"Uh..."
Hearing the goblins' frantic cries, Rimuru and Granstar quickly stepped outside to assess the situation.
"Don't panic," Granstar said calmly, scanning the distance with his magic-enhanced senses.
"The Direwolves are still far from the village. They're probably planning to attack under the cover of night."
Sure enough, atop a distant ridge stood a massive Direwolf — a leader class — its eyes gleaming coldly as it stared toward them.
Seeing the village descending into chaos, Granstar shook his head and continued,
"This is just a probing move. Stay calm. With Rimuru and me here, what is there to fear?"
"Exactly!" Rimuru chimed in confidently.
He even spotted a goblin trying to sneak off with a sack of supplies.
Seriously? Rimuru groaned internally.
But hearing the reassurance from their two protectors, the goblins settled down.
"That's right! We have Lord Rimuru and Lord Granstar!"
Some of the goblins had witnessed Granstar's strength firsthand — his ability to summon ice blades and barriers had left a deep impression.
"Alright, set up defenses immediately," Rimuru ordered.
"Use logs and sharpened stakes. Get ready for battle tonight. Rigurdo, take us to the injured."
"As you command, Rimuru-sama."
The goblin chief, Rigurdo, led Rimuru and Granstar to a crude shelter where more than a dozen goblins lay wounded from previous fights — many barely clinging to life.
"So many casualties..." Rimuru frowned, feeling the pressure of leadership.
"You can try using the recovery potions created by your skills," Granstar suggested.
"Good idea."
Rimuru approached the worst-injured goblin and, using his Predator ability combined with Potion Creation, synthesized a healing potion from his stored Fibro Grass.
He applied the potion carefully, and almost instantly, the goblin's wounds closed and his breathing steadied.
"Whoa, it actually worked better than I thought!"
Without hesitation, Rimuru healed the rest in the same way. Soon, all the wounded were on their feet, full of energy.
"Incredible..." Rigurdo murmured in awe.
"I didn't expect the potion to be this effective either," Rimuru admitted.
"I'd like to study it," Granstar said, forming an ice bottle from water magic and storing a sample Rimuru handed over.
"Extraction," Granstar whispered, analyzing the potion through his innate skill.
Extraction Successful.
Item: High-Grade Recovery Potion
Properties: Full physical regeneration. Special material grade. Further research possible.
"As expected," Granstar muttered.
"This potion's purity exceeds normal standards."
Rimuru simply grinned.
Night fell.
On the cliffs overlooking the goblin village, the Starved Direwolf leader let out a bloodthirsty howl.
Behind him, dozens of Direwolves growled, eager to feast.
After Veldora's disappearance, the monsters of Jura Forest were in turmoil — and this pack saw an opportunity.
"Direwolves, average C-rank. The leader's a solid B-rank," Granstar muttered after scanning with his magic.
"Our goblins are barely D-rank..." Rimuru said, grimacing.
"But with our help, they'll stand a chance."
At Rimuru's command, the goblins lined up behind the makeshift palisades they'd built. Though their hands trembled, their eyes showed determination.
"Hold the line!" Rimuru ordered.
"Archers, ready your bows!"
The wolves charged, the earth shaking under their paws.
"Awooooo!"
"Loose!"
Bows twanged, and a rain of crude arrows fell upon the charging Direwolves. A few wolves yelped and fell, but most shrugged off the weak attacks.
"They're tough bastards..." Granstar muttered, summoning spears of ice above his head.
With a swift motion, he launched them forward, skewering two Direwolves mid-charge.
Seeing Granstar's display, the goblins' morale surged.
"We can do this!" someone shouted.
The leader Direwolf, enraged by the resistance, snarled and gathered magic power into his fangs — readying a powerful Breath attack.
But Rimuru and Granstar were already preparing their counterstrike.
The leading Fang Wolf roared furiously and charged to the front. Arrows shot at it clanged harmlessly off its thick hide — they had no effect at all!
In no time, it smashed through the goblins' flimsy front fence, its jaws wide open, ready to tear the goblin in front of it to pieces.
"Ahh~! Help!"
Rimuru clenched his "fists" anxiously. At this point, he was more than ready to step in. With his and Granstar's strength, it would be effortless to wipe out the entire Fang Wolf pack.
But just as Rimuru was about to move, Granstar's calm voice stopped him.
"Are you planning to save them every time they run into danger?"
Those words hit Rimuru like a bucket of cold water.
True... if they always intervened, the goblin clan would never grow stronger. They needed to learn to stand on their own — to struggle, to overcome. Rimuru didn't want a weak, dependent community.
He dreamed of building a family that could face challenges together, shoulder to shoulder.
"Granstar... you're right," Rimuru nodded firmly. "You'll help me build that kind of family, right?"
Granstar gave a deadpan stare, shaking his head rapidly in denial.
"I never said that. Don't drag me into this."
"Heh, cold face, warm heart — that's you, Granstar."
Granstar: "..."
Meanwhile, back on the battlefield — the arrogant Fang Wolf leader suddenly found itself wrapped in sticky webs, suspended mid-air. It struggled, biting and clawing wildly, but couldn't break free.
The next moment, a flash of ice magic froze it solid. The frozen wolf looked almost alive, its expression twisted in fear.
Crack—!
With a sharp noise, the ice shattered. The leader's body broke into shimmering pieces and collapsed onto the ground.
[ Activate Skill: Predator. ]
[ You have killed the Fang Wolf leader. Skills obtained: Intimidation, Super Olfaction. ]
[ Materials acquired: Wolf Head ×1, Wolf Fang ×2, Wolf Claw ×2. ]
The rest of the Fang Wolves instinctively shrank back. Their leader was dead.
Among them, a young Fang Wolf with distinctive white fur under its forehead stared blankly at its fallen parent.
"Rimuru, now!" Granstar urged.
Without hesitation, Rimuru moved to the body and activated his unique skill [Predator].
He consumed the corpse in an instant.
[ Analysis complete. Mimicry: Fang Wolf acquired. Unique skills: Super Olfaction, Intimidation acquired. ]
Taking on the form of a massive Fang Wolf, even larger and more imposing than the original leader, Rimuru let out a thunderous roar.
[ Skill: Intimidation activated. ]
The immense pressure swept across the battlefield. One by one, the Fang Wolves collapsed onto the ground, submitting completely.
"Huh? Why aren't they running away?" Rimuru tilted his head in confusion. "They're scared stiff, though?"
While Rimuru was puzzled, Granstar raised his hand, gathering magic power. Ice-blue mana shimmered as frost began creeping from under his feet, slowly crawling toward the terrified wolves.
With Rimuru's dominance and Granstar's overwhelming aura combined, the Fang Wolf pack had no choice but to surrender completely.