'What the hell am I doing?! Being flattered by the words of some human!'
However, he couldn't do anything about this feeling that raised his thick nose so high, almost pointing to the sky.
"Okay, where are you headed? I shall tell you!"
Tom smiled brightly and replied, "It's the Demon Kingdom."
Kulvo felt another heavy blow to his head.
"That's so strange! If a human is lost, they would normally ask directions to the human territories!"
"No, I'm seeking the Demon Kingdom. I had purposely taken the shortest path and got lost in the forest."
"And what's your goal?! Could it be… a spy… It can't be! This dumb-looking…!"
When Kulvo pointed at Tom, Tom shook his head in reply.
"That's a bit too much, isn't it? To say I'm dumb-looking. I've often heard I looked bright and wise…"
"Stop…! Ugh… speak your purpose! Then I might have some inclination to tell you the way."
"I wish to meet the Demon Lord."
"…Are you some wannabe hero?" Kulvo's face grew cold as his hand reached back toward his bag. He was getting ready to pull out his weapon at any time. "Why are you trying to meet with the Demon Lord?"
"To pledge myself to her?"
"…Uwaaaagh! I'm going insane! Do I have dementia? Are you actually a hallucination? That's it, isn't it?"
Kulvo began throwing a tantrum in disbelief. He just couldn't believe his eyes or ears.
"It was just a joke. Though I do want to meet her, I can't do that."
"Don't joke around like that! What are you doing? Looking like you want to tour the Demon Kingdom…!"
"That sounds like something nice. I haven't really looked around the Demon Kingdom properly…"
"Alright, stop. Please… I'm having a crisis of identity! A Holy Knight can't be this naive!"
Tom saw that Kulvo looked like he was about to cry and burst into laughter. He was actually poking fun as his expressions were interesting. He felt the goblin could be a good actor with his skills.
"Haha, in truth, it's for another reason."
"…What is it?"
"I'm actually going to the strategic point on the battlefront."
"…Ah, are you deployed to the Hero's Allied Forces?"
Kulvo had heard that the Allied Forces had invaded the national borders of the Demon Kingdom.
'Perhaps, the Holy Knight before him is one of them? If that's the case, it'd be better to remove him ahead of time.'
According to the most recent report he had heard, Karakul was courageously impeding their path. He had heard that, in actuality, the Hero's Allied Forces were being pushed back. It wouldn't be long before they were defeated and beaten home.
'No, there is no need to kill him. The situation won't change because of this bumbling Holy Knight.'
"Is he drafted? Hah, if there are Holy Knights like you in the battlefield, it would only make it harder to fight. This is why I hate war."
Kulvo gave a loud sigh. The human hadn't hesitated in approaching the demon in a friendly manner and spoke with a grin without any deception. The smile he made every time he teased him was a truly honest one, and he couldn't find any faults with it. It was more than obvious that he had to be a Holy Knight from some backwater part of the countryside, oblivious to the world.
Kulvo had heard that there were times that some Holy Knights were deemed in low regard despite their title. This was the case when they were assigned to a completely distant area with an unknown name. These people were drafted for the sake of their family and would end up dying for it as well. Just like the rookie soldiers dragged along by the Hero's Allied Forces meant to serve as meat shields.
'This is why I say humans are vile! To force men like him into the battlefield! Are they so happy to kill them off like this?! What madness!'
Kulvo peeked at Tom. As the Hero's Allied Forces were being defeated consecutively, they would soon retreat. If this Holy Knight were to join the army at that point, he would survive.
'Che, I'm not telling you because I like you! It's because I'll feel icky when I sleep if someone like you died!'
"Fine, I'll tell you." Kulvo dug through his bag and pulled out a single map. "This is a map of the border area."
'…Well, it's an incomplete map that I stopped mid-way, and I used the human army's map as a reference, so nothing classified should be leaked. Still, there should be enough information for him to find his own way with it.'
Tom tilted his head as he received the map.
"The geography is not marked on it."
"The complete map is classified. Do you think I'd hand that over? I'll explain this in plain words. See that mountain over there? Cross it. Then, look at the map and climb through another mountain, and you'll find the Hero's Allied Force."
"I see. I really appreciate your efforts." Tom nodded and grabbed a leather pouch around his waist. "Ah, for compensation."
"It's fine. What could a country hick Holy Knight like you even have…"
Even still, Kulvo peeked at him as if thinking 'Maybe?'
"I've heard in the past that Goblin-folks appreciate shiny objects?"
"Silver coins? You have silver coins?!"
Tom brought out the jewels he was carrying.
"Would this be enough?"
Kulvo's eyes grew wide with shock. He was given jolt after jolt today, this one being the biggest one.
"…No, isn't this a large sum for humans as well? Do you think I'd take this?"
"…Your hands are more honest than your words, though."
Kulvo grabbed the jewels. Goblins particularly loved gold and gems. Rather than using them for economic purposes, they had a hobby of collecting them.
Kulvo used the magnifying glass attached to his eye and carefully inspected the jewels.
"…Mm, good. These are particularly good pieces to add to my collection! Even still, I can't help but not feel bad. This is too much for a single map! I'll have to give you a gift as well to make up." Kulvo put down his bag and began to dig through it with his hands. "You bastard, honestly, I don't really like you, but you're starting to grow on me even if you are a Holy Knight! Yep, that's right. You're different than those other crazed, scary bastards that only know their faith blindly!"
He pulled something out of his bag while grumbling.
"Here."
He held out a long telescope.
"Let's see, what else would be good…"
Kulvo could not find anything that could compare in value to the jewels, so he was stomping his feet in annoyance.
"Sorry, I don't have anything appropriate to give you."
"It's fine. However…"
Something within Kulvo's possessions caught Tom's eyes; it was wrapped carefully in a cloth covered in runes.
"What's that?"
Kulvo looked at it and replied directly, "Ah, that. It's food made by Your Highness."
Tom stared back at him speechlessly
"Well, I'm just as speechless to know that the Highness cooks. There's nothing dignified about cooking for her subordinates, either. Even so, she's kind and friendly. She doesn't fit the role of Demon Lord, don't you think? For such a female to be sitting on such a weighty throne. Humans should know this as well, but the current Demon King doesn't suit her role. That's right, to be used and killed like this…"
Kulvo frowned as he spoke. What did he think he could achieve by venting his frustrations at this Holy Knight? He had met a person he had warmed to after so long that his tongue had grown looser without realizing it.
"Well, it's just mashed potatoes with sliced fruits and spices all stuffed in a loaf of bread. The cloth has preservation magic to make sure the food doesn't spoil for weeks."
"Can't you give that to me?"
Kulvo looked at Tom in surprise.
"What? Something like this would be enough? Well, it does have food preservation magic, and that has some value of its own, but it shouldn't compare to jewels?"
"Yes, it's fine. The food is enough. It'll be a meal that'll be hard to trade for anything."
Kulvo didn't understand.
'A meal that he can't trade for anything? Well, indeed, when would he get the opportunity to eat food made personally by the Demon King?'
However, Kulvo suspected that there might be some other meaning behind his words.
"Well, if it makes you happy."
Tom picked up his reward.
"Thank you."
— Ω —