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Touka was kneeling beside Geld's unconscious form, checking his regeneration progress, when she felt it.
The blood.
All of Geld's spilled blood across the town square began to move, flowing together in streams that converged at a single point ten feet away from her. The streams rose vertically, forming a pillar of crimson liquid that pulsed with power far beyond anything she'd felt from her own blood magic.
The pillar took shape.
Thanatos stepped out of the blood as if walking through a doorway, his form solidifying in an instant. He looked exactly as he had when he'd saved the ogres—crimson eyes, dark hair, that aura of controlled power that made even the air feel heavy.
Every monster in the square immediately dropped to one knee. The Red Order, the ogres, the goblins, Rimuru's named wolves—all of them bowing reflexively.
Rimuru stayed upright, but even he rippled with what might have been nervousness.
Touka started to stand, but Thanatos gestured for her to remain as she was. He walked past her to where Geld lay unconscious, looked down at the regenerating Orc Lord, and waited.
It took thirty seconds for Geld's eyes to open.
When they did, and Geld saw who was standing over him, every trace of rage or confusion vanished. It was replaced by something simpler and far more primal.
Fear. Recognition. Understanding.
"You," Geld whispered.
"Me," Thanatos confirmed.
Geld tried to push himself up with arms that were still only half-formed. Failed. Tried again and managed to get his torso upright through sheer determination.
"You brought me back."
"I did."
"Why?"
"Because you're useful. And because I wanted to test my subordinate's ability to handle an unstable situation." Thanatos's expression didn't change. "You served that purpose well. Consider your life debt paid through service. You'll join Touka's Red Order and follow orders."
Geld stared at him. Then, slowly, he lowered his head until his forehead touched the ground.
"I swear fealty to you, Lord Thanatos. My life, my strength, everything I am—yours to command."
"Good." Thanatos looked at Touka. "He's your problem now. Get him healed, integrated into the Red Order, and trained to control his new abilities. He's Disaster-class now. Don't waste it."
"Yes, Master Ken," Touka said, and if several people in the crowd caught the familiar address, they wisely said nothing.
Thanatos turned away from them both and walked toward where Rimuru was standing.
"Walk with me," he said.
Rimuru hesitated for just a moment, then followed.
They walked through the village in silence at first. Rimuru showed Thanatos the new construction—expanded housing for the growing population, a proper storehouse, the foundation for what would eventually be a large administrative building.
"You've been busy," Thanatos observed.
"You told me to expand and prepare for conflict. I've been expanding and preparing for conflict." Rimuru bounced slightly as he moved, which made him look less intimidating than he probably wanted. "The ogres have been helping with construction. They're skilled craftsmen when they're not fighting for their lives."
"And the goblins?"
"Adapting. Growing. Learning trades beyond basic survival." Rimuru led them toward the eastern wall. "We're actually running into a resource problem. More people means more food, more housing, more everything. I've been coordinating with the dwarf kingdom for trade, but it's not sustainable long-term."
They reached the wall and Rimuru gestured at the diamond-and-stone construction.
"This, though. This is incredible. It would take a small army or a high-level magic user to breach these walls. You gave us real security."
"Security is only useful if you have something worth protecting," Thanatos said. "Which brings me to a question. What are your plans, Rimuru? Long-term."
Rimuru was quiet for a moment.
"Honestly? I was going to build a peaceful monster nation. A place where monsters could live without being hunted or exploited. Maybe trade with humans eventually, establish diplomatic relations, prove that monsters and humans could coexist." He paused. "That was before you showed up and claimed the entire forest."
"And now?"
"Now I'm helping you build whatever you're building. Because you have the power to actually make it happen, and I don't. Not yet." Rimuru turned to face him. "So what are you building, Thanatos? What's the endgame?"
Thanatos looked out over the forest beyond the walls. The Jura Forest, which he'd claimed entirely on a whim after killing an Orc army.
"Conquest," he said simply. "I'm going to conquer everything in reach. Human kingdoms, demon territories, whatever stands in the way. I'll build a nation where monsters like us don't just survive—we dominate. Where power is respected and weakness is protected by that power."
"That's ambitious."
"That's necessary." Thanatos's eyes didn't leave the horizon. "In my previous life, I was weak. I was used. I was broken by people stronger than me, and I couldn't stop it. I won't be weak again. Ever."
"Previous life?" Rimuru's voice sharpened with sudden interest. "You mean—"
"I was human once. From Earth. I died and woke up here." Thanatos glanced at Rimuru. "Same as you, I'm guessing. Your speech patterns, your references, the way you organize things—it's all very Japanese."
Rimuru went very still. "You're from Earth? From Japan?"
"Tokyo."
"I was from Tokyo too." Rimuru's voice had gone soft. "I died in—well, it doesn't matter how. But yeah. I was human. Got stabbed, died, woke up as a slime in a cave with a dragon."
"Veldora."
"You know about—of course you know about Veldora. You probably talked to him." Rimuru made a sound that might have been a laugh if slimes could laugh. "Do you have a Great Sage system too?"
"I do."
"Incredible. Two reincarnated Japanese people with the same skill, building a monster nation in a fantasy world." Rimuru shook his head, or would have if he had a head to shake. "This is either fate or the universe's idea of a joke."
"Could be both." Thanatos looked at him. "I need people I can trust in leadership positions. People who understand what I'm trying to build. You're competent, you care about the monsters under your authority, and you're from Earth. That makes you valuable."
"So what, I'm the administrator forever?"
"Until you get strong enough to be something else." Thanatos's expression shifted to something that might have been a smile. "I've seen your progress, Rimuru. You're growing fast. If you keep going at this rate, you'll be Demon Lord-class within a few years."
"And then?"
"Then you challenge me. See if you can win." The smile widened slightly. "I'd actually enjoy that fight."
Rimuru was quiet for a long moment.
"You're serious."
"Completely. You're probably the second strongest being in this forest after me. It would be a waste not to see how far you can go."
"Deal." Rimuru sounded almost excited now. "When I'm strong enough, I'll challenge you properly. And I'll win."
"We'll see."
They stood there for a moment, two reincarnated humans in monster bodies, looking out over a forest they were claiming together.
"By the way," Rimuru said, "we need a name for the town. And probably for the nation we're building. People need something to call it."
Thanatos considered. He'd been so focused on gaining power and securing territory that he hadn't thought about names beyond his own title.
"Suggestions?"
"Well, your name is Thanatos. Mine is Rimuru Tempest. If we combine parts of both..." Rimuru paused. "Thanest? Short, memorable, works in multiple languages. We can probably shorten it to Thane."
"Thane." Thanatos tested the word. "The nation of Thane. I like it."
"Then it's decided." Rimuru bounced once. "Tonight we'll announce it. Might as well make it official with a celebration."
That evening, the village square was transformed.
Tables had been set up in long rows, loaded with food prepared by the goblins and ogres working together. Barrels of drink—some alcoholic, some not—were positioned at intervals. Torches and magical lights illuminated the space, turning night into something almost festive.
The Red Order sat together at one section of tables, still in formation even while eating. The ogres occupied another section. The goblins and wolves mixed throughout. At the head table, Thanatos sat beside Rimuru, with Touka standing behind them in a position that was clearly honor guard.
When the food had been distributed and everyone had drinks, Rimuru stood up. Or bounced up. The distinction was unclear.
"Everyone, attention please!"
The crowd quieted.
"Today marks several important occasions," Rimuru announced, his voice magically amplified. "First, we welcome the Red Order officially into our settlement. They will serve as our military force, protecting this territory and enforcing Lord Thanatos's authority throughout the Jura Forest."
Cheers from various sections of the crowd. The Red Order remained stoic, though several nodded in acknowledgment.
"Second, we celebrate the defeat and recruitment of former Orc Lord Geld, who will join the Red Order and serve Lord Thanatos directly."
More measured applause. Geld, sitting with his newly regenerated limbs wrapped in bandages, bowed his head in acceptance.
"And third—" Rimuru paused for effect—"we give our settlement a proper name. From this day forward, this village and the nation it represents will be known as Thane."
Silence for a moment as people processed.
Then the celebration began in earnest.
Thanatos sat back and watched the crowd. Monsters of different species—goblins, ogres, orcs, wolves—eating together, drinking together, celebrating together. United under his authority, building something that might actually last.
Touka leaned down slightly, her voice quiet. "Master Ken, about that date—"
"Later," Thanatos said, not unkindly. "After things stabilize."
"I'll hold you to that." Touka said with a smile, her features now closely resembled Touka's. Kaneki tried not to think about it too much.
"I know."
The celebration continued well into the night. Songs were sung, stories were shared, and for a few hours, the monsters of Thane forgot about the struggles that had brought them here and simply enjoyed being alive.
Thanatos watched it all with something that might have been satisfaction.
This was the beginning. A small village in a forest, named Thane.
Soon it would be more. Much more.
But for tonight, this was enough. Across the settlement, the flag of the Red Order—the skull and scythes—hung from the wall above them, illuminated by torchlight and magic.