Granstar always managed to come up with strange abilities and theories. Whether they truly had any real effect, who could say?
"Let's move out!"
The group charged ahead on their frost wolves, speeding across the open plains. At such velocity, they left behind only blurs of white streaking across the land.
They followed an unnamed river winding through the Jura Forest—a landmark known only to veteran travelers. If one tracked it to its end and turned toward the mountains, it would eventually lead to the Dwarf Kingdom: Dwargon.
Despite their incredible speed, the journey remained long and grueling. They crossed numerous mountain ridges, and even Rimuru began to long for the convenient transportation systems of his former world.
"It'd be so nice if there were a proper road," Rimuru muttered, bouncing along atop Ranga.
Their trip was marked by rough camping, quick meals, and sleeping beneath the open sky. All Rimuru could say about it was:
"So boring...!"
"Lord Rimuru, once we cross this final range, we'll reach Dwargon. Please bear with it a little longer!" said Rigur, encouragingly.
They had originally planned to pass directly through the Jura Forest, the shortest and safest path. But perhaps due to lingering fears from Veldora the Storm Dragon's presence, few dared take that route.
At the front of the group rode Gobta, a goblin who had previously done trade in Dwargon. He confidently led the way, wagging his tail as he trotted along on his wolf.
Rimuru, exhausted and stiff, grumbled internally. With the pace they were keeping, there was no time to admire the scenery. They stopped only to rest and eat. He began to understand why that crafty guy Granstar had decided not to join them—clearly, he was the smarter one!
That night, while resting around the campfire, Rimuru decided to break the monotony with some small talk.
"Hey, Rigur—who gave your brother his name? I don't think I ever heard the story."
Rigur perked up and rode up to Rimuru's side.
"Lord Rimuru, my younger brother was named by a passing demon some years back."
"A demon?"
"Yes. A demon under the service of a Demon Lord. His name was Krumit. He saw potential in my brother and gave him a name."
"Huh… I see. Sounds like your brother's pretty talented."
"Indeed! But I still believe no one can compare to you, Lord Rimuru!"
"Haha, well thanks."
Krumit, huh? Rimuru made a mental note to remember that name.
Then he turned to the Fang Wolf beneath him.
"Ranga… I killed your father. That doesn't bother you at all?"
"Lord Rimuru," Ranga replied with unwavering loyalty, "neither I nor any of my brethren hold resentment. Lord Granstar and you gave us a new life. That is worth far more than any grudge. We live to serve."
Rimuru blinked. A mere father-killing feud? Monster logic really was something else. He silently offered a moment of respect to the previous leader of the pack.
Shaking off the mood, he looked to Gobta, who was practically drooling over the roasting meat.
"Gobta, the food's not going anywhere. You've been to Dwargon before, right? What kind of place is it?"
Gobta wiped the corner of his mouth and straightened up.
"Oh, yeah! Dwargon's amazing. It's been around for thousands of years, and its ruler is the legendary Hero King, Gazel Dwargo."
"Hero King? Sounds pretty impressive. Anything else?"
"Well… the girls there are really pretty. Last time, I saw this elf lady and—"
THWACK!
Before he could finish, Rimuru smacked him to the ground, deadpan.
"What are you even talking about?"
Rigur and the others looked down at the twitching Gobta with pity.
Just like that, two days passed since they had set off.
Thanks to Granstar's naming influence, Ranga had grown even stronger than he was in the original timeline. What would normally be a three-day trip was completed in two.
At the foot of the final range, a vast grassland stretched out.
Before them stood a grand city, built within the hollows of a massive mountain. Natural stone towers and fortified gates rose proudly—a natural fortress forged by time and stone.
Finally, they had arrived: the Dwarf Kingdom of Dwargon.
When Rimuru saw the gates of the Dwarven Kingdom of Dwargon for the first time, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.
"As expected of a nation known for its top-tier blacksmiths and magic gear… even their gate guards are fully armed and radiate intense battle auras."
Indeed, the dwarven soldiers stood tall in gleaming armor, their presence imposing. Behind Rimuru, Rigur spoke up cautiously, his eyes scanning the long line of merchants and adventurers waiting to be admitted.
"Lord Rimuru, we must be cautious. Dwargon's military strength isn't just for show—they are renowned for their disciplined and powerful forces."
"Yeah, no kidding…" Gobta muttered, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Last time I came here, I got thrashed just for stumbling into a bar brawl. If it weren't for a kind-hearted merchant who bailed me out…"
"There's what now?" Rimuru turned to him in disbelief.
Just as Rimuru was about to tease Gobta further, a thought struck him. "Right! Let's try that thing Granstar gave me! He said it could be useful in a pinch…"
Rimuru reached into his spatial storage and retrieved a compact, metallic cube that shimmered faintly with embedded runes.
"You all might want to stand back. I don't know what kind of reaction this thing will have."
Ranga, ever obedient, ushered the goblins a few meters away while keeping himself between Rimuru and any possible danger.
Under their watchful eyes, Rimuru channeled a controlled stream of magicules into the mysterious item. The cube trembled slightly, then began to unfold like an intricate puzzle. Faint blue light pulsed from its core.
With a soft hum, the cube floated out of Rimuru's hand, spinning rapidly. A swirling vortex of blue light—roughly half a meter in diameter—formed in the air.
To everyone's amazement, a small humanoid figure emerged from the portal, hovering lazily above the ground.
"Yo, Rimuru! Took you long enough. You really made me wait—two whole days to reach Dwargon?" the figure said with a mischievous grin.
Rimuru blinked, stunned. "You sly little… I thought you were still back in the village!"
It was Granstar, the mysterious artifact researcher who had become something of a legend in Rimuru's fledgling nation. His sudden appearance caused quite the stir.
Ranga's fur bristled slightly in confusion, while Gobta and the others stood frozen, their jaws practically touching the ground.
"B-but… wasn't Lord Granstar just at the lab yesterday?" one of the goblins muttered.
It took some calming words from Rimuru to ease the panic. After a few moments, their astonishment gave way to curiosity.
Meanwhile, Granstar examined the hovering cube with satisfaction. "As expected of my creation—the Teleportation Cube. It's a permanent artifact that allows remote projection across marked locations. Useful for someone as busy as me, don't you think?"
Rimuru let out a long sigh. "You really are something else…"