"Ultimately, this incident was born from the Great Famine. If it had been us or any other race in the same situation, we would likely have made the same choice."
"Though I don't expect you all to fully accept that reasoning, still..."
Just as Rimuru was about to continue, Benimaru stepped forward and spoke.
"For monsters, there is one rule that never changes: the strong prey on the weak. You should have been prepared for that the moment you chose to fight back."
Benimaru looked out at the many racial representatives gathered in the room and spoke loudly. Rimuru, a hint of surprise on her face, turned to him.
"Your village was destroyed by the Orcs too. Don't you have grievances of your own?"
Benimaru replied without hesitation, his voice calm.
"To say I have none would be a lie. If there is ever a next time, we will never be defeated so miserably again. But since you have chosen not to pursue the Orcs' sins, then as your subordinates, we will act according to your will. Even if it means setting aside our hatred, we will not waver."
Kaito watched Benimaru state his position and couldn't help but think to himself,
'See? That's exactly why Benimaru is the finest subordinate. He can set aside the hatred for his destroyed village for the sake of his leader. Who wouldn't want a subordinate like that?'
"I understand what you mean, Benimaru. Then let us move on to discussing the resettlement of the Orcs."
"Even with the significant losses they suffered, there are still no fewer than 150,000 Orcs who need somewhere to go."
After deliberating for a while, Rimuru seemed to have found an answer, and spoke to everyone present.
"This may sound a little ambitious, but I hope you'll all cooperate fully."
"Cooperate?"
"What does Rimuru-sama mean, exactly?"
Confusion spread across the room, and Rimuru continued.
"The Lizardmen can supply fresh water sources and fish. We will help the Orcs with housing and provide processed goods. In return, the Orcs will contribute their labor. All the races of the forest will form the [Jura Forest Alliance], where every race benefits from and supports the others. What do you all think?"
The Orc Lord's son, the new Orc King, looked up with a stunned expression.
"You mean... we Orcs... can join this Grand Alliance as well?"
Rimuru replied plainly, "You don't have anywhere to settle right now. We'll prepare housing for you, but you'll have to work hard in return. I won't tolerate laziness."
At her words, every Orc in the room dropped to their knees, shouting through tears,
"Yes!"
"We will give everything we have!"
Rimuru looked at the kneeling Orcs with quiet satisfaction, then turned to Treyni.
"Miss Treyni, do you have any objections?"
Treyni's eyes softened as she replied gently, "None whatsoever. The Treant Tribe under my protection is also willing to contribute, offering the various fruits of the forest. It should help ease the Orcs' current hunger."
With that, Treyni straightened up, her expression becoming solemn, and addressed everyone in the room.
"Then, as steward of this forest, I, Treyni, hereby declare once more my recognition of Rimuru-sama as the new leader of the Great Jura Forest, and establish the [Jura Forest Alliance] in the name of Rimuru Tempest!"
She was the first to drop to one knee. One by one, representatives of every race followed, kneeling in turn.
"Rimuru-sama! Please lead us from here forward!"
Looking out at the crowd kneeling before her, Rimuru recalled what she had once said about ruling the Great Jura Forest, and with no way out, braced herself and spoke.
"Well... that's about the size of it, everyone. I'll be counting on you all from now on!"
"Yes!"
Kaito looked upon the newly formed [Jura Forest Alliance] and thought to himself, 'Now that the Grand Alliance is in place, can the Jura-Tempest Federation be far behind?'
...After the meeting. Benimaru, who had already begun walking away, paused and turned back.
"Is something wrong?"
The new Orc King spoke in a low voice.
"The strong prey on the weak, it sounds so simple. But hatred is not so easily erased. It was us... who destroyed the Ogre village."
At that, the Orc King dropped to both knees and continued, his voice strained.
"No apology could ever atone for what we have done. I know it may seem presumptuous of me to even ask this, but... would my head be enough to repay even a part of that blood debt?"
After the words left him, the Orc King trembled uncontrollably, holding onto the desperate hope that his death might earn their forgiveness.
Benimaru looked down at him and spoke with quiet gravity.
"After the war, we put forward a request to serve under Rimuru-sama and Kaito-sama, and positions were arranged for each of us. Shion was made secretary, Hakurou was named instructor, and Souei was appointed as head of intelligence."
"As for myself, I was honored by both Kaito-sama and Rimuru-sama with the position of Army Commander."
Kaito: I just wanted to get rid of that troublesome Commander role, honestly.
"As the saying goes, one must fulfil the duties of the position one holds. So naturally, one cannot simply dispose of talented individuals as one pleases."
With that, Benimaru turned and walked toward the exit. The Orc King stared up after him in shock. Then Benimaru slowed to a stop, and without turning back, said quietly,
"If you ever harbor hostility toward Rimuru-sama, I will show no mercy. But if you join the alliance and respect Rimuru-sama, then you are no longer my enemy."
The Orc King replied immediately, his voice urgent.
"How could we ever harbor even a trace of hostility? Rimuru-sama is our savior. We can only swear our lives in allegiance. We could never be enemies."
Hearing that, Benimaru raised his right hand and gave a small wave without looking back.
"Then we are companions serving the same master."
He turned his head just slightly, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, and said to the kneeling figure behind him,
"Serve Rimuru-sama and Kaito-sama with everything you have. That, more than anything else, would be the finest atonement you could offer us."
With that, Benimaru turned away and walked out without another word.
The Orc King rose to his feet and bowed deeply toward the backs of Benimaru and the others as they departed, and pledged,
"In the name of my father, the Orc Disaster Geld, we will keep our word without fail!"
Kaito and Rimuru, who had been watching the whole exchange from behind a rock, finally stepped out. Rimuru couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"What does it mean to be truly broad-minded? Just look at Benimaru, and you'll understand. I have a lot to learn from him."
"Well? I told you Benimaru was exactly the right person to take charge of general affairs."
"Mm! Kai-chan's judgment really is never wrong."
"Hahaha! That's right, I really am that good."
"Ahh! Kai-chan, you're way too full of yourself!"
"Hmph hmph!"
The next day. Town Outskirts.
Kaito watched Rimuru prepare to name all 150,000 Orcs, and quietly offered his deepest sympathies to a certain power bank.
"I hope you will carry on the will of the Orc Disaster Geld. Let [Geld] be your name!"
The Orc King, no, he should be called Geld now. Geld looked up at Rimuru with deep gratitude.
"Yes! Thank you, Rimuru-sama!"
The moment he finished speaking, Geld was enveloped in a golden light.
"Your name is..."