Finally, that whole mess was done. All it took was some waterboarding and some white room enhanced interrogation techniques. Jaune didn't show up during that whole conversation, either she hasn't gotten her body yet, or she has no idea where to go, and she is lost.
Probably lost. That, or she's going around trying to pick fights with whoever she sees as strong. Don't tell me I'm going to have to periodically lay the smack down on her to stop her. It's okay, though. I'll throw her into a fight with the Eastern Empire when the time comes. Just not the front lines. I have another plan for those demons and their subordinates in regards to the Eastern Empire. I'll make them strike at the people.
Oh yeah, they also bring along some demons with them. Who were the ones with Carrera? That little-girl-looking-one and that sword guy. Oh yeah! Esprit and Agera. Those were their names. I remember now. Agera was also the reincarnation of Hakurou's master, I think.
Eh, who cares? The more the merrier. Now I just need to look for her. She should already have a body. I told her to look for me, but as before, I wouldn't put it past her to be up to her shenanigans.
Okay, yeah, I need to look for her now. I spread my senses over the entire town and found her quickly. She was moving around the town, looking around and taking in the sights. Ah, there she was. She was standing in front of the cathedral. Now I know where to go.
I quickly made my way to her. I saw her standing there, just looking all the way up at the cathedral. Yeah, I'd do the same if I saw it for the first time.
"I assume Rimuru made you a body to inhabit?" I said as I walked up behind her.
She turned around and then looked back at the cathedral. "So you're a goddess in this place? This is quite the place they've built for you."
"Yeah. There's another one in Falmuth I ordered built after their territory became part of our empire."
"So did all the holy energy you unleashed in that weird dimension come from all hte faith of these monsters?"
"No, it doesn't. That was just the weapon."
"That's…crazy."
"I thought you would've wanted to fight again."
"I considered it, but no. Anyway, I have a body to inhabit. It's very good. It's the best one I've ever had. That slime knows his stuff."
"So you ready for your name?"
"Already?" Jaune said, surprised. I guess she tried to find me as soon as Rimuru made her body. I assume Violet and Blanc have already been made, and she missed that.
"Yup. Your name will be Carrera." When I named her, I felt my magicules go down, but very rapidly fill back up to max. That dragon heart is good. I decided to keep it simple and just keep her name the same. As well as keeping that whole sports car thing.
"You won't even think about i-" Jaune, now Carrera, was enveloped in a cocoon for a short moment before coming out again. "Woah. Oh yeah, this feels nice. Thanks. I really want to try out this power."
"You'll get your chance."
"When?" Jaune said in an eager voice, like a kid who can't wait to try out a new game.
"Against the Eastern Empire."
"A war?" Jaune became even more eager and excited.
"Yeah."
"Perfect!" Jaune was ready to celebrate, but Artoria's next words calmed her down a little before she would really pour cold water on her.
"Calm down. We're still planning it. And you and the others will play an important role in it."
"Will I be able to fight strong people?"
"Possibly. And I say that because you're not going to be on the frontlines."
"What? Why?"
"Just hear me out. This is something we'll need the others to be present for. Look, for now, just go around town and enjoy some of the services and other things we have here. I'm sure you'll love it."
"Fine, but before I do, I'm going to bring some other demons with me."
"Okay, I'll be waiting."
/\\//\\//\
"Hey, Artoria, wait up!" Rimuru shouted as he ran to Artoria. He'd named Violet and Blanc to Ultima and Testarossa, respectively. But that's not what he wanted to talk about.
He remembered something about a plan Artoria had in mind for using these demons against the Eastern Empire. Now that they were here, there was no reason to delay finding out.
Artoria stopped and looked back. She let out a small sigh. She was just heading home, ready to enjoy a good dinner after dealing with all the stuff today.
She waited until Rimuru was close to her before talking. "What is it, Rimuru?"
"Ok, so you said that you had a plan for these demons. What exactly do you mean?"
"Are you really that curious? Alright, I'll tell you, but not here in the open. Come to my house, I'm sure Shuna is making something delicious for dinner. I'm feeling hungry after today." Artoria said as she started to walk away.
'She's feeling hungry? How hungry?' Rimuru thought to himself. Just how much is she talking about here? Honestly, Rimirur was now more curious about how much food she would eat.
/\\//\\//\
Artoria opened the door and entered. She could smell the food already. It smelled so delicious. She had told Shuna about multiple different foods and dishes from Earth and what she would eat. And after making them myself to show her or giving a description of what they are, Shuna's hands worked like magic to make them.
"Shuna, I'm home! And Rimuru is also here! So make him some extra! If you want!" Artoria said loudly, quickly adding the last part at the end
Rimuru, who entered behind her, was confused and didn't know what to say. He thought she was inviting him for dinner at her house to discuss whatever plan she had for the demons.
"Let's see if Shuna is nice enough to make you something, Rimuru. You can go ahead and take a seat at the table." Artoria said before heading to the kitchen to greet Shuna.
Rimuru sat at the table and, for what was his first time, looked around her house. To his slight surprise, it was a lot more humble than expected. Not to say there wasn't an inherent look of wealth to it, because that's how it was built in the first place, but there weren't any excessive or expensive-looking decorations one would expect.
He looked to the kitchen, and the first thing he noticed was that it was big, very big. There were a lot of ovens, stovetops, and other cooking items. He didn't know if he walked into a house or a large-scale restaurant. But he did notice Artoria went in to help Shuna make all the food. After a quick, little kiss, of course. Rimuru may have stared a bit too long and wondered if they should be doing that, but then remembered it was their house.
He just looked away, giving them their privacy. He would patiently wait until the food came out.
It turns out that he would have to wait quite a long time. No doubt caused by all the food being made. Luckily, the time came to an end, and Shuna and Artoria came out carrying multiple plates and trays of food. There were things he hadn't seen before, but it looked delicious.
After Shuna and Artoria made a few more rounds to the kitchen and back to the table, they finally sat down.
"Okay, Rimuru, just take a plate and serve yourself whatever looks good, which is everything." Artoria said before starting to serve herself a good helping of food. She took a few burritos, served some nachos with multiple toppings, enchiladas with different fillings, and tortillas with many kinds of meat. And that didn't count the desert.
'Is this how dinner is every day at her house?' Rimuru was again stunned at all the food. He looked over at Shuna, thinking that she would look tired, but on the contrary, she looked happy. It must be because Artoria eats the food she makes with such enthusiasm and eagerness. 'Let's try all this stuff.'
"Hey, Artoria, what meat is this? It looks like little strips of meat."
"Oh, that?" Artoria said before taking a bite of a burrito. "That's cow head."
"What?"
"Yeah. Like, the entire head. It delicious. You have to try it. It's called barbacoa."
"It's what?"
"It's delicious."
Rimuru might as well try it. Anything made by Shuna can't be bad. And he was right.
/\\//\\//\
Eventually, it was finally time for Artoria to talk about her plan with Rimuru. Over dessert, of course.
Artoria cleared a spot on the table to put a map of the Tempest and the Eastern Empire. She took out a red marker and scribbled some arrows coming from the Eastern Empire to Tempest. She took a blue marker and drew some blocks where the border between both countries was, and she drew an arrow coming from where Clayman's territory, through either a part of the ocean, or practically hugging the most eastern part of the border, and back to the Eastern Empire. On top of that, she scribbles "SC".
"What does that mean?" Rimuru asked as he saw her scribble the letters.
"Sports car. Anyway, it doesn't matter. So, it's pretty obvious where the frontlines and the majority of the concentration of the Eastern Empire's army will be. You and I will be there. As for Diablo and the other demons, they will go as part of the 'SC' group."
"And what will they do?"
"They are going to be part of something I call Operation: Sherman."