The morning of the day after the second letter was found in Shuna's workshop—Wednesday morning began quietly. Sunlight streamed into the courtyard. Light spread across the stone pavement, illuminating the stone walls of Tempest Castle brightly. Rimuru stood in the castle courtyard, reviewing his material notes for the pamphlet. (We're short on photos showing strength—that's what Shuna said.) The words from the second letter he'd seen in the workshop last night still lingered in his mind. But there was nothing to do now except move forward. If he stopped, nothing would progress. He'd ask Benimaru. If he could get just one photo of him with his sword drawn, it would convey the strength of Tempest's defenses. The timing was perfect. A figure appeared at the courtyard entrance. Black hair with striking red streaks running through long locks. Sharp red eyes. A small scar on his left cheek. A sword at his hip, walking leisurely with his arms crossed. Tall, each step economical. Even in the morning light, his presence was unusually commanding. It was Benimaru. Shion, standing beside Rimuru, straightened her posture. Benimaru walked to the center of the courtyard and stopped. Still holding his arms crossed, he looked at Rimuru. "[serious]I heard you want to use my photo in the pamphlet" "[gentle]Yeah. I need your help. To show Tempest's strength, I need Benimaru to——" "I get it" Benimaru raised one hand to cut him off. Then he smiled slowly. That confident, usual face of his. "[excited]I should be on the cover. If we use a photo of Tempest's strongest warrior on the cover, that alone will make the people from other countries tremble" Shion froze solid. "[serious]……What are you saying?" "Just stating facts" "[angry]The cover is decided to be Lord Rimuru. Lord Rimuru is Tempest's lord. Why are you arguing against something so obvious?" "A photo of the Demon Lord standing around looking carefree won't have as much dignity as one of me with my sword drawn. That's what foreign countries look at" "[cold]No one else can match Lord Rimuru's presence" Rimuru stepped between them. "[gentle]Come on, calm down. I'll listen to both of your opinions——" Both turned to face him at once. "「Lord Rimuru, what do you think?」" The same words came flying at exactly the same moment. Rimuru froze. (I can't answer either one……!) "[sarcastic]……Well, uh, I guess we can't help it. Let's just start shooting for now" ── The shoot began reluctantly. Shion held the camera. Benimaru stood on the stone pavement of the courtyard and drew his sword. The morning light reflected off the blade, glinting brightly. "[serious]Wait" Shion stopped. "The angle of the light is bad. It'd be better from a position where it hits from a bit more to the left" Shion silently moved the camera to the left. "[serious]Wait" "[surprised]What is it now?" "My expression is different. I need to look more sharp for this to mean anything. Look at my face right now—not like this, more like this" Benimaru narrowed his eyes and pulled his chin back slightly. The impression definitely changed. Shion slowly raised the camera. "[serious]Wait" A faint blue vein appeared on Shion's forehead. Thirty minutes passed. They had fewer than ten usable photos. Then Benimaru said: "[cold]Also, if you're putting photos of other executives in the pamphlet, make mine bigger than theirs. We should properly show the hierarchy" Shion's hand holding the camera stopped dead. "[angry]……What did you just say?" "About the hierarchy. It's only natural" "[angry]What do you mean hierarchy, putting yourself above Lord Rimuru?!" Her voice echoed off the castle's stone walls. "[angry]Lord Rimuru is the apex of this nation! What right do you have to be the biggest face here?!" "[angry]I'm talking about the photo, you idiot! There's a hierarchy in combat strength!" "[angry]Photo size doesn't determine combat strength!" Rimuru said "Calm down……!" between them, but neither was listening. Benimaru remained frozen in his sword-drawn pose. Shion clutched the camera to her chest and turned to stone. The shoot came to a complete halt. The voices carried beyond the castle walls. ── By late morning, rumors were flying through the mixed-use plaza of the central market. "Did you hear? The executives at the castle are fighting?" "Something about fighting over the pamphlet, I heard" "Wait, the executives are having a falling out……?" Goblin residents chatting in front of shops, young Lizardmen walking between stalls—the rumors spread wider and wider. Rimuru was still in the castle courtyard at that time, trying to calm Benimaru and Shion. Then a figure appeared without a sound. Black clothes, long black hair. An expressionless face. A stance that made it unclear where he'd come from. It was Souei. "[serious]Lord Rimuru. I have a report on the investigation regarding the letter" Rimuru stepped away from Benimaru and Shion, turning to face Souei. "[serious]Understood. Tell me" "The sender is not external" Rimuru waited silently for him to continue. "It's from residents within Tempest. Specifically, the elder group—long-time Goblins who've lived here since the founding" (Internal……?) "There are two motives. First—fear that if many people come from outside because of the pamphlet, our quiet lives will be destroyed. Second—dissatisfaction that Lord Rimuru only cares about appearances to the outside world and doesn't listen to the voices of those living here" Rimuru was silent for a while. He'd wanted to convey Tempest's goodness to foreign nations. That was all. But from within, voices were rising saying not to make a false pamphlet. (Did I……consult with the residents?) "Who is the leader of the elder group?" "An old elder named Gobzo" Rimuru carved that name deep into his mind. Gobzo. ── Early afternoon, a follow-up report came from Souei. "[serious]Gobzo is giving a speech in the market" Rimuru left the castle. A crowd had formed on the main street of the mixed-use plaza. In the center of the circle stood a hunched old Goblin. Two horns turning white. Still in his unevolved, ancient form—the same old Goblin Rimuru had seen in front of the bulletin board at dusk in EP2. Gobzo spoke quietly, but his voice carried well. "[serious]See? This is what happens when you do unnecessary things like making pamphlets—the executives end up fighting" The surrounding residents listened quietly. "[serious]Lord Rimuru's judgment is wrong this time. Shouldn't protecting the lives of those of us living in Tempest come before showing off to foreign nations?" Several residents slowly nodded. Rimuru tried to call out from outside the crowd. He took a step forward. Gobzo turned his back. He walked away slowly. Only his back was visible. His white horns disappeared into the crowd. The residents' gazes turned to Rimuru. (Because I suggested making the pamphlet——) "[sarcastic]……Well. I guess it can't be helped" He murmured it as if telling himself. But the words were hollow. ── In the evening, Rimuru returned to the castle and headed to Shuna's workshop. Ten minutes' walk west from the castle. Shuna stood in front of a two-story building. Not her usual calm stance. Both hands clasped in front of her chest, she stood motionless before the door. Her cherry-blossom-colored hair was dyed red by the evening sun. "[serious]Shuna?" Shuna turned around. Her eyes wavered slightly. "……Please, look inside" He opened the door. The workshop was in ruins. All the design proposals that had been pasted on the walls were torn down and scattered across the floor. The photos of children from the mixed-use plaza in EP2, the photos from the hot spring resort in EP3, all the materials they'd carefully gathered——were torn to shreds. Scraps of paper covered the floor. The smiling faces of those children were crumpled and destroyed. "[sad]All the things we gathered……" Her voice trembled. She pressed her lips tightly together to keep from crying. Rimuru stood frozen, unable to move. Heavy footsteps sounded. Benimaru appeared at the workshop entrance. Shion followed. Both their expressions changed when they saw inside. "[angry]……I'll find the culprit and beat them down" His voice was low. Completely different from the tone of their earlier fight. "[angry]I will never forgive this" Shion's hand went to her sword. "[serious]Both of you, calm down first" The words came out. But something was quietly accumulating in his chest. Benimaru and Shion's fight. Gobzo's speech. The faces of the residents who nodded. And these scraps of paper scattered across the floor—it had all happened in a single day. (If I hadn't suggested making the pamphlet——) He stopped that thought. But he couldn't shake it off. ── Night fell. Rimuru went alone to the castle's rooftop. The mana lamps illuminating Tempest's streets—the faint light emitted from magical devices embedded in the ground—dotted the plaza and streets with soft glow. The chaos of daytime seemed like a lie. Somewhere in the distance, someone's laughter echoed. It was an ordinary night. A black mass came to his feet. It was Ranga. With his jet-black fur rippling softly, his tail swaying slowly, he approached and leaned against Rimuru. He rested his head at Rimuru's feet. Rimuru placed his hand on Ranga's head. It was warm. "[whispers]Do I……really understand Tempest?" The wind blew. The light from the mana lamps wavered slightly. The image of Tempest he'd wanted to convey to foreign nations. The anxiety the residents felt. Benimaru and Shion's fight. Gobzo's retreating back. Shuna's trembling voice. It all spun in his head. There was no answer. Ranga's tail swayed slowly. That was all. But for Rimuru, it was enough. In the light of the mana lamps, Tempest's night continued quietly. Benimaru and Shion's fight wasn't over yet. The number of residents swayed by Gobzo's speech might grow by tomorrow. The shadow of whoever had destroyed the workshop still hadn't been caught. And Gobzo's retreating back wouldn't leave Rimuru's mind. What had that old Goblin really been trying to protect?