Chapter 32 Martin and His Party

Three weeks time skip

And with these words, three weeks of training, food scavenging, forest exploring, and monster killing have passed by. After three weeks of fighting Bill every day, Suzuka finally learned to tap into her body enhancement, now she can use 100% of her body transformation. In her spare time, Suzuka also was training her rune magic letters and magic box powers.

 It was the middle of the day. Bill and Suzuka walked to the usual spot where they trained and started another mock battle. A few minutes after Bill and Suzuka began training they heard a faint shout from the distance. It was coming out of the forest. They stopped their training and looked at who it might be. Not long after, they saw people coming out through the thick grass, out of the forest depths.

 4 men and 1 woman, it was a party of adventurers. 3 men and a woman stayed far away, one man in full iron plate armor slowly approached Suzuka and Bill while still keeping quite a distance between them. The man was waving his hand from far away and began to shout:

- Hello there! We are friendly! We don't want any trouble! We just want to talk a little! Is everything okay there? May I approach you?

- Everything's just dandy here, traveler! You may approach if you mean no trouble for Bill!

- Hey! Hey! Hello! Hi! Are... are you an adventurer? Come! Please!

Bill looked at the very excited girl, covered his mouth with a hand, and whispered to her:

- Calm down Girl... keep calm. Let Bill do the talking. They might be bandits... had it happen a few times to me.

The approaching man couldn't hear Bill talk, he was a bit too far for that. Adventurer finally walked up to them, he was a good-looking man in his thirties, light tan skin, with blond hair, clean-shaved facial hair, and in full iron plate. He was a bit taller than Suzuka about 180cm in height.

He was carrying a long sword and a small shield. When the man come close he said:

- Hello there again, my apologies for disturbing your business, but we were walking by and heard the sounds of combat. when we looked closer we saw a woman in front of a "Minotaur", if I may call you that?

- You can call me Bill, this little girl over here is Suzuka. So? Your point is? Adventurer.

- Ah! Where are my manners, my name is Martin, Martin Lilleman at your service...

- Okay... Martin, what now? What do you want?

- Oh no nothing, we just wanted to make sure everything is okay here. Umm... Well... You are a big scary monster... and well... she's a woman.

- So! You just assumed Bill was about to hurt this little girl. Huh?

- Well... to tell you the truth, yes, we did. My apologies of course, now I see that clearly is not the case here.

- Hmm... I see, so? You just passing by then. No business with Bill.

- May I ask who is this woman, Suzuka was the name?

- This little girl is lost, Bill gives her shelter till some adventurers walk by and escort her to town. Interested in the job? Might even give you a coin.

- Oh no, no. We are on our way to clear a goblins nest. We can't do that right now, we are on a quest. Some adventurers failed to finish their quest and left one nest standing. But yes, we could pick her up on way back, I just need to check with my party first if everyone agrees.

- That nest you talking about, is it the Goblin's castle ruins?

- Indeed it is, the previous party got almost wiped out. Fools, couldn't share the gold and brought trouble on themself. Only a rookie power user and one adventurer survived, at least that's what I heard, but that's not important. We are here to clean up that mess.

- Heh! Typical adventurers, it's always the gold...

Bill looked at Martin, then he looked at his party, slowly checked their armor and gear then said:

- Goblins castle... 2 days ago... Bill saw around 100 Goblins total, between them Gobliman and Orc are mixed in. No Trolls, Ogres, or Behemoths... At least outside, Bill doesn't know how many inside the castle ruins... Might be another 50... But... Bill suggests turning around, you just gonna die there.

- With all due respect, we are experienced adventurers, we killed countless numbers of goblins and cleared numerous goblin nests. We are well aware of what dangers goblins might bring. Although, thank you for the warning and the information. I and my party will discuss what to do with this woman you call Suzuka. So, please wait a few minutes here, I'm going to discuss this matter right now and be back in a short time.

- Heh! Experienced... Bill gave his warning. Do as you, please.

The man walked to his party and started a discussion, it was too far for Bill and Suzuka to hear what they were talking about. Suzuka began talking to Bill after Martin went back to his party.

- Bill? What do you think? Are they adventurers? Bandits? Can we trust them? Can I trust them?

- Calm down girl... This, Martin guy... It is no mistake, he's an adventurer. As far as the trust goes... hmm... yeah, he told no lie... so, Bill thinks he can be trusted. As for the rest of them, can't tell.

- Oh this is great news Bill, I can finally leave this forest. How about we offer help? That way you won't need to worry about goblins and I will get my escort to town.

- That's an okay idea, would be easy to take that castle down even if it's with them.

Martin finished discussing with his party and come back to Bill.

- My apologies for the wait, but I come with good news. I and my party, all agree to escort this woman to safety. On our way back, we will come by through here and we will pick her up.

- So! You won't reconsider abandoning the quest.

- No, we will not.

- Then... this girl and Bill offer a helping hand?

- Thank you for the offer but I have to decline. We have our ways of dealing with monsters, we have a plan. Adding new members now would only disrupt our teamwork. But, again, thank you for the information. Time is of the essence, and with that note, I must go, a good day to you both.

- Heh! A plan... Sure! Good day.

- Please be safe and don't forget to pick me up, thanks in advance.

Martin turn around, waved his hand, and went back to his party then disappeared into the thickness of the forest. Bill and Suzuka were done with their training for the day and went back inside the cave to get some rest and grab a bite. Bill dropped on his bad and started to chug his Wild Rush apples from a bucket. Suzuka had a few pieces of dried meat.

- Wow! What confidence Martin had, fancy armor, weapons. He looked strong and his party too. What do you think Bill? I wonder how long will it take for them to clear that castle. Well, I guess... now you won't need to go there and kill all these goblins yourself.

- Bunch of fools... and you too... that's what Bill thinks. They won't be coming back, forget about them.

- Wait, wait... what!? But... but you said I can trust them and they looked like a strong party too. What's wrong?

- Girl say Strong? Did they look strong to Girl?! In a fight against you, all five of them against Girl... With one hand you could wipe the flour with all five of them! That's how strong they are! They are only humans! Confidence?! Phehh! Does Girl want to know more?

- Bill, don't get mad, okay? Relax and tell me why you think that.

- First! Fancy armor you say? Did you see any of them wear a goddam helmet with that fancy armor? Huh?! Arrow, rock, stick anything that hits the head is a fatal wound. They had little to no supplies on them, did you see any bags? Bill sure didn't!

- Oh dam... Your right, I didn't see any.

- Second! Party is made of jokes! He brings an old man, a woman, and a dam kid! Martin and that other man with white hair only ones who looks like they can fight. Now let Bill tell you Girl what's gonna happen when they reach the castle and start the fight. Do Girl wants to know or should I stop talking here?

- Yes, I want to know, but I guess you tell me that goblins kill them.

- No, Girl... Worse! After the fight starts, the first ones to die will be Martin and that man with white hair. They are the strongest in that party... Pheh! When they die, goblins will swarm the rest. The old man will be butchered alive and fed piece by piece to wolfhounds while still watching how his flesh is eaten until he dies.

- Melvyn all mighty, no! Please tell me you joking Bill. That's awful.

- It gets worse, that kid they brought along? He will be a goblins wolfhounds plaything, they will toss him in a fighting pit with wolfhounds and watch how they tear him to pieces. It won't be easy death, they will go at him slow... maybe one hound first, then two hounds... until he can't keep up. The rest you can imagine yourself!

- Oh this is bad, really bad, Bill we need to do something.

- Bill offered help! He refused Bill's help! Not running after fools! Not begging them to stop!

- What about me? How will I get back to town without help? I miss my parent, I want to see them.

- Well! Bill is guessing Girl will need to wait another month or so. Maybe some smarter adventurers come by.

- I feel sorry for them then, I hope you are wrong Bill... wait... what about that woman?

- Heh! The woman, Goblins won't kill her.

- Wait, what? Why?

- They will breed goblins with her until she dies, that's why! But... Look, Girl... Don't lose hope, there is a chance that Martin will make the right call, after seeing how many goblins there are, he decides to cancel the quest. But I guess... if we don't see them in a week... we can assume they are dead.

- You really think, that they change their mind and turn back?

- No, they all going to die in these damn castle ruins. That's what Bill thinks. But, anything can happen, only time will tell.