Chapter 12: 12. Talking swords and goblins
AT THE SAME TIME
ALEXANDER
The guild was still screaming when I shoved myself toward the request board, I was done. Absolutely done, no more legendary blacksmiths, no more cult rumors, no more emotionally intelligent weapons. I just wanted a NORMAL mission, something safe, something simple, something that could not possibly become a historical event. My eyes locked onto a paper near the bottom of the board.
"Goblin subjugation request. A small cave nest was detected near the eastern hills. Recommended Rank: C."
"Perfect."My eyes started sparkling.
"Why are you smiling like that?"Michael immediately looked suspicious.
"Because this." I grabbed the request triumphantly. "Is NORMAL."
The guild went quiet for half a second.
"He said that last time before accidentally creating a religion."An adventurer said loudly enough.
"I HEARD THAT."I said.
"Goblins."Scarlet leaned slightly closer to read the request.
"YES!" I pointed at the paper ecitedly. "Simple monsters! No politics! No worshipping! No emotionally unstable swords!"
"You know what I mean."The sword at my waist pulsed immediately.
"Statistically, goblin extermination missions escalate frequently."Noa looked thoughtful.
"I reject statistics."I said.
Michael snatched the request paper from my hands then blinked, then blinked again.
"Kid."He said.
"What now?"I asked.
"This cave is near the old forge ruins."Michael said plainly.
Silence. I froze slowly. Behind me, I heard Zavier laugh. Not loudly just enough to make my soul leave my body slightly.
"Why are you laughing?" I asked carefully.
"What an interesting coincidence."Zavier crossed his arms calmly.
"NO."I said.
"Master appears spiritually injured."Scarlet tilted her head.
"BECAUSE EVERY TIME SOMEONE SAYS ’INTERESTING’ MY LIFE GETS WORSE."I said.
Noa nodded once.
"Accurate pattern recognition."Noa nodded once.
Michael looked between me and Zavier like he was watching a disaster approach in real time. Then his expression changed.
"Wait."He said.
He looked at the mission again, then at Zavier, then at me.
"No."Zavier said.
"What?"I asked.
"The eastern hill forge ruins..."Michael slowly lowered the paper.
Zavier smiled faintly. The guildmaster immediately pointed at him.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT."The guildmaster said.
"I didn’t say anything."Zavier said.
"You SMILED."Michael said.
"That is not illegal."Michael said.
"It SHOULD BE."I said.
The entire guild leaned closer instantly. One adventurer whispered dramatically:
"He knows something."Zavier said.
"Oh no."Another one gasped.
"The eastern ruins..."A blacksmith near the counter suddenly paled.
Michael looked ready to develop a stress related illness.
"Kid." He said slowly. "Do you have any idea what’s buried under those ruins?"
"Hopefully goblins?"I said confused.
Nobody answered, that was worse.
"Why is everyone silent?"I stared around the room nervously.
"That’s where Zavier forged the first living weapon." The old blacksmith from earlier whispered.
"I want a refund on this mission."My soul physically attempted to leave my body.
"Master has already accepted fate."Scarlet looked strangely calm.
"I HAVE NOT."I said.
"Too late."Noa crossed her arms.
"DING."Then the system appeared.
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS."I pointed at the screen aggressively.
"CHAIN QUEST DETECTED."The system said.
"NO."The guild collectively groaned.
"HIDDEN FORGE EVENT ACTIVATED."The system continued.
"NO."I said.
"REWARD POSSIBILITY: EXTREMELY HIGH."The system continued.
"WHY DOES EVERYTHING AROUND YOU TURN INTO A LEGENDARY QUEST?!"Michael grabbed his head instantly.
"I DON’T KNOW!" I screamed.
"I’ll come with you."Zavier walked past me toward the guild doors still smiling lightly.
"YOU ARE THE REASON THIS ISN’T NORMAL."I said.
"Protecting Master remains priority."Scarlet immediately followed him.
"Probability of catastrophic incident increased to ninety two percent."Noa nodded once and followed too.
"I HATE THOSE ODDS."I groaned.
"If you find another forbidden weapon, DO NOT TOUCH IT."Michael pointed at me dramatically.
"I FEEL LIKE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAID EARLIER IN MY LIFE."I sighed.
The sword at my waist pulsed again, almost offended.
"YOU SHUT UP TOO."I said.
"Five silver says the cave explodes."Behind me, several adventurers immediately started placing bets.
"Ten says he accidentally awakens an ancient curse."Another one said.
"Twenty says the goblins start worshipping him."Third one added.
"I HEARD THAT TOO!"I screamed right at them.
As soon as I left, I knew I had to do this before everything went out of hand. The cave entrance felt like a mouth that had been waiting a very long time to close. Cold air spilled out from inside, heavy with damp stone and something worse. I tightened my grip on the sword.
"Okay." I muttered. "Normal goblins, normal mission, normal money, no disasters."
The sword in my hand stayed quiet for about three seconds.
"Incorrect assumption."A voice said.
"NO."I nearly dropped it."You can talk?!"
"I can and you are already being observed."A voice said.
"BY WHAT?!"I asked.
Scarlet stepped beside me calmly, eyes glowing faintly as she looked into the darkness.
"Master." She said softly. "There are multiple life signatures ahead."
"Seventeen. Possibly more." Noa’s voice followed immediately.
"Why is it never three goblins and a bad rock."I exhaled slowly.
"It would be inefficient storytelling."Zavier, behind us, tilted his head slightly.
"That’s not comforting!"I said angrily.
We stepped inside. The moment we crossed the threshold, the cave changed, not physically, it felt like it noticed us.The sword pulsed again.
"Left corridor."A voice said.
"I can see the left corridor."I frowned.
"You can not see what is inside it."
"Master. Movement."Scarlet suddenly raised a hand slightly.
Too late, something screamed from the dark. Then everything rushed us, goblin shapes exploded out of the tunnel like a broken dam. I reacted instantly, steel moved, blood hit stone, and then I heard the same voice again.
"Above you."A voice said, and I ducked without thinking.
A goblin’s blade missed my head by a hair and slammed into the wall. My heart jumped.
"Okay." I whispered. "That one saved my life. I admit it."
"Obviously."A voice said.
"Don’t get smug in my head."I groaned.
Scarlet moved forward like she was walking through a bad memory. Light spilled from her hands, the goblins froze instantly, every single one. Then they all dropped their weapons.
"Why are they stopping?" I said cautiously.
"Not all of them are reacting."Noa cut down one that didn’t stop moving.
"I believe they are... recognizing me."Scarlet blinked slightly.
"Saint..."One goblin dropped to its knees.
"Blessed one..."Another followed immediately.
"Divine signal..."A third started shaking violently.
"Why is this happening again."I slowly turned my head.
"I am not attempting divinity."Scarlet looked mildly distressed.
"That’s what makes it worse!"I scramed.
"Focus."The sword in my hand hummed.
"I AM focused."I said.
I moved and the goblin dropped instantly. Noa appeared beside me like a shadow cutting through space.
"Your reaction timing has improved again."She said.
"I don’t like that I am getting better at this."I said.
Zavier, further back, suddenly stopped.
"Something is deeper." He muttered.
"Zavier?"Scarlet looked over.
He didn’t answer, that was the first time I had seen his expression change. The sword in my hand pulsed again, sharper this time.
"Do not proceed deeper without caution."He said.
"You’re telling me that NOW?"I asked.
Another wave of goblins rushed in, this time faster, more coordinated. Like something was pushing them forward.
"Formation change detected."Noa adjusted her stance.
"Master, they are being driven."Scarlet stepped slightly back-to-back with me.
"This is not a goblin nest."Zavier’s voice cut in quietly.
Silence hit harder than the fighting.
"Then what is it?" I asked.
"Vault."The sword and Zavier answered instead.
I froze mid step.
"Vault?"I asked.
"Below structure." It continued. "Ancient forge residue detected."
"So it is still here."Zavier exhaled slowly.
That sounded bad, like really bad. The goblins screamed again and rushed. I fought. But through it all the sword kept talking. "Right flank. Two targets behind. Do not hesitate. Now."
"Why are you so calm?!"At some point I snapped.
"Because I am not human."A sword said.
"That’s not reassuring!"I screamed.
"Master!"Scarlet suddenly shouted from the side.
A goblin broke through her guard. Noa intercepted instantly, Zavier stepped forward slightly and the cave flickered. As it recognized him too, the sword went silent for half a second. Even the goblins hesitated.
"We are too late for normal mission."Zavier’s voice came again, quieter than before.
"I hate goblin jobs."I stared into the darkness ahead.
"Correct conclusion."The sword pulsed once. "It is no longer goblin territory."
"What is it then?"I asked.
"Unclaimed forge inheritance."A voice said.
The cave deepened, and I realized something very important. This wasn’t a goblin hunt anymore, this was something waiting for me to step closer.
