Hi everyone, it's been a while! I'm still busy with the usual things in my life, still managed to write a new chapter. Two things to say:
First, I thank to the person who posted my fic in TvTropes. I don't think is much of a accomplishment, but I will take it as a complemented if that meant sharing my work to other people.
Second, to answer to The Disquieting One review: Yeah, I didn't like much the name, but Wall Buster works better since it gives a better meaning in the next chapters. Also, they are not from TF2, although that sounds like a interesting crossover idea. They are actually OCs from my other RWBY stories, but don't worry, they won't be here for long after this quest.
Enjoy the chapter.
The sun began to set as it slowly hid behind the hills. It was a mesmerizing sight, something Grimm Slayer couldn't enjoy when she and her party arrived on this continent. It wasn't like the vast woods surrounding the entirety of the Island of Patch, her and her sister's birthplace. The Frontier had a different air, much denser but fresh like mint. Traveling to those new places was always a unique experience, especially with new people around.
"Are we there yet?" Dagger Scout asked, tired and sweaty, while he marched behind the group.
Everyone carried large bags on their backs. They needed to set a camp before getting dark and, per Goblin Slayer's suggestion, somewhere which should be impossible to be ambushed in their sleep.
"Not yet," Wall Buster replied, annoyed. He was carrying the most oversized bag on his back and one more in his left hand. Priestess looked worried that too much weight might hurt the big Huntsman. However, he didn't mind it, as he was already used to carrying large trunks after chopping trees down.
"A couple more steps before reaching the point," Desert Marksman explained. "The temple where those goblins reside won't be far from the camping spot. We will do some recon early morning before starting exploration."
"Is your leader going to be alright?" Priestess asked. "Shouldn't we hurry to rescue him now?"
"Don't sweat it," Scout said without worries. "My Bro can still handle things by himself for a little longer."
"How can be so sure?"
"There was one time that we dealt with a group of bandits, and I got struck by a poisonous arrow that made me feel all funky. He defended us while my partner, Marksman, gave me an antidote while my man Buster carried me like a pelt."
"That incident wouldn't happen if you stopped goofing around while in battle," the big guy muttered.
"Details, details." Scout shrugged. "Long story short, my Bro is more than capable. The only worry is that he pushes himself too much."
"What do you mean by that?" Goblin Slayer asked, monotone as ever.
"That guy can quickly get too worked up at times," Wall Buster said. "But unlike those other two idiots, I'm the only one who knows when to stop him."
"We arrived," Marksman said, assessing the open area.
The group stopped and examined their surroundings. They were on top of a hill with the sight of a forest on the west, and they also could see smoke coming from the east. Scout explained that there was a small settlement over that direction, but it was too far from the temple where the nest of the goblins resided. Their camping spot allowed them to be vigilant from ambushes, as Goblin Slayer suggested before traveling.
Scout and Priestess started preparing the ingredients for tonight's dinner. The jovial Huntsman bought potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, a loaf of bread, and slices of beef at the town's market early today. The pot would take a while to prepare, so everyone started getting busy with different roles.
Marksman and Goblin Slayer would do some reckon around the area in case there wasn't any Grimm activity they weren't aware of. The hooded girl wanted to accompany them, but Marksman politely refused by pointing out that two people were more than enough. Grimm Slayer couldn't argue.
"If you wanna be useful, help with the fire!" Wall Buster shouted as he took a lumberjack hatchet from his explorer's bag.
"Okay," she said.
"Are you going to be alright, Mr. Goblin Slayer?" Priestess asked concerningly.
"They will be alright," Scout said with laxity. "They will be back with the snap of a finger!"
Marksman snapped his fingers and turned to his companion. "I don't think it's possible to be that fast," he said. Everyone looked confused at his words.
"He didn't mean literally, stupid Four-Eyes!" Buster shouted.
"We'll be back," Goblin Slayer reassured Priestess. She nodded before the two members of the party started wandering off.
Everyone got busy before getting dark. Buster used a stump near them to chop the lumber while instructing Grimm Slayer how to arrange the campfires. Meanwhile, Scout rolled out a small blanket, showing a collection of knives and daggers of different shapes and lengths. The young clergy's eyes widened after seeing such a repertoire. That was something she believed only Goblin Slayer would carry that many.
Dagger Scout looked indecisive about which knife to use to cut the vegetables. "Mhhh...eeny, meeny, miny, this one!" He said excitingly. "Would you do me a favor by peeling off the potatoes?"
"O-Okay!"
Scout handed a smaller knife to the young girl while he used a larger one. It wasn't long before the jovial guy began telling stories to Priestess about their misadventures. There were only primarily things that they (mostly Scout) screwed things up before their party leader, Duelist, had to get them out of trouble. One time, Wall Buster got eaten whole by a King Taijitu Grimm, a two-head giant snake, and the only way he survived was because Duelist cut both heads off simultaneously.
"I hate when that happens," the big guy grumbled as he chopped the wood.
Whether being Grimm, regular monsters, or dealing with your typical bandits, Scout sounded proud of his leader for their work back in Remnant and here. Grimm Slayer couldn't help herself from listening to the stories and being curious. She always knew about amazing things about Huntsmen from the Kingdom of Atlas. Still, they were on another level, which was something the hooded girl admired.
"Hey, don't space out!" Buster called out Grimm Slayer. "We still need to fire the wood. Got any matches?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I got some." She handed some matchsticks to the big guy as he put a couple of stones as a base for the pot. With lumber and some hay was enough to light the campfire in no time.
"You really know about setting up a camp," Grimm Slayer complimented Wall Buster.
However, he didn't react much as he was busy inspecting that the pot won't fall off. "It is nothing particular. Just the basics since dumbass over here didn't bother to learn. Four-Eyes can make it faster, but he is always damn obtuse about making rounds before setting the camp."
"You said you are from Atlas, right?"
"What about it? Got a problem with that?"
"N-Not at all!" Grimm Slayer reaffirmed. "One of my friends is from Atlas too, but she always looks the part."
"And you think we don't?" Buster asked annoyingly.
"S-Sorry! I didn't mind to offend you!"
"I'm more offended that you lumped me with those snobs!"
"Really? Why?"
"Forget it."
The big guy didn't seem very reluctant to small talk. Grimm Slayer wouldn't press her luck by prying anymore in the meantime.
The sun finally set, and Goblin Slayer and Desert Marksman returned without trouble.
"How did it go?" Scout asked. He put all the ingredients in the pot and a pinch of salt before stirring.
"No goblins in the area," the armored guy explained to the point. "I believe we should have checked the nest before coming back."
"I already inspected the area days ago," Marksman said. "Goblins won't ambush us during the night, and after fighting our way out, they won't try to get far from there."
"What make you confident about it?"
"You really as hell-bent on everything, huh?" Buster snorted. "I only did the basics when it comes to hunting Grimm. Goblins didn't seem any different to scum like raiders or criminals. The only issue was understanding whatever the hell that language they spoke."
"Do goblins have their own language?" Scout asked while busy cooking.
"They communicate, yes," Goblin Slayer answered. "However, they don't use words. Goblins can only understand each other based on a set pattern of sounds they produce."
"Ah, don't tell me you can understand what they say." Buster seemed unamused, and much to his chagrin, the armored guy nodded. "You can't be for real!"
"I only memorized a couple of their signals, but goblins tend to mumble or growl, so I cannot hear them well."
"You are a real piece of work."
"What do you mean?"
"Forget it," Buster said with a defeating tone.
"This is quite intriguing." Marksman's interest got the best of him after pulling a notepad and a piece of graphite. "I must admit it. These goblins aren't like other creatures I hunted before."
"You are not serious about taking notes, are you?"
"Of course. It is essential to take notes of every new type of creature and plant we encounter on this continent." The serious sniper continued scribbling. "You wouldn't have the issue remembering all this if you bothered to ask for my notes."
"I never ask since our training days at Atlas Academy because your handwriting is damn atrocious! You and this Scout don't know anything about proper writing!"
"Your handwriting is too simplistic and lacks details."
"At least anyone can understand what I wrote, you stupid Four-Eyes!"
Their squabbling continued for a good while. Priestess and Grimm Slayer began feeling worried that would affect the group's morale. Scout called for the girl's attention and signaled them with a reassuring look.
"Don't worry about them," he said confidently. "This is your regular night. By the time dinner is ready, they will stop eventually."
"Are you sure of that?" Grimm Slayer asked.
"This is nothing new. I mean, if my Bro was here, they would stop arguing sooner than later, but other than that, this is how we roll."
"Doesn't that bother you that they argue all the time?" Priestess was curious. She was no stranger to this situation, especially with her usual party.
"Well, it is kinda noisy, but believe me, there is no other badass party in the Kingdom of Atlas than us!"
The hooded girl doubted that statement since she had never heard of them. Then again, she didn't know many Huntsmen from Atlas personally, aside from Elemental Fencer and String Girl. She was the oddest person Grimm Slayer could ever meet, but also someone sweet and endearing despite her social quirks.
"I wonder how is she doing right now," Grimm Slayer thought. It was a shame String Girl couldn't accompany her after the Vytal Festival got postponed in the Kingdom of Vale. She would be delighted to meet everyone in the Frontier.
Soon after Wall Buster and Desert Marksman calmed, the sun finally went down, and those two moons appeared in the sky. There were stars all around, and it was a sight to behold from where they were camping.
Grimm Slayer still wasn't accustomed to not seeing the shattered moon she always knew back home. That was a sentiment the trio of Huntsmen from Atlas also shared when they stared at the sky for a good while.
"Is everything alright?" Priestess asked while touching the hooded girl's shoulder.
"Huh? Oh, I'm alright, just stargazing."
"You seemed sad."
"It's nothing like that. I'm only thinking about home."
"Do you think about home often?" Goblin Slayer asked, much to Grimm Slayer's and Priestess' surprise. He was busy checking his inventory by lying every item, gear, and weapon on a blanket.
"What?" the hooded girl said.
"Do you think about home often?" he repeated monotonously while looking at Grimm Slayer.
She wasn't sure what to answer, but maybe he was worried despite not showing emotion, or at least apparent enough. It was never easy to tell underneath that helmet.
"Sometimes. I guess recently." The hooded girl began reminiscing a lot. "My home isn't nothing special. Just a little island in the Kingdom of Vale. Aside from Grimm, there isn't anything remarkable about that place. It is peaceful, and my family loves it."
"Is your home in Patch Island?" Dagger Scout asked.
Grimm Slayer seemed shocked that the jovial guy guessed it correctly. "Yeah, how do you know?" she said in bewilderment.
"Just assuming, that's all." Scout looked at the pot, and after opening the lid, the smell reached everyone's noses. It was appetizing. "Hey, hey, dinner is ready!"
Buster handed bowls to everyone after the jovial guy used a ladle to serve the stew with equal measure. The party got their food accompanied by slices of bread.
After the first spoonful of beef stew, Grimm Slayer was amazed by its splendorous and robust flavor. It wasn't just some outdoor meal. It was almost as good as homemade, and both girls savored it every second.
"Uh, how do you do that?" Scout asked Goblin Slayer, who was slowly eating while wearing the helmet.
"I think is better to not ask," the young clergy interjected.
"So, pretty good, ain't it?" Scout said proudly.
"This is incredible!" Priestess complimented.
"What's in this stew? This is different than the ones I ate before!" Grimm Slayer continued devouring the bowl until it was almost empty.
"Just potatoes, carrots, squashes, tomatoes, and good ol' beef! No secrets to this recipe, except taught by the best cooker in the whole Remnant!"
"Who?"
"My Bro's mother'!" Scout explained. "No one but her can make the most addicting food that could surpass the five-star chefs from Mistral! You don't believe me? Ask my partner since he doesn't like eating a lot of things."
The girls turned to Marksman, who was peacefully eating his stew bowl. He seemed confused at everyone's stares.
"I usually eat berries and mixed nuts since heavy meals ruin my concentration while hunting. I would accept anything that I'm offered and never leave anything wasted."
"At least you learned good manners," Wall Buster commented. He got another bowl of stew shortly. "One thing I hate the most is to leave leftovers. One of many things I don't like about the nobles of the Kingdom of Atlas because they are so spoiled that they would discard delicious meals after two bites."
"That is one of the crucial creeds of the Hunter's Code."
"Hunter's Code?" Grimm Slayer asked.
"I'm from a nomadic tribe of hunters in the Kingdom of Vacuo. We only hunt what we need to survive, and we thank the Summer Maiden for the resources we receive."
"Summer Maiden?" Priestess was lost. She and Goblin Slayer found it foreign who they referred about.
"Ah, that's right, you don't know about the Maidens."
"Who are they?" the armored guy asked.
"They are our guardians back at Remnant," Grimm Slayer explained.
"Guardians?"
"Yeah, kinda like the gods you worship on this side of the world," Wall Buster elaborated further. "Each kingdom worships a Maiden associated with them. Vacuo has the Summer Maiden, Mistral has the Spring Maiden, Atlas has the Winter Maiden, and Vale has the Fall Maiden. It is said that they were born by the original gods that created Remnant eons ago, and thus the seasons came to exist too."
"That sounds mysterious," Priestess said in awe.
"Well, at least it was like that initially. As centuries passed, most people stopped worshiping the Maidens, save for a few groups. Instead, the gods from the Frontier got followers in Remnant in most recent years."
"And why it happened?"
"If I must put it simply, you could say people from Remnant found it more beneficial," Desert Marksman explained. "Unlike the gods you are familiar with, the Maiden's Blessing couldn't grant magic. They were more passive in nature."
"For all we know, they are something you find it more in fairy tales," Buster concluded.
Grimm Slayer reflected on the Maidens. She only knew them by the stories she heard during childhood. Not a big believer, but there was comfort nonetheless.
After everyone finished eating and talking, it was time to sleep. The party needed to rest well if they wanted this rescue to succeed. The campfire was warm, so it wouldn't be difficult to get comfortable around it. However, Grimm Slayer noticed Goblin Slayer still wearing his armor.
"Are you still wearing it in your sleep?" she asked.
"Just in case of goblins ambushing us," he answered dully.
"I don't think they would appear in this area."
"Don't underestimate goblins. They are fools but not stupid."
"Whatever you say," Grimm Slayer said. Discussing with the stubborn Adventurer was futile, but she could still respect his dedication. "Good night."
It was early morning, and the sun was barely out. With the bit of light they had in the woods, the party traveled through nature to reach the temple those foul creatures were residing. Sneaking behind bushes and trees was the way. Goblin Slayer guarded everyone's backs during the trip while Dagger Scout guided them.
It was an hour between the camp to their destination.
"There is the place!" the jovial guy said, pointing out from a distance. They could see the large walls and the massive door despite all the trees blocking the full view.
"So, what's the plan?" Grimm Slayer raised her hand.
"Welp, since there are no backdoors or other ways to sneak into the temple, we are storming through the front door," Scout explained. "There are sub-levels in this temple, so we are going underground, and there are a lot of rooms. Luckily, the first level shouldn't be a problem because goblins apparently liked to be on deeper, darker floors."
"How many floors are?" Goblin Slayer asked.
"Three in total," Wall Buster answered. "Those are the ones that will give us crap the moment we step on the second sublevel. We don't know how many were left the last time we escaped, but we expect a long fight unless we get the upper hand."
"How do we that?" Priestess wondered.
"I got the stuff for the job. Expect a lot of fireworks." The big guy gave a rather terrifying smile. Aside from the massive club he was carrying in one hand, it was hard to say what he had for a surprise.
"Everyone ready? Let's go!" On Scout's signal, everyone began to mobilize around the entrance.
They continued hiding behind the bushes and approaching the temple. Basic tactics. But as they looked closer, something got Goblin Slayer's attention.
"Odd. There are no guards." His monotone voice gave a bit of shock after inspecting the area.
"You think they overslept or something?" Grimm Slayer asked.
"I doubt. Goblins always leave one or two keeping an eye for intruders."
"Then, in this case, we are letting ourselves in." Scout stepped out of the bushes and walked towards the door. "Yo, Buster, mind doing the honors?"
"Who are you to boss me around? Step aside!"
Wall Buster walked to the temple's entrance and pushed the massive doors himself. It would require two people or Lizard Priest to open it, but Priestess was amazed by the Adventurer's strength. He didn't have much trouble finally seeing the ancient ruin's interior.
However, a collective gasp left the whole party mortified when the sunlight illuminated the first room.
Desert Marksman removed his glasses and gazed at the gruesome scene.
"Oh my Maidens..."
One little message to my readers. After writing fanfics, and then writing my book, one thing I keep wondering is that I don't how people like this story. I'm not saying that I dislike it, more confused since I can't tell what makes my fic appealing to a lot of people. I just love writing, but I know it has a lot of flaws and I wasn't expecting to get traction after years. I would like to know everyone's thought to have a better understanding. I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter.