Great Jura Forest, Goblin Village
"Let me introduce you. This is Rigurd, the chief of Goblin Village. You two should get to know each other. You'll be seeing a lot of each other going forward."
Kaito brought Rigurd to the front of the crowd and made the introduction directly.
Everyone's eyes went to the muscular man with green skin standing before them. They had heard Kaito describe Goblins before, but this was their first time seeing one up close.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki extended his right hand with a warm smile.
"A pleasure to meet you, Rigurd. I look forward to working with you."
Rigurd clasped the hand with both of his and beamed.
"The pleasure is mine, Kagaya! Please look after us well!"
Kaito watched the two of them fall into easy conversation and stepped in before they could really get going.
"Alright, you'll have plenty of time to talk later. Let's move."
"Yes, Kaito-sama! *2"
As the group reached the village entrance, the Goblins on the other side were already buzzing.
"Are these the people Kaito-sama brought back? There are so many!"
"It's my first time seeing humans!"
"Those swordsmen look really strong!"
The Demon Slayer Corps members were equally animated on their side.
"Wow, so many Goblins!"
"Brother! Brother! Look at that Goblin girl, she's so cute!"
Kamado Nezuko pointed excitedly at a Goblin girl across the way who was gripping a short sword with great seriousness.
"Nezuko! Don't point, it's rude!"
Mrs. Kamado placed a gentle hand on her daughter's arm.
"Yes, Mother! Sorry!"
"These are Goblins! Are any of them strong?"
"Hehe! As if Kaito-sama's subordinates could be weaklings!"
As both groups moved into the village together, the Goblins set up a temporary platform. Kaito stepped up onto it and faced the crowd below.
"Everyone! From today, we are one family. I don't want anyone looking at our new companions with strange eyes. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Kaito-sama! *n"
The Goblins answered in a single voice. Monsters are simple at heart. They do not scheme. They believe in strength, and Kaito was an absolute strong one.
"Good. Now, Rimuru, say a few words. You're a leader of this village too."
Kaito looked down at Rimuru, who had been quietly playing dead at his feet, and picked her up.
Rimuru's eyes flew open. She stared at him.
"Huh?! I have to speak too?!"
"You are the leader of this entire village. You can't say nothing."
Under considerable protest, Rimuru was eventually persuaded to add a few sentences. What exactly she said will not be repeated here. Those who have sat through a leader's "few words" already know.
Goblin Village, Temporary Conference Room
In a large tent brought over from the Demon Slayer world, the first formal meeting on the village's future development got underway.
Representatives of both races sat along either side of a long conference table. On the left: Village Chief Rigurd, Kaijin, Rigur, and Gobta, among others. On the right: the Hashira-level swordsmen, led by Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
Rimuru sat at the head of the table, round and composed, with Ranga crouching beside her. Kaito sat directly opposite.
"Ahem! I now declare this meeting officially open! The topic is future development. Everyone, please speak freely."
Rimuru opened proceedings with full energy. Rigurd raised his hand almost immediately, looking troubled.
"Rimuru-sama, with the arrival of the Demon Slayer Corps members, our current food supply will not last much longer. And with the increase in population, the existing houses are severely insufficient."
Rimuru scratched her head.
"Yes, that's a real problem. Housing and food have to come first. Does anyone have any ideas?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki had been listening quietly. He straightened up.
"Rimuru-sama, I may have some thoughts on this, if I may."
Rimuru's face lit up.
"Please, go ahead!"
"Thank you. First, may I ask the current total population of the village?"
He directed the question to Rigurd across the table.
"Currently, including the Goblins and the Tempest Wolf clan, we have a total of 1531 people."
Kaito blinked. When he had left, the entire village had fewer than two hundred. Rimuru had done this on her own, in the time he was away. Naive as she was, she had built something real.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded and continued.
"My Corps members, including their families, number 1822. That brings the total to over 3000 people."
"Regarding food: I brought enough provisions to sustain 2000 people for half a year. Combined with the village's existing stores, I believe we can secure at least four months without difficulty. During that time, if we plant the seeds I brought from the Demon Slayer world, I believe we can reach food self-sufficiency before the supplies run out."
"As for housing, it is manageable. I prepared a large quantity of tents before departing, and since it is currently summer, we can live in them comfortably while construction proceeds."
He paused briefly, then looked at Rigurd.
"I must also say frankly that the current houses in the village are quite crude. I hope you will not take offense at that, Rigurd."
Rigurd let out a full-throated laugh.
"Hahaha! No offense at all. You're only saying what's true."
Something warm crossed Kagaya Ubuyashiki's expression.
"Your generosity is admirable. Then I shall continue."
"My recommendation is to re-plan the entire village layout from the ground up. The existing structures can be dismantled as new ones are built. Many of the Corps members' families are professional construction workers, so building is not a problem at all."
He looked between Rimuru and Kaito.
"What do you both think?"
Kaito and Rimuru glanced at each other. They had known he was capable, but they had not expected this. Every problem, accounted for before he had even arrived.
'…This is what you call a professional.'
"No objections here. And for construction, I'd suggest consulting with Myrd. He's the third of the three Dwarf brothers, and an architecture master from the Dwarf Kingdom."
Rimuru leaned forward.
"Oh, right! You have a group of craftsmen who specialize in forging weapons?"
She was thinking of the swordsmiths from the Swordsmith Village that Kaito had told her about.
"Yes, Rimuru-sama. They crafted Nichirin blades for the Corps. Do you need them for weapon production?"
"Not only that! This is Kaijin." Rimuru gestured to the Dwarf seated in the second position to her left. "He was a legendary blacksmith from the Dwarf Kingdom. I'd like the swordsmiths to work under his direction."
"We are entirely at your command, Rimuru-sama. Since we have joined your ranks and Kaito-sama's, your word is our direction."
The remaining Hashira nodded along.
"That goes for us as well, Rimuru-sama."
Rimuru touched the top of her own head awkwardly.
"There's no need to be so formal! Hehe!"
That flustered little gesture drew quiet smiles from around the table.
"Alright, stop laughing! Keep it up and she'll run off."
"Back to the meeting."
"Yes! *n"