In the early morning, faint light filtered through the sheer curtains, gently awakening the slumbering dreams.
Outside the window, the rising sun was diligently climbing, dispelling the lingering afterglow of the night, and the horizon gradually tinged with a delicate orange-red.
'This is truly reckless...'
Rin opened his eyes. He looked at the two delicate figures nestled in his arms, one on his left and one on his right, feeling quite helpless.
Originally, Rin hadn't planned to act so quickly.
No matter what, he should have nurtured their feelings a bit more.
Unfortunately, he had misjudged the habits of monsters.
Monsters were not humans, they didn't have so much playing hard to get.
More often, it was adoration for the strong.
Rin was Shuna and Shion's liege, and he possessed a rare gentleness among monsters.
How could they not fall in love with him?
Thus, taking advantage of the hot spring visit yesterday, the two girls successfully achieved the accomplishment of sleeping under the same blanket.
Throughout the entire process, what left the deepest impression on Rin was Shion's stubbornness and Shuna's fragility.
Of course, Shion wasn't much better.
In front of Rin, the Oni race's recovery ability was completely useless.
With a single seal, the two girls immediately became delicate young ladies.
And Rin didn't even need to use any special methods, purely relying on the stamina of a normal person, he managed to tame them completely.
"Shion?"
"Shuna?"
"Mmm~"
"Let me sleep a little longer..."
Shuna didn't react much, but Shion let out a soft murmur like a kitten.
"Rest well."
Rin lovingly smoothed the loose hair of the two girls before getting up and starting to get dressed.
Descending from upstairs to the living room, the first person Rin saw was Ice Empress waiting there, which surprised him.
"Why are you here so early today?"
"What are you talking about!"
Ice Empress knew what Rin had done last night, but she didn't care about that. "You make it sound like I'm very lazy."
Among Rin's dependents, Shion, Ice Empress, and Ogerpon were the most idle, not having to do anything.
You might ask, doesn't Shion have the Purple Corps?
The Purple Corps, to put it plainly, was a suicide squad created by Shion.
They played among themselves and didn't have any formal positions.
As for Ogerpon.
She liked farming and was very interested in cultivating various fruits and vegetables, showing a tendency to develop into the agricultural sector.
As for the remaining Ice Empress, Rin had no demands on her and just let her be.
"That's not what I meant."
Rin sat in front of Ice Empress and smiled. "I just thought you should be with Ogerpon, playing with monsters in the forest at this time."
Though he said 'play,' it actually meant clearing out the monsters in the forest.
Monsters are a sustainable resource.
As long as the magicules in the Great Jura Forest continue to circulate, monsters will be born continuously.
Rin and his dependents lived in the forest.
The magicules alone that dissipated from their bodies daily was an incredibly vast amount, which could easily breed all sorts of monsters.
Additionally, monsters are treasures from head to toe.
Various materials could be extracted, and the flesh could be eaten directly.
The remaining parts could also be sold to human merchants through the Oni race's existing trade channels.
"Ah, that."
Ice Empress knew she was somewhat idle on weekdays. "I found two good helpers and wanted you to name them."
"Helpers?"
Rin took a sip of tea and asked in confusion. "What kind of helpers?"
Naming wasn't an issue.
All the monsters under Rin's command had been named by him.
Even for newly joined members, Rin wouldn't be stingy with this magicules.
Anyway, it was like an early investment.
"I found two little guys in the forest."
Ice Empress: "They are like me, also Insectars."
"Insectars?"
Rin's brows furrowed slightly. As far as he knew, the Insectars rarely appeared in the material world.
Considering this was the Great Jura Forest, Rin immediately thought of Rimuru's Beetle and Bee.
"It wouldn't be the Beetle and the Bee, would it?"
"You already know?"
Ice Empress didn't delve into it much.
On his own territory, anything Rin wanted to know couldn't be hidden from him.
"Just consider it as me having foreseen it."
Rin: "These are two very promising Insectars. What do you plan to do, Ice Empress?"
"Of course, I'll lead them!"
"So you won't always say I'm neglecting my duties."
"Alright then."
Rin said. "Where are they? Take me there."
"How could I make you go through the trouble?"
"I'll summon them right now."
After saying that, Ice Empress directly used 'Subordinate Summon' to transfer the Beetle and the Bee from the forest into the living room.
Here, 'subordinates' can be understood as fellow creatures or monsters of the same race.
Like Akano and ordinary Oni race, Ranga and the wind-attributed wolf race.
The two little guys were saved by Ice Empress and recognized her as their leader.
A special connection of the Insect-Type Magic Beasts, with Ice Empress as the head, was formed between the three.
Thus, in the next moment, as the magicules fluctuation subsided, two figures appeared between Rin and Ice Empress.
"!!"
"Buzz buzz~"
The two little guys were startled by the sudden transfer.
Fortunately, they quickly saw Ice Empress sitting there, which made them sigh in relief.
"Let me introduce you."
Ice Empress stood up. "This is my master, and also the lord of this place, Itoshi Rin!"
"Hello there."
Rin acted very approachable, but what he received was the two little guys' trembling and respectful bows.
"Well..."
Rin shook his head helplessly. "According to the rules, I will now name you."
"???"
The two little guys, being new arrivals, didn't understand the value of monsters here.
All monsters being named—how terrifying that was could not be described.
"C-can we?"
A weak voice, from the Bee, entered Rin's ears.
"Of course!"
"Ah!"
The Bee was surprised. "Rin-sama, can you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes, I can."
Rin said while stroking the little Bee's head.
He found that the fur of this female Bee felt nice, and she didn't have the usual fierce appearance of ordinary Bees. Overall, she looked very cute.
"Thank you very much!"
"We shall pledge our eternal loyalty to you!"
After receiving Rin's affirmation, the Beetle, along with the little Bee, offered their highest respect to Rin and pledged their allegiance.
They were childhood sweethearts who grew up together, and their relationship was no different from human siblings.
Now, to be appreciated by Rin and serve under his command together, made them truly happy.
Their sense of belonging to Rin and the Monster Nation also greatly increased fourfold.
(To be continued.)