Naruto: A Love for Milim

-Chapter 7: Passing By-

Four people and a horned wolf walked side by side through the paving road of Jura Forest, toward the adventurer guild in Berun Kingdom. Rimuru had asked Fuse, the guild master of Berun's adventurer guild, to assist him in providing him an identity card that would allow him to have a free entry to each country he visited. Naruto did not need such card, in all these hundred years he had perfected his chakra control and had immersed himself in learning genjutsu, thus enabled him to surround Milim, Haku, and himself in illusion. Though, to his annoyance, skill that could cast illusion to the same level of those blessing eyes of uchiha did actually exist. He had seen it himself, one of Konan's underlings had that skill. Naruto did not know whether or not it was stronger than tsukuyomi, but he assumed that if that skill evolved into Ultimate Skill than perhaps it could compete with tsukuyomi and koto amatsukami or even could best them.

Fuse had also told Rimuru and him about common knowledge about being adventurer, it was quite different to adventurer in Minava Empire. In this world, outside Minava Empire, both monsters and adventurers were ranked A~F, all in those six categories. Those especially strong had a "+" attached, those weak had "-". This was guidance from the World Traveler, Free Guild head, Grand Master Kagurazaka Yuuki. He established this ranking system, up to the bottom: Advance, Intermediate, Beginner, Novice. Advanced were C rank and above, Intermediate was D rank, Beginner was E rank, and Novice was F rank. Surpassing A rank was the specially designated Demon lord level S rank, and above even this stood the monsters with the strength of a natural disaster, special S rank, deviating from the standard ranking system, an abnormal existence.

A simple A class monster was said to be capable of jeopardizing the existence of a city, a strength capable of inducing despair. Then, it was easy to deduce the unspoken words of Fuse that he and Milim could do worse like, probably, destroying all continents the world had. Naruto really could picture it well inside his mind, of Milim turning all continents into a wasteland while playing hide and seek with him or Guy. That.. actually did not look bad, but for the sake of the people he had to, by all means, prevent such thing from happening. Well, he might ignore those people if Milim asked him with her adorable puppy eyes.

After getting that identity card, which actually was having Rimuru registered as adventurer, the group continued their journey to the Ingracia Kingdom.

Ingracia Kingdom was one of human countries in western side of the world. Its capital city was known as the most advanced city in the world (of course without including the cities of Minava Empire), it housed both the Conference Coalition and the Freedom Association. The royal capital was wide, there's also a large wall surrounding the city. There were two gates leading into it, there's no way into the capitol except for the two gates.

Normally, one had to undergo three different identity checks to be permitted access into the capital city. At the first step, they checked identification documents. If one successfully passed this check, one had to go through a thorough body search. Then, they had to line up in another line to finally go inside the capital. Each point was heavily protected, and the lines were far longer than the one in the Dwargon. Though, adventurers were treated in special way: they were able to quickly pass through one of the gates, that's the reason why Rimuru had gotten an easy access inside the city.

Many tall structures filled the city. Most were at least five stories high. The city was full of brick and wood buildings. But more than anything, it was the strict city planning and the white castle in the middle of city that made one wondered. A large lake occupied the center of the city, and that castle was built in the middle of it. Four bridges extended from the castle and connected to the city's main road. That solemn piece of architecture properly conveyed the country's military strength.

The capital city was separated into four large districts: the merchant's district, the sightseeing district, the production district, and the residential district. They all were separated by the castle in the center, it was a very good of a circular city.

The sightseeing district was a section dedicated to inns. It was located near the walls, with various attractions lined up beside the streets. There were also quite a few street vendors. Closer to the center was a large building intended for diplomats and conferences. There's also a school inside it. Of the four sections of this district, it was the most heavily guarded.

Despite everything, Naruto‒and specially Milim‒was not impressed by this kingdom. Though, that's nothing to be surprised about; Minava Empire was built so that it could be a heaven on earth after all.

Naruto and Milim actually did not plan on visiting this kingdom; their real destination was the Ruberion Holy Empire. But since they would pass Ingracia Kingdom too, they decided to sightseeing for a while before continuing their journey.

"I will go to the grandmaster office before visiting the school," said Rimuru as they got near the adventurer building. "Would you like to join me?"

Naruto shook his head. "You can go on your own, we'd like to sightseeing, right, dear?"

Milim was fast at nodding her head. "Naturally," she said.

"Okay then, I'll go with Ranga. I hope to see you again at the school—that is if you have decided to stay in this city for a while. And, do enjoy your sightseeing." Rimuru right away departed to adventurer building, Ranga faithfully following its lord within his shadow. He did not watch the three scary strong people's departure, he had already set his full mind on how to handle the grandmaster so that they would allow him to teach those five abandoned children.

Later on, with Kagurazaka Yuuki

That Rimuru-san is interesting person and he's quite dangerous too, thought Yuuki as he sat comfortably upon his chair.

Should I kill him or let him live? He'd be a torn on my side if I leave him alone, but at the same time I'm interested to see his future, I guess I'll let him live for a while. After all, after I have the hero on my side, I can kill him any time I want.

Yuuki smiled evilly, his mind started wandering on its own.

Kaguraza Yuuki had a simple goal in life: to watch the world burn and fell into utter chaos while sitting upon a simple chair with a snack and drink on his hands. At first, he had thought that such thing was impossible to do, he was just a normal human that would die if someone shoved a knife inside his gut. But on one fateful day, he was summoned into this world, the world that enabled him to use magic; Yuuki could finally have the chance to fulfill his awesome dream. However, at that time, he was not yet strong enough to do that. That's why he had been preparing: from creating adventurer guild to manipulating people, he had done many things to make his dream possible.

Yet, even now, he could not reach even Guy Crimson's feet. Not only that androgynous demon, the emperor and empress of Minava Empire were dangerous too. History did record: Milim Nava was a dragonoid that could rival Guy Crimson in strength. Following that fact, it was only natural that she had a mate of equal strength. If that was true, and he believed it to be true, it was safe to say that in order to fulfill his dream, he had to take down those three entities. However, Kagurazaka Yuuki lacked the mean to do so, he was weak in comparison to them.

Still, he'd not give up. His loyal follower had confirmed that the hero who once had defeated Strom Dragon Veldora 600 years ago to save the vampire queen was indeed sealed inside a coffin, that coffin was owned by one of demon lords, Ruminas Valentine—the vampire that was saved by that hero. He needed to take that coffin and unseal the hero, but he didn't want to go there when Ruminas was there. But it was manageable; he'd ensure that Ruminas left her kingdom, that was the very reason he instructed Kazaream to command his tool to prepare for Walpurgis.

"They are here, in this city."

Yuuki stopped his mind from wandering any further and turned his eyes on his most trusted follower, the elf woman whose soul it contained was that of Kazaream. "Who?" asked Yuuki in curious tone.

"The demon lord, Milim Nava. She is accompanied by her mate and a demon guard."

Yuuki's eyes opened wide, that name was not something he expected to hear. Was not those two had never left their empire, except the one that Kazaream's pawn had invited? Why the sudden visit? Yuuki couldn't comprehend this sudden confusing development, he couldn't even begin to guess; this was the reason why he disliked those three people: he couldn't understand them. Try he might—and he had truly tried it the moment he heard of the empire once he began preparing, but they were such people with annoying personalities—from what his trusted elf had reported after she visited the empire to see if they could open the adventurer guild's branch there.

"What should we do?"

"Let them be," responded Yuuki with a sigh escaping his mouth. "We will not bother them and will never appear before them. We are not yet ready to face those people, just focus on our priorities."

A moment earlier, with Naruto and co

Naruto and Milim, with Haku tailing them from behind, walked hand in hand through the busy street of Ingracia Kingdom's capitol. They had immediately walked farther into the city as soon as they left Rimuru at the so called grandmaster's office. They did not have any special destination, they were just walking aimlessly throughout the street. They did not plan to visit this country after all, this was just a country they should pass before they went to Ruberion Holy Empire.

"Do you have something in mind, dear?"

Milim shook her head. "Nothing comes to mind, why don't you spoil me today?"

Naruto mused at hearing the reply. "Are you sure? I thought it embarrasses you when people look at us with sparkling eyes."

"Em, mmm, er.. it's practice! Yes, I need such practice!" declared Milim sagely while hiding her embarrassment from appearing.

"Practice?"

"Yes," Milim nodded her head convincingly. "We will be presenting ourselves in public more often after the marriage is done, so I need myself to be used to that kind of eyes."

"Is that so? I did think that you may want to try something that I know not, something that has to do with the time you spent with Rimuru's girls."

"Like I know things you don't!" Milim shifted her head, trying to avoid the blond's gaze.

"Alright, please forgive me for thinking that you have been corrupted by the manga."

"Glad you know it," Milim beamed in excitement. "Now, carry me and spoil me till I have had enough of it."

Naruto kissed her forehead and carried her in bridal style. Not that he didn't want to carry if she didn't ask, it just that he needed to let Milim thought otherwise. If it was up to him, having Milim in intimate position with him was always welcomed, no, he'd actually spend his whole life cuddling her if he could. Yes, if he could do anything he wanted to do to Milim then there's nothing else he wanted to do. However, Naruto didn't want to make Milim less happy; the girl wanted to have an enjoyable life that full of entertainments, therefore, he had to do the work to ensure that the two of them could have both of their desires realized. Not only that, Milim would be the best empress ever... so, he couldn't spend the eternity by cuddling her all the time. Hm, should he conquer the world and made it beneath the empire feet? Nah, why would he bother thinking about it? It was obvious he'd never do something that would lessen his time with his dearly dragonoid girl.

"Until you have had enough of it?" asked Naruto as he made Milim comfortable in his arms.

Milim nodded her head.

"Is not that means forever?"

"What do you mean by forever?"

"Isn't it obvious? It is impossible for you to have had enough of me spoiling you, you will always thirst for my damn big love, right?"

"Emm, if you put it like that then… emmm… eh, nope! You are the one who is thirsty for my ultra-super damn big love!"

Naruto smiled hearing that. Milim was just the best, she had no equal. How lucky was he to be loved by such perfect woman? Ah… I can't wait to live in bliss with her for all eternity.

"Naruto…?"

Naruto returned to his sense as the call invoked his ears. "Nothing to worry, my love. I just thought that if the world offers me the chance to redo a happy life in my former world and save it from its doom, I'd ignore it and choose to remain by your side regardless of the consequences."

"Hmph," Milim puffed up her (almost flatted) chest and smiled smugly, her cheeks were red as tomatoes though. "It is natural, I'm your empress after all."

Naruto's smile widened. "Of course, your majesty, you are indeed my one and only empress."

As they both busy flirting with each other, Haku studied the environment and the people they passed by. As doing so, she noticed that they were spied by an elf, a female one. That elf was not strong to say the least, she could kill her from this place without moving a single finger. However, she was interested to know why that woman spied on her masters, so she let her be. Normally, both her masters would notice if someone spied on them. But since they both were busy flirting each other, it was only natural they didn't pay attention to an insect. After all, what was the purpose of her accompanying them if they had to pay attention to the worm and insect alike?

Haku could not help but be amused at the thought, however, there was no other term to define the truth correctly, was there?

Haku pretended she did not notice the insect and kept on tailing her masters. From one place to another, the insect faithfully following them from afar, and Haku faithfully pretending not noticing. Until at some point the insect decided to leave, Haku opted to follow her. To whom the insect would report her finding? She wondered.

Her wonder became clear when the insect enter a high and heavy-guarded building. Utilizing her armor ability, Haku turned her body invisible and intangible then entered the building with ease. There she witnessed the insect talking to a boy, the supposed to be grandmaster of adventurer guild.

"Let them be," responded the grandmaster with a sigh escaping his mouth. "We will not bother them and will never appear before them. We are not yet ready to face those people, just focus on our priorities."

Ho, so he planned on taking us once he is ready? Interesting, but, how he plans to be ready? Haku thought that it was foolish to try to oppose her masters, he's not even stronger than the ruler of Tempest. But, if there was one thing Haku acknowledge, that the weakling would always strive to be stronger. She liked to watch them struggle, before crushing them mercilessly. Ah, should she give him a ladder too? Haku shook her head and left the building, there's nothing to amuse her any further.

Once she returned to where she belonged, both her masters were still flirting with each other. It was the wonder of love, so the prime minister—that fool Escana—had said to her. Naturally Haku didn't understand, she had never experienced it after all. Even so, she could understand as clear as the blue sky that her masters were meant for each other, watching them was pleasant. A little faint genuine smile appeared on her lips, not that she understood that she was smiling genuinely. Regardless, she enjoyed watching them, there's nothing to add to that.

"Ah, Haku, you have returned."

"You noticed, my lord?"

Naruto, with Milim still in his arms, stopped his footstep and shifted his eyes on Haku. "Yes, I noticed. So, how was it, interesting?"

Haku stood still for a moment, before lifting up her lips in understanding. "At the moment, it's not. However, it'd be interesting to see how it reaches there, perhaps then it'd really become interesting enough to watch."

"Is that so? Just make sure you will not be the one receiving the end."

"Of course, my lord, I will not become arrogant enough not to pay attention to your great advises."

Naruto nodded his head then continue walking, his eyes returned to the sapphire irises of his beloved. Haku shifted her eyes toward the direction of the guild building, before returning it on her masters and kept tailing them.

In an hour—or two—later, Naruto, with Milim in his arms, arrived on top of a hill from which they could see the city a whole. He didn't know how such a convenient place could exist, but it mattered not as long as he could make use of it. As usual, Haku faithfully stood a few steps beside her masters. From there they could see the school at where Rimuru's fulfilling his promise to his otherworlder friend. He was having the children fought him in a mock battle, presumably as a kind of practice or proving himself to be a worthy teacher. Naruto didn't know which one, but it matter not. Watching it was amusing to say the least, it kind of reminded him of his academy days. Though, there was no nostalgic feeling inside his chest; it couldn't be help that most of his memories were painful ones.

"Do you want to try, to be called Milim-sensei, dear?" Naruto asked in amused tone. Milim did taught valuable lessons to demons under Konan's care, but they were no children. Who knew that Milim would entertain the idea? There were many children in their capital after all.

"Sure," replied Milim without any hesitation. "Though, I fear that they would threaten the other demon lord if I become their teacher."

Naruto looked toward Milim's smug smirk. "Oh, why don't you tell me why?"

"They will become too strong that they will start thinking they deserve to be a demon lord instead of the others."

"Well, such thing would be possible if you command them to do so, dear."

They then enjoyed themselves sitting under the tree watching over the city. Many kinds of foods were being arranged next to them. Haku, too, was sitting next to her masters. She was enjoying the food as well. Even though a demon like her didn't need to eat, she quite enjoyed the process of eating. They sat there for a few moments, enjoying the peace surrounding them.

"So, dear, have you decided, shall we stay here for a night or two, or continue leaving for Ruberion Holy Empire?"

"Do you want to stay?"

"No; there's nothing else to see in this country."

"Then we're leaving."

Left they did.

-End of Chapter-

Short? I know. Just like the title, this chapter is just a pass by before the next chapter. I don't want to have anything to do with Rimuru at this moment; with his personality, I can't think of the other way to make him a demon lord.