Chapter 44 - Insect Experiments

"So, you want me to help them?" Velgrynd said as she and Rimuru talked in his office. It has been only been an hour after their talk with the Primordial Spirits of Fire and Water. 

"Yes," Rimuru confirmed. "I can't really support their training as this is their punishment.." 

"I guess I could for Enki, but what about for Siren?" Velgrynd asked confused, she might be able to help Enki who is a fire spirit but not a water spirit like Siren. Then she realizes something, she looks towards Rimuru. "Do you want sister's help with her?" 

"If you could persuade her if possible, I'll try with Rain-tan as well. She specializes in water magic." Rimuru said thinking of persuading Rain with the alcohol he'll bring.

Velgrynd taught for a bit, then she recalls her sister's words. Do I like Rimuru... she thought as she stares at Rimuru, who was mulling over his plans.

"Something wrong?" Rimuru noticed her stare and asked. 

"I-If I help in this plan, I want a favor from you." Velgrynd said with a bit of hesitance. 

"Favor?" Rimuru tilted his head, "Sure, what do you want?" Rimuru asked as he agreed.

You, I think? The words almost left her mouth, "I-it's been a while since we last went out to investigate worlds ourselves." Velgrynd stutters as she thinks what the hell does she plan to do.

"I was thinking, we could both investigate a world together. Just like with Shenzou Universe, planet C24 before..." 

"Ah, you mean like with Fuxi and Nuwa." Rimuru recalled the first universe they went together. "So you want to do those kinds again?" 

"Yes, something like that." Velgrynd nodded shyly. 

Rimuru didn't have to think hard. "I don't see why not, let's do it some time in the future." He said to Velgrynd with a smile. 

Velgrynd involuntarily smiled as well, "Then I'll talk to them about training." Velgrynd stood before leaving with a happy mood.

Rimuru watched her leaving, once the door closed he sighed and lean on his chair. "This is Velzard's fault, planting ideas in my head." He was recalling their conversation and about Velgrynd with the possibility of having feelings for him. 

A knock was heard on the door. "Rimuru-sama may I come in?" Noir's voice could be heard from the other side. 

"Guess let's leave it to future Rimuru." He sighed "Come in Noir." 

Noir bowed "Yes Rimuru-sama. Jahil-sama would like to talk to you about your requested experimentation with the Insects." 

Rimuru stood up, "I see, good work." He walked towards the facility with Noir following behind him.

"How are the Insects training going?" Rimuru asked as they walked.

"Kufufufu as expected by Rimuru-sama, they show potential to be rivals to us Primordial Demons." Noir explained. "Especially the Beetle, though they require a big trigger for evolution. Naming might trigger evolution, but not to their highest potential."

Rimuru nodded, "And that's why we're doing experimentation on test subjects." 

"Does Rimuru-sama plan on naming them?" Noir asked.

"Hm? Maybe in the future when experimentations are successful, why? jealous?" Rimuru grinned looking at Noir who froze.

"Of course not Rimuru-sama, just by being able to serve you is a great honor. To ask for more would be blasphemous!" Noir said quickly denying Rimuru's words.

"Don't worry, I'll have you and the Primordial Demons named too." Rimuru said reassuring him, who shown brightly after hearing Rimuru's words. "You'll have to earn it though."

"Kufufufu Rimuru-sama only needs to say the word, I'll do anything." Noir kneeled. "Who do we dispose? who do we sacrifice? does Rimuru-sama want a religion? Does Rimuru-sama want to rule everything? Kufufufu I'll have everyone know of your excellence!" 

"Calm down Noir, I'll tell you once I've set up everything." Rimuru said, Noir stood up and they returned to walking. 

Rimuru thought of Noir's words "Religion? Pft! hahaha not bad actually." Rimuru muttered to himself amused, him? a demon as a head of a religion? sounds ironic and hilarious. 

Unknown to Rimuru, Noir heard every word that Rimuru said. I see a religion Kufufufu

Once they've entered the facility they were met with Mitzrael who was waiting for Rimuru.

"Master Rimuru," Mitzrael bows, "Lord Jahil is waiting for you." 

Mitzrael lead Rimuru towards a room which leads underground. The entire underground is filled with capsules, and cages full of test subjects. 

"Lord Jahil, Master Rimuru is here." Mitzrael announced as they arrived to where Jahil is.  

"Good work," Jahil who was observing an insect look towards Mitzrael.

"How are the test subjects?" Rimuru stood beside Jahil. "Is the progress good?"

"We've barely started research," Jahil scoffs. "I had Violet capture some more Chimera Ants, she and her subordinates contacted me that they caught a Queen." 

"A Queen? The one that gives birth to insects via Phagogenesis?" Rimuru recalled from one of the reports he read about the specie. 

"Yeah, they're on their way here." Jahil nodded. "I've experimented on some chimera ants, I need more of them. A Queen would be useful to have." 

"True, especially since the Chimera Ants have unique properties. Can't really use them as substitutes for Beetle and Bee." Rimuru placed his hand to his chin, while he nods.

"That's why I'm thinking of artificially breeding Chimera Ants that would be closer to Beetle and Bee. Or atleast, to their corresponding class species." Jahil explains.

Soon, Violet arrives with a large cage that houses what seems to be the Queen. Violet noticed Rimuru and walk towards him and bowed.

"Good work for finding a Queen." Rimuru said, patting her head. After a few seconds Rimuru let go and Violet took a step backward.

Violet looked towards Noir, who was glaring at her. "Heh" she smirked at his face which pisses of Noir much more with how jealous he was.

"Thank you very much Rimuru-sama." Violet placed her right hand to her chest and did a slight bowing gesture.

Violet ordered her Subordinates to placed the Queen to one of the rooms.

A five square meter room, with all sides of the room being walls except for one. Which has bars and then glass for observation.

"So that's a Queen in person huh..." Rimuru observes and analyze the insect. In terms of mana content it has more than an average human, but no talent to use it itself.

"Need more practical data, the reports say it's a rank C-minus for combat." Rimuru spoke as he continues. "If we add its ability to make an army, it should be higher than even B rank."

"As expected of Rimuru-sama," Violet praised. "The children can become as strong as A-minus depending on the food given."

"We've also gathered that the world just had an incident with a Queen Ant." Jahil added in. "That it ate humans and the children grew more sentient and intelligent."

"Impressive." Rimuru said as he stares at the Queen that continues to scream and scratch the room looking at Rimuru. "It can talk right?"

"Yes," Violet answered. "I've confirmed that this one talks and can understand us."

"Good then." Rimuru looks toward Violet. "Go in and make it submit."

Violet grinned, "Understood!" She replied happily.

"Ah, no physical damages though, poison isn't allowed either." Rimuru said as Violet went to the door. "Just threaten it a bit."

"Let's hope she heard you." Jahil commented. "Can I ask why?"

"hm? Wouldn't it be easier to have them cooperate?" Rimuru tilted his head,

"Well yes, but.. Actually you're right." Jahil stopped.

"Let's give it a larger room, those eggs won't all fit in such a tiny room." Rimuru said and Jahil gestures to one of the demons who nodded and went of.

"Can you come and confirm the food." Jahil gestures for Rimuru to follow. Rimuru shrugs and followed with Noir behind him.

They switched to J2 facility.

In Citadel there are five personal facilities. Two (JF1 and JF2) are for Jahil and three (RF1-RF3) are for Rimuru.

Not counting the several buildings that are being made for the lesser spirits to be turned Superior Spirits  and then into either Enki or Siren by Twilight.

The J2 facility was where majority of the test subjects are stored. Different types of species from normal animals, Humans, monsters, and other types are caged here.

And J1 is where the process happens.

"So firstly, I'm already on the process of  experimenting on insect monsters. There are several insect type monsters on several worlds, chimera ants were just a few of the others I have here." Jahil said as he pointed to the cages filled with beetle and bee monsters that range from the size of a dog to a large horse. 

"So far, the best chance we have to produce the most suitable test subject is through the Queen Chimera Ant. The few I've tested from these ones," Jahil looked to the insects, who shivered under his gaze. "Died due to being too weak or too much mental strain for their primitive minds."

"I see, so we have the Queen eat them to boost their strength and mental resistance." Rimuru concluded with an understanding nod. "To boost their potential as test subjects."

"Don't forget humans," Jahil interjected on Rimuru's conclusion. "Primitive minds of insect would be an unstable variable, we'll need them to have some form of sentience or intelligence. The Queen's food are humans as main with Beetle and Bee monsters as side dishes." Jahil laughed.   

"The Queen is basically just a mini bio-capsule that can make test subjects." Rimuru stated with a laugh, Jahil joined in. The Insect monsters started shivering as they hear the two laugh evilly.

Violet could be seen walking towards them, "Rimuru-sama! its submitted itself wholly to us!" She said as she moves forward to signal for Rimuru to pat her head. 

"Good work." As Rimuru was about to place his hand. "Rimuru-sama, Velgrynd-sama seems to be calling for you in the office." Noir informed Rimuru.

Rimuru retracted his hand, "I see, Jahil continue the experiments. Give me regular reports in progress, I'll come by when I'm not busy." Jahil nodded and Rimuru walked out the facility. 

Noir followed behind him with a satisfied smirk as Violet silently glared at him. 

When Rimuru went in his office, he saw Velgrynd sitting on her regular spot. "You called?" 

Velgrynd closed her book, "I've talked to them, they should be coming here soon to ask permission from you." 

"I see," Rimuru sat down on his chair and gestures for Noir to bring him a cup of tea. Noir poured Rimuru in a cup, he grab the cup and took a sip. "Guess now would be a good time to give it to them." 

Velrgynd looked at Rimuru confuse, she was about to ask him but a knock was heard. 

""Rimuru-sama, may we come in?"" 

"Come in." Rimuru answered, "What is it." He asking feigning ignorance. 

Both Enki and Siren walk in front of Rimuru, with the desk the only thing separating them. Both got into their knees and bowed with their head on the floor. 

"Rimuru-sama" Enki started. "We would like to ask for your permission to leave Citadel for a thousand years." 

Straight to the point, Rimuru thought to himself amused. "And why should I let you? Explain yourselves." Rimuru spoke with a serious tone and keeping a stern expression. 

"We realize how weak we are Rimuru-sama" This time, Siren answered. "We were arrogant to think that we are powerful enough to land a blow to a Primordial Spirit. And with this arrogance, we have shown a shameful display and a stain in Rimuru-sama's reputation." 

Rimuru smiled internally with that conclusion. "Hah!" Rimuru laughed. "Of course you are weak, arrogance should be backed up with the full confidence that you could defeat your opponent. Not just a blow, but with full capability to kill them."

 "Actually arrogance is the wrong way about it." Rimuru continued, "Do not gain arrogance in correlation with your strength, gain pride instead." After Rimuru's words that have left its mark on both spirits very soul, he resumed the talk. "So what will you do in those thousand years?"

"We sought guidance from Velgrynd-sama who was willing to teach us, to become more powerful." Enki answered. 

"Hoh~" Rimuru looked towards Velgrynd who shook her head. Both spirit who were bowing face on the floor did not notice. "You seek her?" not the other way around?

""Yes!"" both answered in unison. 

Rimuru chuckled at their attempt to not embarrass Velgrynd who wanted to help them. They thought that Velgrynd did it without Rimuru's consent nor knowledge, they did not want the blame to lie on her if Rimuru rejected. 

"And how will Siren be trained from Velgrynd?" 

"I'll ask my sister to help with that." This time Velgrynd who was watching stated joining the act. "You won't mind would you?" 

"None at all," Rimuru smiled, "Looks like you both already have everything ready and planned, give this paper to Lait and you can start your training." Rimuru tossed a scroll that is sealed. 

Siren took the paper, both stood up and gave a quick bow and left to prepare to leave. 

"Hahaha!" Rimuru laughed as they left the door, "I can't, ah, hahaha. Arrogance? Pride? pft!" Rimuru fell from his chair laughing so much. "So, so serious!" 

"Hey now," Velgrynd said trying to hold of her own laugh. "It actually sounded like a good line, pft!" Velgrynd placed a hand to her mouth. "Too bad it came from an arrogant demon." 

In another office on the other side of the building, Enki and Siren entered Lait's office. 

Lait was sitting in front of her desk checking the paper work reports of the expeditions of the Holy Angels. With Gamaliel sorting other files in a separate desk. 

"What do you guys need?" Lait said without looking up from her desk. 

"Rimuru-sama said to give this to Lait-sama." Siren placed the scroll on Lait's desk. 

"Hm?" Lait took the scroll and opened it. "I see," Lait stood up. "Gamaliel continue" She ordered. 

She then walked to the door. "You two follow me." The listened and followed. 

Soon they arrived at a teleportation circle that acted as an elevator. Going in, they changed location to what still seemed like inside the office building. They were ten floors below, each floor containing different things. 

"Where are we." Enki muttered to himself. 

"The storage." Lait simply answered as they enter a large room. What filled the spirits vision was a room filled with priceless orichalcum molded to large bars. "Take about 50 bars with you." 

"Eh? W-wait f-fifty?!"

"Lait-sama that's is too much! what would we even do with these?!"

"Rimuru-sama wrote that you will be given fifty bars of orichalcum, and that you decide what you do with it in the Cardinal world." 

"Rimuru-sama did..." 

And with that as a parting gift, Enki and Siren left Citadel with Velgrynd who will talk with Velzard and Rain about Siren's training. Rimuru gave Velgrynd alcohol to help persuade Rain, and if necessary the others as well. 

A/N: I don't know when to give their name, but it should be in-between the thousand year training.

I'll focus on The Primordial Demons and the Insects (Zegion and Apito) in the following arc. 

The romance will take a backseat for... Several chapters... And so will the lemon..

Believe me, I am more piss off by this than you all. But as I said before, romance isn't the main point of the story.

Especially since I'm having a hard time making sweet/romantic moments.

We've officially hit hundred thousand reads a few hours after last chapter! Can't believe it even now.

Thanks for reading my story.