Light Novel Volume 15

'''Goblin Slayer! Volume 15' is the fifteenth light novel of the Goblin Slayer'' series.

Official Synopsis

 * A centaur princess goes missing in the frontier town, and the blame falls squarely on Heavy Warrior—thus, he asks Goblin Slayer to investigate the girl’s disappearance. This leads Goblin Slayer and his party to the water town, where Sword Maiden tells them about the lost Silver Star. But how will the pips on the dice land in Goblin Slayer’s search for both the star and the centaur...?

Chapters

 * Chapter 1: Rescue the Princess!
 * Chapter 2: Stay Away From Goblins!
 * Interlude: One Mustn't Lose to a Worthy Opponent
 * Chapter 3: Find Silver Blaze!
 * Interlude: Be Careful of Your Contacts
 * Chapter 4: Flush Out the Mastermind!
 * Interlude: Corner the Assassin!
 * Chapter 5: Leave It to an Adventurer!

Chapter 1
At twilight in the Frontier town, a young Centaur girl, a "Baturu" as she calls herself, enters the town fully equipped with a long bow and daisho broad sword. She silently and cautiously, but still with purpose, marches to the Dear Friend's Ax Tavern and spies Centaur Waitress who she clearly admires greatly. Baturu approaches her, but is disgusted when Centaur Waitress is serving people and appears to be getting too friendly with a customer drawing Baturu's ire. Baturu draws her sword to defend the Waitress, revealed to be her older sister, and despite missing her strike, demands the man "hand over the Princess", both Centaur Waitress and Heavy Warrior just stare at Baturu in complete and utter confusion at the situation that had just unfolded.

The next day, chaos had unfolded at the Adventurer's Guild, Goblin Slayer walked up to discover that Baturu had not given up hounding Heavy Warrior despite her older sister, Centaur Waitress, trying to quell her. The site was enough to cause Female Knight to get involve and seriously put Heavy Warrior on the spot as the rest of his Party abandoned him to the ladies. The rest of Goblin Slayer's Party had also gathered around with Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest giving Heavy Warrior support, High Elf Archer enjoying the chaos that had unfolded, and Priestess trying to act as a mediator. With Priestess' insistence, Guild Girl allows the two Parties to take the Centaur ladies into a meeting room to explain the situation.

During the meeting, Centaur Waitress gets her sister to open up to Priestess, who explains that a Princess of their tribe, a beautiful woman with a silver streak in her hair, had run off to become an Adventurer at the behest of an Adventurer with a greatsword and has not been heard of since. Baturu deduced that Heavy Warrior was the Adventurer in question and demanded he return the "kidnapped" Princess and will hear nothing else much to her sister's annoyance. Priestess, naturally, reminds Baturu that the concept of a "Black Knight wielding a Greatsword" is actually a common theme among Adventurers, both male and female, and that alone isn't enough to incriminate Heavy Warrior. Despite this revelation, the meeting goes no where until Goblin Slayer surprises everyone by announcing he'll take the case to exonerate Heavy Warrior and find the Centaur Princess.

Downstairs, both Guild Girl and Inspector quickly comb through their Adventurer sheets for greatsword wielders and any recent Centaur applicants. During their research, they become shocked at how many greatsword wielders the Guild has registered but find no Centaurs, let alone a Centaur woman, leading Guild Girl to deduce that the Centaur Princess more than likely registered in the Water Town given the Capital would've been too far away. Inspector agrees and asks Goblin Slayer to have Baturu agree to be "interrogated" by her Sense Lie Miracle to further validate her story and hopefully exonerate Heavy Warrior. Baturu is hesitant, but her sister forces her to agree to make a formal request for aid from the Adventurer's Guild and attempts to pay Goblin Slayer's party in paper bills, which are useless to them until Goblin Slayer reassures everyone that they'll leave at first light.

On his way back home, Goblin Slayer takes a moment to realize he's once again taking time to do more Quests that aren't Goblin Slaying Quests making him question if he's really trying to pretend he's a real Adventurer. The Farm Owner sees him and after being informed of his new quest, wishes him luck and requests that he try to make it back by the end of summer, so he can use his help for the start of harvests. However, he makes it clear to Goblin Slayer that he shouldn't rush the job to get back. Inside the farm, Goblin Slayer informs Cow Girl that he'll be heading to the Water Town for a Missing Persons Quest as she makes dinner. She wishes him luck and playfully requests a souvenir that isn't an animal as their canary chirps in the corner, making Goblin Slayer remark that he hasn't brought back animals in a while and it was only twice he did much to Cow Girl's amusement.

The next day, Baturu makes it clear she doesn't want to ride in a carriage pulled by a horse; causing her to make a bit of a scene in the carriage port of the Frontier Town. Dwarf Shaman reveals he was able to procure a large carriage thanks to Sister Grape and her young Wine Merchant friend as well as a large horse to pull it, dwarfing Baturu. Goblin Slayer and Lizard Priest are able to persuade Baturu to accept she needs to get into the carriage to save her strength but she requests a bed of hay to lay on as they set off to Water Town.

Chapter 2
On the drive, Priestess makes many attempts to get Baturu to open to her and talk about her people and culture, but to only minor success. Goblin Slayer becomes interested when Baturu mentions Centaur keep Camels as beasts of burden instead of horses for obvious reasons; however, Baturu makes it clear that Centaur keep double humped Camels as opposed to the single hump camels found in the Eastern Desert Kingdom and the one Goblin Slayer brought back to Cow Girl. Baturu is even perplexed at the idea of a single-humped Camel as she talks more with Priestess.

Suddenly, High Elf Archer spies Goblins coming, and not riding wolves, but wargs, even larger more feral wolf creatures, this time much to her disappointment. As Goblin Slayer and High Elf Archer begin firing at them with their arrows, Baturu requests to be let out to battle, as open field combat is a Centaur's specialty and her desire to prove herself to the Party, seeing their options, Goblin Slayer and the others agree.

Baturu jumps out of the carriage and swiftly slaughters all the Goblins and wargs with her daisho blade much to everyone's approval. She returns to the carriage ready to make their way to the Water Town. Goblin Slayer debates going back to investigate the Goblins to see if they were part of a Horde, a solitary pack, and see if they were servants apart of something bigger. After some internal debate, he decides not to, reasoning that while important, research like that was just his OCD kicking in and he admitted getting to Water Town to find the Centaur Princess and vindicating Heavy Warrior was more important.

Interlude
In the Guild Tavern, Cow Girl and Guild Girl take a break and have brunch together, wondering allowed if Goblin Slayer and the Party had made it to Water Town yet and if they were going to succeed at finding the Centaur Princess. Though they didn't know, the idea of a Princess beign rescued caused the two young ladies to fantasize about what it must be like to be a Princess; Guild Girl warning Cow Girl that Nobility and such wasn't the glamorous life the stories make it seem. As Guild Girl prepared to go back to work and Cow Girl readied herself to return to work at the Farm, Guild Girl revealed she had gotten an invitation to a jousting tournament to be held soon and asked if she wanted to go with her before she decided to sell it.

Wondering about the invite, Cow Girl noticed The Girl at the table next to her, finishing her small meal and preparing for her next adventure. Cow Girl and Little Adventuress shared a few words as Cow Girl wished her luck on her next adventure as she sent out thanking Padfoot Waitress for the meal. The event makes Cow Girl seriously think about going out on her own adventure, taking the invitation even more seriously.

Chapter 3
At the Temple of Law in the Water Town, Priestess and High Elf Archer leave the Party to enjoy the large bath, bringing Baturu who was perplexed at the idea of a bath, revealing Centaur prefer to wash themselves in a cloth instead. The two girls manage to coax Baturu into the bath, however, reasoning it was good for her to unwind after a long journey. In the bath, Baturu reveals she still doesn't trust the Party, yet a major milestone as she previously refuses to even admit that, and was journeying with them to ensure they did as they promised as she believes Adventurers to be uncouth ruffians. Priestess is able to counter that her Princess had wanted to become an Adventurer herself leaving Baturu at a loss for words unable to make a comeback. Despite all this, Priestess reassures Baturu that they will do everything in their power to find her Princess because that's what Adventurers do.

In the inner sanctum, Sword Maiden welcomes Goblin Slayer to her temple in her own "not so secret admirer" way, fangirling over the stoic Adventurer, much to the annoyances of her cleric attendants. Goblin Slayer begins by bringing to Sword Maiden's attention the Goblin riders he encountered on the way to the city, asking if Goblins are becoming a problem in the Water Town again. Sword Maiden claims Goblins haven't been a problem since he took care of them previously, but the Forces of Chaos are ever a problem in cities. That out of the way, Goblin Slayer informs Sword Maiden of his latest case, to which Sword Maiden nearly pleads that Goblin Slayer stays in her Temple for the duration of his search to which he agrees, much to her happiness. As Goblin Slayer explains the specifics, about a Centaur Princess with a silver streak in her hair, Sword Maiden informs him about a Centaur that fits the description: Silver Blaze.

The next day, Sword Maiden requests Female Merchant's help for Goblin Slayer's case, who gladly takes them to the Water Town's Coliseum for the Centaur Races, where Lady Centaurs come to race in competitive sport. Priestess is overwhelmed by the sheer spectacle only to be dumbfounded when she's told the Coliseum in the Capital is much bigger and grander all the while being embarrassed by the fancy dresses Female Merchant dressed her, herself, and High Elf Archer in. A race takes place and a butler-suit wearing Lady Centaur wins the race, High Elf Archer even revealing she won her gambling by betting on her. Baturu, on the other hand, suffers from culture shock from the urban Centaurs and cannot agree with what she's seeing, refusing to believe her Princess would become a racer called "Silver Blaze" who has also gone missing.

Female Merchant reveals she owns the training ground for the Lady Centaur Racers and sponsors a few teams, agreeing to take them to the training grounds. Once there, the butler clad winner from the previous race introduce herself under the call-sign "Lightning", a Centaur Racer under Female Merchant's employ, and much to her employer's embarrassment, cannot help herself but flirt with Priestess and High Elf Archer. Lightning reveals what she knows about Silver Blaze and admits that while she's unsure if Silver Blaze is the missing Princess, the description is dead on and her personality matched that of a "royal aura", causing Baturu to breakdown in disbelief. Lightning comforts the culture shocked young warrior as she explains Urban Centaur culture to her. Lightning also tells them a rumor that Silver Blaze was sold to the Races by a "Coachman", a Centaur slave trader which only adds fuel to the fires of conspiracy.

Later that night, the Party split up to investigate, High Elf Archer stays in the Temple with Baturu to help her with her culture shock with Urban Centaur, while Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest decide to question the Centaur trainers about Silver Blaze. Goblin Slayer and Priestess meanwhile leave to follow markers to lead them to the Rogues Guild, much to Priestess's shock. The markers lead them to a casino called "The Mermaid", so elaborate that Priestess begins to feel out of place among the beautiful ladies serving the well-dressed clients. A well-dressed man approaches Goblin Slayer showing him to the back, Goblin Slayer leaves and tasks Priestess to "get used" to the casino setting, but she states she will not gamble as the staff agree to look out for her.

In the back, the casino is revealed to be a front for the Rogue's Guild, and the owner welcomes the student of Burglar, the man who wiped out the Goblins in Water Town, and the "man who holds Sword Maiden's affections" to his establishment. After the elaborate ritualized greetings, Goblin Slayer asks for information, but not about Silver Blaze, but he wants to know about Goblins.

Interlude
In the back rooms, Changeling dresses up in the Harefolk ears preparing for her latest stake out job for the Rogues Guild, as she does she admits she understands the low-cut corset, but questions the need for the "bunny ears". Suddenly, Supreme God's Cleric bursts into the changing room with Harefolk Hunter begging Changeling to switch out with her. Changeling recognizes that Cleric and Harefolk Hunter were the hired Adventurers alongside Club Fighter to be added temporary security for the casino (though Cleric had forced Club Fighter in the back rooms, so he wouldn't see her in the "Harefolk Costume").

Cleric had been instructed to "keep an eye" on a special guest, only for it to be a friend of hers, and doesn't want to have her see her in such an outfit. Changeling agrees to cover for her, even giving Harefolk Hunter some snacks, but not before admitting that Cleric looked "better in the outfit than (Changeling) did", much to embarrassment. As she leaves, Harefolk Hunter admits she doesn't mind the costume, given she's already a Harefolk, and doesn't get why Cleric is so embarrassed.

Changeling goes out and discovers she also knows the customer, Priestess from a time she went on a job in the Desert. Priestess also recognizes Changeling and the two have a friendly conversation about their current situations as a Mermaid dance plays out for them, as Changeling wonders at the odds of them meeting up like this. Priestess remarks she thought she saw Changeling's friend, The Spy, and asked Changeling to say "hello" for her; which causes Changeling to understand why Cleric was so embarrassed as the idea of Spy seeing her in the Harefolk Girl out mortifies her. Before leaving with Goblin Slayer, Priestess asks Changeling why the girls in the casino are dressed as Harefolk Girls, to which Changeling tells her "don't ask" as they part ways wishing each other luck.

Chapter 4
The next day, Goblin Slayer leads the party out into the Plains, Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest explaining they learned Silver Blaze's trainer had been living far past his means, which suggested he was involved in some nefarious work. Goblin Slayer then admits he doesn't believe Silver Blaze being sold by a coachman, and then being abducted after being sold to the races are connected, as he believes she was kidnapped by the roaming Goblins. When asked how he came up with that, he reveals the Rogues Guild told him about a supposed "Immortal Sorcerer" had taken up residence nearby and more than likely was using the Goblins as enforcers. The Party set out and make camp in the Plains to lure the Goblins in, and they kill enough of them and wound one to lead them back to their hideout.

Their Hideout discovered, High Elf Archer is able to confirm a Sorcerer was indeed in the old ruins and there was indeed a Centaur woman matching Silver Blaze's description being held prisoner at an altar to be used as a sacrifice. The Party form a plan and charge in, slaughtering the Goblins and making their way to the alter, Goblin Slayer, High Elf Archer, and Lizard Priest acting as the vanguard while Priestess and Dwarf Shaman help Baturu up the steep steps. Cornered at last, Goblin Slayer creates an opening for Baturu to kill the Sorcerer and rescue Silver Blaze who is revealed to be the missing Centaur Princess. Comforting the crying Baturu, Silver Blaze states she was so focused on her next race, she "wasn't even bothered by her current predicament" and only hoped she had not missed it, asking if they thought she could still make it, much to the Party's shock.

Suddenly, Baturu began to collapse, shocking Silver Blaze and the Party who discovered that the Immortal Sorcerer was still "alive" and was using his blood that had splattered on Baturu to use a Vital Drain curse on her! He then began to cackle loudly proclaiming that no matter what, he would be victorious and drain them all to sustain his life. Not surprised by the turn of events, Goblin Slayer continued his planning, and simply confirmed to everyone present that he "had a plan like always".

Interlude
Back at the Mermaid casino, a man walks out, complaining the greatsword he carried had always caused him shoulder problems. He then thought back to how he needed more money and thought about how he was going to trick another Centaur, revealing himself to be the Coachman who sold Silver Blaze. As she remembers that he had tricked her into becoming a slave and instead of selling her to a brothel, he had seen her potential and love of running, and he sold her to Female Merchant's training ground for a great price.

As he turned an alley, he was struck by a dagger revealed to have been thrown by Spy and further immobilized by Changeling manipulating the shadows. Spy chastises him as he begged for his life, but he was swiftly ended by Spy's Pistol. As Changeling took delight in the Slaver's death given her hatred for slavers, Spy reminded her he is supposed to do the dirty work but understood her reasons for hating slavers. After a moment of understanding, Spy admitted Changeling looked quite "tempting" in her Harefolk Girl outfit to which the embarrassed Changeling ordered him to not look as she covered the uniform with her cloak.

Chapter 5
As The Immortal Sorcerer tried to Vital Drain Baturu's life force, Priestess instead used her Purify Miracle to sever the curse he had placed on her. Shocked at this, Goblin Slayer used the opening to coordinate an attack with Lizard Priest and Dwarf Shaman to throw the Sorcerer off the mound and break all his bones. Being "immortal", however, allowed the sorcerer to survive the fall albeit broken. With the Goblins preparing their counterattack, Priestess suggests toppling the sacred mound, which was desecrated, to which Silver Blaze and Baturu agreed and the Party cause an avalanche, which crushed the Goblins and buried the Immortal Sorcerer. Surveying their success and realizing the very real possibility that the Immortal Sorcerer was still alive, just broken and buried but still capable of coming back eventually, Priestess suggests that they place a warning sign there to warn people in the future.

Later, during the major race, a celebration for the return of Silver Blaze makes the small fair into a monumental day at the races. Female Merchant secures boxed VIP seats for her friends and explains that their rescue of Silver Blaze had satisfied the Detective from the Capital that had come to investigate her disappearance. Besides her, Baturu, still in a sense of culture shock, admits she understands why her older sister and Silver Blaze left the Plains for lives in the towns and cities as she surveys the crowded arena and cheering fans. Baturu states while she personally doesn't understand the how they could leave, she understands the why they left; and accepts her sister and Princess will not return to the Plains with her. However, she tearfully fortifies herself to return to the Plains and welcome them back should they ever decide to come home, much to everyone's satisfaction with her growth.

Goblin Slayer enters the boxed seats and explains to everyone Priestess is elsewhere, revealing she is with Silver Blaze before she went out to her race. Priestess confronts Silver Blaze about the one factor of the case that doesn't make sense, how her trainer died; reasoning Goblins would've torn him apart and not just left him with a split head. Priestess deduces that Silver Blaze's trainer, with his mountain of debt, had tried convince Silver Blaze, the popular up-and-comer, to throw some races, so they could make some money in a betting scheme; and when she refused said trainer tried to sabotage her, and Silver Blaze killed him in self-defense.

While she does not admit nor deny the claim, Silver Blaze admits that when she came to the Races, she saw Lady Centaur who did throw races for money, women who ran because they had to, and women like "Lightning" who run despite her massive size crushing her legs. What they all had in common, these women run with all their soul for the love of racing. So, Silver Blaze states she refuses to just "throw" races because of betting, giving Priestess confirmation to her theory. Priestess, however, states she will not expose Silver Blaze, for even the Detective said "Justice was Served". Happy, Priestess embarrassingly request one of Silver Blaze's horseshoes like Goblin Slayer did earlier, to which she happily agrees and promises to put "all her luck into it" as Priestess runs off to her seat to see her race.

At the Dear Friend's Axe Tavern, Spearman has a laugh at the expense of Heavy Warrior who had finally had his name cleared. Centaur Waitress was also just as happy that everything had worked out as she gave a smile to Heavy Warrior. Spearman couldn't help but admit the fun he had had at hearing the whole story, but he had wondered allowed where Heavy Warrior's hero, Goblin Slayer, even was. Heavy Warrior explained that Goblin Slayer had gone home to Cow Girl instead of staying for a drink, much to Spearman's annoyance and Centaur Waitress' humor.

Goblin Slayer makes his report to Guild Girl who congratulates him on his adventure and that he was able to find some fun, as well as take care of Goblins for the Guild. On his way home, Goblin Slayer runs into Cow Girl who eagerly greets him as he tells her the story of the adventure. As he continues, he presents her with a Horseshoe from Silver Blaze, his souvenir for her. Happy, Cow Girl plans on mounting it above their door as she asks if the Centaur Races and tournaments were fun.

Goblin Slayer comments on how well Priestess has grown and makes it clear how proud he is of her as they head for home.

Trivia

 * Lizard Priest makes reference to a story of a man who rides a Chariot in a Coliseum to battle his nemesis and escape false assassination charges; an obvious homage to the popular "Ben-Hur" story.
 * Lightning's "Coachman" remark makes reference to the story of "Pinocchio", and the Coachman who sold Donkeys.
 * The main theme of Baturu's character arc is a reference to the "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse" fable. Baturu is the "Country Mouse" who goes to the Big City, but instead of being enamored by the change, she uses aggression to hide her fear and insecurities about it and that the women she looks up to, Centaur Waitress and Silver Blaze, have chosen to become "City Mice".
 * Goblin Slayer taking the case and solving the mystery of Silver Blaze is a reference to The Adventure of Silver Blaze, one of 56 "Sherlock Holmes" short stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle about the disappearance of the eponymous race horse.