Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

An ominous wind swept through the marsh, carrying the lingering tension of the battlefield where the Lizardmen and Orcs had once clashed.

A collective shiver ran down the spines of those present as an unfamiliar figure stood before a kneeling Shifu.

What was unsettling wasn’t just the figure’s sudden appearance, it was that Shifu had been in the very center of the battlefield, surrounded by Rimuru’s group.

“When did they..?” Benimaru’s grip tightened around the hilt of his sheathed sword, his senses on high alert.

Rimuru narrowed his eyes, studying the feminine figure. Who is she?

With a weary sigh, Kaede glanced down at the kneeling Shifu. “Shifu,” she spoke, her voice carrying an unmistakable weight. “Explain yourself.”

Shifu struggled to find his voice, the air around Kaede thick with pressure. Finally, he managed to croak out, “My… Lady.”

Kaede pinched the bridge of her nose. “I gave all of you an explicit order, no one was to interfere in the war against the Orcs. And yet, here you are.” Her gaze bore into him, her frustration evident.

She let out another sigh. 'Not to mention, Ari is really blowing this out of proportion.'

'She stopped them from helping? Why would she do that?'

Rimuru had caught Kaede’s words, and curiosity got the better of him. As he walked over, the dark haired girl took notice of him.

Kaede sighed, noticing his approach. "Ah. Hello, sorry for dropping in like this."

Rimuru waved it off casually. "Nah, it’s cool under the Goblin Hood. We already took down the Orc Lord. Your friend was a big help against the Orc Army." He chuckled as he reached her.

Shifu blinked in surprise. "I was?"

Kaede raised an eyebrow. "He was?"

Rimuru nodded confidently. "He was."

Kaede stared at Rimuru for a moment before extending a hand. "I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Kaede Honjou, and I had hoped we'd meet under different circumstances. Presumably, when you become the ruler of the western part of the Great Forest of Jura."

Rimuru hesitated. 'What the what is she talking about?' Nonetheless, he shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Kaede. I’m Rimuru Tempest. What exactly do you mean by ‘when I become the ruler of Jura’?"

Kaede smiled, her expression unreadable. "Nothing too important, just something to take note of."

"...I guess." Rimuru frowned slightly but decided to let it slide, for now. However, something else nagged at him. "I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I overheard what you said earlier. Why didn’t you want to help take down the Orc Army?"

By now, the Kijin and Gabiru had gathered around them, having caught Rimuru’s question.

Benimaru frowned, his grip tightening on his sword, while Shion narrowed her eyes at Kaede, scrutinizing her intently.

"The Orc Army was as much a threat to you as it was to us," Rimuru continued. "Not to mention the Orc Lord. If he had been left unchecked any longer, he would have been a disaster for everyone in the Great Forest of Jura."

Benimaru nodded, his expression dark. "Yes. Our entire Ogre village was wiped out in a single night. We could have used all the help we could get."

Kaede, however, remained unfazed. "But you didn’t need my help, did you?" She smiled slightly. "And besides, I wanted to see how you would fare, Rimuru." She turned her attention back to him. "And I have to say, you did quite well for a, uh..." She tilted her head, searching for the right word.

"Oh! I’m a slime. Rimuru the slime," he said, shifting into his true form, a two-foot-wide, translucent blue blob.

Kaede’s eyes widened slightly. "Oh! Whoa, you're really a slime?" She reached out and poked him experimentally, watching his body jiggle with each prod.

"Yeah. Hehehe." Rimuru giggled at her curious poking.

"So, you really are a monster," Kaede mused. "And one with a name, too. How did that happen?"

The blob seemed to hesitate. Despite being just a shapeless mass, he somehow gave off the impression of sweating as he turned slightly away. "Ah! That... well, it’s a long story. Let's just say I got lucky and ran into a very important dude when I first arrived in this world."

Kaede took note of his wording but didn’t press further. "I see. I won’t pry if it’s something you'd rather keep to yourself."

She turned to the gathered Kijin, who still watched her with wary eyes. "Care to introduce us, Shifu?"

Shifu straightened and stood. "Right. This is the young master and his companions."

Benimaru stepped forward. "I am Benimaru; beside me are Shion and Soei. Over here is my teacher and mentor, Hakurou, the Sword Savant. Along with my sister and another companion, we are the only survivors of the orcs’ raid on our village... or at least, that’s what we believed."

Shifu added, "And don’t forget your older brother."

Gasps rippled through the Kijin. "Elder brother? He's alive?" Shion exclaimed excitedly.

Shifu smiled and nodded. "Indeed. He has a name now as well, Hiiro. He is currently in service to the queen of a small kingdom to the east."

"Wow," Benimaru said, his expression softening. "I'm so glad to hear that."

Rimuru suddenly perked up. "Speaking of serving..." He turned to the Kijin. "Well, it's over now."

Benimaru seemed to understand immediately. "Yes."

"I made you all a promise," Rimuru continued. "That once the Orc Lord was defeated, you would be free. I truly appreciate all of your help."

For a moment, Benimaru was silent. Then, he stepped forward. "...My Lord, I have a request."

Rimuru tilted his head. "What's up?"

"Would you please accept our continued allegiance?" Benimaru asked. "In the end, we would all prefer to remain by your side."

Rimuru blinked, surprised. "Are you sure?"

Hakurou chuckled. "Indeed, it would be an honor for us."

Soei nodded. "We are fortunate to have met you, my Lord."

Before Rimuru could respond, Shion grabbed him in a tight embrace, pressing his head against her chest. "And I am your secretary and bodyguard, my Lord. So it looks like you're stuck with me."

Benimaru stepped forward, his expression resolute. "We will serve you, always."

Rimuru, slightly overwhelmed, scratched the back of his head. "Uh... okay. Cool."

Sniff!

He turned, startled, to see Kaede wiping at her eyes, her gaze shimmering with unshed tears.

"Why are you crying?" Rimuru asked, confused.

Kaede quickly dabbed at her face. "No, it's nothing... Just... nostalgia, I guess."

---

Within a vast cavern, representatives from various races sat on elevated platforms, each group observing the proceedings with keen interest.

To one side sat the Orcs, their expressions solemn yet determined. Opposite them were the Lizardmen, their disciplined demeanor evident in their posture. The last group consisted of the Goblins, chattering quietly amongst themselves.

On another platform, the Dryads, Treyni and Hanae, sat with an air of quiet authority, their presence lending a sense of natural harmony to the gathering.

At the head of the assembly, Rimuru, in his slime form, resting on the lap of Shion, who sat in a central position, flanked by the rest of the Kijin, who stood attentively at their side.

And then there was Kaede.

Seated casually on a plush couch behind Rimuru, she seemed far more relaxed than the others, idly popping pieces of popcorn into her mouth.

Crunch.

Beside her, Charlotte stood with her usual poise, the assistant leader of Maple Tree's spy information gathering, and assault division, holding a tray upon which rested a small jug, likely filled with the renowned sake of the Tengu, now under the ownership of Maple Tree.

To her other side, stood Shifu.

Rimuru let out a quiet sigh, resisting the urge to turn around and address the overly relaxed human behind him.

Rimuru struggled to keep a straight face as he glanced over his shoulder.

Kaede was far too relaxed, lounging comfortably on her couch, crunching on popcorn as if this were mere entertainment. 'You’re way too relaxed for this, Kaede-san!' he screamed internally before shifting his focus back to the representatives.

All eyes were on him, waiting for him to speak.

Taking a deep breath, Rimuru began, "I've never done anything like this before, so I'm just going to speak my mind. I’d ask that you all hold your judgment until I’m finished."

A heavy silence settled over the cavern as the gathered races gave their quiet consent.

"First things first," Rimuru continued, his tone serious. "I don’t plan on charging the Orcs with any crimes."

Gasps rippled through the assembly. Even Kaede raised an eyebrow at that.

Rimuru held up a tiny slime hand before anyone could object. "I understand this may upset the Lizardmen, especially since they suffered the most losses, but please hear me out. This entire war started because the Orcs were literally starving. If any of us were put in the same desperate situation, we might have made similar choices. Of course, this is just my personal view."

The Lizardmen Chieftain, not Gabiru, but his father, leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "Alright. Is there anything else you wish to add?"

Rimuru nodded. "Yes. I’ve taken all of the Orcs' sins upon myself, so if you have complaints, direct them to me."

A murmur ran through the gathered representatives before one of the Orcs abruptly stood. "No! We cannot allow that. Such a burden is not fair to you."

"Too bad," Rimuru countered without hesitation. "I already made a promise, to Demon Lord Geld."

Silence fell over the cavern once more as the Orc sat back down, visibly shaken by Rimuru’s resolve.

The Lizardmen Chieftain exhaled slowly, his expression contemplative. "I see… However, I can’t help but feel that your decision is somewhat unfair to the rest of us."

"Yeah, I get why you wouldn't be cool with it," Rimuru admitted.

Benimaru stepped forward, his voice firm. "Well, there is one indisputable rule that all monsters follow, survival of the fittest. This is how things have always been for our kind."

Rimuru turned to him. "You lost your home because of all this. Don’t you have any complaints?"

Benimaru hesitated for only a moment before answering. "I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. But despite my grievances, we will not allow this to happen again." His conviction was unwavering.

The Lizardmen Chieftain considered his words before nodding. "Very well. I suppose you make a valid point. However, I do have another question."

"Go ahead," Rimuru said.

The Chieftain glanced toward the orcs. "What do you intend to do with them?"

Rimuru hummed in thought. "You mean, now that they’ve surrendered?"

"You’ve already stated that you will not charge them with any crimes," the Chieftain continued. "But does that also mean you’re willing to accept all their survivors?"

Rimuru frowned. 'Even after the battle, there are still 150,000 Orcs left… That’s a lot.'

He turned to the lounging figure behind him. "Hey, Kaede, anything you’d like to add?"

Crunch!

Kaede popped another piece of popcorn into her mouth just as Rimuru asked. She sat up slightly, giving him a look. "Why are you asking me? You were the one who took all their sins upon yourself. That’s not something I would have done in your position."

She sighed, shifting in her seat. "That being said… I guess I could take fifty thousand Orcs off your hands. I could accommodate more, but I first need to deal with my sudden vast number of vassal states, which previously sat at zero." She groaned before continuing, "Once that’s settled, I wouldn’t mind allowing the rest to settle in Eastern Jura."

Rimuru nodded. "That’s really helpful, Kaede." He appreciated her support, but that still left 100,000 Orcs unaccounted for.

Turning back to the gathered representatives, he took a breath before speaking. "As for the rest of the Orcs… I know this might be a long shot, but what do you guys think about working together?"

The Lizardmen Chieftain’s gaze narrowed slightly. "Explain."

Beside him, the Captain of the Guard and his daughter both leaned forward, intrigued. "What exactly do you mean?"

Rimuru smiled slightly. "The Lizardmen could share their clean water supply and the fish from their lake. The Goblins could provide housing, while our town can offer processed goods. In exchange, the Orcs would contribute their labor."

Gasps echoed through the Orc ranks. 

“All the races within the western Forest of Jura will form an alliance, one that is mutually beneficial for everyone," Rimuru declared, his voice carrying through the cavern. "Wouldn't it be great if we built a nation where all monsters could coexist? Just like Kaede and her nation of Maple Tree."@@novelbin@@

The current leader of the Orcs leaned forward, his eyes widening. "Wait… That would mean… You want us Orcs to be part of your alliance, right?"

Rimuru shrugged. "No offense, but what are your other options? A little labor in exchange for a place to live. No lazy bums allowed."

Gasps rippled through the Orc ranks, and soon, tears welled in their eyes.

"Right!" They shouted in unison before dropping to their knees. The leader of the Orcs bowed his head. "Of course! We’ll work hard. In fact, we will devote our entire lives to helping!"

The Lizardmen Chieftain chuckled, his expression shifting to one of approval. "Well then, we look forward to working with you."

Rimuru turned to the two Dryads seated among the gathered leaders. "What do you think, Treyni?"

Treyni smiled warmly. "It certainly sounds promising. The Dryads will lend our protection, as well as the bounty of the forest. It is not impossible to ease the Orcs’ hunger."

A third wave of gasps swept through the Orc ranks.

Treyni then stood gracefully, her presence commanding attention. "As caretaker of the forest, I, Treyni, shall now make a new proclamation. I hereby appoint Rimuru Tempest as the Chancellor of the Great Forest of Jura."

‘Chancellor!?’ Rimuru internally panicked.

"Ahem!" Hanae, the second Dryad, cleared her throat lightly.

Treyni’s smile faltered for only a moment before she corrected herself. "Right, Chancellor of the Western Forest of Jura." She then turned to Kaede. "Lady Kaede will officially hold the title of Chancellor of the Eastern Forest of Jura."

Kaede resisted the urge to laugh. ‘Not much changes for me, I suppose. Now all that’s left is for Rimuru to build his nation here. At least one thing went in my favor. But those six vassal states in the east…’ She resisted the urge to cry.

"The Western Jura Forest Alliance is now formed, founded by Rimuru himself, our new Chancellor." Treyni knelt on one knee.

"Wait… Uh… Hold on a second!" Rimuru stammered as, one by one, the Lizardmen, Orcs, Goblins, and even the Kijin followed suit, kneeling before him.

‘Man, how the hell did I end up as a Chancellor!?’ Rimuru cried internally.

"Way to go, Rimuru!" Kaede laughed from behind him.

‘Don’t laugh, damn it! You’re in the same boat!’ Rimuru internally groaned. ‘Looks like it’s too late to back out… Fine then!’

Taking a deep breath, he puffed up his slime-like form and raised his voice. "Uh… As your new Slime Chancellor, I’m counting on all of you!"

"Right!" The gathered races answered in unison.

And that's how the two factions of the Great Forest of Jura were formed.

The Empire of Monsters in the East, and the Great Monster Alliance in the West.