Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken novel Chapter 202

After leaving Diablo and Co. behind, I blitzed towards where Milim was.

Milim's furious attacks, rained down upon the silver haired angel.

Each and every one of those attacks were deflected away by the shield of "Castle Guard".

Thinking back, when Rudra used the ability, I don't seem to recall it being able to deflect or reflect attacks....

ŠIt is possible that the ability was originally meant to be a "commander" type skill.

As it was a skill used by someone who didn't need to directly attack, there was no need for that effects.

Chances are, alterations are being made to the skill by that person.

Making changes as required by the situation, you could think of it as something more "flexible" now.‹

(Hmm? You mean, she has an ability that's similar to yours?)

Šmmm.

Though there's no way to say for sure, the possibility that it may be an evolved skill cannot be denied either.‹

Fumu.

If it really is an evolved skill then this isn't all too unbelievable.

But if that's the case, the silver haired angel would be the avatar of ŽJustice King Michael's ego.

If Rudra losing control really was caused by intervention from Justice King Michael, this might not be impossible after all.

The problem now, would be how capable it is.

If it had calculation power and freedom that is on par with Ciel, it would make for a pretty nasty opponent to deal with.

(What do you think? Is it an existence on the same level as you?)

ŠFu. As if.‹

Woah!?

Did Ciel-sensei just totally deny that statement?

Plus, that haughtiness. Makes me wonder where she learned how to show such expressions.

Also she seems to be somehow giving off an air of belittling the opposition. It kinda feels like the aura of some bigshot.

Somehow, that feels mighty reassuring.

Well, I understood what Ciel was trying to say. "Don't lump me in together with 'that'!" would be it.

(Does that mean, you know how to neutralize opponents that have "Castle Guard"?)

I tried probing without expectations,

ŠOf course. Regarding that, I have put together a plan.‹

She nonchalantly replies, quite matter of factly.

I had no words for how amazing she is.

Could it be, that I'm actually kinda unneeded? Though such thoughts ran through the back of my head, that is definitely not the case.

This is where I need to protect my dignity, and humbly accept the facts.

(I wouldn't expect any less. I believed! Always believed you'd easily crack this "Castle Guard" problem!)

Regardless of what I "believed", this was an ability that Velda would have had anyway, which we would be able to overcome by eliminating Velda's underlings. That was what I thought anyway.... At this point, it's not much of an issue now.

Since we can neutralize her, it's a good idea to quickly restrain that silver haired angel.

Trusting Ciel, I went ahead and landed right in front of the silver haired angel, a.k.a Lucia.

At the moment I stood before her, she turned her attention to me.

Showing perfect composure, even while she's being attacked by Milim.

ŒMy my, if it isn't demon lord Rimuru. I have been notified of your existence.

The fool who dares oppose Velda-sama.

Also, the nuisance of a demon lord, who dares to get in my way.

ŒHmm? That's an honour. Now then, just what are you?

An angel, or.... Justice King Michael's ego?

It was fine if she didn't answer, I only asked as a "formality" of sorts.

It was on the level of getting some information, depending on how she reacts.

ŒSeems like a self introduction would be proper.

I, I am the one who has been bestowed the name "Lucia" from Velda-sama.

As you have guessed, I was borne from Ultimate SkillŽJustice King Michael.

Perhaps you would understand if I were to call myself "Manas"....

Let's just say, an ultimate existence of sorts.

She showed a mysterious smile from her beautiful face, as she said her piece.

So the silver haired angel's identity, is Manas: Lucia.

But Manas, huh....

I was honestly surprised, that Manas other than Ciel-sensei were born.

ŠThis is unpleasant. So this is the emotion of "displeasure".‹

Ciel mumbled, seemingly in a bad mood.

Maybe she is feeling unhappy about the fact that there is another existence which could possibly be equal to herself.

But looking at her, she's really starting to understand how emotions work now. I guess this is something amazing, but I don't really get the point.

Well, there's no doubt it would be pretty amusing to have a conversation with her now.

Just as I was thinking that,

ŠHow dare she look down on Master, that lowly Manas!‹

That's what you're concerned about!?

I almost took a jab at her out of reflex there.

Also, "that lowly Manas", aren't you one yourself!?

She seems to be ignoring that fact, and feels like she has passed the point of being displeased to being fairly pissed, at Lucia.

ŒLucia, huh. So, what are you up to?

Are you enraging Milim, so as to dominate her?

ŒFufufu, so you have the minimal ability to understand that much.

That is exactly it. Milim-sama, is the great Velda-sama's daughter.

After the destruction of the world with her "cooperation", she is the being most suited to become the "Mother of the New World"!

For that purpose, her trifle memories are unneeded.

Those filthy memories of this world, should be returned to nothingness.

And you, are the greatest representative of this "filth". An existence that should be cleansed.

I should give you credit though, for noticing what was happening here.

But, it is already too late.

this should be about enough now.

Time for you to perish, vile demon lord.

Destroy that demon lord, Milim-sama! Regalia Dominion!!

Fumu.

So that, really was what they were aiming for. Just as predicted by Ciel.

Milim, who was clobbering Lucia's "Castle Guard" with fists enchanted with unreal amounts of magic, took a direct hit from "King's Rule" and froze in place.

or so that's what it looked like.

(Hey, isn't that just an act?)

ŠNo doubts about that. From what has been analyzed earlier, Milimƒ»Nava is still in total control of her emotions.‹

Though it looks pretty realistic, it's kinda obvious that it's all an act.

She looked pretty happy when she saw me too, she also removed the Dragon Knuckles that I gave her as a present, so as not to damage them....

The best evidence, would be that if she really has lost her sanity, she'd attack us too without provocation, which hasn't happened at all.

On that point, she's a really bad actor.

Though she seems really confident that she hasn't been found out, that's still pretty naive for her.

But, this is where I should play along with her ploy.

ŒGe, geh!! Milim just got dominated!!

Š....that, is just too exaggerated, Master‹

I got penalized by Ciel for that.

Seems like I'm not much of a better actor myself.

Seeing as I was going to have to deal with someone who had inherited Justice King Michael's abilities anyway, I went ahead and prepared some measures against domination type abilities beforehand.

Which naturally, has been disseminated to not just Milim, but all of the other demon lords as well.

This is pretty obvious already, as this ain't a game of chess we're playing here, having our fallen allies become enemies is really annoying to deal with.

As a countermeasure, I went and got Guy to teach us theŽMind Powertechnique.

What thisŽMind Powerdoes, is that it simply lets us awakened demon lord class beings resist abilities such as "King's Rule" as long as the being in question isn't under heavy pressure; this even has Ciel's seal of approval.

This technique has an almost equal level of performance as Ciel's "Mind Protect".

That was why, if it was under normal circumstances there wouldn't even be a need to worry.... But if Milim really did lose her sanity, things would obviously be different.

Here I was expecting the worst and hurried over.

Only to be needlessly worrying myself.

It seems like Milim has a plan of some sort, and I've no need to worry that she's going to fall under the control of "King's Rule".

I'll listen to what she is planning to do later, time to decide how to deal with Lucia.

Ciel did say she has a plan to get around that "Castle Guard", seems like things will end without too much trouble.

Those were my intentions when I began "hostilities" with Milim....

But that Milim, came at me for real. As I could see she was grinning, I knew that she was doing this purposefully.

She may have wanted to fight me for real.

How "troublesome" this has become.

Milim drew her sword, and began her assault unto me, I too drew my katana and received her attack.

Sparks flew as we furiously exchanged blows. I couldn't even see her movements in the past, so I was honestly surprised with myself now that I have breathing space.

If it was the old me, I would have been left numb from just receiving a single attack, which would have also greatly drained my stamina.

Now there was no difference in the level of our weapons, and I have simply powered up physically. As expected of a body that is similar to that of a "True Dragon".

I have now become able to battle evenly, even against Milim's absurdly violent strength.

For a bystander looking at us, our furious exchanges would look as though we are going at it seriously.

But, I could tell.

That even Milim hasn't put in any real effort, not yet.

Just as I have one, Milim too, has what you would call a "Magic Generator" that can be used as a Status Booster.

For me, it would be the void energies ofŽVoid God Azathoth's "Turn Null". Said energy would be regulated from within the void space, it is then possible to "inject" that energy into my body.

As my body is mostly made up of Magic Essence, that means I would power up if there was more Energy.

It works similarly for Milim.

Having reached a similar level, I now felt like I could understand the secrets to what was previously seen as unreasonable.

Well that should be the gist of it, and as we were battling it out with our techniques....

ŽAre we connected now, I wonder.... Hey Rimuru, can you hear me?

I received a telepathic message suddenly.

Seems like, Milim has been trying to establish a "Secret Telepathy" connection with me, all while still in combat with me.

That is another form of telepathic communication, as Milim wasn't connected to me via the "Soul Corridor", she needed to "run a line through" so to speak, if she wanted to use it.

It was also possible with the normal directional telepathic messaging, but the danger of the message being heard by unwanted third parties would increase.

To summarize, if you wanted to make use of "Secret Telepathy", it would take some time and preparation.

It seems like Milim has been pretty cautious for awhile now, so as not to let her movements be picked up by our enemies.

This is all still under the pretext that she was dominated, and also still very enraged.

ŽYep I can hear you. So how long should I keep up with this act of yours?

ŽWahahahaha! As expected of Rimuru, so you noticed.

When you wentŒGe,geh!! Milim just got dominated!!just now, I got real worried that you actually thought I was dominated you know!

Ouu....

That exaggerated reaction of mine was taken for real it seems.

Looks like I really underestimated how simple Milim is.

ŽThat ain't it! Wasn't it really obvious, and very purposeful!?

ŽEh!? Ah, right. That's right, I totally noticed that yea!

anyways, enough of that.

Back to business, I got a favor to ask. Frey and her underlings went and got beaten by Lucia's flunkies earlier.

Though I don't think it's anything worrying, can you go tend to them? 

ŽNn? Got it.

And Milim tried to cover up her "blunder".

I overlooked that with my magnanimous heart.

So, before I arrived, Frey and some guards were defeated. Maybe Milim used that as her "reason" for getting enraged.

They probably aren't as injured as Milim made them out to be, as she had already said.

(Diablo, can you hear me?)

(Yes, Rimuru-sama.)

(Before supporting me, go tend to Frey and co.'s wounds.)

(Then, I shall delegate the task to Testa and the others.

As of now, I have just received the message that the 4 other angels have been dealt with.)

Eh, already? That's way too fast!

Aren't those 4 angels, on par with awakened demon lords....

More like, it's somewhat troubling that I could only think of the awakened demon lord class as a comparison. As I am now, any single awakened demon lord isn't even a threat.

This might just be what Veldora-san's point of view is like. This almost justifies him letting it get to his head, going around picking fights with any other being.

Not like I would go around doing something as childish as that, neither do I need to.

(Is that so, I'll leave that to you then. So, are you heading to my position then?

(Yes. I am by your side, while totally hiding my presence!)

(Alright then, standby as you are for now. Don't be letting that angel Lucia sense your presence.)

(Of course!)

Fumu.

Now that I think about it. Seems like Ciel has noticed his presence, but I don't notice him if I don't concentrate on him.

Guess I should have Diablo standby in case something actually happens.

ŽLooks like there aren't any problems. I got a report from one of my underlings.