I Am Not Goblin Slayer

Chapter 386: Grom's Request

"Shopkeeper Grom, what brings you here?"He truly was a rare visitor to Gauss.

Especially since they were meeting right at Gauss's doorstep.

Grom had actually come out from his blacksmith shop?

Their last meeting had been months ago, when Grayrock Town faced the beast tide crisis and Garon Bates had stood on the walls to repel the monster invasion.

Back then, the situation was urgent, and the two only exchanged a brief greeting without much conversation.

Before that, all of Gauss's meetings with him had taken place inside the blacksmith shop,

and as far as Gauss's memory went, Grom hardly ever left his workshop — more like a craftsman immersed in perfecting his skills.

Garon Bates turned at the sound and looked to the side.

Seeing Gauss's familiar yet different figure, he was momentarily stunned.

The Gauss before him was worlds apart from the thin, introverted boy who had once needed a job just to survive.

His every movement now carried the calm confidence of someone strong.

"Come in and have a seat."

Judging by Grom's demeanor, Gauss knew he was here with a purpose.

The front of the house was not a place for a long conversation, so he led him inside.

It was mid-afternoon. When Grom's visit revealed he was an acquaintance, Gauss's teammates declined to linger and each went off to handle their own tasks.

Gauss brewed a pot of tea in the sitting room for Grom.

With a flick of prestidigitation, the tea was quickly adjusted to the perfect temperature.

Gauss had not hidden his whereabouts, so many people already knew this house belonged to him.

It wasn't hard for Grom to find him.

They sipped tea and exchanged small talk.

Gauss took the initiative to break the ice by mentioning his past work at Grom's shop. As they talked, the distance that time had created between them gradually shrank.

"If it wasn't for you helping me back then, I might have starved to death."

Gauss's words were a bit of an exaggeration, but for the original owner of this body, those early days in Grayrock Town had been the hardest.

Unfamiliar with the place and with only half-baked hunting skills, a stable job—even one with low pay—had been vital.

Later, after "he" came to this world and became an adventurer, Grom provided some help and intelligence as well.

Gauss had never forgotten it.

He had considered repaying him, but from his observation, the reclusive Garon Bates seemed content and desireless; running the blacksmith shop felt like a way to keep busy, not a life that needed fixing. So after his own modest success, Gauss had not disturbed Grom's peaceful life.

A flicker of resolve passed across Grom's face, and he eventually revealed the purpose of his visit.

I can indeed keep my feelings hidden.

Gauss sipped his tea and listened patiently.

It turned out Grom had come because of Blackwater Town.

One of Grom's former teammates, someone he had been very close to, had settled in Blackwater Town after they both retired.

There his teammate had found a partner and fathered a son and a daughter. Grom had even attended the children's baptism.

If everything had gone well, it would have been a happy life—at least for most adventurers.

But a sudden, unpredictable war destroyed it all.

At the start of the year, the fighting in Blackwater Town erupted earliest and was the most devastating in terms of casualties.

The local Adventurers Guild leader and numerous professionals were killed in battle.

Grom's friend was unfortunately among the dead and never managed to leave Blackwater Town alive.

Before he died, he entrusted a refugee to deliver a sealed letter to Grayrock Town. Due to the chaos, the letter did not reach Grayrock smoothly at first.

After many twists and turns, the letter only arrived in Grom's hands a few days ago.

The letter said he had left his children in an underground safehouse and hoped Grom could, if possible, rescue them.

Grom had packed his bags, ready to set out alone.

It was then he heard that Gauss and his group had returned to town and planned to operate in the Blackwater Town area,

which is why he came to see him.

"Then why didn't he let the children flee with the rest of the refugees?" Gauss asked, puzzled.

"Partly because things were so urgent they couldn't guarantee a safe escape."

Gauss nodded; that made sense.

From the intelligence he had, many refugees died on the road.

"Also, my friend had a fiery temper and had made enemies. He was already gravely wounded and couldn't protect his children. It was better to leave them in the safehouse, which was well stocked with enough food and water to last a year."

"When he wrote the letter, he likely never imagined Blackwater Town would fall so completely."

Gauss took another sip of tea.

He suspected there was something Grom hadn't said: the father might not have trusted outsiders, and the only person he trusted was his former teammate Grom.

"So, Shopkeeper Grom, you want to temporarily join my team?"

"I do. After I retired I saved some money."

"I know this request is abrupt and the payment might not be enough, but I'm willing to put all my assets up as commission for the job."

Gauss waved his hand.

He did not place that much importance on money.

Still, he needed to think carefully before deciding.

The entire area around Blackwater Town had been completely overrun, and the town itself had become a monster lair.

Venturing deep inside to rescue the children carried real risks.

Both Gauss and Grom were well aware of that.

Yet Grom was willing to forsake his cherished peaceful life and risk himself to save a friend's children. On a personal level, Gauss admired that.

It showed the man valued loyalty and would risk his life for a friend's offspring. People—good or bad—like to associate with those who are loyal.

"Shopkeeper Grom did me a favor once, so of course I want to help you. But I have so many people under me now, I need to discuss it with them before I can give you an answer."

If he acted alone, he could follow his own wishes, but with so many under his command he had to consider their safety.

The three commissions he had accepted were near the town but not in its heart.

Whether he went alone with Grom or took some teammates, he had to plan ahead.

"All right."

Grom nodded.

He had been part of an adventuring party before and understood Gauss's concerns.

Gauss required responsibility for more lives.

Gauss thought for a moment.

Overall, he felt the danger wasn't unbearable—after all, he now controlled the Dimension Door spell and could teleport away immediately if needed.

"Here's the plan, Shopkeeper Grom. We depart tomorrow. We'll hold an internal meeting tonight. No matter what, I'll give you an answer tomorrow morning."

.....

Late afternoon approached.

Core members of the Red Dragon Guild began arriving at his house.

His teammates, Toga and the others, Ivan, and several of the operation team leaders came together.

Gauss glanced at a raven message and quietly asked Shadow, who had returned to the house,

"You're back?"

"Mm."

Shadow nodded.

Recently Grayrock Town had seen an influx of outside adventurers.

Though there were patrolling soldiers maintaining order, manpower was limited and they couldn't be everywhere.

The town's stability naturally suffered.

Adventurers were a mixed bunch: among them were those with Gauss and Shadow's sense of justice, but also many with poor morals.

Moreover, years of slaughter had created heavy psychological pressure, making the latter group not uncommon.

"Any particular incidents?"

"Just taught a few petty thieves a lesson," Shadow shook her head.

Sometimes when he was free, Gauss would join Shadow on patrols, playing the part of the helpful neighbor.

"If anything happens, contact me anytime," Gauss added, though he trusted Shadow's strength; it was a reminder.

He never withheld kindness from ordinary people, but his team always came first in his mind.

"Don't worry."

Soon everyone had gathered.

In the sitting room.

Gauss had already prepared dinner in advance.

After a meal with his companions, he moved on to today's agenda:

the Red Dragon Guild's mission pre-operation meeting.

For this mission, those without combat capability would remain in Grayrock Town to handle loot and logistics; the rest would follow him into the monster-infested land of Blackwater Town.

That included those present and five operation team leaders and deputy leaders of Professional Levels 1–3.

The Red Dragon Guild's combat structure could be divided as follows.

At the top was, of course, him as Guild Leader.

Beneath him was the main strike team, the First Squad, which formed the absolute core decision-making body: Aria, Shadow, Albenia, Serlandul, and Hephaestus.

In his absence, any member of the First Squad had command authority over the others.

That situation was rare; usually he and his teammates operated together.

Next was the support team, the Second Squad: Toga at Level 6, Bruno at Level 5, Tebben at Level 4, and Sean and Rick at Level 3.

Following them was the largest but less powerful action team, the Third Squad, led by Ivan, with two subgroups under him: Level 3 leaders Jeremy and Phoebe, and three Level 1–2 deputy leaders, together leading nearly twenty veteran adventurers.

Many of these members had recently been recruited.

Gauss had not expanded recklessly, preferring a lean, mobile structure.

Jeremy, Phoebe, and the deputy leaders had few opportunities to interact with Gauss and mostly listened during the meeting, saying little while curiously observing their Guild Leader.

With Ivan presiding, Gauss reiterated tomorrow's precautions.

Blackwater Town might not pose fatal danger to Gauss personally, but for the Level 1–3 leaders and the ordinary adventurers under their command, it was a den of death and needed emphasis.

"That concludes the routine briefing."

"I have one matter I'd like to discuss with you all."

"Say it, Guild Leader." Ivan, though slightly puzzled since Gauss had briefed him at noon, responded immediately out of absolute obedience.

Gauss briefly explained Grom's identity and his personal request.

"Since he once did you a favor, he did us a favor... so we owe him."

Ivan read the situation and sensed Gauss's true intention at once.

"No need."

"I'll bring two people with me to go in. Too many people increases exposure risk."

This was Gauss speaking partly to protect their faces; the real reason was that taking the whole Red Dragon Guild would hinder rather than help, requiring him to split his focus protecting them.

With fewer people, his Dimension Door made quick evacuation easier.

Ivan realized this after thinking it through.

"I'll go with Shadow and Aria."

"Albenia, Serlandul, Toga—you three will lead others and operate on the perimeter."

"Agreed."

After discussion, Gauss assigned the task.

Shadow's mobility would be invaluable in locating the safehouse.

Aria was now the team's combat backbone; taking her added insurance, and she could transform into animals for multiple escape options if needed.

With Albenia, a Level 7, leading the outer group, safety for the perimeter seemed secure.

With plans set,

everyone left Gauss's house to return to their manor residences for final checks and mobilization.

...

In the blink of an eye, the night passed.

Just as the sun crawled over the border, a somewhat nervous Grom arrived outside Gauss's house.

Actually, after returning to his shop yesterday afternoon, he had regretted his request.

He felt he should not have dragged Gauss into danger for something that was not truly his business, and worried he might be exploiting past favors.

But since the meeting was scheduled, he had come.

"Good morning."

"Have you had breakfast, Shopkeeper Grom?"

Gauss had also risen early and brought him inside when he saw him outside.

"I did. I ate."

"Gauss, I've thought it over and I still feel I shouldn't drag you into this. Consider yesterday's request as if I never mentioned it."

"So you'll go into Blackwater Town alone?" Gauss asked with a smile. "Although you are strong, I doubt you have enough power to safely rescue two children from there by yourself."

Grom fell silent.

Gauss's bluntness was truthful.

He no longer had that kind of strength.

Not now. Even at his prime he might not have managed it.

He had been inactive too long; his physical capabilities were declining—he noticed this during the fighting at the start of the year.

Any ability fades without use.

He might break into the town, but killing enemies and then rescuing and extracting people were entirely different challenges.

"I could commission other adventurers to help." Grom's expression turned serious.

"There aren't many here with that kind of power, and they might not be willing to risk going in." Gauss pushed over a cup of warm milk.

Grom said nothing further.

He knew Gauss was right.

"You need my help, old friend Grom."

"Don't worry. I'm strong."

"And likely stronger than you think, so don't fear endangering me."

Gauss smiled.

Grom's impression of his strength was probably vague, at best based on rumors of him defending Grayrock Town, but he had become far stronger now.