Story: NG+

Chapter 2: First Steps into the World



Having secured Veldora within the boundless expanse of his Imaginary Space, Rimuru felt a profound sense of accomplishment. The cave, once a prison for a mighty dragon and a place of his own rebirth, now felt like a mere stepping stone. He was ready.

"Master, external environment analysis complete. Probability of immediate high-threat encounters: low. Optimal path for resource acquisition and initial settlement identification calculated. Proceeding with cautious optimism is recommended for maintaining the illusion of natural progression." Ciel's internal voice was a soothing hum of efficiency, her excitement mirroring his own.

Cautious optimism, Ciel? You always were one for understatement, Rimuru mused, a ripple of amusement passing through his gelatinous form. He was, after all, an omnipotent being pretending to be a rapidly evolving slime. The "illusion of natural progression" was paramount.

He slithered towards the cave's exit, the light from the outside world growing brighter. The air, crisp and fresh, filled his non-existent lungs. This world, so familiar yet brimming with renewed potential, stretched before him.

His first encounters were precisely as he remembered, though his reactions were now tempered by millennia of experience. The small, terrified goblins, huddled together, their crude weapons trembling in their hands. They saw a monster, a threat. Rimuru, however, saw potential, loyalty, and the foundation of his future nation.

He allowed them their initial fear, observing their reactions with a calm, analytical gaze. Ah, the classic 'terrified villager' routine, Rimuru thought, a small, internal chuckle escaping him. Always a good starting point for a hero's journey, even if I'm just here for the perfected design. Their leader, Rigurd, stepped forward, his voice quivering but resolute. "W-who goes there, monster of the cave? State your purpose!"

Rimuru projected his thoughts, a gentle mental wave that conveyed understanding rather than intimidation. "Greetings." He paused, letting the initial shock settle. "My name is Rimuru. I mean you no harm. I merely seek to explore this forest."

A collective gasp rippled through the goblin ranks. Their eyes, wide with a mixture of fear and dawning comprehension, fixed on the unassuming slime. A named monster. This was an anomaly, a sign of power and significance far beyond a common forest creature. Whispers broke out amongst them, hushed and awestruck. "A name... it has a name!" "Who could have named it?" "Such a powerful being..." Rigurd's trembling ceased, replaced by a new kind of reverence. For a monster to possess a name meant it had been acknowledged by a greater entity, or had evolved to a level of sentience rarely seen.

The goblins exchanged nervous glances. Their fear was genuine, but Rimuru also sensed their desperation, their vulnerability to the encroaching Direwolves. This was his cue.

"It seems you are troubled," Rimuru continued, his voice resonating with an unexpected wisdom. "I sense a great threat approaching your village. Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

Rigurd, hesitant but desperate, explained their plight. The Direwolves, led by a fearsome pack leader, had grown increasingly aggressive, threatening their very survival.

Rimuru listened patiently, his internal processes (Ciel) already calculating optimal strategies, resource allocation, and the fastest path to establishing a defensible position. He wasn't just hearing their words; he was seeing the entire tactical landscape, the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, and the most efficient way to achieve a decisive, yet controlled, victory.

"I understand," Rimuru finally said, his voice carrying a calm authority. "I will help you. In exchange, I ask for your loyalty and cooperation. Together, we can build a safe haven here."

Rigurd, though desperate, hesitated. "Loyalty... to a monster?" he stammered, glancing nervously at his trembling kin. "We are but weak goblins. What could we offer in return for such aid? And what kind of safe haven could a single slime build against the might of the Direwolves?"

Rimuru allowed a moment of silence, letting their fear and doubt hang in the air. A fair question, Rigurd. Good, they're thinking. "Your loyalty is your strength, elder," Rimuru projected, his voice firm but reassuring. "And your cooperation will build a foundation far stronger than any individual might. As for what I can offer... I offer not just protection, but prosperity. A place where you will not merely survive, but thrive. Where your people will grow, learn, and become something greater than you can imagine." He paused, letting the promise sink in. "The Direwolves are a threat today, but with my guidance, they will be but a stepping stone to a future you can only dream of."

The conviction in his voice, coupled with the sheer audacity of his promise, seemed to pierce through the goblins' fear. Rigurd looked at his people, then back at the calm, unwavering slime. The despair they felt was overwhelming, and this monster offered a glimmer of hope unlike any they had ever known.

"We... we accept!" Rigurd finally declared, bowing deeply. His voice, though still shaky, held a newfound resolve. "We pledge our loyalty to you, Rimuru-sama!"

The other goblins, seeing their elder's conviction, echoed his pledge, a chorus of hesitant but earnest vows. Rimuru felt a subtle shift in their connection, a nascent bond forming.

"Excellent," Rimuru thought, a deep satisfaction settling within him. "Lead me to your village. We will fortify your defenses. And gather all available resources. We will need them."

As they hurried through the forest, Rimuru observed his soon-to-be subordinates. He noted the young, energetic Gobta, the timid Gobzo, and the overall lack of combat experience. This was where his "Enlightened Architect" approach truly began.

Upon reaching the crude goblin village, Rimuru gathered them. "Now, listen closely," he projected, his voice resonating with a gentle power. "To truly grow, to become stronger, you will need names. I will bestow them upon you."

A fresh wave of gasps and murmurs swept through the goblins, this time tinged with alarm. Rigurd, his eyes wide, stepped forward again. "Rimuru-sama! Forgive my insolence, but... to name a monster, it consumes the namer's magicules! And to name so many... it is unheard of! You, a named monster yourself, must surely understand the risk! We are not worth such a sacrifice!"

Another goblin, bolder than the rest, cried out, "Are you trying to trick us, monster?! To weaken yourself for some unknown purpose?"

Rimuru allowed their fear and confusion to play out, a small, internal smile forming. Good, they're thinking critically. This is progress. "Silence," he projected, his voice firm but not harsh, instantly quelling the unrest. "I understand your concerns. Indeed, naming consumes magicules. And yes, naming many is a great undertaking." He paused, letting his words sink in. "But my nature is... unique. My magicule reserves are vast, and my ability to recover is unparalleled. You need not fear for my well-being." He didn't elaborate on who named him, maintaining that crucial secrecy. "This is not a trick. This is a gift. A step towards the prosperity I promised. Do you trust me to lead you, or do you doubt my resolve?"

The goblins looked at each other, then back at the calm, confident slime. His words, though vague about his own power source, carried an undeniable truth, a conviction that resonated deep within their monster instincts. If he truly had such vast magicules, then perhaps... perhaps this was possible. Rigurd, after a moment of profound contemplation, bowed deeply once more. "We... we trust you, Rimuru-sama! We are ready!"

"Master, optimal naming sequence and skill acquisition pathways for each individual goblin calculated. Suggesting immediate application to maximize initial evolutionary gains." Ciel's internal suggestion was precise. Of course, Ciel. You always did enjoy the 'character- or should I say evolution creation' phase.

Rimuru didn't waste time. He immediately began the naming process. Unlike his original timeline, where he named them almost instinctively, this time each name was chosen with a specific, optimized outcome in mind, based on Ciel's perfect analysis of their potential.

"Rigurd," he began, his voice firm, projecting a sense of ancient authority. The goblin elder trembled. "I name you Rigurd. May you lead your people with wisdom."

A surge of magicules, precisely calibrated by Ciel, flowed from Rimuru. Rigurd's body shimmered, growing taller, his features becoming more defined. He evolved into a Hobgoblin, his strength and intelligence noticeably enhanced. The other goblins gasped in awe, their previous fear replaced by utter astonishment and renewed hope.

One by one, Rimuru named them. Gobta, his mischievous energy now channeled into a latent talent for agility. As the magicules flowed into him, Gobta's small, green body remained... stubbornly small and green. Huh. Well, some things never change, I suppose. At least his talent for agility is off the charts now. Good old Gobta, always keeping things interesting with his lack of aesthetic evolution. Gobzo, gaining a surprising resilience. Each goblin underwent a subtle, yet significant, evolution.

As the last name was bestowed, Rimuru felt the familiar drain of magicules, but it was far less severe than he remembered. Ciel had managed the output perfectly, ensuring he didn't collapse for three days as he had before.

"Magicule consumption optimized. Recovery rate: accelerated. No prolonged incapacitation expected, Master."

Excellent. No need for unnecessary downtime this time. Three days of napping was quite inefficient, in hindsight.

The next day, the next challenge arrived swiftly: the Direwolves. Their howls pierced the night, their glowing red eyes a fearsome sight. Their leader, a massive, scarred beast, snarled at the sight of the fortified goblin village.

"These are your enemies?" Rimuru mentally projected to his goblins. "Fear not. We will face them together."

He didn't need to fight them head-on with overwhelming power. That would be too obvious, too quick, and frankly, less entertaining. Instead, he directed his newly evolved goblins. "Rigurd, position your archers here! Gobta, use your agility to draw their attention to this flank! Others, prepare your spears!"

Before the battle, however, Rimuru paused. "Now, your current equipment is... rudimentary," he projected, his gaze sweeping over their chipped stone tools and rough wooden clubs. "To truly defend yourselves and thrive, you'll need better. I will teach you how to craft proper weapons."

The goblins blinked. "Teach us, Rimuru-sama?" Rigurd asked, bewildered.

"But... how would a slime know such things?" It was Gobta, ever the most casual, who blurted out, "Yeah, boss! Did you read a book on weapon-making while you were in that cave? Or maybe you ate a blacksmith?"

Rimuru allowed a small, internal smile. This was the perfect opening. "Something like that, Gobta," he projected, his voice taking on a slightly more reflective tone. "Before I was a slime, I was... human. From another world entirely. In that world, we had many ways of building things, of crafting tools and weapons far more advanced than what you see here. I died, and then I woke up as this." He rippled slightly, demonstrating his current form. "So, yes, I know how to make bows, arrows, and spears. And much, much more."

The goblins stared, their mouths agape. Their leader, a named monster, was once a human? And from another world? The concept was mind-boggling, yet the sincerity in Rimuru's presence, the wisdom he exuded, made it undeniably true. Rigurd's eyes gleamed with a new understanding of Rimuru's boundless potential.

Meanwhile, deep within Imaginary Space, Veldora, who had been momentarily distracted from his manga by the sudden shift in Rimuru's internal monologue, chuckled. So, he finally told them. Good. That's the part he showed me when I first entered this space. Always efficient, that one. Still, he hasn't shown them the really interesting stuff. Or me, for that matter. Veldora returned to his manga, a knowing smirk on his draconic face.

Under Rimuru's patient guidance, and with Ciel's precise internal schematics, the goblins quickly learned. Rimuru demonstrated the optimal angles for arrowheads, the best wood for bows, and the balance needed for effective spears. Their initial attempts were clumsy, but with each correction, their understanding grew. By the time the Direwolves arrived, the goblins were armed with crude but functional bows and a more fearsome array of sharpened spears.

Back to the battle. Rimuru himself took a strategic position, allowing his subordinates to engage. He used his basic slime abilities – Water Blade, Sticky Thread, Steel Thread – but with a level of precision and efficiency that was astounding. He didn't just attack; he controlled the battlefield. His threads entangled Direwolves, his Water Blades targeted weak points, and his movements were fluid, almost dance-like, guiding his allies to victory.

Major Moves & Decisive Actions in the Direwolf Battle:

As the Direwolves charged, Rimuru issued a mental command: "Goblins, focus fire! Aim for the legs!" Simultaneously, he unleashed [Sticky Thread], a nearly invisible, highly adhesive web, not to trap the entire pack, but to subtly impede the lead Direwolves' charge, causing them to stumble and break formation. This created openings for the goblin archers, who, emboldened by their new strength and Rimuru's direct guidance, landed surprisingly accurate shots.

The Direwolf leader, a hulking beast with glowing red eyes, roared, sensing the unusual coordination. It lunged directly at Rimuru, intending to crush the seemingly weak slime. This was the moment.

Rimuru didn't evade completely. Instead, he executed a precise [Water Manipulation] maneuver, creating a slick, instantaneous patch of water beneath the Direwolf leader's paws. The beast's charge, already off-balance from the threads, became a clumsy slide. As it skidded past, Rimuru extended a pseudopod, activating [Predator]. This wasn't for consumption, but a momentary, targeted stun. The Direwolf leader's senses overloaded for a split second, its ferocious momentum faltering.

"Now!" Rimuru's mental command was sharp. The hobgoblins, led by a surprisingly agile Gobta, surged forward. Gobta, utilizing his newly enhanced agility, darted in and out, distracting the stunned leader while Rigurd and other hobgoblins delivered a coordinated volley of spear thrusts to its vulnerable underside, precisely where Ciel's analysis had indicated weaknesses.

The leader fell. The remaining Direwolves, demoralized and leaderless, quickly surrendered.

Rimuru approached them, his aura calm. "You fought bravely. Now, you have a choice. Serve me, and live in harmony with the goblins, or perish."

The Direwolves, recognizing his overwhelming presence and the efficiency of his forces, bowed their heads. Rimuru then named their leader's son, Ranga, and the entire pack, initiating their evolution into Tempest Star Wolves.

As the naming concluded, Rimuru felt a pleasant hum of magicules, not a debilitating drain. He had done it. The first major hurdle, the Orc Disaster, was still on the horizon, but his foundation was stronger, his allies more capable, and his path clearer.

The ogres, now stepping out of the shadows, approached with a mixture of awe and caution. They had witnessed a display of power and leadership that defied their understanding. Rimuru's reputation, built on efficiency and subtle strength, had just taken its first monumental leap.

One step closer to the masterpiece, Rimuru thought, a deep satisfaction settling within him. And the fun has only just begun.


x