Chapter 3: Bloodbath
Goblin Slayer and Cow Girl walked down the road towards the town. Goblin Slayer pulled the cart while Cow Girl carried a crate. Despite what happened earlier, Cow Girl recovered from her emotional breakdown enough to walk with Goblin Slayer. However, she remained silent with a depressed expression.
The armored warrior overheard everything Cow Girl's uncle said to her. Unfortunately, the farmer's words stuck with him as much as they did to Cow Girl, particularly about his sister. Goblin Slayer often thought about his sister, what the wretched goblins did to her. However, he'd never taken a look at himself or considered what his sister would think of what he'd become. The Goblin Slayer.
"Are you alright?" Cow Girl's voice snapped him out of his trance.
"...Yes. How about you?"
Cow Girl took a deep breath and struggled to move past the pain from her uncle's words. She stared hard at Goblin Slayer and thought back to all their time together. The happy memories, how much he cared for her, protected her. Goblin Slayer could have left the farm years ago, but instead, he remained, for her.
Cow Girl's expression turned angry and nearly resentful for a moment, but not towards Goblin Slayer. Even so, he'd never seen her like this and almost reached out towards Cow Girl.
"He's wrong. Uncle only sees what he wants to see." Cow Girl told herself before turning back to Goblin Slayer.
"I'm fine. Let's not let anyone ruin such a beautiful day!" Cow Girl nearly growled while looking at the rising sun. Goblin Slayer didn't fully believe her, but neither was he in the mood to talk more about it with his sister still on his mind.
Finally, the two reached the guild with their wares. Goblin Slayer and one of the guild workers unloaded the wares while Cow Girl spoke with Guild Girl.
"Here you go. It's always a pleasure." Guild Girl said while handing Cow Girl a sack of money. Both young women noticed Goblin Slayer carrying three boxes at once in his strong arms and sighed full of desire. When he looked their way, they almost yelped with embarrassed expressions while pretending to go back to their business. In the corner, Goblin Slayer's party watched with a mixture of amusement and frustration.
"Orcbolg is so dense." High Elf Archer laughed with Dwarf Shaman.
"Mmmm. His mind remains solely on slaying goblins, and nothing else." Lizard Priest added as he nodded.
"...At least he doesn't notice them." Priestess almost pouted before giving a long sigh.
Sitting nearby, Spearman and Witch watched with similar amusement.
"Do you think he's oblivious to them, or just doesn't care?" Spearman asked.
"An interesting question. We may never know."
After finishing with the crates, Goblin Slayer returned to his companions.
"You left the party early, beard cutter."
"I apologize, I had other matters to attend to."
"More like someone to attend to." High Elf Archer teased Priestess while emphasizing Cow Girl. Priestess scowled at High Elf Archer with a red face but quickly regained her composure when Goblin Slayer looked her way.
"We spent the last week slaying goblins. Would you all prefer we took another type of quest?"
"Hah! Look at that, he is reasonable after all. Took you long enough!" High Elf Archer laughed.
"I looked at the bulletin earlier. There are a few quests around here, but also some further south." Lizard Priest said, earning frightened expressions from Cow Girl and Guild Girl. Goblin Slayer had only just returned, and now he might go again. Cow Girl, in particular, was horrified at this prospect, as she hoped to have some time along with Goblin Slayer since her uncle was out of town. Priestess, however, gave a somewhat devious look as she realized the same thing.
"I think we should travel further sou-"
"I don't know. We just got back from long-distance travel. It might be better if we stick with local jobs." Priestess's head shot to High Elf Archer, who gave a similarly mischievous smile.
"Don't you two agree? I mean, if we stayed here for a while, we could have cheese and drinks every day."
"Wait we-" Priestess started.
"An excellent plan!" Lizard Priest roared.
"Sounds fair." Dwarf Shaman nodded.
"Very well." Goblin Slayer said. Priestess was now almost steaming as she growled at High Elf Archer, who shrugged. Cow Girl and Guild Girl both signed in relief, smiling when they saw High Elf Archer wink at them.
"We were thinking of handling something local as well. Maybe we could group up." Spearman offered.
"If you two can keep up." High Elf Archer chuckled.
"That does sound fun." Witch added as she puffed out some pinkish smoke.
"What kind of quest did you have in mind?" Goblin Slayer asked.
"Well-" High Elf Archer started as she almost smugly leaned back into her chair. The guild doors slammed open before she could answer, making many inside jump and High Elf Archer fall backward. All eyes now turned to three tall, muscular men adorned in Knight armor with the Iron Legion's colors/sigil.
The first Knights appeared to be of the Warden class while the Knights flanking him were conquerors. The Warden held a sugarloaf helm in his arms, revealing his face. He looked perhaps in his late twenties with short-brown hair, fair skin, green eyes, and three scars marring his otherwise handsome face. Many, including Goblin Slayer and Guild Girl, recognized the Warden as Gladius, the Iron Legion's local garrison Lieutenant. He always looked somewhat stern and severe, but now, he appeared ready to enter battle.
"Listen up! We have an urgent need for assistance! One of our scouts has reported a demon and goblin raiding party is en-route to the nearby town festival." This news made many whisper and murmur, but Goblin Slayer's attention became fixed on Gladius when he heard Goblins were involved.
"Oh boy." High Elf Archer sighed upon realizing this.
"Their numbers are too significant for our Garrison here, and there's no time for additional Iron Legion reinforcements. Therefore, we're offering ten silvers to anyone who will ride with us!" Gladius announced, earning more murmurs, only this time they sounded very interested.
"Gladius." Goblin Slayer spoke up, and the Knight Lieutenant turned his way.
"Did you say they're attacking a festival?"
"Yes." Goblin Slayer went still, and Cow Girl gasped.
"Uncle!"
An hour later, Goblin Slayer rode a courser war-horse provided by the Iron Legion. Gladius and roughly twelve other Iron Legion knights also rode coursers. There were three other wardens, five conquerors, three Lawbringers, and a warmonger besides Gladius.
Aside from the Knights and Gobling Slayer, the other adventurers, including his party, Spearman, Witch, Heavy Warrior, Female Knight, Rookie Warrior, Apprentice Cleric, and a dozen other guild members, all rode on destriers with two-dozen Iron Legion sergeants in front of five covered-wagons pulled by two horses each.
The dirt road nearly erupted into a storm of dust as the horses raced over it.
"Damn Goblins! Attacking a festival, a time of celebration and merriment! How low can you get!" Dwarf Shaman growled.
"Really, interrupting a festival is the worse thing we've ever seen goblins do?" High Elf Archer asked sarcastically. High Elf Archer and Dwarf Shaman rode together while Priestess and Lizard Priest each rode their own horse.
"Riding another creature, this is truly something incredible!" Lizard Priest cried in excitement. The wind flowing past his scales felt particularly good, and the lizardman couldn't remember the last time he felt such adrenaline.
Although she couldn't see his face, Priestess could tell Goblin Slayer rode with a ferocious tenacity that only came out when those he cared about were in real danger. She tried to get closer, but Gladius blocked her path.
"I'm glad to have you with us Goblin Slayer." The Lieutenant said, however, his armored companion didn't respond. Instead focusing solely on what was ahead of him.
"I'm told you fought beside The Warden of our legion recently. Thank you for helping us."
"I took a job to kill goblins, nothing more."
Gladius smiled a bit beneath his helmet.
"I don't think so. I think you're more of a Knight than you realize. With just a little training you could become a Warden too. Or maybe a Lawbringer." Gladius stopped for a moment and glanced over to one particular Knight who similarly kept a frightening silence as she rode.
"Who am I kidding? You're a warmonger!" Gladius laughed.
"...I'm not interested."
Gladius shook his head.
"What do Knights do?"
"Protect the innocent, slay the wicked, serve the Supreme God." Goblin Slayer answered coldly.
"Exactly. I've spoken with Guild Girl, and she has only good things to say about you."
"She's exaggerates."
"I think not! You slay Goblins, one of the foulest monsters in our world. You rescue those who they would slay or worse. You show kindness and charity to all, which is what the Supreme God commands. You are a Knight in all but name, Goblin Slayer." The armored warrior didn't respond.
Nearby, Spearman, Female Knight, and Heavy Warrior smirked a little hearing this.
"You ought to listen to him, my friend. Being recognized as a Knight comes with all kinds of privileges. The ladies certainly like it." Spearman chuckled with Heavy Warrior. Female Knight blushed slightly but tried to look upset at Spearman's proclamation when Heavy Warrior looked her way. Witch didn't even try to hide her approval and gave a lustful smile at Spearman.
Despite all of this, Goblin Slayer kept looking straight ahead. Gladius noticed this and took a deep breath.
"Is there someone at the festival you mean to save?" The warden's tone turned somber. Goblin Slayer didn't answer. However, he did feel Gladius's hand as it touched his right shoulder plate.
"I swear before the Supreme God. We will do everything to save them."
After another twenty-minutes, Goblin Slayer began to see a town in the distance. The faint shapes of buildings came into view alongside farming fields, and fishing huts near a river came into view. Goblin Slayer could also see colorful tents, food stands, and other elements of a festival alongside the town. However, as they drew closer, the expected sounds of a vibrant celebration couldn't be heard, nor could the sweet smell of delicious food. Instead, Goblin Slayer heard terrible wails of agony and lament alongside the stench of death and burning. The company went silent as the grave and Gladius rode forward.
"Ready yourselves for battle!"
At his command, the Knights and other heavily-armored warriors formed a conrois formation, riding stirrup to stirrup with lances held up. Even Goblin Slayer held a lance. Priestess felt her heart race, and she pulled back beside High Elf Archer.
"Stay close." The elf cautioned her companion, who nodded. As they came closer, several villagers and travelers of all races ran from the festival in fear, many wounded or ravaged.
"Clear the way!" Gladius cried, not wanting them hit by their horses. However, Priestess gasped in horror as she saw arrows from goblin archers bring down several fleeing innocents. Within the festival grounds, goblins, hobgoblins, skeleton warriors, and gliding demons ravaged the celebration in a horrific display of violence.
Men and children were cut apart like animals, while women suffered a far worse fate. Hearing their cries illuminated the inside of Goblin Slayer's helmet with a glowing red eye.
"Goblins." He muttered to himself full of bloodlust.
At last, the Goblins and other monsters took notice of the approaching Knights as the ground shook from their charge. The demons then turned their attention to them. The closest archers unleashed a volley, only for the arrows to bounce harmlessly off the armored warriors. The goblins shifted their aim towards the horses next, only to find themselves impaled by a series of arrows that flew from High Elf Archer and two other elven archers who joined the company.
Some of the Hobgoblins, and a champion int he distance hurled large rocks and other debris, but now Priestess and a Priest from the Iron Legion called upon the Supreme God for protection. A luminescent shield formed over the company and deflected each projectile.
Witch and magician now spotted a few Goblin and skeleton spellcasters trying to conjure magic against them.
"How annoying." Witch muttered. She and the magician unleashed a magical fire that easily overwhelmed whatever spells the monsters formed. Within moments, all the monster spellcasters and a few warrior goblins lay on the ground as smoldering corpses.
Snarling like beasts, over a dozen hobgoblins charged the Knights, hoping to smash them off their horses while a few demons glided in behind them. This proved to be a fatal mistake. Goblin Slayer's lance found ripped through the first hobgoblin's head, sending blood and brain matter in every direction.
"One." He whispered to himself.
Gladius, his knights, and many other heavily armored warriors in the vanguard each claimed either a hobgoblin or flying demon with their lances, breaking the monsters' counterattack like a wave against the rocks.
Dozens of goblins and skeletons that raced in behind found themselves trampled by the large warhorses. Goblin Slayer quietly counted each goblin he killed, but only the goblins. However, he still wielded his sword against skeletons and demons alike, killing just as many after his lance shattered.
With their charge complete, the Knights effectively scattered their enemies into a chaotic mess. Now, the sergeants and other mounted adventures rode in, including Lizard Priest. Wielding two curved blades, Lizard Priest culled the goblin and demon ranks, while one of his own lizard skeletons protected him from the human skeletons.
A few demons attempted to attack from above. However, they found no safety in the air. One of the wagons stopped, and ten Iron Legion archers raced out before taking position beside the elven archers.
"Too easy." High Elf Archer said with a confident grin. Their arrows ripped through the demons like hot knives through butter, tearing apart wing membranes and dropping them like flies.
Now, the other wagons stopped, and over thirty Iron Legion soldiers raced out, locking their shields together to form a phalanx. A few hobgoblins attempted to break the shield-wall with their brute strength but found only spears for an answer.
Several fell while Dwarf Shaman, Rookie Warrior, Apprentice Cleric, and a few other adventurers helped fought on the flanks.
"Can you not handle a Dwarf's brute strength!" Dwarf Shaman proclaimed, his ax shattering a skeleton to pieces. Slowly, the shield wall pressed forward, carefully opening their ranks to let in fleeing townsfolk and rescue those wounded of violated.
Priestess held a young woman stripped almost naked by goblins and tried to console the trembling maiden.
"It's alright. You're safe now." She tried to assure her.
Goblin Slayer's armor and horse dripped with the blood of goblins and demons alike. Despite the chaos, he hadn't lost count of goblins killed by his hand.
"Thirty-seven." Goblin slayer muttered as his sword took the head of another hobgoblin. Amid the battle, Goblin Slayer didn't stop looking for Cow Girl's uncle, praying for his safety. However, thus far, the farmer couldn't be spotted. Goblin Slayer scanned the burning festival grounds again. He spotted Spearman, Heavy Warrior, Gladius, and Female Knight, downing another hobgoblin alongside Iron Legion Knights. Gladius looked Goblin Slayers way and frantically pointed to the right.
"Look out!" Goblin Slayer's horse narrowly avoided being crushed by a flaming food stand hurled at them, and the armored warrior turned to see the goblin champion staring him down with a murderous gaze. Goblin Slayer's red-eye glowed brighter when he noticed an all too familiar wagon toppled over near the champion.
"Goblin Slayer!" Gladius shouted. The warden tossed Goblin Slayer a new lance just before he rode forward. Spearman, Witch, Gladius, and many others watched with a mixture of angst and amazement as Goblin Slayer rode to meet the ten-foot-tall goblin monster. The champion raised a rectangular stone club and slammed it towards his foe, but Goblin Slayer moved his horse just in time. The champion howled with blood spewing from his stomach and mouth. Goblin Slayer's lance buried itself deep into the goblin's stomach, coming out the other side as blood dropped down.
"Show him who you are!" Spearman cheered on, inspiring many others to do the same.
"Kill him!"
"Take his head off beard-cutter!"
The champion felt his club grow heavy and dropped it, the bloodloss taking its toll. Despite this, he furiously tried to stomp or smash Goblin Slayer, only to miss again and again. Each time, Goblin Slayer slashed the champion's exposed flesh, weakening him more and more, until finally, the champion fell to his knees.
"Just another goblin." Goblin Slayer muttered, his sword embedding itself through the champion's neck so hard the monster's head came off.
"Thirty-eight." With the champion's death, it all became cleanup with Gladius leading the effort. Goblin Slayer dismounted and quickly began searching the cart until he felt his heart slow.
Buried beneath his wagon lay Cow Girl's uncle, two dagged embedded into his chest while the rest of him lay crushed. Blood oozed around him into a pool, yet he didn't appear distressed, only sad. Goblin Slayer knelt down beside Cow Girl's uncle and tried to take out a healing potion, but there was no point. The farmer looked up and saw Goblin Slayer before coughing up blood.
"You came for me." Cow Girl's uncle struggled to speak through the agony. Goblin Slayer cradled the man's head and tried to hold him.
"...I'm sorry." Goblin Slayer muttered a tear escaped his helmet, landing on the farmer's face. He'd failed to protect someone from goblins yet again. A pain worse than any weapon wracked Goblin Slayer until he saw tears form in the farmer's eyes, but not for himself.
"...Maybe I was wrong about you." He coughed up more blood and took Goblin Slayer's hand.
"Please, protect my niece. She's all I have left, the only good thing in my life. Swear to me you'll protect her to your dying breath!" More tears streamed down the farmer's face until he felt Goblin Slayer's hands clasp his own.
"Before the Supreme God, I swear." Cow Girl's uncle laid back against the ground and peacefully closed his eyes.
"...Orcbolg." Goblin Slayer slowly looked up and saw his friends around him. Deep sympathy filling their expressions while Priestess and High Elf Archer did their best to fight back tears.
Taking a deep breath, Gladius came forward and put his hand on Goblin Slayer's shoulder. However, he didn't speak. He simply let his companion know they were there for him.