Great Jura Forest, Goblin Village
"Gobta! Get out, you little scoundrel!"
Kaijin's roar shook the blacksmith's shop as Gobta fumbled with the sword blank that had just slipped from his hands and landed straight into the furnace.
"Ah… I didn't mean to! I was just curious and wanted to take a look. I didn't expect it to fall in!"
Gobta scratched the back of his head and offered his most apologetic expression.
"Stop making excuses! Get out!"
"Alright, alright! Going right now!"
With Kaijin still bellowing behind him, Gobta made his exit at top speed.
Outside, the village was in full swing. Foundations were being laid, and Gobzo and the others were sparring in an open clearing. Gobta, finding himself with nothing to do, clasped his hands behind his head and strolled along the newly paved stone path, wandering all the way to the edge of the forest.
"Hmm? What's that?! Humans? So many of them!"
"I need to tell everyone, fast!"
Gobta spotted a group of humans emerging from the treeline in the distance, and his legs were already moving before he finished the thought. He sprinted back to the village entrance and skidded to a halt, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Everyone! There are people out there! At the edge of the forest!"
Work ground to a halt all around him as heads turned.
"Gobta, what did you say? Where?!"
Rigur strode forward, saber in hand.
"Straight ahead! A big group of humans, all armed!"
Rigur's expression sharpened at once. A large armed group emerging from the forest was not a friendly visit.
"Understood. Go round up the Tempest Wolf Riders, now! I'll go inform my father, and someone look for Rimuru-sama!"
"On it!"
Gobta was already running before the last word left Rigur's mouth. Rigur turned and sprinted toward the center of the village.
Village Chief Rigurd received his son's report with wide eyes.
"Have you sent someone to find Rimuru-sama?"
"Someone's already gone."
Rigurd let out a breath, then steadied himself.
"Good. Then gather every able-bodied fighter. The elderly, the women, the children, get them out of the village first. We hold this ground until Rimuru-sama returns."
"Yes!"
The alarm bell rang out across the village. Everyone moved.
The Tempest Wolf Riders assembled quickly under Gobta's direction, wolves and riders falling into formation. At the village entrance, hundreds of hobgoblins stood in a solid line, weapons and shields raised, eyes fixed on the treeline. Even Kaijin and his three brothers had taken up positions at the front.
"Kaijin, please, you should take shelter!"
Rigur looked at the dwarf beside him with clear unease. These were people Rimuru-sama had personally brought here. If anything happened to them, he would never be able to face her again.
"Don't be ridiculous! I am a warrior. Don't underestimate me, Rigur. Besides, I am a member of this village now. Protecting it is as much my responsibility as yours."
"That's right, we're all members of the village!"
"Mhm, mhm!"
Kaijin's three brothers nodded along firmly.
"This…"
Rigur hesitated. Rigurd's voice cut through before he could say anything more.
"Enough, Rigur. He's right. Don't try to talk them out of it."
"Yes, Father!"
Rigurd turned his eyes back to the treeline.
"Then we wait and see what these humans intend. If it comes to a fight, we will not be found wanting."
About ten minutes later, the figures at the edge of the forest drew close enough to make out clearly.
Rigurd stared at the crowd. Then he stared again. He rubbed his eyes.
"This… isn't that… Kaito-sama!!!"
Rigur spun toward his father.
"What! Who did you say, Father?!"
"Look at the person at the front of the group!"
Rigur looked. His mouth fell open.
"It really is Kaito-sama! He's back!"
"What! Kaito-sama is back!"
"That's Kaito-sama!"
The ripple spread through the line instantly. The hobgoblins who had been around since the beginning recognized him immediately. It was Kaito who had saved the Goblin Village with a single sword stroke back then. Those who had joined later had only heard the stories, but they had all heard them. Everyone began craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the man the older ones were pointing at.
"The Goblin Village is just ahead. The Goblins are all very easy to get along with. Look, they even came out to greet us!"
Kaito looked at the dense line of figures ahead and grinned.
"Kai-chan, Why do I feel like they're not exactly here to greet us?"
Kochou Shinobu, holding Rimuru from behind, went quiet as she heard Kanae say "Kai-chan." An alarm went off somewhere in her chest.
'[Great Sage], why does that woman call him so… so intimately!'
'[Notification: Based on analysis of data within Master's mind, the individual known as Kanae Kocho may share a romantic connection with Kaito-sama.]
'Nani! A couple!'
Rimuru went red to her core. She had been here first. She was the one who met Kai-chan first. That hateful homewrecker!
While Rimuru was busy spiraling, Kaito peered ahead at the village entrance. Every goblin was gripping a weapon and staring at them with barely concealed panic. He rubbed his forehead.
"Right. They've mistaken us for enemies."
He turned to the group.
"Everyone wait here for a moment. We'll go talk to them."
Rimuru snapped out of her thoughts. She immediately launched herself out of Kochou Shinobu's arms and into Kaito's.
Kaito, holding Rimuru, activated [Flash Step] and crossed the distance to the village entrance in an instant. He raised a hand at the line of wide-eyed hobgoblins.
"Yo! Long time no see, everyone!"
A beat of stunned silence.
"It… it really is Kaito-sama!"
"Kaito-sama!"
"Rimuru-sama! You came back with Kaito-sama!"
"Welcome back! Welcome back!!"
The hobgoblins dropped to one knee all at once, faces breaking into grins, voices overlapping in a wave of relief and excitement.
"Hehe, everyone, rise! Your changes are really something else!"
Rigurd stepped forward, shoulders back, chest out, practically vibrating.
"Kaito-sama! After you left, we were fortunate enough to receive names from Rimuru-sama, and the changes have been… quite significant. I am now called Rigurd!"
Kaito looked the muscular giant up and down, then reached out and gave his arm a squeeze.
"Your change is truly remarkable. If I couldn't sense your aura I wouldn't have recognized you at all! Hahaha!"
"All thanks to Rimuru-sama!"
Rigurd immediately struck a bodybuilding pose.
"Alright, save the posing for later! The people behind us are not enemies, they are all our people. Have everyone stand down."
He looked at Rigurd.
"Walk with me. I'll introduce you."
"Yes! Kaito-sama!"