“Unlike a certain anvil, at least you know how to be considerate.”

High Elf Archer’s long ears went back, and she exclaimed, “What was that?!” But even this demand soon turned to laughter. The adepts, listening in, heard the elf’s laugh ring like a bell, echoing around the dining hall. There was such warmth in her voice that it seemed like it would bring a tear to the eye; the atmosphere felt so good that it brought to mind the comfort of the Earth Mother.

Sister Grape smiled and nodded at Priestess, who was studiously looking at the ground, not saying anything. “Well, isn’t this lovely? And here old Mother Superior was worried about you.” Mother Superior was hardly “old.” Priestess looked up, though, when she detected the love behind the little jab. “But you have such good friends. It puts the heart at ease—mine as much as hers.”

Priestess felt like she would choke on the words in her throat, but she at last managed to come up with “Yes, ma’am.”

When Sister Grape saw that, she finally got a look of approval on her face, then said lightly to him: “By the way, mister…Goblin Slayer, was it?”

“That’s what I am called.” Over in the corner of this warm room, the adventurer, who had quietly resumed eating, stopped once more.

“There’s a pioneer village nearby where I’ve heard there’s been some goblins. Maybe you could give us your advice?”

His answer was immediate. “I’ll go,” he grunted. “Tell me the location. How large is the nest?”

“Yikes, you sure make up your mind in a hurry. Just as advertised…” Sister Grape looked at Priestess with a touch of surprise. Her mouth formed the words, “You’ve got it rough, huh?” Priestess shook her head in response. Then she wiped her eyes with her sleeves so he wouldn’t see her smile.

He is well and truly hopeless.

So the day passed.

Their next job would be exterminating the goblins Sister Grape had mentioned.

“Again?!” High Elf Archer burst out on being informed of this, but she wasn’t as unhappy as she sounded. Lizard Priest and Dwarf Shaman both looked grim and quickly began conferring with Goblin Slayer about what was to be done. For Priestess, though, even that was a happy, familiar sight, and she found herself blinking quickly. The fatigue she felt after working through the storm, the warmth of her belly full of food, the voices of everyone around her: All were comforting and good. She let out a little yawn as she felt the sandman pass by, and soon she dropped off to sleep.

It had been a peaceful day of easy happiness. A wonderful day of the sort for which she was grateful to the Earth Mother.

It was shortly thereafter that the rumors began to spread that Sister Grape was the daughter of a goblin.