The warm, inviting aroma of tea filled Rin's cozy riverside home. He had poured three cups, offering one to Rimuru and one to Shuna, before taking his own seat. "Please," Rin began again, his voice as welcoming as before, "make yourselves comfortable. To what do I truly owe the pleasure of your visit?"
Shuna, her cheeks still tinged with a delicate blush, took a graceful sip of her tea. "I… I wanted to visit you, Rin-dono. There was something I wished to tell you." Her eyes darted briefly towards Rimuru, then back to Rin, a hint of anticipation in their depths.
Rimuru, meanwhile, offered a casual smile. "Me? Oh, I was just out for a walk and decided to drop by to check on you, Rin. Make sure you're settling in okay after your… sparring session."
Despite their outwardly calm demeanor, both their minds, known to Rin, were replaying the vivid image of his earlier exposed form. Shuna's thoughts were a whirlwind of excitement, So soon! Tonight, perhaps? This is thrilling! Rimuru, however, shook his head internally, a faint frown creasing his brow. No, no, I'm not gay. It's just… Rin's too hot. That's all. Any sane person would be attracted. It's just natural attraction to beauty, not… that.
Rin, of course, heard every single one of these thoughts, a private amusement playing on his lips. What he didn't hear, but which was happening nonetheless, was a parallel, silent monologue within Rimuru's very being. The Great Sage, eternally connected to its Master's will, was also privy to Rimuru's subconscious internal struggle. If Rimuru were to ask his system now if there was something wrong with him, the Great Sage would deliver a truly alarming report.
Report. Master's mental landscape has undergone a complete assimilation. The personality known as 'Satoru Mikami' is no longer discernible. Only the core personality of the reincarnated slime, 'Rimuru,' persists. Furthermore, an unconscious, persistent will from Master is detected, actively influencing the physiological transformation of Master's human form. This will is directing the slow, but definitive, development of female secondary sexual characteristics and internal reproductive organs, rendering the human form capable of gestation and childbirth.
Evaluation. Should Master remain in human form for an extended, continuous period—several days, specifically—the nascent female biological structure may solidify to an extent that reversion to a completely asexual slime form, while still technically possible, would become increasingly difficult and potentially irreversible without significant energy expenditure. Master's unconscious desire is effectively creating a unique biological gender for a slime, an unprecedented evolutionary divergence.
Conclusion. This transformation is not categorized as 'harmful' or 'anomalous' as it originates from Master's own deep-seated, albeit unconscious, volition. Therefore, no direct alert or corrective action is initiated without explicit command.
If the Great Sage possessed a physical form, it would have been staring with an expression of profound disbelief and weary resignation. Its Master, in his efforts to deny a simple attraction, was unconsciously rewriting his very biological blueprint. And Rin, while possessing meta-knowledge of Rimuru's series and his cheat system, had no way to access the Great Sage's internal, unsent reports. He simply smiled, content to observe the surface-level drama.
The conversation shifted to the progress of Tempest. Rimuru enthusiastically recounted the town's rapid growth, the various monster tribes settling in, and the grand plans for the future. Shuna gracefully interjected, adding her own insights and details about the daily workings and upcoming projects. They mentioned how they had coincidentally met on their way to Rin's house, prompting them to come together.
Rin offered his own contributions, his answers usually general and agreeable, but when it came to topics he felt were genuinely important, a subtle bias would creep into his opinions, reflecting his carefully cultivated worldview. He listened to their exchanges with genuine interest, enjoying the comfortable camaraderie.
"You know," Rin interjected casually, stirring his tea, "it's funny, all this talk of building a new nation. It's quite a lot for a seventeen-year-old." He watched their reactions with an amused glint in his eye.
Shuna gasped, her eyes widening. "Seventeen? Rin-dono, you are the same age as me!" A genuine surprise softened her demeanor, adding a new layer of warmth to her gaze.
Rimuru, for his part, felt a strange pang of guilt, a fleeting, inexplicable sensation. He quickly brushed it aside, dismissing it as an unimportant feeling. Forget it. Just enjoy the conversation. He reaffirmed his internal stance: It's not like I have any special relationship ideas for Rin beyond friendship. Yet, in the silent depths of Rimuru's being, the Great Sage, if it had a physical body, would have let out an exasperated sigh of disbelief and profound disappointment at its Master's willful obliviousness.
The conversation continued, shifting to Shuna's turn to question Rin. Her inquiries were mostly about him, designed to learn more about his background, his hobbies, his preferences. Rin answered openly enough, but when a question delved too deeply or hinted at a path he didn't wish to tread, he would deftly shift the topic or offer a vague, non-committal response. Shuna, surprisingly, respected his boundaries, never pushing him further once he signaled his reluctance.
Rimuru, meanwhile, found himself listening intently, absorbing every detail about Rin, unconsciously committing them to memory. He found himself thinking, I should remember this. This is important information about Rin. The Great Sage, privy to this new pattern, could only 'observe' with its silent, digital shake of its head.
Time seemed to stretch, the hours slipping by unnoticed as the three conversed. Eventually, as the light outside began to fade, Rimuru stirred. "Well, Shuna," he said, rising from his seat, "it's getting late. Would you like to walk back to town together?"
Shuna, with a subtle glance at Rin, demurred. "Oh, no, Lord Rimuru. I think I'll stay here for a little while longer. I still have a few things to discuss with Rin-dono before I go."
Rimuru, completely unsuspicious, merely nodded. "Alright then. Don't stay out too late, Shuna. I'll see you both tomorrow." With a cheerful wave, he exited the house, his footsteps receding into the approaching twilight.
Rin watched him go, a slow, triumphant grin spreading across his face. He waited until Rimuru's presence was no longer discernible by even his enhanced senses. Then, just as he turned back into the room, Shuna moved.
She glided silently across the floor and, with a soft exhale, wrapped her arms around Rin from behind, pressing her lithe body against his back. Her voice, a husky whisper against his ear, was laced with intoxicating promise. "Finally," she breathed, "we're alone."
Rin felt a jolt of pure, unbridled excitement. He couldn't hold back anymore.