As the MC sat back, contemplating his recent battle and the evolution of his skills, he was momentarily lost in thought. The quiet of the evening was a welcome change after the chaos of his training, but it wasn't long before Rimuru spoke up—his voice as casual as ever, though the words were anything but.
"So," Rimuru began, his tone slightly mischievous. "Do you like Benimaru's daughter?"
The MC blinked, caught completely off-guard. His thoughts immediately spiraled into confusion, and he found himself staring at Rimuru with wide eyes.
"W-What?" the MC stammered, completely flustered. He wasn't sure how to respond to such an unexpected question. Benimaru's daughter? Was Rimuru seriously asking him about her?
Rimuru leaned back in his seat, his usual relaxed expression never faltering. "You know," he continued nonchalantly, "she's a strong one, and I noticed the way you two were interacting back in the forest." He smiled as if it was the most casual observation in the world. "You guys seem to get along pretty well, don't you think?"
The MC felt his face heat up. "I-I don't know what you mean!" he responded, looking away in a vain attempt to hide his embarrassment.
He hadn't thought about it at all in that way, at least not consciously. He'd only been focused on the situation at hand: saving the demi-human woman, fighting off the bandits, and then getting invited to Tempest. The thought of Benimaru's daughter—her fiery personality and strength—hadn't crossed his mind in such a personal way until now. But now that Rimuru had brought it up…
He could feel his heart skip a beat when he thought of her—a mix of curiosity, admiration, and yes, there was something more, though he wasn't quite sure how to categorize it yet.
Rimuru grinned at the MC's reaction. "It's fine if you do," he said with a playful wink. "No need to be shy about it. I'm just saying, she's got a good head on her shoulders and could probably use someone who can hold their own."
The MC opened his mouth to protest but found that the words caught in his throat. Did he like her? He wasn't sure. The thought of her made his heart race in a way that was completely unfamiliar. The way she carried herself, the strength she exhibited, and the respect she commanded—it was all… captivating.
But no—he couldn't possibly have feelings for her, could he?
"I—" the MC began, but his words failed him once again.
Rimuru, seeing the MC's discomfort, chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, I won't meddle in your personal life. Just something to think about."
The MC didn't know how to respond to that, but one thing was clear: the doubt Rimuru had planted in his mind was enough to make him reflect on things he had never thought about before.
A New Thought
As Rimuru shifted the conversation, and the MC went to bed that night, his mind couldn't help but replay those words over and over again. Did he like Benimaru's daughter? Was there more to their connection than just camaraderie and respect?
That night, as he drifted off to sleep, he realized that the future was full of uncertainties, and perhaps this unexpected question was just the beginning of something bigger.
In the quiet of his thoughts, a small smile crept onto the MC's face as he pondered his feelings. He had no answers now, but one thing was certain: Tempest was full of surprises, and perhaps this was one of the most interesting ones yet.
The morning after Rimuru's playful questioning about Benimaru's daughter, the MC woke up feeling a little more contemplative than usual. He had spent most of the night tossing and turning, unsure of what to make of the thoughts that had arisen during the conversation. His mind kept drifting back to her—Benimaru's daughter—and now, it seemed the day would be full of even more surprises.
As he sat down to eat, the atmosphere in the palace felt slightly different than usual. The air was filled with an underlying tension, but it wasn't long before the source of it became clear.
The large wooden doors to the palace opened, and Shion—one of Rimuru's trusted allies—walked in. She had been away on business in another country and had only just returned. As usual, her fiery energy filled the room the moment she stepped inside.
Shion, with her mischievous smile, walked in confidently, but when she laid eyes on the MC, her expression immediately shifted to one of curiosity.
"Who's this?" she asked, eyeing him up and down. Her gaze was a mix of suspicion and interest, not fully understanding who this mysterious figure was.
Before the MC could answer, the door swung open again, and Diablo appeared, stepping into the room. His gaze settled on the MC, and with a brief nod, he spoke to Shion.
"Allow me to introduce you, Lady Shion," Diablo said smoothly. "This is our esteemed guest. He has recently been staying with us and has already proven his worth through several heroic deeds."
Shion blinked, fascinated by Diablo's words. She turned her gaze back to the MC. "Heroic deeds, huh?" she muttered, her tone skeptical.
Just then, Rimuru entered the room, his usual laid-back presence filling the space. "Ah, Shion, you're back! Good timing," he said with a smile. "I've been meaning to introduce you to our guest here."
Shion bowed slightly to Rimuru in greeting, her respect for him evident. However, she was still eyeing the MC warily. "I see. So, what's this about heroic deeds? What kind of hero is he?"
Rimuru smiled and began to recount the MC's exploits in his typical, nonchalant way.
"He's done quite a bit, actually. Saved a village, defeated a band of bandits, and even had an interesting match with Diablo, though it was a little one-sided. Still, he's shown great promise. Not to mention, he's already evolved a couple of his skills into ultimate forms."
Shion raised an eyebrow at that, impressed but still unsure. "Quite impressive, I suppose, for someone I just met."
Rimuru turned his gaze toward the MC, who was standing there, trying to shrink into the background. "So, what's your name, by the way?" Rimuru asked, looking at him curiously. "I've been meaning to ask, but I didn't want to be rude."
The MC hesitated. His thoughts went back to the question Rimuru had asked him the day before. Name? He didn't really have one, did he? He had lived most of his life in purgatory and hadn't needed one until now. But now… here, in this world, it felt like he needed one.
"I don't have a name," the MC replied softly, shrugging. "It doesn't matter."
The room fell silent. Diablo blinked in surprise, and Shion looked at him with wide eyes, clearly not expecting such an answer. Rimuru, too, was taken aback. He opened his mouth to speak, but then paused, his gaze shifting to the MC once more. "Wait a minute," Rimuru muttered, looking at him more closely. "Looking at your existence… I should be able to see a name…" He trailed off, confusion spreading across his face. "Huh. I don't see one at all."
The MC simply shook his head, clearly unconcerned. "Like I said, it doesn't matter."
Shion wasn't having any of it, however. Her eyes narrowed, her usual fiery attitude flaring up. She pointed a finger at him and declared, "You can't just go around without a name. That's completely unacceptable!"
The MC opened his mouth to argue, but before he could get a word in, Shion's voice cut through the air. "Lord Rimuru shall give you a name, then!" She seemed so sure of herself that the MC was left speechless.
Rimuru blinked in surprise, then glanced at the MC. "Huh? Well… if you really don't mind, I guess I can give you one. But are you sure? You don't seem too bothered by not having one."
The MC hesitated for a moment. There was something oddly important about having a name in this world. Names had power. But, he didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Still, the fact that Shion and Rimuru were insistent on it made him feel like it was something he couldn't ignore.
"Alright," the MC finally said with a sigh. "If it's really necessary, then sure."
Rimuru smiled, his usual playful demeanor returning. "Great! Well, if you want to make a name for yourself, I'll give you one."
He closed his eyes for a moment, as if carefully considering the name that would suit the MC best.
"From now on," Rimuru said, his voice steady and filled with a quiet authority, "you shall be known as… Astraeus."
The name seemed to fill the air, almost as if it carried a weight of its own. It felt right somehow, as though it had always been the MC's name.
"Astraeus, huh?" the MC repeated, the name rolling off his tongue. "I like it."
Shion nodded approvingly, her fiery spirit still present but now tempered with a sense of respect. "Astraeus. It suits you."
The MC smiled, feeling the weight of the name settle into his very being. It wasn't just a name—it felt like the beginning of a new chapter in his journey, one where he was finally recognized for who he was in this world.
And from that moment forward, Astraeus was no longer just a wandering soul in a strange world. He had a name, a purpose, and with it, the determination to carve his own path.