— Rimuru POV —
Something felt off.
The goblins weren't attacking, but they weren't just being cautious either. The way they moved—slow, uneven, constantly adjusting—felt less like strategy and more like hesitation.
Or fear.
I stayed where I was, trying not to push things too far. Moving too quickly didn't feel like the right move here, especially when none of them had made the first attack.
Still… the tension wasn't going away.
"They're really nervous," I said.
"They're not stable," Rei replied. "That's different."
"…You always have to say it like that?"
"Yes."
"…Right."
I focused back on the goblins.
One of them stepped forward, then stopped, then stepped again. It looked like it wanted to approach, but couldn't fully commit.
That wasn't normal.
At least, I didn't think it was.
"I'm going to try talking again," I said.
"They will react."
"…Yeah, I figured."
I moved a little closer, keeping my pace steady. Not too fast, not too slow. The reaction was immediate. Several of them stepped back, their bodies tensing, their formation tightening like they expected something to happen.
But I hadn't done anything.
"…Okay, that's weird."
"They're reacting to you," Rei said.
"…I'm not doing anything."
"That's not relevant."
I paused.
"…Then what are they reacting to?"
There was a short silence.
"…Your magicules."
I blinked.
"…My what?"
"Your magicules are not controlled. They're leaking."
"…Leaking?"
"Yes."
I looked down at myself.
That didn't help.
"…I don't feel anything."
"That doesn't mean it isn't happening."
I looked back at the goblins.
The moment I focused on them again, they flinched.
Actually flinched.
"…Wait. Seriously?"
"Yes."
"…So I'm the problem?"
"Partially."
"…That's not very reassuring."
"They're responding to perceived threat. Your magicule output is too high relative to theirs."
"…You could've said that earlier."
"You didn't ask."
"…Fair."
I exhaled slowly.
Okay… that explained a lot.
I tried to relax, not really sure how that was supposed to help, but it felt like the right thing to do. If they were reacting to my magicules, then maybe—
The goblin in front dropped to its knees.
I froze.
"I didn't do that, right?"
"No."
"Okay, good."
More of them followed.
Not all at once, but enough to notice. Some lowered themselves immediately, others hesitated before doing the same. The ones still standing didn't move forward.
They weren't attacking.
They were… submitting?
"…They're not fighting," I said.
"They changed behavior," Rei replied.
"…That's a yes."
"Not necessarily."
"…You're really not helping."
"I'm being accurate."
"Yeah, yeah."
I looked at the goblins again.
They stayed low, their movements minimal, their attention fixed entirely on me. The tension was still there, but it had changed. It wasn't the same as before.
"…They're scared," I said.
"They recognize a difference in power."
"…That's just a complicated way to say scared."
"It is more precise."
"…Of course it is."
I lowered myself slightly, not copying them, just trying to make myself look less… threatening. I didn't know if it worked, but their reaction didn't get worse.
That was something.
"They want something," I said.
"Based on what?"
"The way they're acting. They're not running, not attacking… they're waiting."
Rei didn't answer immediately.
"…That is a possibility," he said eventually.
I'll take that as agreement.
I stayed where I was, not moving closer.
No reason to push it.
"…We're not in danger right now," I said.
"…Not immediately," Rei replied.
Close enough.
The goblins didn't move.
We didn't move.
And somehow, that was enough to keep things from falling apart.
For now.
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AN : I'm not sure if focusing on one pov for the chapter work best or not or should I have a pov shift in the chapter please let me know what you guys think