10 – Negotiation and Deal-Making
In the dim forest, several bodies were lying on the ground. The pine-needle trees were easy to see through, and so it was not a good place to hide.
Besides, they had not been able to make enough huts for the night, and so it was mainly used by the women and children.
‘…Adara. Every, at their limit.’
The kobold was filthy after the long chase, and he now looked towards him with a worried expression.
‘Solde… What are, you thinking?’
‘Nearby, there is, human village.’
Adara shook his head.
‘Do not break, the rules. Put everyone, in danger.’
‘Then what! We have little hunting tool, and food! The mothers, unable to give milk now! If we don’t do, something…the children, will die.’
The others turned their heads at Solde’s voice. His face was filled with pain. As if he was praying for the gods to do something about their hopeless reality.
‘I, go.’
‘Solde…’
The words sounded weak as Solde got up to his feet.
He understood as well. That they had no other options left.
‘Food, acquire a little. If I don’t, return, take everyone and leave.’
‘Solde. I’ll go, too.’’
‘So will I.’
A few young kobolds rose to their feet, but he shook his head.
‘Better if there are few. You should, protect the others.’
After preparing, Solde began to walk away.
Even though it meant putting himself in danger, he had to do something about this.
And…
When he came to, there were iron bars in front of him.
Apparently, the impact of the trap had caused him to lose consciousness. When he opened his eyes in the dimness, he saw humans glaring at him.
So, he had been captured. Solde let out a sigh.
He had known it was a risk. And he now understood how reckless he had been.
Still, they had been that desperate.
The Demon King’s army had appeared so suddenly, and so they had to escape with just the clothes on their back. They were out of food and could not hunt properly.
“Damn it. You let one dog in…and then look what happens.”
Solde turned to one of the guards.
“Stop that. It was Mr. Keita’s decision.”
“Still… It’s a kobold…”
What were they talking about?
Had another kobold been captured as well? He had told the others to not follow him, but perhaps they had disobeyed.
At this rate, the whole pack might be in danger.
“Everyone…I’m sorry.”
“All of you, please stand back. I want to talk to him.”
Someone was moving through the crowd of people. As he wore robes, he must be a sorcerer of some kind. But his face was quite young.
But Solde’s eyes quickly moved to the person behind him.
“Ah…?”
A kobold in crude, woven clothing. But he walked on steady feet, ignoring the looks of the humans.
“Are you alright?”
The human crouched down and spoke to him. But he didn’t care.
The other dog-face was staring. Behind him, a star wolf and lizard followed.
“I have no intention of hurting you. I just want to talk.”
He had to be careful here. If he accidentally let slip the location of the others, a horrible fate would await them.
“…Sorry. It looks like you should do this instead of me.”
“You, sure?”
“I think he’ll be more relaxed if he can talk to someone of his own kind.”
“Keita!? If you do that…!”
“Why show mercy to such a monster!”
The boy raised one hand in order to silence the villagers. He must have held a high position amongst the humans. The kobold then stepped forward.
“Are you, alright? Anything, hurt?”
“Ah…uh…”
Surprisingly, the kobold had a gentle smile. Though, it seemed that he was not very welcomed by the villagers either. Still, he had a hatchet on his belt, and seemed to be an independent person.
“You, caught in trap. Why, did you sneak into human village?”
He had many questions.
Why are you walking amongst humans so calmly? Why are you eyes filled with such confidence?
And more importantly…
“You…what’s your, name?”
He asked.
“Sheto. And you?”
“Solde…”
He answered. And then without thinking, he shouted.
“Help…!”
“Wh-what…?”
“I…want to save, the others! The others from my village, everyone is dying! Please!”
It was crazy. Asking a complete stranger to do this, just because they were the same race.
Still, perhaps this one could… He felt hope rising within him.
“Please! Sheto! Please help us!”
The villagers who had gathered at the assembly hall were now glaring at Sheto.
Distrust. Suspicion. Hostility.
“Everyone. Please calm down.”
“Even if Keita…a Hero, says it…this is going too far.”
The hunter they saw this morning was now pointing towards Sheto with irritation.
“We let this one inside, and now others are coming. We have to drive it out and go hunting in the mountains!”
“He has nothing to do with the other kobolds! This is just a coincidence.”
“In the first place, why are you helping him, Keita!? If he really is another god’s Hero, then doesn’t that make you enemies?”
Sheto watched this scene silently.
In the end, he really was just a monster to them. As the dragon god had said, if Keita were to accept the other kobolds, it would create an even bigger uproar.
“We should kill him or get rid of him. And then kill the others!”
“Th…that’s…”
“They probably mean to go to that monster nest. Besides, we saw what happened on the road yesterday. We cannot risk more trouble now.”
The villagers were completely wrong about that.
Kobolds never joined the Demon King’s army of their own accord. Not unless they wanted to be used, tormented and killed.
In fact, Solde had said that he did not know there was a dungeon nearby.
‘We, have no food now. We are weak, the elders and children, won’t last long…’
He recalled the bitter words of the young kobold.
And he wanted to help them somehow.
That being said, there was nothing he could say here. If he was reckless, he could put Solde’s life in danger.
Thank you for the chapter.