"Your life had really been full of twists and turns."
Rimuru commented with a look of lingering fascination.
"Even though you looked pretty unreliable, you surprisingly knew a lot. You really couldn't judge a person by their appearance—no, you couldn't judge a dragon by its appearance."
Rimuru continued.
"Of course."
The Storm Dragon replied rather smugly, completely failing to notice that Rimuru had just insulted him.
At that moment, the Storm Dragon heard another voice. It was Mo Li speaking.
"I have to say, you were truly impressive. You even blew away the Demon Lord's castle and caused destruction wherever you pleased. All I can say is that ending up like this was entirely your own doing."
Mo Li's assessment was brutally accurate. He showed no deference whatsoever to the Storm Dragon's strength.
"Just like in many fairy tales, the Demon Lord brought disaster upon the people, and eventually a hero appeared to defeat the Demon Lord and become the people's hero. The only difference was that you were a True Dragon, so you couldn't die. Even the hero couldn't kill you, and you were still alive."
Mo Li used an example to compare Veldora to.
"Besides, judging from your description, the hero who defeated you should have been one of this world's strongest experts. By that measure, you were pretty strong too."
While praising the hero, Mo Li also took the opportunity to compliment Veldora.
At first, Veldora had been somewhat annoyed when Mo Li said he had brought it upon himself. But the moment he heard Mo Li praise his strength, he became smug again.
"Of course! How could I, Veldora the Storm Dragon, possibly be weak? I could be considered one of the strongest beings in this world."
Rimuru and Mo Li were both speechless.
Just moments ago, he had claimed to be the strongest in the world. Now he was saying he was merely one of the strongest. He changed his tune awfully fast.
Then Rimuru made a suggestion.
"Veldora the Storm Dragon, let's become good friends."
"If we're making friends, count me in too. You may have done many bad things, but I don't sense any malice in your tone. And from the bad things you described, it didn't seem like you had deliberately wanted to do them, right? With just a little guidance from someone, you could change. Besides, you probably lack friends, don't you? So if we're becoming friends, count me in too."
Mo Li was also quite willing to befriend him. For one thing, Veldora's nature was not bad. Although he had done many bad things, he had also done good things. At the very least, the monsters of the Jura Great Forest had been well protected under his might. For another, Rimuru would need plenty of people after founding his country, and a True Dragon was a top-tier fighting force who could bring many conveniences to the nation. Thirdly, although Veldora was sealed away in the early stages, his magicules had helped Rimuru immensely. Without Veldora, Tempest, the Demon Country Federation, could never have possessed so many high-level fighters.
Hearing Rimuru and Mo Li's words, Veldora's eyes immediately lit up, though his words said otherwise.
"Y-you're joking, right? I am one of the four great True Dragons of this world, the Calamity-class Veldora the Storm Dragon. You want to be friends with me? A-aren't you afraid?"
"I-if you don't want to, you can refuse. It's not like I absolutely have to be friends with you."
Rimuru said weakly.
"What's so scary about you? And if you don't want to, the two of us will leave. We've already chatted with you because you wanted to talk. Now you don't want to be friends with us, so we're leaving."
As Mo Li spoke, he picked up Rimuru and began walking toward the exit.
"Exactly. If you don't want to, we'll leave."
Hearing Mo Li, Rimuru became a little bolder as well.
"D-don't go! When did I say I didn't want to? I was just thinking it over."
Seeing this, Veldora became anxious.
"Really? Have you thought it over? If you don't agree, we really will leave."
Mo Li spoke while making a show of heading out.
"Since you two have begged me repeatedly, I'll reluctantly agree to be friends with you."
Veldora said with a haughty look.
"Then we truly must thank the great Lord Veldora the Storm Dragon for being willing to be friends with two tiny monsters like us."
Mo Li teased.
"Then we're friends from now on."
Rimuru said excitedly.
"In that case, I'll give you two names. You two can give me a name as well, as a gift between friends."
Veldora said excitedly.
"You two are still nameless. If I give you names, you'll receive my blessing and become Named Monsters. How about you two give me a name as well? Everyone always calls me the Storm Dragon, and I'm getting rather unused to it."
Veldora stroked his chin with a dragon claw.
After a round of discussion, they finally settled on names for the Storm Dragon and the Slime.
They would be called Veldora Tempest and Veldora Tempest.
"Have you decided on your name, my friend?"
Veldora looked at Mo Li and asked.
"I have. I'll be called Morax Tempest."
Mo Li decided. On one hand, he chose the name because he possessed the old man's skills. On the other, Mo Li wanted to become someone as dependable as Morax, the Geo Archon. Besides, Morax was simply a really cool name.
"Morax Tempest. That is a good name."
Veldora pondered it for a moment before speaking.
"Good. In that case, I, Veldora the Storm Dragon, hereby grant you two the names Rimuru Tempest and Morax Tempest."
Veldora shouted.
After Veldora granted them names, both Rimuru and Mo Li felt a response from within their bodies. Even their magicule reserves surged dramatically.
"Gamer, open my status."
Name: Mo Li Race: Elemental Dragon Race (not a True Dragon) Level: S- Unique Skill: Gamer Intrinsic Skills: Martial Refiner, Contractor, Rationalist Skills: Rock Element Control, Immortal Arts Control, Mastery of All Weapons, Weapon Master, Heavenly Star, Earthly Core Passive Skills: Pain Nullification, Paralysis Resistance, Heat Resistance, Cold Resistance, Mental Resistance, Poison Resistance, Storm Dragon's Blessing
"I have another idea. I have a Special Skill called Contractor. Let's make a contract, one that bears witness to our friendship. What do you think?"
Mo Li suggested.
"Sure, that's a good idea too. Signing a contract concerning our friendship couldn't be better."
Veldora agreed upon hearing Mo Li's words.
"I-I agree too."
Rimuru chimed in.
Seeing that both of them had agreed, Mo Li wasted no words and directly used his Special Skill, Contractor, to draft a Friend Equal Contract.
Equal Contract: [From this day forth, Morax Tempest, Veldora Tempest, and Rimuru Tempest shall become friends. They shall help one another and never betray one another. Whoever violates this contract shall suffer Rock Eater's Punishment.]
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