HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

"Lord Rimuru! Lady Theresa, you've arrived!" Following behind Rimuru, they approached a tent within the goblin village. The headman—a once elderly goblin who had transformed into a burly, muscular hero—stepped forward to greet them.

"Hmm, have all the arrangements been taken care of, Rigurd?" Rimuru asked with a relaxed tone, addressing the robust goblin before him.

"It has all been prepared as instructed," replied Rigurd promptly.

Just then, sounds of argument erupted from inside the tent, resembling a food fight among hungry diners.

"What's going on in there?" Rimuru inquired curiously.

"I had some guests who were famished, so I arranged for grilled meat to be served," explained Rigurd hastily.

"That was thoughtful of you, Rigurd," Rimuru said approvingly, genuinely pleased by this display of hospitality. Still clinging to his pre-reincarnation gentlemanly nature, he appreciated such considerate gestures.

Upon hearing Rimuru's praise, Rigurd immediately expressed his determination to work even harder in the future.

-

As Theresa followed Rimuru into the tent, she was greeted by a sight that stirred memories: the three adventurers she had first encountered upon arriving in this vast forest. Alongside them stood another figure—a masked maiden.

This masked girl must be Rimuru's destined one—the woman who, despite clearly dying in the anime, somehow persisted throughout the story: Shizue Izawa.

Fate had led her to be summoned to this parallel world by the Demon Lord Leon Cromwell, bestowing upon her the name "Shizu." To survive, she became possessed by Ifrit, an elemental spirit of fire, transforming herself from human into a demonic being.

After being rescued by the Hero Chronoa, she traveled with him for some time before parting ways. Following his departure, she remained in various towns, aiding their inhabitants as both an adventurer and instructor.

Gazing at Shizue Izawa now standing before her, Theresa grappled with a profound question: Should she save her? Or let her remain as is?

The power of Luna Kindred... even death held no sway against it. Rescuing her would be effortless if that path were chosen.

But it seemed Shizue Izawa had no desire to live in this world...

Well, Theresa thought, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it...

"Theresa, what brings you here?"

Just then, three adventurers—mid-scramble for meat—spotted Theresa entering with Rimuru and Rigurd. They stared at her in surprise.

"Kaval, Ellen, Gido, hello there!" Theresa nodded towards them as a greeting...

Rigurd began introducing Rimuru to the group. The fact that he was the master of these powerful goblins astonished the three adventurers greatly; only Shizue remained indifferent throughout their exchange.

"Oh right! Didn't you say you were coming here to find 'slime,' Theresa?" Ellen suddenly realized something. "Could it be...him? You actually found him after all..."

"In a way..." Theresa replied vaguely.

Seeing the curious look on Rimuru's face beside her upon hearing this mention, she didn't know how best to explain herself without revealing too much about his origins or her own knowledge of him from another timeline. It was indeed quite complicated.

A day or two passed as Rimuru and Shizu confirmed their fellow villager's identity once more. The only difference this time was the addition of another acquaintance... Theresa.

Though she wasn't actually from their village, Theresa kept her true origins silent—she wouldn't reveal it to anyone.

-

The next day, as Shizu awoke from her nightmare, a chilling memory resurfaced: she recalled an incident from long ago when Ifrit—the elemental fire spirit within her—had taken control. In that moment of loss, she had inadvertently burned her first friend to ashes.

Suddenly, Shizu found herself suspecting another bout of dissociative identity disorder. Determined not to let tragedy strike again, she chose to bid farewell to Rimuru and Theresa. Alongside this decision, she politely declined the invitation from the trio of adventuring misfits known as "Three Fools of Blumund." Instead, she prepared to embark on the solitary quest for the Demon Lord alone.

However, reality often diverges from imagination. Before she could make her departure, Ifrit once more seized control of Shizu's body.

-

"Rimuru, your destined one has gone berserk..."

In the goblin village, Theresa was enjoying a barbecue when she spotted flames erupting skyward not far away. Instantly comprehending the situation, she hurried to alert Rimuru—who remained dejected over Shizu's departure.

It was all rather perplexing; how could they be "destined ones" after merely knowing each other for a day or two? Yet it seemed as though Rimuru had genuinely fallen for her—a fact that even he himself hadn't fully realized yet.

Of course, even if he did harbor feelings for her, there was no way for Rimuru-the-slime to bear children with her naturally.

Suddenly, Theresa recalled a monster-raising game she'd played before, where slime girls were capable of laying eggs instead of giving birth traditionally.

And then... she remembered how stunningly beautiful Rimuru looked in women's clothing...

-

"Oh no, I must go check on it..."

Noticing the commotion not far away, Rimuru hastily summoned his mount Ranga. He leaped onto its back, gripping the wolf's fur as they dashed towards the scene.

"Talk about rushing into things..."

Setting down her grilled meat, Theresa clapped her hands and stood up. She quickly found a Star Wolf—a male version of the wolves—and mounted it, following close behind.

However, ordinary Star Wolves couldn't match the speed of their leader, Ranga.

By the time Theresa arrived at the scene, Rimuru and Ifrit were already locked in combat!

Seeing this, Theresa dismounted from her wolf and drew forth her Oath of Judah.

"Go forth! Oath of Judah!"

Theresa hurled the massive black-gold cross near where Rimuru and Ifrit clashed. However, she didn't command Judah to unfold fully; instead, it merely exerted pressure without unleashing its radiant spears.

With a flash of golden light centered around the cross, Flame Elemental Ifrit was instantly immobilized—unable to move so much as an inch.

Before the might of Judah, even a high-ranking elemental trembles like a leaf! thought Theresa smugly.

"Rimuru," she called out, "it's now as helpless as any ordinary person. Go ahead and devour it!"

Her eyes fixed on Ifrit hovering above them, Theresa urged him forward. Though Rimuru could have defeated Ifrit unaided, wasn't lending a hand for such a swift conclusion all the better?

"Hmm..." Rimuru acknowledged her assistance with a nod, though his thoughts remained unsaid.

Upon hearing this, Rimuru instantly transformed into a pool of liquid, enveloping Ifrit before swallowing him whole. Thus, he met his new companion—the Tempest Dragon—in the endless depths of his stomach.

The once-bored Veldora finally had someone to play with, and more would join their ranks in time.

"Shizu..."

Rimuru gazed sorrowfully at Shizu lying unconscious on the ground...

He utilized the healing fluid within his gastric pouch to tend to her, but it proved futile against such severe injuries.

"Let's bring her back first..." Theresa carefully stored away the Oath of Judah, then approached Shizu. She gently lifted up Rimuru's destined one—his "Shizu."

Rimuru remained silent, offering only a word of gratitude as she carried her away.