Almost done packing

(First POV)

I've stayed and explored this town for a total of one day. I didn't do much but speak with people and let my pets have some fun. I wasn't a super suspicious person anymore, but they still kept an eye on me.

Like now. Souei has a clone lurking around in shadows that follow me as I walk around the forest looking for stray monsters. With a sigh I stopped and turned back to look in the direction of the clone.

"You know I can see you right?" I said. He came from the shadows and just looked at me silently.

"Can I ask why you're so suspicious of me?" I asked.

"I believe you're working with the Majin." He said clearly.

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

"You have a name, your magic although it's pretty low, I can tell you're keeping it low on purpose. It also isn't human. Are you perhaps like master Rimuru?" He asked.

"One, I was given a name a long time ago, two I keep my power like this to not scare away people, three yeah, I'm not completely human and four, no I'm not a slime." I answered.

I think he believed it for now. He just disappeared back into the shadows without saying a word and I kept walking till I felt this type of tugging sensation on my chest.

It was like something was calling me and my soul was trying to get there. I let the feeling pull me into a rift that opened and closed as soon as I went through.

I was pulled into a space that was all white with nothing to note besides two thrones that were facing each other. The one that I made before and a moon like throne. It was in the form of a crescent and sitting there was Mia.

[Akhito Throne]

[Mia Throne]

[Mia for those who forgot]

[Akhito for this who forgot]

"Umm this place looks different." I said as I walked to my throne.

"Well this isn't actually my or your domain. It's the area we link. It's more or less like a conference hall of sorts." She said.

"I see, so what did you need?" I asked.

"There is someone who wants to challenge you." She said simply. She looked like she was actually frustrated about this.

"Why?"

"Over me and to increase his rank." She said with a tired sigh.

"He's fighting me for you? Like as in a relationship sort of way or like partner type thing?" I asked with my head tilted.

"Both, but this guy has been like this for eons now."

"Hmm, you also said rank. I feel like we should discuss this. I have absolutely dog shit knowledge about everything." I said.

"…It's to be expected. So by ranking I mean where you stand in godhood…" She started explaining to me the ranks, how to rank up, a how to do matches.

Basically ranks are like this. Rank 0 is just a newborn. 1-5 is a Demigod. 6-10 is a lesser deity. 11-15 is an intermediate deity. 16-20 is a greater deity. While 20+ is is outside of the ranking plane. Usually being past this rank are called over deities and it usually requires the permission of over deities to become gods.

To rank up, you can beat a deity and take their rank. Gain followers or worshiper to gain rank points. You can do it by natural training and lastly you can go on godly quests.

Honestly it's sounding more like a game than anything.

"So who am I fighting?" I asked with a sigh.

"His name is Jami. He doesn't have a title and he's a 6th rank demigod." She said.

"So a basic human with abilities?"

"Yes, but he wanted a death match."

"Okay. Tell him to set up any terms he wants and I accept. Now I can't be gone to long so I'll see you then." I said before disappearing out of the Linking Space before she could speak.

I reappeared back in the woods and turned around to make my way back to the town. When I got there I could sense That Rimuru and the rest were on that little cliff that gives an overview of the town.

I used flash step and appeared behind everyone startling them a bit.

"What happened?" I asked. They seemed to be tense and I could tell it was about something other than me.

"Where were you? We've looked all over the forest and couldn't find you." Rimuru asked suspiciously.

"I was at home. It's an underground place, but why are you so tense?" I answered. I already knew the reason, but they answered anyway.

"There seems to be an orc army that's been going around killing things and people. The lizardmen sent over some guy to get out aid in fighting with them to defeat the army and lord." He answered with a sigh.

"So there's an army being led by and orc itself? did the lizard tell you that?" I asked.

"Yeah. He wanted us to work for him and couldn't even beat Gobta. Anyways, I considered working WITH them, but not for them. He was sorta stupid so I don't really have a good impression of them anyways." Rimuru said.

"I think for now I'll have Souei to scout out and report back to me. Can you do it?" He asked.

Souei nodded and disappeared.

"For now I say we try to set up defenses more. For a while things have been weird definitely with that so called "world message" or whatever. Oh, of course I mean if you're down to help." He hurriedly added.

"I don't mind. It's not like I have anything better to do."

So for the next few hours we set up traps and I showed them some of my runes. After all I didn't need them anymore. We are up traps around the perimeter of the town and when we were done it was about nightfall.

That's when Souei came back and reported what he found.

"I saw about 200,000 Orcs and the main army was moving along the north river. Based on the moved of the main army and the detached forces. I expect them to regroup in the marshlands east of here." He said as he pointed to a spot on a crude drawing of a map.

"I'm the lizardman territory you mean?" Regurd said gaining a nod from Souei.

"200,000 huh. That's such a huge number that it's hard to imagine. Just what are they after anyway." Rimuru said with a sigh as he sipped some tea.

There wasn't an actual spot for me so I just stood up in some random spot.

"Hmm. Orcs aren't that intelligent, so there is something behind this other than just instinct. Someone is leading them." Kijin suggested.

I looked over to see Rimuru with his eyes darkened out. It was quite imposing.

"Like a demon lord, perhaps?" He asked in a darkly calm voice.

Everyone's attention turned to him.

"If that Gelmud guy who came to your village is involved in this…."he didn't say anything but sighed.

"Well, there's no proof to base that on right now." He said. He seemed to be in thought for a moment. The air around him because rather "cold" but it was more of a hostile cold which soon chained.

"I don't know if a demon lord is involved, but I think it's more likely that an Orc lord has appeared." Benimaru said.

"An Orc lord is a unique monster that only appears once every century?" Rimuru asked.

"Yes, I can't believe an ordinary Orc is leading an army of 200,000." He answered.

Some random goblin with glasses raised his hand to speak.

"I believe that caution would be wiser than optimism in this case." He said.

'Yeah, no shit Sherlock.' I mean duh. Who wouldn't be cautious about this?

Souei's eyes widened and he reported something.

"One of my bodies I had scouting the area had made an encounter." He said.

"An encounter?"

"They requested an audience with you." He added.

"Who is it?" Rimuru asked.

"It's an unusual encounter. It's…a Dryad." He said.

I just stood there eating quietly. My presence must have disappeared to them.

"A Dryad!?!" Rimuru's cheeks went slightly red.

"Not that type of dryad. It's probably Tryeni." I said. Rimuru looked dissatisfied.

"Wait you know her?!?" Everyone looked at me in shock.

"Yeah, we've had a few encounters and she was at my house for a while so we're pretty tight I guess." I said eating a cookie.

They went silent and I immediately shut it down.

"Not like that, so I say we meet her." I said.

"Ahem. Yeah bring her here then." Rimuru said with a smile.

As if on cue. A stream of green energy was beaming up next to me. Some leaves were coming from it as it illuminated the room.

Shion and Shuna got up defending Rimuru as the light continued to grow.

Vines started twirling in the light and then they converged on each other and broke. Emerging from the vines was Tryeni the Dryad.

"You shouldn't say such misleading words." She said to me with a little smile. She looked over to Rimuru as her smile was off her face and she looked serious.

"Ruler of the monsters, and all those who are loyal to him. Forgive me for the unannounced arrival. I am Treyni the Dryad." She said elegantly.

"I'm Rimuru Tempest…um. Treyni." Rimuru greeted.

'Shit should really be picking up now.' I thought.