Is it wrong for slimes to be in dungeons? (revised)

Chapter 10: manipulation

(Rimuru POV)

"Why are you hanging around a monster like that!"

...what?

Silence filled the area as tension was slowly injected into the atmosphere as everyone began to face me.

They all stare at me with a mix of confusion and fear. Even Aiz seems slightly on edge despite her usual expressionlessness.

"What are you-" I tried to dismiss her, but was cut off.

"Don't play dumb! I don't know what you're planning, but keep bell out of it!" she yelled.

Despite her small stature I couldn't help but feel intimidated. Perhaps it was her raw emotion, or me being exposed as a monster, but I was starting to feel small.

"I'm not a monster!" I try to say. I didn't, however, realize how bad of an idea that was.

"You just lied." She spoke more quietly yet the confidence in her voice only grew.

She took a step forward and before I realized it I had retreated a step.

"You can't lie to a god you know," she spoke coldly.

Huh? Her words shock me for a multitude of reasons. First is the revelation that she's a god, and the second is the idea that you're unable to lie to one.

Is that true? The thought that she's lying for me to reveal my true nature crossed my mind, but the amount of confidence she had, argued otherwise.

<<Answer. The individual before master is telling the truth>>

That's just great. Great sage had just confirmed my fears. What's worse is that upon the goddess declaration everyone seemed to reach for their weapons.

What was I even supposed to say in this situation? Confirm their beliefs? Based on their reaction that would only lead to battle. I couldn't deny it either because I'd just be refuted by her. As I weighed my possibilities a sort of deadlock was formed where they awaited my response and I was stuck trying to escape this impossible scenario.

"...I'm not planning to do anything," I finally say. This should work because in actuality I wasn't. The closest thing I had to a plan was going to the city above, Orario, to find a way to collect my soul. Well, when I put it like that I did have a plan, but within the context of the situation at hand, I really wasn't planning to do anything.

And it seems to have worked. The small girl who was once imposing looked shocked at my declaration and likely the realization that I was telling the truth.

She slowly opened her mouth to say something.

"Like she said you can't lie to a god." A voice spoke. This time however it was not from the small goddess.

The yellow-haired hat-wearing man who had been watching from the sidelines finally stepped in.

...he's a God?! I should've realized. He had the same aura as she did.

But... I'm not lying! I think. I'm telling the truth so why? Even the girl who was accusing me was now looking between him and me in confusion.

<<Report. It is believed that the individual before master intends to antagonize him>>

A-antagonize me? Why?! What have I done?!

While I'm trying to figure everything that's happening out, the situation doesn't wait for me to catch up. The group quickly takes formation around the god and the goddess to form a protective circle while a vanguard faces me directly.