After delivering the captives to the nearest guard station, Goblin Slayer returned to the forest, his steps heavy but steady. The women had been broken, scarred by the goblins' cruelty, but they were safe now—at least safer than they had been. He had done what he could for them, but the moment they were out of his hands, they were no longer his concern. His mind was already elsewhere, focused on the next task.

The fortress.

He had spotted it earlier that morning, as he moved through the woods— a massive stone structure looming above the trees like a forgotten relic. Its fortified walls were high and imposing, weathered with age but still strong. A water mill churned slowly along the banks of a river that wound its way along the fortress's side, the wheel creaking with each slow turn.

It was perfect.

Goblin Slayer's eyes narrowed beneath his helmet as he moved closer to the fortress. He had been watching it for days, studying the movements of the bandits who had taken it over.

Though a majority of them were human, he knew better than to go in with a naive mindset, as nothing but raiders, thieves, and worse awaited him within the confines of those looming walls. He had heard the rumors of their crimes, of how they preyed on villages.

'Just like goblins,' he told himself, repeating the thought like a mantra. 'They're no different.'

His plan was simple: take the fortress, clear out the bandits, and use it as a base of future operations.

He made his way toward the fortress, keeping low as he approached the sewer gate at the base of the wall. It was rusted and worn, a weak point in their defenses. Goblin Slayer examined it briefly before wedging his short sword between the bars, using his strength to pry them open. The metal groaned in protest, but it gave way with little resistance. He then slipped inside.

The air inside the tunnel was rank— thick with the stench of sewage and decay. Goblin Slayer moved quickly, his footfalls silent as he made his way through the dark, narrow passage. The tunnel led him deep beneath the fortress, past the main walls and into its heart.

He emerged in the lower levels of the fortress, where the bandits were least likely to expect an intruder. From his hidden position, Goblin Slayer could see into the courtyard. The bandits were scattered, lounging around a roaring fire— drinking and laughing, unaware of the danger creeping toward them.

His hand tightened on the hilt of his short sword. He hesitated, just for a moment. 'Am I.., Am I really going to take the lives of them?' He thought dreadfully to himself, as his resolve began faltering.

It was then that clenched his jaw, forcing the thought away. 'No. No, they're not people — not anymore, they're not,' Goblin Slayer reinforced to himself, as he felt the same righteous flame in his chest reignite into a full inferno once more. 'They take, they kill, they prey on the weak. They're no better than goblins, and for that each of them deserve the same fate as one.'

His breath slowed, his heart steadying. The hesitation faded. He had made his decision.

Goblin Slayer emerged silently from his hiding spot— sneaking up behind one of the bandits who had strayed far from the others. Without a sound, he thrust his sword into the man's back— piercing his heart. The bandit choked, his body stiffening before slumping to the ground, as Goblin Slayer did his best to avoid looking down at him.

'… That's one.'

He moved quickly, staying in the shadows underneath the barracks of the roaring walls, as he approached the next target. Another bandit sat with his back turned, oblivious to the danger. Goblin Slayer grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head back— slicing his throat open with a quick, clean motion. Blood sprayed onto the ground as the bandit gurgled, his hands clawing at his neck in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding.

'… Two.'

Each kill from that point on became easier— the thought that they were humans, not goblins, drifted further and further from his mind. 'They're no different,' he reminded himself again, his focus sharpening. 'They're vile, they're goblins.'

He moved through the courtyard like a shadow, striking down bandits before they could react. A sentry by the gate barely had time to register his presence before Goblin Slayer's sword was buried in his chest. He ripped the blade free with a swift motion, the bandit collapsing in a heap.

'Three.'

In the center of the courtyard, a larger bandit than the rest finally noticed his movement. He grabbed a rusted axe and charged at Goblin Slayer, roaring in fury.

Goblin Slayer didn't flinch. He raised his buckler to deflect the blow, the axe slamming into the iron with a deafening clang. The force of the impact sent vibrations through his arm, but he didn't falter. Before the bandit could recover, Goblin Slayer drove his sword into his stomach, twisting the blade as he pulled it free. The bandit dropped to his knees, blood spilling from his mouth as he collapsed.

'Four.'

Another bandit, smaller but faster, lunged at him with a dagger. Goblin Slayer sidestepped, bringing the edge of his buckler down onto the bandit's head with brutal force. The man crumpled, his skull shattered.

'Five.'

The remaining bandits scattered, their bravado replaced with fear as they realized they were being hunted. But there was no escape. Goblin Slayer moved through them like a reaper, cutting them down one by one. His strikes were precise, merciless. He showed no hesitation, no remorse.

By the time he finished, the courtyard was littered with bodies. Blood pooled on the stone, staining the ground red. The fortress was silent, save for the creak of the water mill turning slowly in the distance.

Goblin Slayer stood amidst the carnage, breathing heavily, his armor splattered with blood.

'It's done.'

But his task was far from over. He still had to dispose of the bodies, to clean the fortress and make it his own.

He moved quickly, dragging the corpses into a pile near the riverbank. One by one, he dumped them into the cold water, watching as the current swept them away.

Once the bodies were gone, he began scrubbing the blood from the stone— his movements mechanical, driven by the same focus that had carried him through the fight. It was tedious work, but necessary. This fortress was his now, and it had to be ready for the next step.

When the blood was finally gone, and the courtyard cleaned, Goblin Slayer paused to survey the fortress. It still needed repairs—reinforcements on the walls, work on the interior—but it was his.

'It'll will only grow from here,' he thought, his eyes cold beneath his helmet. 'Speaking of which… I should probably start working on coming up with a name for the guild.'

Goblin Slayer returned to the fortress for the last time that day, his arms laden with the final haul from the goblin cave. The crude weapons clattered together in the sacks slung across his back, a mixture of rusted swords, jagged knives, and poorly made spears.

His footsteps echoed through the dim halls of the fortress, and the weight of the supplies pressed down on his shoulders, but his pace never faltered. The underground armory was small but sturdy, and with each trip, he had begun stocking it with everything he'd need.

'It's coming together,' he thought, dropping the last of the weapons into a pile. 'Piece by piece.'

He turned, about to head back to the main hall and into the courtyard. It was then that the air around him shifted. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his short sword, but before he could draw it, a shadow fell over him, followed by a cold, clear voice.

"Hold."

Goblin Slayer spun around, his eyes narrowing beneath his helmet. Standing before him was a man dressed in a dark, ornate kimono with crimson plated armor— his stance relaxed but coiled with a deadly readiness.

The samurai's hand rested on the hilt of a gleaming katana, and his gaze was sharp, piercing through Goblin Slayer like he had already sized him up and found him wanting.

"I assumed there would be more of your kind here— searching for you has been troublesome," the samurai said, his voice cold and level. "But that ends here, bandit. The Adventurers' Guild sent me to deal with you, and wherever the rest of your cowardly colleagues went to hide."

Goblin Slayer's hand tightened on his sword. "I'm not a bandit," he replied, his tone flat, unyielding. "I cleared this place of them; you won't find them here— not anymore, at least."

The samurai tilted his head slightly, a thin smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "So you say." His fingers twitched, and the katana slid halfway out of its sheath with a metallic whisper. "You're a fool to assume I'd fall for that lie— considering the recently charred remains of the village near here says otherwise."

Goblin Slayer stepped back, sword raised, shield ready. "I'm not lying," he said, voice steady. "I killed the bandits here not more than an hour ago— this is merely a misunderstanding."

"There's no misunderstanding— I'm not here to entertain you, I'm here to kill you," the samurai snapped, drawing his katana fully in a single, fluid motion. His movements were impossibly fast, the blade gleaming in the dim light of the armory. "But you already knew that from the moment you felt my presence… Didn't you?"

In an instant, Captain closed the distance between them, his katana flashing toward Goblin Slayer in a deadly arc. Goblin Slayer barely had time to raise his buckler, deflecting the strike at the last second. The force behind it was staggering, sending a jarring shock up his arm.

Goblin Slayer countered with a quick thrust of his short sword, aiming for Captain's midsection, but the samurai twisted out of the way with ease, his movements fluid and controlled. "Is that all you can do?" Captain taunted, his voice calm despite the intensity of the battle. "I expected more from someone who supposedly cleared this entire fortress on their own."

Goblin Slayer gritted his teeth, stepping back to regain his footing. He wasn't used to fighting someone so fast—so experienced. He was used to goblins, creatures driven by crude instinct, not this.

'He's not backing down… Which means neither can I.'

He lunged again— slashing at Captain's legs— but the samurai effortlessly sidestepped, his katana coming down in a diagonal slash. Goblin Slayer raised his buckler just in time, the blade scraping against the metal with a deafening screech. He pushed forward, trying to throw Captain off balance, but the samurai danced back with practiced ease.

"You're slow," Captain said, eyes narrowing. "And sloppy."

Goblin Slayer said nothing, and instead focused on his next move. He knew he was outmatched— Captain was faster, stronger, and more skilled. But Goblin Slayer had faced impossible odds before. He feinted to the left, then quickly pivoted— aiming for Captain's exposed side. The strike was precise, aimed to wound, not kill. But Captain saw it coming, and spun on his heel and delivered a punishing kick to Goblin Slayer's chest.

The force sent Goblin Slayer staggering back, crashing against the stone wall. His breath left him in a painful gasp, but he managed to keep his grip on his sword and shield.

Captain advanced, his katana gleaming with deadly intent. "You were dead the moment I followed you down here," he said, voice colder than before. "Accept your fate, and I'll make it quick."

Goblin Slayer forced himself to his feet, blood pounding in his ears. "I-I'll n-n-never, a-accept f-f-fate…!"

With a growl, he charged forward, swinging his sword in a wild, desperate arc. Captain parried with ease, knocking Goblin Slayer's sword aside and delivering a vicious slash across his chest. The sharp pain blossomed immediately, but Goblin Slayer barely registered it. He was too focused on surviving.

He swung again, but Captain moved like water, slipping through his defenses and delivering another brutal strike to his side. Goblin Slayer fell to one knee, his breath ragged. He could feel the blood seeping through his armor, staining the ground beneath him.

Captain stood over him— katana raised for the finishing blow. "If you won't accept your fate, then you'll just have to perish in denial."

Goblin Slayer clenched his teeth— bracing himself for what he saw as his imminent demise.

Before Captain could strike, a calm, clear voice echoed through the courtyard. "Captain, stop."

The samurai froze, his katana inches from Goblin Slayer's neck. Both men turned to see a woman standing at the entrance of the courtyard, dressed in a flowing white robe. Her pale face was serene, though obscured by an elongated blindfold tied around her head from behind.

"I found the bodies of the bandits by the river," she said, stepping forward. "Just as he claimed. They were disposed of, carefully. This man is no bandit."

Captain's eyes flicked between Goblin Slayer and Female Bishop, his grip on his katana loosening slightly. "Bishop… Are you sure?"

Female Bishop nodded, her gaze steady. "Yes. He's not a bandit— at least not part of their group, he's not."

There was a moment of silence before Captain let out a slow breath, sheathing his katana with a quiet click. "So I see." He looked down at Goblin Slayer, his expression unreadable. "I was wrong."

Goblin Slayer said nothing, his body still tense, even as the samurai extended a hand toward him. "My apologies," Captain said, his voice devoid of its earlier hostility. "I misjudged you."

Goblin Slayer didn't take the offered hand, but he allowed himself to relax slightly. Female Bishop stepped forward, her hands glowing with a soft, golden light. "Let me heal you," she said gently.

Goblin Slayer hesitated, but eventually nodded, allowing the healing magic to wash over him. The pain in his chest and side faded, replaced with a warm, soothing sensation.

As the magic worked, Captain stood by, his expression stoic. "As I said: I, along with my party, were sent by the guild to clear out this area. I thought you were part of the problem. I see now that you're not."

Goblin Slayer finally spoke, his voice low but steady. "On the contrary, I… I'm hoping to be the solution— not the problem."

Captain raised an eyebrow, but didn't press the matter. "I'll report back to the guild. For now, we'll leave this place to you— do with it what you see fit."

It was then that Goblin Slayer watched Captain and Female Bishop turn to leave— his body still tense despite the healing. He had survived, but he knew this was just the beginning. There would be more battles to come.

And he and his guild would have to be ready for them.