Chapter 153: The First Beastfolk Village

The elderly wolf beastfolk watched Tanaka. The mounted guards around her had gone tense, eyes remaining forward, but already adjusting to the realization that this was truly a famed figure. Garric especially seemed uncomfortable, having had trouble reconciling the simple man before them with the reputation of Eldoris that had been whispered to them. The old woman finally spoke.

"If you are truly Tanaka of Eldoris, then show us," she said. Tanaka raised an eyebrow. "Show you what?" he asked. "Your true form," she replied. Raizen glanced at Tanaka. Tanaka knew what he meant.

The rumors had been about the slime that ruled the country of Eldoris, but at the moment, he looked like some wandering traveler that had acquired a famous name. "Fine," Tanaka said. His body went slack, and the metamorphosis happened fast. Tanaka’s human body absorbed itself into his slime-like skin, the simple clothing disappearing into the folds of the slime that Tanaka truly was.

Now, a dark blue slime sat in the middle of the road. The group around Tanaka stayed silent for about half a second before something went wrong. Tanaka had unknowingly unleashed a powerful pressure from his being, triggering his own unconscious release of his Demonic Aura. The wagon animals cried out in terror, yanking back on the reins.

Some beastfolk took a step back, and almost every warrior drew their weapons. Garric’s sword, however, took a moment longer before it left its sheath with a loud metallic ring. "Formation!" he shouted. The other warriors quickly moved to the side, one pulling out a spear, while another produced a bow.

"Back!" Garric ordered. The old woman backed away slowly, her eyes wide from the pressure coming from Tanaka. This slime before them was nothing like the harmless monster they had been prepared to see. It was a powerful monster, and it could break them all with a mere thought. Raizen’s expression darkened as the Star Wolves behind him crouched.

Tanaka quickly responded. "Wait!" he shouted. The aura was gone, and the pressure lifted itself so fast that its sudden absence was almost startling. The warriors didn’t lower their weapons; instead, Tanaka bounced backwards a bit. "That wasn’t on purpose," he said.

Garric squeezed his sword. "You want us to believe that?" he asked. "I do, actually," Tanaka replied. The wolf beastfolk gave Tanaka a long look. Tanaka sighed. "I recently got that ability. It happens sometimes when I change, or switch my mana," he explained.

The old woman was watching him closely. "You released enough pressure to scare off trained warriors," she said. Tanaka’s body flattened slightly. "Sorry," he said. No one expected the Demon Lord-class slime to apologize, and the atmosphere around them shifted slightly, though not much.

Tanaka continued, "If I were to kill you all, I would certainly not have warned you before entering your territory, nor would I stand here making excuses." Garric didn’t respond right away, but Tanaka pointed towards Raizen. "And he’s not about to kill you either," Tanaka added.

Everyone turned to the Star Wolf King, who was still as immobile as a statue. Garric slowly lowered his sword, the others following after a moment’s hesitation, though not putting their weapons away. Maeryn inhaled sharply. "You are certainly quite the eccentric ruler," she said.

Tanaka laughed. "I get that a lot," he said. That instantly lightened the mood, and to the surprise of many, the young warrior that had stared at Tanaka with such ridicule was now watching him with more caution than hatred. They’d heard about the slime king of Eldoris, but apparently, few had actually seen what was beneath the surface.

The old woman turned back to Garrick. "We are still taking them to the village," she said. Garric frowned. "Elder Maeryn," he protested. "They peacefully entered our lands," Maeryn said. "Ahh yes, that’s right, and you guys almost got crushed by a peaceful slime!" Garric said.

"Accidentally," Maeryn replied. Garric shot Tanaka a look. Tanaka bounced again. "Accidentally," he echoed. Garric shut his eyes, as if angry over the triviality of the situation. The village was less than an hour from there, and Tanaka remained a slime on the way.

Partly because Maeryn wanted to see his true form, and mainly because it would be impolite to make a sudden change after nearly getting into a fight. The road sloped downward towards a few stone and timber buildings enclosed by wooden walls, with smoke emitting from chimney-like structures. More smoke came from homes that lined both sides of the village, with many beastfolk casually strolling between the houses.

Wolves. Not Star Wolves, but wolf beastfolk filled the streets. Kids ran between groups of adults, some of whom carried baskets and other items, while several hunters rode through the other gate, with pieces of animals hanging from poles. It was a calm village, orderly even. Bravelm was suddenly much less intimidating than Tanaka had expected.

Not because Tanaka thought beastfolk would be caveman-like, but the similarity was somewhat surprising. A blacksmith hammered metal in an open building as a woman cursed at two children that had climbed onto a rooftop. Also, an old man was in an argument with a merchant over the price of some smoked meat. Tanaka smiled.

Raizen asked, "What?" "Nothing," Tanaka said. The Star Wolf King turned back to watch the village. Tanaka followed his gaze, and Bravelm suddenly seemed much more welcoming than before, as most villagers had different ears, tails, or blood, but villages were villages either way.

This feeling did not last long, as the entire group entered the village and every eye fell on Tanaka again, then Raizen, then the Star Wolves. Conversation instantly started. "Is that a slime?" "Why is Garric protecting it?" "The wolves," one whispered. "That one is different," another said.

A child was pointing at Tanaka. "Mother, can I touch it?" he asked. The last thing the mother did before grabbing her son’s hand and pulling him down was glare at Tanaka, shaking her head in the process. Tanaka almost laughed, but before he could, Maeryn led the group to one of the larger buildings in the village center.

"You will stay here tonight," she said. Tanaka looked up at the old lady. "You’re letting us stay?" he asked. "I invited you," she replied. "You barely know us," Tanaka said. "I know enough," Maeryn replied. Garric muttered to himself, but Maeryn ignored him.

"You have entered our lands, but you did not harm our people. In fact, you lowered your presence instead of increasing it. Therefore..." she said. Tanaka appreciated the reasoning, saying, "Thank you." She nodded. "Tomorrow, we will have to discuss what you are," she added.

"Meaning?" Tanaka asked. "We will need to spread the news to those above my rank," she explained. Tanaka understood the problem. A foreign king had entered Bravelm, and no matter how little of a threat he actually was, the fact challenged the authority of an elder beastfolk. "Fair enough," Tanaka said.

Maeryn pointed to the building. "Soon food will arrive," she said. Tanaka turned to Raizen. "Guess we will be staying," he said. "For now," Raizen replied. Zephyr landed on the roof. "I shall keep watch until nightfall," he said.

Tanaka simply nodded as the white dragon spread its wings. Suddenly Tanaka remembered Eldrin. "Eldrin," he said. Raizen turned to him, asking, "What about him?" "I think I should let him know where we are, before he assumes I’ve abandoned him again," Tanaka said.

Raizen just stared blankly, but that was because Tanaka was activating Dominion Nexus. The new connection was still a bit strange for him, but he managed to focus on the presence of Eldrin back home and carefully formed the words. Eldrin, we’ve crossed the Great Verdant Forest and have arrived at a beastfolk village. All is well. He sent.

He paused the transmission before adding, And keep an eye on Malachiel and Nethaliel while I’m gone. Tanaka could almost imagine the pained expression of his advisor as he received the message. The smile only grew as Raizen questioned him. "Why do you laugh?" Raizen asked.

Tanaka’s body shook with mirth. "I’m just thinking of what it would be like for Eldrin to keep two True Dragons happy," he said. Raizen scowled at him. "That’s mean," Raizen said. "I know," Tanaka replied. Tanaka was already feeling guilty, probably because back home, the sub leader was cursing everything that had set him on the path towards leadership.

The reply came fast enough and Tanaka chuckled as he listened to it. Lord Tanaka, Eldrin sent. Tanaka waited for the response to come. Please return as soon as possible, Eldrin added. That was all. Tanaka nearly fell over laughing, and Raizen shook his head.

"You really are a horrible person," Raizen said. "I’ll get him something," Tanaka said. "That won’t help," Raizen replied. "It will," Tanaka insisted. "It won’t," Raizen said. Tanaka entered the guest house still laughing, while outside, the beastfolk began returning to their previous routines, though some talked amongst each other, spreading the rumor that a slime king had walked past them, entering the village peacefully.

Within the night, every single wolf horde along the road would know the name Tanaka Eldoris.