Vol. 2 - Chapter 30 - The Kobolds Gemstones

In the moment the kobold Elder has mentioned about Vek and the other 4 elite kobolds being tested, a notification came to Mathias's eyes announcing him about a quest which made him gaze at the old kobold, before asking him to make sure.

"Elder, there will be a high risk because that beast is unpredictable. I would rather not wish to risk the lives of the innocent people of your tribe."

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[Defeat the Undead Beast Iljnoks]

Difficulty Level: S

Elder of the Gravelmark Kobold Tribe, Morlk, wants you to defeat the Undead Beast Iljnoks, that has been a menace for the tribe, constantly making a hell for their usual lives since being unable to leave their settlement without risking their lives. Along this request, the Elder also intends to send the strongest prospects of the tribe to challenge their resolve, allowing them to grow stronger and reach a possible new form.

Quest Clear Conditions: Defeat Iljnoks without the Kobolds to die in the fight

Clear Reward: Level +2 & Affinity with Gravelmark Kobold Tribe increased by 40, the Event "Ancient Heirloom Rediscovery" will be triggered.

Quest Failure: Level -2, the Event 'The Kobolds Change of View" will be triggered, the Event "Iljnoks Escapes Gravelmark" will be triggered.

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Passing the contents of the quest rather fast, he stopped on the last event that might be triggered, where Iljnoks was mentioned. He took a deep breath, imagining the worst scenario that might happen if he failed, with villages being ravaged by this beast, an monstrosity that will grow at an alerted rhythm which will for sure challenge even the mighty Red Knights.

Thus, focusing on the detailed description instead of what he could get, and while he was doing that, the old kobold gave him his answer in a calm manner.

"Young human, we kobolds are the spawns of dragons. The dragon's power is also inside of us, just that we can't reach deep inside of ourselves to awaken the latent power. This is why I want for the brightest children of the tribe to test themselves, and experience the challenges that would forge them into becoming closer to the Dragon Gods who gave us life."

Giving a sigh, he nodded his head and accepted the quest. Following that, he walked together with the old kobold alone, after the clerics remained in the temple, and Vek went to summon his friends that were the elites of the kobold tribe.

As the crimson-haired human that looked like a giant compared to the small-statured kobolds walked side by side with the Elder, where the inhabitants of the tribe who weren't disturbed by the party's visit turned their heads to respectfully greet Morlk, and step back when Mathias gazed at them.

"It is normal for the younger ones to be afraid of you, young human. This is their first time seeing a human, besides hearing about your kind in the stories passed by the ancestors. However, I want to discuss something with you between two eyes, a worry of mine."

"Sure, Elder. I will be as patient and listen to your worries." responded Mathias in a calm manner, gazing at the kobolds who were carrying pickaxes in their hands and baskets where stone could be carried.

The old kobold who was touched by the Red Energy released by Mathias, felt its warmth, and calmness as if it was the sunlight touching his face, and in a sense, it made Mathias more approachable.

Once they returned back to his house, the old kobold poured some of the fruit wine he intended to serve Mathias before the clerics alerted him of what happened in the Groove area, and with a smile on its old face, asked the human who took a sip of the wine.

"How does the fruit wine taste, young Mathias?"

*Sip* "Yea, I like it. The sweet wines are my favorites. What fruit did you use for the wine because I didn't see any grapevines in the Groove area."

"Hehe, I heard about those fruits but only from my predecessors. What I used for this wine is a fruit you humans are calling Rubus idaeus which are grown in the Groove."

'Rubus idaeus? Never heard of such a fruit. Wait? That's Latin, seems familiar. I know Rubus means blackberry, but the most frequent mountain fruit is the raspberry. It could be that fruit they used.'

Still, to make sure he nailed the answer, Mathias shifted his attention from the wine cup to his hand where his Red Energy was gathered in a buddle where the shape of a berry was formed.

"Is this fruit?"

"Ahh, yes, that's right. The توت العليق ."

"Yes, it is a familiar fruit, but to be honest, I have never drunk a wine made of raspberries, just syrups." commented Mathias while continuing on drinking from the raspberry wine, and slowly the atmosphere between him and the old kobold got easier.

The old kobold kept asking Mathias about himself, and the others and how was the life outside the mountain, to which Mathias responded calmly and patiently, telling him about Titan and how big it was, the tall buildings, from the Hippodrome to the Imperial Palace, Grandmaster's Palace, and Light's Cathedral.

His stories made the old kobold keep quiet, and listen like a kid to a good storyteller at the fireplace, and without even noticing, Mathias got caught up in telling the Elder a detailed story about the Saharan Empire, the ruling human kingdom of those domains Gravelmark was situated.

"Truly impressive. The chieftain of your Empire must be a strong person to be able to lead such a large territory."

"Hah, him? Lord Juander, even if he is a strong person, is also a simple man with his own weaknesses. Is he greater than most people? Most likely. But in my eyes, he is still a foolish man who can't walk the balance of powers."

"It seems you have met this chieftain you speak about from how you sound. Right, I remembered to tell you about my worry, young Mathias. Since almost two months ago, while I meditate, in my house to refill my spells, I kept on hearing many voices of humans coming from the lower levels of the mountain and forest, constantly shouting and cursing, making it seems as if they are the spawns of chaos told in the stories about the demons of Hell.

They keep on shouting like madden creatures {Kill all the beasts and monsters! We have to grow faster and reach the top of the world!}"

When hearing the worry of the old kobold, Mathias frowned which the Elder took it as a bad sign, seeing Mathias's Red Aura get colder and intenser, before not long after, it calmed down, getting back to its initial state, and he asked Mathias for his opinion.

"Tell me young Mathias, I have the impression those humans who have such a deep desire for killing the beasts of the forest and mountain will misjudge my tribe as one of the aggressive creatures of the mountain and attack us once they find around the settlement. I don't wish for my tribe to fight against you humans since we kept to our pledge not to disturb the humans."

"Hah, Elder, calm down. You've seen the four other friends of mine, they are a good representation of my brethren. While they might curse and shout all kinds of foolish words, just take them as some rabid dogs who were not taught other insults when angry. I understand your worry because it is like living beside a crazy unpredictable neighbor who might attack you for no reason in the next second."

"... So, I shouldn't be worried for my tribe?" inquired the old kobold, feeling a bit calmer after listening to Mathias, and when he heard Mathias's next his expression once again turned panicked.

"Well, you should, but not so much that it will haunt your dreams. Haha, relax, I have an easy solution to your problem which will have about 98% chance of success if you do your part without deviating from the plan."

"That high?" doubted the Elder, later hearing Mathias mention with some annoyance.

"Well, the idiots and crazy people who don't abide by my generalization, are that 2%, but even those can be dissuaded from turning hostile. So listen to my plan, it is quite basic and simple to understand.

You should give those adventurers who might stumble upon your tribe's whereabouts tasks, just like how you went about to make me get the prospects of your tribe to hunt Iljnoks. Once you do that I am willing to bet on my entire clothes that they will do as you ask them. For example, you can have them kill some beasts in the mountain since their population is high, to pick up some fruits, plants, to assist the tribe in living better, but all those tasks will require you to reward them according to the difficulty of the tasks since it is an exchange of interests."

The old kobold stared at Mathias with a weird expression, as if he questioned if that was all, even asking to make sure. "We only have to do this much?"

"Only this much. But remember, act friendly and not seem like you are trying to cheat them with your tasks, even if some will do even the hardest ones. They are quite petty if the rewards don't fit the tasks."

Nodding his head, the old kobold who understood the approach to the problem, didn't keep Mathias too much on talk, and allowed him to visit around the settlement.

[Affinity with Kobold Elder Morkl risen by 15 points]

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Taking note of the notification about the Kobold's affinity being increased, Mathias who was now off from his house, walked toward the central part of the settlement where Vek was giving the Gragger Boar Armor and their swords, which left them surprised.

"Ahh, human friend, I hope you haven't gotten bored by the Elder and how small the tribe is." mentioned Vek, who noticed Mathias walk in their direction.

"No, it was an enjoyable talk. Did I disturb your preparations?"

The kobolds who were gearing remained quiet, while Vek shook his head, before asking Mathias.

"You didn't visit all the settlements, right? Do you wish to visit it before going out to fight the monster?"

"Heh, sure, I still require some time to recover, so it wouldn't hurt me."

LIke this, Vek told the other kobolds something in draconian, and along with Mathias, he took him around the settlement of the kobolds, visiting the Nursery of the Kobolds, where a lot of eggs were on a rocky platform, arranged close to one another so their warmth would be uniformly distributed. Following that, Vek wanted to bring Mathias to the baths, feeling that it was one of the best locations of the settlement.

"No need, I've seen them in the passing when going to the Groove. I would like to visit the mine itself."

Not finding a problem with this request, Vek guided Mathias toward the gallery, where many kobolds worked with smiles on their faces hitting the rocks on the wall with their pickaxes and also picking up the rocks and placing them on a wooden back bucket. Seeing Mathias, curious about why the kobolds were so happy to work, Vek turns slightly embarrassed, telling their ancestral story and how their ancestor served under the Dragon Gods who were competing to find who was the richest dragon in the entire Middle Earth.

"That … I never understood why dragons, even in stories, were so obsessed with shiny objects."

"I also don't understand why we kobolds feel fulfilled when mining. Maybe it is the thought that we will expand our territory and make the future generation's lives easier, but I never stressed myself to find that answer since my path is different from most kobolds. Once I pass the Elder's test, I will journey out in the world to see for myself how big the surroundings the ancestors kept mentioning truly are."

"They are really big, you want to see how big?"

"Can you help me? Please do so." requested Vek in an excited way, while stopping at a part of the mine, where Mathias pulled the map of the Saharan Empire and the rest of the Continent.

Pointing at the location where Gravelmark was located, he told Vek the place they were located currently, and slowly pointing out where each influential city of the Empire was situated. From the Capital, Titan to each of the Duke's territories capitals.

"It is so big!"

"Indeed, so they say. But I didn't show you this map to discourage you, instead to inform you, the path ahead of you will be a long one."

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Passing past the gallery's path, Mathias noticed a small rock that looked different than the rest of the stones in the wall and he immediately stopped, and using his arcane powers extracting the stone which was still dirty.

"A gemstone. I need one more for my Jeanne. Can you help me little Vek?"

"Ahh, sure thing, Mathias. This place we are now digging in the one Elder Morkl has divinated with his magical powers." said Vek while giving Mathias a small explanation on the gifts of the All-Watcher and kobolds' talent at finding shiny rocks.

Hearing that, it made Mathias contemplate as he was looking for another gemstone, making it seem he wasn't really curious about the kobold's innate talent.

'Those kobolds, they have a lot of potentials, they could become the backbone of a territory since the more I listen to them the more I feel the one who developed this kobold tribe has used the good description of the kobolds, about their talents and affinities.'

'I have to protect them in the future and if I get a territory for my own, to relocate them and give them the chance to spread their wings. From spies to construction workers, miners, hah, just imagining the roles they could fill for the future is amazing potential.'

After placing his thoughts in order, he sent a notification to his guild chat, where he announced about the Gravelmark Kobolds and his intent to have them under his protection.

@Red: We need a territory to use the entire potential of the kobolds. From what you told us, boss, those kobolds seem more useful than even the dwarfs. However, the big question is, how do we get territory in the Saharan Empire?

@Malakai: Don't worry he has it sorted out.

@Mathias: It will take me quite a while, so until then we have to make sure those guilds and players don't attack the kobolds, even if I taught the leader of the kobolds a way to handle the problem of aggressive users.

@Red: It is not urgent yet, those kobolds should be stronger than most players at this point, and the high rankers are not stupid people.

@Leona: Those kobolds, how do they look?

Hearing Leonor's question, Mathias placed a screenshot taken of Vek wearing his Gragger Boar set and the Fang of the Enforcer Dagger, which helped her make a general image of the kobolds.

@Leona: They are quite pleasing to the eye, and they even wear some nice-looking gear.

@Red: Boss, by chance it was you who gave the kobold the items? Isn't that the Gragger Boar full set? Wew, it really is that set. Do you know how much the entire set sells for?

@Mathias: No idea and it also doesn't matter for me, the trade I did by giving those items bought something so rare that I will not stumble upon for a long time to come, .

Linking the information of the plant for the guild members to see, they were shocked to see a plant that was a Unique Rated item.

@Lane: Gosh, that's Unique Rated plant material? What use do you have to it, guild leader?

@Mathias: Healing someone's wounds.

@Malakai: Healing his waifu.

Frowning while searching for the gemstone when Vlad began talking randomly without being required, Vek who was close by interpreted this as a bag sign, of him being displeased by something.

Ignoring the guild chat while the group asked Vlad about more details, the Shadow Branded Novice could only deliver what Mathias had fed him with, which wasn't really a lot. Instead, Mathias felt Vek staring at him, which made him realise his emotion fluctuated for a brief moment and the Red Energy might have gotten out of control.

"Sorry, little Vek, I am not angry at you or this place. Did you have any success with the gems?"

"Obviously, they are pretty easy to be spotted, here. Is it big enough?" asked Vek while presenting Mathias with a sparrow egg-sized gem which took the latter aback.

"More than enough."