Chapter 383 A Volunteer who Believes that his Sacrifice can Serve a Greater Good

Hermit's eyes shimmered with a mixture of sorrow and a strange kind of hope as he took a trembling breath. He spoke slowly, his voice quavering yet earnest.

"Master Helen, I… I spoke with my kin, and after much heartache and many tearful conversations, we found someone—a volunteer, if you will—who believes that his sacrifice can serve a greater good." 

He swallowed hard, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he met Suzuka's gaze. 

"Please, Master, consider his words. Let his sacrifice be a promise—a promise that even in our darkest moments, we can choose to fight for a better life. That our suffering might one day lead to something greater."

Suzuka let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking her head as she leaned back against her desk, arms crossed. A teasing smirk tugged at her lips as she looked at the pitiful goblin before her.

"Oh, you dramatic little goblin, I swear, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you enjoy making everything sound like the end of the world. I told you—he’ll be fine. He is not a sacrifice. He’ll live, probably happier than you, if I had to guess." 

She rolled her eyes, then leaned forward, her voice taking on an almost motherly but still mocking tone.

"Come on, Hermit, what else do I have to do to get it through that thick little skull of yours? No one is going to hurt him, no one is going to mistreat him, and no, his eggs and hatchlings won’t be turned into some twisted snack. They’ll be perfectly fine, maybe even pampered, who knows? Valerius doesn’t waste things he finds valuable. You really think he’d mistreat something he put effort into getting?"

She tilted her head, watching Hermit’s conflicted face before letting out a small chuckle.

 "But hey, listen to this—you did well. You did your part, so I’m going to do you a favor. Anything you like."

 She held up a finger before he could speak.

 "Within reason, of course. Don’t go asking for the moon, I’m not a miracle worker. But think carefully, because I’ll only do it once."

Her smirk widened as she tapped a finger against her temple. 

"Now, would that be enough to get you to stop with the doom and gloom? Maybe—just maybe—you’ll finally stop acting like the world is crumbling under your little green feet?"

Hermit’s big, watery eyes blinked up at Suzuka in pure disbelief, his tiny hands clutching at his chest like he was afraid his heart might give out from the sheer shock. His ears twitched, his lips quivered, and for a moment, he just stood there, stunned, as if Suzuka had just told him he was actually a human, who was reincarnate by the goddess Lusseria for insulting her, in disguise of a goblin.

“M-Master? A favor? For me?” His voice cracked, his throat dry with disbelief. He pointed at himself, as if he needed confirmation she was actually talking about him and not some other goblin standing behind him.

 “For a lowly goblin like Hermit?”

He took a cautious step forward, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

 “No one ever did favors for Hermit… No one ever even thought of it. Always the one doing things for others, never the other way around.” 

His voice was filled with equal parts wonder and caution, like he was about to wake up from a cruel dream. His hands trembled as he pressed them together, still trying to process it. 

“Can I really ask for anything? No tricks? No hidden price? No—”

 He gulped, his ears drooping slightly as his mind raced.

 “—no cruel joke waiting at the end?”

He looked up at Suzuka like a starving man staring at a feast placed before him, afraid that the moment he reached out, it would all disappear.

 “Yes, yes, anything. Within reason, of course. But think carefully. Don’t go wasting it on something stupid—like a snack or, gods forbid, another one of those warm hugs you’re always whining about. I swear, if you ask me to pat your head or something, I will revoke the offer.”

She waved a hand dismissively. 

“Shoot for something a little higher, huh? No rush, take your time. Maybe—maybe—something will come up in that nut-sized brain of yours.” 

She knocked a playful fist against his forehead.

 “But try not to overheat yourself thinking too hard, alright? Would hate to see you pass out from the effort.”

Hermit puffed out his cheeks so much he looked like a bloated frog, crossing his spindly arms like a sulky child who had just been denied a bedtime treat.

"Master always with the jokes! Always making me a butt of a joke," he huffed, his long, floppy ears twitching so dramatically it looked like they might just take off.

He scrunched up his nose, looking away with an over-the-top dramatic sniff.

 "M-Maybe Hermit does want a warm hug! Or a snack! Maybe Master just doesn’t understand how important snacks are to a goblin! A well-fed goblin is a smart goblin! And a hugged goblin is a happy goblin! But Master always acts like Hermit’s needs are so tiny and silly!"

He let out a deep sigh.

 "But if Master insists, Hermit will think of something big and important and worthy of the almighty favor!" 

He paused, then squinted suspiciously. 

"Just… don’t rush Hermit! Thinking is hard! Requires effort! And brain power! And maybe… maybe even another snack!”

Suzuka smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned back in her chair, thoroughly entertained by Hermit’s over-the-top dramatics.

"Good, good! Now that we finally agree on that, is there anything else you need to talk about? Or are we done with the goblin theater performance for today?"

 She tapped her fingers on the desk, her grin widening.

"But please tell me you won’t be asking for bedtime stories next? Or for me to tuck you in and give you a tiny, little, itty-bitty, good night kiss on your goblin forehead?"

She wiggled her fingers mockingly, her voice dipping into a sing-song coo.

 "Awww, poor wittle Hermit, such a tiny baby goblin, all sad and sleepy? Cochhy-koo~! Should Master rock you in her arms too? Maybe sing you a lullaby?"

She clutched her chest dramatically, barely holding back laughter. 

"What’s next, huh? Shall I knit you a blankie? Or maybe a teddy bear so you don’t feel so alone in your great big goblin bed?" She made an exaggerated pout.

Then she waved her hand dismissively.

 "Go on, out with it before you start sucking your thumb."

Hermit blinked, his big goblin eyes full of hesitation as he mulled over Suzuka’s words. He scratched his chin, his ears twitching as he genuinely considered the offer.

“Umm… Master, I… I would like that,” he admitted, his voice small, almost embarrassed.

 “It would be… nice.”

He shifted awkwardly, glancing at the floor before peeking up at her again.

 “But… I feel like you don’t mean it.” His lips wobbled slightly, and his shoulders slumped.

“Master always says things with a weird tone, like when humans say nice things but don’t really mean them. Like when traders say, ‘Oh sure, Hermit, I’ll give you a fair deal,’ and then they laugh behind Hermit’s back.”

He fidgeted with his fingers, ears flattening against his head.

 “If Master does mean it, then… maybe just once? Just to see what it’s like?”

 He quickly added, “B-but if not, Hermit understands! Master is very busy and important and doesn’t have time for silly goblin requests.”

Still, there was a hopeful glint in his eye, as if, deep down, he really wished she would.

Suzuka dragged a hand down her face, pressing her fingers against her temples as if physically trying to push away the sheer stupidity she was dealing with. She inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly, and then, in the calmest voice she could muster, said, “Hermit… if you have nothing else to report… you can go.”

She paused for a beat, then added, her tone completely flat, “I was joking.”

Her eyes flicked to the goblin, who still looked unsure, as if debating whether she was truly serious or if he should keep standing there like a lost puppy. Suzuka sighed, waving a dismissive hand.

 “Go on, shoo. Before you ask to suck on a titty for bedtime milk too.”

Hermit swallowed hard, his big round eyes darting up at Suzuka like a guilty child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He fidgeted, rubbing his hands together nervously, and mumbled under his breath,

“Umm… Master's titty looks tasty... it would be nice… if not too much to ask…”

Suzuka’s eye twitched. Her patience, already running thinner than a goblin’s sense of self-preservation, finally snapped.

“Beat it, buddy! Off with you!” she barked, pointing at the door like she was exorcising a particularly annoying spirit.

Hermit let out a high-pitched squeal, his entire body jolting like he had been struck by lightning. In his panic, he spun around too fast, misjudging the distance, and slammed face-first into the door with a loud THUNK. The poor goblin scrambled like a trapped rat, fumbling with the handle, yanking at it the wrong way before finally wrenching it open. He bolted, limbs flailing, nearly tripping over his own feet as he fled hall down the stairs.

Suzuka groaned, rubbing her temples. 

“That goblin is going to be the death of me. That's how this story will end.”