Made up (Kinda)

--- Veldora Tempest's POV ---

I sat near the training ground where Hakurou would train his pupils every day.

A side of my cheek was hurting, it radiates heat that stung with I touched it. More specifically: a hand-shaped red spot known as the karma of my life.

I should've seen this coming... I made the core stronger, that's the reason a pseudo-Harvest Festival can happen, but the voice will acknowledge my wishes since it was granted by me...

After all, Harvest Festival is a ritual of Demon Lord awakening and skill granting by the voice. The semi-Evolution is not enough for Rimuru to get his--- I mean, her wishes granted.

And Great Sage doesn't seem to have that much authority over the voice. It was quite problematic.

But if anything...

"Veldora-sama... I'm going to show you how it's done later, so let's become comrades-ssu!!!" (Gobta)

Translation: let's peek the female's bath together!

"I don't need your help, amateur." (Veldora)

Translation: I've seen something better.

It was actually pretty worth it. I burned 5000 pictures of Rimuru when she woke up inside my mind, as well as a few pics of beating me up that is...

"If that's the case then I shall take you as my master instead-ssu." (Gobta)

Translation: THEN GUIDE ME INSTEAD, GREAT VELDORA-SAMA!!!

"You don't have the qualifications, boy!"

Translation: I am not bringing you to peek with me!

Translation of Translation: I am the only one who can see Rimuru taking a bath!

(A/N: No he is not.)

"PLEASE SOMEHOW RECONSIDER!!!"

Well, it was interesting at least.

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Hm? Peeking? Why do I need to do that? My Magic perception covers the whole forest I can just generate Rimuru's ima-- ah, she blocked the perception...

Rather she's not bathing either, oh well...

Guess I'll try again later.

Right now I need to focus on making new skills. Whilst watching the Goblin squad train under Hakurou, I sat on the bench under a tree to analyze the skill corridors.

Due to my interference, Rimuru has grown quite stronger. She is now a quasi-demon lord. And her only ultimate skill is 『Storm Dragon King Veldora Tempest』.

I wanted to evolve her Great Sage, but that won't be possible now. I might need another core of an awakened demon lord and give it to Rimuru.

Hm? What? I'm a True Dragon, I can't evolve into a demon lord since I am a neutral party who acts as both natural disaster or power scaling in this world. So don't expect me to get stronger just because I gain some skills.

If anything, evolving my unique skill, 『Investigator』would be enough for me to take on Velgrynd-Aneue.

But if I am going to choose what I am going to do now...

"Hakurou, I want to ask for a spar."

"As you wish, Veldora-sama"

I trained my sword once again.

"You are very skilled. As expected of Veldora-sama, you have not abandoned techniques and rely on raw power."

Techniques are blasphemy to the almighty. Raw power is the perfect display of powerful strength.

But in the end, it doesn't matter what you use. If you get the job done, you can use anything, just be sure to be smart with it.

"Your intent, it simply disappeared. I won't ask you since if that is the case it will be all for naught. But tell me, does someone like you actually want power, Hakurou?"

Haki is one of the few reasons Hakurou managed to sneak into anyone's Magic Perception combined with his stealth techniques. If he is able to control his ambition, he can control the perception of others about him.

It was an hour of 'joyful' spar with the demon oni.

"If it meant to protect what this old man has left, then yes I do, Veldora-sama."

As his straight blade of Ninjato with a cane casing met my regular sword, the White oni answered my question with an old man smile on his face.

This man now earns my respect. All of those power and techniques are aligned with his true ambition.

While I have the skill called Dragon Spirit Haki, the only thing that it does was put a lot of pressure on those I hate. I had not fully mastered the skill nor did I have a technique to erase my presence.

So how does he do it?

Techniques from the sect that I came from in my previous life were not really that great in the first place.

Most of my techniques are self-taught, I never really named it until the Demon General named it with cringy names when I made it.

Demonic Sword Stances, Heavenly Demon Flying Sword, 100 cuts of Demonic judgment, 3000 pieces of demonic SHI---

STOP ADDING "DEMON" INTO ANYTHING I MADE, FOR F*CK'S SAKE!

It was one of the dark ages I want to never see again.

"That was a great spar, Veldora-sama." Liar, he didn't even break a sweat.

I wanted to train that's why I turned off my magic sensing, but this old oni gave me many cuts even though I can't feel the pain.

Haa, I guess that just shows he is hard-working.

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--- Rimuru Tempest's POV ---

I thought beating Veldora would've been the last thing I'd do, but this is it...

"KYAAAHHH! YOU LOOK SO CUTE RIMURU-SAMA!!!"

The eternal pain and suffering, it is radiating through my face. I am currently being dressed up in various female clothes by Shuna, Shion and of course all the goblinas.

"Please try this afterward, Rimuru-sama!"

Princess dresses, Yukatas, Shrine maiden's outfits, Chinese dresses, swimsuits, Bunny girl suits... Heck, why am I wearing the clothes of my own fetish!?

What? Do you have something against the bunny girl suit? It may be an old man's taste but you can't deny it's great!

Well... Until you have to wear it yourself. Kuh-!!! I feel like I need another slap on the dragon's face.

"RIMURU-SAMA!"

"No... No more~"

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And there I am, taking a bath in the onsen... In the male's bath.

"Rimuru, I was sure the sign says 'Male's bath'. Or was I mistaken?"

That are Veldora's words right next to me. Both of us are naked in the outdoor bath.

With a flat face, I say, "No, you're not mistaken. I just came here since next door was quite full." The woman's baths are a bit crowded.

"I see, but do you not aware that you are not male or genderless anymore?"

Translation: I am very conscious of you.

"Eeeeh~ even though it was your handiwork?"

Translation: even though it's your fault?

"Alright... Listen, I'm sorry."

You've said that 3 times before too.

Rather than that, "at that time..." I began to call him out.

"Huh?" Veldora perks up at it.

"At that time, Great Sage says it's because you 'wished' I become a girl... Why did that happen in the first place?"

"I don't know... Maybe, I just cared for you too much..." He trailed off.

"I see..."

I decided to end the conversation right then and there. What is this feeling?

I feel... Anxious. Somehow I felt like if I asked more, something in our relationship will change.

I already came to like the present. Veldora and I bantered a few times and we laughed at the end of the day. But this is something I can't exactly comprehend.

"Yes, but anyway..." Veldora turned to look me straight in the eye.

"Even you're still you, Rimuru... There's something you should be able to do with the dense personality of yours."

And then... *Squish*

His hand pinched my left arm. "Be conscious of yourself at least a little, Rimuru Tempest"

"Eh?" Such escaped from my mouth.

I couldn't let my eyes go from the Veldora who let go of my arm and went back to the entrance.

I was then alone. Yet I feel like my face is burning. Somehow my reflex told me to cover the area of my chest with my arms.

What is this feeling...

It's unbearable.

"Idiot..."

That stupid dragon should just rot in the infinite prison.

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To be continued.