"......"
At the end of the road leading to the [Goblin] village.
Adelio, who had been continuously sensing the magicules of the [Lizardmen], confirmed that the [Lizardmen] had arrived right in front of the [Goblin] village. He then approached Rimuru together with Ria.
"......"
'I wasn't expecting much anyway... but they really are looking down on Rimuru.'
Watching the [Lizardmen] form up with the three subordinates who were practically Gabiru's right-hand men at the front, Adelio let out a sigh inwardly.
He could understand that, as [Lizardmen] and the next leader of their kind, they had their pride. But even after seeing the [Kijin], one of the upper races of the great forest, standing right beside Rimuru, they were still acting like this. No matter how he looked at it, it was just reckless bravado.
"......"
And then...
Thud thud thud thud...!
As the [Lizardmen] soldiers slammed their spears against the ground and split apart to either side, Gabiru stepped forward with an arrogant look on his face and—
"I am Gabiru of the [Lizardmen]. I shall take you all as my subordinates, so consider it an honor!"
—declared proudly, lifting his chin.
"Oooh...!"
"As expected of Lord Gabiru!"
"Amazing!"
Meanwhile, his followers were clapping and praising how incredible Gabiru was, so from Rimuru and the [Kijin]'s perspective, it could only sound like complete nonsense out of nowhere.
"...Huh?"
At first, Rimuru thought it might just be some racial flair for theatrics. But once she realized the [Lizardmen] were being serious, she tilted her head with a look that plainly said, What the hell are you talking about? Then one blue-skinned [Lizardmen] pointed at Gabiru and spoke.
"How insolent. Burn this noble face into your memory! This is Lord Gabiru, the warrior destined to become the next chieftain of the [Lizardmen]!"
As one of the [Lizardmen] who followed Gabiru especially devotedly, he truly believed without a doubt that Rimuru's group would become Gabiru's subordinates.
Rimuru's response, however, was cold.
"......What?"
Irritation, displeasure, and anger.
Adelio could feel through his skin alone that Rimuru was seething with rage, even without using any of his abilities.
Creak...
Of course, Rimuru was not the only one angered by the [Lizardmen]'s attitude.
Everyone was only holding back because Rimuru had not stepped in yet. The atmosphere made it seem as though they might charge in and start fighting at any moment.
"Ahem... Did you say Sir Gabiru? We do not mind your sudden visit, but to tell us to become your subordinates without any explanation... If you do not properly explain yourselves to us..."
Rigurdo, one of the oldest and most experienced people present, temporarily set aside his anger and stepped forward first to resolve things through conversation, but—
"Hmph, do I really have to explain even that? Obviously, it's because the [Orc]s are rampaging as they please while targeting the Jura Great Forest."
—Gabiru drove the conversation forward unilaterally.
"So become my subordinates. I, Gabiru, shall personally save you from the [Orc] army!"
Crack...
"Oh, and it seems someone here has tamed the wolf pack. Bring that person to me as well. If they swear to follow me, then as a special exception, I may even make them one of my officers!"
Crack...!
"...!"
"That insignificant lizard dares...!"
"......Lord Rimuru... may I kill that bastard?"
Benimaru and Shion, both hot-blooded by nature, looked as though they had endured all they could and began to raise their magicules more and more.
"......"
And Rimuru, too, seemed to be seriously considering it, pressing her lips shut as if she wanted to beat Gabiru down herself.
'...In the novel, she still stopped them and told them to endure it, but this seems a little different now.'
Watching Rimuru with interest, Adelio finally stepped in as if he had no choice.
"Shion, Benimaru. Both of you, calm down."
Gabiru was irritating to Adelio as well, especially since he already knew what kind of person he was. But he also knew Gabiru would be quite useful later, so he could not drive him away here.
For all he looked like this now, he was still a monster who would one day become one of the top executives.
"Lord Adelio..."
"......Understood."
Fortunately, perhaps because both of them had learned the Oboro Shinmei Style from Adelio, they still looked dissatisfied, but they seemed willing to hold back for now.
"...Oh?"
However...
At that moment, Gabiru did not know—
"Are those humans over there? Their faces are decent enough, but since I can't sense even a mouse's worth of magicules from them, I suppose you're planning to use them as sacrifices."
"...!!" "......."
—that the chance he had just been given was his last, and that what he had just said would be his final remark.
"In fact, it would be best if you handed those humans over to me as well. We need them for the great magic of our [Lizardmen]—"
Rumble...!!
"Shut up."
He had even prayed to Veldora and tried to let it slide if at all possible, but he could not.
In his head, he was shouting that if he made one wrong move, he would kill Gabiru with his own hands. But Adelio's hand did not stop.
It was not just him. Ria had been treated like a sacrifice too... so wasn't he entitled to give the bastard the punishment he deserved?
"...?!"
The next instant, [Heroic Aura] leaked from Adelio's body.
The golden aura of a [Hero] crushed down on Gabiru's body.
"...E-eh...? Eeeeeek?!"
In an instant, Gabiru was pinned flat to the ground like a lizard plastered against the earth, and he let out a scream.
From the body of the man who had not seemed to possess even a fingernail's worth of magicules, an endless torrent of power suddenly erupted and raged as if it would shatter his body.
"W-what is this... ghk!!"
Thankfully, Adelio had not killed him.
Kiiiiing!
That was thanks to [Accumulation], the unique ability of [Fragarach], one of the two swords glowing at his waist, which continued absorbing Adelio's anger.
'...I just need to keep it controlled enough that he doesn't die.'
Clench...!
With a punching bag—no, an opponent—even more fitting than Footman right in front of him, Adelio gripped the scabbard in his hand with a frighteningly expressionless face.
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