Wizard did not like being uncomfortable, she knew this already but now it was made even more apparent today as Wizard stood in front of the grave of Young Warrior with the Priestess kneeling before it in prayer. Fighter stood beside it wearing a unreadable expression.
She still couldn't believe the two were still alive after everything that had happened, as evident by her shock when returning to the guild with the rescued party only to find them waiting for her in the main hall.
From what she understood it seems that after escaping the cave with a wounded Priestess, Fighter had basically wondered aimlessly until she reach the road where fortune finally smiled upon them as a traveling merchant pick them up.
It turns out that the reason behind them not returning immediately was do to not only the head injury leaving Priestess in a semi-coma but also that Fighter had the goblins poison running through her veins. the only reason why she even survived was because she came from a family with a long history of adventuring and were known for having high resistance to poisons.
"So you really went back and gathered up his remains to have them buried here?" Fighter asked her hands gliding over the stone grave marker the Wizard had purchased for her fallen friend.
"Yes it was after I returned and gave them my quest report, gaining enough rest I came back to that cave to gather up... what was left of him." Wizard answered looking off into the sky wondering what Goblin Slayer was doing at this moment as she'd rather be anywhere but there.
"I see I'm sure he would have been grateful for this. Thank you." Fighter said softly as she kept her eyes on the gravestone slowly running her palm across it back and forth Wizard really didn't know what else to say so she just kept silent as Priestess continue to mutter her prayers to their fallen comrade. Silents between the two for the next 30 minutes reign on and continue even after Priestess finished and none of them said a thing on their way back to a small cafe.
Sitting at a table the three females were silent as neither knew of what to say, mainly due to the sense of abandonment they each felt they did toward the outer.
Fighter feeling guilty for leaving Wizard behind, Priestess feelings awful for not only being unable to help Fighter but also being dead weight when she was knocked out, as such Priestess felt she played a role in Fighter leaving Wizard behind. Wizard also felt a great deal of guilt for running off and leaving them to fend for themselves as well as being unable to find them after the quest had concluded.
"I still can't believe it, I never thought returning to the guild we would find you still alive and well. No offense." Fighter said looking at Wizard with a humorless chuckle.
"None taken, I only made it through that quest by the sheer luck of running into a higher-ranked adventurer, I was beginning to lose hope that you two were even alive, imagine my surprise when coming back to the guild and finding you there. No offense." Wizard replied also chuckling dryly.
"Well it's a good thing that all of these thought of our deaths ave not caused any type of offenses." Priestess said trying to make a joke, the two girls to look at her with raised eyebrows making the Priestess feel a bit self-centered wondering if that was the wrong time for it only for the two of them to begin to out a good short bit of laughter for a few moments.
"So... I wonder what happens now." Priestess says after their laughter died down, Wizard glanced at the two for a moment before speaking.
"The man who saved me from back then, I've formed a party with him, I'm sure I can talk him into letting you join us." Wizard offered both looked at saying nothing then gave a soft smile.
"Thanks... but I think we'll pass." Fighter replied causing Wizard to look surprise.
"I can tell just looking at you that you've been though a lot since we parted ways." Fighter began.
"But our first and only Quest ended horribly." Priestess continue.
"We... don't blame you, we all made mistakes that cost us dearly on that Quest." Priestess stated.
"But even so, I think we'll start from the beginning and cut our teeth on easier targets for now." Fighter stated.
"In that case I'll end my current party and rejoin-" Wizard started only for Fighter to cut her off.
"Wizard... for now, I think it best if we parted ways." Fighter stated cutting her off, Wizard's eyes widen when she said that, Fighter look at her with dull eyes as though she was trying to keep herself together, she caught sight of Priestess looking away unable to meet her eyes with a look of guilt about her.
"Maybe in the beginning we could have formed a party but... I don't think we would work well together anymore." Fighter said looking at the ground, Wizard instead of being hurt as she thought she'd be Wizard found herself giving a humorless laugh that was filled with neither happiness or sadness... just resignation at this out come that she felt she should have seen coming.
"Really, that odd given how well we worked together last time." Wizard said dryly in a sarcastic tone as their disastrous quest came to mind, turning to Priestess who still looked uncomfortable.
"If we had listen to you, that quest might have turned out differently." Wizard said, remembering how the blond-haired holy girl voiced her concerns about the quest only to fall on deaf ears by the three adventurer's she joined, Priestess looked at her in surprised at this admission.
"Sorry we didn't, even so thank you for saving me." Wizard said softly, Priestess eyes widened with a blush then turn away unsure of how to respond to her words, turning back to Fighter, Wizard walked up to her then pulled out the sharpen blade that her friend Young Warrior once welded and held it out to her.
"I... recovered his sword in the aftermath, I wanted to return it to you." Wizard said, Fighter looked mystified at the blade, she slowly reached out and take the sword in hand taking note of the razor sharp egde and shine. It was clear Wizard had taken very good care of it.
"Thank you... but." Fighter then flip the blade in hand holding it out to Wizard hilt first.
"I haven't the faintest clue on how to use a sword, besides you're the one who saved it so I would prefer it if you used it." Wizard found herself surprised at the offer, tentatively reaching out and grabbing it Wizard return the sword back to the sheath on her waist.
"I promise to take good care of it." Wizard stated and once more they descended into uncomfortable silence with the three looking anywhere else but each other, turning on her heels Wizard walked away from the to a few feet before looking back at her former teammates.
"I need to head back to the guild and check on the party that we rescued... but I'm glad that you two are okay, I wish you well in your future adventures." Wizard said, with that she continues on.
"Umm, I wish you well in all your future adventures too. May we continue to cross paths at the guild." Priestess called out to the Wizard, she turn to them with a small smile and wave before continuing on. Priestess and Fighter both looked at one another with a sad tilt to their eyes.
It sadden them to deny Wizards request to rejoin them but both felt it was in everyone's best interest, in the time they've been gone Wizard had already done several more quests and gained quite a bit of experience from them as opposed to those two who had only been on one quest in which one party member died, they were forced to leave another party member behind, and the two were severely injured forcing them to take quite a bit of time off adventuring to recuperate.
That said it took a load off their shoulders to know that she had survived and had been able to carry on, it had also please them greatly when the Guild Receptionist told them about how all Wizard had not only survived but also return and would continuously come to the guild always asking if there were any word on either of them. Wizard hadn't given up on them and for the Priestess and the Fighter that was enough. Now it was time for the three young ladies to move their separate ways.
"Well that was an awkward experience." Fighter commented looking at her partner.
"I'm just happy that she's alive and well." Priestess replied with a sign before looking up at the taller girl.
"Do you want to put today's quest on hold I'll understand if you need some time to we collect your thoughts." Priestess offered glancing back at the grave of Fighters friend Young Warrior, Fighter looked at the grave running her hand along the edges of the tombstone before shaking her head and wiping away a few tears.
"No this is enough, taking more time off won't change things. My friend might be dead but at least she isn't and well... That will have to be enough for me." Fighter reply looking at Priestess with a sad smile.
"Well, I guess we should move on with our quest." Priestess said, Fighter groan a little.
"Giant Rat slaying, that lower then goblin slaying. And for one gold coin a day." Fighter muttered.
"Well we are starting out at the bottom again." Priestess reminded her.
"But remember, it only one gold coin if we kill less then five rats, if we manage to kill five rats then every three rat ears we bring in will earn us a silver coin." Priestess added, Fighter knew she was trying to look on the bright side of things and felt she was right, but this also reminded her of the fact that both of them were nearly broke after their failure of a first quest, so killing as many rats as they could would certainly help.
"Well I guess we're rats slayers for now... god that sounded so lame." Fighter moan, Priestess giggled a little causing a small smile on Fighters face, both knew the road before them would be a long one and not ease, yet still felt it was one they could.
Far from them in the ruins of a destroyed town Young Female Knight found herself out of breath as she duck under a large spiked club and backing away several feet while holding her blade at the ready for whatever may come her way.
"This... was a poorly thought out decision." she mumbled to herself as she faced off against the massive Hobgoblin, a shadow suddenly fell over it, neither the Young Female Knight nor the Hobgoblin were able to react in time when a pair of armored covered legs fell over the goblin shoulders and a blade lodged itself from the top of the goblins skull going all the way down through its lower jaw.
"Goblin Slayer..." she gasped as the Hobgoblin toppled over to the ground allowing the Silver Rank to land on his feet, ever through his iron mask Young Female Knight could feel his gaze Pierce her.
"I was wondering who was making such a fuss over here but you are the leader of that party I rescued just four days ago." Goblin Slayer stated, Young Female Knight gulped, she had in fact been looking for him after they returned to the guild but had heard he already went on another quest and so had asked the receptionist about the details of said quest and followed after him.
"What are you doing here, I would assume that you would have taken some time to recuperate after the events of your last Quest, yes." Goblin Slayer commented, Young Female Knight felt a chill as she recall the event's of her last quest, namely the death of one of her teammates and the rape of her and her whole team.
"Well, for now it doesn't matter," Goblin added startling, Young Female Knight frown at his cold words and was about to snap at him but the loud foot steps of multiple approaches cut her off.
"Ready yourself we've got incoming." Goblin Slayer told as to her barely concealed horror a total of four Hobgoblins came into view marching towards them. Two of them wielding large Spears one with a fairly big broadsword and another with a and another with a massive club.
"Hobgoblins!? And there so many of them!" she gasped raising her long blade the horrors of her last quest coming back to her as Hobgoblins march towards them.
"Cover your eyes and mouth!" Goblin Slayer ordered reaching into his supply sack on his back and pulling out a small jaw with a tiny cloth covering it. Young Female Knight followed his command as he threw the jaw hitting one of the Hobgoblins over the head shattering it and releasing some kind of gas. their eyes became bloodshot with tears falling down them as cries and screams of agony burst forth!
Goblin Slayer only hats you wait a few seconds for the tear gas to dissipate enough for him to charge forward throwing his sword into the neck of the first Hobgoblin piercing through! with one down and currently choking on its own blood Goblin Slayer race towards another one who was on the ground scrubbing and its eyes trying to get the burning sensation to stop, but this one Goblin Slayer actually jumped at it grabbing it in a headlock and then gave up quick twist injury spinning the hobgoblins head 180 degrees! both snapping its neck and leaving it facing the opposite direction!
The first Hobgoblin he attacked still had his sword lodged in its neck as they flailed about on the ground, with the second hobgoblin down Goblin Slayer jump over to him grabbing a sword and giving a quick twist and thrush tearing a large gash and its throat finally killing it before rushing towards the fourth one! Young Female Knight saw all of this with a pale with a pale expression as you watch Goblin Slayer brutally kill a group of large Hobgoblins before shaking her head trying to clear her thoughts as she drifter sword tighter.
"Come on girl get it together! Since when have you let a man do all the work for you, get in there and kill some damn goblins!" Young Female Knight said to herself during herself up su watch goblin Slayer hack off the hand of third hobgoblin leaving just one left unattended to, with a gulp Young Female Knight race for the last Hobgoblin with her sword held at the rear. she was well aware that she lacked the same physical prowess as Goblin Slayer so she fought her strength by making it up with speed and precise lashes the last goblin I seem to have cleared up as it was given the most time looking for its front it's still bloodshot eyes widen in surprised at the charging female adventurer.
Acting as fast as he could the Hobgoblin reach out to punch her only for young female Knight to dodge the blow wow slashing with all her might at the lower part of its leg causing it to stumble downas blood moves out of the now gaping slash wound, (Good I got its leg tendons!) Young Female Knight thought with a smirk before rushing towards it's exposed back and jumping on top holding her long sword in both hands Young Female Knight stab down with all her might piercing its neck and sending the blade straight out the other end.
"I did it!" she cheered watching it buckle over seemingly now dead "FOOL! DON'T LET UP YOUR ATTACK!" Goblin Slayer shout it standing on the corpse of the third Hobgoblin, young female Knight eyes widen at his declaration as the Hobgoblins large meaty hand suddenly shot up grabbing her by the back of her armor and throwing her off of him into the wall of a building!
"GAAAAHHK!?" Young Female Knight cried from the impact of the building slamming into her before looking in front of her while wincing in pain as the Hobgoblin now stood up with her sword still lodged in it's snack glaring down at her! Reaching behind it with a sharp tug the Hobgoblin brutally pulled the sword out of its next brain blood everywhere before taking a step towards her! However it would go no further as a blade impacted into the back of its skull, causing it to jerk about for several seconds with its eyes rolling into the back of its head then slamming into the ground dead!
"Hobgoblins are known for being much more robust then most would think, in terms of endurance they even rival or outrank trolls." Goblin Slayer said as he walked off the corpse of the Hobgoblin making his way to the fourth one Goblin Slayer managed to kick its hand open releasing its hold on a longs word would he been picked up. Young Female Knight stood shakily managing to stand up and was quietly kicking herself for forgetting that fact, this wasn't the first time she had fought against a Hobgoblin however it was the first time she had done so without her team and even together they always had difficulty killing the things, simply because Hobgoblins had higher endurance and thresholds for pain and how much damage they could take.
"Indeed that was careless of me, I should have pressed my advantage and took its entire head off." Young Female Knight said as he tossed her long sword to her to which she caught and with a couch swing fling away all the excess blood before returning it to its sheath on waist.
"Then be careful, moments of carelessness like that are what gets people killed." Goblin Slayer told her, Young Female Knight slowly nodded, (Talk about cold and blunt he doesn't hold anything back does he.) she thought but was again reminded that she was dealing with a Silver Rank, some one who had been doing this job for years and was acknowledged by the guild as being very experienced.
"Understood, it won't happen again." Young Female Knight replied.
"Very well, now why are you here?" though this was said and what he thought of as a monotone it's still came out hey it's cold and almost angry to the much lower rank adventurer who tensed feeling that she may have angered him at appearing while he was on a quest.
"I had wanted to speak to you about something so I asked the guild attended which quest you were on in headed out to meet you here." Young Female Knight stated watching him quickly wipe off the blood on his sword and shield.
"This could not wait until after I return to the guild?" Goblin Slayers asked in a neutral tone, not that Young Female Knight could tell due to the inflection in his voice never changing so everything he said always seem to come out a bit more menacing than intended.
"Well whatever, stay close, your frantic running about has drawn out the big one." Goblin Slayer stated, Young Female Knight gulp readying her bladed as thundering footsteps begin stomping towards them. Goblin Slayer begin examining his surroundings before taking notice of a bent off piece of wood hanging on the door frame of a hut with the old raggedy cloth acting as the door itself quickly movie over towards it Goblin Slayer broke off the slab of wood and ripped off a piece of the cloth wrapping it around wood before taking out a small bottle from the back of his pouches and covering the wrapped cloth in a dark substance.
"I have no time for a extravagant plan your arrival has complicated things for me." Goblin Slayer said. Young Female Knight wanted to beat herself up for ruining whatever plan he had thought out but she found herself more worried about the simple fact that the footsteps stomping toward them seem to imply that there was more than just one.
"So I'll make this simple, there were only 3 enemies left but the leader of this Hobgoblin nest is one of them and he is approaching now." Goblin Slayer stated lighting the cloth wood on fire.
"I can take out one of the remaining two Hobgoblin's but afterwards my focus will be primarily on the leader of this hobgoblins nest therefore I'll need to leave the last Hobgoblin to you." Young Female Knight swallowed hard as his words reached her she knew she was fairly skilled but her recent battles with the goblins have shaken her confidence and being able to combat the more advanced forms of them.
A loud thunderous stomp brought their attention forward Young Female Knight felt her pupils shrink into two dots at the sight before her. Two large Hobgoblins stood on each side of a monster of a goblin that towered over both of them, being easily twice their size and holding a massive club with spike nails punctured all through it. This monster was far too big to be a simple Hobgoblin that's what Young Female Knight felt.
Horrified by the sheer mass of the monster before them Young Female Knight shakily took her eyes off it for but a second to look at Goblin Slayer with a helpless glean in her sights, "What exactly is that thing?" she asked, looking at his tense form.
"A Goblin Champion. Massive of goblins that are capable of overpowering trolls and can give even Silver rank and Gold rank Adventurers trouble in terms of pure combat abilities." Goblin Slayer answered, Young Female Knight turn back to the enemies feeling sweat pouring down her forehead, (Okay so apparently goblins have an even more dangerous form then Hobgoblins and shamans. that's just lovely to hear.) Young Female Knight thought having never known anything about goblins reaching such a stage as champion, readying herself for what she felt may actually be her last battle.
(Originally when I realized this was a Hobgoblin nest I planned on simply burning it down but... I suppose now is as good a time as any to give this thing a field test.) Goblin Slayer thought looking at his wrist.
"I don't feel any differently but it should be active." Goblin Slayer muttered before throwing the jar at the Hobgoblin to his left, the speed and force the jar crashed into the Hobgoblin actually knock in on it back while covering it in the black substance.
"Not bad," he said flicking the torch he held at the Hobgoblin watching it speed towards and strike the large goblin in the face.
"GGGGGAAAASSSSHHHHH!" screams of agony came crying out of the hobgoblins mouth as it was set ablaze!"
"That one down." Goblin Slayer stated as he and young female Knight watched the burning hobgoblin runabout into it crashed into an abandoned hot breaking it down and setting the woods on fire on top of it leaving the Hobgoblin unable to escape a furious burning death. the Champion Goblin snarled in rage as it turned its eyes to the male armored adventurer recognizing him as the bigger threat of the two humans.
"The Champion will now face me, though it will be a bit rough, can I leave the last hobgoblin for you to take care of?" Goblin Slayer asked young female Knight nodded while taking a deep breath and keeping her eyes focused on the hobgoblin, (Okay so he's dealing with the monster and all I have to do is take down the last Hobgoblin, alone, by myself... oh boy.) she thought unable to stop a shiver of fear racing down her spine but quickly reminded herself that it could easily be worse, she could be the one facing the Goblin Champion.
"Let's do this!" Young female Knight said steeling herself, Goblin seeing her charged turned his attention to the Goblin Champion.
(How do I get myself into theses messes?) Wizard question herself, sitting at a table in at the guild's tavern with two other adventurer's Elven Wizard and Rhea Ranger, the latter of the to have her arm wrapped around Wizards shoulder keeping her in place with her free hand trying to push a mug of ale into her mouth.
"For the last time I don't feel like drinking!" Wizard said trying to push the ale away, as Elven Wizard looked at her with an apologetic expression.
"Oh come on lighten up and have a drink already!" Rhea Ranger shouted getting stares from the many patriots around them.
"I only came here to check up on these two, so why did it turn out like this and where the leader?" Wizard muttered to herself after finally pushing the Ranger off her.
"So how are your injuries?" Wizard asked and Elven Wizard sigh.
"Well despite the arrow wounds I received they didn't pierce anything vital and weren't deep enough to cause any real damage." Elven Wizard explain.
"How ever since our little Ranger refuses to be healed by a holy cleric and my healing spells aren't meant for such excessive damage so it's taking a bit longer for her legs to heal though she should be ready to get back to work as early as next week." Elven Wizard told the younger Wizard.
"Until then I can't do squat so to make me feel better drink with me!" Rhea Ranger said looking up with puppy dog eyes but it was less effective due to the devious smirk on her face.
"I refuse." Wizard answer back simply.
"Tch your no fun." Rhea Ranger mumbled taking another heavy sip of her mug.
"Please forgive her after the disaster that was our last quest she's been drinking nonstop." Elven Wizard explained getting a glare from her teammate but she other wise said nothing.
"Right, so how long are you staying in town?" Wizard asked much happier to have a conversation with the fellow wizard.
"Actually despite everything that happened we'll probably end up setting up shop here." Rhea Ranger answered for the elf getting a raised eye brow, she knew they came from another guild and wondered why they wanted to transfer, as if reading a mind Elven Wizard spoke again.
"We're originally from a guild in the Northeast however quest there were few and paid far too little to make a living so we came to this guild hoping to find better work." Elven Wizard stated, Wizard nodded understanding, not all guilds we're flowing with request like this one so it would make sense that adventurer's would set out to other guilds looking for work.
"Yeah this place is booming with work, too bad our debut suck so horribly." Rhea Ranger added.
"I see, well I hope your future adventures are far more successful then the last one." Wizard said, Rhea Ranger lazily waved her mugs in cheer to that as Elven Wizard held up a small glass of wine in a toast as well.
"By the way what happened to your leader?" Wizard asked, Elven Wizard for the first time since they met looked annoyed.
"She ran off on some quest with us leaving me behind to looked after our Ranger." Elven Wizard said looking both miffed and annoyed.
"What about you where's that undead looking bastard that your partner up with and how come you're not with him now?" Rhea Ranger asked after downing another mug.
"I had some... things to see to that caused me to stay behind as for where Goblin Slayer is well he's most likely..."
Grunting Goblin Slayer was force backwards as the mace of the Goblin Champion smashed into his shield denting it greatly and leaving his hand jarring with a stun sensation.
(This is... not bad.) Goblin Slayer thought as he rush Goblin Champion ducking under a heavy swing and launch a powerful kick at it gut, seeing the attack coming the Champion guarded with it free forearm but was several feet skating backwards several feet as well as a nice crunching sound that Goblin Slayer heard.
"Not bad at all." Goblin Slayer mused in a dry tone as Goblin Champion wench at the bones in it arm being fractured as well as looking at Goblin Slayer in both fury and confusion at the fact that he was much stronger than any human had a right to be.
Several meters away from them young female Knight found herself in her own difficult battle as the Hobgoblin was proving to be quite the challenge for her. She had been trying to deal as much damage by being fast on her feet but it's layer of fat seems to almost act as a shield meaning that she would need time to deliver heavy blows in order to finish the goblin however as she just learned slowing down would only result in giving it enough time to deal its own heavy damage to her such as the club she took to her ribs.
Thankfully she had rolled with the blow to lessen the damage but she was positive it at least two of them were broken.
"I need to end this now, drawing this Battle out any longer won't end well for me." she thought with grim determination and she took a deep breath and raced toward the Hobgoblin who raised this club ready to smash her head in, at the very last second she managed a narrow duct that missed her by a hair's breadth allowing her to close the distance between her and the hobgoblin in jam her longsword straight through the Hobgoblins bottom jaw ear piercing out of the top of its skull killing it instantly!
"I didn't it!" young female Knight said in disbelief at her own accomplishment of managing to best a Hobgoblin in one-on-one combat, Goblin Slayer likewise was finishing up his own dual when a clean slash cut open the stomach of the Goblin Champion allowing blood to spray out and it's guts to begin pouring out from the large open wound!
Dropping to its knees as well as letting go of its weapon the Goblin Champion desperately try to cover the wound with its hands to stop it's organs from bursting out however before could make any headway in its fruitless effort the stop the bleeding the top portion of its head was suddenly cleaved clean off, landing on the ground behind it leaving only the mouth in half of its nose left sending even more blood in the air as its body twitch several seconds more before slamming into the ground finally dead.
"Done, that was the last one." He stated having already seen the night take care of the Hobgoblin she was facing, now with some room to breathe Goblin Slayer was faced with a dilemma as he looked at his covered wrist.
It was the power bracelet, the improvement to his physical state was far greater than he had imagined, it had put him on even grounds in terms of strength with a goblin champion something that he was well aware of would not be the case without said bracelet. It made him weary as if a goblin happened to manage to steal it from him it would be disastrous for future adventurers, villagers, and anyone else that ran across said goblin but he couldn't deny the usefulness of having it but he kept it had to not become in complacent and not becoming reliant on it.
(For now I'll keep it and use it as a trump card, as the witch said it could come in handy someday.) Goblin Slayer thought flicking the remaining blood off his blade before sheathing it then turning to the young female Knight who had also just managed to finish cleaning off her own sore and looking down at the dead Hobgoblin.
"You beat it, not bad." Goblin Slayer commented getting a blush from the Steel Rank.
"Thanks you." she said quietly as he walked towards her.
"Those should have been the last of them plus there were no reports of kidnap villagers so this nest has no hostages for us to search for.
"We'll do a round around the village just in case before making our way back to the guild." Goblin Slayer told her, she nodded gripping the handle of her sword ready for anything. The two had begun their walk around the village and relatives silence while young female Knight debated on how she should spark a conversation with him but found herself rather intimidated by the higher-ranked adventurer.
"If you have something to say then just say it." goblin Slayer spoke after a while causing her to jump a bit and surprised that she turned to him though he didn't meet her gaze back and simply kept his head forward well mind in their surroundings.
"You keep glancing at me and opening your mouth before closing it without saying a word I assume you have something to talk about that's also probably the reason why you intruded upon my quest." goblin Slayer said in a frank tone he wasn't annoyed or upset he was just speaking the truth but his dead to the world voice seemed to echo aggravation causing her to straighten up.
"I'mverysorryIdidn'tmeantocauseyouanytroubleifI'dknownthisquestwasgoingtobesohazardousIwouldn'thavecomeyouhavemysincerestapologyIpromiseIdidn'tmean." she was speaking so fast that her words were running together making it difficult for him to understand.
"Calm down I am not angry so relax and say why it is you came here." Goblin Slayer cut in, stopping her tirade of words while ever keeping his head on a swivel, hearing dad's Young Female Knight stopped before taking a deep breath.
"Sorry about that, when I get nervous I just start jabbering on and on but the real reason I came on this quest to find you was because I wanted some advice about how I could have avoided the situation in my last quest." Young Female Knight said.
"That could have waited until I came back to the guild." Goblin Slayer said bluntly cause her to look down in embarrassment.
"Well whatever, I will answer you but I need to hear how you got captured before I can give you a proper response." Goblin Slayer reply, Young Female Knight didn't really want to talk about her greatest failure to date so she gave him a quick summary of what had happened. She left out the more explicit details and ended it just after she had blacked out from the rock to the head. she felt she didn't need to go on any further after all he was the one who rescued her he could easily guess what had happened afterwards.
"I see, your first and fatal mistake was was leaving the safety of the inner fort you found the body." Goblin Slayer stated getting a befuddled expression from her.
"Why on Earth would we stay in a place that they could have trapped us in." Young Female Knight asked.
"Then it was much better to go out into the open where the goblins had both lower and high ground supremacy!?" Goblin Slayer ask rhetorically she didn't have an answer for that.
"In that situation where you stepped outside and saw you were completely surrounded with goblins targeting you from both below and above you should have returned inside the fort, barricade the doors and began making preparation for the incoming attack." Goblin stated Young Female Knight blink unable to believe what she was hearing, it was such a simple solution yet it never crossed her mind.
"But what would I have done if they had set the indoor fort on fire?" Young Female Knight asked trying to find a flaw in his plan.
"Goblins are by no means geniuses but they are not fools either, that Forest caught fire too easily as such they would not have risks losing the fort to an uncontrollable fire." Goblin Slayer answered in a dry tone.
"Plus while they are cowards by nature if they see a situation that they believe is advantageous to them they become overconfidence, from the inside of fort you could have easily set up a kill zone where when the goblins broke through the door and rushed in you could have slaughtered every single one of them." Goblin slayer added leaving her gaping like a fish out of water.
"How can you be so sure?" she asked staring at the armored man even as he kept looking looking around their surroundings.
"I have done so before, many times. In fact more then a few times I even set off their own warning systems to lure them into a trap and slaughter them all." Young Female Knight had nothing else to say after that, she was speechless for the remainder of their search.
An hour later they were on the road for the long trip back to the guild, Young Female Knight had said nothing as she thought over everything then she learned from the Slayer. It went without saying that learning she better her chances at avoiding the situation she in the rest of her team got in by simply stay in the inner Fort was quite a bit breaking to hear.
(Our Monk died because I chose to charge outside, in an area completely surrounded by enemies.) it was as sobering thought that her own pack of leadership.
"What's done is done." Goblin Slayer said suddenly speaking much to her surprise.
"That quest was a failure and you lost a member of your team sulking is not going to change that all you can do now is take the experience as a learning one and move forward with the remainder of your comrades." Goblin Slayer said looking forward, he wasn't good a motivational speeches but even someone as anti-social as him could see then what he told her weighed heavily on her conscience so he hope this last bit would raise her spirits a some.
"Thank you." Young Female Knight whispered, now just a little bit more motivated to do better it wasn't much but it was something and for that she was grateful.
~the goblin King has lost his head to a critical hit and most dire!~ a Bard begin to sing in a town surrounded by very large crowd who tossed silver and copper coins into a large pan just by his feet.
~and that's the king's repugnant plan comes to a fitting and... ...the princess reaches out to her rescuer her and.~
~but he is the goblin Slayer! in no place does he died... but sworn to wander shall not have another by his side.~
~tis only are within her graphs The grateful maiden finds the hero has departed aye never with a look behind.~
"Tonight this is as far as The story goes of the frontiers hero... goblin Slayer!" the board declared getting a loud cheer in many claps from the crowd around him as they threw a few more coins into his pan before filtering out.
(People do love a tale of an unconquerable savior...! and for money like this so do I!) he mused eyeing a gold coin someone had thrown into his pan and dropping it into the sack as well with a smell noting that he made a hefty sum today but not noticing the small figure approaching him.
"You... the adventurer you sang of... is he real?" a soft feminine voice question, looking up The Bard saw a short hooded figure with a bowl on her back as well as a cloak obscuring most of her head save for her mouth.
"But of course Miss." the Bard said though on the inside he noticed having never met him.
"I hear he lives in a town on the Western border two or three days from here." the Bard told her causing her to tilt her head to the side.
"Hmmm? A town? He doesn't wonder?" she asked causing him to sweat as he realized she was referring to her his tale.
"Well that's convenient." she muse taking off her cloak hood causing him to blush at her revealing her flowing green hair and long pointy ears that marked work as a high elf. "Orcbolg the Goblin Slayer.