Encountering A Hostile FF-rank Goblin Village

["I suppose expecting slimes to build a house was too much," you muttered, shaking your head.]

[Though their ability to gather and manipulate materials was impressive, they lacked the dexterity and reasoning needed for construction. For now, it seemed you would have to rely on your own hands—or eventually find more capable subjects.]

[Still, the experiment wasn't a complete failure. You now knew your slimes could gather and prepare materials, which could be useful in the future. With proper tools and perhaps a more intelligent workforce, building infrastructure might someday be possible.]

["Good work, everyone," you said, addressing the slimes. They wobbled in response, seemingly pleased with the praise despite their lack of progress.]

[You gestured for them to return the unused materials to the village perimeter for storage, a task they carried out with their usual efficiency.]

[As the sun began to set, you returned to the Dilapidated Lord's Hall. While it was far from ideal, it would suffice for now.]

[The hall's crumbling walls seemed to groan under the weight of time as you walked through its dimly lit corridors.]

[The faint smell of damp wood lingered in the air, mingling with the earthy scent that seemed ever-present in your territory. Despite its decrepit state, the hall offered one small mercy: a separate living quarters tucked away behind the throne room.]

[You pushed open the creaking wooden door to your bedroom. The room was small and sparsely furnished—a reflection of your territory's FFF-rank status.]

[A simple wooden bed stood against one wall, its frame sturdy but unadorned, with a thin straw mattress that looked less than comfortable.]

[A small, rickety table sat beside it, holding an unlit oil lamp. A single, cracked window let in a sliver of fading sunlight, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floor.]

[For all its shortcomings, the room at least provided privacy and a place to rest—a small luxury even for a poor lord like yourself.]

[You let out a tired sigh as you closed the door behind you, muffling the faint sounds of the slimes outside.]

[You sat on the edge of the bed, the wood creaking under your weight. Running a hand through your golden hair, you allowed yourself a rare moment to reflect.]

[The day had been exhausting—building a fire, cooking, and testing the capabilities of your subjects—but it had also been productive. You had learned the limits of your slimes and taken the first steps toward survival in this unforgiving world.]

[As you leaned back, staring at the wooden ceiling, your thoughts drifted to the future. The knowledge implanted in your mind made one thing abundantly clear: the Supreme Plane was no place for the weak.]

[To rise above your FFF-rank beginnings, you would need to push both yourself and your slimes to their absolute limits.]

[The bed wasn't comfortable by any means, but it was better than nothing. You pulled a thin, scratchy blanket over yourself and shifted, trying to find a position that didn't press the wooden slats against your back too harshly.]

[Outside, the muffled sounds of slimes wobbling about brought an odd sense of comfort. For all their limitations, they were loyal subjects, and for now, they were your only allies.]

[The flickering light from the cracked window faded entirely as night descended over the Slime Village.]

[You closed your eyes, letting the weariness of the day pull you into a light but uneasy sleep. The challenges of tomorrow loomed in your mind, but for now, rest was your only priority.]

[The night passed, and you soon woke up.]

[Your mind was restless as you contemplated the direction for the Slime Village's development.]

[The slimes were too weak in combat, even weaker than goblins, and they lacked the ability to build infrastructure. Their only value so far lay in scavenging and collecting items in the forest, which hardly seemed like a foundation for growth.]

[Even with these setbacks, you refused to give up. For now, you decided to focus on securing food.]

[The hare had been kept alive under the diligent watch of the slimes, nourished with sufficient water from the lake and wild berries they had gathered. This small success gave you some reassurance.]

[With food temporarily secured, your thoughts turned to other resources. Mana stones or any other useful items could be vital for the village's survival and future expansion.]

[You resolved to send twenty slimes on an expedition to explore the surrounding areas.]

[Unlike before, you remained cautious. Sitting on your wooden throne in the Dilapidated Lord's Hall, you constantly switched mental links with the slimes out on the expedition.]

[The ability to see the world through their eyes allowed you to monitor their progress and respond quickly to any dangers.]

[Through your mental connections, you estimated their locations and mapped out their movements. You knew that if a mental link were severed, it would indicate danger, allowing you to identify which areas to avoid in the future.]

[Hours passed as you monitored the slimes, their gelatinous forms wobbling through the forest as they scoured for mana stones and other valuable resources.]

[Most of them stuck to the designated area, gathering berries, stones, and fragments of mana crystals embedded in the ground.]

[But four slimes wandered too far, their aimless curiosity leading them beyond the safe zones of the forest. Through their perspective, you saw the trees thin out and the land give way to a small clearing where crude wooden huts and campfires came into view.]

[A Goblin Village. Unlike your Slime Village, this FF-rank territory was more organized. Goblins bustled about, carrying weapons and crude tools, their gruff voices echoing through the air.]

[At the center of the village stood a human male, commanding the goblins with an air of authority.]

[You recognized him immediately. He was a lord—like you—but his circumstances were far better. His goblins, while crude, were leagues ahead of your slimes in combat prowess.]