Chapter 66
Chapter 66
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Solidifying the Base # 14
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arming themselves was simple.
Both sides were fighting with basic stone axes. Their attire? Worse than hobgoblins.
Hobgoblins at least tanned hides and sewed them into clothes, but these bastards were just draped in raw pelts, like they planned to go full barbarian.
"Meeeh!"
"Shuwaaah!"
Even so, these fuckers were ferocious and savage.
The goat monsters swung their stone axes fiercely with arms longer than a human's, while the scale-covered lizardmen shoved their heads in despite getting hit, biting at the nape of the neck.
—Kwachik!
—Chyuwak!
It was a thrilling battle.
Over ten warriors from each race tangled in one spot, fighting chaotically without any tactics.
"..."
I took in the whole scene.
Running away would be safest right now, but I couldn't do that. Nothing in this world beats spectating a fight for fun.
Of course, for fun.
New races fighting—I couldn't just back off. Even if risky, I needed to scout as much as possible.
I had to figure out what these shitheads were. They weren't neighbors; they were enemies. Intel was crucial.
"Meheeeeh!"
The goat monster bleating like a goat.
"Shuwaaak!"
The lizardman hissing like a reptile.
Because of their hands, huh?
Goat monster. Bipedal, but lower body like a goat, upper body human-like, face like some ape. Plus goat horns on the head. Arms long like a monkey's... but hands not balanced like human ones. More ape-like. Let's call these Satyros.
Likewise, lizardmen's hands were crude too. Either way, neither had hands suited for making tools.
Thinking about it, hobgoblins' hands are most human-like. That's why their tools are better quality.
They were a bit smaller than me. Definitely bigger than hobgoblins. But tech-wise, lacking. And from the wild brawling, no tactics or training.
In summary, both had decent physicals but seemed dumber than hobgoblins. More than that... processing their corpses could yield good gear.
Horns. Teeth. Claws. Scales. Jackpot. All treasures.
"Good."
Once I'd scouted that much, I pulled back temporarily.
Then Sharan, who'd been keeping quiet, spoke up.
"Mama. Not just them."
"What? More?"
"Over there."
Sharan grabbed my wrist and pulled. I cautiously followed her and looked where she pointed.
"Other race too."
Over there.
We weren't the only ones watching this fight.
"Not...!"
"Females? Like Sharan or Lumika?"
Women!
Another female-type race!
Surprisingly, they wore proper clothes! For a second I thought humans, but no. Long ears. And insect-like wings on their backs.
Butterfly? Moth? Dragonfly? Something like that. And on their heads—what? Headband? Antennae?
"Flying race?"
Hair colors varied. Holding staves... and clothed.
"..."
Bit short.
But decent chests.
A bit bigger than Sharan's. Bigger than Lumika's.
Couldn't check the figure properly—clothes hid it. Anyway, fabric. Silk? Silkworm thread? Kinda like that... varied colors, dress-like designs.
Cloth-making tech?
Developed race then.
"Sharan. Know what they are?"
I was already prone with Sharan. Camouflage plants around.
"Sharan doesn't know well. But dangerous. Females usually strong."
"Yeah, looks that way."
Anyway, these odd female-types didn't seem solitary like Sharan or Lumika. At least three visible. They were observing the Satyros-lizardman fight.
"Hmm."
Three new races.
Satyros.
Lizardmen.
The females—short, big chests, insect wings... fairy evolution. Pixies? Name 'em Pixies. Total three races including Pixies.
All hostile forces, but scouting's fine.
"Grrk...!"
"Shh. Quiet. Quiet."
The freshly tamed imp was terrified. I stuffed a leaf in its mouth and resumed observation.
—Sruk.
Sound from behind.
"Meheeeh!"
"Meeeheh!"
Shit...!
Glanced back—several Satyros walking there.
Reserves for the ones fighting lizardmen up front?
"Ma, Mama."
"Yeah. Seeing it."
Whispered back to Sharan. Front: battlefield. Back: reserves. Over there: Pixies... fuck, bad spot. But I had combat experience.
—...
Tense, but not that scared.
"Okay, Sharan. Once they pass, we sneak out. Got it?"
"Yes. Mama. Sneak."
"Yeah."
"...!"
Imp nodded too.
Waiting for the moment.
"Meheeeeh! Meh!"
One pointed our way and yelled!
That fucker!
"You fuck! Spot us right away, you shithead!!!"
"Meheeng?!"
Spotted anyway—no point hiding! Yelled loud, stood up. The one who saw me stumbled back, fell on its ass. Simultaneously!
"Meheeeeh!"
"Meeeeeheeeeh!"
Satyros reserves aimed stone axes at me, yelling.
—Meheeeeeeeeh!
And the roar echoed.
"Meheh?!"
"Shuwaaaak?!"
Roar spread—Satyros and lizardmen on battlefield turned here. Sized it up, checked escape routes.
Only way: punch through reserves' right flank.
No problem.
Could escape easy.
"Sharan. There. Run right. Got it? Kill blockers on the way, bolt."
"Yes! Mama!"
—Shaaaaaaa!
Sharan roared—enemies flinched. Seemed to fear dryads. Perfect.
Could bolt.
Physicals.
All smaller than me. One-on-one? I'd win easy. Could break through. Army behind, but they'd been fighting each other—how chase us?
"Alright, Sharan! Bolt when I say!"
—Hah!
Inhaled deep!
"Demon Breaaaaath!!!"
Blasted flames first for visual scare! Break morale, smash reserves' right, escape!
—Hwarrrrr!
Flames scorched air—I roared savagely!
"Kieeeek!"
Right as I went to run.
"Wha, wheeeh?!"
"Shuwaaaak?!"
"Hm?"
Reserves and battlefield fighters halted, wary like spooked.
"Meheeeh!"
"Shuwaat!"
Satyros yowled anxiously, lizardmen flicked tongues. Threat display, but I knew—monsters roar louder when scared.
"Meheee...!"
Not advancing—backpedaling.
Shit-scared now.
"Mama? They scared? Scared?"
"This."
Demon Breath worked well?
Makes sense. Big, demonic aura, unknown race. Wary enough.
"Good."
Bolting now? They'd see me as chum. Better bluff more. Calculations said I could flex here safely. Real trouble? Bolt then.
"You!!!!"
Thinking that!
"Fucking bastards!!!!!!!!!!"
Roared again, spewed fire!
—Hwarrrrr!
That instant.
"Meheeee?!"
"Shuwaaaat!"
Satyros and lizardmen panicked, fled! Yes! Bluff worked! Didn't expect this well—perfect!
—Hudak!
Front reserves, back fighters—all retreated.
"Mama! All ran!"
"Heh heh heh! That's my power!"
Win good, lose just bail—total success! Probably from absorbing Bargest's power, aura stronger.
Real fight exposes hand, but bluff's unbeatable.
But.
"Some didn't run."
Pixies watched warily.
"Mama. They scared too."
"Seems so. Alright, Sharan. Head back."
Glared at them, turned.
Loop around.
"Huh?"
Tamed imp passed out. No choice—hoisted it.
"Sharan. Loop while going. Watch surroundings hard."
"Safe?"
"Exactly."
"Yes, Mama."
Returned with Sharan like that.
Then.
—Ploploplop.
Sudden wing flaps—whipped around!
"Fuck! Fairy?!"
Fairy flying in! Sharan tensed, claws ready! Come on—one, we win!
But.
"Hm? Sharan. Wait."
"Mama?"
"That one's holding something."
"Ah."
Fairy held bamboo joint? Tube. Flew up, dropped it.
—Ploploplop.
Flew off.
"What?"
"Fairy gave something?"
"Check."
Checked tube.
—Clatter.
Bamboo stick inside. Big for draw, pulled one.
Writing on it.
"No way."
Letter?
Fairy delivered mail?
"Ah."
Pixies sent?
Couldn't read it.
"Sharan. Can you read?"
"Read? Sharan no."
"Hm."
Sent a letter.
Gesture to talk? Humanoid, so first contact.
But not now.
Talk rashly, exposes hand. Need prep for contact.
Pocketed tube.
"Sharan. Head back first."
"Yes, Mama."
* * *
Back home, sorted new intel. Other races appearing. Pixies' talk gesture.
Bargest dead how long? Another big mess.
Jungle had more diverse races than thought.
Obviously, diversity breeds conflict. Humans war among themselves—other races worse.
Satyros vs lizardmen. Probably turf war. Fighting to survive... maybe. Soon we might join as a faction.
"Mama? Not sleep?"
—Squish squish.
Sharan beside me fiddled my dick, asked. Sleeping together led to casual touching.
Habit now—she toyed anytime we lay.
"Gonna sleep. Just thinking about earlier."
"Satyros and lizardmen?"
"Pixies too."
"Lots of females."
"Yeah."
"Like Lumika, Mama take?"
Would be nice.
"We'll see. Anyway, Sharan. Tomorrow tell Lumika. Alone at lake, danger if they show. Warn ahead."
"Yes, Mama."
And... kidnap wild goblins. More imps now—train as shock troops.
"Sleep time. Sharan."
"Yes, Mama."
Sharan toyed till asleep.
* * *
Next morning, early with Sharan to see Lumika.
"Huh."
At lake.
A human stood there.
Armed man.
"..."
Human.
Really human?
I pondered briefly.
Lumika in lake center, eyes peeking, wary of armed man.
Man tried entering lake.
—Hwoak!
Startled, turned to us.
"M-monster!"
Yelled in shock. Understood a bit from Lumika lessons.
—Sring!
Drew sword frantically... fuck!
"Shit!"
What to do!
Bolted with Sharan!
"What the hell is this!!!