Chapter 278

When Rimuru came back to her senses, she saw a lush great forest before her.

Ancient trees towered in the forest, their branches gnarled and powerful, giving off a primal, vast, and wild feeling.

After a brief observation, Rimuru was immediately shocked by everything in front of her.

The surrounding World was filled with free-floating magicules.

Unlike the Marvel Universe, everything she saw was incredibly clear and fresh.

It was like returning from a murky pond to a crystal-clear lake.

If she had to describe it, Wang Wei's poem would be most fitting:

After a fresh rain in the empty mountains, the autumn evening descends. The bright moon shines through the pines, and clear springs flow over stones.

Everything she saw was as clear as a washed sky, exceptionally pure and bright.

It must be said, all of this was beautiful, and Rimuru even felt a sense of a wanderer returning home!

To be inexplicably expelled by the Living Tribunal, to be honest, was quite a bit of a grievance.

But feeling everything around her, Rimuru suddenly felt much of her resentment dissipate.

Coming back to take a look, it seemed pretty good; she could just treat it as a vacation!

"Ciel, where is this?"

"A small forest near the Blumund Kingdom."

"Blumund Kingdom? I remember that's the small kingdom near the Jura Great Forest, right?"

"Correct."

"The Jura Great Forest, huh? Is Storm Dragon Veldora there?"

Rimuru was very curious; she had been expelled by the Living Tribunal, and she didn't know if Veldora had been sent back with her.

After all, Veldora was also an illegal immigrant!

Ciel: "Sorry, Veldora's presence has not been detected."

"He didn't come back with me after all!"

Although she knew Veldora would definitely be fine, and would even thrive.

But Rimuru still felt a little regretful!

Rimuru remembered that Veldora, her younger brother, had always been keen on returning to get even with his two sisters!

He had finally managed to get a "Divine Gear" by following Rimuru, but he couldn't come back.

However, a little thought made it understandable.

The Living Tribunal was high above; although Veldora was strong, he wasn't strong enough to be considered a threat by the Tribunal.

The reason she was expelled might be because she was just one step away from giving birth to a true cosmic heart!

She had been in the Marvel Universe for several years, and she didn't know how much time had passed in the Dragon World.

Rimuru wasn't so chuunibyou as to think the World wouldn't turn without her!

But without her involvement, this World would definitely become a mess!

The fates of the Goblin, Great Ogre, Pighead Tribe, and Lizardmen might all be different!

Especially the weak Goblin, she didn't know if they had been exterminated.

She hoped not!

To be honest, Rimuru had a considerable fondness for the characters in the original work, and if they were gone just like that, it would truly be a pity.

"Ciel, how are the Goblin, Great Ogre, and Lizardmen?"

Ciel: "Due to Veldora's disappearance, the survival competition among the various demon races in the Jura Great Forest has intensified, but large races have their way of survival, and small races also have their method of continuation. The weakest Goblin Tribe still exists!"

That's good!

Hearing Ciel's words, Rimuru's heart immediately relaxed a lot.

She would find an opportunity to give them a stroke of good fortune!

"Ciel, where is the timeline currently? Has the Orc lord attacked?"

Ciel: "The exact timeline is still unclear. Rimuru, you have encountered too few people or objects for me to pinpoint it precisely. The nearest Blumund Kingdom's capital is less than twenty miles from here. I suggest Rimuru go to the capital first. Places like guilds and taverns are best for gathering information!"

Rimuru: "OK, then we'll go to the capital first, and also experience the fantasy World's atmosphere. It would be even better if we could meet a princess or something!"

Ciel: "Unable to comprehend. With Rimuru's status and position, she is ten thousand times more noble than any princess of a small country. If you covet a princess's beauty, Rimuru, you don't seem to be able to do anything!"

Thud!

Rimuru suddenly felt a knife in her heart, taking ten thousand points of critical damage.

Why speak such a harsh truth?

No, it wasn't a harsh truth.

Her true form was a Slime, the natural enemy of all beautiful girls like magical girls, monster girls, JK, and older sisters.

"Rimuru, how lewd!"

"Ah? Ciel, do you know what I was just thinking? Ptooey, ptooey, Ciel, don't overthink it, it's not what you're imagining, I was wrong—"

She didn't know if it was an illusion, but after returning to the Dragon World, Rimuru clearly felt that Ciel's emotions had become much richer.

This might be due to the rules of the Dragon World!

Rimuru's cheeks were slightly red, feeling a bit embarrassed.

It felt a bit like being caught cheating by her legitimate wife, a strange taste!

Perhaps because of its proximity to the Blumund Kingdom, travelers occasionally passed by, and a dirt road had naturally formed.

Rimuru's steps were not fast; her feet trod on the dirt road, over the leaves, and the soft sensation from underfoot, along with the crunching sound of the leaves, made Rimuru feel it was very fun.

Everything in the surrounding primitive landscape was very new to Rimuru, giving her a feeling of never being able to see enough.

Although Rimuru didn't do it intentionally, the faint aura she inadvertently exuded still instinctively made countless lives in the forest feel fear.

Wherever Rimuru walked, monsters within tens of thousands of meters, regardless of their level, instinctively stopped and prostrated themselves on the ground.

It was as if they were welcoming their king!

Rimuru naturally sensed it but didn't care.

Everything at will!

At her level, there was no need to deliberately do anything.

Soon, the outline of the capital appeared in Rimuru's sight.

From afar, the capital looked very shabby, its scale even inferior to a small county town in her previous life's.

However, the architectural style was very distinctive.

Rimuru smiled and slowly walked towards the capital.

But just then, a faint heartbeat entered her ears.

After a slight perception, Rimuru couldn't help but find it amusing.

There were three people hiding behind a large tree, each holding an iron sword, dressed mainly in leather, and looking fierce.

They seemed to be adventurers, but the magicule content in their bodies was very low.

They couldn't even be considered cannon fodder!

Were they planning to ambush her?

Was she being robbed?!

Rimuru's beautiful eyes suddenly lit up, and she couldn't help but feel a little fresh and amused.

Genuine bandits, this was the first time she had encountered them!

Rimuru decided to cooperate with their performance; she hoped they wouldn't disappoint her!

As expected, the three quickly jumped out.

One guy with a scar on his face even directly drew his sword and placed it on her neck.

However, to be honest, this sword's material was so inferior!

"Little girl, do you see this sword? If you know what's good for you, hand over everything valuable!"

However, before Rimuru could speak, another slightly fat and extremely lewd guy kept rubbing his hands.

"If you don't have money, you can pay with your body!"

Rimuru was speechless.

Her anticipation was wasted; this "performance" had the acting, but it was too uncreative!

Also, their leering eyes made Rimuru very displeased.

However, just as Rimuru was about to make her move, she suddenly felt a faint magical fluctuation.

She only heard three ice spikes shoot up with a whoosh, rising directly in front of the three bandits.

The three bandits' skills were surprisingly not weak; they retreated two or three meters in the first instant, dodging awkwardly.

Afterward, Rimuru was shielded by a girl wearing a red magic robe, a blue hairband, and holding a magic staff.

At the same time, two male adventurers also guarded the blue-haired mage girl, one on each side.

Judging by their coordination, they should be old partners; every move was very synchronized!

The moment she saw the three of them, Rimuru recognized them.

Weren't they Ellen, Gido, and Kabaru, known as the "Comical Trio"?

These three didn't have much ability, but their knack for causing trouble was considerable.

However, they were very kind-hearted.

Rimuru hadn't expected to encounter these three on her first day back in the Dragon World.

And to even be "saved" by them!

Ellen held her staff, serious and angry, "Bill, Jia Sen, Aoge, how dare you bully an unarmed girl? You three are too pathetic!"

Kabaru and Gido also drew their iron swords immediately.

"Get lost now, or do you three want to fight us to the death?"

The bandit trio looked at the Comical Trio, and although very unwilling, they could only click their tongues and retreat.

Seeing the three retreat, Ellen patted her meager chest and let out a long sigh, saying, "You scared me to death. I thought we really had to fight those three scoundrels!"

Gido and Kabaru agreed wholeheartedly, "They're not weak, and they have strong backgrounds; big trouble!"

Rimuru, who had watched the entire process, was speechless, feeling like she was watching a major movie of chickens pecking at each other.

However, just then, Ellen suddenly familiarly grabbed Rimuru's hands, her smile incredibly bright.

"You must have been scared, but you don't need to be afraid anymore. My name is Ellen, and you can trust me with peace of mind!"

Looking at Ellen's smiling face, Rimuru suddenly felt it was so dazzling!

This girl was too familiar!

Moreover, nowadays, don't you have to take a photo as proof with your phone before helping an old person who has fallen?

Was it really okay for her to be so naive?

She must have lost her mind looking for a sense of reality in a fictional World