A blue-robed figure descended to the ground as lightly as a feather. Beside him padded a snow-white wolf, its presence radiating a chilling aura.
Moments later, a small, delicate slime leapt from the figure's shoulder and landed steadily.
"Rimuru, I have some matters to attend to. You head back first," the man said.
Granstar's voice rang out with a casual calmness, though his eyes betrayed a trace of deeper thought as he looked at Rimuru.
Rimuru blinked, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. Still, he didn't question Granstar any further.
He knew all too well—this guy was always wrapped in mystery, his actions impossible to predict.
Instead, Rimuru met Granstar's gaze with concern.
"You're not coming back with us? Are you sure you'll be alright staying here alone?"
His voice held a quiet worry. After all, they had just come out of a tense conflict with the kingdom's ruler.
Granstar already had a notorious reputation in the Dwarf Kingdom. Now acting alone, it wasn't hard to imagine trouble finding him—possibly even danger.
But Granstar only smiled faintly. He reached out, patting Rimuru on the head in a rare show of warmth.
"Relax. I'll be fine. This kind of thing doesn't faze me."
As he spoke, he pulled a glowing cube from his material storage and waved it in front of Rimuru.
"With my strength, what's really going to threaten me? Besides, you're the one who got expelled from the country. Why are you still lingering here? Gazel might really come knocking if he finds out!"
He chuckled, his expression mischievous.
"Don't forget, we've still got the Teleportation Cube. Once you return to the village, I can follow right behind you, can't I?"
Only then did Rimuru seem to remember—he had been expelled by King Gazel. If the king personally came looking for him… the thought made him shiver.
He definitely didn't want to face that overwhelming aura again.
"Alright, I'll head back first. Be careful, Granstar!"
With those words, Rimuru hopped onto Ranga's back. In a flash, the two disappeared like a bolt of lightning.
Granstar stood silently, watching until Rimuru was completely out of sight.
Then, his expression shifted. His eyes turned sharp and cold.
"Come out. I know you're there," he said icily, turning toward a Anriettaed grove.
"Did Gazel send you to monitor me? Or was it Rimuru?"
As he spoke, he released a pulse of powerful magic.
From the darkness, a petite figure stumbled out, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"H-How did you find me…?"
Granstar's gaze was unforgiving. The one before him was a member of Gazel's covert unit—Anrietta.
"You haven't answered my question," Granstar said, his tone low and stern.
Anrietta hesitated, then regained composure. Her voice was soft.
"The King has rescinded that order. I wasn't sent to spy on you—but to deliver something."
Hearing this, Granstar withdrew his magic, but narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Deliver something? Not spying? What is it, then?"
He couldn't help but wonder what scheme the sly old fox Gazel—who had lived for centuries—might be plotting now.
Anrietta stepped forward carefully and drew an object from her back: a longsword, icy-blue and gleaming. She handled it with almost reverent care, as though holding a priceless relic.
The moment the blade was exposed, a sharp coldness swept the area.
At the hilt, an embedded gem shimmered with a chilling glow. Instantly, moisture in the air condensed into ice crystals, dusting the ground in frost.
Granstar's expression remained neutral—but his eyes flashed with intrigue as he laid eyes on the weapon.
"This sword is called Ice Demon," Anrietta said quietly. "It was personally forged by our King, many years ago. Its greatest value lies in this core."
She paused for a moment, her voice dropping further.
"Decades ago, in the Ice Plains, a terrifying ice demon appeared—one powerful enough to rival an average Demon Lord. She brought chaos and destruction before the King subdued her."
"This core is her heart, extracted after her defeat. Since then, it's been kept sealed in the royal treasury."
Anrietta explained the origin of the Ice Demon sword in detail, then lifted her gaze to meet Granstar's eyes.
A sense of doubt grew stronger in Granstar's heart. Such a valuable weapon, handed over so easily?
He clearly didn't believe such a fortunate turn of events could happen without reason. Shifting his gaze back to Anrietta, he asked,
"Why does your King want to give me a weapon like this?"
His tone carried both suspicion and confusion.
Anrietta didn't seem bothered by Granstar's reaction. She simply shook her head and continued explaining.
"Our King said that giving you this sword is because he has high hopes for you. This weapon suits you well... but—"
She hesitated mid-sentence, falling briefly silent.
Granstar narrowed his eyes. Gazel wouldn't give away a weapon like this without expecting something in return. His voice was calm, but edged with sharp insight.
"Speak. What does your King want from me?"
Anrietta hadn't expected Granstar to see through their intentions so quickly. She nodded and finally said,
"Our King wishes to meet the Queen of the Elves. He needs your help to make that happen."
She spoke the King's request plainly, though she already knew why he was so desperate to meet the Elf Queen.
"Oh? Is that all…"
Granstar's brow furrowed in confusion. The Dwarf King wanted to see the Elf Queen? And he needed Granstar's help?
Though Granstar was part elf, he had never even met the Elf Queen himself.
"Why does King Gazel want to meet her through me? Aren't your two nations allies?"
At this, Anrietta's expression darkened slightly.
"Perhaps it's because of the Magic-Powered Soldier incident. We had been relying on the Elf Clan's core technology, but after that, Lady Ramiris stopped cooperating with us. She went off to travel the world."
"She refuses to see our King anymore. That technology is vital to the Dwarf Kingdom, so…"
Anrietta trailed off, clearly hoping for Granstar's response.
"I see… That does sound like Ramiris—running off just to spite someone."
After a brief silence, Granstar looked up at Anrietta with resolve.
"I can help with this."
A spark of relief lit up in Anrietta's eyes. She handed the Ice Demon to Granstar, then vanished in a flash of space magic—clearly hurrying to report the good news.
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