I may have underestimated you,
but you underestimated me far more.
My turn.
Use unique skill Predator?
Yes!
Shizu-san!
Resign yourself, Ifrit.
You cannot break free from this space.
You are no match for Rimuru.
He is my sworn friend!
I am the Storm Dragon, Veldora Tempest.
You will serve as my opponent until I am satisfied.
Storm... Dragon?
Indeed.
I am one of the True Dragons, the strongest beings in the world:
Veldora the Storm Dragon.
Ifrit, it appears Rimuru intended to isolate you,
but I consciously summoned you here.
Wh-Why?
Was simply consuming me not enough?
So you do understand!
Now, then...
Dragon
Um... What is this?
A shogi board.
A shogi board?
It is a game with a rich history in the world Rimuru came from.
King General
Of course, this does not physically exist.
I envisioned it using my thoughts.
It is boring to play alone,
so I had hoped someone would come along to play it with me.
You will serve as my opponent until I am satisfied...
my shogi opponent!
R-Right...
What the hell?
Of course, I will teach you the rules, and I'll even give you a handicap.
First, I'll give you the four-piece handicap, removing my rook, bishop, and lances!
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Tales: Veldora's Journal
And there are several ways you can order your pieces.
The pieces you place first mean the difference between the Ohashi order and the Ito order.
Okay.
And the player in the seat of honor uses a king general,
while the lower-ranked player uses a jeweled general.
Okay.
Now, Ifrit, you can go first.
Thank you.
Yes, a pawn that reaches the promotion line is called a promoted pawn.
There's even a saying, "A pawn is worth 1,000 gold generals."
They appear weak, but they are very useful pieces.
Man
(Self-proclaimed)
Ifrit, you are quite adept at this!
You flatter me.
Now, where did I leave off in my life story?
About 300 years ago,
when you burned a town to the ground in a moment of mischief
and ended up fighting the Hero.
Oh, yes!
So I fought this human Hero who wore a mask,
and I let my guard down for just a second
and found myself captured by Unlimited Imprisonment!
— Absolute Severance —
You have clearly been through difficult times, as well.
Unlimited Imprisonment
Let's see... The silver general can't move back or to the side, right?
Correct!
Incidentally, my favorite piece is, of course, the rook!
It can become a dragon, after all!
Also, incidentally, I'm partial to the static rook!
Being imprisoned for so long
and spending 300 years alone must have been terribly lonely.
Wh-What are you saying?!
As one of the world's strongest beings, the True Dragons,
you suggest that I, the one feared as the Storm Dragon, am lonely?!
Me, lonely? Th-That's absolutely preposterous!
I wasn't the least bit lonely!
Black Serpent Appeared
You'll never hear me say I'm not lonely anymore!
Um...
There were many things I could do alone.
Solo shiritori, solo janken, solo look-that-way...
Lord Veldora...
I-I don't need your sympathy, okay?!
Still, when I was alone, he appeared before me.
Armorsaurus
Appeared
He?
Oh, do you mean the...
Mimic Black Serpent
Indeed. It was a slime...
Rimuru.
— Poisonous Breath —
I see.
The moment Rimuru appeared out of nowhere in my cave,
I could, of course, sense his presence.
Evil Centipede
Appeared
Even within Unlimited Imprisonment,
I could tell he wasn't the same as the spiders, snakes,
"Paralysis Breath" Acquired
and other creatures in the cave.
Black Spider Appeared
It was a first in 300 years.
"Sticky Thread"•"Steel Thread" Acquired
A-And as I felt that presence steadily approaching me,
what do you think I did?
Well...
I don't know.
I practiced using my voice.
Giant Bat Appeared
Impressive, Lord Veldora!
"Drain"•"Ultrasonic Wave" Acquired
I had hardly spoken out loud in 300 years, after all.
So, you know, what if I'd tried to speak and my voice didn't work?
Like this...
I'm sure you've been through it, too.
After spending a weekend at home, not speaking to anyone,
you tried to speak after returning to work, but your voice didn't work.
You must have forgotten how to speak at some point!
I'm not sure what you mean by "weekend" and "work," but...
— Water Pressure Propulsion —
Of course, I could have just communicated with my thoughts,
but since I had a rare opportunity, I wanted to use my voice.
"She sells seashells by the seashore."
Yes! My voice worked!
I've practiced projecting my voice! Okay, I'm ready!
All that's left is to wait for the slime to come to me!
Ba-dump... Tremble... What is this sensation?
I've never felt it before!
Wait, slime! Not that way! You're going farther away from me!
Yes, that's it! I'm over here!
This way, Mr. Slime! Follow the magicules!
But I'm a little bit nervous...
What if he runs away upon seeing me?
I may be striking, gallant, beautiful, and wondrous,
but, you know, I am a Dragon... and I look a little scary, right?
I need to be careful not to scare him.
So, what should I say to him?
"Hey, you cute little slime! Are you free?"
Extra Skill Magic Sense Acquired
No, that would make me seem gaudy.
"I am the Storm Dragon, Veldora!"
But starting off with that would probably scare him...
I should save the "Storm Dragon" part for later.
I want him to think I'm nice.
As I was thinking all that,
Rimuru came close to where I was imprisoned.
So I gazed right at him without even blinking!
I mean, even monsters never came near my prison, you know?
It had been so long since I'd seen something that moved!
My heart was pounding!
You get it? You get it?! It was awesomesauce!
I'm not sure I know what "awesomesauce" means, either...
Oh, so you do get it, eh? Of course you do!
Dogs and wolves wag their tails when happy, right?
It was that feeling!
I was just a heartbeat away from unconsciously wagging my own tail!
My heart was pounding so hard, I nearly hyperventilated!
But I am Veldora the Storm Dragon, one of the world's strongest beings, the True Dragons.
I maintained my dignity when I spoke to Rimuru.
So after all that, what did you say to him?
"Can you hear me, small one?"
That's safe, right?
Yes, quite safe.
So then, the slime was startled, at first,
but he was a brilliant individual.
He understood me in no time, and then he said he'd be my friend!
I felt my heart grow warm!
I was trapped in a prison, but I felt as if I was flying high!
I felt my heart flutter!
You had been so lonely for 300 years, after all.
Rimuru Tempest
That's right!
W-Wait! I wasn't lonely, okay?!
A measly 300 years is but one second to me!
Do you... like talking that way?
Indeed.
What do they call it? "Tsundere"?
In spite of myself, I find it cute.
Yes. It is cute.
Aw, you're going to make me blush!
So, after becoming my friend, Rimuru made an interesting proposal.
Not really! He said he was going to eat me!
Honestly, what a laugh!
What? That's not funny?
I can't believe you agreed to be eaten so easily.
Well, I mean, was I supposed to just stay in my prison?
Once my magicules ran out, I would've been a goner.
And there was no telling when I'd ever have another visitor...
So I let him eat me, and I'd analyze my prison
from inside him while he analyzed it from the outside.
He said that might lead to me being freed from that prison eventually.
It gave me hopes and dreams, and...
And?
I would never be alone again.
I see.
So there you have it!
That's why I'm inside here now.
Oh!
What's the matter?
It seems Shizu has passed...
What?
No, perhaps I should say she rejoined her mother.
I worshiped the Demon Lord Leon.
For that reason, she and I were not very compatible.
But I believe she was a pitiable woman whose fate toyed with her.
I see... You must have some regrets.
But don't worry.
Huh?
Um, I'm not particularly worried...
Just leave everything to Rimuru.
Rimuru will see to it that the wishes she left behind are realized.
He is my sworn friend, after all!
Oh? Rimuru seems to have gained the ability to take a human form.
Tsk! I missed an important scene!
By the way, Lord Veldora...
Should you really be playing shogi with me like this?
What about your analysis of Unlimited Imprisonment?
It may not look it, but I'm working on that.
I'm doing two things at once. I can multitask!
Multitask?
I'm not sure what it means, but Rimuru said it.
I see... "Multitask," is it?
That is impressive.
Anyway, you missed the scene where Great Rimuru took a human form...
Check.
Check?
Oh! I get it. Um...
Now, then... This is...
Even if I block you here, my king will be in check, no matter where I put it... right?
That's right! It's checkmate!
I've lost.
Well played, Lord Veldora.
I am Veldora, one of the True Dragons,
the world's strongest beings, and the one feared as the Storm Dragon!
I'm the best at shogi, too!
Call me a Meijin, a Ryuo, a Shinjin'o... whatever you like!
Ifrit...
You have learned the rules of shogi well in just a few months.
No, you are simply an excellent teacher, Lord Veldora.
Of course, that is part of it, but you have respectable talent.
You learn fast. It's a lot like...
Rimuru's Predator skill!
I said something pretty clever!
Quite well done, indeed.
Oh, it was... exactly that!
I am the Storm Dragon, after all!
You go, Storm Dragon!
Ifrit, you've gotten much better at playing off of my lines!
Thanks to your influence, Lord Veldora.
So it's not just shogi. You've learned flattery, too!
It may finally be time to play with no handicaps.
Thank you.
Still, there was that battle with the Orc Lord...
Then the Demon Lord Milim showed up, and Charybdis attacked...
So much happened in such a short time.
Indeed. But Rimuru did very well.
He took in the Orcs
and established the Jura Forest Alliance.
His men... no, I think Rimuru considers them friends.
They have greatly increased in number.
Yes.
There are Ogres, Lizardmen...
He accepts everyone, regardless of race,
and gives them a place.
Great Rimuru's heart seems to be just as big as his stomach.
Right? Right?
Rimuru is my sworn friend, after all!
He can't abandon anyone who's in trouble!
I see.
His town achieved vast development as a result.
Before Rimuru was reincarnated into this world,
he worked for something called "general contracting" in his own world.
General contracting?
It's like a mixer, I think!
I see...
What's a mixer?
It seems the knowledge and experience he gained
through general contracting helped in building his town.
Oh, it looks like Rimuru has arrived in the Kingdom of Ingrassia.
The Kingdom of Ingrassia...
So he's gone to see her students, then.
Indeed. He's gone to realize the wish Shizu left behind.
See? Isn't Rimuru just so compassionate?
I'm not sure why you look so smug about that...
Do ya like that? Do ya?
Hey, I know!
Instead of "Veldora,"
Free Union Headquarters
it might be fun to go by "Veldoyalikethat"!
Yes... that would... be... fun.
Yes, yes. Great idea, Lord Veldoyalikethat.
You know, Ifrit, you've seemed a bit distant lately.
Are you bored with me? Have you found someone else to play with?
Of course not. I'm not being distant.
I am a superior spirit of fire.
I'm always burning red-hot with passion.
Really?
Would you like to touch me and see?
Okay...
Oh... You're warm.
That tickles...
Oh? That's the leader of the Kingdom of Ingrassia's Freedom Union,
Grandmaster Yuuki Kagurazaka
Grandmaster Yuuki Kagurazaka.
He came from the same world as Great Rimuru.
I'm impressed you know that.
I still retain a few of the memories Shizu had when she was unified with me.
He's one of her two disciples.
Yuuki's appearance hasn't changed since I first encountered him.
There was another disciple, a girl,
and she was even more skilled than Shizu.
Oh?
A female disciple...
She may have been a beast in the truest sense.
She was that strong?
If he had ever been forced to face her,
even Great Rimuru could not have defeated her easily.
Girls sure are scary.
Sounds like Rimuru would be better off never meeting her.
But he certainly seems to be hitting it off with this Yuuki.
Sirius
That sacred text...
Sacred text?
You mean the thing they call "manga"?
Precisely.
I have become absorbed in them myself by viewing them through Rimuru's memories.
They are a splendid compendium of knowledge.
You should read some, too.
Right...
And let me know what you think! I'll share my impressions with you, too!
Oh, but no spoilers!
Um...
Could you let go of my hand now?
It's warm...
It was truly a great thing that Rimuru became a teacher to Shizu's students.
He earned the children's trust so quickly.
Sirius
Altair: A Record of Battles
They had gone wild after the loss of Shizu,
but they've calmed down a bit.
Still, Great Rimuru never ceases to amaze.
To think he came up with the idea to have superior spirits inhabit them
to prevent the magicules in their bodies from rampaging and killing them.
There aren't many who would think of that.
Right? Isn't he great?
You're Lord Veldoyalikethat again.
Oh? The children are giving it their all!
Each one is attempting to take in a superior spirit!
We must cheer them on, as well!
R-Right!
Go, Gale!
Go, Alice!
Go, Kenya!
Go, Ryota!
Go, Chloe!
Go, Gale!
Go, Alice!
Go, Kenya!
Go, Ryota!
Go, Chloe!
Go! Go! Go!
They did it!
Now the children will be safe.
The magicules within them won't rampage,
and their bodies won't be destroyed.
Yes. Now Shizu can rest in peace.
That... is wonderful.
And Rimuru can return to Tempest.
He can finally see his friends again and enjoy life with them.
Yes. He's earned it.
I think Great Rimuru should get some rest.
He's been doing so much, for so long.
Yes, that's true.
Saying goodbye to the children will be painful,
but he can see them again anytime.
There's no reason to be sad.
Yes.
By the way, Lord Veldora...
Wh-What is it?
Check.
Check?
Yes. Checkmate.
I win.
Wait a—
There is no waiting. These are the rules.
Very well! I have a trick up my sleeve!
You have a trick for getting out of checkmate?
No... That can't be possible!
I didn't want to have to do this,
but out of respect for your newfound skill...
I will show you the trick up my sleeve!
Trick... up your sleeve?
King General
Emperor
Th-The king general was promoted to emperor?!
This is my king general's true form!
This emperor can move twice!
That means he can escape your checkmate!
Huh?! That piece isn't in the rules—
Fool!
You think I would be bound by rules that someone else came up with?!
Listen to me! If you're bound by rules and standards,
you can never be a true risk taker!
No, standards aside, you need to follow the rules!
A king general can't be promoted. It wasn't even in enemy territory.
And it absolutely cannot become an emperor.
In other words, since I put you in checkmate, I win.
Are you trying to hide your loss behind laughter?
Lead the way, take me home...
Memories will be my guides toward tomorrow...
Come, come, let's go home...
Are you trying to sing your way out of this?
I am one of the True Dragons, the one feared as the Storm Dragon, Veldora Tempest!
Lord Veldora?
Who wins and loses at shogi is but a trifling matter to me!
Then, shall we play a review match?
Lord Veldora...
Hey, look! Rimuru is on his way back to Tempest!
Ah, what a fine job you did! Well done!
Wait... Who is that?
Who?
That's...
I feel a strange apprehension...