Chapter 261 Overflowing With Joy

Suzuka's response was one of unimpressed dismissal, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she waved off Valerius' passionate explanation.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard all that before," she interjected, her voice tinged with boredom. 

"Smart goblin, absorbed knowledge before hatching, blah blah blah, nerd. Excuse me if I'm not exactly blown away. I'm sorry I asked."

She rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by Valerius's enthusiasm for goblin intelligence. 

"I thought you had something more intense in mind and not try to get a goblin into a school to get a scholarship or a college degree." she continued, her tone dry. 

 "Forget I even asked about the eggs and goblins. Better yet, tell me what you need with David?" Suzuka shook her head, dismissing the topic entirely.

Valerius remained calm and composed in the face of Suzuka's dismissive attitude. With a measured tone, he addressed her concerns directly.

"Helen," he began, his voice steady, "I've decided to have David join us on the goblin rescue missions from now on. He'll handle the dirty tasks of delivering goblin eggs and goblin slaves in your place, as per our deal. This way, you can focus solely on the goblin rescue aspect of our mission."

Suzuka's response was marked by a nonchalant dismissal, her carefree demeanor masking her underlying skepticism.

"Hmm, David, huh? I'm not sure if I should be happy or worried, considering his young age and, uh, less-than-stellar track record. I mean, just a few days ago, he was a goblin hater. And let's not forget how he nearly killed Hermit with his sick tortures, several times. But hey, if you think he's up for it, who am I to argue? If he does all the dirty work for me I'm more than happy." she mused, her tone casual. 

"Well, I hope he can pull his weight. Guess we'll just have to wait and see." Suzuka shrugged off her concerns with a careless wave of her hand.

"The boy is more than meets the eye," Valerius remarked cryptically to Suzuka.

 His perspective on David was one of understanding and optimism, grounded in a deeper knowledge of the young man's past and potential. Though he kept David's true identity a secret, Valerius saw beyond his troubled history, recognizing the changes that had taken root within him.

"David is a fine young man. I've seen his misfortunes and his tendency to make mistakes, but there's been a noticeable shift in him lately. Since Larry's ultimatum, he worked harder than ever to improve himself. He's taken on solo quests and completed them flawlessly, and he even managed to pay off all his debts, starting fresh. He's become more composed, and more focused on the future rather than dwelling on his past mistakes. It's clear that he's determined to make amends and forge a better path for himself."

Turning to Suzuka, Valerius offered his advice with a knowing smile. 

"Keep a friendly relationship with him. David is more than meets the eye, and if you want smooth sailing in the far future with your town, it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on him. I have a feeling he'll surprise you. That's all I can say."

Valerius's attention shifted from David back to the goblin slaves, his expression thoughtful as he asked about their plans.

 "Now, I'm curious to hear what your and Larry's next steps will be. Are you pushing forward to tackle another goblin breeding farm, or do you plan to return and better prepare for the next endeavor?"

"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what Larry has in mind," she admitted, "But when I return to him, I believe our priority will be gathering what remains of the survivors and making our way back to town."

 "But rest assured," she added firmly, "I have a great idea on how to tackle the next goblin breeding farm with minimal casualties. This time we'll get them out safe and sound. I won't settle for anything less."

Valerius nodded approvingly at Suzuka's words, a tone of satisfaction in his voice.

"I'm glad to hear that you have a plan. I would encourage you to return to Larry as soon as possible. The sooner you regroup and put your plan into action, the better chance you have of success. And before you go, grab the supplies from the storage. I have prepared some rations for the goblins. It should sustain a hundred goblins for a few days."

He gestured towards the exit, a silent urging for her to take action. 

"The supplies will help a lot, thanks. I will see you in a few days, Valerius. Until then."

 With a nod of farewell, Valerius bid Suzuka good luck on her journey back to Larry. She bid Valerius farewell with a wave and made her way out of his place. With supplies safely stored in her magical item storage she hopped onto the four-wheeler and set off on the journey back to Larry. It took her another full day to make her way back to Larry and the rest of the team.

As Suzuka approached the wreckage of the goblin breeding farm, she couldn't help but notice the eerie stillness that hung in the air. The scene was much as she had left it, with only the absence of the goblin corpses indicating any change. She stepped cautiously deeper into the former goblin nest, her senses on high alert.

It was then that she spotted the ramshackle shed constructed from scraps of junk scattered about. Curiosity piqued, she made her way toward it, the gleeful sounds of childish laughter growing louder with each step.

Near the shed, she found Jake and Max engaged in whispered conversation, their expressions a mixture of relief and weariness. Larry lay asleep by a small campfire, his form outlined by the flickering flames.

But it was the cheerful giggles emanating from the shed that caught Suzuka's attention. With a furrowed brow, she approached Jake and Max, greeting them with a nod.

"Hey, guys," she began, her voice a hushed whisper. 

"Anything happened while I was out? How's Larry holding up?"

Jake and Max exchanged a glance before Jake replied, "Nothing much, just trying to make the best of things. A few monsters showed up and dragged the corpses deep into the forest but that's about it. Larry's been resting, as you can see."

Suzuka nodded in understanding before her curiosity got the better of her.

 "And what's with the giggles?" she asked, gesturing toward the shed.

Max said, "Oh, that's Hermit. He's been working on something in there. You'll want to see it for yourself."

 Intrigued by the mention of Hermit, Suzuka made her way toward the shed, eager to discover the reason behind the goblin's unexpected cheerfulness and what he had been up to during her absence.

As Suzuka cautiously approached the ramshackle shed, she couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within her. With each step, the cheerful sounds of laughter grew louder, drawing her closer to the source of the commotion.

Reaching the door of the shed, she peered through the narrow openings in the door, Suzuka witnessed a heartwarming scene unfolding before her eyes. Hermit, the abused and tortured goblin, sat cross-legged on the floor of the shed, his usually oppressed demeanor replaced by an expression of pure joy. He was surrounded by eight tiny hatchlings, each no larger than the palm of her hand, their small forms wriggling and squirming with excitement as they playfully interacted with Hermit. With gentle hands, he lifted one of the hatchlings into the air and moved him through the air as if he were flying, eliciting delighted chirps and squeals from the tiny creature.

With a sense of wonder, Suzuka watched as the hatchlings gleefully clambered over Hermit's giant, meaty ears, using them as a makeshift playground. Some swung from his ears like vines in a jungle, while others used them as sleds, sliding down and tumbling as they reached the rough ground below, their tiny naked butts bouncing and scraping with each bump. A few of the more adventurous hatchlings even ventured deeper into Hermit's ear canals, squirming and wriggling halfway in, their tiny legs kicking in the air as they explored their newfound playground.

Hermit himself was a picture of pure bliss, his usually depressed and defeated expression replaced by one of unbridled happiness. Tears of joy glistened in his eyes as he reveled in the simple pleasure of their company, his heart filled with pure joy. He cackled and laughed as he interacted with the hatchlings, brushing away tears of delight that welled up in his eyes.

As Suzuka continued to watch, she noticed the hatchlings engaging in a variety of games with Hermit. Some chased after each other in a game of tag, their tiny legs pumping as they darted around the shed. Others played hide-and-seek, giggling with delight as they hid behind piles of junk scattered on the ground, their tiny naked forms tumbling with glee on the ground.

Hermit decided to turn his ears into a makeshift rollercoaster, much to the hatchlings' excitement. With a gleeful shout, he tilted his head to the side, sending the hatchlings on a wild ride as they clung to his ears for dear life, their tiny voices squealing with joy. The hatchlings took turns riding up and down the curves and twists with squeals of delight. With gleeful chirps and chirrups, they tumbled over one another, their tiny claws grasping at Hermit's giant, meaty ears.

With gentle movements, Hermit scooped up the hatchlings in his arms, cradling them close to his chest as he nuzzled them affectionately. He showered them with tiny little kisses and love, making tiny hatchlings squeal out of pure joy. The hatchlings responded with eager chirps and delighted squeaks, their tiny claws grasping at his skin in a display of trust and affection.

With a tender smile, Suzuka watched as the rest of the hatchlings continued frolicking around Hermit, their tiny feet pattering against the makeshift floor. Hermit, his usually solemn expression replaced by one of pure joy, playfully lifted his puffy feet soles into the air, inviting the hatchlings to play. 

The hatchlings, their eyes twinkling with mischief, eagerly accepted the invitation, darting forward to nibble and lick at Hermit's feet. Hermit, his heart overflowing with newfound joy, gently tickled the hatchlings with his toes, eliciting giggles of delight from the tiny creatures. Some of them, overcome with excitement, ran at his puffy soles with reckless abandon, only to bounce off with gleeful chuckles, their tiny bodies bouncing with each joyful collision.

The hatchlings, for their part, showed no fear or hesitation as they frolicked with their newfound friend. They trusted Hermit implicitly, their tiny hearts filled with love and gratitude for the goblin who had shown them kindness in a world fraught with cruelty.

But the most touching moment came when one of the smallest hatchlings, overcome with affection, nestled into Hermit's palm, its tiny body trembling with emotion. With a tender smile, Hermit gently cradled the hatchling against his chest, his touch filled with a tenderness born of pure love.

As Hermit cradled the tiny hatchling he tickled others' tiny bellies with his puffy feet soles, the hatchlings squealed with delight, their laughter echoing off the walls in a symphony of happiness. They scampered around him, their tiny claws pitter-pattering against the hard-packed earth floor, their tiny mouths breaking into delighted smiles.

Some of the bolder hatchlings leaped onto Hermit's back, their tiny forms bouncing with unrestrained glee as they rode him like a makeshift steed. They tumbled over each other in their eagerness to be near him, their tiny tails wagging furiously with excitement.

With each playful interaction, Hermit's heart swelled with a newfound sense of purpose. The hatchlings, with their innocent antics, brought a lightness to his soul that he hadn't felt in ages.