“We are grateful towards you. The Hero’s power and Lady Canila’s blessings have helped the village. However, it does not give you the right to just do anything you want.”
Said a stern-looking man who was a lot taller than Keita. The chief and leader of Lindle looked at Sheto coldly.
“We will let you go this one time. Take him and get out of here.”
This was a great compromise for him. Normally, they would have hunted all of the kobolds down.
Sheto nodded.
“Fine…”
‘Wait, Sheto.’
Salia’s voice came down with the smell of cold stone. Judging by how the others suddenly bristled, they must be able to hear her as well.
‘I am sorry to startle you. My name is Saliashe. The one who has blessed that kobold. Now, I have a suggestion for Canila Farada’s Hero, Keita Saegusa, and the people of this village.’
After letting the words sink in, Salia continued.
‘I heard that there is a dungeon nearby, where monsters live. Is that true?’
“Uh…yes. In the mountains. About half a day on foot from here. But it is a very deep dungeon, and we have not been able to do anything about it.”
‘This dungeon. My subordinate shall take it.’
The villagers were shocked by the goddess’s words. As they looked at Sheto, their expressions changed from hostility to wonder and confusion.
“Bu-but! Even if he has a higher level than us…”
‘You can do it. Can’t you, Sheto?’
The kobold smelled the heat in the air. He nodded firmly.
“Aye. I, can take the dungeon.”
‘So there it is. And in exchange for this service, I want to make a pact with you. What we want is aid for the kobolds in the form of food and supplies.’
The humans shouted at that.
“Rediculous! We could never do that!”
“Do you take us for fools!”
“Only a mad god would take a kobold as a subordinate!”
Sheto could not help but laugh at this.
The villagers then fell silent, as if frightened.
‘Mad… Yes, I suppose it would look that way.’
“Yes. You, not right in the head.”
‘You are not going to defend me? Not even if it’s flattery? That is rather hurtful of you.’
“Sorry. Will flatter you, next time.”
They joked, and Sheto sighed with relief. Salia’s words seemed stronger than before. She filled his mind and body with confidence.
‘All we ask for is enough food for two days. As for supplies, it can just be furs and blankets. And in exchange for just that, this village will be safe from the threat of monsters. Besides…’
Salia stopped suddenly, and everything was quiet.
‘I…already made a contract with Canila. And so now it’s for you to make a decision. Once that is done, the contract will be implemented.’
“If…if the gods have already discussed it… What does it have to do with us?”
‘Don’t be foolish. Did I not tell you? That it will be a contract with the villagers of Lindle. My contract with Canila is outside of that. If you refuse, then it will not happen.’
Keita looked around with a worried expression.
“Wh-what proof is there that we can trust you?”
‘Even if I showed you, you would not believe. That is why it will be a contract. But a dungeon is like a monster fortress. If you leave it, then it will expand and eventually bring disaster to the village. But your Hero is busy defending the village, and cannot spend time in the dungeon.’
“Tha…that is true…but…”
‘As for that point, my subordinate has no connection to any of you. If he fails and dies, then it will just be one less kobold in this world.’
The chief then saw how advantageous the offer was for them. Still, he remained cautious.
“But if your kobold dies…and then our village is attacked as revenge… How will you take responsibility?”
‘Now that is a foolish idea. What monster would suspect that the kobold is in league with the humans? Even you do not accept mine as a Hero.’
She said sarcastically. Sheto chuckled. While telling them that they had the right to refuse, she was hitting their weak points and leading them on.
Apparently, she was starting to become as scary as they said.
‘If Sheto dies, and fails with taking the dungeon, I shall use my remaining blessing to put a powerful barrier around this village. Lindle will have defenses to match a king’s castle.’
“Why…why do you defend kobolds so much?”
‘That has nothing to do with you. What is important is that if you accept, Lindle will prosper.’
After that, there was a lengthy debate.
The villagers all put their heads together and battled with their opinions. In the mean time, Salia clariied the conditions.
“Fine. We accept the contract.”
‘I am grateful. Now then, on the night that my subordinate, Sheto the kobold, takes the monster dungeon, you will offer aid to the kobold pack.’
Salia’s voice rang with all of the authority of a greater god.