"And it was quite rude."

Imagine Artoria visiting another territory.

The other side brings people and says, you won't leave here alive today.

Even a saint like Artoria would draw her sword without hesitation and show the other party how sharp her sword was.

"Is that so?"

"Unfortunately, Ice Empress acted too fast!"

Snow Empress felt very regretful, and at the same time blamed Ice Empress for killing him.

If Shu had been left alive, Snow Empress could have used it as an excuse to skip all procedures and directly bring about the descent of the Ice God in the Tengu Hidden Village.

"Ah, this..."

Snow Empress felt wronged because Rin's hint to her was to pulverize him.

"Alright, I told Ice Empress to do that."

Rin helped Snow Empress out of her predicament, and Momiji, who heard their conversation, then realized what Rin had done.

His decisive and ruthless actions actually protected the reputation of the Tengu Clan.

Otherwise, if Rin had taken it seriously, it would have been a war between two forces, and who knew how many people would have died.

That idiot Shu was practically joking with the lives of tens of thousands of Tengu.

And those old fogies in the hawk faction.

Did they even know how much disaster provoking such a force would bring to the Tengu Clan?!

"Shu's attitude, and that of the person behind him, is absolutely not what we intended!"

Momiji immediately distanced herself. "Please believe us, we genuinely want to join."

"Mmm, I believe you."

"Phew~"

Upon hearing this, Momiji finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In the face of racial righteousness, individual sacrifices are unavoidable.

Additionally, Momiji found it very strange.

Why was Shu's reaction so strong?

What exactly did they want to do?

After all, Rin had already arrived, what couldn't be discussed at the meeting?

Just as Rin said.

If there were any issues, they should just bring them up.

Rin would not be stingy with his help if he could assist.

'Saying nothing, not even willing to attend the meeting...'

'No!'

Momiji realized something. 'They are simply looking for trouble on purpose.'

The result of looking for trouble was offending Rin, which would lead to the inability of both sides to continue peaceful negotiations.

'Damn it!'

'These old geezers, they only cause trouble for others!'

While Momiji was secretly distressed, Rin was also pondering the same question.

Why did this happen?

He didn't recall Rimuru in the original work encountering any obstruction from the hawk faction Tengu.

'Moreover, a character like Shu doesn't seem to have appeared in the original work.'

'Although this is the real world, it's impossible for everything to be exactly like the original work.'

'But is the Tengu Clan overly hostile towards me?'

Rin searched his memories and discovered something. 'I remember in the original work, when Rimuru sent Benimaru to visit the Tengu Clan, their reaction to Albis was very strong.'

Then he looked at Shu and the reaction of the hawk faction behind him.

'Heh, so that's how it is.'

Rin understood. 'What hawk faction, what staunchly upholding Tengu dignity, it's all nonsense.'

This group of people, most likely, were the traitors hidden within the Tengu Clan.

'The novel mentioned that Frey once invaded the Tengu Clan.'

However, the Tengu Mountain's different space, not to mention its defense, its concealment methods alone were not something ordinary people could break through.

It was true that Artoria could see through it.

But whether she could enter was another matter.

The reason a different space is a different space is that its entrance can change at any time.

If it were Rin, with his spatial mastery, a mere different space would be nothing.

But did Frey have such means?

Perhaps she did, perhaps she didn't.

Rin leaned towards the latter.

'So, there were collaborators who caused the invasion war that might have happened next.'

'Resulting in heavy losses for the Tengu Clan, making them unable to protect themselves in troubled times, which is why they chose to rely on Rimuru's Monster Nation.'

Having sorted all this out, Rin finally understood the cause and effect.

'Sure enough, no matter where, there are always such parasites.'

Rin didn't know what benefits Frey had given them to make them betray their own people.

It was just that, with this, Rin had a faint feeling. 'Will Frey come?'

Because of Shu's interlude, the rest of the journey was very silent, and no one was in the mood to enjoy the scenery.

"Rin-sama~!"

He was already waiting at the entrance, and upon seeing Rin, he immediately bowed respectfully.

The place where Kaede lived was a Japanese-style garden.

The architectural style and cultural customs here also seemed to have been introduced from the Ogre Clan about three hundred years ago.

"Mmm, let's go inside and talk."

"Yes."

Soon, Rin led everyone into the reception room.

"Rin-sama, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Kaede."

Kaede knelt and bowed to Rin.

"My body is not well, so I couldn't greet you personally. My sincerest apologies."

"It's fine."

Rin sat cross-legged opposite Kaede.

He didn't like kneeling, the reason didn't need much explanation.

As for the others, it was entirely up to their preference, Rin never demanded anything in such matters.

Soon, everyone entered the reception room.

Artoria stood behind Rin, holding her unsheathed Sword of Promised Victory, ready to perform her guard duties.

Shion and Shuna knelt on either side of Rin.

Snow Empress and Ice Empress did not stay inside the room but were on the adjacent veranda, staying with Momiji.

As for Ogerpon.

As soon as the little one entered, she jumped into the garden outside the corridor and began searching for flowers and plants she had never seen before.

"How much do you know about the situation here, Rin-sama?"

"Not much."

Rin said, "I'll trouble you to explain it to me in detail."

"It's my duty."

So, with Rin's assistance, Kaede informed him of the current situation of the Tengu Clan and expressed her stance.

She and her daughter, Momiji, were willing to lead their people to join Rin's command and become his subjects.

"Mmm."

Rin was very satisfied with Kaede's attitude, and he said, "I see your sincerity."

"If you don't mind, I will resolve your physical problems."

As he spoke, Rin raised his hand, and surging magicules gathered at his fingertips like obedient sheep.

That was not an attack, but a blessing, a priceless treasure for any monster, naming.

(To be continued.)