"Rimuru-sama! Kaito-sama, be careful!"
Tomioka Giyuu and Uzui Tengen moved the instant the woman appeared, stepping in front of Rimuru with hands on their blades. Across the table, Sakuya shifted in front of Kaito without a word, a throwing knife already between her fingers.
The woman didn't flinch. She pressed her right hand gently to her chest and inclined her head, her eyes softening at the corners.
"You who command many monsters and welcome visitors from distant lands, please forgive my sudden intrusion. I am Treyni, a Dryad of the Great Jura Forest. It is a pleasure to meet you all."
She lifted her gaze to Rimuru and spoke directly.
"Rimuru Tempest. I wish to entrust you with the subjugation of the Orc Lord."
Then she turned slightly and offered Kaito a small bow.
"And you must be Kaito-sama. I humbly request your assistance as well."
Treyni could sense it clearly. The power contained within Kaito was on a different level entirely. If it were ever fully unleashed, even the Great Jura Forest itself would not be safe. She showed him all the respect that warranted.
Kaito glanced at her, then inwardly activated his skill.
[Eye of Identification]
Treyni
Loyalty: 0
Affection: 92
Abilities: [Forest Prayer] / [Scattered Dancing Leaves] / [Atmospheric Compression Rupture Slash] / [Contract Spirit]
Comprehensive Strength Rating: S-class
He looked back up.
"Why not handle it yourself? With your strength, you could kill the Orc Lord."
It wasn't a dismissal. He said it plainly, the way you'd point out something obvious. The current Rimuru was only Special A-class, after all. It was only after absorbing the Orc Lord that she would reach the strength of a Demon Lord Seed, somewhere around S-class.
Treyni answered without hesitation.
"We Dryads are guardians of the Great Jura Forest. Because of that role, we cannot act freely against those who also belong to it. The Orcs are part of this forest too."
"Beyond that, their numbers are simply too vast. Even if we intervened directly, we lack the ability to manage a force that large. That is why I came to you."
In truth, only half of that was the full story. Yes, they were constrained by their role. But constrained did not mean incapable.
The deeper reason was this: as guardian of the forest, Treyni was aware of everything that moved within it. She knew about the pact between Rimuru and Storm Dragon Veldora. She knew what Rimuru was, and what Rimuru could become. And as someone who had long served under Veldora's protection, she wanted Rimuru to be elevated.
This request was designed for exactly that purpose. Let Rimuru earn the prestige. Let her be the one to stand at the center of what came next.
Kaito smiled slightly.
"Is that so. Let's say I believe you." He leaned back. "You're entrusting us with the subjugation. So what's the reward?"
Treyni felt, quite clearly, that he had seen through everything. But since he wasn't saying it aloud, she chose not to acknowledge it either. She smiled back with equal composure.
"My, my. It sounds as though Kaito-sama intends to accept?"
Kaito didn't answer her directly. He turned to Rimuru instead.
"What do you think?"
Rimuru set her teacup down. She looked around the table, taking in the faces on either side of her, letting her eyes settle on Benimaru and the others. Then she looked back at Treyni with a clear expression.
"I'll accept. But this one is mine."
She turned to Kaito.
"Kai-chan, stay out of this one. We can't keep relying on you for everything. We need to grow too. This is our home, and we can protect it ourselves."
For a moment nobody spoke.
Then Kaito started clapping. Slowly at first, then louder.
The rest of the room followed. The applause spread around the conference table until it filled the room, and with it came something else: a sharpening of posture, a brightness in the eyes, the particular energy of people who have decided something.
"Rimuru-sama! Let us lead the charge! We won't let you down!"
Rigurd was on his feet again, though this time it suited the moment.
"Rimuru-sama, you took us in and gave us our names. There is nothing we can give back equal to that. We are willing to give everything."
Benimaru's voice was quiet but steady. He didn't need to shout.
"Hehehe! My sword hasn't dulled yet. It would be glad to be swung for Rimuru-sama's sake."
"Hakurou, the way you say that makes it sound like the rest of us won't fight!"
"Exactly! Our Security Force members have been ready for a real fight for a while now. Nobody steal our moment!"
"An occasion like this can't leave me out! Rimuru-sama, let me take the front and clear the Orcs out of your path!"
Rimuru looked at each of them in turn. Then she looked at Kaito, who was watching with a small, encouraging smile, and something settled in her chest.
"Then I'll leave it to all of you."
"Yes, Rimuru-sama!" *n
Kaito watched and said nothing more. He was satisfied.
Rimuru had always leaned on him, especially after he'd brought the Demon Slayer Corps back from their world. That reliance had only grown stronger with time. He'd been waiting for a moment like this, some natural opening where she'd find her own footing rather than him having to manufacture one. He hadn't expected her to get there so cleanly.
Truly worthy of being the future leader of the Jura Tempest Federation.
"Since you've accepted the request," Rimuru said, turning back to Treyni with a more businesslike expression, "let's discuss the reward."
"Of course, Rimuru-sama." Treyni's smile didn't waver. "What I offer is dominion over the entire Great Jura Forest."
The room went quiet.
"What... she's handing over dominion of the entire Great Jura Forest to Rimuru-sama?!"
Every monster in the room was staring at Treyni. Since the Storm Dragon Veldora's disappearance, every race in the forest had been competing for control of the territory. And here was the Dryad, the guardian of the forest herself, offering to hand it to Rimuru outright.
To have the Dryad's recognition was not a small thing. It was the difference between claiming a throne and being handed the imperial seal. You could conquer an empire, but without that seal, half the world would still refuse to bow. The Dryad race was that seal. If they recognized your authority over the forest, then your authority was real, and anyone who objected was simply wrong.
"Dominion?"
Rimuru's brow furrowed slightly. She didn't quite follow the full weight of it yet.
Shuna leaned in close and spoke softly near her ear.
"It means that once you defeat the Orc Lord, Rimuru-sama, the entirety of the Great Jura Forest becomes your territory. All monsters within it would fall under your command."
"Eh... ehhh?! Σ(ﾟдﾟlll) Really?! But I don't want to be a ruler! Kai-chan, you do it!"
Rimuru twisted around to look at Kaito with wide eyes.
Kaito considered this for exactly one second.
As one half of the town's recognized duo of self-proclaimed idlers, he was well aware that one of them would eventually have to shoulder this kind of responsibility. And as that awareness settled in, he found himself completely and utterly... refusing.
Was being idle not good? Had Kanae somehow lost her charm? Was Sakuya somehow failing in her care? Why would he go looking for work to burden himself with?
Impossible.
Rimuru, from this day forward, you carry this alone. Our duo of idlers has a vacancy.
"That's a request you accepted yourself. It has nothing to do with me." He waved one hand lightly. "You'll handle it."