Chapter 175: Kobold Challenger

Red oversaw the work as soon as the Chief agreed with his plan. At this point, the Chief wanted to try every idea Red threw at him.

The idea was simple: digging a hole for a trap in the area near the wall. They had enough manpower, more than enough. In fact, the hobgoblin worked much faster than the goblins.

He wanted the hole to be deep, as deep as twice his height, with the length matching the wall. That was not just a hole to trap the kobold. They also prepared the wooden spike. Ideally, metal spikes would work better. He thought of using the spear, but they didn’t have enough spears to fill the trap. So yeah, they used the wooden spikes instead.

Seventy hobgoblins were digging the trap, and the remaining hobgoblins were making the spikes. The hobgoblins worked so fast. That may be because of the Chief’s direct order. Not just that, they also listened to him well. None of them were getting cocky or hostile toward him.

They finished making the first line of the pit in two hours. That was so fast that Red ordered them to make the same hole further ahead, around three tree-lengths from the initial pit. The hobgoblins started to work again without complaint.

By the time they finished the second pit, the first trap was finished. A lot of wooden spikes were planted, then they covered the pit with wood before covering it up with soil.

They repeated the same process for the second trap, and they finished the two long lines of pits before nightfall. Red oversaw the work while not forgetting his main job to scout the surroundings. He needed to do a regular patrol to ensure they were not surprised by the kobolds’ attack.

After they finished their work, Red reported to the Chief that the trap was finished. He told the Chief and also the three Goblin Champions who happened to be together.

"The wooden spikes are not even enough to kill the normal kobold!" The Fool stated after hearing the complete report. There was no malice or hostility behind his words.

"The purpose of the trap is not to kill them, but to slow them down. That will turn the battle in our favor. If we can cull the normal kobolds, it would be easier for us to reach the elite kobold who hide behind them. It also reduces the number of kobolds that the hobgoblins have to fight. That’s the purpose behind the trap," Red explained.

The Fool said nothing to his explanation, accepting the explanation without turning the conversation into a contest.

Red thought that the Fool never insulted him or tried to get him to the Chief’s bad side anymore.

The Chief nodded, "We will use any means just to win the battle. We will hold this village and kill as many kobolds as possible. I have sent one of the hobs to ask for more reinforcements. This place will become our battleground! I also request archers."

This was the first time that Red heard about reinforcements. He didn’t really know how to feel about this reinforcement. If it was up to him, he would rather go back after two or three more battles. However, he said nothing about the decision, just nodded.

"What about the food, Chief? Our supply is dwindling so fast as of now, and we have no way to acquire more food."

That was a genuine concern. Reinforcements meant more mouths to feed, and they would not have enough if they wanted to camp in this village for a long time. He didn’t want to deal with the hungry goblins and hobgoblins.

"I have asked for food as well. You don’t need to worry about it."

That was good news if the reinforcement brought food with them. He nodded. "I have to leave for my routine patrol."

The Chief nodded. "Go ahead."

Red left the hall and left the village for his patrol. The hobgoblins were resting after working the whole day. Each of them had the salty meat in their hand. They clearly enjoyed the food more than he did.

He got one himself before leaving. It was because he didn’t have any other choices, since that was the only available food. He didn’t want to waste his blessing on dinner.

As he said, he patrolled three times that night while polishing his new arrows. The increase in his mana allowed him to work on more arrows. He also finished another Dark Wood Longbow as a reserve bow. He was prepared for the worst scenario.

The night went by without an issue, but the kobolds arrived the following day. Red went to patrol in the morning, going deeper into the jungle. Even though the Chief told him not to go far from the village, he still went further.

It was very boring to stay in the village all day doing nothing. He wanted to try his luck and look further; maybe he could find the beasts that were still alive. He didn’t find the beast, but another kobold army. The kobold sent another army to crush them.

Their numbers were unknown, and Red didn’t play hero to actually check their number or composition. He decided to return right away and informed the village that another kobold army was approaching.

This time the kobolds arrived early at noon. After the last battle, he wished they would arrive at night. He could sneak up on them, relying on the dark night. The limited light gave him freedom to do whatever he wanted, but it would be different when it was noon.

"How is it? Can you see them all?" The Chief asked. He was hiding behind the house and didn’t want to give out the existence of the Goblin Champion to their enemy yet.

"I can’t see them all. Half of them are hiding inside the jungle, but I think their numbers were about the same as the kobolds we fought last night."

If the number of the kobolds was about the same as last night, it meant there were around fifty Elite Kobold Archers, and maybe around eighty to one hundred Elite Kobold Fighters. The rest would be the normal kobolds.

"What are they waiting for? Why don’t they attack us right away? Or could you shoot your fire to force them to move!" The Fool was being impatient, eager for the battle even though he didn’t get the loot. He was excited about the fight itself.

Coincidentally, the kobolds were moving out. Just like the previous fight, the kobolds used the same strategy. They used the normal kobold as the meat shield, moving as a vanguard.

They didn’t charge toward the village, marching steadily together. They were more organized than last night’s army. The Elite Kobold Fighters came out from the jungle and were followed by the Elite Kobold Archers.

"They are moving! Get ready for the battle!" He informed the Chief and the Fool, then he raised his voice, "Get ready for battle!" He warned the hobgoblins and the remaining two Goblin Champions.

Red finally got to see how big the army was. Their number was not the same as last night’s attack. The normal kobolds were almost two hundred, maybe more.

He did a quick calculation on the Elite Kobold Fighters, and there might be over one hundred of them. He expected there would be more than fifty Elite Kobold Archers, but he was relieved there were only forty of them, fewer archers than the last night’s attack.

Then his eyes followed into the jungle. He believed an army of this size would bring the Kobold Scouts. He didn’t find the Kobold Scouts earlier, but the scouts might stick close to the main army.

He looked into the jungle, but then he saw the giant kobold step out. That was when he realized why this army was more organized. It was because they had a leader, a chief figure. He didn’t know what this giant kobold was; it might be a chief of a village, or maybe a kobold that was on the same rank as the Goblin Champion.

The giant kobold was covered in silver armor, two big axes were on its back, and it wore a dark helmet. Even from afar, he could feel the oppressive atmosphere it brought.

"They also have a champion, a big one like the Kobold Chief we killed when we took over the village!" He informed the Chief.

"It might be a Kobold Elder or Kobold Challenger, not the Kobold Chief. The Kobold Chief never leaves their village," The Chief informed him.

This was the first time Red heard about Kobold Challenger and Kobold Elder. He certainly had never encountered them before.

"The easy way to distinguish them is by their weapon. The Kobold Elder uses a shield and a long saber, and the Kobold Challenger uses two big swords or big axes. Which one is it?"

"It’s a Kobold Challenger, Chief!" Red replied.

"I am glad it’s a Kobold Challenger... Kobold Elder is more annoying to fight against..." The Chief sounded relieved it was a Kobold Challenger.