Great Jura Forest, Goblin Village.
"Gobuta! Get out, you scoundrel!"
Kajin roared in anger, watching Gobuta toss the sword blank he had just forged back into the furnace.
"Uh... I didn't mean to, I was just curious about this sword and wanted to take a look. I didn't expect it to accidentally fall in!"
Gobuta awkwardly scratched his head and apologized to Kajin.
"Stop with the excuses, get out!"
"Alright, alright, I'm leaving right away!"
Seeing Kajin roaring at him, Gobuta could only run out dejectedly.
Coming out of the blacksmith's shop, Gobuta saw everyone laying foundations and Gobuzo and others constantly sparring.
Feeling like he had nothing to do, Gobuta clasped his hands behind his head and strolled along the newly paved stone path until he reached the edge of the forest.
"Hmm? What's that?! Humans? So many of them!"
"Oh no! I need to inform everyone quickly!"
Seeing a group of humans slowly emerging from the edge of the forest in the distance, Gobuta felt the need to notify the village. He immediately turned and ran, not stopping until he reached the village entrance, where he shouted:
"Everyone, someone's here! At the edge of the forest!"
Hearing Gobuta's shouts, everyone who heard him stopped their work and looked at Gobuta:
"Gobuta, what did you say? Where are the people!"
Riguru, the village chief's son, holding a saber, quickly asked Gobuta.
"Right up ahead, a large group of humans suddenly emerged from the forest, all carrying weapons!"
Hearing that a large group of humans were all carrying weapons, Riguru immediately became uneasy. This was definitely not a friendly visit:
"Alright! I understand. Quickly go gather the Storm Fang Wolf Riders! I'll go inform my father! And send someone to find Lord Rimuru!"
"Oh, oh! I'll go right away!"
Watching Gobuta turn and run off, Riguru also turned and ran towards the center of the village.
Village Chief Rigurd was also greatly surprised to hear his son's report and said to his son in front of him:
"Have you sent someone to notify Lord Rimuru?"
"Someone has already been sent to find Lord Rimuru."
Hearing that someone had already been sent to find Rimuru, the Village Chief first breathed a sigh of relief and then said:
"Hmm, then gather everyone who can wield a weapon. Let the old, weak, women, and children evacuate the village first. We must protect the village until Lord Rimuru returns!"
"Yes!"
As the alarm bell in the village was rung, everyone began to act.
The Storm Fang Wolf Riders, composed of Goblins and Storm Fang Wolves, also quickly gathered under Gobuta's organization.
At the village entrance, hundreds of Goblins, armed with weapons and shields, all stared nervously ahead. Even Kajin and his three brothers stood at the village entrance with their weapons.
"Mr. Kajin, you all should quickly go to safety!"
Riguru advised Kajin beside him. These were people Lord Rimuru had personally brought back. If anything really happened to them, he would truly have no face to see Lord Rimuru.
"Riguru! I am also a warrior, do not underestimate me! Moreover, I am also a member of the village, and protecting the village is my responsibility!"
"Father is right, we are also members of the village!"
"Mhm, mhm!"
Kajin's three brothers also nodded in agreement.
"This..."
Seeing Riguru still hesitating, Village Chief Rigurd suddenly said:
"Enough, Riguru! Mr. Kajin is right! Don't try to persuade him anymore!"
"Yes! Father!"
"Then let's see what these humans intend to do! If it really comes to war, we are not to be trifled with!"
About ten minutes later, a group of human figures slowly appeared in front of the village entrance.
As the many figures drew closer, the Village Chief suddenly saw a familiar figure in the group. He even rubbed his eyes, somewhat disbelievingly:
"This... isn't this! Lord Chen!!!"
Hearing Chen's name, Riguru asked the Village Chief beside him, somewhat incredulously:
"What! Father, who did you say?"
"Look at the person at the front of the crowd, isn't that Lord Chen!"
Riguru looked in the direction the Village Chief was pointing and indeed found a familiar figure.
"It really is Lord Chen! Lord Chen is back!"
"What! Lord Chen is back!"
"Look, isn't that Lord Chen!"
The initial group of Goblins were all very familiar with Chen, after all, it was Chen who had saved the Goblin Village with a single sword back then.
The Goblins and Kajin who joined later had only heard of such a person, knowing that this person was another leader besides Lord Rimuru.
Now hearing that Chen had actually appeared, they all curiously asked the Goblins around them who knew Chen which one was Lord Chen.
"The Goblin Village is just ahead, Kanae. I'm telling you, the Goblins are all very easy to get along with. Look, they even came out to welcome us!"
Chen looked at the dense figures of Goblins in the distance and said happily to Kanae Kocho beside him.
"A Chen! Why do I feel like they're not here to welcome you!"
Rimuru, held by Kochou Shinobu behind Chen, heard Kanae Kocho call Chen "A Chen," and an alarm instantly sounded in her heart.
"Great Sage, why does this woman call him so intimately!"
"Notification! Based on analysis of data in master's mind, the individual named Kanae Kocho may have a romantic relationship with Lord Chen!"
"Nani! A couple!"
Listening to the Great Sage's analysis, Rimuru instantly became flushed. She was the one who came first, she was the one who met A Chen first. Hmph, that hateful homewrecker!
Just as Rimuru was caught in self-doubt, Chen looked closely again at the Goblins standing at the village entrance.
He saw that they were all holding weapons and looking over nervously. He helplessly rubbed his forehead and said:
"Alright! They've mistaken us for enemies!"
"You all wait here for a moment. Rimuru and I will go talk to them!"
"Rimuru!"
Hearing Chen's call, Rimuru understood that now was not the time to continue agonizing. She immediately sprang from Kochou Shinobu's embrace into Chen's arms.
Chen, holding Rimuru, used Shrink Ground into Inch to directly arrive at the village entrance, and greeted the greatly transformed Goblins directly:
"Yo! Long time no see, everyone!"
"This... it really is Lord Chen!"
"Lord Chen!"
"Ah! Lord Rimuru! You actually returned with Lord Chen!"
"Lord Rimuru! Lord Chen! Welcome back!"
The many Goblins looked at the two leaders in front of them, especially Chen, whom they hadn't seen in a long time, and all knelt on one knee in greeting.
"Hehe, everyone, rise! Oh, your changes are really significant!"
"Lord Chen! After your departure, we were fortunate to receive names from Lord Rimuru, so our changes are quite significant. I am now called Rigurd!"
Village Chief Rigurd eagerly said to Chen.
Looking at the muscular man in front of him, Chen couldn't help but reach out and pinch the Village Chief's arm, saying:
"Village Chief, your change is truly great. If I couldn't recognize your aura, I wouldn't dare to acknowledge you! Hahaha!"
"This is all thanks to Lord Rimuru!"
The Village Chief said, striking a bodybuilding pose.
"Alright, stop posing for now! Those ahead are not enemies, they are all our people. Have everyone put away their weapons. You come with me to get acquainted with them!"
"Yes! Lord Chen..."