The goblin kneeling before the slime looked up, his face lighting with hope and surprise.
"You can stand up now. No need to be so stiff!" said the cheerful slime, his body wobbling slightly. "I'm Rimuru Tempest. And this grumpy-looking elf next to me is my companion, Granstar."
"Yes! Lord Rimuru, Lord Granstar, thank you both!"
Receiving their response filled the goblin with renewed hope for his village.
Under Rimuru's watchful gaze, the red-hooded goblin stood up shakily, his forehead beaded with sweat.
"It's like this, my lords… Recently, our village was attacked by a pack of direwolves. We tried our best to fight back, but…," he trailed off, sorrow clouding his expression.
"One of my brothers fell in battle."
"Ah… Don't be sad. I understand…"
Rimuru hopped forward and stretched a pseudopod up to gently pat the goblin's trembling shoulder.
"Lord Rimuru…"
Touched by Rimuru's kindness, the goblin sniffled and tried to compose himself.
Granstar sighed internally, barely resisting the urge to cover his face. Rimuru, how can you turn even this into a tearjerker scene... Truly, he was speechless.
"So basically, you want our help, right?" Granstar cut straight to the point, breaking the sentimental atmosphere.
The goblin stiffened, meeting Granstar's cold, piercing blue eyes.
"You're right, Lord Granstar! I know my request is unreasonable, but—!"
The goblin bowed his head deeply, guilt evident in every line of his small body.
Before Granstar could respond, Rimuru bounced between them and declared:
"I agree! Right, Granstar? They're in real trouble."
"Really?! Thank you so much!"
The goblins behind him erupted in cheers, their hope rekindled.
"Tch! You just agreed like that?! Just because you think they're pitiful?"
Granstar was exasperated, but seeing the joy on the goblins' faces (and Rimuru's smug little wink) killed any argument he might've made.
"Tch. Fine."
"Ah, Granstar, don't shake me! I'm gonna fall apart—"
"Hmph. You're made of slime. You'll be fine," Granstar snorted, giving Rimuru an affectionate but rough shake.
The surrounding goblins stared at the scene, awed and terrified of Granstar's boldness. They quietly decided he was not someone they could afford to offend.
As expected from the events Rimuru vaguely remembered, he had indeed encountered a goblin village.
"Village Chief! I'm back, and I brought two powerful lords with me!"
From within the village stumbled a wizened goblin elder, short and stooped, with white hair and a cane.
Granstar watched him approach, half-expecting the old goblin to trip over himself.
"Ahem, hurry, hurry! Bring the honored lords inside. Make sure not to neglect them!"
Following the goblins into the heart of the village, Rimuru and Granstar finally got a good look around—and their hearts sank.
It was even worse than Rimuru had pictured: not a single proper house in sight, just ramshackle huts and scraps. There wasn't even a basic fence. Hundreds of goblins gathered around, staring at them with a mixture of fear and awe.
Especially at Rimuru.
"Huh? Granstar, why are they so scared of me? I'm clearly adorable!"
Rimuru pouted, confused.
Granstar sneered slightly.
"Heh. Certain slimes don't even realize they're leaking ridiculous amounts of magicules. Of course they're terrified."
"Hey! You could've just said it's me leaking magic power!"
Rimuru puffed up in indignation.
Knowing he was in the wrong, Rimuru quickly suppressed his magicule aura, dialing it way down.
He shot a silent glare at Granstar, who only smirked in response.
Petty! Totally petty!, Rimuru grumbled inwardly, drawing imaginary circles in the dirt.
Seeing Rimuru's pouting face, Granstar couldn't help but chuckle under his breath.
Meanwhile, the goblin chief hobbled up to them and bowed low.
"My lords, the reason we begged for your aid is because… recently, the forest has grown much more dangerous. Monster attacks have increased."
"We didn't know that," Rimuru said honestly.
"It's because the aura of our guardian god—Storm Dragon Veldora—disappeared."
The chief's voice was heavy with sorrow.
"Without his protection, the nearby monsters have grown bold. We beg you, please protect us!"
So that's what it was—Veldora's disappearance had caused the ecosystem of the Great Jura Forest to spiral into chaos.
Rimuru listened carefully, understanding more and more that his actions (or presence) had already begun to change the world around him.
Rimuru didn't immediately agree this time. Instead, he paused, deep in thought.
While he had already promised to help, facing powerful external threats wasn't something he could take lightly.
He didn't want to make unnecessary enemies—that wasn't his style.
If the enemy turned out to be overwhelmingly strong, and they failed, wouldn't that drag Granstar into trouble too?
The "god" the villagers spoke of should be none other than the Storm Dragon Veldora.
He was, after all, a major reason for all the recent chaos.
Rimuru shifted his gaze toward Granstar, hoping to get his opinion.
"Why are you looking at me?" Granstar said flatly. "This is your business. Handle it however you like."
Hearing Granstar's indifferent tone, Rimuru couldn't help but feel a bit moved.
He understood: no matter what decision he made, Granstar would stand by him.
Granstar, on the other hand, thought with exasperation, Why's he looking at me like that?
Unconsciously, he shifted a step to the side, feeling awkward.
Rimuru turned his focus back to the village chief, his expression hardening.
Sensing the increasing gravity in Rimuru's demeanor, the village chief broke into a cold sweat.
"Village Chief," Rimuru said evenly, "if we help your village, what do we get in return?"
He didn't bother with polite phrasing. Rimuru was willing to offer assistance, but he wasn't about to do it for free.
In this world, strength ruled—and blind kindness only led to destruction.
Granstar, who had been casually observing, flashed a brief look of approval.
He had left the choice to Rimuru precisely to see how he would handle it.
As expected of someone destined to become a Demon Lord, Granstar thought with satisfaction.
Naivety had no place in this world.
Hearing Rimuru's direct demand, the village chief fell to his knees in terror, his face pale.
"P-please, my lords! I know that with our strength, we have little to offer…"
Seeing the flicker of disappointment in Rimuru and Granstar's eyes, the chief's heart tightened.
After a moment of painful silence, he stammered desperately,
"We… we are willing to pledge our loyalty! We implore you to accept us under your protection!"
He pressed his forehead against the ground and cried out,
"We swear eternal loyalty to Lord Rimuru and Lord Granstar!"
(That's more like it.) Rimuru thought, secretly nodding.
Just then—
"Awooo~!"
A wolf's howl split the air outside.
"The Fang Wolves! They're here!"
"Run for your lives!"
The goblins, still haunted by old fears, erupted into panic the moment they heard the howl.