Chapter 181: Kong’gongs Advice
Ka’z walked into Kong’gong’s cave and immediately noticed that the old kobold was lying flat on his back, his arms resting loosely beside him while his gaze remained fixed on the ceiling of his chamber.
A female kobold was just leaving the room with an empty plate in her hands, the remains of Kong’gong’s meal already cleared away. The moment she noticed Ka’z standing at the entrance, her body stiffened. She lowered her head so quickly that her chin nearly touched her chest and hurried past him without daring to meet his eyes.
Ka’z noticed the strange behavior but paid little attention to it. His mind was occupied with far more pressing matters, and he had already grown accustomed to the strange atmosphere that now surrounded him whenever he walked through the village. Kong’gong, meanwhile, released a heavy sigh, his eyes still fixed on the ceiling.
"So much is happening so fast, it’s difficult to grasp it all at once." His voice carried genuine exhaustion.
He abruptly sat up and turned his attention toward Ka’z, his tired eyes studying him for a moment. "I thought we would be talking about the Gnolls today and then you just had to kill your clansman."
Ka’z did not feel offended by the statement. There was no accusation in Kong’gong’s voice, only the exhaustion of an old kobold who had watched one crisis after another unfold without having enough time to properly process any of them.
Ka’z walked deeper into the chamber and lowered himself onto one of the nearby seats, his posture relaxed despite everything that had happened.
"What else would I do to someone who blatantly ignored my warnings and went to trouble the goblins working on saddles for our new cavalry force despite having no knowledge of leatherwork?" he asked, shrugging indifferently.
"I already made it clear that anyone who interferes with them will answer to me." He leaned back slightly, his expression showing little regret over the decision.
Kong’gong stared at him for several seconds before letting out another tired sigh. He rubbed his face with one hand, genuinely worn down by the constant drama surrounding the village.
"I understand, and honestly, I don’t blame you for your actions, but have you considered the long term repercussions?"
Ka’z raised a brow. "Repercussions?"
Kong’gong nodded firmly. "You cannot rule a people who resent you. I’m not asking you to condone the actions of the people, but find a way around it. It may take longer and be much more difficult, but in the long run, you will gain more than using intimidation and murder."
Ka’z chuckled lightly and leaned forward, resting his elbows against his knees. "The threat of humans and Halflings which we just discussed last night is already at our doorstep. Do you honestly think I have the leisure time to entertain their stupidity?"
Kong’gong frowned but did not immediately answer. There was truth in Ka’z’s argument, and that was precisely what made the situation so difficult.
Ka’z continued before he could respond. "I understand your point, but if our situation wasn’t drastic, I wouldn’t be taking drastic actions. Like I said to the others, if I have to kill the old to safeguard the young, I will do that without hesitation. Right now, our only choices are to either win or die. I cannot tolerate unnecessary opposition."
He spoke calmly, without raising his voice or displaying anger, which somehow made his words heavier. To Ka’z, this was no longer about whether he liked someone or whether they deserved punishment. It was about survival, and he had already decided that anything threatening the survival of Vaal’kor would be dealt with accordingly.
Kong’gong stared at him for a long moment before finally throwing both hands into the air in surrender.
"This is why I hate politics too much. You have no choice but to pick a side. That’s why I would rather stay here and live a peaceful life."
Ka’z raised a brow, the tension in his expression easing slightly. "You don’t get bored being lonely?"
Kong’gong scoffed as though the question itself was ridiculous. "Bored? Ever since my existence became known to the entire clan, there are so many people who come to receive knowledge from me, and there are also so many women who just come to have a taste of me. It’s a carefree life. I won’t exchange it for the world."
Ka’z chuckled lightly, genuinely surprised. He had assumed the only people who regularly visited Kong’gong were the elders, himself and Kurg. Apparently, the old kobold had a much busier social life than he had ever realized.
"I didn’t know you were getting other visitors besides me and Kurg."
Kong’gong gave him a smug look but chose not to elaborate, clearly enjoying the fact that Ka’z had finally discovered that the old hermit was not nearly as isolated as he appeared.
"Enough empty talk," Kong’gong said, waving a hand dismissively. His expression became serious again. "I was told the Gnolls asked for help and you rejected them. Why?"
Ka’z leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered how to explain his reasoning. "I was hoping to have them come down south and join us."
Kong’gong nodded with an unsurprised expression. "I thought as much. But you do know that will never work, right?"
Ka’z’s brow rose in surprise. He already knew the proposal might be difficult, but hearing Kong’gong dismiss it with such certainty struck him harder than expected.
"What makes you think so?" he asked.
"Think about it," Kong’gong replied. "When the threat of Ashmork was at our doors and we learned that they had an army bigger than our overall population, did we run?"
Ka’z’s eyes widened slightly as the question settled in his mind.
Kong’gong noticed the reaction and nodded. "Exactly. The only time we even considered fleeing was during the war, and the escape plan was meant for those who could not fight. Why? Because this is our home. It’s just like you said. A village is not the place but the people. However, one’s home will forever remain one’s home. Dreams were built there. Friends and families were buried there. People have already lived and died for that place. So it’s only natural for people to be sentimental about home and only consider leaving when they finally see that there is no hope of survival."
Ka’z sat completely still for several seconds. The argument struck him harder than he expected because he knew it was true. He had been looking at the situation from the perspective of someone who had already accepted that survival sometimes required abandoning everything familiar.
His argument would only make perfect sense in a world free of sentiment and emotion, and such a world did not exist. It was only natural that the Gnolls would reject the idea of abandoning their homeland simply because another group believed it was the safest option.
"So what are you suggesting?" Ka’z asked, his voice quieter now.
"Go west with them," Kong’gong said without hesitation. "Show them the benevolence of the Kobolds. Help them defend their lands and use that opportunity to learn about the Halflings and the Gnolls. If they become overwhelmed, head back south with those who finally understand the truth behind your words. However, if you successfully push back the Halflings, the Gnolls will be indebted to us, the Halflings will be weakened in a war where no Kobold blood is spilled, and the human threat will be set back once again, giving us the time and opportunity to prepare for their inevitable arrival. We have nothing to lose."
Ka’z frowned deeply and said nothing. He could find no obvious flaw in Kong’gong’s reasoning. The plan addressed almost every concern he had raised himself, while giving the Gnolls an opportunity to defend their homeland rather than forcing them to abandon it. It would also give Vaal’kor valuable information about the Halflings, something they desperately needed after learning how dangerous the northern race truly was.
Yet despite understanding the logic, Ka’z remained reluctant. Kong’gong noticed the hesitation almost immediately and smiled faintly.
"You have settled in here and you feel reluctant to leave again, right?"
Ka’z hesitated before giving an embarrassed nod. For the first time since entering the chamber, his expression softened completely.
"I get to spend every day with my friends. I can cultivate freely, and I have Za’r who is hell-bent on making a baby with me. Giving that up to head back to the frontlines again is really..." He trailed off, struggling to find the right word.
Kong’gong finished it for him. "Difficult." Ka’z slowly nodded, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
Leaving a life he has built in the last seven months, even temporarily, felt far more painful than he wanted to admit.
"I wish I could tell you to stay," Kong’gong said quietly, his expression becoming unusually serious. "But you are the only one we can send out without having to worry because you have the backing of the Greater Kobold. You are the only one we can depend on."
Ka’z’s expression slowly hardened again. He lowered his gaze for a moment before pushing himself to his feet. The title of Child of Prophecy was becoming heavier with every passing day.
Ka’z stood silently for a moment, his fists slowly tightening at his sides. He did not want to leave but for the sake of the things and people he wants to protect, he has no choice.
Ka’z lifted his head, and the hesitation disappeared from his eyes.
"I know what to do," he said, his voice quiet but firm, his eyes burning with determination.