Chapter 50 - Partner

"Rimuru!" Velgrynd opened the door with so much force, that it broke and was detached from the wall. "Let's go!" She raised her right fist above in a cheerful manner. 

Today was the promised day when Rimuru and Velgrynd would wander around a world to observe for a day. Though technically the world has already been analyzed and has its own observers, they are doing more of an outing or a one-day vacation to wander around. 

Velgrynd has been waiting for this day for centuries, she has been contemplating how she is going to approach her dilemma with her feelings. She knew that she liked Rimuru, which was already established with the help of Velzard. 

The question now is does she want to present this feeling of hers to Rimuru. Does she want to take their relationship one step further than just being friends? than just being partners? 

I'll find the answer today. 

"It's already been that long huh," Rimuru muttered realizing that more than five centuries have past. "After this, I'm going to check on Enki and Siren."

Velgrynd showed a little pout, "Think about them some other time," Velgrynd pulled Rimuru to the gate that Rimuru opened in his office. "You'll have a lot of time with that tomorrow."

"Hahaha that is true," Rimuru responded following Velgrynd. Wonder what she has in store for me.

Rimuru was not dense enough to not know the real implication of what today will be. It is no investigation, nor outing. It is what the humans and other species called a date. 

While Rimuru has realized that Velgrynd harbors feelings for him, more than a friend should be, he would abstain from making action similar to with Luminas. While he sees both Luminas and Velgrynd as more than friends, he still has some reservation with being in a relationship. 

If they want Rimuru to be in one, they'll have to persuade him themselves. That is the conclusion that Rimuru came up with thus, he continues to act clueless with Velgrynd's excitement and actions.

Thus the two went to planet 3 of Cluster I of Universe Eidikos.

The surrounding is a beautiful green scenery, with vast grassland as far as the eye can see. Even further would be several forests and mountains where majority of the creatures reside.

Rimuru presented his hand to Velgrynd, who happily accepted. The two then flew towards one of the tree covered areas of the planet.

As they flew,

"What should we do?" Rimuru turned to Velgrynd, as she was the one to lead the whole 'observation' plan for the world. 

Velgrynd turned to Rimuru, she has of course planned out what they would do for the day.

It's not an exaggeration to say that she has been planning it for more than a few decades minimum.

"For now," Velgrynd spoke pointing her finger in front. "We'll take a small picnic on that mountain."

The mountain that Velgrynd pointed to was the tallest mountain of this world.

Soon the two arrived at the mountain and laid down on a flat surface somewhere atop.

"I had Misery make this for us," Velgrynd took out a variety of food and placed it down as they both sat down.

"I see," Rimuru took a sandwich from one of the baskets of food.

Velgrynd watched him expectantly, as Rimuru put the food to his mouth, and ate it.

Velgrynd just continues to watch Rimuru eat. Rimuru noticed and looked at her quizzically.

"Aren't you going to eat too?" Rimuru asked showing his half eaten sandwich.

"Oh um," Velgrynd fumbled not realizing that she was staring at him. "D-did you like it?"

Rimuru nodded with a smile, "Yeah, it taste great." Though it doesn't taste like Misery made it. Rimuru looked at Velgrynd's cheerful expression. And chuckled to himself with how easy it was to read her expression.

"I see, I see," Velgrynd said giggling to herself. "I'm glad you like it," She sways as she hums with joy.

"You should eat too," Rimuru presented his half eaten sandwich.

"Oh, um sure," Velgrynd took a bite of the sandwich before chewing slowly, savoring every bit of it.

"I did say it's good, but..." Rimuru looked at Velgrynd's face that savor the food she just ate. Velgrynd after swallowing her food, licked her lips.

Only then did she notice Rimuru looking at her.

Velgrynd took a sandwich from the basket and ate it pretending to ignore Rimuru's eyes.

"Easy now, the food won't go away." Rimuru placed his right hand to her cheek.

She froze on the spot.

Rimuru was slowly leaning in, Velgrynd's face turn a shade of red.

Is it happening? Right now?!

Velgrynd closed her eyes and started leaning in.

She felt Rimuru's thumb swiping something from her lips. And Rimuru's hand left her cheek.

Velgrynd opened her eyes with shadow of disappointment as well as confusion.

"You had some sauce on your lips," Rimuru showed his thumb before licking it, with a smirk on his face.

Only then did Velgrynd realized that Rimuru was messing with her.

It's so fun to tease her, I realized this with Luminas but I seem to like messing with them.

Rimuru chuckled to himself internally as he watches Velgrynd's face turn from embarrassment to anger real quick.

"Hmp" Velgrynd pouted turning her face away from Rimuru. She started eating while staring at the sky, trying to recollect herself.

"Come on don't be angry," Rimuru leaned in from her side, trying to peek at her expression.

Velgrynd turns every time Rimuru switch places to look at her face.

This small exchange lasted for a few minutes.

Did I went too far?

"Come on don't be mad, actually I brought some food myself," Rimuru started taking out some of his creation. "Here you could have some."

Velgrynd smelled the sweet scent coming behind her, and with her body betraying her, turned around.

What she saw was a variety of different sweets, from simple parfaits to full blown cakes.

"Come on here you go," Rimuru took a spoon full of a Sundae and placed it in front of Velgrynd's face.

This feels like he's messing with me.

Velgrynd opened her mouth and let Rimuru feed her the spoonful of Sundae.

"Cheered up yet," Rimuru questioned, tilting his head.

"For now..."

Velgrynd grumbled opening her mouth, gesturing to Rimuru to continue feeding her. 

"Sure, here you go." Rimuru chuckled presenting another spoonful.

After their small picnic atop the mountain, the two changed location.  

They went to one of the few settlements in the world, a town of moderate size with just enough people to consider it as a town.

"I've never been to this world before," Rimuru glanced around watching as the passerbys walk the rough streets.

The two were currently sitting down on the second floor balcony, they were being accomodated by a few of the inhabitants of this world that new of their existence. 

"We hope you enjor your stay My Lord," a young woman with long light blue hair bowed as she presneted the two with beverages. 

"Thanks Hardy-chan," Velgrynd took the two beverages and gave one to Rimuru. 

Hardy, a demi-goddess of the world they are currently staying in. In fact the place they were currently in is more of a temple that revere Hardy as its place of faith. Which means, the people that walk around near the temple are believers of Hardy and her faith. 

Rimuru took a sip, "Hm, these taste delicious." 

"Indeed the fruits are perfectly blended and the temperature of the drink is just perfect." Velgrynd added after taking as sip of hers. 

"Thank you very much for the compliments, I'll make sure to give the praise to Wareharun." Hardy smiled as she left the two. 

"This feels nice," Rimuru commented as he watch the streets, "Just sitting here and relaxing." 

"Didn't you enjoy your last vacation," Velgrynd recalled the week that Rimuru stayed in the Cardinal world. 

Rimuru turned to Velgrynd, "Well, technically in name yes. It was a vacation, I guess." He sighed. 

"It didn't feel like vacation, more like visitation of old friends." Rimuru massaged his temple as he recall the antics in the Facility. 

"Well... You could think of this as one."Velgrynd tried cheering Rimuru up.

"Thanks," Rimuru smiled back.

The two relaxed at the town for hours, simply enjoying the time they had alone together.

They talked about different things, from fun memories to complains about other people that annoys them.

"Hm?" Velgrynd looked at the sky, with the shade change to orange. Signifying the longevity that they had their talk.

"It's already been that long," Velgrynd muttered to herself. She took a deep breath and turned to Rimuru.

Rimuru turned to Velgrynd quizzically, "Something wrong?"

"There's one more place we should go," Velgrynd stood up and presented her hand to Rimuru.

Rimuru stood up and took her hand, both were teleported to a an uninhabited beach.

"Come on let's play," Velgrynd pulled Rimuru to the water.

"Hey," Rimuru was soaked until his waist from the ocean's water.

Then he felt water doused to his face, he looked and Velgrynd was there, looking at him with a smile.

Velgrynd changed her clothes to a something more fitting a beach. A two piece swimsuit sharing the same color of her hair.

Rimuru grinned at her, placed his hand on the water and threw some on her.

Rimuru changed as well, in something akin to swimming trunks, exposing his entire upper half.

"Try catching me," Velgrynd dived down under water. She swam fast, faster than any fishes.

"Try? Heh, here I'll go." Rimuru followed suit, the two swam underwater for several minutes in their game of cat and mouse.

They were now a bit far from the beach, simply swimming underwater since they don't require to breath.

Velgrynd loosed track of where Rimuru was, she resurface from the water.

"Gotcha," A whispered was suddenly uttered behind her ear, she felt two firm arms holding her from behind.

Velgrynd turned her head to see Rimuru smiling at her. Seeing Rimuru's face so close to her had her turning red.

She placed her hands above Rimuru's arms, and leaned her head towards his shoulder.

"You got me.."

The two stayed in that position for more than five minutes, basking on each other's company.

Velgrynd looked at the setting sun and how beautiful it was that they saw this together.

"Hey Rimuru," Velgrynd turned her body facing Rimuru.

"Yeah?" Rimuru tilted his head, the two were still in each other's arms as they float in the middle of the ocean, with the setting sun as their background.

"We-well, uhm," Velgrynd tried to speak, her voice shaking from the nervousness she is feeling.

She took a deep breath.

"You see Rimuru," Velgrynd started. "I've been with you for thousands of years, as your friend and as your partner. Our first meeting was a disaster," Both chuckled at the recollection.

"Yeah, you were really harsh at me back then." Rimuru joked.

"Hey!" Velgrynd pouted, "Anyway, as someone who's been with you for a long time, I've experienced things that I didn't even knew existed. And had a lot of fun staying with you. Recently though, I've been having this strange feeling in my chest."

Velgrynd looked down, looking at Rimuru's chest. She couldn't look at Rimuru's eyes directly for her next words.

"I've been ignoring it for a while, but Big sister has help me realize what it is. I've been jealous of when I see you having fun with other girls. Lait was the first example of when I felt this pain, then towards Luminas. It was painful to ignore it, that's why um, that is,"

Velgrynd again lost for words stopped speaking.

"That's why?" Rimuru raised her face with his finger to her chin. Velgrynd looked at Rimuru's face who was wearing a warm and kind smile, waiting for Velgrynd's next words with patience.

"Basically, um," Velgrynd's eyes swam around, having a hard time collecting herself.

Come on just say it!

Velgrynd closed her eyes and opened them with purpose.

"Rimuru, I love you."

A/N: it took me a whole month to make this chapter!?!!?

Now I feel empty and jealous...