Jura Forest Alliance

'Rimuru-sama!' Rimuru looked at her subordinates who rushed to her side.

She no longer appeared sixteen-ish. Her appearance is that of a senior high schooler now. Just physically appearing like she was around Benimaru or Souei's age. From 5'1 to 5'5 and her feet are now Size 7.

'You er...changed a little.' Benimaru croaked out, blatantly staring at her now mature appearance when before, she was physically no different from Shuna in age.

'...I did?' Rimuru blinked owlishly.

'You got a bit taller now and more mature in appearance.' Benimaru pointed out. Conjuring a mirror out of water she looked at herself and she did a spittake. Her youthful face indeed matured!

'Whoa!' she did not notice her growth spurt, thanks to Shuna's magical clothes that grows with their wearers. "D-does that mean if I become a Demon Lord, I'll be an old hag?! NOOOOOO!" she wailed in dismay, really not wanting that notion and shoved the idea far, FAR away in her mind. She was only a 37 year old woman and soon to turn 38 even as a slime dammit! She refuses to age so fast way too soon!

/Negative. You'll just simply be an adult in human twenties./ Great Sage answered her panic as Rimuru clearly didn't want to be an old lady way too soon in her life. The mere idea TERRIFIED her.

"Phew..."

'Well, we've got a tiring night.' Rimuru sighed. 'We should all rest for one day, the talking comes later. I doubt we can think properly without food or sleep.' she told them.

So while her unit slept in their quarters in the Lizardmen Kingdom, all else camped outside.

xxx

The day after the Orc Disaster was exterminated...

In Aldrich's throne room, the representative of every race has gathered.

From the Named Village is Rimuru, Shion who had her on her lap as a Slime on her insistence, Hakurou, Souei and Rigur. Ranga is lurking within Rimuru's shadow as always.

From the lizardmen–the Chieftain Aldrich, Guard Captain who's his daughter, and Guard Vice Captain.

Gabil is still under re-educative House Arrest.

The orcs sent the one remaining Orc General and ten clan chief representatives.

They were all pale, depression visible on their faces.

The reason for the previous chaos was, indubitably, the orcs.

No matter how hard anyone tries to pin all the blame on the Orc Lord's manipulation, they were clearly not blameless.

And it is because they understand this fact, that their expressions are so dark.

According to what Souei had gathered, they didn't prepare that much food.

Through cannibalism and the effects of the unique skill, they were able to advance while starving. Now that they have lost the skill's effects they can't possibly eat their brethren.

Their rather unfortunate situation made the atmosphere in the room even heavier.

They are fully expecting to be demanded to take responsibility for the war, but they also know that they can't possibly pay reparations.

As in the first place, the main cause for the war was the perpetually starving orcs and their leaders who could do naught about it.

Even considering that their numbers have decreased, there are still 150 thousand of them. There's not enough food to feed them all.

And the fact that even with this many troops they can't continue combat simply emphasizes just how cornered the orcs are.

If they did not have the Starving Ones skill, they would have all perished from hunger.

Though there are 135 thousand of them that's left in total, that also includes women, children and the young. It was a mass exodus of the orc race. So in that battle, they killed mostly men and dang-near decimated the Orc Race's adult men that composed that 250.000-strong army. So lots of women got widowed right then and there.

'...I have seen Geld's last moments.' Rimuru began.

The cause was a severe famine.

The Continent is a land with fertile soil under the protection of the demon lords.

Many powerful demonic beasts and demons inhabit it, but thanks to the demon lords, it is safe.

However, there was a price for safety. A steep tax.

Those who wanted to live on fertile lands had to provide a large amount of crop.

Orc, who reproduced quickly, worked in the mines and toiled the fields, and were necessary to the demon lords.

However. Those who could not pay the tax were immediately killed.

The demon lord never lends a helping hand.

Aiming for the abundant resources, many monsters attack.

Those that have not paid a protection tax are not protected.

Thus that land inevitably becomes dangerous.

The fertile orcs, even if the majority of them were killed, would soon enough restore their population to needed levels, so nobody cares.

Though there was a need to control their number, the demon lords decided that the extras would die anyways.

Now, thanks to a great famine, they could not pay their tax. There was a drought. The land was dry and scorchingly hot, no seed, nevermind a weed would grow.

Thus, losing the protection of the demon lords, they decided to flee those lands in search of a safe haven.

While beset by hunger, the orc lord was born among them, but until then they would never fight anyone stronger than themselves. Geld kept tearing pieces of himself off to feed the children as his son helplessly watches.

And thus wandering, they have made their way to Jura Forest's outskirts.

Around that time, a devil named Gelmud offered them a hand.

Oblivious to his machinations, they decided to accept his offer.

And thus, following his directions, they plunged Jura Forest into chaos. Gelmud preyed on their weakness as convenient pawns for who-knows-what.

The cause for the Orc uprising, and their current situation.

The orc representatives, not expecting Rimuru to bring these things up, stared at her with wonder.

There a few who shed tears listening to her. They were fully convinced that they'd all be executed without a chance to explain themselves.

'Now then, the first let's confirm the casualties!'

And thus the discussion started.

Aldrich discussed their casualties.

Listening to his report, the Orcs hid their faces and stayed silent.

'Now then, Chief, do you have any demands for the orcs?'

After discussing the losses, the discussion proceeded to discuss appropriate payment.

Though Rimuru THANKFULLY never experienced an actual war before so she wouldn't know, but they probably have the winner demand things from the loser. She couldn't prevent the conversation from going this way.

'Nothing specific. This victory was not wrought by our strength. We were saved by Rimuru-dono!' Abandoning the right to reparations, that was Aldrich's decision. Not like they could do much in the first place, though.

'Alright. Let's let the orcs speak now, but when I had just looked at them, one of the Orc Generals cried out, falling prostrate before her.

'Please pardon my interruption! Please allow me to compensate for this incident with my life! Of course, I understand that it is not enough, but I have no followers to add! I have become a B rank monster, and gained quite a lot of magical energy, so please forgive the rest with my death!' Is what he says.

The rest, quietly waited for Rimuru to speak after hearing that. Just the atmosphere that she hates, Rimuru thought with a sweatdrop.

'Your death will solve nothing, not even the dilemma of your race.' she gently scolded. 'The reason being your ruler can't be bothered to solve his lands' problems and while enjoying the fruits of labor for himself, abandons those who can't provide his table. Thus Geld, your Tribal Lord made a heavy decision for his people's survival with children in mind. For thinking of your welfare even if it meant becoming a bloodstained, sinful man who troubled everyone in their wake, he has my respect.'

'Rimuru-dono...' the General croaked out, deeply affected by her words as the orc representatives looked tearful that she understood them first instead of judging them based on what they saw.

'If you truly want to atone, I'll have you guys help us out instead.' said Rimuru. 'Under the leadership of whoever Geld's successor is, the remaining orcs will be divided into six clans with the remaining men evenly divided among the six clans. The first clan will help my Village's construction, as well as reside there with us. The second clan will reside near the Lizardmen. Third at the nearby hill, Fourth by the Valley, Fifth around the Great Lake and Sixth will be a Port Town near the ocean. We will build farming villages in these locations to sustain everybody.' Rimuru decided. 'We will also form a supply chain to what will soon become a Forest Coalition comprising of many races present here today. The problem began with food, it will end in food.'

'Y-you permit us to join in the Coalition?!' that same Orc gasped out.

'Yes, but you'll have to earn it.' said Rimuru. 'Building and Farming will be a tough job.'

That was the sentence of the orcs Rimuru decided on and nobody has a problem with that.

'Now then...we now face a major problem until these projects are completed.' Rimuru twitched. '135.000 displaced orcs. From an old man down to the last infant. Residence and food. How on earth, are we gonna feed everybody until harvest day?' she inquired wearily. 'My Village can only support our numbers of 577 comfortably with the size of our farms for a month till next harvest day. Unless we clear more land for farming, there's not enough time.'

'I agree, not even all the fish can sustain a large number of people and even then I ration carefully so our supply doesn't run out.' Aldrich agreed.

In the first place, if they ended the conversation with 'No punishment! Dismissed!' the orcs would simply die from hunger.

Lacking in discipline, some would attack lizardmen and goblin villages.

Their hunger was the cause for this mess in the first place. It's meaningless if they don't solve it.

Everyone was scratching their heads thinking about it.

And then,

'Pardon the interruption during the conference! There is an emissary that seeks your audience!' A Lizardman had run in saying. He seems to be very flustered.

After Rimuru nodded to Hakurou, he glanced at the man with an order. 'Show them in!' Hakurou responded, sending the soldier away.

An emissary? From whom?

As if answering her question, a single 'person' had entered the throne room.

A Dryad. It's Treyni, the eldest of the Dryad Sisters who errr taxes Rimuru for honey in exchange for letting Apito and Zegion work in their territory for her. She was a beautiful girl with green hair. Like the people of Europe, her skin was white with well defined facial features. Plump lips, and blue eyes that suit her well. If measured in human years, she'd look about 16-18 years old.

A guardian spirit of the Treants.

Among the monsters, she would rank among the top of A rank.

Many voiced their surprise when she entered. It's been many hundreds of years since a Dryad has last been seen.

With long life spans(immortal, actually), these women rarely leave their sacred dwellings.

One would normally be happy, or scared enough to piss their pants if they had sent a messenger with good reason.

Treyni looked around the room and focused her eyes on Rimuru.

'Please to meet you, everyone! I am the Dryad Treyni. Pleased to make your acquaintance.' she greeted. 'We originally planned to approach Lady Rimuru about the Ord Lord problem but she had tackled the matter even without our request. For that, we are grateful.' she said. 'And then I found that you are troubled over a certain problem. I ask that you listen to what I have to say.' She said with a bright smile. But she also seemed perfectly calm, and immediately continued her speech. 'It seem you lack provisions, correct? I believe we could assist with that.'

'However, we ask that our beneficiaries, the Treants, are allowed to join your coalition.'

They have no reason to reject. Actually, they would gladly accept.

However?

'Umm, we are grateful for the offer, but why would you want to join the coalition?' Rimuru asked on everyone's behalf.

'The Treants are a race that hardly move as you know.' Treyni meaningfully glanced at Rimuru. 'Thus, they have little interaction with other races. Should they be attacked by a powerful opponent or face some natural disaster, they would be helpless. We the Dryads could escape on our own, but we are few in number.' she explained. 'If we were to join an alliance, we could receive help when needed, right?' she responded with a pure smile. Could she be willing to put her trust in our good will?

Do you honestly believe strangers' words?

Since you haven't met that many, you aren't even doubting them, right?

However, a girl like her would find herself in danger due to her trust in random strangers without even VETTING them. Rimuru supposed Treyni's lucky that Rimuru was a decent honorable person at least.

'Alright, if that is the wish of the Treants and Dryads.' Rimuru replied. 'Everyone agrees?'

'No objections.' said Aldrich.

'None here.' said Benimaru.

Rimuru wondered if food came into play with that decision...the Treants can generate tons of fruit at will as she's known, that in Toriko equivalent, they're this world's version of Fruit Parlor Tree...thus their problems are solved as they contributed to their biggest dilemma, and wiped it with a thought.

Thus, the Great Jura Forest Coalition was established.

Its members?

Rimuru's Named Village.

Goblins.

Lizardmen.

Orcs.

And Treants.

And leading this coalition, (hopefully temporarily) is Rimuru.

This day, her name was for the first time etched into the history of this world beginning with the people in this room.

The day the coalition was established would become a day of great commemoration for the monsters.

However? Naming all those Orcs, will be a pain in the ass.

By devouring Geld who ate Gelmud, she received a power-up of additional 2,110.000 magicules at full power from that point on, serving to solidify her foundation as a Demon Lord Seed. Her magicule levels are now 4,109,999. Yikes. And she's just a Demon Lord Seed!

But at least, she can name a group at a time.

She ordered for Geld's scion and what's left of the Orc Generals to assemble before her, and she named them.

'Gelmud led your father into ruin, but I have great expectations that you'll do better.' Rimuru told the kneeling son. 'Become what he could not...an Orc King, and inherit his name Geld.' she gifted him with the same amount of magicules as the Kijin to make him her version of an Orc King. Thus the orcs under her lost their pot bellies. The men under her got quality muscle. If the Kijin are slender swordsmen(and woman), the Orcs are healthy, but stocky bodybuilders in physique while the ladies she later names, are toned, but slightly slenderer than their men.

She gifted Geld II 180000 Magicules. The Orc Generals, ten per clan after him have 130000 each. Orc Knight potentials in all clans after them have 110.000 before she needed to rest, and sent Garm to Dwargon with Ranga to talk to Kaijin who in turn will arrange more architects to help them out, as well as bring home sacks of seeds for farming's sakes to sustain an orc every day come harvest day till the next one. An average orc male can eat the equivalent of 15 pounds of rice by themselves!

So planting grain for bread and porridge, is a SERIOUS NECESSITY. By Calamity-Class levels.

After recovering, she named the entire Lizard Military next.

She evolved the daughter, naming her Souka. For now to keep the Hierarchy, she turned the military and Souka into Dragonewts, giving them all 10.000 while Souka has 30.000 being the Tribal Princess. As Dragonewts, their only changes were their heads up to the shoulders that were humanoid's with draconic eyes. They too, sported a sleeker, but stronger dragonewt bodies, tails and wings. Their beauty reflected how pretty or handsome they were by Lizardmen standards converted into human standard of beauty. Rimuru was informed that Gabiru needed schooling and a dose of Common Sense before Aldrich allows his son to get a name from her.

It'll take many days to name EVERYBODY. At least the Dragonewt Army was easier to name, being just 10000 in number, she used all old fashioned English and Japanese names she knew.

The Orcs whom she separated by clans, the clan names were Okumura, Sawanuma, Okamoto, Hazama, Kogan and Minato. The names of the Orcs are...old fashioned Japanese names, as in, Taisho-era old. The rest of the males of all ages were granted 10.000 and women 9000.

135.000 orcs divided into six equals 22500 per town.

Building the main town and five other towns...are NOT easy, after Rimuru logged enough wood to help things out, and designed homes large enough to accommodate everyone as Orcs are 8 feet tall for men, and 6 feet for women when she turned them all into High Orcs. Because its the men at the fighting force in Orc Culture, she gifted even young boys massive power if and only if they're of 'junior high' in appearance. Little kids will have to wait for their names from her until they're old enough to handle her power. Heck, she didn't even name the little kids from her Named Village for that reason. The Orc Females received 9000 from her as they weren't into fighting but needs to be fierce enough to defend their nameless children.

It took her DAYS to name everybody.

For 10000 Lizardmen Warriors, it took 400 per day to make Dragonewts out of them. At first day, that included 30000 for Souka. The rest of the days kept 400 all the way, and it took 25 days to name them all.

For 135.000 Orcs, on the first day, she named Geld the Orc King, and 30 Orc Generals. Next day was the next 30 Orc Generals. After that, citizenry came next, so building of farming villages can begin. 410 per day per men first as they were the main labor force in construction. Once all men are named, women came next, being 456 per day and their task was farmlands while their kids handled simple jobs to make their parents' lot in life easier. The last to be named, were the chosen Orc Knights, being 37 per day until all districts have 3000 knights each serving under their district's ten generals. Imagine how long that took, until each clan has 22500, immediately sending hundreds of men to different designated districts to get started. Immediately. Named women were sent away with their children so kids won't get lost.

It took 81 days per district to have 3000 knights. The knights were to be named last out of practicality for building's sake.

It took way shorter than that to fill the remaining 19490 people per clan, with 14000+ being adults with the remainder being children. Sheesh. But numbers are skewed as there are reasonably, more women and children than men.

The sentence of the Orcs lasts until all towns are functional and capable of mass production of food as calculated to keep EVERYONE in the coalition happy with no food worries ever again and the Orcs never to ever fear again steep taxes. After their sentence, their contribution to the Coalition only happens should things get dicey: they form the bulk of the military. So after building the districts, the main job of the orc fighters is to stay in shape to be combat-ready at a moment's notice. They are also to train their young boys who will function as militia at their home towns while adult men are 'on duty'.

But that did not mean that her people can rest easy...

She had Treyni guide the Kijin and her Hunter Unit to the Treant Forest. But out of all Goblin Riders, Gobta was the only one capable of Shadow Step. All wolves can do it and so can Souei. Thus ferrying food by sacks was stupidly easy. As for those who can't Shadow Step, stayed to help Rimuru organize, and take the named Orcs to their future land of residence they all decided on and start building immediately, guided by teams of dwarves hired to aid in construction.

Treants are monsters who survive on water, sunlight, and air alone.

They would grow fruits using their magical energy, but there was no one to eat them.

They were meant for the race residing in the holy lands, but the immortal race just had them accumulate.

Moreover, the fruit being magical, it does not rot no matter how much time passes.

Talk about CONVENIENT.

Since the Dryads just let all that hoard pile up and they got the stomach size of kittens, they understandably...don't eat much even with honey as a dipping sauce. So yes, they're fine with shoving their entire storehouse on those who needed it, just keeping enough for themselves, or just let Treants grow some more.

Once the Orcs are stable in livelihood, Rimuru contemplated making Treant Wine. The trees are freaking fruit parlors that she has to sort out different produce and experiment with Great Sage's help with Treyni as her supplier.

The thing was, varieties of Treant Wine...induce Status Buffs better than spells can, as well as medicinal benefits.

'Treyni-san, this is a game-changer.' Rimuru croaked out, looking at their research results with DREAD. 'Wine they may be, but they're more like restorative potions and medicine even though excessive drinking can still give a drunk buzz on a good day, but that would also mean that...gulp...'

'Yes.' said Treyni with a strained smile as she agreed with Rimuru's fears regarding some of their wares. 'We cannot have overly-enhanced drunks running around.'

'...I just unleashed a potential disaster, so let's regulate this strictly like anyone would medicine sold on markets.' Rimuru decided firmly. 'But we can safely mass produce those that won't cause trouble.'

'Mm, that would be most wise.'

The mass-produced wine was effective in keeping the Coalition perpetually work-ready as yesterday's weariness is instantly healed and gone with just a wine glass.

Or maybe, they should just be another type of potion for sale instead. The rest can be sold as wine.