and nodding.

"Lord Rimuru, Lady Shuna, we offer our undying loyalty to you. May we serve you until the day of our deaths." The Gozu leader said.

"From this day onward, the Mezu tribe will serve under Tempest." The Mezu leader added.

A soft, proud smile spread across Shuna's face as she turned her gaze to Rimuru, her expression silently telling him, 'your turn.'

"From now on, your name will be Mezul and Gozul." Rimuru announced. "We will continue with the naming ceremony for your tribes tomorrow. You may leave."

The two tribe leaders bowed once again to Rimuru and Shuna. Then, they turned to each other before giving a strong handshake and walking out, guided by Shion.

"You know, I'll never get tired of watching you work." Rimuru said with a soft smile. "You still have that charm in you even after nine hours of constant work."

Shuna blushed slightly as she heard the compliment, her smile becoming warmer.

"Well, I'll never get tired of helping you." Shuna replied, her tone soft and supportive. "Like I told you before, if you're tired, you can leave this to me. Or, we can stop earlier and continue the day after." She offered gently.

"No, I don't want to dump the whole mess on you. Even if you can handle it, I know how stressful it is. What kind of husband would I be if I just left all my responsibilities to you?" Rimuru answered, refusing the suggestion with a smile and causing Shuna to giggle.

"Well, if I'm dumping my responsibilities, then you should too. We can leave this whole mess to Rigurd, Mamoru, or the rest." Rimuru added, stretching slightly and causing Shuna to shake her head with a smile. "Though it's not like I can pass off the naming responsibility to them."

"How about we do one final group and finish the day?" Shuna suggested, reaching out to hold his hand. "You did ask me to stop you if you started giving out too many senseless or lazy names." She said, gently shaking her head with a smile.

Hearing her, Rimuru burst out laughing, thinking back to the past few names he had given out.

"Ok, maybe calling that last Naga 'Snek' was a bit much. But you have to admit that most of my names have been pretty good so far." Rimuru answered between laughs.

Just as the laughter subsided, Rimuru turned to see Frey entering the room. She wore a long, elegant crimson dress, a noticeable shift from her usual form-fitting bodysuit. Frey had been spending more time in Tempest recently, and during one of her visits, she had gone shopping with Shuna for a new wardrobe. The change suited her, though she could still revert to her combat attire if the situation called for it.

"Having fun?" Frey asked with a teasing tone, though her wide grin betrayed her amusement.

"Something like that." He answered, having regained some of his energy back. "You know, after naming a couple hundred thousand Orcs, you kind of get used to it. But back then, I didn't have to sit through these long speeches. Some of the ones today… well, you could say they are passionate."

Frey laughed, her grin widening as she stepped closer to them. Her mischievous laughter returning more of his energy.

"Are you sure you don't want to join next time?" Shuna asked with a soft smile. "There are some… 'interesting' ways some have tried to swear their loyalty to us."

"No, thank you." Frey answered, shaking her head. "That sounds exhausting. As enjoyable as having other people plead their loyalty to me was once, I've gone through it before, and that was more than enough."

Taking a seat on the throne to Rimuru's left, Frey stretched her wings, getting comfortable.

"And besides." She continued, casting a glance at the door before turning her gaze back to Rimuru. "My territory was nowhere near the size of Tempest. Who knew there were so many races hiding in the forest? I certainly didn't."

Rimuru nodded along, but then something clicked. Frey still had that same mischievous grin she had when she walked in.And judging by the way she was looking at him, she was excited for something.

"Oh? I know that smile." Rimuru said with a chuckle, eyeing her curiously.

"Finally noticed, huh? I was beginning to wonder if dealing with so many people had messed with your eyes." Frey answered, letting out an excited chuckle as she looked at the door one final time. "Remember that one promise I made you?"

Before Rimuru could respond, Frey sent a Thought Communication through the door. Moments later, the door opened, and Carrion walked in, followed by his three Beastketeers. 

"Oh." Rimuru let out, holding back the smile on his face. "Carrion?"

Carrion's expression was serious, and behind him, the Beastketeers wore conflicted looks, their loyalty and emotions clearly at odds. A heavy silence settled over the room, and for a moment, no one spoke. Then, Carrion finally exhaled, meeting Rimuru's gaze with a mixture of resolve and regret.

"Rimuru Tempest… The day we met feels like yesterday." Carrion spoke, releasing some of his magicules to enhance his presence. "The day you defeated Charybdis."

"We never did much trading afterward, did we?" Rimuru asked in a casual tone as he sat back on his throne. "Feels like a shame, really. I feel like we could have been good friends."

In truth, Rimuru had been prepared to do anything in his power for an alliance with him before. When he first arrived in this world, he didn't want to let his knowledge of the future to lead him to his death.

He wanted to use that knowledge to build a solid foundation for his future so that even if something went wrong, he would be prepared.

After defeating the Orc Disaster, he was split between two paths. 

Eurazania…. Or Fulbrosia.

From his memory, he knew that Carrion was a trustworthy and easygoing king. However, he had Charybdis as his hidden card to win over Frey. So, in the end, he went to Fulbrosia first since he felt that it would have been easier to win her over.

With Frey by his side, he felt safer in the future. And then he had gotten carried away with Englassia and Ramiris, only for the war with Falmtuh to start.

After Awakening as a True Demon Lord with Frey, he became comfortable with his strength. And in the end, he had forgotten about Carrion. Leaving him only as one of the pawns in his game against Clayman and as a hobby for Frey.

In another world, they might have been close friends. Hell, he might have even Awakened with Carrion if he had gone to him first. But in the end, this was not that world.

Before Carrion answered, his body relaxed ever so slightly after realizing Rimuru wasn't looking down on him. And, thanks to that informality, Carrion decided to be honest.

"No... we didn't." Carrion admitted, his voice carrying a hint of frustration. "But the only person I can blame is myself. I owed you for sparing my servant not once but twice. Still, I never made an effort to repay that debt."

He paused, clenching his teeth briefly as he recalled the past. The Beastketeers behind him shifted uneasily, clearly understanding the weight of what their lord was about to say.

"And then, the attack on Eurazania occurred." Carrion sighed heavily, the regret clear in his voice. "I've had a lot of time to reflect on it. Too much time, perhaps."

Rimuru remained silent, watching Carrion closely. He could already guess the reason behind the visit from Frey's excitement, but he wanted to hear it directly.

"Is that why you are here?" Rimuru asked.

"Yes." Carrion answered. "I am here to make things right."

— — —

Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: The one, the only, the amazing @Basilisk, and @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ/WN) | kiyan_tribe( Discord)

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

https://discord.gg/WTgN9J3YgK