Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The World Changes After Shuna's Disappearance
Chapter 16: The World Changes After Shuna's Disappearance
Within three days of Shuna being abducted, the Great Jura Forest became restless. To be precise, the entire world started to stir.
Due to the presence of the Storm Dragon Veldora, the races within the forest had only minor skirmishes but generally coexisted peacefully. However, the nature of monsters does not change, and hatred had been accumulating over three hundred years. It only needed a trigger, a spark, for it to erupt completely.
When that time comes, the peace of the Great Jura Forest will be shattered. Because of Rimuru's slight action, a series of chain reactions ensued, leading to the brink of war.
The large-scale information gathering by the Ogre tribe was misunderstood by other tribes as a prelude to war. A hundred years ago, the major tribes had fought fiercely for control of the Jura Forest. They believed that the actions of the Ogre tribe were not simple.
Rumors are stopped by the wise, but in the forest, apart from the dryads of the Sanctuary, there are few wise beings. As the rumors spread, they became more and more exaggerated, but they seemed plausible.
The weaker tribes began to unite, and the stronger tribes started stockpiling food and weapons. The forest was on high alert. Many monsters, to avoid becoming prey, fled towards the outskirts of the forest. The ones who suffered were the border territories of the Kingdom of Blumund and the Falmuth Kingdom.
In the Blumund Kingdom, at the branch of the Free Guild, Fuze, the branch manager, looked at the documents on his desk, feeling a headache coming on. How could the Jura Forest, which had been peaceful for 300 years, suddenly start to riot? He couldn't understand.
"Someone, come here!" Fuze called out to the guard at the door.
The guard hurried in, "What are your orders, Lord Fuze?"
"Post this commission task."
Fuze handed the commission slip he had written to the guard.
"Yes, sir!"
...
The Free Guild, a guild composed of adventurers. At this moment, two men and a woman were walking down the street outside the guild.
"Miss, is it really okay for us to sneak out like this?" asked a man with a red headband, looking somewhat like a middle-aged uncle.
"Kido, we're already out, so why worry about it now?" replied Cabal, who had long hair parted in the middle.
"Exactly, you two always boast about how strong you are. With you around, what do I have to fear?" added Elen.
The three were adventurers from the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion. All team members had B-rank strength. The lively girl with golden curly hair in the middle was Elen, the eldest daughter of the royal family of the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion. They had sneaked out to experience the life of adventurers. The two men beside her were guards secretly sent by her father, the Duke of the Sarion royal family. Their true strength was A-rank, but to keep a low profile, they were temporarily sealed to B-rank.
The three of them, chatting and laughing, arrived at the entrance of the Free Guild. They had registered as E-rank adventurers yesterday and were here to take on a commission task today. As they entered the adventurer's hall, they noticed the new task posted by Fuze.
"Investigate the cause of the monster riot in the Great Jura Forest, B-rank task, reward 10 gold coins."
"Wow! Boss, this task pays a lot!" exclaimed Kido.
"Cabal, how about we take this task?" Elen and Kido looked at Cabal, the team leader.
"But it's a B-rank task, it could be dangerous," Cabal hesitated.
"But the gold coins are enough for us to get new equipment," Elen argued.
"Exactly, we're almost out of money," Kido added.
Under their persuasion, Cabal finally agreed. Shortly after the three took the task and left, a masked girl walked in. She headed straight upstairs, and the staff, recognizing her, did not stop her.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Come in!"
The girl entered, removed her mask, and said, "Mr. Fuze, long time no see."
Hearing this, Fuze, who was looking at documents, quickly looked up.
"Haha, isn't this Miss Shizue? Long time no see indeed."
The girl was Shizue Izawa.
"Please, have a seat. It's been ten years since we last met, right?" Fuze pointed to the sofa, and Shizue sat down. "Yes, that was when I officially retired."
"How have you been these years?"
"Quite well. I'm a teacher now."
The office was filled with the sound of their pleasant conversation. Fuze learned that Shizue was currently teaching five children from another world, who had only two or three years left to live. She was out searching for a way to save them. Shizue also learned about the trouble Fuze was facing. As an old friend, Shizue decided to help him. After all, she was also hoping to find a way to save the children.
However, when Fuze learned that three E-rank adventurers had taken on the B-rank task, he almost flipped the table.
"A B-rank task, and E-rank adventurers took it? Are they looking to get themselves killed?"
"I understand. They probably haven't gone far; I'll catch up with them," Shizue said understandingly. After bidding farewell to Fuze, she headed towards the Great Jura Forest.
At the Free Guild branch in the Falmuth Kingdom, a similar commission was posted. Some B-rank adventurers took on the task as well. The originally peaceful Great Jura Forest was thrown into chaos by Rimuru's unintended action.
...
Elsewhere, the diligent Demon Lord guy, who worked hard for the survival of humanity, almost exploded with anger as he read the report in his hand. There was an agreement among the Demon Lords that no one could enter the Great Jura Forest because it sealed the Storm Dragon Veldora. No one wanted Veldora to be released again, as the dragon was too troublesome. This agreement was unanimously agreed upon by the Demon Lords to prevent anyone from tampering with the seal and causing problems.
"After 300 years of peace, we can't afford any issues now."
"Misery, notify the Demon Lords to convene the Walpurgis Banquet!"
Misery, dressed in a maid outfit, frowned slightly.
"Isn't that a bit of an overreaction?"
"Hmph! If Veldora gets out, we'll be the ones working ourselves to death."
Misery understood and didn't want to work overtime every day. She immediately began contacting the other nine Demon Lords.
Weekly Power Status
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