Shizue could only smile at the antics of the three elves as they rested near a small river, she had been planning to travel through the Jura forest alone, she knew she was getting closer and closer to Losing control with each step she took, she knew how dangerous she was to everyone around her, she had made up her mind, she would go as far as she could to search for Leon and when the time came, when she was sure she would lose control...she would kill herself. Alone and away from everyone she loved, she would protect them by taking Ifrit's body away from him, she'd probably feel sad at dying alone but...
'I guess it is a way for me to atone...I am well aware of how many I killed even without Ifrit's influence. I suppose it's only right for me to die this way.' That's what she had said to herself in order to steel herself but as she was walking to the forest, she spotted them and something inside told her. No. she couldn't help but call out to them, she didn't know what it was. Maybe it was a desperate plea from Ifrit himself? Maybe she was just being selfish, but by the time she got to know them, the resolve she had previously gathered was shattered, as she spent time with them she slowly started to gain it again...the will to live...so much so that she started to beg to anything that was above.
"Just a bit longer..."
It was selfish, but as she slowly opened up to them, she understood it was okay to be selfish sometimes. She understood that after so long in this world she hated so much, dying alone was just too...cruel.
"Just a bit longer" She mouthed to herself.
"Hey Shizu-chan?" Azure called out to her she was currently in the river wearing just her underwear alongside Carla who was swimming along with a happy smile on her face, magnolia on the other hand was nowhere to be seen, she snapped out of her daze, she looked at Azure a small question mark appearing on her Head "Hm?" she sounded out. "Mou...Are you even listening to us?" Azure asked with a pout on her face.
"*Chuckle* Sorry, sorry." Shizu let out a chuckle looking at the blue haired "I wasn't listening, What were you asking?" Azure quickly had a smile on her face again. "Wanna join us in the river? Your must be tired from all the monster we killed it's really fun!" She said with a smile.
"Sorry, But I can't just strip in the open can I?" Shizu said, Azure was about to say something but before she could she was immediately being splashed water in the face by Carla, who had a smug smile on her face. "Hey!!" She left Shizu alone deciding to get her revenge instead. Shizu once again smiled under her Mask. She was about to lay down on the banks, but magnolia quickly swiped the Mask off and placed it on top of a rock with all their Clothes, Before she could say anything magnolia Quickly Stripped her of her Cloak and katana Placing them both on the stack before carrying her Bridal style, "Wa-Wait just a-"
"Azure phrased it wrong" Magnolia said, she herself was In her normal adventurer attire, also not wanting to strip in the middle of the forest. She gave an evil smirk down at Shizu, who in turn Shivered just a bit "It wasn't a Suggestion or question." Before Shizu could say anything Magnolia ran and jumped into the River startling both of the elves and splashing them with water, Magnolia surfaced up to breath.
"Magnolia!!" Azure cried out. "Oh shut up! I'm never gonna understand the splashing game, YOU ARE IN WATER. How much more wet can you get?!" she said, Shizu who was still in her arms, now fully drenched in water, couldn't help but laugh at the way she phrased it. "Ah" Magnolia realized it herself and blushed a deep red, Azure blushed herself but started chuckling. Carla on the other gave a full blown laugh. "Didn't expect you to be a perv, captain" she said while still laughing causing the others to laugh more while Magnolia herself Blushed Deeper "Sh-Shut up! You know what I mean. Hmpf!" She said turning away causing the others to laugh even more.
'Just a bit more...'
(I have no idea if this turned out cringey or not, but I'm gonna hope its good enough.)
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Much to Rimuru's dismay, he found that Regulus was not joking about his Village turning into a city. On the day he returned to the village he found that there were a 1000 more goblins that had apparently come to the Village seeking protection from the monsters and after Great sage had told him about their chances of survival, he had no choice but to name them all and welcome them into the village.
He was now at a cliff looking over the new location of the village, ironically though this was where regulus had first landed after his test against the great rabbit. "*nod* Things are going a lot more peacefully don't you think?" Rimuru asked Ranga who just nodded. Rimuru noticed that he wasn't very happy right now.
"Is something wrong?" Rimuru asked him, who in turn just looked down to the grass. "It's nothing my master...I am just thinking about my father. I am just wondering how he must be doing."
"Oh right...Hatti is your father that evolved isn't he?" Rimuru said while Ranga just nodded. "I wonder if he hates me" Ranga said as his ears drooped down, "I still remember the way he looked at me when I bowed down to you, I have no regrets but I can't help but wonder what he thinks of me..." Ranga said as his voice slowly went softer and softer until it was barely a whisper.
"I am sure he still likes you. Ranga" Rimuru said trying to give some hope to the wolf Hatti had told him to look after Ranga so he was sure the older wolf still cared for his son.
"I hope so..." Ranga whimpered as he started running back to the village. With Rimuru giving a nod of approval as he looked at the dwarves teaching the various hobgoblins and goblinas how to do specific things as well as doing the most important job of making clothes and shelter.
AS he was looking at Kaijin teach the hobgoblins how to Forge Rigurd came running up to them.
Since so many more goblins had come to the village each from different tribes and with different elders, Rigurd himself had been elevated to position of goblin king with the other four tribe elders having elevated to Goblin lords themselves, they had basically thrown the job at him while making it as respectable as possible. Rimuru couldn't help but be impressed, and it had caused Rigurd to evolve further so he didn't have a reason to be angry either, "Rimuru Sama!?" He called out, somehow even more buff and muscular than before. He stood in front of Rimuru while giving deep breath akin to panting but without opening his mouth. Impressive. "What is it?" Rimuru asked with a question mark forming out from his head, "We've found a group of adventurers in the forest that seem to be searching for something."
"Oh?" Rimuru said with a curious voice prompting Rigurd to continue, "They could be scouts from another nation trying to expand into the Forest" Rimuru contemplated for a moment, 'that could really be bad but...' the image of Regulus and his gang taking down the nation of Dwargon which was considered to have been undefeated for 200 years came to mind 'yeah...we don't really have much to worry about do we. Regulus didn't even move from his spot and if he leads all those monstrous people he is probably a lot strong as well...' Rimuru though before answering "They are not really that much of a threat though...what do you think?" he asked Rigurd who answered immediately "They may be quite possibly big threats Rimuru sama..."
Oh?
"How so?" Rimuru asked to which he once again answered immediately "One of them is a Female human and seems to be very strong in pyromancy other than that there's also three Extremely strong High elves."
"high elves?"
"Yes. They are considered the pinnacle of elf evolution for the common classes and is relatively stronger than even elf kings, any further and they would reach demon lord level."
"Woah..." he said in a slightly shocked state, guess I'll have to give them a visit...
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They were flying rather high in the air, far away from many projectile weapons. It was only a few hours after they had already entered the border of Ullgrasia that Hatti finally questioned his master who was giving him telepathic directions, "Regulus-sama. Where exactly are we heading for?" He asked causing Reinhard to question him as well. "I have the same question, Regulus sama." He asked, Elsa on the other hand was too busy hugging Hatti.
Regulus rose from his usual position on Hatti's back. "Republic of Ullgrasia has already been taken over by the witch cult, at this point it is nothing more than a puppet nation but a single family has managed to take in a small amount of people and was able to save them by creating a small but effective village, this village though is going to get over run one day without a doubt and the family is going to need a new place to move the villagers as well as themselves seeing as how they will without a doubt be killed in the onslaught" He said in a cryptic manner. He looked at Reinhard and smiled.
"We are going to meet the Astrea family."
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