Hanma's POV-

Several days later after walking inside the forest, we came to a stop. We were not close to Rimuru's city as I didn't want my empire to be too near to him.

- Hanma-sama, where should we make your empire?

Rauk asked with curiosity.

- I just thought about it and...

(The white mark is where Hanma is currently at.)

We are currently surrounded by Demon Lord Clayman's Domain, Eastern Empire, Dwarf Kingdom and Demon Lord Milim's Domain. It would be suicide to make an empire at a place like this but we can make iur empire underground so that it stays hidden for some time.

- What?! You

want to make your empire under the ground?!!!

Rauk was shocked to hear this from Hanma.

- It is hard to make an empire under the ground but it is possible. What do you think, Ray-san?

- If my master has chosen it, then I have no problem.

Ray said in a serious tone but Rauk ignored it.

- Okay. I will need a lot of resources and manpower to make the underground empire.

- We have some amount of manpower and don't think about resources a lot because we have a lot of them.

- But there's only three of us and about the resources I guess you have it in your Personal World Skill.

- About the manpower, see this...

Rauk suddenly saw Hanma's shadow expanding behind him. A lot of red eyes were glaring at him from his shadow.

- I have an army of my own, you see.

- O-Ok.

Rauk and Ray was shocked at seeing the eyes from Hanma's shadow.

"Master is stronger than I had imagined."

Ray thought with respect to his master.

- First of all, we gotta make the entrance to the underground empire.

- Let me take out my army.

Ding!

[ Hanma's army ]

Goblin- ×20

Armorsaurus- ×37

Tempest Serpent- ×9

Evil Centipede- ×6

Giant Ant- ×13

Ding!

[ Would you like them to come out? ]

"Yes."

Suddenly, all of the monsters came out of Hanma's shadow.

Ray and Rauk were shocked at the amount of monsters which appeared in front of them. Ray himself had seen Hanma's shadow army for the first time. All of the monsters had burning red eyes with their skill black and purple colored.

- All of you, I want you all to follow the orders of this person from now on.

Hanma pointed at Rauk. The shadows looked at Rauk and again looked back at Hanma.

- Protect him and also if any threat comes, then defeat it with your life.

All of the shadows nodded and bowed before Hanma.

- Now, they should all listen to you.

Rauk was speechless that Hanma could control this many monsters but he soon came to his senses.

- Thanks for trusting me with your army, Hanma-sama.

- Just put them to good use and also build a great underground empire for me.

- I will put everything in building this.

- Ok. Best of luck. Also, Ray you also stay with Rauk as there can be some problems.

- Master, but will you be fine by yourself?

Ray said with a worried look that made him look like a puppy.

- Don't think about me, just protect Rauk and yourself.

Hanma showed thumbs up with a smile before going into the forest.

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After several minutes of walking, Hanma jumped on top of a tree branch.

"I am getting near to the Ogre's village. I am gonna add the Ogres in my army except for those Ogres who are gonna work for Rimuru. But, I have to wait for the orcs to come and raid the Ogre's village. Then, I will save them and gain the loyalty of the Ogres."

Hanma used his Scan skill and he found the Ogres.

"I found the Ogres, now I just have to wait."

Hanma looked at the sky and was thinking about something.

"I wonder what Kallus is doing."

Hanma used his Scan again to find Kallus.

He found the location of Kallus and he also found some people and monsters near him.

- I guess he found them.

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Kallus's POV-

Few days before.

I was traveling with my strings in the sky. When I found some people fighting with a giant ant or should I say running?

- Maybe this is the group of adventurers that Hanma- Sama was talking about. *sigh* Looks like they had gotten near to the Giant Ant Nest.

I decided to help them as the ants would be no problem for me.

Suddenly, the black Haired girl stopped and got in a fighting stance but I intervened before she could do anything.

- Huh? The ants stopped moving.

A girl who looked like an adventurer said.

- You should be thankful, I saved you.

I said with pride.

The group looked at Kallus with surprise on their face as he was flying.

- Who are you and how the heck are you Flying?!!!

An adventurer who looked kinda old said.

- My name is Kallus. I was just passing by and decided to help.

I said this to them and then moved my finger a little. Suddenly, the monsters walked back from the group or should I say I controlled them to walk back from the group.

The group couldn't understand about how I was flying or why the ants backed off.

Suddenly, a giant ant came out of nowhere and attacked the black Haired girl. I could have stopped the giant ant but out of nowhere, a black lightning came from the sky and killed the ant while also killing the ants which I was controlling with my strings. The mask of the black-haired girl also flew off.

At this, I was angry because the ants corpses were for Hanma-sama.

- Shizu-san!

The girl with blonde hair said as she was checking Shizu.

"Oh, so that's her name. No! It's not the time!"

I didn't have time for this as I wanted to know who blasted off the corpses. I thought angrily.

She holded her shoulder and helped her stand up.

- Are you okay?

- Y-Yes.

- What the heck was that?

- Who dared to blast off the corpses which I was going to take for my master?!!!!

I said with anger.

The group of adventurers were shocked by my words.

" It looks like they want me to be shocked at such a weak lightning attack."

- I guess black lightning really is too strong. Better not use it, either.

I and the group of adventurers looked towards where the voice was coming from but it was covered by dust.

The dust was slowly going and then we saw....

- A Slime?

The four adventurers said at the same time.

- Yeah. Got a problem with that?

- Uh, no... I just never knew that slimes could talk.

The girl with blonde hair said.

- I can't believe it.

The adventurer with brown hair said with surprise.

- Here, miss. This is yours, isn't it? Sorry about that. You weren't hurt, were you?

The slime handed over the mask to Shizu who took it.

- No, I'm all right. You saved me. Thank You.

She said with a smile that could melt anybody's heart except for me.

- Hey, slime. I want to ask you a question.

The slime didn't look at me and was staring at her.

Kallus- Oi!

The slime broke off from his stare and looked at me.

- I wanted the corpse of the giant ants and you blasted all of them.

I said with a smile but with anger inside me.

- So, I expect you to give me the corpses somehow.

I said this time with a smile which could scare off anyone.

- You should thank me. I saved your friend and also those ants weren't moving that doesn't mean that they are dead. They could have attacked you anytime but they decided to attack you one by one.

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Rimuru's POV-

I said.

- Firstly, I had stopped those ants in one place with my skill but one had attacked her out of nowhere. I could have stopped that one also but you decided to show up and blast off all the corpses of the giant ants. Secondly, I am not their friend. I am just a passerby who was collecting corpses and decided to help.

Kallus said with the evil smile still on his face.

"This guy looks dangerous. He is so angry just because I blasted off those corpses and who collects corpses of monsters? What's up with this guy?"

"What?! You can't see his skills?!!"

I took some time to calm myself and then thought.

"I may be able to beat this guy. But, I don't wanna to do fights which can be avoided and this guy's skills might be stronger than my skills.:

- Then, I am sorry for that. I will bring the corpses of the giant ants to you soon. Until then, you all can stay in my village.

- I accept but you will have to give me the corpses soon.

He said with a smile that made him look like he was good and evil at the same time.

- Okay.

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