Chapter 126 Iron Bars

Arin stayed further back, covering their backs while the rest investigated the sound. 

As they stood before the last cell, the group was met with a disgusting sight. The smell reeked so hard it felt like their noses were burning. Inside, an old goblin covered in dirt, urine, and feces quivered in fear, his abused little frame trembling in the corner. It was clear that he had been traumatized by the monstrous creatures from before. The goblin's eyes darted up to meet theirs, whispering a plea for help in his goblin language.

"P-p-please, no more t-t-torture. P-p-please." It was clear that he was too weak to defend himself against any further attacks. 

The moment David saw the monster he stepped forward, his sword at the ready to strike down the defenseless old goblin. The power coursing through him was intoxicating as if he had finally found an opportunity to reclaim his wounded pride. The recent humiliating encounter with a beast left him in shame. The memory of that defeat gnawed at him, fueling a burning desire for redemption. The old goblin, frail and feeble, presented itself as the perfect target for his pent-up frustration and stress relief.

His eyes narrowed with a mix of disdain and arrogance as he towered over the goblin, relishing the moment to exert his dominance. The creature cowered before him, unable to mount any defense or retaliation. It was a pitiful sight, one that only served to further inflate David's already inflated ego.

 A cruel smirk formed on David's face, his ego swelling with self-importance as he realized the extent of his strength advantage.

With an air of arrogance, he boldly stepped forward, brandishing his gleaming sword, poised for the final strike. The blade shimmered menacingly, a physical representation of David's inflated sense of power. He relished the moment, reveling in the control he held over this pitiful creature.

In that very instant, David's chest puffed out, his shoulders back, exuding an aura of superiority. His eyes narrowed with satisfaction as if basking in the glory of his imminent victory. He became intoxicated with his own dominance, feeling high and mighty in the face of such an easily overcome foe.

The goblin, sensing its impending doom, weakly raised its frail arms in a futile attempt to shield itself from the impending strike. Its eyes pleaded for mercy, but David's heart was hardened by his delusions of grandeur. He had become drunk on exerting his imagined strength upon a creature so feeble, so easily dominated.

With a swift, forceful motion, David was ready to unleash the full extent of his perceived strength upon the hapless goblin. He reveled in the confirmation of his own might. He stood there, a triumphant glint in his eyes. He reveled in the twisted satisfaction that surged through his veins, knowing that this creature's very existence now hinged on his whim. A malevolent smile curled upon his face, reflecting the pleasure he derived from his position of power.

Slowly, deliberately, David raised his sword high above his head and turned it blunt side facing the goblin, relishing every second of the torment he was about to inflict upon the pathetic goblin. His voice dripped with disdain as he taunted the creature, his words laced with sadistic delight.

"Look what we have here," he sneered, his voice carrying an air of superiority. "A pitiful, wretched goblin. How amusing it is to witness your feeble attempts at survival. But your time has come to an end, you miserable freak."

In that moment he relished the control he had over the goblin's life, reveling in the perverse pleasure of being the arbiter of its fate. As his sword poised in the air, David basked in the intoxicating moment, savoring the fear that emanated from the goblin's trembling form. The knowledge that he held the power to snuff out a life at will, fueled his sense of invincibility.

 With a final, triumphant gleam in his eyes, David prepared to unleash a brutal beat-down on the goblin. He wielded the blunt side of the blade, intentionally avoiding a fatal blow, as he relished in the idea of tormenting the creature.

But before he could land a blow, the goblin began shouting in a language they can understand. "Please! M-Mercy! Don't kill Hermit, I did nothing. I did not kill any human! Please! Hermit is no killer."

The words of the goblin echoed through the air, reaching Larry's ears. In an instant, he seized David's hand, freezing his swing in mid-air.

Larry's voice resonated with a hint of authority as he raised his hand to halt David's rage. "Stop, he can speak our language. Do not kill him, got that?" he firmly instructed. 

David, fueled by anger, retorted with a mix of frustration and disbelief, "You must be joking, Larry? This is a goblin, a goblin Larry! They did not deserve to live."

Before Larry could respond, Suzuka, with a confused expression on her face, interjected into their heated conversation. "It makes me puke to agree with David, but he is right. Why would you need, of all things, a goblin alive?" Her words hung in the air, tinged with a sense of reluctant acceptance.

Larry positioned himself between David and Suzuka, preparing to offer his explanation. "First of all, he can tell us about what happened here in more detail," he began, his voice carrying a note of calm confidence. "Second, I may or may not withhold some information on the quest."

David's fury intensified, his eyes blazing with anger. "You and your shady quests, Larry! What is it this time?" he bellowed, his frustration directed at Larry. Meanwhile, Suzuka, known for her composed demeanor, broke the tension with her steady voice. "Oh come on, Larry. I mean, you do the right thing by not telling your secrets to David, but you could trust me more and tell the truth about the quest. I would have helped you regardless."

Larry's head lowered slightly, a sign of contemplation and remorse. "Yeah, I'm sorry you two," he admitted, a touch of vulnerability creeping into his tone. "Actually, the quest was about retrieving this goblin. The client wanted all the possible intel this goblin could provide, and I was instructed to bring him in, I will quote 'by all means necessary' by the client."

David, overwhelmed by frustration, hurled his sword to the ground in a fit of anger the moment Larry released it from his grip. He shouted at Larry, his voice filled with resentment and betrayal, "Screw you, Larry! Because of your stupid quest, we will die here." With those words, he stormed off, finding solace on the cold prison bed on the opposite side of the holding cell.

Suzuka, her eyes fixed on David's retreating figure, turned her attention back to Larry. Her voice was calm, a contrast to the turbulent emotions in the room. "Don't mind him, Larry. Better yet, tell me what was your plan because clearly, it didn't play out."

Larry, meeting Suzuka's gaze, held a slight gilt in his eyes. "The client received word about bandits capturing a goblin with valuable intel. The bandits demanded money in exchange for turning in the goblin. So, the client hired me to deliver the money to the bandits and escort the target to him, alive." His explanation hung in the air, filled with a tinge of regret for the outcome thus far.

Larry continued, his voice carrying a weight of responsibility. "I had devised a plan to negotiate with the bandits, offering them the agreed-upon sum in exchange for the goblin. My intention was to ensure a peaceful resolution and secure the goblin without resorting to violence. A simple quest, go in go out."

He paused for a moment, contemplating the turn of events. "I did not account that some monsters made a nest in here. No one was supposed to die, pay the coin, and walk with the target. That was the plan. God damn it, what a failure."

Suzuka pondered for a moment, taking in the information presented. "Well, it seems we're in a bit of a pickle, but I wouldn't classify it as a complete failure just yet," she said thoughtfully. 

"The goblin is still alive and we still have the reward promised to those bandits, right? All we need to do now is deliver it to our client. Here's an idea: what if we keep the promised money for ourselves? We could divide the spoils equally, perhaps excluding David altogether. Or even better, we could simply omit any mention of it to him." Suzuka expressed herself suggestively. 

 "You see, Larry, I have the confidence to handle those creatures. When morning arrives and they have nowhere to hide, we'll make our way back home. How about we split the money between the two of us? I assure you, with my abilities, this quest will be a resounding success."

Larry leaned back against a moss-covered wall, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. A playful smile curled on Larry's lips as he observed Suzuka's eagerness. "So, you're in desperate need of coins, huh?" he remarked, amusement lacing his voice. "Well, I have an offer for you. If you're willing to go the extra mile and ensure the safety of everyone on this journey, I'll gladly give you my share of the coins. And mind you, that includes everyone."

Suzuka's face lit up with a mixture of excitement and gratitude. "I promise, Larry. You can count on me to do my absolute best. But, are you certain you don't want your fair share? It feels unfair for you to give it all away."

A subtle hint of decision flashed across Larry's eyes as he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I am sure, Helen. For me, the well-being of everyone is far more valuable than any coin. As long as everyone returns home safely, that's all that matters to me."

But before Suzuka could say another word, Arin chimed in, interrupting the conversation between Larry and Suzuka. "I'm sorry to interrupt your lovely chat, but we have a pressing matter at hand. We need to cover the corridor behind us and barricade ourselves here until morning. Who knows how long those doors will hold out? There'll be time to chat later."

Larry quickly agreed with Arin's sense of urgency. "He's right, no time for idle chat. Arin," he instructed, "Keep a keen eye on the goblin and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. Helen and I will figure out how to block the corridor."

Suzuka and Larry walked toward the doorway leading to the corridor and surveyed their surroundings. After a few moments of careful observation, Larry turned to Suzuka and asked, "Well? Any bright ideas?"

Suzuka's eyes fixated on the iron bars of the holding cells nearby, her mind racing with possibilities. She responded, a spark of grit in her voice, "Yeah, I think I've got something."

She quickly examined the sturdy construction of the iron bars, assessing their strength and durability. "Larry, these bars seem strong enough to serve as makeshift barricades. If we detach them carefully and position them strategically across the corridor, we can create a formidable obstacle for anyone trying to get through." 

Larry regarded the bars thoughtfully, expressing concern, "They do appear sturdy, but how can we detach them? They seem firmly embedded in the stone."

 Suzuka reassured him, "Leave that to me. I've got this."

Leveraging her enhanced strength, she gripped the iron bars firmly, channeling her power to wrench them out one by one. With each resounding pull, the bars relinquished their grip on the stone, succumbing to her force.