As the Orc Lord was devoured by Rimuru, the effects of [Starved] wore off as well. The frenzied Orcs slowly regained their sanity. Rimuru, longsword at her hip, stepped before everyone and proclaimed loudly,
"Everyone! It's all over!"
"Oh, oh, oh!"
"It's finally over!"
"Is this Rimuru-sama?! Thank you for saving the Lizardmen!!!"
Everyone present erupted in celebration, and little Gobta even leapt three meters into the air.
The Orcs knelt on the ground, mourning their fallen king. The Orc Lord's son watched the scene with his head bowed, tears in his eyes, and whispered,
"Oh, King... you are finally free."
Rimuru then walked over to Benimaru and the others and smiled as she spoke to them.
"We made a promise back then: once the Orc Lord was defeated, you would have your freedom. Thank you all for everything you've done during this time."
Benimaru looked at Rimuru smiling at him, and his chest filled with a tangle of emotions.
It was Rimuru who had taken them in when they had nowhere to go, and to help them get their revenge, she had even appointed him as the army's commander.
His mind drifted to the people he had come to know in town. Mrs. Kamado, who always warmly welcomed Shuna and the others as guests. Kocho Shinobu, who smiled gently at everyone even when the barbecue shop owner was in one of her moods over Kaito. Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who carried that ever-gentle smile wherever he went. And Gobta and the others, always getting into trouble and being lectured...
Thinking of all of them, the tangle in Benimaru's chest settled, and he spoke to Rimuru before him.
"Rimuru-sama, we have a request!"
Rimuru tilted her head, puzzled. "What is it?"
Benimaru dropped to one knee, and without a word, every person behind him did the same.
"Please, both you and Kaito-sama, accept our fealty. We are willing to serve you with our lives from this day forward!"
Rimuru's eyes went wide. "Are you truly willing?"
Hakurou smiled warmly. "This old man has no objections whatsoever."
Souei's usually stern face softened into a rare smile as he replied with quiet respect, "To have met both you and Kaito-sama is a blessing worth three lifetimes."
Shion immediately sprang to her feet and threw herself at Rimuru, wrapping her arms around her tightly.
"I am Rimuru-sama's secretary and bodyguard! There is absolutely no way I am ever leaving your side!"
"Until the very end of our lives!"
Rimuru listened to the four of them speak their vows of loyalty, then said slowly, "I don't have any problem with it myself, but I still don't know how Kai-chan feels. I'll need to go back and ask him first!"
"No need to ask. I agree."
"Kaito-sama!"
"Kaito-sama, how did you get here?!"
Everyone turned to see Kaito, who had appeared behind Rimuru without a sound, and broke into excited cries.
Rimuru spun around and found Kaito standing there with a smile, Izayoi Sakuya at his side.
"Kai-chan!"
Rimuru pulled free from Shion's arms in an instant and ran straight into Kaito's.
"Alright, alright. You worked hard too, Rimuru. I saw everything."
"Hehe!"
Watching Rimuru nuzzle contentedly in Kaito's arms, Shion, standing off to the side, produced a handkerchief from somewhere and bit down on it hard, mumbling through tears,
"So envious... Damn it! To be spoiled like that so shamelessly! Even if it's Kaito-sama... Wuwuwu... o(╥﹏╥)o"
Paying no mind to Shion's breakdown, Benimaru and the others were overjoyed at Kaito's answer and immediately replied with deep respect,
"Thank you very much for accepting us! We swear our loyalty until death!"
Kaito ruffled Rimuru's hair and spoke to Benimaru and the others.
"Alright, get up, everyone. We're all family here, no need for so much formality."
"Yes!"
At his words, everyone rose to their feet at once.
"Hahaha, isn't this a happy ending for everyone!"
"Every story should end as magnificently as this!"
"Big Brother Benimaru, I'm so glad! I was so worried you were all going to leave!"
Gobta darted to Benimaru's side and beamed up at him excitedly.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
A sword hilt rapped Gobta squarely on the head. He crouched down immediately, rubbing the spot as he looked tearfully up at the culprit.
"This old man has not finished teaching you yet, my hopeless disciple. How could I possibly leave?"
"Master!"
Watching Hakurou and Gobta's master-and-disciple exchange, everyone present burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha!!!"
"Alright, everyone, we're going home!"
"Yes! Rimuru-sama, Kaito-sama!"
...Great Jura Forest. The day after the end of the Orc Lord subjugation battle.
In a cave, representatives from the various races had gathered to discuss matters of the aftermath.
"Then, Speaker Rimuru Tempest, please begin!"
With Treyni's words, the meeting officially opened. But Rimuru, seated at the head of the table, had a steady stream of cold sweat running down her forehead.
She shot a glance at Kaito, who was sitting to one side observing, silently pleading for help. Unfortunately, Kaito had absolutely no intention of offering any.
Are you kidding? Kaito was thoroughly enjoying watching Rimuru squirm. Helping her was the last thing on his mind. He'd have to restrain himself just to keep from laughing out loud.
With no rescue coming, Rimuru had no choice but to endure the stares of all the racial representatives and begin speaking, her voice a little unsteady.
"Uh... well... this is my first time chairing a meeting like this, so I'm not very polished yet. I'll start by sharing my thoughts, and then everyone can discuss from there!"
"First, let me be clear about one thing: I do not intend to pursue the Orcs for their crimes."
"What!"
"How could..."
Every Orc representative in the room stared at Rimuru with stunned expressions. Ignoring them, Rimuru pressed on.
"The Lizardmen suffered heavy losses in this incident, and they may well be dissatisfied. Please allow me to explain."
Rimuru looked seriously toward the Lizardmen chief and the others who had been rescued by Souei.
"Hold on a moment, Rimuru."
"What is it, Kai-chan?"
Rimuru looked over at Kaito curiously.
Kaito didn't answer her. Instead he turned toward the Lizardmen representatives, narrowed his eyes, and spoke in a measured tone.
"Are you certain you need Rimuru to explain herself to you? Think carefully before you answer."
The Lizardmen representatives, who had been quietly bristling at Rimuru's decision not to pursue the Orcs, felt cold sweat prickle down their foreheads as Kaito's expressionless gaze settled on them.
"This... we..."
Just as one of the senior Lizardmen began to speak, his vision blurred for an instant. When it cleared, he saw Lizardmen corpses strewn everywhere, blood soaking the entire swamp.
Then a chill at his neck. He saw his own body standing there, but it was missing its head.
"Hoo, hoo, hoo!!!"
The senior Lizardman snapped back to his senses, gasping, his eyes wide with terror as he stared at Kaito.
Kaito sat with his legs crossed, his voice utterly flat.
"You were about to say something. Go on, I'm listening."
"No... nothing at all! You misunderstand, sir! I have absolutely nothing to say!"
The surrounding Lizardmen representatives fell over each other to agree.
"Exactly! No objections here whatsoever!"
"Yes, yes! Rimuru-sama saved our people, so whatever she decides, we will follow!"
'Now you're being sensible.'
Watching the Lizardmen stand down, Kaito set aside any thought of a massacre. Honestly. Rimuru had saved them, and they still had the nerve to be dissatisfied.
Even Benimaru and the others, whose entire village had been destroyed, had found it in themselves to let go of their hatred under Rimuru's lead.
So why couldn't they extend the same grace to his Rimuru?
Kaito knew it was a little shameless to think that way. But when it came to his own people, he chose his people over principle every time, and besides, he held the final say here.
Looking out at the sea of Lizardmen representatives now unanimously voicing their support, Rimuru was thoroughly confused.
"Huh... what just happened? I haven't even explained anything yet!"
Still brimming with unanswered questions, Rimuru didn't dwell on it for long. She simply concluded that the Lizardmen must be grateful at heart, and quietly thought to herself that they really were good people after all.
"In conclusion..."