Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

"Huh. So you knew I was here, Milim."

The large figure stepped closer to the group, his features becoming clearer under the warm glow of the setting sun. He had sharp, spiky blond hair and a confident expression, his piercing eyes filled with quiet authority. His strong, well-built frame was accentuated by broad shoulders and a muscular chest, where a distinct red tribal tattoo stood out on the left side. Draped over his body was a dark, sleeveless open robe, paired with golden shoulder armor designed in layered, jagged plates that added to his imposing presence.

"Yeah, naturally!" Milim grinned, puffing out her chest. "If Kaede hadn't blocked that one attack, you would've been vaporized!" She laughed, clearly enjoying herself.

Carrion narrowed his eyes slightly. "Don't you think it's a little presumptuous to assume I'd be done in by a single attack?"

"Va. Po. Ri. Zed," Milim repeated slowly, emphasizing each syllable with a smug look.

Rimuru, standing nearby, observed the newcomer carefully. So this guy is Demon Lord Carrion?

Carrion sighed, crossing his arms. "I came to apologize for the actions of my foolish servant after hearing about the trouble he caused." His gaze flickered to Rimuru's gelatinous form, studying him intently.

"It's all good in the end. No one was hurt, so no harm, no foul," Rimuru said casually, waving it off.

Kaede, however, wore a more solemn expression. "I wasn’t able to save Phobios in the end," she admitted, her voice heavy with regret.

Millim looked at Kaede, amused.

Carrion paused, his golden eyes locking onto hers. After a brief silence, he exhaled, his usual confident demeanor giving way to something more thoughtful. "I understand. Regardless of his actions, Phobio was a good kid, one of the few I truly trusted. I still don’t understand why he would do something like this."

"Maybe I can help with that," Kaede interjected. "While I was... reviving Syrup, I was able to come into contact with Phobios' soul. I saw his memories."

"His... soul, you say?" Carrion raised an eyebrow, his expression turning serious.

Kaede nodded. "It appears Phobio was cajoled into reviving Charybdis prematurely by a duo of clowns."

"Did you say clowns?"

A new voice interrupted, drawing everyone's attention to the arrival of two Dryads.

"Hey, Treyni!" Rimuru greeted with a smile. "And Traya. Welcome back."

"Thank you, Lord Rimuru," Treyni replied as she approached, her presence as graceful as ever. Her emerald-green hair flowed like the leaves of an ancient tree, and her serene expression carried a quiet authority. She glanced toward the battlefield, noting the dissipating remnants of Charybdis' energy. "It appears the threat has been dealt with."

She then turned to Kaede, bowing her head slightly. "And Lady Kaede, I must ask that you desist from damaging the forest any further." Though her voice remained gentle, a subtle shift in her aura sent a ripple of unease through the air, which three people felt.

…Well, four people felt it.

"Turtle."

Syrup, Kaede's floating pet, lazily drifted down and landed on Treyni’s head, immediately chomping on one of the vines woven into her hair.

"Huh?" Treyni blinked, reaching up to pull the small creature from her head. "What is this strange being?"

"Oh? That’s my buddy, Syrup," Rimuru chuckled. "Say hi, buddy."

"Turtle."

Treyni lifted the creature until she was staring directly at its round face. "...Hi?"

"You seem to be aware of these clowns in question?" Carrion interrupted, bringing the conversation back on track.

Treyni composed herself and turned to him. "Indeed. A few months ago, before the Orc Lord was defeated, I encountered Gelmud. He was accompanied by a clown-like individual at the time. Unfortunately, he managed to escape me before I could do anything."

Kneeling, Treyni conjured a stick from the ground and began drawing in the dirt. She quickly sketched a crude face, exaggerated with an oversized grin. "Is this the clown in question?"

Kaede shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. Give me a second."

She reached into her inventory, and with a brief shimmer, a sleek black box appeared in her hand. She set it down, and an image projected into the air above it, clear and detailed.

"Wait, wait, what is that!?" Milim's eyes sparkled as she pointed at the device. "Can I play with it?"

Carrion studied the box with mild intrigue. "It functions like a viewing crystal, yet appears far more advanced."

"A projector? How'd you pull that off?" Rimuru asked curiously.

Kaede smirked. "That’s a secret."

"Guys! Seriously, can I play with it!?" Milim whined, inching dangerously closer to the device.

Meanwhile, Shuna and Benimaru were frozen in place, their gazes locked onto the projected image.

"Brother," Shuna whispered, her voice tight with restrained fury.

"I know," Benimaru answered, his crimson eyes glowing with recognition. "It’s him."

Kaede gestured toward the projection. "The male is called Footman, and the female goes by Tear. They were the ones responsible for Phobios' decision."

"Footman, huh? I'll remember that name." Benimaru smiled, though there was something hidden within it, something dark and resolute.

"Indeed." Shuna’s voice carried a similar weight, her expression composed but her eyes glinting with quiet intensity.

"I see," Treyni murmured, kneeling to erase her drawing in the dirt.

Before she could, a familiar voice rang out.

"Oh, that looks like Laplace."

Everyone turned to Gabiru, who stood there with his arms crossed, looking thoughtful. His sudden input caught them off guard, not because they'd forgotten about him or anything.

"Laplace?" Rimuru tilted his head.

"Yeah, he's a clown too," Gabiru confirmed with a nod. "Laplace told me he was a servant of Lord Gelmud when we talked before my battle with the Orc Lord. He was wearing a mask like the one Treyni drew in the dirt."

He paused before adding, "Also, I think he said he was the vice president of some jack-of-all-trades group called the Moderate Harlequin Alliance."

"I see." Treyni straightened, exchanging a glance with Traya, who gave a slight nod.

"So they pretended to help Phobios while working toward their own agenda," Rimuru sighed, rubbing his temple. "A mysterious group of clowns, huh? Sounds like a big bag of nope."

"The only thing I hear," Carrion spoke up, his voice carrying an edge, "is that they're one of the people responsible for my subordinate's death." His gaze shifted toward Kaede.

"I understand that perhaps your hand was forced in the matter. My subordinate was reckless and met his fate at your hands."

Kaede clenched her jaw. 'Shit. He knows.'

She had been forced to make a choice, save Phobio or use the opportunity to revive Syrup. At the time, her decision had felt obvious, but now…

"Yeah, it's… I'm sorry for your loss," Kaede admitted, looking Carrion in the eye. "I probably could have saved him if I had looked for another way."

Carrion studied her for a long moment before nodding. "I hear you're the Empress of a nation east of here. That viewing box of yours is an exquisite piece of technology, far ahead of its time. I’d like to discuss possible trade with you."

Kaede raised an eyebrow before offering a small smile. "I don’t see a problem with that. And as for the box, I think I can work out a discount, especially after the loss I caused you."

Carrion gave a firm nod before turning his attention back to Rimuru.

Kaede, meanwhile, stretched her arms over her head, stifling a yawn. "Well, this was nice and all, but it's getting late." She scooped up Syrup, who had been floating idly beside her. "Syrup and I have a date in the immediate future."

Rimuru blinked. "You're not gonna stay? I was planning to invite everyone back to Tempest to celebrate the defeat of Charybdis and all that."

Kaede smiled but shook her head. "Maybe next time. I already accomplished what I came here for, that’s more than enough for me." She hugged Syrup before tossing him into the air.

"Tuuuuuuurrrrrrrtttttttllllllleeeee!"

Syrup's form began to expand rapidly, his massive bulk casting a shadow over Tempest as he ascended.

"Whoa!" Milim’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's so cool! What a huge turtle!"

Kaede puffed out her chest, grinning. "Yes. Praise my beloved Syrup more."

Then, in the blink of an eye, she vanished, reappearing atop Syrup's colossal shell. "Let’s go, Syrup!"

"Tuuuuurrrrttttllleee!" Syrup's deep voice boomed as he lifted off, his enormous form vanishing into the clouds.

Rimuru wiped away a nonexistent tear, watching the spectacle. "Wise words, my brother from another mother. Wise words."

---

A lone figure in a red cloak walked slowly down the dimly lit hallway. As he passed a large window, the sunlight streamed in, illuminating his dark red hair and the red checkered hat perched atop his head. His steps were unhurried, deliberate, as though lost in thought.

Eventually, he arrived at his destination, a large door that swung open and shut as a steady stream of women dressed in healer’s robes moved in and out, carrying trays laden with bandages, potions, and other medical supplies.

The infirmary.

Stepping inside, his gaze swept across the room, taking in the rows of beds filled with the injured. Some groaned in pain, others lay still, deep in the throes of sleep or unconsciousness. His eyes finally settled on one particular bed in the far corner of the room.

A young man lay there, his face partially obscured by a black patch covering one side. The red-cloaked figure approached, stopping at the bedside.

"How’re you feeling, Shogo?" he asked, his voice even.

Shogo turned his head with a pained grimace. "Oh. It’s you." His tone carried bitterness, laced with frustration. "Come to gloat? I tried to prove I was stronger, and look where it got me. I only ended up embarrassing myself." He let out a shallow breath, wincing as he adjusted his position to look at the visitor more directly. His expression was filled with resentment,.not just toward his own failure, but something deeper.

"I was no match for her," he admitted, voice tinged with disbelief. "And yet... I couldn’t help but think, maybe if it were you, you could’ve won."

The figure raised an eyebrow at that. "I honestly can’t believe you tried to fight her in the first place. When she literally crashed into the kingdom, I could sense her power all the way from the boonies."

"Yeah." Shogo exhaled sharply, his face darkening. "She was a real monster. Took me out in under a second." He clenched his fists weakly before turning his gaze back to the figure. "But if it were you Kanade, would you have won?"

The figure 'Kanade' smirked, then shrugged. "Who knows?"

With that, he turned on his heel and left, his red cloak swaying as he walked back through the halls, deep in thought.

"This world just keeps getting more exciting," he murmured to himself. His smirk widened as a single thought crossed his mind.

"So that was a Demon Lord... Milim Nava. Scary. But..." He chuckled under his breath.

"Maple could take her."