The Peerless Kobold - Chapter 48
In my experience, small-scale guerilla warfare combat tactics consist of two processes: “ambushing” and “hit-and-run”. The advantage we had right now was that the goblins were on the defensive, giving us the opportunity to decide when and where to execute our ambush.
Simply put, we could choose to wait and ambush them when they were the weakest at night.
However, we could also choose not to launch an ambush. My former mercenary captain once said that one should not attack when the information about the enemy is unknown, and it was an iron-clad rule I still follow until today… I remembered this as I sat on the ground and swept my gaze over my companions.
“Guruam woruooan?” (Chief, what are we doing next?)
“Wafuaaooan, gurua.” ( Boss, you’re thinking of something again, aren’t you?)
I don’t want you guys to look at me with so much expectation…
“… gauruaguruonn.” (…Let’s join forces with the cat kin warriors.)
I spread out the map on the ground and pointed out where I estimated the cat kin warriors were likely to retreat. If they were forced to decide how to respond to a sudden goblin attack, then they would not have enough time to bring out enough supplies. In that case, it was obvious that they would head to a place near a water source if they were to leave the village temporarily.
Therefore, if we headed from Lucua village towards the upstream river where we had refilled our flasks before, then there was a high possibility that we would meet the cat people who had escaped. I beckoned Liz, who was staring at the map, to sit beside me, and I took out the slate pencil from my leather pouch and wrote on the ground.
“Liz, I would like to join forces with your brethren. I’m counting on you to explain the situation to them.”
“Sure, leave it to me. I hope my mother and father are fine, though…”
Although she looked anxious, her expression brightened up a bit as she responded. She was going to be reunited with her people after all, so it was natural that she would be happy.
“Wooonh.” (Let’s go.)
With me in the lead, and Buster in the rear, Dagger and Liz who had better hearing took on the role of scouting the surroundings for any potential hostiles as we carefully advanced to the north of Easteria forest and returned to the tributary of the Sherna river, which was located northeast of Lucua village.
Liz’s gaze was glued to the river.
Well, it was natural that all that running and fighting would make one thirsty after all… it seems I did not go wrong with choosing to look for the escaped cat people near the river upstream.
It was easier than writing on the ground, so I sent her a hand sign to indicate the river.
“Sorry, but I’m a little thirsty…”
Dagger and Lancer followed her as she went to the river… There was water in my leather flask, but it was already lukewarm. She probably wanted something cooler. Buster and I looked at each other and headed to the river as well.
After a short break, we followed Liz from a distance as she headed upstream along the slightly winding Sherna river.
If a huge kobold suddenly appeared near the frightened escapees, it would be a source of confusion… Or so we thought.
Just after Liz made her way through the trees to navigate the big winding river, she spotted her father and her friends up ahead and impulsively ran up to them.
And so, Dagger and I, who were clueless as to what was going on, followed her through the trees… And spotted the armed cat people up ahead.
“Dad!”
“Liz!? We’re going to save you!!”
“Wafih!?” (What the–!?)
“Kuon!” (Big brother!)
