Chapter Text
"Aaand another one bites the dust," he said before topping one of the pieces with a sadistic grin at the person in front of him.
"Muuuh...not fair..." The girl on the other side of the board was on the verge of tears as she watched the newly young female adventures meet a tragic fate.
"What? Don't you like my suggestions of adding more character developments to your characters?," He said as he topped another one of pieces of hers.
*Sigh*
"Don't you think you went overboard this time?," another voice can be heard on the other side of the board.
"Overboard?, Nonsense!, It's all about crafting memorable stories, my dear Illusion," he chuckled, relishing the chaos on the board.
" Besides, look," he pointed at the piece who was fixated to her companions and later ran away from the scene.
"Haha-," before he let out another laugh, Illusion scurried away from the board before running towards the door, slamming herself shut, with a noticeable tear dropped on the floor.
"Poor girl," said Death, shaking his head before collecting the pieces thrown out of the board.
As he settled the pieces back on the board he asked him,"Now, then mischievous friend of mine, what challenge are you going to bestow upon the "Opposer?", He said as he placed him on top of the board.
"Hmm.." Truth intrigued by the idea he was given.
"I suppose so, it's been awhile since his last encounter," he said with his hand on his chin, he remembered the man who was once at the hands of death during one of their adventures, miraculously escaped by resurrection miracle in time.
With a smile he restarted the pieces on the board...
Frontier Town
After closing the door behind him, he leans his back against it, his gaze wandered at the peaceful scene for a moment before reflecting himself from what he said to Guild girl.
"What did I just say.." The question echoed in his mind, why did he say something so stupid yet, so obvious to be told.
"I can't get my words straight," He looked at the ground below for awhile. that's when it hit him, succumbed by the fatigue he hadn't felt after walking out of the guild, vision blurred as his strength waned until he found himself collapsing.
"I feel like my head is spinning," As he tried to recover himself from the weight of his armor.
Disoriented but in fact, his breathing was rough and slow as he clutched his stomach to cope with the discomfort sensation, without delay he supported himself up and began to find a place where he could be himself.
"Too much.." he muttered, placing his thumb on his wrist beneath the gloves, to indicate his blood flow, feeling the rapid throbbing sensation, he quickens his pace.
Approaching the alleyway, he ventured into the darkness as it enveloped him with each step, while releasing the straps held firm below his helmet before dropping it in the ground, the echoing sound of irregular breathing can only be heard before throwing up.
"Augh.." gasping for air before examining the contents on the ground, "Not poison," he muttered, still cautious, he pulled out a stamina potion from his storage before consuming, feeling his stamina returning to him, he let out a sigh of relief before wiping the remaining stain on his face.
Still feeling tipsy from the effects, he moved again but slowly, not wanting his body to overwork from collapsing on the ground again before surveying his surroundings, surely enough he found his helmet laying near from the entrance, it rested gracefully in the warm embrace from the early sunrise, he walks towards it as he reaches on to it from the ground before securing it tightly back into his head
As he exits the alleyway, he finds himself wandering around the streets before contemplating his next move.
"It happened too suddenly," walking slowly, on the empty road while trying to ponder his thoughts.
The atmosphere gives off a sense of serenity, while the winds whistle through the barren town. 'Hm...' He glanced at his battered armor still drenched in blood, calculating the repairs; the cost is quite affordable since it's cheaply made from the beginning.
Looking around the vicinity to see buildings closed. He wondered if the shop he regularly visited was available at this time.
Finishing his thoughts he went to see the Forge, hoping that it was open for an early rendezvous.
Arriving at his designated place, he walks in front of the wooden door before knocking.
knock knock
No response...
He tried again with a bit of force.
Knock Knock
Still no response..
With no one arriving, he decided to wait patiently, taking a few steps to the side from the door before leaning back on the stone wall, arms crossed. He began to recall the events that happened yesterday.
"I should've went back to the farm," He thought briefly.
Later that day.
"No," He turned down her offer.
"Ughh, you're no fun at all!," she exclaimed, letting out a displeased grunt before slumping back in her seat.
It was late at night, the Guild only had a few people at this hour, Guild girl stayed late to finish the remaining assignments that her coworker left her to do, she promised her to share the imported wine she bought with her savings, watching the party at the distance with an amused look before returning to her work.
Priestess asked the party to call it for tonight and went back to her apartment, Followed by Lizard priest who, had eaten too much cheese, fallen into drunken stupor before being carried back to his room.
The trio now seated, on the wooden bench, High elf archer insisted in letting the man in front of her drunk for once in his life.
"When will ya ever quit?, there's no point in trying to seduce a man with your chest flatter than a cutting board ," Dwarf shaman teased with a mischievous grin, seated beside goblin slayer.
"Wh-WHA-" leaning again over the table, expecting another banter from the two.
High elf unexpectedly returns to her seat, putting a hand on her chin before delving into deep thought, composed by the idea from the dwarf.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of doors unlocked, revealing a tall warrior with sharp features, short jet hair, with noticeable scars on his face, accompanied by multiple people with an exhausted look.
"Maaan, I never thought the mission would turn from a simple escort to defending the whole village," Light warrior stated with an exhausted look.
"Not to mention that we almost died if not Female knight were to act in time," Druid girl implied.
"Can't you believe it?, the merchant we were supposed to be protecting turned out to be one of the Demon Lord's army," Female knight said, furious by the fact they were tricked.
"Well, looks like we stumbled upon more than we bargained for. To my apologies for leading you all to danger I will be one to pay for your rooms for tonight," Heavy warrior being a modest was greeted with gratitude by the three.
As Druid girl and Light warrior headed for their rooms, Female knight went out to repair her equipment.
leaving only the two Silver ranks idling..
"Hey!, don't forget that you owe me a drink for stealing my kill alright?," Spearmen said angrily as they walked past the group,"
"Yeah, yeah just what I promised just let me collect the pay then we can head upstairs," Walking towards the desk,
he asked for compensation from their previous quest before receiving it.
"Hey,um, if goblin slayer is available, we can share a drink together while we retell our story," He added.
"That weirdo? he is probably back in Farm at this time" he asked before glancing at his side.
"Speaking to the devil,' he implied.
"Speaking to wha-?,' Before questioning him, he noticed Spearman looking at his shoulder. When he turned around , as expected he found the man on the far corner silently as possible.
"Oii, Goblin slayer-san, cared for a drink with Spearmen and me?," Heavy warrior waved at the man seated at the corner.
"Ain't you gonna greet your friend over there Beard Cutter?" Dwarf shaman questioned the man seated on the barrel.
"Great," he thought, even though he moved away as stealthy as possible, he cursed the gods who landed the dice on the wrong side.
"I'm going back," he declared, getting off the wooden barrel, he marched towards the door before his was caught by a pair of delicate hands, turning his head to see who was holding him.
"How about a contest?" High elf archer proposed, standing behind him.
"What's in it for me?" attentively listening to her response,
Hands hold firm on his hand, she stared at him with a sincere look before replying.
"I will temporarily lift the restrictions that priestess and I had imposed on you for a day, if you beat me," she declared confidently with a grin.
"Really?" he asked making sure what she's saying is true.
"YES!, Gosh, is the head of yours so oblivious in fact?," she yelled at him while flinging his arm around.
"Alright," he agreed, rotating his body before seated on the bench with her hands leaving his.
"what is the proposal?" he inquired.
"You will see!" she said with excitement.
Few hours later...
"Ughh...I give up," she uttered with a deflated tone while holding the unfinished drink.
"Wow, Beard Cutter I didn't knew you were a heavy drinker,"
Dwarf shaman surprised by the man who he never thought he could handle such a quantity.
"I had not been drinking since," he replied with the same monotone voice.
"How the hell haven't you collapsed yet?" Spearman questioned the man in front of him still clutching at his mug.
"I do not know," he answered casually, still unfazed from the amount he drank, thinking about what priestess said to him last time, he added," I had a mentor, he once taught me how to control my body by will,"
"That must be tough, though mind me if I ask, what kind of training he put you through?" Heavy warrior inquired with interest.
He leaned back before gazing on the ceiling, it took a moment for him to reply, "He trained me inside a cave, each time i fail to answer one of his riddles, I will be met with a stone on the face," he disclosed the conversation, his eyes wandered on the empty tankards towered on top of the table before he looks at his friends on the table.
"Whoops, guess I'm out of booze now, see ya guys around," Dwarf shaman bids at the three before getting off his seat, while trying to navigate his way back he tripped a few obstacles on his way until he reached on to support the railings.
"Well that wraps it up for tonight," Heavy warrior stated as he finished his drink before leaving the two, walking up the stairs he glanced at Spearman before nodding as he resigned himself.
"Hey, you know what to do right?" Spearmen patted him at the back as of his trying to hint at him.
"No," He said, not knowing what his trying to tell him..
"God, you're so dense I doubt you can feel anything, besides that, have you forgotten someone who wasn't part of our conversations?" he points out at his shoulder.
Turning to look what was beside him was a cute elf, with green hair, delicate pointy ears and a serene expression slumbered on her arms, with her gentle breathing rhythm that can be heard across the Guild.
"Aren't you going to help her out?" Spearman asked with a concerned voice .
"I will prepare a room for her," he stated before getting up from his seat, thinking about how he can repay her from the amount of her savings used up tonight, just for him to fall drunk yet, failed to do so.
Walking towards the desk, he discovers that the paperwork once stacked on the counter has vanished without a trace. His gaze shifts towards the girl behind the reception, her head bowed and snoring contently, pen in hand.
"Goblin Slayer-san, you're......a.....dummy..." she whispered under her breath before chuckling.
Sensing someone staring at him with envy, accompanied with an audible shriek from his back, but decided not to overlook it. As he steps closer, he startled at the girl in process, jumping to attention.
"Ah!-u-uh, um,Goblin Slayer-san, I didn't expect you so soon ah i-i-uh," Guild girl stuttered in her words,
"Are there any rooms left?" he demanded, not bothered to question her comment of him in her sleep.
"Um, unfortunately the rooms are full right now so I can't do anything to help you," she said with her head down.
"it's fine," he reassured her,.
"May I ask for a Robe?" he added, feeling the cold air seeping below the wooden door, the room would be cold enough for a person to fall ill the next day, despite the fact that she's an elf who is more resilient to most illnesses, he noticed her body shivered as she curled up for warmth.
"Oh, yeah, I can get some back in the storage room," she answered before excusing herself from the reception desk.
Moments later, she reappeared with a cozy cloak, as she was about to give him, he inspected closely at her face before noticing the tired expression etched across her face yet, she remains to be standing,
"You should get some rest," he asked with a considerate tone.
"Yeah, yeah you're right," she said while rubbing her eyes, she guided her hands to collect the few remaining works that were left unfinished, before placing them under the desk, as she walked out the desk she grabbed his head to tilt to her side before whispering.
"Good night, goblin slayer-san~," she said with a sleepy tone before heading to her room.
While holding the robe, he paused for a moment, contemplating what she said before shaking off the thought off, walking towards the elf who is rested on the table, he delicately covered her with the cloak.
Gently turning her body around to face away, he caught a glimpse of her drowsy eyes peeking on him before closing them once more, As if preparing to piggyback ride, he positioned himself facing away from her, he bent down to pick up the girl with his hands secured his hands around thighs before standing up.
Once he's prepared, he starts to walk towards the door, Spearman taps him on his side of his armor, before stopping to hear him.
"Being modest all of the sudden, huh?" Spearman commented on him, he moved his head to his side before nodding at his response.
"Anyways, I will be staying here for tonight, take care of that girl now," he ended before resting his head on the table.
With that done, he walked out of the Guild and planned to bring the sleepy elf back to the Farm.