After Makoto finished forming the contract and healed his hand with the help of Shin and the black spider, they returned to the Highland Orc settlement. Because Makoto felt anemic, he entrusted everything related to the aftermath of the battle with the black spider to Shin. The next morning, when Makoto woke up, he saw the black spider sitting beside his bed.
"What are you doing here?" Makoto asked while getting ready and tidying up his bed.
"I was waiting for Danna-sama to wake up," the black spider replied confidently.
"Stop calling me Danna-sama. That's an order," Makoto said firmly.
Not long after, Shin arrived together with the dwarf he had saved.
"How are you feeling, Makoto-sama?" Shin asked as he stood before him.
"I feel fine," Makoto replied casually.
"A dwarf?" Makoto asked while looking at the dwarf standing beside Shin.
"Oh, Makoto-sama truly has vast knowledge," Shin said, praising him. "But he's no ordinary dwarf. He's an elder dwarf capable of forging exceptional weapons and armor."
"My name is Beren, an elder dwarf whom Shin-sama saved," Beren said while looking at Makoto.
"My name is Makoto. Welcome to the sub-dimension," Makoto replied with a smile.
"Thanks to you defeating the black spider, my village was spared from danger. You also lifted the curse on that woman and returned her to her original form," Beren said gratefully. It seemed Shin was still using the same explanation to justify the black spider's presence.
"Actually, I have a request for you, Makoto-sama," Beren said hesitantly.
"What is it?" Makoto asked.
"Would you allow us to live in this land?" Beren said as he knelt before Makoto. "We fear the raiders. If we remain in our former territory, they will continue to attack us."
"All right. You may live here," Makoto replied. "Shin, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Understood, Makoto-sama."
Shin then explained what the dwarves would need to do after settling in the sub-dimension—helping with city construction, forging equipment, paying rent, and acknowledging Makoto as their lord. After explaining everything, Shin sent Beren away and gave him several dragon scales left over from his battle with Makoto to facilitate negotiations.
"Makoto-sama, isn't it time you gave us names?" Shin asked after sending Beren off.
"Names?" Makoto repeated, looking at Shin. After thinking for a moment, Makoto decided to give them the same names as before.
"Very well. I will give you a name. From now on, your name is Tomoe, taken from a brave female samurai," Makoto said. Tomoe, upon receiving her name, felt immense joy. Her body was then enveloped in a faint light, making her even stronger.
Makoto then turned to the black spider.
"From now on, I give you the name Mio, taken from the word for 'zero' in my homeland and the character for water, which represents the water element—my specialty. I hope you begin a new life with this name," Makoto said sincerely as he looked at her.
Several days later, Tomoe and Mio gathered all the residents, including the dwarves, the Mistio Lizards, and the Alke who had recently arrived in the sub-dimension. After everyone assembled, Tomoe and Mio called Makoto forward.
"Everyone, from now on, call me Tomoe!" Tomoe declared loudly.
"And call me Mio as well!" Mio shouted.
Cheers erupted among the residents.
"Now, what about our lord's title?" Tomoe asked.
"Landlord, Waka-sama, or Retired Lord," Mio suggested.
"Which one is better?!" Tomoe and Mio shouted in unison.
After a vote, the title chosen by the majority was Waka-sama. Makoto waved his hand and accepted the title, after which introductions of the newly arrived races began.
First were the elder dwarves.
"Allow me to introduce our village chief," Beren said nervously.
"My name is Eld, leader of the elder dwarves. It's a pleasure to meet you," Eld said while looking at Makoto.
"Likewise, nice to meet you," Makoto replied casually.
"Waka-sama looks almost like a human," Eld said.
"Almost? Humans in this world just have excessively high standards," Makoto muttered inwardly.
"But your two followers are not beings that ordinary humans could ever control. Could it be that you were given a mission by the goddess who rules this world?" Eld asked sharply.
"Huh? A goddess? As if I'd ever take orders from such an arrogant, shameless being! She belittled me and threw me from the sky to the edge of the world! I gained nothing but bad experiences from meeting her!" Makoto replied as a fierce aura flared around him.
"So it's not a mission from the goddess?" Eld asked nervously after sensing Makoto's aura.
"No. Not at all," Makoto answered firmly.
"We're relieved to hear that. We have differing views regarding the goddess. It seems following you will be enjoyable," Eld said with a smile.
"All right," Makoto replied with a smile.
"Next is me," Tomoe said. "This is my clan, the Mistio Lizards. They are a powerful race with water and wind attributes, known for their beautiful blue scales," Tomoe announced proudly.
"Next is me. Waka-sama, this is my clan, the Alke," Mio said. "They are beings who can never escape hunger, but thanks to receiving energy from Waka-sama, they have regained their sanity. Children, dedicate your body and soul to Waka-sama!"
The Alke stood stiffly and nervously.
"You seem quiet. If you behave disrespectfully toward Waka-sama, I'll eat you," Mio threatened.
"We are the Alke. It's a pleasure to meet you," they said nervously.
"You're missing honorifics. Do you want me to eat you?" Mio snapped sharply.
"That's enough, Mio. Stop here," Makoto said, calming her.
"Everyone, I look forward to working with you. For more specific matters, Tomoe and Mio will inform you," Makoto said before leaving the stage.
That night, Makoto summoned Tomoe and Mio.
"Tomoe, Mio, from now on I want to train in archery," Makoto said seriously.
"Waka-sama, if it's just archery practice, there's no need to inform us," Tomoe said, confused.
"Tomoe's right, Waka-sama. You don't need to tell us," Mio added.
"Come with me. It'll be faster for you to see it with your own eyes than for me to explain," Makoto said, leading them to an archery range some distance from the settlement. Once there, he told them to stand beside the training ground.
"I'll say this again. Just watch—don't say anything. Tomoe, I order you to hold Mio until I'm finished so she doesn't interfere," Makoto said seriously.
"I don't know what Waka-sama plans to do, but I'll hold Mio," Tomoe replied solemnly.
Makoto picked up a bow and several arrows and prepared to aim. As he drew the bowstring, his presence suddenly faded and merged with nature itself. At that moment, Tomoe and Mio almost screamed his name, but remembering Makoto's order, they could only watch silently.
When they heard the arrow strike the target, they felt Makoto's presence return. After three or four shots, Mio could barely restrain herself. If not for Tomoe holding her, she would have rushed over and begged Makoto to stop.
After firing ten arrows, Makoto exhaled deeply, feeling his mind clear. When he looked toward Tomoe and Mio, he saw Mio crying while Tomoe covered Mio's mouth, struggling to restrain her. Seeing that Makoto had finished, Tomoe released Mio. Mio immediately ran to Makoto and hugged him without saying a word.
"What's going on, Waka-sama?" Tomoe asked as she approached and sat on the ground in front of him.
"As you can see, I was practicing archery," Makoto replied calmly.
"Who practices archery like that?!" Tomoe demanded angrily. "Do you even know what you were doing, Waka-sama?"
"I know. I emptied my mind, spread my consciousness to aim at the target, then recalled it the moment the arrow hit," Makoto said calmly.
"Waka-sama, only when someone dies does their consciousness disperse and vanish. What you did is no different from suicide," Mio said, lifting her tear-stained face to look at Makoto.
Makoto took out a handkerchief and gently wiped Mio's tears.
"I know what I did may look like suicide to you, but before I came to this world, I always trained like that," Makoto said softly.
"Haven't you felt it too, Tomoe? The magic power within my body has multiplied many times over, and the sub-dimension has grown larger," Makoto said seriously, looking at Tomoe.
"I feel that I must become stronger—to protect all of you," Makoto said, gazing firmly at both Tomoe and Mio.