‘Such senses are not just for dragons. Animals, kobolds, even humans have them. But your senses have been sharpened, that’s all. We are a little more sensitive.’
That being said, the dragon god was probably being modest. Fi had done no training, and yet he was able to make out the differences in running hares, just like a hunter.
“I’m getting hungry.”
Thinking about hares had stimulated his stomach. When he had come as a human, he wanted to eat rice. That was another change.
“Mmm. Perhaps it’s time, to eat.”
Sheto said, and then Guto crouched low. But just as Fi was about to dismount…
“Hmm?”
He sensed something through his horns. A strange sound through the wind that hit his nerves.
“Sheto. Can you hear anything?”
“…Aye.”
The kobold looked agitated as he gazed into the trees. Guto saw this and rose up again.
“It sounds like someone is fighting.”
“…Is this the sound of swords?”
Something big being slammed down to the ground. The air seemed to shake, and then there was a high-pitched, metallic ringing. There was also shouting and screaming. But it was very quiet.
“Fi. Hold onto Guto. Don’t let go.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Find out who it is. Would be bad, if Hero’s army found us.”
The kobold shot out, running in a low stance, and the star wolf followed. Fi held onto the reins tightly and lowered his posture.
The sounds grew louder, and the silhouettes more clear and cruel.
“He-hey!? This…”
Sheto raised a hand to silence him.
The road was about one hundred meters away, and the forest cut off right in front of them.
“Wha…what is…”
“Probably, demons, hunting humans.”
While they could not see the fighting yet, it was easy to imagine what was happening below.
Neighing horses, screaming, and angry shouts to desperately push the enemy back.
Vulgar cheering, intimidating roars, and the sounds of swords clashing.
However, after observing his surroundings, Sheto rose up.
“Wha…what are you going to do?”
“Let’s go. Get out of here.”
He said curtly and began to walk while holding the reins.
“He-hey! Wait a minute! There are people being attacked down there!”
“And what of it?”
The kobold said coldly.
“If we stay, monsters will attack us.”
“Bu-but! We can’t just let them die.”
“Fi. What is our purpose?”
Their purpose.
“I, made weapons. To hunt Heroes and the Demon King. Not to help humans.”
“But…!”
Yes, he was not wrong at all.
From Sheto’s point of view, they were just strangers. Even worse, humans saw kobolds as vermin that were to be hunted down.
He had no reason to put himself in danger in order to help them.
But…
‘Stop! Stay away!’
‘Gahahaha! Humans! Humans cry so well!’
‘Arghhhh! Get out of my way!’
‘Damn it! Keep your backside to the cliff. Hide behind the carriage… Gahhh!’
‘Ehehehe! Humans, so foolish! And so weak!
The voices flooded into his ears.
“You, you’re Salia’s Hero, aren’t you!? Then…”
“The gods up there, don’t see me, as a hero. Just a monster with, experience points. A prey to be hunted. That’s all.”
“And…and what about you!”
Fi’s mind was confused, and he didn’t know why he was shouting.
“Wh-what about you. What do you think!”
“M…me?”
“I don’t know what the gods say, but what about you!? Are you just a monster? Or a Hero!?”
The voices of the humans began to fade.
And the voices of the monsters turned to sadistic excitement.
“Be-because they say you’re just a monster, you are going to act like one!? That’s not right!”
“Ca…calm down! They will hear you!”
“Those voices! You can hear them! They’re going to die soon!”
What the hell are you saying? A voice shouted in his mind.
Still, he couldn’t stop himself.
“You’re the only one who can help them! How can you just abandon them, Sheto!”
“…”
The kobold’s face contorted with pain for a second, and then he sighed as if relieved.
“Fi…stay with Guto. Guto, don’t come close, unless I say so.”
“Wuff.”
“She…”
But before he could say anything, the kobold moved away.
And once the sounds and silhouettes were gone, his mind cooled off.
“What the hell…did I say…”
He had not been thinking straight. Why would he tell him to save some humans who would do nothing in return? Those humans might have killed kobolds in the past.
Fi had even forgotten what he had done to Sheto himself…
The truth.
Such a peaceful life had made him forget it. Being in a dragon body had made it fade away…
“Why…why…did I…”
It was because he was still human.
Even if his appearance had changed, the human inside had not been able to abandon those people.
And he had forced the job onto Sheto.
When it was Fi who should have done something.
“Shit!”
But even though his senses had been sharpened, he was still just a weak little dragon.
He could not breathe fire, use magic, or even fly. He was a useless creature.
“Shit…shit…shit…”
The young dragon could only clench his fists and groan.