"This is it. Through this special Gel, we connect the consciousness—or voices—of everyone in the Kingdom into a vast network."
"As long as the distance isn’t too great, even news from the Tree Spirit Territory can be relayed here within minutes. Likewise, orders and information from the Royal Capital can be rapidly sent out everywhere."
It dawned on Oldes, and he couldn’t help but laugh to himself. ’So that’s what it was. I completely misunderstood, and I was way off the mark.’
The so-called "magical control of its people" was nothing more than this efficient and convenient Gel network.
’Thinking it over,’ he realized, ’a network like this would indeed allow an army to act with perfect synchronicity in battle, respond instantly to commands, and coordinate construction projects, doubling their efficiency.’
’To an outsider who didn’t know the truth, wouldn’t this high degree of synchronization and coordination look exactly like being "controlled" by a single, unified will?’
From what he had seen and heard today, this Slime Kingdom was no nest of evil monsters or a puppet state. On the contrary, it was a well-ordered kingdom, a civilized society brimming with wisdom and vitality.
’If I could just meet this Slime Sage and have an in-depth conversation... it might hold some real surprises. It could even offer some inspiration for the future direction of the Sages’ Association,’ Oldes thought.
His attitude toward this "investigation" had subtly shifted from initial wariness and suspicion to keen interest and anticipation.
Since he had entered the Royal Capital with the Lizardman immigrant caravan, he was temporarily housed with Turk and the others. They were placed in a temporary residential area near the Knight training grounds, one specially prepared for the Lizardmen. He settled in there.
The area consisted of rows of semi-subterranean stone houses. The interiors were dry and warm, with fireplaces for heat and thick animal hides spread across the floors.
Though the dwellings looked simple, they were more than enough to ward off the autumn chill. For the Lizardmen, who in years past had to huddle in damp caves to survive the cold, it was already quite comfortable.
Oldes was given one of the slightly larger stone houses, next to the quarters of Turk and Salaman.
He declined the bed the Lizardmen offered, explaining that as a "tree spirit," he preferred direct contact with the earth. Thoughtfully, the Lizardmen piled up a small mound of damp, humus-rich soil in a corner of the dwelling, allowing him to sink his roots in to rest.
During the day, Oldes would remain rooted in the corner of the dwelling, seemingly dormant and recuperating, but in truth, he was observing everything around him.
He watched the young Lizardman Warriors rise before dawn to begin their training under the guidance of their instructors.
These Lizardmen trained with incredible diligence, their eyes filled with a yearning for strength and hope for the future.
They were no longer fighting for mere survival. Instead, they had a clearer goal: to become Knights recognized by the Kingdom, to protect their home, and to win glory.
Oldes found himself silently marveling at their heartfelt motivation and tenacious will.
’The Slime King not only guaranteed their survival but also ignited a fire in the hearts of these young creatures. That is a far more masterful approach than simply bestowing power.’
’Guiding living beings and showing them a path—that is precisely what a Wise Man should do.’
Just one day later, a response came from the Tree Spirit Territory. Turk ran over, bursting with excitement. "We have news! Lady Violet says she is aware of your situation, but the Tree Spirit Territory is unable to receive outside guests at this time. She asks that the Slime Kingdom please grant you temporary shelter. After a while, she will send an Elf to the Royal Capital to escort you, and to extend her thanks to His Majesty."
Oldes understood at once. ’This is obviously a pretext from Violet, meant to facilitate my investigation. It gives me the perfect reason to remain in the Slime Kingdom.’
And so, it was settled. He would stay, becoming a temporary "tree spirit guest" residing in the Slime Royal Capital.
「Two days passed quickly.」
Early that morning, Oldes heard news that the Slime King had returned to the Royal Capital.