"I see. Your words ring true. However, I must confirm one thing." Hearing Benimaru's words, the Lizardman chief bowed his head, choosing submission.
"What is it?"
"How will the Orc tribe be settled? Since you do not intend to hold them accountable, will you accept all surviving Orcs?" The Lizardman chief then raised the immediate issue.
"Regarding this, though I have no objection to accepting all Orcs, the territory I govern is the distant Kingdom of Falmuth. Relocating the entire Orc tribe there is impractical. Moreover, that region is predominantly human. Orcs settling there would only face persecution."
Hearing Takeru's words, everyone was momentarily stunned. They were completely unaware that Takeru ruled the Kingdom of Falmuth. Yet what Takeru said was undeniably true.
Even Dwargon had taken countless years to barely achieve coexistence between humans and monsters. If Falmuth abruptly accepted such a multitude of monsters, they would inevitably suffer human persecution.
Of course, should Takeru choose to address this, he could establish a segregated village for demihumans and monsters, barely resolving the issue. However, Takeru lacked the necessary time.
"Thus, Takeru-sama, you intend to disregard the surviving Orcs?" Yet, though the logic held, the Orc problem remained unresolved.
"No. Regarding the Orc tribe, I seek everyone's assistance." Hearing his words, Takeru spoke seriously.
"What do you mean?" Hearing Takeru's words, the Lizardman princess looked at him quizzically.
"The Lizardmen can provide high-quality water resources and abundant fish. The Goblins can provide shelter. Treyni, I hope your kin can likewise supply forest fruits. Most critically, Rimuru, this concerns you." Looking at everyone, Takeru spoke slowly.
"Me?" Hearing Takeru directly address him, Rimuru inquired curiously.
"Yes. Your city is under construction and possesses the highest level of civilization among these monsters. You shall process products and assign tasks to the Orcs. In return, the Orcs shall provide their labor as compensation."
"Furthermore, my nation shall also provide material and technical support. However, this shall not be entirely gratuitous." Looking at Rimuru, Takeru outlined a plan reminiscent of Rimuru's own approach in the original work.
"You mean for us to form a grand alliance, establishing a mutual aid relationship!" Hearing Takeru's words, Rimuru quickly grasped the concept.
"Precisely. After all, is this not what you are already doing?" Hearing his words, Takeru smiled and nodded.
"I understand." Hearing Takeru's words, Rimuru found no grounds for objection. Moreover, calculated, perhaps he stood to gain the most.
"You... you mean for us to join this alliance?!" Hearing Takeru and Rimuru's exchange, the Orc representative spoke anxiously.
"You have nowhere left to return to, do you? Everyone shall provide you shelter. You must work diligently." Hearing his words, Rimuru took over the conversation and spoke earnestly.
"Yes! Of course! We shall work ourselves to the bone!" Hearing Rimuru's words, the Orcs knelt toward Takeru and Rimuru's position.
"I understand. Please, by all means, allow us to assist!" Seeing the formidable Takeru and Rimuru reach an agreement, the Lizardman chief recognized the inevitable and quickly spoke.
He clearly understood such a grand alliance would benefit him. Should another invasion occur, without hesitation, Rimuru and the others would support him. To decline participation would be folly.
"Then, does anyone else have questions?" Takeru subsequently inquired, scanning the assembly.
"I have one more." Hearing Takeru's words, Treyni quickly spoke.
"What is it?"
"Who shall be the supreme leader of the Jura Forest?" Treyni earnestly addressed Takeru.
"Haha. Well, the most suitable candidate is Rimuru. My sphere of influence is not here, and my opportunities to return may be few." Hearing her words, Takeru said with a light laugh.
"Eh? Eh? W-wait, Takeru! Why?!" Hearing Takeru's words, Rimuru was shaken, feeling bewildered.
"Is that so? Then, let Rimuru-sama be the supreme leader, and Takeru-sama, you shall be the deputy supreme leader. How does that sound?" Hearing Takeru's words, Treyni slightly bowed.
"You... Very well. If you insist on including my name, then announce it as such." Hearing her words, Takeru smiled and shook his head.
However, this nominal position cost Takeru nothing and might even boost his evaluation score. For this world, the Jura Forest would be considered under Takeru's protection. After all, he was a Demon Lord, though currently not particularly renowned.
"We are deeply grateful for your consent. Then, as the forest's guardian, I, Treyni, hereby swear recognition of Rimuru-sama as the new supreme leader of the Jura Forest, and the Demon Nara Takeru-sama as deputy supreme leader. In the names of supreme leader Rimuru-sama and Deputy supreme leader Nara Takeru-sama, the [Jura Forest Grand Alliance] is hereby established!"
Having received Takeru's response, Treyni, ignoring Rimuru's flustered panic, directly proclaimed the Grand Alliance's formation and Rimuru's position as its new supreme leader.
With Treyni's proclamation, the assembled races knelt on one knee in salute to Rimuru and Takeru.
Observing their reverent actions and Takeru's faint, knowing smile, Rimuru sweat profusely, utterly unable to decline.
"F-fine. I'll do it, I'll do it. Um, so, yeah, please take care of me!" Thus, Rimuru reluctantly accepted the position of supreme leader.
"Yes!" Hearing Rimuru's voice, everyone responded loudly.
Seeing matters conclude satisfactorily, Takeru called aside the Lizardman chief and princess.
"Though you acquiesced to the recent circumstances, regarding the Orc tribe, consider this my compensation. I can bestow names upon you." Looking at the somewhat nervous and uneasy Lizardman chief and princess, Takeru spoke seriously.
"Th-this, truly?!" Hearing Takeru's offer, such a generous boon, the Lizardman chief and princess were stunned.
"Yes. From today, you shall be Abiru. And you, Souka." Looking at the two excited Lizardmen, Takeru calmly bestowed names upon them. Upon successful naming, Takeru sensed nearly ten thousand mana drained from him.
Ten thousand mana, for Takeru, replenished in under ten minutes. Yet for a weak monster, it was a turning point that could change their entire existence.
Having bestowed the names, Takeru vanished, leaving Abiru and Souka kneeling in gratitude.
Elsewhere, an Orc approached Benimaru and the others. "Though the weak are prey to the strong, hatred does not so easily vanish. We destroyed the Ogre village..."
"No amount of atonement suffices. I know this is far too lenient. Yet, might you take only my head and forgive the others?"
Seeking atonement, or perhaps to shield his comrades from persecution, the highest-ranking Orc prince, emulating his king, sought to bear all sins himself, hoping Benimaru and the others would completely accept the Orc tribe.
"When the battle concluded, we asked Rimuru-sama to allow us to continue following him. Rimuru-sama bestowed upon us titles." Looking at the Orc prince kneeling before them, Benimaru instead spoke of other matters.
"I am Rimuru-sama's [Samurai] bodyguard and concurrent secretary!" Shion loudly declared to the Orc.
"Hakuro is the [Instructor], Souei is the [Spy]. Shuna and Kaijin, remaining in the village, also possess their own titles. I have been bestowed the title [Samurai General], responsible for military affairs. Having received this duty, I cannot simply dispose of useful talent, can I?" Looking at the Orc before him, Benimaru spoke matter-of-factly.
"Ah~!" Hearing Benimaru's words, the Orc prince raised his head in shock.
"Were you an enemy of Rimuru-sama, I would never forgive you. However, if you join the alliance and revere him as supreme leader, we are not enemies." Finally, Benimaru added a calm warning.
"W-we dare not be enemies! He has accepted us. We shall follow him and never, ever oppose him!" Hearing this, the Orc prince quickly spoke.
"Then we are comrades serving the same master. Serve Rimuru-sama well. Let that be your atonement." Hearing his words, Benimaru spoke gently.
"By the name of my father, King Geld, I swear..." Watching Benimaru and the others depart, the Orc prince felt a glimmer of redemption.