Chapter 29: Demon King Kyuse Descends! (15)
After devising a plan in my head, I immediately put it into action.
"Initiate pit construction."
"Hehehe."
I moved a short distance away and commanded my followers to construct the pit.
The place we called home was more like a hole covered with a lid. Even though we left some things there, we could always retrieve them. It was fine to create a new one here.
"Let's stay here for about three days and observe those bastards."
"Hehe? Hehehe."
Buril nodded its head.
Did it understand?
"Hehehe!"
"Grumble…"
Anyway, Imsoong was different from Buril and wasn't good at digging the ground. Well, it looked weaker than Buril. It was expected.
"Imsoong, just guard the surroundings. If something comes, let me know."
"Growl…"
"Hehehe."
Buril seemed to complain at Imsoong, but it was inevitable. It was natural for new recruits to be inept.
─Rustle, rustle.
─Rustle, rustle.
Thus, Buril and I began to dig.
Thanks to our accumulated experience and increased manpower, the work progressed faster than when we first started.
"Indeed, Buril is the best."
"Hehehe."
Imsoong was sitting on a tree, watching the surroundings. Though Imsoong might seem dumb, it had an instinct to ensure its own safety. So, it was doing a good job guarding.
"At that rate, it's contributing its fair share."
It knew how to light a fire and could keep watch. So, even if it seemed dumb, one could consider it an ace.
"Hoo."
As I continued to work with Buril, the sun began to set.
"We're almost done with the pit."
We could go inside and rest. No need for dinner. We had been munching on fruits and vegetables while working.
"Buril, get in. Imsoong, come down."
"Growl."
─Thump!
Imsoong landed in my arms like a cat. I quickly put it into the pit, and I entered, too.
"Hehehe."
"Grumble, grumble…"
In the cramped space, Buril, Imsoong, and I huddled closely, taking slow breaths. What we were doing now was a kind of ambush tactic. We planned to gather information about the kobold's den while staying here.
"At the moment… I can't count on Imsoong's combat abilities. But Buril and I can handle up to three Kobolds at once."
If I used a spear to take down one, it would be a 1:1 fight. If I chopped down another with a hatchet, that was it. The remaining one could be dealt with by both Buril and me.
Taking down just three would deal a significant blow to the enemy's strength. It was perfect.
─Swoosh.
The night deepened.
It was time to meditate and then rest.
"Growl. Grumble."
Imsoong seemed to have something to say at that moment and shook its body.
"Be quiet. What is it?"
"Grumble. Sigh."
─Creak.
Imsoong pointed outside.
"Go out? Why?"
"Sigh."
"Do you even understand? Hey, even if you're frustrated, hold on."
"Grumble."
Nevertheless, Imsoong seemed to want to go out. Why? For what reason? Buril was now irritated by the situation, emitting a grumpy sound.
"…Kereuk."
It was quiet due to the night.
"Kering."
Imsoong seemed to protest something.
"Is there an insect? Alright, Imsoong, go out and see."
I decided to let him go because he wasn't someone who couldn't distinguish things.
"Kere."
Imsoong, who gave a soft reply, immediately crawled out of the cave. I also stood up slightly and stared into the darkness where Imsoong disappeared… Ah, damn, it was too dark to see.
"Kereuk. Kereuking. Kereuk."
Buril said something beside me, but I couldn't understand.
-Tap tap tap.
Then.
Footsteps could be heard.
Huh?
Along with the footsteps, there seemed to be some sort of light… getting closer. Could it be the glowing eyes of a monster? No! It couldn't be, as Buril remained calm, and there was only one light, not two.
Soon.
The light approached closer.
"Kere?"
"Huh? What is it?"
It was Imsoong. He was holding something in his hand.
-Swoosh.
Imsoong came into the cave, holding something luminous.
"What's this?"
Looking at his hand, some glowing insect was being held in it.
"A firefly?"
It was similar to a firefly. And it was as big as Imsoong's palm. Perhaps because of its size, the cave's interior became faintly illuminated just by the firefly's light.
"Kere. Kerere."
Imsoong offered it to me as if suggesting I take it.
"Wow, good job, Imsoong."
Had he found a firefly because he was good at finding insects? Did he bring this light because it was dark now?
"You're more competent than I thought. Well done."
"Kering."
Imsoong seemed pleased when I patted his head. But wait, what was this? Such a big firefly?
"If we had a few of these… we wouldn't have to worry about lighting at night?"
"Purring."
Since I came to this remote place, I never moved at night, so I didn't know such things existed. In the future, if I needed lighting at night, I wouldn't have to worry if I asked Imsoong.
"Hehehe, as expected of an A-class. Buril, praise him. Imsoong did great."
"Kereuk Kereuk."
When I said this, Buril seemed pleased and said something to Imsoong.
I immediately put the firefly in a bag where fruits were stored. It wouldn't hurt to keep it.
Days went by at our new base.
Settled in this place, we collected fruits or hunted simply, all the while observing the Kobold cave.
"Good."
Firstly, there were at least three of them.
"Kyusak."
"Kyusak."
"Kyusak Kyusak."
They usually grouped in twos or threes, looking for food. Once these foragers left the cave, no one entered or exited the cave until they returned.
While observing, I found out that the three kobolds that went out for food were always the exact same ones every day.
"The scale is small."
It was always the same ones working every day, and aside from them, no one else seemed to come or go.
Could this kobold burrow be so vast that there were entrances in all directions? Only these three used this entrance? With that thought, I scouted the surrounding area, but there was no other entrance.
Natural conclusion.
"This is the only entrance."
Given that it was always the same kobolds working, they likely had chronic manpower shortages. There might be at most five of them, including the three workers.
That was what I concluded.
The next morning,
I created a plan.
"Guys, the next time only two of them come out, let's ambush them."
"Keureuk keureuk."
Facing all three at once was too risky. When two of them came out to hunt, we would take them out at an appropriate location and then assault the burrow. And if my prediction was wrong and there were more kobolds inside, we would simply flee.
"Buril, Imsoong. If I say to flee, you follow me and run like hell. Understand?"
"Keureuk keureuk."
"Kkeureureuk."
"Alright, Buril, you take the spear. Imsoong, grab this sack."
We equipped ourselves and waited.
"Kyusut. Kyusut."
"Kyusutsut."
Two kobolds came out of the burrow, making their usual noises. Good timing. Just the two of them. We would follow them and… finish them. Game over.
There was no way we could lose.
Come on, Kim Kyuse! You're the man destined to be the Demon King!
How could you become the Demon King if you couldn't handle this!
Steeled with this thought,
"Sabaksabak."
As the kobolds began to move away,
"Start tailing."
We immediately pursued them.
After tailing them for about 30 minutes,
"Kyusutsut."
"Kyukyukyussat. Kyusut."
Seeming to decide on a spot to gather food, the two kobolds began sniffing the ground intently. Then, using their protruding incisors,
"Sseuseuk."
"Sseuseuk."
They started digging the ground!
"…!"
Shiver!
Did they dig burrows with their own teeth like that?!
And they were surprisingly good at it!
"Kyukkyuk."
"Kyusuts. Kyukyukkyuk."
The kobolds, muttering to each other, were now on all fours digging. After some time, they successfully dug out something that looked like mushrooms from the ground.
"Kyusut, Kyukyusut."
"Kyusut. Kyukyukkyuk."
After collecting the mushrooms, they resumed their digging. It seemed like their plan for the day was to dig up something.
"Kkwaaak."
As I watched them lying there… I gripped the spear I was holding tightly.
"…!"
"…!"
Buril and Imsoong both trembled with excitement. It seemed they wanted to charge at the kobolds right away. Was Imsoong feeling the spirit of combat, too? I wasn't sure. But one thing was certain: my minions would never act without my command.
ㅡSwish.
Slowly.
Carefully.
I aimed the spear at the back of the kobold and took a step forward.
ㅡCrack.
The sound of something breaking.
"Kyusat?"
"Kyusasat?"
The kobolds turned to look at me.
"Damn it! Die! Lannachal!"
ㅡKwang!
With all my might, I thrust my spear into the leftmost kobold!
ㅡPuhuk!
"Kyuuuuuusaaaaaaat!!!"
The spear lodged perfectly inside the kobold, and it let out a piteous scream…! A critical hit! I managed to deal significant damage with a single blow!
"Buril! Imsoong! Take down the other one!"
"Kerukerukeruk!"
"Kkurukkung!"
ㅡPapapat!
Immediately, my two minions lunged at the other kobold! I would leave the remaining one to them and finish this one off first!
ㅡPushak!
When I tried to pull out my spear, the tip was missing!
It must have broken inside the kobold!
"Kkuru…!"
The kobold, bleeding profusely from its chest, looked at me with a face of agony. But this was the wilderness! There was no mercy here! Let your guard down, and you will surely die!
"Die, kobold!!!!"
I immediately drew my hatchet and charged at it!
After I slaughter you, I will seize your cave, too!
"Your cave will become my dungeon!!!"
That was why I fought!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone