Chapter 12 – Great Battle
One always felt lighter in mind and body after trading. However, his purse was heavy, and he found his steps quicken on the way back home. While descending the gentle slope of the forest road, he smiled at the early summer breeze.
However, there was something strange about the road today. The Elephas mountain range was generally free of monster invasions. And so he would have usually encountered foragers and hunters from nearby villagers. But he had seen no one today.
“…What?”
He saw the figures walking up the slope up ahead. Not just a few. A large group. Dozens of people in extravagant armor and robes.
“Could it be…”
He saw that the boy in the lead was carrying a giant greatsword. And he was closely followed by a girl with a staff.
A group of Heroes.
“Hello… Are you from these parts?”
The girl greeted him with a smile.
“I’m sorry. But this area will become a battlefield soon. So you should evacuate.”
“A ba-battlefield!? Do-does that mean there will be a monster army coming!?”
“No, mister. We’re going to be hunting a monster.”
Said the boy. Then he turned around and raised his arm at the others. The other Heroes followed his order by splitting up into groups and entering the forest.
“Hunt… Is there such a dangerous monster close by?”
“I don’t know. At the very least, you should not lower your guard.”
The Hero said, and then he took the greatsword off of his back and began preparations. Next to him, the girl with the staff exchanged a few words with Heroes who stayed with them.
“The others are ready.”
“Good. Well…let’s go then.”
And then they all climbed up the slope. The merchant watched them in stunned silence. And then he suddenly remembered something.
‘That’s just it! The thing they are targeting is one single kobold.’
That was ridiculous.
A group of this size to hunt a single kobold. And these were Heroes, servants of the gods.
“Hah. There are many things in this world that I don’t understand…”
He sighed and went on his way. Indeed, there was a lot of talk about Demon Kings and Heroes. But as long as there was no direct damage to smallfolk like him, then it all seemed like something from a far away world.
“Hmm?”
As he thought of such things, something else entered his vision.
A flash of white fur, rushing into the forest as if to chase after the Heroes. The long tail and mane.
“Is that the star wolf?”
It must be.
The merchant had no idea what was happening. He could only shake his head in disbelief.
He had no idea what would happen, at the end of the coming disaster.
“How could I say it? That we were out to hunt a damned kobold.”
Ayano chuckled as Fuminori muttered.
“I wonder what this kobold is like.”
“Huh? Ah, well…it’s just a kobold. Not a person.”
“…That’s true.”
Ayano was a rather strange person. She could act properly, and was smart and cute.
However, it seemed like she often had a little too much concern towards the monsters she fought. And this kobold was no different.
“From what I heard, this kobold fought against a Hero, in order to get revenge for the killing of his family.”
“…Seriously?”
“Though, I don’t know the details…”
Fuminori’s god had not explained any of this to him. Perhaps he thought that such information would be a distraction. Or he simply did not care.
“In other words, if this Koji guy didn’t attack that village, none of this would have happened?”
“I don’t know… After all, kobolds are tormented by other monsters as well.”
“Ayano-san, why do I get the impression that you hate this?”
She hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.
“These…sort of…game-like, fantasy things. I don’t really like them.”
“…Oh, do you prefer a more traditional ‘Rings’ type world?”
“When I was summoned by Lord Sydia, I had imagined something like The Neverending Story.”
So, her idea of fantasy was rather different. This must have been quite shocking for her.
Fuminori looked up at the sky, and after a moment, managed to smile.
“If you don’t like it, I think it’s fine to back out. You do have the right, after all.”
“No. I’m the only one here who can properly heal injuries.”
This had become clear when they checked all of the party members. There were some who could heal themselves automatically, or do simple treatments. But no one else could perfectly heal poisons or other status effects.
Fuminori whispered so that no one could hear.
“At least let us take a monk or something similar. You bastard!”
He had pointed this out to Gardekie. How bad they were in terms of balance. But the god had merely said that healers generally lacked combat ability. Having a mere ‘supporter’ there would affect the amount of experience they receive at the end.
The immense amount of experience points that kobold had, and the blessing of the goddess. He needed it all for himself.
The thought sent a chill down his spine.
There were a lot of Heroes gathered together here, but eventually, they would all have to fight each other until there was only one person left standing.
Perhaps the battle royale would begin as soon as the kobold fell.
What if…in this battle, the old god told him to kill Ayano?
“Ayano-san.”
“Yes?”
“I will protect you. No matter what.”
She looked surprised, and then sad. Finally, she smiled.
“Very well. And I will do my best to support you and the others.”
If he was being honest, he could hardly believe it. That he could feel this way towards someone he didn’t know very well, and would likely be an enemy.
“Hey, leader. Sorry to bother you during such a crucial moment.”
He heard someone say with a laugh from behind.
“What?”
“Are you watching up ahead?”
“Uh…yeah, I am.”
He looked at the road up ahead.
And there it was.
Under the light that poured from between the leaves. The dog-like creature.
He had a band tied around his forehead, and a cape draped around his shoulders. The arms and legs were covered in armor, and a quiver of arrows was strapped to his back. The bow was gripped in his left hand.
He saw the flash of a short sword on his belt. Also, something like a rope was attached to it.
With pursed lips, the kobold stared at them intently. They could tell at a glance that this was nothing like the kobolds they had killed on their journey here.
“So you are the kobold.”
“Yes.”
The voice was almost child-like, but that did not distract from the strength.
It erased any doubt that the gods were exaggerating.
“In times like these, we should do things the proper way.”
He held up his sword and introduced himself.
“I am Fuminori Toyama, Lord Gardekie’s Hero.”
“And I Sheto, Ganari of Lady Salia.”
The kobold nocked an arrow and declared battle.
“I, hunt Heroes!”