Rimuru the sin of love

Playtime is gone

Rimuru's POV:

It's been three weeks since I came here, and I have to say that I'm glad I did. Merlin is the most intelligent person I've ever met, and the information I have access to here is mind-blowing. I've finally found the way to the goddess realm and uncovered the truths about my former people after decoding those old books filled with half-truths. But despite all this, something feels different today. The corridors feel unusually quiet as I walk toward the training room, the air heavier than usual.

They've been pushing me for weeks. Maybe it's time I push back.

As I near the training room, a low, rolling sound echoes in the back of my mind—a distant rumble of thunder, though I know it's not real. It's as if my mind is warning me that something is about to happen, something I can't avoid. The sound grows louder with each step, resonating deep within me, amplifying the tension I feel.

When I open the door to the training room, the usual hum of activity grinds to a halt. The others freeze mid-motion, their eyes darting between me and John Dee, who's standing at the center of the room. His hand clenches a piece of paper, the edges crumpling under the pressure of his grip. There's a tightness in his posture, a subtle tremor in his hand that betrays the calm expression he's trying to maintain.

"Brat, you're late for training today. What do you have to say for yourself?" His voice is sharp, but there's something else beneath the irritation—a strain, as if he's struggling to hold onto something that's slipping away.

I lean against the wall, ignoring the uneasy whispers that ripple through the room. I pull a sandwich from my bag and take a bite, letting the phantom thunder in my mind rumble again, almost drowning out John Dee's voice. This is a good sandwich.

John Dee's POV:

Why is the brat acting like she did when we first met her? Don't tell me I have to redo the entire process to get her behavior back to an acceptable level. This is the worst!

As I watch Rimuru casually eat her sandwich, a cold sweat begins to form on my brow. My hand trembles slightly, gripping the paper harder than I intended. The room feels colder, and the shadows on the walls seem to stretch and twist unnaturally, just like they did when she first entered. I hear a low rumble—no, feel it—a phantom sound that echoes through my mind, like thunder in the distance. But I know it's not real. Still, it unsettles me, gnawing at the edges of my confidence.

I walk up to Rimuru and grab her by the collar of her shirt, lifting her off the ground. "Listen, you brat, you need to behave yourself like you did before, or else you'll have to be reminded of your place!" My voice wavers slightly, betraying my growing unease.

She just looks at me, rolling her eyes, clearly unimpressed by my threat. The phantom thunder rolls again, this time louder, making my grip falter. Normally, she would have a scared reaction, so why isn't it working now? "Can you get one sentence out of your mouth without disrespecting or threatening me? It's getting old, old man," she says with an annoyed tone, sighing as she continues.

"I'm sick of you guys talking to me like that, so I won't be doing anything else for you today. You can try whatever you want, but it's pointless. Maybe I'll entertain the idea when you lot start behaving like respectable people. Let me down now, or do I have to teleport away and never listen to you again?" Her voice drops at the end, cold and resolute.

A wave of dread washes over me. My instincts scream that using the collar isn't going to work—no, I know it won't. She'll only get worse if I push her now. I have no choice. Reluctantly, I let go of her shirt, and she slowly lands back on her feet, leaning against the wall again as she continues eating her food.

"Whatever, do whatever you want. I don't care," I say, but my tone doesn't sound convincing, even to my own ears.

She starts snickering at my response, her smile turning devilish. Why do I have the feeling that this is going to get worse for us? The smile she gives me is the same one she wore back in the city—a warning of trouble to come.

"Mister Dee, I think it's time I give you back the thing you so desperately wanted me to have. You know, you deserve to have some fun with it too," she says with a sarcastic tone, clearly indicating that she's about to make my life miserable. Then she says, "Return."

The word echoes in my mind, the phantom thunder booming louder than ever. I glance around, expecting something to happen, but nothing does—until I notice the gasps from my coworkers. I look back at Rimuru and feel my heart drop into my stomach. The collar she was wearing is now in her hand, and she's holding it up toward me.

"Here, I don't need it anymore. Thanks for letting me borrow it for a little while. Studying its inner workings was quite handy," she says, laughing as she speaks.

Rimuru's POV:

Yep, his face is priceless. I can't stop laughing at him. His terrified expression is just too funny. "Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, and I'll see you later," I say, letting go of the collar. I originally considered putting it around his neck but decided against it—too much work. I'd like to get more time with Merlin. Maybe I should get her a little gift for everything she's done for me.