Chapter 373 Eyes that Always Watching

Suzuka smirked and gestured casually to Hermit, who was clinging to her leg like his life depended on it, trembling as he peeked out at the imposing Zalthar.

“See this little guy? His name is Hermit,” she said, nudging Hermit lightly with her heel.

“As you can see, he’s a goblin. You’re a lizardman. And I’m a human. Now imagine a place where goblins don’t have to cling to humans for safety, where lizardmen don’t have to hole up in caves, and where all the races can live together without stabbing each other in the back. Sounds crazy, right?”

She grinned, crossing her arms.

“That’s my town. A place where everyone—no matter how scaly, furry, green, or, you know, normal-looking—can work together, live together, and build something better than this constant fight for scraps. Think about it, Zalthar: your people wouldn’t have to hide in swamps or caves anymore. You’d have safety, food, homes, and allies to fight beside if anyone dares mess with us. Doesn’t that sound like a much better deal than struggling to survive out here in the wild?”

Zalthar's golden eyes narrowed as he cast a skeptical gaze at Hermit, still nervously clinging to Suzuka’s side. His deep, rumbling voice grew louder with suspicion.

“A town... with goblins?" He raised his head slightly, as if the idea itself was a strange taste in his mouth. 

"Goblins are known for treachery, trickery, and cruelty. We have fought their kind in the past—many times. They are beasts that will turn on you at any moment for their own gain and you ask us to mingle with the ilk of goblins? You are asking us to trust the very monsters who’ve hunted our kin. These despicable creatures deserve to be killed on the spot! And you should start with this wretched goblin covering behind you."

Suzuka’s eyes blazed with fury, her face flushed with anger. Without a moment’s hesitation, she slammed her fist into the cave wall with a violent force, sending cracks spiderwebbing through the stone. The impact reverberated through the chamber, causing the lizardmen to flinch back in surprise.

"Watch your long tongue, lizard. Before you lose it."

She turned sharply to face Zalthar.

 "This goblin here—" she pointed directly at Hermit, who was visibly trembling but standing firm beside her, "is no lowly monster. He was one of the slaves of those evil goblins, the ones in those breeding farms you know so well. But now? He’s leading the others, the ones we freed, to a new life. He is a king among his kin, one of the founders of my town. And you will show him the respect he deserves. Belittling him means you’re throwing dirt on my face, and I will not stand for it."

Her fists clenched tightly. She stepped forward, closing the distance between herself and Zalthar.

 "So, unless you’re ready to risk your lives and your tribe's future over this, you’ll apologize, and you’ll do it now."

The massive lizardman leader let out a slow, rumbling breath, the weight of his misunderstanding sinking in.

 "You… are right, human," he rumbled, his voice now tinged with a grudging respect, though still laced with his guttural growl.

 "I… assumed too much. The goblins I have encountered are far from… noble. I had forgotten that not all goblins are the same. My mistake."

Zalthar slowly raised his head, his muscular form towering over them both, but now there was no menace in his gaze—only understanding.

 "I owe you an apology, goblin. I should have known better than to judge you by your look."

Zalthar’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly, his reptilian gaze studying Suzuka with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. His voice, though still deep, carried a note of caution as he spoke.

“I see now that your anger for a goblin’s honor is not born of simple pride. It comes from something more. You care for creatures such as these... for all of us. I can see it in your words, and in the way you stand for them.” 

His gaze flicked briefly to Hermit before returning to Suzuka.

 “And that… is something I respect.”

He shifted his weight, the long claws on his feet scraping slightly against the stone floor of the cave, before continuing. 

“You offer much. A safe land, shelter, food, homes for those who have nowhere. A place to live, free from the endless struggle of survival. It sounds… almost too good to be true. I have walked this land long enough to know that such promises are not kept without a price."

Zalthar leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering, though the rumble still filled the cave.

 "What is it that you want in return? Nothing is free. Not for creatures like us. What will you ask of us once we are settled in this town of yours? Will we be your slaves exploited for your amusement or worse? What do you demand?" 

Suzuka chuckled softly, her previous anger evaporated.

"Ah, Zalthar, you think I’d make a deal with strings attached? I’m not some kind of trickster. No catch, no hidden agenda. If you and your people don't like living in my town, you're free to leave whenever you wish. No questions asked, no harm done. That’s a promise."

She paused for a moment before continuing, her tone shifting slightly to one of practicality.

 "But let's be honest here, I got a real problem. Guards. That's what I need. My town’s growing, and I can’t rely on just goblins and a few magic users to keep things safe. They need more hands... and that’s where your people come in."

Suzuka’s smile grew a little more sly and she gave a small shrug.

 "All I’m asking is for your lizardmen to contribute to the security of the town. Simple, really. Guard the goblins, protect our people, keep the peace. And I’m not asking you to show up with sticks and sharp rocks, either. You’ll be equipped with proper weapons—real metal, forged by the best blacksmiths I can get my hands on. No more running around with makeshift tools."

 "I know you’re not some naive warrior. You’re a leader. So, let’s keep it simple. Help me keep the town safe, and in return, your people will get proper training, equipment, and a safe place to call home. I will even build you your own district for your kin to grow. What do you say?"

Zalthar’s golden eyes darkened with a haunted look, his usually proud posture slumping slightly. He exhaled deeply before speaking, his voice low and filled with grim sincerity.

"Your offer is... beyond generous and if what you promise is true, then I see that you are a truly kind person. But..." He paused, his expression hardening with concern.

 "But I cannot accept it. Not yet."

He turned slightly, his gaze shifting to the cave entrance, as if he could feel the eyes of the creature watching them even now. 

"There is a monster that stalks us. A creature so powerful that even all of my tribe combined could not defeat it. It’s a beast with a cunning mind, and it knows how to toy with us. It hunts us, silently and relentlessly, always lurking in the shadows. And what it desires... what it craves above all else, is our precious eggs."

Zalthar’s voice faltered for a moment, a flicker of fear crossing his normally stoic face.

 "It strikes quickly, stealing the eggs when we least expect it. It never kills us. It knows... it knows that as long as we live, it can continue to feast on our eggs. If we were gone, so would its most beloved meal. So, it keeps us alive, always hunting us, always toying with us. We cannot escape it. No matter where we go, it finds us."

He looked back at Suzuka, his expression now a mix of sorrow and caution. 

"And if we bring this creature anywhere near your town... it will bring destruction. It will come for us, and it will bring a misfortune that none of us could withstand. I cannot allow your people to be caught in the middle of this hunt. Not when they have nothing to do with it."

Zalthar sighed deeply, his tone softening, regret clear in his voice.

 "You are a kind person. So, while your offer is more than I could ever ask for, I must refuse. I cannot let your town suffer because of the danger we carry."

"Okay, I hear you, Zalthar. But before we write this whole thing off, let's get down to the details. What kind of monster are we talking about here? How many of these things are we dealing with? What's its size, its strengths, its weaknesses? You know... the usual stuff. Because, you see, I help you, you help me. We both get something out of this."

“The creature is large—easily the size of ten of lizardmen standing shoulder to shoulder. But don’t let its size fool you; it moves with unnatural agility and speed; faster than even the sharpest hunter can react.” 

“Its skin is like steel—no, harder than that. Flexible, too, making it nearly impossible to penetrate. And its scales… Even tougher than its skin. They can deflect arrows, blades, even the fine steel of the adventurers.”

His golden eyes locked with Suzuka’s as he continued, the faintest tremor of unease in his voice. 

“It’s not just its body, either. It has claws—massive, serrated things—that can tear through stone, and its fangs… sharper than the finest blade your adventurers could wield.”

 “But what makes it truly dangerous isn’t just its strength—it’s its cunning. This creature doesn’t hunt blindly. It blends with the environment, using the shadows, the trees, the terrain to its advantage. It can stalk for days without being seen, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. It knows we can’t beat it. It toys with us, letting us live only because it’s after our eggs. It knows without us, there are no eggs, so it doesn’t wipe us out. Not completely. But it’s always there, always watching.”