Escaped Kobolds

Escaped Kobolds

More than half a month passed, and snowflakes began to drift across the skies of the Storm Highlands.

Stone Fortress now stood majestically at the entrance to Ember Nest, blocking all invading creatures.

The cold-intolerant Goblins set up crude camps throughout the valley, huddling together for warmth. The Ogres fared somewhat better, occupying several enormous caves and snoring away inside.

Keosius was also hibernating in the Giant's Maw cave. At that moment, he yawned in boredom, puffing out waves of sulfur-scented hot breath that filled the cave with smoke.

Red Dragons naturally preferred warmth, and the geothermal heat within the cave made him reluctant to leave.

Several Wyverns shamelessly sprawled around the cave entrance to rest. They claimed they were standing guard over the entrance and protecting their master, but in truth, they were merely mooching off the cave's warmth.

Still, seeing them so diligent, the Red Dragon turned a blind eye.

Lang Pu had specifically found a warm, secluded cave to use as a library. He spent all day studying his books, complaining to Keosius every day about how weak the Goblin army was and how it could not raid human caravans for new books.

"Awoo—"

A Wyvern circling overhead let out a howl.

That sound meant—someone had arrived.

Keosius perked up. Supporting himself on his limbs, he slowly rose, shook out his wings, then walked out of the cave and flew into the sky.

Over the past half month, he had done nothing in the cave but sleep and study spells.

As for food, the Hobgoblin had led an elite hunting party to surround several Mammoths and had specifically delivered one to the Giant's Maw cave.

The Red Dragon had truly wanted for nothing.

Just as he was growing bored enough to worry about where to squander his excess energy and destructive urges, trouble came knocking on his door.

Seeing Keosius preparing to leave, the Wyverns piled at the entrance hurriedly scrambled to their feet in terror. They respectfully lowered their heads and made way for him, then followed closely behind.

But when Keosius flew to the mouth of the valley and looked down at the uninvited guests before Stone Fortress, his interest waned somewhat.

Beneath the city gate stood a group of scrawny, diminutive humanoid creatures, numbering around a hundred.

Their bodies were covered in scales ranging from dark brown to black. Their heads resembled a mix of dragon and dog, with two pale little horns on their foreheads—Kobolds, cave-dwelling reptilian humanoids that often worshiped evil dragons as demigods.

This group of Kobolds was clearly in poor condition. Many were covered in wounds and bloodstains, huddling together beneath the gate in panic and making a deafening racket.

Keosius could tell they were speaking Draconic, but coming from their mouths, it sounded like a cacophony of dog barks.

"Th-the Great Dragon!"

"It really is a dragon!"

Only after one Kobold struggled to raise its head, caught sight of the Red Dragon in the sky, and cried out in alarm.

"We're saved!"

At once, all the Kobolds fell to their knees in heaps like devout believers witnessing a miracle, muttering indistinct Draconic prayers.

"Boom—"

The Red Dragon crashed down from the sky, sending the thin snow before the gate flying.

"Why have you come? (Draconic)"

Under the pressure stemming from his bloodline, the Kobolds remained kneeling and did not dare raise their heads.

Only after a long while did a somewhat sturdier Kobold shove through its kin and struggle out from the crowd.

It threw itself at the Red Dragon's feet, speaking in dog-bark-like Draconic with a sob in its voice. "Great Dragon, we have come to seek your refuge—"

The Red Dragon looked coldly down at the little creature before him, as though a mere shift of his body could crush it into pulp.

It was said that Kobolds carried a trace of dragon blood and were naturally fond of serving evil dragons. But they were simply too weak, and with Goblins available as replacements, they held little value for him.

Seeing that the Red Dragon remained unmoved, the Kobold secretly raised its head, its expression filled with grief. "All our kin were eaten by that monster. Only this many of us remain. We felt your mighty presence, so we all came to seek refuge with you."

Hearing the Kobold mention a "monster," Keosius finally showed a hint of interest.

"If I take in a group of weak Kobolds like you, what can you bring me?"

Seeing a chance, the Kobold's eyes rolled, and it hurriedly said, "Gold! We can bring you lots of gold!

"Our entire tribe used to live in the mines. Human smugglers enslaved us to dig gold for them. We know everything there, understand the paths of the veins, and know where the most gold can be found."

The Kobolds behind it hurriedly chimed in as well.

"Y-yes."

"That's right. I can dig up gold as big as my head every day."

"Great Dragon, you must take us in."

Keosius grew even more interested.

Gold was hard currency everywhere. With enough gold, he was confident he could acquire all kinds of contraband from humans, including but not limited to weapons, equipment, and magic books, allowing him to rapidly expand his power.

If it could not be bought, that only meant he had not offered enough gold.

Besides, there was also the so-called "monster" in the Kobolds' story.

Keosius pressed on. "What exactly is this monster you speak of?"

At those words, unmistakable fear immediately appeared on the lead Kobold's face. The Kobolds behind it erupted into commotion, and some of the more timid ones were frightened into tears.

The Kobold leader first patted its chest to calm itself before slowly speaking. "Master, you must believe what I am about to tell you."

The Red Dragon did not dwell on the form of address. He merely nodded slightly.

As if still immersed in that terrifying memory, the Kobold spoke with vivid fear in its voice. "It was a truly terrifying beast. Its body was bigger than—bigger than a small hill. Its mouth was also—bigger than a cave. With one bite, it could swallow ten Kobolds."

As it spoke, its voice could not help but tremble.

"In the mines, it was everywhere like a shadow. No matter where we ran, that monster could find us. There were originally more than seven hundred in the tribe. They were all—all eaten by it. It did not even spit out their bones."

The Kobold was visibly traumatized.

"I exhausted every means before I managed to lead over a hundred of my kin out through the mine's secret passage." Only then did it let out a long breath.

After it finished, the Kobolds behind it huddled together in terror and did not dare make a sound.

"The monster you spoke of—is it bigger than I am?" the Red Dragon asked with interest.

Cold sweat immediately broke out across the Kobold leader's head, and for a moment, it did not know how to answer.

In its memories, Red Dragons were the proudest and cruelest of creatures. Perhaps even a slightly offensive word could leave one without a grave.

"Tell the truth," Keosius said impatiently.

"Y-yes," the Kobold answered tremblingly, even closing its eyes.

"What is your name?"

"Gold Tooth."

When the anticipated claws did not come, the Kobold leader immediately let out a long sigh of relief. A fawning smile spread across its face, revealing the particularly conspicuous gold tooth in its mouth.