Afternoon, Great Jura Forest.
"System check-in!"
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have received one can of Coke!]
Kaito fell into deep thought as he looked at the pile of items in his [System Storage Space].
Host: Kaito
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Realm: [Peak Golden Core Stage]
Items: [Dimensional Gate], Coke × 3, feminine hygiene product × 1, damaged iron sword × 1
Overall Rating: In the myriad worlds, you are merely a lowly minion. Be careful not to get accidentally stepped on! ┓(´ー`)┏
"It's been five consecutive days now. What kind of bizarre stuff is this system giving me? Coke is fine, at least I can drink it, but what in the world is this feminine hygiene product?!"
"I'm a man! A man! System, isn't the probability of getting good stuff from this check-in way too low?!"
[Ding! Check-in rewards are completely random!]
"How is the check-in probability low? It's been this bad for so many days!"
[Please look for your own problems, Host. Have you been earnestly praying and improving your luck all these years? Hmph!]
"Sigh!"
"Kai-chan, what's wrong? I've seen you sighing these past two days!"
Rimuru, cradled in Kaito's arms, looked up at the constantly sighing Kaito and couldn't help but ask.
Hearing Rimuru's question, Kaito stroked Rimuru's round body and said with great emotion:
"Oh, Rimuru! I'm lamenting the injustice of heaven. Why do excellent people like me always face such shameless targeting!"
"Sigh! Is… is that so? o((⊙﹏⊙))o"
...After walking for an unknown period of time, the two suddenly heard a chaotic sound of footsteps, and a group of green-skinned Goblins appeared, blocking their path.
The Goblins held crude weapons and wore tattered equipment, appearing very weak overall.
Their leader, wearing a red bandana, looked very nervous.
Upon seeing Rimuru cradled in Kaito's arms, he gripped his weapon even tighter, and his legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
"St-strong one, pl-please, what brings you to our front?"
The Goblin wearing the red bandana asked, trembling, weapon in hand.
"Strong one? Kai-chan, is he asking you?"
"No, I think he's clearly asking you!"
Kaito glanced down at Rimuru, who was unknowingly radiating an aura utterly terrifying to the Goblins.
He suddenly remembered — wasn't this Rimuru's first encounter with the Goblins?
"Sigh! Me? Uh, nice to meet you. I'm a Slime. My name is Rimuru, and this is Kai-chan. His full name is Kaito!"
As Rimuru introduced herself, her voice, carrying tremendous pressure, washed over the Goblins, instantly causing them to cover their ears and collapse to the ground in pain.
"We understand your power, please lower your voice!"
'Is the intent contained in my voice too strong?'
Thinking this, Rimuru then spoke softly, as if afraid of blowing away a fallen leaf on the ground:
"So, do you have something you need from us?"
"We sensed the aura of a powerful monster and came to investigate!"
The red-bandana Goblin knelt on the ground and replied.
"But I didn't sense any powerful monster nearby."
Hearing this, Kaito spoke directly to Rimuru:
"Oh, Rimuru! Try switching your perspective to look at yourself!"
Hearing Kaito's words, Rimuru used [Great Sage] to switch her perspective and saw the terrifying magical energy swirling around her own body.
"Wow! My aura is leaking out, and [Great Sage] didn't even warn me!"
"No wonder the Goblins are so frightened of me!"
Thinking this, Rimuru quickly reined in her leaking magical power.
'Kai-chan is so mean — he knew and didn't say a word, just to see me make a fool of myself, right? Hmph!'
As Rimuru pulled back her leaking magical power, the Goblins immediately breathed a collective sigh of relief. They then knelt with their heads touching the ground and pleaded:
"Oh, strong one! Given your immense power, we have a request! Please, we implore you to visit our village and hear our plea. We beg of you!"
Hearing the request, Rimuru looked up at Kaito and asked:
"Hey, Kai-chan, should we go?"
"Let's go. Anyway, we don't know where we're headed right now. Going there might also help us understand more about this world."
'If you don't go, how will you win over these Goblins? If you don't help them, you won't meet the Direwolves either!'
'You are the future ruler of the Jura Tempest Federation! I'm planning to freeload off you!'
[Ding! Host, look at your complete lack of ambition!]
'None of your business!!!'
Since Kaito had agreed, Rimuru accepted the Goblins' request.
Following the Goblins, they arrived at a dilapidated village consisting of only a dozen small huts made of thatch.
Inside the central hut of the village, the Goblin Village Chief and the red-bandana Goblin were kneeling on the ground, looking up at Kaito and Rimuru.
"Welcome, both of you. I am the chief of this village!"
The Village Chief, white-haired and frail, spoke in a trembling voice.
"Hello! So, what is it you wish to ask of us?"
Rimuru asked, getting straight to the point.
Kaito stood silently to one side, simply observing.
"Are you aware of the recent increase in monster activity?"
"No."
"Our deity disappeared a month ago, and since then, monsters from the surrounding area have begun to harass this land!"
Hearing the Village Chief's words, Rimuru looked up and pondered quietly.
'Is he referring to Veldora? The timing certainly matches. Can his very existence keep other monsters at bay?'
"We fought back, but the difference in strength was simply too great!"
The Village Chief helplessly laid out the situation. At that moment, the red-bandana Goblin kneeling nearby said excitedly:
"That is why we hoped to entrust ourselves to you, two esteemed sirs. Please grant us your protection, and we will swear our loyalty to you!"
'They want to borrow our power?'
Rimuru thought this as she looked at the two kneeling Goblins.
"But I am a Slime — I might not meet your expectations!"
The red-bandana Goblin, who had already felt Rimuru's terrifying aura firsthand, bowed his head respectfully and said:
"You are too modest. An ordinary Slime would never possess such a powerful aura as yours. You must be a rather distinguished monster!"
"Is that so? You noticed? You Goblins have quite a future ahead of you!"
Kaito found the whole scene rather amusing. He had seen it play out in anime before, but witnessing it in reality was something else entirely.
"Thank you for your praise. Now, our request is…"
As the Village Chief recounted their situation, it was just as it had been in the original story: the Direwolf pack was swarming from the east to attack the village.
The disparity in combat power was immense, and the Goblins were utterly unable to resist, which was precisely why they had sought out strong individuals for protection.
"Kai-chan, why don't we help them?"
Rimuru looked up and asked Kaito, who was standing beside her.
"No matter what, you're always so soft-hearted. But then again, that's also one of your charming qualities. Alright, I agree!"
"Really?! Kai-chan, you're so good to me!"
Watching Rimuru bounce around happily, Kaito couldn't help but smile.
"Your wish — I, Rimuru Tempest, will accept on behalf of Storm Dragon Veldora!"
Hearing Rimuru agree, all the Goblins excitedly knelt and bowed. The Village Chief, tears in his eyes, called out with deep reverence:
"Thank you so much! From this day forth, we are the loyal servants of Rimuru-sama and Kaito-sama!"
'It seems I can also test my abilities tonight. As a dignified [Golden Core] cultivator, I haven't had a single chance to fight yet, and my hands are getting a little itchy!'
Kaito had not fought even once since reaching the [Golden Core] stage.
He was genuinely curious to see where his current combat power stood in this world.
Based on his estimation of Rimuru's aura, it shouldn't be weaker than that of an awakened Demon Lord.
However, it likely wouldn't reach the level of Milim Nava or Guy Crimson. The current Rimuru should have at least A-rank combat power.
Against a Demon Lord Seed, he might not be guaranteed a win, but he certainly shouldn't lose either.
Time slowly crept into the deep of night...