15 – Attack
“Sheto!”
Fi looked frantic as he came running. And then he thrust his device towards Sheto.
‘Please, Sheto! Please save the village!’
“…Village!? What happened to Keita!”
‘Lindle is under attack by monsters! Keita is doing what he can…but there are so many…!’
The kobolds had been getting ready to sleep, but they now gathered around to see what was happening.
“Salia.”
‘I understand. I will help Canila. And you…’
Salia paused there.
The eyes of the kobolds were filled with worry. If he went running now, it would affect their departure. The enemy army might even be alerted of their presence.
“I…”
The contract was already finished. They had destroyed the dungeon and taken the treasures.
The humans had nothing to do with them. If anything, they should use this chaos to get away.
Sheto sighed and then shouted.
“Guto!”
“Awwooo!”
The star wolf rushed through the others and came to him. He was carrying a sack in his mouth. Sheto started to take out the contents.
‘Tha…thank you.’
“Canila, I, will go now!”
“Sheto…I’m sorry.’
He put on his protective gear and cape.
“Sheto, where are you, going?”
“Adara…”
While strapping the saddle onto Guto, he smiled towards the others.
“I can’t, abandon Keita after all. Right now, he’s in trouble.”
“…He’s human. Doesn’t matter if he helped once. Also, what can you do, alone?”
“Yes. I agree.”
He said as he gripped the reins.
“Sheto! I’m…going with you.”
“Fi, you stay here with everyone. Adara, leave here, at once. I will catch up, after.”
He knew that this was foolish. This was not something a kobold should do.
“Go! Guto!”
The star wolf dashed into the darkness.
Fi’s anxious face was gone from his vision now.
“Keita…”
Guto swiftly exited the forest and went out into the road.
It should have been dark up ahead, but the sky was red with flames.
“Wait, Keita.”
Sheto’s heart felt cold at the proise of violence. Still, with his partner, he rushed through the night.
—
While watching the white figure running in the shadows, Yasuharu spoke to the empty air.
“The kobold is moving.”
‘Good. The plan will be altered, as I said earlier. You can make the small adjustments.’’
“I understand.”
There was only candlelight in the office, and other than that, the tablet device was the only bright thing in the room.
“Vengras. Orders have arrived. Move your troops just as we discussed.”
‘…Are you sure? While we understand the situation, Lindle is…’’
“Heade to the point as ordered. That is all.”
While the magician sounded like he wanted to say something, he did not argue back. As if to disperse the silent opposition, he slid his finger to change what was on the display.
“Ekbert. The operation has begun. Continue advancing towards Lindle. A slow march with increased numbers of scouts.”
‘A slow march? Are you sure?’
“Yes.”
The knight had a bitter expression as he received the order. Yasuharu ignored that as well as flicked the screen with a sigh.
“…Really.”
He picked up the stick-like object from his desk and pushed it to open with his fingers.
There was a click, and the paper inside was revealed.
“Finish it quickly.”
He flicked his wrist, closing the paper fan. And then he opened it again.
He had brought it with him from that place, and playing with it like this helped to calm his irritation.
“I don’t want to be bothered with this forever.”
The tablet went into sleep mode as the screen turned black. Yasuharu just stared at it in silence.