It's Who You Choose

At the height of the harvest season, the guild hall was packed full of adventurers, food, drink, and loud noise. Some just arrived from their completed missions, celebrating another safe return with toasts. Given their line of work, each successful mission was a reason to commemorate. The absence of loot or at what rates it would be shared was insufficient to spoil this. Others just drank and ate to their content. Part of being self-employed was choosing not to work this or that day. It also meant no money, but each adventurer had to deal with the consequences of their choices. As such, it was also wise to know what kind of task to take. There was much to consider, and the more experienced adventurers would know to evaluate the true risk and reward of a mission offered by the guild. Alas, the gathering in the hall blurred those lines, just like the vision of an inebriated person. You could not tell one apart from the other, for at this moment, all the adventurers shared a cheerful moment to party.

Well, perhaps one could be singled out, for the very visage of said adventurer stuck out like a pink penguin in the ice. He wore cheap leather armor, had a small round shield on his arm, and at his hilt, he carried a sword of a strange length. More than that, he donned his cheap helmet, despite the celebrations around him. You could easily mistake him for a haunted armor set or some dark knight out of a nightmare. But for those of the guild, the ones who knew him for the longest, it was already part of their daily basis. Still looked weird, but it was a a familiar weird. He was Goblin Slayer.

And familiar or not, it never failed to get on the nerves of a certain High Elf Archer, who was part of his adventure party. The young lady, at least by elven standards, put her cup of wine down with a loud clack, almost spilling the drink. Her pointy, long ears bounced up and down, a clear indicator of her annoyance, complementing the pout and glare she directed at the living armor they had for a party leader.

"Maah, Orcbolg! How long will you keep wearing that armor!?" She shouted, pointing a slender, pale finger at him. The others sitting at the table had a rather diverse selection of reactions.

The tall Lizard Priest rolled his eyes with a smile on his face, which was easily mistaken for the sneer of a vicious predator about to tackle their prey. Next to him, contrasting in height, the Dwarf Shaman laughed while pouring himself another serving of the famous dwarven fire wine. Across them and sitting next to the Slayer, the diminutive Priestess let out a hopeless sigh while offering an understanding smile. She had given up on this regard. As for the odd adventurer himself, Goblin Slayer simply stared back at High Elf Archer in silence for a rather long moment before answering in his usual flat tone.

"There could be a goblin attack," was his answer, prompting the elven lady to groan and throw her arms up in the air. They had just joined the party and started drinking but it was clear she was already drunk, despite what she might say to the dwarf.

"Listen, you can't live your life like that! Do you have to be this paranoid?!" She exclaimed again, slamming her hands on the table.

"Watch it, Knife Ears! You're going to knock the food off the table," complained the dwarf as he held the trays with roasted pork and mashed potatoes.

Once again, it took him a while to answer.

"Goblins can come out of nowhere. Precaution is always advised," He explained, shoving a piece of bread through his visor.

But after standing still for a while (probably in deep thought), the armor-clad man let out a sigh and finally removed his helmet, placing it next to him. His childhood friend at the dairy farm had taught him it was improper to place the helmet on the food table, especially one so dirty and covered in goblin blood like his. As he did that, Priestess's eyes moved to his visage, with awe all over her face. It was probably the second or third time she saw him without the helmet and it was just as mesmerizing. Not that she would openly admit it! As for the elf, she took it as a win, humming satisfied, and sipping more of her soft wine.

"That's more like it, you should know when to loosen up, Orcbolg. All work and no relaxation is no good for you!~" She said, spinning her slender finger in circles, ears bobbing up and down as she nodded. Elves had a natural elegance to them so even this piece of common knowledge shared by an inebriated young lady felt like some ancient elven wisdom.

"You, on the other hand, could learn a thing or two from Beard Cutter about work ethic, Knife Ears." Dwarf Shaman butted in.

"Hah?! What's that supposed to mean?!"

"That you could take your job more seriously. Gee, is your brain as flat as your chest?"

"Oi! Some things are too mean to say even from a wine barrel like you!"

"It's called being sturdy, Anvil!"

"You little–"

As the two of them went on yet another banter exchange, the lizard man turned his attention back to the unhelmeted man eating his food. If he didn't know better, Lizard Priest would say Goblin Slayer was one of those magic-infused clay automatons he heard of, from the methodical way the young man ate.

"It does intrigue me sometimes, Milord Goblin Slayer. How do you spend your leisure time? Mmm! Sweet nectar!~" It was rather amusing to watch the tall descendant from the nagas enjoying a piece of cheese so much.

"... I read," was Gobin Slayer's answer, which caught the party's attention. "There are many things I don't know, and some of them could be useful to kill goblins."

"Of course…" said Priestess as she shook her head. It had to be goblins. "I think Lizard Priest is asking what you do that doesn't involve work, Goblin Slayer Sir," She said, using a similar tone her mother superior used to teach children.

This had the man thinking a while longer. You could see in his facial expressions that he was running a list in his head, and crossing the items if they had anything to do with goblin slaying. In the end, he looked up at him with that same plain face, his piercing gaze focused on the lizard man's slitted eyes.

"I help at the farm." His final answer seemed to satisfy the scaled warrior and the blondie next to him.

"I see, a different kind of labor to distract you, perhaps?"

"I grew up in a farm, it's just normal to me, I guess." He said between bites, then decided to add. "And her uncle is getting old, so she has some extra work."

The mentioning of the red-haired girl at the farm got High Elf Archer's attention again.

"Oh, the farm girl? She's your childhood friend, right?" Her previous combative mood was nowhere to be seen.

"Yes. We have known each other since we were kids."

"Man, I pity her sometimes. Having to deal with your weirdness for so long, I would be driven crazy!" She said, laughing her head off. She was clearly drunk, yet her laugh had a magical tone to it, like clear crystal chimes.

"Hmm, I can be a handful to her at times. So I try to help whenever possible," His answer was much more serious than the current light mood, but it wasn't enough to deter the elf.

"Well, at least you try. But you really need to get your head out of just goblins, goblins, goblins! Don't you think of anything else?"

"Like what?"

"Like uh… huh," The counter question made the high elf stop to think this time.

Adventuring was one thing, she liked to explore and all that, but they already had that checked out. Sort of, she didn't consider goblin slaying a proper adventure, it was more like a job. A very dirty, stinky, and ungrateful job. One that this man was way too obsessed with. Any hobbies this man had were probably one or two steps away from playing into goblin slaying too. He could probably make anything turn into a goblin-killing technique or contraption if allowed to. So what else was there to look up in life? High Elf Archer's eyes lit up as something came to mind, from a memory of a talk she had with her sister once.

"So, how about a family?" The question came out as straight as one of her arrows, and it hit more than one target. The Priestess almost choked on her food, having to resort to her drink. Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest exchanged knowing glances, and Goblin Slayer remained silent as usual.

"You do think of getting a family, right? Isn't that a thing for all humans?" High Elf Archer inquired further. Instead of getting the answer from the man, it was Priestess who interjected first.

"W-well, not everyone thinks of it! F-for example, some of my superiors at the temple never married, but they lead very fulfilling lives!"

"Is that so? I was under the impression every human wanted to have a big family."

"Are you saying elves don't think of having kids, Long Ears?" Dwarf Shaman asked.

"Well, not in the same way humans do, I think. As you know, we elves live very long lives, so it's not something we really think about in the first ten thousand years or so."

"For those with such a long life span, it matters little. But for us short-lived beings, propagating our bloodline is how we maintain our legacy," Lizard Priest said, making a solemn gesture with his hand, before tossing another slice of cheese into his jaws.

"Oh, no no, we do care a lot. There's much celebration whenever a newborn arrives~" High Elf Archer explained. A smile came to her face as she recalled the last celebration of a birth at her forest, a few hundred years ago. "It's just… it's not a priority, I think."

"I think I understand. If I lived so long I would probably not rush to have kids. Some people really rush us to settle with someone and have a family as soon as possible…" Said the Priestess, meekly sipping from her drink.

"Yeah, I get you. I had my fair share of push to "settle down" and get a wife, but I'm a free spirit," Dwarf Shaman said, taking a large swig from his fire wine.

"Heh, be careful not to wait too long, otherwise no bearded dwarven woman will want an old barrel geezer~"

"What are you yapping over there, yer anvil? I'm still in my prime! And dwarven women like robust men like me," he said, proudly slapping his stomach.

"What else to expect from bearded women?" High Elf Archer said, shaking her head and with a smirk crossing her lips.

"At least they're not bare bones like you elven beanstalks!"

"What was that, short legs?!"

And another banter started, earning a hearty laugh from the lizard man and a shaky chuckle from the blondie.

"Do you think of having a family too, Lizard Priest?" Asked Priestess, still rather shy about this topic.

"Hmm, as descendants of the great nagas, our duty is to grow and multiply, to preserve our lineage and ascend to the heights of our predecessors. As such, there is a time when every warrior returns home and finds a suitable mate, with whom they shall consummate the sacred union," Lizard Priest explained, keeping his palms together in reverence. Despite not sharing the same religion and deities as her scaly friend, these teachings never failed to amuse Priestess. And being a servant of Earth Mother, she could relate to such a "calling", if you will.

"However, I must add that we don't have a structured family such as you humans normally have."

"Oh really? Then who takes care of the children?" Priestess inquired, absorbed in her curiosity.

"The children are taken care of by the whole tribe. We know of our progenitors, as the bloodline must be remembered, but the hatchlings are taken care of collectively. Food and shelter are shared, and they're introduced to the teachings and history of our people as they grow. And then, it comes to the times when they begin their journey to become great naga warriors."

"I see. So it's a more communal society."

"Indeed. The bonds with our brethren are as strong as our blood ties. I believe there's a human saying that goes like that. How was it…?"

"The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb, I believe." Dwarf Shaman, already tired from the second squabble with the anvil, joined the conversation again.

"Oh, that's the one. Many thanks, master Dwarf Shaman."

"Yeah, we dwarves share the same thought. Family is important, but who do you forge iron with is also important. We are more like a big family, honestly, and more often than not, one clan will get at odds with another. I've heard of feuds that are at least a thousand years old, but hey, family is family. In the end, we stick together."

"Very admirable. As expected from the dwellers of the mountains, your ties are as resilient as the iron you forge." Lizard Priest said, taking a chunk of the roasted pork.

"Indeed, Scaly, indeed. What about you, lass?" Dwarf Shaman then turned the question to Priestess, who jumped slightly on her seat.

"Eh? Uh, well, at the temple of Earth Mother, we receive many orphans. The Mother Superior and the other sisters take care of us and teach us about Earth Mother's compassion, and if we wish to, we can join as servants too. We don't have a lot of luxuries there, but it is a warm place," Priestess said, recalling those memories with fondness.

"So this Mother Superior is basically your mom, right?" High Elf Archer also joined the discussion again, her chin resting on her hands, elbows propped on the table.

"In a sense, yes. She acts as our teacher first and foremost, but to me personally… If I had to put it into words, I would say we don't choose of whom we're born, but we can choose who is our family," She said, exuding an uncharacteristic confidence.

"Mhmm, wise words to live by, my dear Priestess," Lizard Priest made a polite bow with his hands put together. Dwarf Shaman gave her a toothy grin and High Elf Archer nodded happily in agreement. It was at that moment that she turned to Goblin Slayer, who remained silent the entire discussion.

"What about you, Goblin Slayer Sir?" She sought his approval but backtracked on that out of some misplaced fear. "Erm, um, do you think goblins also have families?"

"No." The answer was so sudden and short that it was like a blunt weapon hitting her tiny chest.

"Goblins have no concept of family. They might recognize others as their kin, but they always think of themselves first. Selfish creatures as they are, they have no loyalty but to themselves," He said, rather somberly. "Truly, a goblin could never have a family…"

Amidst the festivities, it was as if a witch had cast Blizzard on their table. The surrounding noise seemed to drown, and everyone hesitated to say something. Perhaps it was too unsensible of them to bring up such a topic, considering Goblin Slayer's past. Trauma like that tended to carry for an entire life, and even then, it wasn't that far behind, even considering the human life span.

"Ugh, that goblin talk is bittering my drink… Talk about something else, Orcbolg!" High Elf Archer shouted out of nowhere, pointing a slender finger at him. And lo and behold, the spell was broken, the noise returned, and the merry atmosphere was restored.

"Sorry…" The white-haired man said quietly, looking into his now empty plate. He then extended it towards Dwarf Shaman, who had hold of the roasted pork and promptly put some slices on the man's plate.

"Well, so long as you're aware next time–"

"I thought of having a family once."

These words alone froze everyone, not only on this table but on the surrounding ones. No matter how much noise you make, if Goblin Slayer of all people said something like that, it couldn't be ignored.

"The hell?! Goblin Slayer? With a family?" Spearman, who was sitting on the table next to them, shouted, amplifying the effect. Now the entire guild hall was silenced, as if the dwarven shaman had cast one of his spells. At the corner, behind the task assignment balcony, Guild Girl gasped in surprise while Inspector watched her friend's reaction in amusement.

"G-Goblin Slayer wants a family?" she parroted, almost dropping the porcelain teacup she had in her hand.

"Hey, isn't this your chance?~"

"W-w-w-what are you talking about?!"

"Huh, isn't that surprising?" Commented the Female Knight, emptying her wine cup in a single turn.

"Why would it be? Every man yearns to have a family," Heavy Warrior said, also emptying his mug of mead.

"I don't know if I can picture Goblin Slayer with a family…" Club Fighter commented, getting nods from Harefolk Hunter and Supreme God's Cleric, as well as the trainee team.

"I… would… not be… so sure… about… that," Witch said, elegantly sipping from her wine goblet, a coy smile adorning her lips as her eyes scanned the hall. There were at least three maidens present who would love to give a family to him, she was confident.

"Hah! Who would want to settle down with this weirdo?" Spearman joked, pointing a thumb at said weirdo.

"Rude… much?"

"He's not wrong, though." Said Goblin Slayer, looking at Witch and Spearman. "Lots of people call me a "weirdo" and "obsessed with goblins". It's not a surprise if nobody shows interest in me like that." He answered, blunt and honest as always.

So much so that now Spearman felt bad for his comment, even if he was technically correct. Despite his fame as a player, what Spearman wanted the most was to find a good woman to settle down with. Just as Heavy Warrior said, it was the wish of every man who had a little sense of self-worth. And at that thought, Spearman's eyes drifted towards the Guild Girl, but as usual, her eyes were on that weirdo. So much to his dismay, that was one person on his account who might be interested in forming a family with Goblin Slayer. The mental image of a group of miniature Goblin Slayers running around with miniature cheap swords and armor sent a shiver up his spine and would haunt his dreams for nights to come.

"Umm, Goblin Slayer Sir? May I say something?" Priestess, who was taken aback by such a blunt revelation, felt like some misconceptions had to be undone. Meek and shy as she was, the young lady decided she couldn't hide behind him forever, and he was a soul that needed salvation. Sure, she wasn't as powerful and graceful as her goddess, but there had to be something she could do to alleviate the weight in his heart.

"What is it?"

"I don't agree with what you said."

"Is that so?"

"Very much so!" She said with confidence. Perhaps it was the wine, diluted as it was, finally getting to her. "Goblin Slayer Sir is a very talented and honored person! You might be a bit of a weirdo, well… that's kind of an understatement… but anyway! You're one of the kindest people I know, and you help people out no matter the payment, and you think of other's needs and you never back down from a fight. You do what must be done, even if it is a hard and unending task so… I… I think… I think you would be a perfect man to have a family with!"

The last bit was definitely the alcohol getting to her head, judging from the color of her cheeks and how it spread to her whole face once Priestess realized what she just said at full lungs and how everyone was looking at her with those endearing eyes that mean to say "how adorable". At that moment, she wished Earth Mother had a miracle to spirit her away, the embarrassment was almost unbearable.

But there was a positive in all that.

"I see" She looked up and there it was, the tiniest smile on Goblin Slayer's face. "I see…"

That in itself brought a smile to her face.

"Ne, Goblin Slayer, my friend here wants to know how many kids you want~" That was Inspector, causing Guild Girl's face to twist in shock and embarrassment, not too unlike Priestess a few seconds ago.

"Good question, how many kids do you think you can handle, yer Anvil? Hahahaha!" Dwarf Shaman took the opportunity to fold High Elf Archer into the bit, and by now you couldn't tell if her face was red from the wine or the embarrassment.

"W-w-w-w-who said anything about children?!"

On the table next to them, Female Knight shrunk down and hid her red cheeks behind the mug as she drank. This topic in particular was very sensitive to her. Not that anyone would notice, they were too busy laughing at the expense of those three fair maidens and the weirdo they called Goblin Slayer.


Before the moons reached their peak in the sky, Goblin Slayer excused himself from the party. Donning his trusty, albeit cheap helmet again, the young man walked down the road with a bold stride, a lonely armor set meandering the pastures, illuminated by the green and red light of the moons and the shine of the stars. The world seemed to expand around him, dwarfing his existence before this vast land and even more vast sky. The Slayer stopped for a moment, gazing into the heavens through the slits of his visor. Could there really be someone crazy enough to not only see value in a man like him but also accept to form a family with him?

Goblin Slayer might be a good-for-nothing idiot, as his master always reminded him, but he was no fool. He was aware of his flaws of character and shortcomings, more than anyone. It was that mentality that allowed him to always stay sharp. The quality of a blade is directly tied to the material it is made of, but even cheap metal will cut if you keep it sharp, he heard from the master blacksmith of the guild. In his case, assuming he was a blade of questionable material, he had to sharpen up constantly to keep his edge. But that was concerning killing goblins.

Perhaps the proper allegory would be the purpose of this hypothetical blade. Some were made for felling trees, others for felling monsters, others for felling men. You could use a butcher knife or a hatchet in combat, Goblin Slayer knew all too well how to weaponize his environment, for it was necessary for goblin slaying. But could he make something else aside from turning things into weapons? Was he cut out for anything else aside from goblin slaying?

The moons and the stars did not give him answers, no matter how much he stared at them. The gods, always whimsical and just as prone to the roll of the dice as the mortals, didn't answer either. Have the gods left any space for him to have a family in their inscrutable plans? And if they did, could he actually pull it off? Goblin Slayer didn't know. He didn't have a way to be sure, but that wasn't something new. No matter how much you prepare yourself, there is always room for randomness. One can never tell how the dice will roll, so all one can do is prepare the best they can and deal with the hand given to them.

Not that the schemes of the gods or the dice mattered to him. Goblin Slayer did not care for those, he had things to do, duties that, as far as he knew, only he could accomplish. Or at the very least, he was the first to claim those tasks. So he would do as he always did with goblin slaying, and as he did with everything in his life. No use in dwelling on what-ifs and distant conjectures. He would take it one step at a time, solve the problem at hand, take the next step, and solve the next problem until he couldn't anymore. That would be when he was dead. That was Goblin Slayer.

So he took in a deep breath, the mildly cold air of the night filling his lungs. It worked to dispel the light dizziness from the drinks of earlier. He didn't drink or eat a lot, for he had made a promise to not arrive too late tonight. And he would see that his end was kept. That was Goblin Slayer.

He exhaled, looking at the path ahead of him. The farmhouse was in sight, a small yellow light amidst the dark veil of night, a beacon of familiarity, of safety, the closest thing he had to a home. Also, the closest thing he had to a family.

Goblin Slayer raised his foot and took a bold step forward, then took another step, and another. Resuming his bold stride, it didn't take long before he was at the gate of the farm, and a familiar face welcomed him on the porch. She sat on a bench under the light of the lamp, but once the clacking of armor got within earshot, she jumped to her feet, greeting him as usual.

"Welcome back, did you have a safe trip?~," said the Cow Girl, her smile bright enough to rival the twin moons.

"Yes. I'm back," he answered shortly, like he always did. Some would take it as a rude attitude, but she knew him best, and over the years had grown rather fond of his bluntness.

However, he could get used to being more communicative.

"You know, when you asked if a friend of yours could stay here for a while, I didn't expect it to be that person. You should have told me," Cow Girl said with a pout, her hands resting on her hips.

"Did she arrive?"

The answer came in the form of said person slowly opening the door and peeking outside.

"Oh, it's you," She said softly, but her voice was filled with longing.

"I'm here," Goblin Slayer said, getting on the porch in front of the door. With Cow Girl next to him, he stood in front of their visitor. "Did you make a safe trip?"

"Yes. Your friend was very good company," said the tall blond beauty, leaning on the door frame. Her eyes, glassy as they were, fixed on his armor-clad figure. They remained in silence for a while.

"Ahem~ Why don't we go inside?" Cow Girl had to intervene in whatever was going on here.

"Oh, certainly," the blondie answered, retreating inside and giving way to them.

"How's your uncle?" He asked, closing the door behind him.

"He's doing well. A little more tired than usual but that's the harvest season for you. He went to the town to do business at the market, he should be back in a few days," Cow Girl answered, heading to the kitchen and picking a plate. "Are you hungry? If you want to eat, I made your favorite dish~"

"Yes, please." He said, taking a seat at the table and, without prompt, taking off his helmet. That didn't go unnoticed by the two ladies but for now, they didn't comment on it.

As for the blond beauty, she sat across from him on the table, with the elegance of a princess. Or more accurately, with the elegance of a high priestess, for that was her role in this world.

"Were you on a quest today?" She asked softly.

"Yes."

"Was it a… goblin slaying quest?"

"Yes."

"... How was it?"

"..."

He remained in silence while formulating his thoughts. It was very different to observe him doing this without the helmet. Now both of them could see his thoughtful expression, a slight furrow of his brows, and a gentle purse of his lips. It was exactly what they imagined it to be behind that visor, but it was nice to see it for real. At last, the young man came up with a response.

"It was a medium size nest. No shamans, no hobs, no hostages or victims as far as I know." He said, listing the important facts, or at least what he judged important. Then he added something more. "There was a chest."

"Oh, did you find some loot?" Cow Girl asked eagerly, putting the plate with broth with a piece of bread in front of him, and sitting next to the man. But before that, she realized. "Oh sorry, do you want some too?" She asked the tall woman.

"I'll accept your offer, thank you." She said, turning again to the man in front of her. "And what did that chest hold? A sword? A jewel? Perhaps a scroll? These devilish creatures have no regard to what they steal…"

"It was a jewel," Goblin Slayer answered. "I've been told it is called… topaz. It was in a necklace." After some extra thought, he added the final important piece of info. "We returned to the quest giver. It was a family relic."

And with that, he seemed satisfied with his answer. Goblin Slayer waited until Cow Girl served the beautiful woman and herself before eating his meal. She also put fresh salad on the table, with cut tomatoes and cured cheese.

"How's the broth?"

"Good," He paused. "It tastes very good."

"I see~," She said with a gentle smile adorning her lips.

"Indeed, I have never tasted a broth like that before. May I ask what is the secret?" The blond woman inquired.

"Oh, there's no big secret, it's just a broth with milk. It's an old recipe that his sister always made," Cow Girl said, but she gasped at the mention of Goblin Slayer's sister. It wasn't her intention to bring it up, her tongue slipped.

Despite her worries, the man next to her ate his food silently, apparently none the wiser about it. That sort of made her sad but also gave the redhead a sense of relief.

"I see why it is your favorite~," The fair maiden said, not bothering to hide her swooning over him.

This brought forth the elephant in the kitchen table: Goblin Slayer did not tell Cow Girl this "friend" of his who was to stay a few days at the farm was Sword Maiden. A Gold-rank adventurer and head of the Temple of Law in the Water Town. The Sword Maiden.

When she met with her in town to escort her, Cow Girl did not expect to find such a high-profile person. She was aware her childhood friend had done a few quests to the Temple of Law, but this? And by the gods, Sword Maiden was on a completely different level than her. The humble farm girl had a chance to see her in the temple's white robes before she changed for a more discreet attire. Still, even with those commoner clothes and a cloak, her beauty was very apparent. People from the tall, mostly men but definitely some women too, couldn't help but follow with their eyes as they walked through the streets.

Such was the distance between them that the trip back to the farm was done in complete silence. After all, what kind of topic could she, a farm worker, bring up to entertain such a refined lady like her? And that mood remained until Goblin Slayer arrived home. At last, a topic in common.

Or so she thought because the silence remained. From the looks of it, just admiring him was enough for Sword Maiden. And oh, did she like to admire him. She didn't want to assume, but Cow Girl had the inkling feeling of anxiety the moment he came back and Sword Maiden had laid eyes on him. Figuratively. It was the same feeling she had whenever the Guild Girl was around, but unlike her friend, with whom Cow Girl also had a rivalry of sorts, the gold-ranked adventurer felt more like a dungeon boss than a simple rival. How was she to compete with such a dignified beauty?

Lost in her inner thoughts, Cow Girl almost missed when Goblin Slayer, of all people, started a conversation.

"... Have you ever considered having a family?"

"Mmm…" She answered mindlessly, and then it clicked. "Eh? F-family?!" She jolted in her seat, her chest also bouncing in response. Both the question and the reaction got Sword Maiden's interest.

"Yes. Have you ever considered having a family?" He repeated himself nonchalantly.

"Where did that question come from?" She said, trying her best to prevent her cheeks from turning red as her hair, but to no avail.

"I was asked that at the guild today," was his answer.

"A family, you say," Sword Maiden parroted, propping her elbows on the table and resting her chin in her hands. "I wonder, fufufu~"

Goblin Slayer waited patiently as Cow Girl struggled to form sentences. Such a random and personal question out of nowhere, and with the Sword Maiden present! What was she supposed to say? Well, she had some clear thoughts about it, the real issue was how to tell him about it.

"W-well, having a family… would be nice. I mean… Doesn't… doesn't everyone wish to have one?" She tried the waters with her response.

"I have been told so."

Silence again.

"So… does that include you?" Cow Girl asked him. She could barely look into his eyes, especially because he didn't have his helmet now.

"Hmm… I think so, yes."

The answer was short, just like he always did, but it felt different this time. Such few words have never filled her with so much joy and hope. Cow Girl knew her friend was more than a goblin extermination machine, but it was always good to have that reassurance.

"But right now wouldn't be a good time," Her hopes were hurt a bit. "And I don't see who would be crazy– I don't know if someone would see me in that way."

Ah, he cut himself. A rare moment where Goblin Slayer was trying to be extra considerate of her feelings. She wondered how aware he really was about her feelings. She wasn't direct, but she didn't make it a secret either, much to her uncle's dismay. It was precisely her not knowing if he really saw her in that light that prevented Cow Girl from being completely open about it. Now, before the young lady a potential game changer was presented. The problem was, she knew there was competition and very serious competition at it.

"Why do you think that?"

"People say I'm a weirdo, and they're not wrong. All I do is kill goblins and think of ways to kill goblins. It's not what I would call a good person to settle down with."

"But–"

"If you allow me the boldness," Sword Maiden cut in. "There are many more qualities in your character than you think. What I see is a man of commitment and with a compassionate heart that cannot rest while evil lurks in the shadows," She said, once again swooning and even reaching a slender hand to rest on top of his. She caressed the gloved fingers as she spoke, glassy eyes fixed on him.

"I'm not that great."

"And humble to a fault too~ Others may not see it, but I know for a fact you're valiant and brave. They just can't see it because all you do is goblin hunting. But I think that's not a bad thing."

"Is that so?"

"Very much so~"

"..."

Goblin Slayer looked down at her hand, resting on his and tempting to interlock fingers. He allowed her to indulge in this, for he shared her secrets and past traumas. If that gesture brought any sense of comfort to her soul, rough and dirty as his armor was, he would not stop her. However, Cow Girl didn't agree, scooting closer and daring to wrap her arms around his, but she settled for just touching arms.

"I've also been told something similar today," He said, bringing a hand to his chin. "If two people say that apart, then it must be somewhat true." He concluded.

"It is true! There is much to like about you!–" Cow Girl shouted, moved by the dreading idea of being left behind in the race for her childhood friend's heart. The way Sword Maiden "looked" at her, however, filled her with embarrassment.

"I see," He said, smiling for the second time today. "I see… Do you think family is who we choose to be with?"

Chalk another tally for Goblin Slayer bringing odd questions out of nowhere. But Cow Girl understood he was bringing those questions because he was asked first, and this was his way of sorting things out. Of course, she didn't mind at all him being that open with her. Compared to her friend at the guild, this was sort of a childhood friend privilege.

"Mhmm. We can't pick where we're born, but we can pick who we call family. My uncle, for example."

"Your uncle thinks I'm a weirdo too, though."

"Erm, yes. But he knows you have the best intentions, so he chooses to have you as part of the family! Me too, well…"

"And what would it take for you to consider starting a family?" Sword Maiden asked him, getting the attention of the other two, more so Cow Girl as the answer interested her a lot.

"..."

Goblin Slayer went into another deep-thinking moment. From his musings and fleeting thoughts, it was a simple answer, but very difficult to accomplish.

"When all the goblins are gone," He said with a straight face.

"Such a daunting task. You don't do yourself any favors by setting up this level of challenge," Sword Maiden said, pouting in a childish display that Cow Girl wasn't ready for.

"I know. That's why, realistically, I would never stop with goblin slaying, even when I had a family of my own." When, not if. A subtle difference, but it changed things drastically. "So that person, whoever she is, would have to endure the uncertainty of me not coming back one day."

"Ah, but you don't intend to get yourself killed, do you?" Sword Maiden asked him.

"No," Goblin Slayer had an intense gaze, and his free hand balled into a fist. "I don't pretend to die to any goblin."

That level of reassurance was precisely what made Sword Maiden fall for him, and part of his charm in Cow Girl's opinion. If he made you a promise, he would see it through.

"So it would be better if that person supported you in goblin hunting, right?~" Said the blond beauty. The only person who did not get her insinuation was the man himself.

"Yes, that would make things easier."

"Fufufu~ I see," she said with a light chuckle.

"But goblin slaying wouldn't be the only thing you would do, right? With that person, I mean," Cow Girl's mind was racing. This wasn't the first time she imagined their future together, but it was the first time she ever saw him address these things. If she didn't know better, she would say that man had no interest in "couple things" like dates, living together, sleeping together, and– well, other couple activities.

"I suppose not. Although I'm not good at this kind of thing, so I wouldn't know where to begin. I have a vague idea, though."

"Don't worry your pretty head about it, that can be easily fixed," Sword Maiden said, leaning on the table, a coy smile forming on her soft lips. Even without her clerical robes, her womanly figure was highlighted by her clothes. If anything, it was as if she wanted him to peek into her cleavage.

"Is it?"

"Why yes, all you need is some guidance, which I'm sure that future woman would love to give you~"

"That would be very helpful. I hope you're right."

"I'm positive about it~," Sword Maiden said eagerly. The more time passed, the more she seemed to wiggle and squirm in her seat.

"A-anyway! Living on a farm isn't easy so, you know, having people you can count on is very helpful…" Cow Girl butted in again.

It was common to have farms run by families. You didn't have to worry about payment and there was joy in accomplishing hard work with your close ones. And maybe, just maybe, she had a dream of raising her kids here.

"That's right, how many children do you want?"

"Eh?!" The poor girl almost fell from the chair. Was he reading her mind or was she being that easy to read?

"Ho?" Sword Maiden was also caught unprepared by the question.

"Children. Do you wish to have any?"

"Again, what's with those questions?!"

"... I was asked that too," He answered, pausing to think further. "Forgive me if it was indelicate." He added, also apologizing to the blondie across from him.

"Fufufu, it's not a problem to me, not at all~" Despite the faint blush adorning her cheeks, Sword Maiden didn't seem abashed by the question. Quite the contrary. "I suppose… four would be a good start."

"I see. Any reason in particular for that number?"

"Just for your information, most ladies would take issue with this kind of inquiry," She said, glancing at the young miss sitting next to him. She didn't need her vision to know the girl was getting red as a tomato.

"... So I shouldn't ask?"

"I don't mind answering since it's you, that's what I mean."

"I'll remember that."

"Well, as for your second question, no reason in particular. If I have the opportunity, I would like to have more~" Sword Maiden didn't even bother masking her suggestive slime. She was all but leaning over the table, her slender hands holding onto his gloved one.

Perhaps such forwardness was what motivated Cow Girl to step up.

"Seven!" She stated, getting a hold of his arm. Goblin Slayer faced her with a mildly surprised expression, so she followed with what she imagined was his next question. "I-I like kids and, you know, more hands at the farm, hahaha…"

She tried to downplay it with a joke. The last thing she wanted was to give him the impression she was desperate.

"But uh, what about you…?"

"..."

Goblin Slayer crossed his arms in deep thinking. If starting a family was a remote idea to him, children were beyond the realm of possible. It was no stretch to say he had never considered it once before, but again, his mind was consumed by killing goblins at a very young age. Perhaps for that reason, he could picture a smaller version of himself in an icy cave, just like he was once. Of course, he wasn't as talented as his master, and certainly not as cruel, but if he ever reached the point in his life where he had kids, he would want them to be prepared. You can't always know when a goblin is going to attack, all one can do is prepare the best they can. Ideally, he would be there to exterminate the goblins, but he couldn't be in two places at the same time.

"I don't know. I think I'll let that future person decide. She is carrying the babies, after all."

A logical answer, just as expected from Goblin Slayer. The two of them couldn't help but smile at the simplicity and honesty of heart from this man.

"I see, I can't wait~"

"Huh?!"


Many moons later

The forest rejoiced along with the elves as another of their kin was born. The fairies and the sprites celebrated, and nymphs and sylphs sang happy tunes, making this a truly magical gathering in the forest of the elves. But this time, not only the heirs of the fae were present. No, this occasion was marked by the presence of humans, lizardmen, and even a dwarf. For this was not only a new elf born, but the son of an elf princess.

Speaking of which, said princess stood at the balcony of the tree, formed by the bark and vines, courtesy of the spirits that inhabited it. Her green eyes reflected the glimmer of the stars in the sky, admiring the great expanse above through the canopy of the trees. Her pointy, delicate ears twitched as she detected movement, very light steps that only an elf could take, and only an elf could recognize.

"So you're here again," said the guest, almost floating next to the princess, who kept staring at the sky. "That's surprising. Between the both of us, you certainly enjoy parties more."

"I'll go back in a minute, I just needed some time." The princess answered, but her companion didn't seem very satisfied. Being older and knowing her sister for literal millennia, it was easy to tell when she wasn't being completely sincere.

"Are you worried?"

"No, dear Sister. I'm just… thinking." The High Elf princess answered shortly again. Perhaps some of his influence rubbed on her.

"About him?"

"About everything, honestly," she turned around, leaning on the vine railing, then kicked her feet up in the air, twisting elegantly and launching herself in the air, landing on a branch without disturbing as much as a leaf. The absence of her bow did not make her any less acrobatic. That was High Elf Archer for you.

"It's good to hear you're thinking seriously about this, even though I would rather you did that before having a child." Elf Sister's gentle voice clashed with the quite harsh admonishing, but she wasn't wrong.

"Well, it's not like I was expecting that to happen. Like, not in the first few tries… Anyway, I'm being as responsible as possible!"

"You know I wouldn't mind taking care of him while you adventure with your party, right? He is my dear nephew, after all. Even if not pure-blooded." One might think Sister was being judgemental here, but in reality, her heart would be open to love that child regardless of the origins of his father. It didn't matter what the elders said, this youngling was part of their family, and he would be treated as such.

"I know but," High Elf Archer sat on the branch, dangling her feet and looking up at the sky again. "Seeing how everyone takes care of their kids, I don't want to do differently."

"The human customs differ from ours, mostly because of our lifespan. Tying yourself to such things is of little use, my dear sister."

"Hmm, perhaps, but I want to try the same way. There's this saying they have: 'Family is who you choose to stay with'," She said, looking down at the lively crowd below her, spotting her friends. "They value friendship as much as blood ties. Humans, limited as they are in their time, cherish every moment with their loved ones. Perhaps because they know deep down it won't last forever."

"And it is precisely this limitation that concerns me," Elf Sister said, looking at High Elf Archer with a faintly pained expression. "I pray that you're not doing this on a whim, those tales of elves and humans cohabiting are not all roses. In the end, you're forced to face the reality of their short lifespan. The pain of the departure will seek you for the rest of your days, at times unbearably so…"

The tales told of rare but very real unions between the children of the fae and mortals. Part of why it was looked down upon was the standard held by the elders: let the outsiders outside of the forest and its people. It was for the preservation of their home, as well as their well-being. Elves, being more attuned to the world of spirits, also felt emotions more strongly than humans. Their joys were brighter, and their pains too, cut deeper into their souls. And after getting attached, the pain of losing a loved one could be so profound it led to an abyss. An abyss that called upon the living to join their beloved in death.

Such tragedies were a cautionary tale, warning of the dangers of mingling too much with mortals. But it also alluded to something special, something almost magical in nature. A bond so strong between two individuals, that it transcends life and death, bringing the two together no matter what. At least that was how High Elf Arche thought. Her mother told them these stories to instill a good dose of fear, but to the younger sibling, it was an endless fountain of curiosity. Still, she had never expected to be in this position one day.

"Don't worry, Sis. That won't happen to me~"

"Your positive outlook is admirable, you know?"

"Hehe, but that's how it is," High Elf Archer leaned back, her hands holding the branch as she flipped upside down, and keeping the momentum, gained the air again, completing a full circle and landing with weightless grace on the branch. "I don't pretend to die from sadness or something like that."

"Your wishes might divert from your heart as time passes. And you must be aware, a man in his line of work usually doesn't live long." Elf Sister did not want to be mean or rude. The people of this forest had a debt to that man for cleansing the goblins that tried to poison the waters and stir up chaos in their domain. It was all a logical extension of the facts.

High Elf Archer was an elf, he wasn't. His entire lifespan would be a gentle breeze, compared to her's. Her sister could be committing the greatest mistake of her life by falling in love with someone who might not be around for very long, even in human terms.

"Again, don't worry, dear Sister. When that man makes a promise, he always fulfills it. And there's this other saying, you're only truly dead when people stop remembering you." High Elf Archer said, making circles with a slender finger.

"A good piece of wisdom, certainly." Elf Sister let out a small sigh. Even if her sister didn't have this baby yet, it would be impossible to dissuade her. Ironically enough, she could be as stubborn as a dwarf. "I will not press you further, but I want you to know. The forest is always open to welcome you if you need a place to rest. And so am I."

"Thank you, dear sister." High Elf Archer jumped back on the balcony and into the embrace of her older sister. She took every word to heart, knowing her sister only said them out of concern and care for her well-being. It has always been like this, and High Elf Archer was glad she was allowed to indulge in her whimsical wishes. There might come a time when that would no longer be possible, but much akin to her dear human beloved, the elf princess would deal with it when she got there. One step at a time.

"Well, let us return to the party. You have been away from your friends for a mere year and they can't wait to see you again," said the Elf Sister, letting go of High Elf Archer.

"It's a long time for them! But it couldn't be helped, you insisted on me having the baby here and staying until he grew up a bit," High Elf Archer walked next to her sister, her ears bobbing up and down with happiness.

"It is for the safety of the baby. Traveling back to human territory with a newborn would be too dangerous," she chastised her sister's reckless behavior. "For the baby and yourself too."

"Anyway, they're all here now, so the trip back will be pretty safe," she said with confidence, spotting her party amidst the crowd. "I can't wait to see them~"

High Elf Archer waved at her friends, walking over to them and quickly grabbing a cup of wine. To an elf, a year or so away was akin to seeing them yesterday, but she knew a lot of things could happen in that length of time, from personal experience. So she immediately engaged in talk with Priestess, Cow Girl, Guild Girl, and Sword Maiden, asking them to give her the news. She would ask Goblin Slayer directly, but his extremely simplified answers didn't make for a good catch-up on the news. Plus, she knew what he would tell her about. Goblins, goblins, goblins. What a weird man she chose to stay with.

She could barely wait to return to the farm and see the kids again. High Elf Archer wondered how they would react when Auntie Elf brought in a new sibling, a little half-elf baby on a leaf baby carrier, a new addition to the family. A white-haired boy with the red eyes of his mother, and his little sister, with red hair just like her mother. Then, the twin blond girls with long hair and fair skin made them look like miniature versions of their elegant mother. Then, another little boy with fair hair and honey-colored eyes, always dressed fancy. And then, a little girl with mixed alternated strands of white and blond hair, and sky blue eyes just like her mother. The little half-elf with pointy ears, light green hair, and reddish eyes like his father's would be the latest in the bunch, but certainly not the last, from what High Elf Archer could tell.

And for the following years, she would watch them grow, both in size and numbers. A big family, crashing through the waves of life, dealing with the rolls of the dice the best they could. As for Goblin Slayer, he would keep doing his job, he could keep killing goblins and more goblins. He would do that until he couldn't, and then his sons would do the same, not out of obligation, but because they took it as some sort of inheritance. The title of Goblin Slayer would live on for generations more, each man or woman accumulating knowledge, no matter how orthodox, and pass on to the next. It became the family tradition, and High Elf Archer couldn't help but laugh at how, without fail, there would always be an oddball that was just as weird and obsessed with goblin hunting as her beloved.

Goblins, goblins, goblins, that's what her life seemed to revolve around, but she was fine with it. She did make sure to take her children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren into actual adventures, that was sort of her role in the family, which was set off to become a minor clan of sorts. His legacy lived on through them, and through the memories she treasured above everything.

High Elf Archer never imagined she would end up surrounded by all these people, but if she had the chance to go up the stream of time, she would certainly choose them all over again.

The End

Thank you for reading! This is a small entry for a contest held at the writing server I'm a part of, Extalia, with the theme of "Family". If you're interested in reading (or voting for) the other entries, please use the Discord server invite link in my bio here on FFNet. You can also join to keep up with stuff other authors and I are working on. It's all up to you. Again, thank you for your time reading this story, and have a nice day/night!~