Disclaimer: I do not own Goblin Slayer.
King of Beasts Productions Presents:
Fist of Iron Will: A Goblin Slayer Fanfiction
Chapter 2: Everyday Life
"HA! KYAI!"
The sun was rising at a small farm outside the town. The breeze caressed Fighter as she was practicing her forms on the grassy knoll outside the farmhouse. Even after her father was gone, she made sure to keep his teachings close to her heart. This included her daily routine, which consisted of stretching before training. She made sure to do each punch, kick, and stance again and again, as repetition is key to making sure that her body commits all these movements to memory.
"HA!" She finished off with a high kick, her breathing heavy as beads of sweat trickled down her brow. "Alright, that should do it. Next, I should-!"
"You're up already, Missie?" She turned to see a man in his late forties. He had short brown hair and eyes, a crooked nose, and stubble around his lips. His hands were calloused from working in the farmstead, and he wore a white tank top that hugged his muscular frame well. He was a good foot and a half taller than Fighter to boot, which showed that his heart was as big as his body. She saw a bit of his son in him, musing that he was the reason he was such a good-hearted knuckle-head.
"Just about finished with my training, Uncle." She addressed the Farmer with a smile. "Need some help checking on everything?"
"I can't possibly ask ya to." The Farmer responded with a grin of his own. "Especially after you finished yer little workout!"
"I insist!" Fighter answered back. "Besides, you've taken me in so long ago, it's the least I can do!"
"Ah, fine!" The man finally relented. "You really are your father's daughter, you know? Got that same amount of stubbornness he did!"
"So you've told me many times~!" Fighter answered back with a giggle, prompting the taller man to pat her on the head and ruffle her hair.
"That I did, lass." He chuckled after he finished, then turned while prompting Fighter to follow him. "You can start with the chicken pen and see if they have any eggs!"
"Yes sir!" She eagerly followed the man who had become something of an adopted father to her, eager to get her morning chores done.
The pair entered the house to smell food being cooked in the kitchen. They peeked in to see a blonde woman, her hair tied in a side pony-tail, wearing a white blouse and a brown long skirt cooking eggs sunny-side up. She turned to the two with a smile that reminded Fighter of her son.
"Welcome back!" She greeted them kindly. "I already have some bread, bacon, and sausages on the table. There's orange juice if you need any."
"Thank you kindly, Ma'am." Fighter nodded gratefully, which prompted the woman to giggle.
"How many times have I told you? Call me Auntie!" She giggled as the two took their seats on the table. "It's not like we're strangers, after all!"
"That's true..." Fighter flashed her a smile. She knew that the other woman wasn't wrong; she was the closest thing she had to a mother since her own passed away when she was barely even starting to walk. The woman before her treated her like her own daughter, something she felt that she didn't deserve after failing to save her son.
"Mmm..." Uncle took a sniff before letting out a hearty guffaw. "It always smells like heaven whenever you're in the kitchen, darling."
"Oh, stop it." His wife waved him off with a giggle.
"How can I when it's true?"
"You've always had a way with words."
Fighter couldn't help but smile as she watched the two banter. Watching these two was enough proof that, even after years of marriage, two people can still be so in love.
"Well, that's enough of that." Auntie brought in their breakfast in a tray. "Let's eat!"
They proceed to enjoy a hearty breakfast. Fighter couldn't help but dig in with gusto, as Auntie's cooking was the best she has ever had. In the adventures she took after her first one, she found herself yearning for it many times over.
"I should have them over some time." She smiled fondly as she thought of her party. She had gotten to know them better over the course of the few weeks since her near disastrous first adventure. She had gotten along swimmingly with Priestess, doting on her as if she was little sister. Wizard, despite being bed-ridden from being poisoned, remained as prickly as ever. As for their newest travelling companion, he was definitely an odd personality that she has yet to figure out...
"So, what do you plan to do today?" Auntie asked as she put down the glass of juice she was sipping, snapping Fighter out of her deep thoughts. "Are you going to town again?"
"As a matter of fact, I am." Fighter answered without missing a beat. "The rest of my party should still be in town, so I figure it's a good idea to plan our next move."
"I'd tell ya it's dangerous business, but you already know that." Uncle said before lifting his cup to sip on it.
"Yeah, I do. All too well, really." The sad tinge in her smile caused Uncle to frown, as did Auntie.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way-!" He was about to apologize, but the young girl raised her hand to stop him.
"It's fine, really." She answered earnestly. "It's a pain that's never going to really go away. That doesn't mean I can't stop living the best I can, right?"
"Right." Uncle smiled in relief. "You're your father's kid through and through."
"So you keep telling me."
"Just be careful, will you?" Auntie's concern was clear in her voice.
"Don't worry. We got a Silver Ranked Adventurer teaching us the ropes." Fighter affirmed with a grin. "He's an odd one, but he knows what he's doing!"
After Breakfast...
"Alright, I'm off!"
"You take care now!" Uncle and Auntie called as Fighter turned to wave at them before walking out of the farm. It was a bright, sunny day with nary a cloud in the sky, and the scenery before was the sight of a green meadow that spanned for miles.
All in all, a day perfect for going out on adventures big and small.
"Ah, it's so nice out!" Fighter sighed, stretching her arms as she let the cool breeze brush against her. She was glad that she was able to get out and stretch her legs on a day like this. Considering the possible adventure that was waiting for her in town (and, knowing who she was working with, would end up being goblin related), she relished the small moment of reprieve she got.
"Oh, there's someone there." It was at that moment she noticed that there was a cart in front of her path that was being pulled. She decided to quicken her pace to catch up to the cart and maybe offer assistance in pulling it. When she got closer, she caught a glimpse of a man in a familiar set of armor, complete with his tell-tale helmet.
"Didn't think I'd run into you out here, Goblin Slayer." The man in question turned to see Fighter walking up from behind them with a smile on her face.
"Ah, it's you." Was the man's taciturn reply.
"Oh, is this a friend of yours?" Fighter quickly learned that he wasn't alone; Pulling the cart was a young woman with short red hair dressed in a white shirt covered in overalls. The first thing Fighter noticed about her was that she had a gentle smile that could put anyone at ease.
"I've been partying with him on adventures, actually." She explained. "I'm Fighter."
"Nice to meet you!" The red-head giggled as she extended her hand. "I'm Cowgirl, and I help with my Uncle's farm that he also lives in." She pointed her thumb at Goblin Slayer. "Thank you for taking care of him."
"Actually, he's been taking care of me a lot." Fighter smiled back as took her hand in friendship
"Is that so?" Cowgirl giggled. "Can you tell me all about it? It's still a ways to town, so we'll have all the time to talk!"
"Sure!" Fighter nodded in agreement. Goblin Slayer only shrugged as the girls began exchanging small talk on their way to town.
Frontier Town
"So he really saved you and your party?" Cowgirl asked as she, after she had sold off the goods in her cart, was accompanying Goblin Slayer and Fighter to the Guild Hall.
"That he did. Well, almost everyone." Fighter's smiled wilted ever so slightly as she thought of the one casualty of their near fatal first adventure.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Cowgirl's lips curled into a sympathetic frown.
"It's okay. Really." The raven haired girl waved her off, the luster in her smile returning. "If it weren't for Goblin Slayer showing up when he did, Me and my other friends wouldn't be here right now. Since then, we've been partying together to learn as much as we can from someone more experienced."
"They show promise." Was Goblin Slayer's short reply.
"Even if he is a man of a few words." Fighter chuckled, an action Cowgirl mimicked.
"He really is like that. It still is good to hear that he helped you guys." The red-head continued as they entered the Guild Hall. As expected, it was filled to the brim with Adventurers waiting for the job listings for the day to be released.
"Just another day." Fighter sighed as Cowgirl turned to Goblin Slayer.
"I'll just go get a signature at the front desk, okay?"
"Got it." Goblin Slayer nodded as he started walking to the nearest waiting table, prompting Fighter to follow suit. As they were waiting, she could hear the whispers from the many adventurers gathered talking about her new mentor.
"Isn't that the weirdo who only accepts Goblin Slaying Quests?"
"Is he really a Silver Rank? I mean, look at how dingy his armor is!"
"Even our equipment's better than his!"
"I suppose they'll let anyone in Silver these days."
Her Father's training had taught her to control her emotions, to never strike out of blind anger. Still, it was annoying to hear all these people talk down on the man who saved her life, as well as underestimate how much of a threat goblins are.
"What do they know?" She clenched her fist as she listened to them mock him over his eccentricities. Thankfully, the Guild Girl got their attention when she announced that the jobs for today were now up for grabs. This caused the entire hall to cheer as they began to grab whatever job they can reach.
Goblin Slayer, for his part, chose to keep waiting at the table. Fighter already knew why; Since no one was in a hurry to get Goblin Slaying quests, they can rest easy knowing that there will be at least one by the time people were done.
As they were waiting, Fighter sighted Priestess walking towards them with someone in their tow. It didn't take her long to recognize who the blonde brought.
"Hey!" Fighter greeted Wizard happily, dressed in her proper purple robes and looking as fresh as she was before that adventure. "I take it you're finally getting back on the field?"
"It took a while, but the healers finally gave me a clean bill of health!" Wizard replied with her usual mixture of confidence and prickly demeanor.
"Well, I speak for everyone when I say that we're glad you're okay." Priestess answered her, then turned her attention to Goblin Slayer. "Anyway, I-I still think that destroying that cave with that flammable liquid was going too far. You could've caused an avalanche!"
"Wait, what?" Wizard did a double take, prompting Fighter to giggle.
"You had to be there." She said as she remembered their recent adventure.
"But aren't goblins the bigger problem?" Goblin Slayer replied while cocking his head.
"Still, you shouldn't be thinking that way!"
Fighter smiled as she watched the back and forth the two had. It had been a month since that fateful adventure. There was never a dull moment since she and Priestess partied up with Goblin Slayer, especially since every adventure they went with him often ended up with a goblin massacre. She also learned a lot of practical tips from him about adventuring and survival, tips that she has been able to put to good use. Even if some of them were a bit unsavory.
She still had a long way to go, for sure, but she didn't mind. She promised Warrior that she would be a great adventurer no matter what, after all. Now that Wizard was with them again, she felt even more sure of herself.
Finally, the crowd cleared. Goblin Slayer nodded to each of his party members, who nodded back, before they all walked towards the reception desk.
"Good morning, Goblin Slayer!" Guild Girl greeted him with her usual smile. "I take it you're here for the usual."
"Yes." Goblin Slayer answered the only way he knew how. "Goblins."
Chapter 2 End
A/N: Okay, this took MUCH longer than it should have because I got hit with the worst cases of writer's block every time I tried to continue. Thankfully, I've been inspired to write more lately, so I managed to finally finish this chapter!
Anyways, not much to say here really. Just a bit of back story for good ol' Fighter, revealing that she's staying with Warrior's parents whenever she isn't adventuring and that they treat her like family. They also never held their son's death against her. Because they understand just how uncertain a job like adventuring can be. Of course, Fighter's trying to learn to forgive herself, which will be among her character arcs as the fic goes on.
Lastly, I took some bits from Episode 2 and flipped it to Fighter's perspective for that last part. Doesn't really change much other than Wizard finally being healthy enough to return to the field. How that goes? I guess we'll see in the next chapter, now won't we?
That's all I have to say for now. Please read and review if you liked this chapter. Until next time, this is the King of Beasts, signing off!
Next Time on Fist of Iron Will: Imagination