"Nothing. I was just wondering what you planned to do next?"
Hearing Mo Li's question, Rimuru fell into thought as well.
Ever since she had come to this world, she had either been running around or eating. It seemed she really had never made any plans for the future.
"Apparently not."
Rimuru looked utterly lost.
Seeing Rimuru's expression, Mo Li understood.
It seemed Rimuru had yet to set foot on her own path.
But according to the original plot, Rimuru would embark on the path of becoming a Demon Lord.
In this life, because of the butterfly effect, even Rimuru's previous life had changed from male to female. Would she still establish Tempest? Would she still become an Eight-Star Demon Lord?
Mo Li sank into contemplation.
Mo Li knew all too well how terrifying the butterfly effect could be. In many novels, a single tiny event led to enormous changes. Even if Rimuru had the Protagonist Halo, Mo Li did not believe she could remain unaffected by his influence. This was only the beginning, yet Rimuru's previous life had already changed from male to female. Mo Li did not even dare imagine what the future might hold. The original plot could serve as a reference, but it could not be trusted completely.
Still, Rimuru should remain someone worth relying on. After all, she was the reincarnation of the Star King Dragon. The process might differ, but some major events should remain unchanged.
So Mo Li's most urgent task now was to stay by Rimuru's side and ensure the plot continued developing.
To be honest, Mo Li had considered founding a nation himself, just like the Rock King, but after thinking about his lazy personality, he decided to forget it.
Just like in the original story, Rimuru could establish Tempest, while he stayed at her side to guide and assist her. Mo Li greatly admired the Cute King's character.
Among all anime characters, the Cute King's character ranked among the very best. But because she was overly righteous, she caused many tragedies early on.
Because the Cute King had originally been human, she had been naively fond of humans from the very beginning. Yet she had underestimated human greed, leading to the three Otherworlders from the Kingdom of Farmus attacking the Jura Tempest Federation, commonly known as the Demon Country Federation, while she was traveling to and from the Kingdom of Bluemont. Shion and one hundred others died. It was Rimuru's naivety that caused those tragedies. Mo Li had nearly been furious to death when he read that part.
Of course, it was also this lesson that awakened Rimuru. She single-handedly exterminated the Kingdom of Farmus army and sacrificed countless souls to evolve herself, then declared at the Demon Lord's Feast, "Anyone who seeks to hinder me, whether human, Demon Lord, or Holy Church, is my enemy."
To be honest, Mo Li still felt Rimuru had been far too merciful. Take Myulan, for instance. In the original plot, Myulan's anti-magic barrier turned Tempest's capital into a domain where magic could not be used. Together with Hinata Sakaguchi's Four Directions Demon Sealing Barrier, it greatly weakened the monsters. Shion, for example, would not have died otherwise.
Yet afterward, Rimuru's way of dealing with those two struck Mo Li as extremely inappropriate.
Even if Myulan had been controlled by Demon Lord Clayman, the fact remained that she had caused Tempest's monsters to die. If Mo Li had handled it, he would absolutely have killed her. No matter who pleaded for her, it would have made no difference.
"Debts must be repaid, and murder must be paid for with one's life." That was an iron rule that had never changed through the ages.
Yet the Cute King let her go with ease. Only in another world could that happen; on Earth, the Cute King would definitely have been cursed to death.
And then there was Hinata Sakaguchi. If not for Hinata's ambush, the Cute King would not have arrived in Tempest so late. Coupled with Hinata's Four Directions Demon Sealing Barrier, she was unquestionably responsible for a huge portion of the harm done to Tempest.
Yet Rimuru forgave her just because she had merely been used and was Miss Shizue's disciple.
What she did not know was that if Rimuru had not been so powerful, she would have long since been killed by Hinata Sakaguchi. There would have been no later developments at all.
That was practically trying to take her life, yet what did the Cute King do? She fought Hinata once, and then called it even.
In Mo Li's eyes, that was truly idiotic.
Such hatred, such a grudge, and it was simply written off.
That whole thing left Mo Li utterly speechless.
So, having come to this world, Mo Li felt that if he was going to do something, he should do it right.
At the very least, he had to undo those tragedies.
"Dragon boss, Dragon boss, snap out of it."
At that moment, a voice rang in Mo Li's ears.
Only then did Mo Li come back to his senses.
"Dragon boss, what were you thinking about?"
Rimuru looked curious.
"Nothing."
"I was just thinking about whether I should go adventuring with you in the future."
Mo Li spoke with a thoughtful expression.
"Really? You're willing to take me with you?"
Rimuru's eyes immediately lit up.
"Yes. It is truly rare to meet an old friend in a foreign land. Please take care of me from now on."
Mo Li said gently.
Rimuru immediately began hopping around, delighted beyond measure.
Ever since she had transmigrated into this world, Rimuru had truly been somewhat afraid. She was unfamiliar with the place and knew nothing at all.
Now things were better. With Mo Li around, she could cling to a powerful thigh.
Little did she know that Mo Li had the exact same plan.
Thus, over the following days, Rimuru and Mo Li began their carefree life of eating, sleeping, sleeping, and eating.
As usual, Mo Li walked through the cave with Rimuru in his arms.
"Can you hear my voice, little ones?"
A strange voice suddenly rang directly in Mo Li's mind.
"Little Slime, did you hear anything?"
Mo Li looked alert.
"Dragon boss, you heard it too?"
Rimuru said.
Little ones, can you hear my voice?
The voice sounded once more in Mo Li and Rimuru's minds.
Mo Li looked around. In the vast space, there were still only two living creatures: Rimuru and himself.
"Who is it? Where are you? What kind of hero hides away?"
Mo Li shouted.
"Hide? Why would I hide?"
The voice sounded somewhat annoyed.
Thud, thud...
Heavy footsteps echoed through the cave. Two bright points of light slowly emerged from the darkness behind the wall of air.
The faint glow of magicules illuminated only a tiny portion of that enormous body. What entered Mo Li's sight was a colossal creature.
Is this the Storm Dragon?
Mo Li muttered inwardly.
It was a massive Western dragon, different from Mo Li in form, its body covered in scales dominated by blue and black.
The muscles all over its body seemed like a work of art, possessing a unique beauty. Blue-black scales were neatly arranged across its draconic body. Within the dark cave, its enormous frame radiated the pressure of a mountain.
Its gigantic wings seemed capable of blotting out the sky, carrying an overwhelming sense of oppression.
"Holy crap, it's actually a dragon."
Rimuru looked terrified. She jumped into Mo Li's arms and buried her head hard against his chest.
Though Rimuru had already seen Mo Li, a creature that closely resembled a dragon, she was still frightened upon seeing an enormous monster like the Storm Dragon.
Because of Mo Li, Rimuru had already learned the skill of perception. Of course, the main credit belonged to Great Sage.
As long as Mo Li explained the principles of magicule perception, Rimuru learned it right away.
All Mo Li could do was envy her.
Before you continue