Goblins

Rimuru continued walking toward the Goblin settlement with his senses fully alert, his sharp perception constantly scanning for any threats. As he moved through the dense forest, he suddenly sensed a group of six approaching him from ahead. Their presence was weak, almost pitiable, but Rimuru stopped in his tracks, curious.

The Goblins came into view—a pitiful sight. All six looked starved and beaten, their thin frames barely holding together as they clutched battered and rusted weapons. Their eyes widened in fear as they caught sight of Rimuru, his powerful aura radiating unconsciously. The pressure alone made their knees tremble, and one of them almost dropped his weapon in terror.

Rimuru noticed their trembling and sighed internally. Jeez, I didn't mean to scare them this much. My aura must be overwhelming for them. Deciding to tone it down, he adjusted his presence, muting the oppressive magicules around him.

One of the Goblins, slightly braver—or more desperate—than the others, stepped forward, his legs shaking. With his voice trembling, he spoke.

"G-Greetings, strong one! May we... may we know why you have come to this part of the forest?"

Rimuru looked at the Goblin, his sharp blue eyes glinting. For a moment, he remained silent, thinking about how he should handle this. This is a new life, a chance to start over. No more being a pushover like before. I'll be firm, confident, and command respect. That's the kind of person I'll be in this world.

Finally, he smirked slightly and replied in a calm yet commanding tone, "I'm just passing through. But I sense you're not in the best condition. What's going on here?"

The Goblin flinched but hesitated before answering. The other Goblins behind him whispered anxiously, urging him to be careful. Eventually, he mustered enough courage to speak.

"W-We mean no offense, great one. Our village... it's under attack. By direwolves. They are strong, and we've been losing every battle. We've come to this part of the forest to scout, but... we didn't expect to encounter someone as powerful as you."

"Direwolves, huh?" Rimuru rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So, they've been bullying your village and leaving you all like this?"

The Goblin nodded quickly, his face desperate. "Yes, they are merciless. We've lost so many of our kin. Our chief has been injured, and our defenses are failing. Please, great one, if you could... spare us... or even help us..."

The other Goblins gasped in fear at the bold request, but Rimuru raised his hand, silencing their panic. "Relax. I'm not here to kill anyone. I'm not that kind of guy. But…" He narrowed his eyes slightly, his aura subtly intensifying, "...if you're asking for my help, I'll need something in return. I'm not running a charity here."

The Goblins immediately fell to their knees, bowing their heads. "Anything, great one! If you can save our village, we will serve you for the rest of our lives!"

Rimuru's smirk grew wider. A chance to build alliances, gain followers, and strengthen my influence? This could be interesting.

"Alright," Rimuru said after a moment of thought. "Take me to your village. Let's see the situation for myself. If I decide it's worth it, I'll help you deal with these direwolves. But you'll need to swear loyalty to me, got it?"

"Yes, great one! Of course, great one!" The Goblins nodded vigorously, relief washing over their faces.

Rimuru gestured for them to lead the way. "Alright then, get up. Show me your village. And don't worry about those direwolves. By the time I'm done, they'll be begging for mercy."

The Goblins exchanged amazed glances before hurriedly rising to their feet, leading Rimuru through the forest. As they walked, Rimuru's mind was already racing with plans.

Rimuru entered the Goblin village and couldn't help but wince at the state of it. Calling it a village was generous—it was a collection of poorly made huts, barely standing, with no walls or defenses to speak of. The ground was littered with debris, and the smell of uncleanliness hung in the air. He could see malnourished Goblins limping around, some nursing injuries, while others simply sat with vacant expressions.

"Man, this place is rough," Rimuru muttered to himself. "No wonder they're struggling."

The Goblins who escorted him looked at him nervously. The elder Goblin, a frail yet dignified figure with a hunched back and a wooden staff, approached Rimuru with a bow.

"Great one, our humble village is in a dire state. Since the disappearance of Lord Veldora, who protected this forest, chaos has erupted. Monsters now roam unchecked, and each faction seeks to dominate the forest. We have been caught in the crossfire."

Rimuru frowned, feeling a twinge of guilt. So this is partly my fault, huh? If I hadn't absorbed Veldora, these guys might not be in this mess. Well, I can't just leave them like this.

"Alright," Rimuru said, his voice firm. "I'll help you out. But first, I need to know exactly what I'm working with. How many Goblins are in this village? And how many of them can fight?"

The elder hesitated, looking embarrassed. "We... we have around 60 Goblins in total. About 20 of them are adult males capable of fighting, though they are poorly equipped and injured. We also have 15 adult females and 25 children. Many of us are too weak or injured to defend ourselves. Around 20 of our people are gravely injured and unable to fight."

Rimuru scratched the back of his head, thinking. "That's not a lot of manpower. If I'm going to help you, I need everyone to be in fighting shape. Take me to the injured."

The elder nodded and led Rimuru to a clearing where the injured Goblins were resting. The sight was heart-wrenching—some had deep gashes, others had broken limbs, and a few looked dangerously close to death. The other Goblins hovered around them, trying their best to tend to the wounds with what little they had.

Rimuru turned to Great Sage. Hey, can I heal them with the potions I have stored in my body?

<>

Rimuru smirked. "Alright, let's get to work."

He approached the nearest injured Goblin, who recoiled in fear. "Relax," Rimuru said, his tone gentle but firm. "I'm here to help. This might feel weird, but trust me."

Before the Goblin could respond, Rimuru extended a part of his slime body and absorbed him. The Goblins watching gasped in horror, thinking Rimuru had devoured their comrade.

"W-Wait!" the elder shouted. "What are you doing?!"

"Chill out," Rimuru said, his voice calm. "Just watch."

After a few seconds, Rimuru spat the Goblin back out. The once-injured Goblin stood there in shock, completely healed. His wounds were gone, and he moved his limbs as if testing them.

"I-I'm healed!" the Goblin exclaimed, tears streaming down his face.

The other Goblins stared in disbelief, and the elder fell to his knees. "Great one... your power is beyond comprehension."

Rimuru shrugged. "I told you, I'm here to help. Now, let me get to the rest of them."

One by one, Rimuru absorbed and healed the injured Goblins. Each time, the Goblins who were healed wept in gratitude, bowing before him. By the time he was done, all 20 injured Goblins were back on their feet, their strength restored.

The elder, trembling with emotion, approached Rimuru and knelt before him. "Great one, your kindness knows no bounds. You have saved our people when we had no hope left. We, the Goblins of this village, swear our eternal loyalty to you. From this day forward, we are your humble servants."

The other Goblins followed suit, kneeling and bowing deeply.

Rimuru looked at them, a mixture of pride and determination swelling within him. This is a start. If I'm going to live in this world, I'll build something amazing—starting with these Goblins.

"Alright," Rimuru said, crossing his arms. "If you're going to follow me, we're going to rebuild this place. No more starving, no more getting pushed around by other monsters. But first, I need you all to listen and do exactly as I say. Got it?"

"Yes, great one!" the Goblins shouted in unison, their eyes filled with hope.

"Good," Rimuru said, smiling. "Let's get to work."