Chapter 13: Chapter 10
In the grand halls of Dwargon Palace, where the trial had commenced, a heavy atmosphere engulfed the air as silence descended upon the room. All eyes were fixed on the one person elevated above all others - the Hero King Gazel Dwargo.
Among the defendants were the four dwarfs, Rimuru, and Mamoru.
As Mamoru caught his first glimpse of King Gazel, his eyes widened, and a smile crept across his face. "Seeing him with my own eyes... this guy is an absolute monster among his kind," he thought, marveling at the imposing figure before him.
But that smile didn't last long, fading swiftly as the defense attorney launched into a vehement tirade, painting them as violent aggressors who had mercilessly attacked Vesta. The nobleman was paraded before the court, injured and vulnerable, leaving them with an impression that the attorney was more like a prosecutor than a defender.
Meanwhile, Rimuru couldn't help but message Mamoru, expressing concern, 'Hey, isn't this bad news? And this guy is definitely a bad person,' seeing how Vesta was facking his injuries.
'We will be alright; the king seems smart enough to perceive that Vesta is lying,' reassured Mamoru, his small smile returning as he contemplated the impending descent into hell that Vesta would experience.
His worries were abruptly interrupted as the king, following a brief reunion with Kaijin, promptly delivered his judgment, leaving him with little time to ponder his concerns.
Exile it is, being forbidden to set foot on the territory of the nearest kingdom could prove disadvantageous for improving their living conditions in Tempest.
Nevertheless, it's possible that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. He grinned at the prospect of hiring skilled labor and securing a better future, but he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt as he saw the dwarfs' reactions. He was committed to ensuring that they wouldn't doubt their decision and would try to make the most of the situation.
...
As the trial came to an end, King Gazel had a discussion with Minister Vesta, during which Vesta broke down emotionally. As a consequence of their conversation, he was forbidden to show himself before the King.
Mamoru, being a big fan of karma, would be willing to pay a considerable sum of money for the chance to witness this scene firsthand.
Gazel stepped up and delivered an order without looking at them: "Follow the slime and the vampire man, ensure you are not noticed, regardless of the effort required," he muttered as the spymaster vanished into the darkness.
"It's inconceivable that such beasts could have been freed, a talking slime and a high-ranking vampire who was smiling the entire time.
I need to see Lady Jane for her insight relating to the vampire clan," he said aloud.
...
They had to go separate ways after the trial to gather their belongings before leaving the kingdom of Dwargon.
Mamoru didn't forget about Gobta this time, and while Rimuru went to get him, Mamoru followed Kaijin to his shop and house to assist him in collecting everything he owned.
Since a backpack couldn't hold all the swords and handcrafted goods from Kaijin's shop, Rimuru came to the rescue and suggested carrying everything in his stomach.
Mamoru was helping to empty everything when he opened the door of one of the cabinets and stumbled upon a black metal brick. He turned to Kaijin and asked him, "What is this?"
Before Kaijin had time to respond, Shrewd One had already begun explaining. They shared their thoughts at 1000 times faster than normal.
Her explanation was facilitated by the linking of Investigator's [Pursuit of Truth] ability with Shrewd One's [Parallel Processing]. This combination allowed for a much quicker analysis of past events related to a specific subject.
Mamoru could not even use [Analytical appraisal] on this dark metal.
Kaijin answered, "This is hihiirokane, a unique grade material, one of the rarest metal in the world. I found it 20 years ago, but it has not yet found a wielder."
When Mamoru was about to hand the hihiirokane to Kaijin, the black metal started to switch colors, transforming into a shiny silver blade with rainbow lights emanating from it. The once unremarkable metal had now taken the form of a magnificent long sword.
"I-it chose you!" Kaijin said, running towards Mamoru.
Mamoru looked a bit flabbergasted, as he had no idea that Kaijin had this sword in his possession, let alone that it would choose him as its wielder.
Kaijin noticed Mamoru's bewildered appearance and said with a smile, "It is yours now."
"I don't know what to say, Kaijin," Mamoru responded.
"Master Mamoru, take it as a thank you for welcoming us," Kaijin said gratefully.
...
With everything packed, they made their way out of the city and finally met the goblins and direwolves who were eagerly waiting for them at the edge of the forest.
Mamoru was well aware of the possibility of a spy tailing their tracks. Without utilizing [Universal Sense], he couldn't detect the presence of the spy. This indicated that the spy was not an amateur.
He pondered on how he should handle this situation with the spy.
After half a day of travel, deep within the forest, Mamoru rode atop Ranga with Rimuru, his loyal and quick companion leading the way.
Suddenly, a message from Ranga resonated in Mamoru's mind: "Mamoru-sama, we are being followed."
Oh, he can sense them; Mamoru thought to himself, acknowledging Ranga's keen senses.
He responded by petting Ranga and praising him, 'Good boy! Can you determine who is following us?' He was curious to see how much information Ranga could gather through his senses alone.
'It's a Blade Tiger, Mamoru-sama,' Ranga promptly replied, his keen senses honed in on the pursuer.
Mamoru turned his gaze towards the creature chasing them, a formidable beast struggling to keep pace with the pack of agile Direwolves.
"Ranga, halt," Mamoru commanded, his voice firm yet composed. In perfect synchronization, Ranga swiftly came to a stop, his paws skimming across the forest floor.
Meanwhile, the rest of the pack deftly maneuvered around them, before joining them in a composed halt.
"Is that a tiger?" Rimuru asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"It's a Blade Tiger, Rimuru-sama," Ranga replied, his voice steady and sure. Meanwhile, Mamoru's foot touched the ground, ready for action.
"Well, that wasn't part of the program, but it certainly makes things more interesting," Mamoru remarked. He instinctively prepared to unsheathe his newly acquired sword.
However, the tiger wasted no time and prepared to unleash a powerful roar, charging up its [Canon Voice] attack.
Mamoru and Rimuru could take that kind of attack, but not everyone present was as resilient.
In a split second, Mamoru leaped towards the tiger. He grabbed hold of the tiger's head and redirected its devastating attack towards a nearby tree, obliterating it in a violent explosion.
As the dust and debris settled, a faint cry emanated from behind the fallen tree, revealing the presence of a feminine figure.
Mamoru's attention turned towards her, his gaze steady. Without hesitation, he twisted the tiger's head upside down.
"Your strength knows no bounds Master," Ranga exclaimed, his tail wagging with excitement.
Rigur looked at Mamoru with a wide smile, saying, "Truly breathtaking!"
Rimuru, who was about to speak, noticed the injured woman among the wreckage.
Mamoru swiftly approached the woman, joining Rimuru in their conversation.
"Are you alright, miss?" Rimuru inquired, concern evident in his voice.
It was clear that she was far from alright, her broken legs indicating the severity of her injuries.
Mamoru apologized for "inadvertently" redirecting the attack towards her and expressed his concern.
He then questioned her, "What brings you deep into the forest? Are you lost?" His curiosity piqued, he wanted to gauge her acting skills and observe her response.
However, it quickly became apparent that she was a terrible liar. Her attempts at deception were feeble, and it was clear that her skills leaned more towards stealth rather than acting. Despite her claims of being from Dwargon and getting lost, Mamoru could easily see through her lies.
Rimuru, on the other hand, remained oblivious to the spy's deceit.
"You know it's dangerous. Let me take you back home," Mamoru insisted, seeing through her act as a damsel in distress.
With little choice, she had to play along if she wanted to maintain her façade.
...
After being healed by Rimuru, Ranga, despite initial arguments, reluctantly accompanied everyone back to the village. Mamoru, on the other hand, proceeded with the spy towards Dwargon—or so it seemed.
"Wait," Mamoru called out, causing the spy to stiffen in response. "Are you really lost?" he inquired, his voice carrying a hint of suspicion.
She attempted to appear confused and replied, "H-hum yes, I am lost. I took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up... here."
"Are you sure you're not a spy?" he asked, a playful smile on his face.
"Ha ha... No, of course not," she replied also smiling, trying to hide her true intentions.
"But I know you are," he stated firmly, his tone serious, revealing that he saw through her facade.
"Hey, give me a break..." she said with an innocent smile, only to be met with Mamoru's stoic expression.
She lowered her head and sighed, "Seriously...
How did you know?" finally dropping the act.
Mamoru grabbed her by the hair, leaning in close to her ear. "I can't allow you to return to Dwargon. I have something to do , so you'll come with me," he stated, his voice laced with a hint of menace. "Don't even think about trying anything funny, or I'll snap your neck. Understood?"
*Huff huff* "Un-understood," she replied, her face blushing and a smile on her lips.
"???" Mamoru was taken aback. He had anticipated resistance or tears, but he certainly hadn't expected them to stream down her leg.
'She is.. crazy,' he thought to himself, finding it difficult to comprehend her behavior.
"Whatever," said Mamoru out loud before turning his attention to Shrewd One; 'Can you open a gate to the The Demon Realm?' asked mamoru.
{Notice. Attempting to open a gate to the The Demon Realm...
Success.}
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
CanardOufti
CanardOufti The longest chapter thus far
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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