Disclaimer: I do NOT own Goblin Slayer or any of these characters.
Author's note: So I got into writing this chapter immediately after I finished the last one. Thanks for the responses, I will now again reply to some.
Donbasos: Thanks for the praise! I want to speed it up a little, but it is quite difficult because all of these things have a very big impact and I need to get all the important reactions there. Hopefully, once they will deliver a Vampire to the Guild and everyone will be aware of his accomplishment, I will be able to the time skip a day or two.
Xerzo LotCN: I do not want to spell it out directly. Just know that I am not a fan of rape scenes. That should tell you enough as the fate of Sword Maiden goes.
I need to get Sword Maiden somehow into the race, so that's why the letter. Nothing else came to mind.
Yeah, even when no one knows what his thoughts are, Cow Girl has probably best understanding of his psyche.
It was Dwarf Shaman who spilled it out.
ViktornovaMk2: I think Spearman enjoyed his fair of adversity for quite a while. Dhampir, it's probably closest mythical creature we can compare him too now. Though in this world Goblin Slayer is like 15% vampire and 85% human and not half and half
Feral creature: Pretty much what happens.
Asianman2: You are right, though I have to say, it is not hard to predict what Goblin Slayer will do next.
Evowizard25: I myself don't get it. He is the first guy who agreed to help GS defending the farm. He is seriously a great guy, and most people just write him off. Though I have to say, Spearman and Witch will have a little obstacle to overcome in their relationship.
Well, you know what they say. It's always the shy ones.
Yeah, they know each other the best and that's why Cow Girl can sometimes know what is going on in his head. When he is thinking about something. When he is not, everyone knows 99% of his brains his painted green.
Sword Maiden in the temple. Well, kept her lewd side there. Who would have guessed it will be the religious ones who are the horniest?
Sir Attlich: Thanks for pointing out the mistakes!
TheGreatBubbaJ: Nice one. Though I prefer SOUKA more.
Halo: Hmm... I think I already spoiled that one.
Zealo24:It's on!
Guest: Thanks for the praise!
ZenithTempest: Well, they didn't tell her because they were silenced by Inspector before they could do so. Don't worry, everyone will find out in time.
Mewtwo-TheLoneShadow: Thanks for the praise! And if Priestess is your favorite, I got a chapter just for you.
PasiveNox: Thanks!
Mclaren-HeeroWing: I am glad I made your day with this little story. I am trying to stay true to those characters in the story and not change the core elements.
I would argue my pacing a slow. But I think for now it works because a LOT of things happened at once, so I need to capture everything and everyone's reaction. Especially reactions of the harem on his accomplishments, since everyone is here for that and the interactions with GS.
Sword Maiden and her enemies will appear soon enough. The dream she had is not for nothing.
Anvil-chan, man I hate this girl. Nothing personal against your best girl, but I have NO idea how to include her into the harem. It seems like I have problems with writing tsundere. Hopefully, I will pull it off.
As for the Hero and Amazoness, read the author notes at the end. I have something to say about that. And if it would come to snu-snu, right now, I would be worried about our ripped girl.
I have not thought of that, but I am intending to have similar moments between the gang and bromance between GS, Spearman and Heavy Swordsman.
Anyway, thanks for the long review, I always love those!
And as previous chapter thanks to Kerlongsj Evert Orlejov for going through this chapter and correcting my mistakes! Now onto the chapter!
Z.L.C. genesmith: Please, look at my other notes. I already explained this several times. And if you want to know what is he capable of, after this chapter you should have an idea.
guyNumber23: Oooooo. Sword Maiden fan. Just to tell you, she will have a BIG role in the future chapters. Or I guess I could call it even an arc. And as for the level of his strength, this chapter address this.
Anyway thanks to the Kerlongsj Evert Orlejov for going through this chapter and correcting my mistakes! Now onto the chapter!
Chapter 11: What can I do?
Witch opened the doors into the local pub, and unsurprisingly she found Spearman at the table trying to get drunk as fast as possible. Knowing him for so long, she knows that when he gets rejected by Guild Girl, he will get a shot or two of something steong into his system. Looking at him now, she knew he is drunk already. Though by the looks of it, he is still not drunk enough to walk around and blackout whenever he feels like it. This is the angry "I want to be alone" kind of drunk. Witch already know his drunken states since they are spending so much time together. Sighing loudly, Witch walked up to the table for four people where Spearman and dozens of empty shot glasses laid.
"Spearman... I think... you should... go to... bed." Witch approached him slowly, with her usual elegance. She reached for him with her hand, but he slapped her hand away.
"Go away!" Spearman who's upper half lied on the table, grumbled, all the while looking at the bottom of the glass in front of him.
"Spearman... we have... quests to do... tomorrow. You should... get some... sleep." Witch walked around the table and sat across Spearman. With legs elegantly over one another and with her staff leaned over the table.
"I am not going on a quest tomorrow!" Spearman declared, punching the stool.
Witch knew very well that now she needs to approach him carefully. Guild Girl always was a sensitive topic. Witch also knew she had no chance with him because he was for some reason obsessed with that pretty receptionist. She doesn't know what he sees in her, honestly. Just a pretty receptionist behind the counter. There was nothing special about her!
"Alright then. But answer... me this. Why... do you... like her... so much?" The Witch asked.
Spearman grumbled. "Just leave me alone for a few days and go to have fun with some guys."
The Witch raised an eyebrow. "Why... should I... go to... have fun... with other... guys?"
"It's what you do."
"What?!" Witch lost her composed voice and nearly yelled at Spearman.
Drunken Spearman just shook his head. "Whatever. Forget it. Just leave me here with my friend." Spearman looked at the glass bottle of alcohol in front of him and poured the next shot.
"I won't." Witch said. It still boggles her mind. How and why Guild Girl captured his eyes and not her? Witch puts a lot of effort to capture his eyes, but somehow it doesn't work. "She is... just... a girl. Regular... receptionist."
For the first time, Spearman laughed. "Regular, you say. Maybe so, but I like regular more than special." Spearman twirled the glass with some kind of strong alcohol, looking at the whirling liquid inside.
"What... do you... mean?"
"Nothing. Leave me be." Spearman downed the shot and again waved his hand, gesturing Witch to leave him alone.
"I already...said I... won't. I am... your closest... friend. You can... tell me." The Witch now grew a little bolder and reached for his hand trying to calm him down at least a little bit. Spearman didn't pull away.
"Gods, you're very annoying." Spearman said to her eyes.
"You can... insult me... all you... want. But I... am not... leaving... until... you will... tell me... what's this... about." Witch said, not bothered by Spearman's insults.
Spearman sighed in frustration, as he already knew her long enough to know that she won't drop the topic until he will spill the beans. "Fine. She is intelligent, pretty and all the good stuff. But most importantly, as you said, she is just a regular girl. Always smiling, being kind to everyone and helping when she can. That's all I look for." Spearman paused. "Happy now?"
Happy?! Of course not! She can be one of those regular girls too! She always smiles, is kind to others and apparently, she is pretty too. So what is the problem?! Truth be told, half of the adventurers in the guild are like that! As he said, just a regular girl is easy to find.
"No. There are... other... people... like... that... in the... Guild. What... is... so... special... about... her?"
"I suppose I forgot to mention that unlike the other people in the Guild, I can easily imagine her as a great wife and a great mother. There, you now know what you want, so get out." Spearman pointed at the door. Unfortunately for him, Witch is a very patient woman. It's not surprising, thanks to the way she has to talk, patience is kinda necessary.
"Wife? Mother?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"You think... about married… life?" surprised Witch asked. And who wouldn't be? One look at Spearman and everyone assumed he is quite a ladies man. Always wearing that confident smirk, long ponytail and trying to woo Guild Girl.
"Of course, who do you think I am?" Spearman angrily asked.
"Not... that... type of... guy."
"Why?" Spearman's expression changed from always angry to kinda curious.
"You... don't look... like it."
"Then how do I look?"
"Like a... womanizer."
Spearman blinked a couple of times before erupting in the hysterical laughter that caught the attention of all the people in the pub. "HAHAHA! Right! Good one! A womanizer who for three years constantly asks only one girl out and is still a virgin. Whoever that guy is, I have to say he should step up his game, he gives womanizers bad name." Spearman wiped the tears from laughter from his face, constantly grinning like Witch something completely ridiculous. "Could you leave now?" Spearman asked, hoping this was finally it.
"You are... not... a loser. Come... I will... get you... to my... room." Witch said, walked around the table and tried to pull Spearman from his chair and get him to bed. And not for any lewd reasons. He clearly needs to sleep this off and talk to someone in the morning.
Spearman angrily pulled his hand away. "I just said I am not that kind of guy. Not even in an intoxicated state like ó so honorable gorilla would be. Find someone else to sleep with."
"Is that... how I... look… to you?" Witch asked though it did not surprise her he thought about her this way.
"You not only look like an easy girl but act as such."
"I... I guess... you don't... like that." Witch looked down sadly. Witch realized that she completely misinterpreted a way on how to capture Spearman's heart. If Spearman was the man she thought he was, he would fall for her immediately. But as it turns out, she turned into a wrong direction.
Spearman raised his voice, as it was clear he is getting tired the talk alrrady. "I don't care in the slightest what you do or who you fuck. Do whatever you want. Jump from bed to bed if that makes you happy, just do not bother me with it."
"You... got it all... wrong." Witch quietly said.
"Whatever. You wanted clear answers, here I will give it to you so you can leave me be. I wanted to find a loyal good girl, marry, have a kid or two, and just live normally as I would bring money home from quests and she would raise the kids, paint pictures, write books, gardening, or whatever the fuck regular people do when they have free time." Spearman firmly stated. "NOW GO! I have to reevaluate my life choice because it seems even a guy whose vocabulary is two rows big is able to seduce a girl better than me." Spearman aggressively grabbed the bottle of alcohol and began drinking directly from the bottle.
"You think... I can't... be... that kind... of woman? Married..., with... family... and... kids" Witch asked drinking Spearman. And as soon as she did, Spearman aggressively put the glass bottle down. "I am getting tired of this pointless talk." Spearman paused as if he waited for Witch to look at herself. Then he quickly stood up.
"LOOK AT YOU! I admit, it is nice to look at, but a kind of man who wants to start a family will be as further away from you as possible. You can look as seductive as you want, but a man like me knows you are not a woman for that kind of a man. And before you say anything, I know that these clothes made from magic threads power your magic. The clothes would probably be understandable even from a jealous guy like me. However, seducing men left and right, stuffing things into the cleavage plus being a busy adventurer? Let's not forget that smoking habit of yours which can mess with the baby if you would ever fell pregnant. Sorry Witch, but even if you would have a kid, you would be a horrible example to small girls. Guys who want to start a family do not look for women like you! Only players do!" Spearman yelled at her. And from his exhausting speech, Spearman sat down. "And I doubt you seek family life too." Spearman whispered to himself and Witch not catching any word of his quiet whispers.
Witch knew she would receive brutal honesty from Spearman as soon as she saw his drunken state. She was prepared for some hurtful words, but she wasn't prepared for this detailed breakdown of her. Not needing further encouragement, she stood up, grabbed her staff and walked out of the pub without saying goodbye, all the while trying to remain composed. She was aware of the vibe she gives off, but the fact he thinks she is nothing more than a whore hurt more than it should. She hoped he knew her better than that. Witch is similar to Spearman in the regard she was waiting for him to notice her, as he waited for Guild Girl. She was not sleeping with random guys, but it seems she still gave that vibe off even to her closest friend. Seems like she will have to reevaluate her life choices too.
Why did she even fall for him? Well, she knew when. It was when the whole Guild came together a few years earlier to take down the Rock Eater and he saved her from a flying boulder that one time. Cliché as it sounds, it was that moment cupid shot her. It didn't make sense to her. Why she would love him, a man whom she thought is a lowly womanizer? That didn't make sense. Perhaps the devotion he had towards Guild Girl had something to do with her infatuation with him. He may look like a womanizer, but he clearly is devoted to one girl once he puts his mind into it.
She now has three years of slutty behavior to erase and make him see her in a better light. How? She does not know yet, but upon learning the true, real, beautiful side of his, she will not let that opportunity go away in any way shape or form. He may be brash and hot-headed, but as she now witnessed, deep down he is a good man. After all, she acted this way to grab his attention. It should be easy to drop the constant seduction, as it is not her cup of tea either. Maybe she just needs to be her teasing self, that will suffice.
Walking down the streets of Twilight Town, she decided to do something about this. This whole thing between them is just a giant misunderstanding. Convincing Spearman that these whole years she acted like this because of him will be hard, but she isn't going to give up. She will show Guild Girl what she is missing out on when she rejected him.
"Finally she's gone." Spearman said and he got ready to finish the glass bottle in front of him. "I will curse myself in the morning." Spearman thought.
As the two dressed up, Priestess asked him what exactly happened to him. And when Goblin Slayer said goblins, she intended to drop the topic entirely. But then, Goblin Slayer said goblins AND High Vampire happened to him. Naturally, Priestess knew about these monsters. At least the basics. That's why Goblin Slayer had to inform her on everything that has happened to him, otherwise she wouldn't let him be. She asked questions like, Did you beat her? Is she dead? and more.
As he was packing the sack with carrots, Priestess got caught up on things that happened when she was asleep.
Throwing a big sack over his shoulder, Goblin Slayer opened the door and walked out of the farmhouse with Priestess trailing behind him. Looking around, he saw quite well even in the night. For some reason, as the sundown approaches, his sight starts losing it's vast recognition of colors and long-sight. And when the sun disappeared from the skies entirely, the colors become bland and dull. One would think it is a disadvantage, but having any kind of vision throughout the night is actually quite handy. At least he sees something.
Although he sees, the same can't be said about Priestess, so that's why he took a torch which hanged right next to the door into the farmhouse.
Thankfully his hearing remained the same in the night. Relatively. He still hears things he should not hear. Or at least not notice. Like right now, as they are walking to the barn Priestess is constantly rubbing her thighs with her free hand when he is not looking. He has no idea why, but he hears the small shuffling in her robes. It is quite annoying to hear all of this.
"What did that goblin lover do to me? Or was it the Resurrection miracle?"
"Priestess, is something wrong? Are you really OK?" Goblin Slayer asked turning his head back. Priestess panicked and nearly dropped the staff when she was caught by Goblin Slayer.
When she managed to juggle her staff back to her hand, she nervously answered. "I-I- I am."
"Then why are you rubbing your thighs under the robe?"
"How do you-" Priestess gulped once she saw Goblin Slayer's neutral expression. Although pretty is his face, his face can be very scary. "I am trying to scrub off... something."
"What is it?" Goblin Slayer stopped walking and turned to face Priestess.
"It's... blood."
This surprised Goblin Slayer, though you could not tell it from his face. As far as he knows, that time of the month should not come now. Rather in one week. And yes he keeps track of Priestess and High Elf Ranger's cycles. He hunts goblins with them, of course, he has to know. Goblins can smell that from miles away, so it's better when that time of the month comes, Priestess stay home.
They weren't happy when he insisted on knowing that about them, but he doesn't want to have their deaths on his hands. When Priestess tried to go on a quest with him, she was visibly tired and had occasional pains in her abdomen. As for the High Elf Ranger, after not so pleasent talk, Goblin Slayer found out that elves don't bleed every month like human women, but rather every century. And as embarrassing as it is for the girls, Goblin Slayer now knows precisely when they bleed, and when they are most fertile.
"Isn't it too early for you?" Goblin Slayer asked, confused about the sudden discovery.
"W-W-wha-?" perplexed Priestess raised an eyebrow. It didn't hit Priestess until Goblin Slayer looked directly at her crotch. "Not that! It's not my blood!" embarrassed Priestess yelled with closed eyes.
"..." Goblin Slayer quietly stared at Priestess's face, baffled on the inside. If it isn't hers, then whose?
Priestess looked at the ground and quietly answered his unvoiced question. "It's yours..."
"Mine?"
She looked back up, right into Goblin Slayer's eyes. Not a single facial muscle moved when he asked, still as stoic as ever. It's nearly impossible to get some sort of reaction from Goblin Slayer... "A-as I was healing you, I- I was sitting on top of your stomach. There was blood everywhere. I-I-I thought you wouldn't make it. The… the blood still is on your bedsheets. When I sat on your stomach, my-my thighs got bloody from there. I managed to scrub the rest of my body of your dried blood when you went for my clothes, but my thighs and... other parts are still bloody." she said with a mixture of sadness and embarrassment.
Ahhh... of course. By now he completely forgot how dirty and bloody his sheets and body are. He hasn't had a bath yet. May as well go to the stream and wash after the test, because the stench is getting really annoying. And it smells far worse than he though it could. It seems another sense got enhanced...
"I see." Goblin Slayer paused. "There is a stream nearby. After the test, we will go there and wash ourselves. But first..." Goblin Slayer looked in the direction of the wooden barn wand walked in that direction. Right behind the barn lies a ranch where Lilie is roaming the fields. Lilie hates pens ever since she was a foul. And knowing the life she had as a foul before Goblin Slayer took her in, it isn't surprising. So Cow Girl isn't closing Goblin Slayer's mare with the rest of the animals in the barn for the night.
Goblin Slayer soon noticed the lack of footsteps behind him. He turned back, and even when the torch barely lit Priestess who stopped in place a few meters from him, he noticed the blush on her cheeks.
"Y-y-ou mean. The two of us? T-t-together. B-b-bath."
"Yeah. Is that a problem?" Goblin Slayer asked.
Is this suppose to be a problem? He needs to clean himself. She wants to clean herself. Then there is the fact that girls don't like to be seen naked by man. But even when he is aware of this fact, it is still irrelevant. He saw her naked several times already and he couldn't care less if anyone saw him naked. No problems as far as he can tell.
"W-w-well. I-" Goblin Slayer carefully watched Priestess, patiently waiting for something else then incomprehensible mumbling to escape her mouth. One of the things Goblin Slayer noticed Priestess stared at his crotch several times, and then she blushed even more. Seems like the earlier incident will stay with him for a while... "N-n-no. No problem at all" she looked at the ground trying to avoid his gaze.
Goblin Slayer nodded and began walking again. Priestess followed the suit shortly after she noticed he is going away. Walking to the ranch to feed Lilie, Goblin Slayer thought something serious is wrong with him. Both physically and mentally.
Having a better hearing and eyesight doesn't worry him too much. But the fact sun tires him out and the fact he hadn't slept a minute through the night is getting into his day to day life. Even though he feels tired, as much as he tried, he couldn't bat an eye tonight.
One thing that is probably a correlation of his mental and physical problems is the morning's incident. It isn't like he doesn't get hard, but he could control it fairly well when he wanted. For example, in the fight against the vampire, he didn't have this problem even when the enemy was very pretty. He didn't even have to focus to calm it down.
But with Priestess, no matter how much he tried, it refused to lay down. And recently even simple hugs from Cow Girl stir the waters between his legs.
"When I buried my humanity, I buried these reactions with it in order to kill goblins efficiently. But now it's different. Ever since they are pulling those feelings out I am losing control over my own body. I smile when I try not to. I hug without a thought." Goblin Slayer looked on his feet "And I get a boner when I should not to."
Goblin Slayer sighed. This is much scarier than any fight he has been before. He has no idea what's to come next. When he had predictable reactions, he knew how others would react. But what will happen when they notice he can smile? Or worse... laugh? True, they didn't get that far, but it is highly possible with how fast he is changing. And what about his quest to kill all the goblins? Will that change too?
He shook his head ever so slightly so not even Priestess behind him could notice. "I need to get a hold of myself. I am starting to lose control not only over my feelings but over my own life."
Seeing Lilie should help in that regard, to remind him what happens when he gives goblins even the smallest amount of time to multiply. No more distractions, goblins need to be dealt with.
Priestess and Goblin Slayer reached the 5 meters high wooden gate entry into the barn. Barn gate was closed so no animals escape. More than half of the ranch was seen even from just the place before the barn. The barn is enveloped from all sides, except for the front which is the entrance to the barn.
Before the barn, the duo of adventurers turned right on the dirt path and walked along the barn and the fence, until they reached the fence gate into the ranch. Goblin Slayer handed Priestess the torch and opened the wooden plank gate with his free hand.
Priestess still hold the torch as they walked into the fields. After a short walk in the spacious ranch, Goblin Slayer finally dropped the sack he was carrying onto the ground. Immediately after, Goblin Slayer whistled as loud as possible with his fingers.
Priestess, holding the torch and the staff, looked out for Lilie. But what came into the torchlight, wasn't a black mare, but a pure white horse with crystal blue eyes. She immediately got the fairy tale vibe from the horse. The white stallions which knights use to save princesses from towers.
"So pretty!" Priestess squealed.
Goblin Slayer sighed. Why did Cow Girl let her horse roam around the field with Lilie? Lilie doesn't like company and can be quite aggressive when approached by other beings.
The white horse slowly walked up to Goblin Slayer and Priestess, loudly sniffing. The long white neck of thethe white horse extended towards Goblin Slayer's face. Priestess saw how Goblin Slayer and the horse were looking into each other's eyes until the white horse nuzzled Goblin Slayer's face.
"Snowball, that's enough." Goblin Slayer gently pushed Snowballs head away from him. Disappointed horse then shifted his attention to the sack Goblin Slayer dropped, sniffing it.
Without another word, Goblin Slayer opened the sack and pulled several carrots out of it. One by one, he began feeding the horse with the carrots. As he has been feeding Snowball, Goblin Slayer turned his head back. And as he suspected, Priestess wore the same excited face she wore when they discovered ice crème.
"Come here." Goblin Slayer gestured towards Priestess. Priestess's eyes widened and her smile became bigger.
"Give me the torch." Goblin Slayer said and Priestess gave it to him. As Snowball finished the last carrot in Goblin Slayer's hand, Goblin Slayer began petting Snowballs head, and Priestesses admired the stallion from such proximity.
"Now pick a carrot and give it to Snowball." and Priestess immediately beamed with excitement.
"Can I? I have never fed a horse." Priestess asked with an unsure yet excited voice.
"It's not hard."
Goblin Slayer gladly crouched and reached into the sack for a carrot. He handed the carrot to Priestess and she unsurely extended her hand with the carrot. The white horse didn't take the carrot immediately, only sniffed the carrot and Priestess's hand.
"It's alright. She's friendly." Goblin Slayer said, though Priestess wasn't sure if he said it to her or Snowball. It seemed it was addressed to Snowball because immediately after, Snowball began crunching the carrot.
"Haha!" Priestess squeaked and instinctively pet Snowball. "She is so noble!"
"He. It's a stallion."
"Ou..." Priestess paused. "But you called he- him Snowball." confused Priestess opened her mouth slightly in surprise.
"It's his name." Goblin Slayer said.
Priestess made a a perplexed face. She figured that out, but why though. However, before she asked, Snowball nuzzled Priestess's cheeks making her laugh. "Haha. Did you name him?"
"No. Cow Girl did."
Priestess was happily petting the horse saying a bunch of sweet things into Snowball's ear. And judging by Snowball's reactions, the stallion took a great liking to Priestess because he began licking Priestess's face as she began giggling all the while trying to stop Snowball from drenching her in saliva. To be honest, Goblin Slayer doesn't blame the horse for taking a liking to Priestess. He warmed up to her too. She has just that sweet aura to her. Aura, which is very hard to resist, especially when Priestess insists on accompanying him everywhere.
Goblin Slayer then heard another horse approaching them. And shortly after, the horse coming to them, appeared behind Goblin Slayer. The black horse stood still, looking over Goblin Slayer's shoulder at Priestess and Snowball. Goblin Slayer turned his head towards his mare.
"I heard you saved me." Goblin Slayer said, and as if the mare understood, she huffed a large portion of the air from her nostrils. To others, it would seem like quite aggressive behavior, but Goblin Slayer knew it meant a simple yes.
"Thank you." Goblin Slayer said, but Lilie didn't avert her gaze from Priestess. The deep dark red eyes of Lilie looked intensely and Priestess until the sweet priestess noticed her.
"Lilie! Hi!" Priestess yelled out. Lilie released another aggressive huff, this time even more sinister than the one she released earlier. And Priestess noticed and got clearly discouraged to interact with Goblin Slayer's horse.
"She doesn't like when strangers yell at her." again, this statement could be directed to both Priestess and Lilie. But right now, it seemed it was directed at Priestess.
"I'm s-sorry, Goblin Slayer-san." Priestess stuttered out, and as if trying to calm her down, Snowball nuzzled Priestesses neck once more. A brief moment of silence came over them until Goblin Slayer decided to feed Lilie too.
Priestess noticed that feeding Lilie is quite different from feeding Snowball. Goblin Slayer didn't pet or said anything to Lilie. He only grabbed a bunch of carrots and one by one he was gently throwing them at Lilie's mouth, as Lilie snatched them from the air.
Priestess doesn't remember Lilie being aggressive like this last time. Priestess hoped that since she rode on her back, the horse would be friendly. Though Priestess failed to realize, that this is very friendly behavior from Lilie, otherwise she would end up bitten only because she dared to approach Snowball.
Priestess watched with Snowball as Goblin Slayer emptied the sack into Lilie's stomach. Once done, Lilie, without a word, the mare disappeared from their sight inro the night in a gentle gallop.
"Goblin Slayer-san?" Priestess asked nervously as she was about to dig up some personal stuff from Goblin Slayer. For the lack of a better term, try to dig up some personal stuff.
"Yeah?"
"Does Lilie like... lilies?"
"No. I would say she doesn't like anything."
"Then... why did you named her that way? She has nothing in common with lilies or flowers in general." Priestess asked in a quite tone. She knows Goblin Slayer named the horse as Cow Girl mentioned it when they rode to the farm. It helped to ease her mind when they talked about random things on Lilie's back. And when asked why did he name her that way, Cow Girl said to ask Goblin Slayer once he wakes up.
Priestess saw how Goblin Slayer raised his head up to the skies. "It was my sister's name."
"Ou." honoring a memory of a sibling, now it makes sense. "Is... is that the same sister you told us about around the campfire?" Priestess reluctantly asked as she knew this is very sensitive topics to some people. All she knows is that Goblin Slayer had an older sister. Other than that, nothing, he fell asleep around the campfire when he told them.
"Yeah. I had only one sibling." Goblin Slayer said, still fixated on the night skies above him, where the stars were slowly fading away to make a place for the clouds of a new day.
"Let's go. I need to test something." Goblin Slayer dropped the topic of his sister and looked back at Priestess. He noticed that Snowball already walked away from Priestess, leaving them alone. Only a friend when you have food... that horse didn't change at all.
"Ca- can I ask what exactly you will be testing, Goblin Slayer-san?" Priestess asked. She forgot to ask him before as she was still embarrassed by the events of this morning. And even thinking about it now makes her cheeks heat up.
"I am not sure myself, but I know I will need your healing ability."
"W-what? Y-you want to injure yourself?" Priestess raised her voice already seeing clearly where this is going.
"I don't want to, but I might."
Priestess pouted. "Promise me you will not injure yourself." she knew begging him to not test this thing is pointless. Once Goblin Slayer puts his mind into something, it's hard to convince him otherwise. Forget about defeating Demon Lord, the person who convinces Goblin Slayer to give goblins at least a week-long break deserves a Platinum rank. And the one who would convince him not to slay goblins, deserves a rank as high as the gods themselves.
"I will take necessary precautions, but I make no promises."
Priestess again pouted in frustration. What does he even want to do?!
Goblin Slayer and Priestess stood before a large row of stock piled wood. Logs approximately four meters long and with a diameter of half of a meter were sitting atop of each other creating a several meters long border with a shovel propped over the pile. In front of this long border, stood a rather large shelter with opened doors in which even more equipment for wood processing laid.
On the left side in the shelter was the wooden stand built from wooden stakes and nails, where they drag the logs through a small opening with trapdoors in the back of the shelter from the pile outside so they can saw the wood into smaller pieces on the wooden stand and the opening. Right next to the wooden shelter wall stood an old wooden table with a hand saw, a crosscut saw, three pairs of old leather gloves, a meter and a bunch of other things needed for wood processing. Next to it, a rusty wheelbarrow with a pile of sawdust in it.
The other part of wood processing is one wide cylinder of wood used as a chopping block, with an axe buried in the chopping block. From the other side of the table, a neatly assembled lines of chopped wood. These blocks of chopped wood took most of the space in the shelter. More than half of it was filled with chopped wood.
"Seems like we are nicely prepared for winter." Goblin Slayer thought. The wood here could easily last them two long winters and they would still have a spare.
"Goblin Slayer-san, what do you want to test here?" Priestess asked all the while not so subtly admiring his face in the torch light. She may as well enjoy the sight before the handsome face disappears under a helmet.
"The logs behind the shelter. I want to try to lift them, throw them and chop them with my hands."
"What?! You would need a bear to even move this thing!" Priestess protested.
"We will see." Goblin Slayer said and walked around the shelter towards the stocked pile logs. Priestess trailed behind with dozen of questions in her mind.
"Goblin Slayer-san, I... I don't doubt you are strong. But this is impossible!" Priestess said.
Goblin Slayer turned back to her.
"Listen. When I returned the bowl with veggies to Cow Girl, the bowl seemed weightless. I weighted it with my hands, and it seemed like the whole bowl didn't weight more than a feather. I brushed upon a wooden shard of the bowl and I noticed it didn't hurt my hand. The sack with carrots weighted nothing also. My hands feel more durable. I feel faster too like I am now living on some kind of slow setting. I want to test if I imagine things, or if these are another changes that my body underwent in the last hours."
Priestess opened her mouth slightly in surprise. "H-huh? Yo-your body underwent changes?" Goblin Slayer loudly sighed.
"I will tell you about these changes once I will figure it out. For now, just stay back." Goblin Slayer handed Priestess the burning torch.
"O-Okay."
Now that Priestess understood, Goblin Slayer finally could focused on his task. So first things first, trying to throw the log. Goblin Slayer carefully examined the beech logs, all the while thinking what the hell is he doing.
Nonetheless, Goblin Slayer climbed up the pile and looked for a log that would be easy to grab. One log was sticking out a little from the pile, and it seemed easy enough to grab with a small hole in the bark and the wood. Kneeling down beside the log, he hugged the log and grabbed it by the hole for a better grip.
"Well, if my back breaks she is here to heal me." Goblin Slayer looked at the Priestess for a second. And then, he began lifting the log up. The log and Goblin Slayer trembled a little when he began, but he eventually lifted it up without many troubles. He leaned his head to the side so there is a space on the other shoulder and put what he could there to ease the weight. It wasn't like the bowl being a feather, but he would compare this to a carrying 2-3 sacks full of carrots. Hard to lift, but once he puts his mind into it, easy enough.
"Goblin Slayer-san! You! You lifted... it" Priestess's voice drifted into quietness.
"Yeah." Goblin Slayer has to admit, it is amazing. The only downside here is he has troubles holding it. He doesn't have long enough arms to hug the whole log. However, that doesn't matter. The first test was a success. "I am indeed stronger."
From the information on how bowls, sacks, and logs weighed before and now, he could somewhat predict what he is able and not able to lift.
Clearly, he can't throw the log from his shoulder like this. Goblin Slayer dropped the log, but not onto the pile. He dropped it down on the ground behind the wood shelter creating a loud crash. As he was getting ready to jump down from the stockpile, he got another idea.
"Are my legs also stronger? They should be, otherwise I would not be able to lift the log."
Without further thinking it through, Goblin Slayer knelt down and jumped as high as he could. At first, it startled him how high he jumped. He could jump over a Goblin Champion if he wanted with ease.
"Goblin Slayer-san!" Priestess immediately panicked. From this height, he could easily hurt himself! He was now as high as the roof of the barn, if not higher, and he is about to fall down! She quickly ran around the shelter and the stockpile of logs to see if he is okay.
Running around the corner, Priestess saw Goblin Slayer kneeling on the log he dropped before, intensely staring at his legs and arms. "Are you okay, Goblin Slayer-san?"
"Yeah." Goblin Slayer informed Priestess, still staring at his body fascinated by his own hands and legs. Goblin Slayer smiled on the inside. "With this, I can just jump at Goblin Champion and cut his head off with ease."
Another task at hand was the throw. Goblin Slayer grabbed the log's bottom and lifted it up like he was holding a club, only with both arms around the log. Turning to the empty field near the farm, Goblin Slayer decided where he wants to throw the log.
Meanwhile, Priestess couldn't believe what she was seeing. Goblin Slayer holds that log like nothing! And she thought he was strong before! This is on a whole another level! She had dozen of question regarding how, why and what happened to him to cause this? And before Priestess could think about it more Goblin Slayer threw the log into the field like some kind of javelin. It flew good 50 meters before it hit the ground with a loud thump.
"Seems like my whole body increased it's strength." Goblin Slayer informed Priestess, still looking at the log he just threw. "Now to test my body's endurance."
The sun was finally rising over the horizon, and Goblin Slayer decided to end his test a few minutes ago. And the second part of the testing got more bloody. Throwing and lifting could result in some ruptured muscles at worst. But once Goblin Slayer began punching the wood, that's where Priestess had to use the Heal miracle.
Goblin Slayer punched through one log, rupturing it in two. When Goblin Slayer looked at his hands, there were several shards of wood stuck in his arm, tattering his long sleeved shirt. It didn't hurt as much as Goblin Slayer thought it would be. His bones and muscles seem to endure the impact of the punch without an issue. But his skin was still fragile. Maybe it got a little denser, but wood shards can still get through. Thanks to Priestess he brought with him, the injuries he sustained got quickly taken care of. This didn't bother Goblin Slayer that much, as when he will get his armor and gauntlets, this little imperfection in his boosted body will become irrelevant.
To not waste any wood, Goblin Slayer then processed the wood he destroyed into the chunks that he arranged into the stockpile in the wood shelter. Priestess meanwhile watched him do the work, sitting on the table in the shelter. He had no idea why, but she was blushing through most of his wood processing. Sometimes she asked questions if he could do anything else, so he told her what exactly changed in him. The eyesight, hearing, smell, appetite for meat, sun tiring him out and his inability to sleep at night. When Goblin Slayer stopped his wood processing, Priestess suggested that these changes might have to do something with his fight with the vampire.
"Were you bitten by her Goblin Slayer-san?" Priestess asked.
"Yeah." he answered when he remembered she was biting him for quite a while.
Priestess got nervous. Clearly, Goblin Slayer isn't transforming as he should. So that's good. Maybe.
But still, he got bitten. So something vampirish is clearly in there. Maybe... he was a vampire from birth? It would explain his pale skin and red eyes. Priestess quickly shook her head. "No. If I would use Resurrection miracle on a vampire, I would turn him into dust." But, just to be clear...
"Goblin Slayer-san?"
"Yeah?"
Priestess reached into her robe to grabbing her silver necklace with balancing weights as a pendant that boosts her miracles and took it off her neck. She then extended her hand with the necklace to Goblin Slayer. "Do you feel anything?"
He waited a a little. "No."
"Hmm... can you grab it?" Priestess asked. And Goblin Slayer grabbed the necklace without a word. Nothing was happening for quite a while. "So holy items and silver doesn't do anything?" she thought when suddenly, Goblin Slayer spoke. "It's getting hot in my hand."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"So it is doing something." Priestess betted it was the silver, because if it was the something holy, he would be repulsed by her. And judging by their cuddling session in the morning, that's not the case.
When she took the necklace back, Goblin Slayer's hand was red as it was slightly burned. Nothing serious it would seem, but when exposed to silver for too long, it burns Goblin Slayer's skin. It has the same effect on him as silver has on vampires, just a tad bit slower. "Goblin Slayer-san I think you should avoid silver from now on. It does you no good." Priestess said having Goblin Slayer hand in both of hers.
"Ok."
It is clear for Priestess, that some vampire blood resides in Goblin Slayer. As little as it is, there is some making these changes in sight, hearing and reactions to sun and silver. But for some reason, holy miracles and being in a presence of a priestess does nothing. By all means, she should be scared that this evil vampire part of Goblin Slayer could will over him. But she is not. Whatever he became, it will never change who he is.
Priestess smiled briefly looking at her mentor and love. "Good or bad, Goblin Slayer will always slay only goblins."
The two returned to the farmhouse for a brief moment to take two towels. It was early in the morning, not even Cow Girl's uncle was up. They will be gone for a while, so if Cow Girl notices even Priestess is not present at the farm once she wakes up, maybe even the blonde girl will get a meal. But as for now, it's bath time.
The familiar clean stream was running through the rocks. The stream is so clean you could see rocks at the bottom of the water. No mud, no grass, just water flowing on the grey rocky pedestal in the middle of a small forest.
Priestess admired the sight and the small animals such as birds, squirrels and rabbits running around, that she didn't even notice Goblin Slayer began undressing. "Will you clean yourself now, or will you go after me?"
Once Priestess turned to Goblin Slayer, she witnessed something she was not ready for. Goblin Slayer stood in front of her all bloody and dirty, but most importantly, buck naked! And as much as she wanted to not stare, she did. Rest of his body didn't interest her as she saw his scarred paled body a few times already. Not even his face which is a rarity to see, but as his armor and helmet are in pieces now she had a nice view of his face ever since she woke up.
Now the one part she hasn't seen is on full display. One would think that Priestess would blush and immediately turn around, however that couldn't be further from the truth. Lips slightly parted, eyes widened and glued to Goblin Slayer's prized possession, like she tried to burn the image into her memory.
Goblin Slayer waited for the answer, but it never came. And since he is a guy who doesn't like repeating himself, Goblin Slayer sighed and slowly walked into a chilly morning stream. Aaaaah... how much he loves when he gets to clean himself in the morning after a night spent in a goblin nest. It's the little things which better his mood.
Goblin Slayer's splashing in the water caused Priestess to finally snap out of her trance. Blinking a few times, she realized what she was doing. It was now that she blushed dozens of shades of red and pink.
"G-G-go-" she turned to Goblin Slayer in the stream and tried to apologize, but seeing him not bothered, splashing water upon the higher half of his body as the second half is dipped in the water she knew it is pretty pointless. By now she knows him enough to know that these kinds of things don't bother him at all.
Though there is still one person or rather, deity that she needs to ask forgiveness. She quickly knelt down grabbed her staff with her hands, closed her eyes and began praying. "O merciful Earth Mother, please forgive my sinful behavior! I-I-I don't know what came over me!" Priestess tried to formulate the words better, but this is what one half of her brain managed to put together. The other still saw Goblin Slayer's long manhood in its glory.
Meanwhile, Goblin Slayer was scrubbing all the dried blood from him. His mind was filled with random thoughts. And surprise, surprise, they were all about goblins and how he could kill them with these new powers. As he walked deeper into the clean stream, Goblin Slayer spotted a big rock in the water. "I threw a log. Maybe I can throw this too."
Bending over, Goblin Slayer picked the rock as the water changed the flow ever so slightly, he placed a part of it on his shoulder, changed his stance for a better throw and he threw the big gray rock into the forest across the stream, just too confirm his powers are real. It wasn't as easy as the log was, but he managed to throw the rock with the size of a grown boar into the treetops across the stream. He heard how the branches were cracking, and cracking as the rock flew further into the forest, until it finally hit something. Goblin Slayer thought he heard the rock hit the ground. However, ground does not squeal.
"This will be handy." Goblin Slayer thought of dozens of situation where throwing a boulder in goblin cave could help him, ignoring the squealing he heard, thinking he imagined it. And as new ways of killing goblins ran through his mind, he continued to clean himself as if nothing had happened. As he held a palm of clean water he was ready to splash on his face, he got another idea. "I wonder if I can last longer under the water."
Before tetsting that, Goblin Slayer threw the water in his palm away and took of the ring that enables him breath under water, and held it in his palm. Then, without a second thought, Goblin Slayer went deeper into the stream and dived down. If only he remained on the surface, his enhanced ears would hear an angry growling in the forest.
Once Priestess opened her eyes from ending the prayer and her wild imagination, Goblin Slayer was nowhere in sight. "Goblin Slayer-san?" Priestess quietly said when she didn't see him. She looked back and forth, up and down the stream, into the forest behind the stream and all around her. But she haven't seen him anywhere.
With an unsettling silence, Priestess got nervous and her mind immediately imagined bad scenarios. Did, something happen to Goblin Slayer? W-W-what if something attacked him in the water? What if swamp lizards like the one Sword Maiden has lived here? Priestess gulped. The stream is pretty big, big enough for smaller alligators to swim in it and she guesses she won't be able to stand in the middle of the stream with her head above the water. Some big animals can surely live here.
Slightly shivering, Priestess decided to undress and tried to look in the water for Goblin Slayer. "Goblin Slayer-san?" Priestess quietly asked all the while continuing into the chilly water with careful steps. She shivered even more. How could Goblin Slayer swim in the bath and swim in this?! It's so cold! The only thing she took with her was the staff in case something attacked her in the water.
It wasn't the water that began rustling though. On the other side of the stream, something big was coming in her direction. Startled Priestess looked in that direction, however, she wasn't going to stay on the place doing nothing. She had that bad feeling whatever it is, it's not friendly.
Standing in nearly in the middle of the stream with only her head above the water, she dipped the bottom of the staff into the water on the rocky floow and began chanting. "O merciful Earth Mother, please protect us, the wea-" but she never finished as a big black bear with raging black eyes jumped out of the forest running towards Priestess, with a drool up his roaring mouth ready to devour the puny human. Shocked Priestess didn't have time to finish her prayer as the bear already jumped towards her, so she just shut her eye and in the last effort tried to swing her staff and hit the bear with it.
Fortunately for her, from her left side Goblin Slayer jumped out of the water and tackled the jumping bear with his shoulder. The bear made several rolls and landed in the place where water was shallower. The black bear whose half of a body was underwater slowly put himself back on its feet, having to shake his head in confusion.
"You alright?" Goblin Slayer asked Priestess, putting his ring back on.
Fortunately for Priestess, Goblin Slayer's bottom half was under water so she was able to respond normally. Though, if she looked down, the clear water there wouldn't make it hard to see Goblin Slayer's goods.
"I-I-I am. T-Thank you, Goblin Slayer-san."
Suddenly Goblin Slayer turned around and stared at the bear. The bear kindly returned the gesture. The bear roared and ran towards Goblin Slayer again. Water splashing around, the bear seemed like an unstoppable force ready to run over both of them. Goblin Slayer already knew, he needs to get Priestess out of here to safer position. She is not suited for the front lines. Goblin Slayer grabbed the tiny body of Priestess who only released a small "Uh?" in confusion. He then threw her into the middle of the stream where the water is deeper, and where he previously tried to measure how long he can remain under water. The priestess was screaming, flaying her hands with the staff in one of them before she landed into the water.
Goblin Slayer turned around just in time to grab the bears hands as he tried to jump on him. The force of the bear pushed Goblin Slayer back, his feet scraping against the rocky surface of the stream. Luckily for Goblin Slayer, he managed to stop them both, as both of them stood on two feet now.
The bear now looked down on Goblin Slayer and seeing it's advantage, the bear tried to bite Goblin Slayer's head. Goblin Slayer, however, managed to dodge with his head slightly to left, and instead of the head the bear bit into Goblin Slayer's shoulder.
By now Priestess managed to submerge from the deeper part of the stream, only seeing Goblin Slayer wrestling with a bear. With the black ears mouth, chewing on Goblin Slayer's shoulder. "G-Goblin Sla- Slayer-san!" Priestess screamed, splashing water filling her mouth as she tried to swim to the place form where she can chant her magic and help Goblin Slayer.
However, before Priestess could help, Goblin Slayer took things in his own hands. Literally. Grunting through the pain in his shoulder, Goblin Slayer released one of the bear's paws and thrust his hand into the bear's chest with everything he got. He thrust through ribs, grabbed the heart of the bear and tore it out with the same force he got to him. Seconds later, the bear's grip on his shoulder soften, and the bear collapsed into the water, painting the stream in red color.
Goblin Slayer looked at the twitching heart in his hand, with fascination. "I am able to rip someone open too."
The more and more he learns, the better he feels. With this, cleaning goblin nests should be a breeze.
The smell of fresh blood got to Goblin Slayer's nostrils shaking him to the core. It was like the blood is calling to him, and his body desired it with every fiber of his being. The lust for it was easy to control though. Perhaps it was thanks to the exceptional control of his own body and urges. Perhaps it was normal in this state. Who knows?
However, looking at his bloody hand holding the heart, he wanted to taste the blood. Not out of necessity necessarily, but curiosity. There is a high chance this can boost his abilities even further.
Pulling his hand to his mouth, he licked the blood dripping from the heart. Immediately he noticed how the tiredness from two days without sleep decreased. It has the same effect as stamina potion, only this time the liquid drunk tasted great. Rich, energetic taste. He could easily see why vampires are fixated on this if they have similar taste buds to him.
"Goblin Slayer-san!" Goblin Slayer turned around and saw Priestess running to him in the stream. Seems like she managed to get out of the deeper part of the stream. "At least she is OK."
Without further words, Priestess began healing Goblin Slayer's shoulder.
Cow Girl just checked the place where she stored a few wheels of cheese so they can get the blue mold she wants. It's only two days, but so far, nothing is really happening. Their basement is very cool and in a special part of the basement even a little damp, so she tried that place for this little experiment with cheese. It should suffice as caves in which they are done normally. Hopefully, it will work.
When she exited basement and walked through the kitchen, the busty pink-haired girl sadly looked at the remaining bacon she fried this morning. "They are probably already at the Guild."
However, when she opened the door outside of the farmhouse, she discovered they weren't at the Guild. Seems like they were hunting, because Goblin Slayer was holding two pairs of paws of black bears over his shoulders, dragging the two dead beasts behind him and atop of him. One of them had a crushed head and overall it looked like a gigantic black coat on Goblin Slayer.
She quickly ran towards them, to see what the hell happened and how is Goblin Slayer able to carry all of this. Before she could say anything, Goblin Slayer already asked like he was carrying nothing. "Have you ever cooked a bear?"
Surprised Cow Girl was speechless. It was during her quiet moment that she registered Priestess beside him and a squirming fur ball in her arms. Cow Girl looked at the small priestess, and the blonde wore a beaming smile. The squirming fur ball eventually revealed to be a lively black bear cub.
"And do you know what bear cubs eat?" Goblin Slayer asked.
Author's note: So first I want to address this last part. You know how Sword Maiden has her familiar or summon or whatever you wanna call it? I will give Priestess one too. And High Elf too in the future. But as I was writing the bear fight, I got an idea. Could you imagine a Priestess riding on a big ass black bear who is tearing goblins in front of her as she casts heals and other stuff? I couldn't get that image out of my head and decided to roll with it. So tell me what you think about that. I think it is pretty cool and hilarious. And don't worry, I will explain from where the second bear and the bear cub came from in the next chapter, even though it is hinted in here.
So tell me what you think of that idea.
It was a long-ass chapter with some moments between Priestess and Goblin Slayer. I hope I addressed everything I wanted in this chapter regarding Goblin Slayer's abilities. And what many of you suspected, Lilie is his sister's name.
Now for the next chapter. I was thinking, and I think I can pull off having Hero and her squad join the harem. Hero and her gang will appear at the Sea Festival and I have something planned for her squad to make them interesting. So I think I can pull ALL three of them even with that lesbian succubus I promised still in mind for a little later. Now the question is, can I make it work? Because that's 9 girls.
Or even better question. Can I make it 10?
In the next chapter, I will have a scene with the Amazoness. I will let you decide if there is some future between these other girls and GS. I think it could be great having Amazoness and the other two, to round it up to ten. There could be some interesting rivalries in the harem too. The OG 5, Hero 3, and the two types of women who do not mind sharing the man (Succubus and Amazoness)
Tell me what you think about that. I am saying now, I am NOT GOING ABOVE 10. Even this is giving me a headache.
That's all from me. Thanks for all the support and reviews, and see you in the next chapter.