Rimuru's Restart: That Time I Travelled Back in Time

Prologue: A Post-Tenma Walpurgis

"A truly uneventful and peaceful life—that's what I wanted to say, but..."

Truthfully, I can't claim my life is normal at all.

I sighed. It's been ten years since the battle with Yuuki at the summit, and now, here I am, stuck answering these never-ending papers.

"Isn't this worse than the life I had before?" I muttered. That's exactly what it felt like. The paperwork had no end, and honestly, it just kept piling up. 

Tempest had transformed into a global superpower, financing and supplying soldiers across the world. 

It was incredible to witness Tempest's journey from a small town to a mega nation, filled with skyscrapers and cutting-edge technologies.

But the more powerful a country becomes, the harder it is to manage—and that brings me to my current predicament.

"Hey, Ciel, can you help me with these? At this rate, I'm going to die from overwork."

I gave up. I needed help. As always, Ciel-sensei didn't turn me down.

[Understood.]

Ciel-sensei agreed without hesitation.

She's evolved into something far beyond an ordinary Manas. 

Ciel's perception of the world is different, sharper, and she has gained complete self-awareness.

"Thank you..." I expressed my heartfelt gratitude.

I appreciated her help more than ever, and when I thought about it, Ciel had never refused any of my selfish requests. 

Except for that one time. As my Unique Skill: 『Great Sage』, she has always been there for me.

[No, I'm not letting other women enjoy it.]

She read my thoughts, as always.

"Come to think of it, Ciel-sensei, you've never refused a single request from me, have you?"

I voiced my thoughts aloud.

[Master, I exist solely for your sake. Therefore, unnecessary concerns are unwarranted.]

Well, that's true. Since the beginning, she has been a skill embedded directly into my soul from the moment I first reincarnated. But...

"That may be true, but..."

[But?]

"Never mind. I'll never win against you in an argument anyway."

I let out a sigh. There's no point in debating with her; I'll never win.

With Ciel-sensei's assistance, my efficiency had increased a hundredfold. Using my enhanced perception, I pushed through my tasks at an accelerated pace.

As time passed, twilight painted the sky, its soft glow reflecting off the crystal-clear windows of my office. 

I got up from my seat and decided to take a break, exploring the super nation I had built over the years.

My office was perched at the top of Tempest's tallest skyscraper—a symbol of the nation's prestige. Over the past few years, I've successfully maintained peace in Tempest. But still...

"Ciel, are we truly at peace?"

It had been ten years since anything remotely exciting happened. Lately, my days were filled with routine paperwork—legal matters, treaties, and documents for the nation. 

I wasn't sure if there simply weren't any major threats left or if something was looming beneath the surface. 

Regardless, it seemed like our country—and the entire world—had been at peace, largely due to our influence.