Shuna, the strong-willed woman who always leads everyone, has a secret side she only shows in front of Rimuru. Her usual tough attitude is just a front she created to be useful to him.
One day, Rimuru visits Shuna's room because of a tiny scratch. But when they're alone, Shuna bursts into big tears. "When I'm with you, Rimuru-sama, I just can't keep it together." It's a special confession from her.
She's been holding back her pain, not wanting to show weakness. Rimuru gently holds her, strokes
By Rimuru's Side, You Cry, and Then You Smile - A Rival in Love, Bold and Direct: A Special Onigiri and a Night of Jealousy
A week had passed since that night.
Shuna was in the central office's executive conference room as always, preparing the meeting minutes. From outside the window came the bustle of the morning market. Goblins shouting vegetable prices, dwarves laying out weapons and armor, the voices of human merchants. The usual sounds of morning.
But today, one thing was different.
Lord Rimuru was bringing a new assistant secretary. Who could it be, she wondered.
"Good morning, everyone."
Lord Rimuru entered the conference room. Behind him, someone else.
Long purple hair. Large, sparkling reddish-purple eyes.
Shuna felt a small, sharp twinge deep in her chest.
"Let me introduce you. This is Shion. She'll be joining us as an assistant secretary starting today."
Shion bowed with a beaming smile—and then, in a voice that echoed throughout the conference room, she shouted.
"Lord Rimuru, I love you! I'll serve by your side forever and ever!"
The conference room fell utterly silent.
Benimaru burst out laughing.
"Whoa, right out of the gate! Hahaha!"
Hakurou stroked his white beard, a wry smile escaping him.
"As direct as ever, aren't you, Shion."
Souei watched Shion wordlessly from the shadows by the wall. His golden, vertically-slitted eyes showed no emotion whatsoever.
Shuna's hand, taking the minutes, had stopped.
The tips of her fingers holding the quill trembled faintly.
(To Lord Rimuru... so openly, like that...)
Something deep in her chest tightened with a grinding squeeze.
"...Now then, let's move on to the agenda."
Her own voice sounded colder than usual, she thought.
Throughout the meeting, Shion interjected at every opportunity toward Lord Rimuru.
"Lord Rimuru, you're wonderful!"
"I agree with that proposal too! Lord Rimuru's judgment is perfect!"
Each time, the tip of Shuna's pen trembled slightly.
(Why... does it hurt this much?)
Lord Rimuru, looking embarrassed, reined Shion in.
"Shion, quiet down a little."
That voice was somehow gentle.
Shuna's anxiety swelled inside her chest.
---
The meeting ended.
As Shuna was organizing the documents, Shion rushed over to Lord Rimuru.
"Lord Rimuru! I made these with love! Special rice balls I got up early this morning to make!"
The moment everyone saw what Shion presented, they all froze.
The rice balls... were glowing purple.
Eerie steam rose from their surface, and they bubbled faintly with a gurgling sound.
Benimaru took a step back.
"Hey, is that thing moving? It just moved, didn't it?!"
Lord Rimuru's face grew paler by the second.
"Th-thank you... Shion. But, this is..."
From the rice balls came a faint "Kiiiiii..." — a sound like a monster's dying scream.
Souei silently stepped in front of Lord Rimuru. He held a short sword in a reverse grip.
"Toxicity estimated to be lethal. High probability of death before consumption."
Benimaru clutched his stomach, laughing uncontrollably.
"Shion, your love is indistinguishable from murderous intent! Hahaha!"
Hakurou let out a sigh.
"This calls for sealing disposal. Bring the fire brigade's magic stones."
The rice balls were ultimately, under Hakurou's direction, carefully carried away and subjected to sealing disposal.
Shion was completely undaunted.
"Next time they'll be even more delicious! Lord Rimuru, please look forward to it!"
Lord Rimuru, still slumped over the desk, turned a tired face toward Shuna.
"Shuna... sorry, but could you somehow teach Shion the basics of cooking?"
Shuna answered with the face of a perfect secretary.
"Understood."
(Why... do I have to...)
In her heart, she was biting her lip.
Why do I have to look after my rival in love?
---
Afternoon.
Lord Rimuru came to Shuna, who had remained alone in the conference room to organize documents.
"Shuna."
"Do you need something, Lord Rimuru?"
Shuna answered without raising her face from the documents.
"You're bothered about Shion, aren't you."
Shuna's hands stopped.
"...Not particularly. We've simply gained a new colleague."
Her voice was calm. But she couldn't stop her hands, aligning the papers, from trembling minutely.
Lord Rimuru approached.
Gently, Lord Rimuru's hand was placed over Shuna's.
Warm.
"I rely on you more than anyone. That will never change, no matter who else is here."
Deep in Shuna's chest, a warmth spread slowly.
(Lord Rimuru...)
But—even so.
"...Thank you for your concern, Lord Rimuru."
Shuna replied with the face of a perfect advisor.
The secret must be kept. This relationship must not be known to anyone.
Lord Rimuru pressed no further and left the conference room.
Alone, Shuna gazed at her left wrist.
The wound from that night had already healed completely.
(Lord Rimuru is so special to me... so why can't I say it openly, like Shion does?)
Words of self-reproach swirled round and round in her chest.
---
Late night.
The second floor of the Crimson Pavilion, a corner room tucked away in the back.
Shuna had changed into her nightclothes and stood by the window. Moonlight streamed into the room.
Footsteps sounded from outside.
(Lord Rimuru...)
Since that previous night, Shuna had become able to distinguish Lord Rimuru's footsteps.
Before the knock came, Shuna opened the door.
"You were waiting."
Lord Rimuru smiled.
Shuna's face turned bright red.
"No, it was just coincidence."
But with trembling fingertips, she gently grasped Lord Rimuru's sleeve.
The two naturally embraced.
Their lips met.
A deeper kiss than before. Their tongues intertwined. Lord Rimuru's hand slid from her back to her waist, then down to her bottom.
"Nn..."
Shuna's body trembled sweetly.
She was pushed down onto the bed. Lord Rimuru's fingers undid the front of her nightclothes and touched her bare skin.
"Shuna, you're beautiful."
Lord Rimuru's lips traveled down from her neck to her collarbone, then to the swell of her breasts.
"Ah, Lord Rimuru... there..."
When her nipple was rolled by his tongue, her back arched like a bow.
Her body responded more readily than the time before. Just Lord Rimuru's fingers tracing her lower abdomen made that place warm and wet already.
"Shuna, I want you."
At Lord Rimuru's whisper, Shuna's reason melted away.
She opened her legs of her own accord.
Lord Rimuru pressed his hard, erect penis against Shuna's pussy.
"I'm putting it in."
"Yes... come, Lord Rimuru..."
With a wet sound, something hot entered her.
"Nn-ahh!"
There was no pain like the previous time—only the sensation of being deeply filled ran through her entire body.
Lord Rimuru's hips began to move.
"Hah, ah, aah... Lord Rimuru, Lord Rimurruu!"
For the first time, Shuna moved her own hips.
Deeper, even deeper—
Her vagina tightened around Lord Rimuru's penis. The thrusts grew faster.
"Shuna, I'm going to come..."
"Me too... I'm going to come too... aaahh!"
The moment Lord Rimuru thrust into her deepest point, hot semen poured thickly into her vagina.
Shuna's body convulsed violently.
Waves of pleasure were about to swallow her whole—just then.
Suddenly.
Shion's smiling face flickered in her mind.
(Does Shion... want to be loved by Lord Rimuru like this too?)
A sharp thorn of jealousy pricked Shuna's heart.
---
After the act.
In Lord Rimuru's arms, Shuna stared at the ceiling.
Lord Rimuru was already breathing in sleep.
(I want him to look only at me.)
She thought that.
For the first time, she clearly recognized her possessiveness.
(Whether this is love, or just obsession... I don't even know myself.)
Shuna bit her lip and closed her eyes.
---
The next morning.
After Lord Rimuru had left early in the morning, Shuna walked down the hallway, sleep-deprived.
"Shuna-san! Good morning!"
Shion greeted her, full of energy.
"...Good morning."
When Shuna replied curtly, Shion tilted her head with a puzzled look.
"Shuna-san, you love Lord Rimuru too, don't you?"
Such an incredibly direct question.
Shuna's face instantly turned bright red.
"Wha-what are you..."
"I can tell! That sort of thing!"
Shion laughed innocently.
"Shuna-san, your voice only gets softer when Lord Rimuru is around. That means you like him, right?"
Shuna couldn't say anything.
"I-I'm just a secretary. Serving Lord Rimuru is my duty—"
She made excuses, flustered and stammering.
But Shion shook her head, still smiling.
"Ehh? But I think it's really wonderful, Shuna-san. Being in love with Lord Rimuru!"
Shuna couldn't endure it any longer.
"Excuse me!"
As Shuna ran away, Shion's voice chased after her back.
"Shuna-san, let's cook together for Lord Rimuru sometime soon!"
Running down the hallway, Shuna felt a tight ache deep in her chest.
(Even Shion sees through me.)
The transparency of her own feelings was pathetic.
And yet, the pain of her position—having to keep hiding it—pierced her heart.
(Will the day ever come... when I can stand proudly by Lord Rimuru's side as his lover?)
As she ran without looking back, a small ember had certainly been lit within Shuna's heart.
It was still a tiny ember. But someday it would become a great flame—that premonition quietly smoldered deep in Shuna's chest.
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