No Reason Needed to Kill Them

In an instant, the adventurers who were about to jeer and object froze, as if someone had grabbed them by the throat just before they could crow like roosters.

Did someone actually take the bait?!

Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.

Just moments ago, the self-proclaimed "strongest in the western frontier" spearman had confidently declared that no one would accept such a commission without proper compensation. And yet, without a second's hesitation, someone had jumped in and taken it.

The slap to his face was so direct that his cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. Now, he found himself in an awkward position—neither advancing nor retreating seemed like a good option.

"...Are you serious?"

This wasn't something to be taken lightly.

Yes, goblins were small, their strength matched their diminutive size, and their only real advantage was their ability to see in the dark. They relied on sheer numbers to win and were widely regarded as the weakest monsters.

But no matter how weak they were, goblins were still monsters.

The adventurers present weren't fools; they knew all too well the true threat goblins posed.

After all, the very first assignments for rookie adventurers were often to either "exterminate goblins" or "hunt down the giant rats in the town's sewage system."

Many young, ambitious adventurers had embarked on such quests eager to make a name for themselves—only to meet their end at the hands of goblins.

Many entire adventurer parties had been wiped out because they underestimated these small monsters.

Falling before they could even make their mark.

Those who had survived from the lowest porcelain rank to their current status were seasoned professionals, whether by luck or skill. They had learned firsthand just how much trouble goblins could be.

Filthy, disgusting, repulsive, and vicious.

Lacking any moral restraint or ethical code, goblins were driven purely by bloodlust and an insatiable reproductive urge. They were vile, chaotic creatures.

Unless the pay was worthwhile, few adventurers in the hall would willingly engage such foul beings.

Goblins had no pelts, no fangs worth anything, and their meat was inedible. Worse still, their ambush tactics made them far deadlier than their lowly status suggested. It was a dirty, thankless job that no one wanted.

And yet, Goblin Slayer hadn't even mentioned a down payment for this commission?!

What was this? A vague promise of potential loot? Without an upfront fee? Was he trying to get free labor under the guise of noble ideals?

Come on, these adventurers weren't soldiers sworn to duty—they were mercenaries, bounty hunters. Some might call them professionals, but at the end of the day, they worked for profit.

"Of course!" Senti declared without hesitation, a smug grin on her face.

"I'm not like you weaklings!"

With one hand on her hip, and under Fu Hua's twitching gaze, Senti confidently planted one foot on the table.

She spoke with unwavering confidence, and to further emphasize her point, a sphere of energy formed in her palm before she clenched it shut—

Boom!

A sharp detonation echoed through the guild hall, sending a gust of wind sweeping through the room. Plates, cups, and curtains flapped wildly as the adventurers instinctively shielded themselves.

She was putting on a show—loud, flashy, and utterly unapologetic.

Upon witnessing the scene, the high elf archer seated at an inner table on the second floor visibly relaxed, while the dwarf shaman sitting beside her swiftly withdrew his outstretched hand meant to stop her.

The blonde priestess, who had been hurrying out from behind the counter with urgency, also halted her steps.

Meanwhile, the receptionist handling Rita's request for adventurer registration sighed in relief. Finally, someone to break the tension.

"Well, that was embarrassing, wasn't it?"

Seated beside the spearman, the silver-ranked magic user known simply as The Witch, dressed in a flowing robe that accentuated her allure, gently nudged him with her foot. Her crimson lips curved into a teasing smile as she whispered.

"You were thinking about going, weren't you? Were you testing him, or trying to provoke him? What an insincere man."

As if seeing right through him, the witch rested her chin on her hand and gazed at him knowingly.

"Ugh, shut up!" the spearman spat, ruffling his hair in frustration and sitting down with an annoyed expression.

"I was just trying to push him a little. His attitude is seriously unbearable... but I didn't expect this." He gulped down his drink in one go, clearly exasperated.

Despite also holding the rank of silver, Goblin Slayer's promotion had been largely due to his relentless extermination of goblins and the gratitude of the lower-class populace he had saved. The Adventurers' Guild had elevated him to silver not purely based on combat prowess but because his actions bolstered their reputation.

Within the ten-tier ranking system of the guild, from lowest to highest—Porcelain, Obsidian, Steel, Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum—Goblin Slayer's true combat capabilities arguably fell short of the third-tier silver rank.

Many silver-ranked adventurers secretly viewed sharing the same rank with Goblin Slayer as an insult, harboring a sense of disappointment and frustration toward him.

Several of them had even teamed up with him in the past. They acknowledged his reliability but were frustrated by his rigid, single-minded obsession with goblins to the exclusion of all else.

He rejected every offer beyond goblin hunting without explanation.

Lacking wealth, influence, and overwhelming strength, his blunt and socially awkward demeanor alienated many potential allies, turning friendships into mere acquaintances.

Take the spearman, for example—despite his constant criticisms of Goblin Slayer, when help was needed, he had personally carried a sack of flour from the border town to the capital city of Water Town without hesitation.

Considering Goblin Slayer's childhood experiences... his psychological scars were understandable.

Now that the spearman had backed down, Senti's "flames of arrogance" burned even brighter.

With a smug snort, she struck a triumphant pose and waved her hand in an imperious manner toward Rita, who was quietly observing with a hand covering her mouth, clearly amused.

"Hurry up with that registration or whatever! These goblins are practically serving themselves up on a platter. What a great start!" Senti boasted, tilting her head proudly.

"We saw all the info on these disgusting things in the files that annoying Esdeath gave us, right? Two birds with one stone!"

Rita responded only with a gentle smile, making no move to carry out Senti's demands, which drew a dissatisfied glare from her. Instead, Rita turned to Durandal with an inquiring look.

"What do you think, Lady Durandal?"

Durandal, after a brief moment of consideration, nodded and handed over the completed registration form.

"We'll proceed as Senti suggested. Goblins will make for a suitable first assignment."

The receptionist, now relieved, nodded in acknowledgment and picked up a silver-tipped pen. She carefully engraved delicate, elegant letters onto the white porcelain plates—each inscribed with the names of the new adventurers.

And thus, with their first commission set, their adventure in this foreign world began.

"Please take care of these," the receptionist said with impeccable professionalism.

Durandal reached out to take the stack of plates handed to her and pulled out the ones bearing her and Rita's names. Without hesitation, she tossed the remaining ten porcelain plates with perfect accuracy, landing them precisely in the hands of Kiana and the others.

As she handed Rita's plate to her, Durandal carefully examined the fine print etched onto her own.

"In addition to serving as proof of an adventurer's rank, it can also verify identity in certain situations... Though I hope it never comes to that." It felt a bit like a military dog tag.

The receptionist smiled and added, "Please keep them safe, my ladies. If they are lost or stolen, please visit the nearest Adventurers' Guild branch for a replacement."

"Thank you." Durandal nodded and stored the plate away. Amidst the murmur of conversations around them, she approached Goblin Slayer.

"Sir Goblin Slay... Never mind, I'll just call you brother for now. We accept your request. What do you think?"

His expression remained hidden beneath his iron helmet.

From the moment he first encountered Li Sushang, he had sensed the formidable strength of these noble ladies. However, their appearance—like noble daughters on their first outing—made him hesitate to seek their assistance.

He had originally planned to see if any adventurers in the border town were willing to help eliminate the goblins.

Despite knowing the chances were slim, he would rather exhaust all possibilities first.

Unfortunately, judging by the current situation, no one else seemed willing to help besides them.

After a brief silence, his cold, detached voice finally responded, "I cannot offer you suitable compensation. If you're willing, my wealth, my equipment, my time, my abilities—anything within my power can be offered as payment…"

His voice was steady and did not waver, deliberately loud enough for everyone in the guild hall to hear, answering the spearman's earlier criticism.

However, before he could finish, Durandal's sharp voice cut through the air.

"Unnecessary! Are you insulting my character?!"

Boom—!

A sudden surge of powerful energy erupted from the knight's body, sending a fierce gust of wind throughout the guild hall. The entire building trembled under the weight of her presence, and the gathered adventurers stared in shock and awe.

"Helping you is simply on the way. I require no compensation," Durandal said firmly.

Then, with a softer tone, she continued, "I've already received my reward—your resolve to protect."

"You're willing to sacrifice your very being to safeguard that ranch. There must be someone or something there that you cannot bear to lose."

"....Mm."

The red plume atop his helmet stiffened as Goblin Slayer gave a stiff nod.

"....Apologies. Thank you."

Hearing these words, the spearman—who had been stunned by Durandal's sheer strength—snapped back to reality, eyes widening in disbelief.

He never imagined he would see the day when that stubborn, rock-hard fool, tougher than the most stubborn stone in an outhouse, would actually utter the words, "Thank you."

"Then it's settled. Lead the way," Durandal said without hesitation, striding purposefully toward the exit. She gave a brief nod to Kiana and the others, who were still examining their plates at the table.

"Alright! Time to get to work!" Senti clenched her fists, a wide grin on her face.

"Let's go! I've only ever seen goblins in games," Kiana said excitedly, tucking away her porcelain plate and rallying the group.

"Wait, hold on! I want to help too!"

The petite priestess, who had been observing for a while, called out in a hurry, rushing after them as Goblin Slayer and Durandal exited the guild hall.

"Go, go! Let's help Orcbolg too!"

High Elf Archer suddenly stood up from her seat, her long ears twitching with excitement.

She eagerly called out to her companions—Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest—before dashing off with a fiery determination.

"Come on, let's go too! We can't miss the battle of those ridiculously strong noble ladies!"

Longspear glanced away from the teasing gaze of the Witch, using what he believed to be a perfect excuse. Grabbing his weapon, he rushed after them.

"Men's friendships are such a strange thing, aren't they?"

The Witch swayed her alluring figure with an amused smile, shaking her head helplessly before following suit.

"Shall we go take a look as well?"

The dazzling female knight clad in gleaming silver armor turned to the heavy warrior beside her.

"Let's move!"

...

Night fell, and with it came the long, dark hours of the unknown.

The night was dark and the wind was high, an eerie solemnity blanketing the air. The moon hung in the sky, its dim glow barely piercing the overwhelming darkness.

"I thought it was just supposed to be us! Why are there so many people here?!"

Perched lightly atop the barn roof, Senti grumbled in frustration.

"There sure are a lot," Fu Hua adjusted her glasses while surveying the adventurers hidden in various corners of the ranch. "It seems like that Goblin Slayer's relationship with others isn't as bad as it looks on the surface."

Inside the barn, Kiana leaned against the doorframe, watching Goblin Slayer meticulously sharpening his blades. Her curiosity finally got the better of her.

"Why are you so obsessed with killing goblins? Do you have a reason?"

Even as they waited for the sun to set, Kiana couldn't help but be impressed by the extent of Goblin Slayer's knowledge about goblin habits and his thorough preparations against them.

Despite the addition of their team and many silver-ranked adventurers, he still adhered to his methodical, cautious approach—his strategy so solid and calculated, it felt like he had anticipated every possible scenario.

She had heard from other adventurers that he only accepted goblin-related quests, earning him his title of Goblin Slayer.

It was just as the saying went: "No one knows you better than your enemies."

Scrape. Scrape.

"Killing goblins... doesn't need a reason."

Moving from his sword to his axe, then to his throwing knives, the man continued sharpening his weapons with unwavering focus. There was no emotion in his voice, only cold certainty.

"No reason needed... Is it racial conflict? Well, that's more than enough of a reason."

Just then, standing silently by the window, Mei suddenly drew her Key of Castigation, Thunderer. Her face darkened, and a chilling killing intent flickered in her eyes.

"They're here. Those damned scum!"

In the next moment, the grotesque, guttural shrieks of goblins echoed around the ranch, rising one after another in a cacophony of eerie voices.

The rustling of grass gave them away, as the goblins lurking within the tall vegetation finally revealed themselves. They raised their makeshift "shields."

"Those are... captured humans... They're using them as meat shields!"

Kiana rushed to the window, and the sight before her made her pupils shrink in shock.

"Damn it!"

What they saw were stripped, battered women—both elves and humans—bound in chains, their bodies covered in deep wounds, smeared with blood, filth, and revolting fluids.

Their bodies trembled under the crude, harsh ropes digging into their flesh, reopening wounds and drawing fresh streams of blood. Some whimpered weakly, struggling to break free, while others lay unconscious from sheer exhaustion and pain.

"Kill them... No reason is needed!"

Clang!

The sound of a blade being unsheathed echoed through the barn.

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