Chapter 390 Goblin with a Broken Neck

The smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. 

“But happiness didn’t last long for Koji. His loved one was taken from him, just like it happened to you, Hermit. Seeing him so hurt... it made me realize how you must have felt when she was killed, right in front of your eyes, and you could do nothing to stop it.”

Hermit’s breath hitched, his hands trembling as he clutched them together. Cat Boss took another step closer.

 “I’m sorry, Hermit. For saying awful things to you when you were just as hurt by her death as we all were. I was wrong.”

“I... I forgave you a long time ago,” he stammered, his voice barely audible. 

“I just... didn’t think you’d ever say it.”

Cat Boss let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. 

“Well, I’m saying it now. And I mean it.”

Suzuka cleared her throat, breaking the moment.

 “Oh jeez, a simple ‘yes, we’re good’ would have sufficed. There was no need to go into this whole tragic backstory. But hey, at least we’re clear. No grudges, no backstabbing, and no ‘accidents.’ Great, now that’s settled. How about you go to your people, Cat Boss, and check out the district we built for you and your people? See how you like it, and if you need anything, ask Larry or Jacob. They’ll help you out.”

Cat Boss gave her a nod, his usual smirk creeping back onto his face. “Thanks for the safe place for my people, Helen. I’ll take a look.” He turned to leave but paused beside Hermit, giving the trembling goblin a friendly pat on his wrinkled, scarred head.

 “Take care of yourself, Hermit and nice to be working with you.”

Hermit froze, his wide eyes blinking in surprise as Cat Boss strode out of the room, his tail flicking behind him. The moment the door closed, Hermit’s composure shattered. He burst into tears, his sobs echoing through the office. Snot dripped from his nose, pooling on the floor as he hunched over, his entire body shaking with emotion.

Suzuka stared at him, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

 “Ewwww! Disgusting! Wipe that snot off your face and pull yourself together, Your Royal Sadness! You’re making a mess!”

Hermit sniffled loudly, fumbling for a rag in his pocket.

 “S-sorry, Master! I just... I didn’t think he’d ever...” He trailed off, blowing his nose noisily before wiping his face with the same rag smearing the snot all over his face.

 “I’m okay now. I’m okay.”

Suzuka sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

 “You’re a mess, Hermit. But... I’m glad you two worked it out. Just try to keep it together next time, alright? I don’t need snot all over my floor.”

Hermit nodded vigorously, his ears flopping with the motion.

 “Y-yes, Master! Thank you, Master!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Suzuka muttered, waving him off.

 “Now go clean yourself up. And for the love of the gods, wash your hands before you touch anything. I don’t need your royal snot all over my paperwork.”

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity as the cat people settled into their new district. The town buzzed with work, the sounds of hammering, cutting, and cheerful chatter filling the air. Goblins, lizardmen, and cat people worked side by side, each contributing their unique skills to build Suzuka’s vision of a thriving, multi-racial settlement.

The goblins, once timid and fearful, now worked with smiles on their faces and a spring in their steps. For the first time in their lives, they felt safe. The lizardmen and cat people patrolled the lands, their sharp eyes and swift movements ensuring that no monster or aggressive animal dared threaten the town. Each evening, they returned with fresh game, their hunts providing not only security but also an abundance of food for the growing community.

The goblins, who had once survived on scraps in the breeding farms, now feasted like kings. Each night, the central square transformed into a lively gathering place, with roaring bonfires, the smell of roasting meat, and the sound of laughter echoing through the air. It was a feast unlike anything they had ever known—a celebration of their freedom and the new life Suzuka had given them.

The town’s construction progressed at an impressive pace. Teams of goblins, under the guidance of the dwarves, focused on building a sturdy protective wall around the settlement. The wall, made of stone and reinforced timber, was designed to withstand any threat.

Others worked on constructing buildings—homes, workshops, and storage facilities. Meanwhile, the lizardmen used their strength to haul heavy materials. For the goblins, every nail driven and every stone laid was a step toward a brighter future—a future they could finally believe in.

A few days later, Hermit knocked lightly on Suzuka’s door. After a moment of hesitation, he peeked his head inside, his long, floppy ears drooping nervously.

 “M-Master Helen, can I come in?”

Suzuka looked up from the map spread across her desk, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly.

 “Well, you’re already halfway in, might as well. Next time, how about you wait until I say ‘come in’ before barging in? What if I was doing something you didn’t need to see?”

Hermit squeaked, his face turning a deep shade of green as he stammered an apology.

 “S-sorry, Master! I didn’t mean to— I just— I’ll wait next time, I promise!”

Suzuka sighed, leaning back in her chair. 

“Relax, Hermit. I’m not going to bite your head off. What is it?”

Hermit shuffled into the room, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. He took a deep breath, his voice trembling but determined. 

“Master, I... I wanted to talk to you about the goblins. Our district is growing fast, and there are lots of empty houses now. I was wondering... if you and your warriors could raid a few goblin breeding farms. To free more of my people. If... if that’s possible, that is.”

Suzuka, leaned back in her chair and smirked.

 “Raiding breeding farms? Hermit, I’ve been thinking about it too, actually. The work in my town is going great—better than I expected, honestly. The goblins have proven to be a better workforce than I imagined, with a bit of guidance. But there’s just one problem: there aren’t enough of you. If we’re going to grow this town at the speed I want, we’re going to need a lot more hands. And by hands, I mean goblins.”

She stood up suddenly, her chair scraping against the floor. With a playful slap on the table that made Hermit jump, she declared, “So let’s do it. And let’s do it now. The faster we free more goblins, the faster this town becomes what I envision. No point in waiting around. Hermit, lead the way. We’re going to raid some breeding farms and bring your people home.”

Hermit’s eyes widened, and for a moment, he just stood there, stunned. Then his face broke into a wide, grateful smile, his ears perking up for the first time in days. 

“R-really, Master? You mean it?”

Suzuka grinned, cracking her knuckles. 

“Of course I mean it. I don’t say things I don’t mean. Now, go. Get ready for a fight. Meet me at the gates in ten minutes. And Hermit?”

“Y-yes, Master?”

“Don’t forget, I’m not wandering around the wilderness looking for these places. You’re leading the way, remember?”

Hermit nodded so vigorously that his ears clapped against his cheeks.

 “Y-yes, Master! Right away, Master!” He turned and scurried out of the room, his steps light and eager.

 Suzuka watched him go, shaking her head with a faint smirk.

 “That goblin’s got more energy than sense."

Seconds later, a loud thud echoed from outside, followed by a series of crashes and a final, sickening splat. Suzuka’s ears perked up, and she sighed, rubbing her face in annoyance. 

“Oh, for the love of—”

She stepped out of her office and looked down the staircase. There, sprawled at the bottom, was Hermit. His body was twisted at unnatural angles, his neck bent so far that his head was facing the wrong way. His eyes were wide open, his mouth agape, and his elongated tongue lolled out onto the ground like a limp noodle. One of his arms was bent behind his back, and his legs were splayed in opposite directions. 

Suzuka slowly walked down the stairs, her boots clacking against the wooden steps. She rubbed her face, muttering under her breath.

 “Of course. Of course he can’t even go down the stairs without breaking his neck. What am I supposed to do with this insufferable goblin? Can’t fight, can’t build, can’t even walk without turning himself into a pretzel.”

She knelt beside him, poking his cheek with a finger. 

“Come on, Hermit. I know you’re indestructible. Get on your feet. We’ve got things to do. After all the nonsense you’ve survived, a broken neck can’t be the end of you. Come on, get up.”

For a moment, nothing happened. As Suzuka knelt beside Hermit’s twisted, broken body, she noticed his lips moving faintly. She leaned closer, her sharp ears picking up snippets of his ramblings.

“Lusseria... why... why won’t you let me go?... I didn’t mean it... I didn’t know... please... just let me die...” His voice cracked, trembling with a mix of fear and despair.

Then his tone shifted, becoming more frantic.

 “Kaka... Kaka, no... don’t leave me... I couldn’t save you... I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...” His hands twitched, as if reaching for someone who wasn’t there.

His mumbling grew more disjointed, his words tumbling over each other. 

“The mountains... so cold... so dark... the chains... the screams... Kaka there... I need to go... Lusseria... you’re laughing... I can hear you... stop laughing... stop laughing at me...” His voice rose to a whimper, his body trembling despite his broken state. 

“I’m not a joke... I’m not... I’m not...”

Suzuka sighed, her usual annoyance tempered by a flicker of pity.

 “Yeah, well, you’re not exactly proving her wrong, either,” she muttered, though her tone lacked its usual bite.