"Where is my... over the mountain, where is my... over the mountain," Saltzpyre mumbled as he drove the cart.
The two moons shone their light through the night as the horse-drawn cart made its way down the road. At an earlier point, the sight of the moons seemed like a sinister omen to the witch hunter, but now, not so much. According to Goblin Slayer and Priestess, the moons had always been like that, and Fuegonasus had given him confirmation that nothing felt 'wrong' with their presence, though the wizard had admittedly been concerned as well when she first saw them. In his and Sienna's experience, the presence of the two moons meant a night when dark forces would reach their zenith; he was grateful that it did not seem to carry the same ill omen here. Perhaps it was a sign that the righteous had managed to claim some extent of victory in the End Times, neutralizing one of the heretics' greatest boons.
But that was all just speculation; the only thing that Saltzpyre was sure of was his duty, and right now that duty involved returning to Frontier Town. It had been another long day of purging the greenskins, and now it was time for their retirement for the night.
"Hm," Goblin Slayer said as he looked at the passing scenery.
"Is something the matter, Master Goblin Slayer?" The witch hunter asked, keeping his eye on the road.
"She's still up," the adventurer responded.
"I assume you are not referring to the girl nor the wizard," Saltzpyre stated, noting that both Priestess and Sienna were asleep.
"No," Goblin Slayer began. "The daughter of my landlord."
The witch hunter took a glance at where the adventurer's attention was directed. Sitting on the porch of a farmhouse was a young woman with short red hair, dressed in a white shirt underneath black overalls; she looked as if she was waiting for something, or rather someone.
"We used to live in the same village together," Goblin Slayer continued; he sounded as if he was going to elaborate on the matter, but just stopped.
"It is fine if you do not wish to speak of it; I presume it is a painful matter to discuss," Saltzpyre reassured, having a notion of what might have happened to the adventurer's former home; it wasn't too uncommon a tragedy.
"I see," Goblin Slayer stated, his tone carrying the subtlest hint of appreciation of the old man's concern.
"She appears to be waiting," Saltzpyre said, changing the topic. "What is your relationship with her?"
"We were friends when we were children," Goblin Slayer answered.
"Is that all?" The witch hunter continued, sensing there was something more.
"I'm not sure," the adventurer replied.
"I can drop you off here if you wish," Saltzpyre offered.
"Would that be okay?" Goblin Slayer asked.
"I believe I will be able to handle the reports for the night," the witch hunter answered.
"I see," the adventurer stated. "I will get off here then."
With the adventurer's answer confirmed, the witch hunter reined the horse to a stop, allowing Goblin Slayer to exit the cart; before he walked off, Saltzpyre called out one last time.
"It is good that you have something to remind you of your cause," the witch hunter began. "But be aware, this duty we hold does not offer much allowance to indulge in intimacy. That is one of the prices it demands."
"I understand," the adventurer responded; it was a reality he'd constantly been reminded of. "I will keep that in mind."
The witch hunter gave a quick nod to the adventurer before continuing to drive the cart down the path. In turn, Goblin Slayer continued walking.
Cow Girl sat waiting for Goblin Slayer to come home. She'd been on this routine for five years now, anticipating his return late into the night. There was always a worry in the back of her mind that one day, for whatever reason, he wouldn't be able to return. But she held onto hope that he would, even in the most improbable odds, come back safely.
A cart stopping in front of the farm caught her eye; from the look of it, its contents were on fire. She was about to fetch a pail of water and call her uncle for help to put it out until she realized that the driver seemed completely calm; looking closer revealed that the 'fire' was actually a woman, one who was no doubt magical. Cow Girl then noticed a familiar figure exiting the cart: Goblin Slayer. The adventurer seemed to exchange a few words with the driver before they each went their separate ways.
"You're back!" Cow Girl exclaimed enthusiastically as Goblin Slayer approached. "The food on the table should still be warm, but if you want, I could reheat it."
"It's fine," the adventurer said as he entered the house with the girl.
The farmer allowed Goblin Slayer to settle in and enjoy the meal before starting a conversation.
"You've been looking less tired lately," Cow Girl observed; years of caring for the adventurer had allowed her to pick up on the subtle signs he'd give off in his posture. "Has work gotten easier?"
"No, I wouldn't say that," Goblin Slayer stated. "But I've been receiving help."
"Help?" Cow Girl said questioningly. "Like party members?"
"I think so," the adventurer answered. "They've been with me for a month now."
Cow Girl immediately noted this as something significant; throughout the adventurer's career, he'd made a couple of passing acquaintances, but he would only describe them to that extent, never as a part of a 'party' for the long term. It made her relieved that he appeared to have finally found people who'd look out for him in his work.
"So, what are they like?" Cow Girl asked, curious about the adventurer's new friends.
"There's an old man," Goblin Slayer began. "He seems very experienced and knowledgeable about fighting goblins. I've been learning more from him."
Though it would sound mundane to most, Cow Girl registered the adventurer's words as high praise; for someone as experienced as Goblin Slayer in his field, being considered a person worth learning from was certainly a feat.
"Is there anyone else?" Cow Girl continued.
"There is also his companion, a wizard," Goblin Slayer responded. "She uses fire magic; apparently it's useful for making sure the goblins don't return."
"Really?" Cow Girl said, before making a connection to the fiery woman she'd seen earlier. "The people in the cart, were they your party?"
"Yes," Goblin Slayer answered. "There is also one more."
"Oh?" The farmer said curiously.
"A priestess of the Earth Mother," the adventurer began. "She is determined to help fight the goblins."
"So, she's a healer?" Cow Girl asked.
"Yes," the adventurer confirmed.
Hearing that was probably one of the biggest pieces of good news Cow Girl could hope for; having a healer watching out for Goblin Slayer would ensure he remained in good health.
"Well, I'm sure they're all great people," Cow Girl said with a smile. "I'd love to get to know them better."
It was then that the farmer remembered one of her upcoming errands.
"Hey, I've got to make some deliveries to the guild in the morning. How about we go together?"
Cow Girl suggested. "Maybe we'll even bump into your friends and we can meet like that."
"Okay," Goblin Slayer agreed as he continued his meal and conversation with the farmer.
"We have arrived," Saltzpyre announced as he stopped the cart in a designated space near the guild hall. "Fuegonasus, I would appreciate it if you could escort the girl to the temple."
"If it means not having to deal with the paperwork, sure," the wizard said with a yawn as she woke up from her nap before nudging the sleeping Priestess. "Come on, darling, time to go home."
"Huh?" Priestess said groggily as she looked around. "Where's Goblin Slayer?"
"I dropped Master Goblin Slayer off at his home earlier," Saltzpyre stated. "We were passing by it on our way back here."
"Oh, alright then," Priestess said tiredly as she exited the cart and began walking back to the temple with the wizard at her side.
The witch hunter entered the guild, finding it empty as usual for this time of night, save for Guild Girl who sat behind the reception desk.
"Goblin Sl-" She began, before realizing it was someone else who had walked through the door. "Oh, Witch Hunter."
"Master Goblin Slayer has returned to his residence for the night," Saltzpyre stated. "I will be handling reports this time."
"Alright then," Guild Girl stated as she opened up a log book.
After a while of listing all the reports made by the old man, she started to calculate the party's rewards.
"You've been getting a lot of work done," the receptionist commented. "Your party might be eligible for a promotion soon, even with the veteran member penalty."
"Is that so?" Saltzpyre asked. "What would be the immediate benefits associated with such a promotion?"
"Well, it would show that you're a more trusted adventurer," Guild Girl answered. "Which means access to higher leveled tasks."
"But the greenskins are already, irresponsibly, considered the lowest threat, are they not?" The witch hunter asked. "I have no intention of neglecting the menace and allowing them to fester."
"That is true," the receptionist answered, somewhat relieved that it seemed the man would be staying around with Goblin Slayer for a while. Most adventurers would stop considering goblin quests after their first promotion. "But, it would show others that you're reliable with your work."
"I suppose having a better reputation would be beneficial for us," Saltzpyre thought aloud, referring specifically to a reputation that would eventually allow him audiences with the leadership of the land. "What is the process for a promotion?"
"Once you've completed an adequate amount of work relative to your rank, we'll conduct an interview and decide if you're worthy of advancing to the next rank," Guild Girl stated.
"What exactly do you mean by 'worthy'?" Saltzpyre asked, remembering his experience with the Witch Hunter bureaucracy; part of worthiness to them meant keeping silent about their negligence and imprudence on certain matters.
"Oh, it's just to make sure you haven't fabricated your reports and contributions," Guild Girl stated.
"And that is all?" The witch hunter asked skeptically.
"Pretty much," the receptionist confirmed.
"Then I would appreciate it if you would inform us of when we fulfill said requirements for such an occasion," Saltzpyre stated.
"Of course," Guild Girl answered as she finished calculating the rewards. "Would you like to take your share now or in the morning?"
"If you can, send an appropriate portion of my share to the one whose cart and horse I am leasing, I wish to buy both off of them," the witch hunter began. "The mare has proven a reliable beast of burden and it would save our expenses in the long term to hold ownership."
"Alright, I'll contact them in the morning," Guild Girl stated as she wrote down a note. "Is there anything else?"
"I will lead the steed into the stable before retiring for the night," Saltzpyre responded. "You may have the expenses deducted from the rest of my share."
"Will do," Guild Girl responded as the witch hunter took his leave.
After unhitching her from the party's cart, Saltzpyre led the mare into the guild stablehouse. As he enclosed the horse in one of the stalls, he looked into her eyes.
"Remain vigilant, Sergeant," the witch hunter warned in whispers. "There is no telling of what could occur under nightfall."
The horse stared at the witch hunter for a few moments before turning around and lowering her head to eat from a feeding trough.
"You are far too lax; what would your namesake say of your behavior?" Saltzpyre chided, before remembering how his mercenary companion typically acted. "On second thought, I suppose this would be mostly in line with him, other than the lack of ale, which you are not and never will be allowed to consume."
The mare continued eating; the only reaction she gave to the witch hunter was the swishing of her tail.
"Yes, I dare say, he and the dwarf would, against better judgment, likely have allowed you to drink some from their stock," Saltzpyre stated. "Still, it is better than how the elf would have treated you; she abandoned her last steed if I recall correctly."
After sating her hunger and thirst, the mare turned around to face the witch hunter again before closing her eyes for sleep.
"I see you have already decided to rest for the night," the witch hunter observed. "Very well then, you are-"
Just then, the witch hunter heard a faint rustling in the stall behind him; looking back revealed the sight of two young adventurers around Priestess' age, sitting up on piles of straw, the looks on their faces reflecting their complete bewilderment. He had forgotten that the stables were offered as lodging to the much less financially sound adventurers.
Saltzpyre gave the pair a threatening glare, causing the two adventurers to lie back down on their straw piles, before exiting the stables and making his way to the temple.
"Should I take over?" Goblin Slayer offered as he and Cow Girl walked down the dirt road to Frontier Town.
"Nope, I'm fine," the farmer replied. "Thanks, though."
"Okay," the adventurer responded.
"So, now that you have help, things should be a lot less busy, right?" Cow Girl asked.
"Not quite," Goblin Slayer began. "There are more goblins. Far more than usual."
"Really?" The farmer asked curiously. "Well, at least you and your party have plenty of work to go around. That's good, isn't it?"
"No," the adventurer answered. "I think we'd all rather that there were no goblins at all."
The smile on Cow Girl's face faltered upon hearing the response. It should've been expected, considering what happened to their home.
"Yeah," the farmer responded solemnly as they continued on the road.
Upon reaching the town, Cow Girl offloaded her cargo before entering the guild hall with Goblin Slayer.
"I'm going to get my delivery form signed," the farmer said to the adventurer, looking at the crowd ahead of them. "It looks like it'll be a while, there's a pretty long line."
"Okay," Goblin Slayer said as he took a seat at an empty table.
"Ugh, it's Goblin Slayer," a spear-wielding adventurer groaned.
"Isn't that the weirdo who only takes goblin-slaying quests?" Another voice chimed in.
"To think someone like that is the same rank as us," a woman in heavy armor scoffed. "The standards of this place are going to the dogs."
"Leave him be, it's not like he'll have anything to do with us," a man with a gigantic sword stated.
"I've never seen such filthy armor," a boy remarked. "Even our equipment is better."
"Stop it, he's probably just a rookie like us," a girl chided. "Honestly, I feel bad for him."
All of the comments were, to say the least, disheartening for Cow Girl to hear, and it appeared that similar sentiments were shared by one of the receptionists judging by the look on her face.
"Same table as always, darling?" A flaming woman on the second floor called down from the balcony as she made her way over to Goblin Slayer. "Personally, I would've chosen one closer to the kitchens, y'know because of the fire, but I guess we're set on this one."
"It's the one the old man was sitting at before our first quest together," Goblin Slayer stated.
"Oh, a sentimental reason," the fiery woman responded. "That's just too precious; how can I argue with that?"
The woman's appearance captured the attention of many in the guild hall.
"Th-that woman's on fire!" One of the younger adventurers commented.
"It must be magic," another said. "She's gotta be a powerful wizard."
"Then how come she's sitting with that bum?" someone else asked.
Cow Girl recognized the woman as the fiery figure in the cart she saw last night. She was considering walking up and introducing herself, but if she did that, she would've lost her position in the line.
Just then, the guild hall doors opened, revealing a tall, imposing man in a leather coat and hat followed by a girl in priestly attire.
"That asshole again," the spearman grumbled as he saw the man.
"That guy's definitely bad news," a young voice remarked.
"But, the girl with him seems pretty cute," another voice said. "Maybe-"
The man shot a menacing glance in the direction of the last commenter, causing them to go silent, before continuing on his way.
"How has your training with your sling been going?" the tall man asked.
"I've been able to hit my targets more often now," the girl answered. "But they're just the dummies in the training area; I probably won't be as good with moving targets."
"That is fine; for now you just need to get used to wielding it," the tall man responded. "Perhaps you should ask the wizard for assistance in that matter; she might be able to provide moving targets through her magic."
"Alright, I'll do that," the girl responded as the pair eventually made their way to the table Goblin Slayer and the fiery woman were sitting at.
"Greetings, Master Goblin Slayer, Wizard," the tall man said before sitting.
"Hello, Goblin Slayer sir, Witch," the girl greeted. The mention of the latter title seemed to cause the tall man to grumble.
"Hi," Goblin Slayer replied.
"Well, you're later than usual," the flaming woman remarked. "What took you so long, darlings?"
"I was training in the yard for the morning," the girl answered. "Oh, do you think you could help me with that? I heard you can use your magic to make moving targets."
"I suppose floating lights could make for decent targets," the woman responded before turning to address the man. "Your turn."
"I had to check on our mare in the stables," the man answered.
"Are you sure you weren't talking to it?" the woman asked with a smirk.
"How do you know of that!?" the man questioned in a stern whisper before a look of realization came over him."They spoke about it, didn't they?"
"It's true!?" The woman asked before bursting out in laughter. "And you called it Sergeant? As in Sergeant Kruber? You named the horse after him!?"
"The horse has a name?" The girl asked curiously.
'So, that's his party,' Cow Girl thought as she looked at the bantering group.
"Next!" the blonde receptionist called, causing the farmer to realize it was her turn.
"Oh, yes, I'd like to get a signature for this delivery verification form, please," Cow Girl asked.
"Of course," the receptionist replied, taking out a quill. "Thank you for your business."
As the receptionist signed the paper, Cow Girl looked back at Goblin Slayer's party.
"So, what are they like? That party with Goblin Slayer?" The farmer asked.
"Oh, you're his acquaintance?" The receptionist asked interestedly.
"We used to live in the same village," Cow Girl answered. "Now he lives on my uncle's farm with us."
"I see," the receptionist replied. "I can't say I know too much about any of them yet, but I believe he's in good company."
"It's good to hear he has people looking out for him," Cow Girl said as she accepted the signed form.
"Indeed," the receptionist replied with a mutually understanding look.
The farmer approached Goblin Slayer's table to announce her departure.
"Did you get your signature?" Goblin Slayer asked.
"Yep, I'll be returning to the farm now," Cow Girl replied. "Stay safe!"
"Wait, you can't just leave without introducing yourself first!" The fiery woman said playfully. "Come on darling, tell us who you are!"
"Oh," the farmer didn't expect to be welcomed so eagerly. "Well, I'm just a friend who helps take care of Goblin Slayer at home."
"Taking care of him at home?" the woman repeated with a smirk. "I wonder what that could mean…"
'Wha-" Cow Girl began, confused, before realizing how her words could've been taken and blushing deeply. "Oh! Um, it's not like that!"
"Then what's it like?" The woman pressed enthusiastically.
"Stop needling into their affairs, wizard," the man chided before addressing the farmer. "I apologize for my companion's behavior; it is a pleasure to meet with Master Goblin Slayer's significant other."
"S-significant other?" Cow Girl repeated, blushing even harder, before realizing how the man addressed the adventurer. "'Master Goblin Slayer'? You must really respect him."
"Someone has to," the man responded before whispering his next words. "This hall is swarming with imbeciles who believe themselves above the duty he has taken upon."
"I see," Cow Girl responded. While she was too polite to say such a thing, it was refreshing to hear someone acting protectively about her friend's reputation.
"Um, as Goblin Slayer's partner, I wish you two long-lasting happiness," the priestly girl spoke.
"Oh, no we're not like that," Cow Girl replied, though she wished it was the case. "I'm just his friend, for now at least."
"Oh," the priestly girl said. "Well, as his friend, I'll still be wishing you good luck."
"Thank you," Cow Girl said appreciatively. "I think it's been long enough, I'll be leaving now. Come back safely, okay?"
"Be safe on your way home," Goblin Slayer said.
"Farewell," the man stated.
"Bye, miss," the girl responded.
"See you later, darling," the woman called out.
As Cow Girl left the guild hall and returned to her cart, she couldn't help but feel joyful from having met her friend's party. It was like the receptionist said, he was in good hands.
"It appears the usual morning crowd has dispersed," Saltzpyre stated, noting how the guild hall was now much sparser populated than before.
"Time to see what's on our plate today then," Sienna remarked.
"Are there any goblin quests today?" Goblin Slayer asked.
"Yes, we've received three this morning," Guild Girl replied, pulling out the quest forms. "There's one in the northern mountain range, a fortress. There have apparently already been casualties. Some wandering adventurers went in on behalf of the local village, but they never returned."
"It's likely too late for them," Goblin Slayer concluded. "All we can do now is exterminate it before it gets worse."
"We'll be counting on you for that then," Guild Girl replied before reading through the next quest form. "There's also a spotting of a goblin stealing a chicken during the day."
"The greenskins of this land tend to be nocturnal," Saltzpyre commented. "This aberrant behavior indicates a potential wanderer."
"They may have set up camp in the area," Goblin Slayer added. "The location is on the way to the fortress; we'll investigate and exterminate them before they form a nest."
"Thank you," Guild Girl said before her face turned more solemn as she read the last form. "This one is a request from the river village, a small nest, but a party of rookies already took it, all porcelain."
"River village?" Saltzpyre repeated curiously. "Could I see the quest form?"
"Of course," Guild Girl said, handing over the document.
"What was the party composition?" Goblin Slayer asked.
"One warrior, one wizard, and one paladin," the receptionist answered.
"They were here just a moment ago!" Priestess spoke urgently. "They won't survive with just three members, even my party had four!"
"I tried explaining that to them, but..." Guild Girl stated.
"We can't just leave them alone!" Priestess said. "We have to save them!"
"No, we need to clear the northern fortress; it's been left to grow for too long," Goblin Slayer argued. "The location of this quest is in the opposite direction; a delay like this now could mean the difference between saving the northern village or its destruction."
"But, we can't just leave that party to their fate!" Priestess argued.
"What if we split up?" Sienna suggested. "I reckon I could handle a small nest on my own."
"That will not be necessary," Saltzpyre said as he finished examining the form. "I believe we have already cleared it out."
"Huh?" Guild Girl and everyone involved in the discussion seemed surprised at the claim.
"During our return last night, we were attacked by a greenskin raiding party," the witch hunter began. "We fended them off, tracked them down, then cleared and sterilized their den."
Saltzpyre pointed at a map of the local area that hung from the wall.
"The route we took for our return would have put us around here, sometime before this crossroads," the witch hunter said, pointing at a spot near a location marked 'River Village'. "The description matches the den we discovered."
The witch hunter held out the quest form for the other party members to read. As each of them skimmed over it, they realized he was correct.
"We did not inform the locals of our actions, and thus it is likely that they were unaware of the den's current status," Saltzpyre stated. "The party sent forth will likely only encounter a few stragglers at most, though hopefully, they will return having found it empty."
"We'll have to wait on their return to confirm it," Guild Girl said.
"Let that be sorted out then," the witch hunter responded as he started leaving. "We have a fortress to clear."
With the issue of priorities seemingly resolved, the rest of the party followed suit, boarding their horse-drawn cart for the mission ahead.
"We should start planning," Saltzpyre stated as they hiked along the path.
It had been hours since they departed from the guild hall and night had fallen. The party left their horse and cart at the nearby village, the remaining path being unfit for such travel.
"From the quest description, the fortress the goblins have settled in is an old elven one," Goblin Slayer stated. "The goblins likely haven't been maintaining the trees well. It would burn easily."
"Well, I got that part covered, darlings," Sienna remarked.
"Burning down the fortress would also sterilize the area," Saltzpyre added.
"Still, we'll need to make sure they don't escape while it's burning," Goblin Slayer continued. "There'll likely be multiple escape points, but one main entrance. Sealing that should trap the majority of the goblins; after that, we'd just need to kill off the stragglers."
"I was granted the protection miracle recently," Priestess spoke up. "It should create a barrier that could seal off the entrance and hold off the goblins."
"Then we'll use that," Saltzpyre stated as they finally reached their destination: a vantage point that allowed them a good view of the abandoned fortress; the sight of a distant fire from its direction marked the presence of the greenskins.
"We should be able to identify points of significance from here," the witch hunter stated, pulling out a spyglass.
"Should just be all the entrances, right?" Sienna asked. "We'll just find the main one, have our darling Priestess seal it shut, then check up on the others."
"If all goes according to plan, yes," Goblin Slayer stated.
"I'll try not to fail us," Priestess said, slightly nervously.
"Wow, darling, you were just a few words off from sounding confident," Sienna remarked.
"Oh," Priestess began, recomposing herself. "I won't fail us."
"There you go," the wizard said encouragingly before turning to Saltzpyre. "So, found anything yet, Victor?"
The witch hunter remained silent as he lowered his spyglass.
"They have a living hostage," he finally said solemnly.
"What!?" Priestess said in shock.
"The adventurers before us," Goblin Slayer began, realizing the situation. "They were female?"
"It appears so," the witch hunter responded.
"The form didn't mention that," Sienna recalled.
"It didn't mention the adventurers' genders at all," Saltzpyre replied. "The one who wrote it likely didn't know of the detail's significance."
"You said they only had one hostage," Priestess realized. "What about the others?"
"They have all perished," the witch hunter answered grimly. "I will spare you the details."
"We have to save her!" Priestess said urgently.
"The only way we can do that is by entering the fortress," Goblin Slayer stated. "The goblins are all awake now, they know the layout better, and they outnumber us overwhelmingly. The odds are stacked against us."
"But we can't leave her to die!" Priestess argued.
"That is true," Goblin Slayer stated, thinking of their next move. "We can't burn down the fort with her still in it."
"That might not be the case," Saltzpyre spoke up. "Wizard, your magic shields you from harm against ordinary fires, correct?"
"More or less," Sienna answered. "I know a spell that should do the same for her, as long as I concentrate on it."
"If we burn the fortress down, the greenskins will be too distracted and panicked with escaping to worry about their hostage," the witch hunter explained. "We will use that as part of our plan to sneak you in, wizard. There is a smaller entrance into the fortress on its side; that shall be your entry point. I will accompany you there to deal with the guards and remain to help cover your escape."
"Then our plan remains mostly the same," Goblin Slayer realized. "Priestess and I will stay at the main entrance to ensure that the majority of the goblins are dealt with."
"So that's it then, right?" Priestess asked. "We can really save her?"
"There's one problem with this plan, darling," Sienna spoke up. "All that burning is going to cause a lot of smoke. I'm completely fine with it, but that spell I mentioned earlier only protects against the heat. That girl in there, whatever state she's in, might not be able to handle breathing all of that in."
"It is still the best plan we have," Saltzpyre insisted.
"Wait," Goblin Slayer interrupted, taking off his glove to reveal a ring. "This is a ring of breathing. Put it on her finger when you reach her, it should help."
The veteran adventurer handed the wizard the ring, which she placed in her pocket.
"We shall begin then," the witch hunter announced as they advanced upon the fortress.
An unfortunate goblin stood guard on the side entrance of the fortress. He had drawn the short straw so to speak and was assigned the duty for the night. It was stupid. Their enemies barely came at all and they didn't attack at night anyway; besides, they possessed overwhelming numbers already, and any that tried to attack them would be destroyed, violated, and eaten, just like the group that came earlier. It was unfair that he wasn't allowed to enjoy the festivities, he had contributed just as much to their victory over them as everyone else.
The goblin's thoughts were interrupted when he caught sight of what appeared to be a large, moving flame. Squinting his eyes, he realized that it was a woman who seemed to have been set on fire, yet she was not panicked in the slightest.
The creature's confusion didn't last long, as an unseen projectile pierced through its skull shortly after.
Goblin Slayer looked through the spyglass Witch Hunter lent to him, using it to watch the old man and Bright Witch as they made it to the side entrance. Witch Hunter raised his hand to the air with a gesture, the signal to commence their plan.
"Light the arrows," Goblin Slayer said as he set one on fire before taking out his bow.
"Right," Priestess obliged, striking flint and steel to ignite the oil-soaked rags tied to the projectiles.
The veteran adventurer aimed his shot before launching the burning arrow directly at the fortress, starting the fire that would soon consume it.
Sienna snuck in through the more sparsely occupied path that connected the side entrance to the rest of the fortress. As she moved, the goblin guards ahead of her silently dropped dead, her companion's crossbow bolts taking their heads.
She eventually saw the entrance to the gigantic dead tree at the center of the fort that dominated the others surrounding it; sections of it were already burning and goblins were pouring out of it, rushing to escape their flaming and suffocating death. It wouldn't be viable to use its entrance, but the wizard had a different means of traversal.
"Flame, walk with me," she said as her body turned into living fire, using it to travel up the flames of the burning tree before reaching the level where the witch hunter had claimed to see the hostage.
As she came back into physical form, the wizard witnessed the extent of depravity that the greenskins had engaged in. There were four fresh bodies in the area; the guest in the back of her mind elaborated on their fates.
'This one was restrained and used as target practice with her own bow,' It said, as she looked at a body that was tied up and stuck with arrows.
'This one was disemboweled and forced to eat her own entrails,' It continued, as she looked at a ravaged body, the face bearing an expression of extreme pain and misery.
'This one was burned alive in mockery of her gift,' It said as she looked at a pyre with a charred mass near its base.
'This one is not dead, but can she even be considered alive?' It asked as she looked at a violated girl lying on the floor, seemingly broken and vegetative, but still breathing.
The wizard wanted to unleash herself, her anger, her sorrow, all of it; but she knew that there was only one way that the survivor would escape alive, and that way was only possible if she remained in control of herself.
Sienna withdrew the ring from her pocket and placed it on the girl's finger before giving her a few quick sips of a healing potion; it was by no means as strong as the healing draughts they used to have, but it would do for now.
"Let's get you out of here," the wizard said, casting a spell to shield the girl from the fire's heat before carrying her and making her way to the escape point.
Saltzpyre fired bolt after bolt at the approaching goblins, preventing them from even coming close to the exit. The witch hunter had not remained idle in his time since being teleported from the Citadel of Eternity, utilizing his expertise in blacksmithing and weaponry to craft a simple volley crossbow. It wasn't as effective as the one he had left in Helmgart, but it served well in dispatching the greenskins.
"There is no escape from your judgment!" The witch hunter yelled fanatically as the storm of bolts skewered the bodies of the creatures. "Only execution!"
Eventually, the bolt compartment of his volley crossbow ran empty, and a few greenskins still remained rushing towards him.
With a sneer at the thought of having to waste precious black powder, the witch hunter drew his heavy pistol and fired its lower barrel, sending a cone of shrapnel shredding through the remnant horde. With that, the tide appeared to have ceased.
Shortly after, he caught sight of Sienna approaching quickly, carrying the hostage he'd seen previously in her arms.
"We will deliver her to help as soon as possible," the witch hunter said, sensing the wizard's unease as he exited the fortress with her.
"I'm not even sure if there's anything that can help," Sienna replied solemnly, looking down at the unresponsive girl.
The last remaining goblins continued to claw at the glowing barrier, desperately hoping to get through as they finally succumbed to the smoke and heat of their now-burning home.
Priestess sat in front of the barrier, maintaining concentration on the miracle and praying for the souls that had been sent to the afterlife tonight.
"I've finished checking the other escape paths," Goblin Slayer announced as he returned. "We just need to wait for the others."
After a while of waiting, the other half of the party arrived, with the hostage in tow.
"I gave her some sips of a health potion, but she still looks pretty bad," the wizard said as she laid the girl on the ground.
With all the goblins at the entrance now deceased, Priestess refocused her attention on healing the girl before her.
"O Earth Mother, abounding in mercy, lay your revered hand upon this child's wounds. Heal!" The cleric chanted as the girl's wounds began to close.
"Here's your ring back," Sienna said, handing the borrowed trinket back to its owner.
"Thanks," Goblin Slayer said as he accepted the ring, taking off his glove and placing it on his finger once again.
"We should start our return to Frontier Town," Saltzpyre announced, looking over everyone present. "For all of our sakes."
"Can't argue with that," Sienna said as she picked up the girl again. "But we should stop by the village first to see if they have some warm clothes and food."
"Medicine too," Priestess added.
"That seems for the best," Goblin Slayer agreed.
With that, the party began hiking down the path as the deadwood of the fortress continued to burn behind them into the night.