A/N: Don't forget to check out my original novel: Can I Magic Please. It's like really good. 😉
ANYWHOOO. ENJOY THE CHAPTER
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The dining hall remained silent for several seconds after the synchronized outburst.
"HUH?!"
Rimuru and Shizue stared at each other in complete disbelief.
The shock on both their faces was nearly identical.
Loki, meanwhile, calmly fed Kumara another bite.
"Open wide."
Kumara happily accepted the food.
"Thank you, Lord Loki-arinsu!"
Only after making sure Kumara was satisfied did Loki glance up.
Rimuru suddenly rose from his chair.
His expression had become serious.
He turned toward Shizue.
"Shizue-san… right?"
Shizue nodded.
"Yes."
Rimuru swallowed.
"Could we talk in private?"
Shizue looked at him for a moment.
Then smiled gently.
"All right."
The two quietly excused themselves and left the dining hall together.
The room remained silent for a few moments after they departed.
Then Loki froze mid-bite.
His eyes widened slightly.
'…Ah.'
Another bite of food paused halfway to his mouth.
'Right.'
'…So Rimuru hasn't told his subordinates yet.'
He slowly lowered his chopsticks.
'My bad.'
Across the room, Shion tilted her head.
"Why did Rimuru-sama suddenly become so agitated?"
Benimaru folded his arms.
"I have no idea."
Hakuro stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"It appears they have discovered some unexpected connection."
Gobta leaned forward.
"Did they know each other?"
Souei emerged slightly from the shadows.
"Unlikely."
Loki shrugged and continued eating.
"Probably."
No one was reassured by that answer.
Meanwhile—
Rimuru led Shizue through the corridors of the government building until they arrived at a small private room used for confidential discussions.
The door closed behind them.
For a moment, neither spoke.
They simply looked at one another.
Two people.
From the same world.
Separated by time, circumstances, and fate.
Shizue was the first to break the silence.
"So…"
Her expression softened.
"It's true."
Rimuru nodded.
"Yeah."
A smile spread across his face.
"I honestly never thought I'd meet another Japanese person here."
Shizue's eyes became warm.
"Neither did I."
The atmosphere in the room changed immediately.
The distance between strangers vanished almost instantly.
There was a comfort in speaking to someone who understood.
Someone who knew the same language, the same customs, the same world.
Rimuru took a seat and gestured for Shizue to do the same.
Once they were settled, he asked the question foremost on his mind.
"How did you get here?"
Shizue grew quiet.
Her gaze drifted toward the floor.
Then she began speaking.
She told him about the war.
About the fire.
About the fear and despair she felt as a young girl.
About being summoned into another world.
About Ifrit.
About Leon.
And about the long, painful journey that followed.
Rimuru listened in complete silence.
The more she spoke, the heavier his heart became.
By the time she finished, his expression had grown deeply saddened.
"…That's awful."
Shizue smiled faintly.
"It was."
"But I met many important people along the way."
She looked toward the window.
"And I kept moving forward."
Rimuru nodded slowly.
Even after everything she endured—
She still carried herself with remarkable gentleness.
Then Shizue looked back toward him.
"There's something I'd like to ask."
"Sure."
Her eyes shimmered with quiet anticipation.
"What is Japan like now?"
The question struck Rimuru harder than he expected.
For Shizue, Japan was a distant memory.
A nation she left behind during a time of war and devastation.
She never got to see what became of it.
Rimuru closed his eyes.
"Great Sage."
[Understood.]
Using Great Sage's abilities, Rimuru projected his memories.
Images formed in the air between them.
Modern Tokyo.
Towering skyscrapers.
Crowded trains.
Bright neon lights.
Cherry blossoms drifting through peaceful streets.
Children laughing.
Families walking freely.
Cities rebuilt stronger than ever.
A country thriving in peace.
Shizue watched silently.
At first, her expression was one of wonder.
Then relief.
Then unmistakable happiness.
Her eyes grew wet.
"…It's beautiful."
Rimuru smiled softly.
"Yeah."
Shizue continued watching the images.
A modern Japan untouched by war.
Prosperous.
Peaceful.
Alive.
Her shoulders trembled slightly.
"I'm glad."
The words were barely above a whisper.
"Even if I never returned…"
"…I'm glad it became like this."
Rimuru felt his chest tighten.
After everything she had suffered, this small glimpse clearly meant more than words could express.
Then, unexpectedly, Shizue spoke again.
"It's a good thing you were here to show me."
Rimuru blinked.
"Hm?"
Shizue smiled gently.
"Loki-san couldn't."
Rimuru tilted his head.
"Huh?"
Shizue answered as though stating the most ordinary fact in the world.
"Because he's from the Heian Era of Japan."
Rimuru's mind stopped.
The projected images flickered.
"…What?"
Shizue continued.
"A much harsher period in Japanese history."
Rimuru stared at her blankly.
The words took several seconds to process.
Then his eyes widened to impossible levels.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
He turned toward her.
His voice was completely flat.
"…What did you just say?"
---
After hearing about Loki from Shizue, Rimuru ran back to the dining room and dragged Loki to the private room with him.
The door to the private room burst open.
Rimuru practically dragged Loki by the sleeve.
"Whoa, whoa."
"Why are we running?"
Rimuru ignored him entirely.
His expression was one of absolute disbelief.
The moment they entered the room, he spun around and got directly into Loki's face.
"Loki-san."
Loki blinked.
"Yeah?"
Rimuru's voice trembled.
"Tell me honestly."
He swallowed.
"…Are you Haru of the Minamoto?"
For a brief moment, the room was completely silent.
Then Loki smiled.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
He scratched the back of his head casually.
"I used to go by that."
Rimuru's eyes widened to impossible levels.
The response was so nonchalant that his brain failed to process it.
"You…"
"You…"
Back at the dining room, several of Rimuru's subordinates stared where they had exited.
Benimaru folded his arms.
"…Rimuru-sama is acting strangely."
Shion nodded vigorously.
"Very strangely."
Hakuro stroked his beard.
"I have never seen him this agitated."
Gobta raised a hand.
"Is he okay?"
No one had an answer.
Inside the room, Shizue stood and bowed her head slightly.
"I'm sorry, Loki-san."
Loki tilted his head.
"For what?"
Shizue looked embarrassed.
"I didn't realize Rimuru-san didn't know you were from Japan as well."
Rimuru scoffed.
"Well, we can call it even."
He crossed his arms.
"You outed us first."
Loki shrugged.
"I really don't mind."
He grinned.
"If you'd asked, I would have told you."
Rimuru stared at him flatly.
"Why would I ever ask something that random?"
Loki opened his mouth.
Then paused.
Then nodded.
"…Actually, that's true."
Rimuru took a deep breath.
Then looked at Loki with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"You are absolutely nothing like the Haru of the Minamoto I grew up hearing about."
Loki raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Rimuru began pacing.
"You're a national icon."
"A legendary hero."
"A historical symbol of honor."
He pointed dramatically at Loki.
"In school, they taught us about the Genpei War."
He continued with increasing energy.
"The Taira dominated the court."
"Prince Mochihito called for rebellion."
"The Minamoto rose from the ashes."
"And during the Battle of Ishibashiyama…"
Rimuru's voice deepened theatrically.
"A young samurai named Haru of the Minamoto stood alone against a thousand Taira warriors for a day and a half."
Loki snorted.
"It was more like a few hundred."
Rimuru ignored him.
"Your armor was said to be white and silver."
"Your body pierced by countless arrows."
"Your sword chipped and broken."
Shizue nodded.
"That is what I learned as well."
Rimuru continued.
"When the battle ended, the Taira general himself ordered his men to stop."
"He asked you to speak."
Rimuru's eyes sparkled.
"And you gave one of the greatest speeches in Japanese history."
He struck a dramatic pose.
"'Do you hear it? The sound of a new Japan being born.'"
Loki nearly choked.
"Oh, come on."
Rimuru was unstoppable now.
"You declared that the Minamoto had already won."
"You died standing."
"Your enemies bowed in respect."
"A statue was built in your honor."
"Poems were written about you."
"An Edo-period painting of your final stand became a national treasure."
Shizue added softly:
"And the story was always presented as the ultimate example of bushidō."
Rimuru pointed at Loki again.
"You're a staple of Japanese culture."
"Video games."
"Manga."
"Anime."
"Movies."
"Toys."
"Collectible figures."
"School textbooks."
Loki froze.
"…Wait."
Rimuru blinked.
"What?"
Loki leaned forward.
His eyes widened.
"Manga?"
Rimuru nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Loki stared at him.
"There's a manga about me?"
Rimuru frowned.
"Why do you know what manga is?"
Loki ignored the question entirely.
His face lit up with childlike excitement.
"Do you have a copy?"
Rimuru hesitated.
Then reached into his spatial storage and produced a well-preserved volume.
The cover depicted a heroic young samurai in gleaming white armor, standing before an army under a crimson sunset.
The title read:
Haru of the Minamoto: Bushidō
Loki gasped.
He snatched the book with both hands.
"Holy shit."
He flipped through the pages rapidly.
His eyes darted from panel to panel.
Then, for reasons known only to him—
He lifted the volume to his face and inhaled deeply.
"…Fresh manga."
His expression turned reverent.
Rimuru and Shizue stared.
Loki closed the book carefully.
Then held it against his chest.
Without looking up, he spoke solemnly.
"I would like not to be disturbed."
And with that—
He turned and walked out of the room.
The door closed behind him.
Silence followed.
Rimuru stood motionless.
His thoughts struggled to catch up.
Then his eyes widened again.
'Wait.'
He slowly turned toward the closed door.
'No.'
'Why does he know what manga is?'
'He's from the Heian Era.'
---
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