The pleasant sensation of waking up, which I haven't felt in a long time.
Originally, I didn't need to sleep in this world, so this is my first experience since my reincarnation.
When I got up and looked around, it seemed that preparations for the festival were in full swing.
Even just by feeling it lightly, I could sense a strong, pulsating power from the wandering monsters.
It seems that everyone has grown due to the influence of my evolution.
"Ah! Lord Rimuru, you've woken up!"
A familiar voice.
And a familiar sensation from behind.
Two soft, warm mounds gently enveloping me.
It seems that my evolution into a Demon Lord has completed, but there hasn't been much change in my slime form.
If I had to point something out, it might be that the color now looks silver or golden.
Is this it? A Gold Slime?
It gives an image of moving at the speed of light.
While it might be impossible in reality, I feel a noble aura, as if I'm the apex species of slimes.
Shion placed me on her lap and rubbed my cheek.
Hmm? It feels really good.
Still, it's a relief. As planned, I was able to revive safely due to the influence of my evolution.
It's worth becoming a Demon Lord.
Not just Shion, but all those who were affected by the Blood Carnage have successfully revived.
The success rate of the song, which was as high as a law of nature, worried me, but it's a pleasant surprise that everyone succeeded.
Well, even the 'Great Sage' (Teacher) makes mistakes, and it seems that Raphael has inherited that trait.
Really, it's just a fancy name, and it doesn't seem to have evolved much.
In the split second I spent thinking, this was the result.
"Eh? Is there something wrong with my cooking?"
"Huh? Ah, I just want to taste it after a long time.
It seems like you want to confirm my usual efforts.
How about making something that will make me happy?
But, I don't need it, obviously!"
Benimaru said something incredible.
Moreover, he's already taken steps to avoid getting involved. What a villain!
You know, I just woke up feeling good, but I might fall into a deep sleep from which I can't wake up!
Shion, who accepted Benimaru's suggestion, said, "I agree!" and ran off with a fierce determination.
It's an absurdly unsettling feeling.
"Hey, what are you going to do! In that situation, there's no way I can say it's 'damn awful'!
You've set a trap for me, Benimaru!"
"Hahaha, I don't know what you're talking about. Well, just taste it after a long time?
Thanks to my continuous tasting, I've recently developed 'Poison Resistance'..."
Benimaru said with a knowing look, as if gazing into the distance.
No, you. 'Poison Resistance'...?
That's practically the same as saying it's poisonous!
What's going on? As soon as I opened my eyes, I found myself in a huge mess.
Even if I overcome this crisis, a new danger seems to be approaching.
The resurrected ones greet me.
The atmosphere has changed a bit, but their personalities seem the same as before.
There's no memory loss, and their souls seem to have settled safely.
However, it seems that everyone has acquired the Extra Skill 'Perfect Memory'.
"I'll show you that I can revive even if I die multiple times!"
He said it as a joke, but it sounded sincere.
The Extra Skill 'Perfect Memory' is said to be the ability to remember things while in a soul state.
It seems to be a unique skill of spiritual beings, which is usually impossible.
This must be a blessing (Gift) from my evolution, which allowed them to revive. It's a pleasant thing.
After the greetings, everyone returned to the festival preparations.
It seems that the villagers have also received some kind of blessing (Gift), but let's enjoy the festival for now.
However, I want to tell them to stop seriously discussing ridiculous names like the 'Demon Lord Birth Festival' or the 'Rimuru Worship Society'.
Well, it's fine.
Today, it might be good to enjoy things honestly. It already feels like a festival.
Japanese people love festivals, and they'll find any reason to have one.
It's like an uncle who plans a drinking party by attaching a reasonable excuse.
I tried to help, but they politely declined, saying it was too much.
Well, I'm not good at preparing for festivals, so I'll rest as they suggested.
Then, someone I've never seen before approached me.
"I'm glad you've opened your eyes.
I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart on becoming a Demon Lord safely."
He said and bowed deeply.
Who is he? He looks like a high-ranking demon, but I don't know this guy...
"Thus, I would like to ask you again, as I did before, to make me your subordinate...
What do you think? Have you considered it?"
He wants to be a subordinate...?
Hmm, I think I said something about summoning one or two high-ranking demons...
But this guy in front of me seems to be an even higher existence?
At that time, I was drowsy and couldn't see clearly, but could he be one of the demons I summoned?
"Are you the demon I summoned, using a soldier's corpse as an offering?"
"Yes. I ate it very deliciously.
Thanks to that, I was able to survive."
"...Ah, that's good."
What happened to the others?
《Answer. When the 'Secret of Half-Revival' was performed, there was a lack of mana.
Therefore, to help as a supplement, it was consumed.》
Oh.
Mr. Raphael, you say scary things so casually.
It seems that he has become more ruthless than the 'Great Sage' and is on a different level. I thought he was useless just now, but he seems to be helping from behind.
I'm sorry for thinking he was useless.
However, it's pitiful to leave this demon, who has worked hard to help me, just to be my subordinate.
"Alright, I understand. From today, you are my subordinate.
What's your name?"
"Ooh! Thank you. I am a demon without a name."
Huh? You look like a high-ranking being, but you don't have a name?
Well, I'll give you a name as usual.
But, what would be good?
The image of a demon I know. Perhaps the one who became an ally of humans.
If I use the same name, will there be a copyright issue? But since it's different from the previous life, it shouldn't be a problem...
Well, it's fine.
"Alright. I'll give you a name. Is that okay?"
"Amazing! It's the greatest gift!"
The demon, with a small face, twisted into a joyful smile.
Perhaps I have a constitution that is loved by monsters.
Now, I feel it's okay to be serious.
Maybe I'll go with the Super Car series.
Definitely...
"Your name is Diablo.
Be a guardian deity that protects me, worthy of that name!"
As soon as I gave him a name, a large amount of mana was taken from me.
I can't get used to this. But, I only lost about half.
I was worried that a high-ranking demon would take most of it.
When I named a high-ranking demon 'Beretta' before, he took about a third, so this guy must be even higher than a Greater Demon.
《Report. The individual named Diablo was originally an Upper Demon.
Due to the evolution, the master's mana has increased dramatically.
It's about 10 times more than before the evolution. Please note.》
Oh, wow.
Is Raphael giving advice on a whim...? But, he said something I can't ignore.
It's honestly a relief that my mana has increased tenfold, but did he take half of it!?
This feels like a huge mistake.
He seems to be evolving into a monstrous being.
The demon in front of me is crouched, motionless, wrapped in a black cocoon, preparing for evolution.
I'm such an idiot.
They say a demon never changes, so I'll give up.
If this demon goes wild, I'll just stop it.
Since the evolution didn't end immediately, I decided to leave Diablo alone.
In the future, I'll be more careful when giving names!
I made this vow in my heart, but I doubt I'll keep it.
Shaking off the thought of Diablo, I looked at the festival preparations.
While everyone was excited, I was waiting in fear for Shion's cooking to be made...
It seems to be finally ready.
That terrifying, Shion's cooking (lethal weapon).
Shion, with a joyful smile, brought the dish (??).
The moment of truth has arrived.
Looking at the steaming dish,
"Wait????? What is this? What is this, exactly?"
This is not cooking.
I refuse to recognize this as cooking.
Is it a stew? A dish with various ingredients in a pot?
I get it, but it's strange from the moment you question it.
"Hey, hey! Shion, wait. I have a question.
Do you know what cooking is?"
"Of course, Lord Rimuru! How is it? Does it look delicious?"
"Are you an idiot, a foolish one!
Why are there whole carrots, potatoes, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and other vegetables floating in it!
How can you tell them apart just by looking?
Don't you need to peel, cut, and do other things?"
I screamed. I shouted from the bottom of my heart.
And I looked at Benimaru,
"What's going on? You haven't improved at all, have you?"
Ignoring my words, Benimaru said calmly,
"No, it's too much for me.
I've hit a wall. A wall called the limit.
I always thought there was nothing impossible, but this is the first time I've felt defeated."
He said shamelessly.
What? A wall called the limit. It's ridiculous.
Eating it, you mean...?
Suddenly, I looked at Shion, who was trembling as if she was about to cry.
Well, I'll go with the mindset of a monk who has gained enlightenment, thinking of it as a form of training,
"I'll eat it.
But at least, next time, do some processing of the ingredients..."
"Well, you see. When I try to process them, I end up cutting the whole building..."
"Huh?"
"No, this 'Gouryoku' is very sharp, but it's a bit long..."
He pointed to the katana he carried on his back.
You were going to cook with that, or tried to?
Looking at Benimaru, he had his hands up in a surrender pose.
What a unreliable guy. Benimaru's evaluation seems to have plummeted.
"Knives, you know? They're not for cooking. Got it?
There are knives, you know?"
"No, I only use 'Gouryoku'. The wind is a bit..."
"Ah, I see. I thought about giving you a kitchen knife as a gift next time, but you don't need it."
"I misspoke! I said that 'Gouryoku' is fine with a bit of wind!"
"Alright... Next time, I'll give you a kitchen knife, so use it for cooking, got it?"
What a convenient guy.
Well, at least it's better than the ingredients coming out as they are.
This dish, or rather, something I can't even call a dish... If I eat only this, I can understand the 'Poison Resistance'.
This time, I'll take responsibility...
Well, I've evolved into a Demon Lord. I won't die just from eating this.
I changed into a human form and decided to eat.
I braced myself, closed my eyes, and put something indescribable in my mouth.
I tried to swallow without chewing... but, huh? I noticed a strange sensation.
It was incredibly delicious.
No way! The taste is unimaginable from its appearance.
I opened my eyes and slowly and carefully moved the next ingredient to my mouth.
It's delicious...
Benimaru was looking at me as if in prayer. His eyes were asking, "Are you okay?"
That means, when he experimented, it was definitely tasteless.
Looking at Shion, she had a smug expression, as if to say, "How is it!"
I felt a bit annoyed.
"Shion, what's going on...
Why does it taste so good, contrary to its appearance?"
Hehehe. Actually...
Shion explained, and to my surprise, when she evolved, she thought, "I want to cook well!"
When I granted the evolution's blessing (Gift), she must have been the only one to wish for such a thing.
What were you thinking, exactly?
It's an amazing guy, but if I had to say, it's truly Shion.
"Hehe. For that reason, I acquired this skill.
It's called the Unique Skill 'Cook'."
I was speechless.
To desire to cook well and acquire a Unique Skill, how deeply did you pray?
I heard that no matter how you cook, the taste is always the best, an incredible skill.
When Shuna heard about it later, she was so angry that she shed tears and raged. To her, it must be an unforgivable ability.
She must have put in effort, but the direction was completely wrong.
But, that's Shion for you.
That day, the festival atmosphere took over, and we welcomed the night with a big commotion.
The solemn atmosphere from the previous day was washed away, and everyone enjoyed themselves with bright expressions.
Yohm and Eren's party also joined the festival and had a pleasant time.
From tomorrow, there will be various follow-up tasks, so we need to think about the future.