Chapter 113 - Ingrassia

"Ugh..." Shizu groaned silently for the nth time that day, her frustration growing with each step. Behind her were Rimuru, a seraph and two other primordial demons. "I thought the other primordials disappeared. How can I bring them to human nations...? What's more an angel?"

Angels were commonly known to only appear every 500 years for the tenma wars. The event that occurs to destroy advance civilizations and cull the monsters of the world.

When she had been under Demon Lord Leon's care, she had been told that the only primordials remaining were Guy Crimson and his servants, along with Rimuru, the silver primordial. Something must have happened that caused the others to vanish, and they never returned.

Even their territories, once plagued by the primordials' boredom and their need to incarnate, had shown no signs of them. Only common demons, those without color associations, had appeared. It was as if the primordials—and their demons—had simply disappeared from the world. That's what Demon Lord Leon and the others had speculated, anyway.

"I didn't even think Rimuru-sama had them..." Shizu slumped her shoulders, her eyes fixed on the three demons, and angel ahead of her. They were either chatting or arguing, especially when the blonde and purple-haired demons began bickering back and forth.

'Calm down, Shizu,' Hono, observing from inside her, tried to offer reassurance, though even he was taken aback by the revelation. 'The important thing is Rimuru-sama is helping you save the children.'

Hono had evolved over the years. Their bond had deepened as they shared more moments, and he had grown attached to the otherworlder children under Shizu's care, watching over them from their first meeting to their eventual departure. His research on finding a cure for them had only deepened his affection and concern.

'But still, Hono-san... how can we bring three primordials to a human city?!' Shizu asked, her panic rising, a slight tremor in her voice.

'...' Hono remained silent, caught in the absurdity of the situation. Even he, a Spirit Lord, couldn't fully understand it.

Stressing over everything, Shizu hadn't realized they were leaving the forest until Rimuru's voice pulled her back to the present.

"Do you want to meet with Fuze first, Shizu?" Rimuru tilted his head.

"Eh, um, no. It should be fine. I can just send him a letter," Shizu replied quickly, her hand resting lightly against her temple. Bringing primordials to his doorstep would probably give Fuze a heart attack, she thought, not realizing how close her words were to saving the Guild Master's life that day.

"Are you okay, Fuze?" Inside the Guild, Fuze, the Guild Master, shivered, a heavy weight settling in his chest.

"I'm fine," he muttered, shaking his head slightly. "Just had a bad feeling that my life almost ended... for some reason."

"Rimuru-sama, what are we doing in Ingrassia?" Ultima asked, her voice filled with curiosity as they sat in a restaurant in Blumund. Her tone carried an air of expectancy.

Rimuru looked at her for a second, a flicker of confusion crossing his face before realization hit. He smiled, a light chuckle escaping him. "I never did tell you two why I'm going to Ingrassia."

"I know!" Carrera exclaimed proudly, leaping out of her seat. "We'll blow it up!" She shouted, causing everyone around them in the restaurant to freeze, alarm flashing across their faces. Some patrons even hastily left, panic filling the air at the mention of blowing something up.

Shizu's heart skipped a beat. Even if it was a joke—which she didn't think Carrera would make—hearing a primordial demon talk about annihilating Ingrassia sent a chill down her spine. Her hands trembled slightly, though she tried to hide it.

Ciel continued quietly eating her food, ignoring the loud chatter of the group. She was happily staying close to her master's side remaining silent.

Seeing her reaction, Rimuru quickly moved to sit closer to Carrera, gently pulling her back into her seat. "No, we won't be blowing anything up. You two are going with Shizu to get the children in Ingrassia." His tone was light, though there was a subtle firmness behind his words.

"Wait, wait!" Shizu's voice cracked with panic at his words. "You aren't coming?" Her eyes widened slightly, and her voice was almost pleading. She didn't want to be left alone with the two primordials, especially with the children in her care.

"We aren't going with My Lord?" Carrera asked, tilting her head slightly to the side, confused. She had assumed she was brought along to serve Rimuru during his journey.

Rimuru nodded, his expression soft but serious. "You two will bring Shizu and the children safely back to the forest. I'll stay with you until then, but once you return to the forest, we'll separate." He spoke with finality, though Shizu still appeared concerned. "Me and Ciel will be going elsewhere."

"Don't worry. These two won't do anything stupid," Ciel reassured her, pointing toward the two primordials with a small but reassuring smile. "Especially not if they don't want to anger master, right?" She glanced at them both, and they nodded in unison, their expressions genuine, though their eyes held no real resistance.

Rimuru made it clear that if they crossed any lines, they could be left behind without hesitation.

"We will do our best," Carrera said, mostly to herself. She gave a quick nod, as though reminding herself not to act carelessly. "They'll arrive in Sear safely, with no accidents or arguments."

"That's right," Ultima chimed in, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous but playful glint. "Those children will experience the safest journey they've ever had, both now and in the future!" She grinned, though it wasn't without a hint of something darker.

"....I see." Shizu couldn't help but feel a fleeting moment of pity for the two of them. She still feared what might happen, but she slumped into her seat, trying to shake off the tension. Her hand reached for the teapot, pouring herself another cup to calm her nerves.

After two weeks of peaceful travel through Blumund, by demons' standards anyway, the four of them finally reached Ingrassia.

Slipping through the main entrance of the city, they were granted special VIP treatment after Shizu identified herself at the main headquarters. They were led to one of her old students, Yuuki Kagurazaka.

"Please wait here, the Grandmaster will be coming soon." The receptionist bowed as she left, her movements precise, betraying nothing of the usual tension in these types of meetings.

"Hmp, making Rimuru-sama wait," Carrera muttered under her breath, her brow furrowing slightly as she chose to stand behind Rimuru rather than sit, much like Ultima.

"Yeah, it's very rude of them," Ultima chimed in, her smile still innocent, though there was a glint in her eyes that made it clear she wasn't amused. "Should we—"

"Quiet." Ciel's voice was sharp, and the two demonesses instantly froze. They remained completely still, like statues, even their breaths seeming to pause. One might have wondered if they were alive at all, given how lifeless they appeared in the moment.

The door suddenly swung open. "Hello, Shizu-sensei! It's been a while, hasn't it?" A young man with black hair waved cheerfully. His smile was genuine, and his energy was high as he moved to greet her.

Shizu smiled warmly, her eyes lighting up. She immediately stood and gave him a hug.

"Oh?" Rimuru observed the scene, his curiosity piqued. He stood, his expression sharpening, before he made his way toward them. "You must be the one Shizu called Yuuki."

"Yes," Yuuki replied with a casual but measured glance toward Rimuru, sizing him up. After a moment, he gave a polite but light bow of his head, a small acknowledgment. Carrera and Ultima exchanged subtle frowns, each recognizing the gesture as an implicit challenge to their master's presence.

"My name is Yuuki Kagurazaka, Grandmaster of the Free Guild," he added, scratching his head slightly, as if embarrassed by the title. His eyes briefly shifted to the side as though to downplay it.

"This is Rimuru-sama, Yuuki. I told you about him before." Shizu introduced Rimuru with a soft smile, her voice filled with warmth. "He's the one who will save the children."

Yuuki's expression shifted to surprise, his eyes wide with a sudden spark of hope. "Really! Have you finally found a way to save the children, Shizu-sensei?" His smile grew wider, the excitement clear in his voice and posture.

Rimuru smiled as the two discussed, Shizu explaining how he would save the children, while Yuuki listened intently, praising Shizu for her persistence. His enthusiasm seemed almost genuine, but Rimuru's sharp eyes didn't miss the hint of calculation behind the smile.

'He's a good actor,' Rimuru thought, a quiet laugh bubbling inside him. 'His expressions look incredibly real.'

Ciel slightly frowned as she observed Yuuki. Though she wasn't the only one who felt that.

"Then, now that it's been explained, can we see the children?" Rimuru asked, his tone light, but his eyes betraying a deeper curiosity.

"Ah, right!" Yuuki responded eagerly, his movements almost hurried as he ordered his assistant to clear his schedule for the day. "Please follow me."

While Shizu and Yuuki were eager to head to the school, Rimuru slowed them down, asking them to walk at a more leisurely pace. "I want to observe the city for a bit," he explained. "Comparing it to my capital."

As they walked through the bustling streets of Ingrassia, Rimuru couldn't help but reflect on the man beside him.

In my slime memories, he was a friend and ally, someone who supported me even when Hinata and the church were against me and Tempest. I didn't know what happened to him in that timeline... He paused, thinking back. I assumed he died during the war, or maybe in the chaos afterward.

'So he's been faking everything since then,' Rimuru concluded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed Yuuki in a new light. His old self—naive and blindly kind—was no more. As a primordial demon, he couldn't afford to be gullible.

He wasn't disappointed per se, just intrigued. Yuuki seemed to be playing some long game, and Rimuru couldn't help but feel a little excitement at the thought of it.

'What do you think of the boy?' Rimuru asked the two demonesses behind him.

Carrera's voice was laced with disdain. 'He seems like a scheming person. I don't believe anything he says.'

Ultima considered for a moment before responding. 'He's clever, very good at pretending. I sense his ego, his greed... it's in his soul.'

'Yeah, he's greedy,' Carrera agreed, her eyes narrowing. 'More than most humans who summon demons.'

'I don't like him.' Ciel said bluntly, her tone lace with disgust.

Rimuru smirked, hearing their honest words. After all, all three of them could see the flowing color of greed wafting around his body. 'He's even a good actor to those who think they control him.'

They reached the school a few minutes later.

Inside, Yuuki, being the chairman of the school, walked forward confidently, with the principal quickly stepping to meet them. The principal bowed deeply, wiping his forehead as he straightened up.

"It is a pleasure to have you here," he said, a slight tremor in his voice as he spoke to Yuuki.

The moment the principal saw Shizu beside him, he rushed forward, almost tripping over his own feet, and grabbed her hands with both of his. "Ms. Shizu-sensei! It fills me with great joy that you're back! Your students have been rather... defiant with the substitute teachers. They've managed to make them quit in less than ten minutes," he chuckled nervously, holding her hands tightly, his eyes wide.

Shizu let out an awkward laugh, scratching her cheek. "I-I-Is that so...? I'll make sure to talk to them then."

She gave him a reassuring smile. The principal's face relaxed, his shoulders sinking as if a heavy weight had been lifted off him. He let go of her hands and stepped back, his expression brighter now.

Yuuki tapped the principal's shoulder lightly. "Actually, Principal, I need to discuss something with you about the children leaving."

The principal blinked in surprise, his attention snapping to Yuuki. "They're leaving?" He tilted his head, concern flickering across his face. Despite his friendly appearance, he knew what the students were and how they were viewed by the nations, especially where they had been summoned from. Being in the Freedom School had been a safe haven for them.

Yuuki nodded, giving the principal a wry smile. "They'll be going to a place where they can be saved."

The principal's eyes widened with hope. "Ohh! You've found a cure, Yuuki?" He took a small step closer, leaning forward slightly. "Finally, we can save those children! Where and how did you find it?"

Yuuki's smile faded a little as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, hahaha... actually, Shizu-sensei was the one who found it."

He avoided the principal's gaze, his tone shifting. "As for how to do it... well..."

The principal took a step back, his face softening as he understood. "I see," he said quietly. He then gave a deep bow to both Shizu and Yuuki. "Please, take care of them. They've caused me a great deal of stress, but no child should ever be put in this situation."

While this conversation was happening, Shizu, followed by Rimuru and the two demonesses, arrived at the S-class classroom.

Shizu opened the door to the classroom and glanced at the students. "Hello, everyone, it's been quite a while," she said, a warm smile spreading across her face.

"Sensei!!" The students shouted in unison, their small bodies rushing forward to hug Shizu. Rimuru, who had just entered the room, took a moment to observe the scene. He watched as the children enveloped Shizu, then his gaze shifted to Chloe, who was looking at him from the group. A smile tugged at his lips as he saw the recognition in her eyes.

Seeing her expression, Rimuru let out a quiet sigh of relief. She remembered him. She remembered everything. At the very least, he hoped she still did.

Carrera and Ultima stood off to the side, their eyes wide with surprise as they spotted Chloe among the group of children. After all, they had already met her before, and they knew how powerful she was. Adding to that, the Rimuru in the Cardinal world had informed them that Chloe was in a relationship with their lord, though she currently had her own circumstances.

The two demonesses exchanged a subtle glance, both concluding that aside from the three of them, no one else in the room knew of Chloe's true identity and her full form. They kept their composure, but there was a faint tension in the air as they observed the students' reactions.

Meanwhile Ciel merely gave a subtle bow to her before continuing to silently stay beside Rimuru.

One of the children, the tallest of the group with brown hair, looked at Shizu with a slightly concerned expression. "Where have you been?" he asked, his voice tinged with both confusion and a little bit of worry.

Another child, a boy with spiky orange hair, joined in, his tone a bit more impatient. "You didn't tell us when you would return!"

A third child, a blonde-haired little girl, pouted as she clutched a stuffed bear tightly to her chest. Her large, doe-like eyes looked up at Shizu. "We were so worried, you know!"

Shizu chuckled softly, kneeling down to meet their eye level. "I'm sorry, everyone. I had some things to take care of, but I'm here now, so don't worry."

The students began to wipe their tear-streaked eyes, and it was then that a black-haired boy noticed the people standing with Shizu. "Sensei, who are they?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

His question drew the attention of the other children, and they all turned to Rimuru and the two demonesses. Each child reacted differently: some with wide-eyed curiosity, others with subtle caution. It was clear that they were trying to assess the newcomers.

Shizu moved toward Rimuru, gesturing to him with a soft, reassuring smile. "This here is Rimuru-sama," she said, her voice warm. "He can help you with your excess magicules."

At the mention of magicules, one of the students, a boy named Gale, looked up, hope flickering in his eyes. "Oh, so we're finally safe?" he asked, a hint of relief in his voice.

"That's right," Shizu confirmed, nodding. "We're going to Rimuru-sama's home, where you'll be able to control your magicules at last."

A blonde-haired girl, who had been silently watching, tilted her head, skeptical but hopeful. "Really?" she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

Shizu smiled warmly, her eyes full of reassurance. "Really, Alice," she replied, giving a slight nod. "You'll all be able to live without worrying about the excess magicules anymore."

The children exchanged glances, some visibly excited, others still processing the news.

"I think we can trust them," Chloe, the other black-haired child, said confidently. She gave a small smile, her tone sincere. "They seem like nice people."

Kenya, the boy with spiky orange hair, scratched the back of his head in thought, glancing at the others. "Well, if Clo-chi says so," he shrugged, a grin tugging at his lips. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Yes, pleasure to meet you!" The rest of the students said in unison, each bowing politely toward Rimuru. Their movements were in perfect harmony, a clear sign of their respect for their teacher and the newcomers.

Carrera, Ultima and even Ciel stood off to the side, watching with subtle satisfaction. Their faces held a smug expression as they observed the children's politeness and the respect they were showing to their master.

Just then, Yuuki popped his head through the open door, his usual confident smile on his face. "Looks like everyone's already explained the necessary parts," he said cheerfully. "I've already talked to the Principal, so you can all pack your things."

He glanced at the children, his smile widening as they looked up at him.

"Wait, we're leaving now?" Alice asked, her voice filled with confusion. She blinked, still processing the sudden shift in plans.

Yuuki nodded, his expression calm and reassuring. "Yes, you'll be leaving by tomorrow morning."

The children's eyes widened in surprise, and in an instant, they were rushing out of the classroom. Their footsteps echoed through the corridor as they scrambled to get to their dorm rooms. "You should've told us sooner!" one of them called out, their voice trailing off as they hurried away.

Yuuki and Shizu shared a laugh, watching the children's eager exit. It was clear they were excited for the change, even if it was happening so quickly.

"Thank you, Yuuki, for taking care of them while I was away," Shizu said, her voice sincere as she turned to him.

Yuuki shook his head dismissively, a humble smile on his face. "No need, Shizu-sensei," he replied with a chuckle. "If anything, it was the principal and the other teachers who did their best. I just did what I could."

Shizu smiled, feeling a sense of relief that the children had been in good hands while she was away. "I appreciate it, regardless," she said warmly.

A/N: ...Yeah so since Kagali/aKazaream didn't summon Yuuki, his allies are a bit different.