In a small border town of Blumund Kingdom, at a Luminas Church.
Shizue arrived, covered in dust from her journey.
According to the Freedom Association's report, the Holy Knight Order's current location was here.
A long expedition was not simple, and this was a necessary resupply point.
Moreover, the resupply time would not be too short; at least one day would be needed.
"What? They've already left? How is that possible?"
Shizue felt as if the strength had been drained from her body; she could hardly believe it.
To reach this place as quickly as possible, Shizue had used every means at her disposal.
Almost all the money she had was spent on magic teleportation, and several horses had even died from exhaustion.
Was she still one step too late!
Given the pace of the Holy Knight Order, with both sides heading in opposite directions, they had missed each other by at least a day and a night.
And in a day and a night, the war in the Demon Country Federation might already be over.
How could this be?
"Oh no!"
Shizue suddenly thought of something extremely terrifying: Rimuru's appearance was almost identical to hers.
What would they think the moment they saw Rimuru?
They would assume Rimuru had eaten her!
Even more terrifying, that was the truth!
They had a deep affection for her, and by then, they would surely go mad.
And because this was the truth of the matter, Rimuru wouldn't be able to explain, and it was highly possible that the two would fight to the Death.
Thinking of these things, Shizue could no longer remain calm.
After acquiring a horse, she immediately galloped towards the Demon Country Federation!
The Holy Knight Order looked at the city of the Demon Country Federation from a distance, and everyone showed surprise.
Was this really a city built in less than a year?
The architectural complexes here were too magnificent!
Especially the towering spires embedded with massive blue gemstones, which drew everyone's attention.
For the saints who had reached the Martial Immortal realm, their perception of danger was extremely keen.
They immediately sensed a threat from these unknown spires.
Smelling the scent of blood in the air, every member of the Holy Knight Order became solemn.
Before arriving, they had received news about the Falmus Kingdom's expeditionary force.
But now, the expeditionary force was nowhere to be seen, and only the smell of blood lingered in the air, which made them ponder deeply.
Could it be that the Falmus Kingdom's expeditionary force had been completely wiped out?
No way!
The Falmus Kingdom was a major commercial nation, with a full treasury, and the equipment of its Knight Order, Royal Guard, and Court Mages was excellent.
It was said that they had also purchased a large number of magic Guidance Cannons from the Magic Dynasty.
Although their combat power could not compare to the Luminas Church's Holy Knight Order, they were still one of the most renowned strong armies on the entire continent.
Being directly wiped out seemed unlikely, right?!
What on earth happened?
Conquering Demon Lord Rimuru might not be as easy as they imagined!
At the same time.
Demon Country Federation.
King Demarilis Falmus of the Falmus Kingdom fell to the ground in a sorry state, his crown rolling away, no longer possessing any kingly dignity.
Behind him, Court Mage Larson, Royal Guard Captain Forgen, Archbishop Reshim, and many other high-ranking officials were all kneeling on the ground.
To be honest, until this moment, everyone was dumbfounded.
Not only King Demarilis, but Larson, Forgen, and Reshim were all dumbfounded.
Why did this happen?
They were just one step away from pushing down all the defense towers and reaching Demon Lord Rimuru's lair.
Why were they instantly turned around in a losing battle?
Why on earth was this happening?
This was not magic!
One second, King Demarilis was dreaming of capturing Demon Lord Rimuru alive, enjoying the worship of all his citizens, and his martial achievements rivaling those of the founding King.
But the next second, he was completely captured by Rimuru, and even he, the King, became a prisoner.
One step to heaven, one step to hell; the immense disparity made it impossible for everyone to accept.
They even became somewhat dazed!
Looking at Shion, who stood quietly behind Rimuru, calm, obedient, and well-behaved.
The Old King almost suspected he was dreaming!
Demarilis could not, for the life of him, connect her with the wild female demon who wielded a great katana, cut a nearly hundred-meter-long gully with a single strike, and directly caused almost half of the Knight Order to collapse.
Were they really the same person?
How was this possible?
As for Benimaru, on Rimuru's right side, he made Court Mage Larson feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, still unable to believe the fact of his complete defeat.
The Court Mage Order was his trump card, built with half a lifetime of effort.
But Benimaru's single ball of demonic Fire almost directly blew his Mage Order into the sky—they were completely vulnerable!
This must be fake, right?!
Even Shuna, who looked like a delicate, weak woman, with a single Sleep magic, almost made the entire knight troop fall asleep.
As for the magic Guidance Cannons purchased with heavy funds, they were now all displayed in the Demon Country Federation's plaza, becoming new toys for the monsters.
The defeat was too thorough!
What kind of monster did the Falmus Kingdom provoke?!
Earlier, with the defense towers, and the mutual tower-destroying and team fights, was it all just to play with them?
What a joke!
Larson, still somewhat unable to accept the reality of defeat, asked unwillingly, "Why? If you had such powerful strength, why didn't you confront us head-on from the start? If you had such powerful strength, what was the point of these so-called defense towers?"
Yes?
Since they could completely crush them with sheer strength, why go to such great lengths to set up these defense towers?
That was too un-knightly!
Larson's words resonated with everyone, who all snapped out of their respective nightmares and looked at Demon Lord Rimuru, who was seated on the throne, impossibly young.
Rimuru said as a matter of course, "Of course, it's more fun. Don't you think that by adding tower defense and tower-destroying elements, this war game's enjoyment increased exponentially?"
Pfft!
Larson vomited three liters of blood.
Play?
All of this was just because it was fun?
What do you take war for?
Just then, a trembling voice, tinged with a smile, spoke.
"Play, yes, this is just a game, just a game!"
"Great Demon Lord Rimuru, it's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. The Falmus Kingdom dispatched its army only to conduct a game-like greeting with you."
"If we have caused you any misunderstanding or trouble, I, as the King of the Falmus Kingdom, represent the Falmus Kingdom in extending our sincerest apologies to you."
"You and I are both Kings. Since the game has failed, I am willing, in a noble manner, to pay the appropriate amount of money and resources for my subordinates' and my own ransom—"
Hearing the Old King Demarilis's endless words, everyone was speechless.
The people of the Demon Country Federation looked at the Old King Demarilis Falmus as if he were an idiot!
They had seen shameless people, but never one so utterly shameless.
However, no one spoke at this moment.
They were all waiting for Rimuru to express an opinion, because this was a King-level conversation, and only Rimuru, being of King-level, had the authority to make a decision.
Looking at the Old King Demarilis's shameless demeanor, Rimuru couldn't help but smile.
This person really redefined her understanding of human audacity!
Rimuru would not forget that in the original story, it was this greedy and shameless fellow who caused the Death of Shion and two hundred citizens.
No matter what, Rimuru would absolutely not let him go!
Looking at King Demarilis, Rimuru said meaningfully, "Don't worry, I won't casually kill people."
Hearing Rimuru's words, Demarilis's eyes immediately lit up.
But the next second, Rimuru's words plunged him back into hell.
"To avoid such misunderstandings between the Demon Country Federation and the Falmus Kingdom in the future, and to make travel between the Demon Country Federation and the Falmus Kingdom more convenient, I plan to build a 'Friendship Road' between the Falmus Kingdom and the Demon Country Federation. This task will trouble His King, your Royal Guard, and your Mage Order to contribute your efforts!"
The Old King, Larson, and Reshim all felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.
Old King: "Wait, wait, Demon Lord Rimuru, you cannot treat us like this. Nobles, we are nobles of the Falmus Kingdom. According to custom, we can atone for our sins with an equivalent price; you cannot degrade us into slaves!"
Rimuru: "What are you thinking? When did I degrade you into slaves? Having you build roads, this is also a game, you know. The purpose is to let you experience the joy of labor and the fragrance of sweat. A game, it's just a game!"
Pfft!
Hearing Rimuru's words, everyone burst into laughter.
This was too wicked!
Making the Old King build bridges and roads, wasn't that more unbearable than letting him die?
Reshim: "Demon Lord Rimuru, I am an Archbishop of the Western Holy Church. Sending me to do slave labor, are you planning to become an enemy of all the nations on the entire continent?"
Old King: "Exactly. Demon Lord Rimuru, I admit your strength, but do you really intend to become an enemy of the entire continent?"
Rimuru: "What if I do become an enemy of the entire continent?"
"You, you, you—"
The Old King, the Archbishop, and the nobles were all choked speechless by Rimuru's words.
Was Demon Lord Rimuru insane?
Was she actually trying to challenge the order of the entire continent?
Even more incredibly, not a single one of those monsters stepped forward to dissuade her.
They were all insane, completely insane!