I was able to stay at the melon farmer Imon’s place.
I decided to follow the two Desert Scale Tribe members who came to pick me up. We walked in silence, without a single word exchanged, just continuously moving forward.
After a while, I saw a light in the distance. As we got closer, simple buildings made of mud, wood, and stone began to appear. Several bonfires were burning, and a large number of Lizardmen were gathered around them. When they spotted me, they tilted their heads and stared intently.
Their expressionless faces and complete silence were unnerving. The two beside me led me to a bonfire. As I sat down on an old log, they began talking to their companions with gestures.
The elderly-looking person sitting in front seemed to be the leader of this tribe. One of his eyes was discolored white, and he rested his chin on his staff, frozen like a statue. I couldn’t even tell if he was alive.
“Um, hello everyone. I am Arisugawa Hiroaki, please to meet you…”
I spoke, but there was no response. It was so quiet that the crackling of the bonfire sounded loud. I broke out in a cold sweat, different from the one I get during battle.
After observing me thoroughly, the large Desert Scale Tribe member standing next to the leader replied to the two using sign language. They nodded in response. The large man then approached me and made gestures with his hands.
They seemed to have their own language, but I couldn’t understand it at all. I simply nodded along. He then gave some instructions to his companions, who offered me a wooden cup containing a slightly cloudy liquid. Honestly, I didn’t really want to drink it, but I had no choice if I wanted to gain their trust.
When I took a sip, it tasted like sweet juice. They all watched me drink it down without blinking.
“Thank you, it was delicious.”
As I was about to return the wooden cup, the sound of drums suddenly echoed. It seemed to be a signal, and they all sprang into action. They began moving their bodies, grilling meat, and everyone was busy.
Suddenly, I looked down and saw a child tangled in my shoes, looking up at me. Judging by their appearance, were they welcoming me…? I couldn’t grasp their pace at all. Amidst the commotion, the large man next to me started drawing on the ground.
It was a picture of a bird stealing eggs. Then, he clutched a tree branch, stamped his foot, and made a croaking sound. They must have been angry because bandits stole their eggs.
Gaining collaborators was a significant step, but the problem was how to get the eggs back. The opponents were Harpies, which put the Desert Scale Tribe members, who lived on the ground, at a disadvantage. They might use bows, but it was clear that injuries would occur against those hardened bandits.
It seemed necessary to rethink the plan. After watching the strange dances of the lizards for a while, I returned to the melon farmer’s home where I was staying.
