"That should about do it."

Back in Mountain Pass, the party started the recovery process, Priestess had used Heal the night before to tend to the two large gashes Wolf received from Beast Master's whip, now she finished changing the wraps she tied around Wolf's leg. Due to Wolf's large size and general appearance, Goblin Slayer was told he would have to keep the dire wolf in the stables, far from the horses.

"I'll be back with some food for you in a bit Wolf, you rest now."

Wolf looked toward the bandages around its leg before laying its heads down on the soft straw bed made for him, though the pain was gone the exhaustion still remained. Priestess gently stroked his head as she watched him quietly snoring, still surprised that in such a short amount of time she had come to trust this massive wolf. She then collected her supplies and proceeded to join her comrades inside the inn, it was decided to split two rooms, one for the men and the other for the women, at the moment though, everyone was meeting in the men's room.

"He's sleeping now."

"Good."

"So how many goblins was that last night then Beardcutter?"

"Seventy-Eight…though there were still survivors."

"Those two…the man and woman, they're truly dangerous Orcbolg." High Elf Archer frowned as she carefully inspected her bow and arrows.

"I was shocked that woman knew such spells, disintegration and the ability to create those illusions of oneself, those are skills of one who is equal to a gold rank. What was even more surprising was that man, I did not take him for a magic user, those explosions and creating the spark from his fingertips, I have never seen anything such as that."

"It wasn't magic."

Everyone looked toward Goblin Slayer who, still keeping his helmet on, had completely removed his armor plates and chainmail to check the dents and links. Lizard Priests suddenly noticed that Goblin Slayer would occasionally pause what he was doing with his left arm, as he slowly clenched and released his fist before returning to his work.

"Milord Goblin Slayer, are you…"

"That was a "grenado"."

" "Gra-na-do"…like a pomegranate? Is that what you mean Goblin Slayer sir?"

"Not quite. The granado is as small explosive made using a clay sphere and filled with a combination of brimstone, saltpeter and charcoal, a wick of desired length is inserted to ignite the contents. The miners I spoke with said when digging, if the rock was too hard for picks, they would use these explosives to weaken the rock for them to continue."

"Well that explains the explosions, but what about the spark Beardcutter?"

"I noticed it when I shook his hand yesterday, the fingertips of his gloves are purposely left rough, this roughness causes friction as he snaps his fingers to ignite the wicks."

"Orcbolg please tell me that you don't have any of these "grenados" with you."

"No, they are very dangerous, if the wick is too short you run the risk of destroying yourself. Like the flour, it is not a very wise tool to use in a cave when goblin slaying, especially for one who is not experienced with it. This man however, knows how to use them effectively."

"Orcbolg, I think it goes without saying, but those things are banned from quests too! How can you humans think up such destructive things?"

"Imagination is a weapon too."

"And those without it, are doomed to fail, isn't that correct Goblin Slayer sir?"

"Yes."

Lizard Priest once again noticed Goblin Slayer struggle as he began putting his metal armor and chainmail over his leather armor. He quietly motioned for Dwarf Shaman to come over, so he could speak with him. He whispered as quietly as possible, but High Elf Archer's ears moved as she heard the conversation.

"Sir Mage, there is something I need to consult Milord Goblin Slayer about, but it is a private matter?"

"Not nice keeping secrets Scaly, but I'll get the others out." Dwarf Shaman smiled then gave his stomach a few good pats. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm still beat from that little battle. I'm going to get some rest before things get too hairy again, but first something to eat. Who's with me?"

"Oh, well I could go for some food myself, thank you." Priestess smiled and bowed as she stood to join Dwarf Shaman.

"I'm going to get some rest first, I'll be down in a bit." High Elf Archer stretched her arms up high as she gave a big yawn.

"I shall get some rest here too before I go down for some cheese."

"I'm not hungry at the moment."

Dwarf Shaman, Priestess and High Elf Archer left the room, each moving to their desired destination, while Lizard Priest frowned as he looked to Goblin Slayer who was now checking his equipment.

"Now that the others have gone, our companion Wolf was not the only one injured last night was he?"

"My left arm…there is discoloration and bruising, and a slight to moderate pain depending on how I move it." Goblin Slayer grunted as he slowly rotated it to the left and right.

"Milord Goblin Slayer, that sounds like a break in the bone! I will tend to it immediately. Why did you keep this from us?"

"Wolf's injuries required immediate attention as did those rookies who fought with us. I have already wrapped it fairly tight and taken a healing potion. You and the Priestess had used up your spells after that battle, and I don't want you wasting any of your spells before tonight."

"Tonight, you don't mean…"

"He'll be coming here."

"Surely we can spare one spell?"

"I don't know what tonight will bring. I want to be prepared. Know that I don't intend to fight foolishly…sorry to make you worry."

Lizard Priest was stunned by his casual remarks, but soon sighed and smiled as he shook his head before looking back at Goblin Slayer.

"The moment this battle is concluded, I am going to see to that arm. I will keep this from the others as not to worry them."

"Thanks. I will buy some cheese later."

Lizard Priest happily rejoiced, but in the next room, High Elf Archer angrily pounded the bottom of her fist along the floor. She sat with her back against the wall, carefully listening to what was being said, and was none too pleased to hear about Goblin Slayer's injury.

"That idiot, always making me worry."

High Elf Archer fumed as she stormed out of the room, making her way down towards the dining hall to join the others. Like Lizard Priest, she too planned on keeping this bit of information from Priestess, the last thing she wanted to do was worry her with a potential battle on the horizon, but she would be damn sure to let Goblin Slayer know what she thought of his attitude once this quest was over. She quickly found her party members and sat down with a loud thump before snatching up a piece of bread and tearing away a piece.

"Is something the matter?"

"Nothing, just hungry!"

Lizard Priest soon joined them and had a weary look about his face as High Elf Archer glared at him. He bowed his head and reached for a piece of cheese only to have it taken away by High Elf Archer rather quickly. High Elf Archer gobbled down the cheese slice all the while still staring at Lizard Priest, who could only sigh in defeat as he bowed his head once more. Priestess looked at them curiously, wondering if something happened while they had stepped out, while Dwarf Shaman started to piece together what had transpired while they were eating.

"We'd better start eating before she devours everything."

"I hope it would not be rude of me to ask to join you?"

The party turned to the right to see a woman with a black gown with long bluish hair and amber eyes. The Fallen Magician casually took a seat at the front of the table, while the others instantly tensed up, immediately reaching for their weapons but remembering they were left in the rooms, she however did not forget hers.

"Now just a moment." Fallen Magician pointed her magic rod at the group from beneath the table jewel beginning to glow. "I'm only here to talk, let's be civil now."

"After the stunt you pulled last night, you have lot of nerve to show up here!" Dwarf Shaman angrily tightened his fists before slamming them on the table.

"What did I say Dwarf…we're going to be calm and talk. I don't want needlessly destroy you or anyone else."

"Then what is it you want to talk about?" High Elf Archer fumed as she looked at the woman before her who remained so calm with what she and her partner had done over the last month.

"He has respect for you and your leader, that in itself is amazing since he has no respect for any adventurer, regardless of their rank."

"Why would that be of any interest? Why does he not look down on Milord Goblin Slayer?"

"Because he is one who hunts the little devils, though he hunts for them for a different reason unlike my love. You all know firsthand how terrible those creatures can truly be, but still no one takes them seriously."

"But you do."

"And so does he? Think carefully, why would he act the way he does if something traumatic had not happened to him? I am not only talking about my love."

The party paused at the comment, its true they never really had stopped to ask Goblin Slayer what had transpired in his past to shape him into the being he was. They all had their guesses, perhaps revolving around his sister given how he spoke of her in a past tense, but they did not wat to be rude and pry since he himself had never pried into their affairs.

"I hate those things myself." Fallen Magician sighed closing her eyes as if to stop herself from reliving the painful memory, but it needed to be said. "Fifteen years ago, my party was ambushed by goblins, our archer was killed and I was captured…our leader dropped his weapon and ran for the exit."

"Your party member abandoned you?" Priestess was suddenly reminded of her own failure on her first quest.

"Yes. I endured a day of violation until he came…Beast Master. He wasn't an adventurer, just one who would not let the goblins have their way. He slew the goblins then checked on me, embracing me as he assured me that everything would be alright." A slight blush ran across her face to which she turned her head and cleared her throat before turning back to the party members. "He saved me, and I vowed to help him in any way possible."

"This doesn't make any sense, why use goblins then if you know they're monsters?" High Elf Archer could not fathom any reason for Fallen Magicians's participation in these terrible events.

"Goblins are evil, but humanity is worse. Our superiors don't tell us what goblins are really like, they throw inexperienced children into situations that they are unprepared for and when they fail, they just send more people regardless of the loss of life. No veteran takes on these tasks, I don't see Heroes volunteering to deal with lesser creatures attacking innocent people."

There was silence, it was hard to debate such claims, they themselves had seen this the moment Goblin Slayer had asked for assistance with the Goblin Lord. In Water Town, and even here in Mountain Pass, they had heard and seen how others were unwilling to deal with such "trivial" matters.

"We will show these people what goblins are truly capable of, perhaps when entire town lies in ruins, maybe then things will change." Fallen Magician stood, tucked her magic rod away and bowed to the party members, a gentle smile across her face. "I was happy to meet people like you who are willing to deal with the goblins, people who aren't just trying to make a name for themselves. I urge you to leave, I would prefer you join us, but if that is not the case then please leave."

Just as she was walking away, a small voice called out to her, before the others could voice their protests, Priestess spoke up.

"I don't agree with your reasoning, and it is because of it that we are not leaving. I beg you to not go through with this!"

Fallen Magician paused for a moment, eyes from the tavern patrons were upon them, it was a short response before she continued on her way out the door.

"The die have already been cast, all we can do is play out our parts."

Goblin Slayer's party immediately rushed back to the room to let him known about Fallen Magician's appearance, but found the room empty. Goblin Slayer left almost immediately after Lizard Priest had gone down to eat something, but went out the back entrance to make his rounds around the town. He constantly looked toward every storm drain and made mental notes of the walls around the town.

"Do you really believe that you'll be able to find all the weak spots before the next attack?"

Goblin Slayer turned to see Beast Master about with a smile on his face as he leaned against a nearby wall. He walked toward Goblin Slayer, not able to see what kind of face he was making under his helmet, but imagined that he had an indifferent expression that matched his flat, emotionless tone.

"How's your injuries?"

"Fine. It won't affect my skills in battle."

"That's exactly what I expected you to say. Come on, I'll buy you a drink."

Goblin Slayer was silent as he followed Beast Master toward the nearest tavern, both took a seat away from the others where they could take in private. Once their ales were delivered, Beast Master slowly drank his ale while he watched Goblin Slayer down his drink through his visor rather unceremoniously. Beast Master laughed as he finished his drink and motioned for the bar-maid to bring them both anther round.

"I take it you keep your helmet on at all times so that you won't be knocked out?"

"Correct."

"That's what I like about you, you really are a clever one."

"My master used to say I had no brains."

"I'm sure it was to keep you from being overconfident. There's a thinking man under that armor, even if no one else sees it. It's because of that, that you also worry me. I've made my preparations, but here comes one who thinks like I do…do you know that last night was the first and only time my army was so badly beaten?"

"It failed because they were goblins. They don't expect to be ambushed or trapped."

"But you do. I'm going to succeed, no matter how prepared you are, your group can't stop me alone."

"Who says I will be alone?"

"Look around you, those rookies you helped told others about the size of the force that attacked them. There was the initial shock, but before you knew it, everyone was back to their old selves as if nothing had been said. No one cares about inferior monsters…this town has always been like this."

"What do you mean?"

"I was born and raised in these parts. Do you know, that the first farmstead I razed to the ground was originally where I lived with my wife and child? As if I would let those bastards have what I built all those years ago."

"You're wife and child…was it goblins?"

"Very perceptive. I am not the Beast Master for nothing. Twenty years ago, I made a decent living training animals and teaching the farmers around here. One day I'm called away to help a neighboring village, and when I came back, my family was gone…nothing but goblin footprints around."

"Did you not pursue them?"

"I did, but I first went toward the other farmers for help…they were too afraid and said go hire an adventurer. Hire an adventurer…my family had been taken captive and they said go pay someone to help you. I then rushed to the Guild to implore anyone and everyone for help, all my help training the animals at the Guild was met with excuses. "Goblin's aren't worth much." "How much will you pay us?" "Get some rookies to go after them". "

Goblin Slayer was silent as he heard all this, the bar maid dropped off their drinks and this time it was Beast Master who down his drink in one gulp before continuing.

"I grew angry and punched one of the adventurers. I was subdued by others, beaten and thrown in prison for the night…I was told it would hopefully help me come to my senses. The next morning when I was released, they told me I could submit the request, but due to my actions they would have to ask for a higher fee."

"I assume you did not pay."

"Of course not. I went after them myself, you don't get to be one who can tame and dominate animals if you don't know how to track them down. I found them and took my time killing them. My wife was already dead and my child…my daughter had been savaged by those monsters, made their plaything, barely clinging to life. The only words she could say was "Kill me." Beast Master was silent for a moment, a tear running down the left side of his face before he wiped his eyes. "I put her out of her misery…she died in my arms."

"How old was she?"

"She was nineteen…she should have been married by then, but said she was waiting for the right one." Beast Master looked toward Goblin Slayer the sadness on his face now changed to anger. "For the longest time I hated those creatures, I spent a couple years hunting them down. Then I came to realize that even though the goblins were to blame, it was people who were truly at fault."

"It was the goblins was it not?"

"Yes, but anyone of those people could have come to help their friend, it should not have been a requirement to pay for help. Most adventurers won't get involved if the word "goblins" is thrown around, their weak and stupid creatures, there's no fun. People are selfish and cruel, they really are no different than goblins. So what better way to make this town pay than by having the very thing they take for granted slaughter them."

"What of the innocents?"

"There are no innocents boy, any one of them could have stepped up to help. Before you jump to conclusions, I'm not just talking about my problems, I'm talking about the attacks that have been happening this past month. What about you boy, you've heard my tale of woes, what drives you?"

"My sister and village. I witnessed everything from start to end, hiding away as I was told."

"No one came to help you during the attack then?"

"No."

"Then you understand what I'm saying yes?"

"No. I blame the goblins…and myself. My inactions cost me my sister. I could have attacked…we could have fled…instead I did nothing. So no, I don't understand what you're thinking. Know that I will slay all the goblins."

Beast Master was stunned, he hoped that this little talk would have help convince Goblin Slayer to join his cause, but this boy could not see the truth in what was being said. He grew angry, but remained calm as not to draw attention to them. Beast Master saw his younger self in this man and whether or not Goblin Slayer thought the same was irrelevant.

"You're fighting a losing battle boy…surely you know you can't kill every goblin?"

"Only when I'm dead will I know that I've failed."

"So be it. It seems that I was wrong to think of you as a potential ally…perhaps even an heir I could pass on my techniques to. No matter what you do in the next few hours, I will be one step ahead of you. Leave this place, for the next time we meet I will kill you and those close to you."

Beast Master left some silver coins on the table and quickly departed, Goblin Slayer on the other hand sat there for a few moments as he thought about was coming this evening. He finally stood and decided to take the next couple hours to examine the city, he would not be able to do a thorough examination but he had a rough idea of what he could work with. Finally he returned to the inn and was met by the concerned party members who relayed their message about their meeting with Fallen Magician.

"I too had a chance to meet with the Beast Master. He's coming tonight, I have no clue how large a force he is bringing, but it must be big enough if he intends to lay waste to the entire town."

"Before we go into any strategizing, we got a summons to meet with the Guild Manager and Mayor." High Elf Archer held out a small parchment for Goblin Slayer to read.

"Good, I was hoping it would arrive here."

"Wait what do mean Goblin Slayer sir?"

"I made preparations before we left Water Town to hopefully aid in this battle. After we meet with the Guild Manager, I'll better know what are plan of attack will be."

"Then what are we waiting for Beardcutter? Let's get moving!"