Chapter 11: Evolving Monsters
The Arangs show no signs of movement.
If they think of coming towards us with the same feeling as death, just because we made them submit!
If that happens, it will be a full-scale war.
We are outnumbered, and we can't win without taking some damage.
It's a rare occurrence that no one has been injured so far... but we won't lose. However, I don't want to fight if I can avoid it.
The noise of the recent conflict has suddenly become eerily quiet.
The Arangs' gazes are focused on me.
I begin to walk slowly into their gazes.
I don't know how this will be interpreted, but I want to more strongly impress upon them the death of their leader.
I reach the body of the Arang leader, and no one tries to stop me.
The individual standing next to the leader takes a step back.
I 'devour' the Arang leader.
This act is a legitimate right earned through victory.
《Interpretation complete.
Unique Skills ‘Super Senses, Thought Transmission, Intimidation’ acquired.》
The voice of ‘The Great Sage’ echoes in my mind.
I showed them their leader being eaten right in front of their eyes, but they still show no movement.
I thought they would either run out of fear or attack out of terror...
Ah! Was it about submission or death?
Oops. Did I just say something out of the blue?
Well, I can't help it. I'll prepare an escape route for them.
With that thought, I transformed into an Arang.
I roared loudly with ‘Intimidation’.
“Hahahaha! Listen up. I'll let you go this time. If you don't follow me, leave this place!”
I declared to the Arangs.
With this, these brats will run away, I thought.
(We all will follow you!!)
They all prostrated themselves.
They look like dogs lying down, but that's what it is.
It seems they have chosen to follow me.
They didn't move, did they? Did they hold a meeting through ‘Thought Transmission’?
Well, it's good that we don't have to fight.
Thus, the battle in the goblin village ended.
The real challenge was the aftermath of the battle.
Who gave the order to destroy the houses...
What are you going to do? What about the goblins' sleeping arrangements?
And who will take care of the dogs...
A few have died, but 80 are still alive.
This... well, let's end it for today! I'll think about it tomorrow, after these guys wake up.
I ordered the goblins to sleep near the bonfire and the dogs to wait near the village, and then dismissed them.
The next morning, as the sky brightened.
I thought about it overnight. And what came to mind was:
The goblins will take care of the Arangs!
The total number of goblins who can fight is 74. There were no injuries from yesterday's battle.
Everyone is fine, at most with minor scratches.
The number of surviving Arangs is 81.
Some of them are injured, but I treated them with healing potions.
They could have been left alone, but the Arangs' healing ability is quite high.
I lined up the goblins who had woken up.
Those who can't fight were watching from the surroundings. After all, it's an open field with nothing but houses. It's hard not to be noticed.
The village chief stood next to me.
He tries to support me, but... I'm not happy to be supported by a goblin grandfather.
My aesthetic sense is still intact.
No matter how much I've reincarnated as a monster, I can't compromise on that.
However, there are no cute ones in the monster village. I have to give up on that for now...
I called the Arangs to the side of the lined-up goblins.
“Hmm, you guys. From now on, you will live together as pairs!”
I observe their reactions.
They look at me, not even breathing, as if waiting for my words.
No one shows any dislike for the idea of pairing up.
It seems they are fine with it.
“Do you understand? First, form pairs of two!”
The goblins and Arangs exchanged glances with those sitting next to them.
“He!” (Please take care of me!)
They paired up, feeling the same way.
"Yesterday's enemies are today's friends" — it's a bit different, but I guess they understand it roughly.
At that moment, I had a thought.
Do these guys have names??
It's inconvenient to call them without names.
While the goblins and Arangs were forming pairs,
“Chief, it's inconvenient to call you guys. I want to give you names. Is that okay?”
The moment I said that, the surrounding gazes focused on me.
Even the non-combatant goblins who were watching from the side.
The chief asked hesitantly.
What? Why are you excited?
“Oh, oh. If it's not a problem, I want to give you names.”
The moment I said that, the goblins, who had been watching, let out a cheer.
Why are they reacting like that?
They look extremely excited...
If they are so happy to receive names, they could have given them to themselves...
At that moment, I thought it would be easy.
When I asked for the name he gave to his child, it was apparently "Rig."
I named the chief "Rigd" (Rig + d).
The name has no meaning; I just liked the sound of it.
If he had a child, he would call himself Rig and add "d" to your name! I said it as a joke, but he took it seriously.
“Thank you so much for allowing me to pass this name to my child! I am overwhelmed with tears of gratitude!”
He expressed his joy grandly.
I felt a bit guilty for just giving a random name, but...
Thus, the goblin leader's name is "Rig."
I didn't want to add a suffix like "II," so it's just Rig.
He looks extremely grateful, as if receiving a blessing from me.
He really is an exaggerated... father and son.
With that feeling, I started giving names to the goblins.
Additionally, if the onlookers were parents and children, I confirmed their names.
I also gave names to the single and orphaned ones.
Will these guys carry these names for the next few years...
When a child is born, the chief will be "Rigd."
When a grandchild is born, the grandchild will be "Rig," and the chief will be "Rigdd."
Are you serious? It's a bit random, but... oh well.
This is how I gave names.
“Mr. Rimuru... I am very grateful, but... is it okay?”
The chief, Rigd, asked, slightly flustered.
“No, Mr. Rimuru is a powerful being... but... is it okay to give names all at once?”
What are you talking about? What's the big deal about giving names...
“Hmm? I don't see a problem.”
I said that and resumed giving names.
Then... Rigd seemed to want to say something, but it didn't register in my mind.
After naming all the goblins, it was the Arangs' turn.
The new leader of the Arangs was the former leader's son.
He had a sturdy build like his father and already had a presence.
Looking at his blood-red eyes, I thought of a name.
Yeah! Let's go with "Ranga" for the Fang of the Storm!
Again, I gave a name casually.
The name is fine, but I don't have that kind of sensitivity!
I felt all the mana in my body being drained.
A fierce sense of emptiness overwhelmed me!
A fatigue I've never felt since being reborn in this body.
《Alert. The remaining mana in your body has fallen below a certain level! Entering low-activity mode.
Furthermore, the estimated time for full recovery is three days.》
I can hear the voice of ‘The Great Sage.’ Slowly, I understood.
Did I use too much mana...? It feels like I used up all my MP.
But what did I do to use so much mana? Did it all come at once?
More than that, it didn't feel like I used that much.
I can't move my body even if I try.
The low-activity state seems to be like hibernation. I'm not sleeping, but...
Rigd is very flustered and is taking care of my body.
There's nothing I can do, and I'm just sitting on a high seat near the bonfire...
I am conscious, but there's nothing I can do.
I think about the current situation.
Did giving names cause a mana shortage?
...Did giving names consume mana?
Now that I think about it... when I gave the Arang leader a name, I felt a significant drain of mana...
Assuming that giving names to monsters consumes mana...
It took me two days to reach this conclusion.
Thinking about it, I understand why Rigd was worried.
Wait a moment... Could it be that giving names to monsters is a common practice?
I didn't think about it, but I heard it and dismissed it.
Complaining here is like getting slapped in Jongno and venting at the Han River.
But if I could move my body, I could complain.
Venting at the wrong place? I don't know.
However, the goblins who were worried about my sudden immobility...
At some point, they surrounded my body and started a fierce dispute over who would take care of me.
What are they doing... Seriously, I don't want to see this kind of harem.
...I was treated like a decorative item that gives a sense of gratitude when petted.
It seems I caused a mana shortage, but I feel that my total mana and magic power have increased compared to before I collapsed.
Magic power is the ability to manipulate.
Mana is the amount of energy used.
I think this is generally correct.
Getting stronger when you're half-dead! Is that the feeling?
I thought about experimenting for a moment, but I decided not to.
I don't feel the need to go that far, and if I think about dying, it's not a joke.
Most importantly, I'm the kind of guy who goes overboard.
Carelessness leads to defeat!
The goblins who were working noticed I had woken up and gathered.
The Arangs who were outside also came in.
That's good... but, what is this...
“You guys... haven't you grown?”
The goblins, who were about 150 cm tall, now look about 180 cm.
The one in front of me seems to be over 2 meters.
The Arangs, whose fur was a gravel color, have turned pitch black and are shining with a glossy luster.
Moreover, their size has grown to nearly 3 meters. They were only about 2 meters...
The one who silently approached from the front exudes a strange aura and presence, and its height reaches about 5 meters.
“My master! I deeply congratulate you on your recovery!!”
He said fluently in human language.
...Could this guy be "Ranga"!?
What happened during these three days...
I put aside my confusion, and the monsters started cheering loudly and joyfully!
Title: "The One Who Dominates Monsters"
Function: Unique Skill ‘The Great Sage’
Slime Unique Skills ‘Dissolution, Absorption, Self-Regeneration’
Extra Skill ‘Water Manipulation’
Extra Skill ‘Magic Power Detection’
Acquired Skills... Black Snake ‘Heat Detection, Poison Breath,’ Spider ‘Webbing, Steel Threads,’ Bat ‘Ultrasound,’ Lizard ‘Body Armor’ Arang ‘Super Senses, Thought Transmission, Intimidation’
Resistance: Heat Resistance EX
Physical Attack Resistance
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