Tensura: The Odyssey

Chapter 5: First Steps

Well, this is awkward.

The goblins stared up at me with such reverent expressions, while the pupp-Ahem, direwolves, yes, direwolves, looked remarkably obedient. In hindsight, I hadn't really given them much of a choice, had I? I'd literally told them to submit or die...right after killing their leader. That was a bit much, I admitted to myself, feeling a twinge of embarrassment.

But now, with all eyes on me, the silence was stretching just a little too long. What should I even say? None of them seemed eager to speak up either-everyone just stood around, waiting for something.

Finally, a voice broke the silence, tentative and shaky. "Umm... Lord Slime..?"

Thank you for breaking the ice, Goblin-kun, I thought with relief, realizing just how badly I needed someone else to start speaking here.

"Ah, yes! Call me Rimuru. Just Rimuru, none of that 'Lord' stuff." I tried to keep the tone casual, even friendly. "So, you're named, right?"

"Y-yes, Rimuru-sama," he stammered, the honorific slipping in regardless. "I have been given the name Rigur by the esteemed Lord Gelmund." He straightened up a little, clearly proud of the name.

Being named was really a big deal for monsters here. His chest practically puffed up when he mentioned it, and the other goblins looked at him with something close to envy. But Gelmund, huh? I thought, filing the name away to ask about later, when there wouldn't be so many ears around. Right now, Rigur looked like he was on the verge of collapsing, barely managing to stay upright. His body was covered in scratches and bruises, and he had a pretty deep gash near his collarbone, plus a bite mark on his left arm.

Sage, is it possible to use the healing potion to treat those injuries? I asked

Since I didn't know how effective or if there were any side effects the healing potion might have after using it on him.

<<Affirmative. As stated earlier, the potion created from hipokute herbs with a 99% extraction rate will be fully effective for any physical injuries. There will be no side effects in this case.>>

'Just physical injuries?' I thought. Something to ask about later. Anyway, he looked like he was about to keel over right then. I should do something about it quickly.

"Rigur? Just come over here for a second, will you?"

"Huh? M-me?"

He seemed startled that I'd called him over. I didn't bother replying, just kept staring at him with the straight black lines on my blob-like body that I called my eyes.

Getting the hint, he cautiously limped toward me, his steps slow. Once he was close, he dropped to one knee, trembling slightly-probably from his injuries.

"Don't panic, 'kay?"

"Wha-"

Without giving him a chance to reply further, I expanded my body over him and completely swallowed him whole into my [Stomach]. The reaction was instant.

"Eiikk!" one goblin squeaked in alarm, nearly falling over in shock.

"M-my s-son!" another frail and old-looking goblin cried out, hands raised to his face in horror.

"How ruthless..." one of the direwolves muttered under his breath, sounding both impressed and disturbed.

"Shut up! Do you want to go next?!" another direwolf snapped, quickly silencing the first with a wary glance in my direction.

Right. Next time, maybe a little heads-up would be good, I thought to myself, realizing I might have caused a bit of unnecessary panic.

Inside my [Stomach], I carefully applied the healing potion to Rigur's wounds. His torn flesh mended, bruises disappeared, and the bite marks and scratches vanished. Once I was sure he was fully healed, I gently spit him back out.