"Ahahahaha!" Suddenly, Erald burst into laughter. "This is truly entertaining, I can hardly believe it! The leaders and representatives of entire nations, powerful nations, all sitting together and expressing their thoughts freely, without reservations or doubts! Completely up front about what you can offer and what you want in return, I feel like an idiot for even being surprised by it!"
He abruptly stopped laughing, standing up and facing all of us in turn. The air suddenly turned solemn. This was the air of a high-ranking statesman. I had a lot to learn from this man.
"First off, you three." He pointed at the extremely tired trio from New Farminus, "Do you really trust these slimes? They slaughtered your nobility, and are occupying your lands. Do you truly believe they'll give them up once their forces are not needed there, anymore?"
"Absolutely." Luka answered immediately.
"And why are you so sure about that?"
"Because it'd be a waste of their effort. They don't want to manage people. Everyone hates it, trust me." Luka said, "Besides, I spent three days with Risa and Althea, and all they talked about was what they wanted to do, and protecting their friends. They also never lied. Not once. G'night." And he fell back asleep.
With a roll of his eyes, Erald moved on. "And you, Fuze. Why did you throw your lot in with these monsters? Wouldn't Blummund's smarter stance be to hesitate a bit more?"
Fuze paused, a deer in the headlights. But after a moment's pause, he sighed, running a hand through his hair in annoyance.
"You're right. Allying with Tempest was incredibly risky, and I personally was of the same opinion as you, okay, Duke Erald? But then my friend asked me something. He said 'What would happen if Tempest decided to see us as their enemies? Would that be any different than the other worst case scenario?' This was after the Charybdis incident, but before Rimuru and Risa personally visited Blummund, and my associate was completely right. These monsters were capable of taking down a Calamity-class. If they attacked us, or if the Church declared us their enemy, there was no difference. We'd be goners, either way, and Tempest seemed far more trustworthy and prosperous than the rest of the Western Nations. So, we threw our lot in with them, and none in Blummund have regretted it for a moment." Fuze admitted, barking up a laugh, "You know, during that break earlier, when Lord Veldora appeared, I called Blummund and explained the situation to them. I'm pretty sure that they broke speed records writing up the document that granted me full representational rights at this summit."
I now had a new respect for the king of Blummund. In fact, the dude's guts terrified me, now.
"Come onnn, dad! We all know you've already made your decision! Stop acting all stuck-up and tell us what you're thinking!" And Elen brutally shattered her father's imposing air. I barely bit back a laugh, as Kabal and Gido chided Elen for ruining her father's airs.
"Well, so much for the master strategist." Gazel laughed.
Feeling bad for Erald, I used a bit of my aura to bring some solemnity back to the meeting room. Less than one percent, though. I didn't want to slaughter everyone here.
"What do you want to ask me, Erald?" I asked.
"Impressive. Okay, then. What do you intend to do with your powers as a demon lord?"
Oh. That was pretty obvious. "I just want to create a world that's easy to live in. One where people can be as content, happy, as possible. It may not be easy, but isn't that what power is for? Backing up the ideals that you believe in?"
Erald laughed. "Ha! Ha-ha-ha! Hilarious! A demon lord versed in the concept of karma!" And then, to my surprise, he kneeled before me. "Okay, Demon Lord Rimuru. As the envoy of the Sorcerous Dynasty of Thalion, I hereby request the establishment of formal relations with your nation, the Jura-Tempest Federation. I hope to receive a positive reply."
"I gladly accept-"
BAAM! Just as I accepted Erald's offer, the doors flew open and someone stormed right into the conference room, flying straight at me. "I heard everything! Tempest shall fall to ruin!" She called out, as Beretta walked in, his seven-foot frame giving off a 'butler'-type aura, somehow. Poor Beretta. Getting bossed around by Ramiris all day…
Anyways, as I was thinking nonsensically, my own butler appeared in front of me like magic, capturing the tiny pixy in his hands as easily as plucking a leaf out of the air.
"H-hey! What the heck!? What kinda butler is this, I can't escape!" She squealed, flailing around. I found it funny that the only demon lord or higher type person I'd ever met who actually acted like a demon lord was Carillon, who hadn't actually technically awakened yet.
Did getting strong skills or abilities naturally make people childish or something?
WAS I AT RISK OF THAT?!
'Notice. Too late for that.'
Hush, Isis.
'...'
Wait, are you still mad about the whole 'dialing down Universal Detection' thing?
'...'
And I'm the childish one.
"Do you know this fairy, Sir Rimuru?" Fuze asked while Ramiris thrashed around in Diablo's grasp.
"Yeah." I replied, "Diablo, give her here." Diablo gave her over to me without another word, "This is Ramiris. She may not look it, but she's actually one of the Ten Great Demon Lords."
A few moments later, Ramiris was sitting on Veldora's lap, unconscious from the shock of seeing Veldora in person.