The Beginning

Upon Souei's departure, the Chieftain can finally relax.

'I see a glimmer of hope in our future...!' he mused, melting in his throne in comfort. He felt assured that they acquired a powerful ally against that Orc Army. Sure they're 10000 strong of C-Class Monsters but it'll be a battle of attrition with which, they lose. 10000 against 250000? Who's he kidding?

They would wear out in time, in both stamina and health, getting injured before being killed...and pig food eventually, that after fighting valiantly, they would have an undignified death, unable to die as a warrior, they die as food.

Rimuru may have 50 Hobgoblins as Goblins were peaceful by nature passing those traits on to their stronger selves, but that is irrelevant. Her true military force lies in herself, the young Kijin Prince Benimaru, his Swordsmanship Master Hakurou and bodyguards Souei and Shion. They're all disasters by themselves, being A-Class Monsters. Her 'warriors' were simply just militia for bodyguarding evacuating villagers. The real military force are a couple of people!

That makes them the currently strong force in the forest that's active. Few races stronger than them are keeping out of what doesn't interest them. But he knows for sure the Dryads are active, finding who would help them in maintaining nature's balance as the Orcs are throwing it in disarray.

'Father...'

'Recall Gabiru home and the allies he's made, immediately.' the Chieftain declared. 'Give the messenger a potion. He himself will inform Gabiru of what he's seen when he feels better.'

'Sire!'

xxx

The Village...Rimuru's house...

'Hooo? That's good.' Rimuru grinned while sitting at the wooden raised platform that doubles as a seat and bed, considering she sleeps as a Slime so she didn't need much space. Souei stood in front of her as he reports. 'Now why didn't Gabiru inherit his father's brains?' she wondered aloud. 'I think his sister has the good inheritance from parental traits.' she joked. 'Well, I will meet with the Chief personally.' she decided. 'And I'll have to bring a gift. It'll be rude not to bring any.' Souei gaped at her for this.

'Er, since you're the stronger ally he's crawling to for help, shouldn't HE bring YOU gifts?' he asked incredulously. Last he checked, things shouldn't work this way!

'Well, they already got one...their allegiance to us and if I confirm they're sincere. Only then will they receive my gift.' said Rimuru matter-of-factly. 'That's plenty enough.' she told him. 'Now I also have to see his idiot son who thinks the sun shines out of Gelmud's ass when he's nothing special and a double-crossing cheat at that.' she pointed out. 'Gabiru's gullible that if he ever becomes Chieftain...let's just say his reign won't last long and people will want the old chief back unless he grows proper ruler traits. Or maybe his sister would be a better choice if he doesn't grow up. What you told me isn't promising.' she harrumphed with an armfold.

'Those guys egging him on might be childhood friends who grew some cunning by cleverly thinking ahead of the future in hopes that should Gabiru become Chieftain, he would give them high positions out of nepotism after some brown-nosing. Gabiru might not realize that and that, is bad but sadly, commonly happens in noble stock if kids of a high-ranking family is friends with low-ranking ones politically. He could learn a thing or two from Benimaru.' said Rimuru. 'Benimaru knows his priorities for his kinsmen even if he's still getting used to his new status but at least he knows what's important.'

Souei could agree. Considering what he hears, their situation with the Lizardmen would depend on who succeeds him as Chief.

'But should we kill Gelmud, Gabiru will lose his identity and his strength he got from Gelmud because he did not evolve to actually keep it.' Rimuru continued. 'At least you guys will be OK. You'll keep your gains even if I'm killed.' she snorted.

'Rimuru-sama please don't joke so morbidly.' Souei chided. He just cannot imagine this powerful existence dying so easily.

Try as he might to deny it, she is currently the most vulnerable of them all as she is now until she matures. There's a dang good reason she feared Anti-Magic Fields when Hakurou told her about it when she asked if there's a way to render her helpless as she was solely a magician to make up for her lacking. Take away her magic and she's nothing. Despite how she looks, she's at a stage of a crawling toddler thus cannot learn how to fight yet barehanded or with weapon. She trusted them with her weakness as she knows she can trust them with her life, if the dreaded happens.

'Well, I'll be gone for a bit.' Rimuru stood up. 'I'll dress formally and I'm out.' and Souei took that as his cue to leave her hut to give her privacy.

Their horrifyingly-young miss sure thinks way beyond her age. She's an infant by standards, isn't she?

She sure doesn't act like it, given what she's done so far.

xxx

'What do we think?' Benimaru chugged down water in under the tree they lounged in. 'Yeah, I admit Rimuru's weird for a newborn.' he said. 'She knows way too much. Knowledge even we who lived for centuries didn't have, she does.' he and Souei are 95 years old so that's barely a century. Hakurou lived for 350. Oni age five times slower than humans. Now as Kijin, they would age nine times slower.

Normally, stronger = less fertility.

But Rimuru ensured they won't die out by granting an Intrinsic Skill that helps them as a whole.

'Mm. Her town building plans, knowledge, ideas...clearly things no human nation or that dwarven kingdom has thought of.' said Hakurou. 'Given my former pupil King Gazel, he would know if she's lying about her age. His Skill is what any King would kill to have.'

'Did you talk to those brothers how things have been since?' Benimaru asked his teacher.

'It was good Kaijin confides in his workers...those three.' Hakurou sighed before looking serious. 'Rimuru is indeed...no ordinary slime.'

'Eh?'

Hakurou told them what he got and the two men's jaws dropped.

Born in Veldora's Cave and is Veldora's last Magicule-Offshoot before his disappearance. She was born as a Unique Slime. With a face and gender and incredible power matching her intelligence.

Named by Veldora himself which explains the anomaly that was her. She was extremely intelligent for her species and capable of interesting things.

Exorcised the Explosive Monarch from her incomplete Spiritual Fusion with Ifrit at her last days of life and took on a rather interesting promise.

Trouble adjusting to her human form which explains why she mostly glides and flies on her magic, and reliant on crutches when not using her powers. She had been on sensory overdrive for days yet forces herself to adapt but could finally walk and stand on her own as of two days ago, but she moves slowly and carefully with a shaky gait. and with focus lest she falls over. But if needed to rush, would just fly due to her many jobs. On her free time, she would train her body by using strings to move herself like a puppet!

(Unknown to them, Rimuru is perfectly capable of moving normally. But she wants to DEFY fiction tropes being a realist and capable of acting enough to even deceive people here older than her.)

Well, there's a reason she said she'll learn swordsmanship next year. A Slime's nearly-non-existent senses and a Humanoid Majin's are different. Even eating food was overwhelming that eating Shion's Cooking was sheer hell she punished Benimaru by hanging him upside down and tickled his upper body and his feet with feathers for half a day for NOT warning her about his subordinate's poisons. His subordinate's mess-ups are ahem, his own.

Sooo yes, Benimaru regretted the first time he left Rimuru to Shion's culinary mercies. He wasn't sure what he preferred. An actual whipping or tickle hell.

'Veldora's last offshoot...she's basically his kid.' Benimaru remarked. 'So many offshoots and she was the only one he named. She was the only one he acknowledged as his kid and taught her when his other offshoots are more powerful.'

'Maybe because she was sentient that she can actually be taught. The rest are natural disasters beyond reasoning. Those...things being named by Veldora is asking for trouble.' Souei pointed out. 'Just by being with her, Veldora raised her well in their short time together. A Master we could all follow with pride.'

'Mm...'

Indeed, Rimuru was a master they'll follow to the end.

She was kind, considerate, understanding, generous and makes sure everyone under her banner is well-taken care of. She even took care of Shion's undetected situation though not even Rimuru herself is certain if it'll work, given how demotivated the woman was if she finds anyone better than her at it. They were on a watch-and-see basis.

xxx

Lake Shiss...

With full power, Rimuru flew to Lake Shiss East of the village with Souei's guidance through Thought Communication. She arrived stealthily and made her way to the throne room in her human form, dressed in a blue, white and black battledress out of those in xianxia manhuas and her hair in a high ponytail. She could legally cosplay in this world and nobody calling her out on it after all~

'Good afternoon.' Rimuru greeted as she bounced into the throne room, startling the throne room for the umpteenth time that day in her slime form.

'Er...' she earned wide-eyed looks.

'I am Rimuru, the Guardian of the Named Village.' she then morphed into her human form in beautiful clothes.

'You mean you're really a Unique Slime?' the chieftain croaked out. The envoy told him that she changes depending on her whims. In her human form or in her slime form and how she had been guiding Hobgoblins to build a better village for themselves.

'Yes. Our kind are born once in a rare few centuries after all.' Rimuru chuckled, amused. 'Your decision also gave us a good trade, so I shall respond back in kind to cement our alliance. Do you want a Name from me?' the Lizardmen gasped at this offer. 'Your alliance with us is a good enough trade though I worry about the future should you step down as Chieftain.' the chieftain and his daughter stiffened. 'Educate and discipline your son into the path of a respectable, wise chief. The current him I am hearing about from Souei is a little worrying. He gained quite the narcissistic ego. For an aspiring ruler, he hopes to serve another? Where's the logic in that?'

The Chieftain shook at her words.

He indeed, sees what's WRONG with those words.

You're a ruler subordinate to a man who was not? A mere underling of a possible Demon Lord? Had it been a Ruler of a powerful tribe or kingdom or an actual Demon Lord he would understand, but serving someone else's pawn not even high up there? That's incredibly...stupid.

Rimuru worries for the future between their alliance, if Gabiru as he is now, succeeds him. For now with him as Chieftain, it's OK but it's on shaky ground, alas!

'Father I agree...ever since he got a Name from Gelmud, he's gotten defiant and rude lately.' said the daughter softly. 'As if...'

As if he deems himself their lord so soon and can throw his power and authority around, even starting to disrespect their father and look down on others when before, he was OK.

'Mm. That's inevitable. I admit that ever since he has a name, he is slightly stronger than me now. Slightly. But he lacks plenty as my successor and his attitude has gotten worse.' said the Chieftain. 'Suppose he ousts me in the future and takes my seat. With an attitude like that leading to predictable decisions he would make, would our people accept him for long? Would he reign as long as I have? He has a lot to learn.' he said coolly.

'I'll have to remind him that I am his father first, chieftain second. If I let my child treat me the way he does now just because he got a little privileged, what example does that serve to our people? Children will be ungrateful, unruly children to those who raised them! After all, their Prince himself set an example!'

The tribe elders and bodyguards began murmuring amongst themselves. They wouldn't want that in their own homes!

'It seems a decision is made.' said Rimuru as she flared her immense aura. 'I give you the name Aldrich.' a large amount of magicules left Rimuru and went into the Chieftain.

It triggered the Chieftain's evolution as in his heart, his very soul, he knows what his name is and how it was spelled. The middle-aged Lizardman who appears in his early-sixties-equivalent got rejuvenated by years younger.

The evolution chart of Lizardmen is Lizardmen to Dragonewt to Draconian to Dragoon.

As far as Rimuru can go, she can only evolve the Chieftain to Draconian. An A-Rank Monster, gifting him 180000 magicules. She skipped levels on purpose so Gabiru can be disciplined as he clearly obeys who's stronger. As a Draconian, Aldrich gained a half-human handsome appearance, got taller and some muscle. Though his arms and waist-down remained draconic with scales and claws included instead of fingernails in his human-like hands.

His eyes were also draconic with prominent brow ridge. His face is that of a man in his thirties with a goatee and on his head were small, forked horns enough not to get in the way of daily life, just about two inches long starting from his head. Lastly, he grew wings. His head has a widow's peak because of the horns. And like his daughter, he has brown hair, long enough to reach past his waist, in layered spikes, reminding Rimuru of that longhaired Super Saiyan 3. But a lot thinner and finer. Not as...exaggerated as in the anime so its nicer to look at.

'OHHHHH!' his daughter and bodyguards gasped in amazement and admiration of their chief's stronger form.

'So this is what happens if you do not make a farce of the Naming...' Aldrich croaked out, amazed with his new form. Though he's now partially-naked as his wings tore off his clothes! He also gained skills he didn't have before.

As a Lizardman, he has the Intrinsic Skills of Flame Breath as Lizardmen are close to Dragon in nature the stronger a Lizardman gets, the closer they are to Dragonewt Stage that they get access to Intrinsic Skills such as Flame Breath and Dragon Body. But Aldrich did not have the latter.

Now, he does. He gained Dragon Body.

His newly-gained Common Skills are Coercion, Spatial Motion and Thought Communication.

As for his Extra Skills, in addition to his All-Seeing Eye, Magic Sense and Thermal Sense, he gained Strengthen Body, Steel Strength, Multilayer Barrier and Body Double.

His Resistances are Thermal Fluctuation, Physical Attack, and Abnormal Condition Resistances.

'I will school my son out of respect for our future prospects, Lady Rimuru.' Aldrich bowed in respect to Rimuru, this woman far more powerful than he now.

'Mm. Either that, or its your daughter who succeeds you to maintain equal benefits between our alliance.' Rimuru chuckled. 'I bid you farewell, Draconian Chieftain Aldrich.' she referred to him as his new self.

'Draconian?' Aldrich's daughter blinked owlishly. 'I haven't heard of such a monster. Is that what father is? The next after being a Lizardman?'

'Yes and not quite. Lizardmen's next stage is Dragonewt, a B-Class Monster and next to that is Draconian, an A-Rank Monster.' Rimuru explained patiently. 'The final form is Dragoon, an S-Class Monster...but to be a Dragoon, you'd have to be a Demon Lord for that sort of thing because as far as we monsters can go, we can only be at the pinnacle of strength a step below S...only Demon Lords acknowledged by The World through evolution are permitted to be S-Class in power and we are neither of that.' she said with a shrug.

That was a hint to how strong Rimuru is to the Lizardmen.

If she can make their Chieftain an A-Class Monster, how strong IS she?!

Great Sage didn't bother to correct Rimuru due to her lack of interest. Unless she's interested, only then will Great Sage bother.

She is a step into that already, she just doesn't know it.

Hours after she was gone, the Lizardmen Tribe got wind of what happened to their Chieftain who's now more powerful and handsome that what happened next annoyed the Chieftain and his daughter.

'Father, you've got clans offering their daughters to you as a bride!' said his daughter, annoyed as they received wooden portraits of ahem, lovely lizardwomen. Under their faces were names and what clan they're from. As far as she knows, her mother was the only lizardwoman her father loved and he didn't take concubines even after she died from illness.

'Sigh, this was coming ever since my evolution was announced.' her father sighed in a long-suffering voice, doing a face-palm. 'Schooling Gabiru aside after our worries about the Orc Forces, they're adding to my headache!' he grumbled. 'One headache at a time daughter. And I will keep my word that your mother is the only woman in my heart.'

xxx

Gabiru came home with his recruited goblins, their minds spinning from what they learned from the envoy sent to the 'strange village'.

He had encountered Hobgoblins, a more sophisticated way of living that got the Goblins envious of their former neighbors. Everyone there are Named Monsters and a Kijin is even subversive to the Guardian of the Village, the Slime Monster named Rimuru. How the heck did she accomplish that?!

Moreover, the things he learned from his subordinate shook him. Rattled him even.

He could not believe his ears.

But still, they know more than they do and got plenty of evidence that Rimuru was indeed powerful.

Evidence that Gelmud dishonored what should have been a great honor. Had Gelmud used the system properly, he should have become a Dragonewt yet he's only 'stronger' than his father without much changes!

A Village of Named Monsters.

Access to Full Potions.

Sophisticated TEMPORARY homes as they are building a village with better buildings one at a time.

They have massive farmlands.

The Slime is capable of powerful magic and has a beautiful human form.

For someone of a high position, she was friendly with her lessers, even joking and teasing a Hobgoblin named Gobugetsu.

And she has connections with Dwargon! She was reporting going-ons in Jura Forest to the dwarven king!

If he is to become Leader, he has to exceed those! As soon as he got off his Overlizard, he gave instructions to house the Goblins to the Barracks before he headed to his father's throne room.

His father had called him home due to the situation.

His mind was also a mess while he was at it too. He was in sheer denial.

But he felt a powerful aura in the room.

"Who is that?!" he thought anxiously as he made hurried steps to the throne room as he barged in to see a different person on the throne with his sister. 'Who?!'

'Its understandable that you wouldn't recognize me in this form.' this voice...it can't be! 'I am now Chieftain Aldrich. A Draconian.'

'Lady Rimuru of the Named Village cemented an alliance between our villages by naming father.' said his sister. 'She skipped the Dragonewt after Lizardman to make father an A-Class Monster.' she said so reverently. 'We didn't even know there's another form after the Dragonewt we all sought for, this one is much more glorifying!'

'WHAT?!'

There was another, superior form next to Dragonewt that they all dreamed of?! And that slime just granted it to his father?!

'Gabiru, I have heard many interesting things so far.' said Aldrich sternly at his son, remembering what he got from the envoy who got it from Rimuru out of Souei's investigations. 'You will come home for re-training immediately.' he said, Coercion at its full force intimidating his arrogant son.

'Training?! But given our situation we haven't time!' Gabiru sputtered out. 'I was gathering forces as you told me to! You had me round up Goblins of all things!'

'Because they're the only surviving tribes around.' said Aldrich. 'Monster Tribes our equal are all devoured by the Orcs, and the Oni Village who are stronger than us would have accepted our hiring of them if only Gelmud did not happen.' he groused out. 'And now, we made ties with the Named Village whose might we can count on. Now we have time to prepare and even more time for your education. Now, home, son! Your sister will handle the rest of my office affairs!'

'Ehhh?!'

A:N- the stuff with Lizardmen are made up stuff. It's fiction for a reason because I find it odd that Lizardmen have no evolution past Dragonewt and nothing mentioned in novels and even its main site tensura dot wiki yet the Oni has complete levels just for being closer to Rimuru.