Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

"Phew…" Kaede exhaled in relief as she observed the translucent screen before her, watching Rimuru and the pink-haired girl walk back toward his town.

"For a moment there, I thought I'd have to intervene," she muttered, leaning back slightly.

Her gaze lingered on the screen as she replayed the events in her mind. "Bribing her with honey… What a weird way to resolve the situation," she chuckled. "Maple approves."

Still, her expression darkened slightly as she studied the pink-haired girl more closely.

Demon Lord Millim Nava.

Kaede narrowed her eyes. "Demon Lords..." She had already encountered Demon Lord Guy Crimson, and now Millim Nava had entered the scene. What’s more, Geld had undergone a massive increase in power when he became an Orc Disaster, a transformation that, while still weak compared to the others, had elevated him to an entirely different level.

She let out a quiet sigh. "Could I have taken her?"

Kaede mulled over the thought, analyzing the potential outcome. Millim was faster, likely stronger, and possessed more Magicules than her. That much was certain. But raw power wasn’t everything.

"There's a chance she doesn’t have an attack that ignores defense," she mused. "If that’s the case, I could at least hold her off. But that would still lead to a stalemate at best."

Her gaze shifted to the massive sphere resting in the center of the chamber, the collection of souls offered to her by Guy.

"Is becoming a Demon Lord the better path?"

She already had an army at her disposal. No, more than that. In just a few months, she had built an empire. The six states under her rule were steadily growing in strength, and soon, their power would reach an entirely new level.

But then, her eyes flicked back to the screen.

Millim's beaming face filled the image, the powerful Demon Lord embracing Rimuru in his slime form as if he were the most adorable thing in the world.

Kaede’s expression hardened.

'And yet, if all it takes is one Demon Lord to undo everything I’ve built…'

Her grip tightened slightly.

And it wasn’t just Demon Lords.

The Holy Church is bound to come for us eventually, just for existing.

Her thoughts drifted back to the final battle Falmuth. That spell, {Disintegration}, it had almost killed her. If Artificia hadn’t been prepared, if she had been just a fraction slower…

Kaede clenched her fists.

'Could I survive another attack like that?'

She turned back to the soul-filled sphere, its swirling energy pulsing faintly in the dim light.

<Data from the spell {Disintegration} has already been gathered through the use of the subskill [Magic Integration]. Consequently, the Unique Skill [Absolute Defense] has been upgraded with the subskills [Adaptive Evolution] and [Energy Manipulation], resulting in an improved [Multilayer Barrier]. The probability of sustaining injuries from the same attack has been significantly reduced.>

"Well, let's make that probability even lower," Kaede said, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I want you to integrate my Unique Skill [Devour] into the [Multilayer Barrier], just like I did with my shield back in the game."

<Processing… Connection established. Successful!>

A small smirk formed on Kaede’s lips. "Good."

<Due to the integration of the Unique Skill [Devour] with the subsidiary skill [Multilayer Barrier], a new subsidiary skill [Ravenous Ward] has been generated.>

Kaede nodded, satisfied. "Now, let's see what we've got here."

[Ravenous Ward]

A powerful, adaptive barrier that not only layers defenses but actively consumes incoming attacks, breaking them down and converting them into usable energy. 

Instead of just blocking, the barrier actively consumes attacks that come into contact with it.

Magic, physical strikes, and even conceptual attacks could be swallowed.

Unlike a standard defensive barrier, [Ravenous Ward] grows stronger the more it absorbs, ensuring that repeated strikes of the same nature become increasingly ineffective. High-tier magical and physical attacks are neutralized, and excess energy can be redirected or stored for future use.

Kaede exhaled slowly as she examined the new skill. "Now this… this is exactly what I needed. This should make me just a bit safer."

"As for Millim, I'll let Rimuru deal with her." She said with a smile.

---

("So you have your directive. You are to meet with the monarch of the nation in the Eastern Forest of Jura, and give her my message."

"Right! I will complete my mission, Frey Sama.")

"Wow, the roads are so straight," A girl with olive-colored hair remarked, her golden eyes scanning the stone-paved streets. "But it's so hard... definitely not good for sleeping."

She had found herself in Maple Tree's capital city, aptly named Maple. Right now, she was wandering through the bustling marketplace, where merchants called out their wares, and the scent of freshly cooked food lingered in the air.

Feeling a bit famished, she decided to stop at the first shop that caught her attention. The stall wasn’t particularly large, but it had a welcoming atmosphere. A wooden sign hung above the counter, though the symbols on it meant little to her. Inside, a gray-skinned hobgoblin, clad in a white apron, stood behind the counter, carefully preparing food.

As she stepped in, she noticed another customer ahead of her.

"Oh? Welcome," the hobgoblin greeted with a friendly smile, his sharp yet kind eyes meeting hers for a brief moment before returning to his work.

She watched with curiosity as he used a spoon-like utensil to pick up a long, smooth piece of cooked meat, placing it inside something that resembled bread. Afterward, he grabbed a red-colored bottle and drizzled a thick, crimson sauce over the dish. With practiced ease, he set it on a small, foam-like plate and placed a cover over it.

"That'll be two coppers," he said.

"Thanks, here you go." The customer, a burly deer faunus, placed two small coins onto the counter before taking his meal and walking away.

As the Faunus left, the hobgoblin turned his attention to her. "So, young lady, how many do you want?"

The girl hesitated, shifting slightly. "W-Wait a minute first, sir... What is this? It’s food, right?"

The hobgoblin let out a hearty laugh. "Oh! You must not be from around here. Are you a traveler? You look human, though we haven’t heard anything about any human visitors, at least, not yet."

"Err, no," the girl answered, unfolding her wings slightly. "I’m not human. I’m a Harpy."

"Ah, that explains it," the hobgoblin nodded. "Well then, let me introduce you to one of our best-selling street foods. This here is called a hotdog, a juicy, seasoned sausage served inside a soft bun, usually topped with different sauces. This one’s got ketchup, but we also have mustard, cheese, and even some spicy variations if you prefer a little kick."

The harpy tilted her head, intrigued. "Hotdog? Sounds... weird. But it smells good."

The hobgoblin grinned. "That’s the spirit! So, how many should I make for you?"

She placed a hand on her chin, debating. "...I’ll take one for now. If it’s good, maybe more!"

"Good choice," the hobgoblin said, already reaching for another sausage. "One hotdog, coming right up!"

The harpy watched as the hobgoblin quickly assembled her order, his movements practiced and efficient. Before long, he placed the finished hotdog on the counter in front of her.

"Here you go, that'll be two coppers," he said with a grin.

She reached into a small pouch tied to her waist, fishing out two copper coins and placing them on the counter. "Alright, let's see what this hotdog is all about."

Picking it up carefully, she examined it closely. The bun was soft, warm to the touch, while the sausage inside glistened slightly from the red sauce drizzled over it. She sniffed it cautiously, catching a savory, slightly tangy aroma.

The hobgoblin chuckled. "Go on, take a bite. I promise you won’t regret it."

Nodding, she opened her mouth and took a small bite.

Her eyes widened.

Soft, chewy bread, juicy and flavorful meat, and a slight sweetness from the sauce all blended together in her mouth. It was simple, yet oddly satisfying. Before she knew it, she had taken another bite.

"Heh, looks like you like it," the hobgoblin said, arms crossed proudly.

The harpy finished chewing before responding, her wings twitching slightly. "It's… good! The meat is really juicy, and the red stuff, what was it again?"

"Ketchup."

"Right, ketchup! It adds a nice sweetness." She took another bite, speaking between chews. "Do you eat this often?"

The hobgoblin nodded. "Yep. It's a quick and easy meal, perfect for busy folks in the city. A lot of guards and workers stop by to grab one when they’re in a rush. Had to work my ass off, to get my license. Once I had it, I got to pick a recipe, and I chose this one. The best decision I've ever made."

"Hmm… I see." She looked around, watching others in the marketplace moving about, some carrying similar meals. It really did seem popular.

Finishing the last bite, she wiped her hands together and let out a satisfied sigh. "Alright, I’ll take another one."

The hobgoblin grinned. "Coming right up!"

As he prepared her second order, the harpy glanced around again, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling city. The people here were different from what she was used to, monsters and demi-humans freely walking about, talking, laughing, trading… it was lively, almost peaceful.

Not what she expected from a city ruled by a human.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the hobgoblin handed her another hotdog.

"Here you go, another two coppers."

She quickly paid and took another bite, letting the familiar taste fill her mouth once again.

"So, what's a Harpy doing around these parts? I didn’t know we had Harpies in the Great Forest of Jura," the hobgoblin remarked as she ate. "Or are you from the west? I hear there’s a monster alliance forming over there."

"Huh?" She paused, taking a moment to swallow before answering. "No, I’m not from Jura. I come from far away, the Kingdom of Fulbrosia." She took another bite, chewing thoughtfully before adding, "I’m here on important business, sent by the Queen of Fulbrosia herself."

The hobgoblin raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "The Queen of Fulbrosia, huh? That’s not a name I hear often. What kind of business brings you all the way out here?"

The harpy took another bite of the strange food -hotdog, was it?- before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "That’s a secret," she said, grinning slightly. "But let’s just say it’s important enough that I had to fly all this way without sleeping or resting even once."

The hobgoblin chuckled, shaking his head. "Figures. Well, whatever it is, you’d best speak to one of the guards about it. Some folks might not take too kindly to strangers, depending on where you go."

She tilted her head, considering his words. "Yeah… I noticed. The roads, the buildings, even this market, everything feels different from what I expected."

"You mean civilized?" he smirked.

The harpy snorted. "Something like that." She glanced around, taking in the bustling marketplace, the variety of monsters chatting and bartering like humans would in a kingdom’s bazaar. She would know, after all, she had infiltrated multiple human settlements before. It was strange but… not unpleasant.

Finishing her meal, she dusted off her hands and reached into a small pouch at her waist, pulling out a silver coin. "That was good. Here, keep the change."

The hobgoblin’s eyes widened slightly. "Hey now, that’s too much..."

"Consider it payment for the conversation," she interrupted with a wink. "And maybe a little extra for not asking too many questions."

Before he could argue, she turned on her heel, stretching her wings slightly before tucking them back in. "Well, thanks for the meal, Mr. Hobgoblin. I’ve got places to be."

And with that, she strolled off into the heart of the marketplace, her sharp eyes scanning the city around her.

"Now then," she murmured to herself. "Time to see what this 'Maple' place is really about."