Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Becoming the Dungeon Master! #1
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-Thwack!
A hand axe dropped like a guillotine, smashing straight through the kobold's skull!
With that, the bastard went down. It had already taken a spear to the chest; there was no way it could've held out. Once I confirmed it was dead, I glanced right next to me.
"Kyuaaah!"
A screaming kobold.
"Keruk!"
"Keuruk!"
Buril had it in a ground-and-pound lock, and Imsoong was relentlessly kicking the shit out of the kobold's head. What a magnificent beatdown. Watching their flawless teamwork filled me with emotion as their Demon King!
But there was no time to get sentimental!
"Nice work! Keep holding it down!"
-Flash!
I kicked off the ground and raised my fist high! First, I'd beat the crap out of it, then try the Monster Domination skill!
"You fucker! Die!"
I spread my palm wide and slapped the kobold hard!
-Smack!
"Kyuaaah!"
A piercing scream erupted! I didn't want to have to do this, but I had no choice! Ignoring its agony, I pummeled it mercilessly.
-Thud!
-Thud!
-Thud!
For a good long while.
I beat the hell out of it with glee.
"Keururuk!"
Imsoong shuddered in excitement beside me, hopping around. It must've been moved by its boss's prowess. Anyway. I immediately activated Monster Domination.
"Inject!"
"Kyut...?!"
The kobold convulsed.
But.
"Kyuaaah!"
"Fuck this shit!"
Failed again!
"Keruk keruk!"
The kobold went berserk, and Buril, still holding it, straight-up bit into its neck. When Domination fails, killing it is the only option.
"Die!"
-Thwack!
I finished it off with my hand axe.
What a shitty handfeel.
Buril immediately let go of the kobold.
"Keruruk!"
"Keurung!"
We'd turned it into a slaughterhouse scene. But Buril and Imsoong? They were fucking thrilled. So excited they were jumping around laughing. Not content with that, they even pumped their fists and started humming tunes.
"Hoo... You guys like it that much?"
"Keruk!"
Honestly, brutally beating a fairly large animal to death didn't sit right with me. But if my minions were happy, I had to show some enthusiasm too.
"Alright, then. Let's eat and recharge our energy!"
"Keruk!"
"Buril! Gather some firewood! Imsoong, get ready to light it up!"
"Keuruk!"
I barked the orders, then pulled the spearhead free from the kobold's corpse and fixed up my spear. Damn... the tip's chipped. Still usable, though.
"Good."
Now to eat and head out to attack the lair.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We killed two kobolds.
In stories like Romance of the Three Kingdoms, armies of a hundred thousand clash daily, making a thousand or ten thousand seem like nothing. But this is reality.
Just two.
Killing those exact two had undoubtedly slashed the kobold lair's forces dramatically. And it proved this wooden spear was highly effective.
"Halt."
"Keruk."
After roasting and eating the kobolds to restore our energy, we headed straight for their lair. The cave ahead was dead silent, as if they couldn't even fathom that two of their warriors were dead.
Now we had to assault it.
The entrance was smaller than my height. I'd have to crouch and bend my knees to advance. If enemies blocked the entrance after we went in, it'd be fucking dangerous... but from days of observation, no other kobolds came or went.
That's why we'd planned the attack. Still, knowing that didn't stop the tension.
"Imsoong. Gimme the sack."
"Keururuk."
I opened the sack Imsoong handed me.
-Rustle.
-Rustle.
The fireflies he'd gathered on the way were wriggling around. Just as expected, they glowed in the dark—right now, with the firelight, they were lit up.
Release these inside, and lighting won't be an issue.
"Good. Let's go. I'll take point. Imsoong in the middle. Buril, you bring up the rear, nice and slow."
"Keruk."
The cave would be narrow. Imsoong's flames might come in handy once.
"Here we go...!"
"Keruk!"
"Keuruk!"
Gripping my spear, I slowly approached the entrance.
-Step... step...
Ultimate tension.
If we win here, we'd claim this precious kobold lair! And it would become my dungeon!
Though it'd need a ton of work. After claiming it, I'd have to do expansion projects—fucking time-consuming.
I'd need a horde of minions working nonstop. Which means feeding them, so more frequent hunts. So much to do.
"..."
No thoughts of defeat.
If it looks bad, we just bolt.
-Crunch.
I stood at the entrance.
-Swoosh.
I crouched low, knees bent slightly, and entered. The start... just a plain dirt tunnel. I pulled a firefly from the sack and released it.
-Flutter.
It spread its wings and stuck to the tunnel wall. From there, a soft glow spread. Not bad.
"Advance."
"Keuruk."
"Keruk."
Buril and Imsoong looked comfy. Fuck being tall—this posture was a pain. And tiring quick.
-Step... step...
The tunnel was pretty long. Kobolds had dug deep for their kind... No kobolds yet.
This was their territory.
No way it'd stay quiet with us invading.
Probably low numbers, as expected.
And right then.
"A fork?"
A split appeared. Holy shit, these fuckers even made branches?
"Buril. Imsoong. Hold here."
I made them wait and turned left first. Spear in one hand. Firefly in the other.
"Ah, fuck."
But the stench grew worse the farther I went. And it wasn't long.
At the end.
"Goddamn it!"
I spat curses and backed the hell out! This was the kobolds' shitter!
Garbage and shit everywhere!
"Fucking gross."
"Keruk?"
"Buril. Right side."
"Kerurung."
Thus, we explored the cave.
This posture was a real workout. During the search, we found what seemed like a food storage room—had to admit, impressive.
"Fuck, two rooms? Nicely built chambers."
"Keruk keruk."
Once I claim this... later, after expansions, species-specific barracks and such. Damn. Feels less like a Demon King's castle or dungeon, more like a barracks.
I'm basically a company commander plus quartermaster. Buril's like a platoon leader.
As I thought that.
"Kyu, kyuaaah!"
A kobold finally appeared!
"Here it comes!"
Glowing eyes from ahead! One kobold charging on all fours! Just one? As expected! That's the last of their food trio!
"Come on!"
-Crunch!
I planted like a phalanx, spear aimed! Narrow, low tunnel! Straight-line charge! With the spear ready, nothing to fear! These simple monsters would impale themselves!
"Kyuaaah!"
"Uoooooh!"
And.
-Leap!
The moment the charging kobold jumped at me, I angled my spear up slightly.
-Thud!
With that.
"Kyu, kyugyuk..."
The kobold skewered itself on my stone spear.
"Hoo, huu! Perfect!"
Kobolds couldn't handle spears in these tight quarters! I yanked it free and shoved the corpse aside.
"Keruruk...!"
"Keururuk...!"
Excited voices from Buril and Imsoong. I checked behind—no sign. I encouraged them.
"Good. Soon this'll be our home. We'll live here together."
"Keruk... Ke, keruk! Kerururuk!"
Buril sounded urgent.
"This fucker!"
I whipped around, resuming the spear stance!
And then!
"Kyurururusaah!!!"
An even louder kobold cry.
-Thud thud thud thud!
Heavier footsteps!
Higher-glowing eyes!
I knew instinctively.
"That's the mom!"
The mother kobold that lived here was charging!
"Kyurururu!!!"
The one that appeared was bigger than Buril. Smaller than me, but perfectly sized for the tunnel—full mobility. And it was pissed. Of course! Its kid was dead!
But it couldn't beat the spear!
-Gulp.
I swallowed, gripping tighter. Just stand still, and it'd die...!
Staring at the charging mother, I thrust my spear!
-Thud!
"Kyuruk?!"
"Got it!"
My spear pierced its torso...! Yes! Victory! This lair's mine! As triumph swelled.
"Wha, no?!"
"Kyururusaaah!"
The impaled mother kept coming, reaching for me! This fucker! It advanced right onto the spear!
"Urk!"
Its arm strength was no joke—even braced, my torso tipped back. I fell on my ass.
"Kyaaaah!"
"Uwaaak!"
I let it mount me!
"You bastard... Aak!"
"Kyaaaak!"
-Snap!
-Snap!
The mounted kobold gaped wide, chomping at my head! I twisted away, calling my minions!
"B-Buril! Imsoong! Beat this fucker!"
"Kerururuk!"
"Keururung!"
Tight space made angles tough—no immediate support! -Crunch! I tried shoving it off, but its strength was insane...!
-Snap!
"Kyaak!"
It kept lunging at my face—dodging once or twice was fine, but forever? It'd bite eventually. Then my handsome face gets torn off!
"Can't let that happen...!"
"Kyururuk! Kyururururuk!"
-Hummm.
I surged my Demonic Power. But the danger scattered my focus.
"Buril, hurry!"
"Kerururuk!"
That instant!
-Thud!
"Kysaaah!"
Buril speared the mother's shoulder!
Followed by!
-Whoosh!
Imsoong's Demon Realm flames lit the tunnel as they flew in! The mother, still on me, took the hit.
"Kysaaah?!"
Flames caught, and the startled mother tumbled off me—that opening!
"Uwaaaaaah!"
I sprang my torso up full force, shoved her off, switched positions! And!
"Demon Breeeeath!!!"
I spewed fire from my mouth!