Negotiation with the Wolves
A lot of ideas of what to do was running on Ryuji's head but he was interrupted and saw how the boss wolf attacked and almost bit the neck of the younger wolf brother. The boss wolf threw the younger wolf and it hit a nearby boulder. He could hear a small weak whimper that reminded him when his brother was hurt. He cannot help but feel sympathy and rage to what is happening. He knows that the animal kingdom has some sort of a powerful hierarchy like the strong prey on the weak. He never intended to interfere with it as he initially would kill every member of the wolf pack here for snatching the rabivore carcass and trying to hurt his beloved pet. Seeing their internal conflict unfold, he seemed to be sympathetic towards the wolf brothers than the rest of the pack. Since things escalated this way, he would leave the two brothers alive and kill the rest.
Ryuji thought that should get the attention of these mutts. "Ahem… Hello! Can you hear me?" He yelled out, he wondered if they could understand what he is saying. He would like to have a valiant and imposing speech of halting the boss wolf, but it would be embarrassing if these creatures would not understand of what he will say. He decided on the last minute to test the waters. Regardless he felt embarrassed still like he was testing some sort of voice recorder. If he could get a response from them, it would be less embarrassing.
The wolves even the wolf brothers were dumbfounded. Did the goblin speak their language? The Onorian wolves have their own way of speaking which is part of the beast language they also have a common beast language that they use in communicating with other beasts in the forest. For example, they threatened the slime earlier when they first arrived but since the slime did not respond, they thought it was an idiot and stood ground motionlessly. Most slimes they encountered usually scram away whenever they use the common beast language. Though they have heard that slimes do speak and understand the common beast language, it was rare for slimes to not respond.
The boss wolf recovered from his shock. He stood in a domineering manner and inquisitively looked back at the goblin. He is not sure of what to say but better yet to be polite.
"Boss, did that goblin speak out language?" The wolf that looked like the right-hand man seemed to have also come with his senses. While he was not an alpha, he was already at his Boss Cain for so long that animals do speak needs to be approached with caution moreover demi humans that also speak the same language.
"Who is he?" Another wolf asked. This follower wolf seemed to be oblivious to what is happening and instantly be confused.
"I don't care who he is, all I want to do is kill the slime." The wolf who was accumulating his hatred was too engrossed in looking at the slime with intent.
"I would suggest that you won't do anything rash." Ryuji spoke again, this time with confidence as if he were at the same footing with the negotiations. While he considered that these wild animals have no reasoning at first, based on a basic understanding of how the conversation had gone earlier it seems that they have a concept of a community and social skills that are hard to ignore. As if these wolves had some understanding of how a basic community works and the roles associated with each role. He was perceptive of the mood changes of these animals in a glance after he spoke. He knew that something was up, and the rest of the pack became cautious which was far from the attack mode that they had earlier. This became his bargaining chip. On the other hand, he lamented that it has been a week or so since he had been dumped here in the forest. He had been in talks with the Gods in his soul before he arrived and when he entered the Realm of Twilight, but he had not talked with somebody else physically except for Pyun-Pyun. He would really need his polish his communication skills.
The wolf filled with hatred looked at him in disdain in response and seemed to heed his warning. However, the killing intent did not dissipate. On the other hand, the rest of wolves except for the younger brother wolf who is now unconscious looked at the goblin with shocked expressions. The boss wolf was not spared. He thought he was mistaken at first when he heard the ugly green guy spoke earlier. Now it is confirmed that this guy speaks their language.
'What the f*ck! Even speech interactions here have skill levels?' Ryuji was stunned momentarily about the recent chime. Either way it is unlocked, but he would not rely on it too much. Speaking before in corporate would give you trouble already. Having speech skills is the worse that he could not tolerate. If there is a way to seal this off again, he would. If there is someone that knows this, he would ask about this mechanic on how it works he would. But it is not important as of the moment, he would like to settle this affair on hand as his stomach grumbled again reminding him that he is hungry.
"Good." Ryuji praised the wolf for heeding his words. While he really intended to kill these wolves earlier, getting their attention may alter his original decision to kill. Maybe next time he should really resolve himself, but then again wherever the conversation goes he still has an option to eliminate them. He aimed to test the waters again and spoke to the slime. "Who tried to steal our food, Pyun-Pyun?"
The wolves looked at each other bewildered. They surely understood what the goblin meant but they did not know who the goblin spoke to. They heard it in Onorian Wolf language but none of them were named Pyun-Pyun. The boss Cain looked at his subordinates even the wolf brothers who are also confused the wolves looked at each other and did not know how to answer the goblin not until a bouncing noise was heard. They instinctively looked at the slime who seemed to understand what the goblin was saying. It jiggled and pointed at the two dead bodies. The wolves were shocked that the slime can understand them also. Moreover, it suddenly dawned on them that the goblin is related to the slime.
The wolves instinctively backed away from the slime except for the wolf with brimming hatred against the slime. While the wolves knew that this is a confusing situation, they could only help increase their cautiousness at this point as they could feel their leader's aggressiveness was replaced with wariness with the present situation. The Onorian Alpha wolves have a skill called
"If I may, how are you related with this slime?" The boss wolf inquired neither arrogant nor polite tone. It's better to have something clear at this point. He instinctively attempted to probe on the aura of the goblin, while he had encountered goblins in the past, he can usually deal with simpletons like them.
"I am his master." Ryuji calmly replied in the Onorian wolf language. 'Not bad boss wolf.' Ryuji praised. A normal animal would rashly act on instinct, this wolf on the other hand had learned to be suspicious and ask questions instead.
The wolf who had lost his siblings was still engrossed in how to kill the slime, moreover his hate seemed to have seeped as he maliciously glanced at the goblin. If this green ugly thing is his master, this lowly creature should be responsible. The slime should feel the loss of someone close to him as he thought. Generally, regular, or low-level monsters such slimes have no feelings. But the wolf is now consumed by hatred and started imagining things. One thing left on his mind and it is to kill. the perpetrators should pay his loss with their lives.
The boss wolf was still cautious but it then suddenly shivered. A realization had struck him. He thought that if this guy can speak the Onorian wolf language, he would definitely know about attacking him earlier.