That time I got reincarnated as the Monster King

It had been a few days since Benimaru and his company pledged their loyalty and joined our burgeoning settlement. In that short time, harmony had begun to flourish, and the first sparks of civilization were taking shape. Today, I found myself visiting one of those very sparks—a place brimming with the promise of warmth and craftsmanship: Shuna's weaving room.

Inside the modest yet refined space, sunlight filtered through the latticed windows and gently illuminated the rolls of colorful fabric neatly stacked around the room. Garm, the stout dwarven craftsman, stood with arms crossed, his eyes gleaming as he admired a roll of finely woven cloth. Behind him, Dord and Myrd peered curiously at the silken material, intrigued by its texture and sheen.

"This stuff sure is nice," Garm said, his voice tinged with admiration. "So this is silk, huh?"

Shuna, diligently weaving at her loom, turned with a warm smile. "Yes, it's silk cloth woven from the cocoons of Hellmoths. The threads are saturated with magicules, making the fabric remarkably durable."

"Magicule-infused cloth?" Dord echoed, eyes widening. "So it should offer some level of protection, even in battle. That's incredible!"

"It is," Garm added, running his calloused fingers across the fabric. "You don't often see such a delicate weave with that level of sturdiness. You're amazing, Shuna."

"Amazing indeed," I said as I entered the room, Shion walking beside me. The moment our eyes met, Shuna's face lit up, her cheeks tinged with a soft pink.

"Great Arceus!" she greeted with reverence, her voice gentle like a spring breeze.

"Hiya!" Garm chimed in casually.

"Greetings," Dord offered respectfully, while Myrd simply nodded, his expression neutral as always.

"You came to check on us, Great Arceus?" Shuna asked as she trotted over, arms extended in excitement. She embraced me warmly. For a brief moment, my eyes widened at her sudden affection, but I returned the gesture with a gentle smile.

"I did. How is everything progressing here?"

"Wonderfully! The loom that Sir Kaijin made for me is a dream to use. It's smooth, responsive, and allows me to weave faster than ever."

"I'm glad to hear that," I said, surveying the cloth with approval. "I'll be counting on your skill to clothe everyone in the village."

"Leave it to me!" she replied confidently.

Shion cleared her throat, arms crossed. "Now then, Great Arceus, we should head to lunch. Your food will get cold."

As I turned to leave, Shuna's voice rose again, tinged with playful provocation. "By the way, Shion… how's your secretarial work going?"

Shion, never one to back down from a verbal skirmish, narrowed her eyes slightly. "Perfectly well, Princess Shuna."

"I wouldn't mind taking over your duties," Shuna teased with a bright smile, her eyes locking onto mine. "I could take good care of Great Arceus myself."

"Oh, there's no need for that," Shion replied, stepping closer to me and smiling sweetly. "I'm more than capable of handling him."

I felt both their grips tighten on each of my arms. The air in the room shifted; smiles remained, but tension flared like dry wood catching fire.

"Great Arceus," Shuna said sweetly, "if you had to choose, would you prefer me or Shion to serve you?"

"I would appreciate it," I said calmly, "if you both let go of my arms first."

They blinked and immediately released me. I sighed lightly before continuing. "Shuna, your skills are invaluable. Continue your weaving, and do not hesitate to call upon me if you require assistance."

"So you are asking for my help then?" she said with a grin.

"Yes. I'm counting on you," I answered sincerely.

"Well then," Shion interjected, swiftly reclaiming her place at my side, "please leave Great Arceus to me."

—

Shion and I left the weaving room and proceeded toward the central residence's grand dining hall. Inside, Benimaru, Elder Hakurou, and Souei were already seated, each exuding the calm and alert energy befitting warriors of their caliber.

"Ah, Great Arceus," Elder Hakurou said as he stood in greeting. "Have you come for a meal?"

"Yes. I heard that Shion prepared a dish especially for me," I replied, taking my place at the center of the long table.

A strange atmosphere fell over the room the moment those words left my mouth. Benimaru's gaze shifted toward the far corner of the hall. A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek.

"Would you care to join me?" I asked politely.

Benimaru scratched his head, avoiding eye contact. "Oh, no. I'm, uh, not hungry."

"We're content with tea," Elder Hakurou said as he raised his cup with a slight, evasive smile.

"I'll... go scout the area again," Souei added hastily, vanishing mid-step, leaving behind a few silent clones in his place.

"Then I shall bring your meal at once," Shion announced proudly and hurried to the kitchen.

Benimaru adjusted his collar nervously while sipping his tea.

Moments later, Shion returned, holding a bowl of food that defied description. The contents pulsed gently, its color an unnatural combination of deep violet and grayish-green. I stared at it, struck speechless.

"No wonder Benimaru looked so distraught…"

"This... isn't food," I thought. "Even Anos would run from this cursed concoction."

"Please enjoy, Great Arceus," Shion said, smiling radiantly.

"You traitors," I muttered beneath my breath as I glared at Benimaru, who continued drinking tea with suspicious fervor. "And Elder Hakurou... You're practically invisible now."

"Forgive me, Great Arceus," Benimaru whispered.

"Consider this... training," Elder Hakurou whispered sagely.

Seeing no alternative, I murmured, "Zenith."

A shadow curled beneath the table as my sword's hilt emerged silently. Activating Unity Severance, I severed the unity between my taste buds and my sense of taste. It was a crude but necessary measure.

Just as I raised a spoonful of the ominous substance, the door burst open.

"I'm starving!" Gobta cheered as he rushed toward the table.

In an unintentional act of mercy from the heavens—or perhaps misfortune—I turned my wrist slightly and the blob entered Gobta's open mouth instead. He swallowed it in one gulp.

Within seconds, his skin flushed dark purple. His eyes rolled back. With one last dramatic twitch, he collapsed onto the floor.

"Oh dear," Shion said, wiping her hands on her apron with feigned innocence.

"Shion," I called out gently.

"Y-Yes?"

"From now on, please allow Benimaru to taste your cooking first."

"G-Great Arceus!?" Benimaru choked, turning pale.

"I'm sorry, Benimaru," I thought, glancing at the unconscious Gobta. "Losing my sense of taste simply isn't enough..."

—

Elsewhere, beside a tranquil riverbank bathed in afternoon sun, Gabiru the Lizardman stood triumphantly. Behind him, his retainers scribbled down numbers on planks and bark sheets.

"With the latest addition, we now command 7,000 goblins," the cyan-scaled Lizardman reported.

"Well done, Sir Gabiru! You truly are a brilliant negotiator!" the green one exclaimed.

"It's nothing," Gabiru said humbly, trying not to grin too widely. "It's simply the result of my... natural charisma."

"Don't be so modest! You're a born leader!"

"Indeed! One day, you'll be Chieftain of all Lizardmen!"

Gabiru puffed out his chest. "Maybe I am rather amazing..."

"What's our next destination, Sir Gabiru?" asked one of the Lizardmen.

"There's one final goblin village nearby," the cyan one said. "But the other villagers spoke of it with caution."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"They claim the goblins there have tamed Direwolves."

Gabiru's jaw dropped. "Impossible! Goblins and Direwolves?! That's unnatural!"

"Even stranger, they say the goblins are led... by a human."

Gabiru staggered, his mind racing. "A human leading goblins and taming Direwolves? That's unheard of... But if we can convince him to join us... we could tame Direwolves as well!"

"Such brilliance!"

"Truly profound thinking, Sir Gabiru!"

"Very well!" Gabiru announced, striking a heroic pose. "We march onward! Leave this to me!"

And once more, the chants of "Gabiru! Gabiru!" echoed across the riverbank, as the self-proclaimed genius led his followers toward the unknown.