The next few days in Tempest were a whirlwind of political and developmental activity, and Rin, much to his amusement, found himself with a front-row seat to history in the making. He witnessed the tense but ultimately successful negotiations as various tribes of the Great Forest of Jura – Goblins (now Hobgoblins and Goblina), Lizardmen, and the recently subjugated Orcs – pledged their allegiance to Rimuru. The official birth of the Jura Tempest Federation was a momentous occasion, filled with hopeful speeches and the palpable excitement of a new nation finding its footing. Rimuru, initially reluctant to take on the mantle of supreme leader, was eventually persuaded by the fervent, almost worshipful pleas of his new subjects.
Rin watched with fascination as Rimuru laid the groundwork for a society built on coexistence and mutual respect, a far cry from the usual monster hierarchies. This period also saw the dramatic arrival of Gazel Dwargo, the Hero King of the Armed Nation of Dwargon. Their initial confrontation, a spectacular duel that showcased both Rimuru's rapidly evolving abilities and Gazel's immense power, had most of Tempest holding its breath. Rin, however, armed with his meta-knowledge, knew this was less a battle to the death and more a high-stakes diplomatic test. He felt a flicker of something akin to battle-lust ignite within him watching them, a primal urge to join the fray, but he quickly suppressed it. No, no. Don't mess with the main storyline too much. I'm here for entertainment and… personal pursuits. Changing the fate of nations wasn't on his agenda, at least not this nation. Creating relationships with the local beauties, however, was a different matter entirely.
Speaking of which, Shion was becoming an increasingly entertaining case study. Her feelings for Rin were clearly in turmoil. One morning, Rin "overheard" (via his Mind Reader, of course) her flustered internal monologue about a dream she'd had: Rin had been leaning in to kiss her, his face inches from hers, when she'd frustratingly woken up. The dream had left her embarrassed and hyper-aware of him.
Now, whenever they met, she'd unconsciously try to maintain a slight distance, her cheeks often tinged with pink if he looked directly at her. She was clearly in the early, confusing stages of realizing her attraction. Any accidental brush of his skin against hers would send her into a flustered state, often culminating in an involuntary, reflexive punch.
Fortunately, after the last incident, Rin had immediately maxed out his "Pain Tolerance" stat. The punches still hurt, a dull thud rather than a mind-shattering explosion of agony, and they certainly weren't pleasant, but he no longer felt like his soul was trying to vacate his body. He could remain conscious and relatively mobile. He found Shion's internal struggle, her growing fondness warring with her tsundere-like reactions, incredibly amusing. Her "Romantic Love (for Rin Takakura)" stat was climbing, albeit slowly, on its own. He decided to let it simmer naturally for now. If it hits 90, or if she has a major breakthrough, that'll be her moment of realization. A week isn't quite enough for a tough Kijin warrior to completely fall, even with my passive charm.
The end of his "week" in Tempest (which equated to roughly one night in his DxD world) was approaching, and Rin knew he needed a way out, a way to get knocked unconscious again. He couldn't very well ask Shion to punch him again; that would be too suspicious.
An idea, delightfully unethical and perfectly suited to his goals, began to form.
That afternoon, he approached Rimuru. "Rimuru-san," he said, trying to sound earnest, "I've been observing everyone training, and it's truly inspiring. Would you… would you perhaps honor me with a light sparring match? I'd love to learn from you directly."
Rimuru looked surprised, then a good-natured smile spread across his face. "Sparring? With me? Are you sure, Rin? I wouldn't want to accidentally hurt you."
"I understand the risks," Rin said with a determined nod. "Just a light spar. To test my limits."
"Alright then," Rimuru chuckled. "Let's head to the training grounds. Pick a practice weapon."
As they walked, Rin discreetly accessed Rimuru's status window. He wasn't looking for weaknesses to exploit in a fight – that would be suicidal. He was looking for something else entirely.
[STATUS ALERT - Rimuru Tempest]
...
Gender Identity Perception:
* Self-Perception as Male: 85/100 (-) (+)
* Self-Perception as Female: 15/100 (-) (+)
* Acceptance of Gender Fluidity: 60/100
...
Perfect. Rimuru, despite being a slime with no biological sex, still largely identified with his past male self. Rin smirked. Time for a little… re-evaluation. He mentally manipulated the stats: "Self-Perception as Male" down to 30/100, and "Self-Perception as Female" up to 70/100. Rimuru didn't show any outward sign of change, his expression remaining cheerful and unsuspecting. But Rin knew the seeds of a subtle, internal shift had been sown. The long-term entertainment potential of that little adjustment was immense.
At the training grounds, Rin picked up a simple wooden practice sword. Rimuru stood opposite him, looking relaxed. "Ready when you are, Rin!"
"Here I come!" Rin yelled, charging forward with far more enthusiasm than skill.
Rimuru, likely expecting some hidden power or unusual technique given Rin's otherworldly origins, met the charge with a casual, almost dismissive block, using only a fraction of his true strength.
The impact, light as it was from Rimuru's perspective, was more than enough for Rin. He let his body go limp, the wooden sword flying from his grasp as he crumpled to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.
"Whoa, Rin!" Rimuru exclaimed, his eyes widening in alarm. He rushed to Rin's side. Oops, maybe he's even weaker than I thought. I barely touched him! Rimuru thought, a wave of concern washing over him.
Rin, however, was already letting consciousness fade, a triumphant smirk hidden from view. His plan had worked perfectly. He was "unconscious," his ticket back to his own world secured, leaving behind a slightly confused slime lord who might soon be questioning more than just his sparring partner's durability.