The Labyrinth.

After returning to Englassia, he met with Shizue to tell her the plans. He would have about two more weeks with the kids before he would have to return to Tempest and set everything in motion. But now, the kids had a set date for when they would be saved and go on a road trip.

Since he would need Yuuki's permission to take them outside the city, he went to the guild office building. He was ready to give the best Oscar-winning performance of his life.

Since he had sent a message beforehand, the secretary led him directly to Yuuki, who was in the middle of working on some things before looking up at Rimuru with a smile.

"Hello there!" Yuuki said with a smile, pointing for Rimuru to sit in front of him.

"General Kenobi?" Rimuru asked with a chuckle, drawing a confused look from him before bursting out laughing.

"Ah, I hadn't heard that one in a while. Shizue never really got my references, and the kids all have their own things. Good to see there is someone like me around now." Yuuki said with a friendly smile, putting aside the papers he was working on to give Rimuru his full attention.

"I heard the reports from the school. It sounds like you are a great teacher. I am surprised you are getting them to learn the language so quickly." Yuuki said with a chuckle. "When I first got here, I had to spend months figuring everything out, so it's good that they are getting the hang of it while they are still young."

Rimuru nodded, smiling just like him as he put his mask away to show his expression. It would have been harder for Yuuki to trust him if he couldn't even see his face.

"I bet. You should have seen me when I first arrived in this world. As a slime, I couldn't see, hear, or breathe. I thought I was in a coma for a few months. It was rough." He said, thinking back to Shion's cupcakes to nail the pained expression.

Yuuki chuckled, his expression turning more compassionate.

"Well, I am glad that you are here now. Speaking of, what did you want to talk about? You said it was about the kids. Is there anything wrong?

"No, no, it's actually the opposite. Things are going great, so I wanted to take the kids out to explore for a bit. They mostly spent their days stuck in school, so I wanted to start giving them a few trips outside." Rimuru answered with a smile.

Yuuki's eyebrows raised slightly in surprise, thinking momentarily as he asked.

"That sounds great! Where do you want to take them?" His voice still sounded as friendly as ever. Still, there was a slight change in his expression, almost imperceptible if it wasn't for Sage closely examining him and his reactions during a normal interaction.

"I thought we could start by taking them around to explore the city, nothing major, and then plan a few picnic trips outside. It would do them good to stretch out and have a wide field to run around for a bit."

Yuuki thought about it for some moments before nodding his head.

"That should be fine. Thanks for asking me first. It helps me set up all the procedures. You wouldn't believe how much of a pain it is to try to move Otherworlders around, even when they are just kids." Yuuki said with a sigh, leaning back.

"Hey, Rimuru, how is it like to run a nation? I heard a few things here and there, but I am kind of curious." 

[Notice. This could be a trap to reveal more information. Yuuki's voice is 20% deeper and he is speaking at 2.74% faster speed. This change is outside of the control parameters.]

'I know, Sage. But thanks for the warning.'

"Honestly? I am just the boss in name. I found myself a bunch of capable people and let them deal with the majority of it. It's mostly a big game of pretend." Rimuru said with a shrug, casually grabbing one of the snacks on the table.

"Really? You must be really lucky, Rimuru." Yuuki said with a chuckle, grabbing another of the snacks to eat, just like Rimuru.

"Tell me about it. It's wild how lucky I have gotten, to tell ya the truth, I should probably be dead." 

Yuuki's eyebrows rose slightly before he sat back.

"I actually wanted to ask you something. Some of my adventurers who work near the forest of Jura mentioned something about a slime being 'Veldora's Prophet.' What's all that about?"

Rimuru thought for a moment, leaning closer before speaking in a whisper.

"Can I tell ya a secret?" He said, causing Yuuki to lean in closer. 

"What is it?" Yuuki asked, his eyes focused to catch any small detail.

"I bluffed. I made that up since the goblins kept talking about Veldora disappearing. I honestly don't get it, but I keep bluffing, and somehow, I keep getting away with it. It's crazy." Rimuru said, and though Yuuki looked skeptical, he eventually sighed and sat back.

"I guess that's possible." He muttered to himself before turning to Rimuru. "You actually wouldn't be the first person I met that lives on a bluff. One of my friends became the Lightspeed Hero even though he doesn't do much of anything. Did you, by any chance, awaken a skill called Chosen One? Or something similar to it?" 

Rimuru's eyes widened slightly as he heard him. He had heard countless rumors about Masayuki, and he had been on the guard since, from the sounds of it, he was supposed to be strong. He even had a small colosseum battle coming up soon, which he had planned to avoid.

"Chosen One? What does it do?" Rimuru asked, but Yuuki just shook his head.

"I guess not, then. It wouldn't be right for me to reveal his secrets. If you want to know, ask him yourself." Yuuki said with a shrug. "So is that a no on the Skill?"

Rimuru thought for a few moments, debating internally with Sage before shrugging.

"I don't know. However, I would rather keep the details of my skill to myself."

"Fair enough." Yuuki said as he nodded his head.

After a moment of Yuuki getting lost in his thoughts, Rimuru asked a question.

"I actually had a question. How long do you think before the kids can go back to Tempest?" 

"About two or three months. I promise that I am trying my best, but there are a lot of loops I need to go through since they are Otherworlders." Yuuki answered, shaking his head as if he was dealing with a headache.

With that, the two of them continued to talk for some time about random things until Rimuru left, leaving Yuuki to sit in his office with a thoughtful expression as he pulled an orb out of a secret compartment.

— — —

As he took the kids out for their first trip, he wandered around the streets of Englassia. Shizue was leading the way as she was the most familiar. Maybe it was to be expected since Englassia was so massive, but there were actually a few Otherworlders who had made a name for themselves in the city.

One of them was a chef named Yoshida, who was good friends with Shizue and was surprised to see her around without her mask. He knew that Shizue expected to die soon, so seeing her back to full health made him offer all of them a free round of pastries as a celebration.

As they wandered around the city, all the kids kept pulling Rimuru around, showing him and explaining things about the city as if they were experts, trying to impress him. Yet as they did, he felt a strange pull, almost as if something familiar was nearby.

As he followed the feeling with the kids behind him, he arrived at the entrance of a massive colosseum.

"Are you interested in Masayuki too?" Kenya asked, mimicking waving a sword around. "He's the coolest guy ever. I bet he could even kick your butt." 

Rimuru kept looking inside, that strange feeling still in the back of his mind.

'Sage, do you know what that is?' He asked, and after a few moments, Sage's voice echoed.

[Negative. A scan has been completed. Nothing out of the ordinary has been detected.] 

'Nothing?' Rimuru asked, slightly surprised.

[A scan has been run 230 times. No irregular readings have been detected. Universal Sense is also unable to detect any irregularities.]

"Do you want to watch it? I think all the tickets are sold out, but I could try to pull a few strings if you want me to." Shizue offered, noticing his curious expression.

"No, never mind. It must be my imagination or something." Rimuru answered, the strange feeling vanishing as he began to walk away with the kids.

Time passed swiftly as he continued teaching the children alongside Shizue. 

Each child had a distinct personality that shone through during lessons. He and Shizue took turns teaching and keeping the kids entertained during breaks.

During his return trips to Tempest, Rimuru made sure to bring back gifts for the children, each one thoughtfully chosen.

For Alice, he presented a stuffed toy crafted by Shuna from the finest threads. Alice's magic relied on her toys as golems, so a nearly unbreakable one allowed her to unleash her full power. Although he could have given her one made of Magisteel, she had requested it be soft and huggable.

"This is perfect, Rimuru-sensei! Thank you!" she exclaimed, hugging the toy tightly when she got it, running off to play with it.

Kenya received a Unique-Quality sword from Kurobe, made of pure Magisteel and Orichalcum. The sword would grow with him, absorbing his magicules and molding itself into the perfect weapon over time.

"Wow, this sword is amazing!" Kenya said, his eyes wide with excitement as he swung it around, almost hitting Shizue. "Um… I promise I'll be careful" He added awkwardly after seeing Shizue's angry expression.

For Ryota, he brought a magic necklace designed to keep his mind clear when using his Frenzy skill. Enchanted with mind-focusing spells, it helped him maintain strength and control over his body.

"Thank you, Rimuru-sensei," Ryota said, slipping the necklace over his head. "This will help a lot."

Gale's gifts were a shield and a spear tailored for him. The spear could expand and contract on command, allowing him to carry it conveniently and even extend it mid-fight to surprise opponents. However, it was not like he would be using it in a battle any time soon.

He usually wasn't one to play around with weapons, but he couldn't hold the urge back as he raised his shield and looked at Kenya with a smile.

"Hit me! I wanna see what this can do!"

As for Chloe, he had promised her his mask once he left Englassia. Shizue had given him full ownership so he would pass it on to her. For some reason, it just felt like the right thing to do. If anything, her gift made the other kids the most jealous, but nonetheless, they all appreciated their gifts too much to complain.

"Rimuru-sensei, really? Your mask?" Chloe asked, her eyes wide with surprise and gratitude.

"Yes, Chloe. I think it suits you," Rimuru replied with a smile. Chloe beamed, carefully accepting the mask and then giving Rimuru a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

With their spirits lifted by the gifts, Rimuru decided to spend his final week of waiting teaching them as much as he could. The children absorbed information from the books he had created with Sage faster than he thought possible, their young minds proving to be incredibly adaptable.

The day of the field trip arrived, and the children's excitement was contagious. They dashed around, their laughter and shouts filling the air until Rimuru and Shizue entered, causing them to settle down.

"Alright, is everyone ready?" Rimuru asked, grinning as the children nodded enthusiastically.

"Remember, we're going out of the city, so behave, okay?" Shizue added, her giggles mingling with their excited nods. She waved them to follow, and they set off through the streets.

As they walked through the streets, the kids were singing the song that Rimuru had taught them. The song that always popped into his mind whenever he had to wander around.

"We're off on a secret mission. We got a secret plan. We're going to go and slay your bro. As quietly as we can. We'll sneak up and then surprise him. Before he has time to think!"

Shizue couldn't help but chuckle with a strange expression as she heard the lyrics.

"Couldn't you have taught them a nicer song?" She asked, being unable to hide the smile that was appearing on her face.

"No, no, it had to be that one. I don't make the rules." He said with a chuckle before singing along with them, causing Shizue to roll her eyes as she began to hum the melody.

They drew some curious looks as they wandered, but the people just chuckled and moved out of the way of the excited kids. They even stopped by Yoshida's place to grab a few snacks for the road, despite Rimuru already having brought some of Shuna's best treats for a picnic once they met with the small fairy, Ramiris.

Their camping trip was mainly an excuse to get some eyes off themselves so that he could use the teleportation circle he had set up in one of the forests, hidden underground, after he used Control Particles to move the dirt around.

"Alright, kids, remember how I said this was a camping trip?" Rimuru asked, a mischievous smile on his face after ensuring no one was spying on them.

They all nodded eagerly. With a wave of his hand, the dirt shifted smoothly, revealing the hidden circle.

"I may have lied a little. I found a way to cure you all, so you don't have to worry about your magicules going crazy anymore."

"For real?!" Chloe asked, her excitement mirrored by the other children as they bombarded Rimuru with questions. He raised a hand to his lips, and they quieted down.

"I'll explain everything once we are there."

The small group huddled around the teleportation circle. The first time one took a teleportation circle, it could make you dizzy, so the kids huddled close to Shizue and Rimuru for support.

In an instant, they appeared in the middle of a large forest, a cool breeze rustling the leaves above. Before them stood an ornate stone door, the entrance to Ramiris' dungeon. 

Rimuru had prepared this in advance, working with Milim to ensure Ramiris was informed and knew to expect them. He didn't want a repeat of what had happened with Frey again.

"Welcome to the Labyrinth. We are going to work with the owner to make sure that you all have a new friend that can help you control your magicules while you grow up." Rimuru announced, his voice steady but filled with a hint of anticipation.

The children stared in awe at the towering door, its intricate carvings glowing faintly with magical energy. Shizue stepped forward, her calm presence helping to ease their initial nervousness.

"Stay close, everyone," she said, leading them towards the door. It swung open silently as they approached, revealing a passageway lit by softly glowing crystals embedded in the walls.

In an instant, they felt as if they had been teleported again, finding themselves in a grand room filled with intricate decorations and a gigantic robot standing in the center.

"Ohohoho… Intruders? I must eliminate them," A mischievous voice echoed from the golem, chuckling as the kids hid behind Shizue and Rimuru. Before either of them could react, a small fairy leaped out.

"Boo!" she shouted, giggling as the kids jumped back before relaxing. "Hello, everyone! Welcome to my Labyrinth!" She exclaimed, her cheerful voice reverberating through the corridor.

The children's eyes widened at the sight of the tiny fairy. 

"Is she really in charge of this place?" Gale whispered to Kenya, who nodded, equally amazed.

Ramiris flew around them with curiosity, fluttering and circling until she focused on Rimuru, hovering in front of him.

"So you're the one Milim has been talking so much about, huh? You wouldn't believe how annoying she was when she came to my Labyrinth. She wouldn't stop talking about all the fun stuff she had done lately."

Ramiris flew back, her expression slightly annoyed as she crossed her arms.

"Though I do have to give you points for taming Frey. She's always acted so high and mighty about doing things independently, but now she's decided to settle down. Even Carrion couldn't get her attention, and he's wayyyy more buff than you."

Rimuru couldn't help but chuckle slightly as he heard her, offering his hand so that she could stand on it.

"It's nice to meet you too, Demon Lord Ramiris." He said as he felt her land on his hand, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Finally, some respect." Ramiris nodded in approval as she heard him. "Come on, I'll show you the place I prepared for you all." She fluttered up and landed gently on his head. "This way!"

Countless spirits peeked out curiously as the group passed, giggling and muttering to themselves.

Following Ramiris's directions, they wound through the corridors until they emerged into a vast, open cavern filled with lush greenery and sparkling streams. The air was thick with magic, a gentle hum resonating through the area.

"This place is amazing!" Alice exclaimed, her eyes shining with wonder.

Shizue was her usually quiet self, simply smiling and looking around carefully as she walked behind the kids to make sure none of them got distracted.

"I got all the prep done for summoning the Spirits, so after we eat we can head there and get them all sorted out. Remember, the spirits can be a bit tricky to deal with, so there is no guarantee that they will come and help." Ramiris warned, fluttering from Rimuru's head onto one of the blankets she had set up.

She was licking her lips in anticipation, so it was clear that Milim had bragged to her all about Tempest's food. In fact, that was one of the main things he had offered her. He wanted to set up a way for Ramiris to create an entrance to her Labyrinth in Tempest.

If he could get some of his subordinates to bond with high-level spirits, he would be able to make them even stronger. In fact, he might even be able to create bodies for the spirits to bond with in exchange for them joining Tempest.

It might be a bit disrespectful of him to steal Ramiri's subordinates, but he would play it, depending on the situation. He even asked for Sage's help to ensure everything would go as planned.

The first step was to trick her with her golem. He wanted to experiment with summoning Daemons either way, so it would be a win-win situation for him.

As they cheerfully enjoyed the food. Ramiris kept bragging to the kids by telling them about her past. She even told them about her 48 Special Moves that could kill True Dragons.

The kids all looked on with a mix of amusement and amazement as she waved her hands around and summoned spirits, creating a show and puffing out her nonexistent chest in pride.

Clearly, she wasn't used to getting any attention, so she was basking in it right now.

— — —

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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