Chapter 13 – Watanusumi
Morning came.
White mist began to cover the green mountain range, pushing away the warm rays of sunlight.
The wind blew, and the birds began to cry as if to feel the approach of a new day. Hares and mice scurried in the grass, and the bugs scattered in surprise.
The same scene as always.
Only, there was one small difference.
Someone was walking there. Someone whose fate was about to be decided.
The small monster with a bow in his hand.
He wore clothes made of deerskin, and his eyes shone with determination. The fish he carried on his back had already been skewered, and he could eat them at any time, as long as he had a fire.
Eventually, he reached a clearing in the forest, where the trees had fallen and died.
He had set up a fireplace, and there was a pile of firewood nearby. Without delay, he used a tree branch to transfer an ember from the firepot.
The dry wood crackled and burned, spreading warm air in the area. Sheto then stuck the skewered fish into the ground around the fire.
Now, all he had to do was wait.
‘Still, are you sure about this? Without anything to protect you.’
“Probably, he will be more cautious. I, have to risk my life.”
The only way for this hunt to succeed was to make him use his magic as soon as possible.
In order to do that, he had to create a situation where the Hero could not help but unleash it.
‘…Sheto.’
“Don’t, sound like that. I, will hunt the Hero, no matter what.”
She was silent after that. Either she believed him, or could not find the words to say.
Eventually, he felt the presence coming from behind him.
Koji watched the scene in front of him with indescribable emotion.
The kobold was sitting on a fallen tree and eating fish.
This enemy had irritated him incessantly yesterday with delicious smells. But he had not shown himself after that. Even though Koji could not sleep at all, due to hunger, thirst and stomach pains.
There must have been two. After eating the last one, the kobold stuck the greasy skewer into the ground, and poured water over the fire.
“You, too late. I, ate all the food.”
He stood up and turned around. Koji had not seen it before, but there was a wooden plank on the ground near the kobold’s feet.
The anger and hunger was so strong that he felt dizzy. But there was no pain now. His stomach was so empty that it did not even grumble now.
“You were waiting to get me into this state, weren’t you?”
Make him slow with hunger. It was a rather typical strategy. Though, it was also effective. And what choice did a weakling have, when going against someone strong?
“Yes. This, bear hunt. But today, the Hero is prey.”
“If you think that I can be hunted like a beast…!”
His anger made him forget how tired he was. Even if he did feel sluggish and hungry. However, the idea that he couldn’t beat a small kobold was a joke.
Still, the kobold looked at him with cold eyes.
“You, less than a bear. Easier than rabbits.”
“…!!”
He nearly unleashed his magic right there, but somehow managed to stop himself. There was a shield at the kobold’s feet, which would probably stop the magic. Maybe not completely, but it would not be lethal.
And then it would be another game of chase. And the kobold would likely have new traps set up today.
But he would not fall for such simple tricks. As he had stayed up all night, Koji had plenty of time to think. And he was starting to be able to read the creature’s moves.
In general, he would move quickly and hide, so as to stay out of range from sword and magic. He used a shield to block the magic attacks, and then relied on traps after that.
The fact that he was waiting here probably suggested that he had shields littered all over the place. And Koji had no idea where the traps were.
Magic would be the thing that it feared the most. That’s why he needed such shields.
In that case, he could end things quickly.
“You do like to provoke me. But it won’t work anymore!”
“You, not that stupid. My mind changed.”
“…Say what you want.”
He held up his sword and walked forward. Something, being able to read a person’s actions could fool you. This was the moment where it still saw Koji as a stupid Hero who relied on items. It was the most important moment.
“Still, I’ll admit it. I think you’re quite strong. Probably more than me.”
“…What?”
The dog-like face showed surprise.
Just then, Koji’s mind was filled with a certain thought he had never had before. That feeling, that his words had moved an opponent. The kobold’s face had changed to that of surprise, before tensing up.
And just like that, the thrill of negotiating, of a quick mind, made his lips move smoothly.
“I really shouldn’t have underestimated you and called you weak. My bad.”
“Wh-what are you, saying.”
“However, it’s over now! Pierce, ‘Ze-’”
The kobold reflexively brought up the shield. Koji’s eyes were to its side, to the large tree behind him.
The first time in three days where the hunter had shown an opening.
And so Koji put all of his power into it.
“…Crush, ‘Zephant’!”
An explosion of light.
His armor’s barrier activated, at the same time, the kobold with his shield was enveloped by flames.
“ARRRGGGGHHH!”
The shield was shattered, and the ball of fur went flying. It landed in an open field, with nothing to protect it.
It fell to the ground like a sack, and rolled. With a sense of joy, Koji rushed towards it for the final blow.
“Pierce! ‘Zephant’!”
The explosion was merely an area attack. If blown away, it was possible that he could escape a lethal wound.
However, the magic arrows would rush towards its exposed body, and tear it to shreds.
“It’s over now!”
The light above turned into rain that came down over the kobold.
The sounds of the impact echoed, filling his eardrums with that metallic ring.
“…Huh?”
“Uh…gah!”
The form, curled up on the ground. From below the torn deerskin, he saw the gauntlets and leg guards.
“You have to be kidding!?”
“…Do…don’t need wood to protect back. Ground is hard, strong.”
Though he was bleeding in some places, the kobold got up to his feet. And he was wearing the monster gear he had seen back at the fortress.
“Wh-where did you get those!?”
“Had from the beginning. Salia, said they would be useful. But I, hate the heaviness.”
He threw off the gloves and leg guards, which had fulfilled their purpose, and he jumped back on lighter feet.
“You, is that the end of the plan?”
Just then, Koji felt immense regret. Had he shot once more, he could have won or badly wounded the enemy. But after two magic attacks, all he had accomplished was to strip the kobold of the armor, which was insurance.
“Pier…”
“Ah!”
The kobold disappeared into the trees.
“You, no good. Easier than a rabbit, after all.”
He heard the kobold laugh.
Koji gritted his teeth and then looked at the ground.
There was a puddle of blood where the kobold had been. With such an amount, it could not have been a light wound.
Upon realizing this, the Hero laughed.
This was not over yet.
“…Tsk.”
A horrible pain in the side of his stomach. The blood soaked through his clothes, more than he expected. Sheto breathed lightly and frowned.
He had not been underestimating the enemy. No, perhaps he had, somewhere deep down. Thought of him as some clueless child.
However, a wild beast is still a wild beast. If he was called a Hero, then it was best to expect more from him.
‘Are you alright? Can you move!?”
“The pain, subsided a little.”
However, the loss of blood was robbing him of strength. Sheto healed faster now, but it was not instant.
In any case, he had to get some distance.
That’s when it happened.
“Cut through it.”
He felt a chill on his neck. Sheto ignored the pain and dropped down.
“‘Zephalis’!”
A light flashed in the spot where he had been a moment ago. The Hero’s blade split open a tree, which started to topple over him.
“Ahhhhh!”
Sheto jumped away desperately, only to come face to face with that vicious smile.