Nothing was more terrifying than the air suddenly falling silent.
Mud dripped slowly down Count Bran's bedraggled feathers. With a stiff click, it painfully turned its neck toward the collapsed oak tree.
If that blow had landed on it just now, it would have been blasted into pieces scattered east and west.
Then, looking down at the little Slime blinking up at it with innocent eyes, Count Bran sprang up in fright and landed atop a rock.
It shuddered, fluffing its feathers as it trembled all over, then covered its beak with a black-feathered wing and coughed lightly.
"Ahem, yes... Sir Slime truly lives up to being the Lord of this swamp. You have a little of this Count's former bearing. Since we have already met..."
"This Count has just remembered that there are several urgent matters in my territory concerning the survival of the world that require my attention, so I shall not disturb you any longer! Arthur! Retainer! We're leaving!"
It flapped its wings, intending to make its escape, only to be caught firmly by a hand clad in rusted iron armor and placed back on a shoulder plate.
Count Bran discovered in horror that not only had its Knight retainer not moved, he had instead dropped to one knee and performed an impeccably rigid knight's salute toward the city wall.
A hoarse yet exceptionally resolute voice came from beneath the helmet.
"Knight Arthur pays respects to the Lord of the Swamp, Nature's Kin."
"Hey! Hey!! You stubborn mule, why won't you listen to this Count's advice?! This Slime is far too wicked. What if it's a demon wearing Slime skin? It'll definitely snatch even your soul away."
"Listen to this Count. You can't handle this..."
Count Bran was still prattling on when Chen Yu, atop the pitch-black