"Oh no, that guy is dead for sure!" Seeing the situation, Rimuru said somewhat nervously.
Yet at the last moment, it was the passing Gobta who saved him. Ranga had Gobta fight Gabiru.
Enticed by Rimuru and threatened with Shion's cooking, Gobta ignited with boundless fighting spirit.
Finally, the moment the battle began, the still smug Gabiru was directly targeted by Gobta, who hurled his spear at him.
Watching the spear rapidly fly toward him, Gabiru revealed a shocked and flustered expression, hastily sidestepping.
"Damn you, all sly tricks!" Startled, Gabiru swept his spear horizontally, but Gobta was no longer before him.
"Impossible, he vanished!" Just as Gabiru was stunned, Gobta suddenly emerged from the shadow behind him and kicked the back of his neck. With a loud cry, Gabiru collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Thus, Gabiru, who had spent so long posturing, was felled by a single kick from Gobta using his Shadow Movement skill… a perfect demonstration of the phrase 'all bark, no bite'.
"You there, Gobta won the match. If you wish to discuss helping you defeat the Orc tribe, I will consider it. As for becoming your subordinates, no deal. Today, take this guy back with you." Looking at the dumbfounded Lizardman army, Rimuru spoke calmly.
"W-we will return!"
"Indeed, this matter is not over yet!"
"R-remember this!" After delivering their threats, Gabiru's three confidants swiftly carried him away at light speed.
That evening, Takeru's shadow clone received an invitation from Rimuru. Souei had gathered the latest intelligence.
"Two hundred thousand Orcs. Their main force is advancing north along the great river. Based on the movements of their main force and detached units, their rendezvous point is the eastern wetlands," Souei reported seriously to the group.
"Which would be the Lizardmen's territory," Rigurd noted knowingly.
"Two hundred thousand... such an exaggerated number, impossible to truly fathom." Hearing Souei's report, Rimuru remained shocked. In his previous life, even Japan could not muster a two hundred thousand-man army.
"Orcs are originally monsters of low intelligence. If their aggression is not driven by instinct, we must suspect an instigator behind them," Kaijin frowned and remarked.
"Takeru, do you know anything?" Subsequently, Rimuru curiously inquired.
"Naturally. The instigator behind this Orc incident is a Majin named Gelmud." Hearing his words, Takeru lightly sipped his MooMoo Milk and stated directly.
"Gelmud, it really is him!" Hearing Takeru's words, Benimaru and the others clenched their fists.
"And his purpose?" Rimuru asked curiously.
"His purpose is to exploit the superior-subordinate relationship inherent in naming to acquire capable monsters as minions, thereby strengthening himself. Of course, Gelmud is merely a pawn of a certain Demon Lord." Looking at everyone, Takeru spoke calmly.
"Demon Lord!" Hearing Takeru's words, those present who understood the concept exclaimed in shock.
Rimuru, hearing Takeru's words, felt extremely troubled. He involuntarily recalled the Demon Lord Leon Cromwell, of whom Shizu had spoken. Any being titled Demon Lord was no simple existence.
As the group fell silent, Souei suddenly paused, then quickly addressed Rimuru. "Someone is making contact with the reconnaissance clone. It seems they wish to communicate with you. What should we do?"
"Who is it? One Gabiru was already too much for me. I don't want to meet any more strange characters," Rimuru frowned at Souei's report.
"Not strange, but rather quite unexpected. It's... a Treant," Souei quickly stated.
"A Treant? That thing? The tree spirit onee-san that often appears in games?" Hearing Souei's words, Rimuru exclaimed excitedly. Though transformed into a slime, his fundamental nature remained that of an ordinary male office worker.
"Hasn't it been decades since a Treant last appeared?" Rigurd curiously remarked to Kaijin beside him.
"It's, it's fine! Let her come!" Recovering himself, Rimuru excitedly instructed Souei.
Subsequently, amidst the conference table, green energy manifested. A special figure rapidly materialized before everyone, accompanied by numerous vines.
Takeru watched the Treant before him with interest. It must be said, the Treant's aesthetic was quite aligned with human fantasies of femininity.
"Ruler of monsters and your servants, please forgive my sudden visit. I am a Treant, Treyni. A pleasure to meet you all." The moment Treyni appeared, she was extremely polite and respectful.
"I am Rimuru Tempest. Um, Treyni-san, what business brings you here?" Hearing Treyni's introduction, Rimuru quickly introduced himself, then curiously inquired about her purpose.
"I have come today to request your assistance. Um, might I ask who you are?" Treyni, having intended to petition Rimuru, quickly noticed Takeru's presence.
Though Takeru sat calmly, she sensed immense threat. Within Takeru resided terrifying magical energy, excellently concealed yet perceptible to Treyni. She grew somewhat tense.
"Nara Takeru. That is my name." Hearing her inquiry, Takeru spoke calmly.
"Such terrifying mana, and such powerful oppressive force. Might I presumptuously inquire... are you a legendary existence… a Demon Lord?" Having heard Takeru's name, Treyni bowed her head respectfully and asked nervously.
Hearing Treyni's inquiry, everyone was stunned. Involuntarily, their gazes turned to Takeru. Though they had known his strength was unfathomable, this possibility had never crossed their minds. Simultaneously, they dared not believe it.
After all, though Demon Lords were frequently discussed, they were on an entirely different level. If Takeru, who often lived among them, was a Demon Lord... it was simply too insane.
"Come on, Takeru is my good friend. He can't be a Demon Lord. Probably... right?" Hearing Treyni's words, Rimuru quickly protested. Yet recalling Great Sage's assessment that Takeru's mana was roughly ten times his own, Rimuru was no longer certain.
As for Takeru, seeing Treyni directly inquire about his Demon Lord status surprised him. However, Takeru did not conceal it and directly nodded to her.
Having been acknowledged by the World Voice, even without recognition from other Demon Lords, Takeru was indeed a Demon Lord.
Seeing Takeru nod, everyone was utterly shocked. They found it difficult to reconcile the usually gentle Takeru with the legendary Demon Lord.
If aware of their thoughts, Takeru would find it amusing. After all, when Milim, Ramiris, Veldora, and others later appeared, they would discover that Demon Lords, too, came in many varieties.
"I have been terribly rude!" Seeing Takeru nod, Treyni bowed and apologized.
"Enough of that. Pay me no mind. I am merely lodging here temporarily. You came to see Rimuru, did you not?" Seeing the nervous, reverent Treyni, Takeru waved his hand dismissively.
"Yes, that is so. However, I was previously unaware of your presence. Um, may I inquire as to your purpose here and your view regarding the Orc Lord?" Hearing Takeru's words, sensing his approachability, Treyni cautiously inquired.
"Slaying the Orc Lord. That is my purpose here." Looking at the cautious Treyni, Takeru did not conceal his true objective.
Though Takeru had considered leveraging this for concessions, aside from Treyni's Treant kin, or rather, Treyni and her two sisters, holding any value to Takeru, they possessed nothing he required.
"Your purpose is this very thing! Please, allow me, on behalf of all forest tribes, to express our gratitude!" Hearing Takeru's words, Treyni's tone shifted, speaking gratefully.
Hearing her words, Takeru lightly shook his head but said nothing further.
As for Treyni, she had not expected the matter she had worried over for so long to be resolved the moment she arrived. Thinking this, her gaze toward Takeru was filled with gratitude.
The reason Treyni had inquired was due to the peculiarity of Takeru's immense mana. As for the response she received, she was, naturally, quite astonished.