"Chew, chew, chew…"
"This is delicious!"
Inside Shinobu's High-Grade Barbecue House, Ellen and her companions were devouring food as though they had been starving for centuries. Ellen's cheeks puffed out like a hungry squirrel, her eyes locked on every fresh piece of grilled meat.
Just as she spotted a particularly juicy portion—
Smack!
Kabalu knocked her chopsticks aside and snatched the piece cleanly.
"I saw it first!" Ellen protested.
Kabalu retorted through a full mouth, "Whoever grabs it gets it! I've been eyeing this one since it touched the grill!"
Watching the two fight like children, Shizue—quietly seated with her mask on—reached out calmly. With elegant precision, she claimed a piece for herself and slipped it under her mask.
Rimuru stared in horror.
"Takumi! Are they reincarnated hungry ghosts!? Are they trying to eat Dimensional City into bankruptcy!?"
Takumi snorted.
"Haha! Relax! This restaurant's owned by Shinobu. Worst case, we dine and dash."
Rimuru blinked.
"Are you not afraid she'll chase you home for the debt?"
Takumi tilted his chin proudly.
"Hmph! I'll hide at Kanae's place. Let's see her try to catch me."
Rimuru squinted suspiciously.
"Hmph! The debt is clearly just an excuse. You're really going there to meet her secretly!"
Takumi stiffened.
"How could you suspect me like that!? Don't you know what an upright person I am?"
Rimuru crossed her arms.
"If you're upright, then there's not a single treacherous person left in the world!"
Ellen chimed in enthusiastically.
"Lord Rimuru is absolutely right! Takumi, you're too suspicious! Only you can bring up dining and dashing with such righteousness!"
Takumi sighed dramatically.
"Ingrates! If you mock me like this, I'll eat all the grilled meat myself! Sakuya! Collect the meat for me!"
Sakuya stepped forward elegantly.
"As you command, Lord Takumi."
She opened her pocket watch.
Click.
"Time Stop."
The world froze.
Sakuya glided across the room like a phantom, gracefully transporting every single piece of meat onto Takumi's plate.
"Time Resume."
The dining hall woke again.
"Eh!? Where's the meat?"
"It all disappeared! It was right there!"
Takumi cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Unfortunate, truly unfortunate."
Rimuru glared.
"Sakuya! Stop spoiling him! That ability is for battle, not barbecue theft!"
Everyone's gazes snapped toward Sakuya.
Expressionless, the maid replied:
"I merely fulfilled my master's command."
"…"
Ellen whined in envy.
"I want a maid like that too…"
Takumi clapped.
"Enough, enough! Shinobu! Bring two more plates of beef!"
This time, Shinobu obeyed without complaint.
Shizue's Sudden Weakness
"After dinner, what are your plans?" Takumi asked.
Ellen raised her hand.
"We promised to visit Mrs. Kamado today!"
"Oh? So you've met her already?"
"Yes! She's so gentle! She even gave me free candied hawthorn!"
Takumi chuckled.
"Mrs. Kamado is amazing. Go enjoy yourselves later."
The warm atmosphere suddenly broke.
Shizue's shoulders trembled.
"Cough… cough… cough!"
She covered her mouth under her mask, coughing violently.
Rimuru rushed over.
"Miss Shizu! Are you okay!?"
Ellen also panicked.
"Sister Shizue!?"
Shizue quickly waved her hand. She removed her mask just slightly and smiled.
"I'm fine. Just an old condition. Don't worry."
But Takumi saw the faint flicker of orange light in her eyes.
Ifrit's influence is increasing.
He leaned slightly forward.
"Miss Shizu… is suppressing the spirit inside you getting harder?"
Shizue stiffened, surprised.
"You can tell?"
Takumi nodded.
"I can sense energy signatures. The fire spirit inside you—its power is unstable."
Rimuru gasped.
"Spirit!? Shizue has a spirit inside her!?"
Great Sage Analysis
Rimuru spoke internally:
"Great Sage! Confirm!"
Notification: A fire-element high-tier spirit detected. Codename: Ifrit.
Spirits restrain demons. Demons restrain angels. Angels restrain spirits.
High-tier spirits possess destructive potential equivalent to calamity-class threats.
Rimuru swallowed hard.
"Thanks, Great Sage. You can… go back to sleep."
The Great Sage said nothing—but Rimuru felt judged.
Takumi's Decision
Takumi spoke gently.
"Miss Shizu, in Dimensional City, we do not abandon those burdened by fate. If you allow it, I can help suppress Ifrit. At least temporarily."
Shizue looked stunned.
"You… can?"
Takumi raised a hand.
Gold fractal lines formed, swirling in an elegant spiral.
"This power—my Herrscher authority—can stabilize unstable energy. I can calm the spirit long enough for you to rest."
Shizue's eyes trembled.
Not with fear.
But hope.
"…Takumi. Please. Help me."
Takumi nodded.
"Hold still."
He placed two fingers near her sternum—lightly, respectfully.
A soft gold glow spread through her body.
Ifrit's violent aura retreated like a beast forced back into its cage.
Shizue gasped softly.
"…The pain… it's fading…"
Takumi withdrew his hand.
"It's only temporary. But it'll hold for a few days. We'll find a more permanent solution soon."
Shizue bowed deeply.
"Thank you… Lord Takumi. Truly."
Ellen clapped excitedly.
"As expected of the City Lord! Amazing!"
Rimuru puffed out her chest.
"He's cool sometimes. Just sometimes."
Takumi rolled his eyes.
Dimensional City's Next Project
The Civilization System suddenly appeared.
[City Quest Unlocked]
Project: Spirit Stabilization Nexus
Effect: Produces energy fields that can suppress or regulate unstable spirits.
Materials Required: Mana Crystals × 200, Mithril Alloy × 50, Dimensional Core Fragments × 2.
Recommended Priority: URGENT.
Takumi exhaled.
"A new system project… this will help Shizue—and others with similar conditions."
Rimuru tilted her head.
"Are there… others?"
Takumi looked outside, where the sky shimmered faintly.
"Dimensional instability is spreading. More anomalies will come. More people will need help."
Rimuru nodded firmly.
"Then Dimensional City will protect them."
A Sudden Disturbance
Just as they prepared to resume eating—
BOOM!!
A shockwave rippled across the city.
Takumi and Rimuru shot to their feet instantly.
Sakuya appeared beside them like a ghost.
"Lord Takumi. A dimensional tear is forming above District 3."
Takumi's eyes glowed gold.
"Again… and closer this time."
Rimuru clenched her fists.
"Let's go!"
Shizue stood as well.
"Let me help. Ifrit's quiet now—I can control myself."
Takumi nodded.
"Then everyone—move out!"
The entire restaurant shifted from peaceful chaos to battle-ready resolve.
Dimensional City was under threat.
And this time… the enemy was coming from above.