Rimuru Tempest, the newly appointed leader of the Jura Tempest Federation, was buried under a mountain of scrolls. City planning, resource allocation, troop formations, trade agreements… the work was endless. It was Benimaru who finally intervened, flanked by a concerned Shion and Shuna.
"Lord Rimuru," Benimaru stated firmly, "you will take a day off. That is an order from your loyal subordinates."
Seeing the unified, resolute expressions on their faces, Rimuru reluctantly agreed. He needed a break.
He found himself walking through the bustling streets of his burgeoning city, marveling at the progress. But his mind felt… foggy. Restless. He left the town and made his way to a familiar cliffside overlooking the Great Forest of Jura, letting the wind whip through his silvery-blue hair. Something was wrong. Something inside him had changed, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Great Sage, report. Is there anything unusual about my current status?
<
Rimuru froze. What?
He thought back over the last few days. The frilly clothes Shuna kept bringing him… at first, he'd protested, but lately, he'd started enjoying them. He'd even found himself unconsciously adopting Shizu's mannerisms, striving to replicate her serene beauty. He looked at his hands—slender, pale. He was wearing a light dusting of face powder right now, something he hadn't even consciously registered doing that morning. He remembered looking at Shion's impressive chest the other day and feeling a pang of… jealousy? He wanted bigger breasts?
The realization hit him like a physical blow, a terror so profound it made his non-existent stomach churn. He was losing himself. His past life, his identity as Satoru Mikami, was fading away.
Great Sage! Am I under some kind of mental attack? A curse? Is there anything invading my body or mind?
<
My own volition? But why? He thought about the handsome men in his service – Benimaru, Souei. Lately, he'd found himself appreciating their aesthetic more… intensely. Was he starting to prefer men? Fear gripped him. He was going to forget who he was.
Great Sage, is there any possible explanation? Any theory?
<<…Acknowledged. One possibility exists. It is conceivable that these changes are a long-term side effect of absorbing the human Shizue Izawa. Her residual will or personality data may be slowly integrating with Master's own.>>
Shizu-san's will? It seemed unlikely, yet it was the only explanation he had. Confused and deeply unsettled, Rimuru stared out at the forest, the fresh air doing nothing to clear his troubled mind. He almost never reverted to his slime form anymore. The urge to stay in this human form, to be seen as cute, as pretty, was becoming overwhelming.
Calm down. I have to calm down. He took a deep, steadying breath. I know what's wrong now. I can fight this. I won't let myself become 'her'. I am Satoru Mikami. I am Rimuru. I am a he.
His thoughts, inevitably, drifted to Rin Takakura. The other person from Japan. The only other soul in this world who would understand modern sensibilities, who would get his references, who would see him as he truly was. A man. He felt a sudden, intense urge to see him, to talk to him.
With newfound purpose, Rimuru teleported back to his residence. He told himself he needed to fight his feminization, to reassert his masculinity. The first thing he did was rummage through his wardrobe. He pushed past the simple tunics and trousers and pulled out a stylish, multi-layered outfit Shuna had designed for him, one that was undeniably fashionable but also distinctly feminine.
He carefully applied a light layer of makeup, a skill Shuna had recently taught him. He'd even made a few requests for new designs he remembered from fashion magazines in his old life.
If the Great Sage had a physical form, it would have been staring at him with the most deadpan expression imaginable. His every action was a direct contradiction of his stated goal.
Dressed in his new, stylish clothes, looking more like a beautiful girl than ever, Rimuru Tempest set out with a determined stride. He had to go find Rin.