Rar found himself that evening pouring a drink for the slime kid with a fake smile.

How did things end up like this?

And wasn't this kid underage? Well, that didn't exactly matter too much.

Gar had underestimated the slime people too much, and overestimated the strength of his own people.

As a lizardman, he had been raised thinking that physical strength could beat anything. If one was physically strong, they could defeat others without having to worry about much because anything other than strength obtained through long sessions of training was simply using cheap tricks.

Of course, he considered magic and inherent abilities to be in this category as well.

The lizardmen from a young age were encouraged to physically build themselves up so that they would be strong warriors when they came of age, and Rar and his group were almost of the age where they could be considered adults among lizardmen.

However, this slime had proven him wrong.

Rar had thought that the slimes were weak because they were physically weak. He never considered that a slime was made of gel, which wasn't exactly susceptible to physical attacks, could be a form of strength on its own.

The slime people could be attacked through fire, magic, and even slicing attacks, however they did not find repairing limbs to be an issue as they were originally just a blob of gel. All it took to return a sliced off limb was to reconnect it. Even so, if they were chopped up into little pieces or smashed with blunt weapons, they could die due to a loss of bodily fluid being sucked up by the soil.

But Rar was overconfident, and on top of that had come to the arena to see the fight. Of course he wouldn't just be carrying a weapon on him. Why would he need one?

But that proved to be fatal- particularly against this slime, who's gel was able to melt even the hardest of scales simply through contact.

Not only this, but Rar had seen something that was completely unthinkable.

Arlo had bowed to someone other than the lizard king.

Rar didn't know how to interpret this, but either way it had never happened before, and Rar couldn't risk angering Arlo by treating this slime- who he would have a tough time winning against in the first place- badly.

So he swallowed his pride and agreed to serve the slime for the time being. If he had put up a fuss and ran, he would be viewed as a coward who ran from responsibility, and if he tried to argue with the results, he would be seen as someone who doesn't stick to their word when things get tough.

That pride held Rar back.... and yet it was that pride which forced him to give up his pride and humbly serve this slime.

The other two lizardmen had followed behind, depressed and confused, and were now standing next to Rar as he poured a drink for Rithargus.

"Just who is that woman that even Arlo would be bowing to her..."

"Did you know this would happen all along, slime?"

"No, I had no idea. I took a gamble... no, that isn't quite right. A gamble is something where you don't know the result... I had no idea that the one strong lizard... Arlo I think it was... would come and bow to our leader like that, however what I knew for sure was that even if they had fought that she would not have received even a single wound."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Simple. She fought that strong lizardmen without even being touched. I wasn't there when the fight had occurred, but I heard from the other people in the village. She controls a power that is not of this world, and will disrupt balance in the monster realm very soon."

The lizardmen fidgeted and looked suspicious as Rithargus explained this.

"As if we would believe that she just beat Arlo so simply! It was probably a rumor!"

"Believe what you want."

Rithargus took a sip of the drink, and it went into his gelatinous body, almost exciting the poison that he was composed of.

Rithargus then looked at the three lizardmen with an extremely condescending face.

"But let me give you three some advice... I didn't think you had enough honor to actually keep up your agreement, and I suspected that you three would flee from me in order to avoid embarrassment, or perhaps try and beat me up like ruffians in order to teach me a lesson... however you are all here now, serving me. Consider this a reward for keeping your promise."

"What is it?"

"You have never seen a true monster, have you?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Arlo was there that day, so he probably knows better than the other lizardmen. On the day that the Determined defeated Arlo, she earned his respect and obedience, however the ones who he truly fears are the ones she is associated with."

"There is certainly nobody that Arlo fears... right?"

Rar said this, but his heart was fluttering. After seeing Arlo- his role model and the hero of the village, bow his head to that human looking woman, he was unsure about anything now.

"No... there are beings in this world who hold power that is much different from mere physical strength, or even magical strength... it is a different type of strength... they suck you up, and consume your very soul... however, it is a very luring temptation. To be backed by these demons, these monsters, means that you will never have to worry about anything again."

Rar gulped as he heard Rithargus saying these things.

"The slime village is backed by a group of abominations. If you go against us, then they will not hesitate to throw you aside and ensure that you regret ever becoming their enemy for the rest of your miserable lives."

----

Claire was rushing through the town, trying to find Rithargus. Where had he gone!?

It was her fault for leaving him alone, and to be honest she was completely overwhelmed by all the insanity that had occurred recently, but she needed to get out of this village now. If she didn't get out of here, there were sure to be more and more misconceptions spreading about her.

Claire felt a sense of guilt approach her. What if Rithargus had been hurt by others because he was a weak slime? Would it be her fault for agreeing to go fight in the arena and letting him be alone?

"Um! Excuse me! Have you seen-"

"Oh! Determined! Please have mercy on us! Do not eat our children! We beg of you! We will give you our money and our belongings if you wish, please at least spare our lives!"

Claire had tried to ask a family of 2 lizardmen parents with their 2 children if they had seen Rithargus, but now they were bowing to her and saying ridiculous things.

"What are you talking about! Of course I wouldn't-"

"I understand! There is no way you would accept just the money and belongings! If that is the case, then please only take my life and allow my wife and children to leave alive!" , the husband said.

"Wha-"

"No, no! That surely is not enough for her! I too offer my life! Please just allow the children to live!", the wife shouted.

Claire didn't have time for this. As much as she wanted to clear her reputation and these misunderstandings about her, she had to find Rithargus now.

"I just nee-"

"We beg of you!!! Just the children!!! Think of the chil-"

"AH WOULD YOU STOP INTERRUPTING ME!!!"

Whoops.

She let out a scream in frustration.

The man and woman were bowing and shivering as Claire screamed, and the nearby lizardmen were standing frozen.

"They've angered the determined!"

"What idiots! Don't be as foolish as they were!"

"Now they've done it! How could they do such a thing!?"

"Interrupting the indetermined! Unbelievable!"

"They have it coming to them. There is no way they will survive this!"

Claire had been long fed up with the lizardmen's interpretation of her, but she finally lost it.

'That;s it'

Claire grabbed the face of the father in her hand and faced him so that he was staring her in the eyes. She stared at him with a serious and intense glare as she asked him her question.

"Tell me if you have seen a purple slime person- a young boy! If you tell me then I will let you all go!"

She shouted this out so everyone around could hear.

"Ah! I saw him at the tavern down the road. Follow the street that way then take a left at the corner and you should see the sign. It's called the Drunken Croc", one of the lizardmen in the crowd shouted.

Claire shook off her impatience and mental shock at having to pretend like she truly was this terrifying person they made her out to be, and put on a lovely smile.

"Thank you very much!"

She then ran off in that direction.

"Terrifying... her smile just now looked like the incarnation of evil itself...."

"It was a good thing someone knew... she might have butchered us all here and now if nobody knew."

"OI!! You weren't lying just to save everyone right?! That slime was actually at the tavern you said he was at right?!"

One lizardmen had grabbed the one who had given the information by the collar, and he replied.

"Of course he was!! If I gave her false information then I would be the first one targeted! I only hope that he is still there!!"

"Hes right, let the guy go...", the father said, standing up, completely relieved and picking the smaller child.

"Everything is ok now... the scary woman is gone..."

The wife was hugging the other child, who was a bit older and standing there with tears in his eyes, however he looked up to his mother and tried to be brave despite the fact that he was terrified.

"Shhh... don't worry... everything will be alright."

But the others passing by were filled with worry.

Would everything really be alright?

The streets of the lizardmen village had been completely filled with terror so quickly from the appearance of a single woman.

It was because even Arlo had been scared to offend her that every other member of the lizardmen village, who considered themselves to be warriors, were scared out of their minds. Their imaginations continued to run wild even at this moment when she was gone at what she would do if she came back.

However, everyone soon returned to their business.

"Perhaps the upcoming war with the birdmen tribe is the least of our worries..."