kscans

Chapter 16 - Kobolds

And so, time winds back just a little.

The day after 'leveling up' was added to my immediate list of goals, we found ourselves at a nearby dungeon.

It was Monday afternoon, right after school, and I was feeling the usual lethargy, but by the time we reached the Dungeon Store, my mind had reset.

Or rather, the machine-gun torrent of words coming from the girl next to me and the earring in my ear had forcibly overwritten my post-school mood.

I wouldn't be struggling if I could control my own mental state like some elite soldier from a manga. For that matter, I wouldn't be so socially awkward, either.

In any case, the dungeon we'd arrived at was a Kobold dungeon.

Kobolds.

They were the upgraded—or rather, the original—form of the Zombie Kobolds we fought during the adventurer exam.

Since they weren't zombified, their fur served as proper protection, and they even had the intelligence to use weapons. They were monsters worthy of their 'E-Rank' designation.

We finished our preparations and entered the gate room.

Standing before the white door, I took a single deep breath and did a final check of my equipment. The connection with Aira-san was good. Erina-san and I exchanged a nod. I confirmed her hand was on my shoulder, and we stepped through the gate.

There was a momentary sense of wrongness. It was a queasy feeling, like the ground disappearing without any sensation of floating, and then my feet touched solid earth.

Bare rock walls were illuminated by artificial light. The tunnel, which looked as if it had been dug by hand, was reinforced with old timber, and Self-Defense Force lights were fixed to the walls.

Unlike in the skeleton dungeon, the lighting here was never destroyed. The Kobolds, it seemed, also relied on the light. Apparently, there used to be glowing, mysterious ores embedded in the walls, but the SDF had collected them.

"Erina-san, stay sharp, please."

"You got it."

After a quick word to her, I took out Byakuren and set him on the ground. I then formed his golem body, showed him a picture of a Kobold, and issued my commands.

With that, our preparations were complete. We could begin exploring.

"Aira-san, we'll need you to navigate."

'Right. But don't let your guard down for a second. Both of you, be careful.'

"Understood."

"You bet!"

Unlike with the Zombie Kobolds, the air in this dungeon was somehow dry.

The rock face had a rough, gritty feel to it, and Byakuren's heavy footsteps echoed through the passage.

As we proceeded, Erina-san's voice cut through the quiet.

"Footsteps, up ahead. They're coming this way. Two of them."

"Roger."

I readjusted my grip on the bastard sword in my right hand and reached for a knife with my left.

This dungeon had incredibly wide passages. They had to be nearly four meters in both width and height.

It was a scale ill-suited for Kobolds. Perhaps they hadn't been the ones to dig this place, or maybe there was some other reason.

But none of that mattered to me. What was important was that I had plenty of room to swing my sword.

'Vo! Vo!'

With dog-like barks, the dog-faced monsters appeared, their small footsteps pattering against the ground.

Bipedal dogs, about 160 centimeters tall. They brandished iron batons, their eyes gleaming and their fur standing on end.

Kobolds. Their glares carried more weight than the zombies' had.

As soon as they were in range, I threw. A small knife and a throwing spike flew through the air, closing in on the one on the right.

The Kobold raised its baton like a shield, managing to block the spike. It ignored the knife that sliced a shallow cut into its left shoulder and charged straight for me.

'Vaa!!'

With a roar, the right-hand Kobold swung its baton high and attacked.

But it was slow. A reverse diagonal slash from my sword tore from its right flank to its left shoulder. I quickly reversed the blade and slit its throat.

The sensation of cutting something with blood and flesh was, unlike before, far from pleasant. I had to fight the urge to grimace.

Keeping my sword pointed at the creature as it collapsed, gurgling blood, I shifted my gaze to the other one.

The one facing Byakuren was swinging its baton wildly, but its attacks were being blocked by the golem's rock-hard arms.

As the Kobold struggled to land a decisive blow, a throwing spike pierced its eye, and it let out a short scream.

An instant later, a slender arm extended from beside Byakuren, and a ninja-to stabbed through the monster's throat. Then, with a quick twist, the blade was pulled free. Blood sprayed out, and the Kobold fell backward.

I watched as both of them turned to salt, then let out a small sigh.

They were faster than the skeletons, but not particularly strong. The fur and flesh made them a little tougher, but they weren't as durable as a Lesser Treant.

...If anything, it makes the Lesser Treants feel like they were completely misranked. I found them way more troublesome, personally.

As I thought that, I collected the coins and turned back to Erina-san.

'Good, you both seem to be fine.'

"Yes, ma'am."

"Yup. Easy, breezy, beautiful victory! Hmph!"

I handed the coins to Erina-san as she puffed out her chest with a smug look.

...I wish she wouldn't do that. My eyes are instinctively drawn to her slightly jiggling, ample chest. I had to summon all my willpower to resist.

'So, you think you can handle Kobolds without any issues?'

"Probably, but..."

"I'll be fine, too!"

'Excellent. In that case, let's continue exploring as usual.'

I gave Aira-san a short reply and we started moving again. Following the paint markings left by the SDF, it wasn't long before Erina-san spoke up once more.

"Kyou-chan, there are Kobolds coming around the corner up ahead. Three of them."

"Got it."

We were at a crossroads, so I backed up a little and focused my attention on the right-hand passage.

A few seconds later, a Kobold burst around the corner.

The instant I saw it, I threw a knife. It plunged into the creature's side, and a throwing spike gouged out its eye.

'Gyah!'

As the staggering Kobold tried to turn toward me, another spike flew into its face. It shot into its open mouth and disappeared down its throat.

The leader collapsed. Without so much as a glance at their comrade's grisly fate, the two ferocious-looking Kobolds behind it raised their weapons and charged at us.

I gripped my bastard sword with both hands and moved forward.

Last time, I was told that swinging twice left an opening. In that case...

I swung the sword, now wreathed in a wind of mana, in a single flash. I swept it through both of them, pinning them against the wall.

'Goh!'

'Vo!'

The Kobolds grunted and lost their balance. I hadn't been able to finish them in one hit, and their fur meant that even two hits probably wouldn't be enough.

But this was my chance. I lunged at the stumbling Kobolds, and before they could block with their batons, I sliced their throats.

The one next to it hastily brought its weapon back up, but then it saw Byakuren approaching and hesitated, unsure which of us to attack.

In that moment of indecision, I lopped off its left arm and slammed my fist into its face. The Kobold went flying, hitting the wall with a sickening squish.

The Kobolds stopped moving and turned to salt. I confirmed they were gone and picked up the coins.

'...This is a bit late, but we are fighting monsters that look a lot like dogs. If you feel any guilt, or nausea, or anything like that, let me know immediately.'

"No... I'm mostly okay. It's not a great feeling, but..."

"It's like an old-fashioned dog hunt! I'm getting pumped!!"

"Seriously...?"

I couldn't help but feel a little weirded out by Erina-san's reaction.

Well, I suppose I'm in no position to judge, since I'm the one cutting them down.

"They clearly don't look like normal dogs, so I've compartmentalized them as just monsters."

'Is that so? As a dog lover, I'm actually taking a little emotional damage here...'

"You're the one feeling sick...?"

Is she really going to be okay?

'Rest assured. I plan to soothe myself with cute puppy videos later.'

"I see..."

'Besides, I'm the one who gives you two this kind of work. I only complain every once in a while.'

"...Right."

'And I don't throw up after drinking, either.'

"Did you just try to land a punchline and fail?"

'Don't point that out. The comedian in my soul screamed at me to make a joke...!'

"You're not a comedian, though."

'?!'

"Sorry, Erina-san already did that one."

'Wha... What did you say...?!'

"Hmph!"

Don't puff out your chest, you busty ninja. You're stimulating my worldly desires.

She has this ridiculously smug look on her beautiful face, but her figure is so incredible my brain is short-circuiting. I subtly averted my gaze, turning my whole head away as I handed the coins to Erina-san.

"Here, please take these."

"You got it, Kyou-chan. Hey, why are you looking away?"

"Just... checking our surroundings."

"Muuu. You're using polite speech again."

"...I'll try to watch it."

"That you shall!!"

Her voice is as loud as ever.

'Kyou-chan-kun.'

"What is it?"

'Try to keep your naughty thoughts in check, okay!'

"Just focus on your job, you disappointing college student."

'Ha-ha-ha-ha!'

Please stop attacking my fragile, adolescent heart. I'm going to become a shut-in, for real.

I continued my exploration, the frown on my face deepening under my helmet. About twenty minutes after entering the dungeon, the winding paths finally led us to an exit.

We marked the wall and started walking through the dungeon again.

Along the way, we fought several more Kobolds but defeated them without much difficulty. A little disappointed that they only dropped coins, we pressed on and eventually reached a large chamber.

It was a room lined with old benches and desks, similar to the one in the Zombie Kobold dungeon. This one, however, was larger, and much more dilapidated.

All the desks had rotted away and were scattered across the floor, and most of the chairs were barely holding their original shape. Wooden shelves lined both sides of the room, but they were in shambles as well.

There was also a counter-like structure at the far end of the room, suggesting this might have once been a cafeteria. It didn't seem like the Kobolds had used it; the desks and chairs were too high for them.

I really wonder what happened here...

Keeping my internal questions to myself, I cleared a space in the corner of the room by pushing aside the scattered wood fragments.

"Alright, let the experiment begin! Scalpel!"

"Huh? Um..."

'He's joking, Kyou-chan-kun, don't take him literally.'

"Hmph. You still have a lot to learn, Kyou-chan!"

I'm seriously considering giving this self-proclaimed ninja a good whack on the head.

"Stop with the confusing jokes..."

"So you're okay with obvious jokes! You are!!"

"No, first of all, we're in a dungeon. You can't be screwing around in a dungeon."

"Yes, sir, Teach'."

'Teach'! How do I make friends?!'

"That's something... that even I would like to know."

Shaking my head slightly, I turned my back on Erina-san—who was taking a gas burner and a hammer out of her Item Box—and began to stand guard with Byakuren.

Unlike in games, dungeons don't have safe zones. We had defeated every enemy we'd encountered on the way here for the sake of leveling up, but there were still passages ahead. They could come from that direction.

I had Byakuren watch the far door while I kept my eyes on our surroundings.

Fortunately, since most of the chairs and desks were broken, there was nowhere for the Kobolds to hide. And even if they did, I would be able to see the flow of their mana.

This is the perfect time to use these 'eyes' of mine, I thought, standing guard diligently for about thirty minutes.

"Hm?"

Erina-san, who had been soaking coins in some kind of solution on Aira-san's instruction, let out a small noise.

'What is it, Erina-kun?'

"I think I just heard a scream."

"A scream?"

I asked, keeping my gaze fixed on the cafeteria interior.

"Yeah. Oh, there it is again. It's getting closer."

"...Another party, maybe?"

'Could be. Both of you, prepare for battle just in case.'

"Right."

"To battle!"

While Erina-san packed up her equipment, I readjusted my grip on my sword and heightened my senses even further.

"All packed up! So, shall we go?"

"Yeah... but, um, which way?"

Abandon them, or go back?

Unable to decide, I turned to face Erina-san.

'Well now. Normally, we wouldn't have any obligation to help them.'

"Let's check it out first and then decide!"

'Yeah, I thought you'd say that.'

A chuckle-filled voice came from my earring.

'What do you want to do, Kyou-chan-kun?'

"...I agree with her."

'Alright. But don't do anything reckless.'

"Understood."

"Yes, sir! Ninpo: Art of Invisibility!!"

I'm telling you, you're too loud.

Following Erina-san, who struck a pointless hand seal and activated [Invisibility], we slipped through the door on the opposite side from where we'd come.

A short distance ahead, we saw people running down a straight corridor toward us.

"Someone, anyone, heeeelp!"

"Hiiieeee!!"

Four people, a man and three women, their faces pale with terror. One of them was being carried on the back of a man wearing what looked like medieval soldier's Arcane Gear.

A four-person party, huh? Is that rare? I think it's supposed to be pretty rare.

Anyway, they were being chased by several Kobolds. And as if that wasn't enough, there was an even larger shadow behind them.

'Vuooooooh!'

The roaring monster was over two meters tall.

Its entire body was covered in black fur, but here and there, something like scales grew. And on its head was a single sharp horn.

Its silhouette resembled a Kobold, but it was clearly a different creature. This monster, holding a mace in one hand, was a Kobold Lord.

The boss monster of this dungeon.

"?!"

The woman with cat ears running at the front, a bow on her back, noticed us. She didn't seem to see Erina-san, but her eyes met mine.

"R-Run... Run away!"

Even as she said it, the four of them were still heading our way. Well, it was a straight path, so they didn't have much choice.

Not that I had time to just stand here and watch. I retreated into the cafeteria and spoke into my earring.

"Aira-san. Are the Kobold Lord's stats higher than mine?"

'No. Overall, you're stronger. But are you planning on fighting it?'

"...What should I do?"

Run or fight.

I knew I had to choose one immediately, but I was just breaking out in a cold sweat, unable to make a decision.

If we run, what happens to them? Can they make it back to where the SDF are? But it looked like they were about to be caught...

So, should I fight? But it's a boss monster. Is it worth taking that kind of risk... for strangers?

"Kyou-chan, are you hesitating?"

"Eh, yeah..."

"Then listen!"

Erina-san moved in front of me, cutting off my indecision, and handed me one end of a rope.

"I want you to help me out! Let's save them!"

"───Alright."

Her words cut straight through my mind, which had been on the verge of shutting down. It was pathetic, I know, but I was relieved to have someone else make the decision for me.

Honestly, I'm better at following orders than thinking for myself.

I quickly hid in the shadow of the doorway, facing Erina-san.

The instant the group of four ran through the open door, we pulled the rope taut.

'Vo?!'

Their prey had been almost within reach, and perhaps their focus had narrowed. The lead Kobold tripped, and all five of them tumbled to the ground in a heap.

"Hiyah!"

Without a moment's delay, Erina-san threw a net. I stared, wide-eyed. She'd brought something like that with her?

But there was no time to be surprised. Seeing her point her ninja-to at the Kobolds, I lunged forward with my bastard sword.

Unable to put up any real resistance, two of them died. I had just pierced the chest of a third when the Kobold Lord entered the room with a powerful roar.

I jumped back hastily as the Lord glared at us and readied its iron-lump of a mace.

'Vrrrr...!!'

Its bloodshot eyes were the same as a regular Kobold's. But I could also sense an intelligence in them, like a police dog I'd seen on TV.

At its gaze, a cold sweat trickled down my back.

...I might have acted too rashly.

It was too late for regrets. It would be more dangerous to turn my back now. Swallowing hard, I raised my sword.

Two throwing spikes flew from the shadows and struck the remaining Kobolds that were crawling out of the net.

'Gyah!'

'Va?!'

Apparently, the Kobolds couldn't see Erina-san. Her [Invisibility] was working.

As the confused creatures were distracted by Byakuren lumbering towards them, their attention shifted.

But the Kobold Lord was looking only at me. It gripped its mace with both hands and let out a bellow.

'Vaaaaaaah!!'

The mace was raised high overhead. Its reach was overwhelmingly greater than mine. And it was fast.

The Lord's attack would reach me first.

But...

"Fuuu...!"

...to these eyes, it's too slow.

I sidestepped the downward swing of the mace, and the moment the iron chunk hit the rock floor, I swung my sword at its arm.

I severed its right thumb. The wind-accelerated blade cut through flesh and bone more easily than I'd expected.

'Ga, Aaaaaah!!'

Letting out a sound that was both a scream and a roar, the Kobold Lord swung its mace sideways with its left hand.

I ducked under the swing and dove into its range.

Carrying my momentum forward, I thrust my sword. It easily pierced the Lord's flank.

But...

"?!"

It won't come out. Its abdominal muscles are too strong!

As I struggled with the stuck sword, the Kobold Lord grit its teeth and reached for me with its right hand, its finger now missing.

In a panic, I grabbed its arm with my left hand to stop it. It was a reflex, but with the aid of the wind, I was able to hold it back.

Next, I released the wind that had been enveloping the blade. As it blasted the flesh and blood of the wound apart, a cry of agony echoed from above me.

Without pause, I twisted the sword and swung it upwards with all my might. A massive spray of blood erupted, but the wind cloaking my body deflected it all.

Its strength gone, the Kobold Lord fell to its knees before me. With a single flash, I cut its thick neck, and its head fell to the ground with a thud.

My first fight against a boss monster. Judging by the result alone, it had ended in a flash.

But inside, I was anything but calm. In fact, it was only now that my heart started pounding in my chest.

Tha... That was close. My sword getting stuck... I experienced the same thing with the Lesser Treant...

Drenched in a cold sweat, I looked over at Byakuren and Erina-san. Just in time to see the remaining two Kobolds turn to salt.

I let out a breath of relief and lowered my sword.

...I just followed her lead on impulse, but I feel like I just did something incredible.

I just defeated a boss monster. The kind they told us over and over in the lectures to 'run from on sight.'

As I stood there, frozen again by a delayed wave of fear and excitement, Erina-san came trotting over.

"Kyou-chan, you okay?"

"Uh, ah, yeah. You?"

"Not a problem in the world!"

I couldn't help but smile wryly at Erina-san as she flashed a V-sign.

"But Kyou-chan, a thrust is a finishing move! You can't use it unless you're going for the kill!"

So said the self-proclaimed ninja while shadowboxing at the air.

Isn't a punch completely different from a sword thrust...? I thought, but her point was valid. In fact, I'd just learned it the hard way.

"I'll be more careful from now on..."

"Then all is forgiven!"

'Whew. I didn't even have time to get nervous, but I'm glad you're both okay.'

I was about to reply to the voice from my earring when...

"Uh, umm..."

"Huh?"

Startled, I spun around at the voice from behind me.

There stood the guy in the medieval soldier getup and the three other adventurers.

...Right around the time I faced the Lord, I completely forgot about these guys.

"Oh, hello."

"Er, yes. Hello..."

Feeling incredibly awkward, I gave a small nod, and the soldier-like guy seemed to bow back reflexively.

He and the other three were all looking dazed, as if they couldn't quite process what had just happened. If this were a manga, you could practically see the sound effect for 'dumbfounded' hanging over their heads.

...What do I do about this atmosphere?

My eyes darted around the room, at the piles of salt scattered across the floor. Before me were dazed-looking strangers. On my side were a self-proclaimed ninja, a disappointing college student, and me.

...Someone, please help me.