Ogre Village

As Ranga sprinted through the forest, leaping over fallen trees and weaving through dense underbrush, Rimuru sat deep in thought. He let the wind brush past him, but his mind was elsewhere—focused on how to approach the Ogres.

"Hey, Great Sage," Rimuru started, his voice calm but thoughtful. "I've been thinking about how I should approach the Ogres. What if I told them I'm a sworn brother of Veldora and that he left me in charge of the forest while he's away? I could say I'm trying to unite the monsters here for the good of everyone. You know, because being united is better in case some big threat shows up."

<>

Rimuru grinned. "I knew you'd see the genius in my plan. But… how do I get them to believe me? I mean, I can say I'm Veldora's sworn brother all I want, but they might just call me a liar."

<

Emit a portion of Veldora's aura, which you now possess due to your absorption of him. This would make it appear as though his power lingers within you, signifying your close connection.

Demonstrate your overwhelming strength in a controlled manner, proving your capability as a leader.

Offer a tangible benefit, such as aiding them in resolving their current struggles, to showcase your reliability.>>

Rimuru nodded, processing the suggestions. "Makes sense. If I show off a bit of Veldora's aura, that'll definitely grab their attention. And if they're in trouble, I can swoop in as their savior. Everyone loves a hero, right?"

<>

"Got it. Flash the aura, but don't overdo it," Rimuru affirmed. "And once they see I'm not just some random slime pretending to be important, I'll offer them a deal: join me, and together we'll make the forest stronger and safer for everyone."

Ranga, listening intently, chimed in. "Rimuru-sama, if they doubt you, I can assist by demonstrating the might of the Tempest Wolves. None would dare question your authority if they see my strength."

Rimuru chuckled, patting Ranga's side. "Thanks, Ranga, but let's try not to scare them too much. We want allies, not enemies. I'm counting on you to be my intimidating yet friendly partner in this."

"Understood, Rimuru-sama. I shall strike the perfect balance."

With their plan set, Rimuru leaned back slightly, letting Ranga's steady pace carry them closer to the Ogre village. "Alright, Great Sage, anything else I should know about the Ogres?"

<>

Rimuru smirked. "Sounds like my kind of people. Let's do this."

The magicule presence of the Ogre village began to grow stronger as they approached. Rimuru could sense their power even from a distance. "This is going to be interesting," he said with a grin.

They got closer to the Ogre village, Rimuru riding comfortably on Ranga's back. The dense trees began to thin out, and a faint smoke trail from distant campfires became visible through the canopy. The village itself was tucked into a clearing, surrounded by tall wooden stakes acting as makeshift defenses.

As they neared the village entrance, Rimuru spoke, "Ranga, hide in my shadow for now. Let's not scare them unnecessarily."

"Yes, my master," Ranga replied before merging into Rimuru's shadow with a faint shimmer.

Rimuru walked confidently toward the entrance, his aura completely concealed. At the gate, two Ogre guards stood tall, their muscular builds and bright crimson skin making them an imposing sight. They carried long spears, and their sharp horns gleamed under the sunlight. Upon spotting Rimuru, their expressions turned wary.

"Stop right there, human!" one of the guards barked, pointing his spear toward Rimuru. "Who are you, and what business do you have in this part of the forest? Humans rarely come here unless they're lost—or looking for trouble."

Rimuru raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture, a calm smile on his face. "Relax. I'm not here to cause any trouble. I'm here on behalf of Veldora, the Storm Dragon."

The guards froze for a moment, their expressions shifting from suspicion to confusion. They exchanged glances before the second guard spoke, his voice tinged with skepticism. "You claim to represent Veldora? That's a bold statement. Why would the Storm Dragon send a human to us? And why would he care about our village?"

"I understand your doubts," Rimuru replied evenly. "But I assure you, I'm here with a purpose. I need to speak to your village chief. It concerns the safety of the entire forest."

The first guard frowned, gripping his spear tighter. "How do we know you're not lying? For all we know, you could be working with the monsters that have been attacking us."

Rimuru tilted his head slightly, maintaining his calm demeanor. "Do I look like someone who's been attacking villages? If I meant you harm, I wouldn't bother walking up to your gate and asking politely."

The second guard hesitated, his grip loosening slightly. "He has a point. And... if he's really connected to Veldora, we don't want to offend him."

The first guard sighed, still unsure. "Fine. Wait here. I'll inform the village chief. But don't try anything funny, human."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Rimuru replied with a small grin, stepping back to give them space.

One of the guards disappeared into the village, leaving Rimuru under the watchful eye of the remaining one. The tension in the air was palpable, but Rimuru stood calmly, hands behind his back as he observed the surroundings.

After a few minutes, the gate creaked open again, and three figures emerged. Leading them was a tall, imposing Ogre with a dignified air. His sharp features and long, flowing hair were complemented by the scars across his face, speaking of years of battle experience. He wore armor adorned with simple but elegant patterns. To his right stood a younger male, his posture confident and his crimson eyes burning with determination. His resemblance to the elder was unmistakable. On the chief's left was a stoic figure, clearly a guard, his piercing gaze fixed on Rimuru.

Rimuru's inner voice chimed in as Great Sage provided an analysis.

<>

"Good to know," Rimuru thought.

The village chief stopped a few paces away, his piercing gaze locked onto Rimuru. "You," he said, his voice calm but authoritative. "The guards tell me you claim to have been sent by Veldora. Is that true? If so, explain yourself."

Rimuru met the chief's gaze, his tone firm but respectful. "Yes, that's correct. I was sent by Veldora to oversee the forest in his absence. While he is temporarily... unavailable, he entrusted me with maintaining order and ensuring the safety of the forest's inhabitants. I've come to your village to form an alliance."

The chief's brow furrowed, and his son's eyes narrowed. "You speak as though you are a subordinate of the great Veldora," the younger Ogre said, his voice filled with skepticism. "But you are clearly human. Why would the Storm Dragon entrust something so important to someone like you?"

Rimuru smiled faintly, not missing the note of challenge in the younger Ogre's tone. "You're right to question me. Words alone wouldn't convince me either. But I can prove my connection."

With that, Rimuru allowed a small portion of Veldora's aura to seep out. The powerful wave of energy washed over the Ogres, causing their eyes to widen in shock. Even the stoic guard's expression flickered with surprise. The younger Ogre instinctively moved his hand toward his weapon, but the chief held up a hand to stop him.

"This aura... it's unmistakably Veldora's," the chief murmured, his tone quieter but no less wary. He turned his sharp gaze back to Rimuru. "How is it that you possess such power?"

"I'm not exactly human," Rimuru replied cryptically. "Let's just say Veldora and I share a... unique bond. I absorbed his power when he entrusted me with his will. I'm not here to harm you. Quite the opposite—I'm here to unite the monsters of this forest under a single banner. Together, we can ensure our survival against external threats."

The chief studied Rimuru for a long moment before speaking. "You make bold claims, and your power is undeniable. But we Ogres do not simply trust strangers—especially in these times. If you wish to form an alliance with us, you must first prove your worth."

Rimuru nodded, unfazed. "Fair enough. Tell me what you need, and I'll handle it."

The chief exchanged a glance with his son and guard before responding. "We have been under attack by unknown forces. If you can eliminate this threat, we will consider your proposal."

"Consider it done," Rimuru said confidently. "Just give me all the details you have on these attackers."

The chief nodded, gesturing for Rimuru to follow. "Come inside. We'll discuss the matter further."

Rimuru followed them into the village, already strategizing his next steps with Great Sage. "Let's get this done quickly—I've got a village to build."