Chapter 20: Toward the Revitalization of the Village
We have arrived at the goblin village.
It hasn't been two weeks since we left, but I already feel a sense of longing.
Well, it's more like a square surrounded by books rather than a village...
While we were away, it seems they made a makeshift tent and lived there.
I noticed that a large pot was set up at the site of a bonfire in the center of the village.
Cooking! It seems they've added boiling to their cooking methods, which were previously limited to roasting. What a remarkable improvement.
Where did they get that pot...? Upon closer inspection, it appears to be the shell of a Big Turtle (倧?=Big Turtle) that has been processed.
How much have they expanded their hunting range...
Well, at least it seems they haven't been attacked by other monsters, so I can breathe a sigh of relief.
As soon as we entered the village, the hobgoblins, the residents, noticed us and came out to greet us with cheers.
Unfortunately, we don't have any gifts.
However, I can see that they have dried the hides of the monsters they hunted, so the dwarves will probably make clothes for them right away!
I hope that soon, the goblins will be able to make them on their own.
I was about to gather everyone to introduce the dwarves when Rigld came running.
However, he looked troubled.
I wondered what had happened and was about to ask, but...
"Welcome back! I'm sorry, but we have a guest for Rimuru-sama..."
He bowed apologetically, saying, "I'm sorry for the trouble, but you look tired!"
A guest...? I don't know anyone here.
In any case, I allowed the dwarves to freely tour the village.
The tools we brought were stored in an empty tent.
I entrusted the care of the dwarves to Rigld and was led to the guest.
Rigld guided me to a large tent.
I thought I would know once I met them, so I entered the tent.
I was surprised when I went inside.
Inside were several goblins, a few of them well-built, and a few others with them.
They looked like a chief and his guards, but they didn't have any weapons. Even if they did, it would be a problem.
Putting aside my confusion, the goblins suddenly bowed! And then,
"γγγWe are honored to meet you, great one! Please, grant our wish!!!γγγ"
Great one? They seem to be talking about me, but they're overdoing it.
However, the way they look at me is sincere, as if it's written in bold and read in real.
What do they expect from me? I thought,
I decided to listen to their story.
"Old! We are most grateful! Our wish is to be made your subordinates!!!"
One of the chiefs spoke on behalf of the group.
The others around him nodded in agreement.
With hopeful eyes, they looked at me and said,
"γγγPlease, we beg of you!!!γγγ"
Honestly, I found it troublesome.
We are just starting to revitalize the village! We don't have the time to deal with you!
I wanted to refuse and say that, but the fact is that the village's population has decreased.
I had anticipated that they would eventually be caught up in the territorial disputes in this area, so it might not be a bad idea to absorb them now.
If I bring them in and they betray me from within?
I had that concern, but if that happens, I'll just kill them all. I don't forgive betrayal.
Being soft-hearted is a hindrance when commanding monsters. I have to be cold and deal with it.
To solidify that resolve, I decided to accept them.
I convinced myself again.
If they betray me, I will kill them! ...
But... I can think about killing them so easily!
I was surprised by myself.
Well, it might be better than worrying.
However, it seems that only the representatives came. How many of them are there?
I realized I needed to think of names for them and sighed...
The goblins who were serving us went back to their village to inform them.
Now, I'll listen to the representatives of the remaining villages.
To summarize their story...
The cause was the disruption of the forest's order.
When the Arang tribe attacked, Rigld's village was abandoned because there was no spare capacity to divide their forces.
Orcs, lizardmen, and... ogres!
The wise monsters of the forest began to move to seize control.
Until now, there were small conflicts, but they never escalated to armed conflict due to an unspoken understanding.
However, with the disappearance of the forest's ruler, they began to act as if to vent their pent-up frustrations.
Monsters have a nature to want to show off their strength.
Therefore, to vent their accumulated frustrations, various tribes are preparing.
It's only a matter of time before the fuse is lit.
The goblins, a minor race, are mere prey in this situation.
The goblins were in a panic.
If things continue like this, they will be caught up in the conflict and be destroyed!
They held council meetings, but being unintelligent monsters, they couldn't come up with a good plan.
During this time, news of the Arang tribe's attack reached them, but it wasn't the right time to deal with it, so Rigld's tribe was forgotten.
With no good plan and their food supplies running low, a new threat appeared in the forest!
Rumors of black beasts and their riders.
They moved through the forest like they were riding on flat ground, killing powerful forest monsters.
Who were they? Then came the shocking report.
It seems they were former goblins...
Opinions were divided upon hearing this.
Some argued that they should seek protection from them immediately.
Others said it was too suspicious and must be a trap!
I tried to persuade those who called it a trap that we had no reason to be trapped, but they wouldn't listen.
Even if it wasn't a trap, there was no guarantee they would accept us.
It was the sorrow of being an unintelligent creature; they couldn't reach a conclusion.
Therefore, the representatives of those who wanted protection came here.
Well, it's a cowardly story. But the goblins are weak and unintelligent, so there's nothing I can do.
In any case, it was decided that I would accept them.
Those who want to come can come.
I told this to the representatives of the goblins who came.
After hearing my words, the goblins returned to their village.
Looking at the goblins who came, I thought,
Aren't there... too many?
The village doesn't have the space to accommodate them.
Why do I have to worry about this?
In the past few days, we've been making axes, cutting wood, and processing it, but we haven't reached the stage of building houses.
Kajin is in charge of the wood.
The three dwarf brothers are diligently processing the hides to make clothes for the hobgoblins.
The way the dwarves look at the goblin women (goblin girls) is not good.
It might be better to hurry them along!
While we were busy with all this, they came.
Four tribes, totaling about 500.
It seems the rest went to the opposing village.
If we move now, we'll still have to work hard.
Thinking about this, I checked the map in my head.
There's a place with a good water source and suitable for farming.
The place closest to the conditions I remember is...
The area near the first cave I came out of.
I called Rigld and asked about the situation there. He said,
"That area is a no-go zone. The inside of the cave is different from the forest and is a nest of powerful monsters..."
"Then, it shouldn't be a problem. I lived there."
"Wh-What! This is incredible!!!"
"No, I was born there, so it should be fine."
"...Indeed, I am impressed."
He says something I don't understand.
Why do I have to be impressed just because I was born there?
Well, it seems he's convinced, so it's fine.
I quickly called Meld, the youngest of the three brothers, to use his knowledge of construction.
I passed on my knowledge of construction from my previous life to Meld.
The surveying technology in this world seems to be at a certain level, incorporating magic.
Adding my knowledge, we made a plan for on-site surveying.
While it might not be necessary for Black Wolf, the goblins and dwarves need facilities for waste disposal.
I thought it would be good to prepare a sewage system to ferment waste and turn it into fertilizer.
From a hygiene perspective, it's common sense that it can easily become a source of infection like a disease. I told this to Meld.
I thought, "Do goblins, being monsters, get sick?" but it seems they can get ordinary diseases.
They are weak creatures for monsters.
If they are that unhygienic, they will get sick...
In the case of goblins, it seems they maintained a population that exceeded the number of deaths due to their high reproductive rate.
However, with their evolution, their reproductive rate has significantly decreased.
It's also likely that their lifespan has increased.
Meld was knowledgeable about waste disposal.
It's also evidence that there are a few "transmigrants" in this world.
In this world, various amazing things have been invented through the unique discipline of spirit engineering.
However, he was not very knowledgeable about the utilization of waste, so he was surprised to hear my story.
After reaching a certain agreement, I appointed Meld as the leader of the construction team.
His special skill is throwing things whole.
I instructed Rigld to send a few people under Meld for on-site surveying.
I also sent Ranga as a precaution.
I don't think monsters will come out of that cave, but there's a possibility. If Ranga is there, we can deal with it.
Thus, I sent Meld and his team, the construction team.
Just thinking about it makes me depressed. Naming nearly 500, or maybe the forbidden ABCD order has come.
I can only say up to "Iroha" (1).
I immediately started naming.
Although I became exhausted halfway through, I managed to name everyone in about four days.
The only relief was that I felt less tired than last time, but I don't want to do it again.
The evolved chiefs kneeling before me.
Rigld, Lugld, Regld, Rogld.
When I lined them up, it was clear. Yes! Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro.
Ra being Ranga was a coincidence.
It's a bit too convenient, but it's fine! No one will find out.
I emphasized that I had thought hard about it!
I'm a man who emphasizes that I'm working hard!
The remaining one was a woman.
I gave her a feminine name, Lirina.
I could distinguish the evolved ones. While it's possible to determine the gender of goblins, it's hard to tell by appearance.
In the future, can this name be part of a series? Such thoughts crossed my mind, but I decided to stop thinking about the future.
Well, the hobgoblins in front of me. Should I create a hierarchy among them?
Holding hands and being equal! That's not possible in reality.
A clear command structure is essential, especially for monsters who value strength.
"Listen, I will give you your positions!"
I promoted Rigld to Goblin King.
The remaining four chiefs to Goblin Lords.
All the goblins remaining in the village were on their knees, watching the scene with bated breath.
"γγγYes!!! We humbly accept!!!γγγ"
With those words, cheers erupted.
A new chapter in goblin history has begun.
Kajin had prepared all the carpentry tools.
The clothes are being made smoothly under the direction of Garum and Dold.
The wood is being secured smoothly on the empty land in the village.
When I confirmed the evolution of all the goblins, Meld returned after completing the survey of the new village site.
Everything is going smoothly.
I checked the layout of the new village site.
It's more like a single building than a village.
After confirming that everything was ready, we set out.
We took the first step towards our new land.
The first step in building our new country!