Attendance… plz…)
….
Maybe it was because Rimuru's promotion had popped the cork on the tension in the room early, but the rest of the meeting was surprisingly energetic.
The Lords were active. Agenda items were barely read out before one or two Lords would slap a solution on the table and consider it done.
However, the intensity of the debates ramped up significantly.
The fiercest arguments weren't about complex magical theories or diplomatic incidents. No, the real war was fought over the next year's budget allocation.
It was brutal.
Lord Trambelio, the "Neutral" old fox who usually looked like he was napping, suddenly woke up and fought tooth and nail for every penny. Eulyphis, usually gloomy and silent, was shouting across the table.
Even May, Rimuru's staunch ally, didn't pull her punches. She tore into Lord Gaius, a man who had literally held her when she was a baby, accusing his Chimera research of going wildly over budget and eating into the Department of Botany's profits.
Watching this, Rimuru clicked his tongue in amazement.
In the Lords' Meeting, you can talk about feelings all you want, until it touches the money. Then, friendship is dead.
After nearly three hours of grueling fiscal combat, the meeting allocated time for "Free Discussion." This was the designated window for backroom deals, resolving feuds, and setting up joint ventures.
Most Lords immediately cast Bounded Fields of Silence to encrypt their conversations. Only a few chatted openly. Rimuru, ignoring May's pouty expression, pricked up his ears to eavesdrop. It sounded like they were planning a hunting expedition to some dangerous region for rare materials, but he lost interest quickly.
However, it was during this time that Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald approached him.
Noble small talk usually revolved around lineage and politics, but when two Professors spoke, the conversation inevitably turned to academia.
Rimuru had to admit, even if he viewed Kayneth as a future tragedy, the man was impressive.
Kayneth's insights were sharp. His phrasing was elegant. While Rimuru had to pause and search his memories to formulate a rigorous magical theory, Kayneth spoke in perfect, polished theses as naturally as breathing.
Rimuru, having just arrived in this world, didn't want to be a fraud. His elite upbringing from his past life kicked in, the part that demanded perfection. If he was going to be a teacher, he refused to be a mediocre one. He didn't want to lead his students astray.
So, he engaged Kayneth seriously. They debated theories, exchanged ideas, and discussed pedagogy.
Before Rimuru knew it, they had been talking for quite a while. In fact, they were getting along famously.
This created a problem.
May sat to the side, her jaw dropping in disbelief.
I am a super-invincible beautiful girl! And I'm being ignored?! For HIM?! Who is the Lord here? Me or you?!
By the time the meeting adjourned, May was puffing her cheeks out like a furious chipmunk. She stormed out of the Department of Policies building, refusing to acknowledge the blue-haired slime trotting apologetically behind her.
She was in no mood to return to her classroom. Since she had already found a substitute teacher for the afternoon, she marched straight to the parking lot and dove into her pink Lamborghini.
Rimuru scrambled into the passenger seat, buckling up with practiced speed.
"???"
May blinked, caught between anger and amusement.
"You have to go to the Director's office soon, you know."
"I think I should stay with you for a bit right now," Rimuru said, shrugging. He turned to look at her, blinking his golden eyes charmingly.
"Otherwise, a certain young miss might be too angry to eat dinner tonight."
"I am not angry."
May huffed, flicking her ponytail with a distinct air of arrogance. She turned her head away, refusing to look at him.
"Get out."
"No!" Rimuru shook his head vigorously. "The Director isn't nearly as important as you are."
"Tch. The old you would never have said something smooth like that."
May turned back, placing her hands on Rimuru's small shoulders. She stared into his golden eyes for a long moment, searching for something.
"You've changed a lot, Rimuru..."
Thump.
Rimuru's heart skipped a beat. Did I overdo it? Is my cover blown?
"But..." A soft blush slowly crept up May's neck to her cheeks. She let go of his shoulders and leaned back against the driver's seat, turning her head to hide her face.
" maybe this is how you were always meant to be."
"You don't like it?" Rimuru asked, titling his head.
"No, I... I like it quite a bit."
She stretched her arms, arching her back and inadvertently highlighting her curves, before slumping onto the steering wheel. Her voice came out muffled and small.
" mostly, I'm just happy you've finally walked out of the shadows."
She sat up, offering him a sweet, genuine smile.
"Don't worry about me. I wasn't actually mad. While I personally detest Eulyphis and El-Melloi, they aren't enemies. As members of the Aristocratic Faction, they can help you when it matters."
"If you maintain a good relationship with Kayneth, your bid for a Lord's seat will be much smoother."
Rimuru blinked. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could get a word out, he felt a firm shove on his shoulder. May was kicking him out.
"So, hurry up and go! The Director usually ignores everything, but that's exactly why you can't ignore him. When he actually gives an order, it must be executed immediately!"
"I've been a Lord for years and I've only been summoned once. Don't let me be the reason you mess this up!"
Rimuru sighed. He swallowed the words he was about to say and replaced them with a soft:
"Thank you..."
A moment later, standing on the curb, Rimuru watched the pink taillights of the Lamborghini disappear around a corner. He let out a wry chuckle.
He really had no ambition for the Lord's seat. His chat with Kayneth was purely academic, stealing knowledge from a genius. Even if their philosophies differed, Kayneth's technical skill was top-tier.
But what weighed on him most was...
"The hardest debt to repay is the affection of a beautiful woman..."
Rimuru shook his head helplessly.
"It's a pity. I can't give her a future..."
He looked down at his own small arms and legs, and suddenly laughed at himself.
"Well, hopefully, it's just my own narcissism talking. Maybe she just sees me as a 'bestie' or a cute pet."
….
499 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter.
999 Power Stones = 1 More Bonus Chapter
you can join my discord server: https://discord.gg/5Y7uZ2kN2Y
Or in short just click in join via invite link in your discord and enter this code: 5Y7uZ2kN2Y