Goblin Slayer - Volume 8 - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 – The Prime Of Youth, Now Ashes

The female bishop bit her lip, holding back a cry at the cold gust that cut her like a sword. 

The chill air, summoned from the ninth level of the world of the demons, instantly turned the dungeon chamber into an icebox. 

Greater demons, their skin blue-black, came from the same realm. Two of them appeared, bulging with magical power and so massive they threatened to fill the entire room. It was precisely the bandage covering her eyes and obscuring her vision that allowed her to sense their presence with such terrible clarity. 

High Priestess, her teeth chattering with the cold, desperately tried to force strength into legs that threatened to betray her. 

“Taa—ahh!!” 

“OUURGGGRERRR?!” 

A sweet voice rose in a vigorous shout as the sword and scales flashed. The scales, attached to the sword by a chain, hummed. 

The night stalker that had been approaching through the blizzard found its skull cleaved in a single blow and met its end. Night stalkers were just a step away from becoming self-aware vampires, but even the highest-level undead couldn’t survive the splattering of its brains. 

A female warrior turned to where High Priestess was wiping bits of brain and skull fragments off herself. 

“Sorry, I let one get through!” 

“I’m quite all right!” High Priestess replied as she took stock of her companions. Small fry like this wouldn’t trouble them much. 

Female Warrior had just pierced the heart of a burglar, a man dressed like a shadow. Confronting the huge, hideous demons was the party’s leader, a fighter in plate armor. He would keep them safe on that side. He carried a scimitar, an Eastern weapon, and he looked as much at ease as ever. 

Their half-elf scout, standing in a deep stance nearby and watching for an opportunity, looked tense—but was smiling nonetheless. 

Beside High Priestess was a bugman monk. Though he was reserved and quiet, he stood calmly at the ready. And on her other side was Female Wizard, searching for the perfect moment to cast her magic… 

The whole party was pelted by sleet and hail, dealing them damage as they endured it. Stopping the storm was the priority. 

“Sword Prince, to those who see what should be seen and speak what should be spoken, grant your protection!” 

She drew a sigil in light, holding the sword and scales in the center. It produced an exceptionally strong Protection but could not entirely stop the cold. The chill—an icy mountaintop in winter must be like this—cut the adventurers deep. 

“Hold on, everyone, I’ll heal you—!” 

“No! It’s more important to silence the enemy’s magic! If they hit us again, we might not make it!” Female Wizard, holding her short staff and surveying the battlefield, spoke despite her skin turning blue, her body shaking. How many times had they been saved by her careful instructions? 

“All right!” Bugman Monk called from beside High Priestess who still held her sword and scales aloft as he began to weave a seal. “I’m on it! Even a demon should be weaker if we can cut them off from magic!” 

“We’re counting on you!!” High Priestess cried. 

The monk was the most advanced member of their party and had been a mentor to her ever since they first met. High Priestess felt the pain of the icy blast and all fear of the enemy melt out of her heart. Her prayer to the gods above rang out, cutting through the blizzard. 

“My god the roaming wind, let all we say on the road stay secret among us!” 

“You have the light to remain silent!” 

Silence. 

An invisible power filled the chamber, and the awful demons began to smirk. 

Adventurers were always like this. They thought that neutralizing the demons’ spells would give them the edge. But demons were creatures most intimate with magic. No half-baked seal would prevent them from using their spells. 

Moreover, taking adventurers’ thin hopes and trampling them underfoot was a true joy for such a creature. Demons savored above all the despair of those who possessed language. 

Come, let’s give them another taste of blizzard. 

The men might survive, but they would be ravaged if they did—perfect for a good meal either way. The two female spell casters might die, but the warrior, she might make it. 

Well, even dead, women’s meat could be put to any number of— 

“—?!” 

When they opened their mouths, though, they realized they couldn’t speak. 

Our spells have been sealed?! By a little human girl and a literal bug?! 

“Fantastic! You’re mine!!” As soon as the scout registered the demons’ confusion, he dashed between them, dagger in hand. An instant after he passed by, twin geysers of blood erupted, and the massive bodies slumped. 

He had cut the tendons in their feet—but by the time the monsters noticed that, it was too late. 

“You’re one step behind!” Female Warrior’s spear came whistling through the air, landing a critical hit. A heart, pierced by it, gushed blackish blood. 

“—?! ??!” 

“Ahhh-ha-ha. We can’t hear you, remember?” Chuckling, the warrior jumped back, not a trace of gore on her. Just one left. 

Without hesitation, their leader, the swordfighter, closed the distance, scimitar in hand. 

Shhp. A single, easy cut. One stroke from low to high. Then he grabbed the hilt of his sword, turning it in his hand, and brought it down again for a second blow. 

One arm went flying, then another. As he swept back at his target, the blade took flesh and bone with it. 

“??!” 

Blood gushing, the greater demon thrashed and opened its mouth as if howling. 

Normally, it was impossible to hear a voice suppressed by Silence. But this cry reached the ears of High Priestess ever so faintly. The slightest sound. 

“He’s trying to call his allies!” she told her friends, having guessed what the demon was up to. Bugman Monk made a clicking sound with his jaws. 

“What to do. We’re definitely finishing them off regardless—would you rather do it after there’s a few more? I’m happy either way!” 

Half-Elf Scout, still using his dagger to keep the enemy at bay, exclaimed, “Any more of them and we’re going to have our hands full—I say we finish him off now!” 

“Do it.” The growled order from their leader settled the question for the party. 

“All together, then!” 

“Right!” 

Female Wizard raised her staff, High Priestess readied her sword and scales, while their leader shouted and began weaving a sigil with his free hand. 

“Ventus! Wind!” 

“Lumen! Light!” 

Libero! Release! 

The next moment, a gale of wind, accompanied by a burst of light and heat, streaked through the chamber. Noiselessly, without ceremony, the ice and snow melted away. Nothing, except perhaps for the most exalted of dragons, could maintain its form in the face of this forbidden spell, which drew on the power from which sprung all things. 

The demon, slammed by the burning wind, was annihilated before it could even scream, reduced to mere ashes. 

Then the wind blew through, leaving only a lingering warmth and nothing living where it had struck. 

Now only a treasure chest remained. The adventurers looked at one another and breathed a sigh of relief. 

Their leader, the swordfighter, shook the blood from his blade before offering words of thanks to the others. 

“Welp, guess that shows you what greater demons are good for,” Half-Elf Scout joked. 

“Yeah—without their spells, all they’ve got are their numbers.” Female Warrior giggled as she watched the scout make for the treasure chest. She was keeping an eye out; they may have defeated the monsters in the burial chamber, but there could still be enemies elsewhere in the dungeon. 

Likewise, their leader naturally remained alert. The battle was over, but that was no excuse for a lapse in vigilance. 

“How far have we come? I’d like to see the map, if I may.” 

“Oh, certainly. I’m still in the middle of mapping… Hold on a second.” 

High Priestess, startled out of a reverie by Female Wizard’s request, quickly dug through her bag. 

She produced a notebook made from a sheaf of sheepskin paper with grids scratched on it. She used a writing instrument to connect the little boxes, marking out the new burial chamber. She enjoyed work like this precisely because of her inability to see. Although she couldn’t be quite as proud of her skills as she once was. 

“Two long, two wide…” 

“There may be a hidden door. We’ll have to check later.” 

“Right. I’ll prepare Holy Light…” High Priestess nodded at Bugman Monk then passed the map book to Female Wizard. “Here. I think we’re just about in the middle of the ninth floor.” 

“Thanks.” Female Wizard smiled and took it then trotted over to their leader. 

He scrutinized his blade, inspecting the rivets on the hilt then examined his armor. He sighed as Female Wizard came to show him the map with all the pride of a child displaying her drawing. 

High Priestess smiled at the way Female Wizard pouted, as if saying, I’m the elder here, you know! 

Truly, greater demons were not to be underestimated. But they who had braved their way to the ninth level of this maze were experienced veterans of the hack and slash. 

“Even so,” High Priestess said, letting out a soft ah of relief as she focused her attention on each of the four walls of the burial chamber. She placed a hand on her not-yet-ample chest. “I’m so glad it wasn’t goblins…” 

Her voice was so soft that no one else heard it, and then it sank into the darkness of the labyrinth.