Goblin Slayer: Survivors
Chapter Four
"Ho, Goblin Slayer!" Spearwoman called.
The good looking young woman caught up to him, dressed in her usual light armor, boots and carrying her signature Spear. She had the usual belt full of pouches adventurers wore, alongside a new short sword belted at her waist.
"Hmph," Goblin Slayer nodded.
"As talkative as ever, I see," she smiled.
Goblin Slayer had saved Spearwoman from Goblins, not long after he started adventuring. Despite being a Goblin captive, she had refused to break, and had recovered enough to return to adventuring herself. She was remarkable.
"You are well?" he asked in his usual quiet way.
"Hmm," Spearwoman nodded, "as well as ever. Are you involved in that training initiative Female Merchant is running?"
Goblin Slayer just nodded, "She is hard to refuse."
"Ha!" Spearwoman agreed, "She's pushy. I like that."
Goblin Slayer nodded again.
"And if we can save even some of the kids that usually get lost out here," Spearwoman added, "that would be a good thing too."
There were a LOT of young adventurers who died early. They were kids from the farms, or otherwise had to leave home, and fell into adventuring. Or relatively innocent kids following heroic tales and unaware of the dangers they might face.
"Yes," Goblin Slayer agreed flatly.
Spearwoman wasn't bothered by his tone, everyone knew Goblin Slayer was like that. She mused, "I heard there's another new Porcelain Adventurer group."
"Hmph," Goblin Slayer grunted.
"Lead by Fighter, whom you also rescued," Spearwoman added, smiling.
THAT made Goblin Slayer stop and look at her. "She recovered?" he mused quietly.
"Yes," Spearwoman smiled.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Giant alligators?!" Rhea Dagger yelped, the small woman backing up.
"I think they're normal, you're just short," Beginner Knight teased.
"Thanks a LOT," Rhea Dagger bitched.
"Keep an eye out for others," Fighter noted, having improvised a club and driving one back. Her punching and such was useless against their tough hides.
"Argh!" Novice Archer cursed as an arrow bounced off another's hide.
Beginner Knight chopped down on a 'gator's back as he added, "Unless you get them in the eye, arrows likely won't work."
"Darn it," Novice Archer switched to a club, helping Fighter put another one down.
The merchants they were guarding were, of course, totally useless. The mission had been to escort them into the swamp, guard them while they harvested herbs and such, then get them out.
Rhea Dagger jumped onto a thrashing gator, then drove her daggers through the back of it's skull into the brain.
"That's all of them?" Beginner Knight wondered.
"Looks like it," Novice Archer sighed.
"Is it safe?" Old Bargainer asked, the lead merchant looking worried.
"Looks like it, but stay close to us," Fighter warned.
"Oh thank the Mother," the older lady sighed, who apparently was the herbalist.
"Let's grab what we came for and get OUT of here," Old Bargainer added, staying near the rickety cart.
Elder Herbalist, guarded by Beginner Knight, swiftly found samples of various plants. "Could we go deeper into the swamp?" she asked.
Fighter exchanged looks with the rest of the party, all of whom looked dubious. "HOW deep?" she asked. "Remember, we are just beginner adventurers."
"Not that far," the older woman promised, "there are certain mushrooms that only grow in the deep swamp, that have powerful curative qualities."
"We DID take the assignment," Beginner Knight mused.
"We're gonna die," Novice Archer muttered, the young man shaking his head.
Fighter ignored that, "All right, but we will retreat if we feel things get too dangerous."
"Of course," the old woman agreed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"THAT WAS THE WORST EVER," Rhea Dagger welled as she tried to get the mud off.
The group had been ambushed by mud creatures, and had barely managed to fight free. They all escaped but... they had been covered in filth. The river wasn't far from Frontier Town, and the group had stopped there to try to get clean. It wasn't going well.
"What are you doing?" Cow Girl asked, amused, as she was pulling her family farm's cart back home.
"Eeep," Beginner Knight tried to cover himself, as did Novice Archer
Fighter and Rhea dagger looked amused. Both girls, alas, knew they weren't endowed enough to trigger anything in the young man.
"Sorry, just cleaning up," Fighter smiled wryly. "Are we in the way?" she checked.
"No, it's fine," Cow Girl smiled and looked towards the two boys, "and nice briefs, boys. Might want to get better under armor?"
Beginner Knight went pink.
They dressed in their how soaked but clean gear, then sloshed their way back to Frontier Town.
"Welcome! Old Bargainer told me you finished the Quest satisfactorily," Guild Girl smiled as they entered. She saw how bedraggled they looked, "Er..."
"Thank you," Fighter said as they reported in, "ran into Mud Golems in the deeper marsh."
Lounging nearby Spearman asked them, "Old Bargainer and Elder Herbalist talked you into going there?"
"Yeah," Novice Archer agreed.
"The two are kind of notorious for pushing Adventurers into doing extra for them," Spearman revealed, "it's why they only hire beginner parties."
"Oh," Fighter sighed.
Spearman punched her in the shoulder, "Well, live and learn."
"I guess," Rhea Dagger agreed, sighing.
"And MAYBE we should have warned them?" Witch pointed out.
"Yeah, maybe," Spearman conceded.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Fighter!" Advanced Novice yelled once they emerged from the Guild Hall.
Fighter smiled at the younger woman, "It's been a few days. Have they finished the temporary shelters for the clergy?"
"Sort of," Advanced Novice rolled her eyes, "it's tents, mostly."
"You're keeping watches overnight, right?" Fighter asked, frowning.
Advanced Novice nodded, pouting. "It's awful," she pouted.
Fighter shook her head, "It's important for you to stay safe."
Advanced Novice looked up at her adoringly, "I knew you cared!"
Fighter smiled a bit shyly, "Why don't we get dinner at the tavern?"
"Your treat?" Advanced Novice batted her eyes.
"Yeah, sure," Fighter conceded.
The tavern attached to the Guild Hall was busy as usual, filled with adventurers of various types. Heavy Warrior and his party were on one side, Martial Artist was drinking with friends and Priestess was there with her friends.
"Hmph," Advanced Novice frowned at Priestess.
"Now now," Fighter said.
"Ho, come join us!" Lizard Priest offered.
"They're on a date, leave them alone," Priestess told him.
"It's NOT a date," Fighter said.
Advanced Novice countered, "It is so a date!"
"Have fun you two," High Elf Archer waved, amused.
Fighter, blushing, sat down with Advanced Novice at a corner table. Padfoot Waitress smiled as she hurried over, "What can I get you?"
"Just the regular stew please, and some bread," Fighter sighed.
To be continued...
Notes: Spearwoman is from the prelude light novels. Like Sword Maiden, she's a goblin attack survivor, and also recovered from it.