Envoy
Gabil had easily acquired the Goblin Villages’ support.
They are a pathetic race, after all. Should they show any intention to disobey, I’ll quickly force them to obey.
He had every village bring out food from their storehouses.
The goblin warriors numbered 7,000.
A poor fighting force, but good enough for now.
Those without the will to fight have already ran away.
「Clan chiefs! Are there any other villages around here?」
The chiefs exchanged glances.
One nervously replied,
「No… though not exactly a village, but there is a community…」
What’s with that?
And when he pressed further, they began telling him a bizarre story.
However, that makes no sense, he thought. Fang wolves are powerful monsters that move in packs.
For them to serve some lowly goblins… impossible!
Those goblins obeyed a slime.
He decided to confirm their words.
Gabil thus decided… for the sake of his grand ambition.
The village was not where he was told.
To achieve his desire of ousting the current Head, he needed to have more self-control.
Gabil perceived only one obstacle to his plans–a lack of an army.
And with the rulers of the plains and the rulers of the marshes under one banner, how could they even think to fear the lowly orcs!
By expelling the orcs, they would become the true rulers of the Jura Forest. And thus, surely Gelmudo-sama would distinguish them for their service.
The main army he’d already sent back to the Shisu lake, ordering them to be on standby.
And after receiving reports that tracks were found, he quickly issued orders.
Mounting the Overlizards, they ran towards their objective.
“I’ll train them myself, and have them regain their former power!” So he thought.
His head was filled with the dream of becoming a ruler of the forest and serving Gelmudo-sama.
To meet with the lizardmen’s envoy, I proceeded to the entrance of the city.
The members who attended were myself, Rigurdo, Benimaru, Hakurou, and Shion.
She does not understand the beauty of gentle refinement and natural simplicity. She does everything with all her strength.
When cleaning, “Everything must be erased” she concluded, and attempted to destroy the very building. Fortunately, we were able to stop her in time and did not need to rebuild it.
She’ll just try to solve any problem with her strength. So I worry about letting her out of my sight.
I just wish she wasn’t that happy about it.
I feel like there was strange grass, looking like wakame, floating in there. In short, that was not something you’d drink.
What a guy…
Damn you guys…
Wait! What is there to praise?
Having said my prayers, I moved to take the teacup,
「Ah! Tea, huh! I was just getting thirsty!」
With those words, Gobuta who had just arrived took the cup and drank it all.
*Guuuuuuuuuudo!!!*
Well done! I’m proud of you from the bottom of my heart!
That, Gobuta did not notice… couldn’t notice.
Dodged that bullet. That could’ve been me right there.
But I won’t be deceived. She’s forbidden from cooking from now on.
「Ah, Shion. When making food or drink for people, make sure to run it by Benimaru first!」
Let’s make sure she understands.
“Nope. She’s your problem now, I leave her to you!” I told him with my eyes.
I pray there be less victims from now on.
Since the alarm sounded, an hour had passed.
And, with a somewhat ‘different’ attitude, a Lizardman dismounted a giant lizard.
Would he be… their leader?
「Well done with the reception! I’ll allow you to become my servants. Be honored!!!」
Is he still asleep?
Somehow… I have no words to say. What the hell is this idiot saying?
「Hmph. Haven’t you heard? The orc army is advancing on the forest. The only one who can save you small fry is me!」
So the orcs are indeed coming. I was waiting for Souei to report, so this is within expectations.
I guess it would make sense to unite against them, but…
「Oh, right. I’ve heard there is someone among you who has tamed a fang wolf. I’ll make him into an officer. Bring him to me!」
Umm…
An incompetent ally is worse than a hardened foe. That much is common sense…
Benimaru scratched his head, and looked at me as if saying, “can I kill this idiot?”
We refuse. No, not about Shion’s cooking–their offer!
And, Shion, who is holding me, is flexing her arms…
But when she noticed my panic, she loosened up a bit.
I let my guard down. Being hugged to death would not be funny. Seems like she can’t control her strength at all.
In any case, this is rather troubling. Who’d have though the envoy would be an idiot.
「Umm, the one who tamed the fang wolf… or rather made him his servant would be me…」
Anyways, let’s continue the conversation.
「Haaah? A lowly slime? Then summon his now. If you do, I’ll believe you.」
How condescending!
I’ve met many politicians and office workers before, but never before have I met someone so blatantly foolish.
And besides, there is no benefit in making such an ally.
I decided to change my approach,
「Ranga!」
「Ay! I hear and obey.」
Ranga appears from within my shadow. Recently, lurking around in there has become his habit.
「Oh. It seems I have business with you. I permit you to speak.」
I prefer to leave this things to others.
But really, the only one who didn’t treat me – while a slime – as trash was Rigurdo, huh.
And by the way, it seems that for every person that recognizes my aura while I hide it there is an idiot who doesn’t even while I display it.
Noticing my displeasure, Ranga
「Rather than with my lord, I have been ordered to speak with thou. I’m listening. Speak!」
While intimidating the lizardmen, he confronted the envoy.
Who, in turn, lost his composure for a second, but then quickly regained it.
「Ri… right. So you are the Fang Wolf? The chief here? I am the Lizardmen’s raid leader Gabil.
Pleased to make your acquaintance. As I have just stated, I have received a name. So rather than that slime, how about serving me?」
He brazenly replied.
No, no, have to act like the mature monster here. Let’s forgive him.
But more than myself, I want Shion to relax. Wait, any more power and I’ll..!
However, isn’t he too arrogant for a simple lizard…
Ranga too is begging to let him loose.
「Guruu. Lowly lizard… I am no longer a Fang Wolf. For you to not recognize that much, insignificant being…」
Ranga gritted his teeth and a dangerous crimson light filled his eyes. He is stilling his anger.
Were he not a messenger, I’d laugh watching him torn to pieces for his stupidity, but…
「Very well! I’ll show you my power! Who will be my opponent?」
Oi oi… that’s a bad joke.
At most, he might be stronger than Rigurdo…
Being the Goblin king, he is strongest warrior among the goblins.
And that’s not counting his armaments.
Where the hell is this self-confidence coming from?
Who will fight him…?
「Kukuku, fine. In that case, fight with one of my storm wolves, should you defeat him, I will listen.」
Ranga continued the conversation.
Everyone wanted to beat the guy senseless, and had a dangerous glow in their eyes.
And whenever someone had an outburst of anger, the rest of us seemed to calm down.
For guys like this, only I seem to be able to keep my cool at all times… but whatever.
「Is that fine? I am willing to face you, you know?
Well, if you feel like making excuses when you lose, you are free to send out your subordinate!」
Uoooooooooo!!! Ranga howled.
Damn it! Just when the anger had subsided, the lizard had to provoke us again.
Ranga calmly summons a wolf.
Moreover, a black wolf appearing thus, I must admit, looks pretty damn cool.
「Garuu. Shut this lizard up!」
「Gau! (Ay!)」
And then, to the lizard,
「If you wish to borrow my strength, first show your own. Now, begin!」
Ranga shouted.
The lizard, no, Gabil readied a trident, and carefully observed the storm wolf’s movements.
*Ton!* He kicked the ground, covering the distance to his opponent in a single leap.
Completely unable to react, Gabil never knew what hit him.
He threw Gabil into the air once, and then smashed him to the ground.
Not Ranga, but some average storm wolf had completely overwhelmed the B ranking Lizardmen’s raid leader Gabil.
As a result of the attack, Gabil’s scale armor fell apart, and the lizard himself had fainted.
They could not understand what had happened at all.
「Oi. The winner has been decided. The offer I refuse.
Today, however, take that away and leave」
Upon hearing my words, the Lizardmen finally began leaving.
And thus, the troublesome Lizardmen’s envoy had finally departed.
However… the orcs are still going to invade, and we do not have a solid plan yet.
Moreover, we seem to have met a headache-inducing, unreliable “allies” known as the Lizardmen.
The more I thought about these things, the deeper into melancholy I fell.