Story: NG+

Chapter 4: The Whispering Swamp and the Arrogant Prince



The newly established village, now bustling with the combined efforts of goblins and ogres, felt a different kind of energy. It was no longer a place of mere survival, but one of purpose and ambition. The ogre blacksmith toiled tirelessly, his innate talents honed by Ciel's insights. The ogre warriors trained with a newfound focus, their skills rapidly evolving under Rimuru's watchful eye.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the nascent settlement, a ripple of potent magicule energy spread through the air. Rimuru, in the middle of a strategic planning session with his allies, instinctively raised a pseudopod.

"Something is approaching," he addressed, his mental voice calm but firm. "It is a potent magicule signature, and it is coming with great speed."

His allies, especially the seasoned ogre warriors, stiffened, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. Ah, the magicule signature. It's beautiful and powerful, but not a threat, Rimuru thought to himself, a sense of familiarity washing over him. It's a dryad. It must be Treyni. He then allowed a hint of his deeper, more truthful thoughts to surface. And the Orc army she's about to warn us about? A pivotal event that will shape the future. I could deal with them myself, even in this form. But that's not how a nation is built. This is an opportunity. A chance to show my allies my strategic mind, to forge our unity in the face of a shared crisis, and to earn their true trust.

Just as they braced themselves for an attack, a figure emerged from the treeline. It was a beautiful woman with long green hair and a dress made of intertwining vines and flowers. A dryad. Her presence was overwhelming, not with malice, but with the sheer weight of a long-lived and powerful guardian of the forest. The ogres and goblins froze, their instincts screaming at them to kneel before a being of such authority. Even the young ogre leader, prideful as he was, could not help but take a half-step back, his eyes wide with awe and a touch of primal fear.

"Greetings, monster of the cave," she addressed, her voice melodic but laced with urgency. "I am Treyni, a guardian of the Great Forest of Jura. I come to you with a plea for help. A great threat is upon us."

Rimuru smiled gently, a sense of relief washing over him. The timing was perfect. He allowed his presence to be felt, a steady and reassuring anchor for both his allies and Treyni.

Treyni continued, "An army of Orcs, led by a fearsome Orc General, is consuming everything in their path. Their magic is corrupting the very land, and they show no signs of stopping. Their path will lead them to the Lizardmen's domain, a marsh to the east. If they are not stopped, the balance of the forest will be destroyed."

The young ogre leader's eyes flared with an eager fire. "A chance for retribution! We will face this Orc General head-on, Rimuru-sama!"

"Patience," Rimuru addressed calmly. "This is not a simple raid. This is a unified army, a calamity. We must proceed with strategy, not just brute force. The stealthy ogre, I need you to lead a stealth mission. Infiltrate the Orc army's camp, get a headcount, identify their command structure, and determine the full extent of their strength. Do not engage. Report back as soon as you have information."

The stealthy ogre bowed, a faint shimmer of magicule-infused shadow already beginning to form around him. "Understood, Rimuru-sama. The information will be yours."

Meanwhile, Rimuru chose a delegation for the Lizardmen. "The young ogre leader, the female ogre, and the strong female ogre, you will go with a small escort. Explain the situation and extend our offer of alliance. Do not let their pride get in the way of common sense. Explain that we are a new nation of monsters, and that we must stand united against this existential threat."

The young ogre leader nodded, his pride momentarily humbled by the gravity of the mission. The strong female ogre and the female ogre looked determined, their gazes unwavering. Treyni, her eyes wide with a new appreciation for the slime's foresight and leadership, offered her thanks.

As the delegations departed, Rimuru continued to oversee the village's fortifications. He was building more than just a home; he was building a war machine, a new type of monster nation that was both a haven and a fortress. He was an architect of a new world, a world where the weak could rise and the strong could lead.

The marshlands were a world of their own, a humid, murky expanse of tangled roots, stagnant water, and the constant hum of insects. It was a domain of the Lizardmen, a proud, isolationist tribe that saw themselves as the rightful guardians of the wetlands.

The Lizardmen chieftain, a wise but weary old leader, listened to the delegation from the mysterious "Slime Rimuru," his brow furrowed in contemplation. The message, delivered by the calm and articulate young ogre leader, spoke of a terrifying Orc army and a plan for a united front.

"An Orc army of that size is a grave threat indeed," the chieftain stated, his voice a low, raspy croak. "However, to ally with a tribe of goblins and ogres... your leader is a slime, you say? A leader of goblins and Direwolves? What authority does he have to command a unified force?"

"He has the authority of a true leader," the female ogre addressed, her voice calm but firm. "Even the guardian of the forest, the dryad Treyni, came to our leader for help, pleading with him to stop the Orc Disaster." The chieftain's eyes widened, a flicker of genuine shock on his weary face. The mention of a dryad—a powerful and reclusive protector of the forest—seeking aid from a mere slime was unheard of. Gabiru's arrogant posture wavered for a split second, a look of disbelief crossing his features before he quickly masked it with a sneer. The female ogre, sensing she had made her point, continued, "His vision extends beyond our own tribe's survival; he seeks to protect all of the Great Forest of Jura."

The chieftain's eldest son, a flamboyant and arrogant warrior named Gabiru, scoffed. "A slime? Posing as a leader? Ridiculous!" He flexed his biceps, his spear glistening in the dim light of the chieftain's hall. "My father's words are too generous. We are the noble Lizardmen! We do not need the help of some low-level monsters to defeat a few overgrown pigs! I, Gabiru, will lead our warriors to victory!"

The chieftain sighed, rubbing his temples. "Gabiru, have you not heard the reports of other tribes being annihilated? This is not an ordinary Orc army."

"Father! Your fear is unbecoming of a leader! I say we take the initiative! We will strike them down before they even reach our territory!" Gabiru's bluster was met with a chorus of support from the younger Lizardmen, their pride swelling at his boastful display.

The young ogre leader, sensing the futility of the discussion, simply stood and bowed respectfully. "We have delivered our message and offered our alliance. We will return to our leader, Rimuru-sama, and await your decision. We hope you choose wisely, for the sake of your people."

As the delegation departed, the chieftain looked out at the vast marsh, his heart heavy with worry. He knew the arrogance of his son was leading them down a dangerous path, and the truth of the situation was far more dire than Gabiru could comprehend. He could only hope that the wisdom of this "Rimuru" was as great as his emissaries claimed.

The stage was set for a confrontation that would decide the fate of the Great Forest of Jura.