That Time I Got Isekai’d Again and Befriended a Slime

"You."

In the dead silence of the once bustling war camp, that single spoken word rings out across the open space. A simple, single word, with not a single thing behind it except an echo.

No one in the vicinity would dare be the target of such a simple, single word.

Certainly not the King of Falmuth, Edmaris, who undoubtedly regrets accompanying what was supposed to be a simple smackdown and return to glory.

The one beside him, Archbishop Reyheim seems to be in shock. And with the King's notably opulent tent looming behind them both, there's a critical scene here telling more than enough about the pathetic duo.

"This… this can't be…"

The monster before them flexes its dark wings.

"How droll." Stepping over the corpse of the sorcerer Razen, black flames burning him to an unrecognizable state, the monster raises a hand, pointer and middle fingers extended. "Captured, killed, and incinerated. That's three Otherworlders. Now, I find myself in the company of old men in extravagant garb and accommodations. Tell me, which one of you is the King of Falmuth?"

Their voice is impossible to distinguish. They are small, other than the large, leathery black wings stretching from their back. They approached with neither unsheathed weapon nor intimidating muscle. Nor can either of the "old men" recognize the monster's aura.

Not for what it truly is, at least. Anyone sensible would collapse to their knees and beg.

This ignorance allows King Edmaris of Falmuth to find some nerve. To his own detriment, it goes without saying.

"You- you're being quite rude, Monster Lord! To think, you'd spurn our convoy as such… well, I'll allow it! You see, those Otherworlder brats, they took off on their own, but naturally I'll take responsibility-"

The monster's sword almost seemed to appear in its hand.

Shink!

"Shut up."

The monster watches from behind the cracked mask that formerly belonged to the hero Shizu, as the Falmuth king's knees hit the ground mere seconds after his left arm. He screams, even as the "Monster Lord" continues to speak.

"A good friend of mine would've admonished you for not understanding your situation and acting accordingly. Look harder; isn't it obvious I hold all the cards here? You should've gotten down on your knees and prayed."

Just as quickly as it had been drawn, so too are the black flames glimmering along their sword's blade extinguished as it is sheathed.

"Baldy."

Reyheim flinches, having hoped against hope that he'd been forgotten. Then, as the monster turns to face him, he has a spark of insight and drops to his knees as well.

"Y- yes, Lord?"

"Hoh?" Rimuru raises an eyebrow under his mask. "A man of the cloth acknowledging me? You're smarter than the others. Who are you? And tell me quickly before I kill him, is this guy really the King of Falmuth?"

"K- k- kill me?!"

The apparent king blubbers uselessly, but Reyheim doesn't respond. He must be stunned by the topic of conversation.

"Oi." With his free hand, Rimuru snaps his fingers, black flame flickering past his fingertips. "I'm still talking to you, dumbass."

Reyheim flinches. "I- yes! That is, yes, he's the real king!"

"Interesting. And who are you?"

"I am the Archbishop of the Western Saints Church!" It's clear he's not bragging, but rather trying to leverage his position as someone worth keeping alive. Good for him. "My name is Reyheim! I hold great sway in the Kingdom of Falmuth. I can assure the church you are no threat, so- that is, I mean- at the very least, spare me and you won't regret it, Lord-"

"Shut up."

Reyheim shuts up, bowing his head until it touches the ground.

"Good." Rimuru nods. "If you don't move from that spot, I'll spare you for the time being."

"Y- yes Lord!"

Notice. The Unique Skill, Merciless, has undergone analysis and is ready for activation.

"And now…" Rimuru faces the king of Falmuth once more. "Looks like it's your turn. Anything to say? If it's an apology, I don't want to hear it. If it's an excuse for your actions, I definitely don't want to hear it."

Activate it, Great Sage.

Confirmed.

The Unique Skill, Merciless, is one acquired from large-scale acts invoking its name, such as the circumstances behind Rimuru's Megiddo. All caught in its thrall who have given up or lost the desire to continue cannot resist. Thus, across the camp behind and around the three of them, any lucky stragglers not killed by the initial Megiddoonslaught are cruelly denied their pathetic hopes and futures.

That is to say, in mere minutes, the entirety of Falmuth's army has been wiped clean, for there is not a single ordinary individual who has seen the wrath of the Lord of Monsters and wished to live through whatever cruelty would come next.

That, except for King Edmaris and Archbishop Reyheim. They were spared from such an easy death. They may beg otherwise at a later date, but those who have made their beds should lie in them without complaint.

"I… I…" King Edmaris stares up at Rimuru with wide eyes. "I don't- I'm not-"

"Hmm?" Rimuru squats down, eye level with the pale, sweating man. "What was that? Seems you've lost your composure. Take a moment, take a breath, and then discard whatever your first and second thoughts are. If it were another circumstance, I might be inclined to at least listen. But my patience is well past gone."

With a thunderstruck look, the king's mouth snaps shut. Rimuru tilts his head, and in the background of his thoughts, Great Sage nears the end of a countdown.

"Oh? Did I read your thoughts? Catch you before you could lie? Sorry, but I had a good teacher."

Rimuru lashes out faster than Edmaris can see, grabbing him by his collar and dragging the king up with him as he stands.

Edmaris weakly grasps Rimuru's wrist, but it's like a feather shoving against corded steel.

"It's a shame you really are the king, you know. Drake is dead, so I haven't had the chance to really vent my anger on someone. Aren't you grateful? You're one of two humans left alive in this entire encampment. That deserves special treatment."

Rimuru drops Edmaris, and he hits the ground like a sack of potatoes, unconscious. Without sparing a glance for Reyheim, who obediently hadn't raised his head or moved even a centimeter, Rimuru snaps his fingers, and his earlier-cast Anti-Magic Area shatters.

Notice. The required number of human souls has been exceeded. Evolution is now possible. 

Do it.

Confirmed. The Harvest Festival will immediately commence.

Exhaustion slams the humanoid slime in all parts of his body simultaneously. He sways dangerously on his feet, then stabilizes himself, pressing a hand against his forehead.

Ugh. That's worse than expected.

Report: Incoming communication from-

"Lord Rimuru! I've just detected the emergence of an individual in a clearing near the Sealed Cave. Requesting permission to engage-

"Negative, Souei." Rimuru interjects flatly. "You and the Kurayami should keep protecting the perimeter of Tempest and the Sealed Cave until my return. I'll figure something out."

A single individual, now? Surely not Hinata Sakaguchi, or…? Oh, who knows what the hell is going on, but Souei has some explanations to give after this. Springing such a wild emergency out of nowhere!!

"Ranga. Support me."

The Tempest Wolf leaps from Rimuru's shadow. "My Lord, I'm here!"

"Good boy." Rimuru says, collapsing to one knee. Ranga drops his head obediently, and Rimuru throws an arm over the massive wolf's neck. "Here's the deal: you need to get me out of here, back to Tempest and the others! And drop them off with Youm and Eren's group, I suppose."

Saying that, Rimuru gestures to the kneeling Reyheim and the unconscious Edmaris.

"I know these idiots are so pathetic that it seems like a cosmic good to put them out of their misery, but I need them alive for the time being."

The soon-to-be Demon Lord is looking less human and more slime by the second. And then, with an unfortunate pop sound Rimuru does fall into slime form.

Ranga catches him on his horns. "My Lord, is that everything?"

Ah, right. The newcomer individual. It might be troublesome to leave them alone… anything unexpected could interfere with the ritual. But it also matters that I'm needed back ASAP. Maybe that thing would work.

"There is one thing… a potential threat. But I'll summon someone to deal with it, so just prioritize getting us home."

"My Lord, casting magic like this…"

"Don't worry about it. This is the least I have to do, so I'll manage it."

Great Sage, do it now.

In front of Rimuru and Ranga, lines of black and red slither into existence. A magic circle, or more accurately, a summoning circle.

Report: Demon Summoning, confirmed. Preparing sacrifice…

"All the corpses in this encampment, you can have them."

…report: someone beyond this world has their eye on you.

Good. Take a good look. 

The ritual takes hold. The magic circle explodes upward in a vortex of midnight and crimson, drawing in vitality from the miles of military encampment all around.

Demons, whatever. As long as they can get the job done, whoever shows up can take care of the rest. That's proper delegation, right? 

The vortex dies down as abruptly as it began, revealing three kneeling, dark-clad figures.

"Fufufu… it's not often we get to witness the birth of a Demon Lord." The middle figure rises to his feet, head still bowed. His attire is rather fancy, screaming of wealthy vampire butler.

Oh boy. Did I summon an unfortunate personality type?

"Hey you." He says to the trio. "In a clearing, north of here near a cave, there's someone or something causing trouble. Capture it alive and being it to Ranga here." Then, speaking to Ranga, "Make sure you introduce them to everyone in town."

"Understood!"

-

Just after the creation of Clockwork Universe

Central Plaza, City of Tempest

Jura Tempest Federation, Great Forest of Jura

The barriers keep all uncontested spiritual matter contained, compressing and agitating it. The concentration is so thick that ordinary humans cannot exist within them.

But it's not only the literal buzz in the air that keeps everyone's shoulders tense, and their gazes furtive. There is a thick tension, a buzz to the air that is both metaphorical and literal.

You wouldn't need a spoon to cut it, much less a knife, and knowing herself to be much of the cause, Shuna forces herself to ignore it.

Or, no, to say "force" is to imply a level of attention that she herself does not hold to the tension itself. She is aware of it, and she is refusing to let it negatively affect her.

Ignoring it outright is impossible, though.

The group of them are gathered in the Tempest main plaza, near the damaged fountain topped with a statue of Rimuru in his slime form. Two groups have settled on either side of this fountain: Shuna, Mary, and a waist-height cot covered with a white and silver shroud and a pink barrier on the back side, and everyone else on the other.

Benimaru, Hakurou, Shion, Geld, Rigurd, Rigur, Gobta, Gabiru and his cohorts… and, of course, Grucius and Mjurran off to the side. Eren, Gido, Kabal, and Youm, along with the rest of the human merchants still loyal to Tempest, have already since evacuated beyond the city's border, thanks to the current concentration of energy and the expected massive spike in magicules from Rimuru's evolution.

In the middle of those who remain sits an empty wooden throne.

Elsewhere around the plaza, countless other citizens of Tempest gather, Hobgoblins and Goblinas and Orcs and other monsters of all varieties who call this place home.

But every single one of them gives Shuna and Mary a wide berth, mostly conglomerating on the opposite side of the fountain and trailing in scattered groups down several of the main roads.

Not to say that the Tempest Executive class is now two houses divided, but it's clear to anyone that Shuna and Mary intentionally separated and told the others in no uncertain terms to stay away for the time being. Something which everyone is quite keen to respect.

Respect in the sense of distance, that is. The situation being what it is, half of everyone around is staring in Shuna and Mary's direction. More accurately, in the direction of the barrier-covered cot behind them.

They are summarily ignored.

"It can't be as complicated as you're making it." Shuna uncrosses her arms and reaches out. "You have to get this right quickly, so here, look again."

A perfect palm-sized cube of pink energy – bearing a similar color to one of the barriers above and the same color as the one behind them – spins to life above her outstretched hand.

"God, you're as much a slavedriver as..." Next to her, Mary molds her own energy like a potter, a neon green substance like putty sticking and stretching between her fingers and palms. With a glance at Shuna's cube, she brings her hands close, the energy of Ability Severance compressing and glowing enough that looking directly at it would burn spots into a normal person's retina. Then, she pulls her hands apart and flips them, one above the other. "It's a lot harder when I have to think about it."

Blink and you'll miss it. The stretched substance-like energy unsticks from her topmost hand, becoming a tiny dome atop her bottom hand and changing from neon green to pink.

"…I think I got it."

"Warning: the individual Rimuru Tempest will begin his awakening as Demon Lord."

Just then, a loud voice echoes good news in everyone in the vicinity's ears.

"The Voice of the World? Just in time." Shuna says, half sarcastic. "Usually you don't race for last. Sorry, ignore that."

She gives her biting remark and calmly apologizes for it without missing a beat. It's not an out-of-place thing to say even if improperly timed. Still, Mary doesn't hold it against her.

"You're fine."

"Benimaru did tell me I've been acting like a real bitch lately, so."

"Don't get me wrong, I like it." Mary clenches her hand into a fist, then opens it. Stretching between her spread fingers is the same pink energy as before. "You remind me of this one person…"

She turns, making sure her Ability Sight is turned off before she does, and touches the barrier around Tanya's body. The pink energy transfers both ways for a single instant, flames running up her arm and sparks running down it.

"…well, you know."

"At the conclusion of the Harvest Festival, monsters with connection to the individual Rimuru Tempest will receive gifts." 

"Flattery will get you nowhere right now." Shuna rolls her eyes, though after letting out a quiet sigh of relief when the barrier transferred ownership. "Focus."

"Yes yes." Who exactly distracted them in the first place? Out of respect for proper time and place, Mary keeps this to herself.

"Everyone! Prepare yourselves!" Off on the other side of the fountain, Benimaru shouts to the rest of the gathering. "Stand tall! Lord Rimuru has emerged victorious, which means it's now our turn! Prepare to protect him with everything we have!"

Shuna and Mary spare him a glance each, with the former looking away after a moment.

"Finally." One of them mutters, but it doesn't matter which. Take your pick.

It was a thought both of them were having, despite their weak attempt at bantering to pass the time quicker. No matter what they say to one another, the simple fact is that something with their dynamic is missing, or rather, someone.

There is some measure of satisfaction to be found in the completion of Rimuru's mission. That the Falmuth army is undoubtedly wiped off the map is a positive outcome, but from the start of this whole mess, it is only the end goal these two individuals share with the repentant Rimuru Tempest and his Executives.

They understand each other like that; Tanya would enjoy them getting along so well.

Oh. What's that phrase? Speak of the devil…?

Just then, there's a flash of light, and a strange sense of vertigo like a great pressure has released and been sealed in the same instant. A massive burst of energy flares brilliantly in that instant, an impression of a magic circle drawing Shuna's and Mary's attention skyward over the barrier containing Tanya's body.

"Are you fucking serious?" "No one's interfering!"

At the same time, a great shadow elongates on the opposite side of the fountain, and out of it jumps an oversized and frantic Tempest Wolf. Neither of them notices.

Mary and Shuna respectively voice their displeasure at the potential complication, with pink flames already swirling around the latter's hands and sparks around the former's.

There is nothing to direct their ire towards, however, as the moment has already ended.

Whatever happened has happened, and there's nothing anyone can do.

Let us return to what once was. Complications or not, this is to bring back what has been lost. No, instead, this is to turn through that door which has only been stepped through and drag back that which cannot leave. Not yet.

There's nothing that can be done, or that needs to be done. Everything is already in motion for an appropriate resolution to come about, with all due consideration for needs and wants appropriately acknowledged or discarded.

That is to say, what they need most right now is her revival. That is what should happen. The cracks are already apparent; the fracturing point of contention within Tempest depends on that outcome.

But, regardless of success, no one will know their story without hearing her name.

"Tanya!" The flames around her hands disappear. Shuna rushes toward the pink barrier and body named, brushing past a distracted Mary. "Something's happening to her!"

Simply put, there is something within the veil of pink energy that chills them down to their bones.

Tanya's body is disintegrating.

"Warning: Rimuru Tempest's Harvest Festival is now complete. Dispensation of gifts to monsters under his Authority will soon begin."

On the other side of the plaza, Ranga departs for the edge of the barriers surrounding Tempest with Grucius at his side.

Geld and Rigurd direct traffic, clearing space, and with Benimaru at her side, Shion holds Rimuru's unconscious slime form, wraps it in a large, pure white cloth with all the care of a dedicated lover, and sets their Lord atop his prepared throne. After, she remains on the throne's right, with Hakurou moving to stand on the left and Geld standing behind. The others watch closely and carefully, forming a defensive arc in front.

Except for Benimaru. Now assured of their Lord's safety, he quickly makes his way around the fountain to Shuna and Mary's side, unknowing of the potential hell awaiting.

"Sister. Mary." A series of words that wouldn't be out of place in a nunnery, he says with no idea of what a nunnery or how his words could be turned into a pun beyond vague recollections of a single conversation several months prior with Tanya.

Having mostly rounded the fountain's breadth, Benimaru approaches another few steps, and "a few" is all it ends up as; he is only somewhat disappointed when Shuna hesitates, then steps halfway to block him from the barrier.

"Now is not the time. Do you need something, brother?"

"I- no, nothing great." Benimaru waves his hands at the ensuing venomous look. "Don't mind me! I'm merely preparing the way for our Lord."

"That's all?" Shuna narrows her eyes, with a challenging tone and frown remarkably reminiscent of her yet-late lover. "I'm not at liberty to abandon my post, and we're not lowering this barrier."

Benimaru grimaces, though makes no motion to approach. "Shuna, please. Do you not trust your older brother's judgement? Your Lord's?"

Unfortunately, if Benimaru was intending to talk some sense into his sister, he'd gone about it in the wrong way. Given that he had not brought her the heads of those responsible for Tanya's death, staked and bled dry, the next best thing would have been to take her side from the start.

Something rather difficult at the moment. Considering his loyalty to Rimuru and her abrupt resignation from Tempest's ruling council, the situation as to who supports who is rather muddled at the moment, as is his composure and resolve.

Ganbare, Benimaru-chan!!

You see, it's easy to experience freedom and become unreasonable in the aftermath. With time she would doubtless become more cooperative and open as she acclimates, but right now Shuna finds herself with very little desire to listen or cooperate beyond what was pre-established between the two groups.

"Trust? Trust!?" That being said, if one were to imagine any number of wrong things to say right now, doubtless her brother would find his choice of words high on the list. "This is just about you and Rimuru, isn't it? Do you not trust my intentions, my reasoning?! Look at what's happening!"

"I- no, I'm just worried about you! Don't you think you're being hasty?" Benimaru appeals, seeing her about to respond and holding up a hand in half the universal gesture for peace. But they can all tell his temper is rising to match, despite his best efforts. "I'm worried you'll say or do something in anger you can't take back!"

"I haven't said or done a single thing I intend to take back. If you're that worried, then don't be! Be patient like the rest of us!"

"Why don't you look at what's happening! How can I be patient when it seems like I'm losing my little sister right in front of me!?"

"Losing your little sister? Is that all I am right now? A princess that's supposed to act like everything is perfect and right just because Rimuru promised to fix things!?"

"Yes, my little sister! I won't pretend it's perfect, but how can you explain yourself when this is done? You never used to speak that way, and you know what? I've-"

"And I've just about grown sick and tired of standing on the damn sidelines letting the people I care about-"

And now they're just arguing loudly over one another, not waiting or caring for the other to finish. Mary keeps watch on Tanya's body, noting with a frown and an irritated twitch underneath her eye that the deterioration is speeding up.

"-sick of letting others handle everything, like my overprotective brother and Lord Rimuru and-"

"-you're not the only one pissed off! Do you really think I was okay with not being there to-"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!"

Benimaru and Shuna flinch.

"Both of you!" Mary glares at them, an electric pink aura springing to life and sparking with her agitation. "In case you haven't noticed, now isn't the fucking time!"

Without need for a gesture or look, the Kijin siblings take a step back. Figuratively, in Shuna's case, and literally in Benimaru's.

Anything they could say after that is lost, for right then is when they realize exactly how exhausted they've become.

"Wha-?" Benimaru stumbles, falling to one knee. "This drowsiness, I didn't even notice...?"

"No-!"

The strangled cry draws his attention back to his sister, and as he does, he takes notes of the rest of the plaza's residents. That is, he's realized they've all already fallen asleep.

That's right, he realizes, seeing their peaceful expressions and the rise and fall of their chests; they've all just fallen asleep.

So why did his sister…?

"Shuna!" Benimaru sees Mary, crouching next to Shuna's side, and notes the stricken look on their faces. He tries to stand and step forward, only for his knee to buckle halfway.

Dark spots dance in his vision, his mind and body both shutting down as the Harvest Festival bestows its power onto those Rimuru unintentionally deemed his.

"Sister!" That yell is all he can muster. Exhaustion overtakes him… but he falls asleep with confidence.

For the last thing he sees is another individual off to the side, giving him a singular nod that seems to say, "Leave the rest to me". 

"I see… the gifts, huh?"

As her brother falls, Shuna fights the same losing battle.

"No, I can't… fall asleep…!"

"Hey hey, what the hell is going on here?" And then, Mary is kneeling at her side. Her hand presses against Shuna's lower back, the other her shoulder, and for the briefest instant, energy buzzing like static is shared between them, pushing back the impossible drowsiness. "Something about gifts… whatever. I got you."

It helps, until it doesn't. This isn't a fatigue that sharing energy can cure; it's the opposite, in fact. Power is already being shared.

Shuna loses the rest of her strength, the nothingness of sleep burning over the edge of her vision like fire smoldering across paper.

"Okay, I don't got you? No, I do, just hold on!"

The yawning pit in Mary's gut belies the truth. More than a bad feeling, this emptiness is all too familiar to the her of over a year ago. The one who always spent every last drop of miraculous energy in every single fight.

Who would ever save for the flight back?

She really doesn't have much left to spare. Seriously, how bad is that? Even her reserves are running on fumes after the last couple days.

Defiant of this fact, Mary's flares her aura, copying then flooding Shuna with yet more precious energy, and as a result, her aura grows dimmer, the pink electricity turning pale and the barrier behind them-

"Tanya…" Shuna's voice fades with her consciousness, the last resistance in her body not enough.

Finally, she falls into undesired sleep. With the crux of the matter falling on those left behind.

"No no no, don't pass out!" Mary leans over and shakes the other woman, to no avail. She looks between Shuna and the barrier hiding Tanya's body, "Damn it! Sorry Shuna, but I'm sure you'll be fine."

She sets Shuna down carefully, before getting up and fortifying the barrier, incredibly grateful now that she'd been badgered into mastering it.

Inside, the entire top half glitters with stars of silver light. The motes of whatever they are – Tanya's residue? No, that sounds bad. – clump together like nebulae, and in any other circumstance Mary might find it pretty.

Right now it's just pissing her off.

"No no no, what is this? What's going wrong this time?"

Did I mess up again? Why wouldn't I? That's the only thing I'm good at!

"Consideration: there's no need for fear."

Mary freezes, then slowly looks over.

The voice is static electricity and smooth at the same time, clearly feminine, yet similar enough to Rimuru's that you could be forgiven for thinking it neutral. Bare, pale legs lead up to a flowing white cloth, closer to a sheet than a robe, wrapping around a familiar slender form.

Familiar blue, silvery hair flows in an invisible wind, framing familiar features with a gaze that is-

Close. This person stands close.

Too close, considering… "You're not Rimuru."

Red eyes. Blank, red eyes replace Rimuru's typical gold.

Mary gets to her feet, carefully stepping forward, in-between this figure adopting Rimuru's guise and the others.

"Who are you?"

This… red-eyed Rimuru is unnaturally still. It triggers something instinctual in the back of Mary's mind; unknown to her, her eyes flash a familiar bright pink.

"Answer: I am a proxy. Worry not. I am merely borrowing his body for the time being."

"Borrowing his…?"

In an instant, Mary lashes out. There are any number of reasons for this knee-jerk reaction, all of which are justifiable.

What matters is the here and now. She doesn't know how it happened or when, but something must have gone wrong with his Demon Lord awakening. If it's anything like the bad part of Eren's story, then this needs to be dealt with now-

Her body jerks to a halt, a hand wrapping around her throat, and suddenly she can't keep her eyes open.

"Report: it's best if you do not interfere. Leave the rest to me and go to sleep."

Darkness overtakes her vision.

Except, none of that happened.

What? Mary touches her throat, eyes wide and glowing neon pink. What the hell was that?

But that…? It did, but it didn't.

"What- what do you mean by borrowing?" Still baffled by the vision, she manages to suppress a knee-jerk reaction and asks outright. "And a proxy would be what you are, not who."

Oh whoa, that correction right there? She's starting to sound like Tanya. Mary shoves the thought and how it feels somewhere else for the time being.

The proxy tilts their (her?) head.

"Theory: your lack of trust in me stems from your own negative interactions with the one you and Tanya refer to as Being X. Within this context, your aggressiveness is predictably justified." The proxy nods once. "Report: I am Lord Rimuru's closest confidant and most constant companion. I am the manifested personality of his Ultimate Skill, Raphael. You may refer to me as Raphael."

"…huh." Mary doesn't quite relax, but the air of imminent attempted violence lessens. "You know, I thought she was just messing with me, but… you're the voice in his head?"

Raphael's expression is unchanged, but somehow Mary gets the sense she's taken aback.

"That is… not incorrect, if painfully simplified."

They stare at each other without words, white cloth ruffling and pink sparks popping.

Mary's first instinct is one of distrust. A voice in one's head that borrows bodies is an automatic red flag as far as she's concerned. It's rather often these voices tend to be manipulative and ill-intentioned, at least in her experience.

Ironically, this is something she might bond with Mjurran over, but not right now. Given, well, you know.

And there was that odd vision…

"Tell me something only Rimuru would know."

Instantly, Mary winces at the sheer stupidity of that question. Whether or not Raphael has access to something only Rimuru knows, it doesn't prove anything. Being X had access to all of her memories once upon a time, and the knowledge of that did nothing but give her a headache and a strange desire to ignore increasingly bloodthirsty actions.

"Report: all I desire is to fulfill Lord Rimuru's will. It would not serve either of us well were I to reveal one of my Lord's secrets. I believe he would be… displeased. Or embarrassed. Hm."

…or maybe Mary's secretly a genius, because that was actually a useful response. Someone like Being X or Mjurran's Clayman wouldn't have hesitated to take advantage of a softball question like that.

It's another piece to the puzzle. As she was painstakingly taught, Mary puts together the pieces one by one.

In this situation, with everything that's happened so far…

"Report: I may tell you something that only Rimuru and two other people know." Raphael glances to the side, one hand rising to cover her mouth. "Query: what would you consider the colloquial term for a sexual act consisting of-"

"Alright, I've decided." Mary blinks, realizing she interrupted the other. Then, considering what Raphael had been saying, she ignores it for her own sake.

After all, who even knows what "colloquial" means?

Mary clears her throat and repeats herself, "I've decided. To trust you."

Which is a much bigger deal than Raphael understands, but in times of crisis there's nothing wrong with utilizing a tentative resource to make ends meet, so long as one does not come to rely on it.

In this case, everything leads to the conclusion that Raphael, if not trustworthy, can be trusted to do what Rimuru wants.

Yes, Mary's seriously lacking any better options.

The last thing she wants to do is fuck everything up again, and really, there's no time like the present to put into practice what might be an easy path to victory going forward: ask Raphael what to do.

"Something's happening with her body. There was this strange magic, and it just sort of happened…"

Mary gestures to the pink barrier at her side, grimacing at the sheer abundance of energy inside. It's almost like Tanya's original material body is expiring…

"…but yeah. Whatever you can do, please fix this."

That's all it takes.

"Report: there's no need to ask. Lord Rimuru's desire currently is only that of returning all to where it should be." Raphael's demeanor and aura sharpen, but feeling isn't threatening. Mary actually finds herself hopeful in spite of the earlier tension, that instinctive fire tempered by the other's expression. "The revival and resurrection of the individual Tanya is exactly in line with this desire."

Raphael steps forward until she's close enough to touch Mary's barrier. Crimson eyes stare within, and calculations regarding the odd turn of events flash across the corner of her vision. After a pause, she looks up from the barrier, as if following a trail of something.

"…so?" Mary says impatiently.

Raphael says nothing. Instead, she reaches out.

With her palm pressing against it, the pink barrier around Tanya's body collapses.

"Wha-!?!"

The sheer audacity of the act and the overwhelming flood of high-octane emotion at the sight of all those glowing silver particles scattering and disappearing from view is enough to freeze Mary in place. If she didn't have the constitution of a normal human, she would have passed out.

That she does not pass out, and that she does not immediately act, is a good thing. It gives her a front row seat to what happens next.

"Report: in my name, Raphael, Lord of Wisdom, I order you Beelzebuth. Consume all the spiritual matter belonging to the individual Tanya. Do not leave a single piece of soul unattended!"

-

Moments Earlier

Outside the Barriers, Tempest Entrance

Jura Tempest Federation

"By the way, that Shuna." Grucius is the one to break their awkward silence, him and Ranga having run to the city limits without sharing a word. "She's a bit terrifying. I was genuinely fearing for my life whenever she looked at me recently."

"Indeed. In terms of scariness, she is second to none." Ranga nods his head solemnly, then shudders. "Like it was yesterday, I remember her kindly threatening me and Lord Rimuru to never enter her house without knocking again."

"Really? What'd she threaten you with? Just her glare felt like a sword against my neck… and this barrier she created, too. It's even better than Mjurran's, or at least, that's what Mjurran told me."

"Lady Shuna is truly great." Ranga tilts his head up and smirks, or at least, gives the best equivalent to a smirk that a wolf-type creature can. "Despite bearing only an oversized shirt and having been entangled in some manner with Lady Tanya, I could not even blink before a kitchen knife was embedded in the door frame next to my head."

These guys enjoy it when their friends are praised, huh? Grucius thinks. Wait, huh? Ranga, don't tell me you and Rimuru almost walked in on-

"Well, it's not my business." Grucius says, ignoring the thought. "I get it, man. Uh. Dog…? Anyway, I get the same way when Lord Carrion is praised."

"Hm?" Ranga tilts his head. "By the way, I was wondering about that."

"About what?"

"The Demon Lord Carrion. Is it true Milim declared war on Eurazania?"

"Oh, about that."

"I'm sorry to ask, but if I am taking up time that you could spend elsewhere-"

"Nah, don't worry about it." Grucius crosses his arms. "I'm in Tempest by choice. I've got a role to fill, it seems, and either way the battle between Lord Carrion and Demon Lord Milim won't take place for another few days. I'm fine doing what I can here and seeing the results after."

"…indeed."

"For what it's worth, I hope Tanya really comes back."

"Hmph. It's Lord Rimuru bringing her back, so of course she will." Ranga yawns and lays down. "For what it's worth, I am glad my master is handling this personally. It would be a shame for Lady Shuna to kill you."

Grucius deadpans at the nonchalant remark, before shrugging and dropping to sit in crisscross.

"...thanks, I guess. Still, to think he's becoming a Demon Lord of all things… I didn't think I'd see an awakening in my lifetime."

"It's Lord Rimuru."

"Hey now, you didn't just say that. Awakening like that is a big deal you know! It means the world itself has acknowledged you; they're essentially being declared as the strongest around. It's not something dismissed as a matter of course for anyone!" After a beat, he amends his statement. "Except the Destroyer. She was probably destined for it or something."

"Is awakening as a Demon Lord the end goal, then?"

"I mean, for a monster. There are Saints and the like too, but-"

"Hmph!" Ranga interrupts, raising his head once more. Only, as he does so, it sways back and forth, as if he's off balance despite laying on the ground. "As expected of my Lord Rimuru! To become so strong so quickly, no one is better suited to being the next Demon Lord than him."

"…right. The next Demon Lord." Grucius sits back, one hand supporting him and the other cupping his chin thoughtfully. "You know, I wonder how the other 10 will react. Lord Carrion will be fine, and even with the declaration of war, Demon Lord Milim will probably be happy- whoa!"

His exclamation is deserved. As he was speaking, Ranga seemed to have drifted off, plopping unceremoniously onto one side.

"Ranga? Hey, Ranga?!"

"Lord Rimuru has…" Ranga tries to lift his head and fails, unconcerned by the other shaking him. "…I'm sorry, but it seems I'll be sleeping now. Please… take care of the rest, Grucius."

With that, Ranga falls limp. Grucius shakes him one last time, just to be sure.

Hey, hold on, what is this? What's with this sudden sleep that's only affecting Ranga? 

Similar to Mary, Grucius puts the pieces together like someone else taught him the process for doing so.

…is it because of Rimuru? He was unconscious when Ranga delivered him. Then, is this a result of Rimuru's awakening as a Demon Lord?

Though, he reaches the right conclusion the slightest bit quicker, having seen Rimuru and Ranga's arrival himself rather than noticing it after the fact.

Did Hakurou ask me to accompany him knowing this? Geh, old man, you really are too knowledgeable. I swear I'll- or rather, we will beat you one day.

"Oh my. It seems Mister Ranga is receiving his gift from the Harvest Festival."

Who-?! Grucius bursts to his feet, laying eyes on someone unfamiliar and far too close for comfort. I didn't even notice him!

"Hmmm? Please, don't fear." The new arrival, an aristocratic-sounding man with clothes that reflect the same description and black hair highlighted in front by two crimson strands, cups a glove-covered hand against his chest and bows his head. He's… like a butler, actually. "While I cannot give you a name, lacking one as I am, I am indeed one of those summoned by our new Demon Lord. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Grucius."

"Ah… okay then." Grucius tries to calm down. Somehow, these demons had completely evaded his senses until they were in a position to kill him. Anyone with sense would be frightened, but he tries to play it off with an unconvincing smirk. "Ranga did mention that to us. I heard I was waiting for three of you."

"That's correct." The nameless butler demon gestures behind himself. "These two are my assistants. Please pay them no mind."

Compared to the butler, his assistants seem much more demon-like. One is shorter, wearing baggy pants and half cloak that doesn't cover its tail or clawed fingers respectively, with a third eye between the usual two and with a tint of shadow over half their face that resembles a mask with ear flaps, yet isn't.

The other is much larger, towering over the lot of them, with pointed ears and a fanged expression and a massive black and crimson furred cloak, which covers everything except his face and his currently outstretched arms.

Wait, what? 

Grucius does a double take.

"…right. Like I said, I heard I was waiting for three, so if you don't mind me asking… who's that woman the big guy is carrying?"

"Hmmm?" The butler demon glances backwards. The big Tepes demon leans down, shifting the woman in bridal carry closer so the other may place a hand on her head. "It was by this woman's arrival that I was summoned, so I am truly grateful to her. As you can see, she's been treated very preciously as a result."

"Preciously, huh…?" It's true that the woman has no injuries that he can see, but she's clearly unconscious here! Then again, she's also not his problem. "Well, whatever. If you plan on going inside, put a barrier over her. The concentration of magicules must be like a poison by now."

The butler demon gives him an odd look.

"Oi, don't just look at me with that expression that says what's the problem with that? The problem is that she'd die, idiot!"

"Hmm? Hmmm… I suppose you are right. Though I wouldn't worry about this one; really, she's worth at least a thousand boring normal humans. I do wonder if I'll be allowed to keep her as an assistant. Would Lord Rimuru appreciate additional income from a human fight club…?"

"You are one scary demon, dude." Grucius realizes he'd said that aloud a moment too late. "Uh, I mean-"

He tries to cough to cover it up, and continues with whatever first comes to mind keeping the topic from settling on his blunder. Fortunately for both his dignity and the cosmic existence of comedic timing, something else happens that takes more precedence.

CRACK!!!

With a sound like shattering glass, Mjurran and Shuna's barriers around Tempest break down.

Oh, come on!!

"The barriers!?"

"My oh my, how intriguing." The other half of the conversation smiles creepily. "It seems that twogreat powers are moving inside the city."

Mjurran!

"Sorry, but stay here!" Grucius points at the nameless demon, before taking off. "I'll be back!"

-

"Confirmed: The Secret Art of Revival is complete."

Back in the central plaza, Raphael holds out her hand. Pulsing gently just above her palm is a silver light, an orb of compressed spiritual matter.

"Is that… her…?" Mary steps forward, much calmer than before. In fact, anything before has been replaced by a feeling she'd only grown used to in the past year: hope.

"Indeed, this is a visible manifestation. However-"

"Mjurran! Are you alright!"

There must be something in the air today, because everyone is getting interrupted for some reason or another. It's almost comical, like a gag that's overstayed its welcome.

Grucius rushes toward the named woman, stopping next to her and giving her a visible once-over.

Mjurran blinks. "Grucius? I'm fine, but my health isn't really the concern here."

"It is to me. But that being said," He does a double take, just noticing what seems to be Rimuru and Mary. The latter of which is glaring at him, which he tries and fails to fully ignore. "Is that the new Lord Rimuru?"

"Indeed."

"Gah!"

Beside him, the butler demon from before can be seen kneeling with his assistants behind him.

"I have returned, my Lord." His head bowed, he extends the curtesy of respectful address and willing subservience.

"Hey, I told you to wait-!"

"Forgive my discourtesy." He says, ignoring Grucius. "But it seems, however, that despite your subject's power, they lack a body to which the Resurrection process may be enacted… and, that the magicules required to create an appropriate one are nonexistent."

"Correction: Tanya is not a subject. She is one of our precious sworn friends."

"Of course!" The butler demon bows his head even lower. "My deepest apologies for the mistake."

"Hm." Raphael looks to the sparkling star hovering over her palm. "Report: Tanya's spiritual existence has evolved. It is possible her previous material body was no longer suitable, causing it to be absorbed during the revival process."

"Then, that's why…?" Mary says, not sure how she's feeling anymore but certainly not feeling good after hearing that. "But hold on, the timeline doesn't match. Her body started…" She grimaces, "disintegrating, before you began that revival process."

"It is as you said. The exact cause for the breakdown of her material body can only be speculated at the current time. However, discovery of this cause is irrelevant to the desired effect, and thus, unnecessary." Raphael holds the visible manifestation of Tanya's soul close, energy swirling as she stretches out her other hand. "Conclusion: our most expedient option is the consumption of life force to create a temporary material vessel using Enhanced Body Double."

"What??" Mary, Grucius, and Mjurran exclaim at the same time, and it's obvious from his expression that the butler demon only just stopped himself from copying them.

"Hold on," Mary steps forward. "If it's just a vessel she needs-"

"I wouldn't suggest taking that route, girl." The nameless demon says, causing Mary to look at him for the first time since his arrival.

"And what route would you suggest, you fucking-"

Upon seeing who's behind him, Mary stops.

Hang on, is that- no, it definitely is! That big guy, that's the Devil of Tsaritsyn he's holding!

Her insult falls apart halfway through its conception, and the demon continues as if Mary hadn't spoken at all.

Rude.

"If what I suspect about Lady Tanya is true, then I have little doubt her soul inhabiting your body as a vessel would have only ill effects. Indeed, by the time your soul has finished painfully burning away, I imagine your body will follow suit. Assuming both do not occur simultaneously, of course. Instead," He turns to Raphael, gesturing behind him. "You don't need to use your life force for this, Lord. Might I suggest-"

ZWOOOM!!!

Before he can finish, the silverine orb crackles and bursts from Raphael's grasp. Violence overtakes its glow, arcs like coronal loops sizzling around its exterior as it zips towards the demon and his assistants, so fast they can only see the result.

The smallest demon of the trio is dead.

Its head is just… gone, seemingly consumed as motes of energy drift backwards from an empty neck. The rest of its body falls backwards, but similarly turns into spiritual particulate before it can hit the ground.

"Oh my!" Unsurprisingly, the leader of the demon trio – or rather, duo – reacts. He is also the only one to verbally do so, and not with the anger or otherwise one might expect. "I suppose this wouldmake sense as well."

Everyone else is too busy staring with mirrored wide-eyed expressions to acknowledge his reaction to that. After all, whatever that was isn't something that happened, but is still happening.

Behind the duo of demons and their carefully kept captive, chaos spins around the crackling orb, drawing the energy of the dead demon around it. As the energy particulate approaches, they change, becoming a thin whirl of silver and blue flames around a single point.

Even when the energy of the demon runs out, the fire whirl continues to intensify, waves of heat and chill reaching everyone in the vicinity.

Faster and faster it goes, a column guiding the prophet's escape, just as tall as a single person.

And then it stops, like frozen in time. And then it whirls in reverse, the flames sucking inward to a single point, the column condensing-

Until finally, all that's left is a stretch of wisping silver and blue flames… that, for a moment, look like wings stretching from the back of a splayed-out silver-haired figure.

"Again?" The figure rolls over, and to all familiar with it, the exhausted voice is enough to make them weep. "It felt different that time though…"

Tanya sits up with a groan, pulling one leg close to rest her arm on.

"So goddamn tired... or not. Weird." She rubs the bridge of her nose with her other hand, then looks up, snark ready to be fired. "It worked, huh? You all-"

"TANYA!"

…only to be interrupted by a missile, that is, Mary slamming into her and knocking her back over.

"Oof. Hey there Mary. Missed you too."

"Tanya... oh god..."

Hearing the breathless, disbelieving whisper, Tanya goes quiet. This feeling is for marveling at silently, a once unfamiliar sensation she learned to covet.

Is it weakness? She thought so before.

But there are those who may overcome inevitability to stop a single heart from breaking, having feared it more than their own death. 

"You're alive…" There's a voice crack, and a shuddering, desperate breath. "You're actually... here."

Mary hugs her tight as can be, burying her crying face into Tanya's shoulder and refusing to budge even an inch. All the while, she repeats the same disbelieving mantra.

"You're back… you're really… really back…"

The rest of the world fades away. Whatever's going on with Rimuru can wait.

Right now, this is all that matters.

"…yeah."

Tanya says it softly, staring up at the most beautiful blue sky she could ever remember seeing. After a pause, she returns the hug with one arm, using the other to leverage them up into a seated position.

And if tears shine in her eyes as she hugs Mary back with just as much strength, then that's their business, isn't it?

"I'm really back."

- OPERATION REMEMBRANCE ARC | END –

-=-=-=-

IMPORTANT SKILLS LIST

Tanya:

Common Skill: Thought Communication

Extra Skill: Flames of Babylon

Extra Skill: Magic Sense

Extra Skill: Magic Aura

Ultimate Skill: Persephone, Lord of Cycles

Mary:

Common Skill: Thought Communication

Extra Skill: Magic Sense

Extra Skill: Magic Aura

Intrinsic Skill: Physical Enhancement

Unique Skill: Ability Severance

Shuna:

Common Skill: Thought Communication

Extra Skill: Danger Sense

Extra Skill: Magic Sense

Extra Skill: Flames of Babylon

Unique Skill: Analyst