Mo Li's Enlightenment

Watching Rimuru's retreating figure, Mo Li silently stood up and followed. After all, he didn't want to miss the scene where Rimuru named Ran-ga. Before the early appearances of the Hobgoblin leaders like Benimaru, Ran-ga, as a supporting character, had more screentime. Moreover, Ran-ga was the only Direwolf who only obeyed Rimuru. Later, it even became one of the Twelve Guardian Saints, the Star Wolf King, with power comparable to an awakened Demon King.

Rimuru stood before the Direwolf Tribe, racking its brain for names, unaware that Mo Li had quietly approached from behind.

Mo Li watched Rimuru deep in thought and felt a mischievous urge.

"What name should I give them?"

Rimuru was getting a headache.

Suddenly, someone from behind picked it up, startling it greatly.

"Who is it?"

Rimuru struggled and demanded.

Mo Li leaned closer to Rimuru and said, "Alright, stop struggling, it's me."

Hearing the voice, Rimuru finally relaxed. Then, it remembered something.

"A'Li, weren't you resting?"

Rimuru asked with a puzzled look.

"It's nothing? I was just a little worried about you, so I came to check. If anything happens, I can help."

Mo Li said to Rimuru with concern.

"What, still haven't decided on names for them?"

Seeing Rimuru's pained expression, Mo Li knew the reason for its headache.

"Yeah, Mo Li, help me think too."

Rimuru pleaded with Mo Li.

"Alright, but you're the one who has to name them. After all, my Magic Essence isn't as abundant as yours."

Mo Li said thoughtfully.

"Right, A'Li, I have a question?"

Rimuru suddenly remembered something and said to Mo Li.

"Oh, what question?"

Mo Li asked with interest, seeing Rimuru's confused expression.

"It's just, why are our levels so similar, yet I can name so many monsters without issue, but you can't even handle a few dozen? You even swallowed a lot of herbs and Magic Ore in the cave?"

Rimuru voiced a question that had been bothering it.

Upon hearing the word "can't," three black lines appeared on Mo Li's forehead. However, seeing Rimuru's innocent expression, Mo Li suppressed his inner anger. After all, who liked being told they "can't"?

But listening to Rimuru, it seemed the Great Sage hadn't told Rimuru about extracting Magic Essence from Veldora. It probably guessed that Rimuru wouldn't casually name things anymore if it knew. In that case, he might as well help keep it a secret.

"I'm not like you. Aren't you Gluttony? You can convert and store what you devour because you have an independent space inside you to store items. I don't have a stomach, nor do I have Gluttony. Everything I eat is converted into my Magic Essence by my special skill, Gamer. But once you reach a certain level, just eating isn't enough. Didn't your Great Sage tell you this? How come you know less than I do?"

Mo Li explained to Rimuru while asking with some surprise. Mo Li was now just one step away from becoming a Demon Lord. Merely devouring Magic Ore and herbs wouldn't suffice; he needed a much larger energy source to propel him further. Furthermore, due to his special skill, even when devouring Magic Ore and herbs, he didn't absorb as much Magic Essence as Rimuru's Gluttony. While Gamer had functions for devouring and converting, it was ultimately inferior to Rimuru's Gluttony. Therefore, in terms of Magic Essence alone, Mo Li was indeed inferior to Rimuru, let alone the fact that Rimuru now had the Storm Dragon as a power source.

However, this world wasn't judged solely by Magic Essence. Look at the Storm Dragon; even though its Magic Essence was greater than its elder sisters', it was still suppressed by them. So, even if Mo Li and Rimuru fought now, Mo Li was confident he could win.

Because Mo Li's special skills, Martial Refiner and Mastery of All Weapons, meant that Rimuru's combat experience was weaker than Mo Li's. Even with the Great Sage as a cheat, it couldn't compare to Mo Li. If Mo Li wanted to win, he wouldn't even need much effort.

"It's just that I've been busy lately and forgot."

Honestly, even Rimuru didn't know why, but whenever it was in front of Mo Li, its usually sharp mind became dull, and it would ask silly questions. It had asked the Great Sage about this, but the Great Sage told it to figure it out on its own, which confused Rimuru.

Seeing Rimuru's somewhat dazed look, Mo Li found it amusing.

"Alright, don't think about other things. Let's both think about what names to give your subjects?"

Mo Li said to Rimuru.

"No, A'Li, you said that wrong."

Rimuru frowned deeply.

Mo Li looked confused.

"Said what wrong?"

Rimuru said earnestly, "Not my subjects, but our subjects."

Hearing Rimuru's words, Mo Li was stunned. Honestly, ever since Mo Li arrived in this world, he had viewed it from an omniscient perspective. Because he knew all the plot points and all the secrets of this world, he felt a sense of superiority over all beings. He felt like he was observing the mortal world from the heavens. But now, facing Rimuru, he felt like he was descending from the heavens.

Only then did Mo Li begin to understand that this world wasn't an illusion but real. Both Rimuru and these Goblins and Direwolves were truly alive. It was time for him to descend from the heavens and truly observe.

After realizing this, Mo Li felt a wondrous sensation, an indescribable and unparalleled clarity in his heart. Even his strength had increased slightly.

Feeling the change in his body, Mo Li knew he had been wrong before.

"Rimuru, thank you."

Looking at Rimuru's face, Mo Li said earnestly.

Rimuru was startled by Mo Li's sudden action.

"Ah, Mo Li, what's wrong?"

Rimuru asked hastily.

"Nothing? I just suddenly understood some things,"

Mo Li said with some emotion.

Rimuru listened, understanding only half of it.

"Alright, let's not talk about it anymore. Let's name our subordinates as soon as possible, shall we? These are our subordinates."

Mo Li said at this point.

Hearing Mo Li say they were both their subordinates, Rimuru immediately became happy.

"Okay, let's name them together. These are our subordinates."