Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race

Rygar walked through the Iron Legion base, observing the activities and progress of each sector. Wherever he passed, the members greeted him with respect, some with evident enthusiasm. He waved back, offering a discreet smile as he continued. It was fascinating to see how everything was developing.

As he crossed one of the training zones, his gaze settled on a group of children led by Rufus. Yan, the former slave trader, had reinforced the training of the younger children in the legion and seemed to be adapting well to this new life. In fact, his son was among the young trainees, showing dedication and determination.

Rufus, in turn, seemed to have befriended a peculiar boy from the beastmen race named Garrison. He was part deer, with small horns beginning to sprout from his head. Despite his delicate appearance, Garrison demonstrated remarkable combat talent, particularly with spears, which was his favorite weapon.

However, Rygar couldn't help but notice some prejudice associated with the use of spears among warriors. He knew this was deeply tied to stories about the Superd, a demon race described as terribly evil. His master, Verdia, once told him she had met a Superd. According to her, he was incredibly strong, but Rygar had never seen reason to judge someone just based on the weapon they wielded. Still, he had yet to meet a Superd to form an opinion on them.

In fact, he made it a point to cultivate diversity in weapons within the Legion. To him, the predominance of swords as a symbol of combat was too restrictive. There were countless possibilities beyond that, and he wanted his warriors to explore each of them.

Rufus' wolf, Geri, was also growing quickly and helped with the children's and Rufus' training. The animal seemed to be almost a celebrity among the children, admired as much as Rufus himself. Rufus' skill with magic and having such a large wolf made him a kind of unquestionable leader among the youths.

After watching for a long time, Rygar couldn't help but smile as he noticed Rufus trying to imitate his way of giving orders. It was an endearing sight, and he felt proud of the boy's progress. He had already taught Rufus most of the beginner-level magic and even some advanced spells. His latest advice had been for the young man to focus on improving his magic control and practical skills without chanting, something crucial for future magic.

As he observed the training, a beast-girl from the Adoldia tribe approached him. She appeared to be around 13 or 14 years old, with reddish-brown hair and strikingly beautiful features. Pushed by her friends, she took a few hesitant steps, her ears twitching nervously.

"Hey... leader..." she began, her voice trembling. "Would you like to go for a walk around the city with me?"

Rygar turned to her, surprised for a brief moment before giving her a kind smile. The girl's tail wagged frantically as she waited for a response, revealing her excitement and nervousness.

"Unfortunately, I don't have time at the moment," Rygar replied politely and sincerely. "But I appreciate the invitation. Maybe another time?"

Her poorly expressed words left her, and the girl's expression changed noticeably. Her ears drooped, and her tail stopped moving.

"Of course..." she murmured, disappointed, before slowly moving away.

Rygar sighed softly, feeling a little concerned, but he knew he had priorities to attend to.

He thought about all the divisions that the Legion's outer branch currently had.

First Division: Combat and Tactical Operations

Commander: Taes Dedoldia (Beastman, Feline)

Vice-Commander: Dravos Bloodscale (Demon Race)

Second Division: Training and Education

Commander: Anira Vinar (Human)

Vice-Commander: Yan (Human)

Third Division: Logistics and Support

Commander: Peikak (Human)

Vice-Commander: Liana (Human)

Fourth Division: Communication and Intelligence

Commander: Gorrin Redwine (Dwarf)

Vice-Commander: Tovan Adoldia (Beastman, Canine)

Fifth Division: Internal Control and Security

Commander: Joseph Longrob (Human)

Vice-Commander: Myyren Frostvale (Elf)

Sixth Division: Research and Development

Commander: Jory Jinavrio (Dwarf)

Vice-Commander: Kolda (Human)

Seventh Division: Exploration and Reconnaissance

Commander: Eidar (Human)

Vice-Commander: Elusir Ragebear (Elf)

Eighth Division: Medicine and Alchemy

Commander: Lyra (Human)

Vice-Commander: Elian (Human)

Ninth Division: Commerce and Diplomacy

Commander: Lounirc (Elf)

Vice-Commander: Selina Warrith (Beastman, Rabbit)

Tenth Division: Administration and Human Resources

Commander: Daruk (Human)

Vice-Commander: Lwis (Beastman)

Estimated number of members: 844

It was quite a lot, and their numbers were growing rapidly, as one of the main activities of the Combat and Tactical Operations Division was attacking and recovering slaves from various places.

In the Commerce and Diplomacy Division, Rygar found Darvin negotiating with a local merchant. "Fifteen gold pieces for the lot is a robbery!" the merchant exclaimed. Darvin, calm, countered, "With our protection on the roads, the profit will triple." Rygar sat down, listening to the conversation. "He's right," Rygar said. "But remember, we want allies, not just business. Offer a small discount as a gesture of goodwill."

The merchant thanked Rygar, "Thank you, sir! You won't regret it!"

Rygar walked calmly through the base, his eyes scanning each sector attentively. He arrived at the Research and Development Division, where he was greeted by Kolda, the vice-commander of the division.

"Master Rygar," Kolda said, bowing respectfully. "We were expecting you."

"How's the research on the Black Gem going?" Rygar asked, getting straight to the point.

Kolda sighed slightly before responding. "We've confirmed that it is the same type found among the demon races. The type that grants specific abilities, but we're facing difficulties extracting the black energy you mentioned."

Before parting ways, Rygar looked at Kolda and asked, "And the other research? Any progress?" Kolda adjusted his glasses and answered, "We're testing the compatibility of minerals with mana for the mass-built magical weapons project and investigating simpler, easier enchantment symbols. There's still a lot of work, but the initial results are promising." Rygar nodded, satisfied. "Great. Make sure to keep this well documented."

Rygar pondered for a moment before giving his orders. "Designate someone to continue the research on the Black Gem. The rest of the team can disperse to other projects. I don't want all focus to be on this."

"Understood, sir," Kolda replied, agreeing.

With that settled, Rygar left the sector, walking through other areas of the base. He observed the divisions of the Iron Legion functioning at full capacity and felt a pang of pride at the progress. The base was growing day by day, and the members were becoming increasingly well-organized.

Rygar paused for a moment, observing Sköll, Geri, and Freki playing in a corner of the training field. Despite their already intimidating sizes and the strength they displayed, they still had a youthful energy that made the Legion's children adore them. Taming them had been easier than he expected, perhaps because they resembled dogs so much? Or because many of them were of beastman descent? He still had time to figure that out.

He didn't dwell on the future. In a few months, it would be his 10th birthday. The members of the Legion had planned to throw a big celebration, but he wouldn't be present to take part. His next journey would take him to the Dwarven territory, and he would be leaving soon.

Rygar didn't pay much attention to birthdays. In his current life, he had only celebrated once with his mother when he was five, and he didn't miss it. However, before leaving, he wrote a few letters. Messages were sent to the Great Forest, addressed to his master, Verdia, his parents, Hontar and Selene, Kilian, and Gustav. He wrote about his progress, expressed how much he missed them, and mentioned he was preparing to travel to the Dwarven territory.

He had decided that his wolf, Sköll, would travel with him. These animals had grown faster than expected and had shown remarkable loyalty to their owners. Sköll would be his trump card, his final ace in case something went wrong during the journey. Although he was out of action, he didn't think he could do much, but hey, why not?

As his thoughts wandered, he decided to give some basic instructions to those who would focus on things in his absence. He would hold a meeting; Rygar considered himself a good leader, as he carried ideas from his previous world to implement innovative and efficient strategies. More importantly, he was strong enough that no one questioned his orders, only offered suggestions.

Rygar found this quite useful. Even with his previous life, there were people who had lived ten times longer than he had, and their experience was valuable. Sometimes he wondered if he was worthy of such a position, but he quickly discarded the thought. The first step toward doubting himself would be doubting his own abilities. He would do his best and correct his mistakes with their help.

In the days leading up to his departure, Rygar gathered the commanders of all the divisions in a large meeting room at the center of the base. They sat around a circular table while Rygar stood, observing each one with a firm and determined look.

"As you may have already been informed, I will be away for some time," he began. "I want everything to continue running perfectly in my absence. Each division has an essential responsibility for the growth of the Iron Legion. Trust each other, support one another, and stay focused. In my absence, follow the leadership of Kidar Dedoldia."

The commanders nodded, but one of them, Joseph, in charge of Internal Control and Security, crossed his arms. "With all due respect, sir, it's difficult to maintain order without your presence. The members rely more on you and your strength than on us."

Rygar didn't hesitate. "This is why we are building this structure. The Legion cannot depend only on me. If something happens to me, you must be able to lead. Believe in your abilities. I believe in you."

The weight of Rygar's words eased the tension, and Joseph, though reluctant, nodded. During the meeting, Rygar delegated specific tasks to each division and made it clear that he trusted each commander to maintain a stable base.

Later, Rygar found Eidar in the main courtyard. "Are you really going alone?" he said. "That doesn't seem wise. The blue dragons are Rank S monsters, and they almost always travel in groups."

Rygar replied, "I won't be alone. Sköll will be with me, and I trust my own strength to escape from a group of flying lizards if necessary."

"Maybe you're one of the few people who calls dragons flying lizards."

Rygar laughed. "It's necessary. The other day I tried using a staff from one of the Legion members to cast magic, and it made a normal fire spell three times stronger. It's an excellent staff, and it made me realize how much of a leap it would be if I could have a magical stone embedded in my sword. It's essential for my future plans."

Eidar sighed but respected Rygar's decision.

The next day, Rygar gathered Rufus, Garrison, and the other children of the Legion for one last training session before leaving. He watched Rufus giving orders to the others, and the resemblance between the young boy and himself made him smile.

"Rufus," Rygar called. "Come here."

Rufus moved over with Geri at his side. "Yes, chief?"

"While I'm away, you are the leader of the Children's Division. I want you to take care of them and continue their training. Teach them what you've learned and keep the order. Can I count on you?"

Rufus puffed out his chest with pride. "You can count on me!"

Rygar stroked the wolf Geri's head before standing up. "I trust you. Don't disappoint me."

Finally, Rygar visited the base's forge. The heat of the flames was intense, and the sound of the hammer striking metal filled the space. He spoke briefly with the blacksmiths, ordering repairs for his weapons and checking the supplies. Before leaving, he thanked them for their hard work.

On his last night before departure, while watching the base lit by moonlight, a messenger approached. "Sir, we've received information about House Joylore, still no movement, like most of the noble houses in Milis. At this moment, there are no issues with your departure."

Rygar stared at the horizon, where the territory of the expected years awaited him. "Understood. Keep monitoring and inform me of any updates."

The Iron Legion was strong and united, but he knew that the next step of his journey would bring even greater challenges.

Rygar Adoldia

Age: 9 years and 10 months

Titles: Flaming Beast, Red Wolf

Mana Reserves: God Level

Weapons: Tsukikage (of the 49 Blades of the Dragon King Kajakut), Auxiliary Short Sword, Hidden Daggers

Magical Skills:

Fire Magic: Advanced

Earth Magic: King

Water Magic: Saint

Wind Magic: King

Healing Magic: Advanced

Detoxification Magic: Advanced

Barrier Magic: Advanced

Howling Magic: Conqueror's Haki

Combat Skills:

North God Style: Advanced

Sword God Style: Saint

Water God Style: Advanced

Combat with Natural Weapons (claws, instincts, etc.): Advanced

Battle Strength: King-Level Warrior

Intellectual Skills:

Reading and writing in Beast-God, Demon-God and Human languages

Mathematics (University Level)

Practical Skills:

Excellent hunter, Good teacher, Very bad cook (It's almost inedible, but it can be eaten to avoid starving to death), Excellent Builder (Earth Magic), Good swimmer, between others.

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Taes Dedoldia

Age: 13 years and 1 month

Mana Reserves: Advanced Level

Magical Skills:

Fire Magic: Advanced

Earth Magic: Intermediate

Water Magic: Elementary

Healing Magic: Intermediate

Howling Magic: Mastery

Combat Skills:

North God Style: Advanced

Sword God Style: Intermediate

Battle Strength: Low Saint-level

Intellectual Skills:

Reading in Beast God and Human languages

Mathematics Basic

Practical Skills:

Good hunter, Good Leader