New chapters of Let’s Create a Dungeon is out! (4/4 chapters)

Short Story (13): A Certain Scout Class

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Chronologically, this took place while Nobunaga was still within the Allied Nations. The story of the Sword Saint challenging Nobunaga and returning without defeating him had not spread within House Hauster’s domain. That was because the Sword Saint went on his own and simply returned.

 

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(POV switch – Unknown Scout)

“I’ve taken on a really unpleasant request.” (Scout)

I let out a sigh while tailing a certain party from behind.

The clients were both the Adventurer Guild and the Kingdom. The reward was unusually high, and the request was, equally unusually, meant for a single scout. It could be said it was a request made just for me. That was why I accepted it without a second thought.

The request was to investigate the Great Forest of Owa. In reality, it was surely an investigation of the Demon King who repelled the Hauster Knight Order a few months ago. It was at this point I regretted accepting the request. Investigating a Demon King was like walking into death. However, after hearing the details, I understood that my own chance of dying was low, and I realized it was a morally distasteful job.

In truth, a similar investigation request had been posted for a young adventurer party to investigate the Great Forest of Owa. My job was to secretly trail behind that party. It was not a protection mission, but a tailing one. If it were simply tailing an adventurer party, there would be no issue. If I could get paid a fortune just for that, then that would be perfect. If possible, I would really prefer it to end with that perfect outcome.

For a while after the investigation began, nothing in particular happened. I continued tailing them while lightly investigating the forest. It was easy-going. Perhaps the Demon King had been wounded in the battle with the knights, or maybe this Demon King lacked a strong sense of territoriality. There had been no attacks by demon beasts or demons, either on me or the party ahead, and we traveled back and forth between forest and town.

If only it could end without incident… but then, for some foolish reason, the party decided to venture deeper into the Great Forest of Owa. That was a suicidal act. Perhaps they became too comfortable due to the absence of monsters and demons around here. They were young, but they are rushing toward death too fast.

If I could, I would go and stop them even if it meant hitting them. The disappearance of monsters and demons from an area was one of the signs that a Demon King had been born. Monsters were eaten, and demons were made to serve. In other words, the absence of monsters and demons in the surroundings was proof that a Demon King was present.

I wanted to tell them, but under the terms of my request, contact with them was forbidden. Letting them become aware of my presence would be a problem.

“Ahh, idiots.” (Scout)

It seemed they had decided to go deeper. I distanced myself from them as much as possible while continuing to tail them. Just a few minutes later, while the scenery did not change, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. The tension rose, and the forest became silent as if under pressure. I climbed a tree to expand my field of vision. The party, unaware of the change in atmosphere, was cheerfully marching forward.

Soon after, a long, black, slender creature came from deeper inside. At first, I thought it was a snake, but if it were, then it was far too large and fast. I understood its true identity immediately. They were Kobold Leaders. They were moving in a line, like a single living creature. Kobolds moved in groups. When there was a Kobold Leader, their ability to coordinate increases, and group tactics became possible. However, not to this extent. Even if all of the demons deployed were Kobold Leaders, this level of coordination should be impossible. There must be a Demon King behind them. Perhaps the Demon King of this area was a Kobold-type Demon King.

It seemed the party sensed the abnormality and began to panic, but it was too late. Even if they moved now, there was no escaping the speed of the Kobold Leaders. They would be crushed in an instant by the charge of the Kobold Leaders. I was convinced that the party would be annihilated.

Yet, just before they entered each other’s line of sight, the Kobold Leaders shifted their path in an arc. They moved to encircle the party, and it was only then that I finally realized it. The Kobold Leaders were not only Kobold Leaders, but also enormous snakes. Their gradual, circling approach was like a serpent coiling around its prey to crush it. There was no escape for the party now. All they could do was stand back-to-back and form a phalanx to prepare for the Kobold Leaders’ attack. Even then, all they could hope for was to take a few down with them.

As the inexperienced party clumsily got into position, the Kobold Leaders calmly shrank the circle, completing a high-speed, multi-layered formation. They stopped the contraction just two steps from striking distance, then began watching for an opening. The party’s formation, while showing basic skill, was still immature. In contrast, the movements of the Kobold Leaders were remarkably refined. That was precisely why something felt off.

If they were that well-trained, they could have crushed a party like that in a single charge, even if it meant taking a few losses. Why did they not do that? Why turn this into a battle of psychological endurance? Could it be that they knew they would win even in a test of nerves? Certainly, they would, but was it not simply a waste of time…? Wait!

“Uwaaaah!” (Unnamed party member)

Unable to endure the fear, one of the party members let out a shriek and broke formation, charging at the Kobolds with his sword. It was useless. There was no way to land a hit on the Kobold Leaders who were circling at high speed. The others could easily dodge by shifting slightly from the sword’s path. Or rather, they could just attack the wielder instead.

And so, I thought it was the beginning of the usual bloodbath, where those who could not withstand the fear would fall, one by one…

On the second step, when those who succumbed to fear broke out of the phalanx, the movement of the Kobold Leaders changed. A gap appeared in the previously perfect circle formation, and they rushed into the hole left by the one who had fled from the phalanx. No matter how strong the defense of a phalanx was, once the enemy entered, it was meaningless, and the phalanx was quickly torn apart.

It was over in an instant. One person’s failure caused the death of the whole group. When I noticed, not a single Kobold Leader was even injured. They did not need to sacrifice even a little. How terrifying. It was not just those Kobold Leaders. The Demon King hiding behind them was frightening. Since they had properly carried out the request, I absolutely had to bring this information back.

The true role of that party was to act as bait to gauge the threat level when encountering enemy forces. To observe how they fought, what kind of species were present, and if possible, to encounter the Demon King and understand even a fragment of its abilities. It was a sacrificial role. Naturally, they did not know this. They must have thought it was just an investigation request with an extremely good reward.

I had obtained some information, albeit limited. The possibility of a Demon King of the Kobold type who commands many Kobold Leaders and demonstrates excellent coordination. No matter how far away I stayed, if I was noticed, my own life would be in danger.

As I tried to leave the place quickly…

“…No way.” (Scout)

The Lizard Commander appeared beneath the Kobold Leaders after the battle, or rather the massacre, and seemed to be talking to them. Unfortunately, it did not look like they were hostile. Seeing them talk peacefully without fighting over prey made it clear. Both species must be subordinates of the Demon King.

This is no joke! Not only do they command the highly coordinated Kobold Leaders, but they also have the highly skilled Lizard Commander under their control. What kind of Demon King is this?

With new information and a huge question in mind, I quickly left the area. I knew it was an unpleasant request, but I did not expect it to become so detestable in another sense.

Once I return to the Guild, I will report all the information and add one more thing. They must strengthen their defenses to the utmost. If that Demon King goes on the offensive, the Hauster Border Marquisate will suffer tremendous damage. Honestly, I want to say they will be completely wiped out. However, if I say that, I would get arrested for insulting the nobility.

After this request ends, what should I do? Perhaps I will escape toward the royal capital until the Demon King of the Great Forest of Owa is defeated. Fortunately, the reward is quite generous.

 

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