novelraw Chapter 46 – The Quirky Counting of the Kobolds
Chapter 46 – The Quirky Counting of the Kobolds
"Do I really have to provide my own workers?"
Su Nian pondered over the system prompt, then glanced at the Kobold chieftain Polikri, who was still climbing up the rock wall.
To be fair, Polikri had taken loyalty to the extreme. Even though Su Nian had flown so high up the rock wall, Polikri insisted on staying by his side.
It's just a pity he's a Kobold and not a charming Elf Girl.
"The increased defense of buildings constructed by Kobolds is quite reasonable."
Su Nian had experienced this firsthand.
Although his Dragon Nest looked rather haphazard from the outside, the interior was meticulously arranged, and its sturdiness could probably withstand a Tier 5 magic meteor spell without much trouble.
The best choice now was to have the Kobolds help build the Flame Arrow Tower.
As for the human players, they probably wouldn't dare leave the safe zone for a while, and that 20% efficiency boost was negligible for now.
It would be better to have those players help him plant potatoes, and if they disobeyed, feed them Tyrant Stinkbug dung balls.
"Master, you..."
Just as Polikri, panting, reached Su Nian's side, he was interrupted by the Black Dragon.
"Polikri, go down now and find 20 strong Kobolds to help me build this Flame Arrow Tower."
"……(T＿T)"
Polikri turned to look at the high rock wall, feeling like crying. He had just climbed up.
Moreover, he was afraid of heights, as were all Kobolds, because their short arms and legs rarely took them to high places.
What should he do now?
He couldn't possibly ask his master to take him down, fearing that such a request might get him kicked to death.
However, Su Nian, being a Black Dragon who understood his followers well, immediately sensed Polikri's dilemma and grinned menacingly.
"Polikri, you're already a strong Kobold, but you're not strong enough. Do you know what true strength is?"
Facing the Black Dragon's question, Polikri lowered his head obediently, prostrating himself on the ground.
"Great Master, I do not know."
"True strength lies in facing fear, overcoming fear, and even surpassing fear, like this..."
As Su Nian spoke, he lifted his hind leg and kicked Polikri in the rear, much to the Kobold chieftain's shock.
"Ow-wooo..."
With a yelp like a defeated dog, Polikri flew through the air.
He landed with a "splat" on the ground.
The rock wall was only about ten meters high, so the increasingly robust Polikri wasn't injured. He instinctively rolled a few times to dissipate the impact.
Aside from the sore spot where the Black Dragon had kicked him, he was unscathed.
"Polikri fell from such a height and wasn't hurt?"
Polikri shook his dog head, quickly got up from the ground, and clenched his paws, his pale golden eyes showing a hint of joy.
"Polikri overcame his fear! Oh! The Master is truly great; a small gesture from him helped Polikri so much!"
The gradually enlightened Kobold chieftain felt endless admiration for his Black Dragon master. He quickly dusted off his rear and happily gathered his subordinates.
Moments later, 20 Kobolds were all panting as they climbed the rock wall, standing at attention, feet together...
Actually, their feet weren't together.
Because all Kobolds were bow-legged, but they still stood with spirit, heads held high, in front of Su Nian.
Around them were piles of stone and wood resources hauled by Spear Boars.
"Attention, everyone!"
Polikri shouted loudly, and all the Kobolds immediately focused, standing even straighter.
"At ease! Align to the right! Look forward!"
"Count off!"
"Woof"
"Woof woof"
"Woof woof woof"
...
"Woof woof woof x20"
After the Kobolds finished counting, Polikri respectfully prostrated himself before the Black Dragon, his dog face full of reverence.
"Reporting to Master, 20 Kobolds have gathered. They are the strongest warriors in the tribe, now awaiting your orders."
Su Nian gave Polikri a strange look.
The last Kobold to count off was almost hoarse, and that was just twenty Kobolds.
When there are thousands of them in the future, won't the last one be counting until night?
"Polikri, haven't you taught them how to say numbers?"
Polikri looked a bit embarrassed and said sheepishly, "Master, the tribe members haven't been transformed by your Dragonblood, so they're straightforward and lack flexibility."
"They understand the concept of numbers, but when it comes to counting, they can't help but express it in the most primitive way."
"......"
Su Nian was speechless. He finally understood why building the Flame Arrow Tower had to be done with the system's help.
With their simple minds, they might manage to build a nest, but constructing a complex arrow tower was too much.
"Forget it, let them go in. Don't worry about the rest. Just bring them meals three times a day, and they'll build the Flame Arrow Tower on their own."
"But..."
Polikri was a bit confused.
He knew his subordinates well, and they couldn't build a Flame Arrow Tower. What if they ended up building a flaming latrine for the Black Dragon master?
Besides making traps, their specialty was building latrines, which were not only well-ventilated and clean but also prevented splashes.
But if that happened, wouldn't their Kobold tribe in the Silvermoon Forest be wiped out by the master's Dragonbreath?
"Are you worried they can't build it? Don't worry, just do as I say, and don't ask questions you shouldn't."
Su Nian patted Polikri's shoulder kindly, giving him an encouraging look before spreading his wings and flying off the rock wall, returning to the Dragon Nest.
"What are you looking at? Damn it! Get to work, or I'll stab your butts with the sharpest fork!"
Polikri cursed at his dazed subordinates while pulling his lower half out of the cracked rock.
Luckily, his physical condition was good now; otherwise, just a few of those encouraging pats from the Black Dragon master would have left him foaming at the mouth, ready to meet the great Kurtumak.