Light Novel Volume 4

'''Goblin Slayer! Volume 4''' is the fourth novel of the Goblin Slayer series.

Official Synopsis
''Even adventurers want a change of pace every now and then. Priestess stays behind for once, Cow Girl visits town without any work, Guild Girl takes a rare day off, and High Elf Archer reminisces about old adventures instead of looking for a new one. But evil doesn't take vacations. Goblin Slayer, Spearman, and Heavy Warrior are teaming up, but is this irregular party good enough to battle demons?!''

- Yen Press

Chapters

 * Chapter 1: Of Rookie Warrior and Apprentice Priestess
 * Chapter 2: Of a Certain Little Boy
 * Chapter 3: Of a Tavern Waitress
 * Chapter 4: Of a Perfectly Ordinary Goblin Nest
 * Chapter 5: Of a Day When He Isn't There
 * Chapter 6: Of the Destruction of the Demon-Enthralled Temple of Doom
 * Chapter 7: Of the Second Time the Necromancer's Plans Were Upset
 * Chapter 8: Of an Elf's Lazy Day
 * Chapter 9: Of the Three of Them, Some Months Ago
 * Chapter 10: Of Going There and Back Again

Chapter 1
Down in the sewers of the Frontier Town, Rookie Warrior and Apprentice Cleric work to clear out the sewers of Giant Rats, taking the advice of the veterans and the Adventurer's Guild Staff to start slow and work their way up. As usual, Rookie Warrior and Apprentice Cleric complain about their slow, steady, and safe pace isn't the glamorous life of an Adventurer that they envisioned when they left home. Rookie Warrior does the brunt of the work fighting while Apprentice Cleric takes care of their items and map given she only has an one-shot, once a day Miracle. Despite this, the two continuing working together well, even finding the skeletal remains of woebegone Adventures and returning their tags to the Guild.

After Rookie Warrior's sword gets stuck in a Rat, Apprentice Cleric uses her Holy Smite to get them out of the situation, but suddenly a Giant Roach attacks the two, forcing them to abandon the sword and proof of Rat slayings, resulting in another failed Quest for them. Realizing losing the sword and reward money has set them back even further, Rookie Warrior sleeps in the stables to allow Apprentice Cleric to use what money they do have to get a better night's rest. Meanwhile, Apprentice Cleric gets to the Guild early and claims "she already ate" so Rookie Warrior can get her share of the small breakfast they can afford so he can keep his strength up, showing the strong loyalty and love the two have for each other.

As he ate, Rookie Warrior apologized for losing his sword, that he'd find a way to get a new one and he'd make things right for her, but Apprentice Cleric warned him about the dangers of borrowing money telling him not to worry about it and that they'd figure something else out. Rookie Warrior corrects her, mentioning he was thinking about asking to borrow a weapon and with that Spearman overheard them and admitted he had spare weapons for them but also realized said weapons were more than likely out of their league. Witch comes over and even offers them magic weapons, but decides instead to give the two a more valuable item as well as a learning lesson. From her generous chest, Witch pulls a magical Seeker Candle, a magic item that leads the user to whatever they want, she imparts the two can use said item to find the missing sword, or sell it for a generous reward as she and Spearman leave for their "date". As they leave, Rookie Warrior and Apprentice Cleric can't help but be in awe of the two accomplished Adventurers.

The Duo decide to use the candle to find the sword and keep the magic item for future use, realizing how valuable the candle could be in the future. Outside they talk to their friends, Scout Boy and Druid Girl, hoping to get a loner weapon from them, but Scout Boy admitted that a run-in with a Giant Slug had caused him to lose his usual dagger as well so they were out of luck. Looking over at Heavy Warrior and Female Knight's epic weapons make Rookie Warrior lament how he really wants one but Apprentice Cleric reminds him how impossible it is for the two to afford or even use said kind of weapons. Scout Boy has a laugh at his friend's expense until Druid Girl puts him in his place reminding him how she is in charge of his finances due to his spending habits causing both boys to lament how their "girlfriends" have them under their thumb. Druid Girl though offer good advice in that the Guild staff could hopefully give the Duo some pointers about the Giant Rats, Apprentice Cleric even wondering if it was so easy.

Asking Guild Girl, she reveals it's not that easy as Adventurer's are expected to handle the Monsters while they handle the financial and managerial aspects of Adventuring. Seeing them dejected, Guild Girl suggests they rely on their Adventurer's toolkit for basic items like the lantern and try to bolster their defenses with better armor despite their meager savings. Then Goblin Slayer who has been mentoring their fellow rookie Priestess arrives in his usual grimy fashion; Guild Girl suggest the Duo ask him for advice, given Goblin Slayer is an expert in doing a lot with minimal equipment. The Duo is hesitant though, revealing an early misunderstanding had caused them to be rude to him earlier in the year but Guild Girl assures them, Goblin Slayer doesn't care.

Approaching him, Goblin Slayer informs them his usual sword had to be discarded so he picked up a club from the Goblins mentioning how stealing weapons was beneficial in a pinch. When questioned if the club was useful against Rats and Roaches, Goblin Slayer admitted he was no expert, but the blunt club would indeed hurt them and the rookies wouldn't have to worry about a chipping, breaking, or the blade getting grimed up in blood and fat making it a good choice of weapon. As he left to make his report, the Duo realize Priestess, a rookie like them was now an Obsidian Rank, one above them so quickly; meaning Goblin Slayer indeed knew what he was doing making them take his advice seriously.

Back in the sewers, the Duo admit that if they fail now, their careers are essentially over and they'll be forced into slavery and prostitution to work off the new debt they were in meaning failure was no option for them. The two are able to use the club effectively, even adding Apprentice Cleric's hair-tie to the club's handle so it would be dropped. Suddenly, the candle flashes violently, the appearance of a giant roach twice the size of an average one causing the flames to dance madly. Realizing the sword is inside the Roach, Rookie Warrior throws the lantern at the roach causing it to jump in fright, giving Apprentice Cleric the opening needed to use Holy Smite, and allowing Rookie Warrior to finish it off and reclaim his sword, all the while being covered head to toe in slime and other juices.

His sword reclaimed, some money in their pockets, and of course coming out alive, Rookie Warrior and Apprentice Cleric take a moment to look at their outlook. Both had prevailed over a low point and while not exactly financially in the black, they were certainly not endanger of going into the red anymore. The two reaffirm that they can take care of each other and towards their future as Adventurers.

Chapter 2
In a remote Village, a young boy is awakened by his sister for breakfast, earning some chastisement for sleeping in, as he eats his breakfast, he is reminded to go to the Village Temple around noon for schooling. Outside, the Boy uses a wooden sword to vent his frustrations that his friend from next door, The Girl, had gone into town, a real adventure that even he hasn't been able to go on. An older Farmer walks by and tries to raise his spirits about how she'll have fun and bring him back gifts, and how she'll grow up to be beautiful for him but to no avail as the boy is still upset and having missed out at adventure.

As the old man leaves, he warns the boy to listen to his sister's warnings to stay out of the Eastern Woods as Goblins have been sighted there; piquing the Boy's curiosity. Other villages complain about the Goblin sightings and debate whether they should handle it themselves rather than risk and Adventurer coming to the village. Some argue that not hiring an Adventurer would spell doom for their village and womenfolk, mentioning that there is a reliable expert villages can call upon for Goblins who asks for little reward.

The Boy, on the other hand, had ignored all warnings and rushed into the Eastern Forest to just see a Goblin in order to brag to the Girl when she returned. Upon entering the forest however, the Boy sees tracks he doesn't recognize and is attacked by a Goblin, one he cannot hurt due to only having a wooden sword. Running away, the Boy finds a cave he didn't know was in the forest that is the nest of the Goblins. Surrounded, the Boy realizes he's doomed until the arrival of an Adventurer, the Goblin Slayer unknowingly saves him as he slays the two Goblins outside the cave. Finding his courage the boy screams out about the location of the Goblin from earlier and Goblin Slayer is able to kill said Goblin, which was right behind the Boy. Goblin Slayer picks up the Boy's wooden sword and gives it back to him, thanking him for his help as he ventures into the cave to kill the Goblins.

Back at his home, the Boy's Sister scolds him for his brazen stupidity; to which the Boy accepts and apologizes for. His sister is happy he is not hurt and tells him that Goblin Slayer and slew all the Goblins ensuring the Villages safety. As he goes to bed, the Boy reflects on how crazy his day was, getting chased by Goblins and all, but he got to meet a real Adventurer and helped him protect the village, something he was looking forward to bragging to his friend when she returned tomorrow. That he got to go on a real Adventure!