Ciel: <>
Voice of the World: <<>>
******
The Puppet Nation of Jistav was cloaked in a gloomy atmosphere as Demon Lord Clayman brooded in his dimly lit castle. He drummed his fingers impatiently on the armrest of his couch, his thoughts fixated on the recent meeting with Frey, Carrion, and Milim. The outcome had been far from what he expected, and the memory of it gnawed at him like a persistent thorn.
His carefully laid plans, which had nearly succeeded in convincing Frey and Carrion to side with him, were derailed at the last moment. The reason was all too clear to him—Milim Nava. The moment she opened her damm mouth, everything fell apart.
"Milim, that bitch!" Clayman seethed, his anger boiling over. He crushed the glass of wine in his hand and slammed his fist on the armrest. "Just you wait... once I have you under my control, you'll regret ever crossing me." A sinister grin twisted his lips as he imagined the sweet revenge he would exact on the so-called ancient Demon Lord.
Just then, the heavy door to the living room creaked open, shattering the silence. Gelmud, Clayman's loyal Majin servant, sauntered in with his usual swagger. "Hello, Lord Clayman! It's good to see you in good health," he greeted cheerfully.
"Spare me the pleasantries, Gelmud," Clayman replied, his voice tinged with irritation as he glared down at the shorter Majin. "How is the plan progressing? Any unforeseen problems that need to be dealt with?"
"None at all, my Lord," Gelmud assured him, though a flicker of unease crossed his eyes. "Everything is proceeding as planned. However, something odd did happen last night."
Clayman's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"
"Last night, a few hundred Ogres launched an attack on our Orc army," Gelmud explained. "Although they were defeated and lost half their men, it was strange how the attack came out of nowhere."
Clayman scoffed, leaning back on his couch. "So they lost. Then what is there to worry about? They likely caught wind of the Orc army advancing on their village and made a futile attempt to stop it. That's all there is to it."
"Indeed, Lord," Gelmud agreed. "If anything, that unexpected attack has only made our army stronger. Soon enough, we will have a new Demon Lord under our control."
Clayman nodded, satisfied. "Good. How long before the Orc army reaches the Ogre village?"
"Three days, Lord," Gelmud responded promptly.
"In that case, make sure the invasion proceeds without any setbacks," Clayman commanded, his eyes growing cold. "I've decided to invite Frey and Carrion to witness the massacre firsthand. Once they see what our army is capable of, they'll have no choice but to acknowledge the merit of my plan," he continued, his smile darkening. "And they'll also understand the consequences if I decide to turn that army against their nations."
"As you wish, Lord Clayman," Gelmud bowed and exited the castle.
As Gelmud exited the room, Clayman leaned back, his thoughts already drifting to the power he would soon wield, the pieces of his grand scheme falling into place. Milim might have thwarted him once, but he was determined that the next time they crossed paths, she would be nothing more than a puppet in his hands.
"My Lord will surely praise me once he sees the brilliance of my plan," Clayman mused, a smile creeping across his face as he raised a fresh glass of wine to his lips.
******
Back at the Tempest, Rimuru received the report about Clayman's conversation with Gelmud and he couldn't help but chuckle as he couldn't help but feel how laughably self-assured Clayman was in his plotting. "He really thinks he has everything under control," Rimuru mused aloud, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "I almost feel sad for him, but then again… not really."
Standing beside him, Testarossa scoffed in agreement. "Clayman is nothing but an arrogant fool," she remarked, her voice cold and disdainful as she uttered his name, arms crossed in clear disapproval. "Though I do wonder who this 'Lord' he's referring to might be."
"It's probably Kagali, the former Demon Lord Kazalim," Rimuru explained. "But we don't need to worry about her since I have my own plans for her."
"As expected of you, Lord," Testarossa said with a pleased smile.
"Anyway, from what I gathered in that conversation," Rimuru continued, leaning back in his chair, "the Ogres must be in a desperate situation right now. If my calculations are correct, we'll be getting a message or a visit from them any moment now."
As if on cue, the space in front of them began to warp, and with a swirl of leaves, Treyni, the Dryad, materialized before Rimuru, bowing her head respectfully. "Rimuru-sama, there has been a new development regarding the Orc Lord situation that requires your immediate attention," she explained calmly. "Last night, warriors from the Ogre village launched an attack on the Orc Lord and his army. Unfortunately, the attack failed, and they lost half of their warriors, including the village chief."
"That's unfortunate," Rimuru said. "So, what do you want me to do?"
"Lord, as you know, the Orcs will reach the Ogre village in three days. The wife of the deceased village chief is requesting an audience with you, hoping for your protection in this dire situation," Treyni explained.
"Hmm..." Rimuru rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'm not promising anything yet, but I'm willing to hear what she has to say."
"Thank you for your generosity, Lord," Treyni nodded. "Shall I bring her here now?"
Once she received Rimuru's permission, Treyni vanished and returned a few minutes later with an Ogress who had white hair, pink skin, and two white horns protruding from her forehead.
"It's good to see you again, Lord," the Ogress greeted Rimuru, though her eyes were devoid of life.
"Please, don't force yourself," Rimuru said kindly. "Have a seat." He paused before continuing, "First of all, I'm sorry for your loss, but I doubt you need my sympathy or want to talk about it. So, please, tell me—why did you seek an audience with me?"
"Lord, you must be aware that my village is on the brink of extinction with those damned Orcs marching toward us," the Ogress said, clenching her fists as her voice trembled slightly. "In this situation, we have two options: fight for our survival or abandon our home and flee."
"The first option is no longer feasible with half our strongest warriors dead and the others severely injured," she continued after a deep breath. "As for fleeing… we would rather not, considering our people have called this place home for generations."
She straightened, her eyes meeting Rimuru's with fierce determination. "That's why, as the mother of three children and the wife of the last village chief, I humbly request that you lend us your power to protect our village," she said, bowing deeply until her forehead touched the table.
Rimuru regarded her with a calm expression before speaking. "Please, raise your head," he said gently. "I understand your situation, and I'm willing to help you. However, you know my terms. As long as your village submits to my rule, you will be under my protection."
"That won't be a problem, Lord," the Ogress replied without hesitation, her voice unwavering. "As long as we survive this threat, we are willing to swear our loyalty to you."
When the Ogress said those words, she knew that not everyone in the village agreed with her. Some were opposed to seeking help from a Majin, but right now, she didn't care about any of that. She wasn't going to let anyone's pride stand in the way of their survival. After all, her husband had sacrificed his life for the village last night, and today, she had steeled her heart to slit any throats who dare to oppose her.
It also helped her cause that her eldest son and the village elder—two of the most powerful figures in the village—were behind her. Furthermore, the families of other clan heads who had lost their lives in the battle were also supporting her decision. In the end, the survival of their village and their young ones was what mattered most; their pride could be healed later.
"Very well," Rimuru nodded. "In that case, from now on, your village is under my protection. I give you my word that not a single threat will step foot in your village," he declared.
"For now, return and assume the position of village chief," he instructed. Just as Treyni was about to escort her back, Rimuru stopped them. "Wait a moment; there's one more thing," Rimuru said, walking towards the Ogress and standing in front of her. Then he produced a jet-black axe with a golden texture and a red ruby adorning its blade, placing it before her. "Make sure to tell the entire village that from now on, your name is Edelgard..."
******
Once Edelgard had left, Rimuru wasted no time. He swiftly set up privacy barriers around him and began the next step of his plan.
"Now that I've secured the loyalty of the Ogres, it's time to empower the Orc Lord," Rimuru muttered to himself, a sly smirk playing on his lips. He extended his hand and produced a humanoid doll crafted from gleaming metal. It stood rigid and lifeless, awaiting its purpose.
Next, Rimuru summoned an egoless spirit—a formless entity devoid of will or consciousness—and guided it into the metal skeleton. As the spirit merged with the metal, the doll's hollow eyes began to faintly glow, marking the creation of an egoless spiritual being.
Satisfied with his work, Rimuru then conjured the necessary number of souls to imbue the vessel with the power it needed. He carefully infused the souls into the doll until the once-empty shell was brimming with energy.
"Now, go and be consumed by the Orc Lord," Rimuru commanded and the newly created being, filled with nothing but souls, bowed deeply before disappearing in a flash, teleported by Rimuru to where the Orc Lord would find and consume it.
Meanwhile, Testarossa, who had been silently observing her master's actions with a mix of awe and curiosity, could no longer contain herself. "Lord, what was that about?" she asked, her crimson eyes gleaming with intrigue.
"Oh, I'm just preparing an opponent that will be worth my time," Rimuru replied casually, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "The being I just sent out will push the Orc Lord's power to its limits. With this boost, the Orc Lord will be on the verge of reaching its full potential, making it ready to evolve by the time of our fight."
"Moss," Rimuru said, summoning his trusted spy. "On the night of the third day, the Orc Lord and his army will reach the Ogre Village, and I will confront them with my troops. Spread this news to Dwargon and Blumund. I want their spies to witness the spectacle that will unfold that night, and our important guest will be the newly evolved Orc Disaster!"
******
Meanwhile, back at the Ogre village, the air was heavy with the lingering threat of Orcs and the weight of recent loss.
In the village chief's house, the second son of the deceased chief abruptly awoke, gasping for air as his body convulsed from the remnants of a nightmare. His skin was slick with sweat, and his heart raced wildly in his chest. Disoriented, he looked around frantically, trying to piece together his surroundings. "What!? Where!?" he muttered, his voice shaky and strained.
"Brother, calm down!" came a familiar, soothing voice. Relief washed over him as he turned to see his younger sister sitting beside him, her eyes filled with concern. "You're back at the village, safe now."
"Back in the village..." he repeated slowly, his mind catching up with the present. Memories of the previous night flooded back—the desperate battle against the Orc Lord's forces, his father's valiant stand, and the brutal realization that they were hopelessly outmatched. The weight of what had happened pressed down on him like a stone.
"Sister, what happened to Father? Did he...?" His voice trailed off, dread twisting in his gut as he hesitated to complete the question. But he didn't need to. The sight of fresh tears streaming down his sister's face told him everything he feared.
His heart sank as an overwhelming mix of emotions crashed over him. Frustration, anger, and deep sorrow swirled within his soul, but above all, a gnawing sense of powerlessness consumed him. He clenched his fists, the feeling of his own weakness biting into him like a cruel reminder. If only he had been stronger, if only he had been able to protect his father...
"What about Big Brother and Mother? How are they?" he asked, his voice heavy with grief.
"Big Brother is busy fortifying the village defenses," his sister explained, her voice steady despite the tears still glistening on her cheeks. "Mother… she went with Lady Treyni, the Dryad, to visit the powerful Majin's village we went to a few days ago, to seek his assistance against the Orcs."
"Oh..." he responded, absorbing her words as his mind processed this new information. His mother's decision to seek help from the Majin wasn't entirely surprising, but it still stirred a mix of anger and uncertainty within him. The thought of relying on an outsider, especially a powerful Majin, was unsettling, but they were left with little choice. After all, last night's defeat forced him to differentiate between pride and foolishness.
Just then, a guard burst into the room, panting heavily. "Princess, quick—" he began, but his gaze shifted to the younger son, now awake. "Oh, young master, it's good to see you awake. But both of you, come quickly! Mistress has returned from the Majin's village and has asked everyone to gather in front of the house."
Sensing the urgency, both brother and sister swiftly got to their feet and followed the guard outside. As they stepped out, they saw the entire village already assembled, including their elder brother, who stood with the villagers in front of their home.
A tense silence fell over the crowd as the door to their house slowly creaked open. All eyes widened in shock and amazement as a woman stepped out.
"Is that Mother?" the young girl whispered, her voice trembling with awe and disbelief as she gazed at the woman before them.
Indeed, the figure who stood before the village was their mother, but she was profoundly changed. She now radiated an unseen confidence and power that had never been present before. Her once familiar appearance was transformed in ways that left her children, and the entire village, stunned.
Her stature had grown taller and more imposing, with muscles that replaced her once-slender frame. Her long, lustrous white hair flowed down her back, framing two black horns that emerged from between the strands. Her eyes, once a soft pink, now glowed with a faint lilac hue, brimming with newfound power and confidence. Her skin, formerly a warm red, had turned smooth and milk-white, giving her an ethereal, almost divine appearance.
Her new equipment was equally striking. A beautiful jet-black axe hung by her side, and she wore armor that was unfamiliar to their village. The woman who stood before them seemed less like the mother they had known and more like an older sister they had never imagined.
"Lady..." the elder began hesitantly, but Edelgard quickly cut him off.
"Call me Edelgard, Elder. That is the name Lord Rimuru has bestowed upon me," she said, a hint of pride coloring her voice.
"Ah, so just as I suspected, you have been named," the elder replied with a knowing smile. "And it seems that evolving into a Kijin has done wonders for you."
"Indeed, my strength has increased," Edelgard acknowledged. "But that's not why I have gathered you all here." Her gaze sharpened as she looked out over the assembled villagers. "As you all know, I went to visit Rimuru-sama's village with Lady Treyni to request his aid in dealing with the upcoming crisis. As you can see, the negotiations were successful."
She continued, her voice strong and clear. "In Rimuru-sama's own words, he will not allow a single threat to enter our village. In return for his protection, our village is now under his rule, and we are to swear our loyalty to him once we deal with this crisis."
Her eyes scanned the crowd, her expression firm. "Now, if anyone has any objections to this arrangement, come forward and speak to me. As of now, I have been appointed Chief of this village. Is that clear?"
There was a murmur among the crowd, and then an Ogre stepped forward, his face twisted with anger. "Oye! Oye! Oye! What the hell do you think you're doing!" he shouted, glaring at Edelgard. "Not only have you sold our village to some Majin, but now you're also trampling on the traditions of our village," he spat, venom in his voice. "You know very well that our traditions don't allow women to take the position of village chief. So do us a favor and appoint someone more suitable for the position before we do it for you."
Edelgard's expression hardened, and her voice dropped to a cold tone. "Oh, is that a threat? Tell me, how do you plan to remove me from this position?"
The Ogre opened his mouth to retort, but before he could utter a word, Edelgard moved. In the blink of an eye, she was in front of him, her speed nearly incomprehensible. With a swift motion, she struck him with the blunt side of her axe, sending him flying across the square, crashing into a building with a thunderous impact.
The villagers stared in stunned silence, their mouths agape at the spectacle. Edelgard turned back to them, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Does anyone else have any opinions they want to share?" she asked, her voice calm but deadly serious.
Every head shook in response, no one daring to challenge her after witnessing the display of her newfound power.
"Then stop wasting space and get back to work!" Edelgard commanded. Slowly, the villagers dispersed, leaving only her children and the village elder standing with her.
"Mother, I didn't know you could move like that," her eldest son said, awe evident in his voice.
Edelgard smiled warmly at him. "Don't be so surprised, son. You haven't seen anything yet," she replied, though she kept to herself the full extent of her transformation. When Rimuru named her, she had received a Unique Skill, [Kijin Empress], which included the sub-skill [Axe Mastery]. This skill granted her unparalleled efficiency with any axe, along with the knowledge and muscle memory of the greatest axe wielders in the world.
"Anyway, children and elder, please follow me inside," Edelgard said, her expression turning serious. "Even though Lord Rimuru has assured us that he will take care of the Orcs, we can't just sit idly by. There are many things I want to discuss with you, especially about the future of this village."
To be continued...