“We allowed you to be unshackled and hold onto your weapons, to show that you are a guest. That being said, they could misunderstand, and attempt to do something anyway.”
“Don’t want to die. I…don’t see you all, as friends.”
“…Of course.”
Komos sighed heavily at the hostility, and opened the door.
“This is my order. Unless there is a summon from me or my master, you must not leave the room in the tower. Otherwise, we will not be able to protect you.”
“If…I refuse?”
“Then I will kill you.”
Said the hobgoblin calmly.
“The Demon King and my master both see you as a curiosity. But in my eyes, you are a poison that may kill my master. If you create even a little disturbance, I shall use it as an excuse to destroy you.”
“Demon general, Demon King. Said not to kill me. You, go against them?”
“It is also our role to correct their faults. To that end, I would gladly give my life.”
Sheto did not know how to respond.
“…But that is only if you do not obey me. There is no need for that.”
He said, and then the sense of weight vanished completely.
Komos continued to walk outside without looking back.
“Come on. Hurry.”
Sheto shook his head and stepped out into the sunlight.
The tower was on the south side of the fortress, and there was a stone building right in front. The walls on all sides were strong, and he could see scorpions and trebuchets on the battlements.
But there were also patches of green amidst the military facility.
“…Fields?”
“Fortresses are meant to be able to withstand long sieges, and so growing crops within them is the norm. It is nothing to be surprised about.”
“No, um…”
He saw that leafy vegetables were growing, and there were kobolds picking weeds.
“Ah…you make the kobolds work.”
“Yes. But there is no unnecessary abuse. After all, you lot are valuable laborers.”
They had shackles around their necks and ankles. But the goblins were not whipping them.
‘That damned general…’
Salia, who had been silent for a long time, grumbled bitterly.
‘He claimed that they did not work the fields. Does he think leaving such work to kobolds means that they did not do it?’
‘Now the order to forbid pillaging will not be as effective. I thought he was just a brute, but he impresses me.’
Unlike the goddess, the dragon god was in a good mood.
‘Sheto, watch carefully. The equipment and size of their warehouses. How many soldiers they can accomodate. For a fortress of this size, it must be around five hundred.’
Sheto tapped his ear lightly to signal that he was listening.
‘This fortress has three other towers aside from the one that you were inside. They are for watchers, but also store food and weapons. The building inside has three floors, and judging by the fact it was built on the side of a mountain, there is likely a storage space underground. Perhaps for wine.’
“How do you know that?”
‘Because castles are like that. These are the words of someone who once broke into many fortresses when he was younger. You can trust me.’
Salia chuckled at his words.
Eventually, the party stopped in front of the door to the building, and the surrounding monsters began to gather around Sheto.
“Commander! Is that him?”
“It is. But that has nothing to do with all of you. Shouldn’t your unit be doing maintenance on the weapons and armor?”
The group of goblins stared at Sheto intently.
“The damned bastard dog, a guest of the Demon King? What a joke.”
“I told you to back down. He is being escorted to our master right now.”
“But I heard… This dog is a Hero working with a goddess.”
The goblins began to rattle their weapons loudly.
“That makes him our enemy. Besides, I heard that he means to kill the Demon King and our master.”
“And what of it? It is not as if he has a chance of killing either of them.”
“You don’t understand. That’s not what we mean at all.”
Their looks grew more ravenous.
Blades were unsheathed, while whips and clubs stained with blood were raised to intimidate Sheto.
“You cannot leave them like this. The ones who don’t know their place.”
“Duels and abuse are banned in this army.”
“…Oh, you bastard. You are going too far.”
Their anger shifted.
“I never liked you. Who do you think you are? Always having a problem with how we do things.”
“You agreed to serve Lord Berganda as your master. Are so…”
“We agreed to serve the chief, not you!”
Factional dispute. The words flashed through Sheto’s mind.
A group of monsters who did not like Komos were using the hated kobold to start a fight.
‘Sheto, you have no choice but to find an opening and escape…’