Rimuru's Restart: That Time I Travelled Back in Time

Chapter 8: Shizu vs Ogres

In the southeastern part of the Great Jura Forest, the struggle for survival looms large. Unlike humans, who often gather in large groups to sustain their food sources, monsters face the constant threats of drought and famine. They grapple with a formless enemy—an abstract foe that cannot be confronted physically. For monsters, the mantra of "survival of the fittest" governs their existence.

"You will be Geld—the Orc Lord, Geld." A mysterious masked Majin said.

◇◇◇

Shizu-san approached me with an unexpected request: she asked if I could hire her. 

I certainly could, but with this village lacking any formal currency system, all I could offer was high-quality food and a place to stay. To my surprise, she accepted the arrangement without hesitation.

And just like that, Shizu-san became part of our growing ranks.

Our journey so far has been anything but calm, yet now it feels like we're finally finding our rhythm. Gently and silently, Tempest is beginning to take shape. 

The nearby Goblin villages are seeking our protection at an accelerated pace, swelling our population from 350 to over 1,200 in what feels like no time at all.

Now, the challenge is to build a sturdy defense before the Orcs come.

We're focusing all our manpower and resources on constructing essential buildings: homes, a meeting hall, a public dining area, and a training ground. 

There's even talk of building a school for the children someday, but for now, the looming threat of the Orc Lord takes priority.

With Shizu-san here, our town feels more secure already.

Speaking of which, Ciel has been amusingly persistent about asking my permission to go to the bath—well, I can't blame her. That bath is luxurious, and honestly, if I could, I'd probably stay there 24/7 myself.

But for now, our main focus lies elsewhere—Shizu-san should be meeting them soon.

Yes, it's time. Time to meet my first subordinates: the Ogres.

Shall we go and greet them once more?

◇◇◇

Well, all is going as expected, though last night Ciel handed me a humbling defeat. Her punches still sting on my body, and I can't help but think—Ciel-san is an enigma. But how do I even approach her? Even using my best abilities like Magic Detect, I can't find a single lead on her whereabouts. I'll probably have to ask Rimuru-san later—though technically, Slime-san is our boss, he always insists I just call him Rimuru. Not a big deal, but still feels strange.

For now, I'm on patrol duty, pulling out bounties from the forest. Nothing too exciting.

"Lady Shizu, thank you for patrolling over us," a passing Hobgoblin called out with a smile.

"No need to thank me, I'm just doing my job," I replied, feeling a little embarrassed. Truthfully, I've just been slacking off. My position's more about watching for any bad situations, but since nothing unusual is happening, I've been lying beneath a tree on a hill, keeping an eye on the village.

Though, can we even call it a village anymore? Our population has surged past the 1,200 mark. By human standards, this would be considered a small town. With rumors spreading about a powerful monster protecting the area, various Goblin tribes have migrated here, seeking refuge.

I was lying on the grass, mask on, staring at the sky, when suddenly—

Warning: Emergency communication has been linked through.