Chapter 4

I might have underestimated the weak kobold. Recently, I realized that if an untrained kobold and an untrained human were to fight with just their bare bodies, the kobold would win.

In other words, if trained properly, a kobold has the potential to surpass a human. I watched Axe, who was swinging his battle axe in a frenzy, and as I did, I looked back a little...

The kobold village is built with burrows in an open area of the forest, but there are a few obstructive trees in the central square. I asked Axe to cut them down, and that's how it all started...

"Wuff, Wauu, Garauu (Hey, Axe, cut that down.)"

"Gura, Kuua~ (Boss, it's impossible~)"

Axe has a physique second only to Buster. In terms of size alone, he is the second largest in the village, but his timid nature and passive personality are his flaws.

"Guruu, Kuwaaoan (Don't give up, only affirmative answers are allowed.)"

"Kyuun!?"

The dull sound of me kicking Axe's calf echoed.

"Phau! Ku, Kuan (Ouch! Uu, I'll do it~)"

Reluctantly, Axe began to chop the tree with his battle axe...

It seems that the battle axe is meant for fighting, not for cutting trees. He couldn't cut it properly and kept complaining.

"Ku, Kuafan (My hands, my hands hurt~)"

"Gauu, Garugua Voraaaon! (It's okay, once you overcome it, the sensation will numb!)"

The sound of me encouraging him with a slap echoed... and he snapped.

"Guraa, Gu, Guraa~n! (Stop, stop, stop~!?)"

"Woaa!! (Whoa!!)"

While repeatedly shouting "stop," Axe swung his arms around like a bullied child, and the well-trained giant kobold, wielding his battle axe, swept through the surroundings recklessly.

"Gua, Guraan! (Rather, you stop it!?)"

The wildly swung battle axe hit the spot where he was chopping the tree and, surprisingly, felled it with one blow.

"Au? (Huh?)"

Unfortunately, the tree fell towards the direction where the other villagers were watching from a distance, and a young kobold was about to be crushed under it.

"Kyu!? Kyuun!"

"Guraaa!! (Buster!!)"

"Woao, Gura! (Leave it to me, boss!)"

Buster, who was nearby, supported the tree that was about to crush the young kobold and slowly lowered it. This scene made me reflect on the potential of kobolds once again.

After that, I calmed the sulking Axe and had him cut down the trees in the center of the village. The logs were left at the edge of the village. It would be nice if we could use these logs for something...

During my time as a mercenary, repairing accommodations and tools was part of the job, so I have some experience with woodworking. However, for any task, specialized tools are necessary.

I could make something similar with obsidian, but ideally, I would prefer iron tools, so I need to build a furnace for iron smelting.

What I need is heat-resistant volcanic rock for the furnace and an iron hammer for forging... but since there is no iron, I guess I'll have to start with a stone hammer. Yes, that's right; I should prepare crude tools first and use them to make more precise tools. I have flint from the adventurer I robbed, so I just need iron ore.

After thinking about this, I finally realized the essence of the matter.

To obtain iron, I need a pickaxe, and first, I need to make a suitable stone pickaxe. In other words, to get iron, I need "all stone tools."

(What a hassle...)

In any case, I will have to go to the mine deep in the forest. At first, it will just be a reconnaissance, but depending on the situation, we might have to move the village to get the iron and transport it.

Well, if we keep robbing adventurers, we will eventually be targeted and destroyed, so we have to feel our way through. Thus, I, along with Buster and my sister Dagger, set out on a month-long journey.

The principle for travel is to focus on water sources. The amount of water needed by living beings is, when considered calmly, quite substantial, and carrying it is difficult.

For example, a typical horse drinks about thirty liters of water a day, and the reasonable carrying capacity per horse is ninety kilograms.

In other words, a horse can carry three days' worth of water for itself, and after that, it cannot carry anything else. Therefore, the limit for a horse to travel in an area without a water source is three days. Considering this, the common knowledge from my mercenary days is that an army can advance in a waterless desert for four days. If they don't reach a water source within that time, it becomes a death march.

Therefore, we will follow the river flowing through the forest.

The riverbank is also an excellent hunting ground for the animals that live in the forest.

"Waun! (I'm going to shoot!)"

I aim at a deer with the bow and arrow I've finally learned to use properly.

Unfortunately, it's not a monster but a regular deer...

The reason is that when I defeat a monster, I feel a part of its life and magic flowing into me, and I feel that hunting monsters can lead me to greater heights.

(I got a bit distracted...)

When I refocused, the arrow I had shot hit the deer's body.

Now I can call myself a proper kobold archer. Well, it's just a self-proclaimed title, including the name my companions call me...

The deer, still struggling to stand despite the arrow, was eagerly approached by my sister, who held a dagger in both hands.

"Wau, Wauaooon♪ (We can eat meat♪)"

"Kiiiaaa……"

After the deer stopped moving, Buster, who had been hiding on the opposite side in case I missed, slowly appeared and lifted the deer by its limbs.

"Guru, Guagauo Vo (Boss, let's gut it in a place where we can hide.)"

It's time to eat.

As a kobold, I can't stop the drool from flowing.

Living beings cannot survive without water.

In that sense, describing the water source is necessary.

If you're interested in the continuation and would like to support me, please change the "☆☆☆☆☆" to "★★★★★".

Support this work with your power, please!_(._.)_