Pauline stopped Veronica, who was out of control.
“Pauline, are you okay?!”
After Veronica left, we rushed over to Pauline. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to be injured.
“Y-yes, I’m fine.”
She got up and headed towards the groaning Kobold who was lying on the ground. The Kobold’s eyes were closed, and he looked exhausted.
“Good, he’s alive. He’s badly hurt, but alive. Can someone bring me my bag?”
I brought over the luggage, and Pauline happily began to treat the Kobold. I thought she was becoming quite composed, but I never expected this. And to worry more about the enemy than herself, to have such composure.
“Please put this child on Philiana’s back. It’s okay, Veronica can move like that, so her injuries must already be healed.”
In contrast to us, who were paralyzed with fear, Pauline said it as if she were laughing it off. It seems she intends to see him safely to his family. I hope someone will pick him up along the way.
After that, we all walked on in silence. Veronica was smoking incessantly, probably out of irritation. Even Karubene, who usually got along well with everyone, didn’t approach her. I had brought a terrible person into our company. I never imagined she had such a frightening side. I don’t know why she’s so irritated, but she probably thinks the enemy underestimated her.
After a while, the young Kobold woke up. He looked around at the unfamiliar sight.
“Oh, Pauline, the Kobold is awake.”
“Ah, that’s right. Are you okay?”
The child then panicked and started thrashing around. I caught him as he was about to fall off Philiana’s back.
“Hey, calm down. It’s okay, I won’t kill you. Where is your home? If you know, you can go back.”
“I-I’m going to be killed. They’re going to kill me!”
“I said I’m not going to kill you, so hurry and go back, here.”
I placed the struggling child on the ground and let him go. However, for some reason, he didn’t try to escape. He seemed flustered, as if frightened by something. Pauline petted his head to soothe him.
“It’s okay. What’s wrong? Don’t you know the way home?”
“No, no. A magician will kill me. I failed.”
What is a magician? Does she mean a magician? Perhaps these Kobolds have a leader. They might have attacked us on that leader’s orders. I couldn’t just leave him here, so I reluctantly decided to take him with us. I gave him some dried meat, and he cautiously began to devour it.
Lauren came closer and stared intently at the Kobold.
“The magician is their boss, right? That means it was the Dark Elves who made them attack us, right? They’re one step ahead, quite bold. Heh heh, I’ll rip off all your hair.”
This is going to be scary. But as she says, it’s probably them, the Dark Elves. It seems they have no intention of letting us escape.
