The kobold's club caught me by surprise.
I felt my sword shake as a Clang sound echoed across the plain.
"You bastard…!" I cursed through gritted teeth. More out of annoyance than pain, since my armor had barely let me feel the hit.
When I glanced over my shoulder, I saw the creature smiling, baring its fangs. However, my priority was to deal with the one right in front of me first. Its weapon (a mere wooden club) had managed to stop my sword by a hair, getting trapped underneath it. So I took the chance to throw my body weight on top of it.
Splintered pieces of the weapon flew to the sides as Kronos's blade sank deeper and deeper into the wood.
The difference in power was so overwhelming that the poor semi-human was using its last strength just to stay on its feet.
"Wow! Looks like someone's having trouble dealing with a few simple kobolds!" an irritating voice shouted behind me.
When I turned around, I saw Aqua standing with her arms crossed, smiling mockingly.
"You know, Mr. Paladin," she continued, "if you ask nicely, this generous goddess is willing to forgive you for rejecting her gracious help earlier and cast Blessing on you, so you can get rid of those monsters. But in exchange, you'll have to buy her an expensive bottle of wine and join the Axis Church. What do you say, Mr. Paladin? Doesn't that sound like a good deal?"
"I already told you I don't need your help!" I shouted, still struggling with the kobold in front of me. "Besides, who the hell would want to join a cult of dangerous lunatics?"
"Dangerous lunatics!?" the goddess bristled at my words. "How dare you call my faithful followers that! Apologize right now for speaking about my faithful followers like that!"
Taking advantage of the moment of distraction, the other kobold (the one that had hit me from behind) saw an opportunity. With a fierce growl, it raised its club above its head and brought down a massive strike.
However, the creature — as stupid and predictable as one would expect from a kobold — never imagined this was exactly what I was waiting for. I danced to the side and the huge club ended up smashing into its companion's head with a sickening crunch.
The kobold stood there stunned, watching its friend collapse to the ground, not understanding what had just happened.
It started turning its head from side to side, looking for me.
Too late.
Slipping underneath, I gripped Kronos with both hands and drove it into its guts, all the way to the hilt.
The kobold let out a howl of pain and fell backwards a few steps away from the other one, who was now convulsing and foaming at the mouth.
I raised Kronos and plunged the blade into its furry chest, putting it out of its misery.
I had faced seven kobolds in total. A type of enemy that, while not particularly powerful, could be a terrible threat when attacking in a group.
But somehow, I had managed to defeat them all by myself.
I took out my adventurer's card and, to my surprise, saw that in the last few days I had leveled up quite a bit. My stats had also increased a little.
"But I still need more… I have to get much, much stronger."
"Heyyy! If you're done already, let's keep moving, will you? I don't like the idea of being out in the open for so long. There might… you know, be more giant toads."
Aqua seemed particularly traumatized by giant toads.
One of the reasons I had rejected Aqua's help and faced the kobolds alone was because I wanted to gain more combat experience.
However, a part of me was still angry with the arch priestess because of what had happened the previous night at the feudal lord's house: giving me what was probably the best blowjob of my life, to just leave when we were getting to the best part, leaving me with my cock harder than these kobolds' clubs.
And the worst part was that we hadn't even brought up the subject again.
She simply continued acting like nothing had happened, and I think it was precisely that attitude that made me feel irritated.
Sometimes I would just stare at her, wondering what she thought of me. Did she like me? Or was she just using me to satisfy a sexual appetite that I had apparently awakened by chance? What if she didn't care whether it was with me or anyone else? Maybe that was it. Maybe as long as she had a cock and a bottle of wine nearby, the girl didn't care who she fucks.
While those questions kept spinning in my head, the goddess called out to me again.
"Hey, Kaizer! Are you even listening to me?"
"Huh? Yeah, sure. Let's get moving."
Aqua approached me and began studying me, narrowing her blue eyes.
"You've been acting strange lately. Is something wrong with you?"
"No, why would something be wrong with me?"
The archpriest chuckled, bringing her hand to her lips.
"Oh, I know what's going on," she said. "Since these kobolds gave you so much trouble, you're scared of facing the Fang Demon alone and you don't know how to ask me for an apology so I'll give you my help, right?"
It was moments like this when I was grateful she was an airhead. Unable of reading the situation.
"Yeah, yeah, of course. I was terrified thinking how I was going to face that demon without your help! You caught me!"
"I knew it! I knew it, Kaizer!" Aqua exclaimed with satisfaction, truly believing she had read my mind. "It's obvious that without me you'd be completely lost, so don't worry." She clenched her hand into a fist and gave her chest a light tap. "This archpriest, expert when it comes to exorcising deemons, won't abandon you!"
"Great, I wouldn't expect any less from you."
"But in exchange, you have to buy me a bubbly and join the Axis Church, don't forget. Ah, and it better be a fine, high-quality wine! I won't expect less!"
"I already said I'm not joining your cult… Wait! I'm not buying you more wine either! Stop taking advantage of every little opportunity to squeeze money out of me, will you!"
"Whatever. We should get moving," the goddess quickly glanced around. "You know… the toads."
"Fine, in that case," I took out the map I had stored in my backpack along with the rest of our supplies. "According to this map, the forest Wiz mentioned should be a couple of hours from here. As long as we don't stray from the path."
"Huh? Are you serious? We're really going to trust the map that fiend gave us? It's probably a trap, Kaizer. Everyone knows liches are dark and cunning creatures."
"You shouldn't talk about your friend like that."
"Me? Friends with that lich? Pfffff!" the goddess let out a laugh. "Sometimes you really say the funniest things! You should consider changing classes. From adventurer to comedian, puukusukusu!"
"You seemed pretty close to me. In a weird sick way…"
"Kaizer, are you stupid? Her very existence is an insult to the gods! That's why I can't help but feel this urge to purify her every time I see her."
"Whatever you say, tsundere goddess." I gestured forward. "Shall we continue? I thought you were in a hurry."
"Hmph! It was about time for you to speak some sense. Wait, why do I have to go in front?"
"Are you going to complain about everything?" I asked.
The goddess gave me a suspicious look and smiled.
"Ah, I get it. You want me to go in front so you can stare at my ass, right?" And with that, she started swaying it from side to side seductively. "Very clever of you, Mr. Paladin."
I sighed in irritation.
"You know what? Forget what I said. I'll go in front."
Turning on my heel, I started walking.
Aqua followed close behind.
Neither of us said anything until we reached the forest.