While hearing the scream, Sheto stood on the jutting rock above the river, and pulled in the net. It was filled with numerous dead fish.
‘I did not expect you to fish like that.’
Indeed, it was a method that Ganari had forbidden, and Sheto was told that he was never to do it, unless there was a very good reason.
“No, the water is dirty. Cannot repeat for at least three months.”
‘While you can catch a lot of prey, it will ruin the fishing spot. I have seen entire settlements be crushed due to recklessness like this.’
The poison itself was not terribly dangerous for humans or kobolds. However, it killed not just the fish, but the bugs and smaller creatures that the fish ate. And so it devastated the echo system. The kobolds had done it only once when first building their village, and it was banned after that.
‘However, you have now taken one more thing from the Hero. Now he will not think of taking fish from the river.’
“Not one. Maybe three.”
‘Three? ….I suppose not being able to drink the water is a second one…’
He folded the crude net that he had made, and placed it into the fish basket. And then he jumped from the rock. The human in armor could never even reach these rocks, but Sheto jumped on them with light feet.
“He now has a fear, of searching for food.”
‘After all, he does not know what you have done.’
He nodded, jumped to a nearby boulder, and climbed up the cliff.
‘By the way, what are you going to do with those fish?’
“Eat. This is fishing. Not a method for making uneatable.”
‘That’s not what I meant. Surely it is too much for you alone.’
The kobold laughed while adjusting his burden.
“On a rock mountain the Hero can’t reach. Dry them. I, then won’t run out of food.”
‘I see. Then the Hero…’
“Leave him for now. That area. Nothing there that he knows to eat.”
Indeed. The enemy didn’t know. Could not know. Sheto’s eyes turned to a small flower by the edge.
“Do you know? That flower. Can eat the roots.”
‘Ah, the tuberous root.’
“Put it in the fire. Very tasty.”
The hunter laughed as he recalled how the Hero had trampled over them.
‘What is it?’
“Nothing.”
With the sounds of the river water at his back, the kobold disappeared into the forest once again.
Zephalis watched with a dark glare as the world returned to night once again.
In the end, the kobold secretly crept up to the Hero a few times to check up on him. But he never showed himself. Normally, this would have been a time to catch your breath and rest your mind and body.
However, the Hero was agitated as he looked around. He was startled by every little sound and would pull out his sword.
‘Da-damn it… Where the hell did he go…’
In the middle of a dark forest, he was like an anxious child. The divine sword in his hand just looked like a wooden stick.
“It-it will be fine! Just rest! That monster is nowhere near you!”
Just then, something jumped out from the bushes. The Hero turned his head to see a single rabbit.
‘Ah…’
He gripped his sword and took a step forward, but the small creature scurried away.
‘Shit! Shit! Shiiiiit!’
He had hoped so much to be able to catch it. But his magic would have blown it to bits. And it would not stay there long enough for him to be within range.
“Fo-fool. That tree, just to your right.”
The same tree that the kobold had peeled bark from and eaten. He wished he could tell him this, but had no way of doing so.
“Damn it!”
It was all useless. The armor that could face an army of a thousand. The blade that could cut ten thousand. The bracelets that could unleash great magic in an instant.
None of them had the power to survive this green hell.
More than anything, his voice could not reach the Hero. But his sister, in front of him, was able to speak to her subordinate. And tell him all the secrets of the forest.
‘Salia. How is the Hero, now?’
“Wandering. He seems quite lost now. He is just shouting while slashing some plants.”
‘I see. Will go and get some water. It is almost time, for the next trap.’
The forest was filled with blessings. And the kobold would make use of all of them. Food, water, weapons, materials for traps.
And the eyes from heaven. Calmly, she told him of the situation below.
“Since when…”
“…What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb! When did you set up camp in this mountain, and turn it into a trap for my Hero. That is what I am asking you!”
“After being defeated by the Hero and running. I think it was the following day.”
She said with disinterest.
“Impossible! That would only give you two weeks at most! Tracking my Hero’s movements while selecting locations for the traps and setting them!”
“Sheto only needed to find out the direction the Hero was headed in. After that, I did my best to keep him informed.”
“…You don’t mean…”
He recalled. His sister had always liked to interact with the surface dwellers. She enjoyed wandering through the lands.
“That being said, I merely told him of the most suitable places to set up camp. While there are slight variations depending on the season and movement of the stars, I am quite familiar with the terrain of this world.”
“Yo…you…”
In just one day and a half, the Hero seemed to have been stripped of every advantage.
Being torn from his reliable party members, being limited in thought and actions, and the means of acquiring food.
Now, he was tired of screaming, and leaning limply against a tree.
“But! That is as far as it goes! The monster still can’t create an attack to penetrate the armor!”
“However, the Hero…”
He had placed his sword on the ground and was waving his hand as if to relieve the tension. This was something he had done many times, as he had not found a replacement for the sheath.
“My divine sword is for the Hero alone! It is sharp and strong, but your monster would not be able to make use of its true power!”
“However, it would still be better than a stick.”
“SAAAAAAAAALIAAA!”
In the other world, the curtains of shadows were descending. The Hero was scared as he looked around.
“What are you doing, fool! It means to set some kind of trap! Please, please notice it!!”
As he shouted, he saw the kobold in the corner of his vision. But without any way of warning the Hero, the enemy put the new plan into motion.
The forest was dark once again.
Every little sound, from the rustling of leaves to a gentle breeze only served to heighten Koji’s nerves. No matter where he went, trees blocked his vision.
He had never thought much of forests before coming here. When he was in elementary school, he had once hiked through a forest with his class. But he had been forced to participate in that, and it was never as overwhelmingly dark as it was now.
He searched for a spot that was less dense, until he could see the night sky. But the moon was not out tonight, and so it made little difference.
“…Damn it.”
His sword hand was tired. The wrist felt hot. Who would have thought that losing a sheath would make such a difference.
Besides, he could not forget about what happened during the day.
‘I, watching you.’
He looked up. The trees here had fewer branches, and he could see no one. Or so he thought. The bushes too. He had already checked them several times.
There were no pitfalls or vine traps. But then again, there was a dark shadow near that tree. There was a boulder over there. Something could be lurking…
“It’s fine. It’s fine.”
He stroked his armor. As long as he had this, he would be fine. He could not be heard even if he did fall into a trap. No attack would reach him.
He tried to calm his nerves, but his stomach kept rumbling.
His throat was dry. He wanted to drink something.
“How does he find water…”
As the river had been poisoned, he must have secured water in some other way.
If only he could find it… But how?
He was hungry and thirsty. And all alone.
“This is ridiculous…”
Where had he gone wrong? Yesterday, he had been an invincible Hero.
Hoo…
“Wh-what?”
Hoo… Hoo…
In the distance, something was crying.
That is what he thought at first.
‘Hoo… Hoo… Hoo.’
The voice echoed in the dark forest. There was no doubt about it. That was the kobold’s voice.
“Yo-you finally came!”
Just as he got up, the nearby bushes rustled. He squinted in the dim light, and then ran towards it.
“Cleave him in half, ‘Zephalis’!”
The swordsman’s attack split the bushes into two. However, there was nothing there.
“Shi-shit!”
‘Hoo! Hoo!’
The voice grew farther away, and then a different bush began to move. A bluff. The enemy was just trying to get on his nerves, and did not mean to attack directly.
“I won’t fall for that anymore! You can run and cry all you want!”
He took position below a tree, and thrust his sword into the ground. If the kobold came closer, he could annihilate him with magic. If he stayed away, then Koji could get some rest. That was all.
‘Hoo, hoo, hoo.’
“Tsk…”
‘Hoo… Hoo. Hoo!’
“…!”
‘Hoo… Ho, hoo, hoo!’
“Shut up…”
He could not tell if the voice was close or far away. Sometimes, it felt like it was right next to him. Other times, it was from the far edge of the forest. Bushes and trees would rustle, and he could not trace the movements.
‘Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!’
“Shut up!!!”
The enemy was definitely there. However, it would just make sounds, and not come any closer. On top of that, it made Koji more aware of his hunger and thirst, which affected his spirit.
“Damn it. This has nothing to do with being a Hero…”
He held his head and curled up. Even then, he kept his eyes alert. The kobold would be looking for such an opportunity to steal his sword.
“Hurry. Hurry up and come…”
Time passed slowly.
“…What are you doing… Hurry…?”
The voices had stopped. The forest was quiet again.
“Wh-what the… Did he…”
Gan! Gan! Gan!
“Whaaa!?”
The sounds of metal being struck suddenly shook through the night.
“Stop that!”
He must be hitting a pot or something. Koji was already irritated, but the high-pitched ringing was effective on his nerves. He covered his ears and squinted in the darkness.
“Shit, shit, shit!”
He wanted to run out and cut the monster into half right now. However, if he did, he would surely fall into some trap. If that happened, he might lose his sword.
Just then, the ringing suddenly stopped.
“Huh?”
He uncovered his ears and grabbed the sword. Just as he thought that peace had returned…
‘Hooo!’
“Not again!”
The monster dashed through the night, filling it with his cry. While moving in a way to confuse the Hero of his location.
‘Hoo!’
“St-stop…”
And then it did again.
“Huh…?
And then the sounds of metal that pierced through his brain.
“STTTTOOOOOOOOOPPP!!”
Koji thrust out his arms towards the shadows.
“Crush, ‘Zephant’! Arrghhhhhh!!!”
A great explosion rocked the forest. Birds escaped into the air, and animals and insects scattered.
“Damn you! Damn you!”
The magic light died down, and the sounds subsided.
Koji sighed with relief as he sat down on the ground.
Now, he should be able to rest tonight.
“Hoo.”
The voice was coming from right behind him.
“…!?”
Two eyes glowed from the shadows of a tree.
“Pi-pierce, ‘Zephant’!”
The magic gathered, the silver light illuminated the kobold’s body. He was enveloped in wooden planks. The light flash of defense flashed, and the shards of wood flew into the air.
However, the furry creature laughed without a single wound, and then he vanished into the darkness.
“Ah…!”
And just like that, he had used up all the magic for the day.
He would have to wait for tomorrow for it to be recharged.
But what would he do now?
“Ah, ah…!”
He grabbed his sword and held it desperately. He could not lose it, no matter what. Still…what would happen if he did lose it?
He could not care about bugs at this point. He pushed his back against the tree and waited.
Gan! Gan! Gan!
The metallic ringing.
The sounds pierced his eardrums, attaching his consciousness. Still, Koji kept his body rigid and his eyes wide in order to protect the sword.