Novels2Search

Asserting Dominance

As weird as it sounds, saving these strangers is the easier part.

They're out of breath, and I don't know what to say.

[Notice: You should start by asserting dominance. Let them know that you saved their lives and can take away from them if you so wish.]

You mean you could, not me. And how am I supposed to do that?

Isn't there an Auto Extrovert function built into the System too?

How do you even start a conversation after you save someone?

No, let's be real. I have no idea how to start a conversation. At all. Period.

As I walk closer, and the purple-haired girl stops vomiting, the problem solves itself.

While I have no idea who she is, and the System only gave me a vague pointer, she recognizes me.

"T-the Thirteenth Bride." She announces it as if she saw a ghost, her voice full of disdain and fear. What did I expect? I fought her not-ancestor the other day.

The other two also picked up their heads, staring at me like I was one of the wolves.

It might have been a bad idea to save them, though these beasts had to go before they reached our camp.

Well, okay. If they act like this, then asserting dominance, here I go.

"Indeed. I am the Thirteenth Bride, but I don't recognize either of you."

[Reminder: Lowering your pitch doesn't make you sound more serious.]

If you have any better ideas I'm listening. And so are they, staring even harder now, without saying a word. Did I fail? Is it such a shocking reveal?

Even I, the awkward nerd with zero social clues can tell, that they are considering their options.

The man who looks like a wolf and human hybrid reaches for his belt before stopping.

Sure, mate, you didn't consider fighting those beasts, but want to pull a weapon on me? Didn't you see how the System dealt with them?

He's lucky, he doesn't have one, and he realizes it too. He glances at the monster on the other side as if he was his boss. It would be odd, considering the size difference between them.

Still, the miniature Orc is the first to react. He drops to his knees and bows his head.

"I am so glad to see you, Goddess of Luck." The way he says it, I'm not convinced. "True to your name, you brought fortune for us on our arduous journey."

Oh no, these weird words again. Aren't monsters supposed to talk simpler? Like a grunt or something. It's not how I imagined they would sound after all the fantasy novels.

They must be someone important with a snobby education, even if they're monsters. No, wait, I'm stupid. System, what are they?

[Notice: The one bowing is a Goblin. The man is a dog-type Beastman, and the girl is a human noble.]

Right. I only had to ask. So Beastmen comes in different flavors? My character sheet says I'm a feline, so it should have been obvious. And a goblin, that makes sense.

But what do they have to do with a noble, who isn't having a great time?

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"Explain yourselves." The less I talk, the more dominant I will look. Only because the more I speak the worse it will be. I know my limits. Let's hope that they don't.

These two words cause quite a bit of confusion, and only the girl breaks their silence. She does this by throwing up again. God, she's in terrible shape.

I take it you won't let me teleport her back to the camp, or heal her for me? Even if she's my enemy, she's around my sister's age. She couldn't look any more different though.

[Notice: Teleportation is a unique spell. I can't allow...]

Yeah, right, you already said that. And no healing either, I guess. Then I should urge them to explain themselves, and if I like what they say, I'll point them toward Gitaut.

The Orc shaman healed my eyes too, he should be able to handle them. But only if they aren't hostile to the tribes. And until I'm sure of it, they won't go anywhere near the children.

"I didn't catch that," I grumble, as menacing as I can manage. "You might think I have all day, but your curly friend does not."

"S-she must have got food poisoning." The Goblin finally talks. "We aimed for the water reservoir when the wolves attacked us. We are very grateful for your intervention."

"Who is this 'we'?" I can tell he stalls for time. Are there more of them?

"I'm your humble servant, Dioneras. But my friends only call me Dio."

"Nobody calls you that." The wolfman notes, but falls silent when I look at him. I don't know how many more I can talk before they realize something is off with me so I only nod.

"I am Fang Silberwulf, Your Highness." Wow, that's a fantasy name, if I ever heard one.

"And the garden hose?" I nod towards the girl next. She performs this peculiar curtsey, pinching her tattered dress with trembling hands.

"I'm Princess Elizabeth Sophia Ghisella de Winter Castamere of Nordhaben."

Now that's a mouthful. System, do their names ring familiar?

[Notice: My database lacks any mention of anyone called Dioneras.]

[Fang Silberwulf is a well-known adventurer from the Crantan Empire.]

[The Princess is the youngest daughter of Nordhaben's Duke, also known as the 'Last Bride'.]

Last Bride? For fuck's sake, she's like fourteen. So are they enemies or not?

[Notice: The first two are most likely aligned with the Demon Lord, but I can't confirm this. It would mean, they should fight you.]

Well, isn't that great? And what about the girl then?

[Notice: The Princess seems unconscious.]

Crap, she collapsed while I was waiting for the info. The other two look too scared to move and take care of her. I'll have to do that myself.

If she's with that Nordhaben dude, they are enemies too, so why were they together? Could they be deserters?

[Notice: They would avoid each other like fire if they were.]

Shit. I can't leave her here either way.

"Grab that Princess of yours, and follow me to the camp." Let's hope this was domineering enough.