"Snow Empress, your dedication is remarkable."

Hakurou sighed. "Our lord lacks not in combat power but in self-preservation."

With Snow Empress, Ice Empress, and Ogerpon as powerful subordinates, Damien was never short on firepower.

Any one of them was like unleashing a ultimate move.

They were his strength; he didn't need to fight personally to prove himself.

"Thanks, Snow."

"No need for thanks between us."

Snow Empress replied, "Let's continue our training."

Giving Damien self-preservation was her priority.

Beyond that, she aimed to unlock his combat potential, making him not a liability but the team's strongest.

As her master, how could he be weaker than her?

Having a sword and choosing not to use it was different from having none.

Damien didn't need to fight, but that didn't mean he couldn't.

When enemies finally broke through Snow Empress and Ogerpon to reach him, they'd find him the strongest.

That was her ultimate goal in training his skills and instincts.

"Alright."

Damien didn't refuse, unwilling to waste her efforts.

The spar ended with another loss to Snow Empress.

He didn't mind.

Ogerpon had always outshone him, and now Snow Empress joined her. No difference.

He wasn't a masochist.

Why struggle when he could rely on his team?

"You worked hard, Lord Damien."

Shuna brought a lunchbox filled with dishes she'd crafted.

Using forest game and delicacies, her cooking was divine, loved even by Ice and Snow Empresss, who weren't fond of human food.

"Bwoh~~"

Ogerpon bounded over from the fields.

Fresh from the paddies, her steps left muddy prints.

"Ahh!"

"Wait, Ogerpon, stop!"

"Bwoh?"

"You can't go inside all dirty!"

Shuna rushed forward, summoning water to clean Ogerpon's hands and feet.

After time together, the Kijin knew Ogerpon's kind, innocent nature.

She was unmatched in strength among them but treated as the tribe's mascot.

Especially by Shuna, who saw her like a sister.

"This foot too, and here... ah, feels nice~~"

Ogerpon didn't mind being babied, treating the nurturing Shuna as an older sister. "Thanks, Shuna."

"Moo~~"

"Be more careful next time, always so reckless."

Shuna fondly patted Ogerpon's head, handing her a specially made sandwich.

Ogerpon took a bite, eyes sparkling. "Delicious!!"

"This rice ball's great too."

Ogerpon added, "But I love curry rice best."

"Got it, I'll make it next time."

"Woohoo!"

The basket held plenty: some Japanese-style, some other cuisines.

Shuna loved experimenting, especially with Damien's preferences.

In the original story, despite her modest strength, Shuna was Rimuru's second-in-command for a reason.

Her logistical and coordination skills ensured stability, even without Damien.

Gulp, gulp.

After eating, Damien sipped Shuna's fresh juice, gazing at the bustling village, his heart calm.

The Jura Forest was vast, with many scenic spots.

The Kijin village, nestled by mountains and rivers, rarely clashed with outsiders.

Peaceful and serene, it was perfect for retirement.

'Without Planeswalker, living here long-term would dull my fighting spirit.'

'But I can explore other worlds.'

Adventure abroad, then return to this village to recuperate.

"Lord Damien, here's the village's development plan for your review."

Mornings were for training with Snow Empress; afternoons, for administrative duties.

The tasks weren't complex: resource usage, construction plans, and expansion goals.

Damien didn't handle details.

He set the direction.

"Tell me more, Shuna."

"Of course."

Shuna clasped her hands at her waist, reporting the village's changes over the past half-month.

"First, Ogerpon has cleared all magical beasts within a 50-kilometer radius."

"Remaining monsters have some intelligence."

"Per your orders, intelligent monsters who don't attack can live here."

Shuna didn't fully understand but supported Damien's philosophy.

Everyone had a right to survive; strength didn't justify exterminating the weak.

Magical beasts were culled because they were mindless, impossible to reason with.

If they could understand the Kijin, peace was possible.

Even low-intelligence monsters followed basic rules.

This created a new ecosystem across the village and surrounding 50 kilometers.

"But the village has reached its growth limit."

Shuna spread a map before Damien. "Our Kijin are the region's strongest monster group."

"Beyond, there are scattered Goblin villages and other intelligent monsters."

Today's topic was these Goblins.

"How to handle the Goblins?"

Damien recalled Rimuru in the original story, who first tamed the forest's Goblins, granting them names.

Rimuru's Magicules, backed by Veldora, recovered quickly.

Damien lacked that luxury.

His Magicules were finite, so he'd only name the most promising monsters.

Still, it was inevitable.

Named monsters returned more Magicules.

Those willing to join him as subjects would eventually receive names.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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