[On Hold] I'm a what?! (That Time I got reincarnated as a slime x Male Reader)

Chapter 26: Catching up to speed

The remaining 6 months in which Rimuru would be gone was a grueling period since you decided to take on the responsibility of overseeing developments of both kingdoms and transport to Tempest. International alliances were started with a nuetral city named Nava on the coast where the old port city ran by the Day court once sat- it was a flourishing town now due to infrastructure and leadership changes and also acted as a trade hub for members of the Jura Tempest Alliance and the Island home of the two courts.

The island reinstated it's old name as the Grimshallow Archipeligo and connected to the mainland via two large sea bridges that split and reconnected at the new port town- you travelled between Tempest and Grimshallow constantly allowing you to get use to flying and also over see the road plan through the desert which seemed to be a few days from completion as of current events.

The political climate within Grimshallow was calmed as both councils now working together with respective heads taking the titles of Skall and Hati, the large hall where they met was named 'the Court' signifying unison after years of seperation and war- both kingdoms were on good standing and trade has began to flourish more commonly due to open borders.

No word has yet to be heard from Rimuru but those in Tempest are reporting of possible war rising due to Souei spotting armed troops moving closer and setting up camps, you'd have to return home quickly once settling the last things over at the satellite states to deal with the rising tensions at home. Currently, you were sat in a large mansion that was set up as a housing estate for political guests and the leaders of both kingdoms when the court discussions may over run into night hours; you were laying in the main room bed since it was designated your's as the chancellor of the Grimshallow Tempest Alliance and both Leaders of the courts- Kaya and Eleanor were attached to you by the arm and in the nude either side of you, sharing in the warmth of the bed.

You: " How many times have I asked you two to not sneak into my bed? "

Eleanor: " Apologies my lord but if we are both to be your wives we need to share a bed no? "

Kaya: " Yeah what she said! "

You: " Not marrying you, not happening "

They pouted but eventually got out the bed, shamelessly flaunting their nude forms as they changed in front of you peeking eyes- shamefully, you watched and felt great guilt for doing so since Rimuru most probably stayed fateful for the whole 6 months, you sighed as you stood and quickly changed into the robes they prepared for you to parade in for public appearances- today was the day you'd finish reading the last of the books in the Library tower and uncover the last few grimoires and access the skills locked inside.

People waved and cheered for your appearance as you openly walked the streets- there were small statues of you dotted around since people intended to put up large ones and refused to not put up any so to please them, you allowed small statues. You got embarrased everytime you walked through the city of the day since statues were littering the streets and acted as water fountains like you were a local diety.

The tower was finally upahead, the doors always seemingly inviting you in as they creaked open feeling you approach- you stepped inside, you'd recently cleaned and yet it still grew dust and webs along the walls and the smell of must would never leave no matter the effort you put in to try remove it. Your hands grazed the leather covers and again, you began to read.

You finished reading after a couple hours, the sun was still yet to set and all skills you could gain were yours but it still felt incomplete, there was more there had to be. You began to look around the tower, what were you missing? What was still there for you to complete? As the question rattled around in your head, the floor began to open and a stairway formed from the loose tiles that created the floor- something called to you for deep beneath the surface, something wanted you to descend.

Deep breaths, all you could manage to muster as you walked down the long spiralling steps- reaching further and further into the mountain that the tower rest upon, the air feeling heavier and more ominous as you took every step but still curiousity dragged you further as if it were a leash around your neck. Each step echoed letting you know how much you had descended and each step filling you with regret for wasting time like this, as you desired to go back, as if by magic- you reached the bottom and stared into a large open hall- shelves of books lining the walls and small flickering lamps jumped to life and illuminated the long white corridor.

The space you found yourself in felt liminal, as if it were a different place in space and time- disconnected from reality and it would be a correct assumption since along the large white walls were tears, rips in the fabric of space where cries from the void echoed out and voids of unknown origin rippled like water flowing down a cliff face, the floor was cold despite wearing shoes and each tile had marvelously carved patterns as if they were telling a story too long for human memory to record, you felt as if you had reached a place you should never had gone to but it also felt right, like you belonged here...

The bookshelves rattled as you stood still shocked and silent, books and tomes falling to the floor before spectral figures began to form from their pages either as one or in bits and pieces but all the same they were shackled to their books and all faced the other opposite direction as if forming a path towards the end of the library- the voice that made up your skill was silent and refused to speak, no sound or intonation from it as if it had vanished or couldn't reach you here. The spectral figures began to move, raising their hand as they began to point along the path, golden glittery bodies guiding you down a path in which they were almost demanding you follow.

You decided it was best to not anger forces you didn't know and as such, you began to walk. The path was eerie, golden guides staring soulessly through you as if they knew they were guiding something they couldn't see- they did not breathe, they did not blink, they did not speak, they did not see. You were alone in a void despite being surrounded and were forced to walk along what seemed to be centuries of people and beings guiding you- some looked human, others only masses of malformed shape yet all still doing the same singular act.

It felt eternal, the walk dragged much like your thoughts- people only passing by now as you began to grow tired and scared of observing them, scared one may move... the end soon arrived, sooner than you thought but still nonetheless the walk was tiring- you faced the end of the path, not daring looking back as a small solitary book sat on a pedastool wrapped in feathers and chains, it seemed to call you but not in such a way of a gentle spirit whispering for help but an angry god screaming your name- it called angrily though no words were used, you could tell it's intention and thoughts despite it being an object. You hand slowly stretched out towards it, the feathers jittered and moved, flicking up and attaching to your skin; the sensation burned, it felt as if ants were crawling up your skin and burning your flesh as they did- you wanted to move but the feathers were stronger and kept a hold of you until you heard a sigh, deep and tired- the sigh sounded disappointed and was followed by a voice equally as such.

???: " Still not ready? I thought you would be by now, guess I'll have to wait longer huh? "

It sounded familiar, now that you thought about it.... it was yours, why were you speaking- your lips were moving, you were speaking like actually speaking... you said those words even though it both was and wasn't you talking- the tears in space rippled more and black hands began to rip from them and try crawl through, the golden spectors now moved, screaming in agony as blood dripped from their hollow eyes- hands out stretched and attempting to grab you...

a sharp pain ruptured through you, a familar voice, a familar place, a safe place.... you were home...