One hour after dawn. Standing atop Rimuru's outer wall, the ground trembles from beyond the forest. Thud. Thud. Thud. A steady rhythm. But the weight is different. Much heavier than yesterday. Below the wall, goblin escort soldiers stand in formation with their spears raised. They're trembling. Even from above, Rimuru can see the tips of their spears quivering faintly. (Seventh day...) Rimuru places a hand on the stone railing. The crest stone in his pocket pulses again. It hasn't stopped since last night. Beating steadily toward the northwest. Over and over. Predator doesn't work. That fact hasn't changed. But he can't stop. That child's voice still echoes in his ears. I want to go home. "[serious]I can see it" Shuna stands at the edge of the wall, looking toward the forest. Her long pale pink hair sways in the morning breeze. Her eyes narrow. "[serious]More than twice the normal size" The sound of trees falling. Crash, thud. Crash, thud. A massive body crushes the forest as it approaches. "[serious]I know" Shuna says nothing more. Her fingers holding the notepad have gone slightly white. A voice calls from below the wall. "[serious]Front line, ready!" It's Benimaru. Thick bandages wrapped around his right shoulder, a flaming sword gripped in his left hand. Blood seeps slightly from the edge of his armor. The wound he said would heal in three days still isn't completely closed. Yet his voice doesn't waver. Rimuru watches him from atop the wall. (He's pushing himself. But I can't say anything.) Because he still doesn't have an answer. Then. Thundering footsteps round the corner of the street. Thud-thud-thud-thud. The figure that appears is a woman with vibrant purple hair streaming behind her. Silver bells dangle from one ear. Heterochromatic eyes—one violet, one gold. Height: 175 centimeters. And in both her arms—— A massive ceramic jar, easily the size of a human torso, clutched tightly. A great sword, Hellkaiser, is properly sheathed on her back. Not being carried. "[excited]Lord Rimuru! I'm back from my side mission!" The escort soldiers spin around in unison. "[excited]I picked up a jar of Volkera honey on the way, brought it as a gift! Honey party time!" Stillness. Everyone freezes. Shuna straightens at the edge of the wall. "[serious]...Shion" "[excited]What, Shuna?" "[serious]We're in combat right now" Her voice is clear. Shion tilts her head, still holding the jar. "[surprised]Huh, really?" Benimaru silently points toward the forest. Trees are mowed down. Beyond them, a massive shadow. Seven meters tall. Pale blue patterns pulse across its back. Shion stares at it. "[surprised]...That's bad" "You're just noticing now?" Shion quickly sets the jar on the ground. Carefully. Then draws Hellkaiser from her back. The great sword, over two meters long, catches the morning light. Shuna's gaze follows the jar. "[serious]...Where exactly do you intend to store that?" "[sarcastic]Just leave it there" Shuna places a hand to her forehead for a moment. One of the escort soldiers lets out a small laugh. The tense air loosens, just slightly. That laughter spreads. The shoulders of the soldiers below the wall drop a fraction. The trembling spear tips settle a little. Rimuru watches from atop the wall. Then looks at the jar on the ground. The lid is slightly askew. The golden scent of honey drifts up, faint and sweet. In that instant, the crest stone in his pocket pulses with unusual force. Thump. Something clicks in Rimuru's mind. ——Galmburg reacts strongly to sweet scents. He knew that from the first beekeeping report. ——The crest stone pulses in the same rhythm as the northwest light pillar. He confirmed that last night. ——Shuna said it. Not natural mana. The source is beyond the Mist Boundary gate. It all connects. What's driving Galmburg berserk is the mana leaking continuously from the ruins. "[excited]I got it!" Everyone looks at Rimuru. Rimuru jumps down from the wall. He lands with a thud and walks straight toward Shion's jar. "[serious]Use the honey to draw the super-large one's attention. While it's distracted, I go slime form and slip into the ruins beyond the Mist Boundary gate. I use the crest stone to stop the mana rampage" Silence. Benimaru speaks first. "[angry]That's reckless" "[serious]Listen. I know Predator is sealed. So I'm going to stop it at the source—the ruins themselves" "[angry]Do you know how many kilometers to the deep ruins? Going alone while dodging the horde——" "[serious]I'm not going alone" Rimuru looks at Benimaru. Then at Shuna. Then at Shion. "[serious]Because you're all here, I can reach the depths" Benimaru closes his mouth. Shuna quietly extends her hand forward. "[gentle]...I will create a barrier tunnel. I'll secure your path, Lord Rimuru" Benimaru takes a short breath. Then grips his sword tighter with his left hand. "[cold]...I'll cut through the front. One arm is enough" Shion picks up the jar again. A grin spreads across her face. "[excited]I'll draw the biggest one's attention. We've got the honey anyway, perfect timing" Rimuru almost laughs. Almost cries. He holds both back and opens his mouth. "[serious]Operation name: Honey Grand Strategy" Shuna's expression becomes exasperated. "[sarcastic]...Surely you can think of something better" "[laughing]It's a great name!" "[cold]...Fine" When Benimaru says "fine," it's the signal for everyone. --- Operation begins. Shion runs outside the wall with the jar. She smashes it against the ground. Crash! The ceramic shatters. Golden honey spreads across the earth. The sweet scent rides the wind in a rush. The super-large Galmburg changes direction. Its head turns toward Shion. "[excited]Here it comes, here it comes!" Shion shoulders Hellkaiser and runs, laughing. The silver bells jingle. The seven-meter giant charges after her. The ground shakes. Trees snap. "[excited]Over here, over here! I'm sweeter than that!" No one comments. They all trust Shion. Benimaru moves forward. Mid-sized Galmburgs heading for Shuna's barrier tunnel—three, five, seven——the flaming sword flashes. Boom!! Fire sweeps horizontally. Three are blown back. While the remaining four hesitate, another strike. The bandage on his right shoulder turns red. Blood seeps through. But Benimaru doesn't lower his sword. Rimuru watches his back. "[gentle]Benimaru——" "[cold]Go" He says it without turning. Shuna extends both arms forward. A pale blue barrier unfolds into a narrow tunnel shape, extending toward the deep forest. Her fingertips tremble slightly from mana depletion. But her voice doesn't waver. "[gentle]I will create the path, Lord Rimuru. Please go" Rimuru transforms into slime form. His human shape dissolves into a translucent body. He moves toward the barrier tunnel entrance. For just a moment, his eyes meet Shuna's. Shuna's lips move slightly. "[whispers]...Please come back" Not a report from a strategist. Just a wish. "[serious]I will" That's all he answers before entering the tunnel. --- Fast. In slime form, Rimuru glides along the barrier walls. Trees flow past. Roots, rocks, undergrowth—everything disappears behind him. Behind him, Benimaru's flames roar. Shion's voice carries. Laughing, joyful. Shuna continues extending the barrier. Rimuru feels her trembling. (They're all connecting for me.) The crest stone in his pocket grows hot. It begins to glow. Showing the way. Mana density increases. He feels it throughout his body. Dense. Growing denser. Shion's voice fades. Benimaru's flames fall silent. The density of trees becomes extreme. Light narrows. Mist appears. Cold. Damp. ——He's crossed the Mist Boundary gate. And Rimuru stops. Before him stands a stone entrance. Ancient. Deeply ancient. Stone covered in moss, carved patterns half-erased. Pale blue mana envelops the entire structure. A low, rumbling vibration leaks from within. Constant. Unceasing. ——The ancient ruins in the deep forest. Rimuru returns to human form. He looks up at the stone entrance. The crest stone in his hand is hot. Glowing. Pulsing in the exact same rhythm as the vibration inside. This is where it all begins. (Predator is sealed. But this stone exists.) Rimuru grips the crest stone tightly. Outside, Shion still runs. Benimaru still cuts. Shuna still maintains the barrier. There's no time. Rimuru takes a step forward.