Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Chapter Fifty Four (Volume Two)

Kaede sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that day, turning to the female goblina seated at the desk beside her. "How many is that now, Sera?"

Sera, ever diligent, neatly stacked a pile of papers before answering. "This is the sixth, my lady. And there are still three more waiting outside."

Kaede groaned, slumping into her chair.

Ever since Veldora's disappearance a month ago, monsters had been arriving at her city’s gates in droves, all with the same request, to join her community.

At first, she had welcomed them with open arms, happy to provide refuge. But what had started as a trickle soon became a flood, leading to an exhausting, seemingly endless process of naming an overwhelming number of new arrivals.

Goblins, Kobolds, two entire wolf packs, and somehow, even the horned rabbits had a matriarch who had decided to move her entire family of four hundred to Kaede’s city.

"Alright, let's go, Sera."

Kaede took a deep breath before rising from her seat, stretching lightly as she made her way to what her daughters called the Throne Room.

Honestly, Kaede had no idea why they insisted on calling it that. It was just a conference room.

Seated at the central chair, she adjusted herself before giving a small motion.

Two Antari bowed before stepping forward, pushing open the massive double doors to allow the next visitors inside.

A tiny green haired figure flew in, delicate translucent wings shimmering under the light. It was basically two feet tall with leaf like clothes, with sharp claws and jagged teeth.

Kaede’s eyes widened. Then, in an instant, she vanished, only to reappear right in front of the tiny creature.

Before the figure could react, Kaede snatched them up, cradling them in her hands with a gleeful squeal.

"What is this adorable creature!!" she shouted, practically vibrating with excitement as she hugged the tiny being close.

"Ack!! Ack!! Unhand me, foul beast!" the creature yelped in both shock and indignation, flailing their tiny limbs in protest.

Desperate to escape, they bit down on Kaede’s arm.

Chomp.

The guards drew their weapons.

Silence.

Then,

"YOW!!" The creature cried out, clutching their mouth in agony. "What is your skin made of?! My teeth hurt, waaaaaah!!"

Tears welled in their eyes as they wailed dramatically.

Kaede froze. "Wha... You're crying?!" Her excitement instantly turned to panic. "Ah! What do I do?! What do I do?!"

Sera chuckled at her master’s antics, watching the scene unfold with quiet amusement.

The guards, meanwhile, simply sighed, shaking their heads with small smiles. 'Somehow, this is our mother.'

When the figure finally ceased her crying, Kaede cleared her throat and quickly returned to her seat. "State your business."

The figure, still slightly dazed, blinked a few times before responding. "Wha... Hey! Don't just pretend like nothing happened!"

Kaede hummed in thought. “You’re right, that is rather small for a tribe. Very well, Gaara of the Sand. I welcome your people into my nation, so long as you remember that everyone has something to contribute.” She gestured with a flourish. “I will begin naming your people once the sprites have all received theirs.”

Gaara stiffened in surprise. “My lady, the lizardmen are already strong. You don’t need to...”

“It’s fine, Gaara,” Kaede interjected with a reassuring wave. “Though, your case is a bit different... You already have a name.” She tapped her fingers against the armrest, pondering.

Kaede’s eyes twitched slightly. She tilted her head at the lizardman. “It appears I can override the name this Gelmud fellow gave you.” Though she didn’t say it aloud, the question hung in the air, Should I?

Gaara hesitated only briefly before bowing his head. “Please do, my lady. If it will make me of greater use to you, then I gladly accept.”

Kaede smiled. “Then rise, for your name is Gaara of the Sand.”

As golden light engulfed Gaara, his form shifted, his brown scales gleaming with a radiant bronze sheen. He stood taller now, exuding the unmistakable aura of an A-rank warrior.

“I thank you, my lady,” he said with deep reverence before turning and leaving the hall.

Kaede waited until he was completely gone before slumping back in her chair with an exaggerated groan. “Why was he so formal? I’ve never been that formal in my life! Ugh, it’s exhausting. I don’t want to go through this again.”

Sera smiled gently, amusement flickering in her eyes. “Patience, my lady. It will all be over soon. There is just one more envoy to meet.”

Kaede let out a dramatic wail and clung to Sera’s gown. “Ahh, Sera, you’re too good to me! You’re like an angel. A pretty angel.”

Sera visibly blushed but quickly composed herself, slipping free from Kaede’s grasp and smoothing out her dress.

At that moment, the doors swung open once more, and the final envoys entered, though this time, they didn’t walk. Instead, they buzzed in, their translucent wings humming through the air.

Kaede tilted her head in curiosity. “You look oddly familiar.”

Leading the group was a massive bee, nearly three feet tall, with a regal golden crown perched atop her head. She was flanked by two smaller bees, their movements sharp and coordinated, like trained guards.

Kaede’s eyes widened in recognition before she smacked a fist into her palm. “Ha! I remember now! You look just like that queen bee I killed when I was still level one in New World Online.”

The three bees froze mid-flight, their buzzing abruptly halting. Though their expressions remained unreadable, their entire forms somehow radiated sheer, palpable terror.

Kaede blinked before letting out an awkward chuckle. “Ah... please ignore what I just said.”

The bees, though momentarily frozen, resumed their flight toward the center of the room, their buzzing steady but still carrying a hint of unease.

Kaede offered a reassuring smile. “Now, tell me, what do you...” She abruptly stopped, her gaze shifting eastward.

Her [Universal Sense] had detected something.

‘Artificia?’ she wondered.

A translucent blue screen flickered into existence before her, visible only to her eyes. Within its display, distant flying forms moved swiftly across the sky.

Zooming in, she saw them clearly, winged horses, each ridden by humanoid figures. Yet, the magicules she sensed told her they were not

human.

Her eyes narrowed as she focused on the leading figure.

It was unmistakable.

The Hero King, Gazel Dwargo, was leading an army straight toward her city.