Ch. 17 - It Really Wants to Live

As the most commonly used language and script on the continent, mastering the Common Tongue wasn't particularly difficult.

Provided that one possessed sufficient intelligence.

Kobolds clearly didn't fall into this category.

As the humble descendants of legendary dragons, they used Draconic, though most could only produce guttural sounds or plosive consonants, occasionally mixed with tongue clicks and "hissing" noises, allowing them to form one or two brief phrases.

And even then, only to express certain intentions.

For instance: "Charge," "Follow," "Help," "Run"...

They couldn't use these words to construct a complete sentence with a subject, verb, and object.

But that robed kobold, who stood out from its tribesmen at first glance, seemed worried that Black Snake might misunderstand.

While commanding its tribesmen in obscure Draconic, it simultaneously translated for itself in the Common Tongue:

"...And, cellar, bring, everything!"

Hearing its instruction, one kobold seemed to freeze, turning back:

"Xi Geth Varyk?" (There, stones?)

"Rua! That's right!"

The robed kobold waved its hand matter-of-factly, indicating its tribesman shouldn't waste time. The other could only scratch its head in confusion before leaving.

Seeing that the two mercenaries had stabilized the situation, Tang Qi stopped being so cautious. He quickly ran over while feigning panic, drawing Stonecrusher's attention:

"Poet, didn't I tell you all to stay put at the entrance?"

Tang Qi panted heavily, as if he'd truly encountered something unexpected:

"We—we were attacked!"

"What!?"

Both mercenaries' expressions changed at once. Stonecrusher rushed before the robed kobold and grabbed it by the robe, spittle flying.

"There are more of them? You dare trick us!?"

That kobold was even shorter than Stonecrusher, and it had already witnessed his capabilities earlier—

It had originally gathered all its tribesmen to await them in this rest area, attempting to overwhelm the two with kobold swarm tactics.

Until it saw that tower shield come charging, smashing through several of its kin.

Now it was clearly terrified, explaining frantically:

"We, all, here!"

It awkwardly made a circling motion with its arms, pointing at the remaining thirty or so tribesmen, repeating:

"All!"

Tang Qi also explained:

"It wasn't kobolds—it was a mass of yellow-green slime, like snot balled up! 

It was eating kobold corpses at first, then it tried to attack us. I escaped while Jackal was tangled up with it!"

At this moment, he couldn't explain things too thoroughly.

Even the most logically airtight lie has its flaws.

That's why he needed to leave blanks, give them room to fill in the gaps themselves—it would be more convincing that way.

"Predator, us, monster!" the lifted kobold also shouted.

Both mercenaries were veteran adventurers. After hearing the description, they exchanged glances.

"An Ochre Jelly?"

They had encountered this type of ooze before.

But in the past, the tasks of assessing environmental dangers and standing watch had all been entrusted to that old ranger, Mark Twain.

So much so that they'd completely failed to realize this cave system had Ochre Jellies lurking about.

"Jackal can't handle that thing. I'll go take a look."

Stonecrusher grabbed his maul and tower shield, then looked at Tang Qi:

"Poet, lead the way!"

Given how obvious the antagonism between those two half-wits was, they didn't even bother asking why Tang Qi had fled alone, abandoning Jackal.

Who would care about an enemy's wellbeing?

Tang Qi nodded repeatedly and led Stonecrusher directly back the way he came.

Instead, Stonecrusher made a surprised sound:

"Poet, you're not acting very human-like in your kindness.

Not leading me in circles through the tunnels?

Go later, and you might get to see his corpse, you know?"

So they really weren't allies after all?

"I prefer watching him cry and beg for help instead."

Tang Qi wasn't sure if the other was testing him, so he just made a joke.

When the two arrived at the entrance clearing and clearly saw that the slime's belly now contained only a humanoid skeleton with bits of flesh still attached, Stonecrusher slapped his forehead:

"Looks like he couldn't cry even if he wanted to."

Naturally, Tang Qi hadn't needed to take a detour.

He'd calculated the time it would take to go back and forth through the tunnels—at least twenty minutes.

More than enough for the Ochre Jelly to finish digesting the corpse.

"This is troublesome though. We knew each other after all, should we collect his remains?

His soul can rest in peace, ready for rebirth..."

Stonecrusher stared at Jackal's ribs, musing.

"Maybe someday a necromancer will visit, prop up his skeleton, and turn him into a common skeleton soldier—wouldn't that count as being 'reborn'?"

Tang Qi had no desire to collect his enemy's remains.

"Sorry, just a joke."

"No, I like your humor."

Thinking of that image, Stonecrusher couldn't help but laugh.

"As for this ooze... once it fills its belly, it'll crawl back into some crevice.

Unless it's starving mad, it won't go after living people—adventurer armor is hard on the teeth, causes indigestion."

Stonecrusher patted Tang Qi's shoulder and said, "Let's head back."

Tang Qi relaxed somewhat, making one final probe:

"Speaking of which, weren't you two companions? Jackal's dead, but your reaction seems a bit... too calm?"

"Companions? Maybe.

But I can't piss in the same pot as those thugs from Black Reef Harbor.

That bunch has been suppressed too long, scared too long—they do everything with this sneaky edge, like the rat-skull fish from the gutters—

Ever seen those things? Black Reef Harbor specialty. Carnivorous fish with rat-like heads.

Usually they scavenge little fish and worms in the gutters, but the meat is firm and delicious. Chop off the head, and you can even dip it in seasoning and eat it as sashimi."

Stonecrusher stomped his foot and spat:

"He might've been decent at his job, but if we hadn't both received the same commission, I wouldn't even bother inviting him for drinks—

What kind of person arms themselves to the teeth like a bandit when they should be enjoying good wine?

He had no understanding of the comfort of drinking! Just focused on baring his fangs and scaring civilians. What's the point?"

Well then. Stonecrusher had been holding in a bellyful of complaints—clearly, the resentment ran deep.

"A carnivorous fish that gets eaten as food..."

Tang Qi smacked his lips.

"Big fish eat little fish—that really does suit him."

With Jackal digested clean, the two didn't linger. When they returned to Black Snake's side, they found the kobolds hauling out crate after crate of starberries.

He could even see at one cave entrance the robed kobold rapping one of its tribesmen, cursing:

"...Useless, speed, slow!"

That was its translation, but Tang Qi felt something was off.

This 'cursing' had less guttural sounds and "hissing" friction, sounding almost melodious.

Meanwhile, Black Snake, after hearing Stonecrusher's account, merely narrowed his eyes, glanced at Tang Qi, then muttered to himself:

"A pity. We've lost someone who could do the dirty work."

Come to think of it, with Jackal's half-baked knowledge of the dungeon, he didn't seem like an adventurer who'd fought life and death alongside Stonecrusher and Black Snake.

Tang Qi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, shifting his gaze to those kobolds working in pairs to carry wooden crates.

He steered the conversation back on track:

"So you found the starberries?"

Black Snake pointed at the crates:

"They stole them. Said the cave's meat worms are getting scarce, so they were forced to hunt outside. Being only a few kilometers from town, they set their sights on the starberries."

Stonecrusher laughed loudly and said, "When we came out of the tunnels, this bunch of kobolds wanted to resist—until I smashed their skulls in."

Tang Qi felt there were still some doubts unresolved, reminding them:

"That kobold is somewhat strange..."

"Too smart?"

Black Snake agreed deeply:

"Any population has exceptional individuals. This theft operation was probably its plan—a kobold that can speak, that's a first for me too."

After scolding for a bit, the robed kobold hurried over, its face showing a humanized ingratiating smile:

"Twenty, all, count!"

Then it pulled out another crate, inside which lay a shallow layer of gold coins—dozens of them.

Atop the coins rested bows and arrows, short blades, swords and shields, even a textured short leather jacket and a set of human-sized, bloodstained proper plate armor.

Very much like an adventuring party's legacy. Tang Qi could even guess the party had included warriors and rangers—

But their equipment was quite intact. The kobolds' bone hammers couldn't even dent the plate armor.

How had they capsized in the gutter because of these kobolds?

Or were Black Snake and Stonecrusher's abilities stronger than he'd imagined?

"Stealing, wrong!

Kuru, apologize!

All, give you!"

The robed kobold pushed forward the legacy items, bent its legs, and knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly:

"Surrender, spare life!"

It was obvious.

It really, really wanted to live.

Comments