RIP Gobta and Ranga, you will be missed

Continuing from the end of the last episode, Rimuru and Gazel discuss Tempest's financial problems, at which point in stead of the OP song we got the entrance of wise and ancient Elmesia, who was acquainted with Gazel's grandfather and called him Gazel-bou ("young Gazel").

Elmesia offered to exchange some gold coins from her personal magic purse to help, and gave a lesson to Tempest (and especially Diablo) what greedy schemes humans could have hatched to undermine the country. After some talks with Rimuru and assessing him, she approved an alliance between Thalion and Tempest, in return of …… getting her included in any interesting stuff Rimuru plans in the future, and an introduction to Mr. Yoshida 🍰.

As to the tournament, Gobta fought so bravely with his new skill that even "Lightspeed" Masayuki decided to concede the fight and let Gobta win. Milim was impressed and volunteered to train Gobta and Ranga in the dungeons which Hakuro welcomed.

@rikka@ani.social :

Goodbye, Gobta. Goodbye, Ranga. I'll never forget how brave you were. -- Rimuru

Masayuki finally got to eat lunch in private with Rimuru, without his doting party members. Rimuru told him that he was also from Japan and treated him Japanese cuisine. He was relieved they were not enemies and told Rimuru of his unique skill. When he learned that Tempest had mangas, he became an ally completely.

Next episode we'll witness the opening of Tempest's Labyrinth, and Masayuki will show it off by challenging it.

Is Elmesia (?), the elf monarch, the head of state of the Sorcerous Kingdom? If so, shouldn't it be Queendom? Also, besides the really short fights with Razen and some of the religious zealots, as well a Elmesia's wariness, I still don't have a good idea of Diablo's capabilities nor the reason why he's so interested in Rimuru. I recall Diablo was very interested in the mask Rimuru's body's previous owner used, but I fail to see what that has to do with Rimuru since he wasn't around yet.