-Pero’s POV-
My parents were no longer there when I was born. I managed to survive by eating the food that the adults in the group gave me on a whim. To be honest, I’ve never had a full meal. I could only try to fill my hunger with someone’s leftovers. That’s why I’ve always thought that I would be happy if I could eat food with a full stomach.
The herd of kobolds I was in was the largest group called the Central Group. The leader of the herd is a mutant kobold. He is strong and smart. Above all, he had the ability to lead. Many adult kobolds followed him with admiration.
Of course, I also admired him. This is because kobolds have an instinct to be attracted to the strong. I was no exception.
Let’s change the topic.
Basically, I spend the day holding my nose. This is because the smell of the balm tree is unbearable. The reason why the herd I’m in is called Central Group is that we formed a village in the center of the garden centered on the balm tree. Kobolds, who don’t care about the smell, might have been fine, but it was a pain for me because I don’t like the scent of citrus.
In particular, the scent emanating from the fruit of the balm tree makes my nose itch intensely. Because of that, I made my home away from the herd.
One day, when I went to the village, the group was in a state of destruction. The adults were brutally killed, and the leader, the mutant kobold, was furious.
I just stood there stunned at such scene. The only thing I could understand was that a strong enemy attacked the village. At that time, even I could somehow understand that more than 20 of my fellow villagers were killed by a single enemy. That’s why I thought that an incredibly large and terrifying enemy had killed the adults.
The next day, the leader, the mutant kobold, was also killed. I was terrified. I shuddered just thinking about how such a monster had come to this place. I’m sure that monster will eventually catch me and eat me.
I thought so and then I hid in my house. As it turned out, the monster didn’t come to me. On the contrary, if I just kept on waiting, I will only be hungry. I figured that the monster must have gone somewhere so I started looking for food.
The surviving adults and children should have joined another herd by now. Normally, I should go there too. But there was no guarantee that the monster wouldn’t attack that herd again. That’s why I deliberately chose to live alone.
Now that I think about it, there was no guarantee that I wouldn’t be attacked just because I was alone. I felt like I had found the right answer though, so I didn’t think about it too much.
The search for food was difficult. As a child, the only thing I can get is fruit. I want to eat meat. Feed me some meat. My instincts as a kobold tormented me. Maybe if my parents are here, I could have hunted better. If father had taught me how to hunt, I might manage to get at least a small piece of prey. Every time I thought about it, my heart became very depressed.
One day, I met creatures that I had never seen before. They have no body hair like a kobold and they have a lot of strange things on their body. They don’t have sharp claws on their hands and no fangs to bite on prey’s flesh.
When they saw me, they smiled and started talking.
“A kobold with a face like a Shiba Inu huh. Isn’t he a little cutie?”
“Is that so? I think all kobold kids are like that though.”
“Hey, come, come here. If you want meat, I’ll give you some.”
“H-hey, listen to me!”
The two creatures were making strange noises. One has a black hair and the other has golden one. However, I don’t feel any hostility from them. In addition, the one with black hair was holding out something that looked like meat to me.
My vigilance was blown away in an instant. I think it’s probably because I was hungry for meat. When I put the meat in my mouth, the chewy texture and flavor that was different from raw meat hit my brain directly.
What a delicious piece of meat! It tasted better than any meat I’ve ever eaten. Somehow, it feels like the delicious part has been solidified. I licked my fingers in a daze.
“Is it delicious? Look, there’s more.”
The mysterious creature in front of me handed me meat one after another. As I took it and put it in my mouth, I felt happier than ever.
“Bye then. I hope to see you again somewhere.”
The black-haired creature waves his hand and tries to leave. I quickly clung to his leg, thinking that if I followed, I would get more meat.
“I don’t have any more meat. Do you like dried meat that much?”
I respond to him with a squeal.
Take me. Don’t leave me alone.
Then the dark-haired creature stroked my head and then laughed.
“Alright. From today onwards, I shall call you Pero. I’ll come here from time to time, so please excuse me today.”
Pero. That word strangely stuck in my ears. At the time, I didn’t even think that it was a name. Why? Because kobolds did not have the habit of naming themselves.
In the end, the two creatures were gone. However, I was happy that day because my heart seemed to be satisfied. From then on, those two creatures often passed near my place. Of course, I remember their scent, so as soon as they pass by, I go to see them. The black-haired one looks at me and smiles as he strokes my head. The one with golden hair also strokes my head but she tends to be a little reserved.
I feel happy to receive meat as usual. Later, when I hugged the black haired one, his scent is so pleasant that it somehow made me feel at peace and happier.
“See you then, Pero.”
But the two of them always leave after giving me meat. I want them to take me with them. I want to feel even happier. Those thoughts are ringing in my head. With that, I cling desperately, but I was eventually torn off and left behind.
Next time. I’ll see to it that next time, they take me with them. That’s what I decided.
The next time I saw them, it was different. The black-haired one handed me meat and water. I was horrified by the sparkling water. I don’t know why. But in any case, I fear the water itself.
The black-haired one is still smiling gently at me. Then I came up with an idea. Maybe they are trying to see if they can add me to their herd by whether I drink this water or not. In that case, I have no choice but to drink. I was determined to follow them this time.
Once I drink it all up, my throat and stomach felt like burning as if I had swallowed fire. Then the heat eventually spreads throughout my body. After a while, I felt like my thoughts were clearer. I know I became a sacred beast. After that, there may not be much to talk about. I became a member of Homeless and became Father’s child.
However, there is a little more to this story.
In fact, when I first met Father, I immediately knew that he was the one who killed the mutant kobold. After all, I have a good nose. I can remember the smell of an enemy in an instant. Still, I decided to get closer to him because I wasn’t too hostile to Father.
In addition, we kobolds have an instinct to prefer the strong. If the person who killed the leader has the ability to lead the pack, we kobolds will naturally follow him. But it’s not because of instinct that I like Father. It’s my will. It was Father who gave me dried meat that day, and that made me want to follow him.
Now I’m proud of the name, Pero Tanaka.
Ah, that’s a bit of a long story. I’ll talk about my adventures next time.
Good night.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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