Day Four of Reincarnation as Rimuru

Seeing that Rimuru was indifferent to the consequences of breaking their contract, Morax found himself at a loss for words and could only be urged by the bouncy, adorable slime to return to their base.

“Come on, come on!”

“Very well... follow me.”

Morax had no choice but to deal with the overly lively Rimuru. He didn’t plan to say much and simply turned to leave.

As he floated upward, his feet dangling in the sky, flying toward the base for some distance, he wanted to introduce the territory’s current development to Rimuru in advance, so the slime could mentally prepare.

However, after speaking a few words and receiving no response, he glanced back and realized the slime hadn’t kept up at all.

Morax: “??”

Where was the slime?

Wasn’t he just so eager a moment ago?

Just as he searched left and right for any sign of the slime, familiar sounds of cursing came from below behind him.

“Damn it! Morax, you thick-headed rock! Why are you flying so fast? Wait for me!”

Rimuru hopped up and down with effort. Being suppressed both in strength and skill at this moment, he deeply envied Morax soaring in the sky.

Flying was impressive—when he regained his power, he would fly too!

No, better yet, he would ride on Morax’s head, being carried by the dragon!

The azure slime imagined himself taming the majestic rock dragon and becoming a dragon knight, living a life where he could ride dragons whenever he pleased.

Unaware of Rimuru’s dangerous daydreams, the young Rock Archdemon turned around with a puzzled expression, looking down at the ground.

Sure enough, the missing slime was hopping laboriously toward him on the ground.

And seeing Morax stop, Rimuru, unable to keep up, began stomping angrily.

“You idiot Morax! If I hadn’t shouted, would you have just left me behind? You didn’t plan to take responsibility for me at all, did you?”

The slime, a master of mischief, accused first. This time, he hadn’t mentioned that he couldn’t fly beforehand, so the completely unaware Morax was truly wronged.

But the clever slime had no intention of apologizing first. He wanted Morax’s guilt to grow so he could slack off later.

Morax’s carefully planned apology was choked back by Rimuru’s sharp interruption. He seemed helpless and could only deny simply.

“I didn’t think that way.”

He just couldn’t imagine how Rimuru, who radiated the aura of a top-tier Archdemon, could not fly.

Wait... if his perception was right, Rimuru’s aura seemed to have weakened?

Realizing something was wrong, Morax’s expression turned serious. He quickly descended, landing lightly.

“Rimuru, could it be that you’re really hurt?”

Could it really be that his earlier rock spear caused Rimuru’s stomach to upset?

Was this not a fabricated story by the slime?

The Rock Archdemon was greatly shocked.

“Ah... well—”

Meeting Morax’s faintly worried, stone-colored eyes, Rimuru shyly scratched his head with a tentacle, struggling to steady his flickering gaze.

“It’s a long story, but it’s nothing serious. Good food, good rest, and I’ll recover gradually.”

Was Rimuru about to blame the mismatch of his power system?

He definitely wasn’t going to expose that he wasn’t a native of Teyvat so soon.

“So since I can’t fly now, I have to trouble you to carry me over~”

A dragon’s hug, hee hee hee. If he could be carried back by a dragon, his life would be complete!

***

The slime was scheming again. The azure slime stretched out two soft tentacles toward the young Archdemon.

Rimuru thought he had hidden his origin well, but Morax had long suspected.

After all, which slime in Teyvat possessed consciousness? Which slime could even withstand (or consume) the rock spear he had thrown, and still glow pure white under elemental sight?

More than Rimuru’s origin, Morax cared about his stance, worried whether he might endanger his people.

Now, having formed a contract with Rimuru, Morax suddenly worried about his health, concerned that he might be hurt because of him.

But Rimuru’s evasive attitude and obviously guilty expression fully revealed his inner thoughts.

Rimuru’s weakened strength wasn’t due to being hurt by the rock spear—at worst, it was just a slight effect.

“...If it’s harmless, then come up. I’ll carry you there.”

The Rock Archdemon manifested a pair of huge stone hands: fingers tightly closed, palms open to the sides, golden patterns set into the dark rock, emanating majestic authority.

He was ready to use this rock creation to carry the slime back.

As for Rimuru’s specific request for Morax to carry him himself...

Morax had no intention of indulging Rimuru’s little scheme. To claim he hadn’t noticed Rimuru acting was a lie.

Yet watching the slime’s clumsy acting, a strange delight grew in the Rock Archdemon’s heart. He didn’t want to expose the slime’s attempt to shirk responsibility.

“Eh—?”

Seeing Morax truly refuse to carry him, Rimuru immediately deflated. Morax had already created a transport tool; he couldn’t shamelessly ask for a hug again.

He still had some pride.

“Fine then...”

No hug it is. Rejecting such a perfect-feeling slime now means no chance to hug him in the future!

Hmph!

Rejected by the little dragon he liked, Rimuru sulkily hopped onto the rock vehicle Morax prepared, turning his back and curling up, refusing to communicate.

—This little one has quite the temper.

Amused by Rimuru’s childish antics, Morax smiled inwardly but showed no expression, calmly flying back into the sky, the rock vehicle carrying the withdrawn slime closely following.

“My territory includes the entire Tianheng Mountain Range. To the east, in the sea, lurks the Archdemon of Whirlpools, Oserel, watching hungrily, while the sea beast Baqiu secretly observes. The coastline is too dangerous, so I lead my people to establish tribes and villages on the west side of Tianheng Mountain.”

During the flight, Morax noticed Rimuru’s curiosity getting the better of him as he peeked down, prompting a faint smile.

Seeing Rimuru’s mood improve, Morax began describing the current state of his territory and the Archdemon domains near Tianheng Mountain.

“To the north of Tianheng Mountain lies the domain of the Archdemon of Dust, Hagntus. I’ve heard this deity is skilled in agriculture and craftsmanship and is very kind to their people. My people trade goods with them.”

“To the west of Tianheng lies Lisha Outskirts, formerly the domain of my old friend, the Dream Archdemon. Due to drastic environmental changes in the Chasm, it’s no longer suitable for humans. Thus, the Dream Archdemon decided to relocate their people to Chenyu Valley. I’m not sure of the current situation there. In the area, there remains a human-built fortress that has not relocated but has also never engaged externally.”

Rimuru, quick to grasp the gist, asked, “So, Morax, do you have plans to expand your territory?”

Having never played Genshin Impact, Rimuru was surprised to learn how many Archdemons there were in early Liyue. To survive alongside so many Archdemons was like playing the hardest mode.

But if Morax planned to unify Liyue, Rimuru could lend a hand!

Morax looked at Rimuru with surprise at his sudden reckless suggestion. “Of course not. Why do you ask?”

Since his birth, he had wandered this continent for nearly three thousand years, experiencing and witnessing much. Only recently, with wars erupting and nowhere safe to live, did Morax consider sheltering humans.

He did not intend to provoke war or expand his territory; for now, he only wished to guard a peaceful land for his people to survive this chaotic era.

***

“Really not?” Rimuru shivered under Morax’s astonished gaze, fearing being mistaken for a warmonger. He hastily laughed it off.

“I was just saying casually. You seem strong and might want to give your people a bigger territory for a better life?”

Morax shook his head gently. “Even if in the future I choose the path of killing to stop killing, now is not the time.”

Rimuru nodded frantically. “I see, I see. It really is too soon...”

He didn’t understand a word but pretended to.

Catching Rimuru’s feigned understanding from the corner of his eye, Morax chuckled dryly and cleared his throat to change the subject.

“When we reach Tianheng, if you don’t want to live with humans, you can stay temporarily at my cave dwelling.”

“Of course, if you want solitude, I can build you a special residence, but timing might be an issue.”

Morax looked somewhat troubled. “I have many affairs to attend to lately, you...”

Rimuru abruptly raised a hand. “Stop!”

“If you’re so busy, I’ll just live with you first~”

Living with Morax!

Rimuru’s eyes lit up. That meant he could cuddle with the dragon with the auspicious cloud tail every night!

It was heaven!

How could he refuse?

Any Chinese person wouldn’t!

Seeing Rimuru’s instant decision, Morax accepted the sudden new roommate without objection.

This was good; he needed more time to observe Rimuru anyway.

“Very well.”

Perhaps the distance wasn’t too far. Sitting in Morax’s rock vehicle, Rimuru could already see scattered villages among the mountains.

Looking down from the clouds at his people living peacefully, a warmth not usually belonging to the Rock Archdemon flickered in Morax’s eyes—though barely noticeable.

Though he preferred solitude, he did not reject the lively, earthly bustle.

Sometimes, watching it long enough, even he felt a trace of joy.

“We’ve arrived.”

Unlike the cheerful Morax, Rimuru’s mood sank as they descended, clearly seeing the modest living standards of Morax’s people.

Where was the god of wealth and commerce?

Where was the richest nation among the seven?

Where was the prosperity?

[Notification: After inspection, Morax’s people live by mining and already surpass most Archdemon’s peoples in Teyvat in living standards.]

“I told you, don’t say such depressing things out loud!!!”

Seeing Morax’s people living in such simplicity, Rimuru, expecting a life of luxury and ease, quietly broke inside.