"You really intend to come out here? With all that's been happening, I'd recommend you best push through."
The driver asked as they drew closer toward Mountain Pass, the overcast sky did little to help lighten the mood. He looked back to see the party of five and the large dire wolf sleeping in the back of the wagon, with a sigh he gave the reins a crack as they continued on toward the town ahead.
"We here for the goblins."
The flat, emotionless voice caught the driver off guard who turned to see the man in the armor slowly turn his head toward him. The darkness within the armor almost gave off the appearance of a piece of living armor or an undead , but the driver told himself it was just a man in armor…just an adventurer.
"If you say so."
Goblin Slayer returned his gaze to the others to see them with eyes open now, not really looking at any one person, just sitting solemnly as they thought about what was ahead of them. High Elf Archer looked out the back just as they passed one of the nearby farmsteads burnt to the ground. Dwarf Shaman looked out as well and frowned at the sight, near the ground he was able to make out the burnt shape of what must have been a human.
"What do you think Beardcutter?"
"The horde is larger than what we've been told, perhaps as big as the force that attacked the farm."
"How can you tell Goblin Slayer?"
"These farmsteads are being targeted one at a time, and in each one there is at least one survivor who reports the things they saw. The quantity of goblins is reported as getting larger each time, this leader is growing bolder with each attack, when he comes to take the town, he'll use his full force."
"Do you really believe he will try to take this town Milord Goblin Slayer?"
"If he's thinking like a goblin, then he'll go after everything that town has."
Looking back at the sight behind them, High Elf Archer sighed before reaching out to pet the top of Wolf's head.
"We can't let this go on any further."
High Elf Archer looked towards Wolf then back to Goblin Slayer to see him nod his head towards her which put a light smile on her face.
"We won't."
Once inside the town, the party was surprised that the atmosphere of the town was rather lively for all that happened around them, all but Goblin Slayer. The people were out and about, laughing and smiling as they visited around the merchant stands, buying and trading as if it was just another ordinary day. High Elf Archer and Priestess were at a loss, from what they heard from the Sword Maiden, dozens of people were killed and countless goods and supplies were stolen, so why was no one concerned?
"What the hell is wrong with these people?"
"It's like Water Town…the state of mind of these people is just like they were."
"Only those who've seen a goblin attack can know the true evil they represent."
Everyone looked to Goblin Slayer who was watching the comings and goings of the townspeople. With Wolf by his side, he started toward the largest building bearing the Guild mark on the tavern sign. The others followed behind them, the townspeople eyeballed them suspiciously as they took sight of the dire wolf and the strange armored man, but quickly returned to their own business, treating this group of adventurers with indifference.
"So Beardcutter, what are we after today?"
"I'm looking for a map of the area. I have a theory about the attacks and need to confirm it."
"Is that all Orcbolg? No magic scrolls? No barrels of fish?"
"No…I was forbidden from using such tactics."
"You're not pouting are you?" High Elf Archer smiled to Priestess who returned the playful smile.
"No."
"Then perhaps it would be best if we were to split up to do our errands?"
"What were you thinking Scaly?"
"Perhaps you Sir Mage and Lady Ranger could accompany me in gathering supplies for our journey. Milord Goblin Slayer and our Earth Mother Acolyte could inquire as to any other information on this quest or the doings in the town."
"Sounds like a plan to me. Hey Orcbolg, are you needing any particular supplies?"
"Nothing at the moment."
The group split up as they went about their errands, outside the Guild Hall, Goblin Slayer turned toward Priestess.
"Stay out here with Wolf. I shall return shortly."
"Oh, yes sir."
Goblin Slayer turned back toward the entrance and walked in with his bold stride, meanwhile Priestess sighed as she found a nearby bench to sit while she waited; Wolf followed beside her before sitting and watching the people pass by. Priestess puffed our her cheeks in annoyance, being told to wait outside like a child and his tone, it was all so infuriating, then she looked to Wolf and sighed in resignation.
"It makes sense to stay out here, I don't think they'd welcome Wolf in there as they did back home. Still, he could have at least said "please" and "thank you"."
Priestess looked around and finally noticed the man at the other end of the bench, a haunted look on his face as he starred down at the ground, in his hand was a leather pouch no doubt filled with some spirit based on the smell. Priestess grew nervous at the sight of this man and quickly looked back toward the entrance of the Guild Hall hopping to find Goblin Slayer returning.
"It's my fault…"
The strained voice came from the man, Priestess turned back to see he take a deep swig from the pouch before mumbling once again.
"They're all gone because of me…"
"Wh, who's gone?"
The man turned toward her and once again Priestess grew more nervous at the hollow gaze in the man's eyes, the only thing keeping her from running was the fact that Wolf had taken noticed and was right beside her.
"My family…I told him to kill my son…he forced me to choose…he killed my daughter instead…then my son and wife abandoned me…" The man took another swig before continuing. "This place is cursed…the goblins…the Beast Master…we're all going to die."
The man stood, swaying slightly before walking away in the opposite direction; Priestess felt relief that he had gone away but also felt sorrow for his situation.
"He's one of the survivors of the most recent attack."
This new voice caught her off guard, she turned to see an older gentleman with icy-blue eyes smiling back at her. The man's hair was set in a ponytail and his beard covered his face, but was neat and trim, both had gone grey form his years of experience. Though old, his physique was like that of a younger man, someone who kept themselves fit and active. He was rather plain looking in his clothing, save the brown leather gloves upon his hands and the black whip by his right side. Beside this man was a rather well-endowed beauty with long bluish hair and amber eyes, she too was rather plain in her attire and in her hands was a basket of fruits and cheese. Priestess bowed and smiled at her, but saw a look of indifference on her face.
"My apologies if I startled you, I heard him speak out and saw the puzzled look on your face. I gather you're not from around here?"
Before Priestess could answer Wolf suddenly started growling as he moved directly between Priestess and the man. The man motioned for the woman to move behind him as he reached for his whip, what was strange to the Priestess was the fact that neither was afraid, she remained stoic but the man's grin suggested he was ready for a fight, almost welcoming it.
"Wolf no that's enough, they're not our enemies." Priestess tiny hands wrapped around Wolf's neck as best they could as she used all her strength to pull him back.
Wolf stopped his growling as he looked back at her then back at the humans, never taking his eyes off them he sat, still putting himself between them and Priestess. The man looked at the dire wolf then back to Priestess and smiled once again.
"Loyal companion you have there."
"I'm sorry, he's very protective of the party."
"It's the pack mentality, he looks out for you because you look out for him, very noble. Where are my manners though, this is my wife, and we are travelers on our way toward Water Town. Given the business with the goblins though, we're waiting until its safe. I see by your vestments you are an acolyte of the Earth Mother yes? Have you come to try and restart the temple here?"
"Oh yes I am a follower of the Earth Mother, but I am not here on the temples behalf, my party is here to aid with the goblin situation."
"Is that so?" The man casually observed the tag around her neck. "Steel I see, well at least they didn't send out a bunch of porcelains."
"Oh no, everyone else in my party if silver rank."
This caught the man and woman's attention at the sound of the rank, he smiled and eagerly pressed on.
"Silver you say…and I thought silver's only went after larger prey like trolls or even dragons."
"We go where we're needed."
This time it was the man and woman who were taken aback, this flat, mechanical voice came from a man in dirty leather armor who now stood beside Wolf and Priestess.
"Goblin Slayer, did you finish your purchase?"
"I did."
Like Wolf, Goblin Slayer did not take his eyes off the man and woman, but to Priestess' surprise this only made the man grin even wider.
"You must be the leader of the group, you have a commanding presence, and I can sense the confidence radiating off you, but it's not over confidence. It's a pleasure to meet someone with a little something between their ears, put 'er there boy."
The man held out his hand toward Goblin Slayer, Goblin Slayer reached out a gave this hand a firm grip and a couple of pumps before looking down at the glove, carefully noting it, and then looking back at this man who kept grinning at him. Goblin Slayer released the man's hand and returned to his natural pose, looking toward the man and the woman.
"Goblin Slayer, not boy."
"Of course." The man then looked to the dire wolf and back to Goblin Slayer. "Interesting pet you have there."
"He is not a pet, he is our party member."
"Oh yes, I see his tag now…very interesting. Tell me, what kind of training did you have to put him through to get him to be so loyal?"
"I didn't train him."
The man frowned as if he didn't hear the response, he heard it clear as day, what bothered him was he couldn't comprehend it.
"What do you mean you didn't train him?"
"We found him in a goblin cave and released the shackles holding him."
"And he just followed you all that time then?"
"Yes."
"I see." The man had a puzzled look about his face as pondered what had been said to him. "Oh well it doesn't matter, I've taken up enough of your time. Best of luck with the goblins."
With a nod, he and his wife turned and began to walk away slowly getting themselves lost in the crowd. Wolf once again growled as he watched tensing his body as if he was ready to charge, when he felt a series of gentle pats along his head; he looked up to see Goblin Slayer slowly shaking his head.
"Not here Wolf."
"Is everything alright Goblin Slayer?"
"When the others get back we'll need to make for the furthest farm to the east of the Town, that will be their target tonight. The Guild already dispatched two groups of porcelains to the nearby farms, we'll be there to provide support."
"What of that man Goblin Slayer? Did you know him?"
"No. Imagine we'll see them soon though."
"What do you mean?"
"There's a reason Wolf acted the way he did, the smell coming off him."
"What smell?"
"The smell of the other wolf."
"The other wolf…then you mean that was, the Beast Master?"
Goblin Slayer was silent as he looked back at the crowd of people, trying to catch a glimpse of those two from earlier, but could not find any sign of them.
"We have to be ready for him…he too thinks like a goblin and that can be very dangerous."
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, as a math teacher I don't get as much free time to write as I would like to. I plan for this section to go much further, Goblin Slayer/Wolf will engage Beast Master/Scar more than once before this quest is over, and I will provide some back story for these two antagonists. Thanks again for all the follows and favorites, I'm happy that my story is enjoyed by some many people…now if I can convince Kumo Kagyu to make this canon, then that would really be something. Hey a guy can dream can't he?