Snowbound Flames

Chapter 13: Foundations Of A Festival

Tempest was alive with its usual hum of activity, but within the central council hall, the atmosphere was anything but usual. Rimuru sat at the head of a large, oval table, her fingers steepled as she surveyed the gathering of her closest allies and subordinates.

The purpose of the meeting was clear: preparations for the upcoming Founder's Festival. After all, Tempest had grown far beyond its original scope, and celebrating its achievements felt not only appropriate but necessary to foster morale and unity among its citizens and allies.

Shion stood to Rimuru's left, holding a clipboard as she energetically rattled off suggestions. "Lord Rimuru, I propose we have an eating contest! It would showcase Tempest's culinary prowess and draw in visitors from all over!"

"That could work," Benimaru said, his tone measured. "But we'd need to organize it carefully. Too many participants, and we might overwhelm our resources."

"Don't forget about the main attraction!" Rigurd chimed in. "We'll need something big to set the festival apart from anything else in the world!"

"Like what?" Rimuru asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well..." Rigurd hesitated before flashing a sheepish grin. "That's still up for debate."

Before the conversation could continue, the doors to the council hall swung open with a dramatic bang, and a high-pitched voice filled the room.

"Rimuru! I'm here to help with your festival!"

All heads turned as Ramiris flitted into the room, her wings fluttering excitedly. Following her were Beretta, her loyal golem, and Treyni, whose serene presence provided a stark contrast to Ramiris's boundless energy.

"Ramiris," Rimuru said, smiling despite herself. "What brings you here?"

"I heard about your festival and decided you absolutely needed my expertise!" Ramiris declared, placing her hands on her hips.

"Expertise?" Shion muttered under her breath, earning a chuckle from Benimaru.

"I'm serious!" Ramiris continued, either ignoring or unaware of the skeptical looks she was receiving. "I know how to make any event ten times better! Just leave it to me!"

Rimuru exchanged a glance with Guy, who was leaning against the far wall with his usual air of detached amusement. His expression seemed to say, This should be entertaining.

"All right, Ramiris," Rimuru said diplomatically. "What do you have in mind?"

Ramiris launched into a rapid-fire explanation of her ideas, most of which involved extravagant displays of magic and elaborate games that sounded more chaotic than practical. As she spoke, Beretta and Treyni stood quietly behind her, their expressions a mix of fondness and exasperation.

When Ramiris finally paused to take a breath, Rimuru seized the opportunity to steer the conversation back on track.

"Those are some... interesting ideas," she said carefully. "We'll definitely consider them. But for now, let's focus on the logistics of hosting the festival."

The meeting continued, with each person contributing their thoughts and suggestions. As plans began to take shape, the atmosphere grew more relaxed, and occasional bursts of laughter punctuated the discussion.

Throughout it all, Rimuru couldn't help but notice the way Guy seemed to blend seamlessly into the group. Despite his reputation as a fearsome Demon Lord, he had a knack for disarming people with his sharp wit and subtle charm.

It wasn't until Ramiris's voice cut through the chatter that Rimuru realized she had been watching him a little too intently.

"Hey, Rimuru!" Ramiris called, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What's the deal with you and Guy?"