Though her colleagues would often tease her about her favorite part of her job, they nevertheless agreed with Guild Girl's perception that welcoming returning adventurers was an important part of their duties.
Albeit for different reasons.
For analyzing the physical and mental condition of those who returned from a quest, whether it have been successfully completed or not, allowed the staff of the Adventurer's Guild to determine how they could best ensure the continued tenure of those who risked their lives out in the wilderness.
This could range from stamina and recovery potions, generously provided discounts in the dining area, and perhaps the most important, conversations to better ascertain whether or not they were cut out for their chosen professions.
Such conversations were rare for returning adventurers, not only because of the high degree of competiveness that existed between almost each member of the guild, which resulted in the more negative aspects of their journey being downplayed, but also because most parties either returned with all their members, or they did not return at all.
In fact, apart from the adventurer that had once borne the label Young Warrior, Guild Girl could not recall the last time she had ever dealt with those who had lost party members, but in her mind this was for the best.
For since she had seen the state of those who had been rescued from the clutches of Goblins and other monstrous beings, she had come to believe that there were times when death was better than living.
Which is why she was more than a touch concerned when she witnessed the return of what had been perhaps the most innocent new adventurer she had ever met, but also the only man in her life who could cause her to drop her normally professional demeanor.
Waiting until the mismatched pair reached her desk, and taking a brief moment to look over the girl she had previously believed to be amongst the dozens, if not hundreds of adventurers who failed to survive their first quest, Guild Girl quickly sported a smile as she addressed the shoddily equipped adventurer.
"Welcome back Goblin Slayer. I trust that your mission was a success"?
Receiving a single nod from the silver ranked specialist, Guild Girl allowed her smile to lose some of its brightness as Goblin Slayer proceeded to answer her question.
"The Goblins were wiped out. But not before they had already killed 2 of the girl's companions, and rendered the 3rd member cationic from their actions".
Nodding her head to show that she understood exactly what Goblin Slayer meant by the term 'actions', the blond haired receptionist turned her attention away from the stoic adventurer and redirected it towards his somewhat glum looking companion.
"I am truly sorry about your companions. However, I feel that I must ask you whether you would like to continue as a member of the guild. There's no real shame in admitting that you aren't cut out for this sort of life. And as a young woman with an obvious desire to help people, I feel that you would do well helping the abbeys".
Having expected the young cleric to meekly accept the offer with a mumbled word of thanks, Guild Girl was surprised when instead she received a look that, while slightly nervous, nevertheless possessed a noticeable amount of determination that had been notably absent during her registration.
"I think…I think I want to keep at it. Yes it was scary, and…and terrifying, and more than a little disgusting".
At this point Priestess's eyes slightly narrowed as they shot a mild look of annoyance at her armored savior. An act that brought a brief smile of amusement to Guild Girl's face before she resumed her professional demeanor.
"But its clear that the work is necessary. My only regret is that my…comrades couldn't be saved, but I will nevertheless see my survival as a blessing from the Earth Mother. For what better calling is there than to help fight such loathsome evil".
Though surprised by the younger girl's declaration, the blond haired receptionist nevertheless nodded to show her approval before turning towards the still silent Goblin Slayer.
"Looks like you got quite the enthusiastic partner there Goblin Slayer. I trust that you'll treat her in a manner that reflects upon the rank the Guild has given you"?
Ensuring that there was just the tiniest bit of threatening steel in her voice as she addressed the man who was well known for his less than tactful social skills, Guild Girl fought the urge to sigh in relief as Goblin Slayer accepted her suggestion/demand.
"I suppose. However, as much help as she was, she will need to better prepare herself if she wishes to ensure her continued survival. Which means that I will be conducting the next quest by myself".
As soon as he said those words, the 2 females instantly sported different reactions to his announcement.
The young cleric's was understandable, and very familiar since most people would expect to take a well deserved break after what was considered to be a traumatizing and deadly experience. But since he was capable of tuning out his childhood friend's words of concern, though he knew never to push her past a certain point, it was easy to ignore the shocked expression of a girl who he had just met.
Guild Girl's expression on the other hand was more confusing. Normally, she would either sigh at his persistence before informing him of the available quests, or she would smile in a manner that was similar to his red haired friend as she told him that there were no quests that required his attention.
However, such a look had been replaced with unease as informed him of the only thing that would convince him to take a break.
"I'm sorry Goblin Slayer. But there are no further goblin slaying quests at this time. The last one had been given to a new member of the Guild, but there is no need to go after him. As he clearly demonstrated to the more….experienced members of the Guild, he is more than capable of handling himself".
Giving a brief nod of his head, which Guild Girl took to understand that he was agreeing to call it quits for the day, Goblin Slayer remained silent as he headed towards the exit.
Only one thought plaguing his mind as he left his primary place of information gathering.
And that was whether or not this new adventurer would succumb to his inevitable injuries before he finished wiping out the Goblin nest.
…
'Kuuuuuuh Kerrrrrhhhh. Kuuuuuuh Kerrrrhhhh'
As befitting a member of a race that willingly rejected the scorching rays of the sun for the comforting darkness of the underground, the leader of the goblin nest was blessed, as was all members of his race, with abilities that could rival that of most Dwarves.
The ability to see, smell, and hear ones prey in the pitch blackness of the sunless realms was the primary advantage goblin kind had over those foolish enough to dare seek them out below ground.
Which is why the constant noise served to increase the usually well contained fear that the nest leader always held whenever he was forced to deal with those who were brave enough to try and rescue those who had become nothing more than incubators for the next generation of his kind.
Usually, adventurers, be they useful females or males, would choose to adopt a more stealthy approach as they tried to find the lowermost chamber of the nest. A tactic that would have proven useful if they had been hunting less superior creatures like himself.
But this one….this one didn't even try to hide it's approach, which was all the more concerning considering that it had to have wiped out more than half the nest in order to be close enough to hear.
But despite the loss of over half his minions, whether it be at the murderous hands of this soon to be dead adventurer or through cowardly desertion, the nest leader was still confident that he still had a chance of escaping the fate that had fallen on numerous members of his kind.
With 11 of his men backing up the hulking mass of muscle that served as his chief enforcer, the nest leader was certain that the previously lucky adventurer would meet his end.
Even if it's breathing managed to unnerve him to no end.
…
Thanks to his connection to the Force, the former Jedi was able to determine not only how many of these disgusting creatures remain to be destroyed, but also on how much a threat they posed to him.
He sensed that 11 of these abominations were similar in nature and skill to the 20 he had already exterminated, with the 2 remaining creatures possessing enough difference to cause the cyborg to alter his tactics.
Not because he was worried that these more unique mutations could best him, but because he was curious to see how their methods differed from their more numerous compatriots.
He already knew that they possessed hearing that could detect all but the stealthiest of trespassers, which made turning off his respirator to conceal his movements pointless unless he was within striking range. And that they required no light in order to navigate the darkness of their squalid surroundings.
These attributes did much to compensate for their less than intimidating size, which in turn explained why so many so called adventurers failed to survive even a single encounter with a species that had a natural advantage, at least underground, when it came to surprise attacks.
Which is why Vader was slightly intrigued by their decision to forgo the usual method of stealth and confront him directly.
In the end, it would do nothing to change their well-deserved fate.
For as he had proved time and time again, whether it was during the Clone Wars, or during his service as the Emperor's most powerful agent, nothing, except perhaps the man he had once regarded as his brother, could stand against him in a direct confrontation.
…
Though the dimly let cavern echoed with the continuous breathing of the approaching intruder, for the first time since that cursed noise had made itself known, another sound, one that sent a jolt of anticipation through all of his minions, could be heard.
The slow, yet unmistakable sound of footsteps.
Judging by the intruder's pace, not only was he wearing armor that required at least the strength of a hob in order to effectively move in, but also lacked the timid hesitant steps of a traumatized weakling, or the rapid foot falls of those who believed that they could do anything as long as they moved fast enough.
No, the slow heavy steps were those of a being who was confident that their adversaries stood no chance in defeating him regardless of any hidden scheme they may have up their sleeves
And as the heavily breathing intruder finally stepped into out of the passageway that connected the nest's deepest chamber with the labyrinth above, the Goblin leader had to admit that perhaps the armored being had cause to be so confident.
…..
Allowing a small frown of disgust to grace his masked features as he took in the conditions of what was presumably the creatures throne room, an expression that deepened as he noticed that the throne was comprised of bones that were too small to belong to an adult, Vader turned his attention towards the 2 beings that disgustingly enough reminded him of his former circumstances.
It was safe to assume that like the majority of the Empire, few beings of this world would view the wizened staff holding creature as a credible threat, choosing instead to bestow that title on the hulking brute that towered over the smaller members of its kind. But since he had spent the last 2 decades of his life as the servant of a man who chose to hide his power behind the façade of a still living corpse, not to mention his time in an order that was led by a 800 year old troll, Vader knew better than most to take things at face value.
Especially since the so called leader of these pathetic lifeforms chose to rather stupidly reveal what it was capable of instead of using its minions to gain an idea of his fighting style.
But even though this wretched creature possessed the ability to shoot fire from its hands, it was still more than clear that it was no match for the veteran Force user.
Batting away the average sized fire ball with the same casual motion he had used countless times during the war against the Rebels, and not bothering to wait for another similar projectile to be launched at him, the former Jedi went on to offensive.
Though the Dark Side of the Force expressed it's approval at his victory, especially when he had lodged his blade in the big one's neck before choking the life out of the so called magic user, in truth Vader felt somewhat underwhelmed with his victory.
Yes he had managed to destroy these creatures with minimal effort, all he could feel was the emotion that was similar to what he had felt during the middle years of his apprenticeship to Sidious.
At least then, he had the goal of safe guarding the growing power of the Empire, but now, the only sense of accomplishment he received was that a minor threat had been dealt with.
But as the Force like to constantly remind him, his feelings of his situation where largely meaningless. For just as he was about to leave this disgusting den, the lighter side of the Force captured his attention through the use of a much battered agent.
"Pl…please. Kill me".
…
I know I know. Cliffhangers and short chapters. Hate them, hate them a lot XD. But sometimes, they come about anyway lol.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Slowly working my way to having Vader meet Goblin Slayer, picture the meeting happening during the formation of the party.
But til then, hopefully you are satisfied with this.
Til next time J
