Ciel: <>
Voice of the World: <<>>
******
Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia
In the private chamber of Queen Frey, ruler of the Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia, the air was thick with the sour scent of wine and frustration. The Queen herself paced restlessly across the room with a half-empty bottle clenched tightly in one hand, while dozens of empty bottles lay scattered across the floor, some rolling gently with each heavy footfall, a clear sign this wasn't her first drink of the night. From the stormy, bitter scowl etched across her face, it was obvious it wouldn't be her last.
"Damn it! It's been two months, and I still haven't found a single damn solution!" she snarled in a low but seething voice. Her grip tightened around the bottle until her knuckles turned white, and with a guttural growl, she hurled it against the wall. The glass exploded on impact, shards flying as red wine splattered across the stone like blood, leaving a deep, angry stain behind.
It had been a month since Seer Circe had foretold the impending disaster that would soon strike Fulbrosia, and Queen Frey was no closer to finding a solution. The relentless weight of the prophecy had left her angry, irritable, desperate, and frequently drunk. What grated on her even more was the bitter irony that, despite being hailed across the world as one of the Ten Great Demon Lords, the threat now looming over Fulbrosia was unlike anything she had ever faced. It was overwhelming, monstrous... and far beyond her usual scope of power.
Bearing down on her kingdom was none other than Charybdis, a Calamity-Class Monster of terrifying might. A creature capable of wiping Fulbrosia off the map with a single rampage if she failed to mount a proper defense.
And yet, despite all her strength, titles, and influence, Frey still had no idea how she was going to stop it.
Of course, she could ask for help from her fellow Demon Lords, but Frey knew that despite all ten of them bearing the title of "Great Demon Lord," only Guy and Milim truly lived up to the name. They were the ones whose raw power inspired fear across the world, while the rest merely basked in the perks of their status. Well... there was also Dagruel. But Frey had no real sense of how strong he actually was or whether he'd even be willing to help. He mostly kept to himself and rarely involved himself in matters that didn't directly concern him.
That's why in Frey's eyes, only those two were worth turning to for aid against a monster like Charybdis. But even that was a last resort. Owing a favor to a whimsical and dangerous demon like Guy Crimson was like living with a sword pressed to her throat. And as for the other...
Suddenly, the doors to her chamber burst open, slamming against the walls with a thunderous bang, and in marched the pink-haired menace, completely uninvited, as always. "Frey! I came to play with you!" chirped the girl the moment her bright eyes landed on the winged queen.
Frey let out a long, weary sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose before looking up at her unexpected guest. "Milim, you..." she muttered, trailing off as she stared at the Destroyer -Milim Nava, her fellow Demon Lord and one of only two beings Frey knew who could not only stand against Charybdis, but annihilate it without breaking a sweat.
And that was exactly the problem.
If calling in a favor from Guy Crimson meant placing a blade to her own throat, then letting Milim fight Charybdis was like holding a loaded cannon over her entire nation.
In Frey's eyes, Milim was terrifyingly powerful and just as terrifyingly childish. If she let Milim loose on Charybdis, there was a very real risk the girl would destroy the monster... and level Fulbrosia in the process. And then laugh about it without a care in the world.
That's why Frey had decided to involve Milim only as a last, desperate resort, and if all else failed and no other options remained.
"Hey, Milim," Frey said, gently placing a hand on the younger-looking girl's shoulder and steering her away from the wreckage of her chamber. Though Milim looked like a child, Frey knew full well she was far older than her. Despite that, she had been acting as Milim's older sister for the past decade or so, and that's why her pride wouldn't allow the Destroyer to see the sorry state of the room, littered with broken glass and wine-stained stone. "What brings you here?" she asked, keeping her voice as calm and pleasant as possible.
"I came to play, of course!" Milim chirped, tilting her head with exaggerated sweetness. "Oh, and to eat something yummy! Middray keeps giving me bland food, and I'm sooo over it!" she added with a theatrical pout, sticking out her tongue in protest.
"I see..." Frey murmured, letting out a soft sigh and managing a faint smile. With practiced ease, she led Milim toward the dining hall, subtly signaling one of the nearby servants to begin preparing a meal for the Demon Lord.
They walked in silence for a moment before Milim suddenly glanced up at her.
"By the way," she said, eyes flicking toward the retreating servant, "what's wrong with you? You look kinda... off."
"It's nothing major," Frey replied a little too quickly. "You don't need to worry about it."
She kept her expression neutral, but inside, her stomach twisted. The last thing she needed was for Milim to find out about Charybdis and start pestering her for allowing her to fight the behemoth.
"Oh, by the way, Milim, last time we spoke, you mentioned wanting to test that Demon from the Jura Forest. Whatever happened with that?" Frey said, quickly shifting the topic away from herself, and when Milim's eyes lit up, she knew she'd succeeded for the time being.
"Yeah! I went to test Rimuru's strength, and let me tell you, he was amazing!" Milim practically bounced in her seat, kicking her legs with uncontainable excitement. "I had so much fun playing with him!"
"Oh really..." Frey replied, her brow arching in genuine surprise. Milim never described her fights as fun. Boring, maybe. Too easy? Constantly. But fun? That was new. "Was he really that strong?" she asked curiously, leaning in slightly.
"Yep! Rimuru is, like, super strong!" Milim exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "He could keep up with me even when I went all out! And guess what? He gave me these amazing honey candies! We're besties now!"
"He could keep up with you..." Frey repeated, unable to mask the disbelief in her voice.
It wasn't a rhetorical question; she genuinely needed to process that. After all, this was Milim Nava they were talking about. The Destroyer. One of the strongest beings in the world, her power rivaled only by the likes of Guy Crimson and True Dragons. For an unknown Demon from a minor region like Jura to match Milim in combat... that was quite shocking to her.
Frey's initial shock slowly gave way to something else... curiosity. A spark lit in her eyes as a new possibility quietly took root in her mind.
'Maybe... I have a third option after all,' she thought, just as a servant arrived with trays of food and began laying the meal out before them. Frey offered a polite nod but said nothing, her thoughts still racing behind a composed mask.
Milim, oblivious to the subtle shift in Frey's demeanor, let out a delighted squeal and immediately began devouring the food, humming contentedly between bites without a care in the world.
******
Meanwhile, in Tempest, a large wooden cabin stood nestled in a secluded yet heavily protected part of the city, surrounded by a beautifully maintained garden with a gentle river flowing through the backyard.
Inside, the soft glow of morning sunlight filtered through the kitchen windows, casting golden patterns across the wooden floors and countertops. The air was rich with the scent of vanilla and sweet batter, wrapping the space in a calm, homely warmth.
At the stove stood Rimuru Tempest, the nation's leader, humming a lighthearted tune that rose and fell in time with the flick of his wrist as he expertly flipped a pancake into the air. A frilly yellow apron, complete with a proud little slime emblem stitched to the chest, was tied snugly over his usual outfit. His sleeves were rolled up, and a relaxed smile played at the corners of his lips
At the dining table, Shizu sat with her chin resting in her palm, dark eyes quietly fixed on the most precious man in her life as he moved effortlessly around the kitchen. Her expression was soft, serene, touched by a gentle affection that even the sunlight couldn't rival. She hadn't touched the tea he'd placed in front of her yet, too caught up watching him, too wrapped up in the warmth of the moment.
Eventually, she sighed, her voice breaking the silence with familiar tenderness. "Rimuru... this is the fourth time this week you've made breakfast for me." She tilted her head slightly, exasperation in her tone, but love unmistakable in her gaze. "You are the leader of an entire nation, you know. Maybe... focus on that just a little?"
Rimuru turned, spatula still in hand, and shot her a playful look. "And what kind of husband would I be if I couldn't even take care of my pregnant wife?" he said, punctuating the question with a little flourish as he placed another stack of pancakes onto a plate.
"Besides," he added, walking over to set the plate in front of her, wearing a smile that hovered somewhere between proud and smug, "I've got a whole council of super-capable people running things for me. I trust them enough to know Tempest won't fall apart just because I'm busy pampering you."
Shizu blinked at him, a soft blush coloring her cheeks as she giggled softly before glancing down at the fluffy tower of pancakes, then back up at him. "It's just the second month," she murmured with a fond sigh, shaking her head. "I don't even have a baby bump yet."
"That doesn't matter," Rimuru replied, settling down beside her and resting his arm along the back of her chair. His voice lowered, the playful edge softening into something warmer, more sincere. "This is our first child, Shizu. Our child. And I want to be there for every moment, no matter how small. From the first flutter to the last kick before delivery... I'm not letting you go through this alone. I want to walk this whole journey with you."
Shizu looked at him, lips parting slightly, her breath catching for just a moment. The warmth in his eyes, the quiet conviction in his voice, wrapped around her like a blanket. She exhaled slowly and smiled, a soft, quiet smile that said everything words couldn't. "...You're really stubborn, you know that?" she said, reaching out to rest her hand over his.
"Only when it comes to you," Rimuru chuckled, gently squeezing her hand.
Just then, Rimuru's expression shifted, a faint frown tugging at his lips.
Noticing it instantly, Shizu's brows knit together. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing serious," Rimuru said, tapping a finger on the table. "Just... something came up." He let out a dramatic sigh, his tone shifting into a childish whine. "And I don't want to leave your side just yet."
"Seriously, Rimuru?" Shizu laughed, unable to hold it back. "But really, if it's important, you should deal with it."
Rimuru hummed thoughtfully for a moment before looking back at her. "Would you mind if I handled it here? I promise it won't take long."
"Of course you can," she said, nodding. "Do you want me to step inside?"
"No need," Rimuru replied, shaking his head. "This isn't something I need to hide from you."
"Oh? So there are things you do hide from me?" Shizu asked, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow.
"My lovely darling," Rimuru said smugly, "some of my secrets are so classified, even my own consciousness isn't cleared to access them."
'Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ciel,' Rimuru thought with an internal eye roll.
A moment later, the air inside the cabin shifted, and a dark, suffocating pressure blanketed the space, so heavy it seemed to press down on the walls themselves. The homely scent of vanilla was swallowed by the scentless weight of pure malice.
Without warning, a swirl of shadows erupted into motion, twisting into a vortex of black mist before rapidly coalescing into a tall humanoid form. The figure landed in a fluid motion, one knee to the floor, his head bowed low in reverence.
"Kufufufufufu~ Lord Rimuru, my soul feels truly at peace now that I once again stand in your presence," the demon intoned, his voice laced with dark reverence and unshakable loyalty.
"Noir," Rimuru said as he leaned back in his chair. "I hope you have a good reason for disturbing my lovely time with my wife," he added as the warm, carefree aura that had surrounded him moments ago vanished, replaced by an oppressive, commanding pressure that filled the room.
"Rest assured, my lord," Noir replied smoothly, a faint smile curving his lips. "I would never dare to waste even a second of your time."
"...Noir," Shizu said slowly, her eyes narrowing as she studied the figure now rising gracefully from his bow. "So you really were the Primordial of Black. I wasn't just being paranoid back then."
"Indeed, Shizu... ah, forgive me. Lady Shizu, as I should now address you," Noir said with a theatrical flourish and a courteous bow. "It has been quite some time since our paths last crossed... back in the Kingdom of Filtwood, if memory serves."
"Well, it's good to see you two are acquainted," Rimuru said, his voice returning Noir's attention to him. "But as I mentioned earlier, you're interrupting a very important moment. And if I'm guessing right, you're here to report on a rather important task I assigned you."
"Kufufufufufu~ Indeed, Rimuru-sama," Noir replied with a nod, adjusting his tie with graceful precision. "The task you so generously entrusted to me is progressing quite nicely," he added before producing an item from within his coat and offering it to Rimuru with both hands, as though presenting a sacred relic. "This is the final product. It will begin circulating tomorrow."
Rimuru took the object and examined it closely, flipping it back and forth with interest. "Not bad," he said after a moment, nodding with satisfaction. "Looks like you've been working hard."
"But of course," Noir said, as though the idea of anything less were absurd. "It was a task given to me by you, Rimuru-sama. I wouldn't dream of slacking off."
"Rimuru, what is it?" Shizu asked, her gaze drifting toward the item in his hand, curiosity flickering in her dark eyes.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Rimuru said with a playful smirk, sliding it across the table to her.
Shizu picked it up and studied it closely. Her eyes widened slightly as she read the title printed boldly across the top. "Rimuru… this is…" she murmured, holding up the sheet of paper, formatted like a newspaper, with The Black Quill written in striking black letters at the top.
"This, my dear Shizu, is a prototype of the newspaper I'm setting up. Well, not officially mine, of course. I mean, really, who would trust a newspaper run by a demon?" Rimuru chuckled and leaned back. "But in all seriousness, this world has a real problem when it comes to accessible, reliable information. Most people have no idea what's happening outside their own town, and the few journalists who try to change that either don't have the resources… or end up silenced the moment they uncover something inconvenient to the powerful."
"The second and more practical reason is to boost Tempest's reputation and trade. If we can entice common citizens and merchants by highlighting our products through well-crafted articles, reviews, stories, etc, we can shift the public perception from suspicion to desire. Curiosity will bring them to try our goods while desire will lead them here, right to our doorstep, which will strengthen our economy," Rimuru added.
What Rimuru didn't say aloud was the third and most important reason: to subtly destabilize the power structures of rival nations. Through a carefully controlled narrative by exposing or even fabricating scandals tied to powerful figures, he could plant seeds of doubt, dissatisfaction, and envy among the populace. Over time, as citizens began to resent the disparity between their own lives and those of Tempest's people, trust in their own rulers would erode. And when that trust crumbled… their nations would be ripe for the taking.
"That's a brilliant initiative," Shizu said, her voice soft with genuine admiration as she looked at Rimuru. "It won't just help our nation, it could change things for people all over the world. Giving them access to the information... that's more powerful than most realize."
Rimuru blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sincerity in her voice. For a brief second, a flicker of guilt stirred in his chest, knowing full well that his plan wasn't entirely as noble as Shizu made it sound. But he quickly pushed the feeling aside and turned his attention back to Noir.
"So, how are things on your end?" Rimuru asked, leaning his cheek against his fist. "Are the resources I provided holding up, or do you need more?"
"That won't be necessary, Rimuru-sama," Noir replied smoothly. "You've already been more than generous. With you supplying the printing materials and the press staffed entirely by demons of my lineage, production costs are virtually nonexistent," he adjusted his cuff slightly. "As for the fieldwork, my demons have been working in close coordination with the human journalists we hired at exorbitant rates and even paid them a full month's advance to secure their loyalty and motivation. Yet despite all that, the budget hasn't made so much as a ripple in our financial reserves."
"That's good to hear," Rimuru nodded, his tone firm but satisfied. "But don't hold back if you need anything. This project is very important to me."
"For the next month, I want The Black Quill printed and distributed freely across every major and minor nation. Hit the cities, the market towns, the remote villages, anywhere there's a cluster of people. Feed them the one thing they never knew they needed: information. Let them get addicted to it. Help them build the habit of reading. Once that habit sticks… then we introduce a subscription. Price it so low that even a child could afford it with a few days' worth of pocket change. Make it impossible to resist. A luxury they'll convince themselves they can't live without."
"You'll also need to smuggle The Black Quill into places like the Holy Empire of Lubelius and the Eastern Empire. We already know they won't allow it to circulate legally, especially not after the real news starts rolling in," Rimuru added, recalling the words of a certain Holy Knight who had told him people wouldn't yearn for luxury if they didn't know what luxury was. 'Well then, Hinata… let's see how loyal your people remain to your so-called god once they learn what a real standard of living looks like,' Rimuru thought, suppressing the smirk threatening to rise.
"For now," he continued aloud, "keep the content tame. Slip in one or two spicy pieces to hook attention, but don't overwhelm them. The real bombshells come after the subscription model is in place. That's when the real shock value begins."
"And finally…" Rimuru said, stepping forward until he stood directly in front of Noir.
At once, the demon dropped to one knee, his head bowed low in absolute reverence.
"You have done a great job so far, and without giving me a reason to worry or get involved, that's why I have decided to expedite your promised reward," he said and placed his hand on Noir's head. "From this day onwards, you shall be called Diablo!"
The moment the name was spoken, a surge of power exploded within the demon's body. His form shimmered with unrestrained energy as he evolved, ascending from an Arch Demon to a Demon Peer, his strength and magicule reserves skyrocketed exponentially.
<
<
******
Primordial Eye: A unique skill granted exclusively to Primordial Demons. It allows them to monitor all demons of their own lineage and summon them at will.
******
"Well then, Diablo," Rimuru said with a smile, "go make The Black Quill a global name. I'm counting on you."
"You have nothing to worry about, Rimuru-sama," Diablo replied, his voice trembling with barely restrained joy. The sheer excitement of being named by Rimuru was unmistakable. And then, with a final bow, he vanished into the shadows.
"Just as I thought… my most reliable subordinate," Rimuru murmured under his breath, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Then, turning away from the now-empty space where Diablo had vanished, he returned to Shizu's side and sat down beside her once more. The heavy atmosphere that had filled the room only moments earlier seemed to lift, replaced by the quiet intimacy they'd shared before the interruption.
"By the way, Shizu," Rimuru said, his voice softening as he leaned slightly closer, "there's something I want your opinion on."
"Sure," she said, looking at him with curiosity. "What is it?"
"I know this might sound a little sudden," Rimuru began, "especially with our own children on the way… but I've been thinking, what are your thoughts on adopting a child?"
Shizu blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected question. "Adopting… a child?" she echoed, tilting her head. "Are you talking about my students?"
"We'll definitely bring them to Tempest, don't worry," Rimuru replied, shaking his head gently. "But no… I was actually thinking about…"
To be continued...