Disclaimer: I own neither Goblin Slayer or the Red Ded Redemption series

Chapter 5

Lenny is here. Lenny is HERE.

It has been sometime since I've felt so happy yet confused in my life. There is much I wish to ask him. I'm sure he's got quite a bit he has to ask me, too. Some things I'm afraid to answer. But I will answer them, nonetheless.

Waiting is a pain. We hugged for a long moment before he told me to wait. He has to finish some work before we can really talk. So here I am, writing this as I try and wrap my head around the fact that LENNY IS HERE.

"Are you alright?"

Arthur jumped when he heard Goblin Slayer's voice close by, releasing a tense breath as he looked back at the helm his partner wore.

"Y-Yeah, I… I'm actually great, all things considered," said Arthur, letting out a small but genuine chuckle.

"You know Ranch Hand?" Goblin Slayer tilted his head in question.

"Oh, yeah. From… from my old life," Arthur said, thankful that the expression had several meanings. "Ain't seen him in… in a long time."

"I see." Goblin Slayer looked across the farm, watching as Lenny was doing the last of his duties, loading off several bales into the cow field. "I'm going to head into town. I want to hunt goblins."

"Already?" Arthur asked, looking up at Goblin Slayer in question. "You took a hit yourself, if I remember right."

"I'm okay, now. It wasn't heavy," Goblin Slayer said, turning around. "Your guns are at your horse. I went back to the fortress and retrieved your shotgun. It wasn't damaged."

"Ah, right. You had to drop it durin' that fight. Thanks," Arthur nodded, scratching his neck. "After I'm done talkin' to Len-er, Ranch Hand, I'll be back in town. Though I doubt I'll be doin' too many quests like this."

"Okay." Goblin Slayer nodded, beginning to walk away. Arthur watched him for a moment before looking back down at his arm and sighing.

"Hey, partner. Why don't you grab the shotgun before you go?" Arthur said, causing Goblin Slayer to pause midstep. "I ain't gonna be usin' it for a bit. Might come in handy in a tight spot."

"... If I die, the goblins will take it." Arthur smirked when he noticed that he hadn't completely refused the idea.

"You ain't gettin' killed. And if you do, I'll get the gun back myself," Arthur reassured, closing his journal up and stuffing it away into his satchel. "But do me a favor and stay alive so I don't have to work so hard gettin' it back."

"... Okay." Goblin Slayer nodded, now changing his destination to the horse stall. Arthur smiled, feeling some relief.

I'm sure he'll do just fine with it.

"H-Hey, sir."

Arthur's head snapped back up to see Lenny passing by Goblin Slayer, his partner giving him a short nod in greeting before continuing forward. The current ranch hand watched Goblin Slayer leave before looking back at Arthur, a smile crossing his lips.

"Interesting choice in partner you got there, Arthur. Though I guess you used to work pretty well with Charles," Lenny said, his voice laced with humor.

"Well, what can I say? The strong, silent types are good at killin'," Arthur chuckled, slowly pushing off the log he sat on to meet Lenny. The two stood there for a long moment, trying to find the words. But as Arthur opened his mouth to say something, he found Lenny quickly closing the distance, hugging him again in the same manner they had before. Arthur returned it with his good arm, patting his back.

"Never… never did I dream I… I would see any of you again," Lenny admitted, slowly breaking the embrace to stand a bit back from Arthur. "Seein' you hear… it's a miracle."

"It's somethin', alright…" Arthur chuckled, scratching the scrag of his chin awkwardly. "I uh… The last time I saw you, I… you..."

Images flashed in Arthur's mind. He immediately recalled the day of the bank heist gone wrong. Lenny had ran ahead of him to scout for an escape route. The lawmen had come up the stairs and, without warning, gunned the young man down without a word. Arthur remembered kneeling over Lenny's body, holding it up as he searched for any sign of life.

The pain Arthur felt that day could only be matched by a few other times in his life. None of which he ever liked to think about.

"I know, Arthur," Lenny's quiet voice interrupted his dark thoughts, pulling his gaze back up to the boy. Lenny's smile was weak and forced, but still reassuring. "I know."

A silence fell upon them again. Arthur could only nod his head in understanding. Lenny remembered like he did. And he imagined that it was even worse for him in his last moments.

"Come on… let's sit and talk," Arthur finally said, waving his good arm for Lenny to follow. The two sat down at the log, Arthur now eager to keep things going. "How uh… how long you been here?"

"Like… here here?" Lenny asked, looking at Arthur with a raised brow. "About… a little over a year and a half, I'd say."

"That long, huh?" Arthur muttered, looking forward at the farm. "Sounds about right. You did uh… pass a while before I did. I've been here over seven months, at least."

"Seven months… and we only ran into each other now," Lenny chuckled dryly, scratching his head. "Funny how things go, huh?"

"No kiddin'. You been here all this time… right at my partner's home, too," Arthur said, shaking his head briefly. "That man has a strange sense of humor."

"'Man'? What man?" Lenny asked curiously.

"You know, mister black suit and pipe hat. Met me after I died before sendin' me here," Arthur said, recalling his 'meeting' in the after life. "Kinda reminded me of Trelawny. At least how he looked. Certainly didn't amuse me nearly the same."

"You… met somebody after dyin'?" Lenny asked, sounding completely confused. "Because I don't remember a thing after… you know. I just… heard a voice before windin' up in the forest nearby."

Arthur's brow furrowed, looking at Lenny in surprise. "Really? So… you didn't come here with… anythin'? No guns or… nothin'?"

"Nah. Just the clothes on my back. No buckshot holes in it, thankfully," Lenny tried to joke, though Arthur could hear the hesitation in his voice. "Judgin' from what stories I heard about the Gunslinger though, it sounds like you came with an armory."

"Pretty much. Though I didn't get to take all my guns with me," Arthur admitted, scratching his scraggly beard as his thoughts were still on the previous topic. "So he met me but not you… why?"

"Not sure. I guess… whoever you met, thought you had somethin' to do more than they thought I did," Lenny shrugged, unsure how to answer that himself.

"Yeah, maybe…" Arthur grunted. Or maybe I just have a lot more to make up for compared to the kid.

"So, Arthur…" the cowboy dragged his attention back to Lenny. "After I got done in… what happened to the gang? What happened to… well, to you?"

Arthur was dreading this topic during his anxious wait. "The gang, well… the gang went to shit. Dutch was losin' it after everything that happened, or… maybe he was always like that. But that snake, Micah… he was a rat. It was him feedin' all that information to the Pinkertons."

"Shit. I knew Micah was a piece of shit and crazy as hell, but… I didn't think he was a rat on top of all that," Lenny clicked his tongue in frustration, balling his fists on his pants. "We never should have brought him into the gang."

"Yeah. We all mighta had a part to play in things goin' sour in the end, but it was because of Micah that the gang fell apart. On top of rattin' us out to the Pinkertons, that bastard was gettin' in Dutch's ear. Started dividin' the gang in the midst of all that shit goin' on. Bill and Javier were gettin' brainwashed by their loyalty to Dutch while John, Charles and I were tryin' to keep things from goin' completely outta control. Sadie, too."

"Why would Dutch listen to him? Especially over you of all people," Lenny said, his face scrunching up in confusion.

"I don't know… maybe because I… I wasn't tellin' him what he wanted to hear no more," Arthur said, his eyes trailing across the farmland. "There were a few plans I didn't agree with. He even decided to let John stay locked up. I had to break him out with Sadie behind his back. After that… him and Micah got real cozy with one another. In the end… the gang got split up, one way or another, after Pinkertons finally came lookin'."

"Damn… I… I had no idea how things worked out for y'all, but…" Lenny struggled to find the words, shaking his head. "Damn…"

"Yeah… After you and Hosea were gone, it… it was over for us."

Silence fell. Lenny sat there, processing the information. Arthur remained quiet, giving him a moment to think everything through. Arthur didn't mind, because he had an idea about what his next question would be.

"Arthur… what happened to you? How did you…" Lenny's voice remained hesitant.

"Not how you think, I'd bet," Arthur said with a humorless chuckle. "I uh… I got TB. From a man I beat to death. On one of Strauss's collection jobs."

"Wait… you got TB?" Lenny narrowed his eyes in disbelief. "But… for how long?"

"Remember after that bank job we pulled in Strawberry? That man I went to collect on?"

"Shit… you had it that whole time?" Lenny mumbled, looking down at his feet. "I… I'm sorry, Arthur, I…"

"Don't worry about it. I can hardly say I got the worst outta the deal," Arthur said, waving a hand as he tried to dismiss it. "In fact, I… after I got diagnosed, it gave me a sorta… clarity, I guess. Helped me figure out the right thing to do. And who to do right by."

Lenny nodded in understanding. "I'm… I'm happy to hear that, Arthur. A lotta people… people like Me and Hosea… don't get that chance. I didn't get that chance until I came… here, I guess. A little late to finally think though, huh?"

"Just a little," Arthur chuckled, trying to bring some humor into the conversation.

"So… in the end, what did you do?"

"I… I made sure to get John and his family out," Arthur said, looking back up at Lenny. "The love of that family… it deserved a chance at somethin' good. Not the shit life that the rest of us had to live. So in the end, I made damn sure that John made it."

"I see… I guess, in the end… you got do the right thing before goin' out, huh?"

"I suppose so. Not that it was to hope for any sorta forgiveness or nothin', but… I dunno," Arthur scratched his cheek. "I certainly wasn't expectin' this after dyin'."

"That's somethin' we share," Lenny chuckled hesitantly, eyes focused on the ground. Arthur looked at Lenny from the side, seeing that he was having trouble absorbing all the information he gave him. With a small breath, Arthur put on a smile.

"Enough about my pathetic exit from our previous lives. How about you, Lenny? What've you been up to since you got here? How long you been farmin' for?"

"Almost as long as I've been here, honestly," Lenny shrugged, placing his hands on his knees. "Cow Girl found me in the forest and helped me to the farm. I didn't have nowhere to go and no idea what to do. Her uncle offered to let me stay here so long as I worked hard until I got back on my feet. Ended up bein' pretty good at farmin', so I stayed and continued to help around the place."

"So how long did it take you to figure out the namin' thing?" Arthur asked with a smirk.

"Arthur… if there was anything in this world I could not get used to, it was that," Lenny laughed, a genuine smile on his lips. "For the first few weeks, I kept gettin' called Ranch Hand instead of my own name and barely answered people."

"Hah! I can see how that'd be a problem. Luckily, the creepy man I met told me about it beforehand. Ended up with the name Gunslinger 'cause of that."

"Shit, you didn't just bring your guns. You got to know a little bit about this place, too?" Lenny complained, looking at him in disbelief and amusement.

"To be fair, I also got dropped in the middle of a goblin cave as my first impression of this place. It's how I met Goblin Slayer, too," Arthur explained, causing Lenny to wince.

"Damn. A goblin cave? Judgin' from what Cow Girl told me and your partner's obvious obsession, I'm sure that wasn't pleasant."

"Considerin' I almost died again, yeah. Pleasant's not really the word I'd use for it," Arthur said, shaking his head. "Still… in spite of all that, can't say things went bad from there. Started workin' at the guild, partnered up with Goblin Slayer. It's been… pretty nice. Once I got settled in, I could finally appreciate the freedom I got from bein' in this place. Roamin' that open country. Helpin' people like I thought we was before. This adventurin' stuff really is somethin'."

"I've heard a few stories about you, too. Lotta people are startin' to whisper about the up and comin' Gunslinger, you know?" Lenny smirked, causing Arthur to let out a short laugh. "People were callin' you the Frontier's Greatest Hunter."

"Really?" Arthur raised a brow at that. "That's the first time I've heard it. You kill a few animals and people just start givin' you titles, huh?"

"Well, the Frontier is pretty short on real hunters. I'm sure there are a few outside of it, but you were always pretty good at it after Charles taught you a few things," Lenny pointed out. "Plus, I heard you killed a manticore single handedly. That's pretty impressive if the stories are true."

"Yeah, I did. But it sure as hell wasn't easy. Bastard ate a lotta bullets before finally dyin'. Almost took my head off a couple times, too," Arthur shook his head at the memory. "Still, people seemed to make a big enough deal about it."

"They're just givin' credit where credit's due," Lenny shrugged. "That does remind me, though. How do you still got bullets after bein' here for seven months?"

"Magic guns, I guess. Kinda hard to explain," Arthur admitted, scratching his cheek.

"I think magic guns is all you need to say. Anything's believable after comin' here." Lenny laughed, Arthur quickly sharing it.

"Can't disagree with you on that point. But what about you, Lenny? I'm surprised you ain't doin' no adventurin' for yourself," Arthur said, looking at the younger man curiously. "You were always a good fighter. You'd probably do well enough on your own."

Lenny suddenly became quiet, his eyes trailing back to the ground as he played with his thumb nail. "I'll be honest… the thought crossed my mind a couple times. But… dying the way I did… it mighta seemed quick, Arthur, but… those short few seconds of pain and life. They were the scariest thing I ever experienced. So much goes through your head. I'm sure you know, but… it left me with a terrible fear."

Arthur's expression softened. He knew exactly what he meant. His death hadn't come swiftly, that was for sure. Even in his last moments of drawing breath, the hurricane of thoughts were only silenced as he felt peace from the sight of the rising sun to the east.

"The longer I kept farmin', the more I thought that maybe honest work wasn't so bad. That… here, there was no reason for me to be some no good outlaw or some aspiring adventurer. No reason to rush out and maybe die again," Lenny continued, his eyes drawn back up green farmland. "It ain't glamorous, but it ain't bad neither. And while the people here got some of their own problems, color ain't one of 'em. Made it real easy to fit in, you know?"

"I know. I know…" Arthur nodded, reaching a hand out and gripping Lenny's shoulder in reassurance. "I understand. You chose to do somethin' different. Ain't nothin' wrong with that. Hell, that's why we're here, ain't it?"

"I hear that," Lenny smiled, reassured by Arthur's words.

Arthur nodded before a thought popped into his head, looking back up at Lenny. "By the way… you said you heard a voice after you died. What exactly did you hear?"

Lenny scratched his neck, giving a shrug. "I'm not exactly sure. Though I'm almost positive it was uh… the Big Man himself, you know? He told me 'Keep others from suffering the fate you did'. Don't know exactly what that means, but… the voice was so relaxin'. It took away all my worries after dyin'. But before I could even question the voice, I ended up here. And that's the end of that. Just one sentence."

"I see…" Arthur nodded, not sure what to say. He certainly didn't feel the same way when speaking to that Stranger. If anything, he felt only dread in his presence.

"Settin' me aside, I guess you weren't really ready to pick up the farm life, huh?"

"No, I suppose not," Arthur chuckled, releasing his shoulder. "I ain't no outlaw no more. I ain't hurtin' people that don't deserve it. But I still feel like… I should be doin' somethin' with what I got. Bein' an adventurer… well, I guess it's perfect for a no good gunman like me who's got a lot to make up for."

"I understand. Plus, you got to keep your guns. Makes a lotta sense to me," Lenny nodded.

"Exactly. They used to be for doin' more harm than good. Thought it was about time that… the opposite was true." Arthur sighed, twiddling his fingers.

"Well… if the stories are right, sounds like you're doin' just that. I'm happy for you, Arthur," Lenny said, patting his shoulder firmly. "But that aside, there is one thing botherin' me…"

"What's that?"

"Are you… a bit skinnier or somethin'? You look almost a little…" Lenny tilted his head.

"Younger? Yeah, because I sorta am," Arthur laughed, sitting up straight. "That stranger said he took ten years off. Didn't realize what he meant 'til I saw a mirror."

"Ten years? Damn, that's pretty nice!" Lenny laughed, holding his chin in wonder. "So what's that make you now? Twenty five?"

"Roughly. Been a while since I had to remember my birthday for anythin'," Arthur smirked, rubbing his face. "Nice to have some of those cracks smoothed out at least."

"Well, I'm glad I didn't get any years taken off. I'm good at my age, thanks," Lenny said, eliciting a laugh from Arthur.

"Man… It's real good to see you, Lenny," Arthur put a hand on his shoulder again. A thought suddenly came to him, causing Arthur's smile to fall. "Have you uh… seen anyone else?"

Lenny's expression fell, the young farmer shaking his head. "Sorry, Arthur. You're the first familiar face I seen. Haven't seen Hosea or Sean. Wish I did."

Arthur nodded, letting out a breath. "Guess I thought I'd just hope a bit. Considerin' I found you and all."

"Well, you never know. It's a big world, after all," Lenny said, giving a hopeful smile.

"Yeah, you're right… but let's focus on the here and now," Arthur smirked, wrapping an arm around Lenny's shoulders. "I mean, how many times does anybody get a second chance to see each other after dyin', huh? Seriously, Lenny, it is good to see you."

"Trust me, Arthur. I feel just the same," Lenny smiled, nudging him with his elbow. "You got no idea how… okay, maybe you do. But it was definitely crazy seein' you here like this."

"Yeah, I'm sure. And you know what an occasion like this calls for?" Arthur asked, a grin slowly spreading across his lips.

"What?" Arthur only smiled, waiting for Lenny to catch on. Realization soon hit, the younger of the former outlaw's face morphing into an amused frown.

"That uh… might not be a good idea, Arthur."

"Oh, it isn't, I know. But it's still worth doin'."

"Arthur, do you remember what we did last time?"

"Barely, but I know it was fun."

"Arthur, you got a reputation to uphold as an adventurer, don't you?"

"One night o' drinkin' ain't gonna hurt! Dependin' on how much damage we do."

"Arthur…"

"Lenny…"

"Arthur, no…"

"Oh Lenny, yes."

"... Alright, alright. We'll have one night of drinkin' to celebrate."

"Now that's the kid I remember ridin' with."

"We're gonna regret this so much…"

"Probably, but only for the mornin' after."


"Ho-ho~! Look at you, Gunslinger! Ain't this a sight!"

Arthur released a tired breath, resting his good hand on his hip. He had returned to the guild soon after his talk with Lenny, the two deciding to reserve their night of drinking for the next day. Unfortunately for him, Spearman, Witch and a few others at the guild happen to be between jobs, all having taken a rest in the tavern and immediately spotting him the moment he walked inside. And Arthur wasn't going to be able to hide

"Get in a rough scrap there, Gunslinger?" Heavy Swordsman asked, an amused grin across his face. He was a man with bulky armor on his upper body. He had a long white cape wrapped around his neck that flowed down the back and two notable scars on the left side of face.

"Alright, alright. Get your licks in now and outta the way," Arthur huffed, lowering his head so that his hat could cover his face.

"Ah, come on~, Gunslinger! What do you take us for?" Spearman jeered, grinning as he approached Arthur and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "No need to kick a mule while it's down, right?"

"Yeah~! Come on, tell us what happened!" Heavy Swordsman laughed, approaching from the other side and gripping his shoulder lightly.

"I'm sure Goblin Slayer told you enough," Arthur grumbled as he allowed them to pull him into the tavern side of the hall, Witch and Female Knight watching him approach with amused grins.

"He told us… some of it. But only as much… as he usually says," Witch informed him, drawing her pipe out and sticking it between her lips.

"Hey, careful with that! Gunslinger here's still got some soft lungs to worry about," Spearman snarked, earning a laugh from Heavy Swordsman and Female Knight.

"Very funny," Arthur drawled, sighing as he took a seat at the table with them.

"Do you know how long until you're fully healed?" Female Knight asked, deciding to spare him from any jokes she might have.

"About two weeks. Maybe more, maybe less. Might go see one of those Holy Mother churches and see if they can speed up the process if I get impatient enough," Arthur explained, shrugging in answer. "Oh, by the way, thanks for the help gettin' those items, Witch. I'd probably be dead or a lot worse for wear if it weren't for those."

"Glad I could… help. It would be a shame to… lose you like… that," Witch nodded, crossing one leg over the other.

"Heh. You really like staying busy, huh? Not gonna take a little time off? I know you're not hurting for money with that investment in pencils you started," Heavy Swordsman pointed out.

"Yeah, I guess so. Maybe I'll go for a ride through the valley outside town, but I can only do that so long before I get antsy for work. At least while knowin' I got a choice in the matter," Arthur admitted, scratching the scruff of his cheek.

"Well, don't rush too fast into work. You don't wanna lose both arms," Spearman laughed, slapping his back.

"You're hilarious." Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Aw, don't be like that! This gives us a chance to have that drinking night we planned last time before you let Goblin Slayer drag you off!" Spearman laughed, leaning forward on his knees. "Hope you're ready to go all out!"

Arthur grinned at that, letting out a laugh. "Actually, I am. Got an old friend droppin' by tomorrow and we was plannin' to have a drink. Guess you can join us, if you think you can keep from talkin' his ear off."

"A friend?" Heavy Swordsman raised a brow, curious.

"Yeah. Someone from… before comin' here. Ran into him while I was healin' up. Good kid. You'll see him soon enough," Arthur said, pushing off the table. "Try not to drink too much tomorrow before he gets here, Spearman. We got a lotta drinkin' to do."

"Heh heh, that's what I like to hear! Hope this friend of yours can keep up!" Spearman grinned, giving a thumbs up.

"Seems that things… will… be a bit… exciting tomorrow night," Witch giggled into her hand.

"Hah! Too bad we've got plans to head out for work tomorrow. I'd have liked to join you!" Heavy Swordsman laughed, looking at Female Knight. "Think we should stay?"

"No, let's not. We've got important business of our own to do. And we need some money," Female Knight sighed. She wasn't against the idea of drinking, but one of them had to be responsible.

"Too bad. You're gonna miss out. But I understand," Arthur chuckled, looking at Spearman. "Hope you're ready for a long night and lotsa drinks."

"Hehe, you don't even have to ask!"


"Come on! Eat! Eat!" Padfoot Waitress urged him, Arthur sitting there and looking at her with a raised brow.

"Look, Padfoot Waitress, I appreciate the thought, but you don't gotta keep babyin' me like a kid. I can eat just fine." Arthur said, picking up his fork and digging into fried fish she prepared for him.

"I'm just making sure you heal up without a problem! Make sure you eat your whole plate, okay?" Padfoot Waitress pushed, giving him a proud smile as her eyes sparkled.

"I got a broken arm. I ain't starvin'."

"Just hurry up and eat, geez!" Padfoot Waitress whined, sticking her bottom lip out.

"I will! You're the one that ain't lettin' me at this point," Arthur laughed, watching as the waitress huffed and turning her back to him.

"S-Shut up! I better not see a crumb left on that plate!"

"Yes, ma'am." Arthur chuckled, shaking his head as he cut into the fish with his fork.

"Hey…" Arthur looked back up from his plate, Padfoot Waitress still standing there with her back turned to him. She gave him a sideways look, a gentle smile on her lips. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Me too. Thanks for lookin' out for me," Arthur smiled back, tipping his hat to her. "I appreciate it."

Padfoot Waitress's smile became bright, giving a big nod back before skipping off to work. Arthur gave a small chuckle before digging into his food. He didn't spend long on it, quickly cleaning the contents from his plate before wiping his face and leaving the tavern side. He walked up to the front desk, watching as Guild Girl seemed to have a brief reprieve from work.

"Busy day?" Arthur asked, leaning his back against the counter.

"Ah, Mr. Gunslinger. Yes, it ha been pretty busy today," Guild Girl greeted, giving a small sigh. "I almost envy you."

"I wouldn't. Took a club to the arm for me to take a break," Arthur chuckled, causing Guild Girl to wave her arms.

"S-Sorry! I wasn't trying to be-"

"Don't worry about it. No offense taken," Arthur waved a hand, reassuring her.

"Still, sorry about that… so, what are your plans for today?" Guild Girl asked, putting on a smile.

"Just waitin' on a pal of mine. He should be here soon," Arthur said, looking at the fading sunlight coming from the window. "Got some big drinkin' to do tonight. Spearman should be joinin' us, too."

"Ah, I see. Try not to go too crazy, tonight," she giggled, causing Arthur to bark out a laugh.

"No promises there."

"Alright, we're ready!" Arthur looked over his shoulder, watching as a group of teens came from the side office, a bright young boy leading them forward. Judging from their clothing, Arthur guessed the boy was an aspiring knight. Behind him were three girls: one with black hair in a ponytail, dressed in foreign garbs that Arthur would associate with China, one dressed like a witch, though nowhere near as revealing as Witch herself.

The last girl was a particularly innocent and fragile looking girl. She had long blonde hair that stretched down her back to her legs. She wore robes much like that of priestesses of the Holy Earth Mother that Arthur had seen around. She was a beautiful young girl with bright blue eyes and pale skin.

One thing that bothered Arthur about them: they were all kids. Likely fifteen, at the oldest. Arthur might have started his criminal career around that age, if not younger, but that was out of necessity. These kids were jumping into it with a smile. He expected that the day they came of age, they all rushed to join the guild. Arthur couldn't imagine why kids that age were allowed to go on adventures, considering the potential danger involved. Several young adventurers he'd seen pass through the guild around that age never return. Arthur had even found the porcelain tags of a few kids unfortunate enough to pick a goblin nest for their first mission.

"Ah, thank you very much. Here are your tags!" Guild Girl said, giving a professional smile as she fished a box out and handed each of the new adventurers their tags. Arthur lingered by the counter, watching them silently. The only one to notice him seemed to be the priest girl, who looked at him with an innocent tilt of her head.

Arthur drew his eyes away from her, releasing a tired sigh as he pushed off the counter and tapped it with his hand "I'll let you work."

"Oh, okay. I'll speak with you later," Guild Girl gave him a small smile before looking at the young adventurers. "So, have you thought of your first job to take?"

Ain't my business. Not like I can do much with this arm, Arthur thought to himself, turning away and slowly leaving the group behind.

"Yeah! We saw a goblin cave quest on the board. Can we take that?"

Arthur hesitated, his good hand balling into a fist when he heard that. He spared a short look back at Guild Girl, who spared a quick look at him in worry. A bead of sweat trailed down her cheek, obviously uncomfortable with the idea.

"You… want to hunt goblins?" The young blonde adventurer asked, her voice hesitant.

"W-Well, you can, but… perhaps you should try another quest?" Guild Girl suggested, trying to maintain her professional smile. "Something like cleaning out some giant rats in the sewers would probably be easier for a new group… This won't be an easy quest."

"Nah, we should be just fine! I've handled a few goblins around my village before, no sweat!" The boy bragged, giving a confident smile. "From what the board said, they took a few girls on top of livestock and valuables! They need to get saved as soon as possible."

"I see, but… I'm sure if you wait a little longer, another adventurer will come along and handle it," Guild Girl pushed, her eyes going to Arthur again. He could see the plea for help, though Arthur wasn't sure what she was expecting.

"I believe all of our abilities to be capable enough. Don't you agree?" The Asian attired girl said, looking at the girl dressed as a witch.

"We'll be just fine. Come on, no need to get so worried. Hurry up and decide if you're going to come," she said, her words directed at the priestess. Despite their reassurances, Arthur could see her hesitance. She either had good sense or a lack of confidence in the party. Either way, Arthur would say she was right.

Well… I won't have it be said that I didn't try.

"A-Alright. If you think I-"

"You're an excitable bunch, aren't you?" Arthur said, walking back up to the party, greeting them with a tip of his hat. "Rushin' off to a goblin nest like that."

"Oh, hey there!" The young man smiled at him. "That's right. Goblins are pretty easy to handle. I'd say the four of us can take 'em pretty easily."

"Is that right? Well, far be it from me to say different, but let's make sure of that," Arthur said, leaning back against the counter and resting his good hand on the revolver at his hip. "Mind if I ask a few questions?"

"Why would you do that?" The young mage asked, raising a brow in wonder.

"Mr. Gunslinger is an experienced hunter of goblins and is an emerald ranked adventurer," Guild Girl stepped in, giving a relieved smile to Arthur, obviously thankful for his intervention. "If anyone would know if you're ready for a goblin hunt, it would be him."

"Wow, an emerald ranked? Okay, ask away!" The young boy said, grinning in anticipation.

"Alright, then. Who's leadin' the party up front?"

"That'd be me! I'll make sure to keep my friends safe as the vanguard!" The boy announced, drawing his sword. "I'll be able to cut through anything that gets in my way!"

"Nice sword. Mind if I see it?" Arthur asked, extending a hand. The boy held it out, allowing Arthur to take it. He inspected the quality, giving a short nod. "Hey, Guild Girl? Where exactly is the goblin nest?"

"Oh, it's… in a cave," she answered, looking down at the parchment with the job.

"I see. This sword's too long, then. Get somethin' shorter like an axe or club," Arthur said, holding the blade back out to the young warrior. The boy blinked in surprise, slowly taking it back. "Short sword works, too."

"Wh-What do you mean? What's wrong with my sword?"

"Ain't nothin' technically wrong with it. Except that it's too long," Arthur said, pulling out his pouch of cigarettes and putting one in his mouth. "You go in a cave with that, swingin' it around, you're gonna hit the wall or the roof. You do that, you're gonna end up dead, kid."

The boy's mouth opened, wanting to respond but failing to find his words. So Arthur continued, his eyes moving to the girls.

"By the way, are you all wearin' chainmail under those clothes?"

"Chainmail?" The black haired girl raised a brow, looking at the other girls in question, with each shaking their heads in denial. "No, why?"

"Because goin' in there without chainmail is a quick way to get stabbed or shot," Arthur pointed out, striking a match on his boot and lighting his cigarette. "The boy's the only one wearin' armor, and even that ain't much. If just one goblin gets close enough and stabs one of you, you'll be in big trouble."

"C-Come on, they're just goblins. They're as small and weak as children. And even dumber!" The boy argued, trying to remain confident in spite of Arthur's words. "Even if a couple come at us, we should be just fine!"

"Really? Tell me, then. What're you gonna do when a hobgoblin comes at you?" Arthur asked. This question made the kids pause and look around.

"A hobgoblin..? Wh-What's that?" The blonde girl asked nervously, her hands wringing around her staff.

"Really? None of you know?" Arthur asked, looking at each one with a bit of exasperation. Each of the kids looked uncomfortable, looking away nervously. Arthur brought a hand to his face. "Jesus… you kids are less prepared than I thought. A hobgoblin's a big brute. Ain't nowhere near the size of a regular one. Three times as big and much stronger. They get a hand on one of you, they'll toss you around like a doll in a dog's mouth."

"Th-There are goblins like that?" The same girl said, her eyes widening in disturbance.

"Sure. And they're nasty bastards." Arthur nodded in confirmation.

"E-Even so, I still have my magic," the mage girl said this time, holding up her staff. "Even one that big shouldn't be a problem."

"If you say so. But what'll you do if you get stabbed?" Arthur asked, pulling the cigarette from his lips and blowing out a cloud. "If you don't fix that up quick, you'll be leavin' everybody else to deal with that big guy on their own as well as the small ones."

"W-Well… I could heal her or the others with one of my miracles…" the blonde girl suggested, but Arthur was well aware of what priestesses were capable of.

"That is a good point. But does that miracle work on poison?"

The girl blinked. "P-Poison?"

"Tell me you kids know that much. Goblins sometimes dip their weapons in poison that'll kill you slow if it ain't cured," Arthur explained, looking around again. Silence was his answer, causing him to shake his head. "Just dandy. You kids aren't close to ready for this."

"B-But they're just-"

"Goblins? Yeah, they are. And guess what, boy?" Arthur stooped close to the young man's face, causing him to recoil somewhat as his voice became disturbingly low "Those goblins would eat you up and spit you out. Except the women. They'd take their time handlin' them and let me be frank, what they would do are things I do not care to imagine or say. You kids go into that cave the way you are now, you're all dead. Ain't none of you ready."

Arthur backed away, looking across the group of teens. All of them were stunned silent, looking up at him in either offense or hurt. "Go hunt some rats in the sewer. That's a much easier job. Rats ain't nearly as complicated."

"Y-You're wrong!" The boy suddenly said, his confidence replaced with anger as he grit his teeth. "We've all been working hard until today! There's no way we'd get taken out on our first quest so easily!"

"Trainin' and workin' hard don't mean much once you get out there and see things for yourself, boy," Arthur said bluntly, putting the cigarette back in his mouth. "Don't let your pride get you and your friends killed. Be smart and think about what you'll do next."

The young boy bit his bottom lip, looking down and balling his fists in frustration. "You're… you're wrong!" He snapped, turning on a heel and storming away.

"H-Hey, Warrior!" The black haired girl called out, her and the mage quickly following him as he headed for the door. Arthur watched them go, giving a small shake of his head before his eyes trailed to the remaining girl. Unlike the others, she didn't seem hurt or upset at his words, only turning to him and giving a small smile.

"Um… thank you," she said, bowing her head a bit. "I didn't know a lot of things that you said about goblins, and… seeing how little I knew about them, I'm glad you decided to speak with us first."

"Well… at least one o' you has got some sense," Arthur said, releasing a tired breath. "And what I said don't only apply to goblins. Make sure you prepare for any quest you take, even killin' rats in the sewer. One slip up, and it could be your last."

"Okay, I'll remember that! Thank you," she said, giving him a gentle smile before looking at the door. "Still… I should make sure they're okay. They didn't seem too happy."

"Boy was probably ready to become some big hero. Life ain't that easy, sadly," Arthur shrugged.

"R-Right. Well, thank you again." the girl bowed once more before turning around and heading for the door.

"Hey, girl," Arthur called out, causing her to pause a moment. "What's your name?"

"Oh, I-I'm Priestess," She said, smiling again.

"Nice to meet you, Priestess. Gunslinger," Arthur answered, fishing into his satchel and pulling a bottle out. "Here, take this." He tossed it to her, the girl blinking as she fumbled it to her chest, thankfully catching it.

"O-Oh, thank you. What is it?"

"It's a health cure. It'll handle most poisons should you happen to need it," Arthur said, closing his satchel up. "Think of it as your first step to gettin' prepared. I'd like to see you around the place more than just once, so keep that thing close."

"Oh… okay! Thank you again!" She smiled, bowing in appreciation before rushing out. Arthur smirked, feeling some satisfaction from the girl's response.

"I owe you thanks, too," he heard Guild Girl, looking back to see her giving a gentle smile. "Those kids might not like what you said, but they needed to hear it. I don't think that I could have persuaded them."

"Kids like that are always goin' into things half cocked. Always in a rush to be heroes," Arthur shook his head, putting the cigarette back into his mouth. "And without someone to tell 'em differently. Fifteen's too young for a job like this."

"Maybe… but that's just how things have always been done," Guild Girl shrugged half heartedly. "Men and Women are considered adults at the age of fifteen. Even if they're inexperienced, they can go on quests."

"Hm. Well, somethin' needs to change. Too many kids gettin' killed 'cause of that." Arthur sighed, putting his cigarette out on his boot heel. The doors to the guild swung open, drawing both of their attention up. Arthur smiled, moving forward as Lenny walked in.

"Well, took you long enough. Thought I was gonna have to start drinkin' without you."

"I hope you didn't. Last thing you need is to start gettin' wasted before we even start!" Lenny joked, the two clasping hands.

Arthur spared a look back before pulling Lenny forward. "Hey, Guild Girl. Got someone I'd like ya to meet. This here's Ranch Hand, an old pal o' mine."

"Oh, this was the friend you were waiting for?" Guild Girl raised a brow before smiling and extending a hand out. "Nice to meet you, Ranch Hand! Mr. Gunslinger has been a regular here and a good friend. I hope you'll make sure he won't get into too much trouble drinking tonight."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am," Lenny smiled, reaching out and shaking her hand. "And I'll do my best, but I doubt I'll be able to keep him in check. Gunslinger here's always been pretty wild when he drinks."

"You're one to talk. Kid might look innocent enough, but he's no better than me when he really gets goin'," Arthur laughed, slapping his shoulder.

"Well, I hope you guys won't cause too much damage. Have fun," Guild Girl giggled.

"Oh, come on, now. I ain't that bad… most of the time," Arthur snickered, turning around with Lenny and heading for the tavern side. "Well, catch you later then."

"She seems nice. You uh… you know," Lenny asked quietly as they started to walk away.

"What? No, no. She's uh… got more interest in the strong, silent types, if you catch my meanin'." Arthur smirked, watching as Lenny tilted his head in question before his eyes lit up in realization.

"Goddamn, no way! You tellin' me she's into Goblin Slayer too?!"

"Yup. I'm guessin' you noticed the looks Cow Girl gives him, then?" Arthur chuckled, the two slowly approaching the bar.

"Not at first. It was kinda a bummer when I did find out, though. I was actually startin' to get a bit sweet on Cow Girl, to be honest," Lenny admitted with a disappointed sigh.

"Really? Well, she certainly seemed like a good woman."

"Oh, she is, Arthur. A real good woman. But I know a lost cause when I see one," Lenny groaned, the both of them leaning forward on the bar.

"Ah, don't say that. If anyone's a lost cause, it's Goblin Slayer. You still got plenty of chances left," Arthur nudged him, putting a few coins on the bar. "Three beers, please."

"Three?" asked Lenny.

"Yeah. We got another pal o' mine comin' by to join us. You'll like him. He'll kinda remind you of Sean, except… well, I'd say they're pretty comparable when it comes to bein' a blowhard. Though don't tell him I said this, but he's actually good at fightin'," Arthur said, sparing a look around the tavern.

"Oh, you really are tryin' to turn this into a party, huh?" Lenny laughed. "Come on, Arthur. We don't have to drink that much."

"Yo~, Gunslinger! About time," Spearman's voice echoed, the two looking back to see him approaching from the back entrance. "Thought you might still be talking to those kids since I walked in."

"Ah, there he is. Ranch Hand, this is my pal Spearman. Spearman, Ranch Hand." Arthur said, putting a bottle out for Spearman next to him.

"Nice to meet ya. I think I heard a few stories about you if you're that same silver ranked adventurer people talk about," Lenny said, shaking hands with Spearman.

"That's me! Sounds like you know some good people if they talk about me," Spearman laughed, grinning as he returned the shake.

"People actually talk about him? Shit, and here I thought he did all the talkin' himself," Arthur said as the three turn back to the bar.

"Make all the jokes you want, but people can't ignore a legend when they see one. Bards probably sing a few songs about me, too," Spearman said with a cocky grin.

"Yeah. They sing about how much you like to sing about yourself," Lenny joked, causing Spearman to stumble while Arthur laughed.

"Tch! I see why you guys are friends. Is everyone you know a joker, Gunslinger?" Spearman huffed in amusement.

"I don't know many people, so… maybe," Arthur shrugged before holding up his bottle. "Cheers."

"Cheers!" Spearman and Lenny repeated, each one taking a quick swig of their drinks. They let out satisfied gasps, setting their bottles down.

"Man… who'd have thought we'd be havin' a drink together again, huh?" Arthur said, a nostalgic smile on his face.

"Not me, that's for sure. A lot… a lot's happened for us. Been a long time comin'." Lenny nodded, taking another sip from his bottle.

"Ah, come on, you two. You talk like a couple of old bags," Spearman said, shaking his head before grinning. "Look at us! We've got plenty of years in us! The past is the past! You've got a lotta more memories to make ahead, dontcha?"

Lenny and Arthur raised a brow, looking at one another and giving half shrugs. "You know somethin', Spearman. Sometimes, on very few occasions, you do say somethin' worth sayin'."

"Shut up! I say smart stuff all the time!" Spearman snarked back, the three laughing before taking much longer swigs from their bottles and finishing them off. "Hah! Bartender, another round!"

"Alright, slow down, you two." Lenny laughed, putting his hands up. "Let's try and keep from goin' too crazy already."


(Red Dead Redemption 2 OST: A Quiet TIme)

"I'm tellin'-tellin' you boys that you both are just bein' a couple of pansies!" Arthur huffed, taking a shot of hard liqour.

"Th-That's not fair, Arth-er-Gunsling...er. Th-That Cow Girl's already got eyes for that damn partner of yours! I-I can't do nothin' about that!" Lenny complained, drowning the misery of his words with a shot.

"Ye-Yeah! Y-You dunno what you're talkin' 'bout! Besides, I'm-I'm just workin' up to it! Gettin' Guild Girl to look at me more and more!" Spearman said, his cheeks red from drinking. "It-It'll happen! Just you watch!"

"Yeah, right! All she sees is a… a big ol' peacock!" Arthur waved his hand dramatically in dismissal.

"Y-You keep on callin' me that-but I don't-don't got no clue what a peacock is! But it pisses me off!" Spearman slurred out, eyes narrowing in annoyance.

"It-it is a big ol' bird that got some… some fancy feathers in the back that-that it uses for attractin' mates… I think…" Lenny answered, holding up his index finger.

"Oh, okay… sounds like a cool bird…" Spearman laughed before his face knit into a frown. "H-Hey! Yo-you callin' me a bird-you… you jerk!"

"I'm callin' you more than that, buddy!" Arthur huffed, pushing his shoulder with his good hand.

"Oh-you wanna go?! Don't-don't think I won't hit a cripple, Gunslinger!" Spearman growled, holding his hands up for a fight.

"I hope so! It'll make the fight… fair," Arthur put up his one good hand in a fist, the two squaring up on each other… in a very tipsy, tripping fashion.

"Guys-Guys, that ain't how we do things! We-We is here to celebrate!" Lenny got between them, wrapping his arms around their necks and bringing them close together. "C-Come on, now. We's here for a good time!"

Arthur and Spearman grumbled a bit before looking up at Lenny and nodding.

"You-you're right, Len-Len… Ranch. Ranch Hand… No more fightin'..." Arthur agreed, nodding his head.

"Y-Yeah, I'm-I'm sorry, Gunslinger. You're a good friend…" Spearman said, stretching an arm out and drunkenly patting his shoulder before leaning in. "Be-Besides… if-if Goblin Slayer gets with that-that Cow Girl… I'm totally set."

"What'd you say?! Why I oughta-!" Lenny said, obviously still in earshot considering he was still hanging onto them. He tackled Spearman, the two falling on the ground and wrestling around on the ground.

"Com-Come on, you idiots! Stop this nonsense!" Arthur said, trying to balance on a nearby stool. "We should… should just get another drink and call it even! Bartender!"

"Those three are really going at it, huh..?" Padfoot Waitress muttered to the side, standing close by with Guild Girl and Witch.

"This is… even worse than… usual," Witch said, her voice conveying no small amount of amusement.

Guild Girl could only sigh. "Y-Yeah… hopefully, they won't get any worse than this…"


"C-Come on, man! J-Just toss it already! I'm-am… ready!" Lenny said, balancing a bottle off the top of his head.

"Sh-Shush! I'm focusin~!" Spearman hissed out, his voice just as slurred as he balanced his spear over his shoulder.

"I'm tellin' you boys-I'm tellin' you! There's no way-no way that this is a… good… a good uh… somethin'-I lost the word…" Arthur trailed off, barely balancing himself in a stool next to Spearman.

"H-He's the one that-that called me gutless, Arthur! H-How am I-s-supposed to take that lyin' down?!" Lenny argued, turning to Arthur with a drunken glare. Only for the bottle to fall off his head and shatter on the ground. "Oops~!"

"Ah! I was-was almost ready! Why'd you move?!" Spearman groaned like a child, sticking his bottom lip out.

"Lenny~! What-What'd I say about… say about usin' our names?! You-you'll confuse people!" Arthur snapped, slapping the table next to him angrily.

"Wh-What? Whose names? What names?" Spearman asked, looking back and forth between them.

"That-that's a secret Spearman! You must-mustn't never tell nobody!" Lenny said, stumbling toward the silver ranked and grabbing his shoulders, though it looked like he was using him to keep from falling on the ground. "B-But I trust you man, you's a good-good man. If-If Arthur likes you, I likes you."

"D-Do you really mean that? B-Because, man… T-That… that means so much, man…" Spearman whined out, gripping Lenny's shoulder back. "I-I like to push o-other guys away because… s-so many of 'em think they're so cool or better…"

"Oh, man, I getchu. I getchu…"

"Are you two maids done kissin'?!" Arthur asked, narrowing his eyes at them in a somewhat jealous manner. "Come on! Let's get more drinks!"

"Yes sir!" They both answered, the three stumbling toward the bar.


"Ju-Just like that, partner! That-That is perfect!" Arthur said, giving two drunken thumbs up to a bard he grabbed off the street. The bard seemed amused, strumming his mandolin with a smile as Arthur started to wave his arms back and forth like a drunken composer. "A-Alright! Y-Yennl, you ready?!"

"You betchu I am!" Lenny gave a drunken nod, the two wrapping arms around each other's shoulders while Spearman sat close by, his eyes shining.

"C-Come on, sing already! I-I'm ready!" Spearman cheered, waving his arms around him in excitement.

"A-Alright, alright. Thi-This one goes out to… to the ladies," Lenny said, smacking his lips, looking at Arthur. "One… two… thre-three…"

"O Mollie, O Mollie, it's for your sake alone~,"

"That I leave my old parents, my house and my home;"

"My love for you, it has caused me to roam;"

"I'm a rabble rouser and Dixie's my home."

Spearman wooted loudly, clapping his hands together obnoxiously as he failed to go to the beat of the song. Other bar patrons as well as the staff started to laugh and listen in, even Padfoot Waitress and Witch as they watched them sing on. Though some did note that Arthur did mutter certain lines while Lenny remembered them instead.

"Jack o' diamonds, Jack o'diamonds, I know you of old;"

"You robbed my poor pockets of silver and gold;"

"O Whiskey, you villain; You've been my downfall;"

"You've kicked me, you've cuffed me;"

"And caused me to brawl."

"My foot's in a stirrup, my bridle's in my hand;"

"I'm leavin' sweet Mollie, the fairest in the land."

"Her parents don't like me, they say I'm too poor;"

"They say I'm unworthy to enter her door."

Arthur and Lenny broke out in laughter, balancing each other on their feet as they held onto one another. The rest of the bar laughed and clapped, praising their performance.

"Th-That was amazin'! You-You guys could be bards yourselves!" Spearman laughed, spastically clapping his hands. "One more, one more!"

"A-Another, the man says. What say you, good sir?" Lenny said, looking at his partner with a drunken brow raised.

"I say we-we give the man what he wants! A-And I got the per-perfect song for it!" Arthur declared, taking a quick drink from a bottle he snatched from a table nearby.

"O-Oh, yeah? L-Lay it on me, partner!" Lenny said, grinning. Arthur slowly leaned in, cupping his hand to Lenny's ear as he whispered to him. Lenny suddenly inhaled, pulling his head back from Arthur (but not letting go of him). "A-Arthslinger! Th-There be women in our presence! That-That is not a-a gentlemen's song!"

"Ah, they won't know what it means! We should be fine~!" Arthur waved him off.

Lenny put a stumbling finger to his chin in thought. "I needta… think on it…" Lenny took a quick swig of beer and burped before smiling. "Alright~, you win. Bu-But if the wo-women folk figure it out, it-it's all on you."

"Deal!" Arthur gave a dramatic nod before looking back at the bard. "Hey, buddy! Play us s-somethin' fun!"

"Yes, sir!" The bard began to strum a catchy tune. It wasn't exacttly what they had in mind, but it was good enough. "Now one… two… three!"

"When I was just, a lad you know,"

"I met a gal from ol' Bordeaux,"

"She had blonde hair n blue eyes too,"

"she let me ride on the ring dang do."

A few heads turned in thought, the lyrics somewhat confusing them. Still, Spearman and a few other drunken men just laughed and clapped their hands together.

The ring dang do! now what is that?"

"It's soft and round like a pussy cat,"

"Got a hole in the middle, and it's split in two,"

"and that's what you call the ring dang do"

"She took me down, to her cellar,"

"Said that I was a mighty fine feller,"

"Fed me wine and whiskey too,"

"She let me ride on the ring dang do!"

More drunken men joined in, the song easy to catch up with even for the many that had no idea what the song was. Padfoot Waitress found herself laughing as she tilted her head side to side with the song.

"The ring dang do! now what is that?"

"It's soft and round like a pussy cat,"

"Got a hole in the middle, and it's split in two,"

"and that's what you call the ring dang do."

"That's a pretty fun song," Padfoot Waitress giggled as she walked by Witch.

"It is… but do you… understand what… the song is about..?" Witch asked, a mischievous smile on her lips.

"Hm? No, not at all. What is it?" Witch wagged her finger slowly for her to lean forward, cupping her hand into Padfoot Waitress's furry ear as she whispered the answer to her. In a matter of seconds, the waitress's face went from peach to red. "Eh?"

"Her father come in and angrily said~," Arthur continued, he and Lenny swaying back and forth. "Now you have lost your maiden-"

"Gunslinger!"

All singing and music ceased, the three looking back to see Padfoot Waitress stomping her way toward them between the tables.

"I can't believe you'd sing a song like-like that!"

"Sh-She knows, Arthur! She knows!" Lenny whispered drunkenly to him.

"Shi~t, run for the hills, boys!" Arthur exclaimed, unlooping his arm from Lenny and tripping forward, the two stumbling on several chairs and tables. Spearman started to run with them for whatever reason, making sure to grab his spear first before following close behind.

"Hey! Get back here!"

"You'll never take me ALIVE~!"


The first thing Arthur noticed the moment he woke was the blistering headache. He groaned into his hand, his body feeling like all water had been drained from it. "And I thought… breathin' in smoke felt like shit…"

"I-I dunnno… it's not the worst I've felt after drinkin' with you… so that's a plus." He heard Lenny's voice. Arthur slowly sat up, taking in his surroundings. Much to his surprise, they were actually in his room at the guild. Arthur lay in his bed while Lenny sat up against the wall. Close next to him was Spearman, though he was still completely out, his face bunched up against the wall.

"Yeah… Yeah, that is somethin'..." Arthur laughed, his voice a bit hoarse. He slowly sat up in his bed, groaning as he pressed a hand into his forehead. "Still don't help the damn migraine…"

"Yeah… that part still sucks…" Lenny laughed, his eyes closed as he massaged his temples. "You uh… got any water?"

"No… Not in here… I'll go and… get some," Arthur slowly stumbled up to his feet, fighting through the pain as he rubbed the back of his head to try and ease the pain. He limped past his drinking partners, leaving the room and heading down the hall. As he got to the steps, he could see the unmistakable helmet of Goblin Slayer by the front desk.

"Ah, there he is… you missed… one helluva night…" Arthur laughed quietly, slowly stepping down the steps. His eyes had been focused on the steps to help watch where he was going, so he only just noticed that he wasn't alone as he got halfway down. With a quirk of his brow, he suddenly realized that a familiar young blonde girl stood close by him.

"Mr. Gunslinger…" Priestess said, her eyes wide and somewhat trembling.

"H-Hey, Mr. Gunslinger…" Guild Girl mumbled, her eyes worried as she watched him slowly approach.

"Oh hey, it's you. Good to see you back, lil' lady," Arthur greeted, leaning on the front desk as he made his way over to them. "So, you and your pals back for a quest?"

Arthur rubbed his eyes as he waited for an answer. But all he got was silence. He slowly pulled his hand away, looking at Priestess in wonder. "What? What's wrong?" His eyes went to Guild Girl, but the clerk only lowered her head in answer. Arthur's eyes widened, the tiredness in them suddenly evaporating. "What happened?"

He looked at Goblin Slayer for answers. But even he was quiet. Something that was strange to Arthur, as he normally answered when asked, at least. Priestess began to sniffle, her eyes snapped shut as she hugged her golden staff close.

"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Gunslinger… they… they wouldn't listen. I-I went along to try and make sure they would be okay, but…"

Arthur's jaw slacked, immediately processing her words.

"No… they…"

Goblin Slayer turned to him and finally gave a clear answer:

"They went into a goblin cave."

To be continued…

Well, that was a big chapter. Probably the biggest one I've written for this story yet. I wanted to make sure I covered several bases in the process of writing this one out. I think I accomplished my goal.

One thing I've been wrestling with is how I was going to handle the obvious elephant in the room: Priestess's introduction. It's a huge point of contention in the series and, while I would have liked to have Arthur save her from such a fate, it was an important turning point in her life that guided her to the path that she takes. Now that's not to say things turned out COMPLETELY the same, but you guys will have to wait and see how exactly they changed next chapter.

Aside from the depressing end, I do hope you guys enjoyed the fun, drunk bar scene of the chapter. I've always planned to have a drunken bar scene with Arthur and Lenny after determining that he was going to be in the story. I figured I might as well do it now while the coals are hot XD

As I said before, Lenny's role in the story won't be as 'another member of the party'. His role will be more indirect, but nonetheless important for certain things to come. But that doesn't mean we can't have fun with him now that he's here lol

Anyways, that's it for this chapter. I do hope you all enjoyed it, please leave a review, a follow and a favorite if you'd be so kind :)