Chapter 2: Why he fights
Goblin Slayer and his party rode in a wagon down the road past groups of refugees and adventurers like them. Goblin Slayer remained silent with Priestess trying to rest against him. High Elf Archer, however, looked at the ever-increasing number of travelers on the road.
"I thought things would get better after the Hero killed the Demon Lord." She muttered while holding her legs tightly. Since her victory, the Demon Lord's generals scattered without their leader and operated independently. As a result, attacks from demons happened more frequently and less predictably.
"That's just more work for us adventurers." Dwarf Shaman muttered in a carefree tone while sipping on some alcohol. High Elf Archer glared at her dwarf companion before slapping his shoulder.
"Don't you ever take things seriously! More demon bands and goblins are showing up even with the Demon Lord dead!"
"Calm down, long ears. It's not like nothing's being done about it. Look at the Iron Legion." Priestess nodded.
The Iron Legion had sprung up in recent times as a counter to the Demon Lord's army. Its founder, the Warden, was a Knight who called forth all knights and fighters willing to join his military order in defense of the land, and thousands flocked too him. The Legion was over fifteen-thousand strong now, and lived up to their promise. However, even with the Iron Legion and more adventurers, many villages and towns still found themselves, victims of monstrous violence, including goblins.
"It doesn't matter. If we don't stop those goblins, you know what will happen." Goblin Slayer's harsh words brought the others to attention. Each looked out at terrified and scarred villagers, particularly women.
None of them minded the extra work, but Priestess and the others did keep a close eye on Goblin Slayer. The surge only fed his ruthless drive to kill all goblins, and they feared it might lead him down a path of no return. However, at the same time, he wasn't completely wrong. The increased violence and terror required action, and who better than the Goblin Slayer.
Eventually, their party found itself back in the down where their guild lay. As they walked through the streets, Priestess glanced at the nearly build Iron Legion garrison, where a few Knights and sergeants drilled new recruits in proper combat.
Despite everything happening, the increased business within the local guild trickled down across the entire town. More tradesmen and other travelers seeking opportunity made their way through the town streets carrying many faraway lands' splendor.
"How about that, looks like your family came to visit scaly!" Dwarf Shaman laughed while pointing to a few Lizardmen among the travelers. In truth, Goblin Slayer's party saw members of every race in the town. Rheas, padfoots, elves, and dwarves all vibrantly mingled with the humans.
"Mmmmm, indeed. These are exciting times of my people travel this far into human territory."
"More like troubling times if this many dwarves are here." High Elf Archer smirked at Dwarf Shaman. Despite this, he didn't stop laughing.
"Just you wait, long ears. Once we get back to the guild, I'll use my earnings to throw a proper dwarf celebration!"
Priestess, however, kept her eyes focused on Goblin Slayer.
A few minutes later, the party stood before the guild's counter, where Guild Girl stood. The young woman almost blushed when she saw Goblin Slayer arrive unharmed.
"You're back!" The clerk did her best not to shouted in glee. High Elf Archer smirked again upon noticing this but didn't speak. Goblin Slayer merely nodded before placing five job listings before her.
"Ahhh, you completed them all. I suppose I should have expected no less." She placed five sacks of money before them while trying to avoid looking bashful in front of Goblin Slayer.
"Quests are coming in faster than we can complete them. I've never seen so many new adventurers here." Guild Girl said while looking at the nearly full hall.
"A lot of porcelains too, and with so many Goblin Quests." Priestess muttered full of dread, remembering her own first adventure all too well with each green adventurer around them. Their carefree and overeager expressions reminded Priestess of how her first party looked. Guild Girl shared Priestess's concern but kept smiling.
"Don't worry. I've made sure to reserve all Goblin Slaying requests for you."
"Really? You're allowed to do that?" Priestess asked.
Guild Girl closed her eyes and nodded.
"I made a special request from my supervisors since you dealt with the Goblin Paladin up north."
"Thank you." His cold voice didn't send chills down her spine like it did many others, but she did sigh when he immediately turned away without another word.
As Goblin Slayer did so, he noticed Spearman walk right past him with a handful of listings.
"Welcome back." The tall warrior said in a respectful tone.
"You as well." Goblin Slayer replied.
Rather than continue with small talk, Spearman reached the counter and set his quests down. Priestess and High Elf Archer both noticed that Spearman didn't try and flirt with Guild Girl like he normally did. They did speak, but it sounded more formal, but friendly enough from what both girls could hear.
Guild Girl still smiled while handing Spearman his rewards, but he simply nodded and walked away.
"Has he finally given up on her?" High Elf Archer whispered.
"Maybe." The two giggled before noticing Goblin Slayer walking towards the doorway.
"Wait! Don't leave yet!" Priestess cried.
Goblin Slayer slowly turned back towards the others who smiled.
"We've been on a weeklong quest spree. We're celebrating, and that's the end of it." High Elf Archer insisted while grabbed one of Goblin Slayer's arms.
"Please, for us." Priestess added as she grabbed his other arm.
"She's right, beard-cutter. You need to relax more, sit down, and enjoy life for a change." Dwarf Shaman chuckled while Lizard Priest nodded.
"Very well."
The party sat down, and Dwarf Shaman passed out his custom liquor while waiting for their food to arrive. With so many new adventurers, it became increasingly difficult for Priestess to find familiar faces among them.
That was until she spotted Apprentice Cleric and Rookie Warrior at a table alongside Heavy Warrior and Female Knight. The younger adventurers had grown since she last saw them. Both now had sapphire ranks and higher quality armor. However, Priestess blushed slightly when she noticed Rookie Warrior say something to Cleric before she giggled and kissed him.
"They've been like that since we got back. Interesting really." A terse voice and filled Priestess's ear at the same time someone put their arm around her. The younger woman almost jumped until she realized it was Witch holding her pipe.
"Witch!? I, you frightened me."
"I apologize. It's been a while since we last saw you." Witch's amorous demeanor still made Priestess uncomfortable despite how long she'd known her.
"How were your adventures?" Lizard Priest asked.
"Exciting." Her tone didn't carry much enthusiasm, but the others knew that meant little with Witch.
"We liberated a few towns from demon raiders, helped the army win a battle, and slew a chimera."
High Elf Archer set her drink down in a pouty demeanor while glaring at Goblin Slayer.
"We don't go on adventures like that." The liquor took its toll on her slim body, and she came close to tipping over onto him.
"There are still goblins out there."
"Ha! That's right, long ears!" Dwarf Shaman laughed.
"Inspiring them with stories of our heroics?" Spearman said as he came over and sat down, handing Witch a drink.
"Yes, please tell us more." Lizard Priest said, his tail wagging when he noticed their food coming.
The others feasted, but Goblin Slayer ate more modestly, mainly a bowl of soup with some dried meat, bread, and cheese.
Spearman seemed quite proud of himself as he went over how they brought down the Chimera. However, he just managed to avoid sounding arrogant or cocky. Priestess also noticed Witch looked a bit happier than usual as she stared at Spearman in a longing manner.
"It took an entire day of bathing to get the monster's blood off me, but it was worth it!" Spearman proclaimed.
"Sounds dangerous." Goblin Slayer said, earning a smile from Spearman.
"It was. Maybe even more dangerous than Goblins."
Goblin Slayer went silent and seemed to stare at Spearman.
"Perhaps." The armored warrior finally spoke. Hearing this made High Elf Archer spit out her drink.
"What did you say!?"
"Look at that, I've gotten him to have a sense of humor. Maybe there is a man beneath that armor!" Spearman laughed. Witch seemed to take some amusement out of it as well, though she didn't laugh.
"So how was fighting alongside the Iron Legion?"
"They're efficient enough." Goblin Slayer said, his eyes remaining on Spearman even as a spoon brought stew up to his mouth.
"And no fun. Even Orcbolg here can relax more than them." High Elf Archer moaned after nearly collapsing from more alcohol. Spearman nodded.
"I've heard such things. Still, I understand their Warden is a Gold Ranked Adventurer, and his Captains are all above silver."
"He is impressive." Goblin Slayer added.
"He's a damn artist with his sword!" Dwarf Shaman cried.
"I'll bet he offered you a place in his legion." Goblin Slayer nodded.
"I was offered a spot too by the local Lieutenant. Not really my style, but why'd you turn him down? There's plenty of Goblins out there they slay."
"I have my reasons." Spearman smiled wider before Witch wrapped her arms around Spearman's shoulders and came within an inch of his face.
"You shouldn't pry in his business."
"I can't help it." Before Spearman could speak again, Witch planted a long and passionate kiss across his lips. High Elf Archer fell backward out of her chair, and Priestess nearly yelped, particularly when she saw Spearman move his hands inside the Witch's clothes and onto her backside, earning a soft moan from her.
Another hour passed, and Spearman sat alone with Goblin slayer as they watched their companions get lost in the celebration. Dwarf Shaman challenged a few of his fellow dwarves to a drinking contest while Lizard Priest cheered him on. Spearman smirked a little as he noticed Witch sitting with her arms around Priestess and High Elf Archer. Both girls a little tipsy from many drinks and continued to pout as they stared enviously at Witch's chest and then back at their own.
"Maybe I should have made a larger party. Your companions always seem like good folks to party with." Spearman then looked at Witch more passionately.
"Then again, being alone with Witch has its benefits too."
"I thought your interests lay elsewhere." Goblin Slayer finally spoke. Spearman shrugged before turning to Guild Girl for a moment.
"They were. But it's become clear her own interests are with someone else. It wasn't just that either." Goblin Slayer noticed a somewhat deep and wary look on Spearman's face as he returned his gaze to Witch.
"Something happened on your quests?"
Spearman nodded.
"During our fight with the Chimera, I almost died. The monster overwhelmed Witch's magic and came in for the kill. I don't know what happened, but I forced my self into his path to protect her."
"So, that's how you slew the beast."
Spearman sweat dropped.
"Yep, my spear impaled through his chest, and my bloodied body laying on the ground. I couldn't feel anything but pain and saw a white light. At that moment, one thing was on my mind, regret." Goblin Slayer never heard such openness from Spearman.
"I always lived my life trying to impress others and thinking that there'd be a chance for things in the future. At that moment, I thought my future was over. Instead, I woke up in an infirmary and saw Witch half-asleep over me with tears in her eyes. She'd nursed me back to health on her own, never leaving my side even to sleep." Spearman gave a devoted smile towards Witch, who blushed slightly upon seeing him look her way.
"After that, I couldn't look at Witch as just my partner anymore. One thing led to another, and here we are."
"I'm glad you're happy." Goblin Slayer spoke in his usual tone, but Spearman could feel his sincerity and nodded.
"There's more to life than just adventuring."
"Perhaps." Spearman's smile widened into a smirk.
"And goblin slaying." At that Goblin Slayer went silent and felt Spearman's strong arm around his shoulders.
"I'm serious, you need to think about the future. If you do nothing but kill goblins till the day you die, you'll leave this world no happier than you are now and probably sooner than you realize."
"Perhaps." Goblin Slayer's response sent a shiver of fear down Spearman's soul, though not for himself.
Only a few moments later, Goblin Slayer stood up and departed without another word. Priestess and High Elf Archer tried to follow but found their paths blocked.
Goblin Slayer made his way out of the town and towards a farm just outside the settlement. Faint smells of fertilizer, domesticated animals, and crops found their way through his helmet's visor. At the same time, he felt bits of sweat form across his back from the ever-growing temperature, though Goblin Slayer had long gone numb to such things.
Finally, he spotted the familiar farmer guiding a horse-drawn plow across the field. The farmer wiped away some sweat from his brown as the summer heat bore down on him in his tan shirt when he noticed Goblin Slayer approaching and took a deep breath.
"So, he came back alive again." The farmer muttered warily.
Near the barn, a young woman finished milking a cow while in blue overalls over a white shirt. Her shoulder-length rose hair matched her eyes along with fair skin and an athletic yet voluptuous body.
"I'm back." Upon hearing Goblin Slayer's voice, Cow Girl gasped and almost dropped the bucket of milk. Goblin Slayer could see the light in her eyes brighten as she ran over and embraced him with her warm body.
"Welcome home." Cow Girl's eyes remained closed while resting her head against his breastplate. Goblin Slayer's gauntlet covered hands found themselves on Cow Girl's back.
"Are you well?"
"Yes!" Cow Girl blushed uncontrollably. When her uncle saw this, he took a deep breath. Goblin Slayer saw Cow Girl's buckets of milk and motioned towards them.
"Let me help you."
"It's ok! You're probably exhausted after so much fighting and traveling."
"I'm fine." Goblin Slayer picked up two of the buckets as Cow Girl sighed.
"It can't be helped." She said while smiling. After putting the milk in its proper storage, Goblin Slayer and Cow Girl walked towards the house where her uncle waited, having finished the field.
"I take it you were successful then?" He said in a tone not all that different from Goblin Slayer's. Goblin Slayer answered her uncle by handing him a bag. The farmer opened it up to see the bag filled with silver coins.
"My monthly rent."
Goblin Slayer went to his chamber and opened up a chest near the corner with a key. Inside rested a small fortune of gold, silver, and other precious reward items. Goblin Slayer placed his other earnings among the others before hearing two familiar voices behind him.
"You know, uncle, you don't have to charge him so much. At this rate, he could have bought the farm by his rent alone."
"He pays me what he thinks if fair. I won't stop him."
Despite his vast savings, Goblin Slayer didn't care for money. To him, it was a means to an end, that being keeping him alive, keeping his equipment maintained, and ensuring Cow Girl's farm remained prosperous.
Locking the chest, he got up and joined the others. By evening, he ate Cow Girl's chicken soup and eggs.
"How is it compared to guild food?" Cow Girl asked with a slightly bashful smile.
"Good." Her uncle's wary look from earlier returned upon hearing her giggle slightly.
"So, anything other than goblin slaying quests this time?"
"One did involve a slaying a troll who one of the Demon Lord's general's controlled. There were many goblins serving it."
"...I see. I thought you said you'd try to become more of a traditional adventurer?"
"Uncle-" Cow Girl started. Goblin Slayer, however, didn't react.
"More goblins started appearing, and other monsters with them. We have killed more than just goblins."
Somehow this answer was worse for Cow Girl's uncle, and he sighed deeper.
"I see."
"I'll bet you did many heroic things, though. Is it true you retook an Iron Legion castle?" Cow Girl asked, full of excitement, like a child waiting to be told a story.
"Yes." He said plainly.
"I'll bet you'd make a fine Iron Legion Knight."
"No, I wouldn't."
"Don't sell yourself short! You protect the weak from goblins, the vilest creatures in the world!" Cow Girl placed her hand on Goblin Slayers as she spoke, her uncle growing more and more anxious.
"I do what I must." After finishing dinner, Goblin Slayer checked the usual spots for signs of goblins and made his way back before noticing Cow Girl standing in front of the house with a bottle and two glasses in hand.
"No signs of goblins."
"That's good. If you're done for the night, I was wondering if you wanted to have some drinks?" She asked almost nervously while showing him the bottle of wine. The pause was only a moment, but for Cow Girl, it felt like an eternity before he nodded.
The two sat down together while Cow Girl poured them some red wine.
"I'm told this is supposed to be good for your heart."
"That's good." Goblin Slayer said looking out at the stars with Cow Girl. Her head rested on his shoulder.
"How were things while I was gone?"
"Nothing outside of the usual. Though uncle is considering taking some of our goods to a festival in a nearby town."
"I'm sure they'll do well."
Cow girl nodded, but also sighed with some disappointment marring her otherwise beautiful face.
"Sadly, I can't go with him."
"Why not?"
Taking another deep breath, Cow Girl gazed at the barn with a slight smile.
"Someone has to watch over the farm and animals."
"If you want to go, I can look after everything."
Cow Girl's smile widened slightly until it was almost devious.
"You'd give up some of your adventuring and goblin slaying?"
Goblin Slayer nodded.
"Of course."
"Thank you. But it's fine. In truth, I was hoping you could come too."
Goblin Slayer looked over at Cow Girl and her increasingly bashful expression.
"We weren't able to go to the city together once. I was hoping this could make up for it." Cow Girl placed her hand onto Goblin Slayer's as they stared into each other's eyes. Or at least Cow Girl tried to see through his helmet's visors. Spearman's words about enjoying life came back to his mind. Goblin Slayer started to wonder how different his life would be had he and his sister gone to the city with Cow Girl that day.
"….Perhaps, someday." Despite his cold tone, Goblin Slayer's answer made Cow Girl blush uncontrollably. After another few wine glasses, Cow Girl had practically fallen asleep with her head resting in Goblin Slayer's lap.
Moments like this gave Goblin Slayer brief glimpses of something lost to him since the day goblins killed his sister. Happiness. In truth, the armored warrior hadn't truly felt happy since then, but around Cow Girl, the sensation came back to him, if only small tastes.
Goblin Slayer's party had become his friends, but in truth, Cow Girl was the last connection to his humanity. If something happened to her if goblins dared to take her from him…
Cow Girl's uncle sat on the farmhouse parch while whittling some wood into a boat's shape. The farmer tightened his grip on the wood, and the more he watched them. He loved his niece more than anything else in the world, but despite what she saw in him, her uncle didn't see Goblin Slayer as she did.
The next morning, after checking for goblins, Goblin Slayer stood just outside the house, chopping logs into firewood. Thus far, his morning had been rather pleasant. The sounds of gentle breezes dancing through the woods and the singing of Cow Girl's canary were the only ones to enter his helmet. That was until something else caught his attention.
Near the other side of the farm, Cow Girl helped her uncle load the last of his wares onto their horse-drawn wagon.
"I should be back by sundown. Don't worry about saving me anything for supper. I'll eat there."
"Ok, have fun, uncle! I'll make sure things are taken care of here." Cow Girl's uncle noticed her glance back towards Goblin Slayer's direction and took a deep breath.
"Niece, we need to talk." From the tone of his voice, Cow Girl's excitement quickly faded.
"What's wrong?"
"...Dear, we've had this talk before, but now I have to put my foot down."
"Uncle-"
"Dear, you need to give up on Goblin Slayer."
"Give up on him? I-"
"Dear! I know you think he's still your childhood friend! I know you pray there's still some humanity left in him, but you're wrong! The boy you knew died that night over ten years ago. Whatever lies beneath that armor and helmet isn't him." Cow Girl's Uncle spoke in a harsh but somewhat caring tone.
"There's nothing in him now but hatred. No joy, no life, no emotion, only a burning resentment that drives him to kill, and nothing else. He doesn't love you and never will. He'll never love anyone because he's not capable of it. Even if he somehow killed every goblin in the world, all it would do is take away his sole reason for existing. If his sister saw him now, she'd no longer recognize him."
Cow Girl almost trembled and fought back tears.
"You're wrong, uncle."
The farmer took another deep breath and placed his hand on Cow Girl's shoulders with a devoted expression.
"I love you, dear, and I want you to be happy. But he can't give that to you."
Cow Girl jerked away and nearly ran with tears in her eyes.
"You're wrong!" She screamed in a mixture of rage and agony. The farmer considered going after her but knew it would only make things worse. Instead, he climbed onto the wagon's seat and signaled his horse to go.
Cow Girl reached the other side of the house and felt tears streaming down her face.
"Are you alright?"
Goblin Slayer's voice snapped her out of the trance, and she saw him right in front of her.
"We still need to take your wares to the guild. I can pull the cart if you-" Cow Girl cut him off by wrapping her arms around Goblin Slayer. Her soft body pressed hard against Goblin Slayer's armor, and after a moment, he placed his own arms around her.