Chapter 4: Love
Goblin Slayer stood just outside the farmhouse as the sun set lower and lower, bringing shades of orange throughout the sky around him. The armored warrior's eyes remained fixed on Cow Girl, who knelt before a gravestone. The young woman's eyes poured tears across the ground like an uncontrollable waterfall. She struggled to breathe from the sheer crushing pain that tore through her soul.
Cow Girl's uncle was the only family she had left, and now he was gone, killed by goblins, just like her parents.
"...I'm sorry." Despite its cold tone, Goblin Slayer's voice held genuine sincerity to it. He knelt beside Cow Girl and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"...Please, forgive me. I failed to protect him." Despite Goblin Slayer's words, Cow Girl couldn't muster words and continued to sob. Goblin Slayer stayed with her for what felt like hours. Despite his frigid soul, a few tears escaped Goblin Slayer's helmet.
Back at the guild, his party sat silently with Spearman and the others. Most in the guild remained relatively quiet after hearing of how bad the devastation was.
Spearman stared at his drink with a dour expression and sighed before setting it down. Female Knight similarly looked at the bag of silver coins she earned from the Iron Legion.
"Hmmmm, I still find myself shaken. I didn't think our companion was capable of such grief." Lizard Priest muttered.
"Poor Orcbolg." High Elf Archer sighed.
"Poor Beard Cutter? What about the farm girl!" Dwarf Shaman cried.
"I meant her too, I just-" High Elf Archer nervously tugged at her shirt's collar before Priestess came between them.
"Guys enough. I'm worried about him." She muttered, sounding more afraid for Goblin Slayer than mournful.
"He'll recover from this. He's the most ruthless warrior I've ever seen." Female Knight tried to sound confident, but the others didn't share her opinion.
"He's not as cold as you think. There's more to Goblin Slayer than meets the eye." Witch added while Spearman nodded.
Guild Girl took a deep breath at the counter, staring at the guild entrance, wondering if and when Goblin Slayer would ever return. However, in all honesty, she wouldn't know what to say if he did come in. In her position, Guild Girl knew many who perished on adventures, some of whom she'd considered her friends, but never someone like family. Moments later, the doors began to open, and Guild Girl felt her heart race. Yet it wasn't Goblin Slayer who came in, but Gladius, still in his armor.
Sigh sighed, almost relieved. The warden Knight looked around and couldn't find any sign of Goblin Slayer.
"He still hasn't seen anyone yet?" Gladius asked nervously while Guild Girl nodded. The warden leaned against the counter, sharing Guild Girl's concerned expression.
"You know him better. I've lost brothers and sisters in arms I was quite close to before. It's never easy, but part of serving. But this farmer, how close was he to Goblin Slayer?"
Guild Girl racked her brain and almost felt embarrassed upon realizing how little she really knew about Goblin Slayer.
"...I, I don't know. Only that he was Cow Girl's uncle and let Goblin Slayer stay at his farm for rent."
Gladius nodded.
"He's quite close with Cow Girl, isn't he." Guild Girl's face turned slightly red.
"I mean, I suppose. They were childhood friends if I remember correctly." Guild Girl bit out with a slightly jealous look.
"Perhaps his place is with her then. I can only imagine the pain she's going through." Guild Girl's face cracked into shame, not even considering Cow Girl's loss.
"He'll come when he's ready." Guild Girl felt Gladius's hand on her shoulder and saw him with a disconcerted expression.
"For now. But for someone like Goblin Slayer, being alone in moments like this won't help him in the long-run."
Back at the farm, Goblin Slayer meticulously checked the fence and field edges for signs of goblins, anything to get his mind off Cow Girl's Uncle's death. One by one, he inspected each area but found no trace of the monsters. After looking over the last spot, he took a deep breath and returned to the farmhouse while gazing at the sunset.
Even before Goblin Slayer could enter the house, he heard Cow Girl's crying growing louder. Once inside, Goblin Slayer stood outside her bedroom, listening carefully as her sobbing continued. The armored warrior held his hand just over the doorway and trembled, unable to even knock.
"Don't make her cry." He remembered Cow Girl's uncle telling him more than once. Now, here she was, crying, alone, all because of his failure...All because of goblins.
The more he heard her, the more he the vile poison of hatred tore through what remained of his soul. Goblin Slayer's eye glowed blood red and nearly lit up the darkness of his helmet entirely.
"Goblins." He muttered again quietly while still shaking. The armored warrior almost kicked the shed door open and took out every weapon, poison, and goblin killing instrument in his possession.
Hours went by, and darkness took hold of the farm, with only a few candlelights and Goblin Slayer's red-eye. He'd lost track of time while sharpening throwing knives, brewing poison, and covering arrow tips in it. He could no longer hear Cow Girl's crying, feel the candles' heat, or smell the poison. Goblin Slayer went dull to everything except killing goblins. Once all his weapons were ready, he'd begin the greatest hunt of his life. Never stopping until he or every goblin on the plant was dead.
However, a knock on the farmhouse door seized enough of Goblin Slayer's attention to make him look up. At first, he ignored it, but the knocking continued. Unable to take it anymore, Goblin Slayer got up and opened the door to see Spearman standing there with Gladius. Their usual expressions replaced by those of concerned friends.
"What do you want?" Goblin Slayer's voice was cold enough to cool the air around them, but the armored men didn't waver.
"We haven't seen you since the funeral. Are you alright?" Spearman asked. Goblin Slayer didn't answer. Instead, he walked back to the table and resumed his work. Gladius and Spearman glanced at each other with concern. Just outside the house stood Priestess with Lizard Priest and Dwarf Shaman.
Priestess tried to go in, but High Elf Archer held her in place.
"Not yet." She growled, much to Priestess's frustration.
Gladius and Spearman slowly approached the table.
"May we sit?" Goblin Slayer didn't respond, and they did so anyway.
"Are you preparing for a hunt?" Spearman asked cautiously as he noticed the sheer number of killing tools.
"Yes."
"Are you sure that's the best idea right now?" Gladius asked, but once again, Goblin Slayer stayed silent, focusing only on his work.
"You're in mourning! You don't need this right now!" Spearman snatched a throwing knife from Goblin Slayer's hand, only for him to pick up another.
"He's right. What you need is your friends." Gladius aimed his hand at the doorway, revealing Goblin Slayer's party. Priestess came in first, a faint smile on her face. Seeing them finally broke Goblin Slayer out of his trance enough to look up.
"Goblin Slayer. You're not alone." Priestess spoke softly and put her hands on his.
"We've all lost those close to us before. My own uncle fell to the third incarnation of the demon lord six-hundred years ago." High Elf Archer sighed as long-forgotten pain resurfaced.
"My cousin to a troll raid." Dwarf Shaman stroked his bird with a similar expression.
"My mentor." Lizard Priest muttered while taking out a broken claw-blade and tearing up slightly.
"We understand what you're going through-" Priestess started.
"No, you don't." Goblin Slayer didn't shout, but his words felt louder than a horn. They'd never heard him speak like that towards them, and Priestess almost trembled.
"When I was a child, my sister told me it was my duty to protect others. When goblins murdered my sister, I swore to protect those I care about from goblins. When I became the Goblin Slayer, I swore to the farmer that I wouldn't make his niece cry. I've failed once again."
Goblin Slayer reached for an arrow, but this time Gladius snatched it away.
"So, what's your plan then? Go out and kill every goblin until they're dead or you are?" The Knight growled sternly.
"More or less." Goblin Slayer muttered, his red eye returning. Hearing him speak like this terrified his party, but Spearman and Gladius remained firm.
"No! You can't!" Priestess reached for Goblin Slayer, but he jerked away. High Elf Archer and Dwarf Shaman, however, both came in from the sides and grabbed his arms. Before Goblin Slayer could react, Lizard Priest quickly snatched up all the weapons in his strong arms.
"This isn't going to lead to a happy ending." Lizard Priest hissed.
"I'm not looking for one."
"Then what are you looking for!?" Gladius slammed his fist into the table so hard it almost cracked.
"You claim this is all because of your sister being killed by Goblins! Think about her! If she could see you now! Is this really what she'd want! Every moment of your life being nothing but perpetual hatred and violence until it finally kills you!" Spearman roared, though with sincerity.
Goblin Slayer didn't answer, though everyone could see it seemed to strike a nerve.
High Elf Archer snatched one of the poison vials and furiously held it in front of his helmet.
"This isn't living, Orcbolg! For once, stop thinking about yourself and your hatred! Realize what you mean to other people!"
"I'm the Goblin Slayer."
"Perhaps, but you could be more than that." Gladius added.
"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!" The farmer's words rang through Goblin Slayer's head like a racing stallion, and at last, he could hear Cow Girl crying again. The armored warrior's eyes now remain fixed on the doorway, and Priestess noticed the glowing red light inside his helmet fade. He remained silent, but the others could tell their words had some kind of impact.
Spearman took a deep breath and placed his hand on Goblin Slayer's shoulder again.
"If you need us, we' won't be far."
Priestess didn't want to leave but felt High Elf Archer practically dragged her off. Goblin Slayer remained sitting for a minute but then took another deep breath. The warrior reached up and removed his helmet, setting it down on the now-empty table. After doing so, he removed the rest of his armor and set it down as well.
Inside her bedroom, Cow Girl had all but soaked her bed with tears. She lay on her stomach, cradling a pillow, and still wearing the overalls from that morning. Since burying her uncle, Cow Girl hadn't spoken a word and just kept crying.
She didn't hear the door open, but soon Cow Girl felt a strong hand on her shoulder.
"...You shouldn't be alone right now." Even through her tears, Cow Girl recognized Goblin Slayer out of his armor and helmet. She still didn't speak, but Cow Girl almost leaped up and wrapped her arms around him like a constricting snake.
Cow Girl rested her head against Goblin Slayer's shoulder and moistened it with tears. Goblin Slayer and Cow Girl remained locked in each other's arms for what felt like hours, neither speaking, just sharing warmth and comfort.
At last, after an eternity, Cow Girl finally managed to draw enough air to speak.
"He's gone. Just like mama and papa. Uncle..." Cow Girl hugged Goblin Slayer tighter.
"They're all gone! All of my family! Now I'm alone..."
"No, you're not."
For the first time in years, Goblin Slayer's voice had real warmth to it. Cow Girl noticed this with a bit of surprise, though a welcome one. She moved back enough to look at his face.
"When your uncle passed, I swore that I'd protect you to my dying breath. I swore before the Supreme God. I don't intend to break this promise too." Hearing Goblin Slayer promised never to leave her behind and that it was her uncle who did eased the pain within her. She began to smile slightly, and felt Goblin Slayer wipe away a few of her tears. Spearman and Gladius's words returned to him. He thought back to seeing Spearman with Witch. He thought back to his childhood with Cow Girl and how much she meant to him. As he wiped another tear away and saw her smile, Goblin Slayer only now realized just how beautiful Cow Girl was. Only now did the endless burden of hatred for goblins lift from his shoulders, if just for a little while.
"Before he died, he also made me promise never to make you cry." Cow Girl giggled while blushing uncontrollably. Her own grief began to fade as she savored this moment with Goblin Slayer. Feeling his strong arms and seeing his handsome face. Whether it was out of impulse, or an inability to hold back her feelings anymore, Cow Girl grabbed Goblin Slayer by the shoulder and pressed her soft lips against this own.
The kiss took Goblin Slayer by surprise, but he didn't try to stop Cow Girl either. Her speak now came out as muffled sounds of passion as she continued, her eyes shut and face blushing rose like her hair. After a minute, Goblin Slayer realized he didn't want it to stop. This sensation, happiness, pleasure...He couldn't remember the last time he felt it.
Closing his own eyes, Goblin Slayer moved his tongue inside Cow Girl's mouth. Now she felt pleasantly surprised and almost giggled while their tongues danced together. The raging flames of passion and love Cow Girl felt for Goblin Slayer could no longer be contained, and she reached for the ends of his shirt. With a swift motion, she revealed Goblin Slayer's muscular and scarred upper-body.
Cow Girl giggled louder and gently stroked her hands across his body. Goblin Slayer didn't protest, and in fact, almost savored the sensation of her warm hand. After giggling again, Cow Girl reached for the straps holding her overalls up and undid them. Her pants fell down to the bed, exposing her lower belly between the overalls and shirt. Reaching for her shirt, Cow Girl savored Goblin Slayer's expression when she pulled it off and revealed her large and now exposed chest.
With a devious expression, Cow Girl shifted enough to kick her overalls off completely and then sat in a seductive pose as she exposed her naked body to Goblin Slayer. Before he could do anything, Cow Girl climbed back into Goblin Slayer's arms and kissed him again. As she did so, Goblin Slayer found himself eased onto his back. Once she had him there, Cow Girl grabbed his trousers' waistline and began to tug, enjoying each moment as they came lower and lower. Finally, Cow Girl held the pants in her arms and tossed them aside.
Taking Goblin Slayer by the face, Cow Girl passionately kissed him and rested her body on top of his. Goblin Slayer didn't sit idly either. His strong hands found a home on Cow Girl's large rear end and firmly grasped it, earning an excited moan from Cow Girl as their passions truly began.