Return Home.

Once Priestess, Goblin Slayer, and Red Eyes arrived at the nearby village, they paid for a carriage to take them back to the town. Goblin Slayer wanted to return faster so he could go on a different goblin-hunting contract.

Meanwhile, Red Eyes wanted to check up on his mother, and Priestess had her duties at the church. As they rode back in the carriage, Priestess looked over at her two companions. Instead of resting, they both were maintaining thier gear for the next mission.

'Do these two ever take a break?'

She watched how Red Eyes dragged a cloth across his black sword. Adamantium did not corrode, rust or chip unless something very serious attacked it. So it was considered top-of-the-line material so most weapons and armor only had a thin layer added on top.

Even still, Red Eyes still oiled his blade to keep it shinning and prevent blood from sticking to it. Meanwhile, Goblin Slayer did the exact same, for the same reason. His short sword was made of cheap steel so not oiling it would let blood rust the metal.

As they were not in a talking mood, Priestess sighed as she sat next to the coach driver. The old man noticed and smiled at her. He and the rest of his village were happy some adventures took care of the goblins for them.

"Your party members seem to be the silent stoic type. How did a young lass like you get roped in with them?"

She perked up with something to talk about.

"Oh, I am learning under Goblin Slayer. He is a Silver-ranked adventurer."

The old man paused when he heard Silver. Then he was a little confused.

"Why did a Silver Rank come out here?"

Goblin Slayer answered for Priestess.

"The Goblins must die. Every last one."

Red Eyes added fuel to the fire.

"As soon as possible."

He held up his sword and looked at the black blade with a smile behind his helmet. The Old Man felt unerved by these two so he tried to shift the conversation to something else. Sadly Goblin Slayer and Red Eyes had their focus on other things so Priestess just apologized for them.

"I am sorry."

When they returned to the Town, Goblin Slayer turned to his two companions.

"I will go take the pay and check for more contracts for us."

Priestess bowed and smiled.

"I will return to the church until then."

Goblin Slayer nodded.

"I will give your pay next time."

Red Eyes just waved as he started to walk back to the farm.

"I'll leave."

Priestess waved him goodbye as well.

"Take care."

"You as well."

He turned around and began to return as he had to check up on his mother. Before he left Goblin Slayer asked a favor of him.

"Do a perimeter check. I taught you how."

Without turning around Red Eyes nodded.

"Got it."

"Good."

With that, the three of them went their separate directions. As Red Eyes walked toward the town, he got some people who looked at him. They were regular town folk, but they did not know what he was as his visor was down.

As he walked he looked at everything the town had to offer in curiosity. As he walked a small girl chased after a cat, but bumped into his leg causing her to fall to the ground.

"Ow. Sorry."

Red Eyes quickly caught the small black kitten and kneeled on the ground. He helped the girl up and handed the cat back to her.

"Here."

She smiled and thanked him.

"Thank you, Mr."

She ran off after that which made Red Eyes smile. He got up and made his way out of the town and toward the farm. As he was arriving he saw Cow Girl sitting outside on the deck waiting for Goblin Slayer's return.

When she saw him, she almost thought she had seen a ghost. He was actually a few inches taller than when he had left. If anything she thought that he was taller than Goblin Slayer.

'Goblins do grow fast.'

"Red Eyes, where is Goblin Slayer?"

He reached up and removed his helmet. She blinked in surprise as she saw his face. His face looked more mature than it did when she last saw him. His features looked a bit sharper and his red eyes drew in your gaze.

His pitch-black hair actually made him look very dashing on him. Plus, his green skin did not look like the gross tint of a goblin. Despite all that, he could not compare to Goblin Slayer in her opinion. She shook her head to get that thought from her mind.

"He went to get paid."

She smiled as she looked up at him.

"I take things went well?"

He nodded.

"They burned."

"That's good. Oh, your mother is awake."

That made him perk up.

"Is she ok?"

Cow Girl nodded.

"I looked after her in my spare time. If you ask me, I think she missed you."

"I see. I am glad."

He began to walk into the house toward his mother's room. Before he walked inside he saw Cow Girl's uncle.

"You returned."

"Yes. The mission went well."

"Good. Go see her. She hasn't slept much since you left."

Red Eyes walked into her room and saw that his mother was sitting up. She was looking out at the cows that walked in the pasture. Red Eyes paused when he saw her sitting up. The wind caused her pitch-black hair to flutter in the wind.

"Mother."

She turned around when she heard that familiar voice. Her eyes still looked cold and hollow, but her shoulders seemed to have relaxed upon seeing her son. He smiled and walked toward her bedside.

"I returned."

He reached out and held her hands and felt how she seemed to relax. While he had a smile on his face only murderous thoughts ran through his mind. Goblins had done this to her, but they also created him. He would bring them painful retribution, but for now, she needed him right now.

He helped her back into bed and pulled up her blankets. She closed her eyes and fell asleep almost instantly. Without his presence, she grew stressed out as he was her rock to lean on. He saved her when she needed it.

Now that she was asleep he got up and walked out of the room. He promised Goblin Slayer to do recon and he was going to do it. First things first was to check the whole perimeter for goblin tracks.

Cow Girl saw how he put his helmet on as he went out of the house. Then he began to do Goblin Slayer's routine. She followed behind him watching how Goblin Slayer's student copied what he was taught.

It was to the letter how her friend did it and speaking of her friend, Goblin Slayer arrived at the farm just as Red Eyes got done with checking the fence for weakness. Red Eyes waved over and gave his report.

"All good."

"Good."

Despite saying that, Goblin Slayer did his own inspection to double-check. Seeing how everything was in order, Goblin Slayer had more trust in Red Eyes' judgment. Cow Girl smiled as her friend needed a student. At least someone to keep him company in his mission.

"Are you two hungry by chance?"

Both of them nodded so she smiled.

"I'll get started on lunch."

While she did that, Goblin Slayer went off to his cabin while Red Eyes merely walked around the farm exploring it. As both of them did that, she got busy cooking. Her uncle had already said what he wanted her to know about Goblin Slayer and Red Eyes.

He let them live here, but both were dedicated to following a very painful road. A noble one, but one that left little room for companions. If they had each other, at least they would not be alone in this world.

When she got done cooking she called out to Goblin Slayer and Red Eyes who came over to eat. They sat next to each other as she served a stew. Red Eyes removed his gloves and helmet to eat, while Goblin Slayer ate with them on just to be safe.

They both ate in relative silence until Cow Girl broke it.

"So, what do you intend to do now?"

Goblin Slayer looked up.

"Kill more goblins."

Red Eyes nodded, but he had something else.

"For now, I will do the same."

Curious about what he meant, they asked about it so he explained.

"More monsters to kill. More pay. More shinny."

Cow Girl's Uncle felt it was good he was not on a one-way road.

'Good. Maybe he will teach Goblin Slayer something.'

Once they finished the meal, Goblin Slayer and Red Eyes split up. For the following week, Goblin Slayer and Red Eyes did not work together. They split up taking different quests. Some were Goblin hunting while others were not for Red Eyes. Currently, Red Eyes was standing at the wall of the guild looking at the different quests.

He had completed a quest every day and today would be his 4th. There were still a few adventures warry of him, but others forgot about him. He always wore his helmet and he did not talk like a goblin so he blended in.

Just as he was going to take a quest a strong pair of arms wrapped around his shoulders. He looked next to him and saw Spearman. The guy was boisterous, and bragged a lot, but was strong.

"Hey, what has Goblin Slayer been teaching you about the guild?"

"How to kill Goblins?"

Spearman rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, what else."

"Always do the job?"

Spearman sighed.

"Yeah, but what he did not teach you was that you have to buy your seniors a drink."

Red Eyes thought about it for a second.

"So I should buy Goblin Slayer a drink? Thanks."

He got out of the hold and ripped off a quest on the wall for Giant Rats in the sewers. He also ripped off one for giant bugs and went on to report to Guild Girl. Meanwhile, Spearman watched as Red Eyes went on to do his own thing.

His partner Witch took a puff of her pipe with a smile.

"He is, not that, dumb."

Spearman chuckled a little.

"Newbies usually fall for that trick. I like him."

Witch looked at Red Eye's back as she had seen his face.

"He is, handsome."

That got Spearman curious about what Red Eyes looked like. Meanwhile, Red Eyes presented the quests he got to Guild Girl. When she picked up both quests she nodded.

"Killing 10 giant rats and giant beetles. Alright, just bring back the right ear of the rats and the right antenna of the beetles."

Red Eyes began to walk back, but Guild Girl called out to him.

"Take care Red Eyes."

He did not turn around, but he gave her a thumbs up.

"Got it."

She smiled and waved him off. When Red Eyes left the guild, her friend looked at her.

"So, how does he compare in the face department?"

Guild Girl blushed as she looked away.

"I don't know what you mean."

Her friend gave her a knowing smile.

"I know you like Goblin Slayer. How does his student compare? I never got a look at his face."

Guild Girl looked away.

"It's in his name. His eyes are red, his hair is black, and he looks handsome. Just ask him when he returns."

Her friend thought about it with a smile.

"I think I will. Everyone talks about Goblin Slayer's student and is curious about his face. Is he hiding it?"

Guild Girl shook his head.

"No, he is just learning from Goblin Slayer of all people. Now he thinks it's normal to wear your helmet at all times. Honestly."

As for Red Eyes just as he approached the entrance of the sewer he drew his shortsword and his dagger.

'Time to hunt.'