Chapter Summaries

Mo Li considered how to become strong enough to protect himself and then visited the Night Butterfly with Rimuru, where he hoped to learn who his fated one was. The fairies offered to perform a divination, leaving Mo Li curious whether Rimuru would still be fated to meet Shizue.

• Mo Li decided that obtaining a Demon Lord Seed and awakening as a Demon King were necessary for his safety and future plans.
• At the Night Butterfly, Mo Li told the curious fairies that he was a dragon while keeping his origins and plans private.
• Mo Li recognized the Night Butterfly as a likely Dwarf Kingdom intelligence site and noticed the fairies' interest when they learned he and Rimuru were building a force.
• A fairy offered Mo Li and Rimuru a divination, and Mo Li wondered whether Rimuru's fated one would still be Shizue.

A fairy divined Rimuru’s and Mo Li’s fated ones, revealing a striking man and woman for Rimuru and a younger girl resembling the woman for Mo Li. Mo Li’s reading began to show more figures but abruptly failed, leaving their identities unknown.

• A little fairy offered to divine Rimuru’s and Mo Li’s fated ones, and they agreed to try.
• Rimuru’s divination showed a beautiful young woman and a regal, handsome man, whose appearance thrilled Mo Li.
• Rimuru questioned why her reading showed both a man and a woman, and Mo Li told her the future was uncertain.
• Mo Li’s divination showed a younger, silver-blue-haired girl who looked like the woman in Rimuru’s vision.
• More figures began to appear in Mo Li’s reading, but the orb’s images vanished, and the fairy could not make it work again.

Kaijin revealed that he had completed the twenty treasured swords despite Besta’s efforts to sabotage his task. Besta insulted Mo Li’s companions, shoved the proprietress aside, and poured wine over Rimuru and the unconscious Gobta, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• The fairies’ divination prompted jokes that Lord Morax had many fated partners, and Mo Li comforted the jealous Rimuru.
• Besta arrived and taunted Kaijin about failing to forge the treasured swords for the King.
• Kaijin revealed that he had completed all twenty swords in less than half a day, exposing Besta’s attempt to obstruct him.
• Rimuru confronted Besta for sabotaging Kaijin, but Besta insulted her, Gobta, and the others as low-level monsters.
• Besta shoved the proprietress aside and poured wine over Rimuru and the unconscious Gobta.

Kaijin beat Besta after Besta insulted Rimuru and Gobta, while Mo Li incapacitated Besta’s guards when they tried to attack Kaijin. The confrontation left Besta injured and confused, and Kaijin grateful to Mo Li for saving him.

• Besta splashed wine on Rimuru and Gobta, angering Mo Li and prompting Kaijin to punch him.
• Besta’s guards drew their swords to attack Kaijin, but Mo Li struck them with Rock Spears and injured their limbs.
• Rimuru reassured Mo Li that he had done nothing wrong, and Mo Li reflected on his feelings toward her.
• Kaijin continued beating Besta, dismissed his threat to appeal to the King, and later thanked Mo Li for saving him.
• Besta saw his injured guards and wondered how they had been defeated so quickly.

After Kaijin was arrested for beating Besta, Mo Li and Rimuru were detained with him but stayed calm, trusting Dwarf King Dovagon to judge fairly. They were brought to court, where Besta accused them, and Mo Li reassured the nervous Rimuru as the hearing began.

• Dwarven soldiers arrested Kaijin, his brothers, Rimuru, and Mo Li after news spread that Kaijin had beaten Besta.
• In prison, Kaijin apologized for involving Mo Li and Rimuru, and they reassured him that he had done the right thing.
• Mo Li used Rimuru's Great Sage to make mahjong and playing cards, which kept the prisoners occupied for several days.
• A soldier announced that the Hero King would judge them, so Mo Li, Rimuru, and Kaijin left the prison for court.
• At court, Besta accused them while leaning on a cane with his hands in casts, and Mo Li told Rimuru to wait before speaking.

Kaijin, Rimuru, Mo Li, and their companions faced a rigged trial after Besta accused Kaijin of assault, and their bought-off defender admitted the claims were true. The judge sentenced Kaijin to twenty years of compulsory mine labor and the others to ten years, leaving Kaijin apologizing to Rimuru and Mo Li.

• Besta’s defender claimed Kaijin had inflicted severe injuries on Besta, and Kaijin’s compromised defender accepted every accusation.
• Mo Li told Rimuru their defender had been bought off, while Rimuru panicked about being sent to prison.
• Mo Li noticed Hero King Dovagon’s regretful expression as Besta smugly anticipated victory.
• Rimuru calmed down after Mo Li reminded him that he could escape using his strength if necessary.
• The judge sentenced Kaijin to twenty years of compulsory mine labor and his accomplices to ten years.
• Kaijin apologized to Rimuru and Mo Li for dragging them into the punishment.

After Kaijin, Rimuru, Mo Li, and the others received harsh sentences, Besta regretted framing Kaijin and pleaded for leniency, but the judge refused to change the verdict. The Hero King offered Kaijin a chance to serve him again, but Kaijin declined and left the courtroom determined to repay his benefactors.

• Rimuru comforted Kaijin, while his brothers reassured him that they would face the punishment together.
• Besta regretted framing Kaijin and pleaded with the judge to reduce their sentences, but the judge insisted that the verdict stood.
• Soldiers shackled Kaijin, Rimuru, Mo Li, and the others and prepared to take them away.
• The Hero King asked Kaijin to return to his service, but Kaijin refused, saying he had found someone else he must serve.
• Kaijin saluted the Hero King for the last time and walked out of the courtroom in chains.

Besta confessed that he had framed Kaijin and caused the incidents that led to his punishment, while the Hero King revealed that he had known of Besta’s misconduct and had been giving him chances. The chapter ended with Besta apologizing after learning the king had valued him too and regretted losing both him and Kaijin.

• The Hero King changed Kaijin’s punishment to exile from the Dwarf Kingdom, leaving Kaijin, Besta, Rimuru, and the judge confused.
• Mo Li told Rimuru that Besta would confess and would likely be assigned to Rimuru.
• Besta admitted that he had caused the magic equipment explosion, blamed Kaijin for his own mistakes, assigned him impossible tasks, provoked the recent fight, and bribed Kaijin’s defender.
• The Hero King revealed that he had long known about Besta’s actions and had given him chances, warning that Besta would have faced death if he had not confessed.
• The Hero King told Besta that he had valued him as well as Kaijin and regretted losing both, and Besta apologized for disappointing him.

After Besta was expelled from the Dwarf Kingdom, Rimuru considered recruiting him for his talents, while Mo Li urged her to think about Kaijin’s feelings first. Kaijin agreed to invite Besta to join them, and Mo Li praised Rimuru for asking him; the story left Mo Li worrying that Rimuru depended too much on him.

• The Hero King stripped Besta of his positions, expelled him from the Dwarf Kingdom, and banned him from returning for life.
• Rimuru asked Mo Li to help Besta, and Mo Li cautioned her to consider how recruiting him would affect Kaijin and the others.
• Rimuru realized Kaijin’s feelings mattered and went to ask him whether he would accept Besta’s recruitment.
• Kaijin agreed, saying he held no deep grudge against Besta and believed his talents would benefit Rimuru’s faction.
• Rimuru thanked Kaijin and asked Mo Li how she had handled things; Mo Li praised her while privately worrying about her dependence on him.

Kaijin spoke with the disgraced Besta and persuaded him to work for Mo Li and Rimuru without pledging loyalty to them. Besta agreed to join later, after preparing gifts and apologizing to the two of them.

• Kaijin approached the weeping Besta and told him that jealousy and a radical temperament had led to his downfall.
• Kaijin explained that the Hero King had assigned Besta to him to temper his character, and Besta apologized for his past actions.
• Besta promised to help Kaijin with whatever he could, and Kaijin asked him to work for Mo Li and Rimuru.
• Besta refused to pledge loyalty to anyone besides the Hero King, but Kaijin clarified that he was only asking him to work for them.
• Besta agreed to work for Mo Li and Rimuru after he had time to prepare, and promised to bring gifts and apologize to them.

Kaijin brought Besta to Mo Li and Rimuru, where Besta apologized and agreed to work for them. Besta remained in the Dwarf Kingdom to settle other matters and promised to join them later.

• Kaijin brought Besta before Mo Li and Rimuru after completing his mission.
• Besta bowed deeply and apologized while Mo Li and Rimuru pressured him to teach him a lesson for splashing wine on Rimuru.
• Mo Li allowed Besta to rise after Rimuru asked him to show mercy.
• Besta agreed to serve Mo Li and Rimuru, seeing the opportunity as a chance to build ties with the Dwarf Kingdom.
• Besta said he had unfinished business and would seek them out later, and Rimuru asked him to leave an address so they could find him.

Rimuru and Mo Li left the Dwarf Kingdom with Kaijin, Grom, Dold, Milde, and other recruits, while Besta promised to join them later. After they departed, the Hero King ordered his shadow guards to watch the two powerful monsters, suspecting their arrival was connected to Veldora's death.

• Besta agreed to work for Rimuru and Mo Li later, after settling his debts in the Dwarf Kingdom.
• Rimuru, Mo Li, and Kaijin said goodbye to Besta and Kaijin's friends at the kingdom gates.
• Kaijin and the three brothers, Grom, Dold, and Milde, prepared to leave with Rimuru and Mo Li, while Kaido remained behind to fulfill his duties.
• The group departed the Dwarf Kingdom with Gobta and their exchanged goods as the guards closed the gates behind them.
• The Hero King discussed Rimuru and Mo Li with his shadow guard and ordered constant surveillance, suspecting they were connected to Veldora's death.

Rimuru and Mo Li traveled back toward their camp, and Rimuru recalled how she and Mo Li became friends. At the goblin village, Rigurd learned that nearly three hundred Goblins had arrived seeking to join them and made them wait outside until the leaders returned.

• Rimuru told Kaijin and the others how she first met Mo Li in a cave and came to regard him as her family.
• Mo Li promised Rimuru that they would build a home together, and they continued their journey back to camp.
• Rigurd and another Goblin discussed waiting for Rimuru and Mo Li to return while working in the fields.
• Haruna told Rigurd that a large group of Goblins had arrived seeking to join the village.
• Rigurd met the elderly Goblin leading the newcomers and told him they would have to wait outside until the village leaders returned.

Rigurd allowed a group of Goblins seeking refuge to camp outside the village and agreed to let them join hunts while Rimuru and Morax were away. Meanwhile, Mo Li and Rimuru hurried home, hoping to reach the village before nightfall.

• Rigurd told the old Goblin that the group would have to wait outside the village until Rimuru and Morax returned.
• The old Goblin asked for his people to join the village's hunting parties, and Rigurd agreed to help without taking a share of their catch.
• Rigurd arranged for villagers to help the Goblins set up camp, then told Haruna that the leaders would decide their future after returning.
• Mo Li told Rimuru that Gobta expected them to reach the village that day, and Rimuru said he missed Rigurd and the others.
• Mo Li asked Gobta to move faster so they could return to the village before nightfall.

Mo Li and Rimuru returned to the village and learned that hundreds of Goblins had sought refuge while they were away. After Great Sage counted the crowd, Rimuru faced the question of whether the village could take in 960 newcomers.

• Mo Li and Rimuru hurried back after spotting tents outside the village, while Gobta and Kaijin followed behind them.
• They found the village fortified and improved, and Rigurd explained that Goblins had arrived in groups seeking refuge while the two leaders were away.
• Rimuru ordered Rigurd to gather the Goblins and went with Mo Li to meet them.
• Rimuru used Great Sage to count 1,056 Goblins in total, including 960 newcomers.
• Rigurd quieted the crowd and told them their admission to the village depended on Rimuru and Mo Li.

Rimuru and Mo Li learned that Goblins from nearby villages had fled the turmoil caused by Veldora’s disappearance and accepted them into their community. Mo Li directed Rigurd to arrange housing and work, then have the newcomers line up before Rimuru named them.

• Rigurd explained that Veldora’s disappearance had sparked a struggle for control of the Jura Great Forest, leaving the Goblins vulnerable to stronger races.
• Rimuru asked Mo Li what to do, and he left the decision to her.
• Rimuru accepted the Goblins’ loyalty, and they celebrated finding protection.
• Mo Li told Rigurd to arrange housing and work for the newcomers, then line them up.
• Rigurd realized Rimuru was going to name the Goblins.

Rimuru announced that she would name all the Goblins, then fell unconscious after completing the task. Mo Li arranged work for the newly named Goblins and asked Kaijin and the Michel Brothers to teach them practical skills.

• Rimuru decided to name every Goblin, with Mo Li supporting her plan.
• Rimuru announced the naming, and the Goblins celebrated and lined up under Rigurd's direction.
• Rimuru fell asleep after naming the Goblins, while Mo Li and Rigurd assigned them village duties.
• Mo Li visited Kaijin and asked him and the Michel Brothers to teach the Goblins construction, weapon-making, and clothing-making.
• Kaijin agreed to teach the Goblins.

Mo Li watched over the exhausted Rimuru and recalled Shizue’s tragic fate as Elaine’s party reported Veldora’s disappearance to a minister in Blumund. The minister ordered the adventurers to rest briefly before continuing their investigation in the Jura Great Forest.

• Mo Li entered Rimuru’s tent, heard the Goblin guards argue about letting him in, and wondered when Rimuru would take humanoid form.
• Mo Li recalled that Shizue would arrive in Tempest with Elaine’s group and eventually die after Ifrit possessed her.
• Elaine, Kabbal, and Gid reported to the minister that Veldora had vanished and that monsters and adventurers in the Jura Great Forest had become more numerous.
• The minister praised Elaine’s party, gave them three days to rest, and ordered them to resume searching the forest for Veldora afterward.
• Elaine complained about the short rest and low pay as Bal hurried her and Gid back to the inn to clean up and buy supplies.

Elaine persuaded Bal and Gid to let the masked Shizue join their party on a trip to the Jura Great Forest. After Shizue revealed her face, Bal found her oddly familiar, and the group headed to an inn to celebrate her joining them.

• Shizue stopped Elaine and asked to join the party traveling to the Jura Great Forest.
• Gil and Gid objected to taking in a stranger, but Elaine insisted on helping Shizue, and Bal and Gid agreed with a warning to stay alert.
• Elaine introduced Shizue to Bal and Gid, and Shizue said she was a warrior and thanked them for accepting her.
• Shizue removed her mask, and Bal thought her appearance and belongings seemed familiar but could not place her.
• Elaine led the group to an inn for a celebratory meal, and Shizue smiled at their camaraderie, saying it had been a long time since she felt that way.

Mo Li trained Gobta and the Goblin guards while Kaijin helped develop the village, then checked his status and asked Gamer when he could reach S-rank and gain Humanoid Form. Gamer promised a surprise at S-rank but did not explain why Mo Li had stalled at S-.

• Kaijin adapted to the village and began leading construction and development.
• Mo Li put the Goblin guards through brutal training and focused on building up Gobta and other promising fighters.
• Gobta tried to sneak attack Mo Li, but Mo Li stopped him with a Rock Spear and ended the day’s training.
• Mo Li checked his status panel and learned from Gamer that he would gain Humanoid Form after advancing to the next level.
• Mo Li asked when he could advance from S- to S-rank, and Gamer withheld the promised surprise.