[INDEF. HIATUS] Regrets and Wishes: One More Chance

Chapter 7 - Reconciliation, Naming, and Rules

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第7章　和解・命名・ルール

(Rimuru's Perspective)

As I start to regain my consciousness, my [Universal Perception] gradually reactivates itself without being told. I'm greeted by the view of a beautiful girl's peaceful face. For some reason, I feel as if my slime body were heating up.

Huh, what happened to me? I had been used multiple times by those girls as a pillow. Why do I now feel like this when it's Ciel-san who does it?

She seems to have woken up now. She opens her eyes little by little. After she has fully opened them, she looks at me for a few seconds.

"Umm...good morning, Ciel-san."

"Good morning, Master..." she responds cheerfully with a wide smile.

I'm stunned by this amazing sight. She has such an angelic smile. The faint shade of red painted on her cheeks makes her look even cuter.

"So cute..." I mutter unconsciously.

"?!" She seems to be surprised. The shade of red on her cheeks becomes more intense, spreading from ear to ear. She covers her face with her both hands.

Huh, did I say something wro—wait! I did mutter 'so cute', didn't I? Ahhhhh! My body feels even hotter than before. Oh, no. Now both of us are embarrassed.

There are no words coming out of our mouths, just an awkward silence surrounding us. No one dares to start talking.

This situation continues for a good number of seconds.

"Ciel-san?" I try to break the ice.

"Y-yes, Master?" She hesitantly uncovers her face. Her face is still crimson red.

"Let's get ourselves up, okay?"

"O-okay." She gets up from sleeping to sitting position.

I jump then transform into my human form in standing position. I take a long, deep breath to calm myself down. After I feel my body—or rather my cheeks as I am already in my human form—has cooled down, I turn around and face Ciel-san.

"Come on." I smile, offering my hand to her. "We'll have an important business to tackle this morning."

She looks at my hand, then at my face, then back at my hand. "Yes, Master." She takes my hand and stand up.

We begin our activities by telling the all goblins and direwolves to gather in front of the main shack.

Nearly a thousand goblins and eighty-three direwolves are in front of us. Because the village is relatively small for more than a thousand folks, they don't have a choice but to crowd each other.

"Has everyone gathered here?" I ask loudly. "I don't want anyone to miss this important announcement."

"""No single one is missing, my lord,""" answer the elders of goblins, the alpha of direwolves, and his son.

"Good. Then, I will reintroduce ourselves once again. My name is Rimuru Tempest, and I'm a man—"

Needless to say, many of them are bewildered by this revelation. I'm glad, though, that they keep silent about it and don't question it any further. 

"—and this girl beside me is my partner, Ciel-san."

"The first thing we want to announce," Ciel-san starts, "is that as a symbol that you are all indeed our subordinates, the rest of you who are still nameless will be given names."