4 – The Hero’s Army
General Berganda watched as the goblins surrounding the smoking cooking fires in the forest clearing.
After the attack on Lindle, new soldiers had been called to join them. And so the army was quite large in scale. Not only that, but units had been sent out to ransack the nearby villages, so they had plenty of supplies.
“Komos. What is the current situation?”
“Now that the soldiers from Amarek dungeon are with us, we have a total of seven thousand. That being said, two-thousand and five-hundred are orcs, three-thousand and two-hundred are goblins, and then there are some ogres and trolls to make up six-thousand…and the rest are other demon beasts.”
“It seems like the training has been paying off.”
“Yes. And…it seems that the battle in Lindle has raised morale.”
“That…does not amuse me.”
He grimaced. The soldiers seemed to have interpreted the Demon King’s presence as a sign that he favored him.
But the Demon King had not taken control of him due to anything like that. It was because Berganda had lost control, and might have done something irreversible to the target.
“So, how is Sheto?”
“The same as always. He does not react to our words.”
“He is an impressive one. Too good for a mere kobold.”
Berganda stretched his limbs and then began to walk towards the outskirts of the camp.
“Ah, general! Aren’t you going to eat!?”
“Sorry, you will have to bring it to me. I will eat while questioning the prisoner.”
The goblin cook followed him while carrying the pot. And then Berganda sat down in front of the wagon. The gray, dog-like creature was lying down inside of its cage. But he rose upon hearing the general’s approach.
“You’re awake then. How do you feel.”
“Normal.”
The young kobold looked back at him calmly. While he had been a prisoner for a few days now, he did not look any weaker.
“Then we should eat breakfast. Eat with me.”
He tasted some of the stew from a bowl, and then shoved it into the cage. The kobold looked worried, but then he smelled it and tasted it carefully. He seemed to have determined it was safe, as he began to eat.
“There is no need for that. Besides, human meat is no different from cow or boar.”
“We, told not to eat humans. It’s poison for kobolds.”
Strangely, that was a rule amongst kobolds. If a kobold were wicked enough to eat human flesh even once, their monstrous nature would emerge, and they would become vile creatures who craved blood and senseless violence.
Sheto had thought it rediculous, but an interesting custom.
Obviously, eating human flesh would not make monsters violent. Goblins and orcs were already like that anyway. Ogres would eat anyone that was not their own.
It was probably about ‘recognizing their weakness.’ Kobolds were the weakest monsters. If they saw humans as prey, it was likely that they would not live long.
“Too bad.”
“No. Many other kinds of meat. Hare, venison. Easier.”
“No… I was talking about you. And kobolds.”
Weak and cowardly. Useless monsters.
However, the small creatures liked to make groups and have order. They had the intelligence to have large goals and try to achieve them.
And this Sheto. He had courage never before seen in them.
“Let me ask you one thing, Sheto. Why are you able to fight? How did you survive against those Heroes?”
“You, not right in the head. I’ve said, many times. It was because of Salia.”
“Yes. Of course. The power you use is definitely from a god. However, that is not what I am asking. There is another power. The one that drives you.”
He glared at the kobold. Sheto put his bowl down and turned his head away.
“I, just a kobold. What you say, is difficult. I don’t understand.”
“My, my…you’re a stubborn one. The Demon King will not be pleased.”
“Your problem. Nothing to do with me.”
Sheto spat. Several of the goblins bared their fangs. But Berganda continued to eat as if he didn’t care.
“Would you like more?”
“No. Don’t eat much when not moving.”
“Is that your rule as a hunter?”
“…Is that strange?”
Berganda chuckled and got up to his feet.
“Breakfast is over! Everyone, prepare to march! Anyone who is late will be kicked to death!”
The soldiers immediately started to move. The beast masters also connected the wagon to the giant lizards.
“You really are fascinated by that kobold.”
“Really? Well, perhaps our lord’s interest has spread to me as well.”
Bonus chapter courtesy of Photo. As always, thank you so much!!
You’re welcome and thank you once again.