The World's Ego (Book 2)

Side Story: Troublesome Arrangments

Third Person POV

Feiyun raises an incredulous brow at the grinning Rimuru before shooting a glance at Iris, who was simply shaking her head.

"So you're asking us to move houses?" Feiyun confirmed what she had heard

"Yup!" Rimuru clapped her hands together cheerily, "Status-wise, you two should have houses that suit the titles but..."

Rimuru takes out a few documents from her 'Stomach' and lays them out on the table.

"Feiyun, your house is apparently not up to standard as a known 'noble', the Celestial Twin. There have been... inquiries from a few nosy people here and there." Rimuru explained before turning to Iris with a small pout, "And Iris, you don't even have a proper house, I heard?"

Iris averts eye contact, "I do."

"I asked Geld! Don't lie to me!" Rimuru chides her, "You never asked for a house to be built and forged documentation to get my eyes off the radar! You've been cooped up in the labyrinth, haven't you?!"

"... No."

Rimuru narrows her eyes, "Iris."

There was no way Iris could rebuke her now, "... Yes, I have been staying in the labyrinth most of the time. Even before Walpurgis, I was just going around without getting detected."

Rimuru sighed in exasperation, "Really, Iris, it's been almost two years since then! How could you not have a house for so long?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't deem it necessary." Iris answered

"You too, Ciel! You didn't tell me about the forged documentation back then!" Rimuru complained

<I apologize, Master. However, as I was still <<Raphael>> back then, I did not think of the matter as a big issue. I only brought it up now because you care about the livelihood of your people.>

Hearing this, Rimuru couldn't remain angry at Ciel and turned back to the problem at hand.

"Anyway, I have already made arrangements with Geld and his workers." Rimuru continued and unfolded the papers on the table, "These are the blueprints for your new housing. Just tell me what you might not like about the design before I ask Geld to go ahead with the construction."

It took not more than five seconds for the two to respond simultaneously, ""It's too big.""

"Huh?"

"Don't 'huh?' me!" Feiyun exclaimed as she pointed at the blueprint, "It's a literal mansion! I'm not going to move into that!"

"I'm sorry, Lady Mother, but I think the same as well. Even a normal small house would do fine for me but not a mansion." Iris added

"Aw, but I spent time thinking about the design!" Rimuru pouts indignantly, "Why don't we make a compromise?"

"A compromise?" Feiyun repeated

"Yup!" Rimuru nods with a giggle, "You know that I have my little hut as a secret house while I have my own mansion as a show to the outsiders, right? Why not do the same for this one?"

"You mean you want us to pretend that we live in a mansion just for the sake of image?" Iris confirmed

"Yup!"

Iris considers this for a moment, "... Does that mean that I still get to stay in the lab-"

"No!" Rimuru interrupts her, making a cross with her fingers, "I'll arrange for a smaller house to be built for you but you cannot stay cooped up in the labyrinth all the time! Try to live for yourself for once! I know how much you love research, just like Mobius but enjoy the outside for once."