Chapter 106: Kong’gong’s Successor; Kurg

Humanity was not a simple subject for Kong’gong. There were too many memories attached to the race, and too many of them contradicted one another for him to form a simple opinion. He had traveled alongside humans, fought beside them and even called some of them friends.

There were human comrades whose deaths had left him grieving for days, and whose names he could still remember despite the decades that had passed. He had also witnessed the worst sides of humanity, moments so cruel that even now he found himself struggling to reconcile them with the people he had once trusted.

His deepest resentment, however, always returned to Bong.

The humans who killed his best friend and more than fifty other kobolds had not been monsters from some distant kingdom. They had come from the very Kingdom of Lanthor where Kong’gong had once traveled, and some of them had even belonged to the same adventurer’s guild he had once considered home.

While countless races fought desperately for resources around the Bed of Reeds, those humans had decided that the small kobold colony was an easier target. They had not tried to negotiate. They simply came for what Vaal’kor possessed, murdering men, women and children to take the few Aether Crystals the colony had spent decades gathering through blood, sweat and sacrifice.

Kong’gong had never forgotten the sight. He had never forgotten Bong’s body either.

The memory briefly clouded his expression, but he quickly pushed it down. The young kobold knew nothing about those events, and there was no reason to burden him with memories he could not change.

"You once told me humans are the most dangerous people on Athedal. Why?" Kurg asked, breaking the silence.

Kong’gong’s brows lowered slightly. There were so many reasons he could give that he could probably spend the entire day explaining them. But there was one trait that stood above all the others.

"Humans are greedy." Kong’gong finally said.

Kurg’s eyes widened. "Greedy?"

Kong’gong nodded firmly, his expression unusually stern. "Humans can never be satisfied. No matter how good something is, they will always look for something better. No matter how easy something is, they will always look for an easier way to do it. They are constantly asking themselves how they can obtain more, build more, learn more and accomplish more."

Kurg listened carefully, expecting Kong’gong to condemn them for it, but the old kobold’s expression remained thoughtful.

"That greed drives innovation, and that innovation fosters growth. That’s why humans were able to go from one of the weakest races in Athedal to one of the strongest within only a few centuries. They were never satisfied with what they had. They kept looking beyond what was already within their grasp." Kong’gong’s gaze shifted toward the passage ahead. "And that is why I support Ka’z."

Kurg blinked.

For the first time since the conversation began, he looked genuinely confused.

He understood everything Kong’gong had said about humans, but he could not understand what any of it had to do with Ka’z.

"Why Ka’z?" he asked.

"Because Ka’z is the only one here who thinks like a human." Kong’gong answered without hesitation. "From the day he was born, he has never been satisfied with the life here. He wants more. That desire for more will eventually force our colony to grow, adapt and prosper. With his mindset alone, I can understand why the Greater Kobold chose him to be the Child of Prophecy instead of any of you."

Kurg became tongue tied.

He had expected some grand explanation about destiny or divine visions, but Kong’gong’s answer was surprisingly simple. The more Kurg thought about it, the more difficult it became to argue.

He remembered their classes under Lady Zira. Ka’z complained about everything.

He complained about the lack of fresh air. He complained about the darkness. He complained about the lack of sunlight. He complained about having to bathe in the same pool as everyone else. He complained about their cramped living quarters, their lack of resources and even the way their society was structured.

At the time, Kurg had simply thought Ka’z was impossible to satisfy.

Even as they grew that dissatisfaction had never completely disappeared. Ka’z had simply learned how to turn it into ambition.

"So Tu’ka is wrong?" Kurg asked quietly as the memory of their argument from the previous night returned.

Kong’gong shook his head.

"Two truths can coexist."

Kurg looked at him.

"Ka’z’s greed will definitely put our colony in danger," Kong’gong continued. "There is no denying that. His desire to expand, explore and change things will eventually lead him into situations where the people around him could be hurt. But a life without risks is also a life without progress. If our colony refuses to grow, eventually it will be destroyed by those bold enough to grow."

Kong’gong’s voice became heavier.

"You saw what a group of ambitious goblins could do to our home."

Kurg’s eyes widened as the Ashmork Clan came to mind.

Grash had not been satisfied with being a weak goblin living beneath the shadow of stronger races. The same ambition that had made the Ashmork Clan dangerous and powerful to the point where their existence threatened race in the Evergreen Forest.

Kurg slowly rubbed his chin, his expression becoming distant.

"So not growing and growing will both put us in danger?"

"Exactly. And that’s why I’m training you."

Kong’gong’s words pulled Kurg out of his thoughts. He looked up and found the old kobold watching him with a small smile.

"Ka’z has the desire to build. Tu’ka is attached to the old ways. Ru’k serves as the linchpin of the team. His constant rambling causes arguments, but those arguments often force everyone to speak their minds, and those disagreements eventually bring them closer together. Za’r is the heart of the group. She worries for everyone and her kind heart forces everyone to slow down."

Kong’gong paused as he studied Kurg.

"The only role left is someone who can protect them from their own madness. Someone capable of standing between their conflicting desires and making sure none of them crosses a line that could destroy the others. That is where you come in."

Buzz!

Kurg’s mouth opened, but no words came. He looked at Kong’gong, then pointed at himself as though perhaps the old kobold had mistaken him for someone else.

"Me?"

Kong’gong nodded firmly.

"Yes, Kurg."

Kurg swallowed. Unsure of how to respond. Thankfully, Kong’gong seemed to answer the question before he could ask.

"You are the only one among them who has no personal desire greater than seeing every one of them succeed. You don’t want to lead them. You don’t want to force them to follow your ideals. You simply want your friends to be happy and safe. That is why you are the only one who can protect their dreams from both internal and external conflicts."

A faint smile appeared on Kong’gong’s face and Kurg stared at his master, his eyes beginning to glisten.

"That is why I chose you as my successor."

The words struck Kurg harder than any spell Kong’gong could have demonstrated.

For someone who had spent most of his life believing that his greatest defining trait was cowardice, being told that he possessed something none of his friends had left him completely overwhelmed. He lowered his head as his fingers trembled slightly against his knees, trying desperately to hide the emotion spreading across his face.

Kong’gong simply smiled.

He had spent decades regretting the mistakes of his own generation. He would not allow the next generation to repeat them.