The sun gleamed brightly over the sprawling coastline of Broreril, where the distant crash of waves against rocky shores and steel support beams mingled with the tangy salt of the sea in the air. The cool breeze carried with it a sense of calm that stood in stark contrast to the looming presence of the heavily fortified weapons emporium, perched near the edge of the bustling port city.
The building was a modern fortress, a three-story boxy monolith of reinforced concrete and ballistic glass. Its surface was polished to a muted shine— reflecting sunlight with a deliberate sharpness that seemed to warn against any ill intentions.
Over the main entrance, the glowing white-and-black letters of the store's name proclaimed: "KOSMO KALIBER," with the "I" in "KALIBER" cleverly shaped into a glowing target icon. The subtle hum of power emanated from the sign— audible if one stood close enough.
Flanking the perimeter were the guards with an air of brutal efficiency. They were clad in sleek maroon plate armor, with the metallic accents catching the sunlight. Beneath their plates, they wore tactical black gambesons, while wearing Kevlar vests over their frames— all of which were dotted with utility pouches brimming with ammo and other gear.
Their maroon-plated helmets covered their heads entirely, with tinted goggles obscuring their eyes— adding an unsettling anonymity to their presence. Black balaclavas poked out from under their helmets, completing the ensemble.
Ground patrols carried compact submachine guns with extended magazines and tactical lasers mounted beneath the barrels. At their sides hung short, razor-edged swords in sleek polymer scabbards. Floating alongside them were recon droids— small, spherical machines clad in dark armor. Each droid sported a single glowing red optic sensor and a short, vented barrel protruding from underneath its chassis— hinting at its capability to fire precision laser rounds.
On the emporium's flat rooftop, sentries manned the high ground with imposing laser rifles. Their heavy weapons featured elongated barrels with precision heat sinks, matte black finishes, and integrated targeting scopes with glowing blue reticles that pulsed faintly. A stabilizing bipod and a modular stock rounded out the design, ensuring deadly accuracy even at extreme distances.
One rooftop sniper adjusted his weapon and turned slightly— revealing the insignia on his shoulder pad: a scarlet sword crossed over a white shield with the words "Red Blade PMC" written boldly beneath it.
Clients flowed in and out of Kosmo Kaliber; a mix of adventurers, businesspeople in tailored suits clutching briefcases, and ordinary civilians toting shopping bags filled with smaller gear. The variety of clientele gave the place an odd energy— a microcosm of Broreril's melting pot of mercenaries, traders, and opportunists.
Goblin Slayer trudged toward Kosmo Kaliber's fortified entrance, with his boots scuffing against the concrete path as he adjusted the strap of his leather satchel. The Red Blade guards stationed at the front stood statuesque— their maroon-plated armor gleaming under the midday sun. They moved with sharp precision, subtle hand signals communicating silently between them.
One guard, slightly shorter but broad-shouldered, stepped forward to intercept Goblin Slayer. His tinted goggles reflected the gray-haired teen's stoic face, as he raised a gloved hand.
"Stop right there," the guard said, with his voice clipped and professional.
Goblin Slayer halted, tilting his head. "Is there a problem?"
"No problem," the guard replied. "Standard procedure. You'll need to be checked before entering." He then gestured to his partner— a taller figure with a combat submachine gun slung across his chest. "Varn, get the scanner."
The taller guard nodded briskly, before unslinging a wand-like device from his utility belt. The scanner emitted a soft hum as blue lights along its edge pulsed rhythmically.
"Weapons check?" Goblin Slayer asked, with his arms hanging loosely by his sides, as he clutched the side of his Lorekeeper in his right hand.
"Among other things," Varn said flatly. "We scan for concealed items, magical or otherwise. Hands out to your sides, please."
The teen compiled by spreading his arms out.
"Got anything we need to know about?" The shorter guard asked, while stepping closer to begin a brisk pat-down.
"Just my camping equipment," Goblin Slayer replied. "No magical artifacts on me. I don't even have any weapons right now— they broke last night."
The guard let out a humorless chuckle as he patted down the teen's leather set of armor. "No weapons or artifacts, huh? You'd be surprised how often we hear that. Some folks think we can't detect enchanted items because they're "low power." Newsflash— we can."
Varn then began to sweep the scanner up Goblin Slayer's right side. The device beeped softly, with its rhythm steady. "What is it… Reading?" The teenager asked in an uncertain voice, while eyeing it as the wand came closer to his chest.
"Photonic signatures from mana particles," Varn explained without looking up— as though reciting from a manual.
"Photon-what?" The teenager asked, with his brow furrowing.
"Energy emissions from magical fields," Varn said dryly. "The wand picks them up. Even weak enchantments leave a trace."
"Uh-huh… I see," Goblin Slayer muttered, while nodding like he understood.
"Don't worry," the shorter guard added, while smirking. "We're not gonna confiscate your janky-ass leather boots for being ancient artifacts, in of themselves. We're just making sure you're not packing any cursed baubles or... I don't know, a bag of disintegration powder."
"Is that a thing?" The teen asked, while being genuinely curious.
The guard didn't answer, and instead was too busy finishing his pat-down.
Varn, now sweeping the scanner across Goblin Slayer's back, said, "Almost done. Hold still."
The scanner suddenly emitted a sharp, shrill beep. Both guards stiffened.
"What's that?" Goblin Slayer asked, tensing instinctively.
"Relax," Varn said, adjusting the wand and sweeping over the same area again. The scanner beeped again, then fell silent. "False alarm. Probably just interference from your backpack's buckles."
The shorter guard straightened, while raising his wrist to his mouth. "Gray hair, red eyes. Clear for entry." His voice was crisp, but Goblin Slayer noticed the faint hint of relief in his tone.
The guards stepped back, with the shorter one gesturing toward the doors. "You're good to go. Enjoy your shopping."
Goblin Slayer adjusted his satchel and nodded awkwardly. "Thanks, you too."
As he approached the entrance, the shorter guard called after him, "Hey buddy, I'm not the one shopping!"
Goblin Slayer paused but didn't turn around, as he uttered back with an embarrassed tone, "Oh… R-Right."
The reinforced doors slid open with a pneumatic hiss, revealing another security checkpoint enclosed in glass and steel. Runic patterns etched into the walls pulsed faintly in hues of blue and gold— exuding an air of both technological and mystical sophistication.
Goblin Slayer stepped into the box-like chamber at the front of the line, with its interior lined with spinning sensors mounted on sleek arms. He stood still as the arms activated— casting bright red laser lines that crisscrossed his body.
"Scanning," a calm, synthetic female voice announced from hidden speakers.
The lasers danced over him, with their crisscrossing patterns illuminating the subtle wear on his leather armor. Goblin Slayer flinched slightly when a line of light lingered near his face, but he held his ground.
The lasers disappeared with a soft chime, and the voice stated, "Clear. Proceed."
The inner doors unlocked with a soft click— allowing him into the main lobby.
Inside, Kosmo Kaliber was a monument to weaponry. The expansive lobby was an amalgamation of modern architecture and military-industrial spectacle. Rows of polished steel shelves displayed an arsenal of weaponry— from sleek pistols to crossbows with crystalline enhancements. The walls were lined with holographic advertisements showcasing various products, with their glowing displays promising unmatched lethality and reliability.
The smell of steel, gunpowder, and fresh plastic mingled with the faint hum of machinery. Overhead, banners hung from the high ceilings, proclaiming slogans like "Precision in Every Shot" and "Armor that Never Fails."
The clientele was just as varied as the wares.
Near the entrance, an orc in a military police uniform argued loudly with a gnome clerk about the durability of a grenade launcher. "If it can't handle a simple explosion, what good is it in a fight?!"
"Officer," the gnome replied, while clearly being exasperated, "it'sNOTsupposed to explode. That's... Literally the opposite of its design intent."
A pair of elves in flowing green robes examined a shelf of enchanted ammunition. One of them held up a glowing arrowhead and murmured, "Do you think this would look good in a brooch?"
Further down the aisle, a human in a tailored suit leaned close to a towering lizardman. "And if we buy in bulk," the human said, his voice oily and confident, "will you throw in a shipment of proximity mines?"
The lizardman blinked slowly, with his tongue flicking out before he rumbled, "Depends. Are you buying the AER-9s, or the P-94s?"
Goblin Slayer moved through the crowd, with his red eyes scanning the organized chaos. An employee in a black polo shirt guided a group of adventurers toward the escalators, while gesturing animatedly at a datapad. "And if you're looking for something... Flashier, might I suggest our plasma-forged polearms on the second floor?"
As Goblin Slayer passed a rack of knives, he overheard a kobold muttering to himself. "Do I go with the serrated edge or the one that sings when you stab people? Choices, choices."
Stopping briefly, Goblin Slayer glanced at a display of helmets. One bore a description boasting "unmatched impact resistance" in bold letters. He hesitated, then frowned. 'Probably not rat-proof,' he thought dryly.
Ahead, a holographic map of the store rotated in mid-air. Goblin Slayer approached it, scanning the directory for anything resembling "budget-friendly." A nearby goblin child— barely taller than the map pedestal— giggled, as he waved his hands through the hologram— scattering its glowing projections. His harried mother dragged him away with an apologetic glance at Goblin Slayer.
"Big place," Goblin Slayer muttered, before resuming his walk. "Let me see what I can do with two-hundred and two dollars, and fifty-three cents."
After shopping the teen found himself within the confines of a budget-friendly eatery; the warm, greasy air of "Dragon Wok Express" heavy with the smells of sizzling garlic, onions, and soy sauce. The orange and red decor clashed aggressively with the harsh white fluorescents above, and the sound of plastic trays clattering mingled with the faint hiss of woks in the open kitchen.
Goblin Slayer sat at a corner booth, with his crimson eyes focused on the contents of his disposable plate: a heap of chow mein, orange chicken, and steamed broccoli. His posture was straight, almost military, as he systematically cleared his meal while glancing at the Lorekeeper propped on the table in front of him.
On the screen, Priestess was framed in soft kitchen lighting, with a plate of chicken salad before her. She looked comfortable in her white-and-blue blouse, though her expression flickered between amusement and mild concern as she watched Goblin Slayer devour his food with mechanical efficiency.
"You must've been starving," Priestess said, with her blue eyes narrowing slightly as she took a bite of her salad.
"I didn't eat dinner last night," Goblin Slayer replied plainly, while pausing only to take a long sip of his Sharky Cola. The condensation from the cup left an expanding ring of moisture on the table.
"Or breakfast?" Priestess pressed, while setting her fork down as her tone shifted to something more motherly.
"Or breakfast," he confirmed.
The blond teen sighed, before reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "That's not healthy! You need to stop skipping meals. It's not like you'll have a shortage of quests anytime soon."
"Meals take time," Goblin Slayer said, before resuming his eating. "I've got bills to pay too, you know."
Priestess shook her head, while muttering something under her breath. After a moment of silence, she looked back at him— more curious now than exasperated. "So… What did you end up getting from Kosmo Kaliber?"
Goblin Slayer wiped his mouth with a crumpled napkin, then reached under the table. "This," he said, before pulling a sleek black-handled bowie knife from its sheath. He set it on the table, angling it so the Lorekeeper's camera could catch its gleaming, razor-sharp blade and the serrated back edge.
Priestess raised her eyebrows, while pausing mid-bite. "Oh… That's new."
"LS2 Bowie Knife," Goblin Slayer said, while turning the knife slowly in his gloved hands to showcase it. "One hundred and twenty dollars." He said before pausing, as he tilted it slightly so the serrated edge caught the light. "…After tax."
"Wow," Priestess said, while finishing her bite and swallowing. "That's… A lot for a knife."
He then smirked faintly— a rare expression that passed almost unnoticed. "Haven't shown you the best part yet."
"Oh?" She asked, before leaning forward slightly— curiosity lighting up her expression. "What do you mean?"
Goblin Slayer didn't answer immediately. Instead, he brought the knife closer to his chest, while gripping its black silicone handle with the blade turned outward from him. With his thumb, he pressed down on the silver blade guard, and with a soft metallic "shink," the knife's handle extended outward, unfolding like a mechanical marvel until it was six feet long— a spear in its fully extended form.
Priestess gasped, with her fork clinking against her plate. "No way! That's… Incredible!" She said with astonishment in her voice, before leaning even closer to the screen. "Is it sturdy?"
Goblin Slayer pressed the spear's handle against the edge of the table and applied force. The weapon didn't bend or budge.
"Wow," she said again, with her blue eyes widden. "Did you get anything else, or just that?"
Before Goblin Slayer could answer, his eyes flicked upward. A new figure loomed beside his booth— casting a faint shadow over the table.
The employee was a pale blue cephalopod with droopy oval eyes and a permanently unimpressed expression.
The cephalopod's nasal voice cut through the din of the restaurant. "Excuse me, but we have a "no weapons" policy here." He said condescendingly, before one of his tentacles pointed toward the front door. "What are you, too much of a barnacle head to read the sign?"
Goblin Slayer followed the direction of the tentacle, before then spotting the laminated sign taped to the glass. He then looked back at the employee, with his expression blank.
He wore a red polo shirt with the Dragon Wok logo embroidered on the chest and a name tag.
Unfortunately for Goblin Slayer, what was written on the cephalopod's name tag was in cursive.
"… Chunky Testicles?" The bewildered teen read aloud, after having done his best to make out what was written on the cephalopod's name tag.
The employee's droopy eyes snapped wide open. "Chugsley Tentacles," he corrected sharply, with his other tentacles resting sassily on his hips. "Are we going to have a problem here, kelp-for-brains?!"
From the Lorekeeper's speakers, Priestess's voice chimed in urgently. "No, no, no! There's no problem! He didn't mean-"
But neither Goblin Slayer nor Chuglsey seemed to hear her.
"-There's no problem," Goblin Slayer replied evenly. "Except you, I think. You're the one with the problem."
Chuglsey's rubbery mouth opened and closed several times before he could form words. "I—would— never!" He sputtered. "That's it! You're out of here! Get out before I call the authorities!"
Priestess waved her hands frantically at her Lorekeeper's front camera. "Ren, please, let me handle this!"
Misinterpreting her words, Goblin Slayer gave her a thumbs-up, before then sheathed his knife-turned-spear and stood up. "If leaving makes you happy," he said, slinging his backpack over his shoulder, "then you should leave."
"Oh, I'llSHOWyou what'll make meHAPPY," Chuglsey hissed, before pointing a tentacle toward the parking lot. "Let's settle this outside!"
"NO, TELL HIM THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU MEANT!!" Priestess shrieked, while growing anxious as she frantically shook her Lorekeeper in a vain attempt to get their attention.
But Goblin Slayer, trusting what he thought he heard, nodded. "You're going to get bent."
The parking lot outside Dragon Wok Express buzzed with late-night energy. Families loaded into minivans, delivery drivers zipped in and out, and a group of teenagers loitered near a souped-up car blasting bass-heavy music. The glow of the neon sign cast red and orange hues across the asphalt as Goblin Slayer stepped into an open space— his stance relaxed but ready.
Chuglsey Tentacles, however, was anything but calm. The cephalopod employee, wobbling on his gelatinous appendages, oozed confidence far greater than his physical abilities could support. His red polo was slightly askew, and one of his tentacles nervously flicked the laminated name tag on his chest.
"You think you can just disrespectME, in front ofMYbottom-feedingCUSTOMERS?!" Chuglsey sneered, his nasal voice echoing in the cool air. "Well, buddy, you picked the wrong squid to mess with!"
"I didn't disrespect you," Goblin Slayer said flatly, cracking his knuckles. "But I can, if you want."
Chuglsey's tentacles flared outward dramatically as he adopted a bizarre, kung fu-like stance. "Prepare to feel the wrath ofTENTACLE STYLE!"
The teenagers by the car turned their heads, one of them snickering. "Aye yo, is white boy finna throw hands withCHUD-lsey?!"
"About fuckin' time, bruh!" another laughed, pulling out his phone to record. "Opp's had this coming for a hot minute!"
Chuglsey then lunged, with his tentacles whipping forward in a chaotic flurry. One aimed for Goblin Slayer's head while another reached for his legs, but the teen moved like water. He ducked under the high strike, stomped on the low tentacle to pin it down, and then countered with a crushing elbow strike to the cephalopod's side.
"GAAAHHHH!" Chuglsey yelped, while staggering back and clutching his ribs.
Goblin Slayer didn't give him a chance to recover.
With the speed of a predator, he closed the gap and drove a powerful kick into Chuglsey's midsection. The cephalopod skidded across the asphalt, with his tentacles flailing.
"Help me! This man's a lunatic!" Chuglsey wailed, while flopping upright.
But instead of allies, the only response he got was laughter from the bystanders. "BLUDROLLING UP ON SQUID-GOONERRRR!" One shouted, while holding up his phone.
Chuglsey growled while grabbing a metal trash can lid with a tentacle. "Fine! You asked for this!" He shouted, before hurling the lid like a frisbee. "This one is on theHOUSE!!"
Goblin Slayer stepped to the side, while letting the lid sail harmlessly past him— only for it to smash directly into the windshield of a nearby parked car. The alarm erupted in deafening wails as the owner, a middle-aged woman in yoga pants, sprinted out of Dragon Wok with a horrified gasp.
"MY CAR!" She screamed with horror written across her make-up caked face.
Panicked, Chuglsey then pointed a tentacle accusingly at Goblin Slayer. "H-He did it!"
Feeling betrayed and angered, the gray-haired teen glanced at her, and then back at Chuglsey. "That's a lie," he argued, while watching as the cephalopod made his way over towards where a homeless goblin was standing beside his shopping cart full of odds and ends.
Chuglsey lashed out by tackling the homeless goblin, before grabbing a dirty mop from his shopping cart. He then twirled it like a makeshift bo staff, with the wet strands slapping against the asphalt menacingly. "Face myMOP OF DOOM!"
Goblin Slayer stepped forward calmly.
And as Chuglsey swung, the armored teen caught the mop mid-arc with one hand, ripped it from his grip, and then snapped the handle clean in two over his knee.
Chuglsey recoiled, before demanding in an over-dramatic voice. "How are you thisSTRONG?!"
Goblin Slayer didn't bother answering the question he thought was ridiculous. Instead, he hurled one half of the broken mop like a javelin, narrowly missing Chuglsey— but hitting a souped-up car instead. The driver, a wiry teenager in a hoodie, jumped up. "YO CHOMPSKY HONK! YOU JUST SCUFFED MY WHIP, BROKE-ASS!"
"Not my fault," Goblin Slayer called back— hoping that alone would be enough to dissuade the pissed off teenager, as he made his way toward Chuglsey.
The driver, only further aggravated by the other teen's dismissal of his plight, revved his engine aggressively. "HELL NAH, BITCH! FUCK AROUND AND FIND OU-!"
Before Goblin Slayer could finish hearing what the white-skinned driver with a do-rag was about to say, Chuglsey lunged again— that time swinging a folding chair he'd snatched from an outdoor dining set. Reacting to the oncoming attack, the gray-haired teen sidestepped— letting the chair hit the hood of the souped-up car with a loud clang. The driver screamed in rage.
"OH, THAT'S IT! YOU JIVE-ASS TURKEYS ARE BOTH COOKED!" The driver yelled, before slamming on the gas. The car screeched forward— but Goblin Slayer leapt over it with a graceful flip, while landing behind the car as it slammed into a pile of shopping carts.
Chuglsey wasn't so lucky.
"HOLY FISH PASTE!"
The car clipped one of his tentacles, which sent him spinning like a rubbery top into a nearby lamppost. "AHHHHHH!" He cried out into the night, before collapsing in a heap.
Dazed but not defeated, Chuglsey pushed himself upright, with his tentacles writhing with renewed vigor. "You… You haven't even seen my ultimate attack, you Neatherdal!" He bellowed, before spinning himself in place like a blender. "TENTACLE TORNADOOOO!"
The improvised move turned him into a blur of rubbery limbs, flinging nearby objects— trash, trays, and even small children— in all directions. Goblin Slayer raised his arms to shield himself as chaos erupted around him.
One errant tentacle slapped a passing delivery driver— sending his bag of steaming hot dumplings flying. Another knocked over the yoga-pants woman, who shrieked and spilled her green smoothie everywhere. The teenagers dove for cover, all while laughing hysterically.
"Enough," Goblin Slayer said, with his voice cutting through the cacophony. He activated the LS2 Bowie Knife— extending it into spear form with a satisfying "shink". With precision and speed, he then jabbed the spear into Chuglsey's spinning form— hooking one of his tentacles, before yanking hard.
"HOLY SHRIMP!" Chuglsey wailed, as the spear's pull disrupted his momentum. He spun wildly out of control, before being launched into a pile of garbage bags near a dumpster.
Chuglsey lay crumpled on the asphalt, with his tentacles twitching sporadically, as Goblin Slayer knelt beside him. The gray-haired collapsed his LS2 Bowie Knife back into its handle with a sharp "click"— holding it up to admire the compact weapon before tucking it into his hip holster.
Taking his Lorekeeper out from his leather backpack, he tapped the screen to resume the video call with Priestess. Her face appeared, still framed by her golden hair and wide blue eyes— now brimming with shock.
"R-Ren!" She gasped. "What… What happened?!"
Goblin Slayer then tilted the Lorekeeper's camera downward, angling it so Chuglsey's defeated, tentacled body filled the screen. "He wanted to fight in the parking lot. He said it would make him happy."
Priestess pinched the bridge of her nose, setting her fork down into her salad. "Do you…?! Do youREALLYthink he wantedTHAT?!"
Goblin Slayer nodded back at the screen, before replying back with a flat, "Yes."
"H-He wasn't asking you to beat him up!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up.
Goblin Slayer turned the camera back toward himself, frowning slightly. "I don't know about that. He seemed eager to fight."
"That's because you-" Priestess argued, before stopping herself and exhaling deeply— composing her expression. "I-It's okay… It's okay. We, uh… We should just uh… Get him to sign off on the quest then, before someone calls the cops. Please, go to your Quest Finder app."
Goblin Slayer nodded, before then obediently tapping the Quest Finder app, its logo— a cartoon magnifying glass over a treasure map.
"Now what?" He asked.
"Go to "Daily Quests"," she instructed patiently, all while massaging her temples.
The teen navigated the sleek interface, before tapping the glowing tab. A list of tasks appeared— each marked with a progress bar. Priestess guided him further: "Look for the one that says "Make Three Strangers Happy". Tap that."
And so he did, and another page opened with three empty slots. To his surprise, one slot wasn't empty: it contained a thumbnail of a screenshot Priestess had taken. It showed Goblin Slayer, looking as deadpan as ever, with Chuglsey's sprawled-out form in the background. A bright red exclamation mark blinked at the corner.
"What's this?" He asked, while raising a brow.
The blond teen smiled tightly. "I took the screenshot while you showed me what you did to him. Now please, click on it and give the device to-" She hesitated, with her voice tinged with pity. "Give it to Mr. Testic-T-Tentacles, and ask him to sign it. Please, and thank you."
Goblin Slayer then turned back to Chuglsey, who was barely conscious. He knelt down, holding the Lorekeeper close to the squid-man's face. "Sign this."
Chuglsey whimpered, before raising a trembling tentacle. He pressed it against the screen— dragging it to form a shaky signature. Goblin Slayer tapped the "Finish" button, and the red exclamation mark turned into a green checkmark with a celebratory chime.
"It worked," He stated flatly.
Priestess sighed in relief, though her frustration was still evident. "Great. Now, Ren, you should probably-"
"-Leave before the police arrive," he finished, while nodding. "I'll go now."
"Please," she said, while narrowing her eyes. "And remember, next time there's a confrontation like this,call mefirst. I'll do the talking."
Goblin Slayer tilted his head at her. "Okay." He replied, before switching back to the video call app, which brought Priestess's face back to full screen. "Thanks for your help by the way."
"Y-Yeah, sure… P-Please go before you get into anymore trouble," she begged, while managing a weary smile as she reached for her fork.
And as Goblin Slayer walked away, a group of teenagers, dressed in trendy yet oddly mismatched streetwear, swarmed around Chuglsey like vultures. One of them, sporting a bright orange hoodie with "Jelly" printed in block letters, pulled out his phone to record on an app called "ClipClap".
"Yo, this is wild," said the Hoodie Kid, who was holding his phone vertically. "Chud-lsey just got bodied!"
"Ermmm, what the sigma?! Yo blud, look at dude's tentacles," another chimed in, who was wearing a snapback backward. "Squid's folded like an omelet!"
"Cuh thought he was the main character," said a girl chewing bubblegum obnoxiously, while also aiming her phone at Chuglsey from another angle.
"I'm calling this one "Sissy Femboy Cephalopod rolls up on a sauced up Anoglo Victorian"," the Hoodie Kid declared, while laughing. "I'll finally have an actual reason to ask chat if this isREAL!"
"Bro fr got no rizz," Snapback added insultingly, while kneeling next to Chuglsey— poking his bruised nose with an intrusive finger. "You good, my guy? Shake that gyatt twice if you need help."
Chuglsey, in response to the teen's harassment, let out a pitiful groan. "My aching tentacles…"
"EDGING SO HARD RIGHT NOW," Bubblegum Girl screamed out, while mockingly zooming in on his swollen face. "Imma clip that! Shit's fire!"
"Yo, squiddy, get up," the Hoodie Kid said, while shaking Chuglsey's shoulder. "You gotta do the "Thug Shaker" for me! The "Rump Shaker"! Make that squid-ussyBOP, and I'll buy you a Grimmly Shake!"
Chuglsey mustered the strength to glare weakly. "L-Leave me... Alone… Y-You brain rotted cretins…!"
"Lil' bro's out here hitting me with that "leave me alone" shlop— like he's in his anime villain arc," Snapback said, while laughing even harder. "Karate kid really do be living in your head rent-free now, innit he?"
And as the teens cackled and danced around Chuglsey's prone form, filming every angle for maximum clout, an electric car honked loudly— swerving to avoid the chaos. The driver rolled down their window.
"What's going on here?" The driver asked, while wide-eyed.
"Just some parking lot rizzdom, granny," Bubblegum Girl replied, while waving her off with a smirk. "Keep it moving, before you awaken theALPHA WOLF."
The car then zipped away— leaving the group to their antics.
By the time he finished completing their daily quests, the night sky had stretched over the city like an endless velvet canvas dotted with stars— their brilliance softened by the warm glow of neon signs and paper lanterns hanging over the bustling pier.
Goblin Slayer sat alone on a creaky wooden bench beneath a streetlamp, with its pale light spilling onto the wooden planks beneath him. On his lap rested a grease-stained bowl from Dragon Wok Express, with the faint aroma of cold orange chicken and chow mein rising into the crisp night air. He held his Lorekeeper in one hand and his fork in the other, while methodically shoveling food into his mouth without much thought.
The pier was alive with activity. Families ambled by with bags of candied treats, a couple argued softly outside a trinket shop, and faint laughter bubbled from an open-air cafe. Inside a nearby tea house, soft music and the clatter of teacups spilled out into the night.
Far away, in the comfort of her warm bedroom, Priestess lay tucked beneath the soft covers of her bed. She wore a cozy pajama set adorned with tiny moon-and-star patterns, with her bedside lamp casting a gentle glow over her as she cradled her Lorekeeper sideways. With an intent expression, she tapped through the interface of her Gold Casino app— her finger moving with precision.
"We have… Twenty gold points," Priestess whispered excitedly through their shared call. Her voice held the satisfaction of someone who'd just unraveled a small mystery.
"Mmh," Goblin Slayer grunted in response— pausing briefly to swallow, before he resumed chewing.
The blond teen turned her gaze back to her screen, with her finger swiping gently across it. "That's from you completing both our daily quests… I still can't believe you did that for me, Ren— thank you so much…!"
"No problem," Goblin Slayer said between bites. He then leaned back on the bench, watching the occasional passerby with mild interest. "Are the gold points for each of us, or are we sharing them?"
Priestess froze momentarily, with her cheeks flushing as she propped herself up slightly on one elbow. "Oh! Um, w-we share them," she admitted sheepishly. "I… I linked them together when I created the party. Sorry! I forgot to tell you— there's just been so much happening."
Goblin Slayer shrugged, his leather armor rubbing against each covered plate softly. "As long as you share the rewards, I don't mind." He said, while looking at the screen again— his eyes narrowing, as he stabbed another forkful of chow mein.
Priestess's face lit up, with her earlier embarrassment melting into delight. "Thank you so much, Ren…! You're so generous…!"
"Sure, and thanks," he replied casually, before scraping the last remnants of food from the container.
"Is it okay if I screen-share…?" She quietly asked, while practically bouncing with excitement beneath her covers. "I want to see what we can win together…!"
"Go ahead," he said, before tapping the screen of his Lorekeeper to accept the pop-up request. Priestess's screen then mirrored onto his device— replacing the idle app background.
He caught a glimpse of her wallpaper as she switched out of the Party Manager app, to the Gold Casino app momentarily. Her wallpaper was a chibi-style drawing of a platinum dragon holding a tiny teacup, surrounded by sparkles.
"You like dragons," Goblin Slayer noted flatly.
"Oh…! Y-Yes," she said, while a little flustered. "They're so majestic…!"
As the Gold Casino app opened up, the loading screen flashing showed Nero— the pint-sized humanoid feline with exaggerated features and a mischievous grin. She wore a top hat and carried two overflowing moneybags, one in each paw, as golden coins rained down around her.
Once inside the app's homepage, a sleek interface displayed their twenty Gold Points in the top corner— shimmering as if dusted with magic. Priestess tapped the Games tab at the bottom of the screen— revealing a stunningly animated list of games, each with its unique artwork and style.
"Wow," she murmured, scrolling through. "There are so many to choose from…"
She then hesitated, while glancing toward the mirrored screen as though seeking guidance. "Which one should we try first, Ren…?"
Goblin Slayer chewed thoughtfully before replying, "Try "Titch's Island Slots"."
Her eyes brightened. "Oh! I love "Lana and Titch"!" She exclaimed. "The way Lana told Trenton that their family's small and broken, but that he's still part of it…" She reminisced briefly with a tender voice, before tapping on the game icon.
An animated intro then played, showing the iconic blue alien creature named Titch riding on a surfboard across sparkling blue waves— tropical fruits raining from the sky. Another mischievous alien popped out of a treasure chest, only for Titch to bop them with a coconut.
"Cute," Priestess said, while giggling quietly as the game began.
The slot reels spun with a flurry of bright, tropical symbols: coconuts, golden fish, and tiny treasure chests.
She pressed the "Spin" button, and the reels whirred— clinking to a stop.
"Nothing this time," she murmured with disappointment in her quiet voice, yet she was determined enough to spin again.
The second spin resulted in a modest five-point win, which Priestess celebrated with a small, triumphant, "Yessss…!"
On her fourth try, the reels aligned dramatically— the music swelling as the words "Jackpot!" flashed across the screen. A popup appeared:
"Congratulations! You've won a $100 gift card to Junglo!"
Priestess squealed quietly in delight, while wiggling victoriously under the covers. "L-Look…! We won a gift card…! I-I've never won anything in my life…!"
"Nice," Goblin Slayer said in a flat voice, while still watching the mirrored screen.
The blond teen then exited back to the game list, with her excitement still palpable. "We still have fifteen points left," she said thoughtfully. "What should we play next, Ren…?"
"Do you know how to play Poker?" Goblin Slayer asked abruptly, with his voice sounding neutral as ever. "I think I saw something like that on the games list."
To his mild surprise, Priestess flushed slightly as she nodded. "Y-Yes," she admitted sheepishly, "Actually, I-I do know how to play— and quite well, if I say so…!"
Goblin Slayer hummed inquisitively, as he set his empty bowl and fork on the seat next to him. "Really? How?"
"Well… We have a lot of board and card games at church," she explained, while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sometimes after prayer meetings, the others my age and I play together to unwind… We never bet anything, but it's still fun…!"
Without waiting for further comment, she tapped on the game titled "Poker Night." The screen faded to black before transitioning into a beautifully animated intro.
The perspective shifted to the player sitting at a smoky, dimly lit poker table. Across the table, Nero— the mischievous feline mascot of Miller Entertainment— grinned, with her oversized gambler's visor perched jauntily atop her tiny head. She wore dark aviator sunglasses, a pinstripe vest, and fingerless gloves— all of which were somehow both ridiculous and menacing.
To the right of the player sat Lance Starguard, a bulky, square-jawed humanoid clad in a space ranger suit of green and white. His expression was charming, with his movements rigid as he shuffled through his hand. To the left, Quakers— an irate-looking duck in a blue sailor's outfit— quacked angrily at no one in particular.
The table's surface was covered in rich green felt, illuminated by a low-hanging lamp. Soft jazz hummed in the background, underscoring the faint "plink" of ice cubes in tumblers and the rustle of shuffled cards.
Priestess gasped softly, "Wow, look at the graphics— they're so pretty…!" She the. leaned forward toward her screen to quietly read off the five cards dealt to her. Her excitement dimmed almost immediately. "Oh… We've got a junk hand."
"Fold," Goblin Slayer said without hesitation, before backtracking with a contemplative look on his face. "That's… That's right, right? That's what you're supposed to do when you have a bad hand?"
"Yes, that's correct," Priestess replied quietly with a sigh, before reluctantly tapping the "Fold" button on screen. "Fortunately for us, we're in a good enough place for this to be nothing more than a mild inconvenience…"
Giving the player a knowing nod, Lance smirked at the screen. "Admirable play, cadet!" The space ranger complimented, before pushing a small pile of Gold Points toward the middle of the green felt table. "I'll raise it to ten."
When it was her turn, Nero sneered, while leaning forward on her tiny elbows. "You calling that a bet, Moon Man?" Her exaggerated accent dripped with disdain as she raised the stakes from ten Gold Points to twenty.
Lance turned his attention toward the smug feline, to cast a disapproving glare her way. "That was uncalled for, Nero."
When it was his turn, Quakers quacked incomprehensibly as he threw his cards down in frustration.
"Good," Nero said, while continuing to sneer. "One less birdbrain at the table." She said insultingly, before pushing a medium pile of Gold Points toward the center of the table. "Forty Gold Points, spaceman!"
Lance Starguard then sighed, with his voice flat as he reluctantly said, "I'm calling," before parting with forty of his own Gold Points.
The cards were revealed. Nero's smug grin widened as she laid out a Full House. "Pay up, astro-bastard!"
Lance placed his cards down— a modest pair of eights— and sighed. "Good game," he said stiffly, before watching Nero sweep the pot into a bulging sack she had stashed beneath the table.
When the second round began, Priestess' eyes widened. "Oh my gosh…!" She gasped, before pointing at her screen. "We've got a Royal Flush…!"
"Is… Is that good?" Goblin Slayer asked, while tilting his head.
"It's the best hand…! We're guaranteed to win…!" Priestess declared, with her hushed voice quietly brimming with excitement.
She then confidently placed their last remaining ten Gold Points into the pot. Lance squinted at her through the screen and nodded. "I'm in. Raising to twenty."
Nero snorted, with her sharp teeth glinting. "Oh, look at you! Trying to play with the big leagues." She cackled at the player, before leaning forward with her visor slipping slightly. "I'll double that. Forty Gold Points."
Quakers fidgeted nervously, with his feathers ruffling as he held his cards close. He began to lower them onto the table when Nero snapped.
"If you put those cards down, then I'm going to putYOUdown," she hissed, before immediately producing a snub-nose revolver from beneath the table. The jazz music faltered as she aimed it directly at Quakers' face.
The duck quacked in alarm, while shaking his head vigorously. "Quack! Quack-quack-quack!"
"I warned you," Nero growled, while cocking the hammer back. "Here's my "Winning Hand", Quackers."
Before he could respond, the gun went off. Blood splattered the felt as Quakers slumped forward— his awful cards slipping from his lifeless fingers. Goblin Slayer raised an eyebrow but continued watching, while letting out a quiet chuckle.
"W… W-What the…?!" Priestess whispered, while being absolutely horrified at the unexpected turn of events.
Nero then walked around the table, before grabbing Duke's limp arms from behind his seat, and manipulating them like a puppet. "Call! Quack, quack!" She chirped, while imitating his panicked voice, before beginning to loot his corpse.
She then dumped his remaining Gold Points he had on him onto the table, and continued to rummage through his body, before finally pulling out a glowing blue crate from his rear feathers.
"That's probably a grand prize," Goblin Slayer noted, while watching intently at the mirrored screen.
Priestess simply blinked while still feeling horrified, as she quietly uttered out, "I… I don't even…"
The game resumed, and soon the cards were revealed. Priestess's Royal Flush sparkled triumphantly on-screen as celebratory music played. The message read:
"Congratulations! You've won 60 Gold Points and an Ultra Rare Prize Crate!"
Behind the cheerful announcement, Nero grinned darkly and aimed her gun at the player. Before she could fire though, Lance tackled her across the table. Gunshots rang out over the jazz music, followed by a sickening gurgle as the screen abruptly returned to the casino homepage.
Priestess stared at her Lorekeeper, while appearing pale in the face. "That… was… Disturbing."
"I thought it was kind of funny," Goblin Slayer chimed in casually, while letting out a fogged breath.
"You have a weird sense of humor," she muttered, while taking a deep breath herself. "Okay, let's just… See what we won…"
She then tapped on the inventory tab— revealing a shimmering blue-and-gold crate with glowing text: "Ultra Rare Crate". She hesitated for a moment, before then tapping on it.
An animation then played, as it showed the crate splitting apart— beams of light spilling out. It concluded with a staff floating on screen, with its polished silver surface gleaming under soft, ethereal light. Runes pulsed in cascading patterns along its length, a language lost to time— as if the staff itself held secrets older than the stars.
The twin blue beams radiating from its upper module shimmered with quiet menace, with their edges so sharp they seemed to hum with anticipation. It was, unmistakably, a weapon of immense power— its design a marriage of ancient craftsmanship and cutting-edge arcane technology.
Goblin Slayer's eyes widened. "Is that…?!" He trailed off quietly under his breath— excitement and disbelief bubbling inside of him, as he recalled the words of Colonel Outis Kamiya.
"Level four armaments are powered by spellfire cores— able to fuel complex weapons and armor through ambient temperature superconductors. They include things like power armor, beam shields, mobile photonic generators and disruptors, plasma weapons, psicomm weapons, terraformers, wireless power relays, and so,SOmuch more…"
'Did she… Did she really just win a "Spellfire-grade" weapon…?!' The gray-haired teen wondered bewilderingly to himself— his mind scrambling, as he vividly recalled what else Kamiya had told him.
"Level four equipment isn't sold. It's developed exclusively by "Stormbringer Industries"— the Pendragon Empire's own subsidiary within the Ministry of Defense. Their work is classified as priceless. The only way you'd ever see Spellfire gear is by invitation to an unveiling ceremony, or… If it's being used on you."
'How the hell does Miller Entertainment even have access to this kind of shit?! And why on Earth would they justGIVEthis sort of tech away like that?!'
Priestess inhaled sharply— unknowingly breaking Goblin Slayer from his train of thought. "Oh, wow..." She murmured, with her voice tinged with awe. She then leaned closer to her Lorekeeper's screen, as if the proximity would make the staff feel more tangible. "It's… So beautiful…"
The awe in her expression gave way to hesitancy. "Hey, uh… Ren, do youuuu… Do you think it'd be okay if I…Umm…H-Have it…? I mean, all I have is my old wooden shepherd's staff… It's from a thrift store, and the paint's starting to chip," She explained, while offering him a sheepish smile through the screen— though, there was a genuine hopefulness behind it.
Goblin Slayer frowned, with his practical instincts warning him of her earnest request. 'I… I did those daily quests… Why should she get to keep it? She probably doesn't even know how to wield it properly…'
'… But then again, if she's going to be coming with me on quests, do I really want her to be poorly equipped? Especially if all she really does have on her at the moment is some janky old wooden staff meant for herding sheep…'
"You… Y-You'd need it more than I would," he admitted finally, though his tone was reluctant. "Your strength stat isn't exactly… High."
Upon hearing his blatant critique, the blond teen blinked, before her cheeks began to grow flushed. "H-Hey…!"
"It's not an insult," he added matter-of-factly. "It's just the truth."
Priestess hesitated, with her fingers hovering over the "Claim" button. "But… Are you sure? I mean, if you want it, I'd be happy to-"
"-No," he interrupted with a sigh. "I would feel better knowing you had something like that to defend yourself with. But still," He said, before leveling her with a firm look— his tone as pragmatic as ever. "You share it when I need it, got it?"
Hearing his response and terms of agreement, the blond girl's face lit up with a grateful smile. "Of course…! Deal…!" She replied happily, before tapping the button— confirming the staff's transfer, before entering her church's address into the following delivery menu.
Afterwards, another animation shimmered once more, depicting the glowing chest disappearing from her inventory screen to indicate the staff was now on its way to her.
For a moment, she stared at the screen in awe, with her heart fluttering. Then, almost shyly, she glanced not at her screen, but into her device's front camera. "Th-Thank you, Ren… You're really nice to me, you know that…?"
He shrugged at her tender compliment, before casually telling her, "I do my best. But,uh…Just make sure you don't break the staff when you do get it— you can't really replace those sorts of things, if they get damaged."
Her giggle was soft, with her fingers brushing another strand of hair behind her ear as she returned to the Gold Casino's main page. "I'll take good care of it, promise…" She replied reassuringly, before hesitating and biting down on her lip. "I kind of want to see what else we can win… Would that be okay…?"
The gray-haired teen waved a hand dismissively at her request. "That's fine."
She grinned at his indifference, already swiping through the app. "You won't regret it…! I'll try to keep our winning streak alive for us…!"
And as Priestess eagerly navigated to the games tab, with her excitement infectious, Goblin Slayer found his gaze drifting toward the city lights reflected on the dark waters. The ambient chatter of the pier swirled around him— a pleasant hum of life carrying on into the night.
"You know," the blond teen said suddenly, with her voice softer now. "This whole… Daily quests thing…? It's kind of fun, don't you think…?"
Upon hearing that, Goblin Slayer raised an eyebrow at her through the screen. "Fun?"
'They were all a pain in the ass to complete,' the teen wanted to say, but had enough sense to keep that tidbit to himself.
She nodded, with her smile gentle— almost wistful. "It's not so much the rewards… It's more so… Us, working together like this… It feels… N-Nice…"
His gaze lingered on her for a moment, with the faintest flicker of something softer crossing his otherwise stoic expression. Finally, he leaned back against the bench, while tilting his head upward. "Yeah… I guess if you put it that way, then they're not so bad."
And as night stretched on, the stars above glimmered like distant promises, with the glowing interface of the Gold Casino reflecting from his Lorekeeper's screen. Goblin Slayer closed his eyes for a moment— listening to the faint sounds of Priestess's murmurs of delight as she found another game to play.
And for what felt like the first time that day, he allowed himself to genuinely relax— any thoughts revolving around his next quest pushed to the recesses of his calmed mind.