Nyx Nova

Chapter Three

          We were three days into our march towards the marshes. We were on our way to finalize the alliance. We stopped here for a moment to rest and recuperate. We didn't bring a lot of things since we were moving fast. All of them were riding the wolves but I chose to run instead although, it made no difference to me if I rode a wolf or not. This would not be enough to tire me out. That said, the wolves were impressive, for the journey to the marshes only took three days that was saying something about the speed they could go without stopping.
          'Okay, let's stop here,' Rimuru announced. 'Let's set the camp here today.'
          'Huh? We could still go on,' I commented.
          'I know but we are right on the schedule right now. We should take a rest here to save our energy,' said Rimuru. The goblin riders were quick to set up camp and they had already set out for firewood around the area. But since we were quite close to the marshes, their search was unfruitful.
          'Despite his shortcomings, Gobuta shows great potential as a leader,' I said as I sat next to Rimuru. That hobgoblin had caught my attention for a while now. My interactions with him were never a dull moment. He reminded me of that old delinquent that lived near the house where I grew up. That guy, bless his soul, was the reason I got into music in the first place.
          'You think so too? To be fair, I think that he is a smart guy,  it's just that he lacks the talent to teach his knowledge to the other goblin riders,' said Rimuru.
          'Out here, it's his spirit that counts though talents can be nurtured,  you know? Never deprive someone of a chance to be a better person,' I countered.
          'Hmm, you're right. Perhaps I don't have the eye to see someone's true potential after all,' said Rimuru. 'Could you perhaps help me out? You always have a knack for seeing the best in people even in the previous world. With your experience,  perhaps you could teach the goblins a thing or two.'
          'I don't know where you and my viewers get this idea that I could teach, but you know I would at least guide them to the right path,' I said.
          'Now that's the Kouki Ueda I know, never stingy with his knowledge, be it a rival or a friend,' he teased. Being with him, I was slowly returning to my mortal self. I was a kind soul, always seeing the best and expecting the best from people. I know that Rimuru brought out the deeply buried,  best version of myself.  I am all for that jazz.
          'I found some firewood,' Souei said as he appeared out of his Shadow Movement skill. Gobuta's group instantly cheered for that shinobi-esque guy.
          'Ah, Souei,' Rimuru greeted the blue Oni. 'Would you go, scout, our surroundings?'
          'Yes master,' said the oni before he jumped away from the campsite. I took another look at Gobuta, that hobgoblin was the strongest goblin around, having endured Hakurou's hell-like coaching every day. I've been noting how he was such a great student and a fast learner; he was never knocked out the same way and diligently listens to my stories in between lessons. I felt that I have to reward the kid for his feats. I snapped my fingers and a dagger of mine appeared.
          'Gobuta? Here's my promise for you,' I said as I tossed the dagger to him. In his grip, the dagger looked more like a sword due to his small stature.
          'Ah!! Thank you ssu! I thought you were joking ssu!' he exclaimed as he flailed the blade about, endangering people around him.
          'Oi! That thing can still hurt people, be careful with where you swing it!' I sternly reminded him.
          'Sorry ssu! I'll cherish it ssu!' said Gobuta.
          'Oi, oi, that blade looks ominous, is it okay to give him that?' Rimuru turned to me urgently.
          'Well that is if he could fully use it,' I said. The dagger was bestowed to me as a companion of Muriel's Spear,  intended for extremely close-range fights. Given that most of my skills nowadays were large-scale and overpowered, the dagger quickly became a survival knife instead.  Giving him that won't be as painful as the claymore. In time, he will know the full potential of the dagger but until then, let him get used to it.
          'Nyx-sama is awesome ssu! He didn't need to ride a storm wolf and he is as fast as us ssu!!' Gobuto exclaimed as he fed his wolf some water.
          'You can flatter me all you want, but I still didn't forget that you almost got us hurt. Don't make me take it away,' I mildly threatened. I could visibly see the soul abandon his body.
          'Rimuru-sama? Are you free now?' Souei suddenly contacted my friend through the Thoughts Transmission skill.
          'That was fast. Have you gotten hold of the situation now?' Rimuru questioned.
          'No, I just found a group of people fighting,' said Souei. Rimuru didn't understand the cryptic response from Souei and waited for further explanation.
          'One of them is the trusted aide of the lizardmen's head. I had seen this person before when I went to negotiate,' said Souei. 'The others are of the orc tribe. A High Orc and 50 more followers of his. Looks like it's to show off his strength to his subordinates. The High Orc is bullying the lizardman alone.'
          'Can you beat the Orcs?' Rimuru wondered.
          'Easy peasy, but,' Souei replied. 'Nyx-sama is already here to do that, I assume.'
          'What?!!' Rimuru just now registering that I had long since disappeared from his side. 'Alright, I understand, though it's rude to the lizardman and your second commander. This is a good opportunity to gauge the strength of the Orcs as well as that guy. Please observe him as best as you can.'
          'You know, I hate bullies,' I said. 'Wherever I go, I always meet your kind of people.'
          'You! Who are you two?!' the orc demanded brandishing his shortsword at us two. 'Are you trying to steal my prey by suddenly appearing?'
          'I didn't finish yet,' I stared them down unleashing a bit of my aura before I initiated the Temptation skill by snapping my fingers and all of the orcs kneeled before me. 'They all seemed to say the same thing when they saw me. Want to know what they were saying?'
          'What?' the Orc gritted as I swung my claymore horizontally across their neck and the whole area was bathed in the blood of the Orcs. The sound of splashing blood and dismembered heads hitting the ground accompanied the High Orc's words.
          'Oh, wow, you've read my mind!' I delightedly exclaimed. 'That is exactly what they had said.'
          'Who?' the Lizardman croaked, scared after seeing such a gory act.
          'Don't be afraid, this is my village's second in command, Nyx Nova-sama,' said Souei, comforting the frail Lizardman.
          'You're watching eh, Orc Lord?' I said as I glared into the remaining Orc's eye. 'I am coming for you.'
          With that, I slashed the High Orc's hands and feet off his body. The scream he let out was a song in my ears. I hadn't heard this kind of scream in ages. This High Orc seemed to not have regenerative skills thus I assumed that I did a great job in subduing this bully. As if on cue,  Rimuru and the gang finally showed up after a few seconds.
          'What in the world did you do the guy?' Rimuru said as he arrived. 'Are you sure you're not a Demon Lord?'
          'As if this dummy deserves the full extent of my powers,' I said as patted the High Orc's head repeatedly before I sheathed my claymore back into its sheath. 'Kaijin and Kurobee did well.'
          'Are you alright? You're the Lizardmen's head's trusted aide right?' Rimuru said as he inspected the lizardmen. 'Just drink this, don't worry, it's a health potion.'
          'The wounds? This must be a lie,' the Lizardman exclaimed after she was immediately healed from her wound. 'I swear I took a fatal hit.'
          'Thank goodness we made it on time,' Rimuru exclaimed, relieved that the potion worked on the Lizardman. How could it not? I know exactly what kind of concoction it was. It was the long-lost Full Potion, one that even the dwarves were unable to reproduce.
          'You, you are...?' said the Lizardman.
          'I am Rimuru Tempest,' said Rimuru. 'Here to ally with the Lizardmen. That ominous guy is my second in command. His heart is good, don't be afraid of him. Is that guy able to talk, Nyx?'
          'Of course, unlike the rest of the Orcs, I cut his limbs off instead,' I said as I tossed the Orc in front of Rimuru.
          'Kill me, please,' the Orc hurriedly pleaded. 'Save me from that monster!'
          'Where did this idiot come from?' in came Shion who was hurling her nodachi at the crippled Orc.
          'Oi,' Souei warned her to no avail. 'We still need to ask him questions.'
          'You dare to be so insolent in front of Rimuru-sama?!' she screamed as her sword strike obliterated what remained of the Orc. She lifted off her sword and beamed at Rimuru, fishing for compliments.
          'You unreasonable child! We needed that guy,' I grumbled as I pinched both of her pouty cheeks. 'Next time read the room first!'
          'My, my, not only Nyx-sama is capable in the way of the sword, but he still knows how to discipline a child,' Hakurou commented as he arrived with the rest of us.
          'Even the second in command is this strong?' the Lizardman mumbled, disbelieving.
          'They're just that weak, Lizardman Chan,' I said. 'My efforts here could be managed even by this Gobuta right here.'
          'Nyx-sama ssu! Don't touch me ssu! You're soaked in blood ssu!! Besides I don't think I could cut off a guy's head as you,' Gobuta complained as he flew before I could place my hand over his shoulder.
          'Ara ara, are you afraid of a bit of blood?' I said as I appeared next to him blowing a breath by his ears.
          'Argh!!!!! Save me, Rimuru-sama!!!' the goblin screamed as he ran for Rimuru. We laughed lightheartedly at how silly it was.
          'I have a favour!' the Lizardman loudly said and she kneeled before Rimuru. 'Please save my father who is the Head and my stupid brother Gabil!!'
          'What's the matter? What happened?' Rimuru questioned.
          'Brother Gabil has locked up the Head,' said the lizardman. 'Brother seems to want to defeat the Orcs just by his power but he has looked down on the Orc Lord too much. If this continues the Lizardmen will lose and be destroyed. I'm very clear that this is a very selfish request. You have strong Oni and this peerless man also follows you. I believe that if it is you, you're able to save us. Please...'
          'Well said!' Shion, of all people, started talking. 'To be able to sense Rimuru-sama's greatness. I have faith in you. The Lizardmen tribe will be saved.'
          'Eh? But, Rimuru-sama hasn't said anything yet,' said the Lizardman.
          'You're the Head's daughter correct?' said Rimuru. 'Then I shall treat you as the representative of the Head. We have now agreed on the alliance. Do you have any objections?'
          'No,' the Lizardman answered. 'Why would there be any objections? Then...'
          'Souei, are you able to use the shadow step to the Head's aide?' Rimuru wondered.
          'Possible,' the Oni answered.
          'Yosh, since we're in an alliance, it's natural to help each other. Right?' said Rimuru as he wore the mask that he had hung by the side of his face.