I'm Not a Bad Slime, Slurp

The Aftermath Conference

After everything with the Orc Disaster was said and done, Shion hugs Rimuru and Korg has me sit on his giant shoulder in celebration as Treyni warps in via Aerial Magic I assume and says, "You two have fulfilled your promise to me with admirable skill, Lords Rimuru, and Guramii." We greet the dryad as some of the hobgoblins gawk, stare, and murmur about her. She then clears her throat and announces, "In my capacity as overseer of the forest, I will begin with the intervention of resolving this situation. It will take place in the early morning tomorrow, in the forest clearing just to the southwest of here. Any races who wish to participate ought to select a representative to argue their position. That is all." I smirk mentally at why she is the CEO of the forest since she knows how to call the shots. I start thinking that I won't be needed to be in charge of the rebuilding. But Treyni then says this, "And since I assume there will be no arguments to the contrary...I now declare Rimuru Tempest as the chairman of the assembly." Wait, seriously?! I sigh lightly as I was basically off the hook. Heh.

*~*~*

The night was okay if you count being up for a long while because you couldn't sleep from the fight as "okay." Honestly, I couldn't stop thinking about Geld's memory and the pain, frustration, and anguish of the orcs' famine. It wasn't exactly their fault that they started the war. It was just a scheme for something thought up by Gelmud's higher-up most likely. It was Geld's desperation and Gelmud's trickery into using that desperation that led to the war happening. If only we were there before Gelmud could do anything, this war probably would've never happened. I sigh and try to sleep on top of Korg.

*~*~*

As told by Treyni, the dialogue starts early in the morning. I yawn lightly before going into my blob form, resting in Korg's hands, with him in his human-ish size form. In attendance: Rimuru, the Kijin, Korg, and me...the lizardman chieftain, his head guard, and second in command (Gabiru was taken in the lizardman's prison for treason, FYI)...Treyni...a couple of the goblins Gabiru was leading around,...and 10 representatives for the orcs. Thankfully, they seem rational again after the effects of "Starved" wore off, but their moral numbness is gone too, which leaves them wearing a deathly pallor.

"Uhhh..." Rimuru starts off, "This is a first for me. I'm not sure how to proceed. So I'll start by saying what I think. Then I want you all to discuss. First of all, I want to be absolutely clear: I have no intention of judging the orcs for their crimes. That might not sit well with the lizardmen, who were their primary victims. But hear me out first. I'll explain the causes and circumstances that led to this armed uprising of theirs." He explains everything from the great famine to Gelmud and whatnot. The chieftain understands as Rimuru continues, "That does not mean that invasion and pillaging is forgiven, of course. But based on their desperate situation, they do not have the resources to pay for the losses they caused. Now, everything I said is what ought to be said. They're polite excuses." The lizardman chieftain asks how he truly feels, to which he says, "Guramii and I have accepted all of the orcs' sins. If you have any problems with that, you come to one of us." The orc with the black cloak tries to rebuttal, but I quickly tell him that it was Rimuru and my promise to Geld, which made him stop.

The lizardman chieftain stands up and says that he doesn't exactly appreciate Rimuru's answer, which was to be expected by someone in the dialogue. But then Benimaru interjects, "There is one unchanging rule that is shared among all monsters. The strong eat the weak. Anyone who opposes this must understand the consequences."

The chieftain realizes that Benimaru is also a kijin before calming down saying, "Survival of the fittest... Yes, I suppose you're right. It would not reflect well upon the lizardmen if I raised a fuss about this now." Rimuru asks if he's sure, but he replies, "You and Lord Guramii are the victors of this war, Lord Rimuru. I cannot disagree with your decisions. But that matter aside... There is one thing I must ask you. If you do not judge the orcs for their sins...then do you intend for all of them to stay in this forest?"

"Good question," Rimuru says, "They lost much of their number in the battle, but there are still at least 150,000 of them." I still mentally gawk at that number as Rimuru then explains an idea, "This might sound like a flight of fancy to you...but what if all the different races living in the forest formed an alliance? We'll split up the orcs into various areas first...and they'll provide physical labor in their new home regions." The chieftain summarizes that in exchange, we'll give the orcs food and a place to live as Rimuru confirms and continues, "We can rely on the professionals in our town to provide them with the technical support for homes. It won't be free, of course. Since we're short-handed, the orcs will be providing their own labor. When you've learned the tools of the trade, then you'll be able to build your own villages. Then you and your scattered people will be able to live together once again. Ultimately, I think it'd be kind of cool to build a nation where diverse species coexist." One of the orcs asks if they'll be allowed to be in the alliance and Rimuru tells them that they can through hard work and slacking off is not an option.

Korg then sets me down on the bench with Rimiru as everyone bows to us. Confused by this, Treyni then says, "Very good. Then as the overseer of the forest...I, Treyni, hereby announce...that Rimuru and Guramii are the new chancellor and co-chancellor respectively of the Great Forest of Jura. Under their names, we have formed the 'Jura Forest Alliance'!!" Both of us slimes were stunned by what she just pushed onto us as she kneels with everyone else. We then exclaim that we want a brief recess.

*~*~*

*Timeskip brought to by blob Rimuru and Guramii making a two bead Newton's Cradle of themselves while hanging from a tree*

After a few days of being in Sleep Mode from naming all of the 150,000 remaining orcs, the high orcs start up on working on building more houses, shops, etc. I tasked Korg to be the orcs' foreman since he and Myrd (the youngest drawf brother who doesn't say anything!) are the best archetects and now the high orcs are extremely skilled. It's been three months since the war and life couldn't be better.

*~*~*

A/n: Sorry for the shorter chapter, everyone.

P.S. 1,153 words.