Work Text:
Rimuru woke to the sound of birds.
He lay still for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling while the familiar sounds of Tempest slowly filtered through the open window. Somewhere outside, someone was already shouting about a delivery. A cart rolled over the street stones. There was the distant clang of metal from the workshops, followed by a voice that sounded suspiciously like Gobta's and then another voice telling him to stop doing whatever he was doing.
A normal morning.
Rimuru pulled the blanket over his head.
Five more minutes.
<You have already made this request three times.>
You counted?
<Yes.>
That's creepy.
<It is merely accurate.>
Rimuru smiled beneath the blanket.
You know, Raphael-sensei, you're supposed to support your master.
<I am supporting you by informing you that you have been awake for eleven minutes and have spent all of them attempting to return to sleep.>
That's called resting.
<You have responsibilities today.>
I know.
<You also have a meeting with the merchants at nine.>
I know.
<And the council meeting at eleven.>
I know.
<And Benimaru requested your presence regarding the eastern patrol routes.>
Rimuru groaned.
I don't like this list.
<That is not relevant to the list.>
You're supposed to make my life easier.
<I frequently do.>
Sometimes.
<Most of the time.>
Debatable.
Raphael-sensei didn't answer.
Rimuru could almost imagine the silence being judgmental.
He finally pushed the blanket aside and sat up.
“Morning.”
There was no one in the room to hear him.
<Good morning, Rimuru-sama.>
Rimuru rubbed his eyes.
See? That's much nicer.
<Your current pulse is elevated.>
Rimuru paused.
What?
<Your pulse is slightly elevated compared to your normal resting state.>
Why?
<Insufficient information.>
Rimuru frowned.
That was odd.
But before he could think much more about it, there was a knock at the door.
“Rimuru-sama?”
Shuna.
Rimuru straightened.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Shuna stepped inside carrying a breakfast tray. Her hair was neatly arranged, her clothes immaculate as always, and she wore the small smile that usually meant she'd already taken care of three things before most people had finished waking up.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.”
She looked at him for a moment.
“You're awake early.”
“Raphael-sensei made sure of it.”
The thought remained safely inside his head.
Out loud, Rimuru only yawned.
Shuna smiled.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah.”
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood.
For just a moment, something felt strange.
A faint pressure settled behind his eyes.
Rimuru blinked.
It disappeared.
...Huh.
<Your body temperature remains slightly elevated.>
Again?
<Yes.>
Is that bad?
<At present, no significant concern has been identified.>
Rimuru relaxed.
See? Nothing.
<That conclusion is premature.>
It's morning. I'm allowed to be optimistic.
<You are also allowed to be incorrect.>
Rimuru frowned.
You're enjoying this.
<I do not experience enjoyment in the manner you imply.>
That's exactly what someone enjoying it would say.
Shuna glanced over from the table.
“Rimuru-sama?”
“Hm?”
“You're making a strange face.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
Rimuru immediately smiled.
“Just thinking.”
“About something important?”
“Very.”
Shuna waited.
Rimuru looked at her.
She raised an eyebrow.
“...I was thinking about breakfast.”
Her expression softened into amusement.
“I see.”
Rimuru followed her to the table.
The smell alone made him hungry.
“Wow.”
Shuna uncovered the dishes one by one.
Rice, grilled fish, miso soup, vegetables and a small portion of fruit.
“You made all this?”
“Some of it.”
“You're spoiling me.”
“That is my duty.”
“You're going to make me impossible to deal with.”
Shuna smiled.
“I believe everyone else has already managed that.”
Rimuru stared at her.
“Was that a joke?”
“Perhaps.”
He laughed.
The headache returned for a moment.
This time it was stronger.
Rimuru's fingers paused around his chopsticks.
He waited.
The pressure behind his eyes faded again.
Raphael-sensei?
<The symptom persists.>
But you said there wasn't a significant concern.
<There was not.>
And now?
<There remains insufficient information to determine the cause.>
Rimuru frowned slightly.
Can you analyze it?
<I am already doing so.>
And?
<The result remains inconclusive.>
That's frustrating.
<Indeed.>
Rimuru glanced sideways.
Was that sympathy?
<It was an observation.>
Sure.
He returned his attention to breakfast.
Shuna had noticed the pause.
“Does something hurt?”
Rimuru looked up.
“No. Why?”
“You stopped eating.”
“Oh.”
He picked up his chopsticks again.
“I was distracted.”
Shuna studied him for another second before nodding.
“All right.”
Rimuru ate.
The food was good.
Everything tasted normal.
He felt normal.
Mostly.
By the time breakfast was finished, he had almost forgotten about the headache.
Almost.
Shuna gathered the dishes.
“I'll see you later.”
“Wait.”
She turned.
“Don't I have a meeting with the merchants this morning?”
“Yes.”
“What time?”
“Nine.”
Rimuru looked toward the window.
“How long?”
“About an hour.”
“Okay.”
He stood.
This time there was no dizziness.
“Then I should get ready.”
Shuna nodded.
“I'll have someone bring your documents.”
“Thanks.”
She left.
Rimuru watched the door close behind her.
Then he sighed.
All right, Raphael-sensei.
<Yes?>
How bad is it if I skip the council meeting?
<You have not attended it yet.>
I'm planning ahead.
<You have also not reached the merchant meeting.>
Planning ahead is important.
<Your reasoning appears suspiciously motivated by laziness.>
Rimuru put a hand against his chest.
I'm offended.
<Noted.>
You don't sound sorry.
<I am not.>
Rimuru snorted.
He started toward the door.
A little while later, he was walking through the main corridor when Benimaru approached from the opposite direction.
“Good morning, Rimuru-sama.”
“Morning.”
Benimaru held several documents under one arm.
“You're heading to the meeting?”
“Yep.”
“I've prepared the patrol reports.”
“Already?”
“They were finished yesterday.”
“Then why are you carrying them around?”
“I was waiting for you.”
Rimuru gave him a suspicious look.
“You're becoming too efficient.”
Benimaru's mouth twitched.
“I'll take that as a compliment.”
“It wasn't.”
“It sounded like one.”
Rimuru smiled.
They continued walking together.
The corridor was busy now. Servants and officials moved between rooms, carrying documents and supplies. Somewhere farther down the hall, Shion was arguing with someone about something that sounded like a sword. Gobta passed by carrying a stack of boxes that was far too tall for him to see over.
“Morning, Rimuru-sama!”
“Morning, Gobta.”
Gobta nearly walked into a wall.
Benimaru sighed.
Rimuru laughed.
Everything felt ordinary.
Warm sunlight spilled across the floor.
People were talking.
Tempest was alive and busy around them.
Rimuru walked beside Benimaru, listening to him explain the eastern patrol situation, occasionally offering a comment or asking a question.
And for the moment, there was nothing particularly wrong.
Except for the faint pressure beginning to gather behind his eyes again.
And the growing warmth he hadn't yet decided to take seriously.
Raphael-sensei?
<Yes?>
Don't tell me I'm getting sick.
There was a brief pause.
<That possibility cannot currently be excluded.>
Rimuru's expression fell.
...I take it back.
<What do you take back?>
I don't want to be optimistic anymore.
~~~~
By the time the merchant meeting ended, Rimuru had stopped pretending the headache wasn't there.
It hadn't become unbearable. That was almost worse. It had settled behind his eyes with a steady, dull pressure that made him increasingly aware of every movement, every voice, every patch of sunlight that found its way through the windows. He had finished the meeting without any obvious trouble, answering questions, approving a few proposals and even making a joke when one of the merchants became so nervous that he dropped his papers.
Nobody had seemed to notice anything.
Rimuru had been rather proud of that.
See? he thought as he stepped out into the corridor. Perfectly fine.
<Your walking pace has decreased by approximately twelve percent.>
Why are you keeping track of that?
<Because you asked me to monitor your condition.>
I asked you to tell me if something was wrong.
<Something is wrong.>
Rimuru frowned.
You could have led with that.
<You already knew.>
I suspected.
<Your suspicion was correct.>
You're being annoying on purpose.
<I am merely providing accurate information.>
Rimuru rubbed the side of his forehead as he walked.
Benimaru glanced over.
“Headache?”
Rimuru looked at him.
“How did you know?”
“You've been doing that for the last ten minutes.”
Rimuru lowered his hand.
“Oh.”
Benimaru slowed slightly.
“Should we stop?”
“No. I'm fine.”
Benimaru didn't answer immediately.
Rimuru could feel him looking at him.
“It's just a headache,” Rimuru added.
“That doesn't sound like nothing.”
“It isn't nothing. It's just not a big deal.”
Benimaru nodded, though he didn't look convinced.
They continued toward Rimuru's office. The corridor seemed longer than it had that morning, although Rimuru knew perfectly well that nothing had changed. His feet felt strangely heavy. It wasn't pain exactly. More like his body had become reluctant to cooperate with him.
He pushed open the office door.
The sunlight coming through the windows made him squint.
“Could you close those?”
Benimaru looked toward the curtains.
“The windows?”
“Yeah. It's a little bright.”
Benimaru closed them halfway.
The room immediately felt easier to tolerate.
Rimuru sat down behind his desk and exhaled.
That's better.
<Your headache has intensified.>
I noticed.
<Your body temperature has also increased.>
Rimuru stared at the papers in front of him.
How much?
<Significantly enough to warrant rest.>
How significant?
<Enough.>
Rimuru's eyes narrowed.
That's not a number.
<You do not require a numerical value to understand that you should stop working.>
I might.
<You will not.>
Rimuru stared at nothing.
Raphael-sensei.
<Yes?>
You're bossy.
<You are currently attempting to ignore a worsening condition.>
I'm working.
<You are staring at the same document without reading it.>
Rimuru glanced down.
He was.
He turned the page.
There.
<You have turned the page upside down.>
Rimuru froze.
He slowly looked at the paper.
“...Nobody saw that.”
Benimaru, who had been sorting his own documents at the other side of the room, looked up.
“Saw what?”
“Nothing.”
Benimaru's eyes narrowed slightly.
Rimuru turned the page around.
He was beginning to feel tired.
Not ordinary tiredness, either. There was a heaviness in his arms and legs that hadn't been there when he'd woken up. His thoughts were still clear, but everything seemed to require a little more effort.
He leaned back.
“Maybe I'll take a short break.”
Benimaru immediately stopped what he was doing.
“That sounds sensible.”
Rimuru gave him a suspicious look.
“Don't sound so pleased.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You did with your face.”
Benimaru smiled faintly.
Rimuru closed his eyes.
The headache pulsed.
Harder this time.
His fingers tightened against the armrest.
Raphael-sensei.
<Your temperature continues to rise.>
Can you do anything about it?
<I can suppress some of the symptoms.>
Rimuru opened his eyes.
Can you?
<Yes.>
Then do that.
There was a brief pause.
<That would be inadvisable.>
Rimuru stared blankly ahead.
Why?
<Symptom suppression would encourage you to continue exerting yourself.>
Rimuru's mouth fell open.
You're refusing to help me because you think I'll be stupid?
<Correct.>
That's insulting.
<Your recent behavior supports my assessment.>
I hate when you're right.
<I am aware.>
Rimuru rubbed his face.
Benimaru looked up again.
“Rimuru-sama?”
“I'm okay.”
“You look tired.”
“I am a little.”
“Then rest.”
Rimuru was about to answer when the room suddenly seemed to tilt.
His hand shot out and caught the edge of the desk.
Benimaru was on his feet immediately.
“Rimuru-sama.”
“Wait.”
Rimuru closed his eyes.
The sensation passed after several seconds, leaving his body feeling even heavier than before.
...Raphael-sensei?
<Your balance was temporarily impaired.>
I noticed.
<Your physical strength is also decreasing.>
Rimuru swallowed.
How bad?
<You are currently capable of standing. However, continued exertion is likely to result in further weakness.>
Rimuru looked toward the door.
Can I at least make it back to my room?
<Yes.>
Good.
<With assistance.>
Rimuru frowned.
I don't need assistance.
<Your probability of falling without assistance is increasing.>
You're really enjoying saying that today.
<I am not.>
“Rimuru-sama.”
Benimaru had come around the desk.
His voice was quieter now.
“Let me help.”
Rimuru looked at the offered arm.
He hesitated.
Normally, he would have refused simply because he could.
Today, however, the thought of walking all the way back suddenly seemed exhausting.
“...Fine.”
Benimaru helped him stand.
Rimuru immediately regretted it.
His knees trembled.
He grabbed Benimaru's arm.
“Whoa.”
Benimaru tightened his grip.
“Slowly.”
“I know.”
Rimuru waited until the weakness eased.
Then they started walking.
They had barely reached the corridor when Shuna appeared.
She stopped.
Her eyes went immediately to Benimaru supporting Rimuru.
“Rimuru-sama?”
Rimuru tried to straighten.
“I'm fine.”
Shuna's expression didn't change.
“You're leaning on Benimaru.”
“He's conveniently located.”
Benimaru glanced at him.
“I was asked to help.”
Shuna came closer.
“Your face is flushed.”
“It's warm today.”
“It's not that warm.”
Rimuru looked away.
Shuna reached up and placed the back of her hand against his forehead.
Her fingers remained there for only a second before her expression softened into concern.
“You're feverish.”
Rimuru sighed.
“Apparently.”
Her voice dropped almost immediately.
“Does your head hurt?”
“Yeah.”
“How badly?”
“Enough that I'd rather you didn't ask me questions.”
Shuna's expression changed.
“I'm sorry.”
She lowered her voice to a whisper.
“Let's get you back to your room.”
Rimuru nodded.
They continued slowly.
Rimuru could hear the ordinary sounds of Tempest around him, but they seemed strangely distant now. His head throbbed with every few steps, and the warmth beneath his skin had become impossible to ignore.
When they reached his room, Shuna pulled the curtains closed before helping him sit down.
Rimuru leaned back against the pillows.
He was exhausted.
From walking.
That was ridiculous.
Raphael-sensei.
<Yes?>
This is officially miserable.
<Your condition is uncomfortable, but not currently dangerous.>
That's supposed to make me feel better?
<It is factual.>
You're terrible at comforting people.
<Your continued survival suggests otherwise.>
Rimuru almost laughed.
Instead, he groaned and covered his eyes with one hand.
Shuna approached quietly.
“Rimuru-sama?”
“Hmm?”
“Would you like some water?”
“Yes, please.”
She brought him a glass and waited while he drank.
His hand trembled slightly around it.
Shuna noticed.
She placed her own hand beneath his to steady it without saying anything.
Rimuru looked at her.
“Thanks.”
“Of course.”
She took the glass back.
“Try to sleep.”
“I should tell Benimaru to cancel the council meeting.”
“I already did.”
Rimuru stared at her.
“You did what?”
Shuna smiled gently.
“You need rest.”
“Shuna.”
Her voice became even softer.
“Please.”
That stopped him.
Rimuru looked at her for a long moment.
Then his shoulders relaxed against the pillows.
“...Okay.”
Shuna adjusted the blanket around him.
Rimuru closed his eyes.
The headache was still there.
His body was weak.
His fever was rising.
But the room was quiet now, the curtains were drawn, and Shuna was sitting nearby without asking anything more from him.
For the first time that day, Rimuru stopped trying to convince himself that he was fine.
Raphael-sensei?
<Yes?>
Wake me if something changes.
<Understood.>
Rimuru exhaled slowly.
And don't let me get up and work.
There was a brief pause.
<That will not be necessary.>
Why?
<Because I will prevent you from doing so.>
Rimuru smiled faintly despite himself.
Yeah.
He pulled the blanket closer.
I figured you would.