6 months later...
In the blink of an eye, six months had passed, and Tempest had continued to flourish at an astonishing rate. What had once been regarded as a developing monster nation was rapidly transforming into an economic powerhouse, steadily establishing itself as the commercial epicenter of the West. Merchants, craftsmen, nobles, and adventurers from across the World continued to pour into Tempest, and many of them quickly found themselves becoming regular visitors after discovering everything the nation had to offer.
And why wouldn't they? After all, Tempest had become a marketplace for goods that were difficult, and in some cases even impossible, to obtain anywhere else in the world. For example...
Tempest had quickly become famous for its high-end clothing, with masterfully tailored garments made from some of the finest threads and silks available anywhere in the West. Under Shuna's leadership, the nation's clothing industry had grown into one of its most profitable sectors, while Shuna herself had established a reputation as the finest weaver in Tempest. Her skill with enchanted fabrics allowed her to create clothing that was not only beautiful but also imbued with various magical properties, making her creations highly coveted among wealthy customers.
However, the clothing was only one part of Tempest's growing luxury market, as Jewelry crafted from rare and beautiful stones mined from the mountains and mines of Fulbrosia had also become equally sought after, with Tempest's craftsmen transforming those precious materials into fine, elegant pieces of jewelry that could easily become the centerpiece of an expensive outfit.
The combination of Shuna's enchanted clothing and Fulbrosia's rare gemstones created an almost irresistible attraction for wealthy customers, drawing in women who wanted to adorn themselves with the latest Tempest fashions, as well as men eager to purchase something impressive for the women they loved. Before long, these luxuries had created what could almost be described as an inescapable vortex of spending, particularly among the nobles and wealthy merchants who loved flaunting their wealth and status and were more than happy to pour huge sums of money into Tempest's growing economy in exchange for these coveted goods.
Still, while the clothing and jewelry markets were a haven for the rich and wealthy merchants, they held far less appeal for adventurers beyond providing them with somewhere to spend whatever extra cash they happened to have lying around.
So, for this more adventurous segment of the market, Tempest offered a wide variety of finely forged weapons and armor that immediately caught their attention with quality that far surpassed anything offered by most other nations in the West, placing it in direct competition with Dwargon at the very top of the industry's hierarchy. Whether it was swords or spears, magic scepters or staves, shields or armor, or specialized equipment designed for particular fighting styles, adventurers quickly discovered that Tempest's craftsmen were capable of producing gear that could rival even the finest equipment available on the continent.
However, it wasn't merely the quality of the weapons and armor that left such a strong impression on customers, but the artistry behind them was equally impressive as well, with one section of the market specializing in flashy, edgy, RPG-inspired designs that appealed to adventurers who wanted to look as cool as possible while risking their lives. Meanwhile, another section offered beautifully decorated and elegantly crafted ceremonial blades, which were particularly popular among merchants who recognized an easy opportunity to make a hefty profit by purchasing them in Tempest and reselling them to nobles who were either unwilling or too lazy to make the journey themselves.
Yet despite the sheer variety of equipment available, the true highlights of Tempest's weapons market remained two names: Kaijin and Kurobe, the two finest blacksmiths in the nation who had quickly become revered figures among weapon enthusiasts, particularly because of the legendary magisteel weapons they crafted. After all, adventurers who were already impressed by the quality of Tempest's equipment could hardly keep themselves from drooling when they saw weapons and armor forged from magisteel, one of the rarest and most coveted ores in the world.
Unfortunately for those adventurers, the skill of the craftsmen, the artistry of their work, and the sheer rarity of the materials were all reflected in the price tags attached to these masterpieces, leaving even the most seasoned adventurers to find themselves staring at the prices in disbelief, while those who lived the typical rowdy and carefree adventurer lifestyle could do little more than curse their empty wallets for failing to produce enough money to even begin haggling for the price. As a result, many were left with no choice but to watch some high-level adventurer complete an A-Rank request or a couple of B-Rank requests before proudly marching into the shop and purchasing the piece of equipment they had been dreaming about ever since they first laid eyes on it.
Moving on, aside from clothing, jewelry, and weapons, Tempest was also rapidly expanding its influence in the agricultural market, where it possessed several distinct advantages that human nations could never hope to replicate. These advantages played a major role in Tempest's growing economic influence, gradually transforming the monster nation into one of the most important agricultural powers on the world stage.
Tempest produced a wide variety of raw products, including grains, staple crops, cereals, and various other agricultural goods, while maintaining large inventories and considerable surpluses in storage. It also cultivated vegetables and fruits from all over the world, including varieties that would normally require highly specific environmental conditions to grow.
All of this was possible thanks to two major factors. The first was the Dryads, the tree fairies who used their powers not only to accelerate the natural growth of crops but also to rejuvenate the land after every harvest, restoring its nutrients and preventing the gradual degradation of the soil. This allowed Tempest to maintain faster and more consistent cycles of agricultural production than most other nations while ensuring that the quality of its products never suffered as a result.
The second factor was Tempest's abundant monster workforce. Monsters naturally possessed greater strength and stamina than ordinary humans, allowing them to work for longer periods without tiring, while their sheer numbers made it possible to cultivate and monitor multiple enormous fields simultaneously. Of course, it also helped that, unlike human nations where the exploitation of farmers and laborers was often commonplace, Rimuru insisted that everyone under his rule be treated with fairness and respect. In return, that policy only strengthened their loyalty and respect toward him, motivating them to work with even greater enthusiasm and take genuine pride in contributing to Tempest's prosperity.
With these two advantages working together, Tempest soon began supplying grains, vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural products to the outside world. For merchants, obtaining such high-quality produce at remarkably competitive prices was nothing short of a miracle, especially when compared to nations like Falmuth, whose merchants were notorious for squeezing every last coin out of their customers while offering comparatively inferior products.
In fact, it wasn't just merchants who began relying on Tempest. Small nations and villages throughout the West also started establishing trade agreements with the monster nation, gradually making Tempest one of their primary suppliers of food. As time passed, many of these communities became increasingly dependent on Tempest for their basic necessities without even realizing just how deeply intertwined their survival had become with the monster nation's agricultural output. And even if they eventually recognized just how dependent they had become, there was little chance they would simply stop trading. After all, the alternative was either watching their people go hungry or turning to other nations that were often far more vicious, exploitative, and predatory on this ever-growing board of trade than the monsters they had once feared.
In fact, it wasn't just adventurers and merchants that Tempest had begun attracting. Ordinary humans had also started settling permanently in Rimuru City, gradually overcoming the instinctive prejudice and fear they had once held toward monsters. And honestly, it wasn't all that surprising when one considered everything Tempest had to offer.
After all, to any breadwinner struggling to provide for their family, a nation that could guarantee food to fill their bellies, clothes to cover their bodies, and a safe place to call home was nothing short of a utopia, even if accepting such a life initially meant suppressing their instinctive fear and prejudice toward monsters.
Beyond simply meeting their basic needs, however, Tempest offered opportunities and comforts that many of these people had never experienced in their old homes.
Take employment, for example. Tempest had a wide variety of jobs available to its residents, with some involving manual labor, such as working on farms or construction sites alongside Orcs, while others allowed humans to join hunting parties alongside Hobgoblin riders. There were also more specialized professions, such as weaving and blacksmithing, although those naturally required formal training before newcomers could begin working in those fields. This system ensured that even humans who had recently arrived from other nations could receive proper instruction and become familiar with the safety regulations and modernish equipment that Rimuru had introduced throughout Tempest.
Then there was safety, which was arguably the greatest advantage of all. Rimuru City was so safe that children could wander through its streets late into the night and still make it home without so much as a scratch. And how could it possibly be otherwise? In a nation where B-Rank and even higher-ranked monsters casually walked the streets, who in their right mind would dare cause trouble? Any would-be criminal would have to be spectacularly stupid to pick a fight in a city where some of the strongest monsters in the world could be walking past at any given moment. And those foolish enough to try, well, the dungeons beneath the city could always use a few more residents.
So, when all these factors were taken into consideration, what kind of idiot would willingly give up all those advantages simply to cling to the prejudice and fear buried in their hearts? For many humans who came from small villages or impoverished nations, simply making it through each day was already a gamble. Finding enough food, keeping a roof over their heads, protecting their families, and earning enough money to survive were struggles that consumed their lives. So while entrusting themselves and their loved ones to a nation ruled by monsters and choosing to live among them was undoubtedly another gamble, for some, it was a gamble worth taking.
And for those who made that choice, almost without realizing it, their fear began to fade, followed by the prejudice that had been passed down through generations, as they watched their loved ones live happier lives and gradually began to realize that perhaps living among monsters wasn't as bad as they had once thought.
Of course, compared to Tempest's monster population, the number of humans living in Rimuru City was still pitifully low. Nevertheless, word about Tempest was gradually spreading throughout the world, steadily building its reputation as a powerful and prosperous nation in the eyes of outsiders.
Word of mouth from merchants and adventurers certainly helped, but the primary driving force behind this growing positive perception of the monster nation was undoubtedly the Black Quill, a newspaper secretly operated and funded by Tempest.
The Black Quill did a fantastic job of introducing the world to the brighter side of the monster nation, gradually easing the suspicion, fear, and uncertainty that ordinary people had initially felt toward Tempest. It regularly published articles covering the nation's development, along with interviews featuring humans who had actually visited Tempest and were willing to share their personal experiences with its readers. However, Rimuru knew that constantly publishing positive stories about Tempest might eventually arouse suspicion among more skeptical readers, particularly those who believed that a newspaper praising a nation ruled by monsters must have some ulterior motive behind its reporting. To avoid this, he deliberately instructed Diablo to publish a few articles criticizing Tempest as well, only to reveal several weeks later, in a subsequent issue, that the stories had been nothing more than a hoax. Through this rather questionable but undeniably effective approach, the newspaper managed to cultivate an image of impartiality while subtly encouraging readers to trust its coverage of the monster nation.
However, promoting Tempest and reducing people's fear of monsters weren't the Black Quill's only objectives. Another major goal was to encourage ordinary people to question their own nations and rulers by publishing harshly critical articles, exposing scandals with just the right amount of sensationalism and spice, and constantly comparing the living conditions of commoners in those nations with the far better standards of living available in Tempest. By presenting readers with such comparisons, the newspaper gradually encouraged them to reconsider whether their own rulers truly had their best interests at heart. As a result, while some people began considering relocating to the monster nation, others grew increasingly dissatisfied with their own rulers and the way their countries were governed.
Of course, the ruling classes of these nations were understandably pissed off at the Black Quill's 'honest' journalism. Unfortunately for them, however, there was very little they could do to silence or expel this troublesome piece of paper from their borders, especially with the Primordial Black himself overseeing the newspaper's operations. So, left with few, if any, options, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and watch as their people were fed a steady stream of truths, lies, and carefully exposed secrets that the ruling classes would much rather have taken to their graves.
Overall, the newly established sovereign nation of Tempest was experiencing a meteoric rise, steadily expanding its influence and becoming an increasingly significant force that the other nations of the world could no longer afford to ignore.
However, the mastermind behind all these developments, and an ever-growing headache for the rest of the world, couldn't have cared less about any of it because, at the moment, he was simply sitting at home, enjoying some quality time with his wife and daughter.
******
In the bedroom of their house, Rimuru sat quietly on the bed, watching with a warm smile as his daughter, Aurora, gently pressed her little hands against her mother's swollen belly while her eyes were filled with wonder as she studied the noticeable bump, seemingly fascinated by the thought of a tiny life growing inside. After a few moments, she lifted her head and looked between her parents. "Mama, is my little sibling really inside your tummy?" she asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Shizu and Rimuru exchanged amused glances before Shizu chuckled and gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from Aurora's face. "That's right, sweetheart. There's a little baby growing inside Mama's tummy, and soon, you'll become a big sister."
Aurora's face immediately lit up with an enormous smile, and she let out a delighted gasp before carefully wrapping her arms around Shizu's waist. "Really?! I can't wait to meet them!" she exclaimed before resting her head against Shizu's stomach and whispering, "Hey, little one, it's me, your big sister! Hurry up and come out so we can play together!"
Seeing Aurora's adorable gesture, Shizu's expression softened as she gently ran her fingers through her daughter's long hair. "I'm sure your little sibling will be very happy to have such a wonderful big sister," she murmured before leaning down to place a gentle kiss on Aurora's forehead.
"Honestly, time really does fly, doesn't it?" Shizu continued, gently stroking their daughter's head as she gazed down at her sleeping face. "It feels like only yesterday that I first arrived here. Back then, Tempest was nothing more than a small village hidden away in the Jura Forest. Now, look at how much everything has changed," she said as her gaze wandered toward the window, beyond which lay the prosperous city that had grown from that humble settlement. "Sometimes, I can hardly believe this is the same place."
"Yeah, I felt the same way back then, when I first did this," Rimuru said with a small laugh. "Although, I suppose I could say the same about the day you told me you were pregnant." His expression softened as he continued, "I still remember it like it was yesterday, even though almost nine months have passed since then."
"Well, if I remember correctly, you certainly looked surprised," Shizu giggled, recalling that day and the very moment he had just mentioned before her expression softened. "Still, nine months, huh?" she whispered to herself, and for a little while, neither of them said anything as Shizu held Rimuru's hand, gently tracing her thumb over his fingers while reflecting on the past nine months. They had passed in what felt like the blink of an eye, bringing her more happiness than she had ever dared to imagine possible.
Until finally Shizu spoke again. "You know, there was a time when I never thought I'd be able to experience something like this again," this time in a much more subdued and quieter voice. "True happiness, I mean. The kind where I can wake up every morning without wondering how much time I have left, or whether the next day will bring another reason to suffer. I never imagined that I would have a home, a family, and someone who would look at me the way you do." Rimuru's smile faded into a more solemn expression as he listened, but he made no attempt to interrupt her.
Shizu meanwhile squeezed his hand as her eyes lingered on their sleeping daughter for a moment before she continued, "That day, when I came to the Jura Forest with Ellen and the others, I'd already made up my mind that it would be my final adventure... my final resting place. After everything I'd been through, I thought I had nothing left to look forward to. But instead, I found you, and somehow, the place where I'd expected my life to end became the place where I finally learned how to live again." She paused to collect herself before looking back at him with a gentle smile. "You gave me so many things I'd thought I'd lost the right to hope for, Rimuru. A home, a family, and a future. I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for that."
For a moment, Rimuru simply looked at her, taking in the warmth and sincerity in her eyes before gently tightening his fingers around hers and shaking his head. "You don't have to thank me, Shizu. Not for any of that. If anything, I'm the one who should be thanking you. You've already given me far more than I could ever ask for, and I'm not just talking about the little one on the way."
"Shizu, I've told you this before, but you're the reason this world exists. It was my failure to save you in that timeline that made me want to return to the very beginning and start over, this time with you by my side," Rimuru admitted, gently tracing circles on the back of her hand. "But things are different now. We have Aurora, and another child is on the way, so I have even more reasons to make sure this world becomes a better place for them to live in," he said earnestly.
Shizu watched him for a moment before breaking into a warm smile. "I know you will," she replied, with an unwavering confidence in her voice. "Now, then," she continued, steering the conversation away from their sentimental exchange as she glanced at him. "Since we've finished talking about our wonderful future, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. Have you finally made up your mind?"
"Yep. With things running smoothly here in Tempest, I've finally made up my mind," Rimuru replied, looking at Shizu, noticing the excitement and anticipation flickering in her eyes, as he continued, "I'm going to the Kingdom of Englassia."
To be continued...
******
[Hey everyone, taking a small break, so see you in a month...]