A/N: Random muse popped up into my mind while I sidetracked into another fandom. To which I ended up going to the manga side of things... and then end up going to the light novels. Cos yeah... my brain loves to venture towards all of the untold/hidden narratives. So here I am, writing my first GobSlay fic.
"Sometimes you're alive and there's still ain't shit you can do!"
"—it sure was for my big sister! She lost to the goblins! The things they did to her...!"
"—I'd still have her, if she hadn't died after a goblin stabbed her with a poisoned blade!"
Oh no... there goes her first thought. It wasn't a random coincidence—for her to keep thinking of her first adventure that had quickly gone out of hand. Even more, recently, every time she ended up having to confront the young wizard boy who seemed to be way too abrasive for a newbie adventurer.
That adventure, her first adventure with her former group... that cost the lives of two of her fellow adventurers, with her and another one barely able to escape from it alive—thanks to Goblin Slayer. She should've realized this a bit sooner—on why she always felt that there was something familiar about that Wizard Boy. She should've recognised it much sooner, for the boy and his late older sister shared a strong resemblance in both appearance and personality.
Both of them also seem to share a similar dislike against clerics too...
What were the odds that the boy would end up in the party with both Goblin Slayer and her? The very two people who had known exactly the fate that has befallen that boy's older sister. And to think... without knowing, she had almost led the boy die in the hands of the goblin as she did with the boy's—!
"I'm going back," Goblin Slayer suddenly got up. "Find him a room. It doesn't matter where."
Goblin Slayer put down a single gold coin on the table as Dwarf Shaman casually reassure the man that he'll take care of everything for him, unaware of the true reason for why Goblin Slayer has suddenly taken his leave.
"Goblin Slayer... sir..." Priestess hastily got up to stop him from leaving as the man was quick to dismiss her.
"You should... get some rest..." said the man before exiting the tavern. She barely even heard the exchange between the man and High Elf Archer as various thoughts ran wild inside her mind.
It was her fault. If only she had been able to recognise the boy a lot sooner... perhaps things wouldn't have ended up unfolding like this. It was her fault! If she'd known that something like this would happen, perhaps she wouldn't have accepted the challenge, let alone allowed herself to accept Female Knight's suggestion...
"Hey, what's wrong there... Priestess?" Priestess turned around to see High Elf Archer looking at her with concern. And when she glanced towards the rest of her party members, she could see how both Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest shared the same worry towards her as High Elf Archer did.
Yet, the current situation right now...!
Her eyes turned towards Wizard Boy who was already succumbing to the fire wine he'd drunk earlier.
What should she do... or say to that boy? Should she tell him about the things that happened on that day?
Just as she was about to consider her actions, the tavern doors slammed open again as another group of adventurers stormed in after a day out fulfilling their quests.
"Honestly, why should I even bother? No matter how close we've grown to know each other these past months, that Goblin Slayer would always be Goblin Slayer. Why did I think that things would get better with that guy—?"
"Please excuse me for..." said Priestess hurriedly to High Elf Archer and cast an apologetic look at Lizard Priest and Dwarf Shaman before walking up towards Spearman.
"Mr Goblin Slayer... did you see where he went?"
Spearman stared at her in surprise. "I—I suppose that guy be heading home as he usually does. But seriously, I didn't expect that guy to just shove me aside like that!"
Priestess let out a small gasp as she hurriedly bowed at Spearman in apology.
"I'll apologize on his behalf, it's just—" Priestess cast a troubled look between Spearman and her friends, wondering what she should say before apologizing again and running out of the door to look for Goblin Slayer...
.
Yet, the moment she stepped out of the Guild Hall tavern, Priestess' mind went blank. Was she worrying for Goblin Slayer needlessly? Certainly, there shouldn't be anything for her to worry about, yes? Yet, from the way the man had behaved earlier... certainly, it must've been a shock also to the man to find out that the boy was actually related to...
Even if the man could actually hold his liquor a bit, would that man still be fine going back home by himself at that state? Priestess bit her lips.
Goblin Slayer might have pretended as if nothing could ever rattle him or cause him distress, but certainly, even that man would've had his own moments of weakness. And as much as he always seemed to be so calm and level-headed, that's no indication that he was indeed calm all the time! It just meant that Goblin Slayer... was THAT good at masking what he truly felt from everyone.
She thought about that time when the man had stabbed Wizard without hesitation after the girl asked him to. She remembered how alarmed she used to feel about it and that made her misinterpret the man's action afterwards when they found the elf scout who had been caught by the goblins at the ruins.
She remembered how annoyed Goblin Slayer had sounded back then, at the idea that she would believe that he would kill the elf captive brashly as he did with Wizard.
Now that she thought of it, it must have bothered him back then. To have no other choice but to kill Wizard out of mercy, as to not let her suffer for too long before the poison would kill her. Goblin Slayer back then had appeared so cold-hearted to her, but having known his true personality now... it was hard to imagine the man being ruthless to anything other than goblins or other monsters.
The two of them were the only ones who knew what happened during that first adventure of hers—three, if we should count Guild Girl, since they do need to make a report on the incident—no one else would've known how much finding out about Wizard Boy's identity could devastate the two of them. As much as all adventurers were responsible for their own safeties; the guilt for having to give up on saving one's comrades, the feeling of having to abandon them and cast them aside... those things could never be easily forgotten.
Even if there was nothing you could've done to change the outcome, the guilt... those things would not easily be wiped away.
xxx
She made a turn towards the back of the Guild building without thinking, as she look around with her sounding staff for any sign of that familiar man wearing that cheap-looking armour. There wasn't any handout or hints, that had been bestowed on her to help her locate the said man... she just chose a path without thinking as she marched towards the darkening road and alleys to look for her friend. Goblin Slayer must have been feeling quite distraught earlier... after all. Would someone like that be able to calmly head towards home as usual without breaking down?
Even Goblin Slayer... shouldn't be unbreakable. After all, he was still human. However good one was at bottling up their emotions, there will be a point when enough would be enough.
THUMP!
Priestess may not have very good hearing like an elf's or rhea, but even she would be able to locate the direction of where that sound came from...
Sure enough, she saw it. A cheap-looking metal helmet... that looked so battered down compared to the sample that she used to see at the blacksmith's workshop, lying abandoned on the pavement not far from where she was standing. Priestess cautiously approached that particular area. Usually, the area would be quite busy with people milling about carrying all of the new supplies from the farm and many other places. But right now the area was practically deserted of any signs of life, that one wouldn't have been able to notice if there had been any drunkards who had fallen unconscious over there after many rounds of drinks. And there WAS someone there now, sitting slumped on the pavement and barely noticeable under the covers of the shadows and the faint rays of the setting sun.
A man, helmet-less at the moment, clad in grimy old leather armour, a small round shield tied to his arm and a sword of strange length at his hip. Even a beginner would've had better equipment than him. That man was now sat slumped at the corner of the alley as if he had been lost in his way...
Priestess approached the man without a sound as she gripped her sounding staff tightly on one hand.
What should she say to him right now? Should she apologise for not telling him about the boy, even when she herself hadn't been sure of the relationship the boy had with the girl she once used to go adventuring with? No, even she wouldn't be able to predict what the role of the dice would be and no one—even the Gods—could take back the roll. Even she wouldn't be so prideful as to think that she had any influence to affect how a dice would roll in her favour.
Yet...
It hurt her, having to see the man like this. She thought about the things that happened prior.
Without being aware of anything, Goblin Slayer felt pulled to want to take care of the boy. Certainly, he must have a reason to feel compelled to do so. Not that it mattered much, since Goblin Slayer had always been a kind person. But somehow, she had to wonder.
Could he also sense something about the boy before, to want to do something to help the boy in his first attempt at adventuring? Was he reminded of himself when looking at the boy to want to watch over that boy who seemed so intent to want to kill goblins like him?
The ashen-coloured head moved slightly as the man raised his head from his knees.
"Why didn't you go to rest? Aren't you tired?"
Priestess smiled weakly as she knelt down to greet the man. He was really hopeless. She reached her hand out to brush her fingers on the man's pale face.
"How can I let myself rest without knowing for sure that you would be fine?"
"I am... fine." Came the short reply.
Her hand ghosted over the man's gloved hand before settling at grabbing a hold on his arm. Priestess grabbed her sounding staff before pulling the man back on his feet.
"Come on, let's get you back home..." she started to say before letting out a gasp and going back down to reclaim the discarded old helmet. She gave the helmet to the man as Goblin Slayer made no attempt to put it on again.
"There was no need for you to escort me home. I can walk home myself... eventually."
"He-he..." she started to giggle, before shaking her head. "It's the least that I could do for you," she started to say again. "You always made sure to escort me back home safely, so this time... let me return that favour."
And that was all it took for the man to finally relent.
xxx
"I'm sorry for having to ask you guys for this... just that, it'll be until we managed to get proper instructors and trainers to help with the facility once it's completed."
Guild Girl started bowing to them apologetically as some of the men just waved their hands at her.
"Oh, this is fine. I mean... I wouldn't mind doing anything that you asked of me—and this big guy already has done the same for his own kids. Doubt adding a few more newbies would affect some."
"Don't you put your words into my mouth! But eh... I have to admit that it wasn't really much trouble. Not to mention that even THAT girl was excited to get any chance to whip some rookies into shape."
Guild Girl turned her head towards him. "Then... how about you? I mean, this wasn't about goblin slaying though..."
Cheap metal helmet turned up towards her, seeming as if he was about to say something.
"I think...!"
A petite girl suddenly walked up towards him and sat beside him. Goblin Slayer turned his head towards the girl as Priestess smiled at him.
"Why don't you—we—help out as well?" she started to say. Colours rose to her cheeks as she cast a shy glance towards their other party members before glancing back towards him. Probably because she was feeling self-aware of herself for speaking out loud before him.
"I mean... it could help, especially for other new adventurers who wanted to start out, even more, if they think they want to take on goblin quests for the first time."
She placed a finger on her lips as her eyes kept sneaking glances towards everyone as she tried to carefully choose her words. "I mean, they might think that dealing with goblins wasn't really much fuss, but we know how bad they could be and how sometimes we end up encountering some other big monsters... it could help, I think, to have them be prepared on what to expect."
"It's a great suggestion, don't you think?" A huge weight suddenly slammed onto him from his other side as Goblin Slayer turned his head to see High Elf Archer elbowing him on his side.
"Even if doing so might mean even less goblin quest for you to take, it should be good to help other adventurers do well on their own goblin quest. And you wouldn't complain over more goblins and their nests being destroyed, right?"
"True, I guess—!"
"And they don't even have to take down any notes—not that I want others to copy all of the nasty tactics that you do," Priestess cast a wan smile as she recalled the many memories from their many goblin-slaying adventures as High Elf Archer nodded to her in agreement, "...but it should still be enough, I think, for new adventurers to learn about. Like how it used to be when we had to fight against the goblin hoard last year."
"Oh that... I had to agree!" Heavy Warrior suddenly spoke out in agreement as everyone turned their attention towards the large man. The man just shrugged it off, as if he wasn't also trying to convince Goblin Slayer to lend his help with the training facility.
"I mean, as much as all of us did manage to defeat that goblin hoard that attacked your farm last time... all that was thanks to all the strategies and knowledge about them that you told us beforehand." The man shrugged. "Before that... doubt that half of us would even know what to do about them, like most of us never knew about those goblin tactics of using their so-called meat shields or them goblin riders."
"Before that night, I assure you that many people here would've still thought that goblins weren't really such a big deal."
Goblin Slayer's helmet started to turn in one direction and another, before turning towards Priestess. The girl just gave him a shrug.
"If I may add to this...!"
The two of them turned around to see Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest walking over towards them. Lizard Priest made his typical palms together gesture with his hand.
"...it could also clear any misunderstanding one would have towards milord Goblin Slayer for telling any would-be adventurers to start with killing giant rats and discouraging them from taking any goblin quests out of concerns for their safety." The lizardman rolled his eyes in amusement. "Not that I'm saying that killing giant rats were any less dangerous compared to goblins."
Lizard Priest must've been referring to Wizard Boy's drunken outburst from the other night. But it may as well apply to any other adventurers who may have the same thoughts as that boy. He never really bothered about that before, and now that he thought about it... it made sense that some people might think that he was just being arrogant and only wanted to hog all of the goblin quests to himself. Goblins were supposed to be the weakest monsters after all. And some people may think nothing of those lots and underestimate those little buggers and end up letting themselves be killed.
He thought back about the adventurers who were met with their ill-fates at the mausoleum with that giant—what was it called again?—thing. He thought about how Wizard Boy almost got himself killed over there for acting rashly without thinking. He thought back about those young adventurers who weren't quite so lucky as Priestess to be able to survive from being attacked by goblins, unscathed.
He turned his helmet towards Spearman as the man involuntarily straightened up.
"I guess I could try sparing some time to help at the training grounds... but aside from that, I wanted to ask for a little favour from you..."
Goblin Slayer turned his head towards Priestess before sighing. If he was to be honest with himself, he never thought of himself to be a good teacher. And if there was any other time when he ever acted like one, it was to the girl who still gave him the sweetest smile she could flash towards him right now.
He thought about that boy who (now, even more painfully) reminded him so much of himself when he was around a similar age. If Burglar hadn't taken him in before... would he himself be turning out like that boy?
Would there be something that he could do for that boy?
He never saw himself as someone very eloquent with his own words, but Priestess had always been able to pick up whatever it was that he tried to teach her with surprising ease. Would he be able to do the same for the other adventurers who would be younger or of the same age as her?
Well, there's only one way to find out.
xxx
So many things... had happened for the last few days, huh?
Priestess let out a long sigh as she sat by herself on the hillside overlooking the training ground area.
From her being concerned about being able to be promoted to steel rank, her distraught over failing the interviews for it the first time. And then meeting Wizard Boy who turned out to be the younger brother of her former party member. That quest she ended up leading, encountering the goblins from the mausoleum as well as that giant troll. The attack on the training grounds too...
So many things have happened in the span of a few days, has she... grown any stronger since then?
Priestess looked down towards the new steel tag that now hung over her neck. Her mind went back towards that day, in that dark cave with those other three youngsters. How much... has she grown... since then? Was there any changes between her from back then and herself right now?
Her ears suddenly pick up the sound of some violent sounding footsteps walking down towards her. The sound came to a full stop beside her, as something drop down with a loud thump. The edge of her mouth twitched slightly upwards, even as a warmth started to come up to her cheeks.
"What're you doing here?"
She snorted. She never thought that the man would make an effort to come looking for her so early in the day. It was usually her being the one to do that.
"It's nothing. I'm just thinking by myself. So many things had happened... huh?"
She turned her head slightly to see the metal helmet turning up towards the sky before going down again.
"Yeah... I guess so."
They fell into silence afterwards as Priestess continued staring towards the training grounds area. The builders had started to resume working again, to finish the construction of the place as well as fixing whatever damages that had been done by the goblins the other night.
"I saw the boy the other day." Priestess turned her head towards him as he continued. "That boy... he seemed fine, now. He went off for a new adventure with that young Rhea Fighter. He said that rather than returning to the academy, he would try to prove to the other people that they were wrong about his sister."
"Is that so?" she started to say, slightly amused that she was using the same words the man usually say, back to him. "I'm glad to hear that. And since he didn't leave alone, I guess the two of them will watch over each other back and take care of each other."
"He said that he wanted to take down a dragon... someday."
A warmth suddenly started to pool inside her chest as she smiled. "That's... nice. I hope they could do that someday. Her sister... once said that it was her dream also. To slay a dragon."
"Is that so?"
She nodded in response.
.
"Are you... all right?"
Priestess blinked at him for the sudden query before shrugging at him.
It would be a lie to say that she was all fine now. No matter how many days, seasons passed... that failed first adventure of hers would always remain in her memories, taunting her... haunting her in her dreams. That horrid experience down on the sewers of that water town, the memories of that goblin champion tearing down on her shoulders, the indescribable pain she had felt then. There was no way she could ever forget all of that.
But maybe... perhaps, she could learn from it and improve herself as she continued on her path as an adventurer...
"How about you, Goblin Slayer, sir?"
She thought about that night when she found him slumped on the corner of the alley, the rare few moments when she could see him being unwell, unlike his usual self. He should be fine now... right?
The metal helmet just turned away from her, ignoring her question.
"My hometown... I used to live here."
"Eh...?" she gasped out aloud before turning towards the area in front of her,
This place... used to be Goblin Slayer's home?
But then, that should explain the reason why Goblin Slayer used to know about the mausoleum... the lake. How he seemed to be so familiar with the layout of the area. So does that mean, the reason he was looking out for Wizard Boy, why the boy's outburst affected him so much—when she thought about the reason why Wizard Boy was so intent to hunt goblins—Could it be possible that Goblin Slayer's older sister had also...!
Priestess hastily shook the thoughts away as she tried to think about other things. There should be some other explanation for that, right? So until Goblin Slayer decides to properly tell her about it, she should not try to pry into it unnecessarily.
"Is that... so?" she said again, with a hint of amusement.
xxx
"I see that the Guild finally approve your promotion."
She glanced towards him before turning back and slid the steel tag that was still hanging out from her neck back inside her vestment.
"Hmm," she nodded. "High Elf Archer and the others held a small celebration for me last night as well."
"You're not... happy about it?"
Priestess shook her head at him. "No, I am... happy. It's just that, those goblins... I've only just chased them away."
She still felt bad about it, even after High Elf Archer reassured her that it was all right. But she couldn't help it, could she?
Those goblins... the ones who were still alive and managed to escape, those goblins would now become wanderers after losing their nest and grow stronger even more. And then those goblins may end up becoming warriors at a new nest, leaders—and eventually, they would come back to attack villages, towns. Because she allowed them to escape...
"That was fine. You protected the other new adventurers. You did well."
She looked up silently towards the man as his words mirrored that of High Elf Archer's. She wasn't him. It was fine, even if she couldn't fight the goblins the way he could.
"Regardless, I'll end up killing them all eventually." The metal helmet turned back to face her. "That was not a problem."
Priestess just blinked at him in surprise. Did Goblin Slayer... tried to comfort her?
"He-he..."
The metal helmet tilted slightly as Priestess chuckled at him.
"You're right, that was not our biggest problem." Because he would still go after those goblins to kill them. No, not just him. High Elf Archer, Dwarf Shaman, Lizard Priest... she herself, they all would go after those goblins and stop them from causing any more trouble and protect everyone.
In the end, that was all that mattered.
As long as she was with all of them, it'll be fine. So even if the past would continue to haunt her, as long as she had everyone by her side... everything should be fine.
Since she had made her choice to become an adventurer.