The ride toward Tempest's outer district had slowed considerably by the time Benimaru arrived.
Not because of caution. Because the group approaching the city clearly had no intention of hiding themselves.
Several carriages moved calmly along the paved road while mounted escorts traveled beside them in relaxed formation. Their banners fluttered lightly in the wind, displaying the red rose insignia of Maple Tree openly for everyone nearby to see.
Benimaru stood atop the wall quietly while observing the approaching procession. "…They really are taking their time." he muttered.
Soei appeared soundlessly beside him. "Likely intentional. Lady Kaede probably wants to avoid causing unnecessary tension by arriving suddenly."
Benimaru nodded once. Still... His eyes narrowed slightly toward the front carriage.
He could already sense multiple powerful presences inside the convoy. Shifu's aura especially stood out immediately.
Even from this distance, the old martial artist's energy felt absurdly dense.
Eventually, the lead carriage came to a stop.
A moment later, the door opened.
Kaede stepped out first.
The dark-haired Demon Lord adjusted the sleeve of her dark coat before lifting her eyes toward Tempest's gates.
A small smile appeared on her face afterward. "It's been a while." she greeted casually.
Benimaru stepped forward calmly. "Lady Kaede." He gave a respectful nod. "Welcome back to Tempest."
Kaede studied him briefly before smiling faintly. "You're looking well."
"As are you."
Behind her, several figures began exiting the remaining carriages.
Among them was Shifu.
The older martial artist stretched lightly before laughing under his breath. "Still lively as ever around here."
"Hmph." Benimaru folded his arms. "You say that like you weren't planning to come regardless."
"Of course I was."
Kaede shook her head slightly at the oni before looking back toward Benimaru.
"I hope our arrival isn't inconvenient."
"Not at all." Benimaru replied immediately. "Lord Rimuru will be pleased to receive you."
That answer earned him another brief look from Kaede.
Benimaru however showed nothing outwardly.
Nothing that reflected the thoughts still lingering in the back of his mind.
Maple Tree remained one of Tempest's closest allies.
And regardless of personal feelings, Benimaru would not disrespect someone Lord Rimuru trusted.
"Lord Rimuru has already been informed of your arrival." Soei added quietly from the side.
Kaede nodded once. "Good. I apologize for visiting so suddenly."
"You traveled openly enough that this barely qualifies as sudden." Benimaru replied.
That earned a small laugh from her. "...Fair point."
For a brief moment, the atmosphere relaxed slightly. Then Benimaru turned toward the city beyond the gates.
"If you'll follow me," he said calmly, "I'll escort you to the mansion personally."
Kaede nodded before motioning toward her entourage. The group slowly began moving through Tempest's gates afterward.
As they walked through the city streets, nearby citizens quickly noticed the arriving guests.
Whispers spread almost immediately.
"Maple Tree?"
"Is that Lady Kaede?"
"That's Demon Lord Kaede now."
"Another Demon Lord visiting Tempest…"
Benimaru ignored the murmurs completely while leading the group forward.
Beside him, Kaede quietly observed the city around her. "...It's grown again." she commented after a while.
"It tends to do that." Benimaru answered.
Kaede smiled faintly at the response before her eyes shifted toward him briefly. "We've actually had to slow down our infrastructure. We have too much as it is."
Then Kaede's expression softened slightly. "...How's Shuna?"
The question immediately made Benimaru tense slightly.
Kaede noticed. Of course she noticed.
A faint sigh escaped her afterward. "…Yeah. That's about the reaction I expected."
Benimaru looked away briefly before answering. "She's recovering."
"That's good."
Another silence followed.
Awkward this time.
By this point, they had already reached the inner districts of Tempest.
The streets here were quieter compared to the commercial zones near the outer city. Large stone buildings lined the roads while uniformed patrols moved calmly through the area.
Neither of them mentioned why.
Eventually, the massive white mansion came into view ahead of them.
Several guards immediately straightened upon noticing the approaching group.
Benimaru continued forward without slowing. "Prepare accommodations for Lady Kaede's entourage." he instructed calmly. "And inform Lord Rimuru that we've arrived."
The guards bowed immediately before hurrying off.
Kaede meanwhile stopped briefly near the entrance stairs while looking up at the mansion.
"We didn't have much choice." Benimaru already guessed what was on her mind. "Lord Rimuru receives foreign delegations almost every week now."
"Sounds exhausting."
"It is."
That earned another faint smile from her.
As they entered the mansion halls, several servants and attendants immediately bowed respectfully toward the visiting Demon Lord.
Eventually, the group arrived outside the main reception chamber.
Benimaru stopped before the large doors.
"Lord Rimuru is inside."
Kaede nodded once.
Then after a moment of hesitation, she spoke again.
"…Benimaru."
He looked toward her calmly.
Kaede's expression softened slightly. "...Thank you. For still welcoming me properly."
For the first time since meeting her at the gates, Benimaru's expression shifted slightly.
"Lady Kaede," he said quietly, "Maple Tree is Tempest's ally. That hasn't changed."
Even now.
Even after everything.
Kaede stared at him silently for a few seconds before nodding slowly.
"…Right."
[xxx]
"Hey Rimuru." Kaede grinned as she walked into the office, immediately noticing that Benimaru hadn't followed her inside.
Rimuru sat behind a large desk near the far end of the room with several documents spread across its surface. Large windows behind him allowed the afternoon sunlight to spill into the office.
Apparently this was where Tempest's Demon Lord handled most of his work now.
"Yo." Rimuru greeted while glancing up from the paperwork. "How was the… err…" He paused awkwardly for a moment before scratching his cheek. "...Trip? I guess?"
Kaede raised a brow.
Rimuru laughed nervously. "You know you could've just messaged me, right?"
"Well yeah," Kaede folded her arms with a smile, "but the roads are finally finished." Her expression brightened slightly afterward. "Maple Tree and Tempest are officially connected properly now. We're actual neighboring nations instead of isolated territories linked by forest paths. Geld's really overdone himself."
Rimuru smiled proudly at that. "I'll make sure to pass the praise to Geld. Honestly, he finished the road project way faster than I expected."
His eyes shifted briefly toward the window. "Especially after everything that happened during the invasion."
Kaede nodded once.
"We also finished the roads toward Dwargo," Rimuru continued. "Now we're working on direct routes to Blumund too."
"So I heard." Kaede replied. "We should probably check in with Gazel about the railway development soon."
Rimuru groaned immediately. "Yeah. Honestly, I'm surprised he hasn't stormed over here already demanding explanations for everything."
Kaede giggled softly before her attention shifted toward the other figure inside the office.
More specifically, the massive brown-skinned man lounging nearby while completely ignoring both of them.
The man wore only dark trousers alongside a heavy cape draped across his shoulders. One muscular leg rested casually over the other while a book sat open in his hands.
No.
Not a book. Kaede narrowed her eyes slightly. "...Is that manga?"
The man continued reading silently.
"I don't think we've met before." Kaede said slowly while studying him more carefully. "But you feel strangely familiar."
"Ah, right." Rimuru snapped his fingers suddenly. "I should probably introduce you two."
He pointed lazily toward the massive man. "Kaede, this is the Storm Dragon Veldora."
Then he pointed toward Kaede. "Veldora, this is..."
Rimuru paused. "…Veldora."
No response.
"Veldora."
Still nothing.
Rimuru's eye twitched slightly.
"Veldora! Hey!"
The dragon remained completely absorbed in his manga.
"...This part is peak fiction." Veldora muttered seriously while turning the page.
Veldora finally looked up from the manga after Rimuru raised his voice. "…Hm?" The Storm Dragon blinked once before frowning slightly. "Why are you shouting at me?"
"Because I've been trying to introduce you for the past thirty seconds." Rimuru deadpanned.
"Oh." Veldora nodded seriously. "That does sound troublesome."
Rimuru's eye twitched.
Kaede meanwhile watched the interaction silently for a moment before covering her mouth slightly.
"Yeah, laugh it up." Rimuru sighed.
Veldora finally closed the manga carefully before standing up from the couch. Despite the casual movement, the pressure radiating from him shifted instantly.
Then Veldora grinned widely.
"So you're Kaede!" he declared loudly while pointing directly at her. "Rimuru talks about you occasionally."
"…Hopefully nothing bad."
"Hm?" Veldora tilted his head before folding his arms confidently. "I do not listen that carefully."
"Oi."
Kaede laughed quietly under her breath. Her eyes shifted briefly toward the stack beside him.
"…Are those all from Rimuru?"
Veldora immediately stepped protectively in front of them. "Naturally. These are sacred texts."
"They are not sacred texts." Rimuru immediately replied.
"They absolutely are."
"You're just gonna cry for the next twenty minutes when I confiscate one."
"That is tyranny!"
Kaede stared at them for several seconds before laughing again despite herself. "Yep, that is definitely how Ari described you would be."
Veldora however suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly while staring at her more carefully. "Ari? That name sounds familiar."
"…Wait."
Veldora rubbed his chin dramatically. "Hmmmmmm."
Several seconds passed.
Then his eyes widened suddenly. "AH!"
Rimuru flinched slightly. "Could you stop yelling like that?"
"You must mean that tiny ant child!"
"Yes!" Veldora pointed triumphantly. "You must be her mother! She told me about you!"
Kaede stared at him in surprise. "You actually remember her? And your conversation about me?"
"Of course I do!" Veldora laughed loudly. "She tried attacking me!"
Rimuru blinked. "…What?"
Kaede covered her face slightly. "…Oh no."
Veldora looked delighted now from remembering it.
"She was incredibly tiny back then!" he said while spreading his hands apart. "Barely even this big. Yet the moment she sensed me, she immediately rushed at me without hesitation!"
"She was a baby." Kaede sighed tiredly. "So I apologize..."
"A very aggressive baby." Veldora corrected proudly. Then he burst into laughter. "Fuahahaha! I liked her immediately!"
Kaede honestly didn't know whether to apologize or feel proud anymore.
Rimuru meanwhile stared blankly between them. "...That does sound exactly like something Ari would do?"
"Because your niece is a menace." Kaede replied instantly.
"That is true." Rimuru admitted. "Also, when did I become an uncle?"
Veldora nodded sagely. "A fearless hatchling. She has potential."
"Chill out dude." Rimuru rolled his eyes. "I'm kinda surprised you didn't just obliterate her."
Veldora looked offended by the question. "What kind of dragon do you take me for? The child challenged me openly. That deserves respect."
"Weren't you supposedly trapped by some kind of prison?" Kaede asked flatly.
Veldora looked away.
Rimuru stared at him. "So you couldn't, do anything."
Veldora looked away.
"Why didn't you just name her like you did me?" Rimuru asked.
"I didn't think of it at the time. And she was already gone by the time I did. Luckily, you showed up not long after. How very fortunate, right?"
"Well, it's nice to finally meet you Veldora. To put a face to the name." Kaede smiled, extending her hand. "Though, I didn't expect you'd have a human form. I expected more of a, dragon?"
Veldora threw his head back proudly while folding his arms across his chest. "I know right? Fuahahahaha! I am amazing!"
"You are unbearably full of yourself." Rimuru sighed.
"Cockiness is a virtue."
"You mean confidence."
Kaede watched the two of them quietly before shaking her head with a small smile. Honestly, seeing the legendary Storm Dragon acting like this felt surreal.
The being feared across the continent was currently arguing over manga while sitting inside Rimuru's office like an overgrown housecat.
A soft knock interrupted the room.
Before Rimuru could answer, the office door slid open gently.
Shuna stepped inside carrying a polished serving tray lined with tea, small desserts, and freshly baked biscuits arranged neatly across delicate plates.
The moment Kaede saw her, her expression softened immediately.
Shuna paused briefly after noticing the visitors before offering a graceful bow. "Lady Kaede." she greeted calmly. "Welcome back to Tempest."
Her voice remained as elegant as ever.
"…Shuna." Kaede replied more quietly than before.
Rimuru's expression shifted slightly after noticing the tone.
Shuna moved toward the table calmly before setting the tray down with practiced precision. "I prepared refreshments for everyone." she explained gently.
Veldora immediately leaned forward. "Ah! Biscuits!"
"You already ate half the kitchen this morning." Rimuru deadpanned.
"Focus on your guest, Rimuru."
Shuna covered her mouth lightly while laughing softly at their exchange.
Kaede meanwhile continued watching her carefully. Eventually, she spoke. "…How are you feeling?"
The room quieted slightly.
Shuna's hands paused for only a fraction of a second before resuming their movement.
"I am recovering well." she answered smoothly.
Kaede held her gaze for a moment. Then sighed softly. "…You don't have to say it like that."
Shuna blinked once.
Kaede offered a faint smile afterward. "You sound like you're giving an official report."
For a brief moment, Shuna looked genuinely caught off guard. Then a small laugh escaped her. "…Perhaps I've been spending too much time around Lord Rimuru's meetings lately."
"That sounds exhausting." Kaede replied.
"It truly is." Rimuru muttered while reaching for his tea. "And I have this oaf as backup."
"How mean!" Veldora retorted.
Shuna handed him the cup without even looking.
The movement was so natural it made Kaede pause slightly.
Even after everything that had happened… some things in Tempest really hadn't changed at all.
Eventually, Shuna looked back toward Kaede again. "…I heard Maple Tree's reconstruction efforts have been progressing smoothly."
Kaede nodded once before accepting the tea Shuna offered her. "Better than expected honestly. Things stabilized quickly, so the surrounding territories calmed down faster too."
"Impressive." Shuna admitted quietly.
"you guys are annoyingly competent." Rimuru added while sipping his tea.
Kaede snorted softly into her cup.
Veldora, meanwhile, had already stolen three biscuits.
No one acknowledged this.
"Still," Kaede continued after a moment, "we ended up slowing some of our own development projects."
That earned Rimuru's attention immediately. "Really?"
Kaede nodded. "Whether I ordered it or not, Maple Tree expanded too fast after becoming a Demon Lord nation." She exhaled lightly. "Monsters from outside Jura have already started migrating toward Maple Tree. There's no protection more reassuring than a Demon Lord's territory.."
Rimuru grimaced slightly. "Paperwork incoming."
Shuna quietly listened while pouring more tea.
"The roads connecting Tempest helps a lot though." Kaede continued. "Trade between our territories is already increasing."
"That quickly?" Rimuru asked.
Veldora nodded sagely while chewing. "Civilization."
"No one asked you." Rimuru replied immediately. "Just keep pouring crumbs everywhere."
Sure enough, biscuit fragments littered the front of Veldora's cape.
Shuna sighed softly before walking over with a cloth. "Please sit still for a moment."
"I am a Dragon."
"And currently a messy one."
Kaede watched in silence as Veldora somehow obeyed immediately while Shuna cleaned the crumbs from his clothes with the same patient expression she always wore.
Then Kaede smiled faintly into her tea.
"…Yeah," she murmured quietly. "Tempest really does feel the same."
Shuna glanced toward her.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
"I'm sorry, about what happened... with Sally." Then Kaede finally set her cup down gently. "...I'm glad you're alive."
The words were simple.
Honest.
And for the first time since entering the office, Shuna's composed expression faltered slightly.
Very slightly.
"…Thank you." she answered softly.
The room grew quieter afterward.
Rimuru looked between them briefly before quietly deciding not to interrupt.
Even Veldora remained unusually silent for once.