Oh me oh my. Over 100 followers and 70 favorites. And I've just let this story rot.

Here's hoping I carry on, staying worthy of the favorites and followers.

Goblin Slayer walked into the guild building. Instantly, sounds of reverie and talking assaulted him, but he walked forward, to the woman manning the desk. Guild Girl beamed at him. The vibrant and joyous atmosphere was a stark contrast to the activities that the people within partook.

"Welcome back, Goblin Slayer." She smiled at him. "Did you complete your quest?" Goblin Slayer placed some teeth he had collected from the goblin guards at the front on the table.

"No." Guild Girl blinked. "The goblins were already dead when I got there."

"Oh." She scratched the back of her head. "Did you see the person who killed them?"

"Yes." Goblin Slayer nodded.

"And where is this person?" She asked.

"Delivering the captured women to the nearest monastery." He replied. Guild Girl looked down, sad.

"Well, since you have proof of kill and the other person isn't here, I will give you the quest reward. If you find him, I ask that you-"

The door creaked.

The man who entered was out of place. While adventurers normally carried some sort of armor and weapon, or religious clothing and some kind of staff or stave, the man who entered was adorned in dark clothing. A tricorne hat and some form of cloth mask over his lower face. A long coat came down to his ankles, fluttering slightly in the wind. Beneath that was more nondescript clothing.

In his hand was some sort of demented amalgamation of blade and wood. A serrated, almost cleaver-like blade lay over a handle of wood. On the other, was some form of a metal contraption, a large box behind 4 metal tubes. What it did was a mystery.

Guild Girl realized that, like her, everyone seemed to be stuck observing the new man, the previous conversations having stopped to make a deafening silence.

Slowly, the man approached her. Even though she saw him walk, she could not hear his footsteps on the wooden floor, even in the silence.

"I'm here for my reward." In his voice, there was nothing. No emotion. It was slightly unnerving.

It took Guild Girl a few seconds.

"O-Oh, are you the man who helped Goblin Slayer?" She smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. The man simply nodded, followed by Goblin Slayer. "Then here."

She handed him a small sack. The reward for the quest wasn't too great since it was from a village, not a lord.

The man took the pouch and looked at it for a second before he attached it to his belt. He sighed, before turning to look at the rest of the room.

"Am I so interesting that you must continue to stare at me?" He grumbled. People in the room, most notably lower ranks, turned away quickly. Others slowly looked away. The speaking soon returned, though it was notably quieter.

The man shook his head and turned back to Guild Girl.

"Do you take memorabilia from adventurers who perished during their quests?" He asked. Guild Girl looked down.

"We do, but there is no payment guaranteed. Usually, the families of slain adventurers don't pay for people returning their son or daughters emblems and items." She looked down.

The man merely blinked.

"I wasn't asking for payment anyway." He turned and began to walk away. "I'll be back with some of their stuff."

He left. Guild Girl continued to stare at the door until she noticed Goblin Slayer looking at her.

"Well, while I wait for him, what do you need Goblin Slayer?" She beamed at him.

"Is there another goblin quest?" He asked. Guild Girl blinked before she glared at him.

"You've had one today, taking too many could prove dangerous, even for a master goblin killer." She chided. He just continued to stare at her.

"I didn't do anything." He shrugged. "I can do another."

She continued to glare at him, while he seemed to not notice. Finally, she relented.

"Fine, but not one on your own!" She pulled a slip of paper from a drawer below her desk. "This is the only goblin quest left, and it was taken by a group of new adventurers, three girls, and a boy. If you want to kill goblins, go help them."

Goblin Slayer scanned the paper and nodded. She smiled before the door opened.

The man in the strange leather gear returned, arms full of small knick-knacks. Goblin Slayer stepped past him silently, leaving through the door.

He stepped to the desk, letting the load he carried to spill out.

Most of them were little emblems and symbols, some coated in a little dirt or even, dried blood. Others were broken weapons with little icons etched into the hilt, pommels, or handles.

Guild Girl scanned them all with weary eyes, saddened at the amount he had managed to gather.

"If it makes you feel any better, these are from a bunch of goblin nests, not one big one." He muttered. Although it didn't make her feel better, it did make her happy that vengeance had been served.

Guild Girl scooped up the items in her arms.

"I will prep these for delivery. Thank you, for giving these families some peace of mind." She smiled sadly and entered the back.

Hunter looked down at the slip of paper on the desk.

A hunt, for goblins.

The reward was small, and it described that a local village had spotted some goblins in a nearby cave and was asking for extermination.

Goblin Slayer must've taken this.

Since it was the only lead he had on some goblins, he would have to follow.

Luckily, Goblin Slayer smelled like a goblin, Beast senses would have no problem tracking him.

He left through the front door, into the open air.

He sniffed.

Thousands of scents attacked him. He smelt the ripe fruit of merchants and vendors, the wood they made their stalls and homes out of, the stone they used for structural integrity, the grass they grew all around them for beauty, their Blood as it coursed through their veins.

Most importantly, a much more rank smell, reminiscent of the sewers of Yharnam.

Gotcha.

With swift speed, he took off on a sprint, people exclaiming as he ran past them.

He was on the hunt again.

Although he wished he could have taken down more goblins, helping keep others safe during their goblin extermination would also help with the goblin extermination.

The sound of thudding steps made Goblin Slayer stop and turn.

There ran Hunter, running at an impressive speed.

Hunter came to a skidding stop, kicking up enough dirt to create a small mound in front of him.

"Hello, Goblin Slayer." Hunter began, not even slightly out-of-breath it seems. "I've come to accompany you on the goblin extermination."

"Why?" He replied. For Hunter's speed, he could've gotten another quest and went to complete that.

"Well, yours is the only goblin quest left today." The Hunter explained. "Everything else would just be for fun or money. I need neither."

Goblin Slayer looked at Hunter for a few seconds before starting to walk in the direction of the cave.

"Ok."

Hunter began to follow him.

As the two walked, Goblin Slayer thought about Hunter.

A strange man who covers his face, who wants to hunt goblins and needs neither money nor fun. Even Goblin Slayer needed the money if only to get more creative and safe ways of killing goblins.

"Are you sure we shouldn't be moving faster?" Hunter asked, looking at Goblin Slayer. "The faster we get there, the more likely we will save the group."

True, but there was one flaw in that way of thinking.

"If we get there too fast, we will be tired. Fighting goblins while tired is not a smart thing to do." Goblin Slayer explained.

Hunter looked at him oddly.

"You saw me drag a cart with supplies and three people on it, one in full armor and I am not even remotely tired. Then, I followed you at running speed, all without a moment's rest, and I am not even breathing any harder." Hunter explained. "I could carry you there at a good speed, and if I do get tired, at least you are rested and ready for battle."

Goblin Slayer thought about it for a second. It made sense, seeing as Hunter could defend himself if his ability to empty a nest of goblins was any indicator.

"Very well." Goblin Slayer nodded. Hunter bent forward slightly and held his arms behind him.

"I will give you a piggyback there. Hop on." Hunter said. Goblin Slayer stared at him for a second, before he hopped onto his back, interlocking his legs with Hunter's arms. "Now, direct me."

Hunter took off in an incredible sprint. Goblin Slayer held on tightly as the wind whipped around him.

It took incredible strength for him to run at this speed even with Goblin Slayer's added weight. It required muscle that Hunter's lean frame didn't look like it had. It must've been some form of magic.

Instead of the 10 minutes, it might've taken to get to his objective, Hunter sped it up to an astonishing minute. The saved time could've been the difference between the previous parties' life and their death.

In front of the cave, there stood no totems. No shamans, Goblin Slayer noted.

At the mouth of the cave, Goblin Slayer hopped off Hunter's back, both of them staring intently at the dark mouth of the cave.

"I have a lantern," Hunter said, activating the small lantern off his belt. Goblin Slayer looked at the thing disapprovingly. "I will take the point."

Goblin Slayer nodded. Hunter walked in the dim light of the lantern, thankfully enough for Goblin Slayer to be able to see any holes in the wall.

Hunter walked ahead silently, holding his strange cleaver in his right hand, while Goblin Slayer wielded his cheap sword and buckler.

Then, a scream.

Both Hunter and Goblin Slayer looked ahead, deeper into the darkness.

"I will go ahead. I can see in the dark." Hunter stated, before placing the lantern on the ground. Before Goblin Slayer could reply, Hunter took off running.

Goblin Slayer picked up the lantern and clipped it to his belt.

Silently, he followed.

He came to a skidding stop, slashing his cleaver horizontally.

The group of goblins, repeatedly stabbing something on the ground, were all bisected.

Blood sprayed through the air and covered him.

He stole a glance down at the body.

A young boy, covered in slashes and stabs. Limbs were removed, sitting nearby.

Unfortunate.

However, there were survivors.

Three girls. Prime targets for the goblins.

The Hunter spun on his heels, then ran at a woman who wielded no weapon.

Behind her were three goblins, so he cut one straight down the middle, before caving another's skull in with a bash of the Gatling Gun.

The last garbled a cry and stabbed at him. He stepped out of the way and cut through it's chest with his Saw Spear.

All three slumped dead just as he heard the string of bows drawback.

Scanning, he spotted two archers, aiming crude arrows at two of the women.

He charged, dragging both women out of the way as the arrows whizzed past them, shattering on contact with the wall.

The two women cried out, but he ignored them, dashing forward and bringing his Saw Spear around in a wide arc, slashing both of the archers.

One came undone at the shoulders, certainly killing it, but the other was a much shallower cut.

He followed through by crushing the goblin's head beneath his boot.

He looked around but detected no more. The goblins must've just sent a scout force to take down the party.

He breathed out calmly, before turning to the adventurers he saved.

The weaponless woman, some kind of unarmed fighter, was in a state of shock, standing wide-eyed and still, staring into nothing.

Another, a girl in very witch-like clothing, stared directly at him.

The last, some form of a priestess, stared at the corpse of their friend, covering her mouth.

There were a few moments of silence.

"Are any of you hurt?" He asked, firmly. If he remained calm, it might help them.

They all shook their heads slowly.

He didn't say anything further, for lack of skill comforting folk, when the light of his lantern shone through the cave.

Goblin Slayer walked toward them, sword and shield at the ready.

"Slayer." He called out. The women all flinched as he did so. They must've been afraid of him.

Goblin Slayer did not acknowledge him besides a nod, but he pick up his pace.

The light from the lantern appeared to wake the trio from their trance.

The three women fell on their butts, mumbling to themselves as their eyes filled with tears.

Hunter remained silent as Goblin Slayer arrived at the group.

"We need to get these lot out of here," Hunter said. Goblin Slayer nodded. There was a moment of silence.

"I will do it." Goblin Slayer stated. "You empty this nest."

Hunter watched as Goblin Slayer did his best to get the group to their feet.

He began to walk ahead as Goblin Slayer began to lead the group out.

It was unfortunate that they had to leave the boy's corpse behind, but he had to focus on the goblins'.

It had only taken a few seconds before thundering footsteps charged at him.

One of those larger goblins attacked, throwing a fist toward his face.

He dodged, letting the fist sail over his head as he uppercut the goblin using the Saw Spear. The sharp blade of the weapon cut through the flesh with ease, lodging itself into the goblins' face, almost sawing it's face off. The goblin, not dead from the attack, fell backwards, clutching it's face and screaming.

Without mercy, he stomped it's face, crushing skull and brain beneath his boot. Fingers sprayed out from beneath his foot, torn off by the force.

Four smaller goblins ahead stood, paralyzed by fear, letting out cries in their language.

He charged, leaving a trail of blood and brain matter, at the first, slashing it's head in two.

The others began to retreat. He merely ran ahead of them, appearing as though by magic.

The goblins attempted to stop and run the other way. The closest skidded to a stop in front of him, so he grabbed it.

With a growl, he threw the goblin, knocking the other two over. A crack was heard as they were sent flying, followed by another as his impromptu projectile's skull was crushed in by the cave wall.

The other two suffered broken bones, one having his spine jutting out his back.

The goblins' looked up at him, screaming in their language, perhaps for mercy.

Silently, the Hunter approached and raised his boot.

Another crunch, followed by crying and, surprisingly, actual tears from the still-living goblin.

The Hunter might've had sympathy, had he not witnessed what the goblins' were capable of and perfectly willing to do.

Instead, he dropped his weapons and grabbed the goblin in both hands. One grabbed the head, the other the legs.

Steadily, he began to pull in opposite directions.

The cave filled with the snapping and tearing of ligaments as the goblins' spine tore in two. The goblin screamed out for mercy, or for a quick death.

The Hunter cared not.

Slowly, the green skin tore, rips appearing as though in fabric. The skin snapped like twine as, with one final pull, the goblin was torn in two.

It was still alive, The Hunter hummed and held it's still living, and flailing, upper half in one hand as he clipped his mini-gun onto his belt and held the saw spear in the other.

He continued, a trail of blood following him.

Coming into the main area of the cave, he looked at the groups of goblins.

It appears he caught them mid-meal, crude bowls filled with gore and viscera in their hands.

There were two of those larger goblins, one of them with a goat leg dangling out of his mouth, the other with blood still dripping down his face.

There was a moment of fear in the area as the Hunter lifted the barely alive goblin half, the pathetic thing weakly groaning, the tears dried.

He threw the corpse hard, a sickening thud was heard as the goblin half smacked into the face of one of the larger goblins, blood spraying out and screams of agony echoing throughout the cave.

The area exploded in action, bowls flipped, and meat and blood flying through the air as the whole room charged at the Hunter.

The Hunter extended the Saw Spear.

Three goblins reached him first, so he swung in a wide arc.

The goblins all fell in two, blood spraying everywhere and their parts hitting him with their momentum.

Six more attacked, so he did the same, swinging a wide arc again. Four were killed, the other two unaffected.

They stabbed at him as he backstopped, stabbing the Saw Spear forward. One goblin impaled on it.

He kicked the other in the head, knocking it clean off the thing's shoulders.

He swung, the goblin stuck on the blade sent flying at another group of goblins' running at him. They all smacked against the wall, snapping and cracking followed cries of pain.

The large goblin finally reached him, it's big hands coming to grab his shoulders.

He merely cut the fat things' hands-off. The pathetic cries followed, so Hunter grabbed it by the throat in one hand and tossed it at the still recovering group from earlier. A splash of blood on the wall, followed by silence, alerted him to his solitude.

He approached the other fat goblin, seeing that the head of the half-goblin had impaled straight through the brain, gray matter and blood creating a puddle beneath them.

The Hunter then systematically decapitated every goblin in the room. If any escaped, Goblin Slayer could deal with them.

The other fat goblin used to crush a group against the wall, he pulled on. Under it, a bleeding mush of goblins had been squished by its weight, creating a small pile of gore.

He cut it's throat just in case before he observed the room.

No more goblins, no people to save, thankfully.

Now, he must find the children, if any.

Goblin Slayer waited.

Hunter had been inside for a while.

Goblin Slayer turned to the group.

They had calmed down a little.

"Stay here." He stated, before he withdrew a torch.

Before he could light it, the light from Hunter's lantern appeared within the cave.

Goblin Slayer studied the man, seeing no cuts or blood other than the goblin blood he was covered in.

He waited for Hunter to reach him.

"Any other survivors? Babies?" Goblin Slayer asked. Hunter shook his head.

"No people, or babies inside. I checked." Hunter replied. He turned to the group of women who stared at him, Hunter covered in goblin gore.

There was quite the trail behind him.

"How are they doing?" Hunter asked. Goblin Slayer shrugged.

"Better than they would be if we were late." He replied.

Hunter nodded, smirking. Small drops of blood fell off his hood.

"Let's get back to town." Hunter stated. "Can you lot get there?"

The group quietly nodded.

The group was walking silently. Hunter was glad he wouldn't be forced to carry three people, but a little worried at their silence.

Until, the priest-looking girl stepped up to him.

"Are you okay, mister?" She whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear. He turned to her and nodded.

"Are you?" Hunter asked. The girl waited for a second before shaking her head.

"I can't get Warriors' screams out of my head." She replied, shivering. Hunter took a second to reply.

"It never gets easy, watching a friend or party member die." Hunter sighed. "That is why it's important to always be ready, and cherish the moments we have together."

The girl does not reply, seeming to enter her own world.

Good.

Hunter was never any good at sympathy. That was the Doll's expertise.