Rimuru and Iruma's Adventures in the Netherworld

Ominous Overture

Iruma POV

As my friends and I arrive at the school gate, we come across Rimuru painting something on the archway, Professor Kalego watching her with an uncertain expression. And just to add to the strangeness, there's also a tied-up student dangling from the very top of the archway (which has since been mended after Thoth knocked his head on it).

I had wondered what Rimuru had left ahead of us to go do, and seeing this... I'm still wondering.

"Are the signs necessary?" Kalego sighs, sounding tired.

"Yes. Gotta make it perfectly clear or it won't kill the rumors," Rimuru replies while still painting.

She's writing things like "Alive!" and "Not eaten!" in bright red paint, with big arrows pointing toward the strung-up student at the top. It looks incredibly silly, and I feel a bit bad for him becoming a victim of whatever strange thing Rimuru is up to.

Actually come to think of it...

"Is that Zozo?" I ask, knowing that Rimuru went out during the weekend to rescue the student she supposedly ate.

"Oh, hi Iruma!" Rimuru turns around with a cheerful expression. "Yup, that's him up there! Now no one's gonna say I ate him!"

"We did it!" Clara cheers.

Azz gives her a light smack on the head. "You didn't do anything, foolish Valac."

"Boo, I could've helped if they didn't throw me out..."

I look up at Zozo. I can tell he's embarrassed and exasperated by his predicament, which I guess is his punishment for running off, skipping school, and triggering all those bad rumors.

But I still feel bad for him. I hope no one bullies him because of this, I think it would be nice for things to just go back to normal after everything that's happened.

"Isn't this a bit much?" I quietly ask Rimuru. Hanging the boy up seems a bit too cruel to me.

"Nah, nah, it's fine!" Rimuru casually replies, then drops her tone to a whisper. "He felt really guilty when he found out what he had caused people to say about me, so I'm sure he'd hate being let off scot-free."

Soon enough, we get to class, and Professor Kalego takes attendance and goes through his start of the week announcements as usual; but after setting down his papers, he grabs everyone's attention by clearing his throat loudly to let them know he still has one more announcement left to make.

"By the way, Rimuru, I had Mr. Pavel Pazuzu give me a report on your 'weekend project'..."

Rimuru flinches and quickly straightens herself up, uncharacteristically nervous.

"Y-yes?"

Professor Kalego raises an eyebrow at her reaction. "... He said you did an excellent job, and that many demons were spared by your ingenuity. I must say I'm impressed."

Rimuru looks surprised, then chuffed. "Of course! It's not as though I'd be sloppy with something that important," she boasts.

Our classmates are shocked by this news.

"Our professor's giving praise? To Rimuru?!"

"What the heck were you doing if lives were at stake?!"

"Silence," Kalego calmly scolds. "Now, Rimuru, will you tell me what you're hiding that made you worry about what would be in the report?"

"Uh... Nope! Never!"

Our teacher suspiciously narrows his eyes at Rimuru and sighs. "Very well, then. I'll just have to ask Zozo."

"Good luck with that, I'll tell him not to say anything!"