True God In Another World (Tensura x Tbate)

chapter 13 - picnic {Rewritten}

Rimuru POV

Man, what a day. Taking down a slave trading ring solo really takes it out of you, even when you're basically overpowered. The adrenaline from the confrontation still simmered in my veins, but now it was mingling with a delightful sense of relief. There was something about the atmosphere that felt electric, as if the very air was charged with newfound freedom. Everyone around me was still riding that "holy crap, we're actually free" high, and it was nice to see their faces light up, the prospect of a brighter future momentarily overpowering the darkness of what they had endured.

Now, it was time to make crucial decisions, It had been decided that all the people here, along with Kyle and his group, would now follow me.

I informed them that we would set off early in the morning for the place that Rinia had mentioned. Rinia had given me a medallion that held the power to teleport us to our destination. The medallion, I discovered, was a relic built by ancient mages or Djinn, as they were known by another name.

I had the everyone gathering anything useful from the hideout. No point letting good supplies go to waste, right? Plus, these jerks owed us some compensation.

<You're just looting,> Sylvia teased.

>>Strategic resource acquisition,<< I corrected, making her laugh.

Our lively banter set the tone as we explored the surrounding forest, scanning for one of the transport gates Rinia had talked about. The trees rose tall and proud, their branches weaving a lush canopy above us that filtered the sunlight and cast dappled shadows on the ground. The chatter gradually eased, replaced by the sounds of nature—the rustling leaves, the chirping of distant birds, and the crunch of underbrush beneath our feet.

As we walked, the group gradually fell into a comfortable rhythm. Laughter and conversation flowed freely, but just when I thought the atmosphere couldn't get any more uplifting, Lina dropped the parent bomb. "Umm, R-rimuru," she stammered, her voice cutting through the momentary calm. "Where are your parents?"

The question hung in the air, a sudden weight that settled over us like a thick fog. Everyone grew silent, the vibrant energy of the earlier chatter fading into an awkward stillness as all eyes fell upon me, waiting for an answer. Fantastic.

"They're in Xyrus," I replied, attempting to keep my tone casual as if it were just another uneventful bit of information. "My brother and I had to... separate from them for a while. They thought we died at first, but we managed to let them know we're okay."

Alfred perked up, gently ducking under a low branch as he processed the news. "That must have been rough," he said softly, his brow knitted with concern. Adults had this way of looking at things, as if a child's fragility was a precious vase that could shatter at any moment. "Being away from your parents at such a young age..."

I shrugged, pushing the past behind me. "Could've been worse. In fact, I actually met my best friend because of it."

Kyla, standing at my side, leaned in with an inquisitive look on her face. "Must be some friend to make up for leaving your family," she remarked, her curiosity palpable.

"She's pretty special," I smiled, thinking about Sylvia. "Changed both mine and my brother's lives."

<..........> 

"Speaking of your brother," Alfred chimed in, carefully navigating another low-hanging branch, "where'd he end up?" His eyes were probing, genuinely interested in the story that lay ahead.