That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Kijin

Cinders of a Burnt Past, Sparked into a Flame

I emerge from the fire, looking a little different from when I went in. I feel like I grew a few inches as well. Everyone stares at me in shock. Rimuru is slightly horrified. I look around and sigh, walking over to Geld's head. Picking it up by one of the tusks, I hold it up to Rimuru. "You were after the Orc Lord, right? Well then, how about a peace offering?" I ask. Holding up the head as high as I can, I use magic to make my voice louder. "The Orc Lord is dead! This war is over! The orcs only acted like this because they were under the Orc Lord's influence. The mastermind behind this whole situation, Lord Gelmud, has also been slain! Everyone lay down your weapons, and your safety is guaranteed. But anyone who wishes to keep fighting, for whatever reason, will answer to me. I repeat, this war is over," I announce to the entire battlefield. The orcs had stopped fighting anyway, having the curse lifted and de-evolving. Only the Kijins haven't put down their weapons. "Look, I know you probably aren't on board with this truce, since this means you can't have your revenge. I was there at the massacre, and I get it. But try to understand, the orcs weren't at all in their right minds. This only happened in the first place because the orcs were starving to death, on the brink of extinction. There's no telling what you all might have done if you were in the same situation. So can't you just let this go?" I ask.

"No, we can't!" the red one shouts. "The orcs flattened our species, unprovoked! Families were murdered and eaten by those pigs! They've killed hundreds of us!"

"And you've killed thousands of them!" I yell back. "Tens of thousands of orcs for a few hundred ogres! Where does it end?! How much blood has to be spilt before you're satisfied? Do you really think that'll make you feel better?! As if the murder and extinction of an innocent species will wipe away the grief you feel for your village? It won't! It'll just piss me off, and then I'll go after you for revenge! And then Rimuru will go after me for revenge! This doesn't end until you end it. So stop, right now, if you all want this war to stop."

The ogres think it over. "Fine," he says. "But I want you to know, I'm only accepting this for you. You saved our lives and gave us a chance to live. So we're letting this slide for you, not for the orcs," he says, lowering his blade.

I sigh. "Works for me," I mumble, relieved. "So, I want to make sure I have a clear grip on the situation. Rimuru, you gave the ogres names and they evolved into kijins, and became your subordinates, right?" He nods. "And all of this destruction has been caused by the kijins, which you ordered them to do and encouraged, right?" I ask.

"Well, some of it was caused by Ranga and the rest of my people," he laughs. "But yeah, mostly."

"Okay, cool," I say with a smile. "Well, for the sake of simplicity, I'll just hold you guys responsible."

Rimuru looks confused. "Responsible? What do you mean-"

"You see, I don't think the orcs feel like we've got the fair side of the deal here. 300 ogres dead, so you killed tens of thousands of us? We were already starving to death, and it's not like anyone asked to be mind controlled. Now, I was thinking that I'd kill all of you to even out the numbers. But after seeing that you don't mean any harm, I've decided to just kill you and the kijins. I'll be content with that," I explain, slowly walking towards them. My magicules are vibrating in anticipation, making my skin tingle.

Rimuru puts his hands out. "Wait, can't we talk this out? There's no reason to fight now, the war is over!" he says.

"Nope," I answer. "This isn't about the orcs. This is about you and me. My actions can't affect the orc army anymore, so I don't need to keep my temper."

"B-but what about your speech with not holding grudges and letting it go?!"

"Well, it looks like your subordinates are more forgiving people than I am. I didn't come here looking to be forgiven, and I didn't come here for an apology. The Orc Lord wasn't my main motivation. I came down here to kill you all!" I shout.