Chapter 385 Would Suzuka’s words hold true? Would he really be safe?

This goblin, like so many others, had been used as a breeder—a living incubator for eggs, forced to carry them until they were ready to be laid. His body bore the scars of that life, his skin stretched thin and shiny over his inflated belly, marked with faint, silvery lines where it had been torn and healed too many times to count. His ribs protruded sharply above the swell, a cruel contrast to the unnatural roundness below.

Suzuka clicked her tongue, crossing her arms as she watched him struggle.

“Tck! For fuck’s sake. Someone help him already.” 

A few of the other goblins rushed forward to help, pushing and pulling at their struggling kin, hoisting him up as gently as they could. He whimpered slightly as he was finally settled into the carriage, clutching his rounded stomach protectively. His sunken, tired eyes flickered with gratitude, but behind that was a deep-rooted fear—fear of the unknown, of what awaited him beyond the town he had barely begun to call home.

David, sitting at the front of the carriage shifted slightly, glancing at the goblin who had just climbed into the wagon.

“Careful there, little guy. If you roll in, you might just roll right back out. Wouldn’t want to lose our precious cargo before we even get started, would we?” he teased.

Suzuka shot him a glare.

“Shut up and drive, David.”

The carriage rattled along, the rhythmic clatter of wheels and hooves filling the air. Inside, the goblin volunteer sat huddled in the back, his small hands pressed against his bloated, sloshing belly. He whispered softly to the unhatched eggs inside him, his voice trembling with fear. 

“I-It’s o-okay,” he murmured, more to himself than to the eggs. 

“We’ll be okay. Just a little longer… just a little longer, and we’ll be safe. I promise.”

He paused, his breath hitching as a wave of fear washed over him. His fingers traced the taut skin of his belly, feeling the weight of the eggs beneath. 

“You’ll survive this. You’ll grow up big and brave, and no one will ever hurt you. Not like they hurt me. You’re my family. My little ones. My precious. And I… I love you. I love you so much.”

As the carriage rolled away, the crowd of goblins stood in silence, their small, green faces etched with sorrow. They watched until the carriage disappeared from sight. Only then did they begin to scatter, their movements sluggish and heavy with grief. Some sobbed openly, their tiny hands clutching at their faces as tears streamed down their cheeks. Others clenched their jaws, their eyes squeezed shut as they fought to hold back their emotions. A few leaned on each other for support, their limping steps a testament to the physical and emotional toll of their lives.

Hermit stood at the edge of the crowd, his shoulders slumped and his head bowed. He looked like a beaten, mistreated puppy, his large ears drooping and his eyes red-rimmed from crying. His small hands trembled as he wiped away his tears, his breath hitching in his chest. After a moment, he turned and shuffled toward Suzuka, his steps slow and unsteady.

When he reached her, he looked up, his watery eyes meeting her sharp, golden gaze.

 “Master,” he said, his voice trembling but earnest. 

“I… it is done. He is gone. It’s hard. He was one of us. And now… now he’s gone. He was… he was a brave one. The bravest of us.”

 Hermit’s lip quivered, and he quickly wiped his nose with back of his hand. 

“We won’t forget his sacrifice. We won’t forget him.”

Suzuka let out a long, exaggerated sigh and dragged a hand down her face. The goblins' over-the-top theatrics were really starting to get on her nerves.

“How many times do I have to tell you?” she groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.

 “He. Will. Be. Fine.”

She shot a glare at Hermit and the others, her patience wearing thin. 

“You met Valerius. You even spent time with him! And guess what? He didn’t eat you for breakfast, didn’t turn you into a stew, didn’t roast you over a fire. You’re still here. Walking. Breathing.” She gestured at him with both hands. 

“So why in all the hells would it be any different now?”

The goblin flinched at her words, shuffling his feet awkwardly, but his pouting expressions remained.

“It’s the same damn deal,” Suzuka continued, crossing her arms. 

“So, stop with the sad puppy act, pull yourselves together, and quit dampening the mood. You’re supposed to be keeping each other’s spirits up, not dragging everyone into your sad little pity party. Honestly, you’d think I was sending him to his grave instead of a cushy new life.”

She jabbed finger at Hermit. 

“Don’t you have something better to do? Like, I don’t know, work? Whatever it is you even do?”

Hermit let out a squeaky yelp and scrambled after the rest of the goblins, his short legs moving as fast as they could. He tripped over his own feet in his hurry, nearly face-planting in the dirt before catching himself with his hands.

His fellow goblins weren’t much better off—some still sniffled dramatically, wiping their eyes as if they had just lost a dear friend to the abyss. Others muttered among themselves, shaking their heads as they dispersed back to their duties.

For the next few days, the preparations went surprisingly smoothly—as smoothly as a town full of goblins could manage.

They worked tirelessly, clearing trees and brush from the land designated for the new districts. Though many still flinched at every unexpected noise. Under Jacob’s careful guidance, the land near the river was reinforced with his earth magic, ensuring it wouldn’t erode or flood when the rains came. Massive stone foundations rose from the soil, providing a strong base for the lizardmen’s future homes.

On the other side Jacob shaped the terrain for the cat folk’s district, crafting sturdy ledges and elevated platforms where homes could be built higher off the ground. He even created a few natural stone outcroppings for them to use as watchtowers or lounging spots.

Once the land was secured, the real challenge began—the construction itself.

Led by Thorin and Dwalin, the goblins set to work hammering, sawing, and hauling materials, following the detailed blueprints provided by the dwarf brothers. Of course, ‘following instructions’ was not exactly a goblin's strong suit.

Every few minutes, a mistake had to be corrected. Walls were put up backward, roofs were assembled on the ground before realizing they had to be lifted onto something, and at one point, an entire support beam was installed upside down.

“No, no, no, ya dimwitted shovel-brained twit!” Dwalin roared at a goblin attempting to use a plank of wood as a hammer. 

“That’s not how ya do it! Look, LOOK! The nails go in here, not in your fingers, ya fool!”

“Eep! Goblin sorry! Goblin fix it!” the unfortunate worker yelped, scrambling to correct his mistake while clutching his now very sore fingers.

Meanwhile, Thorin barked orders at another group, ensuring every plank and beam was placed perfectly.

 “Aye, measure twice, cut once, ya lot! We don’t want these houses collapsin’ on their heads first time a stiff breeze rolls through!”

Despite the chaos, progress moved at an impressive pace. The goblins, while clumsy and prone to mishaps, were fast workers under proper supervision. They scurried about like industrious ants, driven by the strict oversight of the dwarves and their own eagerness to prove their worth.

Slowly but surely, the framework of the districts began to take shape. The lizardmen’s homes, made of sturdy stone with wooden accents, were designed to withstand both weather and potential attacks. The cat folk’s homes were built with a more vertical design, giving them high vantage points and easy access to rooftops.

As the days passed, excitement buzzed through the growing town. The goblins were finally seeing real progress, this place was becoming a real settlement. A home.

Meanwhile, over the past few days, the caravan had made steady progress, traveling through the forest toward Rockmine Town. The journey had been mostly uneventful, save for the occasional startled goblin yelp whenever a tree rustled, or an owl hooted in the distance. The adventurers hired to guard the caravan kept watchful eyes on the road ahead, slaying any monster crossing their path.

By the time dusk settled in, the caravan had reached the halfway point of their journey. The decision was made to stop for the night, allowing everyone to rest. The makeshift camp was set up along the roadside, with tents pitched and a small fire crackling in the center, casting flickering light across the weary travelers.

David, stretching out the stiffness in his back, stepped toward the covered wagon. The goblin inside had spent most of the journey curled up in a corner, clutching his swollen belly, occasionally mumbling to himself in anxious whispers.

With a sigh, David pulled a waterskin from his pack and handed it to the goblin, along with a loaf of bread.

“Here,” he said gruffly, “eat something. Last thing I need is for you to kick the bucket before we get there. And just to make it clear, I’m not exactly keen on your kind, but I’ve got my orders. So, I’ll do my job and make sure you get there in one piece. Don't make me regret it.”

The goblin blinked up at him, his wide yellow eyes glistening in the dim light. He clutched the food with both hands, visibly touched by the gesture, even if David’s words were anything but warm.

“Th-Thank you, human…” the goblin mumbled hesitantly, his voice hoarse.

But David was already turning away, stepping down from the wagon without another word. He didn’t care for sentimental moments, especially not with goblins. His job was simple—deliver the cargo. And right now, this goblin, no matter how pathetic, was the cargo.

He left the goblin alone and went to check on Olivia. The night stretched on as the fire crackled, the guards quietly keeping watch. The goblin nibbled at his bread, his mind racing with thoughts of what awaited him in Valerius' care. Would Suzuka’s words hold true? Would he really be safe?

For now, all he could do was wait and see.