Published at 9th of May 2019 10:30 am

Chapter 263: Side chapter - Rimuru’s Elegant Escape Play - 15

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

It was a tragic spectacle.

I didn’t think it would get like this.

I feel like I have been outwitted by Ciel-san.

Well, I guess it’s just the usual.

But about the mysterious organization which got involved—’Humanity Liberation Alliance’…

It’s quite brave of them to even aim for Tempest, which is directly under my care.

I might have overlooked the infiltration of a few spies in these few decades.

These people, who have taken important positions in fields such the economy, technology and even culture, are aiming for the moment when generations change to rise the movement of ‘Humanity Liberation Alliance’. They would slowly encroach like that and before long would have the state in their palms.

To make such a long-term plan-It seems it was made by someone who has a broad outlook.

Let’s say I didn’t become aware of the organization at all—I don’t think it would have affected me still, since I don’t have a life span… It would have been really bothersome to crush their plans one by one, by adjusting the course.

But now that I do know of that, all I need to do is get a well-qualified person and order them to deal with it.

It would also be easy to crush them.

If they are looking for a fight with me, I will just have to crush them in their own game.

Well, leaving that for later…

Even still-

That Magnus, it felt like he had strength left to spare even when dealing with a semi-demonlord class… isn’t that a bit abnormal?

Semi-demonlord class… to simplify it, they are as strong as Arch Demons.

Although, for what it matters, having seen the fight myself, it felt like the opponent was lesser than a just-born Arch Demon in terms of strength but their strength was very much similar.

That’s probably because Poison Tiger is reigning over this island’s ecosystem from the summit and has probably never had to fight seriously. On top of that, he’s probably not used to fighting against someone on the same level as him.

But either way, the threat he posed was real.

There aren’t many people who can go up against that alone.

Among the humans, it’s probably a handful of the high ranking Holy Knights.

If Magnus is of the same level as a high ranking Holy Knight, he is too strong for a student.

No, if he’s a spy, there’s a chance he has been lying about his age as well…

Well, either way, Magnus surely possesses unshakable strength which you can’t acquire with just weapon ability.

The way I am now—with powers of a human, can I win against him?

Of course I can.

It would be a piece of cake if I just had to win.

I only have the abilities of a human at the moment and my energy is low but my level is the same as before.

It wouldn’t matter if the opponent is a arch demon or a lesser demon lord. I would just dodge all their attacks with ‘prediction analysis’ and ‘teleportation’ and end them with ‘imaginary blow’, ignoring any kind of attribute and defense.

However, if I were to do that, they would know my location.

But if I don’t teleport and use as low energy as possible to stop—no, let’s not.

I even escaped to enjoy the ordinary life.

There’s no need to expose my identity intentionally and show off my omnipotent powers.

That’s right, it doesn’t have to be me who defeats Magnus.

There’s Julius and Karma and their friends as well.

I should give them the chance for revenge as well.

However, as they are now, they won’t be able to beat Magnus.

On the contrary, even Julius’ envoy Clad or Ingracia’s battle-type instructor won’t stand a chance.

As I thought, this is my time, the Rimuru-sensei’s time.

I thought that with a grin and gazed at the exhausted students as they slept.

First, I prepared for the meal.

One can’t fight with an empty stomach. Meals are important to revive one’s willpower as well.

As such, I started my work while everyone was still asleep.

I have an abundance of preys today.

That’s because monsters are lying everywhere around these areas due to the battle last night.

And among them, I chose the ones which were really lively and appropriate for eating and lined them up.

‘Appraisal Analysis’ is extremely useful in these situations.

And then, I processed a large amount of it which can satisfy all the students and started cooking and preparing them in a large cauldron.

I will go with a easily made soup this time using the wild grasses and vegetables we didn’t use yesterday.

I cut them in small size for easier digestion and made them soft by boiling. I also didn’t restrain in going the most optimal path drawn out by Ciel.

One might wonder how I know of all these cooking methods but that doesn’t really matter.

I can give whatever excuse I like if I get it done before everyone wakes up.

Once I was done boiling the soup, I lit the fire.

I put the cauldron on gentle heating.

While the soup was being done, I crushed some potato like food and made a paste by mixing it with a salted fruit.

Then I flattened it out like a pancake.

Now if I just stick it in a stick and roast it, it can act as an alternative for bread.

We do have a stove so it might be better to roast it on top of the net we used when roasting the meat.

And like that, I finished preparing.

All that’s left is to wait for everyone to wake up while the soup is made.

And in the morning, the soup was almost done.

A very savory scent spread from it.

I felt the presence of the comparatively livelier bunch waking up after smelling the scent.

I was using ‘Heat Operation’ to control the temperature but it seems it would be better to do it naturally about now. Otherwise, they would notice the abnormality immediately.

And just when I increased the fire by putting in more firewood, the first student woke up and came.

“Satoru-kun! You prepared everyone’s meal?!”

Marsha was surprised.

It seems the scent went all the way into the tents.

“Yeah. It was terrible last night and everyone must be tired too. And I wasn’t able to be of any use in the battle either. I could at least do this much.”

“Not at all! I think everyone will be really happy!”

Marsha smiled happily.

And while we were doing that, the students woke up one by one and came out.

Even the instructors who were in critical condition came out and thought it was weird that their wounds had healed but they all understood once they saw me.

I will applaud them that they didn’t say anything unnecessary.

“It will be done soon. Could you prepare the bath in the meantime?”

As I asked that of Marsha, she replied ‘got it!’ and happily nodded before going off to the for-bath-use tent.

It seemed like she was in shock because of the events last night but now that she saw good food and has something she can do, she had regained some willpower.

At times like this, it is good to do something to change gears.

First, we have food.

And then, we get in the tub to wash away all the dirt from the battle.

There are probably those who were bathed in the others’ blood too so it would be good for them to be clean.

And after that-

As Marsha left, William came up to me seeing I was alone.

“Is now a good time, Rimuru-sama?”

He came to speak as the representative.

I nodded and decided to plan on what to do from now on.

“Are all the wounded healed?”

“Yes. With the help of the healing potions you gave us, everyone has healed.”

“That’s good. I think you understand but—”

“Of course, I told them these are healing potions Pyuri the health doctor prepared.”

“Yeah, that’s good.”

“-However, how exactly are we, still alive?”

“That’s because Moss was there.”

To introduce him to sage William, I called out Moss.

[It is very nice to meet you. I am Testarossa-sama’s aide, who is of the equal rank and is a coworker to Diablo, who is Rimuru-sama’s trusted retainer. I am called Moss. Pleased to make your acquaintance-]

The small Moss showed hypocritical courtesy as he introduced himself to William.

But William didn’t take any offense from that, rather he said,

“A-ah, yes, same here. I thank you for saving us.”

Although Moss is being used as a handyman, his position in Tempest is indeed high. I guess he would be a god-like existence even to the academy’s elders.

Besides, even though Moss looks like this, even arch demons don’t match up to him.

It isn’t weird for the sage William’s expression to stiffen seeing a being who can destroy large countries with ease.

“Then, will this ‘Human Liberation Alliance’ thing be taken care of by Moss-sama?”

William asked me, pulling himself together.

He’s probably worried about the instructors and students who affiliate with Human Liberation Alliance.

“No, I won’t do that.”

“Why is that? I had completely assumed that anyone who opposed you would be annihilated…”

It’s vexing seeing how my image is being passed on like this.

I mean, sure, I would annihilate people who are clearly enemies but I won’t go killing everyone like a barbarian just because their position is in opposition to mine…

“Now listen here, ‘enemy’ can mean many different things, alright? I would have crushed them if they were destroying towns or killing people but the Human Liberation Alliance is different, right? I will just fight them in their own ring and have defeat etch into their mind and body so that they never think of opposing me again.”

Right.

In the first place, it is hard to charge anyone this time.

What the Human Liberation Alliance did was persuading the students and instructors to agree to their thinking—which is to free themselves of me, the demon lord’s rule.

Even if money is involved in this, it would be hard to judge it as a crime.

It is clear that they are opposing me but they are innocent in terms of law.

That is the tough part.

It is true that I hold absolute authority but even then I wouldn’t around tampering with the laws freely.

I can suggest a certain law in the parliament but a majority vote can only bring it to shape. Well, even then, most of my laws would pass but I never really presented a law to begin with.

I had decided to not touch politics since the time I started leading the Goblins.

All I had to do was watch over the management after fixing a set of rules.

I could easily reject an absurd law suggestion by a lower legislature house and even if they do pass, I could reject them later. Even I need to go through the proper procedures to set a new law.

I don’t have any plans on trying to do anything absurd like ‘to death with him!’ and even if I did, it wouldn’t pass.

This time around as well, I am upholding such values.

Even the actions taken in this island—I can condemn them in terms of humanity but there are no concise law.

They had been hiding their identity until the instructors or students who could pose a problem were defeated.

But to say that is a crime is difficult.

There’s no doubt that they left the others to die but it can’t be said to be a crime just because they didn’t save them.

They probably plan on leaving the students or teachers who won’t cooperate in the island and have the monsters deal with them—but that can’t be charged as a crime as of yet.

After all, they can’t be charged unless they directly had a hand in it.

They haven’t committed any clear crimes at present and the actions which they are assumed to take when leaving the island are just assumptions.

It’s a pain but since I don’t have any charges I can file against them, I can’t do anything yet.

“If so, what do you plan on doing?”

“It’s simple, William-kun. The students who are angry at Magnus for the betrayal will try to take revenge. That too by a legal and formal way—by a duel.”

“-Don’t tell me, Julius and Karma? However, with the skill difference between them…”

“There shouldn’t be a problem. We still have 3 days. Once they are done eating, I plan on going full spartan coaching on them.”

“O-oh… I don’t know what to say…”

“I will have you cooperate as well. And then we will win and return triumphantly. They probably plan on leaving anyone who don’t align with their ideals in this island. However, if we are able to escape this island with everyone alive, we will win. Right?”

“That is, true. That’s exactly right!”

It seems the sage William also got my intentions and was gushing with motivation.

He didn’t look hesitant anymore and a strong light was burning in his eyes.

“If there’s anything I can do, please let me know!”

William vigorously nodded.

The students who had lost all hope also regained their liveliness after having the freshly baked bread-like food and the soup.

Delicious food is the best medicine.

After all, it’s a special recipe made by Ciel-sensei which even I get to eat rarely.

As I made it with ‘auto-mode’, it would be impossible to recreate it by myself.

If I want to eat it again, I will have to ask Ciel.

And since they had such a God’s (Ciel) cooking, of course the students’ reaction was this.

“So deliciouuusssss!!”

“Seriously, what is this?!”

“Wha—the stew last night was amazing too but this is even better?!”

“Satoru-kun, you were a cooking genius, huh?!”

“I would very much like you to be my bride.”

High praises here and there.

Although there were some idiots asking me to be their brides, I guess it just shows that they are lively enough to say that.

And like this, the gloomy atmosphere was blown away with one shot and the youth-like cheerful atmosphere returned.

Seeing that, I stood up.

“Well, what will you guys do? Will you cry yourself to sleep here and beg Magnus for help?”

“No… well, even if you say that, Satoru-kun…”

Karma answered me as the representative of the students.

The instructors only watched over.

Exactly how I planned it with William.

“Oi, Karma, was it? What about you? if you lose then that’s the end? Aren’t you frustrated being called a dejected loser?”

“What did ya say?!”

Karma’s burning eyes filled with anger glared at me, unlike a honor student.

That’s fine.

Anger will fuel your will to live.

“Oi, Julius. You too. You act all high and mighty all the time but you aren’t anything special, are you? ‘It is the royalty’s job to protect the people’, ‘it is the responsibility of the people who stand on top’-these are phrases someone with strength should say. What kind of a leader are you? Can’t even see through a guy like Magnus’ real intentions?”

“Real intentions? He has been fooling us from the start. He easily abandoned me after asking me to join him. I also believed my envoy, Clad, because he introduced him to me… In reality, I actually thought of him as my best friend… I had thought of him as my best friend… who would bind us together… me, who can’t live as I will because I am royalty… with the school friends and Karma…”

It seems Julius was shocked the most.

After he was defeated by the monster, he was being protected by Moss. And even in that vague state of consciousness, he probably heard their conversation.”

And then, after being healed, he got to know of Magnus’ true strength and realized that they had been abandoned.

Above all, it was all clear when his envoy Clad didn’t move.

If they didn’t cooperate, then their half-hearted strength would only be a hindrance.

Julius was probably thought as the epitome of that and a target to be dispose of right away.

“Then, why didn’t you speak freely with him?”

“What?!”

“Shouldn’t you have spoken freely with your hearts out with Magnus before something like this happened?”

“That is—”

“Did your title of royalty hinder you? But you know, that’s just an excuse!”

“Kuhh—”

Julius frowned but couldn’t talk back.

It seems he is looking back at his actions without trying to talk back imprudently.

“Well, what will you do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Will you cry yourself to sleep like Karma here?”

“But—Magnus is way stronger than…”

“Oh what, you will give up just ‘cause you can’t win? You know, if there’s one thing that bastard Masayuki didn’t do, it’s giving up?”

“…That bastard Masayuki?”

Ah, this is bad.

I ended up calling him as I normally do.

“Ahhh, no, no, I meant the Hero Masayuki-sama, yes. What I want to say is, basically, you need the spirit to at least be able to call that hero-sama a bastard!!”

The group of instructors were watching over me with warm eyes as I tried to gloss it over.

When I glanced at them, thinking I would reduce their salary, they hurriedly looked away.

And among all that,

“That’s right, it’s exactly as Satoru-kun says. You people, it’s unforgivable to stay defeated like this when you are the proud students of the academy. It seems the battle instructors are also going to train so you people should also work hard! Even if you get wounded, I will patch you up properly. The founder of the academy, the Great Demon Lord Rimuru-sama is also probably watching over us from our country so show him your pride and dignity as the students of the academy!”

The health doctor Pyuri came following up.

Her fluttering gray waver reflected the sunlight, making her look truly as the Goddess of victory.

It seems the simple male students were motivated with just that.

“That’s right! The hero Masayuki’s divine protection will surely protect us as well!”

I don’t think there’s even a tiny bit of such protection but I guess I will nod to William’s words as well.

“What will you do, Julius? Won’t you stand in front of everyone and lead us? Decide already!”

In response to my words, Julius discarded all hesitation and looked me in the eye and said.

“I will do it. I won’t be able to settle down either if I don’t say a thing or two to Magnus. The next time, whether it’s some monster or Magnus, I will win!”

It seems Julius is also motivated.

Just as I had predicted.

“Alright! Let’s all work hard and show them what we’re made of! If we win, I will consider treating you all!”

I declared with a complacent smile.

And immediately afterwards-

“Uuuwwooohhh!! I will do it!!”

“Leave it to us, Satoru-chan!”

“Kyaaa-Satoru-kun! This onee-san will protect you, alright?!”

“Would we perhaps have any right to that reward as well?”

Such excited cheering shook up the place.

The frenzy was so much that I had to put myself on guard for a moment there.

It seemed like the plump instructor said something about the reward there as well but I will pretend I didn’t hear it as the other instructors took him away.

Either way, I succeeded in lighting a fire in them.

And like this, the special training for the day of counterattack began.

Author note:

It seems the complacent smile was = divine smile.

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