As they continued forward, Lucifer’s Universal Sense detected several presences approaching them.
A group of goblins.
Weak.
Nervous.
And trembling.
Their bodies were thin and malnourished, clad in ragged clothing and crude armor pieced together from scraps.
The weapons they carried were little more than sharpened sticks, rusted swords, and worn-out spears.
Compared to the monsters deeper within the forest, they were pitifully weak.
A few moments later, the bushes ahead rustled violently.
Then several goblins emerged from the undergrowth.
The moment they laid eyes on Rimuru, their faces turned pale.
Their bodies visibly shook.
Some even looked as though they were about to collapse.
Lucifer recognized the goblin standing at the front.
A red band was tied around his forehead.
If his memories of the original story were correct, then this goblin was the son of the village chief.
The very same goblin who had first approached Rimuru in the original timeline.
Unlike the goblins from certain darker fantasy worlds, these goblins were not ugly, malicious creatures filled with greed and cruelty.
They looked more pitiful than threatening.
Desperate survivors struggling to live another day.
The goblin leader swallowed nervously before cautiously stepping forward.
Unfortunately, before he could say anything—
"Hello!"
Rimuru enthusiastically greeted them.
The moment his voice echoed through the clearing, the goblins screamed.
"GYAAAHHH!"
Several collapsed on the spot.
Others nearly dropped their weapons.
One particularly unfortunate goblin actually fainted.
Lucifer pinched the bridge of his nose.
Rimuru blinked.
"...Eh?"
The slime looked completely confused.
What he didn’t realize was that the Vocal Skill he had obtained from one of the bat-type monsters inside the cave was still difficult for him to control.
Combined with the overwhelming aura he was unconsciously releasing, every word he spoke sounded terrifying to the goblins.
To them, it felt as though an unimaginably powerful monster was issuing commands directly into their souls.
After a lengthy misunderstanding and many desperate apologies from the goblins, communication was finally established.
Or rather—
The goblins spent most of the conversation begging for mercy while Rimuru repeatedly tried to explain that he had no intention of harming them.
Eventually, the terrified goblins revealed the reason they had approached.
Their village was being threatened by a pack of Direwolves.
Unable to protect themselves, they had come seeking help from the powerful monsters they had sensed within the forest.
Following the same course of events as the original timeline, Lucifer and Rimuru agreed to accompany them.
Under the goblins’ guidance, they traveled deeper into the forest until a small settlement came into view.
The village consisted of simple wooden huts surrounded by crude defensive walls.
The atmosphere was gloomy.
Fear and anxiety lingered in the air.
The moment they entered the settlement, every goblin present immediately noticed Rimuru’s overwhelming aura.
Panic spread throughout the village.
Then an elderly goblin hurried forward.
The village chief.
The instant his eyes landed on Rimuru and Lucifer, he dropped to his knees.
"Please save us!"
The old goblin lowered his head until it touched the ground.
His voice trembled with desperation.
Behind him, dozens of goblins followed suit and prostrated themselves.
They had no other options.
No other hope.
And so, they could only beg these two powerful monsters for salvation.
The goblins naturally noticed Lucifer’s presence as well.
However, unlike Rimuru, who was unconsciously releasing his aura without restraint, Lucifer had perfect control over his own power.
Not a single strand of his immense magicule reserves leaked into the surroundings.
As a result, the goblins could not accurately judge his strength.
What they did feel was something else entirely.
An indescribable pressure.
A sense of absolute confidence.
The feeling that no matter what happened, the crimson-haired daemon standing beside the slime would remain calm and unmoved.
It gave him the aura of an untouchable existence.
Someone they instinctively knew they should not provoke.
Meanwhile, Rimuru looked completely confused.
"Huh?"
The slime bounced slightly.
"Why do you all think I can help?"
The goblins stared at him.
The chief blinked.
Then he carefully pointed toward Rimuru.
"Because... Lord Rimuru is incredibly powerful."
"Eh?"
"The aura radiating from your body is greater than any monster we have ever encountered."
The old goblin’s voice trembled.
Rimuru froze.
"...Aura?"
The goblin chief nodded repeatedly.
"Y-Yes, Lord Rimuru."
Silence.
Then realization struck.
The slime immediately began sweating buckets.
"W-W-Wait!"
"You mean I’ve been releasing my magicules this entire time?!"
The goblins nodded.
Rimuru’s face became horrified.
Lucifer, who had been silently watching the entire exchange, finally failed to hold it in.
A snicker escaped him.
Then another.
Soon his shoulders were shaking.
"Hahahaha..."
Rimuru slowly turned toward him.
A pair of eyes formed on his slime body.
They narrowed dangerously.
"...You knew."
Lucifer smiled.
"I may have suspected it."
"You knew!"
"Hmm."
"You absolutely knew!"
Lucifer merely looked away.
Rimuru felt an overwhelming urge to throw himself into a wall.
The goblins watched the exchange in confusion.
The terrifying monster they had feared moments ago was currently arguing like a child.
After calming down, Rimuru finally regained his composure and turned toward the village.
Following Great Sage’s guidance, he distributed several Perfect Healing Potions created from the herbs they had collected within Veldora’s Cave.
One after another, injured goblins recovered.
Wounds vanished.
Broken bones healed.
Even old scars faded.
The goblins looked at him as if witnessing a miracle.
The village chief nearly burst into tears.
"Thank you, Lord Rimuru!"
"You have saved our people!"
Rimuru awkwardly laughed.
"N-No problem."
Afterward, he immediately began organizing the village’s defenses.
"Everyone capable of working, reinforce the outer fence!"
"Bring logs!"
"Sharpen stakes!"
"We’re going to prepare before the wolves arrive!"
The goblins hurried to obey.
While the village worked, Lucifer quietly observed from the side.
At one point, his gaze landed on two female goblins helping transport wood.
Using Akashic Records, he inspected them.
A translucent status screen appeared before his eyes.
────────────────────
Name: Unnamed
Race: Goblin
Evolution Path:
Goblin → goblina → Ogre → Kijin → Fair Oni
Growth Potential: Exceptional
Magicule Compatibility: High
────────────────────
A second status screen appeared.
────────────────────
Name: Unnamed
Race: Goblin
Evolution Path:
Goblin → goblina → Ogre → Kijin → Fair Oni
Growth Potential: Exceptional
Magicule Compatibility: High
────────────────────
Lucifer raised an eyebrow.
Among all the female goblins present, these two possessed the highest potential.
Interesting.
He had already decided to name them later.
Because strong companions were always useful.
Besides, Fair Oni possessed tremendous potential.
As for changing the future?
Lucifer had little interest in playing the role of a hero.
He wasn’t in this world to save everyone.
Nor was he interested in solving every tragedy he encountered.
His purpose was simple.
Become stronger.
Acquire useful abilities.
Meet certain individuals.
And gather some Waifus...
Everything else was secondary.
*****
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