"Benimaru!"
Benimaru was on his feet before the echo of his name faded, head bowed.
"Yes!"
"This operation, you'll lead the Security Force alongside me. You're the overall commander."
Rimuru had thought it through carefully before arriving at this decision.
Benimaru was the strongest among those who would be taking the field, with only a handful of exceptions, and none of those exceptions were going. Beyond strength, he and his people carried a debt that hadn't been paid yet.
Their village had been destroyed by the Orcs, and Rimuru had made a promise about that. And there was one more reason, quieter than the others: she had mentioned Benimaru once to Kaito in passing, and Kaito had said without hesitation that he was the kind of person who should be leading an army.
"This... Rimuru-sama, I have only just arrived. There are people here far more qualified than I am for a position like this. Please reconsider."
Benimaru's voice was steady but strained. The Security Force had always operated with Kaito as its supreme commander, and it was filled with Demon Slayer Corps veterans who had been fighting longer than he had been named.
"Haha! Benimaru, Rimuru has made her choice. Just accept it." Kaito looked at him easily. "Does anyone here object?"
"Not at all! We will follow Rimuru-sama's command completely!" Rengoku Kyojuro, seated beside Tomioka Giyuu, laughed openly. "Benimaru, don't refuse! First Squad answers to you!"
"That's right, accept it!"
"Big brother Benimaru, the Goblin Riders are fully under your orders too!"
The voices came from around the table, one after another. Benimaru stood in the middle of it and said nothing for a moment.
Since the village burned, he hadn't felt like he belonged anywhere. And now here was a room full of people, monsters and humans alike, looking at him and meaning it. He glanced at Kaito, who gave him a small nod.
Benimaru bowed, his eyes red at the edges.
"Thank you. All of you. I will lead us to victory."
"Of course we'll win!"
"Hahahaha! The young master has finally found his footing again!"
Hakurou watched from his seat with an expression of quiet satisfaction.
Rimuru waited for the room to settle, then continued.
"Here's the plan. Total deployed force: the full Security Force plus a thousand temporarily mobilized fighters, thirteen hundred and fifty in all. Benimaru commands the overall operation. Rengoku Kyojuro, you're his adjutant."
"The main force under Benimaru will move to Lizardmen territory and intercept the Orc army at the wetlands. Not one Orc crosses that swamp. Meanwhile, I'll move separately to find the Orc Lord and deal with him directly."
"Everyone clear?"
"Understood!!!"
The room rose as one.
"Then that's settled. Prepare to move out. We depart tomorrow afternoon."
"Yes!!!"
The room emptied quickly. When the last footsteps faded down the corridor, only Kaito, Rimuru, and Sakuya remained in the wide, quiet space.
Sakuya set two fresh cups of black tea on the table without being asked.
"You've worked hard, Sakuya."
"It is my duty."
Rimuru wrapped both hands around her cup and took a slow sip. Then she looked at Kaito.
"Kai-chan... can I actually beat the Orc Lord?"
"Yes." Kaito said it without hesitation. "You're going to rule the entire Great Jura Forest. A little thing like an Orc Lord isn't going to stop that."
Rimuru was quiet for a moment. Then she set her cup down and straightened.
"Fine. If you believe it, then I believe it too. Just wait for my good news."
"I'll be waiting."
Kaito stood and moved to leave, then paused at the doorway.
"One more thing. The mask Shizu left you, keep it close. It'll matter later."
"I know, I've been keeping it safe."
She reached into her stomach and produced it without ceremony, holding it up briefly. Kaito looked at it, then nodded.
"Good."
He turned back to Sakuya with a suddenly pitiful expression.
"Sakuya. Your dear master is on the verge of starvation. Please save him."
Sakuya's lips curved the smallest amount.
"Yes, Kaito-sama. I will prepare lunch immediately."
"Ah! Kai-chan, that's not fair! I want some too!"
Rimuru's hand shot up the moment the word lunch left Sakuya's mouth. She had been thinking about Sakuya's cooking since the first time she'd tasted it.
"Of course. I will prepare a portion for Rimuru-sama as well."
"Sakuya! You're the best!"
Great Jura Forest, the following morning.
A thousand-strong army stood in formation at the town gate, ranks straight, equipment gleaming. Every soldier wore armor freshly crafted by Kaijin and his team, and their weapons were among the finest the town had produced.
At the front stood the Kijin under Benimaru, side by side with the Hashira. Behind them came the core Security Force, and behind that, the temporarily mobilized former Demon Slayer Corps members and the Hobgoblins.
As a fighting force, what stood at that gate could have dismantled a small nation.
Benimaru walked to the front and dropped to one knee before Rimuru and Kaito.
"Rimuru-sama. Kaito-sama. The troops are assembled and ready to move on your word."
Rimuru nodded. She turned to Kaito.
"Kai-chan. We're off."
"Go. Stay sharp."
Sakuya stepped forward slightly and bowed to Rimuru.
"Rimuru-sama. I wish you every success. Your pudding will be ready when you return."
"Pudding! ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶ I'll be back before you know it!"
Rimuru turned back to the formation.
"Benimaru. Move out."
"Yes, Rimuru-sama."
Great Jura Forest, Lizardmen Territory.
Clang. Clang.
Boom.
"Die! Orc filth!"
"Kill them! Drive them back!"
The wetlands churned with bodies. Orcs and Lizardmen crashed into each other across the waterlogged terrain, the Orcs pushing forward with a mindless, grinding persistence, shields locked, voices rising in a single chant.
"Trample! Trample!"
On a rise above the battlefield, Gabil stood with his trident resting across his shoulder, watching the struggle below with detached contempt.
"Mere Orcs. They're no match for us." He raised the trident and swept it forward. "Fall back for now!"
The Lizardmen below began to disengage, pulling away from the press of bodies in practiced order.
Gabil turned to go. Then something below caught his eye.
He stopped.
The Orcs who had been fighting moments ago were crouching over the bodies of their fallen comrades. In pairs, in small clusters, they were feeding.
Gabil stared.
"What... the Orcs are eating each other?"
Around him, the Lizardmen who had made it back to the rise watched in silence. Then the silence broke into scattered voices, each one quieter and more unsteady than the last.
One Lizardman hadn't made it far enough. A hand closed around its ankle and yanked it flat to the ground. It looked up.
Crimson eyes. Dozens of them. Staring.
"This... no... no... please, no!!!"