Author's Note: This takes place a few days after Priestess and my OC meets Goblin Slayer for the first time.
During a bright and sunny morning... an all-Female party of steel-ranked Adventurers. Which had consisted of four women. A female Human Monk, whom had fair feminine skin, long dark blue hair and a pair of purple eyes. She had worn a gray dress, and she is able to make prayers that can grant healing spells. A female Rhea Ranger with pointy ears, short and curly bright orange hair and a pair of lime green eyes. She had worn urban shirts and skirts that her people would wear. A female Elven Wizard whom wore a long dark dress with pieces of armor on her body. She had with fair white skin for an elf... a pair of long and pointy ears, a long silver ponytail that runs down her back and a pair of sky-blue eyes that matches the color of the sky. And lost, but not least... a Human Knight, whom has neck length reddish-brown hair, fair skin and hazel-colored eyes. And is dressed in a knight's armor, which was red and black. She also wields a sword. Which was also female and the leader of their party.
They were currently walking on a road leading the trail up the Mountain, venturing toward an Elven fortress that had been overrun by a Goblin party within the Northern Mountain range. The reason why they were roaming toward the Elven fortress... is because the party had taken a quest to rescue a woman, whom was held captive by goblins, there.
As the had continued roaming up the hill... the Elven Wizard had suddenly stopped as she heard a noise from a few yards coming from behind.
"What's wrong?" Human Monk had asked her elven companion.
Elven Wizard kept a calm and level head as she stood still. "I think we're being followed." She said as her long and pointy ears had twitched.
"What?" Human Monk gasped, timidly.
"Seven o'clock." Elven Wizard had informed her companions, quietly.
Both Human Knight and Rhea Ranger looked back at the trail, behind them. Human Knight had looked at Elven Wizard with a serious look.
"Are you..."
Elven Wizard saw Human Knight's gaze and nodded, quietly.
Human Knight withdrew her sword from her sheath and pointed its blade toward the direction behind them. "Show yourself! We know you're there, so there's no use hiding from us." Human Knight had demanded that the something or someone following them reveal themselves.
Rhea Ranger had pulled an arrow from her quiver and was ready to fire it as she stared at the same direction as her companions.
Suddenly... a person dressed in black had stepped from behind a tree and slowly raised his hands in the air.
A Human Monk had gasped.
"Hm?" Rhea Ranger raised her left eyebrow in confusion.
Elven Wizard had narrowed her eyes.
Human Knight just stared at their follower.
"Okay, you got me. I was following you. Heh." Black Swordsman had chuckled, embarrassingly.
"Who are you? And why were you following us?" Human Knight had begun Interrogating Black Swordsman.
"Well, you see. I, uh..." Black Swordsman's eyes had begun averting to his bottom left corner. While keeping his hands up. "I heard that there was a quest where goblins were capturing women and taking them up the mountain, so I thought, "Hey. These girls need my help, so I decided to take this quest as well and come rescue them." Black Swordsman chuckled, again.
There was nothing but a moment of silence between the Black Swordsman and the Steel-ranked party of all women.
"Sure thing!" Rhea Ranger had lowered her bow. "The more, the merrier, I'd say." She said with a positive perspective.
"Tch. What a pervert." Elven Wizard said as she frowned at Black Swordsman with an annoyance.
Human Monk kept one of her knuckles near her mouth as she didn't know what to say. She stared at Black Swordsman, timidly.
"You're an adventurer, right?" Human Knight asked Black Swordsman.
"Um, yes. That's right." Black Swordsman nodded.
"What's your ranking?" Human Knight asked.
"Um... my ranking?" Black Swordsman asked in response.
'He's answering a question with a question. That's how I know we can't trust him.' Elven Wizard had thought.
"Well, you see... I just became an adventurer, not too long ago." Black Swordsman had admitted.
"If you just started not to long ago..."
"Then, you must be a porcelain-rank!" Rhea Ranger said, interrupting Human Knight.
"Um, yeah. You got me. I'm a porcelain-ranked adventurer." Black Swordsman said.
Once again, there was another moment of silence, until Human Knight decided to break it.
"Sorry."
"Eh?" Black Swordsman glanced at Human Knight with a tad bit of confusion.
"I'm afraid you can't come with us on this mission." Human Knight said, declining Black Swordsman.
Black Swordsman slowly raised his arms down to his sides. "May I ask, why?"
"As you had revealed... you are a porcelain-ranking. Which is too low for us to work with." Human Knight said.
"Then, what ranking are you all?" Black Swordsman asked.
"We're actually-" As Human Knight was about to answer Black Swordsman's question...
"Sorry. But, I'm afraid we don't reveal our rankings to absolute strangers." Elven Wizard had interrupted Human Knight and answered Black Swordsman's question.
Black Swordsman had stared at Elven Wizard with a pouty look on his face. 'Oh. She's that type, huh.'
"I'm really sorry," Human Knight had apologized, again. Then, stopped herself. "Um... what is your name?" Human Knight asked.
"I'm called, the Black Swordsman." Black Swordsman had introduced himself to the Steel-ranked party.
"Black Swordsman..." Human Knight muttered.
"That's an awesome name!" Rhea Ranger said with excitement.
'Black Swordsman...' Human Monk had thought as she attempted to hide her small blush.
"Hmm." Elven Wizard narrowed her eyes, once again. 'This guy not only looks... but has a suspicious name, as well.'
"Once again, Black Swordsman. I apologize. But you can't join us on our quest. If anything were to happen to a porcelain-ranking like you, during this quest, we can't turn back the clock if something bad happens." Human Knight explained her reason on why she had rejected Black Swordsman's aid.
"So, you're refusing to let me join you, because you're worried for my safety?" Black Swordsman asked.
"That's exactly right." Human Knight had nodded. "We all have one life."
"Sorry, maybe later." Elven Wizard had then turned body around and begun walking toward the Elven fortress up the mountain. Followed by Human Knight.
Rhea Ranger had pouted, disappointingly. "Sorry. Maybe, next time." She said, then followed Human Knight and Elven Wizard up the mountain.
Human Monk then apologized and quickly bowed. "I'm truly Sorry!" She said, then ran behind her companions. Leaving Black Swordsman alone on the road.
Black Swordsman just stood still and watched the party consisting of only women continue venturing up the mountain. As he stared... 'I don't care if they don't want me to join their party. I need to make sure that they make it out, safely.' Black Swordsman had suddenly thought of his former comrades, such as Warrior, Wizard and Fighter when he first met them. And then, he thought of the situations they were in. 'As long as I'm alive... I'm going to do everything in my power make sure that no one falls victim to the Goblin's terrors, ever again!' Black Swordsman clinched his fists tightly.
Later That Day...
The Steel-ranked party were currently hiding behind large trees. They were standing and kneeling a few kilometers away from the Elven fortress-now turned into a goblin base.
"Alright. The goblins had made that old Elven fortressinto their base. We'll go in during the day, eliminate the guards, watch all of the booby traps-then, rescue the girls that were abducted from their villages. Got it?" Human Knight had informed her plan to her fellow party members.
"Understood." Elven Wizard had nodded.
"Roger!" Rhea Ranger had happily replied.
"Sure thing..." Human Monk had slowly nodded.
"Got it."
All four members of the Steel-ranked party had gasped when they heard, "Got it." from right behind them. They all turned around to see the Black Swordsman standing right behind them.
"B-Black Swordsman?" Human Monk asked in a timid tone.
"Tch!" Elven Wizard grunted as she starting to feel more annoyed. "I thought we got rid of you, back on the road!"
"What are you doing here, Black Swordsman?" Human Knight asked Black Swordsman.
Black Swordsman had inhaled some air, then exhaled. "I'm sorry. But, I can't let you take on this quest all by yourselves. Especially, since you're all women."
"And what does gender have to do with fighting goblins?" Elven Wizard asked Black Swordsman. Feeling offended by Black Swordsman's words.
Human Knight had raised her hand toward Elven Wizard. Telling her to let Black Swordsman talk.
Elven Wizard remained silent.
"Listen. I don't know if any of you have fought Goblins before or at all, but they are more deadly and dangerous and conniving than you think they are. You're going to need all the help you can get." Black Swordsman stated.
'Deadly... Elven Wizard thought.
'Dangerous...' Human Knight thought.
'Conniving?' Human Monk had thought in terror. Her eyes watered a bit.
"Listen. I maybe a guy-and I may only a porcelain-ranked adventurer... but I'm here, because I also want to save lives. I don't want anyone else to fall victim to those little green monsters such as the goblins." The Black Swordsman said as he shook his head no. "So, please... let me help you."
Human Knight frankly stared at Black Swordsman. She stared into the Black Swordsman's eyes and could clearly see fire burning in them. She then glanced at her companions, left and right and had received different reactions. Elven Wizard had looked at her and shook her head no. Rhea Ranger shook her head, yes. And Human Monk timidly shook her head, yes. Human Knight had sighed to herself.
A Few Minutes Later...
The Five adventurers had quietly approached the Elven Fortress and had silently killed the two green goblin guards who guarded the front fortress. They were taken down by arrows to the head shot by the Rhea Ranger.
Rhea Ranger confidently smiled to her comrades. They were all kneeling as they were practicing stealth.
Human Knight gave her the nod to move forward. She then looked back behind her and looked to the Black Swordsman, whom was also kneeling.
Rhea Ranger then took charge and entered the goblin's base, first. Followed by the Elven Wizard. And then, the Human Monk.
But, before Human Knight could move in and follow her party...
"Hey."
Human Knight was stopped when Black Swordsman had called her.
"I know it's too soon for this, but thanks for trusting me enough to let me help you save the girls inside." Black Swordsman whispered to Human Knight.
"The only reason that I let you join our party-momentarily, is because you said that you were great at stealth. Remember. Your job is to keep watch and kill any suspicious goblin. Leave the captive girls to us." Human Knight had informed Black Swordsman as she whispered.
Black Swordsman had nodded, then slowly withdrew his pocket dagger.
Half a minute had passed and the five adventurers had already infiltrated the Elven Fortress invaded by goblins. They looked around at their surroundings to see nothing but sleeping goblins. On the ground, in the trees and inside of buildings.
Elven Wizard had walked and had a visible disgusted look on her face. The goblins had taken over a fortress that used to belong to her own race. She kept her composure and kept walking.
Human Monk tried not to make a peep as she stared at some sleeping goblins lying on the ground. She didn't want to imagine how they would act if they had woken up. She clutched her staff.
Rhea Ranger remained positive as she ventured on, while Human Knight remained vigilant and aware of her surroundings. They were nowhere near out of the woods.
Black Swordsman had quietly followed the party of four women from a few yards. He was on lookout duty, making sure that not a single goblin would wake and alert the others. His head was shook left and right and openly held his dagger in his left hand. 'I gotta make sure that none of these monsters wake up.' Black Swordsman looked up at a tree and saw a goblin, slouching while sleeping on a tree branch. 'But, how do I get all the way up there?' Black Swordsman had then followed behind his Steel-ranked companions, then gasped when he looked in their direction.
A minute had went by and the four female Steel-ranked adventurers had discovered a woman with long dark brown hair lying down on her side on the cold hard ground in the nude. With her rear end facing toward them.
Rhea Ranger had silently gasped, then quietly walked toward the woman's aid. Followed by the Human Monk.
'Tch! Those damned freaks not only invaded this fortress, but also did unimaginable things to this woman!' Elven Wizard clinched her teeth in disgust and anger. She visibly gripped her magical staff, tightly.
'It must be the missing woman from the village!' Human Knight had thought.
Rhea Ranger had carefully grabbed the nude woman by her shoulders and lifted her upper body upward. "Just hold on! We're here to sa-" Rhea Ranger then gasped in shock when she looked into the woman's eyes. 'No way... she's-'
Suddenly, the moment when Rhea Ranger had lifted the woman's lifeless body... there was a button up under the woman's body which had released a wire. Human Monk, Elven Wizard and Human Knight had watched the wire release from a button and followed where it was going.
'Where is it-' Human Knight then looked up above herself at the trees and gasped when she saw a big net filled armor pieces and horseshoes falling. Her heart sunk.
Suddenly... the net filled with horseshoes and armor pieces had suddenly stopped falling downward. It was a few feet hanging from the ground.
Human Knight had silently gasped as she watched it stop falling down and it did not touch the ground.
"H-Hurry..."
The four Steel-ranked adventurers had all turned their attention to the Black Swordsman. Whom was standing near a tree, clutching onto the long rope which was attached to the net filled with armor pieces and horseshoes. He held onto the rope with most of his upper strength. Making sure that the net won't fall and alert the goblins in the fortress.
'Black Swordsman. He stopped the net from falling and making noise...' Human Knight had thought as she stared at him, then the net.
"This rope is kind of heavy. Hurry and get out of here-while you still can..." Black Swordsman had muttered to the steel-ranked adventurers.
"Black Swordsman..." Human Monk had muttered, feeling worried for him.
Elven Wizard had stared at Black Swordsman had stared at Black Swordsman holding the net rope. Then suddenly saw a leaf fall from the sky and onto the ground. 'A leaf?' She then looked up above herself and gasped at what she saw.
Above Elven Wizard was a goblin, whom had awakened from its slumber on top of a tree and had held a dagger in its possession.
'Damn!' Elven Wizard cursed within her mind as her eyes seemed horrified. She watched as a goblin had threatened to cut the rope that Black Swordsman was holding. 'One's awake! And it's going to cut the rope!'
Human Monk had quickly gasped as she looked up above herself. She quickly covered her mouth. As she was terrified.
Human Knight saw this action as well and was scared for herself and for her comrades. 'If that goblin cuts the rope, the metal pieces inside the net will make noises loud enough to alert all the goblins!' A bead of sweat appeared on her upper right cheek as the goblin on the tree threatened to cut the rope with its dagger. 'I don't have weapons that can shoot long range. If only-'
Suddenly... the goblin that slept on top of a tree branch, who threatened to cut the rope with its dagger had suddenly been struck in the right forehead with an arrow. The goblin's body had fallen out of the tree and landed headfirst on the ground. Dead.
Human Monk had kept her hands over her mouth as she watched the goblin be struck.
Human Knight stared at the arrow that pierced the goblin's skull. 'An arrow!' She then turned her body, four o'clock and saw her companion, Rhea Ranger, whom had posed and held her bow upward at the tree where the goblin had slept.
She gave Rhea a relief smile as she realised she saved their necks. She then looked Black Swordsman, whom was still holding onto the rope. Then, she looked to her steel-ranked companions. "Everyone. Help Black Swordsman gently set the net down without making a sound."
"What about the quest?" Elven Wizard asked Human Knight.
"The quest is over. The captive is dead. And it's most likely that all of the other captured women in the fortress are most likely dead, as well." Human Knight told Wizard.
Human Monk's eyes had watered in sadness.
"Tch!" Elven Wizard had grunted in frustration.
"I'm sorry. But there's nothing else we can do now, except flee this fortress and-"
"RRRRRRRGGHH!"
Human Knight heard a groaning sound, then looked toward Black Swordsman's direction. And when she did... she gasped in shock.
A random goblin , whom had suddenly appeared out of nowhere had recently stabbed Black Swordsman in the back of his right leg with a dagger. While Black Swordsman was holding the rope and preventing a net from falling down.
Black Swordsman did what he could to ignore the pain and not make any noise as he kept the rope in one place.
'Black Swordsman!' Rhea Ranger, Human Monk and Human Knight had thought in shock and in worry.
"Tch!" Elven Wizard's senses and guard were raised, highly when she saw another goblin. 'Another one? How many are awake, right now?' Elven Wizard had thought.
Author's Note: The Four women in this chapter are a minor female party who tried to rescue women that were captured in a fortress by goblins, but failed and were all killed. Goblin Slayer later destroyed that fortress.