Living in another world as an Oni! Chapter 30: The Kobold Lady’s Betrayal

*On the other side*

After what felt like a lifeti of running errands for the Kobold lady—collecting herbs, hunting critters, fixing broken tools, and repeating the sa three quests like so cursed NPC loop—I finally completed everything on her list. And by that I an, Every. Single. Thing.

(⊙_☉)

I practically crawled back to her, clutching my aching back, hoping for so long-overdue rewards or at least a pat on the head would be fine.

But no, instead, she clapped her hands together with a cheery grin and said, "Alright! Now you're ready to negotiate with our chief."

"...Wait, what?" My brain short-circuited. Negotiate? Chief? I wasn't just gonna negotiate with her but to the chief?!

With the enthusiasm of a con artist who just found their perfect mark, the Kobold lady grabbed my wrist and dragged along the dirt path toward a larger, sturdier-looking house in the center of their village. "Co, co! If you wish to trade, you must speak to our chief."

It finally hit .

I stopped dead in my tracks, staring at her. "Wait a minute... wasn't this what I was doing all this ti? Didn't you—? I an, you told you were in charge!"

"Oh?" She blinked at innocently, like a cat caught knocking over a vase. "I said I could get you in touch with the right people. And now I am."

"You—! You scamd !" I clutched my chest like a hero betrayed in their final act. I could practically feel my soul leaving my body. All those hours—those back-breaking tasks—and it turns out she was nothing but a middleman!

And yet, she just smiled. Smiled! Like this was all part of her "helpful Kobold lady" routine. "I did say I'd help you trade. I never said with ."

I opened my mouth, closed it, then pointed an accusatory finger at her. "You... you're worse than the goons back ho!"

But there was no turning back now. I was already being herded—yes, herded, like a clueless sheep—toward the chief's house. My shoulders slumped in resignation as I muttered under my breath, "I've been bamboozled, hoodwinked, led astray..."

The Kobold lady just humd cheerily, her tail wagging behind her like nothing was wrong.

By the ti we reached the chief's house, I had co to accept the tragic truth of my life:

I'd been scamd. Again.

But hey, maybe the chief would be reasonable. Maybe this ti I could finally make a deal. Or maybe, just maybe—

"Welco!" A giant Kobold wearing an impressive feathered hat stepped out of the house, eyeing with a shrewd grin. "Before we talk trade, I have a few tasks that need completing."

I blinked.

My eye twitched.

"...I'm going to scream."

（・∀・）

And sowhere behind , I could hear the Kobold lady chuckling softly.