Rimuru's Astonishment

Rimuru sprang out of the house in an instant.

The sight before her left Rimuru completely stunned.

Countless tall monsters were working throughout the village.

Mo Li walked up to Rimuru and found her disbelieving expression rather amusing. Still, to spare her some dignity, he held back his laughter.

Although Mo Li wanted to laugh, he put on a concerned expression and asked,

"Rimuru, what's wrong?"

"Ari, is this still the Goblin village?"

Rimuru asked Mo Li with an incredulous look on her face.

Before Mo Li could answer, all the monsters noticed the arrival of Mo Li and Rimuru.

"Lord Rimuru, Lord Morax, you're awake."

The one who spoke was a beautiful young woman with light green skin.

Looking at the monster before her, Rimuru grew even more confused.

"Ari, is this an illusion?"

Rimuru asked Mo Li uncertainly.

"This isn't an illusion. You'll understand soon enough."

Mo Li replied with a mysterious smile.

Seeing Mo Li's mysterious expression, Rimuru felt irritated for no reason.

"What exactly happened? How long was I unconscious? How did everything turn out like this?"

Rimuru demanded angrily.

"Enough questions. I'll explain it to you in a moment."

Mo Li picked Rimuru up, placed a dragon claw on her head, and stroked her as he spoke.

"Hana, go get Rigurd for me."

Mo Li said to the light-green-skinned beauty before him.

"Yes, Lord Morax. I'll go fetch Village Chief Rigurd right away."

After hearing Mo Li's order, Hana immediately went to find Rigurd.

"Ari, can you explain things to me now?"

Rimuru finally couldn't hold herself back and asked Mo Li.

"You know about Named Monsters, right?"

Mo Li asked Rimuru.

"I do. What about it? What does that have to do with Named Monsters?"

Rimuru still looked utterly confused.

Seeing that Rimuru still hadn't caught on, Mo Li held his forehead with an expression of utter defeat.

"On the surface, Named Monsters simply means monsters with names. But more specifically, when a monster reaches a certain high level, it can trigger evolution by being named by another monster that already has a name. This process usually involves both sides exchanging magicules as the cost. The namer loses an amount of magicules equal to the named monster's level—in other words, they grant their magicules to the one being named. The monster that receives both magicules and a name will evolve. Do you understand now?"

As Mo Li explained Named Monsters to Rimuru, he asked whether she understood.

"So these monsters I don't recognize are the Goblins and Direwolves we named, after they evolved?"

Rimuru finally realized.

"That's right. Didn't Great Sage explain it to you?"

Mo Li asked suspiciously.

"I think she did."

Rimuru replied awkwardly.

Rimuru then asked Great Sage.

"Did you explain it to me?"

Hearing Rimuru's question, Great Sage was speechless. How had she ended up with a master like this?

[Note: When the host explained Named Monsters, my explanation was even more detailed than Morax's—that is, Mo Li's. You simply weren't paying attention.]

It seemed Great Sage really had explained Named Monsters before. Rimuru simply hadn't paid much attention.

Seeing Rimuru's embarrassed expression, Mo Li knew that Great Sage had definitely told this girl about it. She just hadn't taken it seriously.

Honestly, even Mo Li felt a little sorry for Great Sage. In the original work, Rimuru had been somewhat careless, but not this careless. How had she become like this in this life? The butterfly effect really was terrifying.

Mo Li sighed inwardly.

Just then, a rough, boorish voice came from ahead.

"Lord Rimuru! Lord Morax! You're awake!" A huge, green-skinned, muscular man with his upper body bare strode up to Rimuru.

Rimuru was startled badly.

"Who are you? You pervert, get away from me."

Rimuru buried her head in Mo Li's arms.

"Lord Rimuru, you don't recognize me? I'm the Goblin village chief, Rigurd! You were the one who gave me my name!"

As he spoke, Rigurd struck a pose.

Rimuru raised her head at that, looking at the muscular giant before her, then recalling the old village chief who had once trembled with every step.

"Who the hell are you trying to fool?"

Rimuru shouted in disbelief.

"Rimuru, he really is Rigurd. Did you forget what we were just saying about evolution through naming?"

Mo Li cut in.

"So, Ari, does that mean every Goblin here, including the Direwolves, evolved too?"

Rimuru finally understood and asked Mo Li.

"That's right. Evolution normally takes time, but you passed out because your magicules were depleted, so you didn't see it. And you weren't asleep for just a little while—you were out for nearly four days."

Mo Li said gently.

"So that's what happened."

Rimuru finally understood.

Then Rimuru thought of something.

"Rigurd, go bring Direwolf Ran-ga to me."

Rimuru said to Rigurd.

"Yes, Lord Rimuru."

After hearing this, Rigurd went to find Ran-ga.

"Well? Surprised?"

Mo Li teased Rimuru.

"I was scared half to death. I thought we'd been attacked again."

Rimuru said, still shaken.

"That's because you only listened to half of Great Sage's explanation. Pay closer attention from now on."

Mo Li lectured Rimuru.

"It was just a mistake. It definitely won't happen again."

Rimuru formed a hand out of Slime fluid and patted her nonexistent chest as she promised.

"Lord Rimuru, I've brought Ran-ga."

A voice sounded out. The one who arrived was Rigurd, and behind him followed a tall, imposing demonic wolf.

After being named, Ran-ga had evolved into an even larger and more imposing form. His body alone was about six meters long, and even his fur had turned a violet-tinged purplish blue. A sharp horn had grown from the pentagram on his forehead. Just from his appearance, he looked exceptionally powerful.

Ran-ga walked before Rimuru and Mo Li, lowered his body and wolf head, and spoke with great respect.

"Greetings, Lord Rimuru. Lord Morax."

Seeing Ran-ga like this, Rimuru was immediately fascinated. She leaped out of Mo Li's arms, went up to Ran-ga, and began circling around him to inspect him.