Chapter 31: The Ingrassia Entry Fee
"Someone has to manage your travel expenses, Rimuru," I pulse, my internal persona already drafting a travel budget that accounts for the lack of high-grade magicules in human settlements. "And I refuse to let you represent the Tempest brand in a foreign kingdom while wearing that ridiculous scarf without me there to balance the aesthetic."
The journey to the Kingdom of Ingrassia was a tedious exercise in lowering my standards. We transitioned from the high-density magicule environment of the Jura Forest to the thin, dusty atmosphere of human civilization. To a slime of my current density, the air felt... cheap.
We reached the capital city of Ingrassia after several days of travel. It was a sprawling monument to stone-masonry and bureaucracy. High walls, bustling markets, and a distinct lack of giant flying sharks. Rimuru, now using his humanoid form—a copy of Shizu—wore the mask to suppress his aura. I, meanwhile, remained in my baseline slime form, but I'd adjusted my refractive index to look like a high-end obsidian sphere. If I was going to be a pet, I was going to be a luxury one.
"Wow, it's really developed," Rimuru mutters, looking at the stone-paved streets and the sheer volume of "Otherworlder" influence in the architecture. "Almost feels like home."
"It feels like a mid-tier commercial hub, Rimuru," I pulse, my voice a cold, localized vibration. "The efficiency of their gate security is laughable, and the magicule density is so low I'm practically running on my internal reserves. Let's find this Yuuki Kagurazaka and settle Shizu's outstanding accounts."
Notice. We are being observed by multiple high-level security mages. Identification: Free Guild internal security. Their appraisal spells are bouncing off the [Partial Magic Interference] law currently integrated into User's membrane.
Azathoth, let them scan. It's good for them to know they're dealing with a premium entity. Just keep a lock on my Soul Capacity. That 48.5% is starting to feel like a ticking clock.
We arrived at the Free Guild Headquarters—a massive, imposing building that screamed "corporate dominance." After a few minutes of Rimuru being "Otherworlder-friendly" with the reception, we were ushered into the office of the Grandmaster.
Yuuki Kagurazaka was not what I expected. He looked like a student who'd spent too much time in a manga cafe. He was young, energetic, and surrounded by stacks of paper that would give any CEO a panic attack.
"So, you're the one Shizue-san mentioned?" Yuuki says, his eyes darting from Rimuru to me. He pauses, his gaze lingering on my dark, polished surface. "And... what's this? A dark slime? I've never seen a variant like this in the textbooks."
"I am the management," I pulse, my [Transaction Domain] expanding just enough to chill the air in the room. "And Shizu didn't just mention us; she left us with the responsibility of her 'S-Class' liabilities. I believe they are currently enrolled in the Academy?"
Yuuki's smile falters for a split second. The mention of the children—Otherworlders summoned as weapons whose bodies are failing due to excess magicules—is clearly a sensitive line-item on his balance sheet.
"They're a handful," Yuuki admits, rubbing the back of his neck. "Five kids. All of them are ticking time bombs. Their magic energy is too high for their bodies to stabilize. Honestly, it's a tragedy."
Notice. Target: Yuuki Kagurazaka is hiding a significant amount of his own magicule capacity. Analysis: He is an Otherworlder with high-tier combat potential. Caution is advised.
High-tier, huh? Everyone in this kingdom seems to be holding onto 'hidden assets.' It's a market built on insider trading.
"Take us to them," Rimuru says, his tone shifting to that serious "Teacher" mode he's been practicing.
We were led to a separate wing of the Academy. As we approached the classroom, I could feel the magicule fluctuations. It wasn't the refined, disciplined aura of the Kijin. It was raw, chaotic, and dangerously unstable. It was the sound of five souls screaming under the weight of an over-leveraged energy pool.
"Here we are," Yuuki says, opening the door.
A fireball immediately flew past Rimuru's head, scorching the doorframe.
"Go away! We don't want another teacher!" a young boy's voice yells.
I float into the room, my [Density Laws] making me feel like a solid anchor in the middle of the magical storm. I look at the five children: Kenya, Ryota, Gale, Alice, and Chloe. They are small, angry, and radiating enough magicules to level the building if they lose control.
Notice. Soul Capacity of targets: 95%+. They are in a state of terminal over-leverage. If their magicules are not stabilized or vented into a secondary vessel, they will suffer a catastrophic system failure within months.
Stabilized or vented... I think, my obsidian surface reflecting the flickering flames in the room. They're just like me. Too much data, not enough hardware. Only I have Azathoth to manage the load. They just have their own melting souls.
"Quiet," I pulse, my voice a resonant, icy command that makes the children freeze. I expand my [Transaction Domain] to dampen the stray magicules in the air. "We aren't here to 'teach' you. we're here to audit your condition. And right now, your survival rating is trending toward zero. If you want to see the next fiscal year, I suggest you sit down and listen."
Current Magicule Reserves: 57.1%. Location: Ingrassia Academy, Class S. Status: Initial contact with students. Soul Capacity: 48.5%. Note: These kids might be the catalyst I've been looking for.
Chapter End.