Hello everyone, sorry for not updating for months since I had to take care of some personal business and the fact that I was writing for my other stories. This chapter is shorter than usual, but don't worry, I will update the next chapters and will be long ones. I hope you enjoy it.
"Where that dolt could be?" Fencer said impatiently while crossing her arms. She, her party, and Goblin Slayer's party were waiting in one of the Guild's private rooms. Priestess went to look for Grimm Slayer as they tried to discuss important matters. Goblin Slayer wasn't present either.
"Don't worry. I'm sure she won't take it too much time." High Elf Archer said while sitting on the couch's center. The group was quiet as the Adventurers didn't want to explain yet until everyone was present.
When they saw someone opening the door, Grimm Slayer and Priestess finally arrived at the meeting.
"Excuse us for the holdup." Priestess said apologetically to everyone.
"There's no need to apologize. Now there's everyone here. We should start discussing." Lizard Priest said.
"Shouldn't we wait for Goblin Slayer, too?" Cat Ninja asked as she noted the armored guy being absent.
"This is a matter of Grimm. I doubt Beard-Cutter would care much unless goblins are mentioned." Dwarf Shaman said while scratching his beard.
"In any case, we should start explaining to all of you." High Elf Archer extended a map over the table while pointing out specific parts across the region. "Before going to the main topic, I want to ask you about how Grimm can appear aside from negative emotions."
"Well, it is both simple and difficult to explain." Fencer said while sipping her tea. "Aside from the fact that those things lack a soul, they can also appear across different points of the region. They can emerge from black pools."
"And how those black pools that could appear out of nowhere." Lizard Priest asked.
"That is something we don't know yet. No Huntsman in Remnant could give a concrete answer to their origins. They spawn in places that we can't reach them." Brawler added.
"As far as we know, they are isolated. Usually underground, abandoned structures or barren wastelands if we are lucky." Grimm Slayer followed with another piece of information.
"I see…" High Elf Archer started to finally understand a little more from the info while Lizard Priest took notes of it. "The reason for asking is because we got finally from what appears a location from one of those pools." She started to point out at the map.
"Are you serious?" Fencer was amazed by the info.
"Yeah, they came from an abandoned castle not far from here." Dwarf Shaman pointed out. "From what we inspected from a safe distance, some of the Grimm decided not to wander far from the black pool. Their behavior was similar to hounds protecting their territory."
"And thus, we must be precautious before launching an attack against the castle." Lizard Priest started looking at the party of Huntresses directly on the eyes. "As you might expect, we are going to need the help of your friends to accomplish this task. We need a limit of three parties before adventuring ourselves into unchartered territory."
"I'm sure Paladin and his party will help us without hesitation." The hooded girl stood up from her chair while radiating positive energy inside the room. "Alright! Let's head to the castle and exterminate all Grimm!"
"Yeah!" Ninja and Brawler shouted alongside as if they were ready.
"H-Hold on a second!" Fencer, on the other hand, pulled Grimm Slayer's cape, which forced her to sit again. "You barely survived last night! Do you truly expect to launch yourself into danger again without preparing first?"
"Better listen to the Ice Queen." Dwarf Shaman said mockingly to the sophisticated girl.
"Hey!" She replied by giving a cold glare.
"We appreciate your determination, but we just returned today as well." Lizard Priest said while starting to pray. "We need to get ourselves supplies, your friends, some rest, and sweet, sweet nectar."
"Nectar?" Brawler asked.
"He is referring to cheese." Priestess replied to the blond huntress.
"Why cheese, though?" Ninja was confused as well.
"You will see once we get something to eat first." High Elf chuckled.
"I never expected to be agreed with you, Long-Ears. No Adventurer or Huntsman should fight with an empty stomach." Dwarf started laughing as he stood up and left the room.
"I suppose we can start discussing our plan of attack tonight." Lizard Priest left the room as well. He looked oddly excited while sticking his tongue out.
"Oh well, I guess we will see you later." High Elf Archer grabbed the map and followed the Adventurers.
"W-Wait a second." Grimm Slayer called her out. "Shouldn't we tell this to Goblin Slayer as well?"
"I guess so, but it won't be easy to convince him since there are no goblins involved."
"I will try to talk to him too." Priestess said with reassurance. The Huntresses started to leave the room one after the other. The hooded girl tried to think of how she could approach the matter to Goblin Slayer. "Want to go somewhere in the meanwhile?" She asked Grimm Slayer.
"Sure. I might need some exercises after that long nap." The hooded girl laughed it off as they left the place.
The day looked peaceful despite the emergency they had at the meeting moments ago. One could wonder for how long thing could be like that before the Forces of Grimm would approach to that town or any other on an imminent attack. It was good that the adventurers are making progress in that matter, but would it be too much for herself?
Priestess noticed how quiet the huntress was at the moment which found it odd. "Is something wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing at all. What makes you say that?" Grimm Slayer awkwardly laughed.
"It is about Goblin Slayer? Don't blame you."
"No, no, no, no… maybe?" It was useless to be in denial. The hooded girl sighed. "You know, I forgot to ask what happened last night. I remember about the Goblin Champion and nothing else onwards."
"Oh. So far from what your sister told me: Goblin Slayer saved you from being eating while he and your sister defeat it. I didn't see them when that happened, but I suppose it was brutal as I saw both of them covered in blood." Priestess story was quite long, but that left a big impression on Grimm Slayer.
"So, he and sis saved me, huh? I don't know what to think about it…" She gave a weak smile. Both girls stopped walking to sit on a bench. They started looking at the people passing by at the street. Grimm Slayer began to look to a pair of children playing, with what appeared the oldest of the two helping the other. "You know. No matter how much I get older or trying to be stronger, sis is always helping me to get out of trouble."
"And you think it is a bad thing?" Priestess asked.
"In a way, yes. It was enough that my family are very overprotective with me. You might think this is childish to think, but I always wanted to be like the heroes from the bedtime stories, never the damsel in distress." Grimm Slayer's looked even more disappointed than before. "I'll be honest, knowing that Goblin Slayer also had to save me, I don't know how to repay him."
"I feel the same." Priestess commented as she clenched both of her fists while looking down. "It is odd to think about it, but no matter how many times I follow him or save his life, I feel that I might never repay him in the future." She began looking at the sky, trying to smile. "But I don't mind though. I'm really glad of meeting him."
There was no doubt that the young adventurer's voice was full gratitude and devotion towards the armored guy. Grimm Slayer knew too that she should be the same towards Furious Brawler. Looking for each other backs not because family but as a team. Her, Fencer, Ninja, and Paladin's party are all the family she had while away from home.
The hooded girl stood up with determined eyes; fired up as she knew that she won't fall back like last night. "Alright, now I know what to do." She said with her usual upbeat mood.
"Do you? And what is it?" As Priestess asked Grimm Slayer. Before the Huntress could say anything else, they started hearing a faint sound, as if someone's stomach was growling.
"Hehehe… sorry." It was Grimm Slayer. "I didn't take a proper breakfast."
"I'm hungry too. I heard that they are serving House Stew at the Guild Tavern."
"That sounds great. Let's go!" Both girls decided to get back with everyone else. While walking down the street, they heard heavy footsteps approaching from behind. The sound of metal and leather clashing with each other to the point that became louder, yet familiar for the Priestess.
"Goblin Slayer!" She shouted.
"Hey." He replied with his soft, monotonous voice.
"Where you been?" Grimm Slayer asked.
"I went to Blacksmith to repair my equipment and to get my special order."
"Special order?" Priestess rose an eyebrow. Goblin Slayer showed a weird-looking knife that the blade looked like a hook or ax. "What exactly is that?"
"Ohhhhh!?" Grimm Slayer, on the other hand, looked impressed of its appearance. "Is that a mambele!?"
"You know about it?" The armored guy said.
"This kind of weapon is very popular at Vale. Very hard to master but awesome once you can pull unseen stunts with it." She began talking very fast, almost hard to follow due to her excitement. "Oops, sorry, I got carried away."
"Don't worry." Priestess chuckled. "Oh, I almost forgot. You missed an important meeting about the Raid Quest."
"Does involve goblins?" Goblin Slayer asked, which didn't surprise any of the girls.
"No, but we are going to exterminate Grimm at an abandoned castle. Would you like to help us with that?" Grimm Slayer said with an embarrassed look.
"Okay."
"I knew that you wouldn't accept it unless… huh!?" Goblin Slayer's blunt response was something that caught Priestess off-guard. "R-Really!?"
"Yes."
"B-But how so!? I thought you wouldn't care about Grimm!"
"Why not?"
"Well, because those aren't goblins."
"So?"
"I think we are kind of going in circles." Grimm Slayer interjected before the conversation would drag between the adventurers. "What's the reason you easily agreed to help us even if goblins aren't involved?"
"Goblins are using Grimm. Anything that makes the goblins stronger I won't let them take the chance." The armored guy spoke with a straightforward explanation.
"That sounds… reasonable." The hooded girl commented.
"I can't deny it. Things will go worse unless we take care of that Grimm nest soon." Priestess said as she started analyzing on the possible outcomes.
"In any case, thank you so much on agreeing to this request, Goblin Slayer."
"No problem." He replied
"Now, let's go already because I'm starving." Grimm Slayer went ahead of the adventurers with a radiant smile.
"But I already ate." Goblin Slayer said.
"At least go with us to see everyone." Priestess pulled his arm while dragging him to the Guild.
All of them went to the pointed place for a nice meal and relax for the day because tomorrow morning, both Huntsmen and Adventurers will head to the depths where those foul creatures reside. No one could say with certainty of what kind of threat the Grimm would impose in that place. As for now, a long battle awaits them.