(For those interested in the kingdom-building aspect, I hope you enjoy it, and for those who aren't, feel free to skip until the next part after the — — — It wasn't something I explored too much originally, but I really enjoyed writing this chapter so there probably will be more like it here and there. Let me know what you think.
Also, since I forgot to post images of Rimuru's Kijin form, here they are. I already added them to the chapter, but putting them here too for those who are caught up.)
— — —
After returning to his town, Rimuru wasted no time in organizing his resources to begin the kingdom-building process. He immediately delegated tasks to the dwarves; Myrd took charge of the construction crew, laying the foundation of what was to become a great city. Meanwhile, Dord and Garm worked with the ogres to enhance the town's clothing production, vital for both protection and daily life.
However, the true architect of transformation was Kaijin. His dual expertise as a blacksmith and engineer proved invaluable. Kaijin not only fortified the town's infrastructure but also worked alongside the Kijin blacksmiths to forge weapons that were both art and armor. His role was crucial in turning the town into a flourishing stronghold.
After consulting with the Great Sage, Rimuru also began to name some of the ogres who weren't focused on being warriors. Their evolution would help them excel in their fields, and since the main things they needed were clothing and weapons, he had named those.
For the blacksmith department, he had assigned Kurobe as the leader, with countless other expert Kijin working under his supervision. After being named, he had awakened the skill Researcher, a variation of Great Sage and Predator, which allowed him to analyze, store, and transmute materials. As for his assistants, they had all been named after legendary swordsmiths: Masamune, Muramasa, Kanenobu, and Amakuni.
On the other hand, the ogres also expanded their silk and clothing operations. They had captured several Hell Moths and Silk Spiders, creatures known for producing high-quality silk. Initially resistant, these creatures became cooperative and productive once named.
Leading these groups were Silk, leader of the evolved Ghost Spiders, and Motharella, overseeing the evolved Hades Moths. Both leaders possessed enhanced versions of the Sticky Threads and Steel Thread skills, significantly boosting silk production.
Whenever Rimuru's wife wasn't busy helping him or her family, she would take on the role of leadership for the clothing manufacturing department. She was passionate about weaving, which drove her to create exquisite silk kimonos and clothing for Rimuru and the leaders of the town under him. Thanks to Silk and Motharella, these were quite resilient pieces of clothing.
With the foundational systems of his future empire now in place, Rimuru had initiated mandatory educational programs, an essential step towards enhancing the efficiency and capability of his subjects. Led by the most intellectually gifted Kijin, these classes aimed to elevate the basic literacy and numerical skills of the Hobgoblins, who, despite their evolution from goblins, needed further education to perform their tasks effectively.
Yoshida, the appointed leader of the educational department, had demonstrated exceptional dedication. Under his guidance, the Hobgoblins were rapidly mastering the contents of the new "For Dummies 2.0" series, a collection of books Sage had refined using the diverse books from the Dwargon library. This tailored curriculum was designed to accelerate the town's development by ensuring all workers had a fundamental understanding of construction and resource management principles.
The impact of these educational efforts was tangible. The town's infrastructure was evolving from rudimentary shelters to structured buildings that promised more permanent and sophisticated facilities. The pace of construction had quickened, with teams efficiently collaborating on complex projects that were vital for the planned expansion.
Simultaneously, Rimuru had not overlooked the need for a robust defense. He established a comprehensive training program for the town's warriors, overseen by Hakuro, a seasoned strategist and combatant. This school catered to both ogre warriors and Hobgoblin wolf riders, focusing on tactical training and combat readiness. Hakuro's rigorous drills and strategic teachings were preparing them to protect and defend their community against any potential threats.
Throughout these developments, Rimuru remained a central figure, and Sage's analytical approach ensured that each sector of his future empire functioned with precision and purpose. Their vision for a well-organized, self-sufficient, and defensible empire was slowly manifesting into reality.
— — —
[Analysis Complete. Beginning replication. Transferring information… Transfer complete.]
[Notice. Hazy Style Sword Arts have been learned.]
[Beginning analysis of the sword arts. Analysis complete. Using knowledge in order to replicate sword arts found in memory…]
[Error. The process could not be completed with the current data. Beginning Analysis.]
[Creating temporary variants as a sample size.]
[Temporary variants have been generated. Activating Black Lightning.]
As Hakuro's blade descended towards Rimuru, the air crackled with the tension of the impending clash. Rimuru, now in his younger combat form, parried with precision, his blade meeting Hakuro's with a clang that resonated through the training ground.
Despite the force behind the attack, Hakuro skillfully maintained his ground, his feet sliding back just inches.
Jumping back to evade another aggressive slice, Rimuru observed Hakuro's technique with a calculating gaze. Hakuro chuckled, his voice echoing slightly in the cool air.
"So this is the terrifying learning capabilities that the princess and Shion spoke so much about… Lord Rimuru, please show me the extent of your mastery."
Rimuru's smile was a mix of confidence and readiness as he felt Sage's updates enhancing his movements.
With a slight nod, he re-engaged, his form blurring into motion. In an instant, he reappeared beneath Hakuro, his blade sweeping upward in a swift arc. Hakuro narrowly dodged, the tip of the blade barely grazing his outfit.
Then, as Rimuru's sword reached its peak, it buzzed ominously with electricity, then crashed downward to the ground like a bolt of lightning.
The moment Hakuro felt the sword charge with lightning, an eye in the middle of his forehead immediately opened, the world slowing down around Hakuro as he took in a deep breath and used a slash of his own.
When their swords clashed again, a burst of wind pressure exploded from the point of contact, forcing Hakuro to sidestep swiftly. He squinted against the gust, the weight of Rimuru's strike pressing against him.
"Flowing water slash," Hakuro whispered, focusing intensely as he moved fluidly, his third eye widening to capture every micro-movement.
[Updating sword arts database. Integrating Ogre Illusion Magic with current combat techniques.]
The battlefield seemed to freeze as Hakuro's blade aimed for Rimuru's neck, his form a blur of motion and intent. However, as his sword was about to connect, Hakuro's instincts told him something was wrong; Rimuru hadn't moved, yet Hakuro felt he was no longer there, a trick of illusion, masterfully executed.
Following his instincts, Hakuro changed the path of his attack and felt like his sword collided with an invisible blade, causing it to shatter into pieces.
[Great Sage Sword Art ver.1.22474487139… has been generated. Analysis ongoing. Enhancements to combat techniques will be integrated based on continued data collection.]
Hakuro, his forehead's third eye slowly fading, looked up to find Rimuru, not a scratch on him. The old warrior's face broke into a respectful smile as he bowed slightly.
"Lord Rimuru, your prowess is truly beyond the ordinary," Hakuro acknowledged, his voice carrying a mixture of awe and respect.
Around them, a crowd of Ogres, Tempest Wolves, and Hobgoblins erupted into cheers, with Shion at the forefront, her voice loud and clear. Having evolved into a Kijin, her keen senses had allowed her to track the swift movements of the duel, and her excitement was palpable. Her eyes sparkled with admiration and pride as she watched Rimuru command the field with such mastery.
Rimuru scanned the crowd, his expression one of mild satisfaction as he sent a wink to the purple-haired Kijin.
"Thank you for your lessons, Hakuro. I look forward to our next training session."
Hakuro simply let out a chuckle as he nodded his head.
"It seems my old bones are going to have to start working harder than ever if I want to keep on being a proper combat partner for you, Lord Rimuru."
Turning to address the gathered warriors, Rimuru's voice rang with authority.
"Today's display is just the beginning. Each of you will have the opportunity to enhance your capabilities. All of you will be the guardians of our future empire, so you all must work hard to protect the home that we have built."
The crowd responded with renewed cheers, motivated by Rimuru's short speech. Shion, still buzzing from the excitement, moved closer to the front, her eyes never leaving Rimuru.
"Lord Rimuru, when is the next training session?" she called out, eager to be part of the next challenge.
"Soon," Rimuru replied with a knowing smile before speaking to the group once again. "Prepare yourselves. I expect the best, and I intend to ensure each of you becomes just that."
Once the training session concluded, Rimuru carefully restored Hakuro's blade with the help of Sage, restoring its pristine condition. As he walked away, the clang of metal resumed behind him as the assembled warriors resumed their drills, spurred on by the day's lessons and demonstrations.
Approaching the path back to his office, Rimuru was greeted by his wife, who approached with a tender smile, holding a wet towel and refreshments, a thoughtful gesture amidst the day's efforts. As she dabbed at his forehead to wipe his nonexistent sweat, a playful chuckle escaped him.
"Any updates from Souei?" Rimuru asked, accepting a snack and savoring the simple pleasure of a momentary break.
"Yes, he's been monitoring the orcs. They're moving towards our old location, just as you predicted. About 10,000 to 15,000 are advancing, with the main horde of around 200,000 directed towards the Lizardmen swamps," she reported, her voice steady despite the alarming numbers.
Rimuru nodded, his mind racing as he began to plan for the future.
"200,000 Orcs," Rimuru muttered as he walked. That was a lot of mouths to feed, a little too many if you asked him.
Right now, with their current population of around 1,400 people, they were making a lot of progress and didn't have to worry about supplies, but the more the people expanded, the more of a hassle that would be. Though every downside came with an upside, that many workers would ensure that their building progress would go up at least 100 to 200 times faster.
"Is there any news about the Dryads? We need to establish massive farms to support our growing numbers," Rimuru asked, his voice carrying a hint of urgency as he discussed the expansion plans.
"Not yet," his wife replied, her expression tinged with concern.
"That's fine. Let's proceed with laying out the farm plots. Inform Rigurd and the other leaders to meet me tomorrow. I've developed a potent fertilizer from the Hipokute Herbs, which should enrich the soil significantly once we finalize the locations…" Rimuru detailed his plan, with his wife nodding and absorbing all of the information carefully.
As he spoke, his demeanor shifted to something more grave.
"Also, ask your brother to assemble a dedicated scout team. We're on the hunt for our strongest weapon." he said, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
His wife, sensing the seriousness, mirrored his seriousness.
"Yes, Lord Rimuru. What should the scouts be on the lookout for?"
"Bees and honey."
The simplicity of the answer brought a moment of confusion to her face, prompting Rimuru to explain further.
"Trust me, that will be necessary in order to tame a demon lord. They have a weakness for sweets, so if we manage to obtain the honey, we will have a demon lord on our side. If anything, we need to start a cooking department dedicated to creating the most delicious foods."
Her eyes lit up with understanding and determination.
"I see. I'll inform him to send scouts immediately and ensure they understand the importance of their mission."
Before they could continue, Ranga suddenly popped out of the shadows.
"Master, we have found the group you were waiting for. The masked person is currently running from a pack of ants while Sir Barksalot watches over them, ready to jump in if they need the help."
With a nod, Rimuru gave a quick kiss to his wife before hopping on Ranga's back.
"Let's go, pup."