Shizue, Kenya, Alice, and Chloe.
In addition to the power bestowed by Rin, the four of them each awakened two Unique Skills.
There is no need to mention Chloe and Alice for now.
Their luck was simply too good. They drew the time and space attributes, which possess heaven defying potential.
This meant that the two girls were destined to reach the realm of God's Ultimate in the future.
For them, the number of Unique Skills was no longer a measure of potential.
There was no helping it. The difference between a mortal and a Child of Destiny was simply that immense.
Take Shizue and Kenya, for example.
They did not have the same good fortune as those two girls. How far they could go in the future still depended on their own efforts.
As things stood now,
if the two of them could awaken, then at worst, they would obtain a high tier Unique Skill.
This was even with the seven virtues and seven deadly sins already having their masters.
Otherwise, if they had been a little earlier, the two of them would have been fully qualified to contend for a spot among the world's top twenty.
"However, this child Ryota really surprised me."
Among the four Unique Skills, Extreme Ice did not count.
That was given to him by Rin through the synthesis of the Ice Element.
But the remaining Cloud Weaver, Ocean Coverer, and Winter Hunter.
These had very little to do with Rin.
Ryota had purely unearthed these three powers from his own soul.
Unique Skills were like seeds, existing within everyone's soul.
Their manifestation, or specific effects, were determined by a person's thoughts.
It was similar to how appearance was born from the heart.
Rimuru in the original story, before her transmigration, obtained the Unique Skills Predator and Great Sage because of various thoughts.
In other words, the Voice of the World actually molded a portion of each person's soul energy into a Unique Skill that suited them.
Similarly, Ryota's Cloud Weaver, Ocean Coverer, and Winter Hunter.
They were not born because of the three attributes of cloud, sea, and ice.
On the contrary, it was Ryota's power that landed on these three attributes, growing three such fruits.
"Although you are behind others at the starting line,"
Rin comforted the boy, "I believe that in the future, Ryota, you will definitely not be worse than anyone else."
"Mm."
Ryota looked up, his eyes filled with yearning and emotion.
He had not expected Rin to hold such expectations for him.
"I, I will definitely work hard, Big Brother Rin."
To repay Rin's life saving grace, and to live up to this expectation, Ryota had to redouble his efforts and quickly become useful to Rin.
Besides, so what if he started a little later than Kenya and the others.
So what.
Sooner or later, he would catch up and let Rin see his growth.
Ryota thought, I am a man valued by Big Brother Rin.
"Alright."
Rin finished treating the six of them and, while he was at it, also converted them into his dependents.
There was no helping it. Six Divine Species.
If he could just let them go, Rin felt he really needed to get his head checked.
With the aptitude of these six, in the future, they would at least become Awakened Demon Lord.
Looking across the entire Cardinal World, even with Rin's help, the number of beings who could eventually grow to the level of a True Demon Lord would not exceed fifty.
Excluding enemies and those who could never possibly be subdued, the fifty four slots Rin had reserved for the Cardinal World were more than enough.
"Let's go. I'll take you back to the Monster Nation."
"From now on, that will be your new home."
The Monster Nation mentioned by Rin had already been explained to the children by Shizue, with his permission.
"Is the Monster Nation really as beautiful as Shizue said?"
"I heard there are so many, many children."
"In that case, won't the study pressure be really high?"
"Kenya, you idiot. You have to do your homework yourself. Don't think about copying others."
"I wouldn't do that."
Even though they already possessed great power, the children were still the same as before, not arrogant at all, nor feeling superior just because they had become Divine Species.
In the Monster Nation, as long as one was loyal to Rin, everyone was equal in terms of personality.
Status might dictate differences in authority, but there would never be a situation where those in high positions abused their power and treated commoners as less than human.
This was the good thing about monsters.
They knew where their power came from.
Unlike the nobles of the Kingdom of Falmuth, where superiors thought about how to exploit inferiors, while inferiors secretly stabbed the backs of those they served.
You say Rin often oppresses Rimuru.
Can that even be called oppression.
With Rin and Rimuru's relationship, what was the big deal if she worked overtime for a few days, doing a 007.
Rimuru said, when it comes to being inhumane, it really has to be you, Rin senpai.
"By the way, your current strength is a bit too powerful."
"I hope you can exercise restraint, and not rely on this power to bully the weak."
Power was not something to be used for bullying. It should be used to protect companions and defend one's home.
"We understand, Big Brother Rin."
The children also knew that they could easily lose control of their strength over something small and injure others.
If that were to happen, they would feel guilty as well.
"Rin, please rest assured. I will properly discipline these children."
"With me watching over them, such a thing will definitely not happen."
Shizue still held considerable authority in front of the five children.
Even though her strength could no longer completely suppress them, the children were still firmly under Shizue's control.
There was no helping it. A teacher's identity naturally suppressed children.
Even a girl like Chloe, who had obtained future memories, could only be a well behaved and adorable little girl in front of Shizue.
"Mm."
Rin was still quite at ease with Shizue.
He had different arrangements planned for these five children.
Among them, Chloe and Irisviel would become his envoys in the future, patrolling all directions as his spokespersons.
The remaining Kenya, Ryota, and Gale would form a vanguard squad, handling extremely troublesome problems that Rin found inconvenient to deal with personally.
As for Shizue, she had worked hard for many years already.
Rin hoped she could rest for a period of time.
Just recently, the Seitenshi had complained to him, hoping Rin could send more teachers with teaching experience to help share the burden.
Of course, because the five children were still too young,
Rin hoped they could continue staying by Shizue's side, accumulate combat experience, and improve their cultural literacy.
(To be continued.)