A.N. Alright, I'm dropping the readers into the Part II of the story (which, ironically, was much easier and enjoyable to write than the painstaking Part I), where Goblin Slayer and the glorious action is at its finest.

Constructive criticism and reviews are highly appreciated. Why does it seem like nobody is daring to give actual names to characters? (you have no idea how ridiculous it is to keep calling someone "goblin slayer") Oh well, its AU and fanfiction, we're going to break GS canon apart and rebuild it the way I see fit, and nobody is stopping me! Later chapters would soon explain the OOC and changes in the characters, which should make sense, but still going to keep original elements (perhaps my biggest challenge was turning Goblin Slayer from a flat, generic harem protagonist, into a character of monumental personality).

For those reading on browser, I highly recommend zooming in at 125% much, much better.

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"General l'Argent?" The young woman said, as she entered the headquarters at l'Archambault. It was a sparse, dim room, lit by a bright gas lamp standing on the corner of a wooden desk. Behind it were two large flags hung on the plank wall. One was the flag of The Kingdom, and the other was of a different design. A black lion stretched its razor claws and bared its teeth in front of a bright red background. It was the battle standard of the elite Guard Chasseurs Brigade of the Royal Army, fighting for their country in the war against the Cobalians. The general was standing beside his armchair looking at the flags, holding his hands behind him, in a firm and steely pose.

"My name is Miss Theale, sir. We've met before."

"I remember."

He turned around, revealing his face. Scars and blemishes adorned his pale skin, now faint and less severe due to the passing of time. His nose and chin were of handsome proportions, and his dark eyes, sharp and pervasive, was even captivating. Matted black hair, joined by strands of grey, was slightly swept to one side, allowing her to see a noticeable scar on his forehead. The men fondly called him 'l'Argent', for his silver rank as a former adventurer. "You're the Inspector, a co-worker of Guild Girl at Frontier Town."

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." He said.

"Not at all, General." She said. "I am honored to be allowed to interview you."

"So, you are a journalist now. This is for what again?"

"We're planning to publish a newsletter." Miss Theale explained. "Like what you did with..."

"La Resistance."

"Yes, sir."

The famous posters and letters that stirred The Kingdom and raised awareness of the huge Goblin threat and the impending war had gained widespread attention. Printers and journalists have started to collaborate in creating what would be the first newsletter offices dedicated to propagating information across the land. The Kingdom was at war with the nation of Cobala, and it was on the losing end, until one man stepped in to do what he does best, and something even more. Miss Theale had taken up a new line of work: Becoming a journalist. Now, her task was to write down the accomplishments of the respected Guard Chasseurs Brigade, which was perhaps the most successful army in the fight against the Goblin scourge.

"We wanted to continue what you started. And it's only fitting that our first article should be about you, the hero, Goblin Slayer."

"You might end up with a novel, miss Theale." Goblin Slayer chuckled softly. "Please, have a seat."

"What do you think?" He asked, presenting his outfit. Miss Theale gazed at it, parting her lips. It was not an extravagant suit of armor, but it was impressive. A sleek breastplate covered his chest, and underneath was chainmail and a deep-red silk tunic. Small, thin plates of composite armour covered his shoulders, forearms and limbs; on which he wore a pair of black boots. His helmet, which sat on a nearby table, was far more refined, composed of a dark metal with a matte finish, just like the rest of his armour. It was sleek, flexible, and perfectly suited for combating their Cobalian enemies. The new uniforms were similar to his old armour, but when compared, it made the latter look like scrap materials pieced together pitifully. In short, it was a suit of armour that would command respect upon first glance. "My friend Dwarf Shaman designed this uniform."

"But I paid for it myself." Goblin Slayer said. "We have limited funds but… we must show our enemies, the Cobalians, that we have an honourable and professional army."

…

"Who sent these?" The Knight of Diamonds said in a cold voice, lifting a close-helmet out of the crate by the tip of his sword.

"These are the new armours and uniforms from General l'Argent, sir."

"What new uniforms?" His frown began to deepen. "We already have uniforms."

"General l'Argent came up with a single design to unify the whole army."

"Why do I have to follow that bastard's order?"

The knight threw the helmet across the courtyard. Like most of the officers who came from aristocratic families or have served far longer than the new, common-blooded general, the Knight of Diamonds held prejudices against him, and was unwilling to obey Goblin Slayer's orders, given that he was not a subordinate, but a general equal to his rank. Furthermore, he was a knight of noble birth. The fact that Goblin Slayer was a commoner who had simply proven to be valuable and gained his rank due to the fact that a massive war against Goblins, the only thing he is good at defeating, was raging on. It was an affront to the dignity of the other nobles. They despised General l'Argent, not only because he was a commoner, but because he had been the one to seize the first minor, but nevertheless, a victory against the seemingly unstoppable Cobalian advance. "I will only take orders from His Majesty, The King."

"The uniforms have King Charlemagne's approval, milord," said the lieutenant, making the Knight of Diamonds drop silent and grit his teeth.

…

"It is good that our uniforms finally have one design." The journalist smiled.

"It was a difficult and momentous task bringing together a scattered kingdom, Miss Theale."

Goblin Slayer sighed, shutting his eyes for a moment as he laid back on his chair. "Admittedly, I am a bit envious, and at the same time impressed that the Goblins have managed to come together as one nation and under one leader, while we are still fighting amongst ourselves like children."

Indeed, it was quite ironic. By the time The Kingdom had realized the true extent of the threat posed by Cobala, their army, the Magnam Auream had already struck a devastating defeat on the Forest Kingdom, and had penetrated as far as Fortress City, massacring its citizens and capturing it. Rumor has it that the Forest Princess was being held captive by the Cobalian leader, only known as The Imperator. The Goblins had united under one identity, calling themselves 'Cobalians', and waging an epic war of retribution that made the entire Realm tremble for the first time in ages. Burdened by internal conflicts, both political, religious and cultural, The Kingdom was no match for the rising empire of Cobala. A single uniform design for their army - at least, the Guard Chasseurs - was a small progression, but one that would have huge influences in the long run. In order to fight this new, unprecedented enemy, the entire kingdom would also have to come together as one nation, just as the Goblins did. Miss Theale continued on with her questions, making mental notes of the general's answers.

"The word is that the Royal Council is about to make a decision regarding the negotiations with Cobala. They hoped that the Imperator would spare the city of Water Town and raise the siege."

Goblin Slayer laughed, crossing his arms and shaking his head, as if disappointed at his own people.

"It's easier for the Realm to meet the Heavens, than for two aristocrats to agree on anything!" The Goblins insist on being Cobalians, while we don't even know what national identity we call ourselves, he thought.

…

Even without his infamous closed helmet on, Goblin Slayer felt as if he was suffocating in the air, thick with the pointless blabbering of politicians and nobles. He did not notice that he was already frowning, and one of his eyes twitched in irritation. The grand table was filled with dukes, duchesses, generals of the army and delegates, but it may as well have been fools, knaves and bloodsuckers. They kept on talking, making little sense and The King, Charlemagne, was only ears to this rabble. General l'Argent drowned out the noise, hearing only the ringing of his ears and the beating of his heart, until finally, like the true lion, he raised his voice, silencing the entire council by bringing his gloved hand down unto the table with a resounding thud.

"Your Majesty!"

He continued to speak, almost yelling, his exasperation seeping out of his voice. "These pointless arguments will take us nowhere. The Cobalians are gathering strength and converging upon us, as we speak. Let us attack them now, while they are still few in numbers. Even if we suffer large casualties, we can defeat them and retake control of Fortress City. We have control over our provinces! We have over thirty thousand troops! There are only six thousand Goblins besieging Water Town, We will easily drive them away!"

"I have sent the Duchess of Orleans and the Archbishop of Belluno as our peace representatives, to conciliate with The Imperator." King Charlemagne answered in a lower voice than that of the general.

"They are toying with us." Answered the commander of the Dwarven detachment, who was none other than Dwarf Shaman. His right eye had a deep scar cutting diagonally towards his nose. It was a token from a previous battle, where he was blinded in one eye during the ill-fated defense of their tribal lands, in the Oblast peninsula. The Cobalians have already wiped out their enemies in the north, and are now coming down to bear on the rest of the Elven kingdoms, which are in disarray. "My informants tell me that there are three more Goblin armies, thousands of beasts strong, marching eastward as we speak."

"Goblin Slayer is right!" Shouted one of his fiercest captains, the silver-ranked adventurer, Spearman. Having put their differences aside, he now served under the command of the Silver General, leading their infantry.

The Colonel of the Guard Chasseurs Brigade, Heavy Warrior, agreed. "We must act now."

"Rumor has it that Cobala is also at war with Achaeron, and the Demon King." The Duke of Sorrento reasoned, puffing his cigar without showing much concern for the true magnitude of the situation. "And I shall consider the enemies of my enemy, as my potential allies."

One of their renowned diplomats, representing both Alfheim and The Kingdom was the Half-Elf, Sir Magstadt. "The Cobalians have defeated the Elves, and occupied the Forest Kingdom. Did they destroy the Forest Kingdom? No, they didn't."

Sir Magstadt continued. "Her Royal Highness, the Forest Princess has been mediating between The Imperator and the rest of the Elven kingdoms. The king of Cobala has apparently ceased further hostile advances against Alfheim, and is now only focused on seizing Water Town and capturing the Archbishop." He took a heavy breath, reluctantly forcing the words out of his lips, but understanding how logical and fair it only is. "We have a reason to believe that the Cobalians are not just bloodthirsty monsters, determined to destroy the entire Realm… I say, let us give peace between us a chance!"

Nearly all of the other nobles murmured and nodded in agreement, and those who did not, inwardly recognized the reason in Sir Magstadt's statement.

"Well said, monsieur Magstadt," Duke Sorrento commended him.

…

The Journalist listened attentively to the story being narrated by the Goblin Slayer. She was leaning forward slightly, on the edge of her seat. Before, the face of General l'Argent was always hidden behind a mask of iron, mysterious and unknown to all but his wife, and perhaps his closest friends. But becoming a general means becoming a man that the soldiers could look up to, and follow knee-deep into hell. Thus, he had shed the husk of a humble slayer, and became the true man he was born to be. His wife, a simple cowgirl from the frontier, had taught him the most important lesson of all: Never let the past affect your future. And so, from a Goblin Slayer, into a general of an elite brigade dedicated to banishing the Goblin threat, was but a step higher.

"We have to be united as one people, Miss Theale. One man cannot make a concerted effort all by himself." General l'Argent said, shifting in his seat. He looked forward, and the young woman noticed the sadness in his eyes.

"Everyone who died fighting before us gave their lives so that our children can sleep soundly at night, and our families may live in peace."

…

"If the Cobalians truly desire peace, then why haven't they even held off the siege of Water Town, during these times of negotiation?" The entire room fell silent at the clear words of the general. "Why are they amassing their armies at our very borders?"

"I agree with Sir Magstadt. Opt for peace." The Duke of Sorrento said.

"You are blind." Goblin Slayer said in a sharp voice, glaring at the duke. "Instead of sitting here all day, we could be out among our people, gathering arms, fortifying villages and training them to fight. Do not heed the sugar-coated words of The Imperator! There is no room for naivete and complacency in this war!"

"What about our businesses? If we fight, the economy will be in ruins." Said one of the nobles.

"If we keep on fighting, and we are defeated, we will meet a horrifying end!"

"What about the safety of our families? How will we feed our children?"

"Oppressive peace or a hard-won liberty? Country or family? Choose!" General l'Argent roared, making them all, except the king, flinch. Charlemagne simply stared at him with a calm expression.

One of the Forest Elf delegates who had managed to escape capture at the battle of Flowerfield began pointing an accusatory finger at Sir Magstadt, giving him a disgusted look. "I know you. You were with the entourage of the King of Pforzheim. And when things went bad for the Alfsteim army, you fled and started to seek peace, in the safety of The Kingdom!"

"When things get rough now, will you start wearing a turban and groveling before The Imperator?" Spearman said to him scornfully, making Sir Magstadt red with anger.

"Enough. Everyone here has his own sense of self-preservation! We're only mortals."

How can anyone talk of honor and dignity, when your only concerns are self-preservation and retaining your wealth and power?" The general clenched his fists so tight, that if he weren't wearing any gloves, they would see his knuckles turn white.

"I love my country and my people as much as you do, general." The King finally said, matching the glare of Goblin Slayer. "But for now, Cobala is open to negotiations. The Imperator had been very displeased during our last communication…"

That is because you allowed your fools to execute their emissary. You allowed yourself to be swayed by the passionate words of the Holy Council. The major of General l'Argent's Guard Chasseurs, Lizard Priest kept his thoughts to himself, remaining silent for most of the meeting.

Goblin Slayer refuted the king's words by reminding them of the peace conditions. "They are demanding that we give up cities, villages and vast territories, which also meant giving up hundreds of thousands of people to the violent jurisdiction of the Cobalians."

"Let us wait for the negotiation at the Forest Kingdom to be completed…"

"Do we have any delegates in the Forest Kingdom?"

They remained silent and without an answer. The nobles took glances at each other.

"Any observers, at least?" continued the general. When they still did not have an answer, his furious temper returned. Terrible memories began to flash through Goblin Slayer's head, which only served to stoke his vehement tirade at the council.

"You are all like virgins, believing in the love of a whore! Nothing will come out of these negotiations with those monsters!"

…

General l'Argent leaned forward over the table, giving the journalist a solemn look. His face was one who had seen a hundred battles, alone against those wicked green beasts. His eyes were dull, yet carried a certain fire that one could feel in his gaze, having seen the horrors brought upon by the Goblins. Having lost his parents to the Plague, his sister to a Goblin attack, and now, driven out of his only home and thrown into a war that he did not start, but was determined to finish, he was not just a Goblin Slayer anymore. And though he had once said he was not going to save the world, perhaps dying while trying to save it was better than continuing as a measly adventurer obsessed only with slaying such monsters. It was now time for him to move on, and keep fighting not out of vengeance, but out of conviction for what is true and right.

"Tell our countrymen that peace and liberty cannot be won by protecting their loved ones. They have to pay the price."

Miss Theale felt the gravity in his voice. Slowly, she asked, "What is the price, sir?"

"Blood and sweat." Goblin Slayer answered, with an unchanging look of austerity. "They have to jump into the abyss."

…

"Your Majesty, I apologize for my outburst." He gave a bow for his impudence, but did not apologize for his honesty.

"The sentiments and reservations of everyone are well-founded." The Archbishop of Amesbury, one of the seven archbishops of the Supreme God and a member of the Holy Council finally spoke.

"I say it is best to be patient and wait. But, it would also be wise if General l'Argent were to strengthen our military forces, and give the Guard Chasseur Brigade extended abilities for the benefit of our kingdom."

A messenger suddenly came through the doors, followed by the Duchess of Orléans and the Archbishop of Belluno. The face of the latter was red with fury, while the former was sinisterly calm. The messenger walked at a brisk pace towards King Charlemagne, with a distressed expression on his sweaty face. The king took the letter carefully, a frown already beginning to form on his forehead as the Archbishop of Amesbury leaned over to see what the letter contained. The others began to notice how Charlemagne's face began to lose color, as he slumped back into his gilded chair. With a heavy voice, he revealed the news.

"Gentlemen… The Cobalians have fired on our troops along the St. Ermelinde river."

The entire room fell silent for a moment, and then, clamoured about, upset and in disbelief. The King continued.

"They also have already taken Abingdon, Mayenne, Bayonne and many other towns."

"And they're holding negotiations with the Elves at the Forest Palace!" The Chasseur Colonel shouted sarcastically, while the noise of the council continued to rise.

"Madame d'Orléans! Miss Belluno! How could this have happened?" The Duke of Bourbon-Lancy blurted out.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"We've been deceived!" Shrieked the archbishop, her eyes red and trails of tears stained her pale cheeks. She thought how she was correct all along, pressing for immediate deployment of the Holy Legion, but no one had taken her words. They accused her for a warmongering priestess fueled by religious zeal to leap into the fire. Now, they would face the consequences of their decisions.

"Those brutes, infidele! They were biding their time and pinning us down with their petty talks and hollow promises. I've told you all that those godless savages were never sincere with the peace negotiations. This means war, by the will of the Supreme God, andiamo in guerra!"

Duchess d'Orléans delivered her findings in a much more composed manner. "Water Town will soon fall. The Imperator has somehow managed to rally some of the villagers and townsfolk to his side, as unbelievable as it is. He has corrupted our people, and convinced them that the Archbishop of Water Town had locked them out of the island to die. It's only a matter of time before their relief armies reach St. Ermelinde and march against the duchy of Orléans."

All eyes were now on the only man who had been right all along. Now that things have turned awry, it was time for the nobles to delegate the responsibilities, and thus, the blame on the general.

"General l'Argent…" King Charlemagne said quietly. "It is up to you now. This war is in your hands."

"What do you want me to do?" Goblin Slayer smiled, staring at him with a dull, tired gaze. "Bite them?"

He pointed his open hands round and at everyone, save for his military staff and the sincere few.

"Can these so-called 'Paladins', 'Knights' and 'Warlords' help me?"

His acerbic criticism of the nobility and their faults earned him plenty of disdainful glares. Some of the Archbishops listening from the lofts of the palace hall shook their heads slightly, but did not speak a word. The frown on the king's face did not waver, and was directed at him, which he returned back with an equally determined stare. This was also the moment when the antagonism between the Silver General and the Knight of Diamonds started. Only the Duchess of Orléans maintained her calm, as if apathetic to the entire affair. With a sigh, Goblin Slayer stood up from his seat and called out to his officers in a loud voice, "Come now, let us return to the frontlines!"

"Madame d'Orléans, how did this happen?" Duke Bourbon-Lancy repeated his question, as the nobles watched the commanders of the Guard Chasseurs Brigade stream out into the hallway.

"What can we do?" She said. "We don't want to give up our crowns, do we?"

…

"Gentlemen, it is the greatest honor to fight for our country. Let us not hesitate for even a moment, thinking twice of it."

Goblin Slayer and his officers stopped in their tracks, kneeling in front of a shrine of the Supreme God, and making the sign for justice. The Heavy Warrior, the Spearman, the Dwarf Shaman and the Lizard Priest; Bessières, Rémy, Montar, Deinos and l'Argent of the Guard Chasseurs Brigade are currently The Kingdom's, and perhaps the entire Realm's best bet against the Imperator and his Magnam Auream. They raised their heads, as the general uttered the final verse of his prayer.

"Let us pray for the best, but prepare for the worst."

"Forward, compatriots. To conquer or die."