The Peerless Kobold - Chapter 60
“Garuruh.” (So they came.)
In front of the small group, a hulking blue kobold slowly emerged from the bushes. It held a large battle axe in one of its hands, and, combined with its large and muscular body, created an imposing sense of intimidation.
“Wa, waauh!!” (Ah, Elder brother!!)
“Guruoao…” (Calm down…)
The Kobold Smith, who was not fond of fighting, curled his tail between his legs and started to inch backwards. Even as he pacified his brother, the Kobold Striker who had met someone bigger than him for the first time, was also shaken deep inside but he could not show his shock in front of the others.
(Tsk, don’t you dare falter!!)
He scolded himself inwardly and regained his composure.
(My agitation will spread to the other members of the pack I’m leading if this continues! If that happens, then there would be no chance of us winning either!!)
“Guruoaaoooh!!”
The hulking blue kobold stopped in its tracks when he released a menacing howl, but the situation could only be described as “someone’s bark is worse than their bite”… [1]
Unconsciously, the other members of his pack increased their vigilance.
The only scent that flowed in the wind was the trees, other animals, and the faint smell of the creatures who belonged to the same race as them.
(Only one of them came forward!? Such arrogance!!)
The big blue kobold, who they assumed to be the chief of the kobold pack in the area by virtue of his appearance and strength, approached and spoke to them in a relaxed tone.
“… Guua guruuo waoooan, woafuoouu?” (… You guys are intruding on our territory, so can I ask you to leave?)
While the intruders’ attention was focused on Ax who appeared in front of them, Blazer was aiming for their unprotected backs and hid downwind while erasing his presence as he moved behind them.
Two of his companions lurked on either side of him, while three others hid among the bushes on the other side. The three kobolds hiding on the opposite side were supposed to attack in waves as part of Blazer’s attack operation.
(… I still don’t know how this will turn out. But that guy sure has lots of openings!!)
Ensuring the safety of the people entrusted to them by the pack head took first priority.
Though he did not show it openly, Blazer admired their pack leader and honored his instructions, even going so far as to go against his principle and getting out of the fight to observe how things were going to unfold instead.
“… Gau, guruuguruoh, gauruoao?” (… Hey, you look pretty strong. Your pack must be huge.)
After being defeated by the horde of goblins, their pack fled and scattered in different directions, so the floppy-eared kobolds were thus forced to wander Easteria forest. In the process, two of their comrades were killed by a monster whom they had the misfortune of encountering, and their group was currently reaching their limits.
At the end of the day, they desired to join a strong pack that would not let them go through such a bitter experience again.
“Wafuu, ua woruon voaruoooouu.” (Hmm, as far as I can tell, we’re the biggest pack around here.)
As soon as he heard those words, the challenger steeled his resolve.
“Gaouru, kyuao garua gauru guonn!!” (I challenge you to a duel! Whoever wins has to join their opponent’s pack!!)
“Uu, guruoauu?” (Ehh, do we really have to do this?)
“Guruoooh!!” (I will not run!!)
Legs wide apart and hips low, the Kobold Striker took a stance as he placed his left hand in front of him and the right by his flank. In response, Ax took hold of the battle axe propped up against the nearby tree and slowly approached them.
Blazer, who was watching everything from a distance, covered his face with one hand and involuntarily looked up at the heavens.
(Tsk, this has gotten nasty… I have confidence in Ax’s strength, but there’s also an unlikely chance that they could get him. If Ax, who is the strongest among us falls while Leader and the others are away, then it could cause chaos within the ranks of the pack.)
Translator’s Note:
[1] Someone’s bark is worse than its bite – the original is “弱い犬ほどよく吼える” (yowai inu hodo yoku hoeru), which is literally translated into “the louder a dog barks, the weaker it is”. Source (Japanese)
