[With the fire ready, you turned to the hares brought by the slimes. One was already dead, and the other was alive, struggling weakly in a circle of slimes that kept it from escaping.]
[You picked up a simple knife from the utensils and started skinning the dead hare. The process was messy and difficult since it was your first time. The smell of the organs made you gag, but you pushed through.]
[The slimes stayed motionless, watching your every move. "Don't stare at me like that," you muttered to one of them. It wobbled in response as if acknowledging your words.]
[After removing the fur and organs, you skewered the hare on a sturdy branch and set it over the fire to roast. The smell of cooking meat filled the air, making your stomach growl loudly.]
[You tossed the unwanted parts farther into the forest, commanding a few slimes to dispose of them safely away from the village.]
[While waiting for the hare to cook, you picked up the mana stone one of the slimes had brought. Its soft glow pulsed faintly in your hand.]
[The knowledge implanted in your mind told you it was valuable. Mana stones could power magical structures or be used for crafting. For now, you decided to store it safely.]
[The slimes moved around the clearing, some returning to the Slime Lake while others stayed nearby, their quiet presence oddly comforting.]
[When the roasted hare was ready, you pulled it off the fire and let it cool for a moment before eating. The taste was plain but satisfying. You finished it quickly, leaving only the bones.]
[Leaning back against a log, you sighed with relief, your hunger finally gone. The slimes wobbled peacefully around you, their glowing cores reflecting the firelight.]
[But the peaceful moment didn't last. Your thoughts turned to the future. The Dilapidated Lord's Hall was barely livable. To thrive, you needed more than just food and shelter—you needed an entire village.]
[Standing up, you commanded twenty slimes to gather wood from the forest and ten more to collect stones from the river. The slimes quickly obeyed, wobbling away in all directions.]
[Before long, the slimes returned, carrying branches, logs, and stones with surprising efficiency.]
[You directed them to shape the materials. The slimes used their gelatinous bodies to dissolve and reshape the wood into planks and the stones into crude blocks.]
[At first, you were hopeful. If they could manipulate materials, building a proper house might be possible.]
[But as they worked, it became clear that their lack of hands and intelligence made the task difficult. Logs and planks were scattered randomly, and stones were stacked unevenly. Some slimes even dissolved materials by mistake, ruining the progress.]
[Another slime wobbled into a pile of stones, causing them to tumble in every direction. You sighed, realizing the effort was futile.]
["Expecting slimes to build a house was too much," you muttered, shaking your head.]
[While their ability to gather and shape materials was impressive, they lacked the dexterity and intelligence needed for actual construction. It was clear that you would need to rely on your own hands or find more capable subjects in the future.]
[Even so, the experiment wasn't a total failure. The slimes could still gather and prepare materials, which might be useful later. With proper tools and better planning, building infrastructure could become a reality.]
["Good work, everyone," you said, addressing the slimes. They wobbled in response, their movements reflecting a simple satisfaction.]
[You gestured for the slimes to move the unused materials to the edge of the village for storage. They carried out the task with their usual efficiency.]
[As the sun began to set, you returned to the Dilapidated Lord's Hall. While it wasn't much, it would have to do for now.]
[The crumbling walls creaked as you walked through the dimly lit hall. The smell of damp wood hung in the air, mixed with the earthy scent of your surroundings.]
[The hall's only saving grace was a small bedroom tucked behind the throne room. It offered some privacy and a place to rest.]
[You pushed open the creaking wooden door and stepped inside.]
[The room was small, with a simple wooden bed against the wall, a thin straw mattress, and a rickety table holding an unlit oil lamp. A cracked window let in faint light, casting shadows across the floor.]
[For all its shortcomings, the room gave you a moment of quiet. You sighed, closing the door behind you and sitting on the edge of the bed. The wood creaked under your weight.]
[The day had been tiring, but productive. You had learned the limits of your slimes and taken small steps toward survival.]
[Leaning back, you stared at the wooden ceiling. The implanted knowledge in your mind reminded you that the Supreme Plane was unforgiving. To rise above your FFF-rank beginnings, you would need to push both yourself and your slimes to their limits.]
[The bed wasn't comfortable, but it was better than nothing.]
[You pulled a thin, scratchy blanket over yourself and closed your eyes, letting exhaustion pull you into a light sleep.]
[The night passed quickly, and you woke up to the faint sounds of slimes wobbling outside.]
[Your mind raced with plans. The slimes were too weak in combat, lacked building skills, and their value so far was limited to scavenging for food and resources. But you weren't ready to give up.]
[For now, food was the priority. The hare, still alive under the slimes' watch, was given water from the lake and wild berries. This small success gave you some relief.]
[With food temporarily secured, you decided to focus on gathering more resources. Mana stones and other valuable items would be key for the village's survival and growth.]
[You commanded twenty slimes to go on an expedition.]
[This time, you took precautions, monitoring their movements through your mental link.]
[Sitting on your wooden throne, you switched between the slimes' perspectives, watching their progress and mapping their surroundings. If a mental link was severed, it would signal danger and help you avoid risky areas in the future.]