Kobold Extermination Squad (6)
Kobold Extermination Squad (6)
Inside the command tent of the subjugation force commander.
Ashekh opened the discussion while looking at me and the other Silver Badge mercenaries.
"I believe you've all sensed it too. That the current situation with the kobold colonies is not normal."
At Ashekh's words, Waldo roughly voiced his agreement.
"No kidding! Those damn mutts were supposed to just steal some pigs and chickens. But there's nothing left!"
The subjugation force had conquered a total of four colonies so far.
All those colonies only had traces of livestock farming, but not a single animal remained.
"The crops are the same. There are fields, but not even a single seed remains, let alone harvest. Hoo, what in the world is happening..."
The oldest mercenary here added with a deep sigh.
He was likely as experienced as he was old.
It meant the situation with the colonies was that abnormal.
"Does everyone know why the city decided to subjugate the kobolds? It's because they raided nearby villages and caused massive damage."
"But even that situation itself isn't normal, right?"
Ashekh nodded at my words.
Goblins and kobolds were similar in that they were the lowest-tier monsters that lived in groups.
But while there were always subjugation requests for goblins, there weren't for kobolds.
Unlike goblins, kobolds didn't plunder human villages or kidnap women.
They preferred to hole up deep in the mountains, building their own civilization and living quietly.
The reason this subjugation force was formed.
That is, the kobolds' aggression itself was very rare and strange.
"The city council came up with several hypotheses. The most plausible speculation was a civil war between kobold colonies."
According to Ashekh, such things occasionally happened.
Kobold lords who commanded hundreds of kobolds.
There were chieftains who waged war against their own kind to ascend to that position.
"Hmm..."
Colonies defeated in civil war paid tribute to other colonies with food, and those starving kobolds then attacked humans.
It was a fairly plausible inference, but there remained an unresolved problem.
Ashekh immediately pointed that out.
"But all four colonies we destroyed were completely devoid of food. That's too extreme for a civil war. And there's one more strange thing."
Waldo, who had bolted upright, shouted confidently.
"The kobold chieftains! It's strange that all the colonies lack chieftains, not just one or two!"
"Precisely."
Ashekh affirmed Waldo's shout.
The kobold chieftains who commanded entire colonies.
The absence of those leaders was the most suspicious element in this situation.
"So my final hypothesis is this. The emergence of a high-level monster."
High-level monster.
Everyone swallowed hard at the weight of those words.
Because they were all terrifying beings.
They were monsters among monsters that required knight-level strength to confront.
"It must be a monster with considerable intelligence. Given that they're receiving tribute from kobolds, it's likely an ogre or cyclops."
The kobolds paid tribute to a high-level monster. So that's why there were no livestock or crops?
I tilted my head in confusion.
I understand that part, but what does the absence of kobold chieftains mean?
"But what does that have to do with the missing chieftains? Ashekh, do you know something?"
Apparently I wasn't the only one with questions, as another mercenary asked.
Ashekh thought for a moment before continuing with a cautious expression.
"I can't be certain about that either. But there was probably a major conflict between the kobolds and the high-level monster. It makes sense if they were sacrificed in that process."
"Hmm. I had noticed the overall kobold population seemed lower than average. If there was such a hierarchy struggle, that would certainly explain that part too."
An unnamed mercenary wearing glasses nodded as if convinced.
The mysterious puzzle facing the subjugation force.
It felt like the truth was finally being revealed.
"Wait. Then isn't the current situation much more dangerous than we thought? There's a high-level monster somewhere in these mountains."
At one mercenary's worried question, Ashekh firmly shook his head.
"No. I think it'll be fine. We've been stirring up the forest for days with no reaction. They're probably lazy from stockpiling food. As long as we don't provoke them first, we should be safe for a while."
The mercenaries looked somewhat uneasy but didn't show it further.
Ashekh's words were reasonable.
His overall assessment of the situation was also clean and without excess.
However, separate from that, my heart felt unsettled.
I can't pinpoint it exactly. I kept feeling something ominous.
The emergence of a high-level monster. Is that really all there is to it?
"As commander of the subjugation force, I'll now make a decision. Durimur, you'll serve as messenger and deliver this news to Rivaid."
"Understood."
There were still several transport horses left in the camp.
Riding a horse would make for a quick round trip.
Ashekh looked around at everyone and issued his final orders.
"Subjugation will be temporarily suspended until we receive a response from the city, and Silver Badge mercenaries will be included in guard duty to strengthen security. I hope everyone understands."
No one expressed dissatisfaction.
Guard duty wasn't a big deal when we weren't even subjugating.
The meeting concluded with Ashekh's instructions.
"Alright, let's disperse."
As we were filing out of the tent one by one, a loud horn blast struck our ears.
Startled, we urgently turned our heads.
"Attack! We're under attack!"
"The kobold bastards are charging in!"
Mercenaries on guard duty shouted warnings about the ambush.
A sudden attack?
It was unexpected, but there was no time to be surprised.
"Everyone scatter! Support where the formation is vulnerable!"
"Ashekh! What about the messenger?"
"Durimur! Fight for now! We'll discuss it after the battle!"
Everyone nodded at Ashekh's command and scattered.
I also moved, first surveying the camp's situation.
The battle wasn't going well.
Several resting mercenaries were being slaughtered instantly without even holding their weapons.
The colony subjugations had gone smoothly until now because we were on the offensive.
Preemptive strikes with fire arrows and Silver Badge mercenaries at the front. Without those, this would be a difficult fight.
Moreover, with this ambush turning into a chaotic battle, it wouldn't be surprising if most mercenaries died.
I couldn't just let that continue.
I drew my sword like lightning and cut down a nearby kobold.
Their numbers were nothing to scoff at.
The two colonies we hadn't conquered yet. It seemed like they had united to strike us.
Otherwise, this military force didn't make sense.
"Ko, kobold chieftain! There's a chieftain here!"
Adding insult to injury, a superior entity - a kobold chieftain - seemed to have appeared.
Probably the leader who initiated this attack.
I saw several Silver Badge members running toward where the sound came from.
They should be enough to handle it.
Cutting through the swarming kobold horde, I advanced step by step.
The other mercenaries were important too, but I had someone whose safety I needed to confirm.
"Tir! Are you okay?"
"Nunim? Hoo, you're safe."
"You, blood...!"
His shoulder was stained crimson with blood.
Kobold corpses littered the area nearby.
It seemed he had been injured while fighting several alone.
"...Don't worry. It's just a scratch."
Despite his words, his complexion was pale.
If I left him bleeding like this, it could become truly dangerous.
After briefly scanning the surroundings, I spoke to Tir.
"We have bandages and medicinal herbs in our tent, right? Let's go give you emergency treatment. I'll protect you."
"Yes... I'll hurry."
Time was urgent.
The battlefield was still in a state of chaotic turmoil.
Kobolds were endlessly swarming in and attacking.
Amid the chaotic battle, Tir and I gradually made our way toward the tent.
"I'll kill all these bastards!"
"W, wait! Help me! Kyaaack!"
Cries and screams from mercenaries reached us from various directions.
Unfortunately, it was difficult to recklessly provide support.
Just protecting Tir was challenging enough.
Even I couldn't guarantee my survival right now.
"Let's hurry!"
As I turned my head while saying that, an unnatural sound pierced my ears.
The sound of air being torn.
Simultaneously, a pained groan erupted from behind me.
"Kkhuk...!"
"Ti, Tir!"
I couldn't believe my eyes.
An attack that had occurred without me noticing.
An arrow shot like lightning was embedded in Tir's chest.
"Come here!"
I hurriedly caught Tir as he staggered and nearly fell.
I couldn't believe it.
What was embedded in his body was an arrow with an iron tip.
But I had never once heard of kobolds using bows.
"Ugh...!"
Then, several more arrows flew in and one embedded itself in my thigh.
A burning pain spread through my leg.
If I stayed still, I'd keep getting hit by arrow volleys.
Grabbing Tir, I dragged him and quickly hid behind a nearby tent.
"...Nunim? The arrow, there's an arrow in your leg."
I roughly pulled the arrow from my thigh.
No matter how many I get hit with, I'm fine. Because I have recovery.
But Tir doesn't.
Worse yet, an arrow had embedded itself near his heart - a vital spot.
His shoulder bleeding hadn't been stopped yet - this can't continue.
"Worry about your condition, not me. Don't lose consciousness, stay focused!"
"Nunim. I, I think it's already, too late for me..."
Tir's breathing was already growing faint.
Death. Death was waiting for him.
Realizing that fact, my mind went blank and my hands began to tremble.
"No. You'll be fine. Breathe slowly. There's still, still hope."
"...No. My body, I know my own... Kkhuk!"
Tir, gripping my shoulder, contorted his face.
Seeing his suffering expression, I couldn't say anything more.
Helpless.
Just like when I lost Rubyia, I'm still a useless human.
Am I to lose someone close to me so meaninglessly once again?
"Nunim. Run away... This arrow, it was shot by a person."
"...What?"
"Just now, I saw them. Armed groups, surrounding the area..."
"...!"
Only then could I realize.
The arrows that precisely targeted only us two, not the swarming kobold horde.
It wasn't a high-level monster.
Mysterious armed forces. A third party was involved in this incident.
"Nunim..."
Tir's outstretched palm touched my cheek.
A warm sensation transmitted through it.
Our eyes met through his wavering gaze.
The flame of life within him was about to extinguish.
"Please, run..."
The hand that had been touching me fell meaninglessly to the ground.
A falsely cold air seeped into my cheek.
I squeezed out my voice and asked.
"...Tir?"
No answer came.
Even though you said you had something to tell me when we returned to the city. Even though you blushed and asked what kind of jewelry I liked.
How cruel. I want to deny it. I can't believe it.
But as I've experienced countless times before, the tragedies of reality are originally this futile.
"...May Mother Earth and Father God watch over you."
Barely steadying my trembling body, I closed his eyes.
Death always comes to us without warning. Especially for mercenaries, who are death's companions.
Miserably, I didn't even have time to mourn properly now.
"...Kkhit!"
Unbearable rage welled up.
I clenched my fist as if to shatter it and slammed it against the ground.
Yet the weight in my heart didn't disappear. It couldn't possibly disappear.
I can barely muster strength in my legs.
But gritting my teeth, I managed to stand up.
I picked up my sword and stepped outside the tent.
I could see kobolds and mercenaries, and among them, groups deliberately creating chaotic battles.
Thick beards and dirty clothing. They looked like bandits or outlaws.
They must be the masterminds behind this attack.
My head grew cold.
Every muscle in my body pulsed hot with rage.
I kicked off the ground, charged, and mercilessly swung my sword.
"Wh, what the...! Kkhack!"
Blood splattered and three attackers fell. I didn't stop.
I didn't avoid the onslaught of attacks but took them with my body. In return, I took two more lives.
This still wasn't satisfying enough.
Annihilation. Tir's requiem would be fulfilled through their complete destruction.
Just as I was about to leap into the center of the battlefield craving revenge.
"Waaaah!"
A cheer came from afar.
Had they defeated the kobold chieftain?
Instinctively, I turned my head to look in the direction of the sound.
And then, my body froze.
Subjugation Force Commander Ashekh.
He was captured in someone's grip.
It wasn't even an ordinary defeat. He had been beheaded.
His severed head was held high, vomiting blood upward.
"The subjugation force commander is dead! Remaining mercenaries, surrender!"
At the sight beyond comprehension, I blankly let my sword droop.
A skilled warrior on the verge of Gold Badge. An aura expert.
That Ashekh who had easily subdued me was dead.
Horribly beheaded.