My Hero Academia and Goblin Slayer: The Crossover Paradox: Part 9
The Cave:
At the side tunnel that led to the left, Momo retrieved the Trip Flare and put it back into her Backpack. Then Created another two stick flares. "From this point on, be weary. Those bastards know we are coming." Goblin Slayer said warning the others to be on their guard. But Momo was not really thinking about what they were about to encounter, she was thinking about where they had just come from. From what she had learned from Goblin Slayer, generally Goblins stole Weapons rather then built or remodeled any themselves. So that bothered her and she suspected that Goblin Slayer also had the same thoughts on that matter.
"Something has changed their behavior, hasn't it?" Momo asked and Goblin Slayer stopped, then turned back towards her.
"Something or someone." Goblin Slayer replied and the others looked towards him. "Someone has radically changed how the Goblins do things. I noticed it back on the trail. I have never encountered any Horde that has reinforcements standing by. I also never have seen where they copy weapons rather then just use what they find." Goblin Slayer said shaking his helmeted head. "They would use the Halberds they found, no matter if they could use them or not effectively." He told them and that made them all slightly nervous.
"So you do not think it is a Shaman or a Champion that has effected this change, do you?" The Elf asked and Goblin Slayer once more shook his head. "Then perhaps a Paladin?"
"No. I think it might be something even more foul then a Paladin." Goblin Slayer gripped his Sword more tightly in his hand, then gestured with the Flare deeper into the Cave. Moving on, they encountered a small number of Goblins and after dispatching them. They continued on. This tunnel was longer and went deeper then the other that led to a Weapons Cache. Nearing a turn in the tunnel, that veered to the right they once more came upon a small band of Goblins. In front was a Shaman, who Goblin Slayer threw his Sword into. Ending whatever spell the Shaman was about to cast. The other Goblins fell just as quickly with arrows and a few sword cuts from the Lizard Priest. "Another change in their behavior that concerns me. Generally a Shaman stays far back and does not lead from the front." Goblin Slayer whispered.
At the end of that tunnel, it once more turned but this time to the left and at the end of it they all could see a faint light ahead. "Looks to me we are coming upon a chamber of a sort." The Dwarf commented.
"Be alert. I am suspecting that this is where most of those that are left are waiting for us." Goblin Slayer advised, readying himself as they entered the large chamber. Once inside they all stared in shock at what they had found. It was more like a throne room and at the end of the large Stone Room was a Throne. An actual throne made of stone and sitting on the throne was a human Man. The Man was about twenty years old and was dressed in what once long ago could be considered finery. But now it was pale, shredded and was in poor condition.
"Welcome are you from the Empire. It was passed down from the beginning, generation to generation that someday the Empire would come and I would be able to serve them. To be ready I have recruited, tamed and led these Goblins. So that they may join the Imperial Army when it comes. As did my Father and my Father's Father." The Man said with a huge sadistic smile.
"Who are you?" Goblin Slayer asked and the Man gave a short chuckling laugh.
"I am the last descendant of Sario Lindist. Centenarian of the Empire. I am Torsho Lindist and my father appointed me with the rank of Centenarian when he died. Now I ask again are you from the Empire?" Torsho asked.
"Are you the reason the Goblins have Halberds and Swords? Are you the reason that they attacked the nearby Village and took Captives?" The Elf asked sternly and Torsho looked at her and smiled.
"Oh a High Elf." Then Tosrhio looked at the two other Girls before him. "Ah two more Human Girls as well. Now these three would be perfect for my Harem. The others were not suitable. Not even that spirited Girl who claimed she was going to kill me, so I let my Subjects have them." The Elf notched an Arrow and aimed it at Torsho.
"Where are they?" The Elf asked sternly. Ready and willing to put an Arrow right into Torsho's forehead. He smiled and looked over to his right at a Wooden Door, that had a padlock on it.
"In there. Because of some type of problem outside, my Subjects have not had the opportunity to play with them yet. Mostly I had them punished for being insolent towards me." Torsho said gleefully and Goblin Slayer placed a restraining hand on the Elf's. Stopping her from letting loose her Arrow.
"Wait. Why do the Goblins even serve you?" Goblin Slayer asked and Torsho laughed loudly.
"Because I am their Lord. They serve me because my Father's Father brought some of their young here and raised them to be warriors of the Empire." Torsho said then seemed to be looking at nowhere in particular. "To that end they raid the nearby villages for Captives to increase their numbers. All the while I have began to look for ones to be placed within my Harem, so that the Lindist line will continue. Now if these three are from the Empire then they would make a fine addition to my Harem. Especially the High Elf, for she would bare a child that would have the name Lindist live for a very long time. Though that one there...the one with the dark hair. She might give me a very exceptional Son. I guess all three of them will have to do." Izuku stepped in front of Momo protectively. Activating One for All to 10%. Deciding if the maniac even tried to get near her. He would tear the older Man apart.
"You are insane." Izuku stated and Torsho glared at him.
"How dare you call me that! What is your Rank for I have been granted the rank of Centenarian and for a lower subordinate to call his superior...insane! I should have you flogged!" Torsho then looked back at the entrance to the Chamber. "Guards come in here and flog this boy!" He Commanded and when none came, he yelled louder for his guards and again none came. "SHAMAN! Come and punish this Boy! He has insulted his superior!"
"Can I end him now?" The Elf asked and Goblin Slayer nodded, removing his hand from hers. She sent an Arrow right into his right eye. Torsho screamed and clutched at the shaft. She sent another into his chest and he dropped to the stone floor. Seven Goblins rushed out of another door, these were barely grown Adults and Goblin Slayer cut them down without mercy.
0
Freeing the Captives and bringing them into the Large Chamber. The Elf and Momo found blankets so that the girls would no longer be naked. Upon arrival the Goblins stripped the Girls and after being declined by Torsho. They were chained and placed within the Locked room to await the Goblins. The nine girls and the adventurer were all thankful that they had been freed before anything had happened to them. Unlike those before them. In one corner of the Cell was a stack of human bones. Within the other room, Goblin Slayer killed the infant Goblins. Meanwhile Izuku, the Dwarf and the Lizard Priest searched the chamber and found a few interesting items. Namely an old journal which none of them could read. Since it was in a language none of them had ever seen before.
The whole situation bothered Izuku, as he continued to search inside what must have been Torsho's bedroom. They had located it off to one side of the Chamber behind a fake big rock, along with what would have been the room where the madman would have held any Girls in his Harem. Which was thankfully empty. In the Man's bedroom, Izuku found things that made him shudder. Then realized that Torsho had lied all about being from the Empire. In fact he lied about everything. That he had been a descendant of some Centenarian called Sario Lindist. Noticing something odd about the sleeping pallet, he removed the pad and ran his fingers along the stone. It had a grove running completely around the Slab of flat rock. With a little boast from One for All, he removed the slab and found something he didn't expect to find. A partially decomposed body. With a strong exhale he went back to the door and peered out of the room, he called for Momo to join him and after she was inside he shut the door. "What's wrong Izuku?" She asked and he pointed to the desk that held several items that made Momo gasp. "Are those...whoa? But I thought Torsho claimed he was from that Empire." At that point he showed her the body.
"I think that is Torsho Lindist." Izuku said and Momo looked quickly back into the other room.
"Then who was that?" Momo asked and Izuku pointed to the items, one of them a Wallet. Inside was a drivers license from the United States. The picture had the spitting image of the dead man in the larger Chamber. Issued and expired 10 years ago. The Man's name was Daniel Hamilton. "So ten or so years ago, this Hamilton came here. He killed the real Torsho Lindist and then...what took his identity and...began to boast that he was the descendant of Sario Lindist. All the while doing exactly what the real Torsho had done. It makes no sense. Why would he do that?" Picking up several other items on the desk. All from their World.
"What concerns me is if he is from our World...then what was his Quirk?" Izuku asked and Momo shrugged.
"Maybe he was like you...maybe he was Quirkless. Though if he was...how did he get here?" Momo asked back and shook her head. They had more questions then answers and from what they could tell. They would not get them in here. So after searching a bit more, Izuku put the Slab back to cover the real Torsho and put the items he found in Momo's backpack. Joining the others, both decided not to tell any of them about what they had discovered. Not until they understood some of what they had found.
All the way back home, Momo and Izuku did not speak about what they had found. Instead they listened as the Elf finally was able to translate the Journal that was found. From what she could tell it was about one hundred years ago and was written by one of the Lindist descendants. Telling the history that had occurred. Discovering that there was not just Sario Lindist stationed at the Weapons Cache. But 15 other Imperial Soldiers were also stationed at the Cache. She looked up from the pages. "From what I can tell, all but Sario Lindist was wiped out by Goblins that had found them. It seems that instead of living in the Cave they built a couple of Cottages. Sario was inside the Cave and the Goblins never discovered the Cave or him." She flipped through some more pages and then inhaled sharply.
"Anything in there about how he...continued his lineage?" The Dwarf asked and the Elf nodded.
"Yes and I have to say that the family back to Sario Lindist is just plain sadistic. Sario kidnapped a Young Girl that was in the Woods north of here, brought her back to the Cave and forced her to bare his son. From that point on the son's did the same thing when they were of age. It appears that they never had daughters." The Elf stated angrily feeling proud that she had killed Torsho Lindist. The whole family deserved worse then death. She hoped every one of them was now roasting in hell.
"Is there anything more?" Momo asked hoping that there was something about Hamilton in there. The Elf shook her head.
"No nothing recent. This is just a written history of the family. I think most of it comes from when the Father told his Son of the history of his family. I think one of them decided to write it down, along with some really disturbing facts." The Elf said closing the book. Tempted to burn it.
00
Back in their cottage, Momo laid out the items that they had found on the table. A rusted Zippo Lighter with no flint, a small dull folding Knife made in Toledo Ohio, a Pen with dried up ink and a Wallet. In the Wallet was twenty six dollars, a Credit Card and several discount store Membership Cards. "Is there a Power Registration Card in there?" Izuku asked and Momo looked through it again. They both knew in the United States, when someone got a drivers license they had to also get a Power Registration Card. On that Card would be what Powers or Quirks that they possess. Flipping through the Wallet for the third time, she shook her head.
"Nope no Card. Maybe I was right and he was Quirkless. They would not have him get one if he did not have any powers." Momo said and put the Wallet down. Though they both knew there was another option. Hamilton had either left his card behind or he destroyed it when he got here. The main question they had was how this Man got here? Then of course a whole slew of follow up questions. Did he come willingly or like them had someone sent him? They doubted if he had the Quirk to bring himself here, that he would actually remain even if he replaced the real Torsho Lindist and took power. From what they could tell when they searched the Main Chamber and the rooms. Hamilton was living in squealer. No better then if he had lived on the streets. Sure he had control of the Goblins there, but that still was not a life worth living. So if he could they believed he would have returned home without hesitation. The last follow up Question they would have loved to know, was why he did what he did? It made no sense. Sure they knew that the whole Lindist line was in a word crazy, but why would someone want to kill Torsho and then take his place and proclaim that he was a descendant of that line. Questions that neither Izuku or Momo could answer, not with the items they had. Though they doubted that if Hamilton had lived he would have answered any of them. The Man from their World had gone off the deep end of sanity.
"Well I guess it is a dead end." Izuku said, looking over the items once more and shook his head. Going to the Small Kitchen part of their Cottage, he placed the Pot on the hotplate and turned it on. "I am having Tea..want a cup?" He asked her and Momo nodded.
"Yes thank you." Sitting Momo picked up each of the other useless items and frowned. Thinking about Daniel Hamilton. He had been here on this World for over ten years and decided to follow the wrong path. She had to believe that push comes to shove someone would have the common sense not to choose that kind of life. Instead she wondered why he remained and not at least gone to a Human Settlement. Have a real life and not some demented one that involved someone else's lineage. So she hampered a guess that Hamilton had lost it. Went completely insane when he realized that he was on another World. That could be the only explanation. Looking over at Izuku she smiled. Wondering if she would have lost her mind if Izuku had not been here with her. In all the chaos and then finding out about Hamilton, she almost forgot what Izuku had done in the Cave. When Hamilton had pointed her out as a possible mother of his son. Izuku had stepped in front of her to protect her and from what she tell from his expression, he was more then willing to defend her without hesitation.
"Momo can I ask you something personal?" Izuku asked keeping his back towards her while he made Tea.
"Yes. What is it?" Momo's heart began to pound in her chest, hoping that it was something important. Not if she wanted Milk or Sugar in her Tea. She knew in her frustration she probably would throw something at him. He breathed in and out a couple of times steadying himself.
"I...I...I am wondering...if...I...I can...kiss you." Izuku stammered out and Momo gasped. She smiled broadly and stood, walking over to join him at the Hotplate. Placing her hands on his shoulders and turning him towards her.
"Of course you can kiss me...you can kiss me anytime you want." Momo said and he blushed. Leaning towards her, he tilted his head slightly and kissed her. Sliding his arms around the small of her back and held her. She moved her own arms under his arms and around him as well. Parting he moved his mouth over by her right ear.
"I...I...L...L...Love you...Momo. I have f..f..fallen in Love with you." Izuku said whispering in her ear and Momo hugged him more tightly against her.
"I love you too." Momo whispered back, happy beyond belief that he finally was making progress. Though she still suspected it was too soon to have sex. But the time was coming when she suspected that he would be ready and willing. For she knew she would be ready as well. "Water's Boiling." She whispered to him and he smiled.
"Who cares." Izuku said back and then moved to kiss her again.
00
At friends Uncle's Farm Goblin Slayer laid on his bed staring up at the Ceiling. "When Creati and Deku came out of that room, they started to act secretive." He muttered, believing that the two were hiding something from him and the others. He had been tempted to ask them when they had returned to the Guild to put in for the Reward. But before he could they had departed. Telling the Priestess to collect their share for them and they would get it later. "What was it they found in there?" He asked himself and tried to think what they would keep secret from him and the others. He made a decision, tomorrow he was determined to find out what it was.
In the morning and after putting on his Armor, Goblin Slayer walked besides Cowgirl as she pulled the Cart towards the City. His mind still on trying to figure out what Momo and Izuku were keeping a secret from him and the others. He knew if it involved Goblins, then the two would have told him. So it had to be something else. Something that they might deem personal or very important to them. At the Guild, he went inside and first made sure there were no Goblin based Quests. Of course the other four of his Party were there as well. Though they were there for breakfast and not to confront Momo and Izuku. When they entered, Goblin Slayer stepped in front of them. "What was in that Room that you have not disclosed to me?" He demanded and both inhaled deeply then held their breaths. It would be almost comical to see them both become so apprehensive. But he wanted answers.
"Take it easy Goblin Slayer. I am sure if it was important they would have told us back at the Goblin Cave." The Elf said from the table and Goblin Slayer shook his helmeted head.
"I am sure that they are keeping something secret about what they discovered. I want to know what it is, now!" Goblin Slayer stated and Momo nodded.
"You have that right. Sit, this might take a few minutes." Momo said gesturing to the table where the others were sitting already. She and Izuku sat as did Goblin Slayer. "Yes we did find something in that room. Though it was not about Goblins, but..." She paused and looked over at Izuku. "That man that says he was Torsho Lindist. No. His real name was Daniel Hamilton and he was from our World. He killed Torsho and took his place for some unknown reason." She let that set in.
"We would have told you then, but we wanted to do some investigation and try to find out what we could from some of his possessions. All we can say is that we are sorry for not telling you sooner." Izuku said and the Priestess shifted on her seat.
"You were hoping that you could find a way home. Right?" The Priestess asked sadly and both nodded.
"Yes we were. That Hamilton might have left a clue on how he got here. Unfortunately from what we could tell from a lot of guessing. Though our theory about it makes sense. He probably was sent here the same way we were. He also was trapped here. We do not have any idea why he...oh he did kill Torsho...Izuku found his body. We just don't understand the reason why he decided to become Torsho Lindist or remain there at the Cave." Momo explained and like them to the others it left Questions rather then Answers.
"Well I can tell you that the Journal doesn't contain squat." The Elf said, taking the leather bound book out of her Quiver and setting it on the Table. "I read it all last night and it is mostly self indulgent dribble. Oh by the way, Sario Lindist was no Centenarian. He was a low level Soldier that took the Rank off his dead Commander after the Goblins killed him and the others." She added and then continued. "Though, like most of those from the Tolbinar Empire. I have read from other Histories that they believed that they were superior then any others. So he had the same mentality." Goblin Slayer stood.
"Next time I expect you to share any information you find, especially if it is about Goblins." Goblin Slayer stated and as he turned to leave. "But I can understand why you decided not to tell me or them." With that he left and the Priestess smiled.
"I believe you are forgiven." The Priestess said and all of them chuckled. "Though I hate to admit it, I am sort of glad you didn't find a way to leave us." She said softly, gazing down at the table.
"Here...here. You two are our friends and for you to leave and never come back...would sadden us all." The Elf declared, raising her glass of Mist Ale. The Lizard, Dwarf and the Priestess all rose their cups as well, in the toast. With a smile from each Izuku and Momo rose theirs as well.
"We are glad as well. Here is to our friendship." Momo tapped her Glass against the others as did Izuku. Then they drank.
Outside Goblin Slayer met back up with Cowgirl and walked silently back to her Uncle's Farm. He pondered over what they had said about the Man that claimed to be someone he was not. He too was perplexed on why someone would do that. The only explanation he could fathom was that the Man who was really Hamilton was clearly insane. "Does that mean that Creati and Deku will go insane?" He whispered to himself and then gave a soft chuckle that alarmed Cowgirl. "No they would have long before now. Clearly Hamilton was already insane. Though he hoped he was right, because if they did go insane he doubted that anyone could stop them.
To be Continued