Chapter 44 – The Encounter With The Floppy-Eared Kobolds

While the four Kobolds and the Werecats were engaged in a battle against the Goblins, the Kobold residents back at the settlement spent their time peacefully along the Steele River in the central part of Easteria forest.

“Kuuuun!?” (I’m spinning!?)

The only notable incident during this time involved a young Kobold cub who became dizzy and fell with a plop after chasing its own tail.

Watching the funny scene from a distance was the big, blue-furred Kobold Ax, who sat down and leaned against a large tree as the sunlight filtered through its shade.

“Wafaan~, kuruauo ♪” (How peaceful, it’s so soothing♪)

It was a line he had heard before.

“Ua!?” (Huh!?)

With the deja vu that he had once been caught off-guard by his close friend in a similar situation, he suddenly pulled himself up and looked to his left and right before looking up overhead.

At that moment, the tall, skinny Kobold, Blazer, who hid in the bushes after erasing his presence, fired a preserved acorn with his Slingshot! It whizzed past Ax who was wary of the treetops, but he never noticed it as he was looking up.

As a result, the acorn dove into the bushes opposite Blazer’s hiding place and made a sound.

“Wafuh!?”

Then, just as Ax reflexively turned to the other side, Blazer crouched low and jumped out!

“Guoah, guoorua!!” (Uraah, surprise attack!!)

“Gyafun!?”

A wooden sword hit the back of Ax’s head with a pop.

“Kuoofuu, kuah!” (Geez, what are you doing!)

“Kuuuoaruon? Wauu.” (Aren’t you being a tad too careless, Ax?)

Even though there were more than a dozen armed Kobolds now, only two of the main pack members remained in the settlement. Certainly, what Blazer said was not wrong, but with Ax’s gentle nature, it was something that could not be helped…

“Wuoon, guruowaooon wafa?” (By the way, are you guys done with training today?)

“Guu kuruaoru.” (We’re currently on break.)

“… Gau kuruaoh, guruuguaaon.” (… Then go on break and stop teasing me, geez.)

As Ax gave Blazer the stink eye, one of their armed companions approached them with a loud rustle of leaves. It was one of the guys that Blazer sent out on patrol.

“…Garuon?” (…What’s wrong?)

“Woruo kuouoan, gauru kuruu gaaoouru.” (Some unfamiliar Kobolds are approaching and some of them have ears hanging down.)

Most of the settlement’s Kobolds were prick-eared, and floppy-eared Kobolds were considered rare among them.

“Guruonh, wauu.” (Let’s go, Ax.)

“Wauh!” (Yes!)

The tall, lean Kobold tossed his wooden sword, while the hulking blue Kobold picked up the hilt of his Battle Axe that was lying on the ground as he stood up. Led by their comrade who had come to call the two of them, they ran out to the forest from the southern side of the settlement.

As for the concerned Kobolds, their ears were definitely hanging down. In fact, they were part of the pack who had originally built the small village in the depression towards the south, which was a two-day walk from where they currently were.

However, about two months ago, they were attacked and driven out of their village by a horde of Goblins, so they ended up having to move from place to place in the forest. At first, they fled to the east along the river, but because there was a risk of encountering powerful demons if they approached the depths of the forest, they changed their course to the northwest, and here they were at present in front of our Kobolds’ settlement.

“Waau, woaan?” (Elder brother*, have you noticed?)

“Gua, garuan waoooonn…” (Yes, it seems we’re in another pack’s territory.)

If they focused their senses, they could smell the faint scent that indicated the presence of others belonging to their race since a while ago. Therefore, the Kobold with the best physique who led their small group became more alert.

Compared to the others, this Kobold’s limbs were far more developed.

If the red-haired mage who called herself a biologist were around, then she would be ecstatic to discover a Kobold Striker, which was considered a rarity among the Kobold species. Furthermore, the small Kobold who called him his big brother was also an evolved variant called the Kobold Smith, which was a subspecies known for their high dexterity.

However, those Kobolds were oblivious of these facts. Paying attention to the direction of the wind, they kept their distance and did their best not to be sniffed out by the other Kobolds who were observing them…

(… Bows and arrows are upwind, surprise attacks are downwind!) #

(Let’s wait for the right moment and stay still like stones!)

Watching them while thinking of the best way to mitigate the situation with the fewest number of casualties were two of the three-year-old Kobolds trained by Blazer who specialized in surprise attacks.

As they observed the unfamiliar Kobolds encroaching on their territory, they were joined by four more Kobolds, the two being the ones currently in charge of the pack.

Their drill master immediately sent them a hand sign.

“Sorry for the wait. How many enemies are there?”

Upon receiving the inquiry, one of the Kobolds bent all the fingers in his left hand and brought out his pinky and ring finger after, which meant there were seven of them.

“Don’t kill them, let’s just subjugate them first…”

Kobolds rarely settle disputes by fighting to the death, so Blazer and his apprentices wrapped their swords with hemp cords that were produced in the settlement. This will not cause their blades to slip out even if they swung their swords around, but Ax, who saw what they were doing, hurriedly sent a hand sign to the others.

“We have to try talking to them first…”

(Well, if it’s Ax, then he would do it that way… Alright, I’ll just use him as bait!)

“Then you go, and I’ll stand by here.”

Blazer stopped Ax who nodded earnestly and was about to move out and urged him instead to make a detour and make contact with the intruders from the front. As he did so, Blazer and his troops erased their presence and stalked the floppy-eared Kobolds from a distance.