บท 58: Sarion's Envoys.
A group of elves moved through the Forest of Jura atop Rune Elks. They all wore elegant cloaks that covered their appearances and armor. They could have used teleportation magic or even their famous airships, yet that would have drawn too much attention.
They were on a mission to meet with the Ruler of Monsters, Rimuru Tempest. And they wanted to avoid giving the wrong first impression. So they moved through the Forest as any other would.
They had received a lot of information about Rimuru and Tempest from one of the Empress's best friends, Elyun Grimwald. Yet they still wanted to remain careful and see firsthand what kind of place Tempest was.
At first, they had prepared themselves for a long journey through the forest, but on their way, they stumbled upon a road connecting Fulbrosia and Tempest. It was an absolute shock to see the level of detail and quality that was placed. Building something like it would take them at least a decade. The logistics of keeping everyone on task would be a nightmare. Yet here it was, built in less than a year.
The road only helped to confirm Frey and Rimuru's relationship, though it also made them wonder if the road to Dwargon shared the same level of quality. A road like this would significantly increase the trade and merchants who could move to and from Sarion.
They had teleportation circles set up in most major cities, yet to prevent attack from the inside, the circles were used only by high-ranking nobility or people under special supervision.
On their way through the carefully built roads, they stumbled upon their first group of Monsters. A group of what appeared to be Giant Ants led by some High Orcs, Halflings, and Hobgoblins.
Yet, just as they prepared to defend themselves, they heard one of the High Orcs leading the group speak up.
"Oh, hello there! Those are some neat mounts. I haven't seen any like them before. The antlers are beautiful."
The elves lowered their guard slightly as they heard him, with one of them taking off their cloak to reveal their appearance. An older, blonde elf with wise eyes. He was Ellen's father, Erald.
"Hello, we noticed the road. I hope that we are allowed to use it. Would that be alright?" Erald asked, with a friendly tone of voice yet still keeping his guard up.
The High Orc chuckled slightly at the question, nodding his head.
"Oh, don't worry about it. We haven't finished the road yet, so there aren't any taxes or fees for usage yet." He explained before snapping his fingers in realization. "Ah, that's right. If you are planning on going to Dwargon, make sure you stop by Tempest to grab a pass. Otherwise, you might get fined along the way. Shouldn't be too much since you aren't merchants."
Erald nodded at the question, yet the High Orc spoke again just as he prepared to motion for everyone to continue.
"Did you bring enough food and water for your mounts?" The High Orc asked with a concerned expression. "Would be a shame to see such beautiful Elk be hungry. If you didn't, you can stop by one of our rest spots. Tell 'em that Hamsome sent you, and they should treat you nicely."
After their meeting with the group of Monsters, they followed the path until they stumbled upon the resting house Hamsome had mentioned, and to their shock, it was a massive building the size of an inn. Originally, Erald wanted to continue on Tempest, yet he was overruled. Out of sheer interest, the one leading the group wanted to see what exactly was inside.
Entering, they noticed it was just as it looked from the outside: an inn.
There was a small counter with a Goblina behind it, who greeted them with a smile. Originally this was supposed to be a residence only for Tempest citizens, at least until the road was completed. Yet they were allowed to stay thanks to dropping Hamsome's name, who appeared to be quite popular.
The beds were surprisingly comfortable, yet the food captured their attention more than anything. Even while hiding their appearances with their cloaks, most of them were unable to hide the delight they felt from everything they ate. The food was unlike anything they had ever seen, and each ingredient had its unique yet delicious flavor.
They even managed to befriend some of the Monsters and Majin who were working on the road and gave them some helpful tips for when they got Tempest.
After leaving the strange yet lovely inn, they continued on their way to Tempest. The closer they got, the more traffic they saw, with countless different monsters moving up and down, diligently working.
It was wild to see that the inn they had stayed in was not one of a kind. They stumbled upon one every six to ten hours of travel. All of them were built with the same quality level and served the same delicious food.
It was when they were twelve hours from Tempest that they felt themselves being watched from the shadows. Yet they had expected it, so they simply continued to move closer. They were inside of Homoculus bodies, so even if they were attacked and destroyed, they would be unharmed in their real bodies.
It would sour their relationship with Tempest, but it would also give them more information about Tempest.
Without stopping, they finally arrived at Tempest City, the capital, where two different lines were formed. There weren't any protective walls at the moment since the city kept expanding, yet there was still a checkpoint for visitors.
Residents from Tempest were allowed to move freely inside and outside, but the visitors from other nations had to go through a different line where the guards would check them.
Thankfully, the visitor line was almost empty except for a few traveling merchants from Dwargon. As they finally reached the gate, they were greeted by a pair of Kijin guards around Special A to A rank.
"Welcome to Tempest. What is the purpose of your visit?" One of the guards asked, his tone polite but firm.
"We—" Erald began before they noticed someone appear next to the guard, a beautiful woman with pure white hair and piercing red eyes.
Erald couldn't help but shiver at the woman's gaze, some deep part of him told him that she was not to be messed with.
"There is no need, Koru. We've been expecting them." The woman reassured the guard, causing the guard to instantly nod and move to the side.
Amongst the elves, one of the cloaked ones reacted the moment they saw her, their body jolting in surprise. A reaction Testarossa didn't miss, which caused her to smile.
"Please, follow me. I will have one of our people look after your mounts." Testarossa offered with a smile as a Dragonewt emerged from the shadows next to them.
The elves dismounted and began to follow the woman through the bustling streets of Tempest. Their eyes darted around, taking in every detail.
"Ellen is a good friend of Lord Rimuru, so we hope we can create a friendly relationship with Sarion." Testarossa began as she led them casually using Ellen, a familiar name, to try to lower their guard. "She mentioned to us that she was going to contact you, so we made sure to make the proper preparations for your arrival. If you wish, we can provide you with a guided tour of Tempest after your meeting is complete."
Testarossa guided the group of elves through the grand halls of the chancellor's building, her footsteps echoing softly against the polished wooden floors. As they reached a set of intricately carved doors, Testarossa paused, offering the group a reassuring smile before pushing the doors open.
The room inside was a large space filled with natural light from tall windows.
Sitting at the head of the table was Rimuru, who was completely concealing all of his power. The moment they entered, he offered them his usual smile. Shion stood behind him, her body appearing relaxed, but her eyes remained focused in case anyone attacked.
Yet, it was the sight of Ellen, seated near Rimuru, that caused the biggest stir among the Elves. She had a slightly awkward expression as she saw her dad walk in, the only one of the Elves with his cloak lowered. She felt very out of place in such an important meeting, but after Rimuru had asked her to help her mediate should anything happen, she couldn't help but agree.
"Elyun?" Erald's eyes widened in surprise as he spotted her, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and confusion.
"Hey, dad…" Ellen answered, a slightly sheepish smile on her face as she waved awkwardly.
For a moment, the formal atmosphere of the room was broken. However, Erald quickly regained his composure. Straightening his posture, Erald's expression became focused as he turned to the two rulers.
"I apologize, Sir Tempest, Sir Dwargo. I was caught off guard for a moment." He said, placing his hand on his chest before offering a respectful bow. "I am Erald Grimwald, one of the representatives of Sarion. However, there is someone else I should introduce."
Taking a step forward, one of the Elves raised their hands to remove the cloak covering their head. Long silverish blue hair emerged from the cloak, accompanied by the beautiful face of an elf. She had jade-green eyes, and she quickly focused on Rimuru.
Gazel's eyes widened in shock as he saw her. Yet Grimwald was the first to speak as he stepped back and offered another bow. His voice became more formal as he introduced her.
"The Divine Empress Elmesia El Ru Sarion."
— — —
Elmesia nodded as one of the other Elves moved to pull her chair, and as she sat, she addressed them.
"I apologize for the dramatic reveal." She began, a hint of amusement lacing her voice. Though it was clear this was a small test of itself. "It would have caused a stir had anyone known I had left Sarion. But, I felt I should personally come for this meeting. And it would have been informal to greet you in an appearance other than my own."
[Notice. All of the elves are currently inside of an artificial body. A full analysis has been completed. Saving data for future experimentation.] Without missing a beat, Raphael moved to gather more information.
Though Elmesia raised an eyebrow after being analyzed, she said nothing. Her eyes narrowed slightly after a few more moments.
[Warning. The subject, Elmesia, is attempting to analyze you. Do you wish to block the attempt? Due to the strength of the analysis, it is believed she also possesses an Ultimate Skill. Blocking the analysis has a 78% chance of revealing that you possess an Ultimate Skill.]
'Yes.' Rimuru answered it would be a subtle way of showcasing his power.
Elmesia's narrowed eyes quickly returned to normal, her expression completely under her control.
With the room now fully settled, Testarossa stepped forward, positioning herself behind Rimuru with the grace of a seasoned diplomat.
"Currently present…." She began, her voice clear as she began to introduce everyone. "The Emperor, Rimuru Tempest, Ruler of Tempest. Beside him, we have the Hero King, Gazel Dwargo, ruler of the Armed Nation of Dwargon. And, of course, the Divine Empress, Elmesia El Ru Sarion, ruler of Sarion."
As Testarossa finished with the introductions, she took a step back. There was some slight tension as everyone was waiting for Rimuru to speak. He would be the one to set the tone for the meeting.
If dealing with other nobles, he might have taken a more formal approach. However, after speaking with Elyun, he knew the best way to connect with Elmesia was to ease her into a casual conversation slowly.
Elmesia was the kind of ruler who would much rather pass on her responsibilities to others, choosing instead to laze around and relax. The fact that she had appeared personally was enough to show how seriously she was taking this.
"Empress Elmesia, it's an honor." Rimuru began, his smile turning friendly. "Ellen told me a bit about you, so it's quite a surprise to meet you so soon."
Elmesia's eyes didn't leave his, barely acknowledging her friend. However, it was mainly to protect her while she gauged Rimuru's response.
"Elyun has shared some details about you as well, Emperor Rimuru." Elmesia replied, addressing him by the title Testarossa had used. Her voice was calm, almost too calm, as if she were testing the waters. "Though I do wonder about the necessity of including her in this meeting. While it's always a joy to see an old friend, I can't help but feel she might not be entirely comfortable."
Ellen hesitated to speak, but she found courage and cleared her throat.
"Hey, so, umm…" She began, shaking her head to focus before speaking again, now more confidently. "If you all want me to leave, that is fine. However, there is something I wanted to say."
The room fell silent, all attention shifting to Ellen as she took a deep breath, centering herself.
"I know it's not my place," she continued, her voice stronger now. "But I believe Sarion and Tempest could have a great friendship. Sir Rimuru is a good person, and he genuinely cares about his empire and his allies. You only have to walk through Tempest's streets to see how happy the people are."
As she finished, Ellen's confidence wavered, and she glanced at Elmesia as if seeking reassurance, worried she might have overstepped.
"I agree." Gazel spoke up, taking the attention off the group from Ellen. "Dwargon and Tempest have become good allies. We have seen nothing but benefits since forming our friendship."
Elmesia's expression didn't change as she heard both Ellen and Gazel. Yet her mind was running extremely fast as she analyzed all of the words.
"I see…" Elmesia finally murmured, a soft smile curving her lips as she turned her attention back to Rimuru. "I've heard about Tempest's alliance with Dwargon, but I must admit, I didn't realize the bond was as close as it appears to be. Initially, it seemed like a straightforward trading agreement. Could you elaborate on how the two of you came to be such close allies?"
Rimuru returned her smile, though he sensed the underlying challenge in her question. Gazel's earlier statement had only heightened her suspicions. She was testing him, probing for inconsistencies or hidden motives.
It was true that Tempest and Dwargon had a fairly superficial relationship. Serving mainly as a simple trading agreement. So Elmesia must have instantly caught that something was wrong.
"We happen to have learned from the same teacher." Rimuru answered. "It was a chance meeting, but we formed a friendship from it. Sadly, at the time, Tempest was not in a place to offer much more than the roads and trading agreement."
Elmesia nodded, not revealing any of her emotions, though her eyes flicked briefly to Gazel, who returned the gesture with a subtle nod of agreement. It was clear to Rimuru that Elmesia was far too shrewd to take anything at face value, as Gazel had warned. She would scrutinize every word, every gesture, extracting as much information as she could from their interactions.
Recognizing this, Rimuru decided it was time to take control of the conversation. If he allowed Elmesia to guide the discussion, he risked being subtly led into revealing more than he intended.
"Elmesia," Rimuru began, his voice taking a more casual tone. "We both understand the real reason for your visit. Let's not dance around the issue any longer, shall we?"
Elmesia raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his direct approach. It wasn't often that someone spoke to her so informally.
"Ellen has already informed you, so there's no need to hide it." Rimuru continued, his gaze steady on hers. "I have Awakened as a Demon Lord and joined the Demon Lord Council as one of the Ennead."
Elmesia smiled slightly as she heard him, her head tilting slightly in interest.
"I didn't expect you to address it so openly," Elmesia remarked, her tone carrying a hint of amusement. "However, that does make things easier." Her expression then shifted, becoming more serious as she continued. "Demon Lord Rimuru Tempest, before we discuss any potential alliances, I must ask as a Demon Lord, what are your true goals?"
Rimuru couldn't help but chuckle at the question, his soft laughter easing the tension in the room.
"I feel like we are quite similar, Elmesia." Rimuru answered, his eyes meeting hers without hesitation. He even used her name directly to bridge between the formalities. "All I want is to be able to relax in some peace and quiet. I want to be able to spend the rest of my days enjoying the life I was given. Everything I have done has been for that single purpose."
Elmesia studied him for a long moment, her sharp eyes searching for any sign of deception. She knew better than to take such statements at face value, especially from a Demon Lord. Yet, there was a calm certainty in Rimuru's words that made her pause.
"You speak of peace and quiet. You say you are like me." Elmesia said, her voice calculated. "But the path you've chosen is one of power and influence. Since you have decided to be straightforward, I will be too. You destroyed Falmuths' army and then sent your own people to turn it into your vassal nation."
Her smile widened slightly, her gaze never wavering from his as she probed deeper
"A marriage with Demon Lord Frey, a war with Jistav and Demon Lord Clayman, and the potential alliance with Demon Lord Carrion. Not to mention your decision to join the Demon Lord Council. Your actions speak louder than your words, Rimuru. What assurances do I have that you won't become a threat to the entire West?"
Though it was clear she didn't have all of the facts, she was surprisingly well-informed. The war with Jistav had been mostly secretive, so she must have spies keeping an eye on his territory who noticed Shuna's invasion.
Rimuru leaned forward slightly, his smile turning more genuine as he considered her words.
"We both know that peace and quiet requires more than good intentions." Rimuru answered. "Peace and quiet won't come without the strength to defend it. My nation is composed mainly of Monsters and Majin, and we're often seen as enemies of humanity. If we can't defend ourselves, we'll be wiped out without a second thought."
Elmesia's smile softened, becoming more genuine as she listened to his response. She had lived long enough to see through most facades, and she could tell when someone was putting on an act. Rimuru's words, however, rang true. Despite his calculated attempts to influence her—such as bringing Ellen into the discussion—his sincerity was undeniable.
The room went silent for a few moments, with Elmesia carefully thinking for a moment before speaking up.
"You are right." Elmesia conceded, adjusting herself in her seat to be more comfortable. "Now, how about we talk about that alliance?"
— — —
Special Thanks to my Beta Readers/Editors: The one, the only, the amazing Lore Lord @Basilisk, And @Kiyan Tribe (FF.net/AO3/QQ/WN) | kiyan_tribe( Discord)
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