Urak rushed towards the kobold who was giving orders, and they talked excitedly. Shortly after, Fi arrived with the children, and the others cheered.
“We’re back!”
Adara shouted in the lead. And he was followed by two other kobolds who were dragging a boar. One of them was Sheto, and he looked quite happy.
“Just heard from Tobashi now! Sheto! You took it down, alone!”
“Re-really!? And who is Tobashia?”
“Messenger! The fastest one. Contact for village and hunting team!”
As Urak talked excitedly, the prey was laid down on the cloth.
Even when on the ground, the boar reached the noses of the adult kobolds. Its neck had already been slashed so that it was drained of blood.
“Everyone! Get to work!”
They worked so swiftly that Fi thought he was dreaming.
Adara and Sheto skinned it and then the others carved up the body.
“…I’ve gotten used to seeing hares, but when they are this big…”
He muttered. The larger pieces of thigh were cooked over the fire, while the children helped to carry and wash the organs.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Cleaning! Will make sausages!”
“Sa-sausages!?”
Before he could even offer to help, the work was finished and the smell of roasted meat wafted around him.
“Hah…that was kinda…amazing…”
“What’s the matter? Tired?”
When he turned around, he saw that Sheto was standing there in a good mood. He wore no cape now, which made him look just like the other kobolds.
“Uh, just a little surprised to see something so big be taken apart so fast…”
“Normally, we don’t boar hunt yet. Not between summer and autumn, when it’s mating season. However, it was good, to find such prey now.”
“Everyone…looks so happy.”
Aside from the food they had brought, there was now more from the mountains. The mood had lightened considerably. The kobold watched this with a smile.
“Hey! Fi! Meat is ready! Come over here!”
Urak called, and Sheto gently pushed his back.
“Go on then.”
“Huh? Uh, I…”
“Don’t keep friends, waiting.”
And then Sheto returned to the other kobolds and appeared to be talking about something.
“What is it? Hurry! Meat will be gone!”
“Ah…ahh! Wait for me!”
Strangely, it was as if he could still feel Sheto’s hand on his back. At the same time, the word ‘friend’ felt like it was seeping into his body.
Like that, the children came and pulled him away.
Green wheat swayed in the passing breeze.
Poro walked along the edge, and the newly sprouting ears of grain gently tickled his hand.
“Come now, snap out of it and get to work.”
The man slapped him on the shoulder before returning to his own spot.
The wheat swayed as far as his eyes could see. The side close to the mountains had apple orchards, and he could see people working there as well.
Poro crouched on the ground and started to pick the small weeds.
The smell of the dirt and young plants was calming.
Careful to not damage the wheat, he continued to pull out the weeds. It helped to relieve the weight that was on his mind.
He had heard about the dungeon.
The men of the village had brought back the treasures that were left, and the Hero was praised. But the kobold was no longer there.
He had left early in the morning as if running away. Poro had glared at his back. No matter what anyone said, he could not change the way that he felt.
Still, he was able to forget all of that when he worked like this.
“Phew…”
His back was starting to hurt a little. He had not even worked that long, so it must mean his body was losing its edge.
Poro slowly stood up so that his head was visible above the green.
“Father!”
Just then, he felt the hairs on his neck rising.
On the other side, a small figure waved a hand from the village.
“It’s lunch time! Lunch time!”
The little girl was walking while holding her older brother’s hand.
He almost raised his own hand towards them.
“Hey! Over here!”
Came the voice, and the two passed without even noticing him.
“Father! They said to eat this with the others!”
“Father! Father!”
“Alright. Go and call them!”
Poro listened to their voices as he slowly went down to his knees.
“Oh…”
He covered his face with dirt-stained hands.
“Ohhh…”
He could not stop the tears or the cries from escaping his lips.
And so he curled up as if to hide from the others.
“Ah…ahh…ohh…”
There was nothing he could do.
He had not shed a single tear ever since his village had been burned down. But no they would not stop coming.
“Ahhh…ahhh….”
He had thought it was peaceful at first. That he was loosening up here among the green.
But he was wrong. The scab had just come off.
And now he was reminded of what he had lost…