Chapter 09: Negotiations with the Goblin
From their perspective, they are desperate. They are not letting their guard down, holding their weapons and staring at me.
Unfortunately, some of them seem to be trying to run away.
However, the leader was different.
He kept his eyes on me, staring intently.
I sense intelligence in this one. Perhaps a conversation might be possible.
I decided to experiment by infusing my thoughts into the voice I created to see if it would be understood.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Rimuru, the slime. Is it okay to call you Ro?"
The goblins started murmuring.
Did they get surprised because a slime spoke? But...
Among them, some threw away their weapons and bowed deeply.
"Great one, strong one! Your power is well known!!! Please lower your voice!!!"
Hmm? Was my thought too strong?
This won't just convey my intentions; it will scare them.
"I'm sorry. I haven't adjusted it well yet."
Well, I'll apologize just in case.
"It is an honor. There is no need for apologies to us!"
It seems they can understand me.
This will be good practice.
By the way, I spoke in Japanese, and I was surprised that they understood the meaning.
"So, what do you want from me? There doesn't seem to be much of a reason for me to be here?"
The other side spoke politely, and I thought I should respond in kind...
But they are so afraid of me, so I decided to be a bit more forceful.
"Yes, that's right. There is our village ahead. We came to investigate because we sensed a powerful monster."
"Powerful monster? I don't feel anything like that..."
"Great one, great one. You can't fool us with such a facade!"
It seems they are completely mistaken. (Note: The one who is mistaken is β this one!)
They think a powerful monster has turned into a slime.
After all, goblins are known as the lowest of monsters.
We talked for a while, and it turned out that I would visit their village.
It seems they will be hosting me.
They look poor, but they are kind.
I don't really need it, but resting wouldn't be bad.
Thinking that, I accepted their invitation to the village.
On the way, I heard various stories.
They said their god had disappeared recently.
They said that at the same time, monsters became more active.
They said that powerful human adventurers were increasingly intruding into the forest.
While continuing the conversation, I could clearly hear the other side's voice.
It seems I got used to communicating through 'Magic Sense.'
It might be fortunate that I practiced with goblins before talking to humans.
Thinking that, I followed them.
The village was, to say the least, shabby.
After all, it's a goblin's nest, so I didn't expect much.
I was led to the most intact-looking building.
The roof was made of rotten straw, with holes everywhere, and the walls were just stacked veneer panels...
To put it in terms of my previous life, it was a level where a slum would be better!
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, sir."
Saying that, a goblin entered.
Supporting that goblin, the goblin leader who had been guiding me followed.
"No, no, I didn't wait that long. Don't worry about it!"
I responded with a smile trained in business.
So-called, the slime smile.
A friendly smile to proceed with negotiations smoothly. It's a scary technique.
I don't know what we're negotiating, but...
"I'm sorry for not being able to treat you well. I am the village chief here."
Saying that, he presented something like tea.
I was surprised that goblins even have such a thing.
I drank the tea. (It looks like a teacup covered)
I can't taste it. Of course, I don't have a sense of taste.
In this case, is it good or bad...? I investigated the components, but it's not poison.
I could feel the goblins' consideration.
"So, you invited me to the village on purpose. Is there something you want from me?"
Since we are both monsters, it's not a friendly invitation to get along, right?
The chief trembled but looked at me with determination.
"In fact, do you know that the movements of monsters have become more active recently?"
I heard that while walking.
"Our god protected this land, but about a month ago, he disappeared...
Because of that, monsters started interfering with this land...
We couldn't just sit still, so we responded, but it was difficult in terms of strength..."
Is he talking about Veldora? The timing matches...
Well, it seems the goblins want me to help them.
"I understand the story. But, I'm a slime, so I think it's impossible to do what you expect?"
"Hahaha, modesty! A simple slime doesn't have that kind of aura!
We can't even imagine why you have such a form, but you are a named monster, aren't you?"
What is that? I don't remember emitting anything like that...
I changed the perspective of 'Magic Sense' and observed myself.
Something eerie seemed to be flowing out, enveloping my body.
If I had noticed it when I was experimenting with 'Body Armor'...
Walking down a big road, the feeling of the company's windows being wide open overwhelmed me.
The cave was so thick with mana that I didn't notice it at all...
This is unacceptable! It's definitely out!
At this moment, I finally understood the reason for the monsters' reactions since I left the cave.
No monster would want to deal with such a dangerous-looking creature.
No one falls for appearances! Is that it?
In this situation, I'm giving up.
"Hehehe. As expected, Chief, do you understand?"
"Of course! Even with that form, you can't hide the aura you emit!"
"Is that so, you figured it out. You have quite a discerning eye!"
I'm getting more and more into the mood!
In this state, I'll guide the chief well and smooth things over.
At the same time, I'll try to see if I can erase the eerie aura.
I thought about containing the aura by manipulating the external mana.
"Ah... You were testing us! Thank you. Many were scared of that aura..."
I successfully hid the aura.
To me, I look like a regular slime.
If I walk around looking like a regular slime...
Wouldn't I be attacked by monsters and become a nuisance?
If the result is okay, it's fine, right?
"That's right. You approached me without being scared by my aura, so you have quite a future!"
What kind of future... I want to tackle myself, but I hold back.
I'll learn from the mood.
"Haha! Thank you. ...So, I won't ask why you hid your form. But...
I have a request. Can you please help us?"
"It depends on the content. Tell me."
I asked the chief without losing my arrogant attitude.
New monsters from the eastern land are aiming for dominance here.
There seem to be a few goblin settlements around here.
This settlement is one of them, but many goblin warriors died in the fight with the new monsters.
The problem was that there was a named warrior among them.
That warrior was like a guardian of the village, and losing that existence greatly reduced the village's value.
Other goblin settlements abandoned this village.
While the new monsters attack this village, they will prepare a countermeasure! That was the consensus of the other settlements.
No matter how much the chief and goblin leader tried to persuade them, they only received cold responses.
The chief and leader spoke with a voice tinged with frustration.
"Indeed... So, how many live in this village? How many can fight?"
"Yes, about 100 goblins live in this village. About 60 can fight, including females."
This is not very reassuring.
But, being able to roughly estimate the numbers, the goblins might be quite clever.
"Hmm. Do you know the number and type of the new monsters?"
"Yes. They are wolf monsters, the Arang clan. Originally, even 10 of us might not be able to defeat one...
But there are about 100 of them..."
I looked at the chief's eyes.
He is not joking. He is looking at me seriously.
His eyes are a bit cloudy, but for a goblin, they are serious.
"Did the goblin warriors go to fight a few of them, knowing they couldn't win?"
"...No, this information was obtained by the warriors risking their lives..."
I see, I asked a sorry question.
When I asked more, it turned out the named goblin was the chief's son and the goblin leader's brother.
I listened to the story and thought about what to do.
The chief said nothing, waiting for my decision.
Maybe it's just my mood, but it seems there are tears in his eyes... It must be my imagination.
Tears don't suit monsters.
I'll act arrogantly. That's the proper appearance of a revered monster!
"Chief, I have one question. If I save this village, what will be the reward?
It's fine to help on a whim.
But, 100 monsters that 10 of them might not be able to defeat.
It's not an easy opponent.
I think I can handle it if I assume the form of a black snake, but...
It's not a story I can accept easily.
"We will offer our loyalty! Please grant us your protection. If you do, we will swear our loyalty to you!!!"
Honestly, I don't feel happy about that.
But, having experienced a tedious 90 days, I even find talking to goblins enjoyable.
If I were human, I might have felt disgust at their filth.
But I am a monster now. I don't need to fear disease.
Moreover, the chief's eyes. They are completely relying on me.
I recall my previous life.
No matter how I tried to justify it, I was weak when it came to being relied on.
I would grumble and complain, but I would end up helping a junior who asked for a favor...
"Alright! I'll grant your wish!"
Thus, I became the master and guardian of the goblins.
Abilities: Unique Skill 'Great Sage'
Slime Unique Skills 'Dissolve, Absorb, Regeneration'
Extra Skill 'Water Manipulation'
Extra Skill 'Magic Sense'
Acquired Skills: Black Snake 'Heat Detection, Poison Breath', Centipede 'Paralyzing Breath', Spider 'Adhesive Threads, Steel Threads', Bat 'Ultrasound', Lizard 'Body Armor'
Resistances: Heat Resistance EX, Physical Attack Resistance, Numbness Immunity, Electric Resistance, Paralysis Resistance
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