While ignoring Salia’s protests, Sheto continued on in the dark forest.
Now that he thought about it, if she wanted a monster subordinate, then she should have chosen something stronger than a kobold.
He did not want to think about it much, but this goddess was likely not very strong. Perhaps she was one of the lowest.
It was true that if he survived, and had an opportunity to get his revenge on the Hero, then it would be thanks to her. However, as her abilities were looking quite suspicious, his life still felt like a candle in a storm.
“Lu… It might not be long before I can give this to you.”
The kobold whispered to the necklace.
“Ahh…”
Salia sat down by the water and held her head.
The gods had a small dimension called a ‘God Seat’ that was made just for them. Salia’s was the size of a cottage, and there was a small stone pool surrounded there, which was surrounded by flowers. And it allowed her to see any location that she desired.
On the other side, she saw the kobold walking with an expression that seemed to have lost any enthusiasm.
It was said that the intelligence of Kobolds was similar to that of a human child. However, even a child would not believe that a god could not immediately make a God Vessel for a kobold.
Also, even if she could see farther than a hunter, she did not have their attentiveness. And now his view of her was quite low.
Even with the abilities that she gave him, they were pathetically weak compared to that of other Heroes. You would have to be a fool or a masochist to not feel disappointed.
At first, Sheto had been more grateful, as she had brought him back to life. However, in the past few days, his trust in her seemed to be withdrawing.
“…What am I even doing?”
That being said, this was the best that Salia could do.
Even if she offered everything, a weak monster subordinate was still the best she could do. And it was said that she could only give him a meager protection.
And she had used that protection to heal Sheto as he was dying. And so she had desperately used what remained of her powers to give him those other abilities.
Was this really alright? She had her doubts.
Perhaps she should just beg the other gods for forgiveness.
However, the goddess quickly raised her head.
“This is not a joke.”
No, it was not.
Why had she made such a gamble, and put her own existence at stake? She remembered, and then faced the water again.
The little monster walked while carefully cutting down the plants in his path. It was clear that he was used to traveling.
Sheto was not a fool. When she talked to him, he answered sensibly. And he had the intelligence to consider her words and use his imagination.
Besides, he was now a monster that could grow. Like the Hero, he would gain strength by defeating enemies.
It was fine. Everything would start now.
“Sheto. Can you hear me?”
‘…I can hear.’
“It is true that I gave you little power. However, it will not always be that way. You may think I am unreliable, but you just have to be patient. I will do what I can to support you.”
‘…Okay.’
Perhaps this was not much comfort to him. He might be disappointed to have been chosen by such a weak goddess. Still, it wouldn’t be long before…
“Sheto! To the right, there is an enemy about thirty steps away!”
‘…Mm.’
Sheto had ducked before she even said anything. He must have detected it through scent.
‘This… I smelled it before…’
“I see. Still, it is a mountain urchin. There are three…no, five.”
Just then, surprise and respect appeared on Sheto’s face for the first time.
‘Good that I know their number. You should tell me just the enemy location and number.’
“I’m not sure I like the way you worded that. But…very well. I will do that.”
People called them mountain urchins, but there was no official name. Regardless, they were like sea urchins, only the size of dogs, and they had tentacles that had poisonous thorns.
They tended to gather around mossy boulders, and eat corpses. Between the thorns, there was a hidden round mouth, and you could hear the wet sounds as they chewed meat.
“Now, Sheto. You know what to do.”
‘Aye.’
And so the kobold stood up and began to run.
While showing his back to the enemy.
“Wa-wait-wait-wait-wait-waaaaaait!!”
‘What! Don’t shout like that! They have good hearing! They will notice if you are loud!’
“What are you doing, fool! Go back and fight!”
‘You are the idiot! Mountain urchins have poison! They taste horrible! It’s pointless to fight them!’
In a forest with hardly any light, Sheto ran at an impressive speed. Eventually, the mountain urchins were out of range, and the kobold sighed with relief.
‘Urchins have strong poison. And they shoot needles. Good thing I noticed before they saw me.’
“Bu…”
Salia’s beautiful face contorted with rage. And then she shouted.
“Did you already forget that you’re supposed to fight to raise your level! You bloody fool!”
‘That’s reckless! I am just one! They were five! I would be surrounded and die!’
“Then you should lure one away. Do something!”
‘Mountain urchins call their friends! When hunting, you have to surround them in a group, or it’s impossible!’
Sheto protested, and Salia felt her anger weaken. Indeed, he was right. They moved in large colonies.
Even if he was stronger, he was still just one kobold.
“It cannot be helped. The first enemy should be a weak one…”
‘Sa-Salia.’
“What is it?”
The kobold was frozen now. It was looking at a single point up ahead, and its tail was drooping downward. Salia followed his gaze and then gasped.
There was a single giant tree that was covered in scales. However, each scale was moving on its own.
“Armored scale bugs!”
‘Eee…’
The buzzing sound of wings. The fur around Sheto’s cheek blew, and blood dispersed like mist.
“Ru-run!”
‘Aaaaahhhhhh!!’
One after another, the insects took to the air. They were flat and diamond-shaped, and covered in a bronze shell. At a speed the eye could not follow, they would gouge out parts of animals and such their fluids.
With the shining storm at his back, the kobold ran.
“Lower your posture and run! As long as it is not too serious, I will be able to heal you!’
‘Hyaaaaaaaaahhh!’
The pale lights bounced around Sheto many times, as he was protected from their attacks. Still, his fur was torn, and blood dripped from scratches.
By the time he had managed to leave their territory, he looked like a sheep that had failed to be sheared properly.
‘Hah…hah…zeh…hah…’
“Th-that was close.”
‘Hah…hah…bugs are scary. Must be careful. Nearly died.’
“Aye. If you died from something like that, I would be too stunned to cry.”
That being said, these bugs and urchins were not that different in level compared to Sheto. Some Heroes might struggle with them at first, but they would eventually be able to defeat them while humming.
‘Sa-Salia.’
“…What?”
‘Will the level go up, if I hunt a lot of normal animals?’
“Unfortunately, hunting regular rabbits and deer will not do it. Now, bears, wolves and sabertooth tigers would be a different story.”
‘I…see.’
Sheto leaned weakly against a tree, and Salia felt troubled once again. He had shown skill as a hunter. And he was not stupid.
However, he was so hopelessly…a kobold.
The weakest monster in the world. That truth weighed down so heavily now.
Perhaps she really had been delusional. At this rate, who knew how long it would take for him to be able to fight decently?
“Not a joke… Is this…”
She muttered to herself so that he could not hear.