Chapter 112 - 111: Everyone Has a Happy Life

Chapter 112: Chapter 111: Everyone Has a Happy Life

Deep within the Gray Mist Forest, in a hidden cave.

A thick, draconic tail slapped lazily against the ground, its dull thuds—THWAP... THWAP...—echoing through the empty cave.

Gazi was comfortably perched on his "throne"—a rock that had been deliberately smoothed flat.

He was in an excellent mood.

Just a moment ago, his mining party had added several more Rubies of decent quality to his collection.

’Why do these stones possess such an enchanting magic?’

’Look at the tempting glimmers they refract.’

’How wonderful!’

He lazily pinched a wriggling white worm between his claws.

It was his favorite snack, found only in the damp humus deep inside the caves.

He held the worm up to his eyes, admiring its plump, juicy body for a moment before flicking it high into the air.

The little worm traced a graceful arc before he tilted his head back and caught it perfectly in his jaw, which was lined with fine, sharp teeth.

With a gentle snap of his teeth, a tiny POP was followed by a burst of sweet fluid that instantly flooded his mouth.

’Delicious!’

’This is happiness!’

Ever since leaving that stupid, large tribe and moving into this cave with a group of his more obedient brethren, Gazi felt his luck had been incredible.

Not only was there a small Ruby vein here, but even better, all the tunnels seemed to have been pre-dug, saving him countless hours of effort.

He couldn’t care less who the cave’s previous owner was—perhaps a den of exiled Bear Goblins, or some wandering "Scaleless."

None of that mattered.

’Now, this place belongs to me, the great Gazi.’

’If they dared to return, I wouldn’t mind giving the unlucky fool a taste of what it’s like to have their skin seared by flames before being torn limb from limb.’

Of course, life as a Kobold chief wasn’t always smooth sailing.

For instance, he had recently noticed that several of his underlings were becoming increasingly muddle-headed, forgetting his orders almost as soon as he gave them.

Gazi figured it was probably because they were mining too hard, scrambling what little brains they had.

But that didn’t matter either.

’These idiots don’t need intelligence. They just need to obey my commands without question.’

’As long as we keep digging, sooner or later, this chamber will be piled high with gleaming Rubies.’

Thinking of that dazzling future, Gazi narrowed his vertical pupils, which shimmered with a crimson light, in satisfaction.

Just then, the sound of panicked footsteps approaching from a distance shattered his pleasant daydream, stirring a wave of irritation within him.

Accompanied by the harsh scraping of claws on rock, a Kobold appeared before him.

The Kobold’s face was a mask of terror. Only after seeing Gazi did it let out a shrill cry in accented Draconic, "Chief! There’s a Scaleless outside! What do we do?!"

Hearing the report, a small, dancing flame erupted from Gazi’s claw with a sudden PHOOM.

His anger stemmed from two things:

First, that sneaky Scaleless had been snooping around his territory for several days now. Second, this idiot running to report it had clearly forgotten that this was the third time he’d reported the same intruder!

’Idiots will be idiots!’

’Kobolds who haven’t awakened their Bloodline Power are all complete morons!’

He hadn’t noticed it back when he was with the large tribe, but ever since awakening the Power in his bloodline, he felt more and more that while they were all Kobolds, there was a world of difference between them and him.

’No! They are Kobolds, but I... I am a Dragon!’

At this thought, he extinguished the flame in his claw.

’As a Dragon, I must know how to control my rage.’

’Therefore, I will not leave my lair so easily.’

’Not that I think that feeble Scaleless outside could withstand even two of my Flame Magic spells.’

’After all, those Scaleless know nothing of a Dragon’s Power.’

’But even so, I will not go out.’

’That would be a foolish thing to do.’

Suppressing his irritation, he first scolded his subordinate for making a fuss, then perfunctorily praised him with a few words—"It’s good to remain vigilant"—before waving him away.

Watching his underling scamper away joyfully over such a trivial "reward," Gazi snorted contemptuously and climbed off his rock.

’I should go inspect the mines myself. Can’t have those idiots taking the opportunity to slack off.’

「...」

Outside the cave, in a nearby thicket.

Trist had been staring at the cave entrance for a long time, but the red Kobold Mage still hadn’t come out.

"This cowardly red-skinned lizard... got caught in a trap once and now he’s too scared to even peek his head out?"

He clicked his tongue, his face full of regret.

’It would have been great if I could have dealt with this thing myself before those Adventurers arrived.’

’I could clear this nest on my own. Just lure out the regular Kobolds one by one and kill them, then deal with the Mage at the end.’

It wasn’t that he was reluctant to part with the commission fee of a few Golden Shields; the key was, he just couldn’t wait any longer.

He was dying to taste the Kobold Mage.

’Still, it should be soon now, judging by the time.’

’The Adventurer Squad should arrive within the next few days.’

He had specifically posted the request in Rose Town, asking for a team that hadn’t been registered for long and was of middling strength.

’Too weak, and they probably wouldn’t even make it here. Too strong, and they might steal my main course.’

He had specifically noted that he needed to take one of the Kobold corpses for himself.

But it never hurt to be careful. Who knew if those money-grubbing types would decide the corpse of a Kobold Mage was worth more.

He stuck out his tongue and licked his dry lips as a wonderful vision of the future bloomed in his mind.

’Take the blood of that Kobold Mage, add a pinch of volcanic salt, stir gently, and let it set... The resulting blood pudding would be one of the rarest delicacies of my culinary career.’

’And those few, most perfect plates of Scale Armor on its back... they must be sliced off with the flesh still attached, sprinkled with secret spices, and then repeatedly basted with scalding hot oil. Just listening to that wonderful SIZZLE as they turn into fragrant, delectable "Dragon Scale Crisps"... to be washed down with a large mug of iced ale...’

’A shame it’s autumn now.’

’If only it were the dead of winter.’

’Waiting until a light snow begins to fall, finding a hot spring, soaking in the warm water while savoring this delicious meal...’

’I can hardly imagine how happy I’d be.’

But all of this was predicated on killing that Kobold Mage.

Trist forced himself to swallow and pulled his mind back from the wonderful fantasy. He turned, silently left the thicket, and headed towards his cabin in the woods.

’Before those Adventurers arrive, I still need to make a few small preparations.’

As Trist departed, a faint RUSTLING sound came from the shadows of the dense canopy above.

A few leaves drifted down silently, and the corner of a massive, intricate spiderweb was revealed among the branches and leaves.

At the center of the web, a huge, hairy black shadow stirred.

It slowly unfolded eight bristly, segmented legs. Its crimson compound eyes opened simultaneously in the gloom, glinting with a faint light, before it followed its master’s steps below.