Ch.16:Haulia

The students were at the Orcus Dungeon inn. That day when Chloe appeared they talked to her some more. Chloe told them that if anything happened she would be at an inn in the capital. She also talked a lot with Kaori and Shizuku.

The girls were totally mesmerized by the dazzling ring. They also asked if they could help find this person, but Chloe answered that the person would come to the capital sooner or later.

That was Chloe's reason for not going to the dungeon to look for Rimuru. She knew that if Rimuru went to the dungeon there was no way anyone could reach him, and she also knew that at some point Rimuru would return to see his colleagues.

In fact there was an incident where Kondo tried to flirt with Chloe and even called her by her first name without honorifics. But he sensed a strong murderous intent coming from her and corrected himself immediately. Chloe didn't want anyone but Rimuru or her close friends calling her so casually.

Today Shizuku and Kaori were going to say goodbye to Chloe before returning to the Dungeon. They passed an alley and Shizuku seemed to be looking for something there.

"Shizuku-chan what is it?"

"Nothing it's just that there's a street kitten that used to stay here. I would always come by and feed it. I even called it missy."

"Fufu."

"What?"

"Shizuku-chan always liked cute things. You're all strong on the outside, but very feminine on the inside."

"W...what are you talking about!? Everyone likes animals! Stop looking at me like that! Let's go find Chloe!"

Kaori looked at her with a kind look. Shizuku's cheeks reddened and she headed for the restaurant where they were going to meet Chloe.

They saw Chloe sitting at a round table with three chairs. She was reading the menu thoughtfully. When she saw them she waved.

"Hi Shizuku-chan, Kaori. Come sit down."

They sat down and started reading the menu.

"So why did you guys call me here today?"

Chloe asked curiously.

"Ahh we just wanted to let you know that we will be going to the Orcus Dungeon to train tomorrow and wanted to say goodbye."

"Hmmm."

"We thought about inviting you, but you have to wait for your fiancé don't you?"

Kaori asked.

"Yes that's right."

She agreed with a nod. Shizuku took the opportunity that the subject of the mysterious fiancé came up and spoke

"By the way Chloe. Where did your fiancé get this ring? I've never seen anything so beautiful."

Kaori seemed to want to know where one could get something like this as well. Whenever Shizuku and Kaori could they asked Chloe to show it to them. And Chloe also told the story of the proposal (she changed some details like the part about a new universe being created.) They thought the proposal was really cool and also the way Chloe talked about her beloved. Always embarrassed and excited to show him off. This made them even more excited to meet him.

Chloe thought about it for a while and spoke up.

"Good. I don't know exactly how he got it, but he said it's made of two super rare jewels, so it must have been pretty hard.... But enough about me and my fiancé. And do you have anyone?"

The two were a little embarrassed. And Chloe said

"Well Kaori I know it's that Nagumo-kun guy right?"

Kaori was surprised that Chloe knew so much, but decided that there was no point in lying and spoke...

"Well... you could say that."

She spoke red.

"What about you Shizuku-chan?"

"Me!? No one! No one at all!"

You could tell by her reaction that there was someone, but Chloe decided not to say anything. They talked some more while eating. and after a while they were saying goodbye.

"Ah. Chloe can you do me a favor?"

Shizuku asked Chloe before they left.

"Sure. What is it?"

"There's an orange kitten that stays here in the alley of this restaurant usually. I always give him food, but I haven't seen him today. If you see him, could you give him something to eat?"

"A kitten? Sure! I love kittens and cute animals."

It seems Chloe was more sincere than Shizuku at this part.

"Ok thanks. so bye."

They said their goodbyes and the next morning the class returned to the Orcus dungeon.

●●●

South of the Haltina forest.

A tribe of rabbit men were hiding under the trees. Far above them had several flying monsters that might resemble a piterodactyl.

This was the Haulia tribe. They had fled their city to avoid death. But they didn't have any fighting skills so the only thing they could do against the Magical Beasts was to use their natural stealth skills. The tribe had greatly diminished in recent times. Half of them were in the northern mountains and some had been captured by the empire to become slaves. The others were here.

One of the children came out from under the trees with fruit in his hands and spoke

"Mom, Mom. Look what I found!"

He spoke this and ran to his mother.

"No!"

The Kam tribe chief tried to stop him, but it was too late.

"Guaaaaar!"

One of the flying monsters would swallow him up and everyone thought it was too late when....

DOPAN

A shot rang out and the monster dropped dead.

They looked in the direction of the explosion.

"Dad! Guys! I brought help!"

There was the special girl who disappeared a few days ago.

"Shia!?"

Everyone was confused by the events. Shia was with 3 humans and was riding on some kind of strange magical beast(motorcycle).

At this moment Hajime said something

"Hey sorry rabbit, you want to help your family right?"

"Huh?"

Shea was confused by the question.

"Then help us as bait."

He threw Shea high into the air and several flying monsters attacked her.

"Hiiiiiiiiiii! Help! Hajime-sannnnnn!"

""Shea!"

His family was shocked at Shea being thrown to her death for 'help'.

DOPAN DOPAN DOPAN

Hajime killed all the monsters with head shots.

The other monsters were angry at having their friends killed and went after Hajime.

Rimuru threw 'Hell flare'at them and they all died.

"..."

The Haulia could only watch in bewilderment.

Shea fell safely onto the bike. They approached the tribe to talk.

By the way on the way here there was an incident where Shia discovered that the group could also manipulate mana directly and started crying saying that 'it was good not to be alone'. She meant that it was good not to be the only one with magical Beast powers. Everyone looked at her with kind looks and Yue even stroked her head.

"Shia! Are you okay!?"

Shia who was complaining to Hajime saying that he should be kinder to her turned her attention to the man who called her.

"Dad!"

The one who called her was a rabbit man with dark blue hair. The chief of the tribe and Shia's father. They hugged each other and then explained the situation to the other rabbit-men.

Deoppis of explaining things Kam turned to Hajime and spoke

"Is it okay to call you Hajime-dono? I am Kam, the head of the Haulia and Shia's father. I thank you very much for helping us in this crisis. As a father and as a chief."

He bowed in thanks. The other Haulia did the same.

"Don't bother to thank me. That was in exchange for guiding us through the sea of trees. Don't forget that. Besides, aren't you trusting us too easily? Even though Demi-humans and Humans don't have a good relationship?"

"You have Shia's trust. That's why we trust you too. That's because we're a family."

Hearing this Hajime remembered his family that he had so longed to return to and gave his brother a quick glance.

"I see..."

"Hehehehe. It's okay dad. Even though Hajime-san is cruel to everyone and uses people easily he will protect his promise to protect us!"

Shia spoke confidently. The other Haulia started muttering "shy person" Hajime was pulling donner, but suffered an ambush.

"Nn. Hajime is shy... in bed."

"Yue!?"

"Hahaha that was low blow Yue-san."

His brother started laughing and Hajime shot him, But he was defended easily. Making Hajime more angry, he even spoke "that cheating bastard."

"Well let's continue on our way. "

●●●

The 42 people of the rabbit tribe were traveling through the Great Raisen Canyon. Various monsters were trying to attack them, but they all received head shots or were killed by flashes of lights from Rimuru(Meggido).

All the rabbit men looked at them as their heroes, especially the children.

"Fufufu, Hajime-san the children idolize you you know? Why don't you wave to them? Otherwise you will lose to Rimuru-san."

Indeed Rimuru was talking to the children gently. And they were giving him many compliments. So Shia decided to tease Hajime, but Hajime was in a good mood to see such a close-knit family and did nothing.

"Kakaka. Shia and Hajime are already close. Looks like Shia is already at that age hein.... well, if it's Hajime-dono that's a relief."

DOPAN

He was not in such a good mood and Kam was met with rubber bullets.

After walking for a while they finally reached the exit of the canyon. When he got there, Shia called out to Hajime.

"Hajime-san, let's say there are some Empire soldiers here...what will you guys do?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"It's that the Empire Soldiers are of your Race. So if they attack us you will be able to fight them?"

"Rabbit project. Haven't you seen the future?"

"Yes I have seen you facing the soldiers of the Empire."

"Then what's the problem?"

Rimuru interrupted, confused.

"I want to confirm that you are okay fighting your own race to protect us rabbit men."

Shea had seen several possible futures and wanted to make sure she was headed in the direction of the best possible future.

""Yes.""

The 3 of them responded without hesitation. Hajime didn't care which race it was. He would kill anyone who stood in his way and Yue would do whatever Hajime wanted. Rimuru was a pacifist, but he knew that these people would not be negotiable and he also had some anger at the Empire soldiers and the Empire itself.

They reminded him of the Kingdom of Farmus that tried to attack his country and turn its citizens into slaves out of greed and discrimination. So he would not hesitate to kill those soldiers.

"We have no problem killing Humans."

"Eh? But they are the same race without you....

"Isn't your tribe also being persecuted by Demi-humans?"

"It's just that..."

"You've got something wrong. The basics."

"Huh?"

All the Haulia looked Confused.

"See you are my guides and we have a contract. I will protect you, that is my goal. And anyone who gets in my way will die, no matter if they are human demons or demi-humans. Just don't forget that this protection won't last forever."

"I... I understand..."

They were at the entrance to the forest when they saw an Imperial army tent.

"Oioi, really? Do you have fugitives? If that's so I can take souvenirs home."

There were 30 soldiers there and the one who seemed to be the leader spoke this in an arrogant tone.

"Wasn't the platoon leader the one with the gray hair the commander was after?"

"Oh. Looks like we got lucky. Gehehe."

He gave a disgusting laugh and approached Hajime. To these soldiers demi-humans were seen as 'things' and they didn't care about their welfare one bit.

"Haaaa? Why is a human with the rabbit-men? Are you a slave trader? Hand them over now and we won't report you."

"I refuse."

"You said something?"

"I refuse. They are under my protection

I recommend that you turn around and go back to the empire."

"Boy, watch your words. Don't you know who we are?

"Yes, I do."

All the soldiers were staring at Hajime forming an atmosphere of tension.

"Kufufu You are a naive boy. I will teach you the truth of this world. This beautiful blonde lady, I will rip off your arms and legs and rape her in front of you."

Yue was about to kill the Man, but Hajime stopped her and spoke to the man.

"Bottom line. You guys are my enemies right?"

"Aah!? You still don't understand? Kneel down and ask for forgiveness now. If not..."

DOPAN

The leader's head was blown off by Hajime.

"Hajime, let's kill these idiots right away."

Rimuru raised his hand and there were Several likes of the water there. Yes he was going to use the Wrath of God. This magic concentrated light in drops of water and cast a small beam that would easily go through a person.

SHIU SHIU SHIU

The light beams went straight to the soldiers' heads killing them. The other soldiers didn't understand what form of attack this was, but they understood that these boys had done something and went on the attack.

*DOPAN* *DOPAN* *DOPAN*

Hajime was shooting and killing the soldiers. Rimuru was the same with his beams of light.

SHIU SHIU SHIU

In the end there was only one soldier left for whom they had a few questions. Hajime approached him with Donner in hand.

"Unn as I thought if they are humans you don't even need to make a very strong shot just the ammo is enough."

He muttered as he approached.

"Hii, don't come any closer! I don't want to die! Somebody help me!"

The soldier tried to beg for his life. Hajime reached in front of him and aimed at Donner. The soldier trembled with fear.

"I'll do anything!"

"Really? Then tell me where the other rabbit men are."

"If I tell you will you spare me?"

He spoke with a trembling voice.

"Do you think you're in a position to make demands? Maybe I should kill you right now."

"I say! I say. They must have been transported. They must be coming out of the forest by now."

"Okay."

DOPAN

The man died. The Rabbit Men lost their breath at the merciless behavior. Fear appeared in some of them. Shia even asked him in a trembling voice

"You didn't... could you have just let that one go?"

"Haa?" Hajime stared at her with an amazed expression. She was wanting to simply forgive those who enslaved her family members. Hajime was about to say something, but Yue stopped him.

"Once the fight started the outcome was clear. Even if he was weak he would be a nuisance sooner or later."

"It's... it's just that..."

"In the first place how can you look at Hajime like that when he did it to protect you?"

"..."

It seems that Yue was angry with the rabbit men directing negative feelings at Hajime after he protected them. The tribe was left feeling guilty and Rimuru broke the silence.

"Good. I'll go over and rescue the others."

Everyone looked at him in confusion. And Hajime said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, our deal and protect the Haulia with everything we have right? So I'll rescue those captured and also those who went to the northern mountains. In the meantime you guys go ahead. I'll catch up with you later."

"But how will you guide yourself in the forest? And I don't think there will be time to rescue them."

Shia spoke confused and Rimuru responded with...

FOUP

Beautiful giant black wings that looked like a bat flapped on his back. Everyone was surprised by the wings that appeared out of nowhere. Hajime and Yue had long since given up asking about Rimuru's powers. He always changed the subject or talked nonsense, and every time they saw his status board it was different, so they realized that Rimuru could manipulate it.

Rimuru flew off and said "See you later!"

They stared and Hajime broke the silence.

"Eh? So we didn't need a Demi-human to guide us, right?"

Everyone thought the same thing. If Rimmuru could fly it was just a matter of him doing that and showing them the way. Yue let out a laugh.

"Fufu."

Hajime looked at Yue curiously and asked...

"Do you know anything about this?"

Yue looked at Hajime. She put her index finger in front of her lips and said "Secret."

-Tsk-

Hajime clicked his tongue and they continued on their way.