The atmosphere in the Federation's main hall was tense, despite the warm glow of the magic lamps. Rimuru, now a certified True Demon Lord, sat at the head of the conference table, flanked by Arthur, Veldora, Shuna, and Shion.
The reason for the meeting was Arthur's planned, long-term departure.
"My mission is complete here for now,"
Arthur began, his voice calm but resolute.
"You have achieved true Demon Lord status, Rimuru. You have secured our borders and established political dominance. The time has come for me to investigate the structural origins of this world—a quest tied to my Ultimate Skill: Reality Blending—to ensure our long-term safety from threats you haven't even met yet."
Rimuru leaned forward, her elbows on the table, her gaze fixed on him.
Rimuru:
"I understand the 'why,' Arthur. Your analysis of threats is always correct. But the 'where' is vague. 'El Dorado' is a rumor—a myth about the birthplace of the spirit species. How long will you be gone? And how can I rule without the ultimate deterrent standing over my shoulder?"
"My destination is a high-dimensional nexus, a place of pure concept rumored to be linked to the original True Dragon, Veldanava. It's a journey I must undertake alone to fully analyze the laws of your world. As for the duration... I cannot say. It will take as long as it takes to understand the cosmic architecture here."
"Hahaha! Excellent, Arthur! A pilgrimage! Finally, a true undertaking worthy of a Dragon! Rimuru, you worry too much! He has to go! As a fellow True Dragon, I endorse this mission one hundred percent. The quest for ultimate knowledge is paramount!"
Veldora slammed his fist on the table.
Rimuru shot Veldora with a withering look.
"It's easy for you to endorse it, Veldora. You're thrilled you won't have to compete with Arthur for library time. And you're forgetting he's the one who stops you from accidentally destroying the capital during your leisure activities!"
"Nonsense! My control is absolute now! Mostly. You have me, Rimuru! The Storm Dragon! I am a sufficient deterrent!"
Arthur Interjected calmly.
"Veldora's presence, coupled with the absolute proof of your power at Walpurgis, is sufficient to deter any immediate military threat. My absence is a test, Rimuru. You must learn to trust your own strategic judgment without my immediate counsel. You are the Sovereign now, fully capable of leading this nation."
The true emotional weight of Arthur's departure fell on the Oni, who viewed him with a protective reverence bordering on religious devotion.
Shion, her voice is strained, her violet eyes wide.
"Arthur-sama, this cannot be. You are the Pillar. The Dragon's Aura keeps the very air of Tempest stable! If you must travel, then I, Shion, will accompany you! My nodachi and my life are yours to command. I can screen your approach and dispatch any unworthy foes!"
Arthur gently shook his head.
"Shion, your loyalty is appreciated, but this is a solo journey into domains where physical strength is irrelevant. Your duty is here. Your most important mission is to protect Rimuru and the children with absolute vigilance. Your skill and devotion are the ultimate security for this nation. Do you understand the severity of this mandate?"
Shion slumped slightly, accepting the order with visible pain.
"I... I understand, Arthur-sama. Your command is my law. I will not fail the Queen."
Shuna was more composed, but with a palpable intensity.
"Arthur-sama, my concern is purely strategic. Your Magicule Breeder Reactor is the core of our defensive potential. To what degree can you leave a residual aura? And what mechanism will you establish for emergency communication? I require specifics so I may monitor the dimensional stability in your absence."
Arthur gave a small, rare smile that touched his lips for her analytical mind.
"A fair question, Shuna. I will leave a passive Dragon's Aura field across the entire Federation. It will not have my active power, but its presence will be unmistakable to any powerful intruder. As for communication, my Soul Magic is tied to Rimuru's. If she is in true, existential peril—not just a political skirmish—I will sense it, and I will breach dimensions to return instantly. Otherwise, you must not use it. It would reveal my location and compromise the mission."
Shuna nodded, her eyes shining with determination.
"Understood. The stability of your return path is my priority. I will develop a new magical defense system based on your residual aura, to prove my competence in your absence."
Rimuru saw the immense challenge ahead: not fighting the human world, but dealing with the complex, mundane, and chaotic politics of the Demon Lord Council without her Dragon.
"Okay, the security is handled, and my safety is addressed. But what about the Council, Arthur? Clayman is gone, but the other Lords—Guy, Leon, Luminous—they are far more cunning than they appear. I have my seat, but the political maneuvering to fill Clayman's void will be ruthless. I need your advice on the grand strategy."
"You have Raphael now, Rimuru. You don't need my strategies; you need to trust your own instincts. However, I will give you three pieces of advice concerning the political battlefield."
Arthur gave her insight.
Rimuru had a thoughtful look across her face.
"Integrity, independence, and Veldora... That's certainly a strategy. But what if Milim starts something? She's only stable because you and I keep her entertained. If you're gone, she might decide to 'help' in a way that involves punching a hole in the continent."
Arthur reached out and gently taped her forehead.
"Then you will remind her that your friendship is contingent on her respect for your sovereignty. You are equal now. You are not her subordinate. Trust your bond with her. She respects immense power, and you now possess it. You can handle a temper tantrum, even a Dragon's."
Rimuru sighed a sense of heavy duty settling over her shoulders
"Alright, Arthur. I will do it. I will rule this nation and manage the Demon Lords. But you had better return. Not just for the Federation, but for me. I need my partner back."
Arthur, his gaze was absolute, reflecting the depth of his commitment.
"I will return, Rimuru. Now, the time for strategy is over. I must go."
With that, Arthur Leywin Stark, the Dragon Guardian and strategic pillar of the Jura Tempest Federation, utilized his Reality Blending to subtly open a rift to the high-dimensional plane.
He gave one final, profound look to Rimuru—a promise of return—and stepped through the shimmering veil, vanishing completely and leaving the weight of the world resting solely on the shoulders of the newly ascended True Demon Lord.
The stillness left behind by Arthur's departure was profound, settling over the Federation like a heavy cloak.
Rimuru, standing in the now-empty meeting hall, felt the true weight of her sovereignty for the first time. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the worried chatter of the Oni.
"Did you truly feel him leave, Your Majesty?"
Shion asked, her voice tight with concern as she clutched the hilt of her nodachi. "The dimensional stability... It feels thin. Our protection is gone."
Shuna stepped forward, a frown creasing her brow.
"Shion is correct. The residual Dragon's Aura is vast, but it is passive. It's a shield, not a weapon. Rimuru-sama, you must assume command immediately. The political maneuvers to fill the void at the Demon Lord Council won't wait for your grief."
Rimuru straightened, transforming her worry into resolute focus.
"You are both right. Arthur gave us a mission, and that mission is to prove that the Jura Tempest Federation can stand on its own."
She turned to her loyal commanders.
"Shion, your duties are now absolute. I want the security of the children, the Academy, and the outer border tripled. No one enters or leaves without your clearance. Shuna, your focus shifts to intelligence. Monitor the magicules of every neighboring kingdom. I want to know who is breathing too deeply near our borders."
Rimuru's first independent challenge arrived the next morning.
An envoy from Demon Lord Leon Cromwell appeared—a handsome, powerful figure with an unnerving politeness—requesting an audience to discuss the "new balance" of the Demon Lord Council. Leon was clearly probing for weakness in Arthur's absence.
Rimuru sat on her throne, Veldora sprawled dramatically beside her in his human form, munching on honey-glazed Orc meat.
"Welcome to Tempest,"
Rimuru greeted the envoy coolly.
"What pressing matters does the Platinum Demon Lord wish to discuss so soon after Walpurgis?"
"My Lord Leon merely wishes to ascertain the stability of the Council,"
The envoy replied, his gaze flickering subtly from Rimuru to Veldora, but lingering longest on the empty space where Arthur had stood.
"The sudden departure of your powerful Dragon Guardian is certainly cause for global concern. One wonders if a newly ascended Demon Lord can truly manage her seat, let alone the chaos of a newly released True Dragon."
Veldora, insulted by the insinuation that he was "chaos," stood up with a roar of laughter.
"Chaos? Nonsense! I am the Storm Dragon Veldora! I am the ultimate deterrent! If you worry about chaos, perhaps you should worry about what happens if my peace is disturbed!"
The envoy visibly flinched at Veldora's thunderous declaration.
Rimuru pressed her advantage, her eyes narrowed.
"Rest assured, my sovereignty is absolute. The absence of my Protector is merely proof that my nation does not rely on borrowed strength. I will fill the void at the Council and ensure the integrity of the Western Nations. You may inform Lord Leon that the seat is secure."
The envoy retreated swiftly, shaken by the volatile combination of the new True Demon Lord's cold confidence and the unrestrained power of the Storm Dragon.
Rimuru's independent rule was immediately complicated by Demon Lord Milim Nava, who appeared with a cheerful, destructive boom near the city gates moments after the Leon envoy left.
"Rimuru-bestie! Where's Arthur?"
Milim demanded, pouting fiercely as she skipped into the meeting room.
"I tracked his magical signature to the very edge of the dimensional plane! He went off on a boring cosmic adventure without me! That's not how besties behave!"
"He went on a crucial mission, Milim,"
Rimuru explained patiently.
"He left to learn things that will ensure our world's long-term safety. And he left me in charge."
Milim crossed her arms and glared at the spot Arthur had occupied.
"Hmph! He just thinks I'm too much chaos to be useful! Well, I'm going to prove him wrong! I'm going to help you rule, Rimuru-bestie!"
"No, Milim,"
Rimuru sighed, rubbing her temples.
"I need to prove that I can do this on my own. My test is to govern without relying on the most powerful beings in the universe."
"Then I'll just stay here and make sure the other True Dragon doesn't cause trouble,"
Milim declared, fixing a suspicious look on Veldora, who was currently practicing his new human transformation in the corner.
Rimuru knew she had lost. The new challenge wasn't ruling without Arthur; it was ruling with the combined, chaotic volatility of two True Dragons.
She had to use her diplomatic skills, sharpened by Arthur's coaching, to manage her allies as much as her enemies.
"Very well, Milim,"
Rimuru conceded, a wry smile forming.
"You may stay. But your mission is peace and public order. Your power is a symbol of our friendship, not a threat to my rule. Can you follow those rules?"
Milim's eyes lit up.
"Peace and order! I can totally do that! Prepare for the most peaceful, orderly rule ever!"
Rimuru watched her go, a small, independent chuckle escaping her.
The sovereign was tested, but she was adapting.
The hardest part wasn't the enemy outside, but the allies within, and Arthur's ultimate lesson was that a true leader must command not only the battlefields but the personalities that shape the future.
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