Inside the Ice Sculpture Castle
Granstar lounged comfortably on an ice-carved chair, leisurely munching on fruit brought by the goblins.
"Hmm, this frozen date isn't bad. Rimuru, want to try one?"
Rimuru lay nearby, flipping through a thick stack of documents. They had been organized by Rigurd and detailed every minor and major issue in the town, all awaiting his review.
"Hmph. Granstar, you should be helping me instead of slacking off. If I could beat you..."
"Oh? So the frozen date really is that tempting?"
Rimuru glanced at Granstar's satisfied expression and felt slightly tempted. He picked up a frozen date from the plate and took a bite.
Great Sage: Analysis complete. This is an ordinary fruit date that has been frozen. It contains rich pulp and provides a basic cooling effect.
Listening to the Great Sage's analysis in his mind, Rimuru realized he couldn't taste anything. He chewed in silence, disappointment creeping in.
Ugh.
He had almost forgotten—he didn't have a sense of taste. With a bitter expression, he turned toward Granstar.
Granstar shook his head with a chuckle and offered a light-hearted comment.
"Haha, right, I forgot you don't have a sense of taste. What a shame, it's really quite delicious."
"But don't worry. Once you can take on a proper humanoid form, you'll be able to taste again."
It sounded like Granstar knew something, but he didn't elaborate. He simply returned to enjoying the fruit with a lazy air.
Just then, Rigurd approached respectfully and stood before Rimuru, clearly with something to report.
"Oh, Rigurd. Something else come up?"
Rigurd bowed to both Granstar and Rimuru before speaking.
"Yes, Lord Rimuru. It's about the newly formed goblin cavalry. Their coordination with the frost wolves still isn't smooth, and apart from hunting, they don't have much else to do."
"Hm, well, they are newly formed. Let's not expect too much from them yet. Just focus on having them master Shadow Summoning for now."
Rimuru hadn't expected much from the new goblin cavalry. As long as they could handle basic hunting, that was already enough.
"But… lately they've been rather lazy. The frost wolves, too, just lie around and sleep all day."
Rigurd looked concerned, clearly worried about disappointing his two superiors.
"What? Sleeping?"
Rimuru narrowed his eyes and turned toward Granstar, who was, predictably, sprawled across his chair in a nap-like posture.
"Don't tell me the frost wolves inherited your bad habits!"
Hearing that, Granstar opened his ice-blue eyes and frowned.
"Hey, don't pin that on me. I used Dominator to scan the frost wolves before. No abnormal conditions detected."
"Then why are they all acting like you—napping in broad daylight after minimal work?"
Granstar simply shrugged, looking unconcerned.
"If they want to sleep, let them. Not my problem. Unless, of course, it is...?"
Rimuru jumped up, clearly irritated now.
"We're trying to build a nation! If we don't even have a functioning military force, what then? If our army can't train properly, how are we going to have real combat strength?"
He glared at Granstar, his face serious.
"Well, Lord Rimuru, you're absolutely right," Granstar said, raising his hands in mock surrender. But in his mind, he sighed.
Ugh, can't even get a proper nap anymore. Wait… was the story always like this? I don't remember Rimuru being this busy. Did I change something...?
Rimuru noticed Granstar's lazy demeanor, his eyes narrowing mischievously. He turned to Rigurd.
"I've decided. We'll assign an instructor to the goblin cavalry."
"That sounds promising, Lord Rimuru. But… who will the instructor be?"
Rigurd looked hesitant. There really wasn't anyone suitable.
"Hm... As for the instructor…"
Rimuru fell into thought, then turned to look at Granstar.
Rigurd followed his gaze, blinking in disbelief.
Sensing their intense stares, Granstar rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Oh, you're good, Rimuru. So this was your plan all along."
Rimuru imitated Granstar's appearance, waving two small hands formed from his slime body.
"There's no way around it—you're the freest one right now. Do a good job! I'm counting on you!"
Receiving such encouragement from the supreme leader, Granstar had no choice.
He found himself powerless against Rimuru's mischief and resignedly allowed Rigurd to escort him to the goblin cavalry camp.
Under Rigurd's guidance, Granstar arrived and saw the supposed goblin cavalry... lounging around like lazy bums.
They were sprawled in the shade, looking nothing like disciplined soldiers. The Frost Wolves were dozing with squinted eyes, lying flat on the ground, while the goblins shamelessly used the wolves as pillows, pretending to sleep "neatly."
"Ahem, ahem..."
Rigurd cleared his throat, clearly embarrassed that Lord Granstar had to witness such a scene.
"Get up, all of you! Lord Rimuru has sent an instructor—don't just lie around!"
The moment the Frost Wolves and goblins heard that the instructor had been sent by Lord Rimuru, they jumped up and quickly formed lines, standing at attention like soldiers awaiting inspection.
"Huh? Lord Granstar came in person?"
"That's so strange..."
They were genuinely surprised to see Granstar himself—more surprised than they would have been seeing Rimuru. After all, Granstar was known for sleeping in his ice sculpture castle whenever he had free time.
He rarely got involved in affairs, which was why Rimuru often teased him as the ultimate "salted fish."
Granstar gave a nod when he saw them lined up properly.
"Hmm... Not as bad as Rigurd made it sound."
"Ugh, I was enjoying my nap in the castle when Rimuru insisted I come over and be your instructor. I had no choice—so don't disappoint me."
He stated it plainly, without any embellishment.
"Don't worry, sir! We won't let you down!"
Rigurd was the first to respond, standing tall and shouting with conviction.
"Oh? I'll remember that!"
Granstar gave a sly smile, already scheming about how he'd train them.
"Yes, sir!"
Rigurd found his expression a bit strange, but thought little of it.
Granstar turned his gaze toward the Frost Wolves again. They still looked drowsy, and he frowned.
"Could it be... these Frost Wolves are being influenced by me?"
That shouldn't be the case.
He pondered whether it might be due to their shared ice attribute.
Monsters with ice attributes typically disliked warm environments and tended to maintain a low body temperature. As a result, they usually had low levels of physical activity.
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