Chapter 22: Goblin Nest
Two hours after the battle, the recruits had regained their formation. The magic beast cores were collected, and the corpses were burned to prevent the spread of disease or anything worse. When Chadwick and his men returned, they informed Arthur that they had located the goblin nest. Naturally, Arthur decided to exterminate it to eliminate any potential threat to the town. If left alone, the goblins would multiply at an alarming rate.
But before organizing the recruits and preparing for the assault, Arthur gathered everyone together. Before them, he laid out the corpse of the fallen recruit. He lifted the linen covering and spoke in a loud voice that reached everyone's ears:
"This person before you is Brad. I believe most of you know who he is. He shared the same food and bedding with you this past week. He bathed with you, trained with you, became your friend—and more importantly, a soldier who served me alongside you."
Most inhabitants of this world were used to death. It was a part of their daily lives. Each day they lost someone—due to illness, grave injuries, or sometimes, monsters.
Even so, death still had an impact. Their hearts tightened, and they felt a measure of sorrow for their fallen companion.
After a brief moment of silence, Arthur continued, "But that's over now. Brad will no longer share your meals, nor will he train with you. He died in vain—because of his weakness. And yet, he stands as a valuable example to follow.
If you hesitate or forget your training, your fate will be the same: death. Nevertheless, Brad pledged his loyalty to me. And I treat my followers well—both in life and in death."
Arthur bowed, clasped Brad's hands over his chest, and said quietly, "Preserve his body. We'll return it to the village and bury him properly. Chadwick, once we're back, give Brad's family one gold coin and fifty silver coins in honor of his service."
When the recruits heard the amount of money Brad's family would receive, they gasped audibly. Even Chadwick and the veteran soldiers were astonished. A single gold coin was enough to keep his family comfortable for a long time.