"What brings you here, Your Excellency?!"
Benimaru, weapon in hand, called out to Gazel in the sky with a serious tone.
"I am here to confirm some matters, introduced by Mr. Kagaya Ubuyashiki!"
"Mr. Kagaya? May I ask what matters Your Excellency wishes to confirm?"
Benimaru paused at the mention of Kagaya Ubuyashiki's name, but pressed on with his question.
"I am here to…"
"You're here to see if we are worthy of an alliance, aren't you, Hero King Gazel Dwargo!"
"Kaito-sama! Rimuru-sama!"
Everyone present turned to look at Kaito, who had spoken, and Rimuru, who had arrived at the same time, and knelt on one knee in greeting.
"Rise, all of you! I've told you not to be so formal all the time!"
Kaito waved his hand helplessly, telling the bowing crowd to stand, and at his word, they all rose.
'[Eye of Identification]!'
Gazel Dwargo
Loyalty: 0
Affinity: 70
Abilities: Charisma, Heroic Spirit, Top-tier Swordsmanship…
Overall Strength Rating: S-class
'As expected of the Hero King — his strength is completely on par with an Awakened Demon Lord! And all those dense skills! Tsk, tsk, tsk!'
Taking in the Dwarf King's attributes, Kaito thought to himself: indeed, there are only mistaken names, never mistaken nicknames.
"Presumably, you are Kaito-sama! Please forgive my presumptuous visit!"
Gazel's eyes settled on Kaito, and his heart instinctively tightened. Though the young man looked harmless enough, he gave Gazel a sense of fatal threat — a feeling he hadn't experienced in a very long time.
Out of caution, Gazel set aside his condescending attitude and slowly descended to the ground with his Pegasus Knights.
Kaito watched the Pegasus Knights land, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.
'Damn, this knight order is strong — their average strength is actually above A-class. Good heavens, if I didn't know your purpose, I'd suspect you were here to conquer our nation!'
'Wait… could it be that he really did have that intention in the original work? If Rimuru hadn't passed the test…'
'Good heavens. Thinking about it that way, Gazel is in some sense even more ruthless than the King of Falmuth! As expected, those who can be kings are never simple individuals!'
"That's right, I am Kaito. My guess about why you're here wasn't wrong, was it?"
Kaito looked at Gazel, who had dismounted from his pegasus, and replied with a composed tone.
"As expected of Kaito-sama, you read my thoughts in one go. It seems Mr. Kagaya Ubuyashiki's high praise for you is well deserved!"
Gazel, clad in armor with a longsword at his waist, offered his praise.
"May I ask where Kagaya is now?"
"Heh! Rest assured, Your Excellency, Mr. Kagaya is on his way back. I merely came ahead to confirm whether your side is truly as worthy of an alliance as Mr. Kagaya described!"
Kaito breathed a quiet sigh of relief upon hearing that Kagaya was safe. Thankfully, he was unharmed; otherwise, Kaito feared he wouldn't be able to resist running straight to the Dwarf Kingdom and unleashing a true [Sky Burial Finger].
"In that case, how do you intend to confirm whether we are worthy of an alliance?"
"Hahaha! The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew your side is qualified to be an ally of my country! However, I still wish to spar with that one."
At that, Gazel's gaze shifted to the blue-haired girl standing beside Kaito.
"After all, the leader of the Jura Forest Alliance is her, am I right — Rimuru Tempest!"
"Kai-chan! This… should I go?"
Hearing that Gazel wanted to spar with her, Rimuru was unsure whether to accept and turned to ask Kaito. But before Kaito could answer, Gazel continued:
"If the sword at your waist is not merely decorative, then accept my challenge!"
At those words, Rimuru's right hand instinctively moved to the sword at her waist.
'I can't rely on Kai-chan for everything! I need to grow too — otherwise I'll fall further and further behind Kai-chan! I don't want to be separated from Kai-chan!'
With that thought, Rimuru straightened, her expression growing increasingly serious. She drew the sword from her waist, holding it with both hands and leveling it at Gazel, the Slime pendant on the sword tassel swaying gently.
"I… Rimuru Tempest, leader of the Jura Forest Alliance, accept your challenge!"
"What spirit!"
Looking at the girl who had suddenly blazed with fighting spirit, Gazel praised her from the bottom of his heart.
He raised his own sword with both hands, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, and said gravely:
"If you can withstand my series of attacks, you win! But… I advise you not to underestimate the swordsmanship of this Sword Saint, Gazel Dwargo!"
"Understood!"
Rimuru replied with a firm expression.
Just as the two were about to begin their spar, a gentle breeze drifted through, and Treyni, clad in green, appeared silently between them. She looked at both of them and said:
"Then, allow me to be the witness!"
At Treyni's sudden appearance, the Pegasus Knights' adjutant couldn't help but exclaim:
"Even a Dryad has come!"
Gazel glanced at Treyni from the corner of his eye, and a slight smile slowly crossed his face.
"I see! So that's how it is…"
Indeed, there was a reason the Dryad race was considered a national treasure. Gazel understood everything the moment she appeared.
He had already resolved to form an alliance the moment he saw Kaito, and now, with a Dryad standing before him, he had absolutely no reservations left.
Anyone recognized by a Dryad would certainly have no issues with their character.
"Since there is a witness, why are you waiting? Draw your swords!"
Rimuru looked at the burly man standing ready with his sword in both hands, and raised her own blade in kind.
"You're right, then I'll finish this quickly and make you understand that my position as leader of the Jura Forest Alliance is not just for show!"
Watching the two who were about to duel, Kaito activated his [Eye of Identification] to check Rimuru's current attributes.
'[Eye of Identification]'
Rimuru Tempest
Loyalty: 100
Affinity: 100
Abilities: [Great Sage], [Predator], [Demon Lord Seed], [Black Lightning], [Black Flame], Mimic Ranga, Mimic…
Overall Strength Rating: S- class
'It seems Rimuru is just one step away from becoming an Awakened Demon Lord! I need to find a way to get her some souls!'
With that thought, Kaito opened his own attribute panel and fixed his gaze on one particular item among his treasures.
Kaito
Gender: Male
Age: 23 years old
Realm: Peak Nascent Soul Stage
Cultivation Method: Basic Cultivation Method
Special Abilities: [Eye of Identification], [Dimensional Gate]
Follower: Izayoi Sakuya
Magic Treasures: Tenkuu, Conqueror's Banner
Items: Dimensional Gate Sub-gate × 1, Coke × 7…
Overall Rating: You are already a notable figure across the myriad worlds, though you might still accidentally get stepped on! ┓(´ー`)┏
Kaito stared at the Conqueror's Banner, its black aura pulsing steadily within his dimensional space, and his thoughts drifted back to three days prior.
Three days ago - Kaito's bedroom
[System Sign-in]!
[Ding — congratulations, Host, for obtaining the magic treasure: Myriad…]