The most terrifying thing is when the air suddenly goes quiet.
Mud droplets slowly slid down Count Bran's disheveled feathers. With a stiff "click" sound, its neck turned with difficulty to look at the fallen oak tree.
If that blow had struck it just now, its body would have been scattered everywhere in pieces.
Looking down again at the little slime blinking innocently at its feet, Count Bran jumped up in fright and landed on a rock.
It shivered, shaking all its feathers, then covered its beak with a black wing and coughed lightly:
"Ahem, well... Lord Slime truly lives up to being the ruler of this swamp, possessing some of this count's former demeanor. Since we've already met..."
"This count remembers there are several matters concerning the world's survival that urgently need handling in my territory, so I won't disturb you any further! Arthur! Retainer! Let's go!"
It flapped its wings trying to escape, but was steadily caught by a hand covered in rusted iron armor and placed back on the shoulder guard.
Count Bran discovered to its horror that its knight retainer not only hadn't moved, but was instead kneeling on one knee, performing a rigidly formal knight's salute toward the city wall.
"Knight Arthur greets the swamp's ruler, nature's blessed."
"Hey! Hey!! You stubborn mule, why won't you listen to this count's advice! This slime is too bizarre, what if it's actually a demon wearing slime skin? It'll definitely steal even your soul."
"Listen to this count, you can't handle this..."
While Count Bran was still rambling, Chen Yu on the dark city wall curiously observed these two intruders who had suddenly entered his territory.
Death and misfortune.
Huh, what an unlucky combination.
This knight was indeed the undead who had troubled the thieves that day, but what exactly was this crow? Black smoke drifted from its feathers.
It looked like some kind of burnt magical creature.
Wonder what it tastes like...
"Who are you, where do you live, and what is your purpose in coming here?"
Who knew why this undead had suddenly come to his territory? What if it was here to compete for territory?
Right, it might very well be here to seize territory.
Hearing the question, Count Bran glanced at the slime on the city wall.
Asking about origins? This was his specialty!
Thinking of those "glorious deeds," it instantly threw its earlier fear to the winds, vanity taking over.
"Ahem... That would be quite a story. This count and retainer Arthur have traveled through the sunless dark lands, overcoming countless dangers, fighting our way here through adventures."
"With this count's intelligence and retainer Arthur's battle-hardened experience and martial prowess, we defeated giants tall as mountains, mad mages bringing death and plague, monsters rumored to merge with shadows... and finally met the legendary swamp lord."
"Tsk tsk tsk, you probably can't imagine how broad that giant's greatsword was, spinning around creating gusts of deathly foul wind..."
Arthur remained silently kneeling.
If he remembered correctly, that giant named "Mill" was indeed quite tall, four greatswords swinging with creaking sounds, nearly knocking him flying.
Its appetite was astonishingly huge too, filled with wheat-yellow flour and filthy rats...
Chen Yu listened attentively.
Truth be told, this crow really knew how to spin a tale when boasting. Those so-called monsters rumored to merge with shadows were just those desperate thieves from "Rusty Key."
That little mouth... what a pity it didn't become a bard.
The silent Arthur spoke up at the appropriate moment.
"Swamp's ruler, nature's blessed... Knight Arthur has come to pilgrimage."
"Please, envoy, inform me of the trial's content."
Nature's blessed?
Was that referring to him?
Another one mistaking him for nature's blessed.
Sekashi was a foolish shaman, so it was understandable she'd make mistakes, but how could even an undead get it wrong?
Could its brain be broken?
Actually, that didn't seem right either.
The undead's body has decayed, where would it have a brain...
Thinking more charitably, it was already a miracle this knight still had intelligence, couldn't really expect him to make correct judgments.
"There is no trial here, you should return."
Chen Yu kept feeling these two were using excuses to compete for territory.
What kind of decent person would travel thousands of miles from some dark land all the way here, suddenly wanting to pilgrimage to nature's blessed?
And the one saying this was an undead.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Hearing Chen Yu's dismissal, Count Bran secretly rejoiced.
"Caw! This count has no interest in any territory. Since you're not welcoming guests, retainer, follow this count and leave."
Putting on airs, it prepared to flap its wings and depart, but saw Arthur still silently kneeling on the ground, seemingly with no intention of rising.
"Arthur? Oh, my poor retainer, your legs must have gone numb from kneeling. Let's give him some time to stand up."
It kept signaling the knight with its eyes, anxiously hinting for him to run.
"Thank you for your concern, Count, but my legs aren't numb."
Arthur responded earnestly and straightforwardly to Count Bran's concern.
"I'm merely waiting for the envoy to inform me of the trial's content."
If it had hands, Count Bran would have desperately wanted to smack its own forehead right now.
It covered its head with its wings to prevent the other party from seeing its embarrassment.
Nonsense, you're just a skeleton frame, how could your legs go numb?
This count is telling you to run!
That stubborn mule Arthur actually believes in this nature's blessed and trial nonsense.
How could nature possibly bless an undead and grant trials sufficient for transformation?
Count Bran suddenly felt immense pressure. How did it end up recruiting such a simple-minded knight?
Wait, he actually doesn't have a heart, nor eyes.
Forget it, forget it, who told it was Count Bran, the most patient, most magnanimous being in the world.
"Ahem, swamp's ruler, this count would like to discuss something with you..."
Count Bran flew up to the city wall, confirmed Chen Yu wouldn't suddenly attack, then regardless of whether he minded or not, leaned in close and whispered:
"As you can see, this count's retainer is just pig-headed. He heard from somewhere that as long as he passes nature's trial, he can obtain nature's blessing."
"If you don't tell him the trial content, this guy can kneel in your territory for a whole year. You probably don't want to go out every day guarded by an undead, that would be too creepy."
"Even if it's made up... just send him away quickly."
After speaking, it winked meaningfully at Chen Yu.
Chen Yu noticed several beetles hiding behind rocks, timidly peeking at them.
Thinking about it, he realized the little ones still needed to continue building the territory.
If this guy stayed here, who would dare go out in the future?
Suddenly, inspiration struck him.
An idea emerged in his mind.
Chen Yu put on a serious expression, his round body adopting the posture befitting a ruler.
"Knight Arthur, you've come at just the right time."
"To the west of the swamp territory, a group of demon descendants from hell are wandering about, occupying a rich underground city."
"The mere existence of these filthy descendants on this land is an insult to nature."
"Go, go eliminate them."
Count Bran listened in stunned disbelief.
D-demon descendants?!
This slime is making up stories way too intensely!