Chapter 8

"Alright, from today on, this is your home!"

I released the blue slimes from the burlap sack into the borrowed room.

There were eight of them in total. Each was about half the size of a rune, small enough to fit in my hand.

The slimes hopped onto the floor and looked around curiously.

"Where are we?! It's so bright!"

"Really, it's completely different from the cave!"

The slimes seemed delighted.

They bounced around, laughing.

One of the slimes jumped onto the bed.

"Wow, this is so soft!"

"Really?!"

All the slimes jumped onto the bed.

They seemed to find the softness refreshing and started bouncing around.

"Really! It's so soft!"

"Yay! Thank you, Lord Rudis!"

The slimes looked at me and cheered.

It was a heartwarming scene. They were so cute, and just watching them made me feel relaxed.

However, Rune was different.

"Hey!! What are you doing on Lord Rudis' bed?!"

Rune scolded them with a stern face, like Cecil.

The slimes flinched.

I was also surprised, as I had never seen Cecil angry before.

The slimes quickly stopped bouncing.

"Sorry, Mom!"

"We won't do it again..."

The slimes looked dejected.

They were so cute, it would have been better to leave them as they were...

I picked up one of the slimes and petted its head.

"Come on! It's fine to play a little."

"However, Lord Rudis..."

"Rune, I allow it. Since the master allows it, you can all be free."

The slimes' eyes sparkled. One of them said:

"Thank you, Lord Rudis!"

"Thank you!"

"No, no need to thank me. I also gain more magic power by having you around."

The slimes bowed in gratitude at my words.

Then they started bouncing on the bed again.

"Lord Rudis, I'm sorry... I didn't teach them well..."

"Rune, that's enough. I've allowed it. Let's discuss what to do next."

"Yes, Lord Rudis!"

Rune and I sat down at a small table.

"First, about these slimes. Since this is a corner room, they can be free inside. However, make sure they don't go outside."

"Understood. But Lord Rudis, thanks to your Imperial Seal, these slimes now have twice the magic power they had before."

"Is that so? Then they can use some magic, right?"

"While it's difficult for them to maintain a human form all the time like me, they should be able to maintain the [Mimic] form for about a day."

"I see... If they can live as humans, that's enough."

If they can maintain the [Mimic] form for a day, they can go out in the morning and return at night.

"Yes. However, if they want to use other magic, they will need training."

"I'll leave that to Rune. As my familiars, I want them to learn more magic. It will be for their own good as well."

My Imperial Seal is meant for monsters and magic.

It would be a waste not to use this power for both me and my familiars.

"Of course! I'll train them to be useful to Lord Rudis."

"Thank you. When necessary, I'll have the slimes use [Mimic] and go outside."

Having more movable... I mean, slimes is helpful.

When we need to carry something heavy, they can help.

"As for my magic power... It has increased, albeit slightly."

I could feel that my magic power had increased compared to before.

"Yes! I confirmed that Lord Rudis' magic power increased with [Detection]."

"Is that so? It seems bringing them here was worthwhile."

"It would be better if we could increase the number of familiars."

Rune replied to me.

Indeed, I want to increase the number of familiars.

However, without the overwhelming power of an emperor, it seems difficult to increase them as I did before.

If there are former familiars like Rune who are still alive, they might rejoin us.

"That will come later. For now, let's focus on finding a better place to live."

"Yes. So, we will continue to hunt goblins, right?"

"For a while. However, given the situation where the princess was attacked on the road, we also need to gather information about this era."

I opened the 'Introduction to Vest Script' I bought at the market.

"First, let's [Magicalize] this script. It's the script used in Elpen and the surrounding cities."

"Understood!"

Rune and I opened the 'Introduction to Vest Script.' We weren't doing this to study...

We were going to [Magicalize] the Vest script into the Imperial script I knew.

By doing this once, we could translate it with a small amount of magic power whenever needed.

"Hmm... The shape is different, but it's a phonetic script like the Imperial script. I think I can learn it quickly without [Magicalizing] it."

After all, I already knew the language.

It seemed difficult for Rune, who had to [Magicalize] the words every time she spoke with the locals.

"Yes. I will also try to learn the language and script."

"Rune will learn it quickly. Next, let's look at the 'World Map.'"

I opened the 'World Map' I bought at the market.

"Our current location, Elpen, is in the western part of the continent, in the Kingdom of Vestburg. The capital is Veststadt."

There seem to be a few other countries in the western part of the continent, but the Kingdom of Vest seems to be the largest power.

"The former imperial territory... Wow, it's split up."

As Rune said, the former imperial territory in the eastern part of the continent was split up.

Compared to the western part, its influence was more than double.

However, there were some countries with large territories.

"The main countries are the Kingdom of Est in the east, the Republic of Appis in the south, and the Holy Kingdom of Reinfalls in the north... I don't see the word 'Empire' anywhere."

Moreover, all the names were unfamiliar.

Considering the thousand years that have passed, it's not surprising.

Rune looked at the northern part of the map and replied.

"Yes. Also, the Demon Lord's territory in the northern part of the continent has expanded."

"That's right. In our time, it was a small country in the northern part of the continent."

It's likely that the Demon Lord's territory expanded due to the weakening of human nations after the empire split.

I'm curious when the empire split, but as a former emperor, it's a complex feeling.

However, I'm a farmer. I have no intention of getting involved in human conflicts now.

Such complicated matters should be left to kings and important people.

I will use my magic to help people in need to the best of my ability.

"However, the western part of the continent where we are seems relatively safe."

"There are fewer countries, and the former imperial territory is separated by the Central Mountains."

I nodded at Rune's words.

"Right... I've decided. Let's look for a place to live in Elpen or the Kingdom of Vestburg."

"Yes, Lord Rudis! I'll work hard on requests from tomorrow!"

"Right. Work hard, Rune!"

I meant to say this to Rune, but the slimes also chimed in.

"We'll work hard!"

The slimes, in unison, were so earnest.

"That's right! Then tonight, let's all be Lord Rudis' futon!"

"Yes, Mom!"

I initially refused their offer but couldn't resist the temptation and accepted.

Rune's pillow was already the best sleeping experience.

I wonder what it would be like as a futon.

That night, I slept on a soft, squishy slime futon.