The day the grand alliance was formed became a memorable day for the monsters, one they would never forget.
It became a matter of receiving each and every name.
Nonsense.
No matter how grandly it's put, who thought of giving names?
150,000, really. Too much. It should be done to a reasonable extent. Previously, it took three days to name 500 goblins.
While waiting for the 150,000 to be named, they might starve to death!
I thought about letting this pass...
These guys need to eat the sins of the orcs.
Originally, D-rank orcs were strengthened to the point of having a "C+"-rank level of mana, but this only lasted for two weeks before they returned to their original state.
The reason is that this strengthening was due to the influence of the Orc Lord's abilities.
If that's the case, I'll take the lost mana and give an equivalent amount. This way, I can give names without expending my energy.
If that happens, the problem is the names... If it comes to this, even using the alphabet would be a stretch.
Dividing by major races or adding second names would make management cumbersome.
The only remaining option is to use the ultimate, infinite possibility, the strongest series.
That's right! Numbers.
It's called a national registration number, but frankly, numbers are the most convenient for management.
For military actions, it's possible to line them up. So, I lined up the orcs in the swamp.
Would they dislike being given names randomly?
I thought about it, but if the effect of the lost mana disappears, they would just be a group of 150,000 that can't be controlled and only eat.
This is too much.
At D-rank, they're not a threat, but it's clear they would sweep through this area.
In that case, they can't be expected to be quality labor, and the alliance has no meaning.
Furthermore, if they evolve, their rank as monsters would rise, and their reproduction rate would decrease, as confirmed with goblins.
For these reasons, I decided to exercise the victor's rights.
For the major races, I named them based on mountains, valleys, hills, caves, seas, rivers, lakes, forests, grass, and sand.
For the mountain race, the name would be "Mountain-1M" for males and "Mountain-1F" for females. I left the derivatives to them.
Frankly, it's just a hassle to manage. For a child, "Mountain-1-1M" would be a derivative.
Adding middle names or names corresponding to the alphabet would be good, and I'll let them think about it themselves.
Thus, I ate the orcs' mana and gave them names.
By lining them up by race and gender, I could give names quite efficiently, but it took time.
However, this time, I didn't ponder each name and just quickly said them.
It's almost as if the names were already decided by the order they lined up. If there were parents and children, I didn't care.
In the future, if they can convince each other, that's fine.
With that feeling, I gave names appropriately.
The record-keeping was entrusted to the representatives of each race. Without paper, it's just for confirmation.
In reality, there's no need to worry; the one who gave the names won't lose them.
Unlike humans, names engraved in the soul are known to each other.
Thus, the days of tirelessly giving names began.
It took less than 5 seconds per person.
Even so... There was some loss, so it took about 10 days to finish naming.
Of course, while I was tirelessly giving names, I didn't let Benimaru and his group idle.
Guided by the dryad trainee, I sent them to the treant village.
To transport food.
I was unsure if the supplied food could really support 150,000, but I had to trust it.
At least, it would be good to have a year's worth.
There's no need to worry about transportation.
In war, the most critical issue is logistics. Starving soldiers on the front line means defeat.
Even though they are monsters, transporting food for 150,000 is a big deal.
However!
The Lamrang race evolved into the Star Wolf race the moment they evolved into the Storm Star Wolf.
Rank-wise, they are B-rank, upper-level monsters.
The maximum number is 100, but a separate A-rank command unit, the Star Wolf Leader, can be summoned.
Additionally, all individuals can use "Shadow Move."
While they can't teleport like Sou or Ranga, they can move faster than the speed of sound to reach their destination.
With "Shadow Move," they can move in a straight line to their destination without resistance.
Think of it as moving three times the normal speed over the shortest distance. It's incredibly fast.
Given the strength of the Star Wolves, they can transport food from the treant village.
If transported by cart, it would take over two months to travel the distance, but with them, it can be done in one day.
However, the goblin riders can't move with them.
In the future, with practice, it might be possible.
The goblins who can't go with them helped the orcs line up with my assistance.
Thus, the transportation issue was resolved.
And the food storage issue I was worried about...
The treants, originally living on water, light, air, and mana, store their excess mana in fruits, but no one eats them.
Since they can't move outside their territory, they just store the fruits.
The fruits, magical plants, don't rot when dried in the sun.
Additionally, I later learned that these fruits, called Dry Treants, are rare and traded in the market.
They are expensive luxury items.
The reason for their high price is the concentrated mana. One fruit can sustain activity for seven days without feeling hungry.
Another reason is that they are a specialty of the treants, who don't interact with humans, and the managing dryads only give them as whims to those they find troublesome, making distribution difficult.
When I learned this, I slightly regretted giving some to the orcs for free. But, there's nothing I can do.
Thus, the food issue was resolved based on the suggestion of the dryad trainee, Treani.
10 days later.
I was exhausted, but I accomplished it.
Numbers ran through my head. It was a great task.
However, I was wrapped in a sense of satisfaction for having accomplished it.
150,000? Just counting them was tiring.
By then, the food distribution was also complete.
50 fruits per person.
They must have understood that losing them would mean starvation, as they all received them seriously.
After naming all the orcs, they evolved into High Orcs. Most importantly, I didn't use my mana this time, so there's no master-servant relationship.
I can only hope they join the alliance willingly and cooperate.
In terms of monster strength, they were close to "C+" rank but stabilized at C-rank. They were originally D-rank, and I think it's for the best.
Most importantly, their intelligence increased relatively, and the traits they gained remained.
They evolved into a race with adaptability, able to adapt to any situation.
They thanked me and dispersed to various places. Ten goblin riders followed each group to confirm their arrival and provide support like tents, and to guide the construction of settlements.
It's a long journey, but they will settle down and improve their quality of life.
Thus, the High Orcs set off on their respective journeys.
However, some remained.
The Orc General and his group said they wanted to work with me.
Certainly, labor is needed.
Fine. I'll accept them with a light heart.
A group of about 2,000, wearing black grass plate mail, were the survivors of the orc elite.
I can't give them the terrain series numbers. What should I do...
I decided to give them numbers based on the color of the yellow aura.
I looked at the orc elite sharply and had them line up according to my status.
My "Great Sage" perception can now distinguish to some extent just by looking.
It seems to be on par with Shuna's ability.
Indeed, the "Glutton" food chain effect is amazing.
I gave numbers to the orc elite in order, excluding the Orc General.
This was the moment of the birth of the Yellow Numbers, giving numbers without distinguishing gender.
There's no distinction of gender among warriors.
For construction labor, they will be dispatched after the settlements are stable, but for now, I need to give them work.
And the Orc General.
I had a premonition.
I had already decided on a name.
Taking the will of the Orc Lord, I named him Geld, from Gelmut. Thinking about his face makes me a bit angry, but to them, he is a benefactor.
No matter his doubts, that's the reality.
Now, let me give you a name...
"Your name is Geld, to carry on the will of the Orc Digestor Gelmut!"
At that moment, a yellow aura enveloped the Orc General's body, and evolution began.
Simultaneously, a large amount of mana was taken. Ugh... Indeed, it happens like this.
As usual, I transitioned to a low-activity state.
The next day.
As expected, my premonition was correct.
The 2,000 orc elite survivors evolved into High Orcs.
However, they were originally "C+" rank, close to B, so they all remained at "C+" rank, evolving to a higher level than those scattered elsewhere.
The goblin riders are also "C+" rank, making them very powerful soldiers.
Most importantly, while they are "C+" rank as individuals, the goblin riders are a set with the Star Wolves.
Comparing them might be wrong.
Now, the main point, the Orc General, no, Geld...
He evolved into an Orc King. Yes, I expected that.
His ability is the unique skill "Gourmet"... [Disguise? Supply? Demand (limited to kin)].
His mana is relatively high, around A-rank.
The ability to feed corpses to kin has disappeared, probably because it's no longer necessary.
The skill is influenced by the desires of those who wish for it.
If he hadn't gone mad, he would have become this. A monster with reason and dignity.
Can I be satisfied with such a subordinate? I wondered for a moment but didn't care. If he becomes independent in the future, that would be fine too.
Geld showed no such feeling.
Well, this long name-giving process is over.
The effect of Gelmut's actions might have come late. He might have been a scary guy.
That thought crossed my mind.
The goblin warriors had already returned. Their numbers had decreased, leaving about 4,000 survivors.
Will they be okay? I was a bit worried. But this is their problem, and it's not my place to speak.
There's no need for excessive interference.
So, let's return!
After roughly completing the handover and saying goodbye to the lizardman chief, we set off.
It felt like we had been there for three weeks, but it seemed longer.
For me, it really felt like a battle.
Thus, the forest's turmoil came to an end.
??????????????????????????
Gabil was brought before his father, the lizardman chief.
He was immediately put in prison after the battle ended.
He was only given meals twice a day, in the morning and evening, and no one spoke to him. This continued for two weeks.
Certainly, he had instigated a rebellion. That was a fact.
He thought it would go well, but it almost led to the extinction of his race.
It was his responsibility.
There was no excuse, and he had no intention of making one.
He would be executed. He had no complaints. But...
The betrayal by Gelmut at the end. The hand extended by the slime.
A low-level monster. That's what he thought.
It wasn't wrong, but it wasn't entirely correct.
The slime was special.
Not in the sense of being unique or named, but a special monster.
He wanted to ask, just before the end.
Why did you save me? A worthless, foolish person like me.
He had thought about this for the past two weeks.
He stood before his father.
In the heavy atmosphere, he looked into his father's eyes.
His father, dignified and showing no emotion. Ah... So, he will be executed.
He accepted it.
A leader must not show weakness. Discipline must be upheld.
He had no resentment.
He prepared to accept his judgment quietly.
His father, the chief, opened his mouth.
"I pass judgment! Gabil, you are excommunicated. You will never be allowed to call yourself a lizardman again.
Furthermore, you are not allowed to return here. Leave! Never show your face again!"
Huh?
What...?
His arms were grabbed by his father's guards and dragged out of the cave.
He was thrown outside.
In a daze, Gabil was told,
"Here, you forgot this! Take it and go!"
Something was thrown to him.
A long, thin bundle tied with his belongings. He recognized the weight. It was the magic weapon: Spear and Shield.
Tears streamed down Gabil's face as he looked at his father, trying to say something.
But he couldn't speak. He was excommunicated.
With mixed emotions, he bowed to his father.
Then, he started walking without looking back.
Toward the village he had visited once, now presumably renovated.
As he walked,
"I've been waiting, Gabil!"
Someone called out to him.
100 of his subordinates, warriors.
"What are you doing, you guys! I'm excommunicated!"
"It doesn't matter! We serve you, Gabil. If you are excommunicated, we are too!"
"Right, right!"
They said with smiling faces.
They are really foolish.
Now is not the time to cry. Like his father, with dignity,
"You guys are hopeless! Fine, follow me!"
And he walked.
His steps, unlike before, were filled with determination.
Gabil and his group would join Rimuru one month later.