Chapter 143 Small Adventure

As she was molesting his ears she mockingly said, "You sure did have fun times, camping in the forest and all. Did you ever consider just simply trying to run away?"

"Ah! Yes, Master. Many times, after long, tortured years, using stolen tools, some of us managed to escape the breeding farm." Hermit continued, a flicker of hope returning to his eyes. "One fateful day, an adventurer group arrived and began slaughtering everyone. In the midst of the chaos, I used the stolen tools to free myself and some of my fellow peace-longing goblins. We sought refuge inside a tent, awaiting our saviors in hopes of begging for our savings. We were rejoiced and ready to welcome them with our open arms."

His voice tinged with sorrow, "But when the adventurers entered, they mercilessly butchered most of us, showing no mercy. Those of us who survived scuttled in all directions, meeting up later, stripped naked and starved, with no safe place or food in sight."

Hermit looked down, a glimmer of sadness in his gaze. "That is how I and some of my tortured friends escaped the hell just to be thrown in another. Constant days of trembling in fear, countless sleepless days watching our backs from anyone who wants to kill us. During the day we used to cover ourselves in feces to stink and at least avoid getting eaten by wild animals. When the night came we buried ourselves under the ground by some large three under its roots."

Hermit's voice lifted with joy as she started to rub under his ears, gently stroking back and forth his big meaty ears. "But one day, our little group of harmed goblins was discovered by one majestic being, one of the catpeople. Hermit fell in love at first sight. Ahhh."

Lisanna choked from surprise and with a cough said, "You? A goblin freak in love? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. A goblin in love. Hahaha!"

"Yes Master, it is true. Hermit felt love, she was majestic. She found us covered in fear deep in the forest and took us back. Catpeople took us in, we worked hard to return their goodwill. We helped to maintain the camp and scavenge for food, with no more torment or suffering, they even gave us clothes, and tents to stay, and shared the food and water with us. It was a haven for us, but not for long. One day, we were out looking for remnants of my fellow hatchlings from other raided goblin breeding farms when we got surrounded by evil goblins."

Lisanna chuckled slapping the goblin with his own ears, "Oh this should be fun, go on."

Hermit's voice saddened, "They beat me up and killed her right in front of me. The goblin overlord ripped off my cloth striping me naked, put a rope on my neck, and tied the other end of the rope to his mount. He said he would let me live if I survived the trip back to his breeding farm. After long hours of being choked and dragged across the ground, we finally arrived. But as soon as we arrived I was tied to a tree and whipped, then left for several days to agonize."

Lisanna playfully mocked, "Oh! I bet you enjoyed every strike of the whip with a moan of pleasure."

With a hurt heart, the goblin asked, "Please, Master. Don't make fun of Hermit."

But Lisanna harshly twisted his ears reminding him of the punishment she promised.

"Ouchee, ouchee, Master! The Hermit will talk! After many years of being dragged from one farm to another, Hermit finally escaped again with a group of others. We wandered through the forest until we stumbled upon this town. We longed for a place to live in peace, free from torment and sorrow. With a tiny glimmer of hope in our hearts, we attempted to approach the town, but we ended up surrounded by bandits. They toyed with us, capturing us one by one and mocking us. I drew their attention by speaking their language, and while they were distracted, my fellow goblins scuttled in all directions. Unfortunately, I didn't make it. I got caught. After a few torture and humiliation-filled weeks later Larry rescued Hermit, and here I am. That is my story, Master."

Lisanna got bored of him and let go of his ears while saying, "Okay, I'm bored of your pathetic life story. You can go, find yourself some corner and make no trouble."

The moment Lisanna let go of his ears Hermit turn around facing her and grabbed her palms. He started to kiss and lick them in a display of gratitude and appreciation while muttering, "Thank you, Master, thank you."

But Lisanna didn't like that, she backhanded Hermit across the face so hard that he tumbled and rolled several times on the table, "You little freak! Who told you, you can touch me without my consent? I think a further punishment is needed."

Hermit pushed himself back up and placed his tiny palms on his burning cheek with his tiny fingers gently massaging it. "Ouchee! Please! Master! Forgiveness! Please, no more punishment. Mercy!"

She grabbed a pencil from her desk and said, "I will punch a few holes in these meaty ears of yours for a piercing and huck a leash, you pathetic pet! Get ready to be slapped across that ugly face. You pathetic worm."

Suzuka shifted in her chair, rousing Lisanna's attention. With one eye wide open, a fiery red hue burning within, her face cast in an ominous shadow, Suzuka emanated a menacing aura. Rising slowly, her gaze penetrated with intimidation. With a voice laced with threat, she uttered, "Do not even entertain the thought of employing that hand against the goblin once more."

Lisanna's heart skipped a beat as she encountered Suzuka's intense presence. The air grew heavy with tension, and an unsettling silence enveloped the room. The weight of her words hung in the air, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

Suzuka's eyes narrowed, the red glow intensifying, as if flames danced within them. She took a step closer, her every movement exuding power and authority. "Oh Lisanna, you foolish woman," she said, her voice laced with a chilling blend of irritation and dismay. "You should have thought about the consequences of your actions before striking that goblin across the face like that."

Suzuka's expression hardened, and her piercing eyes locked onto Lisanna's. The room seemed to grow colder as if the very atmosphere quivered under the weight of her confrontation. She advanced toward Lisanna, her steps are intimidating and fear-inducing. With a firm grip on Lisanna's arm, the very arm that had struck the goblin, she raised it deliberately, bringing it close to Lisanna's face. The intensity in her eyes only grew, her piercing gaze fixated on Lisanna, a clear message of dominance and warning.

In a low, chilling voice, Suzuka whispered, "Feel the weight of your acts. Understand the consequences that follow your reckless action." The atmosphere seemed to thicken with tension as she held Lisanna's hand suspended in the air, in front of her face.

The goblin looked at Suzuka, his savior, with tears of joy in his eyes he happily expressed his gratitude while kneeling and his hands reaching for her gentle embrace. Goblin thanked Suzuka with a happy big smile, it was a disgusting sight to behold. As his lips stretched wide, revealing a few crooked, yellowed teeth, and just as he grinned, his tongue, a monstrous creature in its own right, shot out from his mouth like a slimy, wriggling eel, as if it had been longing for freedom. His happiness was so overwhelming that it spilled out in the form of a wayward tongue. "Thank you, Helen! Thank my master! Thank you for standing up for me. Please, master. Please hold Hermit, Hermit is scared. Please a hug."

But Suzuka didn't even look his way only looked at Lisanna's eyes with intensity. As Lisanna's hand was held in front of her face by Suzuka, she looked at it intently. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed a scrape on the back of her hand, a consequence of her previous action of backhanding the goblin. Suzuka's intimidating grip soften, replaced by a touch of concern.

Suzuka's voice took on a softer tone. "Do not dare to harm your beautiful, delicate hands by smacking that wretched goblin across its filthy face," she scolded. "His grimy mug holds the filth of the whole world, what if you infect your flawless skin and ruin its perfection? If you truly wish to teach him a lesson, I can offer you my battle glove, protecting from harm and sparing your hands."

Hermit's joyful ugly face contorted into a nightmarish horror show. His eyebrows rocketed skyward, carving deep trenches into his wrinkled forehead. His eyes bulged out of their sockets like blazing infernos of terror. His mouth twisted into a ghoulish grimace, revealing a row of decayed teeth straight out of a nightmare.

As the realization dawned upon him that Suzuka had no intention of offering help, his expression morphed into pure terror. His features contorted further, as if pulled by invisible hands, amplifying his fear to unthinkable levels. Tremors and convulsions seized his frail body, causing his limbs to twitch uncontrollably, while agonizing spasms wracked through his entire being.

Anxiety gripped him like a vice, squeezing every ounce of hope from his shattered soul. His meaty big ears twitched with each heartbeat pounding in his ears, matching the thunderous rhythm of his mounting dread. The anticipation of impending punishment bore down on him like a mountain, crushing his spirit beneath its weight. Every second felt like an eternity as he braced himself for the unimaginable horrors that awaited.

As Suzuka released her grip, Lisanna's adrenaline began to subside, allowing her to regain her composure. The lingering fear, mixed with the overwhelming presence of Suzuka, had tempered her anger, leaving her somewhat stunned and taken aback. She struggled to find her voice, her words stumbling out in a stammering manner.

"I... I... You know what? It's... it's fine," Lisanna managed to say, her voice still trembling. "There's no need for the glove. I'll... I'll be okay." She paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "I think I'll just... excuse myself for a moment. I need to wash my hands. After touching that goblin, I feel... I feel filthy myself. I'll be right back."

Suzuka returned to her chair and continued sleeping. Hermit let out a deep sigh of relief through his nose, knowing he had escaped the punishment promised by Lisanna. Without wasting any time, he leaped into action, exploring the entire guild building. It was the first time he had ever seen such a place, filled with unseen beautiful furniture and captivating decorations adorning the hall. 

With Suzuka snoring softly in her chair, Hermit carefully tiptoed through the room, taking in every detail with his big pointy ears twitching in excitement. He stared at the beautiful furniture, running his tiny hands over the polished surfaces. Each piece seemed to tell a story, and he couldn't resist exploring the hidden nooks and crannies. 

He came across a beautifully carved wooden desk, its surface adorned with scrolls and quill pens. The goblin couldn't resist the urge to grab a pen and clumsily scribble on one of the scrolls, leaving a mark.

His eyes were wide with wonder. He could hardly believe his luck at being left alone in such an enchanting place. The hall stretched out before him, adorned with intricate tapestries and gleaming chandeliers. It was a sight that made his heart race with excitement. His tiny presence felt like he was exploring some massive castle.

He scampered across the detailed carpets, feeling the tickling softness beneath his bare feet, and admired the decorated chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The golden glow of the crystal lights danced around him as he explored.

Continuing his exploration, Hermit walked behind the reception desk. The goblin's curiosity got the better of him, and he pulled out a thick, leather-bound tome from the shelf under the desk. Opening it carefully, he discovered ancient tales of forgotten lands and magical creatures. Hermit couldn't read the words, but the illustrations captivated him, filling his imagination with fantastic adventures.

Suddenly, Hermit heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Panicking, he stayed hidden behind an intricately carved desk. Hermit grabbed his big ears and covered his face in an attempt to disguise himself then he peeked out over a corner of the desk. He saw a group of guild members entering, engaged in a serious conversation. He held his breath, praying they wouldn't discover his presence.