Rimuru the sin of love

Before the Holy War

Third-Person POV:

Just outside the Fairy King's Forest, a girl with blue hair and golden eyes strolled through the lush greenery, her carefree demeanor belying the mystery of her origins. No one knew where she came from or why she was so perpetually cheerful. All that was known was her striking beauty and unrelenting friendliness towards all races. Despite her best efforts to mediate conflicts, peace was always fleeting; she knew that discord was a constant in this world, with demons and goddesses often at odds while other races kept to themselves. Her secret? She was not merely a human but the last Shifter in Britannia.

Rimuru's POV:

"Well, look at that, I finally found the Fairy King's Forest." {What you see before you is the Fairy King's Forest. If you venture to the center, you'll find the Sacred Tree. However, I'd advise against going there; the Fairies are not fond of humans.} "That's unfortunate, but since I'm here, I might as well explore." I began walking through the forest, struck by its beauty and a strange sense of nostalgia. It's odd; I've never been here before.

A sudden burst of black energy nearby caught my attention. It was the same kind I use in my demon form. Demons in the forest too? {Two possibilities: the demons might be fighting a Fairy by mistake, or they're using the forest as a training ground due to its regenerative properties. More information is needed.} I wonder what demons are like. "Well, there's only one way to find out."

I approached cautiously, concealing myself as I neared the source of the energy blasts. From my hiding spot, I saw five demons training. They look serious. If I approach in my demon form, they might even help me understand how to use my dark energy.

After transforming into my demon form, I peeked out. The blond-haired demon glanced at me briefly before turning away. He saw me. I'm sure of it. He's not saying anything, so I'll wait and see.

Summoning my courage, I stepped forward. Just as I was about to reveal myself, the black-haired demon noticed me. "Who's there?!" he shouted, causing the others to look around in surprise. {I used a spell to muffle your presence from them.} That explains it.

"Sorry for interrupting your training. I'm Rimuru Tempest. May I ask who you are?" I introduced myself with a polite smile. The green-haired demon looked incredulous, the white-haired demon ignored me, and the pink-haired demon eyed me skeptically. The black-haired demon's irritation grew, while the blond demon appeared amused by the reactions.

The blond demon isn't bad-looking. Almost cute, if I ignore the fact that he noticed me. The black-haired demon's patience wore thin. "Are you mocking me, or are you genuinely this clueless?!" he demanded.

He's being quite rude now. I maintained my composure and replied, "I'm sorry, mister. I don't recognize you. Are you famous? Please don't be offended; I'm not familiar with many demons."

The blond demon burst into hearty laughter. Great, I'm definitely talking to important demons. Since it can't get worse, I'll just ask my questions. The blond demon seems harmless enough—otherwise, he'd have exposed me by now. His laughter subsided, and he introduced himself.

"Hi, Tempest-san. I haven't laughed this much in ages. I'm Meliodas, leader of the Ten Commandments and a demon prince. Tell me, why don't you know who I am?" He smirked, clearly enjoying the situation. This is really embarrassing.

I laughed nervously, searching for a way to deflect. Observing the black-haired demon, I guessed, If I recall correctly, he must be Zeldris, Meliodas's younger brother. "So, does that mean you're Prince Zeldris? I'm sorry for not recognizing you." He seemed slightly less angry but still annoyed.

"Good you admit your mistake," Zeldris said, then added, "I have a question—where did you get that sword? More importantly, can you use it?" His tone shifted from irritation to uncertainty. Why the sudden change?

{It's advisable to acknowledge your ability with the sword. The Ten Commandments have methods to ensure honesty.} Thanks for the advice, Ciel. "Prince Zeldris, this katana is a memento from my deceased parents. I can wield it well; it's my preferred weapon. Is there an issue with it?"

To my surprise, the pink-haired demon spoke up. "Your katana is the long-lost royal treasure of the demon clan. Only royalty can wield it. So, you've just revealed that you're actually of royal descent." I was stunned. Royalty? How do I explain this to a prince who sees me as a demon but believes I'm royalty? {Sorry, but there's no way to explain without revealing your true nature. I advise retreating.}

"I don't know what you mean, mister. It's been an honor, but I must go now. Goodbye." I took off, concealing myself with Ciel's help. Once I was at a safe distance, I transformed back into my human form. {Warning: Meliodas is approaching your location. No other individuals detected.} Thanks for the heads-up, Ciel. How did he find me so quickly?

Moments later, Meliodas landed in front of me, his expression smug. Ciel, do you think I can talk to him normally? {No hostility detected from Meliodas. It's safe to assume you can speak with him, though caution is advised.} "So, Sir Meliodas, what can I do for you today?" He looked amused and decided to tease me.

"Oh, I don't know—a royal princess who can change her appearance at will, just left my training ground after dropping a bombshell. What's most intriguing? I mean, what race are you really?" He makes a good point; I did just do that.

I sighed and looked around before speaking honestly. "Meliodas, thanks for not mentioning it earlier. I was as surprised as you were about the royalty part. I guess I'm the last of my kind. It's a bit sad, you know? I thought I was done for when you saw me, but you didn't tell the others. You must have realized what I am the moment you saw me. As the leader of the Ten Commandments, you're stronger than me if the stories are true. You're nothing like the stories I've read. I don't get why you're being so nice. What's your deal?"

Realizing my honest outburst, I covered my face in embarrassment. Meliodas chuckled softly. "How could I harm such a pretty girl? It'd be a shame to get rid of someone as innocent as you. You intrigued me. Shifters never approached me openly before. And your lack of recognition was priceless. So, no, I won't be killing you anytime soon."

Feeling more at ease, I looked up and saw Meliodas smiling warmly. I smiled back and said, "Thank you, Meliodas. You know, when we talk like this, I almost forget you're the demon prince. You're the first person I've ever been honest with. I guess I really like people like you. But I think it's better if you go back now, or the others might come looking for you. I hope we'll see each other again."

Meliodas nodded without looking at me and took off. That was strange. Why did he react like that?