Son of the Storm Dragon

by ashtonkaslana

“I, Ren Daisuke, thought my unconventional life would end after years of working in Special Forces and the CIA, so imagine my surprise when I died only to be a DRAGON of all creatures in a new world filled with magic and monsters under the new name, Rimuru Tempest. This the story of my adventures in the greatest journey of all time.” Tensura AU

16. Rising Lord

"Speech"

'Thought'

*Thought Communication*

《Great Sage》

{{Voice of the World}}

---

Three days had passed since Kaval's party left the goblin village. I had Dorris and Trya keep a passive eye on them just to make sure the three of them didn't bite off more than they could chew on the way back, and aside from being chased by a horde of red ants, the three of them were doing just fine on their journey. According to Dorris, there were some notable improvements to their strength since leaving, I had a feeling the equipment crafted for them played a role in that.

In those three days, most of my time was spent helping out with the goblins and wolves' intensified training regime, as well as double checking the village's security and scouting system to ensure they were prepared for the worst and not caught off guard. Fortunately, there were no complaints from anyone, though I had a feeling that word of why the sudden change had already gone around, if anything the goblins trained with more fervance than before, something I was happy to see.

At the current moment, I stood before the entrance of what was once my mother's prison and home for the past three hundred years…the Sealed Cave. Strangely enough, this was my first time coming back here since I left five months ago. With how close the cave was to the Goblin Village, it wouldn't have been a bother for me to take a quick flight here, and yet so much time had passed.

With a sigh, I walked into the cave as I allowed my thoughts to wonder. A lot had happened in the last five months, from meeting and befriending the Ogres, meeting the Dryads, subduing the Wolves and the Goblins submitting to me, traveling to Dwargon and building the Goblin Village to what it is now.

Initially, I was concerned that I wouldn't fit in among the monsters due to my human-like mentality and the fact I assumed that monsters may not possess intellect close to that of humans.

But when I met the Ogres, those fears were immediately thrown out the window. Not only were they intelligent, but they had a culture and manner of doing things that almost seemed Japanese, if a lot more on the traditional side of things. It was truly a stroke of good luck that they were the first intelligent monsters I had encountered upon leaving this cave.

After that came the Dryads, then followed by the Goblins and Direwolves. And while the latter two initially didn't have much in terms of intellect, they'd made a lot of headway since evolving and learning from Ogres and Dwarves.

All in all, I'd managed to fit in despite my initial concerns, I'd made friends and subordinates I could count on to stand behind me. At first, I had planned to protect the forest out of respect for my mother's wishes, but the more time I'm spending here, the more connections I'm making, the more I'm finding my own reasons to want to protect and develop this land.

My mother had left me to act as Guardian in her place, but now more than ever I was sure of what I needed to do. Ever since coming back from Dwargon, I'd been on the fence about actually building a nation of monsters, but now I was sure it was possibly the best way I could not only protect this land, but better the lives of all those in it.

"Alright [Great Sage, lay it on me." I said out loud, since I'd devoured Ifrit, Shizue, and Masayuki, [Great Sage] had been giving me periodic reminders about informing me of the skills I had acquired from them, but I'd been putting it on hold. Mainly because I was busy overseeing things in the village, but also because I wanted to give a brief grieving period in honor of the two Heroes, I didn't want to seem like the bastard who was happy the two died just for some skills.

《Analysis on the skills acquired from the individuals Ifrit, Shizue, and Masayuki has been completed.》

'Start with Ifrit.' I had an idea of what to expect here given that I had fought Ifrit. Not to mention it was a Fire Spirit, so most if not all its skills would definitely be fire related. Not that I minded, as it stood I already had water, wind, and lightning elemental magic. If I get spatial and earth magic, I'd pretty much have control over all the primary elements that made the world.

Still, having them and learning to properly use them were two entirely different things. I'd have to set some time aside for that soon, I was acquiring skills faster than I was learning to use them, which wasn't good. I may have [Great Sage] to help me with things like control, but I couldn't rely too heavily on it like that lest I become complacent. Having help was fine, but relying on it too much would only make me weaker without it.

《Understood: Skills acquired from the individual Ifrit are [Body Double, [Flame Transformation, and [Flame Manipulation]. [Body Double] allows the user to create copies of themselves. The durability, range, and number of copies is dependent on the user's proficiency and the amount of Magicules used. [Flame Transformation] allows the user to transform magic or spiritual bodies into flames. [Flame manipulation] allows user to freely manipulate and shape flames created from Magicules within the surrounding environment.》

'Just those three?' I thought, but honestly I wasn't really surprised. 'I guess it makes sense though, Ifrit was a Fire Elemental, and all of the skills and abilities it showed in the fight were fire related, even its own body was made out of fire. But [Body Double] sounds really useful! Alright move onto Shizue.' I told [Great Sage, curious as to what skills I'd gotten from my fellow Otherworlder.

《Understood: [Unique skill: Degenerate] successfully acquired from the individual Shizue Aizawa. This skill has a total of two sub-skills.

[Synthesis] - allows the user to merge multiple separate objects into one, this includes matter, magic, skills, and even living beings, allowing for the creation of stronger skills with combined effects.

[Separation] - allows the user to separate the properties of an individual object into multiple objects.

'That was…unexpected.' [Degenerate] was a much more powerful skill than one would initially assume at first glance.

The ability to merge and separate anything I desire was something people could only dream about! In the wrong hands it could be used to create powerful weapons, skills, and magics that could prove detrimental to a lot of people. The fact that it had been put into the hands of someone as kind hearted as Shizue was a blessing in disguise that not many people were even aware of.

《Notice: Using the [Unique Skill: Degenerate, the skills [Flame Manipulation] and [Flame Transformation] have been merged and influence by [Storm Magic] to create the [Extra Skill: Black Flame].》

I couldn't help but sweatdrop at that. 'Why do I get the feeling that you're going to be doing this often?' I asked slightly amused, it seemed [Great Sage] was pretty happy with the acquisition of this skill, and would most likely be putting it to a lot of use in the near future.

《There is no evidence to confirm this theory. It's all in your head.》

I couldn't help but snort at its response. 'Riiight, well whatever. At the very least I know you'll have my best interest at heart and use [Degenerate] to optimize my skills.' I said, amused by how [Great Sage] behaved almost humanly in that moment. 'Just let me know whenever you shuffle my skills, wouldn't want to be left in the dark.'

《...understood.》

Knowing that was the only form of confirmation I was going to get about [Great Sage] actually looking forward to experimenting with my skills, I decided to move on. 'Alright, now what did I get from Masayuki?' I asked.

《Devouring the individual Masayuki has resulted in the acquisition of the [Unique Skill: Chosen One]. This skill has a total of four sub-skills.

[Hero's Action] - guides the user and their allies down the path of becoming Heroes, inevitably making them famous.

[Hero's Blessing] - grants the user and their allies an immense amount of luck, which manifests in various forms such as landing critical attacks, avoiding lethal attacks, or perhaps finding valuable items. This skill also results in the actions of the user being viewed in a positive light, no matter what they do.

[Hero's Charisma] - this skill grants the user the ability to inspire and motivate allies. Granting allies immense courage that enables them to fight, even in the most desperate situations. It also has the effect of turning defeated enemies into allies.

[Banner of the Supreme King] - allows the user to call upon their fallen allies and replicate their abilities, memories, and experience inside the user. 》

'Wow…' I couldn't help but be surprised by the effects and capabilities of this skill. Once more, this was another easily exploitable skill in the hands of the wrong person. The ability to bolster your allies, boost your luck, and even influence other peoples opinion on you so they remain favorable.

The fact that this skill had been in the hands of Masayuki, someone who seemed genuinely intent on becoming a Hero, even if it was because his skill influenced those around him to that path, was a good thing.

And now that same skill was in my hands, I had to be very careful about how I decided to use this skill. The ability to change the luck factor of myself and my subordinates was no joking matter, use it too much and they may rely on it too much in battle, rather than using their own strength and skill to win fights.

Still though, I couldn't overlook the benefits of having such a skill, the ability to motivate those that I viewed as allies regardless of how dire the situation was a powerful skill. Morale was the key to any fight and war.

《Notice: The effects of [Chosen One] are automatically applied to those that carry the user's divine protection, utilizing the soul corridor between user and subordinate.》

Good to know, it meant I wouldn't have to worry about acknowledging everyone as an ally just so the skill could take effect.

'Hey [Great Sage] , is it possible to limit or cancel some of the sub-skills of this skill?'

《Affirmative: While the skill can be difficult to control, it is not a problem for me.》

Did [Great Sage] just gloat? Perhaps it was also improving the more it watched me and my interactions with the outside world. 'Then turn off [Hero's Action] and limit the manipulative effects of [Hero's Blessing].' I told it.

If I had been a human then I wouldn't mind the effects of [Hero's Action]. But for a monster to walk down the path of becoming a Hero just seemed counterproductive to me. And if it dragged other monsters into the same path, then that was just as bad. I couldn't imagine all the Goblins under me suddenly walking down the path of becoming Heroes, despite the skill's effects, that would just seem strange to those that weren't affected by [Chosen One].

As for [Hero's Blessing, I didn't mind the increased luck factor, even though I didn't want to become too reliant on it. But what I really wanted to limit for the time being was the fact that it manipulated people's perspective on me. If all my actions were viewed in a positive light by those around me, then nobody would ever tell me when I was wrong or speak out against my decisions. And that was more of a crutch than it was a benefit. It was already bad enough that some of my subordinates would willingly kiss the very ground I walk on, I didn't need this skill adding onto that. So it was best to turn it off for now, and only use that aspect in situations where I felt it was truly necessary.

《Understood: Shutting down the sub-skills [Hero's Action] and [Hero's Blessing] until further notice. 》

'Glad to know I can count on you partner.'

《Hmph》

That time I was pretty sure I heard a sense of pride in the voice of [Great Sage], though I chose to ignore it for the time being, lest my ever trustworthy yet sassy skill tell me it was all in my head again.

With most of my personal business done, I decided to make my way out the cave. Funny enough, there were still plenty of Magistones and Hipokute herbs growing if you looked in the right places. Perhaps they had regrown in the last five months, the place was still loaded with Magicules after all.

The Sealed Cave would make the perfect farm for these rare materials. It was a little degrading to transform the place that once housed my mother into a farm, but I doubt she would care much seeing as she had been alone here for a long time, and thus wouldn't have any fond memories of this place. If anything, she may prefer to stay as far away from the cave as possible. Either way, it was a good place to produce unique materials of the highest quality that could not be mass produced anywhere else, if what I'd gathered from Kaijin and King Gazel held any merit.

I just had to make sure no intruders entered the cave without permission much like Kaval's party had done. I'd probably set a few Goblins and Wolves here, or maybe have them include the cave in their patrols.

Within twenty minutes, I'd left the cave and flown over to the Goblin Village by sprouting Dragon wings out of my back, landing softly within the growing village's center. Everyone seemed busy, but they all seemed to take a second to bow their heads respectfully towards me before continuing with their tasks. I'd told them to do this after they kept stopping whatever they'd been doing every time I visited and would go down and formally greet me.

"You'll never get anything done if you guys stop every time I make an appearance. I don't want to be the reason you don't make any progress in the village's development. So from now on stick to short but respectful greetings that won't impede your duties."

That's what I'd told them, knowing that asking them for anything more would be too much for them. I was glad they were at least taking that much to heart, a brief bow was a good enough show of respect rather than getting down on your knees every time.

"Lord Rimuru." I heard the ever soft and elegant voice of Treyni, someone whose presence was a little overdue by now, turning to my left I saw her approaching me with Rigurd next to her. That most likely meant she arrived whilst I was at the sealed cave.

She most likely knew that I was in the cave, and for whatever reason chose to wait here. Perhaps out of respect, leaving me to the privacy of visiting the place I first met my mother? I couldn't be too sure, regardless she was here now and that was all that mattered to me.

"Treyni." I greeted with a nod, there was a lot more I could have said but I was more eager about what she had to say.

"Forgive my delayed return, Lord Rimuru, the search for the Majin known as Gelmude was not as fruitful as I had hoped." Treyni said as she bowed her head with a regretful expression formed on her face. "Unfortunately, it appeared that Gelmude had already managed to leave the forest as neither I nor my sisters could find any trace of him within the forest. Please forgive our failure."

"I see…don't worry about it. Gelmude is clearly a slippery Majin that's used to running." I reassured Treyni as I thought back to the time when Gelmude had shot into the air as fast as a rocket during our first encounter. If he was capable of flying at such speeds, it's no wonder he was able to leave the Dryad's range of sight. "I only wish the situation with Ifrit hadn't been so dire, or else I would have pursued him myself."

"However, not wanting to return empty handed, we expanded our search for anything connected to Gelmude." Treyni revealed, I had expected as much after a day had passed without any news from them. If Gelmude had been within their domain he would have been easily located, so the alternative was that they were looking into his activities within the forest. "We were able to find a potential lead connected to him. Namely a monster within the forest that he named, a Lizardman that goes by the name Gabiru."

"He named a Lizardman, huh?" I thought out loud, ironically my first encounter with Gelmude was when he was offering Zegion and Apito names in exchange for their loyalty and saving their lives. That couldn't be a coincidence.

"Forgive my interruption, but I felt I should also mention that Gelmude was the Majin who named my eldest son prior to his passing." Rigurd informed. I remember him mentioning a named Goblin among them that died at the hands of the Direwolves.

So it wasn't a coincidence, for whatever reason, Gelmude had been going around giving names to monsters, and he'd been active in the forest for longer than I thought. But if what I knew of the process was true, then he was constantly weakening himself in the process. I had no clue as to what he was planning, but if he was willing to weaken his own power, then it had to be something big.

"Where is this Gabiru? We need to pursue this lead immediately while it still has any worth," I asked Treyni. At this point, this Lizardman was our only lead to whatever plans Gelmude had. I'd personally question him, and depending on how cooperative he was, I wouldn't need to take extreme measures.

"He, along with most of the Lizardmen tribes, have made their home at Lake Siss. There is one more detail I feel I should add. " Treyni explained as I turned to her, silently prompting her to continue. "Gabiru is the eldest son of the current Lizardmen Chieftain. I feel Gelmude may have named Gabiru with his heritage in mind. It may be possible he plans to get the support of all the Lizardmen for his plans."

"So naming Gabiru was a political move to get the Lizardmen in his pocket, perhaps Gelmude is a lot smarter than we gave him credit for." It made sense, and made the situation that much more urgent. "Still, the best way to get to the bottom of this would be to question Gabiru himself. I'll be paying a visit to the Lizardmen territory immediately to sort this out. I want to put an end to this mess."

Without waiting for another word, wings sprouted from my back once more, and with a mighty flap I shot into the sky in the direction of Lake Siss. I'd had enough of Gelmude at this point, no since I found out he had been the one responsible for attacking Shizue. The fact that he had been active in the forest for months now made me regret letting him go the first time I met him, because now I was stuck following nothing but breadcrumbs just to find out what his intentions were. Whatever plans he had, whether it was his plan or that of his master, it would not succeed as long as I had a say in it.

~~~

In a short amount of time, I made it to the shallow waters of Lake Siss, the large rock structure that the Lizardmen called home quickly coming into view. Narrowing my wings, I rapidly descended towards the ground.

I crash landed onto the ground in front of the Lizardmen entrance, large amounts of water and dirt splashing all over the place. But I didn't really care for that. Instead I focused on the numerous reptilian creatures, which I assumed were the Lizardmen, that stood in various strategic positions. They all held spears and were pointing them at me cautiously, and with good reason. I'd literally crashed into their front gate.

"Who goes there?! Identify yourself!!" One of them asked, I could only assume that they were the guards stationed outside.

'I'm not in the mood to try the diplomatic route right now.' I thought to myself. So instead of responding, I unleashed seventy percent of my aura.

Waves of power washed out of me and the effect was instant. Whatever confidence these Lizardmen had before was replaced with unbridled fear, some dropped their weapons in shock and fear. Some tried to back away, stumbling and falling on their asses as they did so. Not wanting them to eventually pass out or something, I toned my aura down to 25%, still more than enough to be considered a threat.

"I won't repeat myself, so listen carefully. I've not come seeking trouble, but I want an audience with your leader. I have an important matter to discuss with him." I decided not to mention Gabiru for the moment, the Chief may attempt to have his son retreat if I did. And that would mean I'd have to get violent just to get the answers, something I wanted to avoid doing if I could.

The Lizardmen were residents of Jura just like any other monster, and thus were under my protection as well. But it just so happened that one of them was working with the enemy, and that was something I couldn't let slide. It was treachery in every sense of the word. However, I couldn't act until I had a full understanding of the situation, hence the reason I wanted to question him. If the Lizardmen decided to try and protect him…well then I'd do what I had to do. Wouldn't be the first time I'd dealt with a betrayal from someone from the same country as me.

The Lizardmen were quick to process my demand, turning to each other with questioning looks as they wondered what to do. One of them then nodded towards me before running into their den, presumably to inform the Chief or something of my presence, not that he hadn't felt my initial burst of power.

According to what [Great Sage] had told me, Lizardmen were C-rank monsters, much like the Hobgoblins, except they were reptilian. Interestingly enough was the fact that they were descendants of Dragons, but the Dragon Factor within them had diminished over time leaving them as they were now. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if they regained that Dragon Factor.

~~~

Lizardmen Throne Room: Lizardmen Chief POV:

The entire throne room was in panic from the powerful aura that we had all just felt outside. Many were talking about rallying our men and preparing for battle, but I had been quick to put a stop to that. The reason being we stood no chance against whatever monster it was that was unleashing such power. To provoke such a being would be the end of all of us.

And yet, despite the powerful aura that had been recently unleashed, there were no sounds of conflict to be heard outside. So was it foolish of me to assume that perhaps the individual this powerful aura belonged to had come to talk? Perhaps. Worst case scenario was that they had come to subdue us and make the Lizardmen their subordinates.

"Chieftain!" One of the guards that had been stationed outside came running into the throne room. He was clearly frightened, by what I could only assume was the source of the power we'd felt before. "Sir, there's a powerful Majin outside demanding to meet with you!!" the guard reported as he fell on one knee in front of me.

"I see…" Many of the gathered elders immediately began to speak amongst themselves, some speaking louder than others. But they were all basically wondering the same thing. Why did this Majin want an audience with me? The possibilities were endless, and attempting to guess without even seeing or knowing the guest would get us nowhere. There was no other option but to let this danger into our home, refusing him may just anger him and bring destruction upon us. "Very well, let them in." I said, much to the shock of my council and personal guards.

"But father, it's too dangerous to let such a Majin into our home." My daughter spoke up from beside me. She was the head of my personal guard, having proven herself strong and reliable, with the maturity and reasoning needed to lead.

The other council members were quick to voice their own agreements to my daughter's words. I understood the fear they felt. But still…

"You all felt that powerful aura just now." I spoke loudly to silence everyone. "If this Majin truly wanted to do harm, he could have easily forced his way inside without making this request. And we'd not have been able to stop him had he tried. If we can end this without angering our guest, then I'd rather do so." I reasoned with them.

Many in the room were still uncomfortable with the idea, and honestly speaking so was I, but this truly was the best possible solution at the current moment. Angering this individual would only be inviting ruin to our doorstep. With the wave of my hand, the guard left to invite our guest, and everyone in the room waited with bated breaths.

"Father, are you sure this is wise?" My daughter asked once more as she leaned in close.

"I don't know, we can only wait to see what it is this Majin wants." I told her, as much as I would have preferred she not be here for this, I knew removing my daughter would be seen as weakness by the other tribe leaders present. Not to mention, I doubt she would willingly leave my side without a fight, she was very loyal and loving like that.

After a moment, the air in the room seemed to change as the sound of footsteps on the moist cavern ground could be heard coming from the entrance of the throne room. Soon after a…child? At least in appearance, he walked into the room, glowing emerald green eyes scanned over all those in the room as he approached its center before coming to a stop.

'There's no doubt that this Majin is the source of that terrifying power. Even if it is currently a fraction of what it was before. I'd best speak up before these elders say something foolish.' I thought to myself as I stood up from my throne, spreading my hands wide apart in a peaceful gesture. "Greetings Strong One, I am the Chief of the Lizardmen tribe. I have been told you wanted to speak to me. What is it I can help you with?" I asked, making sure to be respectful but not submissive.

"My name is Rimuru Tempest." The Majin, Rimuru, responded, immediately letting us all know that he was named. Though unlike my son, I sensed no arrogance when he did so, it was merely a self-introduction. "I apologize for the unannounced welcome, but I've come to address a rather urgent matter that could not wait. So I hope you'll spare me some of your time."

I could tell this much was not a request, and refusing may just cost me my head. Still, what could be so important? "Very well then, what is the matter you wish to discuss?"

"As of late, there's been a Majin named Gelmude from the Demon Lord's domain acting within the forest, and while I cannot be certain, his recent actions have proven that he may become a threat to the forest if allowed to act without supervision." Rimuru said as his eyes bore into mine.

"I see…am I to assume that you're enlisting the aid of the Lizardmen in catching this Majin then?" I asked him, but was surprised when he shook his head sideways.

"No, as it stands, he's already left the forest. Though I have no doubt he will return soon enough to finish whatever he's started." Rimuru responded. "I did, however, find out that Gelmude had been going around the forest, naming various monsters from various tribes and races. One of said monsters was your very own son, 'Gabiru' I believe is the name he was granted."

I couldn't help but feel my own heart rate quicken at that. Just what had my foolish son gotten himself involved in now? "Yes, my son did in fact receive a name from a Majin. It has caused him to become a bit conceited and arrogant, but he is otherwise a good lad." I tried to explain.

"Chief, I'll need to speak to your son. He may have information pertaining to Gelmude's intentions." The Majin said as his eyes looked directly into mine. Once more I could tell that this was not a request, he'd tear through everyone here if it meant finding my son. Beside me, I saw my daughter tighten her hand on her spear, in preparation to act if need be. Unfortunately, our guest noticed this too as his eyes shifted over to her for a split second, before shifting back towards me without a second thought.

'He doesn't even consider any of us to be a threat to him…' I couldn't help but note. It was humiliating to be in a position where we could do nothing due to someone holding such overwhelming power over us, and yet that was the world of monsters, the strong preyed on the weak. With a sigh, I nodded my head towards the Majin before turning towards one of the guards by the exit. "Very well, find my son! Bring him here at once!!" I ordered the guard, who swiftly nodded his head and ran out the throne room.

"Chieftain!" My daughter called out from my side, knowing better than to call me father at times like these. I raised my hand to silence her. I understood her concerns, I shared them as well, but if Gabiru truly had agreed to follow an enemy from outside of Jura, then it was best that the truth be revealed now, rather than having it come back to bite us later down the line. At least that is what I was telling myself anyway.

~~~

Rimuru POV:

I had managed to calm down somewhat since coming into the throne room, meaning I wasn't being reckless and throwing my aura all over the place, but I still made sure to show a firm hand in front of these people.

This was my first time meeting the Lizardmen, and though I'd yet to tell them of my heritage, which I planned to do, it was still important for them to acknowledge me as not just a powerful Majin but a respectable individual as well. That meant being firm, but reasonable as well. I couldn't just throw my weight around, but they needed to know that I would do that if push came to shove.

Thus far, the Lizardmen Chieftain had been very hospitable, despite the fear and caution that all the others held towards me. Which in itself was understandable. He was also definitely well spoken, almost as much as the Ogre Chief, and definitely showed higher than average intelligence for a monster. Though looking at their home and the way they dressed, you could tell they weren't quite as developed as the Ogres.

It took a few minutes, but eventually the guard that had been sent eventually returned with another Lizardmen right behind him. This guy wore a cape, baggy pants, and a furry neck warmer. I could only assume that this was the Chief's son judging by the way he walked in with his head held high, walking in like he owned the place. I could already tell that he had a less than savourable character.

"Aaahhh there you are, I was beginning to think you had gone out, my son." The Chief said, looking rather relieved to see his son. I guess I'd put a bit too much pressure on him in that regard.

"I am here Father, but please, must you continue to address me in such a boorish manner?" Gabiru said arrogantly despite going down on one knee, it was hard to tell whether the guy was deliberately being disrespectful towards his old man. "In case you may have forgotten, I did receive a name, I'd much appreciate it if you would use it."

"How I address my son should not matter. You would do well to remember that." The Chief said as he glared down at his son. It was becoming more and more clear to me that the level of respect between these two was pretty low, and that mainly stemmed from Gabiru becoming full of himself ever since he got a name.

Gabiru was indeed stronger than the rest of his kind, he certainly had the Magicules to prove it, though that was probably as a result of his naming. And I'd assume as the Chief's son and heir that he had to be a pretty capable warrior as well, though I wasn't too sure. It was easy for someone like him to get full of himself due to the sweet tongue of someone like Gelmude. But that just meant he would be an annoying character to deal with, both now and potentially in the future as well. I'd need to do something about that before I left.

"Fine, but why have you called me here, Father? This better be important, I have more important things to do than listening to another one of your lectures or doing menial tasks." Gabiru said rather arrogantly with the click of his tongue, completely dismissing the previous topic.

Yeah, this guy had no respect for his father whatsoever. I don't think even my own father would have allowed me to get away with that in my old life. Then again, he was a hardcore military dude, the kind of guy who asked his child to address him as 'sir' and all that. Still, this guy was on some kind of major power trip, and if someone didn't knock him down a peg, he would eventually cause the downfall of the Lizardmen.

"Right, about that. I'm sure you felt that overwhelming presence from earlier?" The Chief asked him. Gabiru nodded his head, his face surprisingly becoming serious for someone like him, guess even he knew when to take things seriously.

"It's hard not to have felt such an aura. I was in the midst of preparing the men for battle if needed." Gabiru explained, and I couldn't help but nod in approval at that. So the guy wasn't a total lost cause. An arrogant and self-centered bastard, but at least he showed that some of his father's teachings had gotten through to him.

Still, at the end of the day, he was far from ready to lead. If he were to become chief as is, his arrogance and naivety would be the downfall of his people.

"Yes, well the Majin responsible for such an aura requested to speak with me. And I allowed it." The chief said as he gestured towards me, prompting Gabiru to turn towards me as well. His eyes went wide upon seeing me.

"Wait! Are you telling me that immense aura just now was released by this scrawny little runt?!" Gabiru asked as he pointed his index fingers towards me in disbelief.

The silence that filled the air was palpable, though I could sense the clear fear radiating from all the Lizardmen as they stared at Gabiru in shock before their eyes would shift to me, especially from the Chief and the female guard next to him who was likely his daughter if her resemblance and reaction was any indication.

As for me, well…

'Scrawny little RUNT?!' I couldn't help but mentally scream, but on the outside, the only indicator of my anger was the frantic twitching of my eyebrow. The fact that I'd even managed to keep my aura in check was a testament to my self-control.

…is what I would have liked to say.

Within a split second, I'd vanished from my position, moving faster than the Lizardmen could hope to keep track of, and reappearing in front of Gabiru with my right fist cocked back. Said fist was coated in a bright purple aura. Before any of the Lizardmen could react, my fist buried itself within Gabiru's midsection, the Lizardman completely folding over before the force of the strike sent him flying off and crashing into a nearby wall. Crashing into it with a loud and audible impact.

"Gabiru!" The female Lizardman that had been beside the Chief suddenly cried out in alarm as she ran toward Gabiru. If my earlier assumption was correct, then that meant she was his younger sister.

Fortunately, I held back enough not to do any permanent damage, despite my anger. And so Gabiru hadn't been heavily injured, but I'm sure he would think twice before he said something foolish again.

"Do…you know…who we are…?" Gabiru, who by the way was sporting multiple injuries from my previous attack, asked as he slowly stood up, his sister supporting him by putting one of his arms around her shoulders.

"Brother, that's enough!" His sister tried to hold him back from provoking me further. But it was kinda too late, I was interested in hearing what this half-dead dimwit had to say.

"We are the mighty Lizardmen, descendants of the great Dragons whose blood flows through our veins!" Gabiru declared as he foolishly pushed his sister away and shakily stood on his own two feet.

"Your words would have more credibility if you didn't look like you were about to pass out. Unfortunately I have questions I need to ask you, Gabiru, so I can't afford to knock you out just yet." I said whilst shaking my head sideways. I really wanted to take another swing at him, but he really will get knocked out if he takes another hit from me. He might even die, which was something I wanted to avoid at all costs. "You also chose the wrong person to brag about being a Dragon descendant." I told them as I shifted from my human form into my Dragon form.

Now, I know this may have been more intimidating if I had been some enormous fully grown Dragon, but I wasn't. I was a small hatchling, slightly larger than the average pup. So, to compensate for my small size, I decided to flare my aura once again. Allowing my power to flood the room.

The chief, his daughter, the councilmen, the guards, and even Gabiru were all overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of my aura. The pressure forced those that were standing down onto their knees, and everyone found it hard to even breathe.

"Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am the Elemental Dragon Rimuru Tempest, son and heir of the Storm Dragon, Veredia Tempest." I declared loud for all to hear, still not letting up on the aura. But I was still able to hear the gasps and see the bewildered expressions as my words sunk in. It was then that I let my aura fade, the pressure in the room coming to an immediate stop as everyone took in a deep breath of air that they'd been struggling to take in seconds ago.

I watched everyone catch their breath once more as they slowly stood up, or sat up in the Chief's case. They all either carried expressions of shock, caution, or fear as they looked at me. Which I guess were appropriate reactions given my current form, everything I'd just told them, and the intensity of the aura I had unleashed upon them.

"Are you…" I turned towards the Chief who was still trying to gather his bearings. "...are you truly…the son of the Storm Dragon?" He asked, I assumed that was pretty much the question on all their minds. The way all the Lizardmen turned towards me confirmed that line of thought.

I opened my mouth to respond but was cut off when the familiar scent of fresh air and forest leaves filled the throne room, and not a second later, Treyni made an appearance in a bright green glow that momentarily blinded those not accustomed to it, aka the Lizardmen. It took a moment before they regained their sight, and I was surprised to see their eyes go even wider than they were moments ago upon laying their eyes on Treyni.

"A Dryad?!" The Chief nearly shouted in shock as he stood up from his throne, many similar whispers going around the room as they wondered what Treyni was doing here.

'At this point, I'm not really surprised. The Dryads are pretty much the stuff of legends here in Jura.' I thought as I turned toward the ethereal Dryad.

Treyni's eyes looked over everyone in the room, her face as soft and serene as usual, yet it didn't really give away how she was feeling in that moment. She silently began to walk towards me, much to my confusion, before picking me up from the ground, much to my embarrassment. Once I was securely within her arms, she turned towards the Lizardmen Chieftain with a rather firm look in her eyes, causing the old guy to flinch.

"Lord Rimuru speaks the truth. He is the son and heir of Lady Veredia, and therefore the rightful Lord and Guardian of the Great Forest of Jura." Treyni announced suddenly, confirming my heritage to the surprise of all the Lizardmen. She then turned her sharp gaze towards Gabiru, the young Lizardmen heir gulping nervously under her scrutinizing glare. "We the Dryads will not tolerate any further disrespect towards him." Treyni said, a surprisingly malevolent aura surrounding her body, much to my surprise.

'Remind me never to make Treyni mad.' I mentally noted with a nervous sweatdrop. It wasn't her style, she was the gentle and serene type of individual. Seeing her angry like this was so out of character for her, but at the same time… 'Is it strange that I find this side of her…kinda hot?' I couldn't help but wonder. I quickly shook my head of such thoughts, now wasn't the time.

"P-please forgive our rudeness! We meant no disrespect to Lord Rimuru!" The Lizardmen Chief quickly said as he got down on one knee, much the shock of all the Lizardmen present. To be honest I was kind of surprised myself, I hadn't expected things to come to this nor did I necessarily want it to. But Gabiru ended up being less ideal than planned, and it seemed Treyni had been watching long enough that she had taken offense on my behalf. "We were merely shocked by the news that Lady Veredia had sired an heir. But if even the Dryads are claiming it to be true, then it must be so."

"My existence only became known after my egg hatched not too long ago, moments before my mother vanished." I decided to respond, but I wanted to get back to why I was here. "But that's a story for another time, I came here to ask your son some questions." I said as Treyni turned towards Gabiru, allowing me to be directly facing him.

"Y-yes sir! Please feel free to ask me anything!" Gabiru shouted as he went down on one knee. I could tell that he was frightened. Probably worried that I would off him or something for his earlier disrespect.

"Good, I want you to tell me about the Majin who gave you your name." I enquired.

"Oh, you mean Lord Gelm-!" Gabiru was cut off when I suddenly unleashed a quick burst of my aura, but it vanished just as quickly, lasting for a second.

"Please don't address that Majin as 'lord'. He is not the lord of anything." I emphasized as I glared at Gabiru, the Lizardman swiftly nodded his head multiple times in understanding. "Good, that weakling is merely the subordinate of another, not a lord in himself." I said firmly with a glare towards Gabiru.

"Y-yes Lord Rimuru, I understand." Gabiru shouted apologetically.

"Good. Now, I know that Gelmude has been active within the forest, one of those activities include granting names to various monsters throughout the forest. What I want to know is why has he been doing this? What are his plans?" I asked as I continued to glare at Gabiru.

"He…he already named other monsters?" Gabiru seemed surprised, and even a little bit hurt by that statement, surprisingly. "But he didn't mention that to me, that wasn't part of the plan he told me!"

"What plan?" I asked Gabiru firmly as I glared harder at him. I could deal with him believing he was some kind of 'chosen one' another time. Right now, I was more concerned with the fact that there was a plan. And I needed to know what that was.

"Gelmude was merely looking for promising monsters to work under him to help him control the Great Forest of Jura. H-He claimed that with Lady Veredia gone, the forest would inevitably collapse into anarchy and war, and that those who would serve him would not only gain names and power, but would aid in managing and ruling the forest." Gabiru confessed, I could already see the numerous flaws with this plan.

"Even though the forest was already under the management of the Dryads?" I asked in skepticism, the Dryads were amongst the strongest species within the forest, not to mention they had the respect of many species within the forest. Treyni also looked offended at the notion of being usurped in the authority that she and her sisters had been granted.

"He claimed that the Dryads would inevitably be overwhelmed by the stronger monster races of the forest and would become too busy keeping out human threats, and couldn't be trusted to maintain order forever." Gabiru nervously answers, anxious at Treyni's darkening demeanor, I couldn't blame her for feeling offended though. Gabiru had literally chosen to put his trust in a Majin from outside the forest, rather than the Dryads that had been protecting it for centuries. Even I would take offense to something like that.

"And so you chose to put your trust in Gelmude. The servant of a Demon Lord, simply because he promised names and power within the forest." I said as I shook my head in disappointment. "As a future leader, I'd think you'd have more pride than to bow your head at the servant of another lord. And you have the gall to call yourself a Dragon descendant." I scoffed, as Gabiru lowered his head in shame.

I may have been laying it on a bit thick, but I felt it was necessary if I was going to get my point through his thick skull. And so I continued…

"Tell me, Gabiru. Did it occur to you that Gelmude was only using you since you were next in line to lead the Lizardmen?" I asked him, making his eyes widen. "Also, did it occur to you that Gelmude didn't seek out monsters to maintain order within the Great Forest of Jura, but rather to build loyal forces to help him take control of the Great Forest of Jura by force against those who would oppose him, like the Dryads for example?"

Gabiru looked shocked at the implications of what Gelmude was really after, and many of the other Lizardmen like his father and sister were also realizing why I took the matter so seriously. Treyni seemed even angrier, likely having realized this was an attempted coup towards the authority that she and her sisters had been granted by my mother.

"From what I have heard, the Demon Lords have a non-aggression pact with each other to prevent conflict, but that doesn't mean they aren't seeking more power to boost their standing against each other or accomplish any goals they may have." I told him and the other Lizardmen. "They also had one with the Great Forest of Jura preventing them or their forces from acting here out of concern for my mother's destructive rampages. However, that pact likely doesn't prohibit monsters who already live in the forest to swear allegiance to a Demon Lord or act on their behalf within the forest. Gelmude, who is a servant of a Demon Lord, is likely serving as both an intermediary and a potential scapegoat for his master, trying to gain powerful subordinates within the forest to control it from within, but can also ultimately take the blame in his master's stead if he gets caught by the other Demon Lords."

By this point, the full implications of Gelmude's plot had sunk in to both Gabiru and the other Lizardmen as it was now made clear. It was admittedly ingenious, though it was more likely engineered by Gelmude's master rather than himself given his personality.

"Still though, this is all merely speculation. Regardless of what his true intentions are, I have no intention of sitting idly by as anyone, human or Demon Lord, tries to take over my mother's domain." I said, this was merely what [Great Sage] had been able to deduce with the facts we had, before once more glaring at Gabiru. "That job would be made a lot easier knowing I wouldn't have to worry about potential traitors working with the enemy."

"M-my lord!" Surprisingly it was the Lizardmen Chieftain that spoke up. "While I agree that my son's judgment was poor, wouldn't calling him a traitor be too much of a stretch?!" He called out both in concern and offense. He was probably worried I'd do something to Gabiru. Which was tempting, but I'd already socked and scolded the guy, there wasn't a need for me to do anything more. That being said…

"You think so? Perhaps you are right, after all, Gelmude deceived him as well." I responded with a few nods, the Chief let out a relieved breath, but I wasn't done talking just yet. "But that still doesn't change the fact that your son was so quick to doubt the management of the Dryads despite successfully managing the forest for many centuries, including even after my mother was sealed away 300 years ago, and had instead willingly submitted to a Majin from beyond these lands. Not only that, but the servant of a Demon Lord. Whatever else may have happened, he was fully aware when he made such a choice. And it's for that reason I can't bring myself to trust him."

Gabiru seemed to gulp at that, his eyes going to the ground as he refused to meet mine, while Treyni looked at him in disappointment. I was surprised that he hadn't tried to speak up in self-defense of his own actions. It seemed the gravity of the situation had really hit home for him, he'd nearly brought all of the Lizardmen under the rule of a Demon Lord, just because he had been quickly accepting of the false promises made to him. Hopefully this served as a good lesson for him as a leader and may actually help him grow. But for the time being, he was still a wildcard I wouldn't bet money on.

"Chief, I'd like to make a proposal. One that I hope will be mutually beneficial to not just me but you as well, and depending on how you choose to see it, the Lizardmen as a whole." I said, pausing for dramatic effect as it seemed I had the eyes of everyone in the room. "I'd like to grant you a name, if you will accept it that is." I offered much to the shock of all the Lizardmen.

"Wh-what?" The Chief managed to croak out, surprisingly losing his composure at my offer. It was actually kind of amusing to see.

"I'm not doing this out of the kindness of my heart mind you." I said, bringing the Chief down to earth. "As it stands, since receiving his name, Gabiru has gotten significantly stronger. From what I can tell, he is the strongest amongst you all. I feel there's much about his character that needs correcting, as while he may be strong, he's not truly ready to lead. Such a task is best left to a parent, but as it stands, you lack the strength to reign him in." I said, it was a cold hearted truth and a bitter pill to swallow, that much I could tell from the way the Chief frowned as he closed his eyes in thought.

What was left unsaid was the fact that accepting a name from me was basically the same as accepting becoming one of my subordinates. But I'm pretty sure that the Chief, as well as everyone present, understood that. I didn't plan to rule or change anything amongst the Lizardmen for the foreseeable future, naming the Chief was just a security measure to avoid Gabiru doing something stupid.

"Very well, Lord Rimuru. As Chieftain of the Lizardmen, I humbly accept your offer of receiving a name from you." The Chief says after some careful consideration, much to the surprise of all of his fellow Lizardmen, including both of his children.

"Very well then," I said as I pondered a name to give him, but thanks to [Thought Acceleration, I was able to come up with a name rather quickly. "As of this day, you shall bear the name 'Abiru'." It admittedly wasn't the most original of names given the similarities it bore to his son's given name, but I figured it would serve as a reminder of why he received the name in the first place and the importance of disciplining his son.

After bestowing said name upon the Lizardmen Chief, a large surge of Magicules had been transferred from myself to the newly named Abiru, according to [Great Sage], my Magicule reserves were still around 87% and should recover in no time. Still though, that was a surprising amount of magicules considering that Lizardmen were C-rank monsters. Everyone watched in surprise as Abiru was enveloped in Magicules as his appearance began to change, a sign of him undergoing immediate evolution. When they eventually dispersed, everyone was shocked to see the Chieftain now resemble a well-built, human-like male in his early to mid 30s, with small horns protruding from his long hair and large draconic wings emerging from his back similar to my own Dragon wings.

'[Great Sage], judging by his new human-like appearance, I'm guessing it's safe to say that Abiru has evolved?' I asked, it was pretty obvious. But unlike the Goblins and Wolves, who'd retained their green skin or canine-like appearance, Abiru seemed to have gone through a more drastic transformation. So I felt the need to be reassured that this was supposed to happen.

《Answer: That is correct, the individual named Abiru had successfully evolved into a Dragoon, an A-rank monster.》

'A-rank? I thought the lizardmen were C-rank monsters, how did Abiru jump two ranks as well?" I asked. I wasn't really complaining or anything, but it was a bit concerning. The Goblins and Wolves had all jumped two ranks upon evolving, Ranga and Raya going up three ranks. It was becoming something of a trend, and that would be concerning if I decided to name a powerful monster, like say an A-rank.

《Affirmative: The individual Abiru received a large amount of Magicules allowing him to swiftly go through the B-rank Lizardmen evolution, known as a Dragonnewt, and become a Dragoon. The user's Dragon Factor also played a role in strengthening the dormant Dragon blood within Abiru, making him stronger than the average Dragoon.》

'Wow, then I guess there was some truth to Gabiru's words in regards to Lizardmen being Dragon descendants. Still, I didn't expect my Dragon Factor to actually impact Abiru's evolution. I can only hope he doesn't grow arrogant with this newfound power.' I thought, impressed with how compatible my own power had been with Abiru's. I couldn't help but wonder if the same would apply to all of the Lizardmen should I decide to name them.

"F-Father! You've evolved! Your power, your aura, it's incredible!" The Chief's daughter says in amazement at the changes her father underwent, a sentiment shared by all the Lizardmen that are present, with even Gabiru being no exception, as they looked at the Chief in awe and wonder.

I had to agree with her a bit. Taking a moment to gauge his strength, I'd say he was definitely mid A-rank, his aura and magicules definitely greater than that of Ranga, Raya, Apito, and Zegion. Which was saying a lot, considering those four were the strongest subordinates I currently had. And if I had to guess, he was probably more experienced than the four of them as well when it came to combat.

"Indeed. And it seemed being Dragon descendants, as Gabiru boasted earlier, played a crucial role. My Dragon Factor was used to strengthen your own, making you even stronger." I say, drawing attention from everyone present, including from Abiru and even Treyni. "And unlike with Gelmude, it seemed being named by me has allowed you to grow to the point of evolution. To be honest, I wondered why Gabiru hadn't evolved after being named, I suspect he may have been cheated of the process. But Abiru seemed to not only have evolved properly, and gained my divine protection, but it seems he's gone beyond even my expectations, evolving into a Dragoon, an A-rank monster, rather than evolving into a B-rank Dragonnewt as predicted."

This revelation left all the Lizardmen shocked and amazed. Apparently, they hadn't even known that there was an evolution level beyond that of a Dragonnewt. Meaning that Abiru was the first to reach such a level as far back as they could remember. This also meant that Abiru had essentially become one of the strongest monsters in the Great Forest of Jura, aside from the Dryads who were still of a higher level.

"I am truly honored and grateful for this opportunity that you have gifted me Lord Rimuru, you have my eternal thanks. You have my word that I will use this power wisely and lead my people well in service of you as the rightful Lord and Guardian of the Great Forest of Jura." Abiru proclaims while bowing in gratitude, a gesture that was repeated by all of his fellow Lizardmen, his children included. "I will keep an eye out for this Majin, Gelmude, and will inform you immediately if I or my Lizardmen encounter him, along with warning all of my Lizardmen followers to be wary of him and to not accept any offers of power or names he may falsely promise. Should you ever be in need of our strength, please do not hesitate to call on us."

It was good to know that I had the support of the Lizardmen now, and Treyni definitely seemed satisfied with their submission. Still, I had no use of them for the time being, so I'd let them continue with their lives as they did before. With them now aware and on the lookout for Gelmude, I had no reason to be too concerned. I may even come back and name a few more Lizardmen for good measure.

"I am glad to hear that, though make sure not to grow complacent with your newfound strength, and take time to train, refine, and master your newfound power and with the aim to get even stronger." I advised Abiru out of caution, he nodded his head in agreement and understanding of my words. Of course, I didn't need to remind someone of his experience of the importance of continuously refining one's skill. I then gesture towards Gabiru, who flinched in response. "I'll trust that you can discipline your son and educate him to ensure he doesn't repeat this kind of mistakes, and hopefully straighten his behavior?"

"Of course, Lord Rimuru. I will see to it that something like this does NOT happen again, and that he will improve his behavior henceforth." Abiru reassures me before giving his ashamed son a stern glare.

A part of me did feel bad for putting Gabiru in what was obviously a tight and embarrassing spot, but I felt like he needed this. Just like the Young Master of the Ogres had learnt through humility, I hoped Gabiru would learn a thing or two as well. His father was just the insurance to make sure those lessons actually stuck.

"I suppose that concludes the reason for my visit." I spoke up, I'd pretty much gotten all the info I came for, and was leaving with a lot more than I bargained for. This visit had been more productive than I thought, then again maybe I should have expected it to turn out like this. Especially when Treyni made an appearance, she had the habit of wanting to make everyone acknowledge me as the Lord and Guardian of the forest. It wasn't a bad thing, but it felt like she was pressing the issue a bit.

"Actually Lord Rimuru, there may be one more matter to be addressed." Treyni spoke up, prompting to turn and look up at her, since I was still being held in her arms. I probably could have reverted back into my human form a long time ago, I'm pretty sure the Lizardmen wouldn't doubt my words at this point. But I'd remained in my hatchling form for Treyni's sake. She seemed to enjoy holding me in her arms, much like many of the women in my life, and thus I wasn't going to deprive her of that.

"Oh? And what's that?" I asked curiously, wondering where she was going with this.

"Well, I was wondering if you would have the Lizardmen join the trade network that you formed between the Goblins and Ogres?" Treyni asked out loud with an all too innocent smile.

That sly Tree Spirit, she'd deliberately spoken loud enough for everyone to hear so that the interest of the Lizardmen would be piqued! Though to be honest I hadn't even thought about including the Lizardmen in the trade agreement, it probably would have occurred to me later on, but I would have left this place without ever having thought of the idea.

"Trade network? May I ask what this is about Lord Rimuru?" Abiru asked as he stepped forward, the other Lizardmen council members seemed interested as well.

'Might as well…' I thought with a sigh, I'd be having a word with Treyni about putting me in these kinds of situations out of the blue.

And so I began to explain to the Abiru and his council about how I was currently taking residence in the Ogre Village in the southwest region of the forest, as well as how I'd become the ruler of a Goblin Village that was home to Goblins and Wolves, all of whom had been named by me. They all seemed shocked to learn that I had named over three thousand monsters, even if they were Goblins.

It took a while to get them up to speed, but once they were they seemed interested in trading with us as well. Perhaps it was so they could get more involved in my dealings and be closer to me, or maybe they didn't want to miss out on what could be a great opportunity.

To be honest, this was a great opportunity for the Goblins as well. Lake Siss was the largest source of water in the entire forest, so much so that it was surprising the Lizardmen had managed to defend this territory from other more powerful species. Perhaps the Dryads had something to do with it? I'd have to ask Treyni about that another time. Still, having the Goblins trade with them would open many doors for growth and development.

With that, we started discussing what we could possibly want from the other and what we had to offer. I couldn't speak on behalf of the Ogre Chief, but I would pass along Abiru's interest to trade with them as well, for now this would be simply between the Goblins and Lizardmen.

So Abiru and I spent a while talking. I requested access to their fresh water as well as fish for trade, and in return we would give them honey and a wider variety of meat compared to the fish they ate most of the time. Abiru requested that their weapons, namely spears, be produced by the Goblins from now on, this was after I told him about the quality blacksmiths we had thanks to both the Dwarves and Ogres in the Goblin Village. In exchange, he was willing to send some of his own men to train the Goblins not only how to fight with the spear, but also how to fight and move about in various environments such as swamps and the like. I felt like it was a good deal for the time being, the Goblins and Wolves would learn what it was like to fight in different environments, since not all parts of the forest were the same. It would be a good experience, and perhaps they may even learn to use that terrain to their advantage once they have adapted.

There were a few more words exchanged on potential deals, but other than that, things seemed pretty much settled for the time being. I'd leave the adjustments to Rigurd, he'd managed to iron out things pretty well with the Ogre Chief, and make their current trade somewhat equal. I'd leave it to him to do the same this time around.

"I think I'm gonna go on and make my way back to the Ogre Village now." I told Treyni once the two of us were outside the Lizardmen cave. "Can I trust you to share the details of the recent talks with Rigurd, as well as ensuring that the rest of the talks go smoothly?" I asked her as I jumped out of her arms, transforming into my human form and landing on the ground in front of her.

"Of course Lord Rimuru, please leave it to me. I'll make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible." Treyni said with a reassuring smile.

I wasn't really all that worried, Abiru seemed genuinely interested in making things work, and he was a very respectable leader in his own right. The fact that the Goblins were my subordinates assured me that neither Abiru or the other Lizardmen would look down on them. As long as Abiru and Rigurd were able to finalize the details on good terms, then everything should work out on its own. Having Treyni oversee the events was just an insurance, to make sure that the deal wasn't made unfair for one of the sides, despite how low the chances of such a thing happening were.

"Right, then I'll leave it to you then." I said with an appreciative nod as draconic wings sprouted from my back. Treyni gave a nod of her own as she waved goodbye, with the flap of my wings I took off for the Ogre Village.

~~~

Within the hour, I arrived at my destination. This time making sure I was emitting enough of my aura for them to identify me, whilst also taking care not to release too much so I didn't scare the surrounding wildlife.

Using [magic sense] to search for specific signatures, it didn't take me long to find the people I was looking for, and fortunately enough they all happened to be together. So I flew over in that direction, waving at the Ogres below me who'd either wave or bow their heads as I flew past them. I soon began my descent, touching down on the ground not too long after.

"Lord Rimuru!!" Before I could even turn in the direction I'd been called, I found my face being pulled into, and buried in, the large bosom that could only belong to the Purple Ogress. The scent and magic energy I sensed confirmed it was indeed her. "I'm glad you made it back safely, sir!" The Purple Ogress said happily as she tightened her embrace on me. It was nothing I couldn't handle, but I'm pretty sure she would have snapped the spinal cord of a normal human being with a hug this tight, either that or they would have suffocated being buried between these huge melons.

"You can stop hogging Lord Rimuru to yourself now." As usual it was the Princess who came to my 'rescue' whenever I was in the clutches of the Purple Ogress. And as usual it worked, the Purple Ogress released her grip on me, allowing me to step back and take in some much needed air. I turned to my left to see the Princess approaching with the Young Master next to her, the Blue Haired Ogre was a few steps behind them. "Welcome back Lord Rimuru, I'm glad to see you returned to us unharmed." The Princess greeted with a bright smile.

"Indeed, when my sister returned to the village with Raya and told us of the situation we were slightly concerned." The Young Master added before his eyes widened in alarm, as if realizing he had made a mistake. "N-not that we doubted your strength or anything Lord Rimuru!" he added frantically in alarm.

"Relax, I get it. And your concern means a lot." To be honest, it was almost hard to believe this was the same redhead that drew his blade on me a few weeks ago.

Still, it did mean a lot to know that they were concerned about my wellbeing, despite knowing I was strong enough to handle most threats within the forest. It showed they genuinely cared, that they didn't just see me as their lord or something along those lines, but they also saw me as a companion.

"The Dryads informed us of your victory against the Fire Spirit and that you were attending to other matters, but they didn't go into specifics." The Young Master explained, I remembered asking Doris to explain the situation to the Ogres, but I had asked her to leave out details beyond my victory. I wasn't sure how the Ogres would take the fact that I'd helped humans, if anything I felt that was something they should hear from me directly rather than through messengers.

"Yeah, a lot of stuff happened afterwards, but I hope you don't mind if I speak with the Chief about this first." I said with a slightly apologetic smile. It's not that I didn't want to tell them, but this kind of thing was best discussed with the Chief first before making it public knowledge.

"Of course, that's perfectly reasonable. I'm sure my father has been expecting you as well." The redhead responded.

"I'm sure he already felt my aura, but I wanted to see you guys first before I went and started talking business with him. Nothing I have to say is that urgent." I said with a smile.

To be honest, I hadn't realized how much I needed this. Casual conversation with friends. The Goblins were all good folk, don't get me wrong, but as much as I had bonded with them, all of my stronger connections were here in the Ogre Village. After the passing of Masayuki and Shizue, I hadn't really had the chance to just talk to someone about all that, and honestly I didn't feel close enough to the Goblins to do so. Perhaps there was a bit of favoritism there, but it was the truth. I could have turned to Treyni or one of her sisters, but they had their hands full with their responsibilities along with the tasks I had assigned them. I wasn't looking for pity or anything, I just wanted to talk to someone about everything that had happened.

'I need to get stronger than ever before. Even with the skills I gained from Shizue and Masayuki, along with the training I have undergone under the Ogre Elder, it still isn't enough. I need to properly master the skills I have, with things escalating due to that damn Gelmude and whatever Demon Lord he serves, I need to be ready.' I thought as I looked towards the Ogre Princess and the Purple Ogress, who were also 2 of my 'fated ones'. 'I won't let them, or anyone else I care about suffer the same fate as Shizue, I will grow strong enough to protect them.' I silently swore to myself. Still, there was the problem that exploring the full extent of my skills wasn't something I could do in the forest.

"Lord Rimuru, allow me to take you to my father so you may speak with him." The Ogre Princess said, drawing me away from my thoughts, to which I nod in agreement. As we walked towards the Chief's meeting room, I took time to explain everything that had happened while I was gone, though I made sure to keep the mention of Shizue and Masayuki quiet for the time being. The Princess was shocked that a servant of a Demon Lord was causing trouble in the Great Forest of Jura and had even unleashed a corrupted Fire Spirit upon it, and was greatly surprised when she learned about Abiru. I couldn't blame her, seeing as Elemental Spirits outside of the Dryads and Trents were rare in the forest, and the Lizardmen Chief becoming my subordinate and a powerful A-ranked monster is no small matter.

We soon arrived at our destination, the Princess bowing her head as she gestured for me to enter, it seemed as though she wouldn't be following, which was fine by me since I wanted to talk to the Chief alone anyway. I nodded my head in thanks, before sliding the door open and walking in. As expected, the Chief had been patiently waiting for me, seated as he drank a cup of tea. Sliding the door closed behind me, I walked towards him until I was seated on the opposite side of him.

"Welcome back, Lord Rimuru, please allow me to congratulate you on your victory." The Chief said with a soft smile as he poured me a cup of tea.

"Thank you." I said as I took the cup he poured for me. "As for the Flame Spirit, it wasn't as much of a challenge as I thought it would be. But the damage it caused to the forest, along with the three salamanders it summoned, was surprisingly large." I said as I drank a sip of the tea. As usual it was good, it had a calming and clarifying effect on my mind, and put me at ease.

"Maybe so, but at the very least no major settlements were damaged by the attack." The chief said, which was true. Aside from some wildlife and nature, no sentient creatures had been damaged by the forest fire. The closest settlement to the scene had been the Goblin Village, which had been evacuated as soon as the incident started.

"Yes, the Dryads were able to contain the flames, though they enlisted the aid of Merfolk to do so, seeing as they don't do well with fire. I'm ashamed to admit I never actually thanked the Merfolk for their aid, it's just that a lot happened after I stopped the spirit." I explained, leaving out the part where I had unintentionally helped out by literally sucking in some of the flames with my large hurricane.

"I see." The Chief muttered as he rubbed his chin in thought.

The talks between us went on for a while longer. I told him everything that transpired afterwards, from Shizue being the host of Ifrit, trying and failing to save her and Masayuki, though I left out their last requests and how their bodies were taken care of. I felt that was a bit too private and personal. After that I told him about the trip to the Lizardmen's domain and everything that happened there. Making sure to notify him that the Lizardmen were also interested in doing trade with the Ogres if possible. He had been surprised to hear that I named the lizardmen chief, Abiru.

"It seems your influence continues to grow. Though given your strength and lineage, that shouldn't surprise me. The fact that the Dryads have sworn loyalty to you gives you a lot more credibility as well, making things smoother." The Chief said, he didn't seem too happy about that, nor did he seem upset, mind you. He just seemed to be in thought as he spoke, almost as if he was coming to a decision or something.

"Yeah, from what Treyni told me, she and her sisters have been working on spreading word on my existence. They believe all the monsters of Jura should know the forest is not without a Guardian, that my mother sired an heir." I explained with a sigh. I wasn't against it, but the whole thing just seemed to be moving too quickly for my liking. I did plan to eventually unite the tribes of Jura to form a nation, but I would rather it be gradual rather than rushing it.

"It may be for the best, ever since Lady Veredia's presence vanished from the forest, a major shift has occurred." The Chief said, "You already witnessed the small power struggles that started within weeks of her disappearance." He was referring to the Direwolf raid on the Goblins.

"Yeah, I remember." The carnage I'd seen at the destroyed villages hadn't been pretty.

"Then imagine such power struggles happening with stronger species. Such as us the Ogres and perhaps the Merfolk." The chief tried to give an example, "But even then, our power can't compare to the monsters that live on the other side of the Almed River, I'm sure those are the monsters that truly worry the Dryads."

Admittedly I'd never flown beyond the river myself. Which is kind of stupid, but from what I remember, Treyni told me that she and her sisters didn't have any jurisdiction there, and thus didn't manage that side of the forest. The monsters there were apparently strong too, some species even reaching rank A, but according to Treyni, they were an unruly bunch, and refused the protection of the Dryads. Even though my mother had appointed the Dryads managers of the whole forest. Unfortunately, my mother had been too carefree to involve herself in the matters of the monsters in Jura, and thus the Dryads were left with no choice but to leave the monsters of the other side as they were.

"Yes, Treyni told me about that some time ago." I could see why the Dryads would be concerned, given how unruly but powerful these monsters from the other side of the river were, there was a real chance they could cause a lot of damage if they were to start causing trouble. "I suppose them being aware of my existence would help to keep them in check, though maybe going to the other side of the river would be more effective."

"Perhaps, but you must take caution. The Dryads carry no weight to the monsters there. Should they not believe you, they may become hostile." The Chief warned.

"If they do, then I'll simply have to put them in their place." I said with a confident grin. A-rank monsters may be stronger than average, but I could handle many of them no problem. That being said, the Chief did have a point, I wouldn't be able to rely on Treyni and the others if I wanted to get the monsters from the other side to acknowledge or perhaps even follow me. I'd have to rely on my own strength and ability to negotiate.

"Hmm, perhaps a bit of humbling would help." The Chief said with an amused smirk of his own. Looking down at his cup of tea I saw him contemplating something for a few seconds, before he turned to face me once more. "Lord Rimuru, may I ask you something, it's a bit…personal?" The Chief asked cautiously.

I found myself curious as to what he could want to ask me all of a sudden. I'm pretty sure that the Chief knew all there was to know about me by now, at least what I wanted them to know. But if even he was hesitant to ask, then it had to be something that would either offend me or something that I'd keep close to my chest.

"Sure, go ahead." I replied after a moment of thought. Whether I'd answer or not depended on what the question was, then again silence in itself was an answer.

"Right. Please forgive me for assuming, but are you…an Otherworlder?" The Chief asked, his eyes solely focused on my own. It took every ounce of my previous life's training not to give away my shock and nervousness at the completely random and unexpected question.

"You're right, that is rather presumptuous of you." I said calmly as I took a sip from my cup of tea. Though on the inside, I was nervous as hell.

'What brought this on?! Did I somehow give myself away?' I tried to think of anything I may have said or done that may have resulted in the Ogre Chief discovering that I was a reincarnated individual. 'There's no point in trying to deny it, while I'm sure the Chief wouldn't press the matter, the fact that he knows is already a cause for concern.'

"Do you mind if I ask what brought such a question to the table?" I asked in return, I hadn't answered his question directly, but the Chief was smart enough to read between the lines.

"It was just numerous small observations. Like when you initially came to our village, you claimed to have been born a month earlier and yet you showed such high levels of both intelligence and maturity. Then there was the way you offered to teach the Purple Ogress how to cook, now I may not be the smartest individual but even I saw some signs there." The Chief said with an amused stare.

Admittedly, I hadn't thought about that when I offered the Purple Ogress cooking lessons. I just wanted to be spared from the monstrosity that she called cooking back then. I mean, it bypassed my [Pain Nullification] skill, that literally meant her cooking had been strong enough to bend the rules. But looking back on it now, an infant monster having culinary skills was a bit strange…but to be honest, I didn't regret trying to help the Purple Ogress. She was doing a lot better now, her food being edible at the very least. It was only a matter of time before she finally got the hang of it.

"There were other small things that clued me in. But they all led me to the conclusion that you were a reincarnated soul, perhaps Lady Veredia reincarnated. But it wasn't until our most recent conversation that I realized you were an Otherworlder." The Chief said before taking a drink from his own cup. "Earlier, when you spoke of the Otherworlders you encountered, you seemed more upset and grieved than usual. And so I concluded that maybe you weren't just a reincarnated individual, but an Otherworlder."

"I had already pegged you as wise and perceptive from when we first met, Chief, but it appears even I underestimated just how intelligent you were," I said with an amused sigh. His deductive capabilities were greater than I thought, being able to piece all of that together. The Ogres of this village really were something else. "But yes, you are correct, I am a reincarnated Otherworlder. I didn't say anything since I wasn't sure how most monsters would react if they learned I was a former human, even if I was now the son and heir of the Storm Dragon. According to what my mother told me in the brief time we spoke, she had laid an egg without a soul, as a result, even though the body had fully developed, the egg would not hatch as the child within had no consciousness. Regardless, my mother kept and nurtured the egg. The Dryads are the only ones that ever knew of the eggs' existence."

"That…I can't possibly imagine." The Chief said, probably feeling some sympathy for everything that my mother had gone through.

"It was probably hard for her." I said as I nodded my head, as aloof as she seemed when we first met, I can't imagine how she felt when she first found out her child had no soul or consciousness of his own. "But she kept the egg, hoping for a miracle, or perhaps she was counting on a soul reincarnating into this body. All I know for sure is that when I met her, she already knew I was an Otherworlder. But she still welcomed me as her son, and with me having accepted this new life, I accepted her as my mother and then she granted me the name 'Rimuru', whilst I granted us the last name of 'Tempest'."

"An equal naming process, she truly did accept you as her heir. I suppose there's nothing more to be said on the matter, at the end of the day you're still Lady Veredia's flesh and blood." The Chief said with a small smirk. I felt myself relax slightly, I was glad that he had taken the news so well, I was honestly concerned for a whole minute there. But while we were on the topic…

"Actually, there's a question of my own I've been meaning to ask. But couldn't without revealing I was an Otherworlder." I spoke up.

"Oh? Please ask away, I'll gladly answer if it's something that I can."

"This village was influenced by an Otherworlder at some point, right? More specifically, Japanese folk." I said as I looked right in the Chief's eye. "I noticed it from the moment I first encountered the Ogres. Your clothing, armor, weapons, mannerisms, your homes, traditions, and even some of the food you cook. At first I thought it was just a coincidence, but that's too many coincidences for me to ignore." I explained, watching the Chief's reaction as I spoke.

"Yes, our village traditions and our current way of life were indeed taught to us by humans." The Chief said, closing his eyes in thought. "It was approximately four hundred years ago that a group of injured humans wandered into our village, we took them in and treated them. It was the first time we welcomed outsiders into our home." The Chief explained before taking another sip of tea.

I wasn't that surprised that the Ogres didn't welcome many people into their home, they'd already proven to be somewhat of a prideful bunch. Guess the only reason they'd let me in was because they had been able to tell how strong I was.

"As thanks for treating them, they taught us their techniques as well as various other things that we have put into practice in our village. The Haze style sword style is actually one of the techniques that was taught to us." The Chief explained. "They showed us many of the things you claimed to have noticed, others we developed on our own as we adapted to this new way of living. It made us stronger and smarter as a people."

It certainly did explain why the Ogres of this village seemed to be of a higher mentality than any other monster I'd encountered in the forest. Save for the Dryads maybe. Still, to think that a group of humans would have such a profound impact on a village of monsters. It was nothing short of incredible.

"The leader of this group was a man who went by the name Byakuya Araki, and is actually the grandfather of the Elder." The Chief revealed.

"Wait what?!" That revelation made me completely lose my composure. The Elder's grandfather was a human?! I was actually trying to wrap my head around the fact that these humans had stuck around long enough to procreate, and the fact that the Ogres had actually done it with a weaker species like humans. These Otherworlders must have been strong and respectable, there's just no other explanation.

Now the Elder, his grandfather being one of the humans that introduced the Haze style to the Ogres may explain why he was so talented with the blade, along with his age and experience. He'd probably been taught by Byakuya himself. Still, it was pretty shocking to find out that the Elder had human blood flowing through his veins. And yet, somehow the old man had managed to live for three hundred years, yeah that was definitely not his human blood at play.

"Indeed, most wouldn't think that looking at him, but it's the truth. The Elder learned all that he could from Byakuya, becoming the most skilled warrior in our village, but still his technique paled in comparison to that of Byakuya himself." The Chief said with closed eyes, more than likely remembering the past.

"Sounds like a truly skilled warrior, I would have loved the chance to meet him myself." I responded, Byakuya really sounded like an amazing dude. If his swordsmanship really outclassed even that of the Elder's then that meant he was beyond a master swordsman. He probably had other arts and techniques he hadn't been able to teach the Elder as well.

"Yes, he was, and so were his comrades. The things they taught us enriched our lives and made us stronger, and for that our people will always be grateful to them." The Chief said with a grateful nod.

"Chief, about me being a reincarnate, is there anyone else who knows besides you?" I asked the Chief seriously as my eyes met his own. I wasn't ready for people to know the truth about my origins just yet, even if the Ogres accepted me regardless. The more of them that knew, the higher the risk of word getting out eventually.

"Aside from myself, only the Elder suspects. To be honest, it was him who picked up most of the out of place things about you." The Chief responded with an amused smile.

"That's to be expected, he has a keen eye, and I've been spending a lot of time around him learning the way of the sword." I said with a sigh, not really surprised that the Elder had been catching on. "But it's manageable, feel free to tell the Elder but I'd like to keep this quiet for the time being, at least until I choose to reveal that part of myself."

"Of course, we had no intention of telling anyone else. I merely wanted to…sate my curiosity." The Chief said with a chuckle, I couldn't help but let out a scoff of my own. "That being said, hearing your answer did put things into perspective for me, and has helped affirm a decision that me and my people came to some time ago."

"Decision? I take it has something to do with me?" I saw no other reason why he would bring it up now if it was something that just involved the Ogres.

"Indeed, my lord, would you join me outside for a moment?" The Chief asked as he stood up, gesturing towards the door in invitation.

I was confused as to what was going on at the moment, regardless I nodded my head in agreement and also stood up. The Chief then walked around the table and towards the entrance without another word, I quietly followed, wondering what it was he was going to show me.

The Chief slid the door open, and gestured for me to walk out first. Okay, a little strange, but regardless I stepped out first without questioning it too much. What I saw upon exiting had greatly surprised me.

Standing before me were hundreds of Ogres, likely the whole village if I had to guess, children and all. The Chief's family was at the front of the rest, with the Ogre Elder also being nearby. They all seemed to be wearing rather serious expressions on their faces.

The Chief stepped out of the meeting room, moving past me, and standing in front of his family, before turning back to face me. To my surprise, he dropped down on one knee, adding to that surprise was that the rest of the Ogres followed suit. All going down on one knee before me.

"Lord Rimuru, we Ogres are a warring clan. We take pride in our strength and skills that we spend our entire lives honing. But even we are not above serving others. If our master is strong and worthy of our respect, we would gladly serve them." The Chief said, voice loud and firm. I could literally tell he was speaking as the Chief, the leader of his people. "After discussing it with my council and family, along with the others in our village, we have decided to swear our allegiance and loyalty to you. Please accept us as your loyal subordinates, our blades will serve as an extension of your will!!" The Chief requested, adding even further to my shock. When I came back to the Ogre Village this was the last thing that I had expected to happen.

If anything I never expected this to happen ever!! I always assumed the Ogres were too proud of a clan to submit to me on their own, unlike the Goblins who literally threw themselves at my feet. Then again comparing the two wasn't really fair all things considered. Still, for them to be the ones to pledge themselves to me like this…

…it couldn't have been easy.

Perhaps the fault lay with me for taking too long to bring the subject up. I'd grown comfortable with the way things were that I didn't want the Ogres to change and start revering me the same way the Goblins did. Though thinking about it now, I was probably overthinking it, aside from some additional respect I didn't think things would change that much. Or at least I hoped not.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" I asked, using [Desire] to try and get a read on how everyone was feeling about this. It was a major decision, one that would impact the rest of their lives and the future of their people.

"Yes my lord, as I said, it has been thoroughly discussed. Changes have already begun to occur within the forest, with you at the head of it all. We simply wish to walk along the path you will pave for us." The Chief explained.

I reached out my empathy skill, getting a read on how everyone else felt about this. As expected a few were cautious, some anxious, and some seemed against it. But overall I'd say about three quarters of the village fully supported the idea of becoming my subordinates. The Chieftess, Princess and Young Master seemed satisfied and happy and the Elder seemed equally satisfied. The Purple Ogress was radiating such levels of joy that I was surprised she was still kneeling down all prim and proper. The Blue Haired Ogre seemed somewhat neutral but satisfied, if that made any sense. It was hard to read people like him, but guess that was something I was going to have to work on.

"Very well then. I, Rimuru Tempest, Guardian of the Great Forest of Jura, accept your allegiance. From this day onward this village is under my protection, and as long as I'm here no threat shall step foot in this village!!" I declared, much to the shock and joy of the Ogres. To be honest, this village was already under my protection the moment I started living here, those closest to me more than likely already knew that. This declaration was just a means to help me earn the trust of those who still had reservation about me becoming their lord and master.

"All hail Lord Rimuru, the rightful Lord and Guardian of the Great Forest of Jura!" The Chief shouted as he rose from his kneeling position, throwing a fist into the air.

"All hail Lord Rimuru!" The Ogre Village responded in kind as they all stood and cheered. The phrase was chanted a few times, and I took a moment to just take in the sight of the merry mood that had suddenly filled the air. I had a feeling that the ogres were going to throw a huge feast tonight. Not that my stomach was complaining, I could do with some delicious food right about now. That being said, there was something else on my mind.

'[Great Sage, how many Ogres could I safely name in one go? Preferably to A-rank.' The last part was said as a precaution since pretty much all the monsters I'd named had skipped at least one rank. If the same happened here then the ogres would jump to Special A-rank, which would put them above the Dryads, save Treyni who I'm pretty sure is on the lower spectrum of Special A-rank. Even evolving them to A-rank was bound to drain my magicules, naming Abiru had taken about 12% of my Magicules, but given that he jumped 2 ranks, I couldn't accurately measure.

《Answer: Evolution from B-rank to A-rank consumes 9% of total Magicules. Total number of Ogres that can be named whilst ensuring the user has enough Magicules to be operational is 7. However, due to naming the individual Abiru, user's Magicules have yet to fully recover, reducing number of Ogres that can be named to 6.》

'And how long would it take to recover my Magicules after naming seven Ogres?' I asked.

《Answer: Estimated recovery time, 16 hours.》

That was more than I thought, but it wasn't really something I could complain about. It made sense that I could only name a limited number of Ogres at a time. I'd be more shocked by how OP I was if I could name many of them like I had done with the Goblins and Wolves.

Looking on as the Ogres continued chanting, I raised my hand to catch their attention. It seemed to do the trick as they immediately began to quiet down, their attention on me once more. My eyes moved over the Chief and his family, the Elder, the Purple Ogress, and the Blue Haired Ogre. These seven were without a doubt the strongest connections I'd built since coming to this, it only made sense that I'd name them first. Unfortunately though, I could only name six Ogres today, due to having already named Abiru earlier, otherwise I would have done all of them in one go. I guess I'd have to compromise…

"Chief, could you, your family, and the Village Elder step forward please?" I requested. The Chief's eyes seemed to widen momentarily, more than likely having realized what I was about to do, though given what I'd done with the Goblins, Wolves, and now Abiru, It wasn't that hard to reach the conclusion.

The Chief ushered his family forward, the elder stepped up as well, within a few seconds they all stood side by side right in front of me. The Chief, the Chieftess, the Young Master, the Princess, and lastly the Elder. That was the order in which they stood from left to right, meaning I'd probably start with the Chief. The five of them dropped down on one knee, ready for whatever order I had to give them.

"To officially mark this village as under me, and you as my subordinates, I will give you names." I said much to the shock of all the Ogres, the head family included, with the exception of the Chief who merely smiled as he bowed his head.

Many whispers and talks began to go through the large crowd of Ogres, I guess they were surprised and somewhat concerned that I was naming them, it was the same reaction with the Goblins, Wolves, and Lizardmen. But the Ogres are much stronger than all of them had initially been prior to me naming them, so their concern was somewhat valid.

"There's no need to be concerned, I've already run the necessary calculations, and know the magicule cost of naming you Ogres." I said loudly, once more silencing the Ogres and catching their attention. "Ogres are already a powerful species by default, and those of this village are even more so, hence I can't name too many of you. At least not in one sitting, but my goal is to eventually name all the Ogres of this village with time." I explained.

The effect was instant as the Ogres not only calmed down, but began to cheer at the prospect of being named. Given the number of Ogres in this village, it would likely take dozens of days if I followed the safety protocol [Great Sage] had mentioned earlier. The alternative was that I get stronger and increase the max number of Ogres I could name in a single sitting. I'd figure it out as I went along.

I then turned towards the Chief, his family, and the Elder who were still kneeled in front of me. As I moved towards the Chief, the rest of the Ogre Village quieted down. More than likely not wanting to interrupt or miss this moment.

"To the Ogre Chief, leader of this warrior village, I grant the name 'Akatsuki'." I said, the effect was immediate as a large amount of Magicules left my body and entered the now named Chief. "Use the power I've granted you to not only serve me well, but to lead your people towards a brighter future."

"Thank you my lord, I will strive to meet and exceed all your expectations." The Chief said with his head bowed, his body glowing as the evolutionary process began. As much as I wanted to watch, I knew we'd be here all day if I worked like that. And so I moved onto the Chieftess.

"To the Chieftess, who always carries herself with grace and elegance, and yet behind that is just as shrewd and cunning, I'll grant you the name 'Sakura'." I said with a grin, my words earning a giggle from the Chieftess herself as my power entered her. "You once told me you were quite the warrior, and were especially talented in magic. I look forward to seeing you in action one day."

"Yes my lord, thank you for granting me this grand opportunity." The Chieftess, now named Sakura, said happily. The amount of magicules that left me this time were slightly higher than with her husband Akatsuki, but considering I was helping her replenish the power she lost through conception then evolving her further, I guess it made sense.

I moved onto the Young Master.

"To the Young Master, you still have much to learn in the ways of leadership and making decisions with a cool head. That said, your potential may be the greatest within this village. I'll grant you the name 'Benimaru'." I said to the redhead. I didn't hold anything against him anymore, but I felt a good reminder before naming him would do some good. "Grow fast Benimaru, I'll be needing more than just raw strength from you in the near future."

"Yes Lord Rimuru, I shall strive to improve myself not only as a warrior, but as an individual too. This I swear." The Young Master, now Benimaru, said with conviction as my power entered him as well. I had high hopes for him, if all went well, he would be one of my closest subordinates. With a nod, I moved onto the next Ogre, the Princess.

To be honest, ever since that time at the Elf Bar, I hadn't been able to stop thinking about how the princess looked different then, both her and the Purple Ogress. I wonder if her evolution would have something to do with it, it most likely would. If so, then this was literally a prophecy coming true or whatever.

"To the Ogre Princess, your perception and ability to analyze has been something that caught my eye, something that stood out amongst the other Ogres. I'll grant you the name 'Shuna'." I said, Magicules leaving my body once more, the power entering her body. "I hope those talents of yours can be developed further, alongside your talent for magic."

"Thank you Lord Rimuru, I promise I'll do my very best." The Princess said as the Magicules entered her as well.

I took a step back as I watched the leading family of the Ogre Village glow as their names became engraved in their very souls, and their Magicules began to rise. But I felt there was one last thing I needed to do, to make it so they stood out from the rest of the crowd, though I wasn't sure if what I had in mind would consume even more Magicules. It certainly hadn't when I'd done it with my mother in the Sealed Cave, so it shouldn't now.

"As the leading family of this village, and to further distinguish you from your fellow Ogres, I have also decided to bestow upon the four of you a family name, 'Hattori'. From this day forward, you are Akatsuki Hattori, Sakura Hattori, Benimaru Hattori, and Shuna Hattori!" I declared to everyone's surprise and wonder. No Magicules seemed to leave my body, but I did feel a shift in the connection that had been initiated when I named them, the family name 'Hattori' also becoming engraved within them.

I'd chosen the last name 'Hattori' as it came from a legendary Japanese warrior by the name of Hattori Hanzo (AN: Or "Hanzo Hattori" in Western connotation, FYI). A renowned samurai and ninja who was deemed the best of his time and reputed to have supernatural abilities, he led various battles and played a pivotal role in the unification of Japan, and even after his death, he became an inspiration for future generations. I figured it was a good name to give to the leading family of a warrior village who would undoubtedly help a lot in uniting the various monster races of the Great Forest of Jura and forming a monster nation.

I moved on to the Village Elder.

"And lastly the Village Elder, your skill with the blade is second to none, and you have centuries worth of experience to back it up too. I'll grant you the name 'Hakurou'." I said as Magicules left me once more, before a thought suddenly came to mind. "And in honor of your Otherworlder grandfather, the great Byakuya Araki, I have also decided you will inherit his family name, 'Araki'. From this day forward, you are now Hakurou Araki!" I declared. I figured it was only right.

The Ogre Village wouldn't even have the Haze style that they specialized in if it wasn't for Byakuya and the other humans. It was the least I could do to at least honor them in some way.

"Lord Rimuru…you honor this old man with your kindness." The Elder said with gratitude as he bowed his head. I'm sure he had already pieced together how I knew about his grandfather, but I'd still need to talk to him later on.

The evolutionary glow engulfed the five named Ogres, it took a minute or so before the light finally died down to reveal their newly evolved forms.

《Notice: Evolution to Kijin for the individuals Akatsuki, Sakura, Benimaru, Shuna, and Hakurou was successful.》

So that was the A-rank evolution of an Ogre, a Kijin. Looking at them now I could tell that they had lost a lot of the muscle mass they had as Ogres, their figures had also become smaller, almost human-like.

Akatsuki looked like a man in his mid forties, with light red hair and amber orange eyes. Though the two white horns coming out his forehead were a clear reminder that he wasn't human. They seemed to have gotten slightly longer and weren't as thick too, they were definitely sharper though.

Sakura had changed into a woman who seemed to be in her early forties, but had aged wonderfully, making her younger than she actually was. Her hair, mostly white with a tinge of pink, seemed to have smoothed out, making her look more elegant and refined.

Benimaru's appearance seemed to be that of a man in his early twenties, which made sense. His blazing red hair and fiery eyes seemed to stand out even more now than before. The markings that had been around his eyes seemed to have also narrowed and become smaller.

Shuna's appearance seemed to be exactly how I had seen it in the crystal ball from the elf bar in Dwargon. Surprisingly, by becoming more human-like, she seemed slightly older, putting her at nineteen or even twenty years old, with a petite figure, adorable pink eyes, and a disarming smile.

Hakurou, who'd been three hundred years old as an Ogre, so it wasn't surprising to see him appear old even as a Kijin. Though he did seem to have regained some of his youth, seeing as he looked like he was in his early fifties when as an Ogre he looked like he was in his late sixties. He also seemed a tad bit taller, and was standing straighter too.

All in all they seemed to have become smaller in stature, becoming human-like and more refined compared to the wild and slightly intimidating appearance they had as Ogres.

Aside from that, their Magicules and aura also seemed to have exploded to that of monsters befitting their new rank, placing all of them firmly at mid A-rank. Though there were obviously slight differences in the strengths they had acquired from their evolution, such as how Benimaru seemed to have the most Magicules and Hakurou regaining his youth, each of them had become more powerful in their own right. Only time would tell just how far they had come and the skills that they had unlocked as a result. I was kind of looking forward to it.

I watched as the rest of the Ogre Village cheered and began to surround the five Kijin, congratulating them on their names, family names, and successful evolution. The atmosphere was definitely jovial and everyone seemed to be looking towards the future with hopeful eyes, a future that I was meant to lead them to.

The Ogres, and Kijin too now, weren't just allies to me now. They were my subordinates, powerful ones at that, should I name more of them. It was a sign that my influence and power within this forest was growing, and with it more would be expected of me. The Dryads were already spreading word of my existence, it was only a matter of time.

It seemed Benimaru wasn't the only one that needed to improve himself. I needed to become better, both as a leader and as a warrior.

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Authors Notes:

And that's a wrap for chapter 16!! Man I don't think I've ever written something this long my life, we're talking 19k words within one chapter people. I tried to shorten it, I really did, but there was just so much I wanted to get through and I didn't want to skip through it or rush it.

All in all I think it turned out well and as usual I'm looking forward to any reviews and insight into what you guys thought about the chapter in general.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the various key scenes that appeared in this chapter, from the introduction of the lizardmen, the manner in which Rimuru handled that issue and their submission. Not to mention the ogres submitting to him as well!

As usual I accept constructive criticism and might answer any questions that you have within the next chapter!!