Reincarnated as a random race, of course I got goblin.

Chapter 97 - One and All

I nod, hesitantly. "I will let you handle the talking. I'm unfamiliar with the entire situation, and besides, I'm an outsider and most importantly a monster. I'd be unable to fairly judge. But if there's a need, I'll step in to keep you safe." I inform the Guild Master.

He nods, seeming to approve of my way of handling things. "Just keep to the back as much as possible." He pauses for a moment before adding; "Perhaps you could take on your true form? I... I think it would help gauge just how much power has gone to his head." 

I nod and step back so that there's space for our bigger body. A slight gasp escapes the six newcomers as I change shape. I turn to the Yuki-Onna, who understands my intent just from a look. She then goes ahead to excavate the front door of the mansion at the center of the village.

When we've arrived, the front portion of the mansion is cleared of snow. Although the hunters and the Guild Master are eyeing the Yuki-Onna with some vigilance, they should be able to appreciate her abilities. 

The Guild Master calmly walks up the three steps leading up to the opulently decorated doors to the mansion which are quite at odds with the general look of the rest of the village. They wouldn't look out of place in the noble's district of B'dur, but here they're just gaudy.  

The Minars knocks three times before retreating down the steps and waiting. A few moments pass before a bald and scarred human man peeks out from behind the door. His eyes squint as he glances at the people present before going wide-eyed as he spots me. 

He slinks back behind the door, and I can hear hushed whispers from inside. After another pause, the doors open wide, revealing a middle aged man. Behind him is four rough-looking human men, one of them being the scar-covered baldy from before. Each of the four men look like they've been recruited from a bandit camp of the worst sort.

The general aura of sleazy corruption is completed by the appearance of the middle aged man that's standing in front. His clothes are garishly opulent, but do far too little to hide his figure. We've seen portly people in this World before, but they all had the looks of weight-lifters to them. There was a reason for the fat, so to speak.

This man, though, is flabby, unfit. His hair is thinning, the beginning of a moon forming on top, but it's also very long, gathered with a length of cloth at the nape of the neck as is customary for male nobles. 

So this is Almus, the cause of this villages' woes. I can't help but huff in displeasure at the sight of him. All at once, everyone tense up as they hear me. Almus is quick to recover, however, and turns his attention to me. He gives a wicked smile before spreading his arms wide in what's either meant to be a welcoming pose, or a mocking one.

"So, the Monarch's come! I told Yom, and I'm sure he told you, I hold much power in the court, and now look, the Ruler of all Monsters is here to help me!" He announces triumphantly. Just as he retracts his arms, I notice the glint of a ring. It seems to be some sort of cameo ring, but the engraving is worn inwards, no doubt to hide what it depicts.

The reason I take notice is the faint pulse of magic that emits from the ring each time Almus finishes a word. Actually, now that I pay attention, I can sense a faint tremble in the air around his mouth as well, much like the visual effect accompanying the Command Spell, but much, much fainter. 

"Monarch! These people are dangerous! They've threatened the lives of me and my family, stolen our stores of food to eat for themselves and imprisoned us in this house and left us to fend for ourselves! Surely you see that they deserve punishment!" The distortion accompanying each word grows slightly.

*Resisted effect of Rare Item: Lips of Dalila*

The people accompanying me are eyeing me with worry. I can't help but let out my first laugh. Everyone's unnerved now, but none more so than Almus himself. His pudgy face, reddened no doubt by an exaggerated love for alcohol, pales considerably as beads of cold sweat begin forming on his forehead.

As good as laughing feels, I cut it short. I'll enjoy this feeling later, but now I need to deal with this fool. "That's a good one. Not only do you assume your blood relations to the King lets you do as you please, you believe I'd obey orders from anyone but His Highness. No, dear Almus, you're the one that's dangerous. You very nearly caused the death of over half of the population in this village."

I exert our Royal Presence to keep the thugs behind Almus from being able to move. Unused to facing any foes other than humanoids, they're completely floored by the relatively small pressure I now emanate. All four of them slump to the floor, unable to move. 

"If it wasn't for my intervention, you'd be faced with Risen at best, Ghouls at worst, once the snow thawed enough to get into the Church. How would you explain that to His Highness?" I scold the village leader.    

I glance at the Guild Master, trying to hint that it's his turn. He seems to understand, as he clears his throat. "As the Monarch says, your conduct during the High Cold Event made it overwhelmingly clear that you're unfit to lead this village. You've been given too many chances, and this time people have paid for your greed with their lives. It ends now." 

Although his eyes are hidden behind his goggles, there's no doubt a determined glint in them. Almus seems to panic, before his face contorts into a wicked smile. "Indeed, it ends now, as soon as you've dealt with me, the Monarch will reveal her true nature. Of course, how did I not see it coming? My cousin dearest, King Dervix has seen it fit to assassinate me! She will leave no witness-"

His words are cut off as his skin suddenly takes on a dull color, and all movement stops. As he was in the process of stepping forwards to point at me, his now immobilized body teeters for a moment before falling down the steps.

'Tchan'

The now statue-like body of Almus breaks into many pieces upon impact.

H-he was frozen solid... The impact of him hitting the ground... Almus is very, very dead. I look to the Yuki-Onna. She sports a furious expression, her right hand raised, frost still seeping from the palm of her hand. 

All present have taken up defensive postures, save for the Acolyte, who's fainted, facing me. I restrain the Yuki-Onna mentally, keeping her from doing anything else. "Now, before you do something stupid, let me explain what just happened." I calmly address the Guild Master. 

Bending down, I briefly search the pile of frozen human before retrieving what I'm looking for. Using Hidden Space, I extract the cameo ring that Almus was wearing. Discarding the hand, I hold up the ring for all to see. 

*Lips of Dalila - Legendary Ring - Allows the Wearer to use the Unique Skills Suggest (True - Unique) and Beguile (True - Unique)*
*A cameo ring that is thought to depict its namesake, though the carving is too old and worn to tell. Was at one time a part of the Royal Treasures of Parshura before going missing thirty years ago. It was originally granted to the current Kings' fourth great grandfather, well before the founding of the Kingdom of Parshura, for safekeeping due to its power. It is unknown who or what Dalila is, only that it must have some relation to the Skills this item grants.*

"Seems old Almus stole this ring, the Lips of Dalila, before he was sent to this village. You mentioned him getting many chances despite his poor management of this place? That's the power of the ring at play. It allowed his words, even if they were outright lies, to be believed as true." I look at the Guild Master.

"If my Servant hadn't cut him off, he'd have convinced you to protect him with your lives." I state bluntly. All present take a deep breath at this. 

"But, if the ring grants such power, why weren't you affected?" One of the hunters ask. 

"My Willpower and Magic Armor is too high." I glance at our Stats for a moment. "In fact, with over four thousand points of Willpower, I doubt anything but a Command Spell from one of the Elder Dragons could affect me." 

A stunned silence follows. I take some delight in the horrified expressions the hunters present. Over four thousand? Even Seven Star monsters hardly tip a thousand points in any one Stat, of course they're trembling in their boots. 

I store the ring. "I'll take this. It belongs to the Royal family, so that's where it'll be returned. Now, I don't have much time, the other villages also depend on me for food. You should be able to melt snow to get enough water to last you until I return." The Yuki-Onna hops onto my back with elegance before I take off into the air, eager to get away from that village.