-Starting off the day with a CO fic~ Arthur Morgan into the world of Goblin Slayer.They make a hell of a good team!
Sypnosis: ???
Rated: ???
Words: 82K
Posted on: forums.spacebattles.com/threads/the-gunslinger-goblin-slayer-red-dead-redemption-2-xover.705271/#post-52896829 (Mugiwara N0 Luffy)
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Chapter 1-2 (exceptional)
The Gunslinger
Pitch black. That was all Arthur Morgan could see. Surrounding him from all sides, an endless abyss of darkness. He could barely remember what happened. He recalled his last plea with Dutch to see Micah Bell for the sniveling rat he was. He remembered sending John off to his family, telling him to be a man for him. All these memories flooded through his mind, causing him to hyperventilate. Because they all lead to the same conclusion.
I'm dead, ain't I?
Arthur touched his chest with both hands, feeling himself carefully. He rapidly blinked, looking down at his body as he realized something: he no longer felt like his chest was filled with blood. In fact, he didn't feel any pain at all, despite his still rapid breathing. He also realized that he could see his own body, fully clothed strange enough, like it was illuminated even in this dark abyss. He shifted his gaze back up, head swiveling side to side.
"Is this Hell..?" He muttered, taking a careful step forward. While no ground was visible, he still found footing. He looked back up, but was again greeted with darkness.
"Hello?"
Silence. His voice didn't even echo. It was unsettling, to say the least. Though he doubted Hell was meant to be pleasant, anyway.
"This… ain't exactly what I was expectin' from Hell, but…"
"That's because it's not, Mr. Morgan."
Arthur spun around, hand reflexively going for his holster. Of course, despite being clothed, Arthur found his guns were missing. But his attention was directed at the lone voice to answer him. A man who wasn't there before was now seated behind a maple brown desk. He was dressed in an all black suit with a long pipe hat on top of his head. He had a brown handlebar mustache sitting above his lips, and his eyes were focused on some paper he was jotting down on his desk.
"What the hell..?" Arthur muttered, taking cautious steps toward the man. A single light seemed to be beaming down on the stranger like a stagelight at a theatre.
"As I just said, that's not where you are," The man chuckled, a small smirk rising at the edge of his lips. "Come, sit. We have much to discuss."
Arthur looked around again, unsure of what to do. Seeing that there was literally nothing around to do otherwise, he cautiously obeyed, walking up to the single chair sitting in front of the man's desk.
"I uh… I can't say this is what I was expectin' from the afterlife," Arthur humorlessly chuckled, feeling no small sense of fear as he seated himself. "Is this the judgement before I go or somethin'?"
"Oh, no no no, good sir. This is more of a… special case area," The man answered, tapping the tip of his quill in a bottle of ink. "People who the big man upstairs has deemed worthy of… redemption."
Arthur didn't know what to say to that. His eyes drifted down to the empty void below his feet. "I uh… I don't know if God has made a good choice in that regard. I mean, I mighta tried to do somethin' in the end to… to make my exit a bit more dignified, but… I wasn't expectin' it to get me through those pearly gates."
"And they haven't. But, that doesn't mean they haven't give you a second chance," The stranger said with an amused chuckle, setting down his quill and linking his fingers together, giving Morgan a smile that somewhat unsettled him. "No, God has special plans for you. Plans that, if you play your cards right, might get you a ticket to the penthouse. As well as a chance to perhaps live differently than you did."
Arthur narrowed his eyes in disbelief, trying to find the right words to answer back with.
"I… I don't understand…"
"It's not for you to understand. At least not entirely just yet," The stranger explained, leaning back in the leather chair he rested in. "Just know that you'll be able to put those skills to use for something far less unpleasant than before."
"My… skills?" Arthur repeated, his confusion only rising. "T-That… That don't make much sense. I'm a killer and a thief. Ain't much good that can come of those kinda skills... "
"It all depends on what those skills are aimed at, even ones such as yours," The stranger said, wagging his index finger at the veteran cowboy. "Much more good can come from those skills being used pointed in the right direction."
The stranger stood from his seat, crossing his arms behind his back as he strode slowly around the table. "Or… if you feel that new perspective you got at the end of your life was only temporary… You could just continue to use those skills in what ways you've known. Killing people. Robbing the innocent. Of course it means damning your soul again, but it will be your life to choose once given the chance."
Arthur stared at the stranger in disbelief. "Ain't you supposed to be workin' for the big man? Why bother tellin' me that kinda thing if the point's to… give me a chance at Heaven?"
"Oh, I might work for God, Mr. Morgan, but my perspective is a bit more bleak than his," The stranger explained, stopping just a few feet away from Arthur and leaning on the desk. "I'm a big fan of your work, to be honest. All of it. So part of me has to wonder… has that old gunslinging, murdering thief really changed? Or was sitting on my doorstep just making him sentimental?"
Arthur felt his body fill with dread. Whoever this man was, despite his mannerisms, terrified him. He wasn't saying much, but just having him so close was making Arthur's skin crawl.
"Who the hell are you? What the hell are you?"
"I've been called many things, Mr. Morgan. But right now, I'm just the ferryman to your new life," the stranger smiled again, only serving to make Arthur uncomfortable enough to swallow his spit. "But enough about me. Let's get you moving on, shall we?"
Arthur felt his body relax once the stranger removed himself from the table and returned to his side again. "O-Okay then… so what exactly am I gonna be doin'? Reborn as some kid back home again?"
"Oh no, nothing like that. Your role in your world is over. It's time for you to take a journey to another," The stranger explained, picking up another piece of paper and beginning to write again. "Though we will be giving you a few years back. Perhaps around your early twenties, hm? Would that be preferable?"
"Another… another world?" Arthur asked, releasing a small chortle in disbelief, ignoring the last sentence. "The hell you mean?"
"Well, you see Mr. Morgan, there are indeed more worlds than the one you know," The stranger continued, turning a smile up at the cowboy as he continued to write. "Places much like those out of the fairy tales that you used to read with John Marston, I believe. Places full of wonders beyond your imagination."
Arthur looked down in thought, trying to understand what was going on. "So… basically, you're tossin' me into a story book about knights and princesses? Is that what you're tellin' me?"
The stranger laughed, amus.e.m.e.nt evident in his expression. "Something like that I suppose. But as you've discovered about life, not all stories are so glamorous as they seem. Some are quite dark and full of terrors. Terrors you've yet to know or experience. After all, while you've seen what evil men can put forth, you've yet to see what… true evil can be," The stranger licked his thumb, picking up another page and beginning to write again.
"Now what exactly do you mean by that?" Arthur asked, eyes furrowed.
"Ah, now what fun would it be to tell you everything? That's for you to find out. You have much to see and learn about this new world," The stranger chuckled, standing from his seat again. "But worry not. Despite the medieval status of the world, we won't send you there with nothing."
The stranger walked to the left side of the table, tapping the top of it. Without warning, a drawer suddenly pulled out of the table, causing Arthur to stand up with a eyes widened, now seeing a collection of guns sitting inside a large panel. Guns that he had collected before his death.
"You're… gonna give me all my guns?"
"Not all of them. About four will do. But I thought that we might as well give you something familiar to choose from. Go on, take a look," The stranger offered, waving a hand over the guns in presentation. "You can take two handguns and two long guns. About what you would typically carry on foot, right?"
"Yeah… I guess…" Arthur muttered, his hands tracing over the familiar weapons. "But uh… if this place is all knights and dragons or whatever it is, what good will my guns be without ammo?"
"You let me worry about that. Once you've made your choices, I'll give them a little tweak to help you out," The stranger said vaguely. Arthur looked up at him again, wanting to argue. But then again, he doubted that his current host was one who would be so threatened by him. Hell, Arthur was afraid of him in a way.
With that in mind, he returned to his guns. One that caught his attention was Calloway's Schofield revolver. It had been one of his favorite 'trophy' guns after taking it from the drunken gunslinger's body. Its design and strength were nothing to laugh at. He even liked the latin words across the barrel, CANIS CANEM EDIT, which Hosea translated for him as 'Dog Eat Dog'.
With that in mind, Arthur tucked it away to his main holster.
He then looked at his own custom designed cattleman revolver. Looking at it now, Arthur felt a bit silly. He went all out with it, having the barrel threaded and lengthened, the metal shifted to nickel plating and a beautiful carving in the metal. He even had pearl grips installed. A bit flashier than what he was used to using, but Arthur went on a bit of a splurge for this gun. He was dying when he got it customized, after all. He didn't see any use in holding back.
He tucked that one away to his off-hand holster.
He spared a look at his shotguns. They were all fine weapons and useful for close range. Packed a lot of firepower that he could use at close quarters. He grabbed the lever action, fond of its style and the most familiar gun among his shotguns. He slung it over his shoulder, accepting it as his third gun.
He moved to rifles. The Lancaster repeater was tempting. Good at close to medium ranges with 14 rounds. But Arthur was good with his revolvers at even medium range, and often used them in the longer winded fights over the repeater due to the flexibility. So, wanting the maximum range possible, Arthur picked up the Rolling Block rifle. Extremely long barrel, long scope but great stopping power. He'd put down some big game with this bad boy in one shot.
"Well… guess I've made my choices," Arthur announced, slinging it on his shoulder. "Now what?"
"Place them on the table. Each one on its own paper," The stranger instructed, the four sheets that he'd been writing on laid out for Arthur to see. Strange pentagrams were inked across the pages, causing Arthur to hesitate for a moment. "Go on, they won't bite. They're to help, remember?"
"Yeah… okay," Arthur sighed, drawing his handguns and setting them on the papers. Next, he unslung his two shoulder guns and did the same.
"Very good. Now to give them each a tweak," The stranger grabbed a stamp at the end of his desk, pressing it against the edge of each paper. Arthur took a step back as the ink began to illuminate, consuming the guns in a faint green light. After another second, it passed, and the guns now had a small pentagram engraved on the handles.
"What… did you do?" Arthur asked, slowly reaching forward and grabbing his cattleman revolver.
"I solved your ammo problem. Don't worry, you'll figure it out as you go," The stranger chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. "In fact, each gun, as you start to grow and know this new world, will have something a bit special to them. You'll discover those special tricks overtime. So tell me, Mr. Morgan. How are you processing?"
Arthur looked at his gun before looking at the stranger, shaking his head. "Barely. I can't believe where I'm at, who you work for or what's happenin'... I just… I don't know. Guess I didn't know what to expect when I died, but this, all this, was… certainly not it."
"I understand. Many others in your place have had the same reaction. Can't say I blame you," The stranger said, clapping his hands together. "But see it as an opportunity. One not unlike the one you gave to John Marston before departing from him. A chance to live how you see fit with a completely fresh start."
"Y-Yeah… I suppose…" was Arthur's best response, the cowboy tugging on the brim of his hat. "So… anything I should know about this place I'm goin' to?"
"Quite a lot, in fact. But… none of it I'll be telling you," the stranger bluntly put, causing Arthur to look up at him in confusion. "Consider it a part of your trials to come. Learning, adapting, and overcoming what obstacles you'll face. A baptism by fire if you will."
"That don't sound very pleasant…" Arthur mumbled, rubbing a hand against the close shaven hairs on his chin.
"Things might start a bit shaky for you, but I've no doubt you'll step up to the challenge," the stranger said. "One bit of advice though: when you meet someone, don't tell them you're from another world. They'll likely think you're mad."
"Yeah, that sounds about right. I know if some feller walked up to me sayin' that, I'd think the same," Arthur admitted, picking up the rest of his guns and putting them away. "So… what now?"
"Now… Now you go off. Enjoy your second life, Mr. but two things before you go," the stranger placed his index and middle finger against Arthur's temple. "The first being that people don't actually use names for others in this world. Just their titles."
"Titles? Why the hell would they do that?"
"I don't rightly know. But I figured it was only right to tell you to keep that confusion from slowing you down. If I were you, I'd go by… Gunslinger."
"If you say so…" Arthur muttered, unsure of the title. He never considered himself a real gunslinger in any sense. Even if he was good in a gunfight.
"Good. Now, lastly, and this one's important," the stranger's smile faded, replaced with a grave expression.
"Do be careful of goblins. Despite what people might say in that world, they're not so simple a creature as you might expect."
Arthur raised a brow, about to question his meaning. That became difficult when he felt body go limp, suddenly overwhelmed by sleep.
XXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXXX
"What the hell…"
Arthur's eyes peeled open slowly, only to find he was still in darkness. The air felt different though. Musty, in fact. The ground beneath him was no longer nothing, but instead rough earth. The cowboy let out a groan as he rolled onto his side. He pushed off the ground slowly, rising to his feet as he felt around him. He moved several meters from where he had been laid out, his hand finding a rock wall.
A cave then? Arthur reached into his jacket, hoping to find the contents he usually had stashed away in his b.r.e.a.s.t pocket. With some relief, he found a box of matches inside. He quickly struck a match against his boot, giving himself the smallest amount of light to see. Though it wasn't much. Thankfully, just a few feet away, an unlit torch sat in a stand.
"Well that's convenient," He muttered, quickly pulling the torch out and lighting it up. It gave him much more field of vision, Arthur taking a moment to spare a look at his surroundings. It wasn't much though, forward and back both looking as deep and dark as the other.
"Shit… where the hell did he put me?" Arthur grunted, unsure which way to go. He tried to listen for the wind or the sound of rushing water. But he didn't pick up anything. He grit his teeth, hating that he had to pick a way. Getting fed up with standing there, he released a breath and moved forward. He would really like a compass right about now. No that it could tell him which was out, anyway. Arthur moved close along the wall, torch in his left hand while his right rested on his gun.
He could still barely believe that he was alive. He recalled the stranger's words vividly and knew that they were more than just some dream he imagined in his death throes. He felt very much alive right now, even with no illusion as to where he was. It was all so surreal.
I mighta tried to do some good in the end, but… did I really deserve a second chance?
That thought never left his mind. To him, it should have been an obvious answer: of course not. A lifetime of crimes shouldn't have been erased by a few good deeds. Though from the way the stranger talked, it technically hadn't. It only gave him another chance to make up for it.
But what does that mean? How the hell can I do that with what I know?
A pebble kicked in the darkness. Arthur came to a halt and raised the torch. He tilted his head sideways, trying to listen.
"Hello? Is someone there?"
It was faint, but he could hear it. The lightest patter of feet echoing further in the cave. It sounded like a small animal from the size of it, but what worried Arthur was that he could hear multiple feet approach. He instinctively pulled Calloway's revolver from its holster, c.o.c.king the hammer back. He took a step back, raising the gun and aiming forward. As the steps started to close in, Arthur's eyes widened in disbelief. Small pale green figures came out of the darkness. They were short, barely big as little Jack was if not smaller. They had long pointed ears and noses. Despite their small size, Arthur saw their poorly made weapons, spears and small knives in hand.
"What the hell are you ugly bastards..?" Arthur muttered, eyes narrowing as he saw them approach. They stopped some two meters away from him, seemingly watching him. Their breathing was ragged, coming out as low growls. Arthur didn't know if they spoke, but he easily recognized the looks in their eyes. He'd seen it in a few feral predators he'd hunted before. They were hungry.
And they were looking at him.
Arthur saw one take a step closer, its spear raised. His body reacted on instinct, responding by pulling the trigger of the gun in his hand. Black powder smoke filled the cave as it echoed with the first shot. He watched as the little monster's head blew up in a brilliant spout of blood. The others immediately backed away, the eruption of Arthur's gun loud and terrifying to their ears.
"Go on… get back, now. Get back!" Arthur ordered, pointing his gun at the remaining monsters, hand tightening around the grip as he c.o.c.ked the hammer back. Whatever they were, they died from getting shot at least. But Arthur's problem was that there were multiple. And despite his first kill and their hesitant, confused looks, they weren't scattering like rats as he hoped.
They ain't done tryin'. Not yet.
Arthur was trusting his gut on this one. He needed to kill another or so to get his point across. If he could get them to scurry away, he would be satisfied and head in the opposite direction.
But then he heard it. The smallest flick of a bow. A moment later, his left shoulder was pierced by an arrow. A small one that didn't dig too deep, but one painful enough to cause him to drop his torch.
"ARGH!" Arthur cried out in pain, regretting his moment of hesitation after killing the first. These things weren't completely discouraged from pursuing him. He should have killed another.
Fighting through the pain, Arthur gripped his revolver and raised it, seeing that the monsters were now rushing at him. Another bullet flew forward, causing a monster to fly back from the force, dead. Arthur couldn't stop there though, realizing that he still needed to grab his torch. He unloaded another round into the pursuing pack, killing two thankfully with one shot. He grit his teeth as he stretched his left arm forward, grabbing the torch.
But then he noticed it. One of the creatures had snuck around his right through the darkness. He didn't have enough time to stop it, crying out in agony as he felt a knife dig into his thigh. Arthur fell back, dropping the torch again. But before the little monster could try to stab him again, Arthur raised the barrel of his gun and blew a giant hole in its skull. The body flew back against the cave walls, its blood spattering behind it.
Arthur groaned, gripping the knife in his leg and pulling it out with a cry. He didn't have much time to nurse his wound, though. As he tried to pull up to his feet, a couple more of the little monsters were upon him. The adrenaline in his blood seemed to slow time down for him, aiming precisely at each of their heads and giving them a bullet each. Their bodies flew back, heads blasted from their necks.
"You little… bastards…" Arthur coughed, suddenly beginning to feel woozy. He felt the blood on his right calf, seeing a thin film on the tips of his fingers. Shit. I hope that ain't what I think.
Despite his fears, Arthur didn't have time to think on it. He raised his gun again and aimed at another monster. Much to his fear, his gun didn't fire. Out. Shit!
Whatever the stranger did to his guns, it didn't put ammo back in them. Arthur reached for his belt, grabbing the cattleman revolver in his left hand and raising it painfully to shoot. While one of the monsters edged closer, he saw one in the back at the edge of the faint light from his torch pulling back an arrow. He decided that it was the greater threat, quickly putting a bullet through its gut. As the other one edged closer, he reached for his belt again, this time pulling the hunting knife from its sheath.
The little monster was able to jump on his chest, pushing him back on the ground. Arthur grit his teeth as he stabbed the knife right through its stomach, the monster letting out a pathetic cry before he tossed it off. Arthur heaved for breath, lying flat on his back after that other close call. His head was getting light, and he could guess from what.
Shit. I guess all that 'second chance' business was a crock of shit, huh?
He could hear more of the monsters approaching, their small feet smacking against the rough ground.
This was Hell all along, wasn't it?
Arthur pushed off the ground, slowly forcing his arm to raise up and aim at an approaching monster.
Well, it's not like I hadn't done plenty of lyin' in my life. This is probably exactly what I get.
The monster leaped in the air, knife in hand, ready to stab into his chest.
Well, guess I can die fightin'. Again.
Arthur blew the monster's head off, its body flying past him as he rolled out of the way. He raised the gun again, preparing to shoot at the next monster creeping close.
But, as fortune would have it, he didn't need to shoot. Because a knife flew directly between the monster's eyes. Arthur hesitated, stunned by the sudden intrusion.
"One."
Arthur snapped his head back, the voice making him aware of someone else's presence. The monsters had stopped as well, the torch's light slowly bringing the new figure into sight. When Arthur had pictured 'knights' during the stranger's talk, he hadn't imagined this grave set of armor before him. A man strode toward them, looking no taller than Arthur and probably going up to his nose. He wore a steel helmet on top of his head that made it impossible to see his face. He wore a steel chestplate with fur lining the collar, steel shoulders and sections of steel along leather pants and shirt.
"What the hell..?"
Arthur watched as he raised his sword again, startling back as he reflexively pointed his gun. The man's sword had another target though, a monster that had dared to dash at him. He easily cleaved the creature in half, causing Arthur to stare in shock.
"That's two."
"Jesus…" Arthur looked at the remaining monsters, seeing that they were now recoiling back. He used the moment to push himself up, gritting his teeth as his leg wound throbbed with pain.
"Take this." Arthur snapped his head to the armored man, looking to see him holding out a small bottle.
"Uh… thanks… but what's-"
"Your leg wound. Goblins dip their knives in poison."
"O-Oh, shit!" Arthur didn't wait another moment, inhaling the antidote quickly and letting out a grunt of disgust. "Thanks, partner."
"You were lucky. Any later would have been fatal," he said in answer. His voice was deep and his voice apathetic. Still, Arthur felt no less grateful for his help. "The exit's that way. Go."
Arthur looked past the armored man. Of course it's that way. He thought, thinking of his dumb luck to have gone toward the monsters instead of away.
"Thanks. Let's get goin' then," Arthur said, pulling the bandana from his neck and tying it around his cut leg before pulling the arrow out with a pained grunt.
"You go. I'll finish these off."
"What?" Arthur said, looking back at the armored man in confusion before looking at where the goblins had attacked from. They had clearly retreated further in, having left their dead to the worms. "Look pal, they've already run away. You shouldn't risk goin' too deep 'case they set a trap."
"They likely have. I'll make sure to spring it." He answered shortly, beginning to stomp forward again.
Arthur stared at his back in disbelief, watching as the man picked up the torch Arthur dropped earlier and started to use it as his guide. "Don't be a goddamn fool! Those little monsters ain't worth the time!"
"They are. For I am Goblin Slayer," He said back, causing Arthur to narrow his eyes. "And I don't leave any goblins alive."
Arthur recalled something about people's names being their 'titles'. He also remembered the vague warning about goblins as well. Still, Arthur could only hesitate, looking back at the exit as he was tempted to leave.
"Goddamn it!" He cursed, limping after Goblin Slayer. He made sure to pick up his dropped revolver and hat, placing them both firmly in place.
"You're coming?" Goblin Slayer asked, his voice void of concern but with a small bit of curiosity.
"Yeah, I'm comin'," Arthur drawled,holding up his cattleman revolver at the ready. "You helped me out, so… I suppose I should return the favor, at least."
That wasn't the whole reason, of course, but it was true enough. This was the first person (or at least he hoped was a person) that Arthur had come into contact with. He didn't have anyone else to help him get answers. Sticking with Goblin Slayer was probably his best bet.
Goblin Slayer's helmet tilted ever so slightly to look at Arthur, the cowboy looking back into the black of the helmet where he thought eyes might be. Arthur couldn't read the guy at all, but the small nod that his helmet did at least told him that he was fine with him coming.
"Keep an eye out for an ambush. They'll be waiting."
"Got it. You sound like the expert, so I'll follow your lead," Arthur said, keeping his eyes peeled for any movement. At the moment, the cave was still narrow, so he doubted they could get the jump on them just yet.
He didn't speak again as they moved forward, not wanting to distract Goblin Slayer from his task. He simply pulled out Calloway's revolver, clicking his tongue.
Solve my ammo problem my ass… he thought bitterly, knowing he had no ammo on him to refill it with. Still, he opened the gun to pop out the useless casings. Except when the bullet shells should have popped out, they only ejected half way, the chamber beginning to illuminate blue.
Arthur stopped, eyes furrowing in confusion as the chamber suddenly started to spin on its own. One by one, the bullets sunk back into their chambers. Arthur could feel the weight of unused bullets inside the gun again, flipping it closed and holding the custom Schofield up to inspect.
"What the hell was that..?"
"We're drawing closer. Don't lag too far," Goblin slayer called out, bringing Arthur's attention back up to him.
"Y-Yeah… comin'..." Arthur looked back down at his gun again, but kept it in hand as he caught up to the armored man. He was hoping he guessed right about the gun, but was wary enough to carry both in case he was wrong.
"What are those?" Goblin Slayer asked the moment Arthur was close.
"Well uh...know what a gun is?" Arthur asked, hoping to avoid a full explanation.
"No."
"Figures. Well uh… think of it as a… slingshot or a crossbow or somethin'. Except much faster, more powerful and much louder," Arthur suggested, causing his companion to hesitate and look back at him, the smallest tilt of his helmet conveying his wonder. "You'll see. They're strong and'll put 'em down quick."
"I saw. You killed a few. So was that the loud explosion I heard?"
"That's right. They'll pop your ears in a cave like this. I'm just used to the noise myself," Arthur explained.
"I see. The noise probably alerted the rest of their brood. They'll likely have a full party waiting for us."
"Ain't that just dandy…" Arthur huffed, keeping the revolvers in hand. "Keep that light up. The better I can see, the more I'll be able to kill."
"Understood. How much do you know about goblins?"
"Pretty much nothin'. Why?"
"If you see one with a staff, that's a shaman. He'll be able to cast magic and will likely stay behind the rest of his grunts," Goblin Slayer explained, his helmet turning to look back at Arthur. "If you get a clear shot, take it. They're top priority."
"Okay then… look for one with a staff. Got it," Arthur agreed, trying to pick up his advice quick. "Anything else?"
"They may have a hobgoblin or two among them. Much larger than the ones you've seen so far. Stronger and taller than the average man. Kill them first, too."
Guy sure knows his stuff. Guess when that's your 'name', it makes sense.
The two walked some ways before Goblin Slayer held out an arm, stopping them short. "Just ahead. The path begins to open up."
Arthur narrowed his eyes forward, seeing that the walls started to widen. He held up his guns and c.o.c.ked the hammers back. "Got it. I'll keep an eye out."
Goblin Slayer kept his sword in hand, striding forward with the torch in his shield hand. Arthur kept one gun trained forward and the other ready next to it, hoping to check the corners the moment they entered the larger space.
As soon as they stepped further in, Arthur peeked around the corner. Goblin Slayer immediately grabbed his shirt, hauling him forward.
"Hobgoblin!"
Arthur rolled against the ground after being thrown, looking up to realize a large club had smashed the ground they once stood on. "Jesus!" He cursed, the hobgoblin becoming visible thanks to the torch. It was indeed much larger than the other goblins, almost as tall as a bear and as muscular as one.
Arthur sat up, preparing to shoot the much larger monster in the face.
"Archers!"
Arthur snapped his head back, seeing four of the smaller goblins drawing arrows back. "Shit-" Arthur quickly threw his back against the ground, aiming at the four despite the upside view.
That little ammo trick better have worked!
Taking aim, Arthur fired each gun twice each, thankful to hear that Calloway's revolver had truly reloaded after he had opened it up. The goblin archers barely had time to fire, each one eating a bullet straight in the gut, folding over and quickly dying.
Arthur rolled onto his stomach, trying to get a better view of the cave. He looked back at the hobgoblin, thankful to see Goblin Slayer cutting at it with his sword. Despite the monster's size, the armored man was able to chop off its arm without issue, making it release the log of a club it carried.
"Goddamn…" Arthur muttered, watching his companion hack away at the beast. But a small crackle from the end of the cave drew his attention, Arthur looking forward to see a light spark in the darkness. He couldn't make out the figure, but he understood.
Without wasting a moment, Arthur got to one knee, pulling back the hammers of his guns and unloading three shots out. The death cries of the goblin shaman reassured him, watching as whatever magic it was casting fade away with its life. Arthur didn't relax, shifting his aim to two barely visible figures.
An arrow whizzed past his face, but the veteran gunslinger kept his head cool. He pulled both triggers, but found that only one gun fired. Arthur couldn't help but feel like a fool. He might have reloaded Calloway's revolver, but his own had already used two shots in the previous fight. He could hear one cry out in pain but could see the shadow of one adjusting. Arthur made to quickly pop open one of his guns, but stopped when he saw a knife sail through the air, digging right into the remaining goblin.
"That's four."
Arthur looked back at Goblin Slayer. Blood trickled down his blade, the hobgoblin's decapitated head sitting by his metal boots.
"Thanks…" Arthur muttered out in grattitude, pushing off his good leg to stand up as he scanned the cave. "That all of 'em?"
"No. Some scurried back further in once you killed the shaman. Good aim," Goblin Slayer said, Arthur raising a brow at the subtle compliment. "I'm going to finish off the rest."
"Sure," Arthur nodded, pulling both gun's loading chambers open. Like before, the bullets in the Schofield popped out halfway as the chamber spun. The cattleman revolver just spun on its own, glowing with the same blue light until it stopped.
Guess I can't say he lied now…
Arthur closed the guns up, following after Goblin Slayer with a short limp. The wound was fresh but not enough to slow him down too much. Like his companion had said, there were several goblins left, all crowded around a small throne of bones. Arthur narrowed his eyes at the throne, seeing a collection of human bones among it. "Jesus…"
"I'll finish them. Kill any runners," Goblin Slayer said, stalking toward the remaining goblins with blade in hand.
Arthur watched with morbid interest, holstering his offhand gun but keeping his right hand armed in case one escaped. The last of the goblins pointed short spears at Goblin Slayer, each one trembling in fear for their lives.
Their judgement was swift. Goblin Slayer swung his blade forward, cleaving one of the creatures in half at the waist. One attempted to lunge forward with its spear, only to have it deflected by Goblin Slayer's small shield. He cut that one's head off at the neck. The remaining two recoiled, backs hitting the throne as they backpedaled. Goblin Slayer ended them in one swift horizontal swing. The last one dropped its spear and attempted to flea, hoping its small feet could help it dodge Arthur. The cowboy pointed his pistol, but Goblin Slayer didn't let him kill it. Instead, he tossed a hidden knife from his belt, piercing through the goblin's skull. Arthur watched it stagger before falling to the ground, dead.
"That's nine."
"Well… that was somethin'," Arthur muttered, rubbing the scruff on his chin. "I guess we're done, then?"
"Almost," Goblin Slayer said, kicking the bone throne aside. He peeked in a hole hidden in the back. "Hm. They hadn't reproduced yet. Good."
"What were you lookin' for?" Arthur asked curiously.
"Goblin infants. They're sometimes hidden away in places like that," Goblin Slayer explained, flicking the blood off his blade before sheathing it. "None here, though."
"You'd… kill a bunch of their babies?" Arthur asked, eyes furrowing in disbelief.
"Of course. If you have an infestation, you kill it at the source. A.d.u.l.t or infant," Goblin Slayer answered easily enough. "If you don't, they'll carry their grudges into a.d.u.l.thood. They'll learn from the mistakes of their parents. Adapt to future situations. Goblins are not smart, but not completely foolish."
Arthur stood there in silence, watching as Goblin Slayer stepped past him. He took a moment to think about it before nodding. "Well… you know better than I do on the matter. You're probably right to kill 'em all, then."
"Leaving goblins unchecked, even as infants, could mean the destruction of entire villages," Goblin Slayer continued, sparing a small look back at Arthur. "If you ever invade another nest, don't hesitate. Kill them all."
"Alright, I'll keep that in mind," Arthur nodded, seeing the logic in his words. Guy treats 'em like a bunch of pests. Not that they gave me much reason to think different.
"What are you?"
"'Scuse me?" Arthur asked, looking back at Goblin Slayer.
"Did you take a job to eliminate the goblins? Or did wander into one of their traps?" Goblin Slayer asked, causing Arthur to scratch the hairs on his chin.
"I uh… I can't rightly say. I just… woke up here in this cave, I guess."
Guess it ain't a lie, in a way.
"I see. You're lucky, then. You woke up before they could tear you apart," Goblin Slayer said, turning back forward and accepting his word.
"Yeah. Lucky me…" Arthur trailed off. "So… Goblin Slayer, was it?"
"Yes."
Usin' titles for names. Ridiculous. But, not wanting to be rude. Arthur gave his 'name'.
"You can… call me Gunslinger."
To be continued…
Chapter 2
"We're here."
Arthur dismounted his horse, eyes wandering around the town. Goblin Slayer had lead him out of the cave safely and provided him with a 'healing potion' as he had called it. Arthur had no idea what was in there, but it patched up what wounds he had garnered from their encounter with the goblins. Soon after, Goblin Slayer did him the favor of guiding him to his town. Arthur thought it might be harder to get his help in the matter, but the armored man seemed willing and didn't ask any difficult questions. The worst he did was ask if he was an occupant of the local village, which Arthur easily denied.
The former outlaw was thankful that the villagers provided them with horses for travel, as it was a half a day's journey back to Goblin Slayer's town just by horse.
The town was nothing spectacular, though Arthur had to admit he could appreciate how rural it was. It lacked the bustle of a larger city like Saint Denis but was bigger than places like Valentine or Strawberry. Markets and carts littered the streets alongside stone buildings. It served Arthur much better than going into a larger civilization.
They had arrived just around noon. People strolled through the town leisurely, going about their own business. All the while he and Goblin Slayer strode through the entrance to what looked like a tavern from the outside.
"Oh, welcome back!"
Arthur looked forward, seeing a young blond haired woman seated behind a brown wood counter. To Arthur's moderate surprise, she was dressed much like a clerk in a train station or an office. She wore a purple vest over a white dress shirt with a frilly yellow tie.
"Hey," Was Goblin Slayer's greeting.
"How did the mission go?" She asked, giving a radiant smile as the armored man approached her desk.
"Good. The Goblins are dead."
"Of course," She giggled, looking up before widening her eyes at Arthur. "Oh, but who might your guest be?"
"Good afternoon, ma'am. I'm Ar-er, I mean… Gunslinger," Arthur coughed, quickly correcting himself. "I uh… had the good grace of bein' saved by mister Goblin Slayer here."
"Oh, I see! I'm happy to hear that someone was spared their awful abuse," the woman said with honest relief. "Oh, but before I forget, here's your pay for the mission, Goblin Slayer." she said, putting a decently sized pouch on the table.
Goblin Slayer took the sack and poured out almost half its contents into his palm, a few silver and gold coins falling out. He turned to Arthur and held out his hand.
"Here. Your cut."
Arthur and the clerk stared at Goblin Slayer, surprised by the offer.
"Y-You sure?" Arthur asked with some disbelief.
"Yes. You killed a fair amount of goblins before I arrived as well as a good number when we finished them off. You earned it," Goblin Slayer pointed out. Arthur hesitated for only a moment longer before grabbing his satchel, holding it open for Goblin Slayer to put it in.
"If you insist. Thank you," Arthur said, genuinely grateful for the money. Not like I had anything to begin with. This might be a good start.
"Oh, so you helped kill the goblins as well? Are you an adventurer?" The woman asked curiously.
"Well… more of a wanderer than an adventurer, I 'spose. I just… happened to end up before runnin' into this feller," Arthur explained, looking at the stoic adventurer next to him.
"I see… well, I truly appreciate your help in killing the goblins. Goblin Slayer is always in a party of one considering most people leave those kind of jobs to him. No one likes to deal with goblins after all," the woman sighed, shaking her head in disappointment. "But anyways, if you need anything, feel free to ask me. You can call me Guild Girl."
"I will be sure to remember that," Arthur nodded, tipping his hat in thanks.
"Any goblin quests?" Goblin Slayer suddenly asked, causing the two to blink.
"A-Already?! But you just got back…" Guild Girl mumbled, a small frown spreading across her lips.
"He made the quest easy," Goblin Slayer said, his helmet turning ever so slightly to regard Arthur. "I didn't do a lot. I can do another."
Cuttin' a bunch of those critters in half 'ain't doin' much'? Arthur mused to himself, rubbing the short hairs on his chin.
"Well… if you say so…" Guild Girl sighed, picking up several papers and flipping through them. "Actually, yes. There is another quest in a nearby town. It's a small nest from the look of it, but since you just finished with one quest, I'm not letting you do anything more difficult!"
Arthur raised a brow, sparing a small look at Guild Girl. From the tone of her voice and the way she regarded him, she was genuinely concerned. If he had to guess, they were friends or closer. Considerin' how this guy is though, I doubt it's that close. At least on his end.
"Okay," Was Goblin Slayer's short answer. Guild Girl smiled, quickly holding the paper out for him to take.
"Alright then, be careful on your mission! Oh, but about your paperwork…"
"I'll fill it out once I get back."
"Fine, fine~," Guild Girl sighed before bowing. "Do take care out there. Okay?"
"Yeah."
With that, Goblin Slayer turned back around. He spared Arthur a small look. With a short nod, he bid him goodbye. Arthur did the same in return, watching him as he left. As the doors left, he heard Guild Girl release a breath.
"What will I do with him…"
"Man's a regular dandy and a charmer, huh?" Arthur chuckled, causing Guild Girl to let out a small giggle.
"Y-Yes, I… suppose that he has his moments," a small tint of red dusted her cheeks. Arthur smirked, now fully convinced that the girl was rather smitten with the stoic adventure. Still, he made no mention of it, turning around and leaning back on the desk.
"So… what is this place, anyhow? Some sorta bounty station?" Arthur asked, crossing his arms as he scanned the hall. There were quite a few people scattered throughout the guild. Many were dressed in old armor and mail. To see so many people so casually strutting around in the heavy metal armor was a bit of a sight. Then again, I'm sure I'm the one who looks strange in their eyes right now…
"Oh, you don't know, sir? This is an adventurer's guild!" Guild Girl explained, bringing Arthur's attention back to her. "Many different people come here seeking out fame and glory by taking on odd jobs for towns. It ranges from handling small threats like large insects and rodents to clearing out goblin hordes to even slaying dragons!" Arthur snapped his head back in shock at the last possibility. "Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't know! Goblin Slayer is a silver ranked adventure in fact. Didn't you see the tag hanging from his neck?"
Arthur vaguely recalled seeing something dangling from Goblin Slayer's neck. But among the leather and steel plated armor, that seemed a small detail.
"I see… well, miss Guild Girl, I do have somethin' to admit," Arthur said, turning around to face her and lean on the oak desk. "Whatever… happened to me before wakin' up in that cave, it uh… sorta gave me amnesia. I barely remember a thing aside from my name and a few smaller things."
Guild Girl inhaled a breath, putting her hands to her mouth. "Oh, that's terrible! I wonder if you suffered from the effects of a spell or curse?"
"You know, I haven't the foggiest idea. And I was hopin' that someone could fill me in on… well, everythin' really. It wouldn't be wrong to say that I understand very little of what I've seen so far. Hell, I didn't even know what a goblin was until it tried to kill me."
Guild Girl nodded in understanding, looking down in thought. "I see… well, how about this? Why don't you stick around for a few hour and wait for me to get off my shift? You can relax in the bar or stroll around town if you like. Once I'm done, I'd be happy to help give you what information you need."
Arthur raised a brow, not expecting the generous offer from Guild Girl herself. "You sure? I mean, I truly appreciate it, I really do, but there's a lot I don't know right now."
"Of course, I would be happy to. Consider it payment for helping Goblin Slayer finish his previous task so quickly," Guild Girl explained, giving a kind smile. "He's tough of course, but he really pushes himself hard. It's nice to know that he didn't have to handle one of his quests alone for once."
This girl is truly smitten, Arthur thought, gave a small smirk. "Well, alright. If you really wouldn't mind, I would most surely appreciate it. Still, I feel I should pay you back for your time at least…"
"Oh, it's really no trouble at all," Guild Girl dismissed before a sudden thought occurred to her. "Wait, actually… there is one way you can pay me back. Just help me fill out the report regarding Goblin Slayer's mission and we'll call it square!"
"Well, if that's all, then I would not mind in the slightest, miss. Though with how you talk about it, I'm guessin' he's not one to fill out his reports too much."
"Oh, he'll do the reports when I ask, just not always in a timely manner," Guild Girl sheepishly rubbed her head.
"I understand. Man likes to keep busy," Arthur chuckled, nodding in acceptance. "But alright then. If you need it now, we can go over the details."
After spending some time describing the chain of events in the cave to Guild Girl, Arthur migrated to the bar. While he was interested in exploring the town, he didn't want to stray too far from the guild and get lost. He stood at the bar, placing a silver coin on the counter.
"A beer, please. And food if you got it." He tossed another silver coin on the table for tip.
"Mighty generous. Comin' right up," The bartender said, taking both coins with a smile.
I'll have to ask her how the money here works. Arthur said, peeking back into his satchel to look at the amount he had left.
The bartender set a bottle of beer in front of him before tending to another customer. Arthur took a short swig, letting out an approving grunt. "Not bad… here I'd thought it'd be pig swill…"
"Right? I thought the same the first time I tried it."
Arthur turned to his right to see a young man leaning against the bar next to him. He sported fancy blue armor on his shoulders and arms, the metal looking far nicer than what Goblin Slayer wore. He set a long spear against the bar to his right. He had spiked peach hair on top of his head with a long ponytail that went down his back.
"I'll take a beer as well," He said, earning a nod from the bartender before he set a bottle up for him. The stranger took a swig from his bottle, letting out a satisfied breath as he set it back down. "That's some good stuff. So, you a new adventurer?"
"Not really. More of a… wanderer, I guess," Arthur said, peering at the man curiously. "I just happened to get save by one, is all."
"I see. Sounds like you've had it rough, pal," The man nodded, sipping from his bottle. "Still, you look pretty tough. Even if you don't really dress like an adventurer. Kinda reminds me of a farmer, but… nicer, I guess?"
"I suppose I'll take that as a compliment," Arthur chuckled, holding his bottle out to the man. "Gunslinger."
"Spearman. Silver ranked adventurer and Strongest on the Frontier!" The man introduced himself with a proud grin, clanking his bottle against Arthur's.
One of those guys, huh? Arthur thought with some amus.e.m.e.nt, the man's confidence reminding him a bit of Sean. "'Strongest', huh? That's a mighty big boast. You sure about that?"
"Heh! Don't underestimate me, now. It takes a lot to become a silver ranked adventurer in case you didn't know."
"I don't, actually," Arthur chuckled, sipping from his bottle as the loudmouth next to him flinched. "So then, how do you compare to that feller Goblin Slayer?"
"Eh? Goblin Slayer?" Spearman grunted with indignance. "How do you know that weirdo?"
"'Weirdo'?" Arthur repeated, turning back to Spearman. "He's quiet I 'spose, but he did save my life. Didn't seem too strange to me."
"Yeah, right. That guy's obsessed with goblins," Spearman groaned, leaning back on the bar. "As someone at silver rank, he should normally be taking quests to kill stuff like dragons or demons. But he spends all of his time hunting goblins! I know it's his name, but there's a lot more to the world than hunting those weak vermin."
"They were definitely weak, but they seemed dangerous enough," Arthur shrugged, finishing off his beer. "Killin' one wasn't much of a problem, but the little bastards travel in a big pack."
"I guess, but I'm talking about how much Goblin Slayer hunts those things. Which is always. He doesn't take any missions that don't involve goblins. Plus he's always walking around with that smelly, cheap armor he's always touting. Guy shoulda moved onto somethin' else by now."
"So that's what I was smellin' on the way back…" Arthur chuckled under his breath. "Still, this sounds a mite bit personal if you ask me. You sure that's all there is to it?"
Spearman visibly winced, almost as if being caught, before clicking his tongue. "I-I don't know what you're talking about. The guy's just weird…"
"Heh. Sure you don't," Arthur smirked, leaning forward on the bar as his food arrived.
"'Gunslinger', huh?" Spearman said, raising a brow curiously, his eyes drifting to the weapons strapped to Arthur's shoulders and hip. "What's-"
"Spearman."
An alluring feminine voice drew their attention away from each other, looking up to see a woman approach. She was a beautiful young woman, likely in her twenties. She had long flowing purple hair that went down her back with piercing hazel eyes. Her skin was fair and beautiful, a small but cute mole sitting at the edge of her cheek. She wore a black shoulderless dress that left nothing to the imagination when it came to her… figure. Something that Arthur hadn't seen in a woman since Karen.
"Yo. About done with your errands?" Spearman asked, picking his spear up and leaning it on his shoulder.
"Yes, I am… ready to go…" She said, her mannerism one that Arthur had never heard before. Her eyes drifted to Arthur, a small but pleasant smile crossing her lips. "Oh, but… who might… this handsome man... be?"
"A drinking buddy I just made," Spearman chuckled, sparing a look back at Arthur.
"Good to meet you, miss," Arthur said, tipping his hat in greeting. "Gunslinger."
"I am known… as Witch…" She said, touching her chin curiously. "Gunslinger… interesting… I've never heard a… name like that."
"Right? Makes me curious about those things he's totin' around," Spearman said, sparing a glance at Arthur's arsenal again. "But anyway, we should get going. We've got a ways to go, don't we?"
"Yes, we do…"
"Alright. Well, it was nice chatting with you, Gunslinger. Maybe I'll see you when I get back," Spearman smiled, giving him a small salute.
"Perhaps you shall," Arthur said, not sure where else he might be later on, anyways.
"It was… nice to meet you… Gunslinger," Witch said, giving him a suggestive wink before turning to leave with Spearman. Arthur watched the two leave for a moment before letting out a small chuckle.
"This place is just full of characters, ain't it?"
XXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXXXX
Arthur rubbed his face in exhaustion, closing a heavy book on his lap. As promised, Guild Girl had met with him after her shift. She then began to educate him about this world. It wasn't a lie to say that it had overwhelmed Arthur quite a bit. The cowboy knew the world was very different from what he knew, but he hadn't realized how much.
When people talked about race back home, they were only referring to skin color which made little to no difference to Arthur. But here, there were a lot of different races to know about. Elves, Dwarves, Lizardmen. That wasn't the end of the list, but they were the most prominent of the races to roam the land.
And that was only accounting for the the 'peaceful' races. Monsters of all types existed in this land. Things Arthur really would have liked to stay in a fairy tale. All things that liked to mess with small villages and towns for one reason or another. Guild Girl was kind enough to provide him with a book pertaining to the general information of said monsters and races. Though reading through it was becoming a chore as well.
She didn't give much detail on the history of the world, only speaking of some Demon Lord that had been defeated a few times before but was supposedly regaining his strength somewhere. It was all very convoluted in Arthur's opinion, but he didn't mention that. He could only sit there and learn. Or at least try to.
This is a whole lot stranger than I guessed. Arthur tiredly mused to himself, leaning back in the throne chair he had been stuck in for several hours. It was getting late into the night and Guild Girl had left some time ago.
His eyes drifted to the iron keys sitting on a candle lit desk just some ways away, a porcelain tag sitting next to it.
"Do you have a place to stay the night?"
"N-No, not rightly, I 'spose… is there an inn around here?"
"There is, but I'd hate for you to spend all of your money at once… Oh! I have an idea!"
Arthur wasn't sure how it happened, but he was now an official 'adventurer'. While he had nothing against the idea, it had happened so quickly that it was almost unreal. Thanks to that though, Guild Girl was able to provide him with temporary rooming at the guild. She used the basis of helping Goblin Slayer as grounds for allowing an immediate allowance into the guild. This also gave him a means to make money. If anything, this was truly the best outcome he could have hoped for.
Arthur stood from the chair, rolling his shoulders out and groaning tiredly. He moved to the vanity mirror by the fireplace, taking another look at his face. What the Stranger had said about 'taking a few years off' had flown over Arthur's head the first time around. But seeing his deaged face, he now understood. He looked ten years younger than he was back home. The age and cracks in his face were gone, and he was a bit slimmer in the face. While he had seen his face earlier, it still felt bizarre to look at this young face again after what looked like ten years.
What am I even doin' here?
Arthur pushed off the table and moved to the bed. That question had slipped to the forefront of his mind more than once. Despite whatever the Stranger had told him before sending him to this world, Arthur still had no clue what exactly he was expected to do. From the way the Stranger put it, in fact, he was free to approach this world in whatever way he saw fit.
I feel like the wrong man to be givin' that freedom to.
He kicked off his boots, putting his legs up and resting his back into the feather bed.
Am I supposed to be an adventurer? Is that it?
Arthur thought of all the monsters that were described by Guild Girl and the book. As powerful as his guns were, he wasn't sure if they were fit for taking on everything listed. He doubted that he could just plug the Demon Lord full of holes and expect that to be that. So if he wasn't here to be some big hero, what was his purpose?
Arthur sighed, massaging his eyes as he felt sleep begin to take him.
Guess I'll just… deal with it as I go.
XXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXXXX
"Alright, everyone! I'm officially posting the quests we have for today!"
Arthur watched as an uproar of cheers echoed through the hall, blown away by the amount of excitement dripping from the adventurers. He hadn't seen a group of people so excited to work in all his years. Bill used to describe soldiers getting hyped up in such a way, calling the lot a 'bunch of damned fools' to be wanting to rush back into death like that. Not that Bill was one to talk on that matter of fools.
Arthur was in no rush, though. He waited patiently for the lines to shorten. He produced a cigarette that so happened to be stuffed in his satchel, striking one of the few matches he had left and lighting it up. Part of him wondered just when he would run out of both items, but neither seemed like a great concern at the moment.
As the crowd stagnated, Arthur took the chance to step up to the board of jobs. Despite the massive amount of people earlier, there were still plenty of quests left up to pursue. Though Arthur soon realized his mistake.
"Damn it… most of those folk were porcelain ranked," He grumbled, realizing how few were actually left for him to take. Examining those closely, he could see why they were left behind. Some were just basic handy jobs with little to no actual action. Arthur knew he shouldn't be picky, but he wasn't going to get piss pay for shoveling pig shit.
Arthur's gaze trailed to other jobs. Ones labeled for higher ranked adventures like obsidian, ruby, sapphire, bronze and more. Guild Girl had explained the ranking system and how many different ranks there were in total. Arthur had to wonder why they would need so many, but hesitated to comment on it due to still knowing so little about the world.
His eyes moved from the board to Guild Girl, the clerk taking a small breather after having dealt with a good number of adventurers.
"Mornin', miss," Arthur called out, moving to speak with the clerk.
"Oh, good morning, mister Gunslinger! How was your room?" She asked with gentle smile.
"It was quite fine, thank you again for your help with that."
"Of course. I was happy to help. Thank you for giving me such detail as to what happened with the mission you and Goblin Slayer worked together on," Guild Girl nodded. "So, is there something I can do for you?"
"Yeah, I… uh… I hate to ask, but… even though I'm porcelain ranked, can I take higher level jobs?"
"I'm sorry, but we can't allow that. Not unless you're grouped together with a higher ranked adventurer," Guild Girl explained, earning a small sigh from Arthur. "I know some of the jobs posted are rather menial, but it's for the safety of new adventurers. We don't want to throw a new group of kids into the lion's den right off the bat. Though even some of the porcelain ranked missions end up that way, anyways."
"They do? How you mean?" Arthur asked curiously. Guild Girl frowned, looking up at the jobs board.
"Well… certain monsters and beasts are treated as smaller problems. Enough to the point that some of them are seen as fit for being dealt with by porcelain ranks. That would include goblins," Arthur raised a brow at that. "It might sound strange, but it's true. Because individual goblins are so weak, they're treated as small threats. But… the system doesn't account for the fact that they alway travel in hordes and often have numbers in the dozens. Not to mention the special goblins. Don't get me wrong, in some cases, the nest of goblins is small enough to not be a threat, but..."
"That ain't always the case. So basically, the system decidin' what kinda threat they are is broken," Arthur put it bluntly, with Guild Girl silently nodding. "Ain't that just dandy… how many new folk you lose to missions like that?"
"... more than I'd like to admit."
Guild Girl frowned, looking down at her hands with regret. The cowboy struggled to find a comforting word for the clerk. He looked back at the board. He saw several porcelain ranked missions revolving around goblins sitting on there.
"Even though… others like to look down on him for it," Arthur peered back at Guild Girl, a gentle smile on her lips. "Goblin Slayer is doing a great service by taking those kind of jobs. Most higher ranked adventurers will leave them alone, seeing them as pests rather than threats. But goblins have devastated a lot of villages in their wake. So… I'm really happy that we have someone like Goblin Slayer around."
Arthur stared at Guild Girl, her admiration for him becoming more apparent by the second. Arthur couldn't stop a laugh, drawing her attention back to him. "I-I'm sorry, but… I don't think I seen a young lady so infatuated in some time."
Except for maybe that Braithwaite girl.
"E-Eh?! I-I-"
The guild doors swung open, causing the two to pause and look back. Like magic, the topic of conversation made his appearance.
"G-Goblin Slayer!" Guild Girl exclaimed before she could help herself, cheeks dusted red. "Y-You're back. How did the quest go?"
"They're all dead. I finished last night and went home. I filled out the report, too," Goblin Slayer said shortly, handing a small parchment to Guild Girl.
"O-Oh, thank you! I'll go get your reward then," Guild Girl said, jogging to the back room.
Goblin Slayer turned slightly, looking at Arthur and giving a small nod. "You're here."
"So it would seem," Arthur nodded. "Guild Girl helped me out quite a lot. Made me an adventurer and all."
"I see."
"Yeah, things've been… goin' strangely good. Thanks again, partner."
"Yeah."
Arthur waited for something more but never got it. He let out a small laugh.
"You're not the greatest conversationalist, are you?"
"No. Sorry."
"Well, we all have our hang ups…" Arthur trailed off, scratching the hairs on his chin. Guild Girl soon came back, placing a bag of coins on the table.
"Thank you as always for your hard work, Goblin Slayer," Guild Girl said with an appreciative smile.
"Yeah. Are there any goblin quests today?"
"Yeah, a couple, but… there's one I think you should look at," Guild Girl said, drawing Arthur's attention to her in interest. She flipped through some of the papers on her desk, picking one out and putting it in front of the stoic adventurer.
"It's a ruby ranked quest. We got it last night and I saw it this morning when I came in. It's a big emergency call for help for a village that found goblin tracks outside the village in the night."
"I see. The goblins are preparing to raid the village, then," Goblin Slayer said, Guild Girl giving a solemn nod. "Do they have an idea on how many?"
"N-Not entirely, only that an attack is imminent They guessed at thirty, maybe forty. It could be more though. I… I wasn't sure about this, but apparently… a few girls have already been kidnapped," Guild Girl explained. "If you leave within an hour or two, you'll be able to get to the village before nightfall. Maybe you'll get more information before the goblins strike."
"I see. I'll do it, then."
"So that's that, huh? You're just gonna… go and kill thirty to forty goblins? Just like that?" Arthur asked, raising a brow in mild disbelief.
"Yeah." He answered without hesitation. "It's not many more than what we slew in that cave. Though if they're preparing for a raid, they will likely have more than what the villagers suspect."
"Just peachy…" Arthur sighed, rubbing the hairs on his chin.
"I have to go prepare," Goblin Slayer said, helmet shifting to Guild Girl.
"O-Okay. Be safe…" She answered, worry coloring her eyes. Arthur looked back up at Goblin Slayer, the stoic adventurer sparing him a short look before turning around and beginning to leave.
Well… I gotta start somewhere.
"Hey," Guild Girl looked back up at Arthur reluctantly. "This quest pay well?"
"Huh?" Guild Girl blinked before looking down at the paper. "Y-Yes, quite a few gold coins. B-But why…"
"Gotta make some money, don't I?" Arthur reasoned before looking back at Goblin Slayer. "Mind if I join you?"
"Eh?" Guild Girl yelped in surprise, blinking. "B-But Gunslinger, that's..."
"Look, I'd rather get a start workin' with someone who knows what they're doin'. Who better, really?"
"No."
Their heads snapped forward, looking at Goblin Slayer in disbelief.
"What? Why the hell not?" Arthur asked in confusion.
"Your guns. They're too loud," Goblin Slayer said plainly, causing Arthur to look down at the weapons in question. "They're powerful and good for a straight fight. But with the numbers involved, we'll need a quiet approach. We can't go loud until we've eliminated a good portion of them."
Arthur could see the logic behind his words. "Well, I can't rightly argue that point… but lucky for you, I can use a few things other than my guns. Plenty of stuff for the silent approach."
"Like?"
"I'll need to buy some things, but I can throw knives easy enough. I know how to use a bow and arrow. Don't know how to use a sword, but I can manage with somethin' like a knife or axe up close."
Goblin Slayer stared at him silently, his thoughts unreadable with his helmet blocking his face. He then reached for his belt, pulling out one of the knives he had stashed within it and holding it out.
"Show me."
Arthur understood, taking the knife and turning to the wall opposite of them. He flipped it around in his hand, grabbing the blade before throwing it with expert precision, the knife digging into the wood by the front entrance. Guild Girl let out a small peep in surprise, causing Arthur to look back at her.
"Uh… sorry about the wall," He then looked back at Goblin Slayer. "So we goin'?"
"... Yeah."
XXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXXXX
Arthur followed Goblin Slayer inside a metal shop. The cowboy spared a look around, old weapons and armor littering the walls. Just ahead of them a stout bearded man worked away on a sword, sparks flying as he pressed the blade into a smoother.
"You again. What's it this time?" The blacksmith huffed, pulling the blade away from the grinding stone as he moved to the counter.
"I need a few things."
"Of course you do. And what-" The blacksmith stopped when he noticed Arthur, the cowboy looking at him patiently. "The hell're you?"
"Just a concerned fool that's partnerin' up with him to kill some goblins," Arthur said, walking up alongside Goblin Slayer. "Need some throwin' knives. A bow and a quiver full of arrows too, if you got 'em."
"Course I got 'em! What do you take me for?!" The smith grunted, motioning toward the far corner of the room. "If you don't want anythin' fancy, you'll find both over there."
"Got it. Thanks," Arthur moved to grab what he could.
"You should get some armor, too," Goblin Slayer said, Arthur hesitating for a moment to consider it.
"... Naw, I'm alright. I need to be able to move around and swing my arms freely," Arthur shook his head. "I ain't ever wore armor neither so it'd throw me off."
"How about some chainmail, then?" The smith suggested, drawing Arthur's attention back. "If you're too much of a maid for armor, at least that stuff will keep you from gettin' stabbed. It'll stop goblin arrows and spears, considering their shoddy craftsmanship. Won't help much against a hobgoblin or magic, though."
"Well… some protection is better than nothin'. I'll take some," Arthur agreed.
"How about a helmet as well? Somethin' to replace that funny hat of yours."
"Funny?!" Arthur replied indignantly before scoffing. "Whatever. I wouldn't do that anyway. I need the field of vision and freedom to move my head. Otherwise I won't be able to use these things that great," He said, drawing his revolver.
"I see," Goblin Slayer nodded in understanding.
"Hold up, lemme see that," The smith said. "That's a strange little weapon yer carryin'."
"Sorry, but I ain't handin' these over. Might accidentally shoot someone's eye out," Arthur said, causing the blacksmith to frown.
"It's deadly. I've seen him use it," Goblin Slayer added.
"Bah, fine! Brats…" The smith grumbled, turning back around. He hesitated for a moment before looking at Arthur again. "If yer not gonna ditch the hat, the least I could do is fit it with a metal cap. It won't completely absorb a hit to the head, but it'll make things like rocks bounce off at least. Dependin' on where they hit ya, of course."
"Rocks?"
"Goblins hurl rocks with slingshots," said Goblin Slayer. "If you're not going to wear a helmet, that would be a decent alternative."
"Hm… okay. Let's do it then," Arthur said, placing his hat on the table.
With the coins he had left, Arthur purchased a shirt of chain mail that went under his blue striped shirt and some mail under his pants. It wasn't super constricting or heavy, though the cowboy knew he'd have to get used to walking around with it on. His hat was noticeably heavier now thanks to the cap inside it, but was laced with leather on the inside to keep it comfortable.
"Welp… I got most of what I need. Anything else?" Arthur asked, wrapping the wooden bow around his shoulder. He was running out of room to carry things, but would stash one of his guns away on the horse given to him by the village once they left.
"A close range weapon." Goblin Slayer pointed out.
"Ah, right… let's see…" Arthur gave it some thought. At close range, he couldn't picture himself swinging around a sword. He guessed that some skill was involved rather than just hacking and slashing. With that in mind, he figured out his next best option:
"Got any hatchets? I need somethin' that'll cut good but is light in hand in case I need to throw it."
"Ho~. A hatchet's a good choice, boy." The blacksmith dug under his desk, pulling out a reasonably sized short handled axe that looked similar to a tomahawk, though it lacked their peace pipe and design. "That work?"
"That works just fine, mister," Arthur nodded, picking it up and feeling the grip. It was smoothed out and easy to hold, a leather strip wrapped around the handle. "I think that's about all I need."
"I have several antidotes for the poison should one of us be stabbed. Let's go." Goblin Slayer said, turning around and taking his leave, a leather bundle under his arm containing the cheap weapons he had picked out and purchased for himself.
"Thank you for the service, old timer," Arthur said, tipping his hat to the blacksmith before walking after his partner. The elderly man watched them leave before grumbling to himself.
"Strange fellow. Though if he's teamin' up with that boy, I suppose it makes sense…"
"We headin' out now?" Arthur asked as he stepped up to his horse, stuffing the Rolling Block rifle and lever action shotgun into its saddle.
"I need to speak with an alchemist. I have one more thing to buy."
"Okay…" Arthur muttered, unsure what an alchemist was but deciding not to push it. "What you need, exactly?"
"Gasoline."
"Gas? You have that here?" Arthur asked, brow raising in confusion. Gas wasn't discovered until the 1600's if what Hosea had told him was true. Definitely nowhere near the times of knights.
"No. The alchemist makes it for me," Was his answer. "It's expensive, but effective."
"Alright… whatcha need it for?"
"Setting goblins on fire."
"I don't know why I even asked…" Arthur trailed off before pausing. "How much you gettin'?"
"A flask or two of it." said the stoic adventurer.
"That's it? The hell're you gonna do with so little?"
"Douse a hobgoblin with it and roll it into other goblins. I can't afford more than that."
"Then you're approachin' this all wrong, buddy," Goblin Slayer stopped, looking back at Arthur in confusion. "You don't need to waste money on somethin' like gas. Go cheaper and spend it on somethin' like liquor."
"Liquor?" Goblin Slayer's helmet tilted ever so slightly in question.
"That's right. We just gotta get some strong spirits or whiskey. Got one of those?"
"... I don't know what whiskey is. But we can purchase spirits at a general store."
"Perfect. Show me where one is and I'll handle the rest," Arthur said. Goblin Slayer stared for a long moment in thought before giving a small nod.
"Okay."
XXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXXXX
The orange sun was beginning to set. Two goblins stationed outside a cave eagerly tapped their spears on the ground, both anticipating the upcoming raid. Thoughts of the fun they would soon enjoy passed through their minds. Their mouths lathered with spit, hunger and l.u.s.t dripping from them. They had spotted several fat men and appetizing children in the village during their scouting trip. Not to mention many desirable females ripe for the taking.
The few women they had captured in the night were still being passed around inside the cave, leaving the goblin guards to resent their exclusion from the fun. But that would soon end once they commenced their attack. Once dusk was upon them, drums would echo and torches would illuminate the dark night. And a village would soon burn to the ground.
So consumed in their thoughts, neither noticed the small rustling in the bushes just ahead of them. And before they could react, two arrows flew through the air. Their bodies fell back into the stone wall of the cave entrance. Neither goblin had even a moment to call for help as they fell dead on the ground.
"That's two," Goblin Slayer said, he and Arthur rising from the foliage and slowly approaching the cave.
"Only a few dozen more to go," Arthur mumbled, putting the bow on his shoulder. "Okay, next step. Gotta draw 'em out."
"Goblins carry horns in case of intruders," Goblin Slayer said, pulling a hollow ram horn from the hip of one of the fallen goblins. "We can draw a good number out by sounding it."
"Perfect. Let's see…" Arthur peered around them. There were a few rocks large enough to hide behind, much to Arthur's pleasure. "Okay. Let's put their bodies a little more forward. Once we sound the horn and they come runnin' out, you give the signal to start. You'll know when just enough of 'em have come out, right?"
"Yeah."
"Alright then. Let's get this done," Arthur dragged one of the goblin corpses a few meters ahead of the cave, Goblin Slayer doing the same. They jogged back to their hiding spots on opposite sides of the out from behind, Arthur gave a nod. Goblin Slayer put the horn under his visor, pulling out the armor at the bottom before blowing hard.
The horn's tune was deep and loud. Arthur had no doubt that the entire nest heard the call. He patiently waited, pulling a bottle out from his jacket. Using one of his few remaining matches, Arthur lit the end of a cloth sticking out of a decent sized spirit. Goblin Slayer seemed to manage with a flint on his side.
Growls echoed from the cave, Arthur peering around the edge as he waited for them to get closer. A flood of goblins trotted out of the cave, each one snarling in confusion and anger as they stepped forward. Arthur counted at least fifteen to twenty of them.
They saw their kin's dead bodies, approaching them cautiously. Looking up at Goblin Slayer's spot, the stoic adventure gave a nod of confirmation. Nodding back, they both stepped out.
Raising the bottles in their hands, Arthur and Goblin Slayer flung them with great force. Each bottle flew at the middle of bundled up goblins, the bottles exploding into a brilliant burst of flame.
The result was perfect. The hot glass and alcohol rained down on them. The goblin let out piercing wails of pain, fire spreading across each and every one of them. Arthur drew his hatchet, slowly approaching the crowd with Goblin Slayer doing the same on his side. While a good number of them were being consumed by the fire, some were less affected, scrambling around as they tried to put out the fires that were burning on their arms or clothes.
One goblin found its head split in half as Arthur chopped down with the hatchet. He had to approve of the blacksmith's work, his axe much sharper than he realized. He watched Goblin Slayer decapitate another with one swift swing. The fire was doing its job, reducing their work to crowd control.
The smell that rose from the fire filled Arthur's senses, the cowboy wrinkling his nose as burnt goblin flesh fouling the air he breathed.
"That was effective," Goblin Slayer said, walking over to Arthur. "Good idea."
"'Course. Just remember that alcohol burns good enough for what you want," Arthur nodded, putting the axe back at his side. "You count exactly how many we got?"
"Twenty three in total so far," Goblin Slayer said. "Not too many goblins should be left."
"Good. We goin' in or gonna try and lure 'em out?"
"We'll go in. The fire is visible from inside. They won't have anymore come out if a shaman is among them," Goblin Slayer explained, pulling an unlit torch out and using a burning corpse to light it.
"Yeah, makes sense. I'm sure they'll be waitin' for us now, too," Arthur sighed, unwrapping the shotgun from his shoulder. This would be the first time using it since coming here, so the reload function was still unknown to him. He lifted the lever, a light reflecting the ones his handguns glowed with filled the chamber. It was a short wait, only one second, before it allowed him to close it back up. "Alright. Ready."
Goblin slayer took the lead with his torch. "Watch the walls. There may be another tunnel that leads to another area. If we miss it, we'll get attacked from behind."
"Right. I'll keep an eye out."
The two strode through the cave cautiously. Arthur kept his gun up as he tried to adjust to the darkness. He listened intently for any sound throughout the cave. While the goblins might have exposed themselves the first time around, this was different. They had been curious. Now, they're on guard.
Goblin Slayer came to a stop, silently raising a fist to tell Arthur to stop. Arthur kept his shotgun trained forward, looking for the slightest hint of movement. But Goblin Slayer shook his head, motioning for him to lower the gun. Arthur scrunched his brow in question but followed his lead. As soon as Arthur lowered his gun, the stoic adventurer drew a knife from his belt and sent it flying forward. In the darkness, a strangled cry rang out, causing the cowboy widen his eyes.
"You saw that thing?"
"24. And no. I heard it and guessed."
"Good guess, I 'spose…" Arthur muttered as they continued forward. Walking several meters, the two saw the goblin lying on the ground, its body twitching in pain as it had yet to be finished, the knife sticking out of its gut.
"A scout. Sent to see who is coming," Goblin Slayer said, kneeling down and pulling the knife from its stomach before immediately lodging it in the monster's head. "We still have some element of surprise."
"Not much we can do with it in this tight space, though. They'll see us comin' pretty easy..." Arthur noted, his gaze trailing to the side.
But then he noticed it. Another tunnel formed just to their left. As Arthur was about to inform his companion, a large and dark figure stepped toward them.
"Ah shit-watch out!" Arthur moved to pull up his shotgun, only to get back handed into the wall for his troubles. He let out a grunt of pain, falling on his stomach with a thud.
Goblin Slayer moved quick, his short sword in hand as he lunged at the hobgoblin. His blade pierced its shoulder but missed its intended target, the hobgoblin growling before using its other arm to reach out and grip the warrior's arm.
Arthur didn't let it. He rolled onto his back and produced a throwing knife, lodging it into the monster's neck. The hobgoblin coughed out in pain, unable to scream for help. Goblin Slayer wrenched his blade out from its shoulder before digging it back into its chest. The hobgoblin convulsed in pain, its weak cries coming out choked, before falling to the ground, dead.
Arthur, pushed off the ground, letting out a pained groan. "Big bastard… Guess that makes 25, though."
"Are you hurt?" Goblin Slayer asked.
"Nah, I'm… I'm okay. Just a little annoyed," Arthur mumbled, dusting off his chest. "Can't believe I didn't notice that tunnel 'til too late."
"It happens. The darkness hid it well," Goblin Slayer reasoned, moving to the tunnel and letting his torch shine down it. He pulled out one of the molotov c.o.c.ktails that Arthur made, kicking the hobgoblin's body to the bottom of the tunnel before flinging it directly at its body, causing flames to erupt. Despite the blaze building from the hobgoblin, no sounds echoed from within the tunnel.
"This is likely where the first group came from that we killed. This hobgoblin remained behind. None are left"
"That where the scout came from, too?"
"Doubtful. He was likely sent by the shaman," Goblin Slayer shook his head. "Let's push forward."
"Sure."
Arthur and Goblin Slayer pushed further into the cave, the path beginning to narrow again. After some time and silence, Goblin Slayer held up a hand, making Arthur stop again.
"It opens up here."
"Guess we'll have to watch out for a repeat o' last time," Arthur muttered, aiming his shotgun forward. "I got an idea… toss another molotov at the mouth."
"What are you going to do?"
"You'll see. On my word, toss. Get ready to cover your ears, though," Arthur kept the shotgun trained forward, eyes narrowing as he waited for Goblin Slayer to get ready. The stoic adventurer did as he was told, pulling another bottle out and rearing it back. "Throw!"
Goblin Slayer gave a quick toss, the bottle soaring through the air and easy to see thanks to the flaming cloth. When the bottle looked deep enough, Arthur pulled the trigger, the explosive blast from his shotgun almost as loud as thunder in this small cave.
Fire and glass erupted in the air, falling like debris from an active volcano and spewing across the darkness. The cries of goblins echoed through the air, moving around like lit candles through the cave.
Seeing their chance, Goblin Slayer and Arthur pushed forward into the cave. Goblin Slayer tossed the torch at the center of the room, giving Arthur more visibility.
The cowboy quickly turned a corner, anticipating a hobgoblin waiting to ambush them from the right like before. But this time, it was hopelessly batting away fire that caught on its skin. Arthur smirked, taking aim and blasting a large hole in its head, quickly c.o.c.king the lever action before turning to the rest of the remaining goblins.
Their roles from their first hunt seemed to be switched this time, as Goblin Slayer dug a knife into the gut of a shaman at the back of the cave. The remaining goblins inside, only about six aside from the special ones, were scattered and hopeless in attempting to put out the fire that caught on their bodies.
Arthur felt a small sense of pity for the goblins, pointing his shotgun forward to put the remaining ones out of their misery.
"H-Help…"
Arthur looked back up, the voice so weak but clearly human and female. Narrowing his eyes, he could make out some bodies on the ground in the corner of the moved forward slowly, blasting goblin that tried to get close to him with a quick shotgun blast.
As the bodies became more visible, Arthur felt his stomach begin to churn in disgust. His eyes widened in disgust and shock. Three girls lay on the ground, bare n.a.k.e.d and terribly bruised. Scratch marks covered their bodies and the inside of their thighs were bruised beyond belief.
"Jesus… Wh-What…"
"H-Help… us…" one of them whispered out, pulling Arthur from his stupor. He quickly knelt at their sides, though struggled to figure out what to do.
"I-It's okay, miss. You're safe now. They're all dead," Arthur said, trying to reassure one young woman as he reached a hand out hesitantly. "W-We'll get you all outta here, back to your families."
Arthur looked around for something, anything he could use to carry the girls out with. He looked to Goblin Slayer to inform him of the surviving girls, but the stoic adventurer was busy looking behind a throne of bones not unfamiliar to Arthur.
"They've spawned."
"What?" Arthur called out, walking through the cave toward him. "Forget whatever that is, we gotta get these girls outta-"
"They've spawned." Goblin Slayer said, tossing the throne aside to a small opening. Arthur narrowed his eyes, walking up next to him and peering inside. Inside was what he easily guessed were goblin infants. They were smaller than the ones they had killed, their features less developed and stubbier.
"I have to kill them," Goblin Slayer said, taking a step forward with his short sword.
"Wait… just wait a moment…" Arthur said, grabbing his shoulder and causing Goblin Slayer to hesitate. For a moment, the stoic adventurer expected the cowboy to try and stop them.
But Arthur's eyes trailed back to the battered and r.a.p.ed women laid out on the ground, barely hanging on to life. He felt a familiar anger build up inside of him, one that begged for him to act out one of his more natural instincts.
He decided to indulge himself.
Arthur pulled out the last molotov c.o.c.ktail he had left. He used the last of his remaining matches and lit the cloth. The goblin infants cowered back, huddling together.
"I didn't totally get what you meant before… about killin' 'em all so they don't come back. Even the pups. It sounded damn cruel."
Arthur's eyes trailing up to the infants without an ounce of sympathy.
"But now I do."
"Good." Goblin Slayer took a step back, allowing Arthur to do the honor.
He reeled his arm back before putting the bottle hard, the glass and flames bursting above the goblin infants. They cried out pathetically in pain, their inhuman death throes filling the cave. Arthur slung his shotgun onto his shoulder, watching the blaze for one moment before moving to the women.
"We gotta get these girls outta here," Arthur said, rubbing his chin as he tried to think of the best way to carry them out.
"The shaman often has a chair for the other goblins to carry him on. We can use that to carry one on," Goblin Slayer suggested, his helmet peering around the room. It was only another moment before they found it, putting one girl on it while Goblin Slayer and Arthur carried a girl on their back each, proceeding to move out of the cave.
"You did well," Goblin Slayer said, though Arthur couldn't stop to look back at him as he held the chair from the front.
"Thanks. I uh… just kinda wish we got here sooner…" Arthur trailed off, looking at the girl leaned over his shoulder with remorse.
"It's a common occurrence. One that won't stop until all goblins are dead," his companion answered, before pausing. "But… they at least survived."
"I don't know about that…" Arthur muttered. It wasn't long until they finally reached the exit, and the two warriors returned the scarred women back to their village.
Thus marking the end of the first of many quests that Gunslinger and Goblin Slayer would venture together on.
To be continued…
Well, I have to say, I was NOT expecting the huge reception I got from the first chapter. I mean seriously, I was barely expecting a quarter of what I got. Both the GS and RDR crossover sections are pretty low in number of stories, so I figured it would be something that sort of flew under the radar. Boy how wrong I was. But not unwelcome! Thank you to everyone who gave their thoughts and showed their support for this stories continuance!
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