Light Novel Volume 10

'''Goblin Slayer! Volume 10' is the tenth light novel of the Goblin Slayer'' series.

Official Synopsis
Spring has arrived, and Goblin Slayer's party is on the job guarding a vineyard as part of a goblin hunt. This vineyard happens to belong to the Temple of the Earth Mother where Priestess was raised, and one of the nuns most dear to her has become the subject of a disturbing rumor involving goblins...

Priestess is anguished by the cruel whispers, and a hesitant Goblin Slayer comes to a decision-one that may involve shady characters who operate under cover of darkness!

Chapters

 * Chapter 1: Storm Front
 * Chapter 2: Ghouls & Ghosts
 * Chapter 3: Roguelike
 * Interlude: Of How Everyone Does Their Own Thing
 * Pause: Of Running Through the Shadows of the Capital
 * Chapter 4: A Word from Our Sponsors
 * Chapter 5: Tower Defense
 * Interlude: Of How Everyone Is Fighting for Their Lives
 * Chapter 6: Those Who Love Neither Wine nor Women nor Song

Summary
Spring has arrived, and Goblin Slayer's party is on the job guarding a vineyard as part of a goblin hunt. This vineyard happens to belong to the Temple of the Earth Mother where Priestess was raised, and one of the nuns most dear to her has become the subject of a disturbing rumor involving goblins...

Priestess is anguished by the cruel whispers, and a hesitant Goblin Slayer comes to a decision-one that may involve shady characters who operate under cover of darkness!

Chapter 1
Priestess and Goblin Slayer manage to fight off two wargs guarding a goblin nest, after which they deduce that the nest was large in size. Priestess, now seventeen, notes that it had been three years since the day she met Goblin Slayer, but doubts whether she truly matured. She brings up that the Temple of the Earth Mother will be making wine from the early grape harvest, and asks Goblin Slayer if he would like to try any. Goblin Slayer accepts the invitation right before they complete the quest.

After filing the quest report, the two regroup with the other party members, whom had just returned from guarding the Earth Mother's temple vineyard. Lizard Priest tells Goblin Slayer that they found small footprints beyond the vineyard, but they were uncertain of whether they came from goblins or not. In response, Goblin Slayer agrees to inspect the area himself.

A heavy rainstorm occurs the next day, but the weather does not stop Goblin Slayer from going. Once the party gets together, they soon arrive at the Temple of the Earth Mother, where they are greeted by Sister Grape, whom Priestess introduces as one of her seniors. Sister Grape asks for help keeping the grape vines safe from the rain, which the party provides by planting umbrellas, as well as having Dwarf Shaman use spells. Goblin Slayer notices shadows beyond the rain, but chooses not to pursue them after thinking they weren't goblins.

While getting to know Goblin Slayer, Sister Grape thanks him for taking care of Priestess, to which Goblin Slayer replies that Priestess was the one helping him. Sister Grape informs him of a goblin presence in a nearby pioneer village, and Goblin Slayer immediately agrees to deal with it.

Not along after the day passes, rumors began to spread that Sister Grape was the daughter of a goblin.

Chapter 2
Goblin Slayer leads the party to investigate the old burial mounds from Sister Grape’s request about goblins. Priestess is unusually angry at the start of the quest after hearing the spreading rumors about Sister Grape’s parentage causing the rest of the team to worry about her. During their investigation, a small horde of goblins appear, but they are undead and a red flying demon! Lizard Priest is able to cut the demon down and Priestess is able to dispel the undead horde, but she hurt her leg in the process. After collecting themselves, Goblin Slayer is taken aback about the undead goblins wondering if a Goblin Necromancer of some sort has been created but wonders aloud where the real goblins are.

Back at the Tavern Guild, Priestess surprises everyone by drinking her frustrations at the rumors away and getting drunk for the first time. As the rest of the party try to help cheer her up, Padfoot Waitress shows up and wonders aloud why Goblin Slayer isn’t there to help cheer Priestess up. The waitress then reveals to them that a big Wine Merchant from the Water Town tried to sell the guild a contract for his wine over Sister Grape’s, but Rhea Chef turned them down. Padfoot Waitress and Dwarf Shaman reason that the spreading of the rumors about Sister Grape and the timing of this merchant’s offer isn’t a coincidence. Elsewhere, Goblin Slayer files his report and Guild Girl encourages him to give Priestess a hand given she’s sad and the Guild sees her as a rising star. As he leaves, Sister Grape calls him over in secret and asks if Priestess is OK and if he thinks she is causing Priestess stress, which Goblin Slayer denies but is openly troubled by the suffering of the two girls.

Goblin Slayer returns to the farm to discover the Cow Girl’s Uncle was given a business proposition from a wine merchant from the Water Town to turn his dairy farm into a barley farm so as to make beer. He turned them down and remarks how he likes being a cattle & dairy man and is content with that as the two men share a rare moment of understanding each other. Goblin Slayer and Cow Girl eat dinner and she senses that he is clearly bothered about something and he admits for the first time, his total focus on goblin slaying has made him not know how to act in this particular moment and Cow Girl reassures him that he should just “be his usual self” and he’ll figure it out.

The next day, Goblin Slayer goes to the guild and tells Guild Girl he will be unavailable for Goblin Quest for a day or two but promises to finish up quickly for her. Though she is shocked, Guild Girl wishes him luck. Inside, the parties of Heavy Warrior, Spearman, and even the Rookie Team, who have added Harefolk Hunter to their team, are all collaborating to find the source of the negative rumors accosting Sister Grape. Though Spearman admits he’s breaking his rule of not accepting a favor if it isn’t an official quest, he retorts he can’t let a pretty girl suffer. With that Goblin Slayer turns to his party to form their own plan.

Chapter 3
In a shadier part of town, Goblin Slayer and Priestess find a lonely shop and after a few “choice words”, the shopkeeper leads them into a secret passage that leads into a speakeasy. At the bar, Goblin Slayer and the Shopkeeper continue to speak with their coded dialog much to Priestess confusion where Goblin Slyer requests information on the Water Town and the Wine Merchant encroaching into the Frontier Town. After a price is settled, the Shopkeeper politely pokes fun at Goblin Slayer revealing he is well known to them due to being trained by Burglar. With a deal struck, Goblin Slayer tells Priestess it’s time they also go on the hunt for information. Goblin Slayer reveals that they were just in the Guild of Rogues, an organization of rogues that handle "shady" requests the normal Guild can't.

With that, Goblin Slayer and Priestess returned to Cow Girl’s farm to question her Uncle about the Wine Merchant’s offer to turn the farm into a barley field. Cow Girl’s Uncle tells them the particulars of the deal and admits he found it odd how desperate the merchant seemed, going as far to offer to set up a marriage proposal for Goblin Slayer much to their (especially Cow Girl's) shock. With this, Goblin Slayer asks to leave out of frustration, equally bothered by the merchant’s desire to take the farm and for Cow Girl and leaves Priestess with them to vent.

Outside, Goblin Slayer cannot understand why not only the merchant but even the Goblin Lord from two years ago wanted the farm so badly. During his mulling, Female Knight and her party happened to pass by on their way to Water Town for their part in the investigation. Female Knight, not missing a chance to show how smart she is, lectures Goblin Slayer on the importance of Cow Girl’s farm as a “Branch Castle” for the Frontier Town; explaining the large farm is a strategic position to both protect and lay siege to the town. With this, the team leaves and Goblin Slayer begins to see the potential bigger picture.

Interlude
In the Water Town, Sword Maiden and Female Merchant have a discussion about the state of the world before Heavy Warrior and his party come in for a meeting. Elsewhere in town Spearman meets up with Hero who notes that she's switched out her magic sword for a spear much like himself; after some banter, Spearman begins to talk to her about the strange attacks on Sister Grape.

Pause
In the capital, The Spy and his partner Changeling infiltrate a mansion for the work in the Guild of Rogues. During the mission, a troll attacks them within the mansion and the two having already completed their objective, retreat to their allies in a carriage outside. Inside the carriage, a Cleric of the God of Knowledge and a Mage with her familiar help create illusions to confuse guards, but the troll remains hot on their trail. The Spy immediately switches from his crossbow to a flintlock pistol instantly beheading the troll. With their mission complete with no witnesses, the team of Rogues escape into the night.

Chapter 4
In Water Town, the parties of Heavy Warrior and Spearman reunite and admit all their leads ended up being dead-ends much to their frustrations. Both teams lament they seem to be not good at anything other than swinging their blades and become disheartened. But a few choice words of wisdom from Witch and a fiery speech from Female Knight reinvigorates the teams into action.

Back at the Guild, Goblin Slayer is approached by the son of the Water Town Wine Merchant, and he requested a private meeting much to Priestess’s anger. During the meeting, the young man revealed to the pair that his father had made an alliance with the Forces of Chaos and only recently he had been caught; due to his father’s dealings, Goblins and other many of creatures have been haunting his lands. He tried getting help but given his father’s crimes, no one wanted to help him despite himself being proven innocent by the Church’s Sense Lie users but Sword Maiden and Female Merchant gave the young man Goblin Slayer’s name for help. Goblin Slayer agrees to help despite Priestess’s anger.

At the Temple of the Earth Mother, many adventures arrive after Sword Maiden had arranged for the temple to be protected from the Wine Merchant’s Chaos allies, including many rookies who help spread the now proven false rumors about Sister Grape. Though Priestess is happy to see the Rookie Party of Rookie Warrior, Apprentice Cleric, and Harefolk Hunter as well as the Ragged Party of the Axe Warrior, Elf Warlock, and Monk, she was still upset so many who spread such malicious rumors could be here for the defense. Axe Warrior lamented his team of Emerald Ranks were now the highest ranked team and de facto in charge, wishing Goblin Slayer’s party would remain to help

Sister Grape pulls Priestess aside and reminds her it is a cleric’s duty to be forgiving aid people, as well as she always knew the rumors about her were false and just baseless slander anyway so it never bothered her. With renewed vigor, Priestess sets off to go Goblin Slaying knowing Sister Grape was safe.

Chapter 5
At the estate of the Water Town's merchant, Goblin Slayer and the party assess the potential battlefield and with permission from the Son's Mother, the House was fortified into a fortress and the estate's helpers were recruited to help. With a great deal of planning, Goblin Slayer prepares for battle.

During the battle, High Elf Archer and Dwarf Shaman take command in the household while Goblin Slayer and Lizard Priest take the front lines with Priestess as back up. Dwarf Shaman creates a magic mist of "Stupify" while High Elf Archer continues to snipe thanks to a tree magically offering her near infinite arrows. Thanks to this, the Goblin raiders are funneled straight to Goblin Slayer and Lizard Priest who is using her barrier to divide the raiders in manageable swarms for the duo to much success.

Later, a force of three Goblin boats start to make their way up the river and much to their shock, a massively armored chariot! With some quick thinking, Priestess blinds the chariot and Lizard Priest holds the chariot long enough for Goblin Slayer to hop on, kill the rider, and crash the chariot into the boats ending the battle and leaving only the clean up left.

Interlude
Back at the Temple of the Earth Mother, Warlock is busy keeping a force field up to protect the Temple and adventurers from an Undead Chimera and a Manticore, two massive poisonous monsters. Warlock, however, is swiftly getting more and more annoyed with the level of micromanagement of the situation as Monk is busy trying to help heal the injured and Axe Wielder is fighting along the Rookie Party and “taking too long”. While this is happening, Harefolk Hunter approaches her letting her know someone is not helping at all causing Axe Wielder to investigate and discover a disguised Dark Elf spy who tries to assassinate Warlock. Warlock though, while not even understanding the danger she’s in, finally losing her cool and just explodes the Dark Elf’s head with a lightning bolt causing everyone, monster and adventurer alike, to stare in horror of her and fall back into line or retreat in fear.

Elsewhere, in a mausoleum, the parties of Heavy Warrior and Spearman become engaged with a small army of lesser and greater demons. Thanks to Sword Maiden, the two parties had learn these were the ones who had plotted to ruin the wine offerings to the Earth Mother and tried to “buy” Cow Girl’s farm to set up an invasion point for the Frontier Town. The two parties, however, prevail and end the demons.

The Hero and her party however, arrive at the burial mound Goblin Slayer and the party fought the Undead Goblins, and discover the burial mound hid a massive hideout for the Forces of Chaos. The Hero makes a note at how lucky they were that “someone” (Goblin Slayer) found the hideout and “others” (Heavy Warrior) had reported the situation to the Sword Maiden. The trio charge in and take care of the evil within.

Chapter 6
With everything taken care of, the Festival of the Earth Mother goes off without a hitch. Many of the young cleric girls, adventurous young women, and even friends are invited to help stomp the grapes for the preparation of Autumn’s wine. Goblin Slayer sits apart from everyone keeping an eye out for an potential trouble as Sister Grape approaches him thanking him for all he did for her. Downplaying his work as usual, Sister Grape is not deterred and thanks him for everything as she leaves to gives her thanks to everyone who helped her included the Wine Merchant’s son who has created a new brand of wine called “Wine of the Summer of Goblin Slaying” honoring Goblin Slayer’s efforts.

Cow Girl approaches Goblin Slayer and reassures him that he has done quite a bit and in their usual silent manner reassures him she is still waiting for him to find peace as she reminds him he almost got a marriage proposal form the corrupt Wine Merchant’s plan. With that, she goes with Priestess, Guild Girl, High Elf Archer, and Sister Grape to stomp some grapes while Goblin Slayer watches on.

Trivia

 * When Priestess makes sandwiches for the workers at the Wine Merchant's Son's estate, his mother calls them the "Favorite of that Noble that loved gambling". This is a reference to the urban legend of how the Earl of Sandwich created the aforementioned meal during a game of cards.