Yano's figure gradually emerged from the dense fog. The moment he stumbled into the fortress construction site, a black shadow descended before him with a sharp whoosh, landing on the ground.
He looked up.
A crow stood there with its head held high like a proud nobleman, arrogantly stretching out its wings to block his path.
"Stop! Where did this barbaric human come from? This is the sacred territory of His Greatness the Slime."
"To seek an audience with His Greatness, you must perform a grand salute and address him as 'His Greatness the Slime.' Do you understand the rules?"
Yano froze, a faint sense of absurdity rising within him as he stared at the talking crow.
This crow...
Could it be a Demonic Beast the boss had newly tamed?
Or some terrifying devil disguised as a crow?
Just as Yano and Count Bran stared wide-eyed at each other, a slime came bouncing over and patted Count Bran with its gelatinous body.
"Count Bran, this is... uh... my knight, Yano."
"A knight? Oh... looks like another fellow who isn't quite proper." Count Bran muttered, recalling a certain undead attendant who had run off to farm.
[Wood Growth Shaping]
Roots sprouted from the ground and lifted Chen Yu's round body, gently depositing him into Yano's arms.
That cool, springy touch somehow loosened Yano's tightly wound nerves.
It was as though he had found his anchor. He quickly recounted, word for word, how the Rusty Keys Rogue Guild had ambushed and tried to assassinate him on the road.
After hearing Yano's account, Count Bran flapped his wings and flew up, landing on Yano's shoulder.
"Outrageous! They're nothing but a pack of stinking rats that hide in the shadows and fart, yet they dare declare war on our Slime Kingdom."
"Knight Yano, lead