Chapter 180 - One Hundred And Eighty
DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN NOW READ THREE TO SIX ChapterS AHEAD. CHECK MY PROFILE FOR THE LINK.
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It was decided that there would be a brief break even though the meeting had barely even started.
It took several more minutes for the atmosphere in the pavilion to finally settle down.
During the break, Shuna and Shion soon returned with several maids and waiters carrying trays of refreshments, placing them carefully around the pavilion.
"Please, everyone. Take a moment to refresh yourselves."
The first thing Kaede noticed was the sheer amount of food.
There was tea, fruit, pastries, small sandwiches, various sweets, and several dishes that looked suspiciously familiar.
Still, she reached for one of the pastries. It was warm, soft, and filled with a sweet cream that practically melted in her mouth.
Hanae picked up a small cake and took a careful bite, her expression immediately brightening.
Hachi, meanwhile, had already grabbed two pieces of fruit and was eating them with considerably less refinement, her antennae twitching happily with every bite.
Sera quietly poured herself some tea before reaching for a pastry, taking a small bite and smiling.
"These are quite good."
Across the pavilion, Rimuru had also begun eating. He took a sip of tea before glancing at the assortment of dishes in front of him.
"This is actually pretty good."
Shion immediately brightened. "Right? I helped prepare some of it!"
Benimaru looked at her. "Some?"
Shion’s smile became slightly awkward. "Well..."
Benimaru quietly moved his plate farther away from her.
Soei calmly ate his food without getting involved.
Hakurou, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself considerably, slowly sipping his tea while observing the others with an amused smile.
The Great Saints were more reserved, though even they gradually relaxed as the refreshments were served.
One of them took a small pastry, examined it suspiciously for a moment, and then took a bite.
His eyes widened. "This is..." The Saint immediately reached for another.
Hinata noticed, but said nothing.
Luminous had been considerably less restrained.
She calmly picked up one of the sweets and took a bite, her expression remaining neutral for several seconds before her eyes softened slightly. "...Not bad."
Veldora had taken considerably more food than everyone else. He was already working his way through a mountain of pastries with absolutely no shame. "This is delicious!"
Shuna smiled. "I’m glad you like it, Lord Veldora."
"Of course I like it!" Veldora declared before immediately reaching for another piece. "Tempest has excellent food!"
Rimuru sighed. "Don’t eat everything."
"I am a Storm Dragon. I require nourishment."
"Do you even need to eat?"
For all the tension that had filled the pavilion only minutes earlier, the scene had somehow become almost peaceful.
Almost.
Kaede reached for another pastry. Then another. Then one of the small cakes. Then some fruit.
She paused halfway through taking another piece and looked down at the assortment of food she had already eaten. "Rimuru."
The slime looked up. "Yes?"
Kaede leaned back in her chair, placing one hand against her stomach. "Was this your plan?"
Rimuru blinked. "My plan?"
"To make me fat."
Rimuru nearly choked on his drink. "What!?"
Kaede pointed toward the mountain of empty plates surrounding her. "You wouldn’t happen to be trying to weaken Maple Tree’s ruler through excessive hospitality, would you?"
"Why would I do that!?"
Kaede giggled. "Because you’re my junior, obviously. You need to surpass me somehow."
Rimuru stared at her for several seconds before sighing. "I’m older than you, you know?"
"Semantics. Maple Tree is older than Tempest." Kaede shrugged, seemingly unconcerned by the distinction.
"By what? A year?" Rimuru looked genuinely befuddled. "Maybe even less."
"Semantics." Kaede repeated, refusing to budge from her argument. She gave him a smug smile. "Respect your elders, Rimuru-kun."
"Wha..." Rimuru’s mouth opened, but no words came out. For perhaps the first time that day, the usually quick-witted Demon Lord was completely speechless.
Of course, their little exchange had been witnessed by everyone in the pavilion, including Luminous, who could only sigh and shake her head while pointedly ignoring the increasingly confused and disapproving stares being directed toward the three Demon Lords by the Saints.
"Both of your nations are still ridiculously young." Luminous finally said, her tone carrying the quiet exasperation of someone who had lived far longer than either of them.
Kaede turned toward her. "I mean, yeah, four years is pretty young and all, but it’s the principle of the thing."
Luminous stared at her for a moment before deciding not to argue.
After that, the pavilion fell silent yet again.
It was a vast, awkward silence, with nearly everyone glancing at one another as though waiting for someone else to say something. The Saints remained unusually quiet, while the members of Tempest seemed equally content to let the three leaders handle the discussion.
Well, everyone except the three leaders.
Luminous was the first to finally break the silence.
"What are your terms?" she asked, leaning forward slightly and resting her jaw against her hands. Her smile this time was far more subdued than before, lacking the striking presence it usually carried, yet there was something almost peaceful about it.
Kaede returned the Vampire’s gaze, her expression becoming more serious. "Just like that?"
She turned her head toward Rimuru.
Rimuru merely shrugged, his expression practically saying, ’I don’t know. I expected her to bargain too.’
"This is the bargain."
Luminous spoke again, her voice slightly louder this time as her heterochromatic eyes remained fixed firmly on Kaede.
"I’m not so proud that I’m incapable of rational thought." She continued, her expression calm and unwavering. "That’s what it comes down to. I refuse to deny the hand we had in your suffering."
"Such poor choice of words, Luminous." Kaede’s gaze immediately went cold again, the warmth that had been present only moments earlier disappearing from her face.
Rimuru’s expression tightened.
"C’mon, Kaede-san." He quickly raised a hand, trying to intervene before the conversation could spiral into another confrontation. "We just stopped a fight from breaking out. Don’t start another one. There isn’t going to be any peace if you both kill each other, or if one of you kills the other."
Kaede slowly turned her eyes toward him.
"When Shuna died, you strode into Walpurgis with murder in your eyes, ready to kill for her." Her voice remained calm, but there was a sharpness behind every word. "You did kill for her."
Rimuru’s expression became complicated.
"But at least you got Shuna back." Kaede leaned back in her seat, allowing her head to rest against the backrest as she stared upward for a moment.
Rimuru sighed heavily, rubbing the side of his head. There was no point arguing with her about that, especially when he understood exactly what she was trying to say.
After a few moments, Rimuru straightened and looked between the two women.
"Why don’t the three of us take this to my office?" he suggested, his tone becoming more businesslike.
He glanced toward Shuna and the rest of his entourage. "We’ll be back in a few minutes."
Rimuru led the way through the halls of Tempest, with Kaede and Luminous following closely behind.
The three of them remained silent until they reached Rimuru’s office.
Once inside, Rimuru closed the door behind them and released a long sigh.
Kaede took one of the chairs opposite him, while Luminous settled into the other.
"So..." Rimuru began carefully. "Before we get to the actual terms, I’d like to establish something."
Kaede glanced toward him. "What?"
"Nobody kills anybody."
Kaede looked mildly offended. "Was that really necessary to say?"
"Yes."
Luminous simply watched the two of them with an amused expression before Rimuru finally turned toward her.
"Anyway, I asked you both here because I want us to actually get somewhere." His expression became more serious. "Kaede, I know you’re angry, and I understand why. But if we’re really going to establish peace between our nations, you and Luminous need to find a way to work together."
Kaede looked toward Luminous.
"I’m willing to listen."
"Good." Rimuru leaned back.
Kaede raised an eyebrow.
Luminous folded her hands neatly in her lap.
"I’ve come here today to atone for what my servants have done, so here’s the offers on the table." Her expression became completely serious. "Lubelius will formally recognize Tempest and Maple Tree as sovereign nations."
The room went silent.
Kaede stared at her, while Rimuru’s eyes widened.
"You heard me." Luminous remained completely composed. "Lubelius will acknowledge both Tempest and Maple Tree as legitimate sovereign nations, with the same diplomatic standing we would grant any other recognized country."
Rimuru leaned forward. "I honestly would have been fine with just a nonaggression treaty. You’re sure?"
"Of course."
Kaede’s expression became more serious. "The Church’s teachings are deeply ingrained in your people. Announce that two monster nations are suddenly legitimate sovereign states..."
Luminous rested her cheek against one hand. "There will be confusion. There will be resistance. There will undoubtedly be people who believe we have betrayed the very principles Lubelius was founded upon."
Rimuru stared at her. "And you’re fine with that?"
"I’ll handle it." Her answer came without hesitation.
Kaede studied her face carefully, searching for any indication that she was bluffing. There was none. "That’s quite the promise."
Luminous continued before either of them could interrupt. "That isn’t all."
Rimuru’s expression became wary. "What else?"
"The Magi Train." Luminous smiled faintly. "I understand that Tempest and Maple Tree are nearly finished constructing the railway connecting your territories."
Rimuru nodded slowly. "That’s correct."
"Lubelius will allow the trains to pass through our territory without taxation for the next ten years."
Kaede’s eyes widened slightly. "Ten years?"
"After that period, we can negotiate a reasonable tariff based on the circumstances at the time."
Rimuru leaned back, clearly processing the offer. "And the Church is going to allow that?"
Luminous continued as though she hadn’t noticed. "Furthermore, Holy Knights and Paladins will be assigned to protect the trains whenever they pass through Lubelius."
Rimuru’s expression changed completely.
Kaede remained quiet for several seconds before finally speaking.
"Are you trying to change the way your people view monsters?"
Luminous looked toward him. "Well, Rimuru has already done a considerable amount of work in that regard. He’s managed to convince some, if not most, of the Western Nations to view Tempest in a rather positive light."
Rimuru immediately puffed out his chest, a pleased smile spreading across his face. "Aww, shucks. It was nothing."
Kaede glanced at him. "Don’t let it go to your head."
"Too late."
Luminous allowed herself a small smile before turning her attention toward Kaede. "And I have a feeling that Maple Tree is a beehive I would rather not crack open."
Kaede tilted her head, slightly confused by the comparison.
Luminous continued, her expression becoming thoughtful. "You two have made yourselves impossible to ignore. A monster nation that trades openly with humans, constructs roads and railways, develops technology, protects its citizens, and maintains diplomatic relations with other countries is rather difficult to dismiss as nothing more than a nest of monsters."
Kaede’s expression softened as she looked down for a moment. "That it took this much for us to get this far..."
There was no anger in her voice this time, only a quiet weariness.
Luminous’s smile faded.
"I am sorry... for your loss." Her voice became gentler, the usual confidence in her words giving way to something more sincere. "I have recently experienced something similar myself. Roy was murdered not long ago."
Rimuru’s eyebrows rose. "Roy? The guy who was standing in for you and pretending to be you?" He tilted his head. "He was pretty strong, too. Stronger than Clayman, if I remember correctly. How was someone like him killed?"
Luminous’s gaze drifted away, her eyes taking on a distant quality as the memory surfaced.
"They took advantage of my absence. While I was attending Walpurgis, they struck, knowing I would be unable to reach home in time." Her fingers rested lightly against her arm. "By the time I realized what had happened, it was already too late."
She was silent for a moment before looking back toward Kaede.
"Roy had been a constant presence in my life for nearly a millennium. I had grown so accustomed to knowing that he would be there that I had almost forgotten what his absence would feel like." A faint, melancholy smile touched her lips. "Losing him... I suppose I finally understood the weight of such a loss."
Kaede remained quiet, listening.
"For someone who bears the title of [Mother of Monsters], I can only imagine that your grief was considerably more profound."
Kaede slowly placed a hand over her chest.
"It still is, honestly." Her fingers curled slightly against her clothing. "It’s this distant, numbing pain that’s always sitting somewhere at the edge of my awareness. I can go about my day, laugh, eat, work, fight... but it’s still there."
She gave a small, almost self-deprecating smile. "Which is kind of funny, considering avoiding pain was my whole motto to begin with."
Luminous regarded her with quiet understanding. Then her gaze shifted toward Rimuru. "And the same goes for you as well, Rimuru. You bear the title of [Ruler of Monsters], do you not?"
Rimuru’s eyes widened. "Wha? How did you know?"