Looking for Gobzo, Rimuru headed to Tempest Central Market—colloquially known as the Hodgepodge Plaza—on Thursday afternoon. Ranga had been left at the castle. Rimuru decided to go alone. The market was bustling as always. Gobue, the vegetable vendor's aunt, was calling out cheerfully, "Fresh daikon radishes here!" Young lizardmen passed by carrying buckets of fresh fish. Children ran between the stalls, and someone shouted, "Hey, wait!" Just another afternoon. (But these people were scared, weren't they?) The pamphlet would reach foreign countries, and crowds of humans would come to Tempest. If that happened, this liveliness might break—that was the fear. Rimuru hadn't understood that fear until he heard Gobta's words yesterday. At the edge of the plaza, beside stone steps in the shade, the old goblin stood with his arms crossed. Two horns beginning to turn white. Unchanged, in his ancient form, but his spine was perfectly straight. He'd noticed Rimuru's approach, but his expression didn't move at all. It was Gobzo. Rimuru approached. He stopped and stood directly in front of Gobzo. Then he lowered his head. "[serious]I acted without consulting the residents. That was my mistake," Silence. Gobzo said nothing. Arms still crossed, he simply stared at Rimuru. Rimuru kept his head bowed. He didn't display his dignity as a demon lord, didn't make excuses. He just bowed and waited in silence. After a while, Gobzo let out a soft breath. "...I'm happy that Tempest is growing," His voice was low, gravelly. "The ones who were with me from the founding—I see them less often now. Everyone's busy with their own work. I think that's a good thing," Rimuru slowly raised his head. His posture showed he was listening. "But...if lots of people come from outside and the town changes even more. If it becomes full of people who don't know how things were back then—I wondered where we'd go," "[gentle]You were scared of being left behind," "...Yeah. That's it," Gobzo gave a short acknowledgment. With just that, something that had been building in his chest for a long time seemed to come out. At that moment, Gobue's aunt came flying over from the neighboring stall. "Lord Rimuru! Elder Gobzo! Did you make up!?" Her eyes were red, and she was crying while holding a daikon radish in each hand. "[crying]I'm so glad...really so glad...please, take these!" She thrust two daikon radishes at Rimuru. They were heavy. Rimuru stood facing Gobzo, holding a radish in each hand. "[gentle]I want the elders' voices in the pamphlet too. You know Tempest's history better than anyone," Gobzo's eyes widened slightly. "...Our story?" "[gentle]What happened when we founded it, the hardships, what it took to build Tempest as it is now. Introducing it to people from other countries without knowing that would be pointless," Gobzo was silent for a while. The arms he'd had crossed slowly uncrossed. "...We were wrong to raid Shuna's workshop," He said it quietly, in a low voice. "[gentle]I understand. I won't pursue it," The corner of Gobzo's mouth relaxed slightly. It was a subtle change to call it a smile, but it definitely relaxed. Rimuru watched that face, still holding the daikon radishes in both hands. (Maybe this is how it works. Not through orders, but through bowing—things move.) —That was when it happened. "[excited]To proceed with pamphlet production while leaving out this Gabiru—what is the meaning of this!!" A familiar voice echoed from the market entrance. Water-blue short hair, heterochromatic eyes—gold and silver. Scales patterned on his left ear. Gabiru, who'd apparently rushed over from around Lake Miloana, strode confidently into the market with his chest puffed out. The next instant— Szzzzzzzzz!! He stepped in a large puddle left by yesterday's rain. His foot slipped. His body tilted forward. Then he spectacularly crashed face-first with a loud THUD!! Muddy water scattered everywhere. A goblin vendor nearby yelped "Yikes!" and a young lizardwoman shopping screamed "Kyaa!" A beat of silence. Then Gobzo's shoulders shook as he laughed. Rimuru laughed too, holding his stomach. (When was the last time Gobzo laughed like this...!) Gabiru stood up, his face covered in mud. Mud dripped from his forehead. Some clung to the corner of his mouth too. "[excited]All according to plan!!" He declared it. "[excited]Easing the tense atmosphere in an instant—this is my style!!" Rimuru couldn't stop laughing. He crouched down, still holding the daikon radishes. (The fact that he actually seems to believe that...!) Gabiru wiped mud from his hands while keeping his eyes fixed straight on Rimuru. "[serious]This isn't the time to laugh. The scenic beauty of Lake Miloana absolutely must go in the pamphlet. As the representative of the Water Capital, I'll handle it personally," His face was covered in mud, but his eyes were serious. Rimuru laughed for a while longer, then stood up. "[gentle]Got it. Gabiru's on the team. I'm putting Lake Miloana in your hands," Gabiru snapped to attention, mud-covered face and all, and saluted. "[excited]Leave it to me!! This is my style!!" Gobzo looked at Gabiru and said quietly, "...What is that young lizardman," His voice was exasperated, but the corner of his mouth stayed turned up. ──── Back at the castle from the market, Rimuru asked Souei, "[serious]Call Benimaru and Shion to the dining hall. Stagger the times—bring them separately," Souei nodded silently and vanished without a sound. The main dining hall on the first floor. Three long tables lined up. The place where Rimuru had sat alone this morning. Remembering that silence, his chest still ached a little. Benimaru arrived first. Black hair with red streaks. A scar on his left cheek. A sword at his hip. He came in with his arms crossed and glanced around the dining hall. "[serious]I can't refuse when Lord Rimuru calls," That said, he pulled out a chair at the end of one of the long tables. Shion came next. Crimson hair tied back in a single braid, golden eyes fixed straight on Rimuru as she entered. The moment she saw Benimaru—she stopped dead. Benimaru's gaze rose at the same time, looking at Shion. Both of them turned their faces in opposite directions simultaneously. Shion pulled out a chair at the opposite end of the table and sat. The two sat at opposite ends of the long table. Rimuru stood in the middle. "[serious]I called you to talk about the cover," "[cold]...Then you should talk to Shion about it. I said I'd handle directing the shoot," "[cold]The cover photo has been decided to be of Lord Rimuru," Both started to speak at once. Rimuru finished first. "[serious]The cover isn't just me, or Benimaru, or Shion," Both fell silent. Rimuru continued. He placed both hands on the table and looked at them in turn. "[serious]What we want to show in the pamphlet is Tempest's true face, right? Then there's no point showing us fighting and falling apart. It has to be a photo of us laughing together," Silence. "Benimaru's strength, Shion's earnestness—it's all Tempest's treasure. Not one better than the other—everyone should be in it. Can't we try again?" A long silence spread through the dining hall. Benimaru moved first. He let out a short breath and looked away. He recrossed his arms. "[sarcastic]...If Lord Rimuru says that much, I guess I have no choice," Shion was biting her lip. Her golden eyes glistened slightly. Her nose seemed tight, like she was holding back tears. After a moment, Shion slowly nodded. "[gentle]...Lord Rimuru. Yes," Her voice trembled slightly. Benimaru and Shion turned toward each other. Awkwardly, they nodded to each other just once. Not a complete reconciliation—but the air that let them work as a team had definitely returned. When Rimuru took a deep breath, the dining hall door opened. It was Ranga. His jet-black fur rippled as he bounded in, tail swishing wildly. He headed straight for Shion and rested his head on her knee with a soft thud. "[surprised]Ranga...you're heavy," She smiled wryly but gently stroked Ranga's head. The air relaxed. ──── A little later, Gabiru returned. He'd washed off some of the mud—only some—and came into the dining hall. Four people and one beast gathered around the dining hall table. "[excited]Now then, I, Gabiru, shall take charge of directing the shoot—" "[serious]I, with my refined aesthetic sense, will take it. I'm directing the shoot," "[serious]I will handle Lord Rimuru's photography," "[excited]Lake Miloana's section is absolutely this Gabiru's responsibility!" "Well, that one...Gabiru's fine, isn't it," "[serious]Yeah, that works," Benimaru####GabiruRimuruShion####Benimaru####GabiruShionShionRimuru#### Ranga didn't answer. He just wagged his tail. Rimuru sighed softly. There wasn't much time left until tomorrow's final production day. Tempest Castle, the Hodgepodge Plaza, the hot spring district, Lake Miloana—they'd visit all of them in one day while finishing the pamphlet. And apparently Kumos had been happy since yesterday saying, "The printing machine's improvements are complete," according to what Souei had told him. Rimuru still didn't know what Kumos's "improvements" meant.