3rd Pov
Some time passed, currently inside the Jura Forets...Rimuru had already went to Dwargon and came back...
After meeting the conqueror of flames, he soon had to face reality and watch her die.
Laying on her deathbed, Shizue stared at the ceiling weakly.
Shizue : You know slime-san...i-i don't want to die...
She broke down in tears after saying that...Rimuru could only helplessly witness the scene, he was forcing Great sage to find a solution but nothing...
He was too weak at the moment.
Rimuru : Y-you told me you were searching for someone when you entered the forest...who ?
Shizue : Ahh...his name is Leon Cromwell, a demon lord...
Rimuru : Demon lord Leon Cromwell, huh...
The discussion was quiet and awkward, Shizue just stared at the ceiling feeling her body altering due to old age.
This was the consequence after losing Ifrit...
Rimuru : Do you have any wishes ?
Rimuru wasn't dumb, it was clear...Shizue is going to die soon and there was nothing he could do to save her.
The sole thing he could do is ask for her dying wishes and make them come true.
Shizue : I-...please save the childrens...
Rimuru : The children ?
Shizue : Yes...
Closing her eyes, she narrated how she met those 5 summoned children destined to die...how everyone had abandoned them.
Shizue : I also came here in hope of finding a way to save them...
Rimuru : I see...c-can you tell me your story ?
He was desperately trying to hold the conversation longer...Shizue knew that and smiled.
Shizue : Sure...let's see, all started when-
From this point onward, she narrated her life...the painful moment to the happy one.
How she was summoned by Leon Cromwell and given Ifrit, how she was abandoned and met the masked Hero who then became her teacher and traveling companion.
How even that Hero left her behind...she then wandered the world alone...
Shizue : That was until I met a weird guy...
Rimuru : A weird guy ?
Shizue : Yes...he was quiet and we barely exchanged a few words...yet it felt like we were longtime companions.
It was during one of her stay at an Inn after coming back from a mission, she decided to rest for the day and went to the restaurant on the spot.
There she met him...the restaurant was crowded so she had to share a table with a stranger not like she minded.
The one that day was named Dawn...they shared a short meal and discussed a little, strangely enough that man engaged the conversation when he realized who she was.
At first, Shizue thought he knew her due to her adventurer career and reputation but all this crumbled when he mentioned elements from her past.
Flashback
In that crowded restaurant, Shizue ate quietly with her mask on...the person beside her has been engaging in small talk for a while now.
Though Shizue only responded with a short answer or nod, it didn't seem to bother him.
Dawn : By the way...how is Chronoa ?
Suddenly freezing, Shizue let her spoon fall as she frantically turned toward this stranger.
She didn't draw her sword or activate any skill because they were in public but you could feel some aura leaking.
Shizue : Who...
Dawn : Relax, I just recognized that mask you were wearing...Chronoa was my teacher.
Shizue : Her student...
Smiling, Dawn was currently hiding his identity since he was already pretty famous as one of the heads of Ruberios.
Just now, he was on his way back to Ruberios after some affair in this area.
He stopped at this Inn for the night and coincidentally met with Shizue...even though he hasn't expected that.
Dawn : Anyway, what's your name ? You can just call me Dawn.
Shizue : Shizu.
Returning back to their dishes, the atmosphere was kind of tense as the conqueror of flames didn't know how to act.
Dawn : Ne Shizu-san...what do you think of this world ?
Shizue : Why this question ?
Dawn : No need to be so tense...i'm just interested in the opinion of a fellow student, actually that makes us Kohai and Senpai, right.
He tried to ease the atmosphere but Shizue didn't let it go and carefully thought about what she should do.
Ultimately, answering his questions brings no harm...and she could in exchange ask questions too.
Shizue : I...hate this world.
Dawn : ...
Those words were cold and honest, she told the truth...she hated this world more than anything.
Dawn : I see...on the contrary I love it with all my heart.
Shizue : ...
His answer was unexpected, this wasn't something a character like Shizue could understand.
Tensura, this name alone played a big part in Dawn's former life...despite all he has lost, despite all he suffered he couldn't bring himself to fully hate this world.
Shizue : Why ? People are dying so easily, children are rejected and sent to the battlefield, otherworlder are summoned to become what they don't want...
Dawn : Well seeing it like that, then yes this world is pure shit...the survival of the fittest, that's the law here.
In 2000 years, this world's rule was fully implemented into him...if it wasn't for the perfect memories granted by his skill.
He would have forgotten the rule and peace from a magicless world by now.
Dawn : But after living for so long, I learned how to enjoy this...I might be a bad person in your eyes but in the end, I'm satisfied with what I am.
Shizue : You are really confusing...
At the time, Shizue was 22 years old...she was young, really young for this world's standard.
Dawn : Still Shizu-san, you might think that way right now...but at least give it a thought, this world isn't as bad as you think.
Finishing his meal, he got up and left a pile of gold coins on the table.
Dawn : Tonight's dinner for me.
Shizue just quietly watched him leave, his words resonating in her mind for a while.
Flashback End
Shizue : After I had met him 2 other times...
Rimuru : He seems as you say...quite the weird type...
Shizue : Rig-ugh !
Suddenly feeling pain, Shizue groaned...this led to a chain reaction as Rimuru jumped startled.
He looked at her worried before the pain subdued.
Shizue : Ah...it's almost time, huh.
Truly those words Dawn told her had affected her way too much...at the moment, there was only one thing she wanted...
Shizue : Slime-san...i-i really want to live...
Tears rolled down her cheek, after that day...after meeting him she tried to look at the world differently.
Slowly she started to see past the dark side, the misery and suffering...this world had also its own good.
She realized this way too late and now it was already time for her to go.
Staying quiet, Rimuru bit his invisible lips and grabbed her hand.
Rimuru : Don't worry Shizu-san, I'm going to save those children and on top of that I'll punch that damn demon lord Leon Cromwells face for you !
At this point, Shizue's body was already old...she was reaching her last limits, her eyes already lost the living light.
Shizue : Slime-san...could you...eat me ?
Rimuru : Huh ?
Shizue : I-i don't deserve this world...i always hated it until my very last moment...i-i don't want to die in this world i had rejected for so long.
She was contradicting herself, in fact she didn't know anymore...it seemed like everything was revealing to her right before death.
Maybe she just wanted to escape this reality by proposing this to Rimuru...her thoughts were confusing and she herself couldn't understand them.
Ultimately, Rimuru on the side made his decision...he had to seal his resolve before it's too late.
Rimuru : Very well.
Dawn Pov
This is more sentimental when you see it directly...I waited patiently, arm crossed.
Using Author skill to rewrite the direction that lght reflect, sound and basically made me invisible.
Standing against the wall, I closed my eyes at the last scene...Rimuru using predator to absorb Shizue's body.
Dawn : (My nature as a fanfic author wants me to appear and save her...i could if i wanted but i have to restrain myself.)
I could easily summon a spirit or even heal her condition myself...now that I think, it has been over a year now that Dusk has been sleeping.
I placed my hand over my chest, the two spirits that reside within me Snowie and Dusk.
The latter slept most of his time since I mainly rely on my own strength...whereas Snowie was away at the moment.
Once in a while, I let her live so she could join Velzard-san on the ice continent for bonding time.
Since the first time they met, they always had that connection between them...i should also be there but over the years i started to trust Velzard-san enough to let Snowie go alone.
Dawn : Oops, I should refocus on the situation.
Turning back toward Rimuru, Shizue was already gone...he was standing there alone with his new body.
Soon enough, Eren and the others came...the usual emotional farewell discussion happened.
I waited a few more minutes watching the scene with interest before moving.
Dawn : (I'm just here for this.)
My eyes glowing, Lord of Fate : Origin...one of the two ultimate skills I gained during my evolution 2000 years ago.
At first I thought of it as useless since Fate was something I could rewrite with Author but after uncovering ot's abilities.
One of them is the ability to interact with souls...my goal here is Shizue Izawa's soul.
After materializing it, I changed its course of fate...normally a soul would slowly leave toward the cycle of reincarnation.
Though her case was different as she wandered around the world as a ghost seen in Tensura Nikki.
Instead, I cut down the original destination of the soul and made it come to me.
Dawn : Luckily, I had plenty of times experiencing this technique in the past.
After that, I quickly left...Rimuru and the others were still talking about their recent loss.
Though if everything goes well, this farewell will turn into a simple goodbye.
3rd Pov
After getting away, Dawn met up with Yuu who was waiting further away in the Jura forest.
Dawn : I'm here.
Appearing through the tree, he landed right beside Yuu who was meditating...her eyes closed, in reality she was focusing on her skill.
A few kilometer in the East, there Yuu could witness a giant orc army moving...all of them led by an Orc lord.
Yuu : 180-no 200 thousand orcs...this is just like in the anime.
Dawn : Heh, I guess she lost herself in her skill again.
Sighing, Dawn went aside and took out Shizue's soul.
Dawn : The biggest difference between my Author skill and Origin is the amount of energy I need to use them.
Dawn Pov
Let's take another skill for example, Water magic and the skill : Water manipulation.
Water magic demands an absurd amount of control and magicule while Water manipulation eases everything.
Ultimate skill : Author allows me to rewrite reality itself but it's very draining, one of my powers is also to rewrite one's fate.
But as I said, this cost me a lot in terms of mental strength...I have to supplement my brain with mountain information.
The hardest job is when it comes to the soul...i have to analyze and read the information of the said soul...
It shouldn't be a problem normally but I realized...when it comes to the main cast and characters with names from the original story.
Reading their information is a lot harder than normal or random people.
Shizue's soul is abnormally heavy and reading it would be equivalent to draining all the mental strength I have left for the day.
But that changes when I use Origin instead, the equation seems to be doing on its own...altering the fate of Shizue.
Dawn : But before resurrecting her...we need to talk first.
Materializing her spiritual body from her soul, the beautiful figurine of Shizue Izawa appeared.
She slowly opened her eyes before letting out a shocked expression.
Shizue : Huh ? B-but i just...
Dawn : It has been a while, Shizue, around 60 years ?
Shizue : Y-you...Dawn-san ? How ?
Dawn : Let's say I have a skill made for that.
Letting out a faint smile, I turned around and sat on a fallen tree trunk.
Dawn : Shizue, I returned you to this world to ask you a question.
Shizue : A question ?
Dawn : What do you think about this world now ?
Her eyes visibly widened at my question, I already know her position now but she doesn't. I was invisible so she couldn't know.
Shizue : I...i can't say i hate it anymore.
She averted her eyes, guilt ? Embarrassment ? Sadness ? I couldn't really read her expression.
Dawn : I see, then how about a second chance in life ?
Shizue : That...
She is hesitating and it's normal, being given a second chance in life isn't an easy choice and option.
Even more for someone like Shizue...she had suffered a lot and rejected that world for so long.
But at the end, she already showed her wishes earlier...s
Shizue : Can you really give me another chance ?
Dawn : I can.
She fell silent, our eyes locking as if she tried to feel my seriousness.
Shizue : Can I really live ?
Dawn : Yes...and no.
Shizue : What do you mean ?
Finally seeing a catch, she knows better than anyone that you can't have anything without a price.
Dawn : Shizue Izawa is already dead for this world...you can't resurrect the dead without changing the world.
Resurrection is something that beyond what humanity can handle, no human should be allowed such power.
Greed would immediately corrupt it and turn the world into a ball of darkness.
Dawn : But you are still alive, the only condition I have for you is to restart everything, you will lose your name and prestige, reborn as a nameless shadow.
Stretching my hand, a single piece of earring in my palm...this is a symbol belonging to the Fallen light.
Since all of them had different identities...they wear those earrings so it's easy to recognize them.
The earring consists of a crescent moon made of silver, along with an enchantment that allows the wearer to recognize another wearer.
Shizue : What are you planning to do with me ?
Dawn : Oh right...you still don't know my true identity.
She didn't know my position inside Ruberios, for her I was just a fellow student under Chronoa who shared adventurer life.
Dawn : I'm actually a member of the Holy church of Ruberios, we also share an acquaintance, you should know her name is Hinata.
Shizue : The church ? And Hinata...
Naturally this was a shock for her yet it seemed she quickly accepted, for her my existence was already a sort of anomaly.
Someone related to Chronoa that she coincidentally met at a random location.
Shizue : I see...how is Hinata doing ?
Dawn : Fine, she has become a lot stronger since I started training her.
Shizue : I see...that's good.
She smiled...I froze up for a moment, over the centuries I had seen a lot of people smile...from the arrogant to the sincere.
But never had I seen such a pure smile...right Shizue Izawa was a character that was deep down good.
Dawn : So what do you think ? Come and work with me, that way you'll see the world Rimuru is going to create.
Shizue : You know slime-san too, huh...
Falling silent for a moment, finally she came to an answer...stretching her arm, she grabbed my hand...immediately, her spiritual body started to recover into a physical body.
Her soul was intact but it was true that her material body was gone into Rimuru...so I had to recreate it from nothing.
Everything from the tiniest cell to the biggest organ...it took me a full minute before managing to recreate an almost perfect copy of her former body.
Dawn : Welcome aboard Shizue, or should I call you Shi-chan for now ?
3rd Pov
After awakening in her new body, Shizue struggled a little to get used to it...after all this wasn't the work of a god but a mortal.
But eventually she will get used to it, Dawn then gave her a mask to hide her identity and waited for Yuu to wake up.
It seems she was actually searching for Laplace's presence but since he wasn't with the main army, she had to expend her shadow throughout the entire forest.
She finally came back after one more hour...
Dawn : Finally up, you sure took your time.
Yuu : Huh ?
Turning her head around, she noticed Dawn first then a woman she hadn't met yet...
Yuu : E-ehN ?! Sh-shiz- !!!
She quickly put her hand over her mouth and forced herself shut, this couldn't leak that she already knew Shizue.
Dawn : Well what a blunder.
Shizue : She sure is cute...
Yuu : Hep ! What is going on ?!
Dawn : We finished an hour ago but since you didn't seem to come back, I let Shi-chan here poke at your cheek.
Teasing her a little, Shizue let out a chuckle at the scene...it was definitely different from what she expected.
After all, Dawn is clothed in black and gives off that villain vibe ? Anyway, this allowed to ease the atmosphere.
Dawn : Anyway, Yuu, for now you're going back to Ruberios with Shi-chan, show her around and guide her from there.
Yuu : Oh...sure, what about you ?
Dawn : I have a few things to do so I'll come back later.
It has already been two months since they have left...it's about whether they give news or they'll be labeled as missing.
Yuu : Mmh, as mysterious as ever...then what should i call you now ? Shizue ? Shizu-san ?
Shizue : Well Dawn-kun here, call me Shi-chan...you can do the same...
While they were waiting, Dawn already explained what she was going to do now, her new identity is Shi, a D rank adventurer who has past ties with the holy church.
This identity was originally one of Yuu's covers, she always wore a mask so it was perfect to hide Shizue.
Yuu : Shi, huh...then Shi-san be ready because I'm really strict when it comes to work !
Shizue : Ah...sure, go easy on me...
Shizue sweatdropped, she could basically see fire in Yuu's eyes...she prayed to survive whatever hell awaited her...
Dawn : Then, it's right in the middle of the day so if you depart now, you'll reach Ruberios in about a week. Adventurer Shi has accepted a quest two weeks ago in the jura forest to collect some mushrooms...make sure to stop at the guild before going back.
Materializing a bag full of mushrooms, they had to keep the identity known as Shii coherent, even more so when the grandmaster is the genius known as Yuuki Kagurazaka.
Yuu : When we get back, shall I make the Fallen light move ?
Dawn : Not yet...if we move too soon, he will notice it.
Grandbell, he who infiltrated the Seven clergy...we already devised a plan to kill these useless Enlightened humans.
Dawn : Stay on standby and train Shi-chan for the time being.
With that said, they all moved...Shizue followed Yuu as they started a long trip toward Ruberios stopping by Ingracia.
While Dawn laid down on the ground, he sighed deeply, staring at the sky...
Dawn : Now that's done...i can't keep ignoring it...
Activating Author, the world in front of him turned into words...the story of all things was written in front of me.
That was a natural sight for him now...but something unnatural was there this time...it started when he first saw Rimuru.
A panel with multiple options...
Choose Route : Villain Rimuru, Hero Rimuru...
The list goes on, this has made Dawn freeze in shock as he realized what absurdity this was...his ultimate skill allowed him to choose the route taken by Rimuru.
Taking a deeper look into it, he could clearly see the fanfiction he had written in the past...looking into Villain Rimuru.
How everything will continue until the Falmuth war where Rimuru is going to go berserk...one change too is that Great sage wil because that crazy obsessed Ciel.
This meant that his choice over here will undoubtedly alter reality...to the point where character will become real from nothing.
This defies common sense...it didn't seem like the story with an ancient version of RImuru was listed but even so the options were multiple.
Dawn : But what if I let it empty ? Will it follow the main route ?
He already deduced that on the two main Tensura routes, this world followed the Light novel due to multiple minor details like the age of Veldora and course of events.
But right now, he has proposed to change the course of the plot...
Dawn : Wait...if I were to choose one of the stories I had written...then does that mean, Cosmic Rimuru would come to life ?
No, it didn't make sense...this isn't something that was possible.
This was his real world...right now, not even before he was favored by the system...this couldn't be reality.
It was already hinted over and over, at some point it wasn't even hidden...this world is the perfect setting for a fanfiction.
Everything was like how he envisaged it to be...it's like one of his own stories...an unwritten story belonging to an Authorless book.
Dawn : But if that is true and that somehow, I am myself writing my own story by living in it...then this whole world...
Covering his mouth, he felt like wanting to throw up...the words around started to surround him like trying to swallow his very existence.
Only the panel with the option remained in front of him, still waiting for an answer.
Dawn : This is really absurd...only someone as crazy as me would come up with this kind of plot.
No, maybe it wasn't him...if this world was truly fake, a world ruled by words inside a book...then his existence, his personality, his past and present along his future...all is fake.
There was no true him...
Looking down sadly at the potential realization, he stretched his arm toward the panel before selecting a route...
[Route : ----- selected]
Dawn : As if I can accept this fate...i'll break it somehow, Author ? Creator or even god...i have to resolve myself to even face them...
300 Years Ago...
During Veldora's rampage in Night garden...the vampire city was set on fire, hundreds of vampires died under the blind massacre of the storm dragon.
Luminous was helplessly watching the catastrophe monster destroying everything as Chronoa (Hinata) dealt with him.
Luminous : This bastard...I swear I'll never forgive you...
Gritting her teeth, her eyes glowed in anger...but suddenly several misfired storm breaths were sent her way.
She panicked a little, it seemed the fight was running wild and Hinata had some problem sealing him.
With everything she got, Luminous formed multiple barriers and barely blocked the breath.
Since it was misfired, the power thrown at her was overwhelming...she might have awakened into a true demon lord after receiving the souls from Dawn and Luna's fight back then.
But even for her, the Storm breath was breaking through her limit...
Luminous : (Shit ! This annoying lizard is too strong!)
Backing down, her barrier started to crack yet the attack was still ongoing...this was going to end very badly for her.
???: Don't touch my master, you idiotic dragon !
Appearing in the sky above, the unknown figurine descended and slashed through the Storm breath leaving nothing of it.
Luminous was momentarily stunned before letting out a sigh of relief.
Luminous : It's you, huh...since you finally showed up to me after 2 millennia, I guess you found your answer.
Falling down, Luminous had to deal with the recoil of stopping such an attack...her magicule reserves were at their lowest.
But it didn't matter, the man standing in front of her smiled and nodded.
???: Indeed, I'm ready to face the future now.
His eyes locked on another wave of Storm breath, he held his sword tight before running forward.
???: Reversed sword art : Anti-dragon.
A specialized sword art for Dragon subjugation, it's founded on an ancient and useless swordsmanship from the North...useless because the principle of it was to cut Dragon breath.
Fused with multiple other techniques and art, and with enough power from the user...this new art can even handle attacks from a True dragon.
???: (Even Velzard-san's Frost breath was cut down...though it's only possible when she was controlling her strength, even now if Veldora's attack was thrown directly at me, I wouldn't have been able to cut it.)
Jumping back once it was done, the man also known as Dawn nodded satisfied and went back to Luminous.
Dawn : It has been a while, my lady, I'm here to uphold my promise from back then.
Luminous : You stopped that level of attack, huh...meh, it's thanks to you that i'm still alive so...
Sighing, this was sure a shock...how much he changed after 2000 mere years, though this isn't much for the likes of Luminous.
Still his evolution is astonishing.
Luminous : Anyway, I'm not sure about your timing...seeing me in such a bad state is unworthy of a master.
She said in an annoyed tone, Dawn looked away as he had his own reason for not being able to come early.
He wasn't alone after all, his companion who is also later the oldest member of the Fallen light was sent to help the evacuation of the citizens.
Dawn had to guide him first before coming here.
Dawn : I'm a bit guilty for that...
Stretching his hand, he helped her get on her feet as both turned toward the horizon...[Unlimited imprisonment] was just casted by Chronoa.
Finally, the battle has ended but at what price ? The once beautiful garden was set on fire...
Luminous : What a shame...I wasn't even able to save a single flower...
Dawn : I can recover them if you want.
By rewriting the surrounding, he could turn back the state of this place.
Luminous : No...it might just be fate at this point, the world telling me to change.
Looking around regretfully, Luminous assisted at the dawn of the day as the run shone the darkness of her territory away.
Behind, Dawn just bowed as he expected this answer...Luminous isn't as cold and insensitive as people think.