TenseiShitaraSlimedattaken

OriginalWebnovelbyFuse

CREDITS:

Chapter027:

translator:Clown

Chapter028:

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Chapter029:

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Chapter030:

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Chapter031:

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Chapter032:

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Chapter033:

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Chapter034:

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Chapter035:

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Chapter036:

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Chapter037:

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Chapter038:

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Chapter039:

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Chapter040:

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Chapter041:

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Chapter042:

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Chapter043:

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Chapter044:

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ExtraMap:

provider:Clown

Volume2images:

provider:Clown

Editors

AncientKaiser

TheDefend

Epubprovidedby:

randomperson

randomguy

Clown’snote:Pleasebeadvisedthatthepicturesprovidedherearefromalightnovelandnotthewebnovel.Therefore,theymightnotmatch.Pleasedonotaskwhyacertainsceneisdepicteddifferentlyhere.

TenseiShitaraSlimedattaken

-RegardingReincarnatedtoSlime-

ForestDisturbanceArc

CHAPTER027-TheOgreTribe

CHAPTER028-Jobs

CHAPTER029-Lizardmen’sInvasion

CHAPTER030-Envoy

CHAPTER031-EmergencyMeeting

CHAPTER032-StageCurtainRises

CHAPTER033-Audience

CHAPTER034-TheOutbreakofWar

CHAPTER035-WarPreparations

CHAPTER036-ParticipatingintheWar

CHAPTER037-Encounter–Benimaru&Ranga

CHAPTER038-DevilGelmudo

CHAPTER039-GearsofFate

CHAPTER040-OrcDisaster

CHAPTER041-Predator

CHAPTER042-JuraForest’sGreatAlliance

CHAPTER043-WarReparations

CHAPTER044-Andthuswefinishedthecity

EXTRA-Map

Chapter27–TheOgreTribe

Allmonsterswithinthecavenowrunawayatthemeresightofme.Probablytheresultofmyaura.Pleased,Ileftthecave.SoIplanned,but…

「Gu,whoisit!Pursuers?」「Youngmaster!We’llonlyslowyoudown!Pleaseescapewiththeprincess!!!」「Wickeddemon!Don’ttrytodeceiveoureyes!!!」

AndothersimilargrandstatementsIcouldhearfromagroupattheentranceofthecave.Heightsurpassingtwometers,agroupoflargemonsterslookinglikearagtagmilitia.Theirbodiesalumpofmuscles,theogres.Aren’tthesetheself-proclaimedrulersoftheforest?TheylookexactlyasRigurdohasdescribed.So,whataretheyafraidof,somedemon?What’swiththat?Scary!Abitbewildered,Iplanmyescape.Icheckbehindme,butdon’tfeelanypresence.Noheatsignatureseither.SotheogrescanseeitbutIcan’t!Thismightbebad…JustwhenIthoughtIhadgainednewabilities…IguessIamstillfarfromtruestrength.

「Ku,ademon?Whatkind?Mybad,butIdon’tseeit…whereisitnow?」

Whileonmyguard,Ibegintomakeretreattoogre’sside.Buttheystillhaven’trespondedtomyquestion.Moreover,theyarekeepingdistancefromme.What?Aretheyplanningonusingmeasabait?ThemomentIthoughtso,

「Whatareyousaying?Thewickeddemonisnoneotherthanyou,slime!Youhavenotfooledoureyes!!!」

Oneoftheogrescalledout.Wha…what?Tocallsuchanadorableslimeawickeddemon?That’snotanicethingtosay!

「Oi.Oi!Waitasecond.Iamathewickeddemon?」「Areyoutryingtoplaydumb?Thatauraunbefittingofaslime!Didyouthinkyou’dfoolsomeone?!」

Hmm?Oh…Iwasenjoyingfreakingoutthecave’smonsterstoomuchandkeptitopen,huh.SoIquicklypullbacktheaura.And,

「Idon’thaveanythinglikethat!Youmust’veimaginedit!」「「「・・・・・・・・・」」」

Ofcourse,Icouldn’tfoolthem.But,afterinsistingthatitwasjustamisunderstandingforawhile,Isomehowmanagedtohavethemlowertheirguard.Oh,boy…Inthefirstplace,whyaretheyevenhere?WhenIsoasked,theytoldmethattheyhadescapedhere.Lookingclosely,therearemanyinjured,withsomegravelyso.Anormalmonsterwouldhavediedbynow.Theonlyreasontheyarestillstandingissurelyduetotheextremelyhighvitalityoftheogrerace.Still,Iproceedtospitoutsomerestorativemedicineandtreattheirwounds.Withtheirhighvitality,eventhedilutedmedicinequicklyrestoresthemtoperfecthealth.Whileappearingsurprisedforsomereason,theythankme.Now,althoughtheirwoundsarehealed,theyarenonethelessclearlyexhausted.SoIdecidedtohavethemrestatmyvillage.Afterall,Ineedtofindoutwhathadenoughpowertosodecimatetheogres.TheyareaBrankmonsters;but,fromtraining,theycanraisethattoB+orevenA-.Therulersoftheforest.Thestrongestbeingsaround,orsoIheard.

Inanycase,I’llguidethemtothevillage.

Decidingtocarrythemoverthere,IsummonedRanga.Whencalled,heappearsfromwithinmyshadow.Thatis,Ifinallysucceededatsummoninghim.Mypridesimplydidn’tallowthefactthatGobutasucceededwhereIcouldn’t.Thus,Ipracticed.AndgoodthingIhaddoneso–consideringthecurrentsituation.Thereweresixogres.Mimickingtheblackwolf,IcarriedthreeandlefttheremainingthreetoRanga;thuswereturnedtothevillage.Byfootitwouldhavetakenmorethanaday,butatourpacewemanageditinunderanhour.Asexpectedofogres!Unlikethedwarfswhofainted,theyweremerelyimpressedwiththespeed.Thus,weescortedtheogrestoourvillage,whereIinvitedthemtomytent.Well,inplaceofthetentstoodalogcabinwhenIarrived.LookingjustliketheblueprintIhadsuggested.SeemslikewhileIwasawaypracticingmyskills,theyquicklysetitup.Whilethankingthedwarfsandgoblins,Ienterit.LooksjustlikeIhadimagined.Amazing.TheblueprintImadebydrawingonaplankwithsomecharcoal,and,alongwithmeasurements,IpasseditalltoMildo.Afterlookingitover,“Gotit!”heexclaimed.Bytheresults.seemslikemyhandwritingeffectivelycommunicatedthedesign.Furthermore,theroomwasfurnishedjustasIhadpreviouslyrequested.Asfortheogres,Ishowthemtothereceptionroom.And,askingthemtowaitinside,Iheadovertothedwarfs.TopickuptheclothingIhadrequestedfromGarm,ofcourse.Assumingmychildversion,Itriedtheclothingon.Steelthreadunderwear,andfangwolfouterwear.Thematerialsused,ofcourse,camefromthepreviouspackleader.But,forsomereason,thefurhadturnedblack.Puttingonpantsandovercoat,IfeltlikeIdressedtoimpress.Asanextrabonus,itseemsthatthefurhadquitesomemagicalenergystoredinit.

「Danna,thisseemstohavetremendousdefensepower.Itain’tjustsomenormalfur!」

Satisfied,Garmgavehisapproval.Thefinalitemwasnotarmor,butapieceofclothing.Whichisfine.I’dfinewithoutit,butIguesshavingitisbetter.SoIthought,untilIheardabout,

「Ah,bytheway,thisattirejusthappenedtohavebecomeamagicitem.Itwillalwaysperfectlyfittheonewhowearsit!」

Suchwonderfulnews!Inotherwords,evenifIturnintomyadultversion,theclothingwon’trip!Welldone,Garm-kun.Chancesare,thefur,thathadbeenconstantlyfloatinginsidemymagicalenergy(stomach),wasthusstrengthened.So,ifIcomeacrossanygoodingredients,Ishouldremembertoallowthemtomatureinside.Let’smakeamentalnoteaboutthat.

Nowthen,Ishouldn’tmakethemwaittoolong.Havingfoundafittingspot,IaskedHarunatoprepareteaforsevenpeople,andreturnedtotheogres.Theogrespatientlywaited.Perhapsfindingthingsunusual,theywerelookingaroundtheroom.Sadly,asthebuildinghadjustrecentlybeenfinished,itlacksanydecoration.Harunabroughtintea,andimmediatelyleft.Iguessit’snowtimetotryoutmyhumansenseoftaste.Itakeasipofthetea.Delicious.Tosomeonewhonevermadeafussabouttasteoranything,thisworld’spalettehasalreadybeenabletoimpressme.Ittasteslikematcha–abitbitter.Ialsofeelsitswarmth.Nottheeffectofwarmth,butjustwarmthitself.Abizarrefeeling.

Theogrestooseemtoenjoythetea.Andafterwehadallcalmeddown,webeganthediscussion.Halfwaythrough,IcalledforRigurdo.And,Ialsohadtheremainingfour

clanchiefsalsoattend.Kaijinalsojuststartedhisbreak,andcameover.Perfect.RigurdoandRirinaimmediatelycameover.Therestareapparentlyverybusy,sowedecidedtocontinuetheconversationwiththefiveofus.WhydidIcallforthem?Becauseofthegravityofthesituation.IfIhadtosummarizetheogre’sstory,itwouldbesimple:awar.Andtheogresweredefeated.Justthat.AtthesametimeaswefoughttheFlameGiantIfrit,theogreswerecaughtupintheirownwar.Whocouldhavetakenontherulersoftheforest?Andtowin,atthat…Thegoblinchiefswerejustasshocked.Inainstant,theirexpressionstightened.Theenemywas?

「Theysuddenlyattackedourvillage.Withoverwhelmingstrength…!Thosebastards…Orcs!!!」

Unlikehumans,monstersdon’thaveanyrulesstipulatingadeclarationofwar.But,althoughtheycan’tbadmouthedforthesurpriseattack,thefactthattheorcsevenattackedtheogresinthefirstplaceisstrange.OrcsrankbetweenC~D.Strongerthanyouraveragegoblin,butposenodangertoveteranadventurers.However…theseweaklingsattackedthestrongest,andevenmanagedtowin…Thus,Iaskedfordetails.Theogrevillage,thoughperhapsitwastoosmalltocallitthat,onlyhoused300ogres.300Brankmonsters.Thatisthesizeofacountry’sknightsorder.IfyouareplanningonsubjugatingsuchavillagewithrankB-knights,you’dneedabout3,000ofthem.Andtheorcspossessingthatmuchmight?Weallhaveexpressionsofdisbelief.

Consideringthatnearlyeveryvillagerwasslaughtered.Thevillagechiefandasmallgroupapparentlyopenedupapathfortheiryoungmasterandtheprincesstoescape.Withapainedvoice,oneogresaid,

「HadIhadmorepower…!!!」

Hemustbetheiryoungmaster.Thelastscenetheyhadseenwasthatoftheirchieffallingtotheorcs.Also,agiantorcwasreleasingsomestrangeaura.Therewerethereotherslikehim.Whiletheelitewarriorsofthevillageapproachedthosefour,theremainingorcsinvadedthevillage.Theynumberedaroundatenthousand.Ofcourse,hedidnotcounteachone,butratherfeltthattherewereatleastthatmany.Butregardlessofmethod,therewasanabsurdnumberoforcs.Andeachone,likethehumans,wasfullyarmoredinplatemail.Shouldthatbetrue,thenthiswascertainlynotplannedbyorcsalone.Perhapssomecountryisusingtheorcs…

「Hmm,perhaps,theyhavebecomepawnsofthe“DemonLord”」

Kaijinmuttered.Doesthatpossibilityexist…?IthoughtthattheDemonLordavoidstheforestonpriniciple.Beyondtheforestspreadsthedemon’scontinent.Withfertileland,productionisundertakenbytheenslavedmassesandgolems.Thus,thedemon’scountrydoesnotstarve,andcareslittleforhumans.Andforthatreason,ademonlorddesiringconquestwouldbemostlikelytoattackthehumans.However,therecouldsurelybeademonlordwho,outofboredom,decidestostartawar.ThedisappearanceoftheJuraForest’sguardian–Veldora–alsomeantthatthisparticulartypeofdemonlordwouldnolongerbedeterred.Isee.Inthatcase,Iprobablyhavetoputmorethoughtintothedefenseoftheforest.

Now,whathappensnext…?Iaskedforeveryone’sopinion.

「Ibelievetheorcsintendtocaptureourlands!」

Rigurdoanswersoneveryone’sbehalf.Theylookatme,waitingformyopinion.Fight,run,orjointhem?Theogres,afterall,wouldimmediatelybecomeprisonersdependingonmydecision.Quickly,thetensionrises.

「Well,howaboutwerequestsomemoretea!」

Havingsaidthat,Icalledforasecondserving.Aseveryonesipstheirtea,theirexpressionsloosen.Now,then.

「Whatareyouplanningondoing?」

Iasktheogres.

「Isn’titobvious.Lookforachance,andchargerightin!」「Ofcourse.Ihavetotakerevengeformymaster!」「Metoo!WhileIamyetpowerless,Ican’tletthosepigslive!」「「「Weshallfollowouryoungmasterandprincess!」」」

Huh.Theyknowthey’regoingtotheirdeaths,but…

「Youguys.Notinterestedinbecomingmysubordinates?」「Whatdidyousay?」

Yeah.Eveniftheydo,thegoblinswon’tbeenoughtoswaythecourseofbattle.Weneedtoincreaseourfightingstrengthforwhentheorcsarive.

「Ifyouguyssupportme,IthinkIcanfulfillyourwishes?」「Whatareyousaying?」「Simple.I’llhelpyouguys.Well,I’llbefightingthemanyways

eventually.」「Isee…thegoblinswillhelpusfight,andwe’llbeusedtoprotectthisplace…right?」「Exactly.Bytheway,it’sfineiftheagreementlastsuntilwedefeattheorcs!Afterwards,Idon’tmindifyourequestyourfreedom.Youcanstaywiththegoblinsandcreateacountry!Or,youcansetoffonyourown!Howaboutit?」

Theogrecalled“youngmaster”stoppedtothinkuponhearingmyoffer.AsexpectedofaBrank.This“youngmaster”clearlyhastheabilitiesofaB+.Icanseeintelligenceinhiseyes.Heslowlyclosedhiseyes,andthenopenedthemwide.And,

「Understood!Weshallbecomeyoursubordinates!」

Toraisetheirchancesofvictoryifevenabit,theydecidedtoserveme.I’mglad,tosaytheleast.PerhapsIcansavetheseguystoo.

Ihadn’tknownatthetime,buttheogresoftenservedasmercenaries.And,thevanguardarmythatdemonlordhadsentout,justhappenedtobeofthesameoccupation.Theyeasilyacceptedmyoffer.WhenIhadhearditthen,Iacceptedthemasfriendswithoutquestion.

「Alright!Nowthen,let’snameyouguys!」「Huh?Whatare…?」

Theusualnaming.Whiletheogresarebewilderedbytheturnofevents,Idon’tmindatall.I’llquicklygivethemsomenames!Today,Ifeelparticularlycreative.Ilookedatthecoloroftheiraura.Youngmasterwillbe“Benimaru”.Princesswillbe“Shuna”.Theirguardaswell,Kurobee,Hakurou,Souei,Shion.SoIcalledthem.AndthenIenteredastateoflowactivity…

Hey,forthattohappenfromjustsixofthem…what’swiththat?

WhenIawoke(well,Iwasawake,but…)thefollowingday,Igotmyanswer.Withhairburninglikeacrimsonflame,Benimaru.Althoughheusedtobebigandbulky,hisheightdecreasedto180cm,andhisbodytightened.However,hismagicalenergychanged,enoughtomistakehimforadifferentbeing…Eh?Theyevolvedthatmuch?That,ofcourse,wasmyintention.Clearly,theysurpassedArank.Truly,Onibito.(TLnote:Ogre-mensoundsweird)Twoblackhornsprotrudefrombelowthehair.Glowingmorebrilliantlythanobsidian.ThoughIbethe’dfinditunpleasantifIcalledhimabeauty.Next.ShunaandShionarewomen.Iftheprincesswereaguy,I’dbecomplaining.Ogrewomenweresurprisinglybeautiful,buttheevolutionmadethemgorgeous.What’swiththis?Wheredidtheseidolscomefrom?No,no,theyaren’tthatgood!Fromwithinherlong,wavy,pinkhair,twowhitehornscouldbeseen.Whiteskinandpinklips.Whatabeautifulgirl!!!Herheightisabout155cm.Crimsoneyes,withagazefilledwithpassion,stareatme.Theother,Shion.Purple,dark,straighthair,withasinglepurplehorn.Whiteskin,andredlips.Purpleeyes,asiflookingintomysoul.Aheightof170cm…Lickingherlipsasmodelssometimesdo,atruebeauty.Iwantherasmysecretary.SoIthoughtfromthebottomofmyheart.Kurobeeisinhisprime.Adandyuncle.Hakurouisamiddle-agedman.However,youcan’tunderestimatehimforit.

SoueiisthesameageasBenimaru.Darkerskin,anddarkbluehair.Abeautifulmanwithadifferentairaroundhim;190cmtall.Blueeyes,thatsuithimwell.AndallsurpassArank!I’llsayitagain.TheyallsurpassArank!!!That’swhyIhadtousethatmuchmagicalenergy!Ifyouaskedme,I’dtellyouthatallthestrongestogreshadfledhere…Andtheyprobablyalreadyhadnames.Butreally,iftheybetrayus…thatain’tgoingtobeanythingtolaughabout!And,asifridiculingmyworries,

「「「Rimuru-sama!WehumblywishforYoutolistentoourrequest!IfYouaresokindlydisposed,pleaseacceptourloyalty!!!」」」

And,theysimultaneouslybowedbeforeme!Areasontorefuse…?Ihavenone.

Thus,Iobtainednewcomrades!

…thefactthatIslightlyfearedtheirstrength,we’llkeepasecret!

Chapter28–Jobs

Makingnewfriendsisgoodandall,butwilleveryonegetalong?Ihadsuchaworryforabit,butitwasquicklydispelled.TheogreswhohaveevolvedintoOni.Perhapsastheyevolveclosertotheirancestorsthey’llunlocksomespecialpowers.IknowIsaidthatitseemedliketheirpowerssurpassedArank,butastheirpowersstabilize,theycouldendupfallingdowntoA-.Evenso,theyhaveclearlybecomeverystrong.Andfurthermore,inabattle,perhapsmorethanphysicalprowess,specialabilitiesarethekeytovictory.I,myself,defeatedIfritthankstoabilities.SoImustadmit,Iamratherinterestedinwhatkindofabilitiestheirbodieshold.

Also,becauseoftheevolution,theclothingtheyworedoesn’tfitthematall.Sincetheirbodiesshrunk(thoughtheyarestillbiggerthanthegoblins)thesizesaretoobig.Theirarmorbroken,andtheirweaponschippedandcracked.Curiously,theyhaddressedlookinglikesoldiersfleeingfromabattlefield.AndsincetheirsenseofstyleIfoundcurious,Idecidedtoask

「Ay!Some400yearsago,ayoungladwanderedintoourvillage.Thevillagersweresuspicious,buttheChiefwarmlywelcomedhim.Aroundthesametime,alesserdragonwasrampagingintheforest.Afterexpressinghisgratitude,theladdefeatedthedragon.Thevillagershallowedhisname,andpasseddownhispraisetous.Webeganimitatingthelad’sattire,andthathasbeenhowwedressedeversince.」

Andthat’showitis.Theyimitatedhisequipmentandsuccessfullyrecreatedit?

「So,yourecreatedtheequipmentyourselves?」「Asyousay.Theladhadtaughtusvarioustechniques,andthroughtrialanderror,welearnedthem.Kurobee,forexample,isablacksmith,andspecializesinswords.」

Oh!Tothinkthatwealreadyhavesomeonetomakeswords…Let’squicklyintroducehimtoKaijin.Sincethey’vealreadymetyesterday,thediscussiondidn’ttaketoolong.Infact,asiftheyhadknowneachforyears,theyquicklystartedproducingnewweapons.Let’sleaveittothem.

Moreover,therewassomethingsurprising!Thisworldalsohassilkproducts.MostofclothingI’veseensofarweremadefromsomethingthatlookslikehemp.Goblins’originalclothing,forexample.Well,whetheritactuallyishempornot,Iwouldn’tknow,butitcertainlylookslikeit.ButIdigress.Aboutsilk.ThatissomethingthatcanbeharvestedfromaHellMoth–amonsterlivingneartheOgres’village.Well,tobemoreprecise,it’sfromthepupa.Ifthelarvagrowsintoahellmoth,itisapowerfulmonsterwithbewitchingpowderthatisrankedB;however,duringitstransformation,itisperfectlyharmless.Soyoulookforcocoonsandgatherthose.Shunaisanexpertatthis,andhasbeencalledthefabricprincess.Let’sintroducehertoGarmandDoldo.Garmisinchargeofeverydayclothingandunderwear.Doldofocusesmoreondyesandhighclassattire.Whilewecannotmakethoseyet,wearemakingarrangementstoproducethemeventually.Asforhuntingthecocoons–weleftthattothegoblincavalry.Andwhilethey’reatit,they’llcapturesomelarvatobreedinthevillage.AsIdon’tknowmuchaboutsilkwormcultivation,thismayjustendupsucceedingthroughtrialanderror.However,aswemayeventuallygetsomedecentclothing,thepainmaybeworthit.

Aboutmysteelthreadpile…“Ileaveittoyou!”ItoldShuna,andhandeditover.

「Gotit!I’llmakeyouproud,Rimuru-sama!」

Sheansweredwithabrightblush.Adorable.Shemustbeatthatagewheresheishappytobedependedon.Asanogreprincesssheprobablyhadn’tworkedwithclothbesidesasahobby.Soevenabitofresponsibilityseemstomakeherhappy.Thedwarfbrothersarealsohappytobeworkingtogetherwithher.Justplease,don’ttouchher…Unlikehowshelooks,thatgirl’sfrighteninglystrong!Probably,iftheytrytouchingherass,theywon’tbeseeingthesunriseagain.Thesetwoareprettyperverted,soitmakesmeworry.Well,theonlyreasonIcanworryaboutthemismylackofsexualdesire.IfIhadit,I’dhavetoworryaboutmymyselfoveranyotherperson.Causeshe’ssodamnadorable!TrulyanOni-hime(TLnote:himemeaningprincess).You’dberiskingyourlifeeachtimeyou’dflirtwithher.

「Shuna-sama.Shuna-samahasfoundemployment?PleasecalmyourworriesforIshalldevotemyselftoRimuru-sama.」

ShionpushedherselfbetweenmeandShuna.Itlookedasifsparkswereflyingbetweenthem…nah!Iwasprobablyjustseeingsomeopticalillusion.

「Ufufu.HowcouldthatbeifIshallbetheonetocareforRimuru-sama?」「Perishthethought,Hime-sama,Ishallnotletitcometothat!IpersonallyshallfullydevotemyselftoRimuru-sama!」

*Bachibachibachi*(Lightningsparks)

See?They’reperfectlycivil!Andbesides,Irequirenoone’scare.Havinglivedaloneforalongtime,Icanmanageallhouseholdduties.

So…let’stakeourleave.IswhatIwantedtodo…

「Rimuru-sama!BetweenmyselfandShion,whichwouldyoufancyatYourside?」

Theydidn’tletmerunaway.

「Ah,yeah.Shunahasherweaving,right?SoI’lldependonyouwhenyou’refree,maybe?」

Dependregardingwhat?Idon’tgetit.Shuna,onotherhand,

「Understood!!Ihavebeenfavored,right!」

Ah,yeah.That’sright.Let’sleaveitatthat.

「Right!Gladtohaveyou!」

Shesmiledandnoddedatmywords.Cute.

「Inthatcase,forthetimebeing,pleaseleaveRimuru-samatome,Hime-sama!」「(Tch.)Pleasetakecareofourlord!」「(Fufu.)Ilivetoserve!」

Somehow,theconversationgrewheavy.Atthatmoment,itfeltasifthetemperaturedroppedintheroom…butIprobablyimaginedit.Youknow,thereareplentythingsinthisworldtowhichyouabsolutelyshouldsay:Iprobablyimaginedit!Thiswasoneofthem.

.

TogetherwithShionwewalkedaroundtooverseetheconstruction.Speakingof,whataretheremainingthreeupto?Theyweretogetherwithusupuntilalittlebitago…

「Hakurou-samawasourmartialinstructor.Thestrongestswordsmanintheroyalguard,surelyhewenttoconfirmthecity’sdefenses.Benimaru-samaandSoueiseemtohavegonetochecktheirabilities.Theyarerivalsandbestfriends.Ibelievetheydesiretotesttheirnewstrength.」

Isee.Certainly,evenIunderstoodhowimportantitistocheckyourabilities.AndHakurouisaswordsman,huh.Reallyshouldhavehimteachme.Butifhe’sbusycheckingthevillage,askinghimfortrainingwillhavetowait.Kurobeeandtherestasalsobusymakingarmorandswords,sothatshouldbefine.Butreally,can’twaittogetasword.Ireallywanttoimagineanarmyofgoblinsarmedwithswords.However,inactualcombat,aspearissurelyabetteroption.

WewenttolookforBenimaruandSouei.Orrather,wewenttotheareawheretwogreataurasclashed.Aplaininthedirectionofthecave.Itwasabattlelikeyou’dseeinamanga.Theredandblueaurawouldintertwineandfightfordominance.Theearthsplitandtheheavenscracked?That’showintensetheirfightfelt.Icouldn’tbelievemyeyes.SotheseareOni…!Theirarmorcrumbledfromthestrengthoftheirblows.Notthatitcouldprotecttheminthefirstplace.Theirswordsbroke,buttheycontinuedthefightbarehanded–inwhatresembledkarate,withsettechniquesandrules.Itwasnotanamateurs’brawl.…Um…theywereogres,right?TheirmotionsweresofluidthatIwantedtoask.

「Asexpectedofyoungmaster.Soueiisalsosplendid.Inourmartialarts,barehandedskillsserveasthefoundationformasteryofthesword.」

Iswhatshesaid.Theswordisanextensionofyourbody;thus,firstmasterthebody…Thesewordswerepasseddowninthevillagefromtheyoungladwhodefeatedthedragon.Mastersofmartialartsogres–ifadventurersencounterthem…Iwonderhowmanyunfortunateadventurersmetsuchafate.Let’sofferthemaprayer.

Havingnoticedme,thetwoimmediatelystoppedtheirfight,andrushedover.Noinjuriesoneitherofthem.Ifanything,theylooklikethey’vebeenplayingcatchorsomething.

「Rimuru-sama,Ihumblythankyouforthiswonderfulpower!」「Withthispower,IshallturntheorcsintoaseaofbloodinYourname!」

Yeah.ThoughIcan’tsayI’mlookingforwardtoit.

「Promisingwords!I’llleaveittoyou.Well,westillneedthegoblinstogathermoreinformation,though.」「Hasscoutingbeengoingpoorly?」「No,thegoblinsareexcellent,buttherearemanydangersassociatedwithapproachingtooclosely.」

Right.Forthesakeofintelligence,Ihadsentoutscouts.However,assomeorcsmaybeespeciallycareful,Istrictlyorderedthescoutstoavoiddetection.Uponhearingmyexplanation,Soueisaid

「Rimuru-sama,inthatcase,Ishallgoonreconnaissance.Pleaseorderme!」

Lookslikehehasconfidenceinhisespionageskills.Perhapsnowthathehasevolved,thepowerfulOniSoueimaygatherbetterintelthanthegoblins.

Ifanything,helookscool-headed,soheprobablywon’tdoanythingrash.MaybeIcanleaveittohim.

「CanIleaveittoyou?」「Ay!Ihearandobey!」

Themomentheansweredhisfigurevanishedfromsight.Shadowmovement.Iseehehasobtainedawonderfulskill.Witheffort,Ishouldalsobeabletoacquireit.SeemslikeIhaveanotherthingIneedtopracticefor.

「Sorryforusingyourfriend…」「Itisofnoproblem.Wemustshowresultswiththepoweryoubestoweduponus!」「Isee…theorcsareyourswornenemies,afterall.Thedaywefightthemshallcome;stillyourrageuntilthen!」「Ofcourse.IfthereisanythingIcando,pleasegivemeyourcommand.Ilivetobecomeyourhandsandfeet!」「…Isthatso.Yourwordsrelievemyfears!Bytheway,didyoufindthegoblinscapable?」「ThatIdid.Youhadmentionedmakingacountryhere?Rimuru-samaasourmonarch,RigurdoasthePrimeMinister?IfearIunderstandlittleinpolitics,butpleaseleavethemilitarymatterstome.」

Whilewewereconversingthus,

「Hohoho.Youngmaster,youintendtoputmyoldbonestouse?However,ifitbeforRimuru-sama’ssake,thenIshallforcethisoldbodytowork!」

Withsuchwords,Hakurouhadjoinedtheconversation.Ihadn’tnoticedhispresenceatall.Norhisbodytemperature.Oioi….Hadhestruckmenow,Iwouldhavebeenhitoncewithoutanywarning…Thisiswhattheycallamaster…!Inabettertime,orperhapshadhebeenbornasahuman,hewouldprobablybecalledaSwordSaintorsomething.

Nameless,neverhavinggoneoutintotheworld,thisgrandpa(ogre)quietlypolishedhisswordskills.Icanseehowhe’dbethestrongestamongthem.

「Benimaru…areyoustrongerthanHakurou-san?」「Fu.Rimuru-sama,yourjokeputsmeatanawkwardposition.Thisoldtimer,rather,Hakurouisthestrongestmanintheroyalguard.Heevensurpassedmyfather.Andbesides,heisofamixedracewiththebloodoftheyounghumanwarriorflowingthroughhim.」「Ashesaid.MyancestorwasnoneotherthanthemasterswordsmanArakiByakuya!」

Japanese,huh.Seemslikefromthetimeofthekatana.

「Isee,inthatcase,youareasamurai,aren’tyou?」

Asingle,casualwordcausedit.MagicalenergyescapedfromHakurou’sbody,mixedwiththatofhissurrounding,andthenreassembled.Theamountofenergyinhisbodydidnotchange.However,itsqualitydid.Iforgotaboutit.Evolutionduetoclasschange,huh.Amiddleagedoni,butIseemtohavereinvigoratedhim…nowhelooksasifintheprimeofhislife.Well,healsolooksshockedatthechangeinhisbody.I’vedoneitagain.Tothinkthatjustasinglewordofminecouldhavesuchaneffect.Whilehisbodywasstilladjustingtotheincreaseinmagicalenergy,itseemstohavefoundthesamuraiclassasappropriatetoattuneto.Ijustprayhehadn’tbecomestrongerthanme.

「Goodforyou.Fromtodayon,youareasamurai.Samurailivebytheirloyalty.ServeBenimaruwell!」

SoIexclaimed.

「Waitasecond,Ialwayswanttobemadeintoasa-mu-ra-i.」

Benimarusaidwhilelookingatmewitheyesfullofdetermination.

Hereallyislikeastereotypicalwarrior.Buttoasknowofalltime…

「Icandothat,but,areyoufinewithnotbecomingavillagechief?」「Youspeakthosewordsatsuchalatehour!IhavechosentoservebeneathYou.Ihavepledgedmyloyaltytoyou.Again,Iofferyoumyloyalty,pleaserecognizemeasayoursamurai!」「I,too,askthisofyou!」

Shionaswell,huh.Ifithascometothis,IguessI’lljusthavetobitethebullet.

「Iunderstand.Fromnowon,youaresamurai!Liveformysake!」

IfeellikeI’vesaidthisyesterdayaswell…howembarrassing.Buttheseguys…

「「「AsYoucommand!!!WepledgeourentirelivestoYou!!!」」」

Withoutahintofembarrassment,theypledgedthemselvestome.

Bytheway,IgaveKurobeetheBlacksmithprofession,andShunatheShrineMaidenclass.ButKurobee…thoughhispowerdecreasedasaresult,heshowedmeterrifyingskillatforgingswords.Ishouldaskhimtocraftmeaswordsoon.Shunaseemedtohavebeenabletouseblackmagicsincethebeginning,butbecomingaShrineMaidenseemstohaverevealedsomesecretartstoher.Unlikemagic,it’snotsomethingshecanteachotherpeople.Thoughifsheacquiressomeseeminglyusefulskill,I’lldefinitelyasktoanalyzeit.Itdoesn’tmatterthatshecan’tteachittootherpeople.Ihave[Predator],afterall!I’llquicklylearnitthemomentshegetsit.Fufufu.Asfortheguywhoalreadyhasshadowmovement,Iknowexactlywhatwillfithim.Right!Whateverychildloves…ninja!

Ifit’shim,hecouldprobablylandacriticalhitsendingheadsflying!Actually…Hakuroucanalreadydothat…scary.Juststandingbyhiminhumanformmakesmeimaginemyheadflyingoff…howworrisome.Ihavetofurtherconsidertheirstrength.Nowthattheyhavegottenstronger,Ihavetothinkofmethodsofimprovingmyself.Ican’tkeepdependingonabilitiesforever.SeemslikeIhavemuchtolearnfortheupcomingbattle!

Then,ithappened.RevealingexactlywhatIneededtoprepare.

Chapter29–Lizardmen’sInvasion

ThereisalakeinthecenteroftheJuraForest,calledShisu.Amarshsurroundsthelake,andiscontrolledbytheLizardmen.Countlesscavessurroundtheirlands,forminganaturallabyrinththwartinganyinvasion.Protectedthusbythelanditself,theLizardmenpeacefullyruledoverthelake.However,oneday,troublingnewsreachedthem.Theorcarmywasadvancingtothelake.TheHead,uponhearingthesenews,quicklyissuedorders.

「Prepareforbattle!We’llcrushthem!!!」

TheHeadwasfullofconfidence.Hadtheyfoughtontheplainsitmighthavebeendifferent,especiallyconsideringtheLizardmen’swereoutnumbered,Butthisbattlewouldbeontheirterms.Iftheysettrapsandproceedcarefully,theyweresuretowin.Whilesendingsometoprepareforbattle,healsosentareconnaissanceteamtoinvestigatetheorcs.Knowingthesizeoftheenemyisamust.Alongwithbecomingtheleader,hisintelligenceincreased.ThecarnivorousLizardmenwouldindividuallyrankasaC+monster.ThewarriorscouldreachB-,andsomespecialindividualsamongthemcouldevenreachBrank.Thetotalnumberoftheirtroopsnumberedtenthousand–ifcallinghalfoftheirentirepopulationtoarms.However,evenso,theirabilitiesareratherhighlyranked.Iftheyproperlycooperateandfightasasingleunit,theycaneasilyrivalthearmyofasmallhumancountry.Thus,thisbattleseemscompletelytotheiradvantage.Thereisnowaywewilllose!Sothoughttheirhead.However,hisheartwasstillheavy.Orcsweretypicallyaracethatwouldn’tattackthosestrongerthan

themselves.AndbynomeansareLizardmenweaker.Hadtheyattackedthegoblins,thenitwould’vemadesomesense…butwhythem?Andthusthequestionslowlygrewintouneasethattormentedhim.Aboldpersonality,butwithenoughhumility.ThatwastheHeadoftheLizardmenwhoruledthemcarefullyformanyyears.Andthislizard’sfearsweresoontocometrue.Thatmuchwasconfirmedbutthereconnaissanceteam.

Theorcsnumbered200thousand!!!

Impossible!…sohethought.Theorcswereindeedaraceburstingwithlife,renownfortheirreproductiveabilities.However,eventhen,toprepare200thousandwarriorswasunthinkable.Howweretheyabletoprocureenoughfood?Whohadunitedthatmanyselfishandgreedyorcsunderonebanner?Withtheirpower,atmostathousandwouldfollow…Thebesttheheadcoulddowouldberaiseanarmyfortwentythousand.Aretheydividedintosectionscontrolledbysomeoutstandingindividuals?Butevenso,someonehastounitetheleaders…Itcouldn’thavebeen…Themerethoughtevokedfear.Hewantedtorejectthatthoughtwithallhismight.That’showterrifyingthatexistencewas.The…OrcLord,saidtobebornonceinmanyhundredsofyears!However,nomatterhowhardhethought,onlythatentitycouldhaveachievedsuchresults.If…iftheOrcLordhasindeedbeenborn,thentheadvantagehesodependedonwouldprobablybemeaningless.Iftheyfightnormally,defeatisalmostinevitable.Theydon’thaveenoughtroops!SotheHeadthought.Whatcouldtheydotoescapefromthispredicament?Ifhisworriesprovedmistaken,hewouldonlyjumpforjoy.However,onehastoprepareforanycircumstancebeforethedecisivebattle.

Sohedecidedtocallforreinforcements.Andthushesentoneofhissubordinates.Unfortunately,itwasthatsubordinatethatcausedthechaos.

.

Lizardmen’sRaidLeaderGabil,uponreceivingtheordersfromthehead,leftthemarshes.Takingwithhimahundredwarriors.Gabilwasnotpleased.Tohim,whohadaname,tobetakingordersfromathenamelesshead…howrevolting!Iamachosenone!ThatveryfactwastherootofGabil’sprideandconfidence.Acertaindevilhehadmetgrantedhimthisname.

「Youshowpromise!Someday,I’llcomebacktocallyoutomyside!」

Sothegreatdeviltoldhim.Heremembersthosewordsasiftheyweresaidyesterday.Mygreatmaster,thedevilGelmudohimselfbestowedthisnameuponme!SohowcouldIbesatisfiedworkingunderthoselowclasslizardmenandtheirpatheticleader?ForGelmudo-sama’ssake,Imusttakecontrolofthelizardmen…Gabilkeptthinkingthesamething:isthisfine?Ofcoursenot!Inthatcase,whatshouldhedo?TheordersfromtheHeadweretojourneytothegoblins’villageandtorequesttheirassistance.Hedidallowsomeforcefulcoercion,butstrictlyforbidanyactionthatwouldpromptaviolentresponse.Pathetic!SothoughtGabil.Weshouldjustconquerthegoblins!Weshouldhavesomefaithinourabilities,andallwillgoasplanned!Yes!Wehavenoneedfortheweakheadwhooverestimatesthepowerofsomelowlyorcs!Isn’tthisthechancefortakeoverthatIwaswaitingfor?Itis.So–howshouldIproceed?

Thoselowlygoblinscanatleastserveasmeatshields.Solet’sgatherthemupandputthoselowlifestouse.Tenthousandgoblinsshouldbeuseful.Wait…Igotabetteridea.Thisistheperfectopportunitytoshowtheworldourpower!Mypower!Forthatgoal,Ishouldproceedcarefullyhere.Carefully,withoutlettingmyguarddown,waitfortherighttiming.First,gatherforces.ThisGabilwillproceedonwardtotheGoblinvillage!Forthesakeofmygreatambition!

.

Thegoblinvillagechiefsgatheredwithpaledfaces.Comparedtobefore,theirnumberssignificantlydwindled.Itallbeganwiththecomingofthefangwolves.OrperhapsitbeganwhentheyabandonedthevillageoftheNamedwarrior.Thevillageswhichwantedtofightalongthatseeminglydespondentvillagehavenowjoinedit.Asaviorappearedinthatvillage.Abeingwithunbelievablepower.Thosegoblinscameundertheprotectionofthatbeing,gainednewpowers,andsuccessfullyreconstructedtheirvillage.Butthegoblinchiefscan’tdosomethingasshamelessasrequesttojointhemnowofalltimes.Actually,alotwanttodothat.Therearemanywhoalreadyhave.Butiftheyjointhemnowsurelytheywouldbetreatedasslave.Thatwasthethoughtthatpreventedthemfrommakingadecision.

However,timedoesn’twait.Theorcarmyhasbeguntheiradvance.Afewchiefshavedecidedtoservetheorcs.Ratherthanbetrampleddownbythem,bettertopromisehelpinadvance,andliveundertheirprotection…Withthoseintentions,theysentamessenger.

Themessengerdidnotreturn…notallofhim.Theorcenvoybroughtthemessenger ’shead,andsaidthis.

「Guhahahaha!Weshallnotpermityourcapitulation!However.Ifyouchosetobecomeourslaves,weshallatleastspareyourlives!Suchisourresponse.」

Andheleisurelyleft.Yetangerdidnotarisewithinthem.Fortheywitnessedthatoverwhelmingpower.Thatsingleorccouldhaveslaughteredeveryoneinthevillagehimself.Normally,orcsarearankDmonster.Strongerthanyouraveragegoblin,butnotsooverwhelminglystrong.Uponhearingthereport,thevillagechiefsfellintoaneverdeeperdespair.Theyshouldhavechosentoserveunderfellowbrethren,atleast…Theorcwhopromisedtosavetheirlivesalsodemandedthattheygiveupalltheirfood.“Wewon’tkillyou,butdie!”That’swhathe’ssaying.However,evenifallthegoblinsassembled,theywouldcertainlybeannihilated.Thegoblinswhocouldfightnumberedslightlylessthantenthousand.Theirbrothersfromthesavageregions,thosenotincludedintheirgatherings,couldnotbecontacted.So,theywereoutofoptions.

Atthattime,anurgentreportarrived.Lizardmenwarriorshaveenteredthevillage!Itread.Wasthisnotaglimmerofhope?SothevillagechiefswenttomeettheLizardmen’sRaidLeader;hewastheironlyhope,theythought.Moreover,hewasanamedmonster!Surelyhewouldbecometheirsavior.Andthen,theirmessiahproclaimed

「Swearyourloyaltytome!Ifyoudo,Ipromiseyouabrightfuture!」

Webelievethosewords!Thus,thevillagechiefsmadetheirdecision.

Itwasamistakeoftheweakwhohadnoonetodependon.

ThereweresomewhoinsistedonservingtheirkindratherthantheLizardmen.However,theyweregreatlyoutnumbered,sothegoblinschosetoserveGabil.Ifonlytheyknewthatthisdecisionwoulddecidetheirfate…

.

Hakurouisamasterswordsman.Strengthwithoutablemish.Althoughhe’sattheagetobesomeone’sgrandpa,hisspiritisclearlyyearsyounger.Havingtakenmyhumanform,Iamlearningtheswordfromhim.AlthoughIhaven’theldaswordsincethosekendolessonsinmiddleschool…Myperceptionspeedisathousandtimesthenorm!

Receivingablowisapieceofcake!

IalsohadatimewhenIhadthoughtthat.Sincemovingaroundinthechildformwasunpleasant,Ichangedtomyadultversion.“Comeatme,gramps!”Ithought,watchingHakurou.Thenhesomehowgrewhazy.Atthatmoment.

*Supaaaaan!*

Helandedahitsquareonthetopofmyhelmet.Ifeltnopainnortookanydamage.Thehelmetwasmadefromwood,sodidn’tofferanyprotection.Sincethepointistolearnthesemovements,it’sbesttohearwhenahitlands.But,really…Itwasn’tspeed;itwasskill.Completelyadifferenceofskill.Hisabilityisprobablyhigherthanmine.Howunexpected.

Iwasn’tplanningonbeingconceited,butthiscompletelytookmebysurprise.Sothisisaswordsman!Apoweronecaneasilyrecognize.Hadthisbeenanactualfight,wellIhaveafewtricksofmyown,butifthiswereasurpriseattack,Iwouldhavelost.Thoughevenknowingthismuch,anymistakewillcertainlyleadtomydefeat.Besides,there’snowayHakurouhasgonealloutthere.Nexttome,Benimaruhasbeenknockedout(withapleasedexpression?).IfIdidn’thavetheacceleratedperception,Isurelywouldhavebeeninthesamestate.Notsomethingtolaughaboutatall.Twoofustakenoutatthesametime.Sincethisoldmanregainedhisyouthfulspirithebecametrulydangerous.Andthen,

*Karan,karan,karan,karan!!!!*

Astrangesoundresoundedfromthesurrounding.Whatisthat?

Thatnoise,apparently,wasanalarmsystemthegoblinshadsetup.Ofcourse,they’vedonethatwithoutmyknowledge.UsingthetrapsIhadpreviouslysetasaclue.Endingourpractice,weheadovertoRigurdo.Whenheseesme,Rigurdorushesover.

「Thereistrouble,Rimuru-sama!TheLizardmen’smessangerhasarrived!!」

Soheimpatientlyreported.Bytheway,Rigurdohasprettymuchestablishedthispanickyimage,hasn’the?Thataside…Lizardmen?Sigh…Iknewthatannoyancewouldarrivesomeday,butseemslikeitsfinallyhere.

Well,let’scalmlylistenlikeIalwaysdo!

Chapter30–Envoy

GabilhadeasilyacquiredtheGoblinVillages’support.Withoutevenhavingtoshowourpower,thegoblinsquicklysurrenderedthemselvestome.Theyareapatheticrace,afterall.Shouldtheyshowanyintentiontodisobey,I’llquicklyforcethemtoobey.GabilhadcompletelyforgottentheHead’swords.Hehadeveryvillagebringoutfoodfromtheirstorehouses.And,forhaveeverywarriorassemblebeforehim.Thegoblinwarriorsnumbered7,000.Theywereclothedinbatteredleatherarmor,andarmedwithstonespears.Apoorfightingforce,butgoodenoughfornow.Thosewithoutthewilltofighthavealreadyranaway.

「Clanchiefs!Arethereanyothervillagesaroundhere?」

Thechiefsexchangedglances.Onenervouslyreplied,

「No…thoughnotexactlyavillage,butthereisacommunity…」

What’swiththat?ThewaytheyaretryingtoavoidthequestionwasgettingonGabil’snerves.Andwhenhepressedfurther,theybegantellinghimabizarrestory.Thattherewasagroupofgoblinshuntingatopoffangwolves.However,thatmakesnosense,hethought.Fangwolvesarepowerfulmonstersthatmoveinpacks.Calledtherulersoftheplains,they’vethwartedLizadmen’sadvancesmanytimes.Forthemtoservesomelowlygoblins…impossible!Andmoreover,they’veconcludedwithatrulyludicrousstatement.Thosegoblinsobeyedaslime.Aslime,thelowestofmonsters!Whatwolf,orevengoblinwouldserve

suchtrash?Hedecidedtoconfirmtheirwords.There’sprobablysometrickinvolved,hethought.Ifhehandledthiswell,hecouldgaincontroloverthefangwolves.Gabilthusdecided…forthesakeofhisgrandambition.

Thevillagewasnotwherehewastold.Thathadangeredhim,buthedecidedtobepatient.Inordertocontrolthewolves,heprobablyneededtobemorepatient.ToachievehisdesireofoustingthecurrentHead,heneededtohavemoreself-control.Thus,forthesakeofhisgoals,hedecidedtobepatient.Gabilperceivedonlyoneobstacletohisplans–alackofanarmy.Ifonlyhecouldcommandthewolves,theotherlizardmenwouldsurelyfollow.Andwiththerulersoftheplainsandtherulersofthemarshesunderonebanner,howcouldtheyeventhinktofearthelowlyorcs!Gabilsobelieved,withoutevenahintofdoubt.Byexpellingtheorcs,theywouldbecomethetruerulersoftheJuraForest.Andthus,surelyGelmudo-samawoulddistinguishthemfortheirservice.Forsuchagranddream,he’dwaitaslongasnecessary.Themainarmyhe’dalreadysentbacktotheShisulake,orderingthemtobeonstandby.Sincetheydidn’thavemuchprovision,theyhadtoactquickly.Timewasofessence.Andafterreceivingreportsthattrackswerefound,hequicklyissuedorders.Includinghimself,heselectedtenelites.MountingtheOverlizards,theyrantowardstheirobjective.Thewolveswerenothingtofear,asalthoughtheywerecertainlypowerful,theyobeyedsomelowlygoblins.Probablytheleftoversofapack.“I’lltrainthemmyself,andhavethemregaintheirformerpower!”Sohethought.Oh,buthowcouldhehaveimaginedwhatwouldlaybeforehim…!Hisheadwasfilledwiththedreamofbecomingaruleroftheforestand

servingGelmudo-sama.

.

Tomeetwiththelizardmen’senvoy,Iproceededtotheentranceofthecity.There,wehadbuiltasmallcabinthattheguardsusedtorestin.Thememberswhoattendedweremyself,Rigurdo,Benimaru,Hakurou,andShion.IhadaskedShiontopreparesometea,butthatendedinregret.Shedoesnotunderstandthebeautyofgentlerefinementandnaturalsimplicity.Shedoeseverythingwithallherstrength.Asifscreaming,strengthiseverything!Whencleaning,“Everythingmustbeerased”sheconcluded,andattemptedtodestroytheverybuilding.Fortunately,wewereabletostopherintimeanddidnotneedtorebuildit.“Isincerelybegyourforgiveness!”sheexclaimeddejectedly,butthatdoesn’tmeanwecanletourguarddownaroundher.She’lljusttrytosolveanyproblemwithherstrength.SoIworryaboutlettingheroutofmysight.However,shewasecstaticwhenIlethertakewaitonme.Ijustwishshewasn’tthathappyaboutit.AndasIhadexpected,theteawashorrible.Butwasthateventea…?Ifeelliketherewasstrangegrass,lookinglikewakame,floatinginthere.Inshort,thatwasnotsomethingyou’ddrink.Rigurdo,fearing“Whatisthis…explainyourself!”question,timidlyturnedaway.Whataguy…Benimaru,keepinghiseyesclosedasifhislifedependedonit,refusedtolookthisway.Damnyouguys…Andtheoblivioustoourtrouble,waitingforpraise–Shion.Wait!Whatistheretopraise?Havingsaidmyprayers,Imovedtotaketheteacup,

「Ah!Tea,huh!Iwasjustgettingthirsty!」

Withthosewords,Gobutawhohadjustarrivedtookthecupanddrankitall.

*Guuuuuuuuuudo!!!*

Welldone!I’mproudofyoufromthebottomofmyheart!Shion’sface,however,twistedintoasmiledevoidofanypositiveemotion…That,Gobutadidnotnotice…couldn’tnotice.Onelast*Gobu~!*escapedfromhismouthbeforeithadfilledwithfoam.And,*Bikunbikun!*hefelltothefloorconvulsing.Dodgedthatbullet.Thatcould’vebeenmerightthere.Herfacecoloredinsurprise,Shionslightlyinclinedherhead.ButIwon’tbedeceived.She’sforbiddenfromcookingfromnowon.

「Ah,Shion.Whenmakingfoodordrinkforpeople,makesuretorunitbyBenimarufirst!」

Let’smakesuresheunderstands.Benimaru,chokingonsomething,staresatmeinresponse.“Nope.She’syourproblemnow,Ileavehertoyou!”Itoldhimwithmyeyes.Andthusbothdejectedlyhangtheirheads.Ipraytherebelessvictimsfromnowon.

Sincethealarmsounded,anhourhadpassed.Andtheenvoyhadfinallyarrived.And,withasomewhat‘different’attitude,aLizardmandismountedagiantlizard.Wouldhebe…theirleader?

「Welldonewiththereception!I’llallowyoutobecomemyservants.Behonored!!!」

Ishestillasleep?Somehow…Ihavenowordstosay.Whatthehellisthisidiotsaying?

「Hmph.Haven’tyouheard?Theorcarmyisadvancingontheforest.Theonlyonewhocansaveyousmallfryisme!」

Sotheorcsareindeedcoming.IwaswaitingforSoueitoreport,sothisis

withinexpectations.Iguessitwouldmakesensetouniteagainstthem,but…

「Oh,right.I’veheardthereissomeoneamongyouwhohastamedafangwolf.I’llmakehimintoanofficer.Bringhimtome!」

Umm…Fightingtogetherisgood.Butwhatifourallyisanidiot?Anincompetentallyisworsethanahardenedfoe.Thatmuchiscommonsense…ItookaquickglanceatRigurdo.Hismouthwasgapingopen.Benimaruscratchedhishead,andlookedatmeasifsaying,“canIkillthisidiot?”Ofcourse,Ihadn’tconsideredhisoffer.Werefuse.No,notaboutShion’scooking–theiroffer!Hakurousimplycrossedhisarms,andclosedhiseyes…orishesleeping?And,Shion,whoisholdingme,isflexingherarms…Sto.!You’llcrushme!Butwhenshenoticedmypanic,sheloosenedupabit.Beingheldintheslimebodycertainlyfeelsgood,butit’sdangerous.Iletmyguarddown.Beinghuggedtodeathwouldnotbefunny.Seemslikeshecan’tcontrolherstrengthatall.Inanycase,thisisrathertroubling.Who’dhavethoughtheenvoywouldbeanidiot.

「Umm,theonewhotamedthefangwolf…orrathermadehimhisservantwouldbeme…」

Anyways,let’scontinuetheconversation.

「Haaah?Alowlyslime?Thensummonhisnow.Ifyoudo,I’llbelieveyou.」

Howcondescending!NowI’mannoyed.Thisguy…he’scompletelyignoringus,goingathisownpace.He’slookingdownonustoomuch.I’vemetmanypoliticiansandofficeworkersbefore,butneverbeforehaveImetsomeonesoblatantlyfoolish.

Forsuchamoron,itshouldbefinetoignoreanyrulesofcivility.Andbesides,thereisnobenefitinmakingsuchanally.Idecidedtochangemyapproach,

「Ranga!」「Ay!Ihearandobey.」

Rangaappearsfromwithinmyshadow.Recently,lurkingaroundintherehasbecomehishabit.

「Oh.ItseemsIhavebusinesswithyou.Ipermityoutospeak.」

Iprefertoleavethisthingstoothers.Sincethere’salwayssomeonewhocanbettermanagesuchpeople.Butreally,theonlyonewhodidn’ttreatme–whileaslime–astrashwasRigurdo,huh.Well,there’snothingIcandoaboutlosinginterestinhumoringthisguy.Andbytheway,itseemsthatforeverypersonthatrecognizesmyaurawhileIhideitthereisanidiotwhodoesn’tevenwhileIdisplayit.That’ssomethingIneedtothinkabout.Noticingmydispleasure,Ranga

「Ratherthanwithmylord,Ihavebeenorderedtospeakwiththou.I’mlistening.Speak!」

Whileintimidatingthelizardmen,heconfrontedtheenvoy.Who,inturn,losthiscomposureforasecond,butthenquicklyregainedit.

「Ri…right.SoyouaretheFangWolf?Thechiefhere?IamtheLizardmen’sraidleaderGabil.Pleasedtomakeyouracquaintance.AsIhavejuststated,Ihavereceivedaname.Soratherthanthatslime,howaboutservingme?」

Hebrazenlyreplied.Letmehithim!No,no,havetoactlikethematuremonsterhere.Let’sforgivehim.Iamanadult.Calmyourself.Butmorethanmyself,IwantShiontorelax.Wait,anymorepowerand

I’ll..!Noticingmysquirming,Shionapologizedbypattingme.Seriously,calmdown.However,isn’thetooarrogantforasimplelizard…Rangatooisbeggingtolethimloose.

「Guruu.Lowlylizard…IamnolongeraFangWolf.Foryoutonotrecognizethatmuch,insignificantbeing…」

Rangagrittedhisteethandadangerouscrimsonlightfilledhiseyes.Heisstillinghisanger.Ranga-san…don’toverdoit.Willthelizardsurvive?Werehenotamessenger,I’dlaughwatchinghimtorntopiecesforhisstupidity,but…

「Verywell!I’llshowyoumypower!Whowillbemyopponent?」

Oioi…that’sabadjoke.Pleasereadthemood,lizard.You’retheweakestonehere.Atmost,hemightbestrongerthanRigurdo…Imean,evenRigurdopossessesBrankstrength.BeingtheGoblinking,heisstrongestwarrioramongthegoblins.TheaverageforahobgoblinisC+,buthe’sworldsabovethat.Andthat’snotcountinghisarmaments.Sure,thelizardisanamedmonsterandmaybestrongamongthem,buthepalesincomparisontoanyonehere.Wherethehellisthisself-confidencecomingfrom?Weexchangedglances.Whowillfighthim…?

「Kukuku,fine.Inthatcase,fightwithoneofmystormwolves,shouldyoudefeathim,Iwilllisten.」

Rangacontinuedtheconversation.Thankgoodness.Wecouldn’tagreeonwho’dfighthim.Everyonewantedtobeattheguysenseless,andhadadangerousglowintheireyes.Butsomehow,seeingthemactlikethat,mademerelax.

Andwheneversomeonehadanoutburstofanger,therestofusseemedtocalmdown.Forguyslikethis,onlyIseemtobeabletokeepmycoolatalltimes…butwhatever.

「Isthatfine?Iamwillingtofaceyou,youknow?Well,ifyoufeellikemakingexcuseswhenyoulose,youarefreetosendoutyoursubordinate!」

Uoooooooooo!!!Rangahowled.Damnit!Justwhentheangerhadsubsided,thelizardhadtoprovokeusagain.

Rangacalmlysummonsawolf.Ididn’tknowhehadlearnedsuchasummoningskill.Moreover,ablackwolfappearingthus,Imustadmit,looksprettydamncool.

「Garuu.Shutthislizardup!」「Gau!(Ay!)」

Andthen,tothelizard,

「Ifyouwishtoborrowmystrength,firstshowyourown.Now,begin!」

Rangashouted.Atthesoundofhisvoice,thebattlebegan.Thelizard,no,Gabilreadiedatrident,andcarefullyobservedthestormwolf’smovements.Thewolf,ontheotherhand,stoodcomposed.*Ton!*Hekickedtheground,coveringthedistancetohisopponentinasingleleap.SurpassingGabil’sperceptionability,anoverwhelmingspeed.Completelyunabletoreact,Gabilneverknewwhathithim.Inasplitsecond,hereceivedablowtothechest.Thewolfthencircledbehindhim,andheldhimbytheneck–withhismouth,ofcourse–inmidair.HethrewGabilintotheaironce,andthensmashedhimtotheground.

Thatallhadhappenedintheblinkofaneye.NotRanga,butsomeaveragestormwolfhadcompletelyoverwhelmedtheBrankingLizardmen’sraidleaderGabil.IknewRangahadbeengrowingstrongerrecently,buttothinkthattheotherwolveshavedevelopedthisfar…Asaresultoftheattack,Gabil’sscalearmorfellapart,andthelizardhimselfhadfainted.Gabil’ssubordinates,whowerebusyencouraginghimasecondago,nowstoodtroubled.Theycouldnotunderstandwhathadhappenedatall.

「Oi.Thewinnerhasbeendecided.TheofferIrefuse.Ifyoucomeaskingforhelptofightagainsttheorcs,Imayconsiderit.Today,however,takethatawayandleave」

Uponhearingmywords,theLizardmenfinallybeganleaving.Andthus,thetroublesomeLizardmen’senvoyhadfinallydeparted.

However…theorcsarestillgoingtoinvade,andwedonothaveasolidplanyet.Moreover,weseemtohavemetaheadache-inducing,unreliable“allies”knownastheLizardmen.

ThemoreIthoughtaboutthesethings,thedeeperintomelancholyIfell.

Chapter31–EmergencyMeeting

Now,afterthemoronhadleft,thisiswhatwedid.Rightaboutthen,Soueihadreturnedfromhisscoutingmission.Justintime.Gatheringeveryone,Idecidedtoholdaconference.FromtheHobgoblins:Rigurdo,Rigur,Rugurdo,Regurdo,Rogurdo,andRirina.Kaijinrepresentingthedwarfs.Benimaru,Hakurou,Shion,andSoueirepresentingtheOni.And,myself.Alltogether,12“people”.Thecurrentcoremembers.KaijinalsospeakingonbehalftheConstructionandManufacturingdepartments.DepartmentofProductionissupervisedbyRirina.DepartmentofGovernancehasRigurdoatthetop,andthreechiefsmakingupthejudicial,legislative,andexecutivebranches.However,thisparticulardepartmentisnotcompletelyestablishedyet…Butthat’saproblemforthefuture.DepartmentofWarbyBenimaruandHakurou.DepartmentofIntelligencebySouei.DepartmentofDefensebyRigur.

Atpresent,wehaveonlysixdepartmentsactiveinourcity.Well,thoughIsay“active”,theyaresoinnameonly;however,it’sprobablyagoodideatoslowlydevelopthem.Currently,everyoneislivingwithlittleworryaboutfood.Thedepartmentofdefenseisalsoregulatinghunting,sothatsectorshouldbefine.IfIthinkaboutit,Rigurishandlingthingswell.He’soneofthoseunsungheroes,isn’the.Frankly,aboutthedepartmentofwar,Benimaruknowsnothingexceptnumbersofsoldierswhenitcomestotheartofwar.Soit’sanappointmentinnameonly.ItwassomethingthatIhadtodo.Ririnashowspromise.Afterobtainingapotato-likeplant,shesucceededinitscultivation.

Withshortharvestcycles,andhighnutritionalvalue,itwillimproveourfoodsupply.Inthefuture,whenwetradewiththehumans,weshouldobtainmanydifferentvegetableseeds.TheconstructionandmanufacturingdepartmentsarecompletelylefttoKaijin.Henormallyspecializesinsmithing,butafterKurobeejoined,heendedupinamanagerialposition.SeemslikeKaijinhasbeencompletelyseparatedfromhisfieldofexpertise.However,hehadentrusteditalltoKurobee.AccordingtoKaijin,theyarestillbusywithestablishingthesmithy,butoncethingscalmdown,he’lldevotehimselffullytoproduction.That’showitis.Heprobablywantstocomebacksoon.Shionisinchargeofmycare?Ikindofwanttorethinkthatpost,butrightnow,nomatterwhereweputher,it’llbebadformyheart.Fornow,let’swaitandsee.And,aboutSouei.He’sstrange.IknowIappointedhimasaninja…buthe’stakingittooseriously.Hecanmakeclonesappearfromanydirection.Whiletheirabilitiesdrop,theyhavenomovementrestrictions.Furthermore,hecandeploysixcloneswithoutanyrestrictions.AndevenifIsaytheirabilitiesdecrease,that’sonlyabouttheirvigor(HP)andmagicalenergy(MP)–itbecomes1/10thoforiginal.Theirmovementabilitiesandattackpowerarecompletelyunchanged.Anabilitysuperiortomine.Actually,alltheOniarestrange.Souei,asIhadjustdescribed.ShunahadspecializedinmyAnalysisAbility,andawakenedtotheuniqueskill[Analytic].Ourabilitiesarebasicallyidentical,withtheexceptionthatshedoesn’tneedtoeatthetarget.Shecananalyzewitheyesightalone.Kurobeehadawakenedtotheuniqueskill[Researcher].Thisskillalsobearsgreatsemblancetomyown.Assomeonewhospecializesinproduction,itisaveryusefulskill.Hakurouhashadhisperceptionabilityacceleratedbyaathousandtimes.

SoIbasicallycan’tseehimlosinginabattle.Shion,asyou’dexpect,obtained[HerculeanStrengthEX]and[PhysicalStrengthEX].Moreover,shealsoawakenedtoaspecialskill[BattleCraze]thatsheshouldabsolutelyneveruse.Lastup,Benimaru.Thisbastardlearned[BlackLightning]ofallthings.Seriously!OfallthedangerousskillsIdidnotwantcirculating!IthinkI’llneedtocomeupwithsomecountermeasures.Anyhow,theyseemtohaveinheritedmyskillsandcompletedtheirevolution.

Nowthen,let’sstarttheconference.

「First,let’shearthereport.」

Uponmyorder,Soueibeganconveyingthestateofaffairs.Everyonesilentlylistened.Hesentoutsixclonestogatherintel

1.GoblinVillages2.Stateofthemarshes3.StateoftheOrcarmy

Heseemstohavesenttwoclonestoeachlocation.

First,theGoblinvillageshavedecidedtojointheLizardmen’sraidleaderGabilashiswarriors.Probablythatlizardfromsometimeago.Tohavedecidedtoservethatmoron,whatweirdtastestheyhave.Thosethatdecidedagainstjoininghim,haveranawayinvariousdirection.Therewerealsoafewthatraninthedirectionofhumancountries,butthey’llprobablyendupassubjugationtargets.Aslongasgoblinsestablishtheircommunitiesintheforest,thehumanswouldstayaway,butifyouinvadetheirterritory,theywouldsurelybaretheirfangs.AndwhileIdon’tknowthehumans’strength,theywillsurelyorderasubjugationquickly.Whentheydo,thegoblinscouldonlycontinuelivinginhiding.Their

futurelooksgrim.Whileonthistopic,IalsolistenedtothereportaboutGabil.Somehow,thegoblinshehadgatherednumbered7,000warriors.Adecentarmy.Aswehadgathered,theyonceappealedtotheorcs,butwererejected.Atleasttheycanusetheirheadabit.However,theywerealsoforcedtotakealongwiththemalltheirfood,soeveniftheysurviveagainsttheorcs,therewillsurelybepeopledyingafterwards.Butwewon’tbedoinganythingaboutthat.Thatwastheunanimousdecisionoftheirclanchiefswhodecidedthatsuchafatewasbetterthanbeingmurderedbytheorcs.Andbesides,wearenotanNPO.Wehaveonlybegunestablishingthiscity,butabandoningitwouldnotbefun.Ifweallowtheorcstoinvadethisfar,theforestecosystemwouldprobablycollapse.Whichiswhywemuststopthematthemarshes.

Nowaboutthemarshes.Here,theLizardmen’sHeadhadbegunassemblingtroops,andpreparedanarmyoftenthousand.Livingoffthelake’sfish,theyhaveanabundanceoffood.Furthermore,theyarebarricadingthemselvesintheirnaturallabyrinthinpreparationofanyattack.Butaretheorcsanenemythattheyshouldsofear?

Solet’shearabouttheorcs.Theorcarmy,numbering200,000.

「Huh?200,000?!!!」

Ithoughtlesslyletoutmyvoice.Theorcswhoattackedtheogresnumberedonlytenthousand…

「Sotheoneswhoattackedourvillagewasbutasingledivision?」「Right.Afterinvestigating,thatmuchbecameclear.Theirarmyconsistsof200,000warriors!Comingfromthesouth,theytookarelativelywide

routeandareaimingforthemarshes.」

Hmm.Idon’treallyknowthegeographyyet.

「Souei,doyouhaveamaporsomething?」「Whatwouldamapbe?」「Eh?」「「「・・・???」」」

Whatdidhesay?Fortheretobesofewpeoplewhoknowaboutmaps…Kaijinhadknown.Heknewofthem,butnoneincirculation.Seemslikethisworldistreatingmapsasamilitarysecret.Hakurou’sgrandfatherhaddrawnthemapofthevillage’ssurroundingonablockofwood.Havingnopaperhurts.Anyways,holdingawoodblock,we’llcarvethemapofourcity’svicinity.Usingthemapinmyhead,andRigur ’sknowledge,wehaveHakurourecordtheinformation.Thisway,usingallourknowledge,wecreatedahalf-waydecentmap.Beforeevengettingtothemainissueoftheconference,wehadwastedtwohoursonmapcreation.Andherewetookashortbreak.Idon’tneedit,butthegoblinsprobablydo.

Shunabroughtinatrayoffood.Followingher,agroupofgirlsfollowedwithmoretrays.Ichangedintomychildform.Mayberestisunnecessary,butmealsareimportant.SinceIhavethishumanform,Imightaswelleatwhiletasting.…,aslongasit’snotmadebyShion,thatis.Sincegettingusedtohumantransformation,Imanagedtotransformalreadywearingclothing.Seemslikepracticereallydoeswonders.Afeastwaslaidbeforeme.Andforsomereason,Shunahadsatrightbyme.Justincase,Ihavetocheck…Theappearanceisnormal,butwhatabouttheinside?Clearlylackingspices,seemslikeabunchofingredientswerestir-friedtogether…

Whocookedthis?Ifeltasharpglancefrommyside.Gulp.Somehow,I’mgettingverynervous.

「Let’seat!」

UntilIhadsaidit,nobodymoved.SeemslikeifIdon’teatfirst,nobodywillbegin.Ihadbeenhopingthatsomeonewouldfinallyeat,butseemslikeIneedtosteelmyself.It’sfine.Shiondidnotmakethis!However,Ikindofregretchangingintoaformthathasasenseoftaste.Withthosethought,Ireachedforthefood.Butnotwithchopsticks,sinceweonlyhadspoons.Bringingsomesouptomymouth,Itakeasip…itwasdelicious.

「Delicious!!!」

ThemomentIsaidso,everyonemoved.Buthey…youguys,howcanyoujustwatchyourlorddrinkpoison!Thoughit’snotpoisonperse…AndIalsohavearesistancetomostpoisons…However,Iwanttobeabitmoreconsiderate.Chancesare,Shunahadpulledsomestringsaheadoftime…Uponhearingmypraise,Shuna’sfacelitupinafullsmile.Grabbingmyplate,sheinsistedtofeedme.Seemingabithappy,andabitembarrassed.ThoughI’manadult,I’machildatheart.Appearancethatofalittlegirl.EvenifIletherfeedme,thereshouldn’tbeanyproblems.*Fufun*AvictorylaughescapedfromShunawhilesheglancedatShion.TearsseemtohavestartedtoforminShion’seyes,butherexpressionquicklyturnedtothatofsurpriseaftershehadtastedthedish.Right,Shuna.Ifyoupolishyourcookingskillsabitmore,they’llreallyshine.You’dneverconsiderputtingstrangethingsintopeoplefood!Evenwithoutseasoning,tobeabletobringoutthetasteoftheingredientsthiswell.ButwasBenimaruatestsubjectforthemanydishesbeforethis?ThatIcouldnothaveknownabout.Well,Shunawasprobablyacookingprodigy.Shecouldprobablyperfect

thetasteusingher[Analytic]skill.Thatisn’tawasteofability,that’stheproperwaytouseit.It’sbeenalongtimesinceIlastenjoyedamealthismuch.

Withtheendofthemealcomestheendofourbreak.Wehaveaprettygoodtime.Butnowweneedtogetdowntobusiness.

「Theobjectthatclearlyexplainsthenearbygeographyiscalledamap.Lookingatthismap,let’scontinuethereport.」

Havingsaidso,everyonecrowdedaroundthemap.Well,Icanalsotransmittheimagetoeveryoneusing[TelepathicCommunication].Soueimarkedtheorcsarmywithawoodenchip.Iwasinthemiddleofteachinggoblinsbasicarithmetic,soIdon’tknowifthey’llunderstandallofthis.Butthere’snothingwecandoaboutthat,weneedtocontinuethediscussion.Theorcs’invasionroute.TherearethreeroutesleadingtothecenteroftheJuraforestthattheorcscoulduse.OnerunsfromtheCanaatMountainrange.TheotheralongAmeldriver.Theseconnectnorthforestandsouthforest.Butthisisnotastraightpath,astheriverrunseastalongtheway.TheycouldprobablyhavethesoldierscrossattheplacewhereAmeldrivermeetstheEasternEmpire’sriver.However,thereisnoroutethatcouldsupportalargearmyfromtheorcs’currentposition.Therefore,theyprobablydecidedtoinvadethemarshfromthewest.However,theforestwillhampertheirattemptstomovebeyondtheriver.AccordingtoHakurou,thereisacommunityofTreantsinthisforest,soavoidingthemwouldleavetheorcs’armylessexhausted.ThewesternroutehadtheOgre’svillage,butitsfateiscommonknowledgenow.Theywereahighclassrace,buttoofewinnumber.Thus,theorcsdecidedtoavoidtheroutewiththeTreants,whoweresimilarlyhighclassedbut

many.And,aftereliminatingtheogres,theyopenedtheinvasionroutetothemarshesandwerenowplanningtheirformation.

「However,with200,000soldiers,howaretheykeepingthemfed?Whataretheydoingaboutfood?」

Tomyquestion,

「Ilookedintoit.Agroupofcommonfootsoldiersescortscaravansoffood.However,thereisclearlynotenough…」

Withsomehesitation,hequicklyadded

「Thisisbutmyopinion,butIthinkthey’vehaddeathsfromstarvationandresortedtocannibalismofthedead…」

Whatanunpleasantthinghehadsaid.Uee…wereorcssucharace?

「Nomatterhowomni…」「Theydoindeedeatanything,butisn’tthismuchexpected?」

Tothatquestion,

「No,Iamnotcertainaboutthis.However,therearenobodiesaftertheyleave.Andourvillagehasalsobeenwipedclean,withoutanythingremaining.Thereisaskillthatcomestomind,but…」

Havingrealizedthetruth,Soueisaid.

「Coulditbe…OrcLord?」

WithoutwaitingforSouei’sresponse,Benimaruconcluded.

「Exactly.Thisisnotcertain,butthere’sagoodchancetheOrcLordhadappeared.Attheveryleast,ahighclassOrcKnightisleadingthem.

Probablythatthingthathadattackedourvillage.」

Tosummarizetheconversation,theOrcLordisauniquemonsterthatholdpowerfulrulingabilitiesovertheorcs.Appearsonceeveryfewhundredyears.Causingviolenceacrosstheworld,ahorriblemonster.Andheseemstopossesstheuniqueskill[StarvingOnes].Thisskill,bestoweduponhissubordinatesaswell,allowsthemtoeatanythingandeverythinginsight.Atrulyterribleskills.Inthefirstplace,notenoughtimehadpassedsincethelastone…Butnow,he’salreadygrownandpreparedanarmy.Ifhelackssomeintelligence,thenthere’sahighchancethatthedemonlordhadforcefullyacceleratedhisgrowth.Inanycase,theorclordisatroublingexistence.Suchanannoyingguyshould’vebeenputdownlongago…ButIwillnotcomplain.Whilekeepingtheexistenceoftheorclordinmind,wecontinuetheconference.

Arrangingwoodenpiecesonthemapinplaceofpawns,wemarktheLizardmenarmyof10.000.Behindthem,Gabil’sarmyof7,000goblins.Havingdoneso,weclearlyseewhatisabnormalabouttheorcarmy…Butmoreimportantly.

「Thisway,thatstupidlizard’sheadquarterswouldfallfromasingleattack,wouldn’tit?」

Right.Thelizardmen’senvoycalledGabil.Thatguyisplanningonattackingthelizardmen’sfortresswhiletheyarepreoccupiedfightingwiththeorcs.Theexhaustedandfewlizardmentherewouldsurelyfallquickly.Thatishowwonderfullythegoblinsarepositioned.However,thereisnoreasontoattackhisownlizard.Itcouldbejustsuspicionbornoutofthestrangeplacehehadhaltedhistroops.However,

「Hmm.Sothat’showitis.」

Hakurounodded.Astrangefireburnedinhiseyes.However,eveniftheybringdowntheheadquartersthen,theywouldbetrampleddownbytheorcs.Iamthinkingtoomuch,aren’tI.

「I’mjustthinkingtoomuch.Sorry,I’manamateurafterall.」

Ihadplannedtocontinuethediscussionafterthosewords,but…

「No,whatyousaidislikely.Icanthinkofnootherreasontoassumethatposition.」「Thatguyisanidiotafterall.He’sprobablyintendingtoreplacethecurrenthead.」

SuchwastheopinionfrombothmembersoftheDepartmentofWar.Imean,Iknowhe’sanidiot…butwashethatmuchofanidiot?

「However,inthiscase,stoppingthatguyisprobablythebestidea.」

Thatwastheconclusionwehadreached.Nowthen,howshouldwestopGabil?

「IwouldwanttoestablishaproperalliancewiththeLizardmen.Wearefewinnumbers.However,Ifeelweshouldn’tabandonthem.」

Hakurousoadded,andeveryoneaccepted.Ialsoagreed.

「But,forminganallianceisgoodandall,butwe’refartoooutnumberedhere.Won’twejustbeusedintheend?」

Itriedexpressingmyworries.TheOniexchangedglances.

「Rimuru-sama,calmyourfears!Eachoneofusiscapableofdecimatingtenthousandfoes,thismuchisofnoconcern!」

Hakurouansweredastheirrepresentative.“Theyreadtoomuchmanga…nowaytheycantakeontenthousandeach!”IswhatIthought,but

「Rimuru-sama,Iplantogoannegotiate.TohaveadiscussiondirectlywiththeLizardmen’shead.Wouldyoupermitme?」

Soueihadsoasked,andwaitedformyresponse.Howconfident!ShouldItryleavingittohim?Usingthemap,wehadmadesomepredictions.Thatallowedussometemporarymentalrespite.IdecidedtosendoutSouei.

「Alright!Inthatcase,IorderyoutotalkwiththeLizardmen’sHead.Demandequaltreatment!」

Withthosewords,IsentoutSouei.

「Ay!Ilivetoserve!」

Withthatresponse,heimmediatelydisappearedintotheshadows.He’squickonhisfeet.Seemstohaveleftalready.

「Therest,withthesethingsinmind,continuepreparations!」

Thosewordsendedtheconference.Insomesense,wehavedecidednextcourseofaction.Ifwecanformanalliancethatwouldbegreat,andifwecan’t,we’llcrossthatbridgethen.There’snousethinkingaboutthosethings.Rather,wemustdowhatcannowbedone.

Andthuswecontinuedourpreparationswhilewaitingforthenextpiecetomoveontheboard.Butanorclord,huh.Ifhetrulyhadappeared,that’llprobablybeanannoyingfight.Thinkingaboutthefuturemademefallslightlyintomelancholy.

Chapter32–StageCurtainRises

Levelingthegroundintheirwake,theorcarmyadvancedintotheforest.

Tramplethem!Tramplethem!Tramplethem!TrampleThem!

Whileliftingtheirvoices,withaglowintheireyes,theorcarmyadvancedintotheforest.Therewasnotasinglenormalthoughtintheirminds.Everythingtheireyesfelluponwasfood.Theyforeverhungered,andonlythedesiretoeatpushedthemforward.

Collapse.

Again,acomradehadfallen.Buttheywereoverjoyed.Morefood!Theythought.Normally,hewastheirdearcomrade.Now,hewasbutalumpoffleshtoeat.Hewasstillbreathing,buttothemitmeantthemeatwasfresh.Thosefortunatetobewalkingcloseimmediatelybegandisassemblingthecorpse.Theliverwasreservedforthesquadleader,buttherestwenttohewhograbbeditfirst.

*Guchaguchaguchagucha*

Adisgustingsoundreverberatedthroughtheland.Thealwayshunger.And,theirstrengthrisesthehungriertheyare.Thatistheeffectoftheuniqueskill[StarvingOnes].Asfarastheyeattheirfallencomrades,aslongastheirhungerremainsunfulfilled,theirstrengthwillcontinuetorise.Theyarethe200,000orcarmy.UnderthecontroloftheOrcLord,anarmythatmarchesthroughthehellofstarvation.Nevertoseesalvation.

Justmarchingforwardtosatisfytheirhunger.Neverbeingabletosatisfyit…Anendlesshell.

BeforethemlaytheOgrevillage.TheyareonlyrankDmonsters.Normally,theycouldonlyfeelfeartowardstherankBogres;directingkillingintentatthemwouldhavebeenunthinkable.However…

Tramplethem!Tramplethem!Tramplethem!Tramplethem!

Theirfeetwouldnotstop.Rather,theyrantowardsthefood.Towardstherampagingogres,theirrelentlessstrength!Howmanycomradesweretorntopieces,howmanycutdown…However!Thatmatternottotheorcswhosawthefallenasmerelymorefood.Theywereoverjoyed.Perhapstheycouldsatisfytheirhunger,ifabit.Asingleogrehadfallen.Immediately,theorcscrowdedthecorpseandbegandismemberingit.Drinkingbloodanddevouringflesh.Oh…butthatdidnotsatisfytheirhunger.But,theorcsbodieshadchanged–theyabsorbedtheogres’strength.Seeingtheirfriendsgulpeddownbylowlyorcs,theogresletoutascreamofagony.Lamentingtheweaknessoftheiroverwhelmingpower…Gradually,thosefilledwithpowerappearedfromwithintheorcs.

Devourourcomrades,andmaketheirpowersours!Devourourenemies,andmaketheirpowersours!

Andagaintheyeat.Withoutanyfearofdeath.Someday,theirpowerwillgrowandsurpassthatoftheirking.Theirking.Theultimateorc,theOrcLord!

Theirmarchcontinues.Andnowagainthepreyhasappearedbeforethem.

.

TheLizardmen’sheadpaleduponhearingthereport.Hisgreatestfearshadcometrue.Accordingtothereport,thepowerfulOgrevillagehaddisappearedafterasingleday.Theyweredevouredbytheorcs.Therewasnomoreroomforsuspicion.TheOrcLordhadappeared.Ifbynumbersalone,200,000D-rankorcsagainst10,000C+rankLizardmen;thatcouldhavebeenanunexpectedlyevenfight.However,nowthattheorclordhadappeared,theywerenolongerDrankmonsters.Itwouldbebesttoexpecttheirabilitiestohaverisenby1-2levels.Atleast,theywouldbeCrank.Worstcasescenario,theywouldhavethepowerofC+.Bynumbersalone,relentlessassaultonourexhaustedpositionwouldproveunbearable,andevenasinglelosscouldprovedecisive.Moreover,duetothepresenceoftheorclord,hecouldnohopefortheirfoodtorunout.Eveniftheirnumbersdwindle,theirstrengthwouldinsteadincrease.Furthermore,iftherewasanyhopeofreinforcementstheycouldbarricadethemselvesin…butasthingsstandthatwouldendinahungrydeath.Theyhavenochoicebuttoattack.Theheadbitterlyconcludes.

Gabil,whohesenttogainthecooperationofthegoblins,hasyettoreport.However,iftheywastetoomuchtimethere,theirenemywillonlygrowstronger.Inworstcasescenario,hemightjusthavetoleadthetroopsintobattlebeforeGabil’sreturn…Suddenly,hefeltanaurastrongerthanhehadeverfeltbeforeapproaching.

Theheaddecidednottoshowanyresistancetothisbeing.Callingforasubordinate,heorderedthattheguestbeguidedin.Thelizardmenhadpreviouslycollapsedsomeoftheroutesoftheirnaturallabyrinth,andhavingthoseclearedbysomeonewouldbeunpleasant.Thebeingwhoapproachedthemcertainlyhadthatmuchpower.Now,allhehadtodowaswait.Ledbyhissubordinate,asingledemonhadappeared.Darkishskin,blue-blackhair,blueeyes,andaheightof190cm.Foramonster,hehadaratherslimbuild.However,hispresenceradiatedcomposureandunblemishedstrength.Abeingfromwhomhefeltoverwhelmingpower.TheHeadkeptahundredwarriorsstationedaroundhim.Withasingleword,hecouldcommandthemalltoarms…however,thatwouldsurelymeantheirdeaths.Uponseeingthisdemon,theHeadfeltthatveryfact.

「Pardonus,wearerathertroubledatthemoment,andcannotprovideanadequatewelcome.WhatbusinesswouldYouhavewithustoday?」

Theyounglizardmenwarriorsgotangryatthosewords.“Whymustwegrovelbeforethissuspiciouscharacter”Theythought.Theheadwouldnormallypraisesuchthoughts,butnowitwouldonlybringmisfortune.Iftheyspoiledhismood,hecould,withoutadoubt,massacrethemall.Theyoungoneshavetoolittleexperiencewiththephenomenal.Theydonothavetheabilitytojudgeother ’spower.However,contrarytohisfears,

「Noseriousbusiness.Calmyourselves.My“name”isSouei.Mymasterwishestoformaalliancewithyou.Ihavebeensentforthatpurpose.Thinkofmeasamessenger.Rejoice.Mylordhasrefusedtoabandonyou.Moreover,heofferstobecomeyourallies.Whatbeyourresponse?」

Completelyincontrasttohisfirststatement,suchaspeechhedelivered.Themeaningofthewordsaside…

Thatis,themessagewasbrief.However,heseemstodemandanimmediatedecision.But…theheadneededtothink.Souei.Sohecalledhimself,thisdemon.Anamedmonsterwithoverwhelmingpower.Andsuchamonsterservessomeone.Iftheysidewithsuchabeing,thanperhapseventheOrcLordcouldbedefeated?Moreover,theyareofferinganallianceandnotservitude.Thatwouldmeanthatthelizardmenwouldbetreatedasequals.Whatchoicedidhehavebuttoaccept?Sohethought.Butatthatmoment,

「Head!Whydoyoupermithimtorunhismouththus?Wherehehailsfromwedon’tknow,buttheproudlizardmenshouldn’tflattersuchapompousfool!」「Exactly!Gabil-samashouldsoonreturn,andthenwealonecouldhandlethelowlyorcs!」「Right.Theirmasterprobablyfearstheorcsandcametoclingontous.Doesn’thesimplywantustosavehim?Howcharming!」

TheoneswhososhoutedwereGabil’ssubordinates.Caughtwithhismouthopen,theHead’sfacetwistedinhorroranddismay.Evenifyouidiotscan’tunderstandthepowerofthemaninfrontofyou,togoandrejectsomeone’sofferofanalliance…Yes,hisspeechwasslightlyimpolite.However,itisunbecomingforsomefootsoldierstoshowdisrespecttoamessenger.Moreover,forsomeoneofhigherstatustohimselfjourneytousoffsetsanypossibledisrespect…Hehadthoughthesentagroupwithanoutgoingpersonalitytothenegotiations,butthatseemstohavebackfired.Haveweangeredhim?Thinkingso,helookedatSouei.Hehadnotavertedhissight,butlookedstraightatthehead.Heseemedtohavenointentionofhumoringthenoisyidiots.Theheadfeltrelief.Hecouldnotletagroupofignorantpeopletoruintheconversation.

「Silence!」

Withasingleword,heshutthatgroupup.Hethensentasignaltohisbodyguards,

「Iwilldecidewhatwedo.Youhavenorighttospeakhere!Reflectonyourfoolishnesstonight!!!」

Gabil’ssubordinateshehadsenttoprison.Theyweremakingnoiseontheirwayout,buthehadnotimetodealwiththem.And,tothemessenger,

「Iapologizefortheirrudeness.Iintendtoacceptthealliance.However,Ifearwemusthurry.Normally,wewouldselectaneutralzonetodiscussthedetails,butthismaybecurrentlyimpossible.CouldIaskyoutocomehere,instead?」

Hidinghisinnernervousness,theheadaskedthatquestion.Torequestsomeoneofsuchclearsuperioritytoappearbeforethem!Themessengerhadeveryrighttobeangry.However,themessenger,withnoconcernforthehead’sworries,replied

「Understood.Tohavereceivedsuchaquickdecision,mymasterwillbeglad.Wearepleasedtofightalongwithyou.Nowthen,afterwefinishourpreparationsweshalljoinupwithyou.Then,youshallbeabletohaveanaudiencewithourlord.Actasyouseefit!」

Asifcompletelynatural,soSoueireplied.Appearingasifhehadneverevenconsideredthepossibilityofbeingrejected.“HadIrefused,wouldhesimplydestroythelizardmen?”ThisthoughtfilledtheHead’smind.Hewascertainlynotoverthinkingit.Thedemonbeforehimhadenoughpowertodoso…

「Weintendtojoinyouinatmost5days.Untilthen,doyourbesttosurvive.And,bynomeansshouldyouattempttoattackalone!」

Leavingthesewords,thedemoninfrontofhimdisappeared.Withoutasound,asifapassingshadow.5days…Iftheyjustneededtowaitthatlong,theycouldcertainlymanage.Theorcsmaygrowstronger,buttheycouldnowhopeforreinforcement.Howlargethereinforcementwouldbe,hedidn’tknow;however,evenifSoueiweretoshowupalone,hecouldpossiblyturnthetideofbattle.Clingingtothisonehopeandpreservingone’sstrengthissurelythebestdecisionhere.Havingmadehisdecision,theHeaddeclared

「HoldtheCastle!Untilreinforcementsarrive,holditnomatterwhatittakes!」

And,waitingforthedecisivebattle,thelizardmenhidinthelabyrinth.

.

Gabilawoke.Then,heneededsometimetorememberwhathadhappened.And,filledwithindignation,hejumpedtohisfeet.

「Youhavecometo,mylord!」

Aworriedsubordinatehadsaid.

「Icausedyousomeworry.Seemsliketheysetatrapaheadoftime…」「Atrap,yousay?」「Yeah.Thosefangwolves,usedaningenioustrick…Theysenttheirmasterundertheguiseofacommonwolf!Invitingmetolowermyguard,suchdirtytrick.Rulersoftheplainstheycalledthem,butthey’rejustbeastswhoemploycowardlyandcheaptricks!Ihadintendedtobattlewiththemfairly,butseemslikeIwasmistakenaboutthem!」「I,Isee…soitwaslikethat.Wereitnotfortheirtrick,Gabil-samawouldcertainlybevictorious!」「Isthathowitwas!Thosedastardlywolves!!!Toresorttosuchdirtytrick!」

Gabilnoddedtosuchareaction.Itwasastheysaid.Therecouldhavebeennootherreasonforhisdefeat.However,fortheproudandpowerfulracetoemploysuchdirtytactics…Gabilwasdisappointedinthewolves.

「However,itisalsotruethatwewouldhavenousetotakesuchcowardlycreaturesasourcomrades!Withthatinmind,thismightactuallyhavebeenforthebest.」「Asyousay!」「Right,right!」

Theirgrouplaughedloudly.

「Bytheway,thisisjustmypersonalthought,butIfinditstrangehowGabil-samahasalwaysstayedastheraidleader.」「What?」「No,Idon’tmeanthatheisincapable.Rather,theopposite!IfinditstrangethatwekeepfollowingthatdecrepitHead…」「Continue」「Yes.IthinkthattheoldheadshouldjustretireandhaveGabil-samasucceedasourleader.Ifhedoes,thentheorcswouldhavenoreasontolookdownonus.」「Asyoujustsaid!WeshoulddisplayGabil-sama’spowerbeforeallthelizardmen,havehimpurgethosewhorejecthim,andstartanewageforourrace.Whatcouldbringourracegreaterjoy!!!」

Gabilnodded.

「Soyouguyshadthoughtthesamething,huh?Ihadjustbeenthinkingwhetheritwasnotagoodtimetomakemymove!Wouldyoufightalongsideme?」

Helookedaroundhim.Thelizardmencouldonlyimagineanewageunfoldingbeforethem.Theywerecertainthattheywouldseizetremendouspower…And,

「Willyourepresentus?」

Oneofthemasked.Gabillightlynodded.

「Sothetimehascome…Verywell!Letusfighttogether!!!」

Hedeclared.Surroundinghim,criesofjoycouldbeheardfromthelizardmen.

Thus,thefoolhastakenthestage.Andthus,thecurtainrisesaschaosspreadsonthestage.

Chapter33–Audience

TheLizardmen’sHeadnoddedonceinresponsetothereportontheprogressofbattle.SincemeetingSoueifourdayshadpassed.Tomorrowtheywouldbereinforced.Withnogreatcasualtiesthusfar,they’llmostlikelyseethesunriseagain.Orc’sattackshaveintensifiedtotheextreme.Dependingonlyontheirresources,thepassagewaysareoverflowingwithorcs.Orcswereaffectedlittlebythelabyrinth,andmerelyswarmedthroughit.Byplacingtrapsalongthepassageways,theymanagedtodecreasetheirnumbers–ifslightly.Butstill,thankstothelabyrinththelizardmenwereabletoavoidanyreallosses.Thelabyrinthdivergesmanytimes,andemergencyescapepassagewaysarestillusable.They’vebeenalternatingthesquadsthatfighttheorcsmostoften,andquicklyreinforceteamsthathaveengagedtheenemy.Sincethisbattleisunderhisdirectcommand,hehasnointentionofbecomingconceited.Becausethereinforcementsarecoming,becausethereishope,everyoneissomehowstrugglingby.Inreality,thosewhohavefoughttheorcsweresurprisedbytheirstrength.Theseorcswereworldsstrongerthantheusual.Rightnow,asingleorccanchallengeuptothreelizardmen.Moreover,theirpowerseemstobeincreasing.Thisis,ofcourse,theresultoftheOrcLord’scommand.TheHeadalsostrictlyorderedthatthoseinjuredmustimmediatelyswitchwithout.Since,shouldtheinjuryresultindeath,theorcswillbecomestronger.Carefully,andwithouterrorthusfar,theyhavebeenmaintainingthedefenseline.Andonlyadayleft.Whenthereinforcementsarrive,they’llprobablybeabletomakeuseoftheterraintocrusheveryorc.

Attheveryleast,theycouldatleastalternatewiththemembersstationedatthemostimportantdefensepoints.Thusfillinghisheadwithwishfulthinking,theHeadrelaxedabit.That’swhenitcame.ThenewsofGabil’sreturn…

.

Gabilwasindignant.What’swiththis!ThepridefulLizardmenwerecowardlyhidinginholesfromsomelowlypigs!Hewasgoingblindfromanger.However,allwouldsoonbefine.Hehadreturned,and,likeaproperLizardman,wouldfightwithpride.Withthatthought,heheadedtotheHead.

「Welldone,Gabil.Ipresumeyou’vebeenabletoobtainthegoblin’ssupport?」「Ay!We’vebeenjoinedby7,000warriors.」「Isthatso…withthis,we’llsomehowmakeit.」「Inthatcase,let’sengagetheenemyatonce!」

AfterreportingthustotheHead,hepreparedhimselfforbatle.Nowthathehadreturned,hecouldnotpermittheorcs’selfishactions.Surelytheheadhadbeenwaitingforhimtoreturn.However,

「Hmm?No,thetimehasn’tcomeyet.Whileyouweren’there,wehadbeenofferedanalliance.Theywillbearrivingtomorrow.Andthen,afterholdingastrategymeeting,wewillbestrikingagainsttheorcs!」

Completelyoutoftheblue.Suchunthinkablethingstheheadhadsaid.“What?Theheadwasnotwaitingforme?”Thatthoughtlettodissatisfaction,whichfurtherworsenedGabil’smood.Todependonsomeunknownreinforcementagainstsomelowlyorcs…

「Head,ifyousendmeout,I’llquicklycrushtheorcs.Ordermetogo!」

Hisindignationgrowing,hewashopingtoventitontheenemies.

However,

「No.Weshallfighttomorrow!Youmustbetired,sorestup.」

Completelyignored.Gabil’smindwentblankinanger.Completelyignoringhim,anddependingonsomestrangers!Unforgivable.

「Head,no,father!Stopthisfoolishness!Youseemtohavegonesenile,youjustdon’tseethetruth.」「Whatwasthat?Gabil,whatareyouplanning!」

Upuntilnow,hewasholdingbackinrespectofhisfather.Infact,thereweremanyadmirablequalitiesthathepossessed.SoGabilwasobedient.However,herefusedtorecognizeGabil,andthatGabilcouldnotforgive.Histimehadfinallycome,that’sall.Sonoddingonce,heshothissubordinatesthesignal.

「Father,yourtimehascometoanend.Fromnowon,IamthenewLizardmen’sHead!」

Gabilloudlydeclared.Atthisdeclaration,thegoblinsnoisilyranintotheHead’schamber.Armedwithstonespears,theysurroundedtheHeadandhisguards.Gabil’ssubordinates,thehandpickedelite,alsoreadiedthemselvesbehindthegoblins.

「Gabil,whatisthemeaningofthis?!」

Unabletounderstandthesituation,theHeadraisedapanickedvoice.Howunusual.However,thatonlypleasedGabil’ssuperioritycomplex.

「Father,goodworkupuntilnow!Leavetheresttome,andenjoyyourretirement!」

HissubordinatesthendisarmedtheHeadandhisguards.Andthen,Gabiltookthehead’s,no,hisfather ’sspearintohishands.Thespear,amagicitemcalledtheWaterVortexSpear,isthesymboloftheLizardmenthemselves.Anitemwithoverflowingmagicalpower.Heldbythestrongestlizardman.AweaponthatwasmostfittingforGabil.Andlookingathisfatherandtheguards,

「Leavetheresttome!You’llprobablyberestraineduntilthewarisover,butbearwithit,okay?」

Sohecalledout.

「Wait,Gabil!Stopthisselfishness!Atleast,waituntiltomorrow!!!」

Ignoringhisfather ’spleas,

「Whataneyesore.Takehimaway!」

Soheordered.Ofcourse,hehadnointentionsofhavinghimkilled.Heneededhimoutoftheway,though.Gabilneededtopersonallybeatthehead.Ofcourse,asanewherowho’dstandatopofallthelizardmen,suchaneventwasnecessary.Surelythenhisfatherwouldrecognizehisstrengthandpraisehim.Themerethoughtmadehimgiddy.Thenewhead,takingalonghisgoblins,proceededtotakecommandoverthelizardmen.Theywillsoonhearabouttheusurpationanyways.Andoncetheyacknowledgehim,theywillsetofftofight.Gabilcouldnotimaginethepossibilityofdefeat.Hisfather ’swarningwerecompletelywastedonhim.Fromthebeginning,Gabil’sfollowerswerecheeringon,demandingtheopeningactoftheplay.Theoneshefoundintheprisonwerethesame.Drunkontheirpraise,Gabilenjoyedsittingonthethrone.Histimehadfinallyarrived.

Hehadcompletelyignoredthetrivialthingslikeanorcinvasion.

.

Whata…TheHeadwastormentedbyregret.Don’tbehasty!Sohewastoldmanytimesbefore.Andthiswasthesituationhehadfoundhimselfin.Hewascertaininhiscontroloverhisbrethren.Buttohavebeenbetrayedbyhisownson…Thisisverybad.Ifthisgoeson,thelizardmenwillattackwithoutwaiting,andwillmeetcertaindemise.Makinguphismind,helookedattheGuardCaptain.Heisanotheroneofhissons,Gabil’sbrother.GuardCaptainnoticedtheHead’ssignalandnodded.

「Go!」

ThemomenttheHeadscreamedthatword,theGuardCaptainbrokefreeoftherestraintsandtookoffrunning.Theyneededtolettheirallyknowaboutthissituation.Thatmessenger,Soueididnothidehisaura.So,surelyupongettingoutofthelabyrinth,hewouldknowwheretogo.Bettingonthatfleetingpossibility,theHeadsenthissonout.HehadthoughtaboutrestrainingGabil’ssubordinates.However,hedidnothavethehearttohurthisbrethren,sodecidedtosimplyescape.TheHead,intendingtotakeresponsibility,stayedinprison.Andprayedthathissonmaymakeitoutsafely.Only5days.Thatpromisehecouldnotkeep,andnowlamentedhisfailure.Andhopedthathisfailuredidnotresultinthembeingabandoned.Surelyhewasofferedanalliancebecauseofsomevaluetheyhadseeninthelizardmen.Perhapsnowtheyhadlostwhatlittlevaluetheyhad.Gabilwasprobablybusymakinghisdebut.Inthatcase,noonewillbesenttoreplacethetunneldefensesquads.Withreinforcements,theorcswillgraduallygrowstronger,andthedefenseteamswillbeeventuallyoverrun.

Thewomenandcivilianswehadgatheredinthecenterofthelabyrinthwillthenbedefenseless.Shouldthathappen…but,grievingwon’tstopthis.Wewilldefendthemtotheend.ThatwastheHead’sdecision.Tobuyevenabitmoretime.Thatwastheonlythinghecoulddo.

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SideStory

Awideconferenceroom.Madefromfragrantwood,atablethatmusthavecostafortune.Atrueroundtable,capableofsittingmorethan10people.Thenumberofchairscurrentlyset:12.Surpassingthemostextravagantdesigns,evenroyaltywouldhaveahardtimeacquiringit.Arugthattextileworkerstoomorethantenyearstoweavecoveredthefloor.Onewallwasdecoratedbyapaintingofsomewondrouslandscapebyaheavenlyartist.Anyarticleintheroomwouldcosttenyearsworthofanaristocrat’sincome.Andbytheentranceoftheroom,Asingleman,dressedlikeaclown,refrainedfromentering.Andseeminglytoanemptyroom,

「Forgatheringdespiteyourbusyschedules,Ioffermygratitude!」

Respectfullyofferedhisgreetings.Carefully,asiftoavoidlosingtheinterestofthebeingsinside.Today’sguests.Theywerethosewhomyoumustneveranger,supremebeings.Asifoutofthinair,ashadowofamanappearedinoneofthechairs.Lackingdetails,ahazyshadow.

「Whatplotareyouintendingtohumoruswithtoday?Wetireofthis,howaboutstartingalready?」

Awomanreplied.Aroomthatwaspreviouslyemptywasnowoccupiedbyanumberofauras.

「Guhahahaha.Fretnot,itshallbesoon,no?Thetragicbirthofanew“Maou”?」(TLNote:Maou–demonlord.Youmightaswellknowthisword)

「Fufufu.AMaou?Wehaveplentyofthosealready!Anymorewon’tbeamusingintheslightest,no?」

「Hey,don’tsaythat.TherulerofJuraForesthasdisappeared.Anewoneisneeded,right?」

「Inthatcase,shouldn’twejustclaimitforourselves?」

「Hmph.It’sbecauseofpeoplelikeyouthattheNonaggressionpactmaybeannulled!」

「Shutup!Iknow.」

Andothersimilaregoisticconversationswereheldamongthem.Theclownbytheentrancefeltasifcoveredbysweatfromtheirverypresence,andyetcouldn’twipeitoff.Becauseheisademon.Hedoesn’tsweat.He,thedemonGelmudo,simplywishedtoexplainthestagehehadpreparedforthem.

「Nowthen,ladiesandgentlemen!Iwishtoexplaintheplay,ifyoumaypermit?」

Fearfullyhecalledout.ThenoisyconversationsuddenlystoppedandalleyesfocusedonGelmudo.Intimidatinghimwithouthavingsaidaword.WeretheyinsultedtobeinterruptedbyalowerrankGelmudo?Worryspreadinhisheart.Werehetoearntheirdispleasure,someonelikeGelmudowouldbeerasedinablinkofaneye…

Contrarytohisfears,

「Beginalready!Didn’tIalreadysayIwasboredofboredom?」

Theypermittedit.Relieved,hebegantheexplanation.Hehadplantedtheseedsofconflictintheforest.Thereweresomethatfailedtobloom,buttherewereplentyfruitfulones.HehadalsointendedtoplantsomeseedsamongtheOgresandtheTreants,butthoseseemswererefused.Theoneshemanipulatedwerestillpowerless.However,ontheoneswhorejectedbeingnamedbyhim–theogres,hehadpassedhisjudgment.Sooverallhewassatisfiedwiththeresults.

「Nowthen,letusopenthecurtainonthistragedy!Thethreatoftheorclordmetwithanallianceoftheraces!Theoneleftstandingshallbeproclaimedthenew“Maou”!!!」

Right.Thiswasallplannedtocreateanew“Maou”.ThattaskwaslefttoGelmudo.Hewasoverjoyedwiththisorder.Ifhehandledthiswell,hecouldobtainamaouforhispersonaluse.Heworkedhardtowardsthatend.Untilnow,for300years,hehadbeenplanningaspecieswar.However,Veldora’sdisappearancecausedtheplanstospiraloutofcontrol.Sohegaveuponhavingawarbetweenthenamedmonstersbornfromthegoblins,lizardmen,andothersuchraces.Instead,hesentouttheOrcLord.Thiswasanotintheplan,butitwassomethinghecouldusewell.Anorclordloyaltohisorder.Thegame’srigged,butthere’snothinghecoulddoaboutitnow.Aftercrushingthegoblinsandthelizardmen,theOrcLordwillbecomethenew“Maou”.Healsogotridofthoseannoyingogres.Now,therewasnothingtoworryabout.Aslongastheorcsavoided

invadingthetreantsterritory,thatis.Allaccordingtoplan!Hehadfearedthemanymaouthathadbeenmanipulatinghimuntilnow,buthefinallyhadthechancetoreturnthefavor.Hewouldsoonbeabletomanipulateamaou!Abirthofoneloyaltohiscommand.Hidinghisexcitement,Gelmudocontinuedtheexplanation…

HecouldalreadyseetheOrcLordthatwouldbowbeforehim.Thedayhisambitionswouldbefulfilledwouldcomesoon.Hehonestlybelievedthat…

Chapter34–TheOutbreakofWar

Thatday,theorcsarmyfilledthemarsheswiththousandsoftroops.Ifyoulookedfromabove,you’dseetheswarmingthetunnelsasifanincessantmaelstrom.However,thosepresentwereonlyasmallpartoftheirarmy.Theorcsdecidedtoinvadebycirclingaroundthelake.Withlittleresistancetheyhadoccupiedthemarshes,andproceededintothecaverns.However,acommotionrippledthroughtheswarm.Forsuddenlysomeonehadorderedthelizardmentoattack.Andthatwasthecausefortheoutbreakofwarbetweentheorcsandthelizardmen.

.

Therulersofthemarshes–theLizardmen.Possessinghighbattleabilitiestheycanmaneuversmoothlythroughmudorswamp.Hidingamongthegrass,theyapproachedtheorcarmy,andattackedundetected.Everythingwentaccordingtoplan.Hehadlockedupthepreviousheadinanundergroundchamber,reorganizedthearmy,andhadthemrelocateaboveground.And,quicklyassumingbattleformations,hebegananattackontheorcs.Gabilwasnotcompletelyincompetent.Hedidlacktheabilitytoseethebiggerpicture,buthecertainlycouldleadasquadinbattle.Thatabilityhehadinheritedfromhisfather,theformerchief.TheLizardmenrespectedstrength.Thus,theywouldn’tfollowsomeonewhoonlyboastedofhisstrength.Gabilidolizedanindividual.Forhissake,hehadtodisplayhiscompetence.However…Heleftathousandwarriorstoguardthemainchamber.Itwasoccupiedonlybywomenandothercivilians.Iftheyhaveto,the

womencanalsofight,buttheylackthenecessarystrength.Forthatreason,hehadbeensending500extratroopsatatimetothemainchamber.Thatis,Gabildecidedtograduallyreinforcethatdefenselinewithtroopsfightinginthetunnels.Havingclearedthusrelocatedthetroops,Gabilobtainedcontrolovertheentirearmy.Theirnumbers:7,000goblinsand8,000lizardmen.Thatwashisfightingstrength.Withoutdependingonthelabyrinth,heproceededtomeethisfoeaboveground.Andleavingthebareminimumfordefense,hedeployedeveryonetobattle.Thefirstattackwasasdescribed.Theysuccessfullydividedtheenemyandlandedadevastatingattackontheirflanks.Theorcsthatthelizardmenscatteredwerehunteddownbythegoblins.FollowingGabil’sorderstotheletter,thetroopsperformedexceedinglywell.Thegoblins,too,foughtearnestly.Thus,theywereabletoadvancewiththerestofthetroops.Thesuccessoftheattackcouldthusbeattributedtotheidealcooperationofindividualunits.

Behold!Gabilthought.Thereisnoneedtofeartheorcs!Fatherhasgonesenile.Thusheworriedneedlessly.Iwillcalmhisfears.Afterseeingmyheroicfeats,hewillsurelyrecognizemeasthenexthead.Forthatend,wemustcleanuptheorcsatonce.Ormaybethiswholescenariowasplannedouttopasstheleadershipontome!Sohethought.Acryforjoyfilledthefield.Lookatthem!ThelowlyorcsarenomatchforthegreatLizardmen!Proudofhiswork,Gabilobservedthebattlefield.Thingshavegonewell…untilnow.Havinglostmanysoldiers,theorcsmusthavebeenwallopingindespair.

ButGabildidnotknow,theterroroftheOrcLord.ThattheHeadhadknown,theterroroftheOrcLord.

Thatdifferencenowbareditsfangs.

*Guchaguchaguchagucha*

Theorcswerewalkingonthedead.Onallfours,crawlingoverthem.No,wait!Theywerenotwalkingonthem,theywereeatingthem.Agruesomesight.Thebravelizardmenwarriors,hardenedinmanybattles,thiswasanunusualsight.Asinisteraurawrappedaroundtheorcs.Onewarriorwhowasfrightenedbythissight,triedtoretreatastepandfellbackwards.Withoutmissingthischance,theorcsswarmedthewarrior.Hewasdraggedintothemudandrippedlimbfromlimb.Sincethewarhadbegun,hewasthefirstcasualty.Andthatbeganitall.Theorcsthatweredevouringstrandedsoldiersgraduallyobtainedtheirabilities.Thatabilitywasnotlike[Predator],andcouldnotperfectlyreplicatetheskills.Nonetheless,theyabsorbedthelizardmen’spowertosomedegree,andshareditamongthoseintheirdomain.Thatwasoneoftheeffectsoftheuniqueskill[StarvingOnes].Theywereasmuchoneswarmastheywereanindividual.Again,quietsimilartothesharedevolutionofthefangwolfspecies.Thatiswhythepreviousheadwassoafraidoflettinganylizardmendie.Forthesakeofnotallowingtheorcstodevelopanyfurther.Althoughtheycouldnotobtainalltheabilitiesofthosethatate,theycouldstillacquiresomeoftheirspecialfeatures.Forexample,theabilityofthelizardmentomovefreelythroughmudandswamp.Forexample,growingscalesaroundtheirvitalareastodefend.Thiskindoftrivialchangestheycoulddo.However,thatishowtheycanquicklychangethetideofbattle.

「Fearnot!ShowthemthepowerofthehighandproudLizardmen!!!」

ThelizardmenregainedtheirmoralefromGabil’scry.Theywererulersofthemarshesfightingontheirownland;theyattackedagain.Theirwerestillfasterthantheorcs,thatmuchtheyweresureof.Eveniftheyareoverwhelmedbynumbers,shouldtheyretreattotheirdefenselinestheycouldsurelycrushtheenemyagain.However!Whentheytriedtooutflanktheorcsagain,theyweremetwithareadyformation.Theorcsmovementshavegottenfaster.Strange.ThoughtGabil,butfartoolate.Withouttheadvantageinspeed,theywerenowsurroundedbymanyorcs.FivethousandstroopshavealreadycutoffGabil’sescape.Andtheypressedtheirattack.Havingtoomuchfaithintheirspeed,theyblindlypursuedtheorcsintheirretreat,andwerethussurrounded.Perhapsiftheorcswerenotundertheinfluenceoftheirlord,Gabil’sgroupcouldhaveenduredthispredicament.Onecouldcontinuediscussingsuchsuppositionswithoutanend.Thetruthofthematteris:theywerecompletelysurrounded.Asantsblockoftheirprey’sescape,sotheorcsswarmthem.Eveniftheyfoughtwithalltheirmight,theywillsurelysuccumbsoon.Howcouldthatbe?Gabilcouldnotunderstand.Hedesperatelytriedtorallyhisforces,screamingwordsofencouragement.However,theGoblinshavelostformationoutofpanic,andtheLizardmentrembledinworry.Thisisbad.Thinkingthus,hewantedtoissueanordertoretreat…butevenheunderstoodthattheyhadnoplacetorunto.Togatherthemallunderhisbanner,hehadforcedthewarriorstovacatethecaverns.Evenifhadorderedadesperateretreatintothetunnels,theentrancewasfartoonarrow.Thegoblinswhowouldberunninginfirstwouldobstructtheirescape.And,withoutawayin,theywouldbeslaughteredbytheorcs.

Iftheyinsteadranintotheforest…theywouldbepursuedandslaughtered.Theycouldnotretreat.Gabilunderstoodthatwell.Whyhadhisfatherfoughtinsuchacowardlyway?Hehadfinallyunderstood.JusthowmuchofanidiotwasI?ThoughtGabil.Buttherewasnotimeforregretnow.Rightnow,Gabilhadonlyonethinghecoulddo.Increasethemoraleandlessentheworriesofhiscomrades.

「Guwahahaha!Whataworriedfaceyouallmake!Iamhere!ThereisnowayIcanlosetosomeorcs!」

Yes,toencouragehisalliesbysayingsomethinghehimselfdidnotbelieve.Theirfatehadbeendecided…

.

Ah…TheLizardmen’sHeadsighed.Hewasfullofregrets.That,forone,hehadmentionedtheterrorthatOrcLordwasonlyinfairytales.No,hehadmentioneditatotheroccasions.However,thefactthathefailedtoconveyhisterrornowcausedtheHeadendlessregret.Hadheexplaineditproperly,maybeGabilwouldhavebeenmorevigilant.Butnowit’stoolate.Withasigh,hecastsuchthoughtsaway.Theystillhadthingstheyneededtodo.Hiskind,gatheredinthemainchamber,lookedanxious.Fourpathsleadtothechamber,onecouldbeusedtoescape.Theorcscouldnotcomefromtheescaperoute…probably.Itwasadirectrouteintotheforest.Thiswastheonlyroutethatyoucouldn’tgetlostin;onethattheyhaddugthemselves.Therefore,theyneededtoobservetheotherfour.Theunitsfightinginthetunnelsslowlywithdrewandreassembledinthemainchamber.Thechamber ’sdefenselinecurrentlyconsistedof1,500soldiers.There

werealsoprobablysomewhohaveyettowithdraw.Ontheotherhand,theorcsarenumerous.Theywillprobablysoondiscoverthisplace.Hopefully,theremainingsoldierswillreturnbeforetheydo…Theheadbrieflyglancesdowntheescaperoute.Withalltheirbrethrengathering,thelargechambernowfeelsverytight.Iftheyhadtoescapeatamoment’snotice,it’shardtoimaginethemallbeingabletowithdrawsafely.Perhapstheyneedtobeginevacuatingsmallgroupsatatime.Whicheverhechooses,thesituationisboundtobecomechaotic.However,hemustdecreasethechanceofextinctionnomatterwhatittakes.However,eveniftheyescapeintotheforest,theorcswilldiscoverthemsoonerorlater.Andeveniftheyaresuccessfulwiththeirescape,survivingmayproveimpossible.Becauseofthat,theHeadcouldnotordertheevacuation.Theonlythinghecandoisbuytime.Whethertheycomeornot,hedoesn’tknow;but,hestillbetallonthereinforcements.TheHead’ssufferingseemedasifitwouldcontinueonforever.

.

Lizardmen’sGuardCaptainescapedintotheforest.Feelinganauraofstrength,heheadedinitsdirection.Thoughthelizardmenboastedofhighmobilityinthemarshes,thesamecouldnotbesaidabouttheforest.Hisbreathragged,hispulseunstable,theCaptainfatiguedquickly.However,hehadtokeeprunning.Hissprintcoulddecidethefutureofhisrace.Andlikethathecontinuedforthreehours.Asifignoringhisbodilylimits,heearnestlypressedon.Pressingonbywillalone,hecouldcollapseatanymoment.Hewaswellawareofthefact.Moreover,hedidnotknowifthedemonnamedSoueiwasinfactupahead.Whetherhewouldagreetohelp,healsodidnotknow.

Shouldheevenbotherrunning?Thatthoughtcreptfromthedarkcornersofhismind.However,herefusedtoentertainthethought.HefailedtostopGabil’sfoolishness.Sohebelieved.HehadknownthatGabildesiredtoberecognizedbytheHead.However,hehadnotmentionedittotheHead.TheLizardmen’shero,Gabil.HewasalsooneofthosewhorespectedGabil.Totakeresponsibilityforhismistake,theCaptaincouldnotabandonhismission.Ifhestopped,hewouldnotbeabletorunagain.Thus,hepressedon.

Therewassomeonewhosawthisdesperatesprint.ThoughtheCaptainhimselfhadnotnoticedthatbeing.ThatbeingpursuedtheCaptainsoundlesslyfrombranchtobranch.Washeconversingwithsomeone?Withoutapartnerinsightandwithoutavoice,heappearedtobeinthemiddleofaconversation.Afterithadended,henoddedonce.And,

「Yourwillbedone.Iwillactasyouhavecommanded.」

Mutteringthus,heswoopeddowninfrontoftheCaptain!

Chapter35–WarPreparations

AftersendingoutSouei,Ihadeveryoneelseprepareforwar.However,it’snotlikewewereallgoingtosetoff.Sincewedon’tknowourenemy’sabilities,weneedtotakeitseriouslyfromthestart.Theconstructionofthecityisproceedingsmoothly,butwehavenotpreparedanyfortifications.Thus,ifweareattacked,relocatingwouldbethebestoption.SoIdecided.Sowhatarewetodo?Inresponsetothatthought,

「ThedecisivebattlewilloccuratthemarshesIfwewin,great.Ifwelose,we’llretreatbackhereasfastascircumstancesallow.Inthatcase,sincefightingherewouldn’tincreaseourchancesofwinning,wewillbarricadeourselvesintheCaveoftheSeal.Whileholdingthefort,wewillrequesthelpfromthehumans.Ifwerequestthroughtheguild,theyjustmighthelp,soprepareyourselvestoevacuateatamomentsnotice.Regardingourattack,I’mdesignatingBenimaruasthecaptaininchargeofthehundredwolfriders.Shion,youindiscriminatelyslaughteratyourdiscretion.HakurouwillserveasmyAdjutant.Iwillcreateanetworkwith[TelepathicCommunication]foryoualltojoinandissueordersasneeded.Awithdraworderwillbegivenbyyourcommander–me.

Riguruwillstaywiththeremaininggoblinsandseetothedefenseofthecity.Dismissed!」

Ithusconveyedtheplan.Everyonenodded;noonedisagreed.Ihadthoughtthattherewouldbesomecomplaintsaboutrequestinghelpfromthehumans,butseemslikeIwasmistaken.Iwonderiftheyhavegottenovertheiraversionafterspendingsometime

withthoseadventurers.Asfortheguildrequest,ifIsellthedemonicsteel,weshouldhaveenoughgold.Andbesides,theorcsareasmuchathreattothehumans.Ifweholdaproperdiscussion,weshouldbeabletogaintheirassistance.ThatmuchIprobablyshouldn’tworryabout.Andbesides,we’realreadytryingtofigureoutjusthowdangerousthisOrcLordis.Anyways,completingthegoblin’sarmortakespriority.IhadorderedKaijintoquicklyproduce100armors.Benimaru,Hakurou,andShionalsoneedsomearmor.BeforeSoueireturnswiththeirresponse,weneedtofinishthesepreparations.Iftheyrejectouralliance,wewillmoveassoonasweascertainGabil’smotives.Ifwecan’tfightsidebyside,weshouldwaitfortheLizardmentodealthefirststrike.Havingthusdecided,weconcludedtheconference.

Afterdismissingthegroup,almostallimmediatelyleft.OnlythethreeoniandIwereleftinside.Dotheywantsomething?IlookedinquisitivelyatBenimaru,

「Rimuru-sama,doyouperhapsworrytoomuch?EvenifYoudonottroubleyourselftorideontothebattlefield,HakurouandIaloneshouldmanage,wouldyounotagree?」「Ashesaid.Rimuru-samaisourlord.Commandingthebattlecanbelefttous,ifyousowish.」

Sotheysaid.No,no,thatwon’tdoatall.Imean,youguyshavebeenhadbyorcsbefore!But,ofcourse,Ididn’tsaythat.Weshouldn’tcountthattimebeforetheyhadevolved.

「Well,thatshouldbefine.Ijustplantoobservethebattlefromabove,andleavetheorderstoBenimaru.」「Isee,soitwaslikethat!」

Theyagreedwithmywords.

Inthefirstplace,Ihavenevercommandedabattle.WhileI’veranplentysimulations,Ihavenoactualexperience.Thus,asIobservefromabove,Iintendtodevotemyselffullytorelayorders.

「Thataside,youguys,getyourselvesready.Unlessyouareplanningonfightingawarinthenude?」

Noddingatmywords,thethreeoni.Andthus,weheadedtowardstheproductionbuilding.

DedicatedtotheDepartmentofProduction,Abuildingasalargeasagymnasiummadeofwood.Wehadplannedonreinforcingthewallswithmortar,buthaveyettogetaroundtoit.Still,thebuildingisthelargestinitskind,andlooksprettyimpressive.Uponentering,weareassaultedbythenoiseofhardlabor.Atmyorder,theyarebusyproducing100setsofarmor.Wellactually,onlythedwarfGarmandDoldoaremakingthingswithtenapprenticegoblinsassistthem.Therestarepreparingrawmaterialandtransportingcompletedproducts.Weproceedfurtherin.Recently,they’vealsowardedoffroomsforspecializedproducts.OnlyShunacanenterthatroom–therestareforbidden.Sheisfartooskilledandteachingotherswilltaketoolong.Goblinaswerealsolearningthetextilecraft,andarerightnowworkingunderGarmproducinghemp-linenclothing.Gradually,theyshouldmoveontofinerworkwithsilk.Sinceunderthearmoronemustfirstwearlinen.WeproceededtowardsShuna’sroom,and,afterIannouncedourselves,entered.Shunagreeteduswithasmile.Idon’tknowwhenithappened,butIsuddenlyfoundmyselfwrappedinabeautifulkimono.Notpurewhite,butdyedinapalecrimsoncolor;needlesstosay,itwascute.Standingupfromachair,

「Ihadbeenwaiting.

Iwishedtoparticipateintheconferencemyself,butfearedunabletocontributebetterthanwithameal,Ihumblyaskyourforgiveness.However,IhadfinishedpreparingRimuru-sama’sdress.AndOnii-samaandtherest’sbytheway.」「”Bytheway”huh…」「Hohoho.That’sonlytobeexpected.」「Well,consideringShuna-sama’smarvelousskill.Iwouldpresumeminetohavebeenmadeaswell?」

Thethreethusresponded.

「Heretheyare!」

Withthosewords,shebroughtoutmoredresses.Apurewhitekimono.Havingreceivedmine,Iwasguidedtoaroomtochange.First,Ienteredandbeganchanging.Changingintomychildformthatworetheblackfurcoat.Removingthecoat,IwrappedmyselfinthekimonothatShunahadmade.Aglossylinen.Firstclasssilkthatfeelswonderfultothetouch.Underneath,I’llprobablywearthepantsIpreviouslyreceived.Puttingthesilktomybody,itimmediatelychangedsizetofitme.Thisonealsobecameamagicitem,huh.Seemslikeaftermixingwithmymagicitbecomesasifapartofmybody.Justtotry,Ichangeintoanadultand,asexpected,theclothinggrowsappropriately.Whatawonderfulproductshehadmade.Wearingthecoatoverit,Ifinishedwiththeclothing.Then,Itakeoutanitemfrommybreastpocket.Itisabeautifulmask.TheoneShizu-sanhadforgotten,the“Anti-demonMask”.Mybodyradiatesasmallamountofmagicalenergyasaura.IfIfocus,Icanconcealit,buttherehavebeentimeswhenI’veletitspill.Thus,Iplantousethismasktohideit.Ithadbrokenoncebefore,butIhadDoldorepairit.Iequippedthemask.Strange,butitmakesmefeelcalm.Normally,sinceIdon’tneedtobreathe,Idon’tdoitevenasahuman.

IcouldcreatelungsifIwantedto,butsinceIdon’tseeaneedto,Ihaven’tmadethem.However,whenwearingamaskIcanpretendtobebreathing.Anditdoesn’tfeelstrange.Okay.Whenweheadoutintotheworld,let’susethisappearance.Returningtomychildform,Ihadsodecided.

Wearingtheclothing,Iexitthefittingroom.Praisingmylooksforawhile,Shunacontinuedtohelptheotheroni.Thisclothing.Absorbingtheauraofitswearer,itcanchangeitsappearance.Myclothingturnedjetblack.Benimaru’sbloodred.Hakurou’spurewhite.Shion’s,ofcourse,turnedpurple.It’dbestrangeifitturnedorangeorsomething.Seemslikeevenifthisclothingrips,aslongasitabsorbsourmagicalenergy,itcanrepairitself.Magicitemscompletelyspecializedforouruse.Trulymagnificent!AndImustadmitthatIwassurprisedwhenIheardthatwecanchangehowtheclothinglooksatwill.Makeschangingclothingseemkindofpointless.Inthefirstplace,hadyouboughtthis,youjustmightwearitfortherestofyourlife.Idon’tknowhowgoodhumanmagicitemsare,butthisoneisworthyofanArankappraisal.Averyhighqualityproduct.Thus,IcanprobablyexpectsomegreatweaponfromKurobee.AftersayingthanksandtakingSouei’sclothingwithus,wetookourleave.

ThenextplacewestoppedbywasKurobee’ssmithy.Recently,hehasbeensobusywithproductionthathehasn’tevenshownhisfacearoundthecity.Thathe’sfineinthere,Iknow…he’sprobablythetypethatgetsengrossedinwhatheloves.Seemslikehe’sbeenworkingintherewithoutsleepthepastfewdays.Kaijinhadmentioneditbeforetheconference.Thedoortohisroomwasopen.

Kaijinhadprovidedhimwithasetoftoolshetookfromthekingdom.NexttohisroomstandsawarehousewhereIdepositedthematerialsIkept.ThedemonsteelIheldIalsodepositedthere.Asamaterialit’salsothere,butIjusthelpbutthinkofironoreasunreliable.Wehadwantedtoinvestigatethenearbymountainsforanyironoredeposits,butplanneditforalaterday.Becauseofongoingconstruction,therehavebeentoofewhandsaroundhere.Fromwithintheroomthesoundofclashingmetalandtheheatofthefurnaceleaked.Thisistheonlyplacewithahightemperaturefurnace.Madewithpacked,backedclay,afurnacewehadbuilt.Thoughitwasmadewithmy[FireManipulation]ability,itcameoutprettywell.Iplantolateranalyzethisfurnace,andincreasethenumberoftheminthevillage.Ihaveatonofplans,butnotenoughhands.Thataside,havingnoticedus,Kurobeecameout.Showinghiswholeface…

「Ihavebeenwaiting!Byallmeans,comeandbehold!」

Hegreeteduswithafacethatwantedtoboastofhisproducts.

Twohourshadpassed.Wewerelisteningtotheexplanationwitheyesdevoidoflife.It’sfinealready!Wegetit,wegetit!It’samazing!Ihadwantedtosaythosewordsmanytimes,butjustcouldn’tbringmyselfto.SeeingKurobee’shappyfacestoppedme.WhatcanI…Ibeganthinkingthus.

(Rimuru-sama,wouldnowbeagoodtime?)

Telepathically,Iwasasked.BySouei.Ihadsenthimtoofferanalliance,but…didheencountertrouble?Couldhebe…lost?Afterleavinglookingsocoolonlytocomebacksaying,“Mybad,Ihavenocluewheretogo,whereisit?”Eventhebenevolentmewouldgetmad

atthat…Ihadbegunworryingslightly,butofcoursetheworrywasneedless.Withavoicefreeofworry,

(IhadmetwiththeLizardmen’shead.Heacceptedouroffer.However,hewishesforustojourneythere…)

Whatdidhesay!Tohavearrivedalready.Isn’tittoofast?Notevenhalfadayhaspassedsincetheconferenceended.

(That’snoproblem.Ifanything,Iwasplanningonsettlingitthereanyways.Andbesides,youalreadyarrived?)(Ah,yes.BymovingthroughtheshadowsIarrivedatthemarsheswithoutgreatdifficulty.IfitweretosomeoneIknew,Icouldhavemovedinstantly.Thataside,whenshallweholdthestrategymeeting?)

Thataside,huh?Isn’titadamnamazingskill!ThatShadowStep.Icanalsouseit,butwasitthatamazing?Ihaven’tuseditthatmuchyet,though…Thatwasasurprise…ohwell.

(Yeah…preparationswilltakesometime,andwe’llalsoneedtoaccountthetimeittakesforthewolfriderstotravelthere,setitfivedaysfromnow.)(Understood!Ishalldoasyoucommand)(Afterthenegotiationsend,comeback.Ifyouhaveto–asaclone)(Asyouwill!)

Hehandledthenegotiationswell.Whatausefulguy.Wearequietadistanceawayfromthemarshes.Ifmarchingbyfoot,itwouldtaketwoweeks;thewolvescouldoveritinthreedays.ThatlizardGabilcameridingonsomebigmonster.Butweshouldn’tarrivebeforehim.There’sachancehewillstrikeusinback;rather,observingthesituationandseizingtheinitiativeshouldbesomethingthatwewilldo.Afterthinkingaboutthesethings,Itunedintotheneverendingexplanation.

「Iapologizeformybelatedappearance.」

Soueiappearedfromtheshadows.Justlikeaninja.Givinghimhisclothing,Iaskedhimtochange.AtSouei’sappearance,Kurobeeseemstohavecamebackfromhisownlittleworld.Ohon!Heclearedhisthroat,andbroughtoutanumberofswords.Wefinallyseewhatwecamefor.Heshowedussixswords.Simple,straightsword.Aneleganttachi.Shapedlikeacane,katana.Amassive,odachi.Andtwoninjato.Pleasedwithhiscreations,helinedthemup.Andthussaid,

「ForRimuru-sama,Iofferthisstraightsword.Thisisbutabase,itisnotyetcomplete.WewishtocreateaweaponfromdemonicsteelasRimuru-samahassuggested.Thatisourgoal,butKaijinandIarebusyresearchingtowardsthatend.Therefore,pleasewaitsomemore!Untilthen,pleasekeeptheswordinsideofyou.」

Withthosewords,hehandedmethesword.Isee,theyarestillcontinuingtheirresearch?Makesmeexcited.Somethingtolookforwardto.

「Gotit!」

Withanod,Ideposittheswordintomystomach.Toletitmixwithmymagicinthere.Kurobeenodsonce,andhandsmeanothersword.

「Thisisaprototypeamongprototypes.Pleasehonorusbyusingitasareplacement.」

I’llhappilyputittouse.

UsingtheskillsIhavebeenlearningfromHakurourecently.Reallywantedtohaveasword.Thus,Ihangitonmyhip.Somehow,itmakesmefeelstrong.Andeachoneofusreceivesasword.Benimaruthetachi.Hakurouthekatana.Shiontheodachi.Howwillshedrawit?It’safreakinghugekatana,

「Pleasefretnot.Thescabbardismadefrommagicalenergy,itwilldisappearwhenyouwish.」

Iswhathesaid.Itlookssoheavythatanormalpersoncouldn’tuseit;evenKaijinwouldbehardtowieldit.Thedwarfsalsohavesomebizarrestrength,butcanbarelyliftitwithbothhands.Shion,however,holdsiteasilywithonehand.Soueicamebackafterchangingandtookthetwoninjato.Atwoswordstyle,huh…Somehowitfitshim.Afterwehadtakenourweapons,Garmstoppedby.Hehadfinishedoni’sarmor.Seemslikehewasrunningoutofironso.Thus,hewasunabletocreatefullplatearmor.Instead,hemadeitoutofmonster ’smaterials–scalemail.MuchliketheonetheyhadgiventotheadventurerCabalbefore.Thistooseemstohavebeenaffectedbymymagicalenergy.CreatedpartiallyfromthedemonicsteelIhad,itisconsiderablystrongthanthattestproduct.Tome,however,hegaveDarkLeatherGuards.Andthus,wefinishedpreparingourequipment.

Thefollowingday.Thegoblinshavefinishedtheirpreparations.Withoneweek’sworthofprovision,theywaitforus.Nextcomesthedecisivebattle.Onlybringenoughfoodtogetthereandback.Ifweburdenthetroopswithtoomuch,we’lllosespeed.

Mobilityiseverything,ifwefail,wemustrun.Ihadthoughtpreparingprovisionswouldtaketwodays,butseeinghowtheywerereadyalready,wemanagedtofinishearly.Well,thoughIsaid5days,thereshouldbenoproblemwithcomingearly.

「TheenemyistheOrcLord!Now,advance!」

Isimplydeclared.Ifwelose,thenthat’sthat.Weproceedasfateallows.Thesimplerthegoalthebetter.Tomydeclarationthetroopsrespondedwithabattlecry.Ashoutcapableofshatteringtheenemies’heartsfilledtheforest.Thegoblinsatopofthewolvesarethemainforce.Thoughtherearemanynewmembersamongthem,thegoblinsthatridethestormwolvesaretheeliteamongthem.Moraleishigh.Andhavingthusseentheirspirit,myownworriesweredispelled.Weshallwin.

Enjoyingthistoomuchisprobablybad.However,ridingintobattlewhileimaginingdefeatisalsonogood.Ridingtowardsthemarshes,towardswar…wethussetoff.

Chapter36-ParticipationintheWar

Threedayshavepassedsincewedeparted.Wehadbeenabletoreachthemarshes.Sincewecouldn’treplenishourwaterreservesalongtheway,Ihadusedthewaterfrommystomach,butitseemstoalsohavefilledeveryonewithpower.Cometothinkof,sinceitconstantlyflowswithinmymagicpower,thisjustmaybethewater ’sacquiredeffect.Whendepartingwefocusedonminimizingluggagetomaximizespeed.Thankstothat,wewereabletoarrivesoonerthanexpected.

Beforewecontinueouradvancewemustconfirmthecurrentsituation.ThemeetingwiththeLizardmen’sChiefisscheduledfortomorrow,andwehaveyettohaveanycauseforconcern.Thus,Iorderedeveryonetostandbyandtakeabreak.Tensionfilledtheair.Now,forthereconnaissance…

[Rimuru-sama,Ishallgo.]

Soueiimmediatelyoffered.Hewasnotwearinganyarmor.Instead,hewaswearingachainmailwovenfrommysteelthread.Noquestionsaboutit—itwasbuiltforagility.Accordingtohim,Iwon’tbehit,sothere’snoneed!Suchwerethesmugandbriskwordsofthishandsomeguy.Isee…Isomehowmanagedtoreply.Thistimetoo,Icanentrustthismissiontohimwithconfidence.

[Okaythen,Souei.Go,confirmthesituationsforme.Ifpossible,gocheckhowgoodtheabilityofthepigbossis!]

Sayingso,Isenthimout.Surely,hewilldiscovermanyinterestingthingswithhisexceedinglyhighability.

[Rimuru-sama,wouldyoumindifwerampageaswelikedthistime?]Benimaruhadasked.Frankly,sinceIhadnoideaaboutthesituationIcouldn’tsay.Thus,

[Hmm?Idon’tmind,butcanyouproperlywithdrawonceIordertheretreat?]

SoIsay.Benimarusportedafearlesssmile.

[Thatsignal,Ithinkitwouldbeunnecessary?Afterall,itwillbeannihilation!Won’tit?]

Suchselfconfidence.Youtoo,huh!SoIthought.Goodmenarefullofconfidence,wasit…ifwewin…Wasactingsosmugbutlostanyways!Werethattohappen,theembarrassmentwouldbeintolerable.Thisguyprobablydoesn’tworryaboutsuchthings,right?Ohwell.

[Don’tbecareless,okay?]

SoIsaid,andendedtheconversationwithashrug.Shionwasentranced,admiringhersword.Soonshewouldbeallowedtorampageasshelike!Suchasmileappearedonherface.Hadshenotbeensoditzy,she’dbethecoolShion.Thatgirl,entrancedwithhersword,makesareallydangerousimpression.Let’sactlikewehadn’tseenit,shallwe.That’sthebestthingformymentalhealth.AsexpectedfromHakurou,hewascalmasusual.OrshouldIsay:asbrightandcleanasastainlessmirror,trulyadignifiedpresencethatcomesfromaskilledperson.However,

[Noopponentstosinkmyteethin…]

Hemurmured,butmyearsdidn’tnotmissit.

Seriously,IwonderifallOgrepeoplewerethisoverconfident?Theyhadlostonceagainstthesameopponent,soI’dthinktheywouldbemorewaryinthissituation.Suchworriescausedmetoletoutasigh.But.....thatmyworrieswerecompletelyunnecessary,wasprovenalmostimmediatelylater.

2hourslater.

(Wouldnowbeacceptable?)

Confirmingthebattleformation,Ireceivedatelepathicmessage.

(What?Didyoufindsomething?)(No,justasingleLizardman,isrunninginourdirection)(What?Doyouunderstandwhy?)(Yes,accordingtotheinformationfromtheclones,thewarhasalreadybeguninthemarshes,althoughIhadwarnedthemnottoactalone...)(Oh,istheonewholeadingthemtheLizardmennameGabil?Thatguythatwaspointlesslyoverconfident....)(Thatislikely.WhatshouldIdoregardingthelizardman?)

Fumu.Thewarhadalreadybegun.Buthastheoutcomebeendecidedyet?Rather,maybewemadeitinthenickoftime.Needtoconfirmthestateofbattlefromabove.Well,abouttheLizadman…

(Let’shearhisstory.Whetheritwasthedecisionofthechiefornot,weneedtoconfirmtheirintentions.)(Asyouwill!)

Icuttheconnection.So,ithadbegun.Ithoughtthatwecouldenjoyalongawaitedbreakbutthecircumstancesseemtodictateotherwise.Soaddressingeveryone,

[Listen!Thebreak’sover.ThewarhasbegunFromnowonIwillcommandfromabove!

Youguysfollowmycommand,prepareyourselfforwar!]

Hearingmywords,everyonefacestighten.

[Understood.Forhonorandglory!]

ShionrepliesandBenimarunodsHakuroucasuallywalksforward.Isproutwingsfrommyback.Thewingsopenaholeintheclothes,butoncethewingsdisappear,theholewouldclose.Atmypleasuretheclothingwouldchangeitsform.Atrulyconvenientability.

[It’sanorder.Iforbidyoutodie.Thiswarisnotadecisivebattle.Makenomistake!]

Hearingmywords,

[[[Oooo~o~o~o~o!!!]]]

Theyletoutabattlecry.Whilenodding,Isoartothesky.

Fromabove,Iobservethebattle.Whatcannotbeseenwithnakedeyealoneisclearlyvisiblewith[MagicPerception].Almostasifyouwereobservingwithasatellitefarbeyondtheclouds.ThecurrentsituationwasbadfortheLizardmen.Clearly,thesituationhaddegradedtowheretheycouldnotdoanythingandweresurrounded.Theysomehowmanagetoholdtheorcsback,whichwascaused,itseems,bythedesperateencouragementsfromtheircommander.However,theyclearlywouldn’tlastmuchlonger.Thatcommanderlooksfamiliar.It’sGabil.Ihadthoughtthathewasjustafool,butitseemsIhadunderestimatedhim.Foracommander,itisfataltonotbeabletoseethebiggerpicture.However,noonewouldexpectayoungcommanderwholacksexperiencetoproperlyobservetheentiretheatre.

Inanyageandinanycountry,noteverycommanderisanexcellentone.Shouldhe,however,surviveandlearnfromthisexperience,hejustmightbecomeanexcellentone.It’spityforhimtodiehere.SoIthought.thenissuedorders.

(Benimaru,hearmywish.First,theencircledLizardmen.Helpthem!Afterthat,doasyoulike.ThedetailsyouwillhearfromHakurou)

Replyinghappilytomyorders.

(Understood!IsitokayifIgotherewithRanga?)(Ileaveittoyou!)

Thus,Ihavebeguntochangethetidesofwar.Infact,abovetheclouds,thinkingwhileobservingthearmiesclashandbeingabletounderstandtheireverymovement,givesmeasenseofoverwhelmingsuperiority.Imustalsonotethatthrough“ThoughtTransmission”,theaerialinformationcanbetransmittedtoeverysoldier.....Informationtacticsofmodernwarfarecanbeimplementedinafantasyworld..Unlikeconventionalarmies,theamountofinformationprovidedisvastlydifferent.Withthis,itisbepossibleevenforanindividualunittomaneuverwell.Actually,thismakesindividualmovementpossible.WhenIwasthusthinking,Soueicalled.

(Rimuru-sama,apparentlytheirflankwastaken.TheHead’sson,Gabilhadcausedarebellion.Furthermore,theHeadwasconfinedinanundergroundchamber.Theyhavealsobeenattackedbytheorcs,andanxietyspreadsamongtheirforces.)

Isee,sohewashisson.Moreover,weshouldn’tletanythinghappentotheHead.ThusIhadanidea,

(Souei,canyouleaptotheformerheadwithshadowstep?)

SoIaskhim,sincetheymetonce,itshouldbepossible.....

(It’spossible,shallIgonow?)(Ileaveittoyou.AssisttheHead,anddowiththeorcsinthecavesasyouplease!)(Iwill!・・・・・・Wouldyouhaveanotherminute?)

Shadowstep,let’spracticethatwhenthewarends.AsIwasthinkingso,Soueicalledout.Seemslikehehadmoretosay.

(What?Istheresomethingelse?)(Ay!Thecloneshavereportedsuspiciousmonstersineverydirectionacrossthemarshes…Theyhavedecentmagicalpower,highrankingindividuals.HowshouldIproceed?]

What?Coulditbeatrap?Evenso,whatkindoftrapI—wewouldn’tknow.

(Howmanyhaveyouconfirmed?)(Yes!Iabletoconfirm,4individuals.Unfortunately,therecouldbemore.However,Idon’tfeelanyotherauras.)(Isee......Isitpossibletodisposeofthem?)(Ifdoingitsimultaneously,itmaybepossiblewith2clones…Itmaytaketime,butIcaneliminateallofthem!)

Trulyanoutstandingguy.Somehow,Ifeelit’sbesttodisposeofthemsimultaneously....Justwhatarethey—thatmuchisunclear.But,wouldkillingthembebad?Idon’tknowwhethertheyareanenemyornot....

(Twoclonesatthesametime,isitpossibletoneutralizethemwithoutkilling?)(Absolutely,itispossible)(Sendmetheinformationabouttheirposition.IwillsendShionandHakurou)

(Inthatcase,pleasehavethemcontactme,wewillneutralizethetargetstogether.)(Ientrustittoyou)

ItoldShionandHakurouaboutthesituation.Absolutelynokilling,justknockthemout!Iordered.Idon’tknowwhotheyare,andIdon’thaveanyhighclassdemonacquaintances.Sincetheystandineverydirection,theyareeitherscoutsorsettingtraps.Theyseemtohaven’tnoticedus,andareclearlynotpartofthelizardmen’sfightingstrength.Butthisistoolateforreconnaissance…soaretheyfromtheOrcarmy?Thatalsoseemsdoubtful.Pointless,inmyopinion.Athirdparty?Suddenly,Ithoughtthat.Perhapstherearebeingswhoareconfirmingthesituationasweare.Well,iftheyaresuccessfullycaptured,Iwillaskthemthen.Idon’tknowifIcanmakethemtalk,butwe’llcrossthatbridgewhenwegetthere.It’sunlikelythatthedemonscamebythehumans’orders,sincetheyareratherantagonistic.Sincethinkingaboutitwouldn’thelp,Idecidedtostop.Iissuedordersandobservedthesituation.Lizardmensidehadbeguntosuccumbtopressure.Theywillsurelyfallsoon.ForallIknow,theHeadwasmeetingasimilarfateinthecaverns.Soueialreadydispatchedhisclones,butIwonderifhismainbodyisunaffected?Myheadasfilledwithmanyworriesatthislatehour.Iissuedanorder,theyfollowedit.Someonewasincompetentifhetakesmorethathecando.Once,whenIwasstillarookieinthecompany,theChiefoftengotmadatmeandsaid.Donottakemoreworkthanyoucanmanageyourself!Whenthepersoninquestionstagnates,everyonewillbeaffected.Sincethen,Iavoidedrecklessaction,alwaystakingononlyasmuchworkasIknewIcouldhandle.Thistime,thegiftedonecan’tunderstand.Theywouldn’tknowwhetherthejobIgavethemwaspossible.Ipraythattheyarenotincompetent.And,thattheydonotcallmean

incompetentlord.Fornow,IthinkI’lljustcontinuetoobservethesituation.Iftheyfacetrouble,Iwillimmediatelysendhelp

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Well,Afterfinishingthetelepathy,Soueiwearsathinsmile.HefeelshewasabletohelphisLord.ForSouei,BenimaruwhoissonofthelordwasnothisLord.Similarofage,Soueitreatshimasarival.Someday,heconsideredtoserveunderhim,butitwasnotmeanttobe.Instead,theybegantoservealordnamedRimuru.Iamfortunate,hethought.Atimeofpeacehadcontinuedforawhile.Symbolizingstrength,theOgreshadnoopponentintheforest.Recently,evenlesserdragonshadnotcausedanycommotions.Hehadthoughtthatthepeacewasagoodthing.However,theyalsowantedtousetheskillstheyhaveobtained,suchwastheirearnestwish.Then,theywereattackedbytheOrcarmy.Hecoulddonothingatall,andleftwithoutavenginghislordandfallencomrades...Iamfortunate,hethought.UnderthenewLord,hewasgiventheopportunitytoavengehisformerlord.Negligencebornofpride.Thathecurrentlydidnothave.FortheLord,hehadpolishedhistechnique(skill),alltoeliminatehisenemies.Beingcommandedfilledhimwiththehighestofpleasure.Soueicalmlycreatestwoclonesofhimself.And,

(Iwillcatchthetwopresences.HakurouandShion,gotosouthandwest)

Confirmingusingtelepathy,theyacknowledgedhisrequest.Eachofthecloneswenttothenorthandeast.Hehimselfsunkintoshadowsanddisappeared.HewasgoingtomeetupwiththeLizardmen’sHead.Thehighclassdemonswerenothisenemiesrightnow.Heunderstandsthatmuch.

AfterreceivingSoueirequest,HakurouandShionexchangedglances.Theynodded.

[So,IguessI’moffwest.][Verywell,Iamgoingsouth]

Afterashortconversation,theyrunoff.Theydisappearfromthespotwithhighspeed.Seeingtheirdeparture,

[Can’tbethelastonestoleave!]

ThemainforceledbyBenimarubegantomove.Soundlesslylikethewind,theStormfangedwolvesgallopintobattle.Thegoblinsrideinenthusiasm.TheymoveinaccordancetoRimuru’sorder.Soextremewastheirjoy,thattheyfelttheirveryblooddanceindelight.Youguysfeltthesameright.......Benimaruthoughtso,hewasawareofhiscarefreepersonality.That’swhy,herememberthehesitationhefeltwhenfacedwiththeneedtotakeovertheOgretribevillagechief.Rightnow,however,hehadnosuchchoice.Thus,HelikedhiscurrentpositionwithRimuruastheLordheserved.Asoneofthemilitarycommander,hemerelywishedtorampagetohisheart’scontent.Hadhebecomechief,hecouldnotrideofftobattlethus.Butnowwasdifferent.Hecanparticipatewithoutanyconcern.Benimarusprints.Hecan’tstophisbloodfromboiling.

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Souei,Hakurou,Shion,hadconfirmedthattheyhadarrivedattheirdestinations.Topreventtheirpresencefrombeingnoticed,theyconcealedthemselves.Infrontofeachofthem,asuspiciousdemonwasvisible.Theyconfirmedtheirobservations,andfoundtheiropinionstomatch.ThisdemonwasafamiliarofaHighDevilwhichspecializedinreconnaissance!Justincase,Soueiconveyedtothetwo

(I’mgoingtoreportthistoRimuru-sama)

Ourlordwouldsurelybetroubledifsuddenlybesetbythreereports.Thetworeluctantlyagreed,astheonewhowiththebesttelepathywasSouei.ClumsyShionwasonlygoodatreceiving.Shesworeinhearttocontinuepracticing.Afterreceivingthetwo’spermission,

(Rimuru-sama,thepresenceofdemonswasconfirmed.ItisfamiliarofaHighDevil,whichspecializedinreconnaissance,areyousureyouwanttocapturethem?Inmyopinion,thatwekilledthemwillnotbediscovered,sothereisnocauseforfurtherconcern!)

ToRimuru,hesentsuchamessagewithtelepathy.Ileaveittoyou!Sowastheresponse.Withtheothertwodiscussingthetiming,theydecidedtosimultaneouslyeliminatethefourscouts.

Hakurouwouldsignal.AtthesametimeasHakuroucommands,

Hisslashgleaming,themonsterbeforeHakurouiscutdownanddisappears.Asifsuckedintotheshadows,asifconsumedbytheground…twomoredemonsarecrushed.Souei’skills.Afteronethunderousslash,thedemonwasblownawaywithoutatrace....Shion’starget.

Allhappenedwithinthesamesecond.

TheslashthatShionhadputallherstrengthinto,afterblowingthedemonaway,lostnoneofitsmomentumandcontinuedonward.Sogreatwasthemomentum,thatithadreachedtheoutskirtsofthemarshesandcutdownmanyorcs.AndthatattacksignaledRimuru’sparticipationinbattle.

Chapter37–Encounter~Benimaru&Ranga

Gabilcontinuedthehopelessstruggle.Theoddswereclearlyagainstthem.Withoutevertiring,withouteverresting,theorcsconstantlyattacked.Thegoblinsandthelizardmen,ontheotherhand,wereslowlybeingkilledoffonbyone.Theyonlyneededtoregaintheirformationandbreakthroughtheencirclement,butdoingsowouldmeanabandoningthegoblinswholackthenecessarymobility.Moreover,manyexhaustedandwoundedlizardmenwouldbelostinthecharge…Thoughhehadrefusedtoorderaretreat,perhapsnowhehadnochoicebuttotrytosaveevenafewlives.Normally,thewarwouldendwhenadecisiveblowhadbeendealttotheenemy.However,theorcssoughtthecompleteeradicationofthelizardmen.Nochanceofsurrendereither.Simplybeingkilledanddevoured.Thatfactevokedfear.Theweakwilledmonsterslosttheirwilltofightandabandonedtheirpost.Thegoblins,infact,couldnolongerbeconsideredaforceatall.Somegoblinsgaveupandtriedtoescape,butsuchwasnotpermittedbytheorcs.Huntingdowntheescapinggoblins,theykilledandatethem.Nomorethanathousandgoblinshadnowremained.Soontheywillbecompletelyannihilated…Thelizardmenfarednotmuchbetter.Theoriginaleightthousandtroopswerenowreducedtolessthansixthousand.Theykeptlosingground,makingorganizedmovementsdifficulttoperform.YetGabilkeptencouraginghistroops.Whileslowlytryingtobreakthroughtheorcencirclement…Suddenly,asquadoforcscladinblackarmorbegantomove.Differentfromcommonorcs,thesetookcommandofthebattle.Eachworefullplatearmor.Perhapstheirbasestrengthwasnohigherthanthatofanaverageorc.

However,theirequipmentmadeallthedifference.They,inturn,werecommandedbyasingleorc.Carryinganauraofstrengtharoundhim,hewasclearlyworldabovethecommonorcs.TheOrcGeneral.Possessingthestrengthofanentirearmy,theOrcArmyGeneral.Andfollowinghimare2,500orcknights.Therearefivesuchindividuals.TheirpowermayberankedasB+.AfourthoftheOrcLord’struearmyhadmoved.It’sover.Thatpowercoulddecidethebattlerightthere.Escapeisimpossible.Theironlychoiceistofallinbattle…“Atleast,Iwanttobecutdownbyawarrior.”Sohethought.

「Guwahahahaha!Cowardlygeneralofswine!Doyouhavethecouragetomeetmealoneinbattle!!!」

Hecriedloudly.Hecouldnotwin.Hisarmorwasinpieces.Moreover,seemslikehisopponent’sarmorwasstrengthenedwithmagic.Ifheacceptsthisrequest,Gabilcoulddielikeawarrior.Ifitwentwell,perhapshecouldtakeoutasinglegeneral.Suchwerehisthoughts.

「Gugugu.Verywell.I’llbeyouropponent!」

Respondingthus,theorcgeneraljumpsdownfromhishorse.Thesurroundingclashesfroze,swallowedbyhisaura.Furtheraway,fightingcontinued,butitdidn’treachGabil’sears.Gabilcouldfeelhisconcentrationrisinglikeitneverhadbefore.

「Iamgrateful!」

Therestwasasilentduel.GabilreadiedtheMagicWeapon:WaterVortexSpear.

「Come!」

TheOrcGeneralbellowed,andatthesametime

「Die!!!WaterVortexStyle,TornadoCrush!!!」

Gabilreleasedanattackfilledwithallhismight.Combiningspeartechniqueandmagicalenergy,acertainkilltechnique.ItwasfilledwithallthestrengthGabilhad.However,

「Kanrangue!!!」(ChaosEater)(TLNote:doyouwantmetotranslateskillnames?Someofthesemaygetstrange…

PointinghisspearatGabil,theOrcLorddevouredthevortexitself.Butthat’snotall;thespearalsobeganemittinganaura.AnominousyellowaurathatattackedGabil’sveryflesh.“Itseekstoeatme!”Stumbling,fallingGabilrealized.However,theaurawouldnotlethimescape…

「Guguguga!Pitifullizard.Rollingindirtsuitsyou!」

GabilwaslaughedatbytheOrcGeneral.Buthewouldn’tgiveup.Ifonly…ifonlyhecouldlandasinglehit…Pickingupsomedirt,heflungitattheorc.Callitcowardice,butGabildesiredthechancetocuthimdown!However,thatattack,too,wasinvain,astheyellowauraquicklydevouredit.Gabilfelttheattackdirectedathim.Hewasdesperatetoevadethataura,butknewnothow.Thisfar,huh…Gabilthought,andclosedhiseyes.

Suddenly,adeafeningroar.Thepreviouslysilentscenerycamealiveagain.Thatroarassaultedtheorcgeneral,preventinghimfromlandingafinishingblowonGabil.Whatwasthat?Evenamidstthebattle,Gabilwasconfused.Bynow,thetidebegantochange.WithoutanyconcernforGabil’sthoughts,eventsdevelopedrapidlybeforehim.

.

Shion’sstrikemoweddownmanyorcs.Thatbecamethesignaltostartthebattle.Benimaruwasnotsurprisedbythesuddenslashthatcamefrombehindhim.Rather,heonlymuttered

「Whatthehellshedoing…thatidiot…」

Benimarudidnottremble,forbetterorworse,andthegoblinwolfriderswerealsostoic.Rather,hewasmerelybitterthathecouldnotdrawfirstblood.However,hefinallycouldgowild.Hecouldbeartheearliergrief.Advancingatfullspeed,theycrashedintotheorctroops.Theorcswerereadytosuddenattacksbyunidentifiedindividuals,buttheysimplycouldnotreactintimetothespeedatwhichthewolfridersattacked.Brittle.ThatishowBenimaruhaddescribedthem.Therewasnoneedevenforustogoout,thegoblinscouldhavemanagedthisalone.Thiswasn’tfun,sohethought.

「Alltroopsstop!」

Heordered.Togiveupthemomentumtheyhadbuiltupwouldnormallybeunthinkable.Moreover,foraunitspecializingaspeedsuchwouldbeunnecessary…Butthegoblinriders,withoutaquestion,immediatelystopped.

「Ranga,couldyoushadowsteptotheLizardmannamedGabil?」

Benimaruasked.Souei’sskill,andRanga’saswell.Sinceit’sthesame,itshouldbepossible,right?Hedidn’tknow,soinquired.

「Itispossible.」

Asimpleresponse.

「Alright!Yougoonaheadandprotectthem.I’llstrolloverthere!」

Whatastrangethinghehadsaid!Tostrollforwardinthemiddleofabattlefieldrepletewithorcs.Gabil’sgroupshouldhavebeenencircledbymanywarriors,suchthatasmallnumberoftroopscouldneverbreakthrough.Andratherthanadvancingquickly,hedecidestowalkthere?Whatabizarrethingtosay…onewouldexpect.

「Understood.Andplease,takeyourtimegettingthere.I’moffahead!」

Withthosewords,Rangaleapsintoashadow.Benimarustandsfirmlyontheground,andslowlyprepareshimself.Seeinghisactions,theorcswereataloss.Shouldtheyattackornot?Thegoblinsthoughthisappearancemagnificent.Well,amongthem

Gobuta:「Hmm?Why’dwestop~su?Isrunningaheadbad~su?Noway,mustwewalkahead~su?Ihatewalking~su!」

Therewasonegoblinwhohadsaidthat,butlet’signorehim.

「Okaaay.Yo,bastards.Yeah,youpigsoverthere,move.Ifyoudo,I’llletyougo!」

Finishinghisstretches,Benimarucallsouttoanorcinfrontofhim.Butnotasingleorcmoved.

「Don’tscrewwithus!Howcouldyou…」「Then,die!」

Sincetheyhadnointentiontoretreat,Benimarudecidedtostepinhimself.Onhisrightpalm,ablacksphericalflameappeared.Increasingthediameterofthisballtoameter,heshotitattheorcs.Sensingdanger,theytriedtorunaway.Butitwasfartoolate.Theeveracceleratingroundchasedthem.It’sspeedwasaround600kph–

clearlybeyondtheorcs’abilities.Thosestruckwereimmediatelyengulfedandburnedwithoutleavingashes.However,theterroroftheflamewasnotinthis.Theballalsoabsorbedthemagicalenergyoftheorcsitstruckandusedittofuelitsgrowth.Ratherthanaball,itwasnowadomewitharadiusof100meters.Andinasecond,anotherroarresoundedacrossthebattlefield.Well,itwasn’tactuallythatloud,butthosethathearditcouldfeeltheirbloodfreezingintheirveins.Wide-areadestructionskill…[HellFlare].AskillthatBenimaruhadacquired.Theblackdomehaddisappeared,andleftscorchedearthbehindit.Theyweresupposedtobefightinginthemarshes,butthegroundwasburnedintoglass.Whocouldevenimaginethatterribleheat!Itshouldgowithoutsaying,butitiseasytoguesswhathappenedtotheorcswhogotcaughtinthe2,000~5,000degreefireball.Eventheirasheswereburned.OnlyaminutehadpassedsinceBenimarushottheflare.Andflashingawickedsmile,

「Cleartheway,swine!」

Hedeclaredagain.Theorcswerepanickedoutoffear.Thoughtheywereundertheeffectofthe[StarvingOnes],theyshouldnothaveevenrecognizedtheemotioncalledfear.However,thatoneattackawakenedthatterriblefeeling.Fornomatterhowmuchtheystruggled,theycouldnotescape.Anoverpoweringstrengththattheycouldnotevenimagine.Onlyforbiddenspellscouldmatchsuchawesomemight.Theyhadnowaytocountertheskill,andeveniftheyattemptedtogrowstrongerbyfeeding,thecorpseswereburnedtoacrisp.Hewastrulyahighdemonfarbeyondtheirreach.Andthustheyfeared.Thepanickingorcsbegantodisperse.Soon,theycouldbarelymaintainorder.

Seeingthemactlikethis,Benimaruquietlywalkedahead.Tohim,theorcsaheadwerenaughtbutahindrance.

.

Gabilwasreadyfordeath,but,strangely,hedidn’tfeeltheblowotherthantheonethathithimintheside.Feelingthatsomethingwasamiss,hefearfullyopenedhiseyes.Whathesawbeforehimwasablackwolf.Onethathehadseenbefore…Right!Thebodydoubleoftheleaderofthefangwolves!

「O,ooo!Bodydouble-dono,haveyoucometoofferassistance?」

Heaskedwithoutthinking.Whathadhappened,Gabildidnotknow,nordidhehavethestrengthtolookaround.Flustered,hefinallylookedaround.Somewhereinthedistance,somecommotionwasoccurring.AndtoGabil,

「Iamnotafangwolf,norabodydouble.」

Reverberatingfromthedepthofhisstomach,Rangasaidinalowvoice.AndhavingzerointerestinGabil,hestaredattheOrcGeneral.Theystaredateachother.OrcGeneralhimselfwasconfused.Suddenlyamonsterofgreatpowerhadappeared.Hefeltpoweroozingfromthebeast’sbody.Andmoreover,fromthedirectionthebeasthadcome,hecouldfeelterrifyingmagicalenergy.Somegreatmisfortunehappenedthere.SotheOrcGeneralfelt.Butbeingcluelesstothisall,

「Whatarevelation!Then,ifyouarenotafangwolf…wouldyoubetheleaderoftheblackwolves?」

Gabilaskedsurprised.

SurprisedthatGabilhadnotrecognizedhimforwhoheis.Rangadeclaredwithasigh,

「Wouldyoushutupforaminute.IamRanga!TheonewhoservesRimuru-sama!!!」

Andtotheorc,

「Swine,ifyouretreat,Ishallnotchase;ifyouattack,Ishallnotforgive!」

Rangabarked.Theorcsoldierstrembled,butnotoffear.Theirgeneralbytheirside,theeffectof[StarvingOnes]wasstrengthened.

「Guguguga!Howinsolent!Amerebeastdaresbarehisfangsatme!!!」

TheOrcGeneralretorted.Andthusabattlebeganbetweenthem.ThegeneralcommandedtheorcsoldierstosurroundRanga.Forabeast,hesawnoneedforafairfight.ButRangaonlylaughed.Howjoyoushewas!Hecouldfinallyshowhistrueabilities.

*Uoooooooooooooooooooon!!!*

Howlingwithallhisstrength,Rangareleasedhisaura.HowlonghadhelurkedwithinhisbelovedRimuru-sama’sshadow,absorbingtheaura,whileconstantlyre-imagininghisbody.“Aimforthisform!”Sincehewastoldso,Rangaworkeddaily.AndnowcamethetimeforRanga’struepowertoawaken.Powergushedforthfromhisbody.Hismusclesbulged,hisclawshardened,hisfangssharpened.And,twohornsappearedatophishead…Thatappearance,wasjustlikethatofhislord.ThusRangaevolvedintoTempestStormWolf.

RangaglancedattheOrcGeneral.Andheknew,hewasnothreat.Togetafeelforhispower,andtoprove

hisintuition,hemoved.Rangafelttheflowofpower,anddirectedmagicalenergyintohishorns.AfterobservingRanga’stransformation,OrcGeneralsenseddanger.Go!Hewantedtoscreamtheorder…Flash,andaroar.Manylightningpillarsappeared,connectingtheheavensandtheearth.Andawindingwaterspout.ItwasaskillthatRangaacquired,[DeathStorm].Awiderareaskillthanthe[BlackLightning].Inasecond,theOrcGeneralwasvaporized,andthesurroundingorcsfelltotheongoingstorm.Afterthestormhadpassed,noorcsremainedinthevicinity.Wideareaskill[DeathStorm]heldtrulyterrifyingpower.Rangaobservedthissituation.Therewerenocasualtiesamongthelizardmen,andhehaduseditwiththelargestpossiblerange.Asexpected,alotofenergywasusedtofuelthisskill,butRangacouldstillcontinuefighting.Havingconfirmedmasteryoverthisskill,

*Uooooooooooooooon!!!*

Aroarofvictory.

Lookingdownathisfeet,hesawafaintedGabil.However,thatwasnoneofhisconcern.Hewasorderedtoprotectthelizardmen,andhavingthemfaintposednoproblem.Perhapsnowthatstupidlizardwouldfixhismisconceptions.Thinkingthat,Rangasatdown.

Faraway,hecouldseeBenimaruslowlywalkingtowardsthem.

Chapter38-DevilGelmudo

Awideconferenceroom.Theroomwereshroudedinsilence.Severalshadowsofmenandwomenweresittingsurroundingthelargeroundmeetingtable.Alargecrystalspherewasnestedinthemiddleofthetable.Fromthelowestpositionseatneartheentranceoftheroom,amanwascastingsomekindofspelltowardsthesphere.Themandressedasaclown.HisnameisGelmudoHeistheonewhowasentrustedwiththismeeting,andalsothepersonresponsibleforcertainproject.Theprojectthathehadworkedformanyyears,andthatprojectistogivebirthtoanewDemonLord.Forthesakeofhisownambition,theprojectmustnotendedinfailure.Andthen,itwasfinallythelastdayoftheproject.Hesucceededininvitingthefourwhimsical“DemonLord”Ithastosucceedatallcost.It’simpossibletomaketheDemonLordmovewithmoneyYouwouldneedthingsthatattracttheirinterest,likeapreyorahardtoobtainMagicTool(Artifacts).Anyway,itwasnecessarytopayaveryvaluablecompensation.Thistime,GelmudosucceedinmakingthefourDemonLordmove.Inotherwords,thecompensationhepaidwasenough.WhenthetimecomesforthebirthofanewDemonLord,theotherDemonLordwouldnotstaysilent.IfafoolfreelycallinghimselfaDemonLord,heorshewouldbekilledbecausetheyinvokedtheDemonLord’swrath.Moreover,iftherewassuchpersonthatmanagedtoturnthetableagainstaninfuriatedDemonLord.Suchperson,iftheyhadtheability,theywouldberecognizedasaDemonLord.Thesepastseveralhundredofyears.TherewasnobirthofDemonLordwithsuchability.ThelastbornDemonLord,theHuman“DemonLord”LeonCromwell.WithhisoverwhelmingMagicalpowerheincreasedthenumberofMajin

(Demonicperson)thathecontrolled,heclaimedhimselfastheDemonLordofthefrontier.OneoftheDemonLord,whichwasfuriouswithhim,theMagicKing(CurseLord)hadwagedwaragainsthim.ButhewasslainbyLeoninstead.HewasalsodefeatedbyLeon’sownhands.Inresponsetothesituation,theotherDemonLordrecognizedhimasanewDemonLord.But,DemonLordwithsuchabilitywasnotacommonoccurrence.ThereforetoclaimastrangerasaDemonLord,itwasnecessarytogetthesupportofatleastthreeormoreDemonLord.IfyoumessedwiththenewDemonLord,thesupportingDemonLordwillbecomeopponentsatthesametime,thatiswhattobeexpected.Andfollowingsuchprocedures,forthesakeofthebirthofthenewDemonLord,Gelmudobecomefiredupbecauseofhisambition.

Thistime,tomaketheOrcLordasDemonLordwouldrequireonemorestep.FortheboredDemonLord,hepreparesthestageforthebirthoftheDemonLordasaspectacle.Itwasforthemtohavefun,whichwasoneoftheconditionsforthesupport.Ofcourseit’snotjustthat,hewouldalsogavethemMagicequipment(MagicItem)andMagictool(Artifacts).ForGelmudothiswasagambleofalifetime.TheOrcLordhadtoeattheGoblinsandLizardmen,toevolveasDemonLord.Todaywasthedaywhenitwillallend.TobecomeaDemonLordandgettingthesupportatthesametime,onemustdevastatedhumancity.Indoingso,itwillbecomethenewsofthebirthofanewDemonLord.Ifsuchthingshappened,Gelmudo’sambitionwillbeachieved.WithmanipulatingtheOrcLordfromtheshadow,hewouldbeonequalstandingwiththeotherDemonLords.Andyet....

Therewasnoreactionfromthecrystalball.Gelmudobecomeimpatient.

Thisisbad.Hedoesn’twanttoimaginewhathappenedifheoffendstheDemonLordthatwerelookingforwardtotheplay.Itwon’tprojecting!There’snothingthatcanbedone.Atthatmoment,hewonderedifheisgoingtobecomeamincedmeat.Even,ifhe’snotkilled,Hemightbecursedtobecomemincedmeatwithonlyconsciousnessleft.

It’snouse.Idon’twanttoimagineitanymore.Gelmudohurriedlycastthespellagain,buttherearestillnoreactionfromthecrystalball.(TL:becausehisfamiliarwaskilledbySoueiandco.)

[Hey....,whatareyoudoing?]

Avoicecolderthaniceechoes.Theroomturnssilent,theintimidationwasenoughtodisturbGelmudo’sspell.Gelmudowaspanickingwithsweatleakingallover.

[Ple,Pleasewait!Iwilldeterminethecauserightaway!]

Hisinstinctwassaying,ifheleftitjustlikethisitwouldbebad.However,

Creak!

Asoundofsomethingthatwerecreakingasifitwasbeingsquashedwasheard.Butnosoonerthanthat,　

Baaaaa~~m!

OntherightsideofGelmudosomethingbigflewpastbyathighspeed,itcrashedatthereardoorwiththunderoussound.OneoftheDemonLord,apetiteandbeautifulsilverhairedgirl,liftedandthrewthebigroundtablewithherlefthand.Itwaswithoutanyskill.Thedeskalonewasseveralpercentofstatebudgetofasmallcountry;itwasaproductofartfromcarvedfragrantwood.

Theheavydoorinthebackwasdecoratedwithelaboratedecoration,Nowit’sjustalargeholeinthebuilding’swall.Youcanseeitmiserablydestroyed,suchthinghappened.

[You....,areyoutreatingmelikeafool?]

Thegirlsaid.Gelmudocannotmutterhiswordswellduetohisfear.

[P,p,pleaseforgiveme!!!Iwillimmediatelyconfirmthecausemyself!!!]

Sohespoke.

[Really?Thenmadeitquick.SinceI’mgenerous,I’mgoingtowait!]

Whichpartofyouaregenerous!Thoughhecan’tevenaffordthetimetothinkaboutit.Gelmudowastremblinginfear,thedoorwasdestroyedbythetablethatflewoutsidefromthenowlargeholeinthewall.Theconferenceroomwasonthe3rdfloor,buthecan’tbepickyaboutappearancesanymore.Heleapsoutsideandstartschantingflightmovementspell.Hisambitionhasallscatteredaway.WhatoccupiedGelmudo’sthoughtsnow,hedoesn’twanttodie,onlythat.HewasnotmakingfunoftheDemonLord.It’sthetruthBut,ithadbeenseenasifhewasmakingfunofthem.Gelmudopridedhimselfasbeingahighrankeddevil.That’swhy;hethoughthewasabletoputagoodfightagainstoneDemonLord.Butbecausetherewasfourhere,heworriedthatitwasnecessarytodepreciateoneselfandpraisethelistener,sohethought.That’swrong.DemonLordisDemonLord,becauseofthattheywerefeared.Becauseheafraidofthem,hewasnotaDemonLord.Heknowsit,hewasbeingtooconceited.TobecomeequalwiththeDemonLord,suchthinglikethatwereimpossibleforGelmudo.Hewasabletotrulyunderstandit.Thosewhocan’tfathomtheDemonLord,won’tbeabletospeakwith

DemonLord.

Withspeedreachingthespeedofsound,Gelmudoflewtowardthemarshes.Butitwasnotforsakeofhisambition.Butforhissurvival,heneedstofixtheblunderwithallhismight.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Whatthe…Whatthehellisgoingonhere?Whileflyinginthesky,Iconfirmedthesituationofthewaronthemarshes.AsituationthatIcan’tunderstand,hadhappenedinfrontofmyeyes

Whatthehellishappeninghere!?LikeI’mgonnahaveanyidea!!!

Tomyownquestion,Iretortitmyself.Iwishyoucanseeit.Ifseenfromtheabove,asuddenflashwasflashingfromthecorner,thebodiesoftheOrcsoldierswereblownawayalongwithathunderousroar.Hmm?WhenIobservedatacertaindirection…SoLoud!Athunderoussoundresounded.Lookingatit,thereisablacksphere(Dome)appearedonthebattlefield.Itdisappearsafterafewseconds,leavingonlythescorchedground.TheOrcsoldiersthatcrowdedthatplacehadallbeenneatlyerased.

Whattheh.....!!!?

Iwasabletounderstandthesituationinthatmoment,butIfeelmyheartrefusedtoadmitit.

Notjustthat,aragingstormappearedsuddenlyinonecornerofthebattlefield.NumerousthundersfromthestormstrucktheOrcsoldierskillingandgrilledthemall.(TL:Grilledpork,anyonewant?)(ED:Doesorcmeattastelikepigordoesittastelikehuman?)(TL:askclown)Theorcsoldierscladinblackarmoronthatcorner;Withoutanyresistancetheyallturnintocindersbythepowerofthestorm.Whatthehellisgoingon?Itwashishonestthoughts.

Withonlyaswordslashattack,ShionhasmoweddownmanyOrcsoldiers.ThebladeofthemassiveOdachiwasemittinglilaclights.It’swrappedinanaura.Everytimesheswunghersword,flashofpurpleranthrough,slashingandmowingdowntheOrcsoldiers.Ofcourse,ifsomeonereceivedthedirectattackofthebladetheywouldnotabletowithstanditandbeslashedintotwo.Therangeoftheblowwasabout10m.Anattackthatkillallinastraightline.Thegracefulbeauty,sproutingaslightsmile,dancingaroundslashingall.Withbottomlessstamina,sheattackwithoutanyinterruptions,alltheOrcsoldiersaroundhercannotcomeclose.It’swasanoverwhelmingstrength.

Buthowever,therearesomeguysthatovershadowingShion.ItwasBenimaruandRanga.FirstBenimaru,whatthehellkindofjokewasthatpreviousblacksphere(Dome)?No,IwasabletovaguelyunderstandthemechanismafterIsawitforamoment.Inotherwords,Itwasacompositeskillof[AreaBoundary][FireManipulation][BlackLightning]Ihave.First,thespaceissecuredwith[AreaBoundary],Heacceleratethemolecularmotioninsidewith[FireManipulation].Soitwillproduceahightemperature.Finally,themagicalpowerinsidethespaceactsasfuel,andthe[BlackLighting]willturnitintoPlasmathatwouldburnwhateverisinsideit.

Itcanbesaidthattheskillshadbecomethecompositeskill[BlackFlameManipulation].IwonderifadegeneratedversionoftheUniqueskill[Shapeshifter]waspasseddowntoBenimaru.BecauseIhad[GreatSage]therewon’tbeanymistakeonitsjudgment.Thatskill,unlikeanuclearexplosion,itscharacteristicwasnotcausinganydamageoutsideofitsradius.Theproofwas,eveniftheboundaryisreleased,therewasnoshockwavethatwentoutside.Rangespecificationcanbeperformed,itseemsthepurposeforincreasingtheinsideheatsynergistic-allywastomaketheheatinsideunbearable.Soonceconfinedinsidetheboundary,therewillbenohopeforsurvival.Theproblemwas,Idon’tfeelIwanttofreelyusethatkindofextremelydangerousskill.

And,onepersonoroneanimal.ItwasRanga.IwassurprisedbythisguywhenhesuddenlyevolvedintoBlackStormStarWolf(TempestStarWolf).....Theskillheuseimmediatelyafterevolvingwassomethingtobeastonished.Evidently,ifyouusedthe[BlackLighting]withoutanyimposingrestrictions,theresultwillbeAAAH.Itseemedwhatusedjustnowwasthestrongestoutput,itseemslikehecan’tuseittwice.Iwassurprisedthatithaddevastatedtheenemyforcesonthatcornerwithjustoneshot.

Icanunconsciouslyorconsciouslyputbrakeinmymind,butthoseguysweren’tlikethat.BecauseIt’sdangerousdon’tuseit,theydidn’thavesuchthoughts.Theopponentswillnothesitatetousesuchthing.Itwasthelawofthejungleinthisworld,itwasthenaturalcourseofaction.Maybethestrangeonewasme.Iwashesitatingtouseit,becauseIdon’twantanyalliestogetanyinjuries.Livinginthatworld,therewasanunspokenrulethatpowerfulweaponscannotbeused.

Therewasnomeaningforweaponstoonlybeusedasdeterrent.But,wasitreallyjustthat?Itdoesn’tmakesensetospentmoneyonweaponsthatcan’tbeused.So,howcanmoneybespentforthedevelopmentofweapons?Wasitgoingtobeusedwhenthingsgoinghairy?Attheveryleast,ifitwasusedbyacivilianitwillbeconsideredevil,thenisitconsideredjusticeifit’susedonthebattlefield?Ontheotherside,usingweapontokillwasnotcountedasacrime.Andthus…Toholdapowerthatcanbeusedasadeterrent,perhapsshowingoffapowerthatusedtocoercethem,arenotamistake.

Sincethefightingbegan,twohourshaspassed.Benimarushootoffanotherfourblackspheres(dome)shapedattack.AsIexpecteditcan’tbefirerapidly,butitseemsitdidn’trequirealargeamountofMagicpower(Energy).Rangaonlyshootonthefirstattack.Ithoughtthepowerwastoohigh.Still,itwasanAoEattack.Thus,withjustthatsingleattack,itseemstohavemadetheopponentsrecognizedthefeelingoffear.AlltheOrcsoldiersthatweretryingtoescapewereevisceratedbyShion.IrenewhowIfelt,andcalmlymobilizethebattleprogressIt’sstrange,myfeelingswerecalm.ThefirstblowwasdealtbyBenimaru,buttherestoftheattackpointwasonmycommands.Itwasaimedatthecrowedareas,tocutdowntheenemy’sforces.Shionwassuccessfulinfinishingoffherenemy,shecontinuedtostriketheplaceasordered.Hakurouwastakingcareoftheenemy’scommander,hepreciselykillthegeneralclass.Itcan’tbecalledabattle.Approachingwithoutanysound,andinaninstanthecutthemalldown.BecausetheeffectoftheUniqueskill[Starvingones]istoincreasethepowerofanindividualunderitsinfluenceafterdevouringcorpse.So,itwasagoodideatodestroythecorpseoftheonethatwascutdown.

IsitsomekindofHakkei(Internalpoweremission)?Aghastlyaurawasreleasedfromthepalmanditcrematesthecorpse.Ratherthancremating,itsclosertotheimageofbeingdissolved...IlocatewheretheOrcgeneralwasandtheywereinstantaneouslykilledbyHakurouafterIcommunicatedwithhim.Thecurrentsituation,thelossesoftheOrcsoldiersreachedabout30%.Andthen,theOrcLordfinallybegantoshowmovement.

Oncethetimetoreorganizetheforcesofbothsidescomes,theyshiftedfromconfrontationtoglaringateachother.Thefreeme,wascalmlyobservingthesituation.(TL:getsomeactionpleaseRimuru)Thepigsweretenseaftertheynoticedthesuperioritytheybroughtherewaslost.TheOrcLordcomesouttothefront.Amonstrousanduglypig.Suddenly,thetwosurvivingOrcGeneralswerecutfromheadtotoeanddevoured.Thedullyellowcoloredeyeswerefilledwithhostility,andhereleaseshisaura.Inresponsetotheaura,alloftheorcsoldier ’sforcesseemedtobrimmingwithpower...

(Benimaru,canyoucastBlackFlamePrison(Hellflare)again?)(It’saneasyvictoryifIcastthem!)

(Ranga,howaboutyou?)(MyLord!Aboutthirtypercentofmymagicpowerhasrecovered.Itwon’tbringoutpowerlikethepreviousone,butit’spossibletoshotitonemoretime!)(Oneshotisenough.Beside,thatstrikeattheOrcwasanoverkill.Justhalfofthepowerwasenoughtokillthem.Castitwiththesamerangeasearlier,butdecreasethepowerwhenuseit!)(Withpleasure!)

(Shion.ThistimeIwantyoutostriketheOrcLordwithaflashysingleslash!)(Yes!Iwilluseallofmypowerthistime!)What...?Upuntilnowshedidn’tuseherfullpower!?Well....(O,ou!Doyourbest!)ShewasbrandishingherOdachijoyfullywithfullpower,ortryingtoslashingwithit.Thisfellowmightbeholdingastrangestrengthafterall,orsoIthought.

(Hakurou.YoualsowanttokilltheOrcLord?Butnotthistime.Pleaseendure!)(Whew,understood.Youwanttheyoungpeopletoblossom....)(I’llbecountingonyou!)

Thisway,Ifinishthepreparationfortheinterception.TheOrcLordwasnolongerathreat.Thatfellowabilitywasstilluncompleted.Iofferhimmyprayers.AtthetimeIwasthinkingthat

Kiin!!!

Aharshsoundwasheard.My[MagicPerception]hadperceivedsomeonethatcomesflyingatsupersonicspeedfromadistance.Thatpersonwasinthemiddleofthemarshes,andlandedinthemiddleofthetwoconfrontingarmies.IfeelaprettystrongaurafromthestrangementhatdressedlikeaclownPerhaps,itwasahighrankedDevil.Ifollowedafterhim,andthenIlandedontheground.Atthatmoment,bothRangaandBenimurucomenexttomysideThemanthatlookedlikeaclownglancedatme.

[Whattheheckisallofthis!?TodaretoruinthisGelmudo-samaplanlikethis!!!]

Soheshoutedloudly.Gelmudo.ThehighrankedDevil,themastermindofthiswar.

AndthefirstDevilImetinthisworld.

Chapter39–GearsofFate

So…aguyshowsuplookinglikeaclownandshoutingsomestuffaboutruinedplansorsomething.Igotitofcourse.Thisisallhisfault.Noquestionaboutit.Imean,wedidn’tevenaskhim,buthegoesandconfesseshiscrimes…isheanidiot?Actinglikesomebigshotwhilelookinglikethat.Maybehe’snotdressinguplikeaclown.Maybeheisaclown,soIconcluded.FromwhatIgathered,healsoledtheOrcLordhere.TheClown–Gelmudo-sanseemstobeveryangry.Moreover,heseemstobetremblingandgreatlyflustered,sohe’sveryincoherent.Ishejustcalcium-deficient?Iguessdevilsneedvitamins.Thentheclownsaid,

「Whatauselessblockhead!It’sallbecauseyouhaven’tevolvedintoademonlordevenaftereatingthelizardsandtheogretrash!MakingthisgreatGelmudo-samacomeoutallthewayouthere!!!」

Whatahorriblemannerofspeech.Wakingtothesewords,Gabilcalledout.

「Ah,Gelmudo-sama!You’vecometoourrescue!」

Eh?Thislizard…washepassedouttheentiretime?You…hecalledyouorcfood,youknow.

「Ah?Oh,whatdoyouknow,it’sGabil.Youshould’vebeenkilledalready!Whatever.SinceIcameouthereImightaswellfinishthejob.Rejoice!Youaredyingformysake!!」

Sayingthus,GelmudopointedhishandatGabil.Andsaying,“Die!”,hefiredamagicbulletathim.

「ProtectGabil-sama!」「Gabil-samaisindanger!」

Screamingtheirlungsout–Gabil’sfollowers.Asinglemagicbulletdownedfivelizardmen.Well,maybebecausehittingfivetargetsweakenedit,ormaybetheywerejustreallytough,butnoneofthemdied.Gravelywounded,butstillalive.

「Guys…whatisthemeaningofthis,Gelmudosama?!!!」

ApanickedGabilasks.Figureitoutalready,youwereused!However,thisisn’ttherighttimetosayit.Betrayedbyhismosttrustedperson,Gabil’sfacewaspaledespair.

「Ga…Gabil-sama,it’sdangeroushere…pleaserunaway…!」

Evenwhenonvergeofdeathhissubordinatesworryabouthim.Whatgreatsubordinateshehas.Soldiersthatacommanderyearnsfor…somethinglikethat?

「Lowlylizards!Ifyouwanttodiethatmuch,I’llgladlykillyouall!AndhavetheOrcLorddevouryourbodies!!!」

Whilesayingthat,Ifelthimgatheringalargermagicbulletinhishand.Thatwasn’tmagic,right?Ididn’thearanincantation.Feelsmorelikehegathersmagicinonespot.Hmph.Iwalkedahead,rightinfrontofthelizardmen.RightinfrontofthescaredandtremblingGabil.Myexpressionhiddenbythemask.IwonderhowIlooktoGabil?Apassingthought.WhydidIwalkoverhere?Gabilcaughtmyinterest.SoI’llsavehim.Thatwastheonlyreason.That’sallthereasonIneed.I’vechosentoliveasIplease.Ilivefree!That’sthekindof“me”thatIwanttoshowGabil.

However,helookscompletelylost.Maybeallthenewinformationoverloadedhisbrain?Butdon’tworry.It’snotlikeIwanthimtosayanything.I’mjustpissedattheclown.Gelmudo,however,completelyignoredmeandfiredthemagicbullet.

「Fuhahahaha!I’llshowyouthepowerofahighclassdevil!Die!ShishanoKoushinenbu!!!(DeathMarchDance)」

Alargemagicbullet,splitinmidair,andasifdrawingacircleflewatus.Unfortunately,itwon’tbepassingme.Inmychildform,Iliftmysmallhandasiftograbit.Andwithjustthat,themagicbulletisabsorbedintoit.Iwasimmediatelyabletoanalyzeit.Itwasasimplemagicmanipulationskill.Withlowenergycost,it’seasytochangetheoutput.Well,aslongasthecasteriswithinrange.Ifhewentallouttofirethisround,thenhe’snothreattome.Let’smakesure,

「Hey,didyoureallyintendtokillmewiththisboringskill?Totestyourwords,couldyoupleaseshowmehowtodie?」

Sayingthat,Ifiredoffamagicbullet.IfIwantedto,Icouldalsosplititlikehehad,butIseenoneed.Puttinginmoremagicenergy,Imakeitthesizeofafist.Thatgotmethinking.Theonehehadfiredwasthesizeofahead,sowasprobablydenserandmorepotent.IfIusethesamemagictheorywiththefirebullet,Ishouldbeabletoincreaseitsstrengthevenfurther.Howfun!Let’snotforgetthattheclownlooksprettytough,sohemakesagreattarget.AndifIboreofthis,Icanjusteathim.Ifurtheracceleratedthebulletanditmadecontactwiththeclown.Andthemomentitdid,Ireleasedthemagicenergy.Gelmudowassentflying.Hehadmeanttoevade,butcouldn’tduetothesuddenacceleration.

Rollingover,hedesperatelystartedtoregeneratehiswounds.Heeeh.He’sgotaregenerationskill.Isn’tthatwonderful!Ibethetastesgreat.Let’senjoy(eating)myfirstdevil.Asifunderstandingmyintentions,BenimaruandRangaarestandingpleased,butonguard.AndShion,despondentduetonotbeingabletogoallout…nope,that’snothowshelooked.Rather,hereyesweresparkingindelightwatchingmyfight.Noideahowshe’llbeventingallthepentuplaterthough,butitshouldbefine.IleisurelywalkrightuptoGelmudo–whowasstillrollingontheground.

「Justgetupalready.Weren’tyougoingtoshowmethepowerofahighclassdevil?」

IkickedthecollapsedGelmudo.SeemslikeitwasmorepowerfulthanIthought,sincehewasblownawayagain.Whatabrittleguy.

「Y-yo-you!Howdareyou!Toahigh…」

Kickingtheground,IimmediatelyappearrightinfrontofGelmudo.Aimingathissolarplexus,Ithrowsomepunches.Punchesthatarereinforcedwitharmor.Idon’tfeelpainoftheimpactofcourse,butasmypunchdrivesfurtherandfurtherintohisflesh,Gelmudo’sfacedistortedinanguish.Withoutcare,Icontinuepunchingtheguy.Andonceagain,Ifireoffamagicbullet.ThoughIcanregulateitsstrength,Iwasabletofigureoutthatthebulletdoesfivetimesmoredamagethanonepunch.UnlessIstartinfusingmypuncheswithenergy,ofcourse.IfIdo,mypunchesalsobecomequitelethal,andenergyconsumptiongrows.However,asthebulletuseslessenergy,itisamoreefficientweapon.SeemslikeIcanfightbarehandedlikeacertainwarriorrace.NotthatIwill.Butanyways,thisguyisclearlyaboveanArank,butstillwayweakerthan

Benimaru.Iwonderwhy?

≪Solution.Itisbasedonrankingsystemasdefinedbyhumansthatfocusesontheamountofenergyincirculation.However,evenifthosewiththesameamountofenergybattle,theonewhoisabletoutilizeitmoreefficientlyshallhavetheadvantage.Moreover,sinceskilllevelisnotincludedintheranking,greatdifferenceofstrengthtendtooccuramongthoseofthesamerank≫

Sothat’showitwas.LevelisnotsomethingIcanjustfigureoutbylooking.Sincethisisn’tagame,ifIdon’tfightthem,Iwouldn’tknow.Andthat’swhyHakurou,who’sskilllevelwassurelyhigh,hadobtainedthatpowerfulbody.Evenifyoupossessalotofenergy,it’smeaninglessifyoucan’tuseit.Sorightnow,IknowIcannotpossiblyloseagainsteitherGelmudoortheOrcLord.

「Hey,can’tyouputonagoodshow?Oristhatclownappearancejustforlaughs?」

Whatkindofskillsdoeshehave?Idon’tfeelanythreatfromhim.Rather,it’slikeI’maskingashopkeepertoshowmehiswares.

「Wh-wha-whaaat…you!Y-y-y-youuuu!!!Suchwords,toahighrankingdevil,such…you…」

Ihithim.Can’tthisguyproperlyrespondwhenasked?

「Sto-stop!Pleasestop!I’mbackedbytheDemonLords!Foryoutodosuchathing!!!」

Seemslikehe’ssayingsomething.Howannoying.Ishethinkingthathe’llbeabletocryaboutthistohispatrons?

And…demonlordLeonis,well,myprey.

「And?Howareyouplanningongoingbacktocrytothem?Youaren’tthinkingthatI’llletyoulive,right?」

Hearingmyquestion,Gelmudopalesandhebeginstotrembleinfear.Thatkindofresponsewassurprisinglyamusing.Asexpectedofaclown.Gelmudothenusedsomekindofspellandflewintotheair.Seemslikehe’stryingtoescape.But,allIcouldthinkoflookingatthatwas:thatmagiclooksdelicious!Icouldflywithbysproutingwings,butnotatsupersonicspeeds.Thisguy,ontheotherhandwasprettyfast.Iwantit.Andit’snotlikeIwasplanningonlettinghimgo.Ishothimdownwithafirebullet.Well,evenifithadn’thit,Ihadalreadytiedsomestickythreadaroundhisfoot.Gelmudofellcrashingintotheground.Hewassoflusteredthathedidn’tevenputupaguard.ThoughIlikethosethatyearnforsubordinates,Ihatetheoppositetypeofpersonality.Especiallythosewho’dtakeadvantageofanddiscardpeople–forthemIshownomercy.Butsincehepossessesvariousabilities,let’satleastmunchonhimabit.WhenIapproach,

「Kieeeeeeeeeee!!!Stayaway!You’refinished!Thedemonlordswon’tforgiveyou!!!」

Heblurtedoutwhiletryingtocrawlaway.Demonlords,huh.Seemslikeheknowsalot,andI’dcertainlywanttoquestionhim,butthere’sachanceofhimrunningaway.Probablyneedtointerrogatehimbeforehehasachanceto.EvenifIeathim,Iwon’tgethisknowledge.Icanonlygetmyhandsonhisskills.Thoughthat’salsoabitrandom.ThoughIcanacquiretheskills,therebeingtoofewofthemisoneoftheflaws(ifIcancallitthat).Iapproachsilently.Inutterterror,Gelmudoshootsmagicbulletsatmewhilecrawlingaway.

Notthattheyhaveanyeffect.Irepelthemallwithmybarrier.Hedoesn’thaveenoughpowertobreakthroughmybarrier.Thatmuchwealreadyestablished.Afterfinallyfiguringitout,hestoodupandtriedtorunaway.TheOrcLordstandsthere,doesheplantoaskforhelp?Whatever.I’lllethimdothat.Inanycase,IhadplannedtoexterminatetheOrcLordlater.Iftheybothcomeatonce,itsavemesometrouble.Icaneasilybeatthemalone,butthisisallsotiring.Iwouldn’tmindiftheorclordpeacefullycapitulates;Idon’thatehim.TheeasierthisendsthehappierI’llbe.ThoughIdoworrythatorcsoldierswillthenberunningaroundcausingtroubleintheforest.Whilethinkingthesethings,Ilethimdistancehimselffromme.

「Youblockhead!Don’tjuststandtheredoingnothing!Saveme!Hyahahaha!Idon’tknowwhothehellyouare,butyoumustbeabletoseethisorc’spower!Go,OrcLord!Maketheidiotwhodaredstrikemeregret…」

*Doshun!*

Aheadrolled.

*Baki,baribori…*

Gelmudo’sbodywascutupintoathousandpieces.

*Guchaguchaboriboriguchabaki*

Ueh…He’sbeingeaten.TheOrcLord,towhomGelmudoranwiththeintentionofintimidatingme,hadloppedoffhisheadwithabutcherknife.Andrippinghisbodyup,hebeganeatinghim.Whattosay…hereallydiedlikeasmallfry.Andbesides,theOrchadalsobeenaimingtoeathim?Orwasitbyinstinct?

Whicheveristhecase,thishasgottenrathertroublesome.Hiseyesglowingapalelight,heseemstohavebecomeintelligent.Atthatmoment,theOrcLord,whohadbeenmovingoninstinctalone,finallyacquiredself-awareness.Andreleasedanaurathatcouldnotbecomparedwithhispastself.

≪Confirmed.TheOrcLord’smagicalenergyhasgreatlyincreased.Evolvingintoademonlord…success.Individual:OrcLordhasevolvedintoDemonLordOrcDisaster≫

Ididn’taskaboutthat!Icandowithoutanexplanation.Seriously,cutmesomeslack.Withoutacareformythoughts,

「Fuhaaaaa!IamtheDemonLordOrcDisaster.TheDevoureroftheWorld.Callme,DemonLordGelmudo!!!Honorgiventomyfirstprey!!!」

See.JustcauseIgotcarriedawayabit.“That’swhyIshouldhavejustkilledhimalready!”Icursed.…well,it’stoolatenow.JustlikesomealienwithanM-shapebaldspot,gettingcarriedawayandlosing.Lettingtheenemyincreasetheirpoweronlytoloseafterwards.Pathetic.IalwaysmadefunofhimwhenIreadthat,butnowthatIdiditmyself…Let’srememberfromnowon.Killthemwhenyoucan.Agoldenrule.Thataside…WhatshouldIdoabouthim?Thinkingthat,Igotalittledepressed.

.

TheDemonlordssilentlyobservedthescene.

「Howfun!」

Thegirlmuttered.Gelmudohadn’tnoticedit,buttheGirlhadalreadymadeuseofhiseyes.Themomenthelookedoverather.AfterGelmudohadleft,shehadhissightprojecteduntoawatersphereshecreated…Andasexpected,Gelmudowantedtocheatbyinterveningintheconflict.Thatmuchearnedhimdeath,butthedemonlordshadnotexpectedahumantodoit.

Ahumanchildwearingabeautifulmask.Moreover,sincetheywerefollowingGelmudo’svision,theydidn’tseethesurroundinggroup.TheflusteredandirrationalGelmudohadnotnoticedthelargegatheringofhighclassmonsters.Theonirace.Onceeveryfewhundredyearsanelderlyogrecouldevolveintoone.Theirabilityunnaturallyhigh,theyareoftensaidtobecapableofcrushingtheheavens.Andthreeofsuchoniwerepresent.Hadhenoticed,hewouldknowthattheyweren’tsomeonehecouldhandle.Andafangwolfthatevolvedstrangelywasalsopresent.Judgingfromhisappearancealone,hewasatleastanArankmonster.Thus,fourrankA+monsterswerepresent.Andtheyobeyedasinglechild?Achildwearingabeautifulmask.Certainlynotanormalperson.Probablyamonsterthattookontheappearanceofahuman.Ifnotthat,thenanew“hero”hadbeenbornamongthehumans.Thosesummonedor“WorldTravelers”werecertainlystrong,butnonesoasachild.That’sbecausetheirsoulshavenotyetdevelopedsotheycan’tproperlyputtheirskillstouse.Byaprocessofelimination,theydemonlordsfiguredoutthecorrectanswer.Amimickingmonster!OnecapableofeasilyoverpoweringtheArankhighclassdevilGelmudo.Andfourhighrankingmonstersservinghim.Powerthattheycouldn’tignore.

「Whowould’vethoughtthatthatGelmudowouldputonsuchagoodshow!」

Thegirlexclaimedhappily.

「Seriously…Thatmonster,shouldwecrushit?Orraiseit?」「Nogettingaheadstart.Thoughnegotiatingtomakeitaservantisallowed!」

Thedemonlordsthought.

Iftheycouldacquirethatastheirservant,theycouldsurpasstheotherdemonlords.However,theyalsoneededtoconsiderthechanceofitbecomingathreat.

「Hey,aboutthis,canwekeepitasecretamongthefourofus?Sincewefinallygotsomethingtokillourboredomwith!」

Therealpurposewas,ofcourse,togainatrumpcardagainsttheabsentdemonlords.That’showhighlytheyvaluedthatmonster.Shouldthatmonsterselfishlyproclaimthemselvesasademonlord,theyaresuretoimmediatelyloseinterestandeliminateit.However,thattimehasyettocome.Thefournodded,andthusformedanewcoalition.Hadthedemonlordsmovedatthistime,thenRimuru’sfatewouldbeverydifferent.However,thedemonlordsdidnotmove.

Thatdecisionmovedthegearsoffate.And,pushedthisstoryontoanunalterableroute.

Chapter40-OrcDisaster

TheHeadoftheLizardmenhaddesperatelytriedtoholdbacktheincomingattackfromtheorcsoldiers.Hedividedthetroopsandsendsthemforthtothe4passageway,theywillbesupportingeachother.Sincethepassagewaywasnotreallythatlarge,andthefactthatonlyafewcanfight,itwasarelief.Ifyouconsideredthestrengthoftheindividuals,thesmallforcesofLizardmenhadhigherstrengthcomparedtheOrcsoldiers.Attheendofthechamberaretheevacuatedwomenandchildren,andthosewhocanfightareprotectingtheminthefrontlines.Theywerethereincasethatsomeonemanagedtobreakthroughfromthepassage.Theheadobservedthewarsituationandrealizedthattheycouldnotsurvivemorethanaday.Whilehekeptswitchingthetroopstoletthemrecovertheirfatigue,theyarestillmanagingtofightdecently,evenso,betweenthegapofswitchingthetwoteams,theywerepushedbacklittlebylittle.Theircurrentforceswaslessthan1,200.Evenwithoutregrouping,hecanseethatthereweresomeofthetroopsthatdiedinbattle.Also,anothernightmarestrucktheHead.TheOrcsoldiersbegantobeshroudedinyellowaura.Whatisthis?Waswhathethought,buttheanswerwasgivenimmediately.Thecombatabilityoftheindividualorcwasincreasing.Whiletheydidnotdrasticallygrowstronger,theynowposedtheabilitytowinagainstaLizardmen.Untilnow,theindividualabilityofLizardmenwasabletoholdthemoff,butnowthatadvantagewaslost.

Thisisit...Theonlyfateremainingforthemisahonorabledeath.TheHeadpreparedhisresolution.Escapingwouldbeuseless,strugglinganylongerwouldbeuseless.

Evenso.....

[Listen!!!Womenandchildrenshallretreatfromthisplace!Guards,Gather!Youguysshallescortsthewomenandchildren,keepprotectingthemtotheveryend,evenifit’sjust1moreperson!Iwillnottolerateanyonewhogaveup!Toobtainthenewworld(TL:ortoseethefuture),asmanypeopleaspossibleareneededtosurvive!!!]

Withallofthedignityhehad,hespokeinaloudvoice.

[Head,areyougoingtodoit?]

TheVicecaptainoftheGuardscomeasking.

[Iknow!Iwon’tlettheOrcdoastheypleased!IwillshowthemthestrengthofLizardmen!!!]

Nevershowyourweaknesses.Forhim,itwasthesymbolofstrengthfortheLizardmenswhichbringhimhope.

[Warriors!PrepareyourselftofighttothedeathagainsttheOrc!Donotletasingleoneofthempass!Wewillbuythewomanandchildrenthetimetheyneededtoescape!!!]

Andso,thewarriorsgroupbecomesinspired.TherewasnodespairintheLizardmenfaces.Eveniftheopponentwasstronger,ifitpossibleforthewomenandchildrentoescape,it’stheirvictory.Theirfuturewillnotcease.Afterthis,itwouldbeadifficulttimeforthem,butthatdoesn’tmeantheendoftheirspecies.

[[[U~ooooooo!!!]]]

Theyraisetheirvoicetodispeltheirfear.ThecaveinteriorwasfilledwiththeLizardmenwarcryanditreverberate

withthunderousvibration.Satisfiedwiththesituation,avoiceheardfromtheplacewherethewomenandchildrentriedtoescape.

[That’sgoingtobetroubling.Head-dono,thepromisewasstillnotfulfilledyet.Weren’tyousupposedtowaithere?]

Quietly,therestoodamanwhichnobodyunawaresof.Withdarkishskin,bluishblackhair.Blueeyes,ademonwithheight190cm.Once,heandthedemonhadmet,whichheidentifiedhimselfasSouei.Havetheyarrived?No,thealliancewasnotformedyet.But....

[Souei-dono...Havetheyarrived?But,wedidnotfollowyouradvice,wehavebeendisrespectful…][Advice...?Whatyoutalkingabout?Suchthingdoesnotmatteratall.Allofyoupleasestayinthisplace.Thepromiseistomorrow.Tomorrow,MyLordwishtocomeherepersonally.]

Thepromiseforalliance,hedoesn’tknowifitcanprotectthem.But...

[However,wecannotstayhere,theOrcsarehere!]

Hearingthewords,SoueiglancedatthepassageswiththenoisyOrcsoldiers.Helookatthemasifhewaslookingattrash.

[Thoseguysnoisystomachcertainlycan’tcalmdown....Verywell.IsupposeIhavetocleanthemupfirst.Pleasewaithereforamoment.]

Afterhesaidthat,hestartedtocalmlywalktowardsthem.Isitillusion?It’slooksasifSoueibodystartblurringandoverlapping.....No!Ithasdividedintofourclones.Eachofthemwentintothepassage,theyreachedtheplacewheretheLizardmenweredevotingthemselvestodefense.

[Substitute](TL:original代わろう)

Sayingthatword.The4clonesineachpassagewerefacingtheOrcsoldiers.ThentheLizardmenthatweretheresawtheincrediblespectacle.Theorcs,whohavetormentingusasifhungryghostsfromhell,couldnotbreakthroughSouei’sstoicdefense.Ateachpassagestandasingleperson.

[Misaitoayazenjin!(BeheadingFormationofRestrainingString!)](TL:thatisthebestIcanthinkfrom操糸妖斬陣！)(ED:I’mnottouchingthis)Itwasaslaughterdanceofglitteringstring.Steelthreadspreadingaroundthepassageinstantly,anditmovefreelyaccordingtoSouei’scommand.Assoonasheexecutesthetechniqueinthepassage,theOrcsoldier ’sbodywascutdown.

Forthosewhocometoinvade,theythinkitwillbeamassacrewithoutanyresistance.ItwasunfortunateforthoseOrcsoldiers.Ateachandeverypassage,everyoneofthemgotkilledbytheskillthatSouei’sclonesused.Withouttheirsenseofself,onlyfollowingsimpleorder,thereforetheycannotfeelfear.Onebyone,theykeepmarchingtowardsthethreadthat’sstretchedlikeaspidernest,theyeventuallybecomeaprisonertothespiderthreadthemoretheymovedforward.However,thisthreadisterribletrapthatinstantlyreaplifeitself.(ED:Mightormightnotwrong.Butshouldmostlycorrect.)Theyhappilydevouredthecorpsethathasbeenchoppedtopieces,continuingtheiradvance,andgetkilled.Thescenerepeatedendlessly,theLizardmancan’tletoutanysounds.ThebattlefieldwithstructurelikelabyrinthisastageforSouei.Thespreadsharptraphadmanyvarieties;hecanchangeitaccordingtothesituation.Thistime,SoueifocusedhisinterestineliminationoftheOrcsoldiers.Hedidn’tshowanymercy,hecarryouttheslaughterwithoutevenbattinganeyelids.TheLizarmendidn’tletanysoundinastonishment.Afterwitnessingthestrengthfromadifferentdimension.It’sbecometheembodimentoffear.Overwhelmingandsurpassingthemall,itwasthefigureofthestrong.

Thesituationhaschanged;2hourshaspassedsincethen.Untilnow,theOrcsoldiersthathadcometoinvadewereeasilykilledandtheysuddenlybeguntowithdraw.Hassomethingoccurredthatitchangedthewarsituation?Soueiintuitivelythink.Theamountofclonesthathecanuseatthesametimeis6.Becausethefirsttwocloneswentout,onlyfourcloneslefttoprotectthechamber.Themainbodywaslurkingintheshadowwhilecontrollingtheclones.Everythingisallrightnow.Hedecidestoentrusttheresttohisclones.Souei’smainbodybeguntomovewithoutanyonenoticing.HereturnedbacktohisLord’sside,Rimuru.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

TheDemonLordOrcDisasterhadidentifieshimselfasaDemonLord.Moreover,thenamewassomeoneelse’s.Orinthiscase,itwouldbecorrectifIsaythathestoleit?TheDemonLordOrcDisasterfulfilledGelmudo’sambitiontobecomeaDemonLord,butitjustthat.TheonewhoreallydesiretobecomeDemonLordwasGelmudo.TheOrcLordwithoutself-awarenesswasloyaltohim.Ofcourse,Iwasnotawareofsuchthing,itdon’thaveanyrelationwiththem.Self-awarenessbeguntoappear,hiseyesbecomeintelligent.DeclaringhimselftheDemonLord,astheDemonLordOrcDisasterGelmudo,hehasevolvedwithstrengthbeyondcomparisonofanOrcLord.

Behindme,Benimaruwasinabattlestance.HeprobablyrecognizedtheDemonLordOrcDisasterGelmudoasathreat.Thesmileheshowedupuntilnowhaddisappeared,ithasbecomeaseriousexpression.

[Rimuru-sama!Iwillhandleit!]

Sohesays,heusedtheBlackFlamePrison(Hellflare).Ireceivethesignalbytelepathy;Iproceedtoflyintothesky.It’sgoodtohavethewings.TheDemonLordOrcDisasterGelmudoisinthecenteroftheformedblacksphere(dome).InsideitragedahightemperaturestormthatburntheDemonLord.However....Afterabouttenseconds,theDemonLordOrcDisastercalmlystandsinthelocationofthedisappearedsphere(Dome).It’snotthatitdoesn’teffective.Hedoesn’tseemtohaveanyheatresistanceability,hisskiniscompletelyburnt.Butit’snotamortalwound,becausehecladhimselfinhisaura,itseems

tohadsimilareffectwithHeatresistance(resist).Moreover,theburntskinsarestartingtoregenerate.It’sthesameasGelmudo,healsohadregenerationability.Themagicalenergyisnowoverwhelminglydifferentfromjust.Heisnowaself-proclaimedDemonLord.Rather,“VoiceoftheWorld”saiditbefore;thisguyhadthe“DemonLordQuality”.Heevolved,andtrulybecomeaDemonLord.Thisguymustbekillednow,orhewillbecomearealdisaster.I’mconvincedso.Benimaruisfrowning,becauseitmanagedtowithstandhisdeadlyattack.Indeed,BlackFlamePrison(Hellflare)ispowerful.However,itisanAoEskillthatweakifusedagainstanindividual.Theenergyisscatteredandnotfocused.Touseitagainstanindividual,moreoftheenergyhastobefocused.Ifdonethatway,theresistanceandtheregenerationwillnotabletocopeandhewillbecompletelyburned.

TheonewhoattacknextafterBenimaruwasRanga.Heusethe[BlackLighting]justlikeIsuggesthimtoandconvergeittoasinglepointbeforeshootingit.Receivingadirecthit,theDemonLordOrcDisasterGelmudobodystiffened.Theaimisgood;Iwilluseitthatwayfromnowon.Therangeisspecifiedforindividual,thestrongestblow.(ED:Checkedtheraw,stilldidn’tmakemuchsense)(TL:yes,somedidn’tmakesense)TheblackcharredDemonLordOrcDisaster,collapseintheplacewherehestands.Ofcoursethathappens.EvenIcouldnotbearsuchattack.Ratherthanoneononeit’safightagainstmanyopponent,moreoverdefeatedbyasurpriseattack,pleasedonotthinkbadlyofme.Perhaps,anyoftheOniwouldnotwininoneonone.But,withthisthewarwouldfinallyend.......attheverymomentIthinkthat,

[Fuha~a!Sothisispain!Ievensawaglimpseofdeath!But,itnotenoughtomakethegreatmeperish!!!]

Eventhoughheiscarbonizedandseemeddead,theDemonLordOrc

Disasterrisesup.Ifyoulookathim,hepullsandtornhisarmandeatsit.TheDemonLordOrcDisasterthenrantotheOrcsoldiers.HecasuallykillstheOrcsoldiersandeatsthem.Whataguy!Eachtimeheeat,hiscarbonizedskinpeeloffandabrandnewskinappear.Also,thearmthathetornoffhasregrownReally,whatatremendousregenerationability.

[Areyoukiddingme...]

Rangamurmuredinvoluntary.Itgoesbeyondaridiculousmonster,itswaybeyondreality.ItseemsRanga’senergywasemptyafterusingthatattack.Hesatdownandstopsmoving.Iwonderifheisenteringthelowactivitystate.Itcan’tbehelped.Energyconsumptionof[BlackLighting]wasenormous.Withthis,hewillnotabletouseitanymore.

Asingleflash.Unnoticed,ShionswungherŌdachi,shedidasingleslash.Theslashthatshehadputallherstrengthinto.TheDemonLordOrcDisasterstopstheslashwiththeButcherknife“MeatCrusher”inhishand.Theslashdidn’tconnect.Hetakessomedamagefromtheblow.Butit’snotserious.

[ThisfilthypigisaDemonLord?Stopbeingsoconceited!]

Sheshout,andonceagainshecladherŌdachiwithheraura,sheraiseherswordoverherheadandthenswingsitdown.TheDemonLordOrcDisasterstoodtohisfeetwhilestaggering,thistimeheholdtheButcherknife“MeatCrusher”withbothhands.Theswordandtheknifeclash,resultinginfiercesparks.TheDemonLordOrcDisasterwonthepushingcontest.HisphysicalstrengthhassurpassedShion’swhosephysicalstrengthalreadyenchantedby[HerculeanStrength].(TLC:押し勝ったのは、豚頭魔王。ただでさえ筋力バカの、『剛力』持ちであるシオンを上回る筋力。)Itseemshisphysicalabilitiesisstrengthenedtoanoverwhelminglevel....,I

heaveasighatthat.Shionwassentflying,TheDemonLordOrcDisastertrytofinishedShionoff.Perceivingthedanger,Shioncoveredherbodywithheraura.Butitseemsshereceiveconsiderabledamagefromthatattack.Herfacefilledwithfrustration,itseemitwilltakesometimeuntilsheisabletomoveagain.

Withoutnoise,standingbehindtheDemonLordOrcDisasterisaperson,asamuraiinhisprime.Hakurou.EvenI,observingfromtheskycanrecognizethespeedoftheslash,itwillhit.Itcan’tbestopped,it’salsoimpossibletoavoidit.TheswordslashesthroughthebodyofDemonLordOrcDisaster,cuttinghiminto2separatepieces,theheadfall.(ED:Authordidn’tspecifywhereHakuroucuthim,Ipresumeit’sontheneck,真っ二つにlittranslationis“totwoequalpart”)(TL:Hecutittotwobuttheheadfall?WeneedtoknowtheOrcdisasteranatomyfirst.Hopetheseriesadaptedintoanime)Withthisheshouldbedead.SoIthought.Yet....TheseparatedbodypartsconnectedbyayellowaurathatcoilingintothemlikeatentaclesThenitbenddown,pickinguptheheadthatfelldown,andfixedtheheadbacktotheoriginallocation.Itlookslikeasightfromahorrormovie,everyonelosttheirwords.Hakuroualsoopenedhiseyesinsurprise.I’mconvincednow.TheDemonLordOrcDisastermostformidableabilityishistremendousregenerationability.Upuntilnow,itdoesn’thavevarietyofresistance.Howevertheproblemishisrecoverypower.Also,addedwithhisresistance,itwouldbeimpossibletokillhim.However,ifweburnhimtogetherwithFlameand[BlackLighting],it’spossibletosurpasshisdefenseandrestorationability.Butnowit’simpossible......

BenimaruandRangahaverunoutofMagicpower.Shionisinjured,rightnowHakurouisexchangingbladeagainsthimoneonone.Hakurou’sattackdidnothititstarget,theDemonLordOrcDisaster ’sattackalsodoesn’thit.Asexpectedfromamaster.However,howlongwillitcontinue,thesituationisgraduallygettingworse.

Atthattime,

[BeheadingFormationofRestrainingString!]

Atthesametimeasthevoiceheard,theDemonLordOrcDisasteriscapturedbythe“StickySteelThread”.ItwasSouei‘sdoing.Quietly,lurkinginHakurou’sshadow,heiswaitingfortherighttiming.Isee!Iwasimpressed.Likethis,evenifyouhavehighregenerationabilityitwouldbeuseless.Heroalwayscomeslate.AsexpectedofSouei.(TL:original真打,Ifeelheromorecoolonit)ThemomentIfeelrelived,Isensesomethingoutplace.Hisyellowauraiscoilingaroundthe“StickySteelThread”.　

[ChaosEater]

TheDemonLordOrcDisasteruseshisskill.ItismoreheinousthanwhenheusesitattheOrcGeneral.Itcorrodeseverythingittouches.ThatyellowaurathingiesmustbetheessenceoftheDemonLordOrcDisasterskill.Infact,thatskillisoneoftheabilityoftheUniqueskill[StarvingOnes].Itseffectiscorrodinganddecomposingeverymaterialhecomeincontactwith.Whentheresistancefailedtoresistthecorrosion,deathwillvisitthelivingcreature.TheDemonLordOrcDisasterbeginhispursuit.

[Die!Gakinokōshinenbu!!!(DeathMarchDance)]

ItwastheskillthatGelmudoused.But,thepowerlevelisdifferent.Sensingit,HakurouandSoueiretreat.Benimaru’sblackflameprison(Hellflare),nothingremainsonitssurrounding.Althoughitpowerisnotabsolute,itdidn’tgivedamagetothepersontouchingit,insteaditwillgivethemcorrosioneffect.Quality,power,range.Ifallofitcombineditwillbecomeacertainkillattack.Fortunatelythespeedisslow.Iftheyreceiveitnormally,theOniwillnotstayunharmed.[Fuhah~a!Good!Entertainmemore!It’sagoodexercisebeforethemeal.Youguysmustbeverydelicious.Fuhahaha!Youallwillbecomefoodforme.Youguyshappy?]

Mysubordinate,themainforceoffivepeopleeveniftheyworktogether,theyarestillunabletowin.Thisis...

I’mnolongerabletostopmybodytremble.Thistremblingis,atremblingthatcomesfrommyinstinct.Thisbad.Ican’tstoptrembling

Wasit,fear?

No,it’sdifferent

Thiswas...

Joy.Yes.Iwasfeelingjoyful!

I,fromthebottomofmybody,cannolongerstopmyinstinctfromgoingcrazyandmakingnoisesfromjoyMysubordinate,themainforceoffivepeoplefightingtogetherwerenotabletowinagainstthisopponent.Yet,inmymindtherewasnofear.Thefeelingofdepressionthatappearonthebeginning,atthispointithasallbeenblownawayThat’sright,Irecognizethisguyasanenemy.Sorryforthinkingofyouastroublesome.Istopflyinganddescendtotheground.

WhenIcomecloser,theyellowaura,ChaosEaterrushedtowardsme.Ifeelitcoilingaroundmeandsticktomybody.Thisisunpleasant.Isee,sohetryingtoeatme?Nice,ifyouthinkyoucandoit,thendoit!Feelinghighlyexcitedfrommyinstinct,smilebegantofloatonmyface.Beforeyoueatme,Iwilleatyoufirst!

AndthusthetimecomesfortheclashbetweenmeandtheDemonLordOrcDisasterGelmudo.

Chapter41–Predator

Ifitweretheusualme,I’dbefreakingoutabouthowdifficultitwouldbetowinagaintheDemonLordOrcDisasterGelmudo.TheyellowauracoilingaroundmeIcaneasilycutthroughwithmysword.Butreceivingthebutcherknife“MeatCrusher”wouldprobablysendmeflying.Butthat’stobeexpected.EvenShion,who’sstrongerthanme,lostinacontestofstrengthagainsthim.Moreover,evenHakurou,whofarexceedsmeinswordskill,couldnotdamagehim.SoIagaintrytolandanattackwhiledartingaroundathighspeeds.Checkingfromeveryangle,tryingtofindaweakness.Iknowit’spointless,butIseenoreasontostop.Evenifhelandsahitblowingmeaway,Ijustresumetryingoutattacks.Confirmingmyownweakness.Thinkingaboutit,mymainforcesconsistsoffivepeople.IncludingShunaandKurobee,thatis.Theyhaveallreceivedoneofmypowersandexceededmyownabilitiesinthem.

Ranga’s[BlackLightning]Benimaru’s[FlameManipulation]Shuna’s[Analyst]Hakurou’s[PerceptionAcceleration]Shion’s[HerculeanStrength]andBodyStrengtheningSouei’s[MagicPerception]andspecialskillsKurobee’s[Researcher]

Ineveryskilltheyexceedme.IcanonlybecalledstrongbecauseIhaveeveryskillthattheydo.IfwefoughtoneononeandIwentallout,IthinkIcouldwin.However,ifallfivegather,Iwouldprobablylose.

Andyetthisorcsurpassedallfiveofthem.Neverbeingabletolandthefinishingblow,theywereboundtorunoutofmagicenergyandperish.SoevenifIfoughttheorcfairandsquare,Icouldneverwin.Right.EvenifIfoughtfairand…Whyaretheoni‘sskillsstrongerthanmine?Hakurouisstrongerbecausehisswordskilllevelissomuchhigher.Thatmuchisperfectlyunderstandable.Butwhatabouttherest?Actually…aretheyreallystrongerthanme?Theanswertothat…

Inthefirstplace,AllmyabilitiesIhavegainedfrommonsters.SincetheyarenotskillsIwasbornwith,Ineedtotaketimetoproperlyunderstandthem.Justlikehavingalicensedoesnotnecessarilymeanyoucandriveacarrightnow,andcertainlydoesnotmeanyoucanwinagainstaprofessionaldriver.However.ThereisaskillIhavehadsincethemomentIreincarnatedintothisworld.ItisaskillIhavehadfrombirth.OnethatIcanfreelymanipulate.ThatskillevenIhavenearlycompletemasteryof.Thus,Iorder.

Ipermityoutocontrolmybody.Moveitasyouplease,[GreatSage]!

≪Received.SwitchingtoBattleMode.≫

Andthustheresponsetothepreviousquestion,

＊　＊　＊

DemonLordOrcDisasterwasbewildered.Justashehadintendedtocookandeatthefivestrongdemons,anotheronehadappeared.Aboringmonster,hehadthought.

Themonster ’smagicenergywascertainlyhigh,easilysurpassingthatoftheotherfive.However,themonsterhadcontinuedmeaninglessattacks,eachonejustasweak.Oneseveninferiortothefivebeforehim.Nomatterhowoftenthemonsterwouldhaveattacked,nodamagewouldaccumulate.Thus,theorcdidnotfeelthreatened.Thus,justwhenhehaddesignatedthemonsterasagoodmeal…

Theconstantonslaughtofattackssuddenlystopped.And,shetookofhermask.Andtheorcsawabeautifulyoungfaceofasilverhairedgirl.Whatissheplanning?Themomenthethoughtthat,

*Zasu!*

Hisarm,elbowdown,wascutawayfromhisbody.Andwhereitusedtobeattached,adarkflameburnedhim.Andwhenhelooked,hisenemy,withappearanceofachild,heldameltingswordengulfedinadarkflame.Enemy?Yes,thatwasanenemy.Hehadconsideredherfood.Now,however,wasdifferent.Therewasanoverwhelmingdifferencewiththepresencenowbeforehim.Itdidn’tmatterthathisfoe’sweaponhadburnedaway.Herabilitiesweresohighthatshedidn’tneedit!Havingmetanenemyforthefirsttimesinceevolving,theDemonLordOrcDisaster ’sbodytensed’.Andanotherstrangefeeling.Howstrange…hisarmhadnotstartedregenerating!Confused,helookedatwherehisarmhadbeenonlytofindthedarkflamestillburningandsealinghisregeneration.Angerburnedinhiseyes.Cuttinghisarmoffattheshoulder,hehaditregenerate.And,hestartedswingingtheButcherKnife“MeatCrusher”withallhismight.“Thatsmallchildcannotwithstandevenasinglehit!:However.Theseeminglyunarmedchildcasuallyliftedherarms,produced

aswordoutofthinair,andreceivedtheattack.Withthesameswordthathehadthoughtwasburnedbyherskill.Andwhenthebutcherknifecameincontactwiththeswordbothwereengulfedbytheblackflameanddisappeared.“Imustgoallouttodevourher!”TheOrcDisaster ’sauraswelledcausingshockwavesonthebattlefield.Fillinguphisfistswithhisaura,heattacked.Hisenemy,too,armoredherfistsandrepelledhisattacks.Hesawmagicbulletsflyingathim.Dodgingthose,herespondedwithGakkinoKoushinenbu(DeathMarchDance).Collidingwiththesevenbulletsintheair,hismagicbulletscontinuedon.Theywerestrengthenedwith[StarvingOnes]andhadacorrosiveeffect.Whileshewouldprobablynotdiefromthis,she’dtakesomedamage.Justashehadthoughtthat,shestoodupasifnothinghappened.Andanewarmorwasnowcoveringher.Hisattackwasprobablydeflectedbythatarmor.Itwastrueforhim,somaybehisenemywasalsointhemiddleofevolving.Ihunger.Iwanttoeather!!!TheDemonLordOrcDisasterthought.Thefivebeforehadnotmattered,allhewantedwastoeattheonebeforehim!Hegrabbedontohisenemy.Sincehewasstronger,ifhefoughtlongenough,he’deventuallycrushher.Justwhenhethoughtthat,hislegwascrushed.Aroundhousekicklandedintohimcausinghisbodytofall,butstillhewouldn’tletgo.Releasingtheyellowaura,hehaditenvelophisenemy.Oneoftheeffectsof[StarvingOnes]wastocorrodeanddevourhisenemiesdirectly.Andashisenemy’slifedwindled,itwouldbecomehisnutrients.Iwanttoeather!Hisheadfilledwiththatonethough,hedirectedhisentirebeingintocorrodingher!And,hisenemyhavinggivenupstruggling,graduallysuccumbedto…

＊　＊　＊

ThingsproceededjustasIhadplanned.

Withthefullsupportfromthe[GreatSage]Iwasabletousetheskillstotheirfullpotential.Aneverbeforeseenoptimizedformofcombat.Icanevenuse[BlackFlameManipulation]now.Moreover,[BodyArmor]hadchangedinto[FullArmorTransformation].Itfurtherstrengthsmyequipment.SkillsIhadpreviouslyhardtimemasteringInoweasilycontrolwiththehelpfrom[GreatSage].However,itisstillhardoutdoyourfundamentallimitations.ThelongerthisfightcontinuesthestrongertheOrcDisastermaygrow.EvenifIknowhowtousemyskills,it’snotlikemyoverallproficiencywiththemhasincreased.TheOrcDisasteraswellhasjustevolvedandhaspoorcontroloverthem.Thus,thisadvantageisclearlytemporary.WhichiswhyImustendthisquickly.SoIplannedtoleadthebattletoastatewhereIcanquicklyoverwhelmhimwithaskillIamsuperiorat.Andeverythingwentaccordingtoplan.TheOrcDisasterhadbeguncorrodingme,intendingtodevour.However,Ialsointendtodevouryou!Iamaslime.Mybasicabilitiesare[Dissolve,Absorb,Regenerate].Myregenerationabilityissimilartohis.However,theslimebodyisnaturallyresistanttocorrosion.Thus,Ihadplannedfromthebeginningtoeatyouinthismanner!

Imadehimbelievethatmybodyhadmelted,andusedthattoenvelophim.Slowlymovingupthearm…Andbythetimehehadnoticed,itwasalreadytoolate.Thiswasthestandardmethodofcombatfortheslimerace.Nomatterhowmuchheragesnow,he’salreadybeencoveredbyme;hisattackednullified.

Pointless,youmustthink?Youprideyourselfinyourregenerativeabilities,andmyattackwillhavenoeffect?Thebattlehasbecomeastalemate.Itrytodissolvehim,buthisregenerationpreventshisdeath.Atthesametime,myregenerativeabilitynegateshiscorrosion.EachoneattemptstodevourtheotherliketheOuroboros.Theonewhoeatstheotherfirst,wins.Simple,isn’tit?Ihadplannedthisinordertowin.RatherthandependingonskillsIhaveyettotrulymaster,Idecidedtodependonmymostfundamentalones.ThepowerthatIhave.Myslimeabilities[Dissolve,Absorb]mixincrediblywellwith[Predator].ThusatthesametimeasIbeganabsorbinganddissolvingthisorc,Ialsoactivated[Predator].Iamapredator.OrcDisaster,thepowerthatyouhold,[StarvingOnes],iscertainlystrong.However,youareascavenger.Eatinganythingandeverythingiscertainlyamazing,butitismyskillthatspecializesinhuntingdownanddevouringprey.Andwhilewehavebothbeeneatingeachother,Iwilldevouryourabilityfirst.Usingmyability,uniqueskill[Predator]!Myskillcananalyzetheabilitiesoflivingenemies,whereasyoursonlyofthedead.Thismomenthasdecidedthebattle.

…………….

……..

…

Howmuchtimehadpassed?Asweattempttoeateachother.Butbelievinginmyvictory,Ifocusonpredatinghimand,

Icannotlose.Ihaveeatenmybrethren.Icannotlose.Imustbecomeademonlord.IhaveeatenGelmudo-sama.Icannotlose.Mybrethrenarestarving.Icannotlose.Eatinguntilwehaveourfill!

Thoughtspouredintome.Hmph.Areyouanidiot?Idon’tknowwhatyou’reon,butyou’vealreadylosttome.

But,Icannotlose…Ihaveeatenmybrethren.I…amsinful…SoIwillnotlose.

It’spointless.Letmeteachyousomething.It’ssurvivalofthefittestinthisworld.You’velost.Soyoudie.

But,Icannotlose…IfIdie,mybrethrenwillbeburdenedwithmysins.Ibecamesinful,sothattheywon’tstarve,forthatIwoulddoanything!Iwillbecomethedemonlord.Sothatnoonestarves,Iwilldevourthehungeritself!That’sright!IamDemonLordOrcDisaster.Thedevourerofworlds.

Andyet,you’restillgoingtodie.Butresteasy.Iwilldevouryoursins.

What…?Youwilldevour…mysins?

Yeah.Andnotjustyours,butalsothoseofyourkind.

Mine…ours…alloursins…Aren’tyougreedy.

That’sright.Iamgreedy.Canyourelaxnow?Onceyouhave,justgotosleep.

Ah…Icannotlose.But…Sleep,huh.Ifeel…warm.Greedyone.Youdestinationishardlytranquil.But,youwhohaveacceptedmysins…Thankyou.Nowmyhungerhasfinallybeenfulfilled!

DemonLordOrcDisaster.NamedGelmudo.Justnow,hisconsciousnesshasfinallydisappeared.

≪Confirmed.DemonLordOrcDisasterhasdisappeared.UniqueSkill[StarvingOnes]hasbeenabsorbedbyuniqueskill[Predator].≫

Ihavewon.Onewhoalwaysstarvescouldneverhavewonagainstmewhoknowsnohunger.And,Iopenmyeyes.Burdenedwiththesinsofhisentirerace.

「Ihavewon.Sleepwell,DemonLordOrcDisasterGelmudo!」

Mydeclarationresoundedacrossthelandotherwisesilent.Andatthatmoment,theGoblinsandLizardmenshoutedforjoyevenas

theOrcslamentedindespair.Andthus,theOrcinvasionhasbeenstopped.Basedonhisconsciousnessthathadbeenflowingintomeuntilnow,Gelmudowasinfactthecauseofthisincident.Furthermore,hewasinfactsupportedbyanunknownnumberofdemonlords.That,however,theOrcLordhadlearnedbeforeestablishinghisself,sowasratherunsureaboutit.ButIknowenoughtostayvigilant.Andbeside,Ican’tjustleavetheorcsastheyare.Themainproblemhasyettoberesolved.

Thefollowingday.HistorywillforeverrememberthebirthoftheGreatJuraForestAlliance,andtheconferencewhereitbegan.

Chapter42–TheGreatJuraForestCoalition

Thewarended.Ifoughtatrulystrongopponent.Perhaps,ifhehadfinishedhisevolution…Iprobablywouldnothaveamethodtodefeathim.It’sbecausewehadfoughtnowthatIcouldwin.I’dmuchratherhadfoughthimbeforehehadevolved!Thoughhehadevolved,IamratherfortunatethatIdefeatedhim.Butmoreimportantly!Right.I’vegottenanotheruniqueskill!Well,thoughIactuallyhaven’tgottentheuniqueskill[StarvingOnes],Ididabsorbitspotential.Thatis,my[Predator]haschangedinto[Gluttony].Analyzingtheskillmademewanttosealitaway.Nope.It’stoodangerousofaskill.AndwhileIwasthinkingthesethings,

「Mu?Somehowmypowerfeelsasifthoughit’sboiling…」「Mywoundsarehealingfaster!Haveallbeenrestoredalready?」「Yeah…」

Iheardsuchvoices.Hmm.AsIhadthought.It’stheeffectof[Gluttony].Itseffectsare,

≪Solution.Changingintouniqueskill[Gluttony]hasaddedthefollowingeffects…

Decay:Theabilitytodecomposethetarget.Abilitytoadddecompositionstatuseffect.Thereisnowachanceofacquiringanabilityafterconsumingonlyapartofamonster ’scorpse(※Random)

Supply:Whetherasubordinateornot,youcannowgrantanabilityuntoa

monsterwithwhomyouhavearelationship.(※Limitedbythetarget’sinherentmagicalenergy)

FoodChain:Itisnowpossibletoacquireskillsfromyoursubordinates(※Allofthem)

Thesethreehavebecomeyourpower.≫

Iswhatitsaid.Thefiveoriginalabilitiesofpredatorstayedthesame,andthesethreewereadded.Andalongwiththat,mystomachcapacityseemstohavedoubled.SodoesthismeanthatIcannowuseBenimaruandRanga’sskillsthatthey’vegottenfromevolution?

≪Solution.Itispossible.≫

Seriously?!SowhenevertheygetstrongerIgetstronger,andtheoppositeisalsotrue.Howterrifyingthispowerhadbecome!Thoughasyou’dexpect,Ican’tshareknowledgethiswayortransmitmagic.Ofcourse,proficiencyIalsoneedtoraiseonmyown.Dailyeffortisimportant,afterall.Butseriously,whatanabsurdpowerIgotmyhandson.AsexpectedofOrcDisaster.It’sashameIcouldn’teattheclownearlier,butIdidgetsomesparechangefromhim.Particularly,throughpureluck,Ihavegotten〈FlightMagic〉!Idon’tneedincantationstouseit.Icanflyaroundjustbywillingtodoso.Well,I’llslowlypracticewithit,andalongthewaylearntoflyatsupersonicspeeds.Butmorethangettingmyhandsonuniqueskillsandsuch,Iwasabletooptimize[GreatSage]andfurtherintegrateallmyskills.Forexample,IhadthoughtthatIcan’tmimicallmonstersatatime…butIwaswrong.Andifyou’rewonderingabout『DevilTransformation』,myhumanversionhasacquiredanewstrongestform.ThistooIwillcarefullyresearchlater.

Thisallaside,Ididjustmentionthatthewarhasended.Thebattlefieldwasfilledwithhappiness,sadness,anddespair.Nowthen.Ithinkiteverytimeafterabattle,butmoretroublesomethanthewaritselfarethereparationsafterwards.

ThedayaftertheOrcDisasterwasexterminated.Inthecenterofthemarshes,inatemporarytent,therepresentativeofeveryracehasgathered.

FromoursidecameI,Benimaru,Shion,Hakurou,andSouei.Rangaislurkingwithinmyshadowasalways.Iaminmyslimeform,sittingonShion’sknees.SinceIhadshownthemmytrueformwhenIdefeatedOrcDisasterthereisnoneedtoconcealitnow.Fromthelizardmen–theHead,GuardCaptain,andGuardViceCaptain.Gabilisimprisonedfortreason.Eveniftheyareparentandchild,insubordinationisbad.Thoughhe’sanidiot,hedoeshavesomeamusingpoints.Andsinceit’snotthetimetodiscusshissentence,we’lljustleavehimtherefornow.TheorcssenttheoneremainingOrcGeneralandtenclanchiefrepresentatives.Theywereallpale,depressionvisibleontheirfaces.Thereasonforthepreviouschaoswas,indubitably,theorcs.NomatterhowhardanyonetriestopinalltheblameontheOrcLord’smanipulation,theywereclearlynotblameless.Anditisbecausetheyunderstandthisfact,thattheirexpressionsaresodark.AccordingtowhatSoueihadgathered,theydidn’tpreparethatmuchfood.Throughcannibalismandtheeffectsoftheuniqueskill,theywereabletoadvancewhilestarving.Nowthattheyhavelosttheskill’seffectstheycan’tpossiblyeattheirbrethren.Theirratherunfortunatesituationmadetheatmosphereintheroomevenheavier.Theyarefullyexpectingtobedemandedtotakeresponsibilityforthewar,buttheyalsoknowthattheycan’tpossiblypayreparations.Asinthefirstplace,themaincauseforthewarwastheperpetually

starvingorcsandtheirleaderswhocoulddonaughtaboutit.Evenconsideringthattheirnumbershavedecreased,therearestill150thousandofthem.There’snotenoughfoodtofeedthemall.Andthefactthatevenwiththismanytroopstheycan’tcontinuecombatsimplyemphasizesjusthowcorneredtheorcsare.Iftheydidnothavethe[StarvingOnes]skill,theywouldhaveallperishedfromhunger.Thoughthereare150thousandofthem,thatalsoincludeswomen,childrenandtheyoung.Itwasamassexodusoftheorcrace.

＊　＊　＊

Thecausewasaseverefamine.TheMagicContinentisalandwithfertilesoilundertheprotectionofthedemonlords.Manypowerfuldemonicbeastsanddemonsinhabitit,butthankstothedemonlords,itissafe.However,therewasapriceforsafety.Asteeptax.Thosewhowantedtoliveonfertilelandshadtoprovidealargeamountofcrop.Orc,whoreproducedquickly,workedintheminesandtoiledthefields,andwerenecessarytothedemonlords.However.Thosewhocouldnotpaythetaxwereimmediatelykilled.Thedemonlordneverlendsahelpinghand.Aimingfortheabundantresources,manymonstersattack.Thosethathavenotpaidaprotectiontaxarenotprotected.Thusthatlandinevitablybecomesdangerous.Thefertileorcs,evenifthemajorityofthemwerekilled,wouldsoonenoughrestoretheirpopulationtoneededlevels.Thoughtherewasaneedtocontroltheirnumber,thedemonlordsdecidedthattheextraswoulddieanyways.Now,thankstoagreatfamine,theycouldnotpaytheirtax.Thus,losingtheprotectionofthedemonlords,theydecidedtofleethoselandsinsearchofasafehaven.Whilebesetbyhunger,theorclordwasbornamongthem,butuntilthentheywouldneverfightanyonestrongerthanthemselves.Andthuswandering,theyhavemadetheirwaytoJuraForest’soutskirts.

Aroundthattime,adevilnamedGelmudoofferedthemahand.Oblivioustohismachinations,theydecidedtoaccepthisoffer.Andthus,followinghisdirections,theyplungedJuraForestintochaos.

＊　＊　＊

Theconferencebeganwithaheavyatmosphere.Hakuroupresidedoverit.IhadoriginallyaskedtheLizardmen’sGuardCaptaintodoit,butherefused.

「ThatroleistoomuchforonesuchasI!」

Hesaid,andturnedmedown.Andsincethiswasn’tsomethingIcoulddelegatetothedefeated,Iimposed…askedthemostfittingman–Hakuroutodoit.Hakurouhaddeclaredtheconferenceopen,butnoonesaidanything.Everyonewaslookingatme.Howannoying.Iseriouslyhateconferences.Well,itcan’tbehelped.

「Beforewebegintheconference,IwishtosharetheinformationIhavegathered.Listen!」

Iexclaimed.Atmywords,everyone’sexpressionshardened,andtheyfixatedtheirgazesonme.AndthenIconveyedtheinformationIhavegottenfromSoueiandOrcDisaster.ThecausefortheOrcuprising,andtheircurrentsituation.Theorcrepresentatives,notexpectingmetobringthesethingsup,staredatmewithwonder.Thereafewwhoshedtearslisteningtome.Theywerefullyconvincedthatthey’dallbeexecutedwithoutachancetoexplainthemselves.Thenmystoryended.AndgivingHakurouthesignal,Icontinuedtheconference.

「Ahem!Nowthen,thefirstlet’sconfirmthecasualties!」

Andthusthediscussionstarted.Lizardmen’sheaddiscussedtheircasualties.Listeningtohisreport,theOrcshidtheirfacesandstayedsilent.

「Nowthen,Head-dono,doyouhaveanydemandsfortheorcs?」

Afterdiscussingthelosses,thediscussionproceededtodiscussappropriatepayment.ThoughI’veneverexperiencedanactualwarbeforesoIwouldn’tknow,buttheyprobablyhavethewinnerdemandthingsfromtheloser.Icouldn’tpreventtheconversationfromgoingthisway.

「Nothingspecific.Thisvictorywasnotwroughtbyourstrength.WeweresavedbyRimuru-dono!」

Abandoningtherighttoreparations,theHeadthusreplied.Notliketheycoulddomuchinthefirstplace,though.Alright.Let’slettheorcsspeaknow,butwhenIhadjustlookedatthem

「Pleasepardonmyinterruption!Pleaseallowmetocompensateforthisincidentwithmylife!Ofcourse,Iunderstandthatitisnotenough,butIhavenofollowerstoadd!」

OrcGeneralscallsout,fallingprostatebeforeme.Hedesperatelypleadsforthis.“IhavebecomeaBrankmonster,andgainedquitealotofmagicalenergy,sopleaseforgivetherestwithmydeath!”Iswhathesays.NotthatI’mplanningonthat,butthat’snottheproblematicpoint.Damnit,conferencesareannoying.Let’sjustdothismyway.

「Wait.Rimuru-samahassomethingtosay!」

Hakurouintervened.TheOrcGeneralshutup,andlookedatme.Therest,aswell,quietlywaitedformetospeak.JusttheatmospherethatIhate.

「Umm,sothisismyfirstconference,soI’mnotsureIcanhandlethiswell.Thus,I’lljustsaywhatIthink.Afterthat,Iwantyoualltodiscussmywords.」

HavingsaidthatIproceededtodiscussmythoughts.First,thatIthoughtthatweshouldnotpursuethediscussionabouttheorcs’sins.Next,thatIwantedtocontinuethealliancewiththeLizardmen.Andfinally,thatIwantedtheorcstojointhatalliance.

「Andthosearemythoughts.Ibetyouhavemanythingsyouwanttosay,butknowthis:Iwillnotpermitanypunishmenttobefalltheorcs.ThatisbecauseIhavethuspromisedtoOrcDisaster.Iwillbearalltheirsins.Ifyougotsomethingtocomplainabout,letmehearit!」

SoIdeclared.Theorcsstaredatmeamazed.Incontrasttothem,theHeadaskedaquestion.

「Wearecompletelysatisfiedwithwhatyouhavesaid.However,wedohaveaquestion…」「Whatisit?」「Nowthatthewarhasended,whydoweneedanalliance?」「Aboutthat,huh.Toexplain…」

AndthusIexplainedthatpointfurther.MyplantocreatetheGreatJuraForestCoalition.Inthefirstplace,ifweendedtheconversationwith“Nopunishment!Dismissed!”theorcswouldsimplydiefromhunger.Lackingindiscipline,somewouldattacklizardmenandgoblinvillages.Theirhungerwasthecauseforthismessinthefirstplace.It’smeaninglessifwedon’tsolveit.Andthat’swhywe’llformacoalition.TheLizardmencanofferfertilefishinggroundsandfish.Thegoblins…can’texpectmuchfromthem.Mycitycanprovideprocessedgoods.Andtheorcsexcelatmanuallabor.Theycaninhabitthelandsawayfromthemarshes.Thoseoriginally

ownedbytheogres.Thatplaceisalsobyafootofamountainwithabundantresources.Speakingofareaalone,all150thousandcouldn’tpossiblyallliveonthesameland,buttheycouldsplitintoMountaindistrict,Mountain-basedistrict,River-district,andtheForestdistrictandthuslive.Iftheparticularlylargeclanssplitintoindividualdistricts,this’llwork…somehow.We’llprovidethetechnicalsupportaboutconstructinghousingandsuch.However,we’llworktheorcshardinreturn.Afterall,ourvillage’spopulationistoosmallandmanythingsareleftundone.ThatIwanttofinishallinonego.ThatmuchIexplainedtothem.Everyoneheardthesameexplanation.Unlikelasttime,thisdeclarationlefteverybodygreatlyexcited.Theirfearswipedaway,afireofhopewaslitintheirhearts.Forsomereason,Shion,whohadbeenholdingme,bentherbackandhaughtilylaughed*Fufun!*.That,ofcourse,Icouldnotpermit.However,thenherbreaststouchedmewithapuyooon!Ah,whatever,Ipermitit.Iamagraciouslord!

「Y-y-you’dpermitus…tojoinyourcoalition…?」

Theorcgeneralfearfullyasked.

「Youcanwork,right?Iwon’tletyouslackoff」「O-ofcourse!We’llworkasifourlivesdependedonit!!!」

Theorcstrembled,tearsfallingfromtheireyes.

「Wehavenoobjections.Rather,we’dliketoaidyou!」

TheLizardmen’sHeadalsovoicedhisagreement.Seemslikethey’veallacceptedmyplan.Nowthatwehaveeveryone’sconsent,theGreatJuraForestCoalitionisborn.However,aproblemremains.Anunnaturallytroubling,worrisomeproblem!

I’msorryforbringingthisupwhileyou’rerejoicing,but…

「Quiet.Nowthateveryonehasagreed,Iwantustotacklethelargestproblem!Thatis…provision!Howdoweprevent150thousandorcsfromstarving?Iwanteveryonetolendmetheirwisdominthis!」

Thelastgreatperplexity.Provision,orrather–thelackofthereof,istheproblem.Theorcshaveenoughforthreedays.Evenifweplantcropsnow,wewon’tmakeitintime;ifwefishforfood,we’llcleanthelakedry.Atroublingdilemmaisuponus.Thelizardmenhaveenoughfoodtofeedtenthousandforhalfayear.Evenifwegaveallofthatup,150thousandwouldeatitintwelvedays.Sowhatcanwedo…Everyonewasscratchingtheirheadsthinkingaboutit.Andthen,

「Pardontheinterruptionduringtheconference!Thereisanemissarythatdesperatelyseeksyouraudience!」

ALizardmanhadruninsaying.Seemstobeveryflustered.AfterInoddedtoHakurou,

「Showthemin!」

Hakurouresponded,sendingthesoldieraway.Anemissary?Fromwhom?Asifansweringmyquestion,asingle“person”hadenteredthetent.ADryad.Abeautifulgirlwithgreenhair.LikethepeopleofEurope,herskinwaswhitewithwelldefinedfacialfeatures.Plumplips,andblueeyesthatsuitherwell.Ifmeasuredinhumanyears,she’dlookabout16-18yearsold.AguardianspiritoftheTreants.Amongthemonsters,shewouldrank

amongthetopofArank.Manyvoicedtheirsurprisewhensheentered.Wellduh,you’dbesurprised.AsIheardlater,it’sbeenmanyhundredsofyearssinceaDryad“Layato”haslastbeenseen.Withlonglifespans(immortal,actually)thesewomenrarelyleavetheirsacreddwellings.Youwouldnormallybehappyiftheyhadsentamessenger.Dryad“Layato”lookedaroundtheroomandfocusedhereyesonme.

「Pleasetomeetyou,everyone!IamaDryad“Layato”trainee.Pleasedtomakeyouracquaintance.Ihadcometodaytoexterminatetheorclord…Butthatseemstohavebeendonealready.Iwasplanningtoleaveasecondago,butdecidedtoatleastgreeteveryone.AndthenIfoundthatyouaretroubledoveracertainproblem.IaskthatyoulistentowhatIhavetosay!」

Shesaidwithabrightsmile.Butshealsoseemedperfectlycalm.Andimmediatelycontinuedherspeech.

「Itseemyoulackprovisions,correct?Ibelievewecouldassistwiththat.However…,Weaskthatourbeneficiaries,theTreants,areallowedtojoinyourcoalition!」

Wehavenoreasontoreject.Actually,wewouldgladlyaccept.However,

「Umm,wearegratefulfortheoffer,butwhywouldyouwanttojointhecoalition?」

Iaskedoneveryone’sbehalf.AndwhenIdid,

「TheTreantsarearacethathardlymove.Thus,theyhavelittleinteractionwithotherraces.

Shouldtheybeattackedbyapowerfulopponentorfacesomenaturaldisaster,theywouldbehelpless.WetheDryadscouldescapeonourown,butwearefewinnumber…Ifweweretojoinanalliance,wecouldreceivehelpwhenneeded,right?」

Sherespondedwithapuresmile.Couldshebewillingtoputhertrustinaourgoodwill?Doyouhonestlybelievestrangers’words?Sinceyouhaven’tmetthatmany,youaren’tevendoubtingthem,right?Ican’treadanyhiddenintentionsfromhersmile.Ofcourse,Ihavenointentionofbetrayingher.However,agirllikeherwouldfindherselfindangerduetohertrust…

「Ofcourse!Whentroubled,ourlordRimuru-samawouldhelpsomehow!」

WithaFufun!Shionselfishlyreplied.Don’tforgettomentionthattherearealsothingsIcan’tdo,lass!Iwantedtointerject,butitwastoolate.

「Maa!SoitwasasIthought!Inthatcase,pleasetakecareofusfromnowon.」

Sheendedtheconversationwithasmile.Umm…myopinionwascompletelyignoredthemomentitmattered…butwhatever.IguessImustconcedehere.

Thus,theGreatJuraForestCoalitionwasestablished.Itsmembers,

Rimuru’sHappyBunch.GoblinsLizardmenOrcsTreants

Andleadingthiscoalition,(hopefullytemporarily)isme.

Thisday,mynamewasforthefirsttimeetchedintothehistoryofthisworld.

Status

Name:Rimuru(Disaster)TempestSpecies:Slime(HumanFormPossible)DivineProtection:TheStormCrestTitle:OnewholeadsDemonsMagic:〈ThoughtBattleMagic〉〈FlightMagic〉Skills:SlimeSpecificSkills『Absorb,Dissolve,RegenerateEX』UniqueSkill『GreatSage』ThoughtAcceleration,Analysis,ParallelProcessing,IncantationNullification,AllofCreationUniqueSkill『Gluttony』Stomach,Mimicry,Separation,Decay,Supply,FoodChain『Shapeshifter』Fusion,Separation

ExtraSkills『Segmenting』『BlackFlame』『BlackLightning』『Barrier』『ShadowStep』Dailyskills『MagicPerception』『Heatdetection』『AuditoryPerception』『SupremeOlfaction』『Intimidation』『HerculeanStrength』BattleSkills『NoxiousandParalysisBreath』『FullBodyArmor』『StickyThread』『TelepathicCommunication』『Cloning』『DevilTransformation』『FlameTransformation』Mimicking:FlameGiant,BlackWolf,BlackSnake,Lizard,GiantSpider,GiantBat,Centipede,Goblin,Orc

Resistances:ThermalFluctuationResistanceEX,PhysicalDamageResistance,PainResistance,HeatAttackResistance,ParalysisResistance,CorrosionResistance,ElectricityResistance

Chapter43–WarReparations

Thedaythecoalitionwasestablishedwouldbecomeadayofgreatcommemorationforthemonsters.Becauseeachoneofthemreceivedaname.

Justkidding.Evenifitsoundscoolyou’vegottothinkaboutwhowouldbegivingthemnames.There’s150thousand,damnit.That’sjustreckless.Imean,Ihadgoneintoathreedayhibernationafternamingmerelyfivehundredgoblins!BythetimeInameall150thousand,they’ddiefromhunger!Iwasplanningtojustignoreitthistime,but…Inanycase,Ialsoneedtodevourtheirsins.Andsomehow,whiletheyhadrisenuptorankC+,itseemsthatthey’llbereturningbacktoDinabouttwoweeks.TheyweremerelystrengthenedbytheOrcLord’sabilities.AndoncetheylosetheirmagicenergyIwilleatitandbestowitbackuponthem.Thus,Iwillbeabletonamethemwithouttiringneedlessly.Sothereisnoprobleminnamingthem…exceptthatI’llrunoutofsimplelettercombinations.EvenifIgivestartgivingoutthesamenamesindifferentdistricts,managingtheprocesswillbeapain.There’sonlyonethingtodo,themostextremeandsuprememethod.Iwillnamethembasedonaserieswithinfinitepotential!That’sright!Numbers!Soundstoomuchlikeacitizen’sregistrationnumber?Well,frankly,thisisthemostefficientmethod.Sincetheyareabletoatleastlineupinformation,Ihadthemlineupinthemarshes.Wouldtheyhatebeingnamedonawhim?Ihadthatpassingthought,butoncethemagicalenergydisappears,they’lldevolveintoanuncontrollablemobof150thousand.That’stoomanytoletloose.BeingonlyaDrank,theywould’tposemuchofathreat;however,Ican

seethembreakingintoprivateproperty.Besides,astheyare,Ican’texpectmuchoftheirworkskills,makingthecoalitionratherpointless.Also,iftheyevolve,theirstatusincreasesandtheirreproductiveabilitydecreases–thatmuchweknowfromthetimeInamedthegoblins.Thus,I’llbeexercisingvictor ’srightshere.Thegreatclansshallbeseparatedbytheirnames:Yama(mountain),Oka(hill),Hora(cave),Umi(sea),Kawa(river),Ko(lake),Mori(forest),Kusa(grass),andSuna(sand).Forexample,amanfromthemountainswouldbe“Yama-1M”.Awomanwouldbe“Yama-1F”.That’showIwoulddiversifytheirnames.Honestly,managingthiswillstillbeapain.ForkidsIdecidedtogowithsomethinglike“Yama-1-1M”,forexample.Perhapsitwouldbemoreappropriatetogivewithsomenameorlettercombinationinstead,butI’llleavethattothemfornewnames.Andthus,Iabsorbedtheirmagicalenergy,andgavethemnamesinstead.Ifirstalignedthembyclan,thenseparatedthembygender,andbegangivingthemnames;asyou’dexpect,ittookawhile.However,Iwasabletogivethemallnameswithoutworryingendlessly.Theyweregivennamesbytheirplaceintheline.Ididn’ttrytomatchnamesforparentsandchildren.Theyshouldjustnamethemselvesifunsatisfied.Inthisfashion,Iwentonnamingthemall.Ithenhadtheclanrepresentativesconductacensus.Butsincetheyhadnopaper,itwasonlytomakesurenomistakesweremade.Butinreality,therewasnothingtoworryabout–thosenamedcouldhardlyforgetit.Unlikehumans,monstersalwaysknowthenameetchedontheirsoul.Ithusstartedtogiveandeachoneofthemaname.Takingnomorethanfivesecondperperson.However…givingeachoneanamestilltook10days.

Ofcourse,whileIwasnamingthemwithoutrest,Icouldn’tjusthaveBenimaruandtheresthavingfun.IhadtheDryadTraineeescortthemtotheTreant’scommunity.Inordertotransportthefood.Woulditreallybeenoughtofeed150thousand?WhileIhadsuchworries,

Icouldonlytrustinherwords.Attheveryleast,Ihopethereisenoughtolastthemayear.Ididn’tworryaboutthecarriersatall.Thefundamentalworryofwarislogistics,afterall.Allowingthefrontlinetostarvewelcomesdefeat.Nomatterhowmuchofademoneachoneofthemis,carryingenoughfoodforalltheorcsmustbedifficult.However!TheStormWolves,themomentRangahadevolvedintoTempestStarWolf,hadevolvedintoStarWolves.EachoneisatleastaBranknow.Ahighrankingmonster.Theirnumbersarestillatone-hundred,buttheyhaveunlockedaStarLeaderevolutionvariation.Andlet’snotforgettomentionthattheycanalluse『ShadowStep』now.Theycan’tmoveinstantaneouslylikeSoueiorRangado,buttheycaneasilymovefasterthansound.Andtheynowmoveignoringanyobstacle–straighttotheirtarget.Closinglongdistancewitheverystep,theyaremovingatthreetimestheiroriginalspeed.Inshort–reallyquickly.SoIalsohadthestrongStarWolveshandleferryingtheprovisionsover.Ifweusedacarriage,thetrip–withanecessarydetour–wouldtaketwomonths;thisway,arounddriptakesonlyaday.However,theGoblinriderscannotjourneywiththem.Idon’tknowifthisissomethingtheycanlearnthroughpractice,butIwantthemtotry.Sohavingremainedwithme,theGoblinsarehelpingarrangingtheorcs.Thus,wecameupwithamethodtoprocurefood.

Whichleadmetoworryaboutfoodreserves…Imean,Treantsaremonsterswhosurviveonwater,sunlight,andairalone.Theywouldgrowfruitsusingtheirmagicalenergy,buttherewasnoonetoeatthem.Theyweremeantfortheraceresidingintheholylands,buttheimmortalracejusthadthemaccumulate.Moreover,thefruitbeingmagical,itdoesnotrotnomatterhowmuchtimepasses.

Bytheway,asIlearnedlater,thisfruitissoldasarareingredientcalled“DriedTreant”inhumanmarkets.It’sreallyhardtofindandcanbesoldforalargeamountofmoney.Thereasonforthepriceisitsabundantmagicalenergy.Justonedropcankeepyougoingforsevendays.Withoutfeelinghunger.AnotherreasonforthehighpriceisthefactthatTreantsdon’tinteractwithotherraces,andthetroublesomeDryads,whomanagethisproduct,giveitoutsometimesasapresent.WhenIlearnedthisfact,Ihadmildregretsaboutgivingitouttotheorcsforfree…butitiswhatitis.Andthus,thanksforDryadTrainee’sguidance,wewereabletoacquirefood.

Tendayslater.Exhausted,Ifinished.Ialmostranoutofnumberstouse.Tired.However,Iwasalsofilledwithasenseofaccomplishment.150thousand?Justcountingthathighisannoying.Well,bythetimeIfinishednamingthem,wealsofinisheddividingupthefood.Fiftypieceseach.Theprobablyunderstandthatwhentheyrunouttheystarve.Soeveryoneworeseriousexpressionswhenacceptingthefruit.Afterbeingnamed,theorcsevolvedintohighorcs.Butsincetheyweren’tnamedusingmymagicalenergy,therewasnomaster-servantrelationshipbetweenus.Everythingrestsontheirsincerepromisetojoinandsupportourcoalition.TheirstrengthdidreachuptoC+immediatelyafterevolving,buttheysettledcomfortablyintheCrankzone.ConsideringtheywereDranksoriginally,thisshouldbegoodenough.Moreimportantly,theyhavegottensmarterwhilepreservingtheirspecialcharacteristics.Theyevolvedintoaracethatcanadapttoandmakeuseofanysituation.Afterthankingme,theydispersedeachtotheirlands.Overseeingthiswere10goblinriderspergroup.Oncetheyconfirmthelocation,weplantoassistthemwithsettinguptents.

And,guidingthemonnecessaryskills,wewillsetupeachandeverycommunity.Thoughthiswon’tbeforawhile,butthey’lleventuallysettledown,andtheirlivingstandardsshouldimprove.Thus,wesawtheorcsoff.Whichremindedofacertainindividual.TheOrcGeneralinsistedthatIworkhimtomypleasure.But…Ididwantanotherlaborer.Ah,whatever.Let’sjustlethimin.Ialsoneedtofigureoutwhattodowiththeblackfullplatearmorclad,two-thousandstrongeliteorcarmy.ThemIcannotnameusingadistrict.WhatshouldIdo…Sincetheyhaveayellowauraaboutthem,Idecidedtonamethemusingacolorandnumbers.Iglanceovertheorcarmy.And,havethemlineupaccordingtomywishes.Recently,Icanusemy『GreatSage』’sappraisalabilitysimplybylooking.JustlikeShunadoes.Asexpectedof『Gluttony』’sFoodChainability.It’ssupereffective!AndsoInamed(assignednumbersto)everyone,excepttheOrcGeneral.ThusthelaterfamousYellowCorpswasborn.Numbersassignedindiscriminatelyofgender.Sincetherecouldbenogenderinequalityamongfellowwarriors.I’llbelaterdispatchingthemtoeverycommunityasproductionworkers.Atthepresent,there’snochoicebuttohavethemdothiskindofwork.Now,abouttheOrcGeneral.I’mgoingtoignoreanyfeelingofforeboding.Anddecideonaname.I’llincorporatetheOrcLord’sambition,theonehegotfromGelmudo.JustthinkingaboutthatClown’sfacemakesmeangry,buttotheorcshe’sanimportantbenefactor.Idon’tcaremuchabouthisexpectations,andIdon’thaveanythingtobaseiton.So,thenameIwillbestowuponhim,

「WithrespectgiventoOrcDisaster ’sdyingwish,youshallhenceforthbe

knownasGerudo!」

Atthatmoment,theOrcGeneral’sbodywasenvelopedinayellowaura,andhebeganevolving.Andatthesametime,Ilostalotofmagicalenergy.Crap…soitreallycametothis.Asalways,Ienteredaloweredactivitystate(SleepMode).

Andthefollowingday,ShouldIsay“justasexpected”orsomething?Mypremonitionwasspoton.TheOrcElitehasallevolvedintoHighOrcs.ThoughtheypossessedstrengthalmostsurpassingC+rank,theywereabletoretainthatlevel.Allinall,theyhaveevolvedintoratherpowerfulwarriors.ConsideringthatGoblinRidersarealsorankedC+,Iseemtohaveacquiredaratherpowerfularmy.Well,thoughGoblinRidersarerankedthus,theyreallyshouldbeevaluatedtogetherwiththeStarWolves.SoperhapsIshouldn’tbecomparingthem.Nowthen,theproblematicOrcGeneral,orrather,Gerudo…Hehadgainedtheuniqueskill『Gourmet』withabilities「Stomach,Supply,andDemand」.Hismagicenergyisalsoprettyhigh,almostreachingArank.Asexpected,henolongerhasanyoftheabilitieshegotfromcannibalizing.Simplybecausehehasnoneedforthem.Thisskillhegotprobablybecausehewishedforitfromthebottomofhisheart.Perhapsbecausehehadenduredthepainandsuffering,hebecamesucharationalanddignifiedmonster.“CanIbesatisfiedwithsuchasubordinate?”Ihadsuchafleetingthought,butdecidedtoignoreit.Ifhedesiredtogoonindependent,Iwouldpermitit.Thoughhedoesn’tseemtowanttodothat.AndperhapstheDeathMarchhasfinallycometoanend.WasalltheirsufferingupuntilnowtheeffectofGelmudo’sskill–thatIwouldn’tknow.Perhapsthatclownwasactuallyareallypowerfulguy.

Ijokedtomyself.

Thegoblinsoldiershavefinallyreturned.Theirnumbersgreatlyreduced,withonly4,000survivors.Aretheyokay?Iworriedslightly.But,thisistheirproblemandnotsomethingIwillintervenein.Toomuchinterventionwouldbeharmfultothem.

Nowthen,shouldwetakeourleave?Let’sreturnthecontrolofthisareabacktothelizardmen,sayourfarewellstotheHead,andheadof.Thoughourtimehearwasamerethreeweeks,thiswarfeltratherlong.Imyselfseemtohavefoughtaloneforalongtime.Theforestdisturbancestorythuscomestoanend.

＊　＊　＊

GabilwasbroughtbeforetheLizardmen’sHead,hisfather.Themomentthefightingended,hewasthrownintoprison.Hiswasfedeverymorningandeveryevening,butnoonehadsaidanything.Thiskindoflifestylecontinuedonfortwoweeks.Afterall,hewasarebel.Thatmuchwastrue.Whileheactedinwhathebelievedwaseveryone’sbestinterests,hisfoolishnessalmostannihilatedtheentirerace.Itwashisfault.Hehadnoexcusestosay,noranydesiretocomeupwithany.Hewouldprobablyfacethedeathpenalty.Afactheaccepted.But…Gelmudowhohadbetrayedhim.Ignoringthatfact,theSlimewhohadsavedhim.Alowlymonster.That’showhereferredtotheslime.Whilethatwasnotamistake,italsowas.ThatSlimeisspecial.UniqueandNamed,atrulyspecialmonster.Ifhecouldhaveonefinalwish,he’swanttoask.Whydidyousaveme?Themislead,worthlessme.Acompleteidiot.Thatthoughtwasonhismindeverydayfortwoweeks.

Hestoodbeforehisfather.Theatmosphereheavy,theylookedeachotherinteheye.Afatherwho,asusual,didnotshowhisemotion.Ah…deathpenalty,huh?Heagreed.Aleadercannotshowweakness.Hemustupholdlawatallcost.Sothere’snowayhecouldhatehim.Heresolvedhimselftoquietlyaccepthispunishment.

「Iwillpassjudgment!Gabil,youareexiled.YouareforbiddentoevercallyourselfaLizardman.Further,youareforbiddentoeverreturn.Leave!Showyourfaceamongusnolonger!」

Eh?Whatdidhesay?Hisfather ’sguardsleadhimbythearmsoutsidethecaves.TheHeadthrewhimout.AndtotheconfusedGabil,

「Don’tforgetthis!Don’tloseit,okay?」

Hewastold,ansomethingwasthrowntohim.Alongwithhisthings,alongwrappedpackage.Justfromtheweightheunderstood.ItwastheMagicWeapon:WaterVortexSpear.TearsfallingfromGabil’seyes,hewantedtosaysomethingtohisfather.Butwordswouldn’tcomeout.Hewasanexile.Filledwithvariousemotions,hecouldonlybowingratitude.And,withoutlookingback,hecontinuedonward.Tothecityunderconstructionhehadoncevisited.

Afterwalkingabit,

「Pleasewaitaminute.Gabil-sama!」

Someonecalledouttohim.His100subordinates.

「Wha-whatareyoudoing,idiots!Iwasexiled!」

「Itdoesn’tmattertous!WefollowGabil-sama,ifyouareexiled,thensoarewe!」「「「Yeah!!!」」」

Theyrespondedwithasmile.Whatfoolstheyare;Thisisnoplacetoshedtears.Likemyfather,Imustlearntoactwithdignity.,hethought.

「WhatwillIdowithyou!Gotit.Followme!」

Andthushewalked.Filledwithadifferentkindofself-confidencethanbefore.

Gabil’sgroupjoinedupwithRimuruamonthlater.

Chapter44–Andthuswefinishedthecity

Nowthatthewarended,wemightaswellreturntoourcity.Honestly,returningbackwithanextratwothousandorsofollowersistiresome.So,I’llleavethereturnmarchtoHakurou.Soueihasalreadyreturnedtoleteveryoneknowaboutvictory.Wealsoneedtosetupsometemporaryhousingforthenewcomers.AfterIsenthimback,Isatdowntodecidewho’drushbackwithme.RangacancarrytwobackandStarLeadercancarryanother…Buttheycouldn’tcometoaconsensusonwho’dgo.Shionsaid,“I’minchargeofourlord’scare!”,andBenimarumentionedsomethingaboutdefensesorwhat-not.Gerudoalsoreferredtohisabilitytocarrythingswithhisstomach,andaskedtobeincluded.Honestly,though,Idon’tcarewhogoes.Waitasecond!IjustrememberedthatIcanuse『ShadowStep』aswell.AfterIdecidedtoreturnthisway,thedebatesuddenlystopped.IwascompletelyoblivioustodejectedRanga,whowantedtocarryme,anddisappointedShion,whowashopingtoridewithme.

「Wellthen,I’llbegoingonahead!」

Ideclared,andleftusing『ShadowStep』.Daaamn,thisskillisconvenient!It’slikemovingstraighttothetargetthroughadifferentdimension.Oh,andIflythroughthatplainusing〈FlightMagic〉.FeelslikeI’mmovingreally,reallyfast.InablinkofaneyeIreachthecity.Seemslikethisskillcanplotacoursenotjusttopeopleandmonsters,butalsotolocationsI’vepreviouslyvisited.Istillcan’tflyespeciallyfastusing〈FlightMagic〉.However,evenatcurrentspeed,Icaneasilyconcludethatthisisthebestwaytotravel.Iamcompletelysatisfiedwiththeresultsofthistrialrun.Ranga’sgroupwillprobablyarrivewithin2~3days.

HakurouandtheHighOrcswillbehereamonthfromnow,atthesoonest.Sobeforetheyarrive,Ihavetoprepareaplaceforthemtolive.Whilesomesmalldilemmasareboundtoarise,we’veatleastsolvedallthemajorproblems.Fornow,Ijustwanttorelax.

＊　＊　＊

Then,AftereveryonearrivedontimeandIdivideduptheresponsibilities,thingsquieteddown.Thecitywasquicklytakingonshape.Thehighorcs,whoarrivedinlessthanamonth,quicklylearnedtheappropriateskillsfromtheDwarfsandskilledGoblins.AccordingtoKaijin,

「Withtime,theyjustmightbecomeasgoodastheDwarfManufacturingBattalion.」

Iswhathesaid.Thus,havingacquirednewworkers,wequicklyrushedtofinishallthepreviouslyneglectedprojects.

Atthesametime,westartedtransportinggoodsandequipment.Wedismantledthetentsthatwerenolongerinuse,andsentthemtotheorccommunities.Thegoblinssenttothemhavebeenabletoasserttheirleadershipandhavebeenhelpingestablishingbasicnecessities.Themomentwebeganexchanginggoodswealsostartedestablishingasolidsystemofexchange.Thoughtheyendedupwith,whatwemaycallancient,barteringsystem,thefactthattheycameupwithitisinitselfwonderful.Besides,it’snotliketheyaregrowingthatmanygoodsyet,sotheycantakeallthetimetheyneedtolearnthesethings.Thereisverylittlevarietyrightnow;basicallylimitedtogrowingapotato-likecrop.Itcangroweveninharshenvironments.Italsohashighnutritionalvalue,andthoughyoucan’texactlycallit

luxuryfoodyoucancertainlyliveoffofit.Thus,wespreadtheseedsamongthemandtaughtthemhowtogrowit.Perhapsintwoyearstheycouldbeself-sufficient?Isurelyhopedso…Gerudowasveryusefulintransportingtheseedsandtents.Asheclaimedhecould,heswallowedthedisassembledtentsandthusdistributedthemamongthevillages.However,hissuccessislargelythankstothefactthathecannowleapalongwiththestarwolvesduring『ShadowStep』.Heseriouslytriedhardtolearnitandbecamethefirsttosucceedwithit.Therestwentsmoothly.Thatis,thetriptothemountaindistrictaloneonfootwouldhavetakenhimmanymonths.Instead,hewasabletomakearoundtripinasingleday.Sowedecidedtoputtheskilltouseandestablishedacommunicationsnetworkbetweenallthevillages.Basically–PostalService.Forexample,Icanscribblesomeinformationonawoodblockandhaveitcirculatedamongthecommunities.ThoughImustmentionthatonlyafewindividualsherecanreadandwrite,andI’mratherafraidofsendingaverbalmessage.Whoknowsthatitwillbecomeafterbeingpassedfromvillagetovillage.Hopefullytheycanlearnletters.Moreso,since『TelepathicCommunication』doesnotreachthatfar.Butthat’sforlater.Thus,wewereabletoestablishsomekindofconnectionbetweenthemanycommunities.

AndImustnotforgetaboutaguythatshowedup.Gabil.Thatidiotsuddenlyshowedupinourcity.

「Iyaa…hahaha!ThisGabilhasrushedovertobecomeYourstrength,Rimuru-dono!」

Hebrazenlystated.

「Killhim?」

Shionaskedmewithaseriousface.Thekindoffacethatscreams“serious!”andreads“absolutelyserious!”Gabilpaledand,

「Igotcarriedaway!I’msorry!PleaseallowustobecomeYoursubordinates,Rimuru-sama!Wewilldefinitelyproveourselvesuseful!!!」

Heimmediatelycorrectedhimselffallingintoadogeza.Apparently,hewasdisowned(exiled?)byhisfather,andhadnoplacetogo.Sosincehewasjustsopitiful,Idecidedtowelcomehimin.Bethe’llgetcarriedawayagainrightaway,though.Hmm?IfIlookclosely,seemsliketheHead’sGuardCaptainisalsoamongthem.

「Hmm?Captain-san,whyareyouhere?」

WhenIaskedhim,

「IcametoserveSouei-sama,whomIgreatlyadmire!」「What?Soyoudidn’tcomebecauseyouadmiredthisGabil!」「Iamdifferentfromtheothermusclebrains!Thatmuchisobvious!」

Theystartedtoquarrelamongthemselves.Themajority,itseems,cameoutofrespectforGabil,buttherewereafewfromtheguardsquadaswell.Well,Idon’tseeabigproblemwiththemwantingtoserveSouei.

「IfyouwanttoserveSouei,goandtalktohim.Butdonote–he’saninja.Willyoubeofanyusetohim?」「Weshall!Wearedifferentfromthosenaiveidiots!」「Wh-whatdidyousay!Don’tunderestimateme,littlegirl!」

Seemsliketheydon’tgetalong.Probablythefactthatonestartedarebellionandtheothercapturedthemafterwardsledtoagrudgeformingbetweenthem.Inanycase,Iwon’tmeddleinthat.

Causeit’sdamntiresome.Oh,andIlaterlearnedthatthelittlegirlisGabil’syoungersister.Sinceshe’shisrelative,she’sprobablyalsolittleweird.Butherfatherisawonderfulguy…

「Well,sinceyou’llbeservingSouei,Iguessyou’llbecalledSouka.TheotherfourI’llname,Touka,Saika,Nansou,andHokusou!」

Flowerendingsforgirls,andspearendingsforboys.Ofcourse,thereisnogreatermeaningattached.ThesefiveservedintheGuardSquad.I’llleavethemtoSouei.ThemomentInamedthem,theybegantoevolve.Gabilobservedthiswithgreatenvy.However,IcannotnameGabil.Healreadyhasaname.

「Areyoujealous,Gabil-kun?Butyouarealreadynamed“Gabil!”」

Gabilquicklylookedatme.Andthen,hisbodybegantoglow.Hmm?That’sasignofevolution…ThemomentIthoughtthat,alotofmagicalenergysuddenlyleftmybody.Again?!Seriously…ButwhocouldhavethoughtIcanoverwritenames.Well,chancesarethishappenedbypurechance.Theonewhonamedhimhaddied,andwewereonthesamewavelengthorsomethinglikethat?Idon’tknowexactlywhyithappened,butthefactremains:I(re)namedGabil.Ihadwantedhimtoreflectabitmore,butjustthinkinghowhaughtyhe’llbecomeafterevolving…damnit,nowI’mscared!Whilethinkingthesethings,IenteredSleepMode.

Thefollowingday,Inamedtheotherhundredlizardmensoldiers.ThenamesIassignedbypickinglettersofthealphabet.20nameswasmylimit.Sincetheywerehighlevelmonsterstobeginwith,namingthemtakesusesupalotofmagicalenergy.Thewholeprocesstookfivedays.Can’tIjuststop?

Somehow,IfeellikeI’mworkingharderthanIeverdidinmypastlife.It’sGabil.It’sallGabil’sfault.Sincethat’sclearlythetruth,let’sfireamagicbulletathim.

「Wh-whatareyoudoing?!」

Heexclaimedinsurprise,

「Practice!」

Iresponded.Hehappilyacceptedthatresponse.Hereallyisanidiot.OnethatcancompetewithGobuta.Bytheway,sinceitwaspointless,Ididn’tfireabulletathim.GabilevolvedintoaDragonewt.He’scoveredbydensescaleswhichactlikeamulti-layerbarrier.Ohandspeakingofstrange,theappearanceofdragonewtsvarriesbygender.Themendon’tlookmuchdifferentthanwhentheywerelizardmen.Theysprouteddragonwingsandhorns,andarenowcoveredinhardscales–justthatmuch.Well,theirdark-greencoloralsochangedtodark-purple.Ontheotherhand,thewomenhaveahumanappearance.Ratherbeautiful,actually.Furthermore,theycanalsocoverthemselveswithdragonscales,sproutwingsandhornsatwill.TheylooklikeIwouldifIweretotransformintoahumanandcombinemyselfwiththeblacksnakeandgiantbat.Perhapsthatblacksnakewasadragonspecies.So,sinceGabil’svicesannoyedmetonoend,Ialsowantedtocheckouthisdefenses,andit’shardtocheckthatbyyourself,Ifiredatestshotathim.Hewasunharmed.Ionlyshotanormalround,thathenormallyreceived…thatshouldhavebeenfivetimesstrongerthanusual…Well,maybehe’sjustsostupidhedoesn’tfeelthepain,or,evenworse,heinheritedmypainresistance.Theydosaythatdinosaursweredulltopain,socouldhebea…

Nowthattheyhaveevolved,whatshouldwedoabouttheirhousing?Iftheyneedwater,there’sthatriverflowingnearby…Andit’sapaintomakeavillagewithonlyahundredpeople.Thereisthatundergroundlakeinthecave,butthere’snofishandhighmagicenergydensity.Well,sinceit’sGabil,hecanhandlethatmuch,right?TheycouldalsocultivateHipoktegrasswhiletheyareatit.However,wouldsendingthemintothecaveproveperiloustothem?ThefiveguardsIlefttoSouei.Hopefullyhecanraisethemintofineninjaandkunoichi.SinceI’mscared,I’llbesuretoavoidtheirpractices.Gabil’sgroupistheproblematicone,however.EvenifIsendthemintothecavetheyprobablywon’tbecomemonsterfeed,but…AsDragonewts,theirfightingstrengthisBrank.Theyshouldhavenoproblemdefeatingmostmonstersinthere,butthecentipedecouldcausethemsometrouble.Butsincetheyareexperiencedwarriorsandarecarryingweaponstheyshouldbefine,right?Ishouldn’tworryaboutGabileither.HisevolutionplacedhimatrankA-.Healsoobtainedquitealotofmagicalenergy.Somaybehe’llendupasanArank.

「Gabil,IwanttoleaveharvestingHipoktegrassinthecavestoyou,howaboutit?」

WhenIasked,

「Pleaseleaveittome!ThisGabilwillworkhimselftotheboneforyoursake!」

Hecasuallyresponded.I’llleaveittohim.Besides,iftheystartlivingthere,theycanalsodoubleasthecave’sguards.

AndsoGabil’sgroupstartedharvestinghipoktegrassinthecaves.Ihadsomelingeringworries,soIcametocheck,buttheyseemtobedoingjustfine.

Andsincetheyareconstantlyfighting,theyarebecomingstronger.Rightnow,theycanbringdownacentipedewithjustthefiveofthem.Howreassuring.Ishouldalsosendthemnewweapons.SoIthought.Andthus,sometimepassed.

＊　＊　＊

TwomonthshavepassedsinceIreturnedtothecity.Justaseveryonewasgettingusedtolifehereandproductionwasgoingsmoothly,Andthemomentwefinishedthelasthouse,

Thegoblins.IfIhadtosay,abouteightthousandofthem.Showedupandkneltbeforeme,saying

「Ifyoumay,pleasemakeusyourservantsaswell!」「「「Wehumblybegyou!!!」」」

Theysaidfallingprostratebeforeme.Ithoughtforasecond.IfIrefusethem,thatmayseedconflictlateron.Besides,Ialsostrictlyorderednottodiscriminateagainstotherraces.IfIsendthemawaythatmaysetaprecedentofdiscrimination.Let’sacceptthem.SoIdecided.

「Fine.ButIwilldriveawayanyonewho’sslacking,isthatfine?」「Ofcourse!!!」

Iacceptedthemlightly.ButlittledidIknowthatanotherstrugglewassoonuponme!Again!Myscreamscouldbeheardimmediatelyafter.

Tosaytheleast,IusednumbersandthuscreatedtheGreenCorps.ThatwasthemomentthefamousGreenCorpswasborn.AlongwiththeYellowCorps,theywouldbeknownashavingnoequal,thecruxofmyforce.

Rightnow,theywerebutdirtygoblins.Andamonthlater,Ifinallyfinishednamingthem.Butthiswasnotacompletetragedy.Mytotalamountofmagicalenergyhasincreased.Imean,Ikeptemptyingtimeaftertimeagain,soitwasboundtoincreaseabit.Andthus,Ifinishednamingthegoblins.

BythetimeIfinishednamingthem,wealsofinishedconstructinghousingforeveryone.Ihadthegoblinsstayinaboardinghousefornow,butthat’scertainlybetterthancampingoutinatent.Wehadasystemfordrawingwater,awellineveryhouse,soitisaprettyadvancedcity.Havingaflushtoiletisalsoheavenly.Thereisaneedtocarrythepumpedoutwatertothetoiletinabucket,butstrongmonstersdon’tparticularlymind.Therearealsothosewhodon’texcrete,though.Meincluded.However,wecan’thavethecitystinking.ThatmuchIwillnotpermit.However,therearestillmanyfieldsandanimalfarmsthathaven’tseensuccess.Iwanttomakesurethiscitygrowsinabundance.

IhavefinallyacquiredalandwhereIcanliveatpeace.Herearethosewhowerewithmeatthetime,

Oni–6peopleTempestStarWolf–1memberStarLeader–1memberStarWolves–100membersGoblinRiders–100people

GoblinKing–1personGoblinLords–8peopleHobgoblins–8,657people

OrcKing–1person

HighOrcs–1,984people

Dragonewts–106people

And4dwarfssupportingus.Thereareovertenthousandmonstersinhabitingtheselands.Andthuswefinishedthecity.

EndoftheForestDisturbanceArc

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