Mathew looked upon the kobolds that had been an intricate part of his life. The truth was simple if they did not save him, then he would not be standing here today. He would have died in that river and Linsey would have found bones of a prince long dead. There was more to it than that as well. They helped him get stronger, provided him with skills, and stats completely characteristic of a dungeon. There was no benefit to them either.
“ I’ll let you say your goodbyes.”
With those words, Linsey walked toward the edge of the woods. Mathew then looked at the kobolds again.
“ Hunter, you taught me how to survive in the wild and how to keep an eye on my surroundings no matter where I go. I thank you.”
“ Farmer, you taught me to spot the obvious and the value of honest work. Values I can use anywhere I am. I thank you.”
“ Miner, you are the strength of arm and strength of heart. No obstacle can keep you from your goal, and now I share in that. I thank you.”
“ Smith, you are the rock. The foundation for the others. Ever enduring in silence, something I must be able to do myself one day. I thank you.”
When he turned to ‘cook’ his heart stuttered. The memory of that day on the edge of the woods came to his mind.
“ Cook…”
He could not continue as she moved forward and suddenly gave him a gentle lick on the cheek. The stun only lasted until a burden was found in his hand. With that, she ran away into the cabin. The show was over and the other four looked to each other and did their conversing of hissing before each turning to go back inside as well. Something deep inside him told him he should go to ‘cook’ and ask her to come with them. Something deep told him he will not see her again and he will regret it otherwise. Every instinct he had told him one thing, but Linsey was waiting, his father was waiting, and most importantly his destiny was waiting.
———
| (Green)Eighteen years, two months, seven days, four hours, twenty-two minutes, and eleven seconds. |
As Chronos just said, eight years have passed. A familiar but vastly different Mathew appeared with two children at his side. One was ten and the other eight. The site of a freshly young ‘scout’ kobold made him ponder as he moved to the clearing an old cabin resides if it was still there. Instead, he found it’s burnt out remains. With purpose in his step, he moved to the old mine and went directly to the boss room. The dragon there was much younger-looking than the one before.
“ I am surprised human to see you again?”
“ What happened?”
Boss eyes the children in the human’s grip. Both were sleeping under the power of a spell.
“ About three months after you left humans raided us. We lost two of the kobolds that day.”
Mathew looks around and sees six around him now. Four healthy adults then a very old but well-built one with a young kobold hiding behind the elder.
“ Which two?”
The dragon bows his head slightly.
“ Hunter, she was tracking the invaders. She gave her life in Farmer’s stead. Cook was trapped in the cabin. They could not get to her without costing them. So they burnt her alive. Her last thoughts were of you.”
Mathew tensed up and a deadly aura started to radiate from him. It was so strong that Boss quickly backed away in fear.
“ WHO?”
Boss gazed at the human writhing in anger. He could not help but sigh.
“ The who does not matter, Their deaths are part of a long cycle that has happened long before you and will happen long after you. Now control yourself Mathew, and tell me why you are here, with two children among anyone you could have brought?”
Mathew calmed down and his aura faded but did not completely go away.
“ I needed a place for my children, a safe place, away from the conflicts and politics of men.”
Boss squinted his eyes and lowered his tone.
“ Why should we do this for you? The last time we helped you we lost generations of inheritance.”
Mathew opened his mouth but quickly closed it again. Even though he is now an S rank. He was powerless upon this C rank boss monster.
“ What do you wish for?”
Boss shook his head.
“ With respect, what you have to offer, we do not need.”
Mathew started to tense up but as quickly relaxed again.
“ I am sorry to take your time, mighty Hollow core.”
With slumped shoulders, Mathew turns to leave, and the dragon chuckles.
“ You forget human, time is the one thing I have in mass. Stay the night, tell us some stories. When your children awaken from their spell you can tell them what is going on before you leave.”
Mathew turns back and nods. The kobolds start leaving before him but he suddenly stops again and turns back toward the dragon.
“ There has been something puzzling me all this time. Your system can make messages show up when a prompt is applied. So why had you never prompted translating the kobolds to common?”
The kobolds looked at Mathew dumbfounded and they were not the only one.
| (Blue) WAIT!!! I can do that? |
