"Oh no!!! How could you, Takumi—you actually…!"
Rimuru looked ready to burst into tears. Across the table, Takumi lazily waved a hand, expression full of disdain.
"Don't involve me in such troublesome things."
Rimuru trembled.
But then he saw—
Rigurd's expression.
Eyes filled with determination.
A face that clearly said: "If you refuse, Lord Rimuru… I will commit seppuku on the spot."
Rimuru panicked.
"F-Fine! I'll do it! I'll just do it! ╥﹏╥"
Instantly—
"That's great! I knew Lord Rimuru would agree!"
"Hmph! Of course! He is Lord Takumi's best friend!"
"With Lord Rimuru as ruler, the Great Jura Forest will surely prosper for centuries!"
The monsters were ecstatic. Their loyalty surged the moment Rimuru accepted.
Rimuru had only agreed reluctantly… but they interpreted it as noble resolve.
Takumi smirked.
Discussing Orc Lord Subjugation
"Now that Lord Rimuru has agreed," Treyni said with a gentle smile, standing atop the conference table, "shall we begin discussing how to subjugate the Orc Lord?"
"Uh—Miss Treyni, please come down first. Shion, get her a chair." Rimuru said.
"Yes, Lord Rimuru!"
Shion sprinted off.
Treyni bowed gracefully.
"Hehe, then I'll impose upon you."
Once she sat down with a cup of tea, Rimuru continued:
"The Orcs are attacking the Lizardmen. Their territory is still far from ours. What does everyone think?"
Discussions filled the room.
Shuna suddenly asked, "Souei, did you investigate our previous village?"
Souei nodded.
"Yes."
Shuna sighed.
"So there was really nothing left."
Souei's tone turned grim.
"No bodies. Not of our kin. Not of the Orcs."
Rimuru blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Souei answered succinctly.
"Bodies."
Benimaru added, "I've been wondering—how does a 200,000-strong army maintain its food supplies…?"
Rimuru stiffened.
"T-They wouldn't…"
Treyni's voice cut in.
"Unique Skill: Starved."
The room fell silent.
"Starved?" Rimuru repeated.
Treyni nodded.
"This skill is possessed by the Orc Lord—a calamity born once every few centuries. 'Starved' forces every Orc under its control to devour endlessly, like locusts."
Her eyes darkened.
"They gain power from everything devoured—just like your Predator, Lord Rimuru."
A heavy silence covered the room.
Her next words were even heavier.
"And the price of 'Starved'… is eternal hunger."
Rimuru felt chills.
The Bait Strategy
Rimuru stretched and raised a potato chip.
"Storm Fang Wolves, Ogre, Goblins, Demon Slayers—it doesn't matter the flavor…"
He waved the chip.
"All of you, as bait, possess power the Orcs desire."
Benimaru smirked.
"You forgot the tastiest bait."
"Hm?" Rimuru blinked.
Benimaru pointed.
"Right here. The strongest Slime… and the strongest human."
Rimuru stuffed the chip into his mouth.
"Where? I don't see them."
Takumi snorted.
Treyni added calmly:
"And with the Orc Lord's rise, I have also confirmed the presence of a Demon Lord watching. You would not ignore that, would you?"
Rimuru froze.
"A Demon Lord…?"
Just then—
Takumi spoke.
"Rimuru. Don't overthink it."
He leaned back and smiled lazily.
"Forget the Demon Lord. Forget the Orc Lord. Just do what you want to do."
He waved his hand.
"If a Demon King appears, I'll turn him into dust."
The room went silent.
Rimuru instantly relaxed, as if someone had lifted a mountain from his shoulders.
Her whole body brightened.
"Takumi…"
Treyni stared in awe.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled.
"As expected of Lord Takumi. Indeed, we made the right choice in following him to this world."
Kanae Kocho giggled, eyes sparkling.
"Mmh, Takumi's arrogance is charming."
Gobuta pumped a fist.
"Lord Takumi is invincible!"
To everyone, Takumi was a pillar—a celestial being. Their respect for him dwarfed even their reverence toward Rimuru.
Rimuru, cute and small, was adored.
Takumi was feared… and loved in a different way.
Returning to the Strategy
"Alright, enough praise! You'll make me blush," Takumi said, cheeks faintly red.
He clapped.
"Let's return to the Orc Lord strategy."
Rimuru nodded.
"Right. Since Takumi won't act this time, he'll stay to guard Dimensional City."
Takumi gave a thumbs-up.
"Standing by doing nothing is my specialty."
Rimuru shot him a look.
"As for the rest… I plan to—"
She stood tall, voice firm.
"—mobilize the entire city."
Everyone rose.
A war unlike any before was about to begin.
The first war of Dimensional City.
And Rimuru's first true command as ruler of the Great Jura Forest.