This morning started like any other.
The villagers were working, the dwarves were in charge of management and teaching new techniques to the hobgoblins, and Rimuru was accompanying the youngest of the dwarves to check something new they had just finished building.
If I’m not mistaken, it was about advanced water and sewage systems connected to the river, a waste processing facility to generate fertilizers, and a large temporary building that served as a dormitory for the workers.
For my part, since I knew that Shizue’s group was likely to arrive today, I simply continued training the mana rotation.
By the time noon arrived, I was already able to absorb a small amount of magicules while moving, but I had to concentrate a lot to do so, so the technique was still not ready for battle.
I stopped when I started to hear a rather flashy group entering thru the village gate.
It was the group of adventurers and Shizue, who had arrived today just as I thought.
Even though it would have been the right thing to do as one of the village leaders, I didn’t go out to greet them immediately.
Even when Rigurd came to consult me on what to do, I simply told him to give them something to eat and keep them under watch.
I decided that I would wait for Rimuru before going to talk to them.
There wasn’t a particular reason, I just thought it was more efficient for us to introduce ourselves all at the same time.
Anyway, Rimuru only took a few more minutes to return, and when he was informed about the guests who had arrived, he came straight to find me before going to talk to them.
—Kael, I’ve been told that some human adventurers are in the village, do you know anything?
—Well, no.
Rigurd told me they were here, but I decided to wait for you before going to talk to them.
Anyway, they don’t seem like a threat and, if they did anything, I was nearby —I replied.
“—Then let’s go,” the slime replied to me.
When we arrived at the tent, since there was no door to knock on, I lightly tapped one of the poles holding it up and we entered after receiving confirmation from those inside.
Although I must say that, because it was a tent, you could hear them arguing about the food from outside.
Rigurd came in with us, which made the small space quite crowded.
Upon entering, we saw four humans eating as if their lives depended on it; it seems they really had gone hungry for the past few days.
We stared at each other for a while, and during this time they continued devouring the food without any hesitation.
Seeing how uncomfortable the situation was, I decided to intervene before Rigurd did.
—Hello, I am Kaelion, and this slime next to me is Rimuru.
We are the current leaders of this village.
Seeing that you seem to be enjoying the food a lot, it would be best to let you finish in peace.
When you have finished, Rigurd will bring you before us to discuss things more calmly.
I thought we could leave without any more words, but it seems Rimuru wanted to say his iconic line anyway.
I suppose he wanted to make a good impression on the group and, seeing how Shizue was sitting, he thought she might also be Japanese.
—Nice to meet you!
I am Rimuru, a slime!
I’m not a bad slime!
To this, Shizue let out a sudden laugh that surely would have made her spit everything she had in her mouth.
“Bad time to wear a mask,” I thought.
—A slime and a race I’ve never seen before as leaders of a village of wolves and goblins?
That is certainly unusual —Ellen commented.
“Any problem?” asked Rimuru.
It’s just that we were very surprised.
I interrupted the conversation once again:
—Well, for now, finish eating.
Later, we can try to resolve all the doubts we have.
After that, we stepped out of the tent and the sunny day was the first thing to greet us.
“It seems like a good group,” I said to Rimuru.
“—Yes, although they are starving —Rimuru replied—.” Hey, I might be mistaken, but it seemed to me that the girl with the mask…
Before he could finish, I interrupted him:
—Japanese, right?
I thoughtt the same thing.
With that way of sitting, either she is Japanese or there is some kingdom in this world with a similar culture.
—Oh, so we thought the same thing, hehe.
Ah, it’s not very relevant, but I saw that same group of three enter the cave just as I was leaving it.
After exchanging those brief words, we retreated to what was, for the moment, the main tent.
We didn’t have to wait long for the three adventurers and their companion to come see us.
After giving them permission to enter, they came in and sat on the floor without any problem, just like us.
Well, I; I don’t know if a slime can sit.
“Thank you for the food,” Kaval told us.
“It’s nothing,” said Rimuru.
“So, how did you end up in this situation?” asked the blue slime.
—Well, the guild assigned us a reconnaissance mission in the Veldora cave a few weeks ago to find out why it had disappeared, but after investigating the entire cave, we found nothing.
This didn’t seem to be enough for our boss, who is the guild leader in Blumund, and he assigned us another reconnaissance mission in the Jura Forest after only three days of rest.
Three!
—the girl named Ellen told us—.
Before leaving the village, Shizue asked us to see if she could come with us, and that’s why she’s here.
This time it was Gido who continued:
—Although during the mission we lost our supplies and faced several monsters, like the ants you helped us with.
That’s why we were in such a bad situation.
After they told us the reason they were in the forest and explained their complicated situation, a silence swept thru the tent before I responded.
—That sounds like an unpleasant situation.
I’m glad we were able to help you in time.
“—Yes, what matters is that you are well,” continued Rimuru.
Energetically, Ellen began to ask us about the doubts that had arisen inside her.
—Hey, I don’t want to be disrespectful, but how is it that a slime and you —he pointed at me confusedly— are the leaders of a village?
Beside, why are all the goblins here evolved?
And how come the houses you are building are of such quality?
Aren’t goblins supposed to not know how to build that kind of houses?
One question at a time, please —Rimuru replied—.
Although it may not seem like it, we are very strong, and after helping the goblins and having them swear loyalty to us, we decided to lead this village.
As for the houses, we went to the kingdom of Dwargon to get the help of some dwarf brothers and a blacksmith named Kaijin, who are currently helping us build a village for everyone.
—Kaijin!
The real Kaijin?
The legendary blacksmith?
—asked the man who called himself Gido.
“—Yes, that one!” —Rimuru replied, proud of his own achievement in bringing such an impressive dwarf.
To my surprise, and it seems to the surprise of the adventurer group as well, Shizue decided to ask me directly.
—I don’t want to be disrespectful, Mr.
Kaelion, but in all the years I’ve been traveling, I’ve never seen or heard of a race like yours.
Could you tell me what it is?
—I would really like to tell you, but I don’t even know myself.
Maybe it’s some mutation or evolution of another race, but for now, I don’t have an answer to your question.
“I understand,” said the masked girl softly.
—For now, stay in the village for a few days and rest.
When you are in proper condition, you can leave without any problem.
“Thank you,” they thanked us.
After that, we kept talking about less relevant things for a while.
Honestly, it was a fun experience.
This group of three was surprisingly entertaining, and Shizue’s calm presence was quite pleasant.
When I thought that Ifrit’s loss of control might be tomorrow or another day, suddenly and aggressively, Shizue began to have spasms and express some kind of pain in her chest.
Before she could unleash the flames and burn those present, including Rigurd and Ranga, I placed a magical barrier around us.
“Speculator, analyze everything you can.” Don’t miss anything,” I said to myself.
“Understood,” echoed in my head.
A few moments after putting up my barrier, Shizue’s mask shattered and a huge magic circle appeared on the ground.
“What!
Invocation magic, and at least rank B,” said Ellen.
“We have to do something before things get complicated,” said Kaval.
Suddenly, the area was engulfed in a storm of flames.
When the fire calmed down, Shizue’s figure was floating in the air with a red glow.
Thanks to my barrier, none of them acted like in the original story, but they did start working together immediately.
“They’re really not amateurs,” I thought.
—Rigurd!
Evacuate everyone as soon as possible and get them away from the village —I ordered him quickly.
“—Yes, Kaelion-sama,” he answered without hesitation.
I suppose he recognized the danger of the situation.
“Rimuru, this doesn’t look very good,” I said into the air.
Things might get complicated around here —I said while laughing ironically.