Chapter Text
The Temple of Space. Where she got separated from her brother, Aether. The place where it all began — and in front of her stood the God who separated them. Asmoday. Ruler of Space. One of the Four Shades.
Lumine had learned that name from her own journey across the Seven Nations.
Lumine ran forward, using Anemo to spin a cyclone sharp enough to shear stone. Geo — jagged spikes of stone erupted from the ground. Electro — chaining strike after strike with her sword, so fast it moved like lightning. Dendro — plants clawed up from the ground, hungry for something to hold. Hydro — a pressurized blast of water tearing forward. Pyro — each strike of her sword landing heavier than the last. And last, Cryo — throwing weapons made of ice, one after another. She even combined the elements together, chaining them into attacks far more devastating than any single element alone.
Seven elements. Everything Teyvat had ever lent her, spent one after another and then all at once. And when there was nothing left to spend carefully, she reached past all seven, to the place the old stories said they'd all come from to begin with — the Light realm, the source before the split, before the world had bothered to divide itself into seven elements.
The Omni. The power of the Light realm.
Every element she carried folded back into the single, whole thing it had once been — wings of light unfurling behind her. She felt the power like she once wielded it.
Asmoday watched the light come, and did not step aside.
When the light cleared, Lumine was on her knees. Her sword was somewhere she no longer had the strength to find. Every part of her hurt in a way that told her this was as far as her body would let her go, tonight, this century, maybe ever.
Asmoday looked down at her.
"You've grown stronger," she said. "But you still cannot defeat me."
A shape unfolded in her hand — the same cube that had separated her from Aether.
"We will not meet again, outlander," Asmoday said, and the cube's light closed over Lumine like a mouth folding shut.
Lumine tried to reach for something — anything — a word, her brother's name. She caught none of it. She fell unconscious.
Rimuru Tempest, several weeks into his new life as a slime, was having what could generously be called An Eventful Time.
He'd died. He'd been reincarnated as a slime. He'd met a dragon. Befriended him. Eaten him.
It had been many weeks since he'd eaten Veldora, and Rimuru still hadn't found a way out of this cave. He'd killed every monster he came across, picking up skill after skill along the way, and eaten every herb and ore he could find — but the exit was nowhere to be found.
"This is weird. Oy! I should be finding the exit by now, but I just keep going in circles. Sigh, I really should've asked Veldora about the layout before I ate him. I can't just wander around aimlessly forever — it's not like a person's just going to show up in front of me—"
A red cube appeared out of thin air. It expanded, then vanished.
In its place, lying unconscious on the cave floor, was a girl in a strange white outfit.
"...I stand corrected."
Eh — what do I do. Should I wake her up? No, wait, I'm a slime, what if the first thing she does when she wakes up is attack me. Let's check her condition first.
Rimuru inched closer. She was still breathing.
Okay, she's alive. That's good. Phew. But — does she have any injuries? He had a lot of questions, but for now, all he could do was wait. He stayed close and kept watch, making sure nothing else wandered in.
An hour later, she woke up.
Lumine woke to cold stone under her back, and the sound of dripping water. Every muscle ached with the particular exhaustion of a fight she remembered losing.
"Where am I? Ouch," Lumine said, trying to sit up, only to hiss and go still again — her body still screaming from the fight she'd just lost.
"Are you okay? ...Actually, dumb question. You're clearly not," Rimuru said.
Lumine went rigid, her hand moving on reflex toward her hip — before she remembered. Her sword was gone. She scanned the cave for whoever had spoken, but saw no one.
"Um. Down here," Rimuru said.
Lumine looked down to see a slime, blue like a small Hydro Slime.
"A talking... slime?" Lumine said. She winced. "Ouch."
"Whoa, hey — don't move," Rimuru said. "You're pretty banged up. Just... stay down a second."
Lumine wanted to ignore him. But what choice did she have? Her body screamed in protest at even the slightest movement.
Eh... what should I do, Rimuru thought. Ah, that's right — I've got the healing potion. Perfect timing to test it out.
"I can heal your wound, but you have to trust me," Rimuru said.
Lumine stared at the slime, weighing him over for a moment. There was something oddly earnest in the offer, no matter how strange the source.
"...Okay. I trust you," Lumine said.
Rimuru's form rippled, a ball of blue liquid forming in his stubby little hand. Without much ceremony, he lobbed it straight at her.
"Then take this!" Rimuru said.
It splashed against her — soaking through her sleeve, cool against her skin.
"What are you doing?!" Lumine said.
"Just look," Rimuru said.
Lumine blinked, and looked down at herself. The ache in her ribs was gone. The gash along her arm had sealed shut, not even a scar left behind. She flexed her fingers, testing herself, disbelief plain on her face.
"...What did you just do?" Lumine asked.
"Hehe. It's a healing potion," Rimuru said, sounding entirely too pleased with himself.
"Thank you. You're... really different than the slimes I've seen. I should introduce myself — my name is Lumine," Lumine said, something in her shoulders finally easing.
Looks like this first impression is going pretty well, Rimuru thought. ...Wait. How can we even understand each other?
《Great Sage: Answer — The use of Magic Sense turns sound waves that carry intention into comprehensible words.》
So that's why. Thank goodness! Anyway — I should introduce myself back.
"My name's Rimuru. Rimuru Tempest. Nice to meet you," Rimuru said.
"Rimuru," Lumine repeated. "Then, Rimuru — thank you for healing my wound," Lumine said.
"You're welcome. You're the first human I've met so far. I hope we can get along," Rimuru said.
"I'd say we're off to a good start already," Lumine said.
"If you don't mind me asking... how'd you get hurt in the first place?" Rimuru asked.
"I guess I owe you that much," Lumine said. "I got it from a fight against a God — one who separated me from my brother."
"Ohh, a God!" Rimuru said. 'Ehhh, a God! And here I thought mine was more impressive because I met Veldora — but Lumine fought a God!'
"The God's name is Asmoday. Ruler of Space. One of the Four Shades of Heavenly Principles. I lost, and got swallowed by the same red cube," Lumine continued.
"Ehh, so that's why you appeared here after that red cube disappeared," Rimuru said.
"How about you, Rimuru? What's your story?" Lumine asked. "Like I said before — you're different from any slime I've seen so far."
"The thing is, I used to be human, but I got stabbed and died. Ne—" Rimuru said.
"You what!?" Lumine cut him off.
"Ah, it's fine," Rimuru said. "As you can see, I've reincarnated as a slime. Been like this for a few weeks now. So — how about we search for the exit first, and I'll fill in the rest as we walk?"
"...Okay," Lumine said.
They walked — or in Rimuru's case, bounced — together, searching for the way out.
As they searched for the way out, Rimuru told Lumine about his weeks as a slime — hunting monsters for skills. He explained about Veldora, and what it meant to be an otherworlder. He also taught Lumine about Magic Sense.
One of the Four True Dragons, Lumine thought. I've never heard of that before. And this Magic Sense — Teyvat doesn't have anything like this, but it's almost like the Elemental Sight I already have. Did I get transferred to another world again?
"Lumine, look," Rimuru said, pointing ahead of them, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Lumine looked up to see two massive steel doors set into the stone.
"This is probably the exit," Rimuru said.
"Well, now what?" Lumine asked.
"Hmm... maybe I can cut through it with a water blade," Rimuru answered.
But then the doors began to open — from the outside.
"Ahh, quickly, hide!" Rimuru said.
The two of them ducked behind a large rock jutting out near the cave wall, Lumine pressing her back flat against the stone, Rimuru flattening himself low against the ground beside her.
Three figures stepped through the steel doors. The first was a man with medium-length blonde-brown hair. Beside him walked a young woman with blonde hair. The last was another man with short brown hair.
"It finally opened. It's so rusty, the keyhole's falling apart," the man with brown hair said.
"That's no surprise," the man with blonde-brown hair said. "Nobody's come in here for three hundred years."
"We won't be attacked out of nowhere, right?" the woman with blonde hair asked, aiming her staff forward, light spilling out to illuminate the area ahead of them. "Of course — and if it comes to it, we can always use escape."
Ohhh, first humans from this world, Rimuru thought. I don't know what they're for, but I'd guess adventurers, going by their clothes.
"Rimuru, should we ask where we are?" Lumine said, snapping Rimuru out of his own thoughts.
"I think it's best we hide," Rimuru said. "Think about it — that guy said the door hasn't opened in three hundred years, and it's got a keyhole. We'd look like very suspicious people if we just appeared inside the cave without the key. And I'm a slime — they'd probably attack me on sight."
While the two of them were still talking, the man with brown hair activated a skill. "All right, I'm going to activate my Stealth Arts."
Lumine and Rimuru both looked over just in time to see all three of them begin fading from view.
Whoa. That's incredible, Rimuru thought, watching the three figures blur into near-nothing. Wonder if that's a skill I could get my hands on eventually.
They both heard footsteps passing right by them — soft, deliberate, unseen. Lumine and Rimuru watched as faint footprints pressed into the dust of the cave floor, one after another, marking the invisible trio's path as they moved deeper into the cave.
He called that skill Stealth, Rimuru thought. You could peep all you wanted with that. What a disgraceful creep. I'll have to make friends with him later.
"Rimuru, just now you thought something weird," Lumine said, a disgusted look on her face as she stared down at him.
Rimuru began sweating. "It's just your imagination," he said, giving a small, weak laugh. "Look, now that they're gone, we can go outside," Rimuru said, trying to change the topic.
Lumine couldn't hear their footsteps anymore — they'd likely already traveled deeper into the cave.
"Okay, let's go," Lumine said.
"...Finally, sunlight. How long has it been?" Rimuru said.
Lumine looked at her surroundings. "This is really a vast forest," she said. "Any idea which direction we should go?"
"Not a clue," Rimuru said cheerfully. "But finding out what awaits on the path ahead is one of the best parts of traveling."
Lumine caught a glimpse of her friend taking his place beside her — a small flying girl who was always there, floating just above her shoulder, chattering about something or other.
"...Yeah, that's right," Lumine said, allowing herself a small smile.
They walked for what felt like hours. Along the way, Lumine watched Rimuru play around with his own skills, testing this and that on whatever small creature crossed their path. Then she heard it — the sound of many footsteps coming toward them.
"Rimuru!"
"Hmm, what is it, Lu—" Rimuru started. "...Oh."
A group of armed goblins appeared ahead of them. Both of them looked over at the sight — scrawny bodies, beat-up weapons, their whole frames shaking like they were bracing to face a far stronger enemy.
...Hilichurl, no? Lumine thought. What are they?
"S-strong one, d-do you have business here?" the bandana goblin asked.
Strong one? Did he mean Lumine? Rimuru thought. Well, she did fight a God — that would make her strong, I guess. Anyway, let's start a conversation with them.
"Nice to meet you! I'm a slime, and my name is Rimuru!" Rimuru said loudly.
The goblins flinched, several of them clapping their hands over their ears.
Rimuru and Lumine watched, baffled, as every single goblin dropped to their knees.
"W-we're well aware of how strong you both are," the bandana goblin said. "Please... tone down your voice."
"That's right, Rimuru — you said that too loud. You could attract other monsters in the area," Lumine said, a bit scolding.
"I'm sorry," Rimuru said.
"So, did you need something?" Lumine asked.
"We sensed a powerful presence," the bandana goblin said, "so we came here as a precaution."
"Lumine, he probably means you," Rimuru said, trying to tease her.
Lumine shot him a flat look.
"Surely you jest!" the bandana goblin said. "Even if you try to hide behind such a humble form, we won't be fooled."
Does he mean me too? Rimuru thought.
"Strong one, having seen your power, we wish to ask a favor," the bandana goblin said. "Please, visit our village — we will explain there. Hero, please join us as well."
Hero? Rimuru thought, but he could think about that later.
Rimuru and Lumine accepted their invitation.
They walked together, following the goblins toward the village, when a thought struck Rimuru.
Great Sage, why are the goblins scared of me? I get why they'd be scared of Lumine — she's powerful — but I'm just a slime.
《Great Sage: Answer — Confirmed. Both of you emit a strong Haki. To a creature of lower strength, that presence can register as overwhelming, and prolonged exposure could suffocate them.》
...Is that why Lumine gave me that look earlier? Because she could already tell I was strong too. Wait, you said it could suffocate them. That's bad, then!
Great Sage, can you show me? What we actually look like, I want to see it for myself.
《Great Sage: Change perspective.》
Whoa. We've been emitting a massive Aura this whole time. We feel like we've been walking down a major street with our fly open.
Rimuru became embarrassed. He imagined himself sucking in, suppressing his Aura — and it worked like a charm.
Oh, I suck it in. Now I need Lumine to do the same.
"Rimuru, why did you suppress your Haki?" Lumine asked.
"Lumine, can I ask you to suppress your Haki?" Rimuru said. "It looks like these guys can't last if we keep it out."
Lumine, after hearing Rimuru's request, tried to suppress her own Haki.
"There. I tried suppressing it, as you told me," Lumine said.
"Strong one, and Lady Hero. Thank you so much," the bandana goblin said. "There were so many of us frightened by your Haki."
"Y-yeah, that's right. Hahaha!" Rimuru said, panicking slightly. "If I don't release my Haki, other monsters would come looking for trouble. You guys have potential, though — talking to me without fear like that."
...But wait, now that I think about it, how did those humans back in the cave not react to our aura at all? Are they okay? Rimuru thought, but he didn't want to think too deeply about it.
After that, it was a peaceful trip to the village.
Rimuru and Lumine arrived at the village and were led to the elder's house, where they waited for the village elder to arrive.
So this is the goblin village, Rimuru thought, glancing around at the worn-down huts, the patched roofs, the general air of a place barely holding itself together. What can I say — it's really rundown. Veldora could probably knock the whole thing over with one sneeze.
"We're sorry to have made you wait. Welcome, visitors," an old goblin said as he entered, the bandana goblin following close behind him.
"I am the elder of this village," the old goblin continued.
"Hi. Nice to meet you," Rimuru said. "So — what favor did you want to ask from us? We'll decide after we've listened to the contents."
"Our dragon god, who protected this place, suddenly disappeared about a month ago, without reason," the elder goblin said. "As a result, monsters in the area have been continually harassing us."
Dragon god? Does he mean Veldora? The timing fits, Rimuru thought. I guess he was keeping the monsters away this whole time.
"Recently, we came under attack from the east by Wolf Monsters — Dire Wolves," the elder goblin said. "It's a tough battle, even if ten of us face a single wolf. We tried to fight them, but we lack the numbers. Many of us died in that battle. It even took our warrior." The elder continued talking.
"So we hoped both of you would help us out," the bandana goblin said.
"How many of them?" Rimuru asked.
"There are about a hundred Direwolves in total," the bandana goblin said.
"Then how many do we have?" Lumine asked.
"Including females, we have about sixty who can fight," the elder goblin said.
"That's a pretty devastating difference in numbers and strength," Lumine said.
"So did that goblin warrior fight them knowing he couldn't win?" Rimuru asked.
"No... that warrior gave his life just retrieving information on the Direwolves for us," the elder said. "That warrior was my son — and his elder brother."
"I see. Forgive me for asking that," Rimuru said, his voice sounding sad. Lumine, beside him, found herself thinking of her own brother.
"Elder, tell me one thing," Rimuru said. "What will we get in return for helping this village? What can you all give us?"
Hearing that, Lumine startled. "Wait — Rimuru!"
"Lumine, trust me," Rimuru said.
"W-We will offer you both our loyalty. Please grant us your protection. If you do, we will swear our loyalty!" the elder goblin said, kneeling before them. The bandana goblin knelt beside him, doing the same.
This feels familiar, Rimuru thought, remembering his previous life — a junior at work once asking him for help in much the same way. When all is said and done, I just can't say no.
Then a howl of a Direwolf could be heard in the distance.
They all rushed outside to see a wolf howling atop a distant rock formation. Rimuru and Lumine watched as the goblins around them descended into panic, the elder trying and failing to calm them down.
"There's no need to fear," Lumine said. "We're going to defeat them."
"That's right," Rimuru said. "As for your request — in lieu of the Storm Dragon Veldora, I, Rimuru Tempest—"
"And I, Lumine," Lumine said.
"—will grant your wish," they both said together.
All the goblins knelt, one by one.
"Thank you so much! We are your loyal servants, Rimuru-sama and Lumine-sama," the elder goblin said.