Goblin Slayer, Vol. 6
Hardly a week later, people started using the new training grounds, even though they weren’t actually finished.
The early summer sunlight bathed the grassy hill, and a pleasantly warm breeze came blowing through. What better weather could there be to tempt one to work and sweat?
“Yikes—ow! Watch out, now my hand is numb!!”
“Don’t drop your shield hand! You want me to split your head open?!”
“Yipes! Ack! Waah—!”
Metal rang against metal in the circle of white sand.
The complex (one might almost say magical) training facility was still under construction, but even a total greenhorn could put up a fence. The circular space for mock battles was the first thing that had been finished, and eager young hands were already putting it through its paces. After all, the area behind the Guild building was too confined, and it was nice to have some loaner equipment on hand to try.
“Your hand is numb? I don’t care if it falls off! Don’t lower your shield! Your shield needs to be your most faithful companion in a fight!”
“Couldn’t we, y’know, take this just a little slower?!”
At the moment, it was Female Knight and Rhea Fighter—the young fighter dressed in leather armor and carrying a round shield—who were competing in the ring.
Well, competing might have been a strong word. Female Knight had the duel by the scruff of the neck and was enjoying herself. As for the rhea fighter, it was all she could do to squeal and get her shield up to block the incoming attacks.
And she needed to: the practice blades might not carry an edge, but getting hit with them could still leave one with worse than a bruise.
“What’s wrong? Get on your game! If you can’t stand up to this, how are you ever gonna deal with a dragon’s teeth and claws?!”
“I’m just Porcelain! I don’t wanna think about any dragons!!”
“Don’t you know the parable of the random encounter with the dragon? Whoop—there go your feet!”
“Eek!!”
An exemplary sweep from Female Knight took Rhea Fighter’s feet clear out from under her, sending her tumbling gracelessly to the sand.
Laughing uproariously, Female Knight pressed her advantage, lashing out with the hilt of her sword. One blow from a hilt like this, with the sword held in reverse and raised above the head, could be critical.
Gasping and shrieking, Rhea Fighter tried to escape the trap, only to stumble again.
Female Knight was ruthless, or perhaps lacked something in sympathy; in any event, she came on without mercy. It almost crossed the line into cruelty. And she wondered why no one wanted to marry her…
“Whoa…”
“Yeah, holy crap.”
Rookie Warrior and the red-haired wizard looked on, their expressions stiff, trying not to think about the fact that it would be their turn next. They had never realized that sitting outside that circle, trying to steel themselves for what was coming, could be a form of training itself.
Where did they think they were—the impregnable Great Labyrinth in the land of utmost cold? It would be impossible to go there, or to get back.
“Hey, don’t get distracted, you punks.”
The butt of a spear gave each of the young adventurers a gentle bonk on the head. And who should be holding that spear but Spearman, dressed not in his usual armor but in civilian clothes, a silver tag hanging around his neck.