15 - slayer king - LIGHTREADER

Ch 15.

"Cheers! To our victory, to the Guild, to Slayer Keep and to that Goblin obsessed weirdo that made all this possible!" High Elf Archer said as the whole hall of Slayer Keep replied in kind with a raised mug to the toast and they all drank.

After the battle had ended, the wounded were tended and the dead given final rights.

Out of every peasant, adventurer, dwarf, elf and soldier of the Slayer army, one in nine had died and every third man had been injured heavily and what was left had heavy bruises, but considering their foes and their victory, the defenders of Slayer Keep got off light.

The defenders all rested for several hours after, the exhaustion of the battle took them just as the sun came up, by the time they recovered enough for a feast night had fallen once more and they all gathered inside the old elven fort to celebrate their victory.

Food was brought both from the keep's stores and the town, tables were set, glasses were raised as they drank to fallen friends, hated or loved comrades, and to themselves for surviving this terrible night

The general of this battle, Goblin Slayer, sat down next to Priestess and Cow Girl, he barely now was able to rest a bit.

He had gone around buying drinks for all the adventurers that had accepted his quest and then given Goblin Slayer had given the 361 gold coins he had earn to the peasant militia, the dwarfs and the elves that had come to fight for Slayer Keep, he had even put aside equal shares for the families of those that died.

It was not much, but it was all he had.

At first they protested that they did not come to fight for money, but he had replied with:

"You fought as bravely as any adventurer here, even thought the Guild will not reward you since you are not adventurers you are as worthy as any here. Please…I.I said that I would give all to those that would help save Slayer Keep, I gave my word and my sister said….she always said that you you're your word. So, please….please…take the gold…..for her, not for me…please, take it." He said with an almost tremble in his voice and they reluctantly did so.

But this act did make the Lord of Slayer Keep grow in the eyes of the Thane and the Chieftain, and he became a near object of worship after this to the peasants and those that would hear the tail from them.

The before mentioned groups would stay for the feasts, then return to their farms, caravans, holds and families.

Families that of which many had come from the safety of the Town to reunite with their loved ones and morn the ones that did not survive the night.

But all were grateful to the Slayer Army, and to Goblin Slayer for their bravery.

With the last three pieces of his gold he did the following:

Two he gave to Cow Girl, for the two goblins she had killed.

The last one he gave to Priestess, she did not receive any gold since it was the Slayer Squad that actually killed the Goblin Lords with their blades and bombs.

With that over he was certain that he had fulfilled his obligations and could relax a bit more.

"What do you mean there's no reward for killing that giant?!"

Though some people were impossible to please.

"I am afraid that the giant was not specified in the quest. If you recall the reward was 1 coin for a goblin, 100 for hobs and 200 for champions." Guild Girl said to an agitated and red-faced Female Paladin.

"What about a secondary reward then? I decapitated a giant, a giant that the whole keep could not kill; does that not count for something?" Female Paladin pushed on, her greed getting the better of her.

It was not surprise that the healing goddess took away her miracles, with her having that kind of personality.

"The Spider Queen and the wyvern, whom when added up total a threat greater than the giant, were killed by a combined effort from the Slayer Army and they received no compensation for that. Also because of the way the reward was written down the warboss was classified as 'goblin', so Goblin Slayer-san only received one gold coin for killing the biggest enemy in the goblin waaaagggh." Guild Girl said, hoping this would work.

It didn't.

"Each one of us killed half a dozen hobs and champions and at least a hundred goblins each, you are now hundreds of golden coins richer." Heavy Warrior said in a jubilant mood, not from the gold he received, but from fulfilling his oath to take the heads of 3 foes that were stronger that him with, all in one swing of his sword.

"And slaying a giant is a quest worth tens of thousands of gold coins!" Female Paladin said as she sat down with a puff in her cheeks, but Heavy Warrior's words did manage to placate her.

"So we made some money, but you're angry that we didn't take all the money then? Let it, after this our reputations will rise and we'll all be able to get better pay." Spearman said as he shared a glass with his partner Witch, who stole a glance to the right of them.

There Noble Fencer and her teammates and childhood friends, who were all injured but very much alive, had all knelt before Goblin Slayer.

"We have come to say the words and take the oath my liege." Noble Fencer said as the rest of the group nodded fiercely.

"You all want to be part of the Slayer Army?"

"YES!"

"Then you are now. You have free board and food, as long as you take at least one goblin quest a week." Goblin Slayer said so suddenly and so without emotion, pomp, pride or wonder in his voice that this shocked the group of rookies.

This was not how Noble Fencer envisioned one of the most important moments in her life.

"Who come before our hall?" Noble Fighter said, as she saw the potential disaster and disappointment and quickly got up and started an impromptu ceremony from the top of her head, one that would become the most sacred rite of the Slayer Army one day.

"Noble Fencer."

„Noble Paige."

„ Noble Swordsman"

"Noble Ranger"

" Noble Scout"

" Noble Wizard"

"Noble Shaman"

"Do you fear that when you go from here, you will never return again?" Noble Fighter said and mimicked with her lips for them to say ;no;. She was winging it hard.

"No!"

"Is your heart pierced by love for peace?"

"Yes!"

"Do you disdain glory and all glittering gold?"

"Yes!"

"Can nothing console you but the deaths of all goblins?"

"Yes!"

"Then a room and a meal for your heart, your glory and gold. Say the words and be accepted into the brotherhood and sisterhood."

"We are STEEL! We are DOOM! We are the death of all goblins! We march for Goblin Slayer, who knows no fear! And with him, we shall know no fear! Goblins, we have come for you all!"

Noble Fighter then became silent for a moment. From her memories of court and etiquette a sacred oath was usually followed by a drink or an anointment to seal it.

They already passed around any food and booze they had, so they needed to anoint them somehow.

The only problem was that they did not have anything for that. She wondered what she should do, when Goblin Slayer sensed her dilemma and got up from his seat and walked before the kneeling 7 new additions to Slayer Keep.

"Breather trough your nose, you will need to get used to this." Goblin Slayer said and took out a vial of goblin blood that he always kept on his person for emergencies when there was now goblin blood available. And smeared a bit onto each kneeling adventurer's forehead.

Noble Fencer and her group were all to filed with joy, in order for their brains to properly register the disgusting stench.

The rest of Slayer Keep grimaced at that. They got used to it, but beign smeared by goblin blood was never pleasant.

They recovered and welcomed the new additions to the army with a few toasts.

The kneeling group got up and returned to the feast.

Noble Fighter, the captain of the Fighter Squad was about to return to the table, when Warrior, the Captain of the Warrior Squad suddenly got up, drank a pint of vine in one big gulp and then red faced and half trembling he nervously approached her.

The two top Captains stared and glared each other into the eyes.

"I just realized something tonight."

"Me too."

"I realized you're a snobby, stuck up bitch."

"And you're a vulgar, hotheaded asshole."

"Want to get married?"

"Yes!"

They then both pounced on each other, and kissed heavily as they wrapped their hands over each other's back and waist.

All to the cheers and cat and wolf calls of the gathered hall.

The gathered lot now had an extra reason to get hammered now!

As the happy couple blushed like crazy after finishing their kissing and while Noble Fencer and her friends wandered how much time would they need to let the blood stay on their foreheads before rubbing it off( they got of their glory high and realized just how disgusting it was), the doors to the old elven fort were slammed open.

And Apprentice Slayer, Captain of the Slayer squadron came forward and along with his squadron they all kneeled before Goblin Slayer.

"My Master, the night before the battle the gods sent us, your apprentice and lowly acolytes a shared vision. It said that because of the 'One who does not let the dice determine the outcome', our force will be given blessings. When it is time to roll the dice, a reroll will be given when one fails to hit the foe and a reroll if one had failed to avoid the attack of the goblin. But in order for that blessing to be received a tribute had to be given to the gods. One for the gods of building, one for the gods of song and one for the gods of war and all must be the same tribute to honor the three. They gave us instruction on what it was to be and it had to be approved by the 'One who does not let the dice determine the outcome', but that we do not know of it before its completion. We do not know who this figure is my master, but we have finished the task as best as we could, may we please store it inside the keep until we find whom we must present it to?"

"Will it help us kill more goblins?"

"If this pleases the gods, then yes!" Priestess quickly answered.

"Then yes. What did you make?" Goblin Slayer said without hesitation.

"We will show you." Apprentice Slayer said and the whole hall got up and made its way outside.

There they saw that in gathered skulls had been used to craft chair and tables that were all made to be identical to each other.

And the tables had been created in a way, that they could be assembled to make one nig table.

A round table!

Goblin Slayer made his way towards it, touching the two items.

Goblins used human bones to create their furniture, it seemed to him only fitting that they do the same.

He noticed that the great round table was too big to be placed inside the old elven fort, so it had to be kept dissembled and in storage and brought out when there was no danger, or for special occasions.

The table was big enough that every single member of the Slayer Army had a seat there, even those that had died, and the way the smaller individual pieces were made, the round table could be expanded for adding even more seats!

"This is good. I like it." Goblin Slayer said as he took a seat at the round table.

One by one the rest of the Slayer Army did the same.

First was Priestess, then Wizard, Fighter, Warrior, Noble Fighter, Rhea Ranger, Human Nun, Elf Wizard, High Elf Archer, Dwarf Shaman, Lizard Priest, and then the rest of the Slayer Army, ending with Noble Fencer and her group.

When it was over Goblin Slayer did a quick count and realized that the table had not 250 seats, but 251.

That meant that even if they let the seats of the dead untouched, there was still one available.

Goblin Slayer turned his gaze towards Cow Girl and without a word being spoken she gave a determined nod of the head and hesitantly but surely she took a seat at the table.

After the way she helped them during the siege, she earned her place at the round table.

The peasants, adventures, dwarfs and elves did not join the table, they knew it was not for them, they only watched with smiles on their faces the forming of something new.

Or rather the improvement of what there already was!

"We will fill the empty seats with new additions. And more will be built when even more come to join us." Goblin Slayer said and gave an approving nod of the head to Apprentice Slayer and his squad, which all nodded back in gratitude and determination to continue to work to the fullest of their capabilities for their master.

"From this table we shall go and slay goblins. As long as there I a single one alive, we all shall go to slay it. And as long as one of us yet lives, that one will slay all the goblins!" Goblin Slayer said, filling the chest of those sitting at the round table with pride.

Noble Fencer quickly raised herself from her seat, drew out her sword and said.

"One for all, all for one!" She said all of a sudden.

And it worked!

Every single member of Slayer Keep raised their weapons in the air and said:

"One for all, all for one!"

And the gods we're please by this!

The Keep's defenders then continued with their merriment, having transferred the food and drink to the courtyard.

There was still much cause for celebration.

The goblins were for now gone from this region,.

They would eventually return, goblins always do, but for a short time there was no goblins near Guild Town, where Slayer Keep stood!

And as he sat there at the round table, surrounded by his, yes! His army, in the heart of a land that was free of goblins, Goblin Slayer felt something stir inside him, something he had not felt in a long, long time.

Ever since that awful night he had never felt truly safe, that was why he always stayed in armor, he always expected the goblin to attack.

But for now, for a short period of time, in a small part of the world, the land was free of goblins!

It would not last, for goblins always returned, and it was far cry from achieving his goal of killing all the goblins.

But he had gotten closer, after fire years of fighting, in this sixth year he had actually managed to make small part of the world goblin free!

Goblin Slayer had managed to take a step closer to his final goal!

It was the first time ever, in his career of goblin slaying.

It was only one small step, on the long road ahead.

But all journeys of over a thousand miles start with a single step!

He felt satisfied.

He felt accomplished

He felt…

Goblin Slayer felt safe!

Tat was why he suddenly placed his hand on his helmet and took it off, of his own free will.

"AAAAA! Orcbolg took off his helmet!" High Elf Priest said as the whole lot of almost a thousand souls gathered to see his face, much to Cow Girl's confusion on their reaction.

They all gave their impression of his face, bets were settled, drinks and refill offered by women to him for some reason, and Goblin Slayer?

He just took in the sight before him and smiled.

The next day the farmers, dwarfs, elves and adventurers went home, repairs started on the first wall, the old elven fort, the two smashed gates, and rebuilding the destroyed dorms and stables, with Wizard overseeing the work, and even making plans for a third wall to expand Slayer Keep.

Inside the town, the Guild's door was opened and a lone adventurer stepped in.

"Welcome Goblin Slayer-san!" Guild Girl said to him.

"Are there any goblin quests today?"

"I am afraid not."

"I see, no goblin quest from the countryside, and we killed all the goblins in the region. So for now…for now….I would like to take a non goblin quest." Goblin Slayer said hesitantly much to Guild Girl's elated surprise.

"We could use a third man for our group." Spearman said from next to Heavy Warrior, their regular partners Witch and Female Paladin had become unavailable, since today was the start of a certain monthly time span for them.

As the trio exited the Guild and headed towards their quest, a spy for the demon king, whom had been observing the events of the past few days made his way to the inn where Padfoot Waitress worked.

He ordered food and drink and after he sampled both he took out a notebook.

He wrote down that this inn and it' staff would be spared from death and not made slaves, their meals and drinks were of good quality and would be a fine addition to the demon lord's table.

He then turned his notebook at the section which listed the threats towards the Demon Lord.

At the very top of it was the section that said: Ultimate threats, to be eliminated at all costs'

There Chosen Heroine was at the very top of that list, along with half a dozen other platinum ranked adventurers, whom no one knew if they were alive or dead.

Beneath it was the list that read: 'Top tier threats, priority for elimination'. Sword Maiden's name and that of other several dozen Legendary Gold ranking adventurers where there.

Beneath that was the list of medium threats, that were to be countered. On that Spearman, Heavy Warrior, Witch, Female Paladin. High Elf Archer, Lizard Priest, Amazon, Warrior, Wizard, Fighter, Noble Fighter, Rhea Ranger, Half Elf Wizard, and Human Nun a were listed, along with hundreds of others beneath them.

And at the very bottom of it was: 'No threat'

It had thousands of names

And beneath that the spy for the demon lord had to make a new list.

'Those that are to be closely observed for the foreseeable future.'

On that new list a single name was written down.

Goblin Slayer, Lord of Slayer Keep, Grand Master of the Slayer Class.

First amongst all of the land around and within Guild Town.

The Slayer King.

…...

"That, my friend is a jar filled with sand!Are you actually trying to sell me sand, here in a desert?!"- a question asked towards Deux.

-BALADA: A song of Stars

Chapter 15 - 15