In the dimly lit room, Evacus leaned back in his throne and looked at the silent mirror with a shrug.
“I see. So it was surprisingly quick.”
He had known that his connection to Gardekie, Sydia and some other gods would be severed soon. After all, he had been very obvious with his movements.
Some of the other gods were no longer talking to him as well. The ones who knew that he was plotting, but were not bold enough to negotiate with the others. The ones who believed they could deal with matters by themselves.
“Well, this is still according to plan.”
He had never expected them to trust his rats for very long. His goal in using them was already achieved anyway.
There was no way that the gods, each caring only for their own expansion of influence, could unite in a common cause to hunt down the kobold.
Rallying all of the lesser gods under the banner of Gardekie, even for just a moment, that was all that was necessary.
However, by using his rats, he had been able to control the flow of information for a short while. That was big. Had he been discovered any sooner, he would not be here right now.
“What fools. They do not know that my plan is already eighty percent complete.”
The plan had started, back when Saliashe was cut off from the others, exposed like a fat sheep.
Just then, a mirror appeared in the air, showing the anxious face of his Hero.
‘Hey. Am I still not allowed to go out?’
“…I’m sorry. Not yet. Could you wait a little longer?”
There was no way that he could let him go out now. After all, with this trick, being seen just once would put an end to it.
However, one great achievement was all that was necessary. And then he would be unstoppable.
‘Fine…’
“Sorry. Still, once this battle is over, you shall be a great Hero.”
‘Yeah.’
The Hero was silent after that, and so Evacus turned towards another mirror. The only other one that had not disconnected.
“Lady Saliashe. I hate to disturb you. But it seems the others have caught on.”
Saliashe heard the rat’s words, but did not turn her head to look.
Sheto continued to dodge the enemy attacks, while keeping them in check with his arrows.
“I see. Then you should tell me the abilities and weaknesses of the other Heroes.”
‘You are very bold. Just when I thought that I was finally free from having to deal with a hundred gods, now I’m stuck assisting a terrifying goddess.’
“And I intend to make good use of you. In fact, I think it’s time you gave out the real order.”
She could see that Sheto was becoming tired.
‘Are you sure about this?’
“Tell me who poses a threat to your hero, Evacus, Keeper of the Golden Vault.”
‘In that case… Yesta!’
In answer, the goddess of time appeared.
‘A declaration. When dueling against my Hero, there will be no new blessings bestowed. In exchange, until it begins, I shall help you without falsehood.’
“Then I shall swear the same. But you must promise that we will have a short while to rest before the duel.”
‘Yesta. Please accept this declaration.’
“Very well.”
Time was carved, and the agreement bound. At this point they still only had a thirty percent chance of winning.
Sheto’s movements were still fast, but there were more Heroes now, and the path to the base of the mountain was already cut off completely.
“From here, it is either grow or go back. If you want to win with the least amount of trouble, try and make use of me. A foolish goddess.”
‘You are both the wisest and most mad of any god I have met. Lady Saliashe.’
Salia stared at Sheto through the mirror. It was rather horrible now that she thought about it. Even if she had confided in him, she was still moving him at her own convenience. At this point, she was treating him like a pawn, and perhaps even enjoying this as a game.
Still, fighting against just one person would give him a better chance than dealing with a hundred Heroes.
“It is fine now, Sheto.”
‘I can do it?’
“You have been on the defense long enough. From here, you can attack!”
Salia announced, and Sheto sighed. There were many tall trees growing in the area, but few rocks or shorter plants to hide behind.
“What about the trap!?”
‘I will leave that to you. However, prioritize what I tell you!’
“Fine!”
They had talked about this before. Buy time until they gained a cooperator, and when that was complete, switch to the offensive. Not only that, but focus on the target that the cooperator chose.
But this was a trap, and could be disadvantageous to them. Salia had told him this.
However, he had told her that he did not mind.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Salia. I thought I, could survive it. If I thought that. It’s fine.’
Offensive. The moment the word flashed in the kobold’s mind, everything had a different meaning.
The net around him was tightening. The Heroes from below were forming a semi-circle. Those in the front wielded melee weapons, while in the back, they were supported with those with magic and bows. And they were ready to attack.
Though, the Hero with the great sword was staring at Sheto, while staying back. As if to protect the woman next to him, who carried a staff.
After confirming all of this, Sheto quickly put away his bow and slowed down a little.
“Salia. Any Heroes from the mountain?”
‘Not yet. However, they should not be very far away… Ah, it seems they will cross the mountain soon.’
“The cooperator?”
‘Yes. A tip from a reliable foe.’
Salia said with a chuckle. He smelled something hot like charcoal. The smell of impatience and excitement.
Feeling her heat, Sheto laughed as well. Upon seeing this, the Heroes who were surrounding him, paused for a second.
Sheto’s right hand extended out and unraveled the knot of the net.
“Arrrghhhh!”
With the tip dangling towards the ground, he spun around and charged towards the Heroes.
“What!? He switched weapons!?”
But he ignored the surprised Heroes and targeted the swordsman with the fiery blade.
“Sha!”
With the net over his shoulder, he stopped suddenly, causing the load to shoot forward as if he was slinging a sack from off his back.
“Gaah!?”
The stones cut through the air, and after scraping him, red flowers blossomed on the man’s face. Sheto then turned his body around, and swung the net towards the group of Heroes to the side.
“Ahhhh!”
“Hyaah!”
“Arggghh!”
The stones in the net slashed at them, and they fell to the ground. Sheto then took another step forward and pulled the net over a Hero’s head.
“Gaah!”
The Hero struggled, thrashing his legs without thinking, but it just caused the net to go deeper into his skin.
At the same time, Sheto pulled back, tightening the grip.
“Ga, geegh!”
“You…idiot! Stoop!”
The greatsword wielder finally understood the seriousness of the situation, and he rushed forward in order to cut the net.
However, Sheto, who had two blessings, was just a little faster.
“ARGHHHHH!”
The net not only had enhancements for attack and defenses, giving it the strength of steel, but it was hot like iron. And as Sheto yanked it free, it shredded the Hero’s thin neck, causing his body to spin in the air and then be thrown to the ground.
Sheto retracted the bloody net, full of stones, wooden shards, and pieces of flesh.
The Hero was unconscious now. And the others were stunned.
“You…you! What did you do!”
“Make no mistake.”
Sheto spun the net above his head. Increasing its deadly potency.
“All of you. Think this is a game. But, for me, not a game.”
And then he unleashed the net once again.
It was imprecise, and would not have hit anyone. However, after seeing the first casualty, the others now moved far back.
‘Many enemies. Few friends. Do you know, how to fight in such times?’
He pulled the net back swiftly and then turned around and ran.
At the same time, he thought about his father’s words.
‘Make them scared. Make them think, if they attack, they will know. True fear.’
Perhaps they were running at the same pace. But the Heroes seemed a little slower to Sheto now. And every time he moved his right hand, he saw some of them shrink back.
“Damn it! Eat this!”
An arrow came flying. Sheto grabbed his cape and let the net droop towards the ground.
“Arghhh!”
Sheto spun like a tornado. The cape knocked the arrow out of the air, while the net slashed at the faces of the Heroes.
“Ugaraaahhhh!”
“Don’t get close to it! Protect your hands and faces! Just nail it with ranged attacks and magic!”
This was originally a weapon to inflict wounds that were slow to heal and cause pain. And as it drew ominous arcs through the air, the Heroes became sluggish.
Still, they brandished their weapons and continued to advance towards him.
‘Next, is important. Until the very end, don’t kill the enemy.’
Sheto pulled at a string that was attached to his quiver, and then he shook it. Liquid poured in, soaking the tips. And then he pulled out three of the arrows at once, and tossed them up into the air.
As they flew overhead, the eyes of a few of the Heroes followed them distractedly.
“Hah!”
He left one in his hand, which he now shot into the swordsman’s knee.
“Arghhh!”
He snatched one falling arrow out of the air, and unleashed it into the shoulder of the Hero who had his axe at the ready.
“Gah!”
The last arrow was smoothly nocked, and quickly pierced the hand of the robed sorcerer holding a staff.
“Ahhh!”
This kind of shooting would not have been necessary during a real hunt. Sheto had learned to shoot like this, mainly to entertain his brothers.
“Damn it! Surround it! Surround it!”
Someone shouted, and in a flash, there was a wall of people around Sheto.
Their hands were enveloped by fire, lightning or glowing holy swords, and their bodies were protected by armor and divine vessels. The Heroes of lesser gods.
“Eat this!”
Sheto dodged the swing of a sword, and then moved around as if to use the Hero as a shield.
“Shit! Get out of the way!”
“Idiot! I was here first!”
While noting their lack of coordination, Sheto reached out for the net on the ground, as if picking up a fallen pebble.
“Shii!”
‘Waaaah!?’
The area of violence created with Sheto as the center, it cut open the exposed legs and sides of those wearing lighter armor.
“Be careful! The kobold’s attacks are poisonous! And the wounds take longer to heal!”
Sheto glanced at the speaker and then dashed out from the opened gap of Heroes.
“Salia. That is the healer!”
‘According to Evacus, she specializes in defense. That is someone we should take down as soon as possible.’
That being said, it was also clear that she had her hands full with healing. The arrows had barbs on which made them difficult to pull out safely.
And the poison on the arrows could not be erased easily either.
‘Wound, poison. But not kill. Weaken enemies. Kill them later.’
Fear, wound and poison.
Thoroughly smash their will to fight and take away their means of resisting. The dead only needed a grave, but the wounded needed medicine, peace and rest.
That was the way that monsters fought.
After fatigue and fear ate away at them, the formation began to crumble.
In order to gain some distance, the kobold pulled back the net and tried to get away again.
‘Sheto! Eagle above!’
At the same time, he swung up his arms.
In the next instant, a ray of magic light cut through the trees, and burned away the spot where the kobold had been.