The morning sun bathed the goblin village in a gentle glow as Rimuru and Nova prepared to set out. The goblins, still overjoyed by the wolves' submission, gathered at the village entrance to see them off. Their bows were deep and respectful, their voices filled with gratitude.
Rimuru floated in front of them, clearly a little flustered by the attention. "W-Well, don't overdo it! We'll be back soon enough."
Nova, however, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon. After a pause, he shifted into his human form, silver-white hair catching the sunlight, heterochromatic eyes gleaming like fractured gemstones. The transformation drew a hushed awe from the goblins and a surprised squeak from Rimuru.
"Eh?! You had this form all along and didn't say anything?!" Rimuru exclaimed, bouncing slightly in the air.
Nova smirked faintly, adjusting the black coat draped over his shoulders. "It's not exactly a secret. I just didn't find a reason to show it until now. Traveling through human lands tends to attract less trouble when you look… human." His eyes flicked briefly toward Rimuru, as though testing his reaction.
"Still! You should've shown me earlier. I mean, come on, I've been hanging out with wolves and goblins and then—bam!—pretty boy mode activated!" Rimuru complained, though his tone carried more playfulness than irritation.
The faintest curve touched Nova's lips. "Pretty boy, hm? I'll take that as a compliment."
Rimuru coughed awkwardly, his gelatinous body rippling. "D-Don't twist my words!"
The goblins chuckled softly at the exchange, though none dared to speak. For them, the sight of their two protectors—one a mysterious humanlike being, the other a strange yet benevolent slime—was proof that the world was larger and stranger than they had ever imagined.
With farewells exchanged, Nova and Rimuru mounted their wolf escorts. The beasts padded across the dirt path with steady rhythm, carrying them away from the village and deeper into the vast forest.
The road ahead was not truly a road at all but a patchwork of deer trails and winding paths beneath towering trees. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, dappling the ground with shifting patterns of gold and shadow. The air carried a crisp coolness, tinged with the scent of pine and damp earth.
Rimuru kept his tone cheerful as they traveled, chatting about everything from monster classifications to his half-formed plans for the village. Nova, in contrast, spoke little, his gaze flicking constantly toward the treeline, as though weighing unseen possibilities.
At one point, Rimuru asked curiously, "So… why Dwargon? I mean, sure, I know it's famous for smiths, but you sound like you've got bigger reasons."
Nova's reply was slow, deliberate. "Craftsmanship is only the surface. Dwargon thrives because it is stable, ordered. A mountain fortress with laws, trade, and influence. To build something lasting, alliances are just as important as strength. That's what we're going there for."
Rimuru tilted in thought. "You make it sound like politics… ugh. I was just hoping for cool weapons."
"That too," Nova said softly, though his expression betrayed deeper calculations.
Their journey stretched on, time slipping away in the rhythm of hooves and padded paws. By midday, the forest thinned, opening into rolling grasslands dotted with wildflowers. The horizon seemed endless, the sky a canvas of blue brushed with drifting clouds.
It was there they encountered a small caravan of traders. Wooden carts creaked under the weight of goods, and oxen snorted as the procession made its way along a faint trail. The merchants stiffened at the sight of the wolves but relaxed somewhat when they noticed Nova's human form and Rimuru's lack of hostility.
"Travelers?" one of the older men asked cautiously.
Rimuru answered cheerfully, "Yep! Headed toward Dwargon, same as you guys, I think?"
The man's wary gaze lingered on Nova. His strange hair and mismatched eyes drew obvious curiosity, even unease. Yet when Nova inclined his head politely, offering no hostility, the man gave a reluctant nod. "Then may fortune guide your steps. Be wary—the roads grow dangerous. Bandits, monsters, even soldiers patrol these lands more than usual."
Nova's expression sharpened slightly at the mention of soldiers. He stored the information quietly, but his eyes lingered on the caravan long after they parted ways.
Rimuru tilted toward him. "Something on your mind?"
"…Only that things may not be as peaceful in Dwargon as we'd like," Nova murmured.
The conversation drifted to lighter topics afterward, but the weight of Nova's words hung in the air.
By late afternoon, the path turned rocky, sloping upward as the silhouette of jagged mountains loomed in the distance. The closer they drew, the more the terrain shifted—lush fields giving way to rugged cliffs and winding passes. Streams of crystal-clear water trickled from cracks in the stone, pooling into rivulets that cut through the rock.
Nova's human form walked steadily beside the wolves now, his coat rippling faintly in the wind. Each step carried a sense of purpose. He could almost feel the presence of the fortress-city waiting beyond the mountains.
The jagged peaks towered higher with every step, their shadows stretching long across the rugged path. The air here was cooler, thinner, carrying the faint tang of iron and stone. Rimuru bounced slightly in his slime form atop the wolf's back, trying to sound casual but clearly feeling the strain of the climb.
"Man, this is tougher than I thought… I don't even have lungs and I still feel like I'm out of breath."
Nova's stride never faltered. His eyes traced the winding switchbacks carved into the cliffside, the distant flickers of torchlight marking outposts along the way. "We're close," he murmured.
Nova's lips curved faintly. Efficient as always. Any notable threats?
That aligned too well with what the merchant had warned. Nova's fingers brushed the edge of his coat. So, Dwargon isn't as quiet as it pretends to be…
"Oi, Nova, don't ignore me while I'm struggling here," Rimuru interrupted, his voice wobbly. "What's got you all serious-faced?"
Nova glanced at him, mismatched eyes reflecting the fading light. "Only that we should be careful when we arrive. The fortress may not welcome outsiders as warmly as you expect."
Rimuru hesitated, then laughed nervously. "Y-Yeah, but we've got diplomacy, right? I mean, you've got that whole 'mysterious handsome traveler' thing going for you. People like that in stories always get away with everything."
"Stories are kinder than reality," Nova replied, though his tone softened as he looked ahead toward the glowing torches that flickered faintly against the mountainside.
The climb stretched long into dusk. Stars began to prick through the violet sky, and the pale crescent moon cast silver light over the path. Wolves padded silently, their ears twitching at every shift in the wind.
Ciel's voice returned, quieter, almost thoughtful.
Nova raised a brow slightly. Interactions?
He almost stumbled at the bluntness. "…Are you suggesting I flirt my way into diplomacy?"
Rimuru, sensing Nova's muttering, tilted curiously. "Who are you talking to now? Oh wait, don't tell me—that's your voice-in-the-head partner again, isn't it?"
Nova didn't answer, though his faintly exasperated sigh was enough confirmation.
Finally, as the path curved sharply around a crag, the sight of Dwargon revealed itself.
Carved directly into the mountain, the great gates of the Dwarven Kingdom loomed tall, forged from solid steel reinforced with glowing runes. Torchlight bathed the entrance in flickers of gold and shadow, and lines of travelers—merchants, adventurers, wanderers—queued under the watchful gaze of armored dwarven guards. The air buzzed with the clamor of voices, the snorts of pack animals, the creak of wagons.
Rimuru's eyes lit up. "Whoa! This is way bigger than I thought… Look at those walls! They're like, super fortress level."
Nova said nothing at first, his gaze fixed on the guards, on the way their eyes lingered longer than usual on newcomers. His expression darkened briefly before smoothing into neutrality.
So it begins, Nova thought, adjusting his coat.
The wolves halted just short of the line, drawing nervous stares. Rimuru hopped down, trying to sound cheerful. "Guess this is where the real fun starts, huh?"
Nova glanced at him, then at the towering gates ahead, their runes glowing faintly in the night. "Yes. From here onward, everything changes."
Nova's words lingered in the cool night air, quiet but heavy with meaning. For a moment, the noise of the bustling line faded in Rimuru's ears as he studied his companion's face. There was something in Nova's mismatched eyes—resolve, yes, but also a weight Rimuru couldn't quite name.
The wolves shifted uneasily behind them, their instincts wary of the fortress's imposing aura. Merchants ahead cast wary glances, muttering about "strange travelers with beasts." The air thickened, pressing like an invisible wall.
Rimuru tried to break the tension with a chuckle. "Heh, you make it sound like we're stepping into some huge turning point in a novel."
Nova didn't answer right away. His gaze traced the runes glowing faintly along the gate, then the guards' sharp movements. Finally, he exhaled softly. "In stories, moments like this are written in ink. For us… it's written in blood and choices."
Ciel's calm voice followed, directed only at Nova.
He smirked faintly at the teasing undertone. Just log it as… awareness.
Rimuru blinked, watching Nova's quiet exchange with the voice in his head, then shook his slime body with mock frustration. "Man, it's so unfair that I can't eavesdrop on those conversations. Guess I'll just have to trust you."
Nova turned back toward the gates, his coat brushing softly in the breeze. "Trust is exactly what we'll need from here."
As the moonlight bathed the path in silver, the two companions stepped forward, their shadows merging with the line of countless travelers bound for Dwargon—the place where their journey would truly be tested.
To be continued..