Chapter 40 - Chapter 39 The Trio's Brutality

As night fell, the trio arrived at the guild, covered in bloodstains—especially Isla, who was drenched. "Ms. Receptionist, here are the goblin emblems. We also wiped out all the goblins in the cave," Isla reported with her usual aloof expression. Isao yawned, visibly disgusted by the mud and blood on her clothes, while Sylveria stood proudly, pleased with their accomplishment. The receptionist and the surrounding adventurers stared in shock, struggling to process both the sight of the blood-soaked trio and what they had just heard. "Uh... The quest only required you to kill three goblins," the receptionist said, her eye twitching. "Are you telling me you raided their nest and wiped them all out?"

"Yeah," Isla replied casually. "The goblins ran into a cave, so we followed them and ended up fighting a bunch of them—including some that used magic, a few big ones, and uh... a funny-looking giant goblin wearing a crown. Oh, here’s half of his crown, by the way."

The receptionist’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what Isla had just handed her—it was the Goblin King’s crown.

The receptionist's incredulous gaze darted between the gore-splattered trio and the gleaming goblin king's crown, her mind reeling at the implications of their extraordinary accomplishment. "Multiple goblins shooting magic, big ones, and a crowned...giant goblin? You're telling me that in addition to the 3 required kills, you single-handedly wiped out an entire goblin stronghold?" She paused, processing the sheer scale of destruction implied by their tale, her initial skepticism giving way to a mix of awe and trepidation. The adventurers in the room murmured among themselves, their expressions ranging from envy to disbelief.

"I'll...need to verify these claims with the GuildMaster," the receptionist said finally, her voice tight with a combination of amazement and concern. "In the meantime, please, take care of your wounds and clean yourselves up. We'll get you properly compensated for this...remarkable feat."

"Oh, don't worry, we don't have any wounds. We just got covered in blood because there were at least 209 goblins there. Oh, and here is the bore and slime quest" Isla said casually with an aloof expression.

The receptionist, still struggling to comprehend the trio's astonishing feats, waved them off. "T-then, just get a good rest, and you can come back tomorrow for your reward. We'll prepare something suitable for heroes of your caliber." With a final nod, the exhausted but triumphant girls departed, leaving behind a trail of awestruck whispers and pointed stares from the stunned guild members.

Wasting no time, the receptionist sent veteran adventurers to inspect the goblin nest the trio had cleared.

As they ventured inside, the brutal aftermath of the battle unfolded before them. The cavern was drenched in blood, the air thick with the metallic scent of death and the lingering stench of burnt flesh. Goblin corpses lay scattered, their dismembered bodies a grim testament to the slaughter. Amidst the carnage, delicate lavender petals drifted through the air, their soft fragrance eerily out of place. At the far end of the cave, the goblin king's mutilated body lay in a twisted, mutilated heap. The cave walls shimmered with frost, as if the cold itself had seeped into the very earth.

As the adventurers gawked at the gruesome sight, their initial awe gave way to horror and revulsion. One of them, his voice trembling, pointed a shaking finger at the impaled crown piece. "I can't believe it... Those three really did this? Look, half the missing crown that Isla kid gave to the receptionist is stuck piercing the goblin king himself!"

Whispers of disbelief and dread spread through the group as they took in the extent of the destruction. The notion that mere children, hardly more than preteens, could accomplish such a feat seemed utterly impossible, yet the evidence before them was unmistakable.

"We're reporting this straight to the GuildMaster. Those kids won't be underestimated anymore, that's for certain."

The receptionist's shock transformed into outright incredulity as the grim tale unfolded before her. She glanced towards the Guildmaster's chambers, noticing the heavy oak door swing open to reveal the stoic leader himself, his imposing presence commanding attention. The veteran adventurer continued to recount the harrowing details, their voice trembled with revulsion, and they retched, the grisly images etched into their mind proving too much to bear. The assembled crowd exchanged awestruck glances, their earlier laughter and banter dying on their lips.

Even Clementine, normally quick with a witty remark, stood mute, his jaw slack with disbelief as he listened to the tale. The mercenary/adventurer's own exploits, though often exaggerated, paled in comparison to the unimaginable slaughter described by the shaken adventurer.

The GuildMaster's deep, resonant voice cut through the silence, his piercing gaze sweeping the room. "I want every able-bodied member prepared to leave at dawn's first light."

Violet's lush, ruby lips parted in surprise, her voice laced with intrigue as she posed the question. "Leave? Where to, Guild Master?" The assembled adventurers leaned forward, eager for guidance and clarification. The GuildMaster's eyes narrowed, his mind already racing with strategies and possibilities. "We'll mobilize a thorough investigation into the goblin nest, to determine the extent of the damage and gather intelligence on potential threats. Additionally, we'll dispatch scouts to the nearby villages, ensuring their safety and monitoring for any signs of goblin incursions."

He paused, surveying the room with a calculating gaze. "Our priority lies in securing the region and protecting the people. These...children's actions, while unprecedented, have brought attention to a pressing issue. We cannot afford to ignore it."


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Author's Note

FriedGalacticChicken

Just to clear some confusion. The receptionist's name is Violet. I just didn't put it in there... I tend to already name the characters but not use their names until later on in the story. Sorry, lol. The Guild Master's name is Balmung.