After the end of the war we started to gather the thousands of surviving Orcs from the war. It took a while. Of course gathering a few hundred thousand Orcs would take a while but damn. Having to live through this world really shows how long stuff actually takes. I can't cut to the next major event like back in my original world.
When we finished gathering all of the Orcs I asked [Great Sage] to run a calculation to see exactly how many Orcs had survived the war. It came up with 123,581 Orcs. Quite a bit less than the original but the Magicule Bomb did wipe out like 15,000 of them instantly before the fighting even began.
I wonder how the Demon Lords will react to my bomb. They were definitely watching the fight so there's no way they wouldn't notice something capable of single handedly seriously damaging if not completely destroying a small country going off in the fight.
Eh, at least for now that shouldn't be too bad. The Bomb in, in of itself was only part of a massive show of raw power so it shouldn't do too much. Even then, at this point my effect on the timeline will likely grow over time so I'll be looser with my secrecy. I'll just do whatever I want instead of worrying about the timeline. If I play this smart my plan for exploiting my Demon Lord transformation should remain intact. I just need to make sure key events still take place.
Thinking over basic ideas to make sure the Demon Lord transformation still happens I walk into the area where the future Coalition will soon hold its first conference. Looking around I immediately sense some tension in the room.
I can tell the Lizardmen and especially the Kijin don't really know how to respond to future Geld and 10 higher up Orcs also standing in the room. The Orcs as well seem to have accepted their death. They don't have much light in their eyes. I can't blame them for assuming this. It is survival of the fittest out here and as the loser of a war execution is likely one of the more common ways to get rid of threats to the monsters.
After a while everyone gets in the meeting room which is actually just Abiru's throne room remodeled a bit to make open discussion easier. After a bit more preparation Hakurou stands up and after a few introductions starts the discussion.
Sensing a lack of open communication Rimuru decides to start the discussion himself. Introducing himself he explains our current situation. This includes how the Orc Lord came to be, why the Orcs attacked, who forced them into it, etc.
Upon hearing the full story I notice that some of the Lizardmen's faces went from uncomfortable and some angry to showing a hint of pity. They obviously didn't forgive the Orcs but getting some pity is still one of the better responses the Orcs could have gotten considering what they did.
Rimuru then says, "With that explanation out of the way let's confirm the casualties."
As the people in the room lost the names of individuals the Orcs got noticeably more fearful and ashamed with each name. Thanks to quick intervention not many Lizardmen actually died in the fight but then they move on to the death of nearly all of the Ogre tribe. After the end of the explanation the Orcs had lost all hope of making it out alive.
The Lizardman Chief, soon to be named Abiru, asks, "So what shall be your demands from the Orcs?"
The Orcs jump at the question as they go a little pale. They are preparing for the worst.
He continues saying, "As we did not win with our own strength but with the help of the support from your own troops we will let you decide their punishment. You all have the right to decide."
I stand up and say, "Before we make a decision we must hear the Orcs out first. I can't make a decision until I hear them out." I know what Geld is about to say but I need to keep this conversation genuine. Geld, almost burying his head in the floor like an ostrich from how far he's bowing, says, "Pardon my intrusion. I know that what we Orcs have done is unforgivable and this won't be enough to compensate but for what we have done please allow us to pay with our lives."
After this proposal the other 10 Orcs standing behind Geld also do the same, ready to throw away their lives for the sake of the other Orcs. They all back up soon to be Geld's proposal nervously waiting for a response.
As everyone goes silent Rimuru stands up ready to give his answer. He gestures to them to stand back up as he says, "No, don't throw away your lives. Eh, this is my first time in a conference like this so I'm not sure how well this'll come off but I'll just say what I think. I don't believe the Orcs deserve to be seriously punished for what they have done." The Orcs gasp, Abiru lifts an eyebrow and even the Kijin look surprised by Rimuru's proposal.
Abiru asks, "And why is that?"
Rimuru responds saying, "The Orcs were starving before this happened so they didn't have much of a choice."
Before Rimuru can continue a furious Lizardman General tries to argue with Rimuru's decision. As he argues I stand up and finally say something important out loud arguing, "Listen, to you, the victims of the Orcs they may seem to have done something unreasonable but think about this carefully. If you and your people were starving to death with the only other option being to sacrifice another group would you do it?"
He argues, "Of course not!"
I cross my arms as I call out, "If you're saying that you are either a liar or ignorant. When faced with a situation that desperate anyone would do anything to survive, even if they would normally never think of doing it. Survival is a powerful motivator. That is exactly why Rimuru is arguing against capital punishment. They had no other options in their situation. It was either eat other monsters or die."
He tries to argue against me but is cut off by Abiru. He says, "I understand your point but how exactly do you plan to make them pay for their actions?"
Rimuru's response to this is explaining the basic idea for an idea he came up with. A sort of Coalition between monsters. This plan would involve the Orcs paying for what they have done with hard labor. Abiru is actually a little interested in what Rimuru is saying after he explains further.
He moves on to explain the Lizardmen's roles in this proposal to which he thinks about. They are to provide food and water primarily in this supposed alliance in return for goods from the main developing village of Tempest and hard labor from the Orcs. Tying it all together he again says that he wants all the monsters of the Jura Forest to work together beneficially in a mutually beneficial union.
The Orcs stare at Rimuru with a more hopeful amazed look while everyone else in the room thinks about his proposal.
Abiru says, "I understand your proposition but do we really need to form an alliance?"
Delving deeper into the mutual benefits it would have be starts off by explaining that without it there will be major complications. For example, the Orcs would end up right where they started as they still don't have a home or sustainable food. By creating this alliance these lingering problems could be solved far easier.
Explaining the basics again he lists off the things the three current sides could offer. The Lizardmen themselves could offer fertile ground, fishing spots, and water, the Orcs could offer hard labor and the village, soon to be cities, could offer processed goods. A win-win scenario overall for everyone involved assuming everything goes according to plan.
After thinking it over Abiru decides that he is onboard with this idea.
Geld asks, "We could join your coalition?"
I casually say yes which to them is the greatest news they've ever heard in their lives. Geld, quickly followed by the rest of the Orcs behind him, bow offering their complete loyalty.
We work through a few of the basics of the coalition before a question I knew was gonna happen is asked. Who will be the leader of this supposed coalition. Without our input the Kijin have already decided on what to then are the obvious choices. They declare that Rimuru and I will both become the leader of this new coalition declaring us the sort of Twin Rulers. Shion grabs Rimuru and basically flings him around as Shuna looks on with jealousy. I can tell she wants to do the same with me as I am currently in my Slime form to conserve energy.
I think about my new position. Honestly, I was aiming to be an almost vice-leader due to becoming the leader of a country seeming to be more of a pain to me than an honor. Especially considering that I suck at speeches and prefer to remain alone or in small groups. However, at this point it's too late so I'll have to get used to it. As the discussions continue, the seemingly throwaway lines of the Twin Rulers become more prominent in the conversation. I can already tell where this is going.
Suddenly, a bright green glow appears as Treyni the Dryad makes her first ever appearance. She apologizes for the sudden intrusion explaining that she planned to intervene earlier but got interrupted.
Interrupted? I don't buy it. There has to be a reason.
As she explains her purpose to act as an almost overseer, the main people working on the coalition adapt surprisingly fast. As the discussions continue the question of what to do food wise with the Orcs comes up again. Sure, long term we'll have that covered but for now we have over 100,000 mouths to feed. Luckily, Treyni's visit couldn't have been better timed as the Dryads have that covered in exchange for the Coalition's addition of the Dryad race to the alliance and the promise of providing the Dryads with additional protection. She explains that due to being immobile protection is something they need to which Rimuru is happy to provide.
As the meeting draws to a close one last thing is decided on. The name of the Alliance is decided. The name of the Jura Forest Coalition is decided on this day led by the Twin Rulers Rimuru and Migeru Tempest.
On our way out I see Geld personally apologizes to Benimaru to which he accepts the apology and let's him go on. Seeing them again Rimuru realizes that they don't have names so he needs to get on that. I sigh, looks like we'll go on another naming spree. For now Rimuru only names the important Orcs there as well as a few Lizardmen like Abiru evolving them into Dragonewts. Looks like their naming is here instead of back at Tempest. Gabiru is still renamed Gabiru and as Souka is named she immediately asks to work with Souei to which I accept.
At the same time the Kijin formally declare that they are to permanently work under us as our subordinates. This leads to Rimuru and I assigning jobs to them. This leads to Rimuru and I getting two Kijin each.
Rimuru ends up with Shion and Benimaru while I end up with Souei and Shuna. Hakurou is to work by himself and Kurobe is to work with the Dwarves primarily. Souei becomes a ninja and my secret bodyguard while Shuna becomes my secretary similar to Shion. Gotta say, I definitely got a better secretary than Rimuru and it's not even close.
As that finally draws to a close we finally get ready to leave with a few Dragonewts and over a hundred thousand Orcs in tow back to what will become the capital of Tempest in the future.
Thinking about what else to do I think, so now I can finally finish my lab and, and, uh, now what? There's not much else I need to do for now outside that.. Let's see what comes up I guess.