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THIRD POV
TWO YEARS LATER.
As Rimuru strolled through his burgeoning village, a voice called out.
"Yo, Rimuru."
He turned towards the voice, completely on guard.
From the shadows, Ranga leapt out, teeth bared at the newcomer. Rimuru's hand rested on his sword, while his other hand gently calmed Ranga.
"Such presence—who are you?"
he asked, taking in the unfamiliar person before him.
"Oh, you don't know me?"
he countered, gesturing with his hand.
"If I knew you, I wouldn't have reacted this way."
"Oh, yeah. My bad. Yami,"
he summoned. The said individual materialised, standing behind him. That was someone Rimuru knew well enough to never forget the name.
"Yami?"
"Pass me the ring."
The intruder commanded, and Yami passed over the ring Rimuru had given him without hesitation.
For someone like Yami to oblige, it meant this guy was the real deal.
Yami stepped aside and faced Rimuru. By that time, the remaining villagers had gathered, armed and ready, but Rimuru held them back.
"This is my master, Rimuru. I'm his clone."
Rimuru was left flabbergasted. Yami was a clone, and this man was his master.
"What are you talking about?"
"Go. Don't keep Eren and the others waiting."
He dismissed Yami. The figure used instantaneous movement and left the scene.
"New monsters. I'm impressed,"
he said, giving his surroundings a quick scan.
The village had significantly evolved from what he knew. They were no longer huts, but buildings of concrete and brick. The monster population had increased, not to mention the new ones he'd recruited.
"Who are you?"
ASTERI'S POV
"Ah, forgive me. I'm Asteri. I've been waiting for your arrival, Rimuru."
I was dressed in my usual white outfit, my hair tied into a ponytail.
"Waiting for me?"
"It's not a big deal, actually. Can we have some private space? Alone?"
"Stand back!"
"Don't come any closer!"
"Your next step will be your demise."
They threatened me, but I didn't flinch. Unlike my supporters, they'd already taken action.
To be honest, I found it amusing.
"How funny."
"It's alright, guys. I trust him."
"What?"
"That's an order. His companions once saved this village a long time ago. It's okay. I've got this."
Rimuru assured them.
"Tell that one to get out of your shadow."
I pointed.
Exposed, he jumped out of Rimuru's shadow.
"It's alright, Souei."
He lowered his head before leaving.
We were alone—but this wasn't private for me.
"Walk with me, please,"
I suggested, leading the way.
"The last time I saw this place, there were nothing but huts and farms. I love your development. It's natural compared to mine."
"Yours?"
he questioned, and I nodded.
"So, Asteri, you have a village of your own?"
"An island."
"Whoa! That much?"
"Mm-hm."
I nodded again.
"I pretty much crafted a lot with magic, unlike yours. Yours took a lot of time and effort to build. That's hard work."
"Well, yeah,"
he said, scratching the back of his head.
In no time, we arrived at the hill where Yami once spoke with him. I walked to the edge, everything laid out beneath us.
Experiencing this view in person felt far better. I closed my eyes, the cool breeze brushing against my skin, my hair swaying gently.
"You wanted to take me to your home, right?"
"Maybe next time,"
I replied with a smile, eyes still closed.
'Hehehe, he picked that right out of my head.'
"Sit, please,"
I urged, making myself comfortable in the shade.
"Uh—"
Lost in thought about sitting close to a guy, a synthetic tree grew beside the first one, casting a new shade.
"It might be long, so take a seat."
With the distance set, he felt comfortable enough to sit down.
"I have a lot to ask, Asteri."
"Now's the time. Hit me, and I'll clear them out for you."
"I'll start by expressing my gratitude. Yami took care of the Ifrit and even suggested I take its powers."
"Don't mention it."
"He said he didn't want me to make the same mistake as he did. What mistake did he make—or rather, you made?"
'So that's how he saw it. A mistake, huh?'
"Yes. A small mistake, and my island fell into ruin. I lost more than half of my people."
My expression changed. It was an act, but I wanted to emphasise it.
"Innocent lives that knew nothing about what was going on behind the scenes."
"I—I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"No problem. I don't want you—or anyone—falling into that pit. I'll make sure that doesn't happen."
Rimuru fell silent, likely processing everything.
"I'm all ears,"
I said, snapping him out of it.
"How exactly did you know about me before my arrival? How did you know I was reincarnated? Why send Yami? Why not meet me yourself? How—"
"Woah, woah, woah, easy—"
I sat up, thinking through my response.
"My wife—"
I cleared my throat.
"I mean, my girlfriend—"
Another cough.
'Starfall… how can I put this?'
"Someone I have feelings for had a dream about you."
"That's a girlfriend."
"Whatever."
I waved it off dismissively.
"How exactly, though?"
"Well, based on the information presented, I came to two conclusions. Either a possible future or a timeline. The result is still unknown."
"What did she dream about?"
"It's dark, but I'll tell you. In that dream, she said I killed everyone. Including you."
Rimuru flinched.
"A—are you here to kill me?"
"Nah. I don't know why I would've killed them, especially her. The fact that she mentioned you meant we were closely acquainted in that timeline. That led me to search for you—one of my friends."
"I—I see. Why use Yami? And is he really your clone?"
"I didn't use him. Your meeting was merely a coincidence. His party was searching Veldora's cave, and then you got reincarnated. Weird coincidence, I'd say."
"Ah—about that. I never mentioned it to Yami. Did he eavesdrop on my conversation with Shizu?"
"He did. But he already knew everything that happened in the cave. By rewinding time around a single fixed point in space, he watched how you met Veldora—how everything began. What he sees, I see. I am him—but he is not me."
"Turning back time? Is that really possible?!"
"It is. It's my Art, not his. He simply borrowed it."
"Arts? You mean Skills?"
"Here comes the boom."
I paused briefly before continuing.
"I'm also an otherworlder. Where I come from, we use Arts, not Skills."
Unlike the others, Rimuru quickly grasped the situation.
"Where do you come from? So you came here of your own accord?"
"Correct. I came here to make friends and have fun—and I've found them. All that's left is to protect them."
Damn cliché.
Rimuru processed the information, then asked,
"What's your world like? Is it like this one, with humans and monsters?"
I told him about the Star Realm and the Stars. Rimuru remained silent throughout, connecting what he could and leaving the rest for later. I did exclude some parts—my ex–Demon Lord status and other complicated details.
"To think such beings walk among us."
"Come on, it's no big deal."
"It is. To think you can create and erase a world with a thought—that's insane. Meanwhile, I'm here scraping by on borrowed and stolen power."
"The power's origin doesn't matter. What matters is how you wield it. You strike down the bad guys, take what they used to hurt others, and turn it into a shield for the people you love. That's not villainy. That's survival with purpose. A hero, I guess."
"But who decides what's right and wrong?"
"No one."
An honest answer.
"Everyone thinks they're right. Tyrants believe their rule is justice. Heroes believe their mercy is virtue. Protecting loved ones is admirable, but it becomes twisted if it demands too much blood. Intent isn't a universal compass—perspective is."
"…"
"You don't have to trust my philosophy—not after everything I've said and done. But my methods? If they help you walk your path, take them if you want."
"I'll keep it at the back of my mind."
"Good. You know, we have a lot in common, other than being otherworlders and leaders, Rimuru."
"What's that?"
He asked, but I couldn't answer just yet.
"The future will show you. Just hang tight."
"Leaving me in the dark."
Rimuru sighed.
"Shizu. Shizu Izawa. I met her once, and I was hoping to meet her again—not through a clone, but personally. Unfortunately, that won't happen."
"You know Shizu-san?"
"Through Shinn and Eto. Together, they saved the Kingdom of Flitwood."
"You're so noble. I envy you, Asteri."
"You think so?"
Images of massacred kingdoms flashed through my mind—manipulation, selfishness, and the web I'd woven.
"Yeah. You have so much power, yet all you want is to build bonds. Your power in the wrong hands would bring about the end of the world."
I chuckled.
"Among all the Stars, I—the Anomaly—wouldn't even make the top hundred thousand. Probably not even the million."
(A lie, of course. Probably:)
"Such powerful beings. I wonder if the Supreme Star God had another purpose in creating you."
'Finding out 'why' is on my to-do list. As long as we live, we can find answers.'
"Who knows?"
I stood up, stretching my unfatigued body.
"Asteri, teach me how to fight. I need to get stronger—to defeat invaders and protect my people."
I smiled at his request.
"Despite all my strength, do you know why I failed to protect them?"
I asked.
"N—no."
"Individual strength matters, but our path demands subordinates—strong, smart, and reliable ones who can act in our absence. That's why I couldn't save them all.
"The enemy used himself as bait, luring us into a trap. My four clones at home—each capable of handling a thousand men—were forcibly deactivated. Shinn's barrier couldn't cover the palace or the island, and that's how innocents fell."
I summarised what happened between me and Mimon.
"Alright. I'll train you—but make sure you keep your subordinates in check."
"I will."
"Be ready. I won't teach you anything basic. It'll be intense."
"No matter how hard it gets, I'll get there. I need to prove my worth as a leader."
"Good. See you later, Rimuru."
I waved, disintegrating into light as I disappeared.
And so the training sessions began. I arranged my visits to Tempest at least twice a week. Training took place in Paradis. Rimuru adapted rapidly, mastering all elements in no time and wielding them in unimaginable ways.
"Jeez, you remind me of myself when I was training with my sensei. Every Art he used, I found a way to replicate in my own style—sometimes even surpassing it."
"Another thing we have in common."
Rimuru smirked and took off to challenge his teacher.
...
..
.
To be continued...