Hunting was easy now. I just aimed and shot. Then I collect the corpse, create a fire pit, clear the area of all dry brush, double check that I’ve cleared the are of all dry brush, and roast the meat. I’ve taken to traveling along the road. It was during my meal time that I heard the screams of women. I grabbed my bow and rushed towards the road. A carriage with opal white walls was stopped by a man in all green. He unsheathes his sword and points it at the driver. “I am the great Robin Hood, your money or your life.” I stand on the side of the road behind the man. I see a women poking her head out of the chariot window. Screaming her head off about being robbed. The driver pulls out a sword. I step out into the road to get a clear angle on the Robin Hood guy. I drop my spear to the ground and ready my bow. The driver gives me an odd look but then returns his focus on the bandit. “Your life then!” Robin Hood swipes the heel of horse, it goes down. He just did the medieval equivalent of slashing their tires. He walks around the horses. Intending to take the steps up to the driver’s seat. I ready my bow. He’s only ten meters away. I take a deep breath. Point and shoot. The arrow strikes him through the chest. He clutches at it with his free hand. Then he slowly turns his head to face me. I ready another arrow. He looks at the driver. The driver has taken a defensive pose and doesn’t seem to be advancing. Robin Hood turns to me. He takes one step and I let another arrow loose. It strikes him in the chest. Two shots in the chest, if he advances on me I can fire off one more and pick up my spear before he reaches me. His sword is one metter long, his arm is one metter long. It’s a rapier so he will attempt to stab me. My spear is only five feet long. The tip of his sword might be able to reach me if he goes for a suicicde lunge. I’ll have to make sure he stabs a non vital part of my body so I can heal myself. He takes another step towards me. I ready the arrow.

The driver jumps down performing a sweet arial down swing on Robin Hood’s head. His skull is split.

Level up! 10 Max level! Please choose an evolution path:

Ruby Kobold- Fire aspect kobolds able to withstand even lave. Usually serves magma dragons.

Bronze Kobold- Earth aspect kobold able to dig through mountains. Usually serves bronze dragons hidden deep within the earth.

Primal Kobold- A kobold that has taken a step back in it’s bloodline. The first kobold was the birth of a human bard and a silver dragon. Over centuries they were bred to be the perfect servants for dragons.

Now isn't the time to be evolving. I peek out from behind the UI to look at the driver. He’s holding his sword pointed at me. “Umm… You’re welcome!” I shout in disgust at him for almost attacking me. He gets a confused look and lowers his sword. “Was that sarcasm?”

“No, I genuinely want to be attacked after helping someone.” I lay it on thick.

He doesn’t sheath his sword but he puts it in a non combative position. “My apologies, I haven't met a kobold with such a grasp of Common. That is to say, I have not had the pleasure of meeting a kobold as civilized as you.” He gives a short bow. “Be sure to give your master my regards.”

“What? Master? What do you mean?”

“Surely you’re owned by someone. There’s no way a kobold would be as educated as you without someone controlling it.”

“I am a free man. Slavery is a disgusting thing.”

He bows again. “My apologies.”

“Howard, why are you talking with that thing?” The lady calls from out the window. Howard turns to the misses. “It helped save us ma’am. I just found it heroic for a kobold.”

“A kobold who’s heroic. Now there’s a story for the luncheon. Invite him in. We have to wait until another horse arrives anyway.”

Howard formally invites me into the carriage. He eyes my weapons as I pass him. I peek into the carriage. It’s two females. One old and wrinkling with makeup caked to her face. The other a young teen with spaced out eyes. Neither of them have weapons. I smile at howard. “Can I trust you to look after my weapons?” He smiles and accepts them. I showed that I meant no harm and that I can pick up on social cues. The ma’am summons a magical sphere. She whispers into it then sends it flying through the sky towards the city. “Just a message spell dear.”

“So little hero, what prompted a kobold to help humans?”

“I heard the screams, It’s the protagonist's duty to help a woman in need.” I curl my lips into a smile, being careful not to show my teeth. She gives a coy laugh. “Are you sure you aren’t some noble cursed by a witch?” Now it’s my turn to give a playful laugh. This is like being the black boyfriend brought home to the confederate flag flying parents. I have to play this cool. “Nope, Ma’am I’m just one of the good ones.” She eyes me up. “This has been a charming experience, sadly---

“Is that a kobold!” The teen girl comes to life, rushing from her seat to grab my arm. She runs her hands up my scales. I smile at her, the ma’am slaps her hands. “Don’t be rude, ask before you touch.” The teen gulps. “May I?” I nod. She inspects my scales. I look to the ma’am for an explanation. “She’s studying monsters in university.” The girl turns my palm over and pushes on my claws. Like an archaeologist she prods my hand with her fingers looking for bones. “Why?”

“Monsters make up a lot of the labor force. One slave crest and they obey you no matter what.”

“Do you enslave kobolds?”

She knits her brow. “I don’t, but some humans would. It’s rare to find a kobold away from it’s dragon. They’re the slaves of dragons normally.”

“I have experienced that. It’s terrible seeing my fellow kinsmen forced to die just for the entertainment of some dragon.”

“Well us humans don’t treat our slaves that badly. There are laws, less laws for enslaved monsters than enslaved humans, but still laws. You can only use physical reeducation if they have messed up.”

“Who would believe the slave over the master? That sounds easily exploited.” She stops. That was her trying to show me that humans aren’t all bad. It sounds like prerehearsed rhetoric that they repeat themselves as a way of rationalizing it.

“I suppose you’re right.” She shrugs.

“That doesn’t make you feel bad about it?”

“Well, I don’t treat my slaves badly. My husband is very kind to them. All of our slaves say so.”

“Of course they’d say that. Sucking up to your family is a way to get better treatment.” Once again she knits her brow. She opens her mouth to talk then closes it again. “You’re very smart for a kobold.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I catch the young lady pinching one of my scales between her fingers. I look at the teen quizzically. She blushes. “Could maybe, possibly, you know, get a scale as a sample?” I roll my eyes and pluck one off for her. She gasps and immediately wraps it in white cloth. “Thank you, thank you so much Kobold-sama.” I smile. “Look Grandma! I’m going to be the first person to bring kobold samples to the university!” The ma’am smiles.

“You know Mr. Kobold, I am a baroness. I could get you a pass as an honorary citizen. You could come visit our home, perhaps let Abigale show you off at the university? It’ll be fun.” I shake my head. “Sorry, but I’m not strong enough to fight my way out of a human city. Since you practice slavery I don’t want to take any risks of humans getting too handsy.”

She gives a somber nod. “Understandable, perhaps in the future then?”

“Perhaps after I slay the dragon that is keeping my kinsmen as slaves.”

She chuckles. “A kobold slaying a dragon? I suppose it’s possible, if the dragon is young and reclusive. Many dragons never leave their caves, they have their kobolds do all the work for them. It leads to them being very far behind despite their giant size. In noble society we use them as a metaphor to scare young nobles. If you do slay the dragon then that’d be a wonderful story for my lunch club. Promise me after that you will come to chat?” I nod and she reaches underneath her seat. She pulls out a suitcase. She unlaches it and pulls out a piece of stationary. Writing down a note then pulling out a stamp she marks it before handing it to me. “What’s your name?”

“Anon.”

“I, Barroness Julie Herbert, authorize this Anon to enter into the city. If he comes to the gates all he has to do is show this letter and he should be escorted to my abode.”

She hands it to me. Just to be polite I smile at her. I have no backpack. I can’t hold onto this for very long. Baroness Herbert is quick to pick this up. “Mr Kobold, do you not have anything to carry this in?” I nod. “Abigale, fetch your pack from your luggage. You’re about his size.”

“But grandma, you bought this for me. How else will I carry my school books?”

She rubs a hand through her granddaughter’s hair. “Yes little one, and when we get back to the city I’ll buy you one twice as pretty.”

The daughter begrudgingly hands me a white leather backpack. I check the pockets, making sure she didn’t leave anything in it and then I thank them both.

“Well Mr. Kobold. The spare horse should be here soon. Would hate for the guards to have a mixup that ends with them attacking you.”

I nodded. That would be very unfortunate. I stand up and bow to them.

Outside the carriage, Howard has taken the horse and tossed it into the ditch along with Robin Hood’s corpse. He hands me my weapons. I point to the sword laying ontop of his corpse. “Are you going to take that?” He gives me an odd look. “No, but feel free to eat it. He’s just a bandit anyways.” Now it’s my turn to give him a weird look. He thought I was pointing at the body and not just his weapon. “I don’t eat anything that can speak. I was talking about the sword.”

“Oh, my apologies Mr. Kobold, of course not.” He then laughs to himself. “With each word you speak you seem more noble Mr. Kobold. Even some adventures will eat sapient monsters.” That’s a big yikes from me breh. I grab the sword and turn the body over. Going through his pockets. On his belt are two six inch daggers. I swipe them. Along with his coin pouch. There are only three gold coins in it, but it could be useful if I ever need money. I check his breast pocket and for the first time get a good look at his face. He looks familiar. His hair is longer, but he looks a lot like the blonde kid who was in the anime club. Yeah, that one who was really into sword art online and larping. I inspect him.

Richard Cheese, deceased.

Same name too. I bite my lip. The sharp teeth breaking the skin. I helped kill one of the people from earth. I didn’t even know that they were from earth. I never gave it any thought. I figured I was the only person who got summoned, the light encompassed the entire room. It must have summoned all the students. I feel guilty, and my guilt turns to anger at him. The fuck was he doing running around LARPing as Robin Hood? Did he think this was some fantasy world? What a stupid idiot for putting himself in a situiation where I had to kill him. I want to curse him more, but the sound of hoof steps forces me to retreat into the woods.