Chapter 226 Precious Feelings

Suzuka, however, was having none of it. Rolling her eyes, she responded with a tone that carried a hint of annoyance, "Oh, spare me the theatrics, Hermit. You've pulled off worse stunts. We're not even an hour into this journey, and you're already playing the 'I'm a poor goblin' card? We have a long way to go, and I won't be your mount. Get those little feet moving, or I might leave you behind."

Hermit's lower lip quivered as he reluctantly obeyed, his tiny, desperate steps keeping pace with Suzuka's stride. The forest loomed ahead, and the duo pressed forward into the unknown. Hermit cast occasional longing glances at Suzuka, secretly hoping for some miraculous respite from the impending fatigue.

His pain intensifying and energy waning he whimpered, "Master, please... my feet are so tiny, and they hurt so much. I'm sure you can't even imagine the pain. Please, just a short ride. It's not like you'll feel it; I'm practically weightless!"

Despite his pleas, Suzuka remained unfazed and insisted that he continue walking.

 "Oh, stop whining, Hermit. We've just started our trip, and besides, you need to toughen up. No more excuses. Lead the way and make haste, enough draging your feet."

Hermit, attempting to lead the way as best as he could, trudged forward, his steps growing more sluggish with each passing moment. The forest floor became uneven and challenging, causing him to stumble frequently. As Suzuka impatiently watched his pitiful attempts at navigation, it became clear that his strength was depleting rapidly.

Finally, Hermit collapsed face-first into the mud, his body unable to bear the burden any longer. Muddy and defeated, he let out a miserable groan, his voice was strained, and his breaths came in short, desperate gasps.

 "Master, Hermit can't go on... it's too much. The mud, the forest, the long walk... Hermit feels so weak. Please, have mercy on a poor goblin and let me rest. I might faint if I push myself any further."

Hermit, too drained to speak further, simply lay in the mud, hoping to regain some strength for the journey ahead.

Suzuka, clearly annoyed and disgusted, finally relented to Hermit's constant whining. She muttered, "Fine, you lazy goblin," as she grabbed him by the ears and slung him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Hermit gasped in pain as he was unceremoniously lifted, but Suzuka paid little attention to his discomfort.

"Remember, this doesn't mean you're getting special treatment. It's just to speed things up," she grumbled, setting a brisk pace through the muddy forest path, the goblin dangling uncomfortably over her shoulder.

Hermit, still gasping and a bit dizzy from the sudden lift, meekly replied, "Th-thank you, Master. I appreciate your kindness. This is much better than walking. I promise I won't be a burden. I will point in the right direction so you can take me to my treasure, and I will be forever grateful, master." He dangled over Suzuka's shoulder, his goblin ears drooping with a mix of exhaustion and relief.

A few hours into their journey Hermit's anxious voice quivered as he questioned Suzuka about how they would transport the treasures. He wriggled a bit on her shoulder, expressing his concern.

 "M-master, um, not to bother you, but what about all the shinies and goodies, how will we carry the treasures? Um, master... Hermit's pile alone is quite large, and the bandit's chest is big too, bigger than me. Did you forget about that, master? Hermit is just concerned that we won't be able to carry everything back without a cart or something." His eyes widened with worry, goblin ears twitching nervously as he awaited Suzuka's response.

Suzuka chuckled, her voice carrying a hint of annoyance.

 "Oh, Hermit, you worry too much. I've got everything planned. No need for your little goblin brain to overheat with unnecessary concerns. Just focus on pointing the way, and leave the rest to me. We'll manage just fine." She patted his head roughly, causing the goblin to wince, and continued jogging through the forest, annoyed by the goblin on her shoulder.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the dense forest, Suzuka finally slowed down. Hermit, perched on her shoulder, pointed with a trembling finger towards a clearing at the giant tree in the distance. The goblin's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Th-there, Master! That's the place! That's where my treasure is hidden! My precious shiny rocks, they're all in there!" Hermit stammered, his voice shaky.

Suzuka slowed down to a stop and looked at the massive tree.

 "Well, it looks like we're here. Let's get your treasures and be done with it. I hope it's worth the trouble." With Hermit still slung over her shoulder, she approached the imposing tree, ready to discover the contents of the goblin's stash.

She stopped abruptly, causing Hermit to slide off her shoulder and land on the forest floor with a thud. She dusted her hands off, giving the goblin an impatient look.

 "Well, don't just lie there, Hermit. Get up and show me where your 'treasures' are hidden. Time's ticking, and I'm not here for a goblin nap."

Hermit scrambled to his feet, his spindly legs quivering with a combination of exhaustion and anxiety. He led Suzuka through the thick underbrush, his eyes darting nervously from side to side as if expecting the forest itself to attack them.

After a few minutes of Hermit wandering in circles around the colossal tree, he stumbled upon his hidden cave entrance. The entrance was concealed by a rock that seemed to have been part of the Earth for a long time, now adorned with a thick layer of moss. Upon the groundbreaking discovery, Hermit emitted a high-pitched yelp, a sound only a goblin could produce when thinking it achieved something monumental. He scampered towards the minuscule cave, his feeble legs struggling to carry him with any semblance of dignity.

In a display of spectacular goblin strength, Hermit, akin to a feeble insect, scuttled toward the rock obstructing his tiny cave. With each futile attempt, he could barely muster enough strength to twitch the moss, let alone budge the rock. 

Sensing the goblin's pathetic struggle, Suzuka, with a single swipe of her hand, tossed the boulder away as if it were a mere pebble. The unveiled entrance revealed a minuscule orifice leading to a cramped, dark cave nestled beneath the giant tree's roots.

With a triumphant yelp, Hermit dove headfirst into the cramped hole, his spindly legs comically kicking in the air before disappearing into the darkness as he crawled deeper and deeper into the cave. 

Hermit's voice echoed from the depths of the cave, "Master, this will take me a few minutes! I will need to make several trips!" His small, dirty hand emerged, throwing a meager handful of glistening crystals and gems onto the ground, creating a small pile of riches.

After an agonizingly suspenseful minute, Hermit popped his head out of the hole, a mischievous grin stretching across his face, as he tossed yet another handful of radiant crystals and gems onto the growing treasure pile. 

Suzuka watched in disbelief as the goblin continued his seemingly endless parade of valuable items, each gem more exquisite than she could have imagined.

She couldn't help but express her astonishment, "Well, I'll be damned! I thought you'd be unearthing worthless pebbles, shit-smeared rocks but this... this is a treasure! Color me impressed, Hermit! Keep them coming, my little jewel miner!" 

Suzuka found herself genuinely surprised by the quality and rarity of the loot, her earlier skepticism replaced with a newfound appreciation for the goblin's secret stash. Her eyes widened with genuine surprise as she gazed upon the growing pile of gems and crystals, and she couldn't help but express her curiosity.

 "Well, Hermit, I must admit. You surprised me. But I must ask, where in the world did you manage to get your grubby little hands on all these precious gems? I was half expecting your 'treasure' to be nothing more than a bunch of dumb rocks, but this... this is something else!" 

Hermit's voice quivered with sadness as he began to recount his woeful tale. 

"Master, Hermit's life has been nothing but sorrow. When Hermit was just a hatchling, evil goblins forced me into the dark, damp mines to dig tunnels with nothing but my tiny fingers. It was a miserable existence, with no hope for escape. But in those gloomy tunnels, I discovered these pretty rocks." His eyes glazed with memories of despair.

With a heavy heart, he continued, "I would hide them in my belly, swallowing each gem I found and later pulling them out from my belly. It was the only way to keep them safe from the other goblins, who would surely steal them from me. Master, these rocks are the only bright spots in Hermit's dark life, a glimmer of beauty in a world of misery." The goblin's tale echoed with the melancholy of a life filled with hardship and sorrow.

Suzuka, displaying her usual disinterest in sentimental tales, brushed off Hermit's heartfelt story with a cold tone.

 "Oh well, what did I expect? Of course, you will go on with your sob stories, Hermit. Forget I asked. Just keep those tiny arms of yours moving. We're not here for a tearful trip down memory lane; we're here for treasures. Now hurry up and get the rest of your little stash. We will camp here, it is getting late. The last thing we need is to get separated in the dark."

The cramped space echoed with Hermit's soft whimpers as he crawled back to retrieve the remaining gems and crystals. His little goblin heart ached from Suzuka's cold response, but he couldn't let his emotions distract him from the task at hand.

As he emerged once more, the pile of treasures had grown impressively, each glimmering gem a testament to his silent suffering in the mines. Despite the pain, Hermit couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. However, the wounded goblin couldn't resist expressing his hurt feelings, speaking with a voice that wavered between vulnerability and defiance.

"Master," he began, "Hermit worked so hard, and Hermit's heart hurts. Why does Master not care about Hermit's feelings? These shiny rocks are precious, but Hermit thought Master might see that Hermit is precious too."