In the shadows of the forest, several fires were burning. The kobolds surrounded each one for warmth as they ate. Fi watched them dazedly.
Sheto was with Adara in the back, welcomed by the others. He had an expression of contentment that Fi had never seen before.
“His…own kind.”
Fi muttered while sitting in front of the fire that had been prepared for him.
It had been a long time since Sheto met other kobolds, so there was no way he would not be happy.
Still, it was not a relaxing place for Fi.
“Hey.”
“Huh? Ah, uh, Solde.”
With a small cup and a piece of flat bread in hand, Solde sat next to him.
“Your portion. Eat.”
“…I thought, you didn’t like me.”
“No, different. You are unknown. That is all.”
So it was distrust, not hostility. The kobold then got up.
“Wait a moment.”
“What?”
“Earlier. What I said to you, on the way here.”
Solde sighed.
“I…said something, bad. He saved…us.”
“Then!”
“But, I’m…afraid…of him.”
It was a simple answer. His head turned towards Sheto.
“Why, is Sheto able to speak, with gods?”
“Huh?”
“He said, a god chose him, gave him power. Why did that happen?”
The reason that Sheto acquired power.
“Why are you…asking me that?”
“Because, you are his friend.”
“Friend…”
The word felt like cold water running down his back..
Indeed, it probably looked like that. Fi even thought it was that way.
But it really wasn’t…
“I’m sorry. I don’t…really know, either.”
“I see.”
After that, Solde left him. Fi let out a deep sigh.
Why was he even here?
He had returned to this world though making a contract with the dragon god. And the reason for that, was to see the truth of the games.
And the truth of what he had done.
“…Hmm?”
He noticed a small figure by the fire. A small kobold child was staring up at him.
“What do you want?”
“Ah!”
The kobold swiftly hid behind a tree. Still, it continued to look back at Fi. He noticed there were several other figures as well.
“…Don’t worry. I won’t do anything.”
The curious kobolds slowly moved closer. And then the youngest of the children spoke to him.
“You. Really a dragon?”
“Ah, yeah. Basically.”
“See! I told you so!”
The children then rushed towards Fi excitedly. They had the round heads of puppies.
“You, can breathe fire!?”
“Uh, I can’t actually do that yet.”
“What about flying!?”
“…I can’t do that either. Sorry.”
“Can’t use magic?”
The last question was filled with disappointment. Indeed, what was so interesting about a dragon who could not breath fire or fly in the sky?
That being said, there was one thing that he could do…
“Uh, using magic is nothing for me!”
“Really!? Do it!”
“A…alright. How about this!”
He tapped the screen of his smartphone and the light came on.
“Ohhh!”
“And look at this!”
His finger slid across the screen as the kobold children leaned forward as if to crush him.
“Amazing! A magic board!”
“I want to see more! Do something!”
“I-idiot! Don’t push so hard… Ahhhh!”
After that, Fi was jostled around until their mothers came to take them away.
“Goodbye, Fi!”
“Uh…see you later…”
When he was finally freed, he stretched his tired limbs.
Now that he thought about it, this had been similar to when he played with young relatives during New Years.
“Kobolds…really are like humans.”
And then a dried fruit was placed in front of him.
‘For playing with the children.’
The mothers had left him something before leaving. He was tired after traveling for so long, but when he bit into the fruit, it was sweet.
“Are you alright, Fi?”
Sheto came to him, his eyes looking a little drunk. He had never been this relaxed before.
“The children, became lively again. Very good.”
“Well, that’s certainly not a bad thing…but maybe they’re a little too energetic.”
“Been a while, since they last ate to their full. They said, children had no life in them, for long time.”
After that, Sheto told him about the current situation in the pack. Originally, they had been from a village far to the north of here, but after noticing the monster invasion, they had decided to escape.
At the same time, the human armies started to appear along the roads, and so for a long time, they were on the run.
“They gradually, ran out of food. When running away, there’s little time, for hunting and cooking…”
“Then…”
“Many have died. They said. The pack, half of what it was.”
Around the small fires, the kobolds huddled together.
The mothers embracing their children, the fathers carving something with a blade. Adara and the subordinate kobolds occasionally patrolled the area.
“Still, everyone ate. Regained energy. Now, they will go to Elephas, where we were.”
“Ah…that was a good place. With lots of good food.”
“I will tell them, to go farther south, after spending the winter in the mountains.”
Sheto muttered as he poked at the dying fire.
“Fi.”
“Hmm?”
“He, invited me.”
“To go…with them?”
The kobold nodded and then shook his head.
“Why aren’t you going?”
“I have my journey. My purpose. Did you forget?”
“Ah…”
Sheto had decided to abandon peace in order to create a forest for kobolds.
And it was Fi who had made him do it.
“Sheto…”
“Also, if I am with them, it will cause trouble.”
“You’re…right…”
The Seer had basically made a declaration of war against Salia.
Besides, even if he defeated the Demon King, as long as there was one other Hero remaining, the game would continue. The kobolds would be in danger if they stayed near Sheto.
As Fi looked depressed, Sheto nodded to him reassuringly.
“But, I will go with them, until they reach the mountain.”
“Are you sure?”
“Aye. Salia said, it’s fine. Besides, much to tell them about the Elephas mountain.”
“Fine. If that’s what you want, I’m fine with it.”
After that conversation, Sheto lay down on the ground.
“Go to sleep. Tomorrow, will get what we need. And then leave, day after.”
Fi nodded and then covered his head with his wings.
Still, he was not sleepy. On the other hand, Sheto fell asleep immediately.
“Hey…Sheto…”
Fi whispered so that no one could hear him.
“If I…told you the truth. How…would you react?”