Chapter 156 Treacherous Flight of Stairs

As the cloth slipped from his trembling grasp, a surge of panic engulfed Hermit like a tidal wave. In an instant, his senses were flooded with a cocktail of adrenaline and terror, igniting a primal urge to flee. With pitiful speed and agility that matched his puny size, Hermit darted between the woman's legs escaping the room, his heart pounding in his ears.

Hermit's wide eyes bulged with fear, his big, meaty ears flailing like a chaotic storm around his head. His scrawny arms flapped in the air like a pair of desperate wings, each flail resembling a mad dance that would put even the most accomplished ballerina to shame.

His legs, seemingly too tiny to support his frantic pace, scuttled with such rapidity that they blurred like a hummingbird's wings. Each step was a blur of motion, propelling him forward in a frenetic frenzy, the patter of his moist soft feet on the floor similar to a rapid-fire drumroll.

 His mouth, stretched open so wide that it defied the laws of anatomy. As he ran, his head tilted so far back that he could glimpse behind him, and his tongue flapped in the air like a flag caught in a tempest, trailing behind him as if in a desperate attempt to flee the confines of his own mouth.

"Wreeeee! Wreeeee! Wreeee!" he shrieked, his voice reaching an octave that would shatter glass if it were possible. His panicked cries echoed through the hall.

As Hermit sprinted in terror, his heart pounding like a war drum, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the woman who pursued him with an air of malevolence. With a burst of frenzied energy, Hermit sprinted as fast as his spindly legs could carry him, resembling a wobbling and ungainly running lizard in motion.

 The woman, her eyes filled with chill, slowly turned to face the running goblin. Her gaze pierced through him like an icy blade, sending shivers down his already trembling spine.

Her hand glided towards the hilt of her sword, her fingers curling around the cold steel with a calculated slowness. Step by deliberate step, she closed the distance, her movement exuding an aura of ominous menace. Each footfall echoed in Hermit's ears, amplifying the impending doom that seemed to follow in her wake.

The fear and terror that gripped Hermit pushed him to the limits of his physical capabilities. With every desperate stride, his heart pounded in his chest, his lungs burning for air. The sight of the woman, her presence permeating the very air he breathed, evoked a primal dread within him, surpassing the torment he had endured at the hands of his previous tormentor, David.

With cold sweat dripping down his brow, Hermit's legs propelled him forward, his mind consumed by sheer terror. Every glance back revealed the woman drawing closer, her intent clear as day. It felt as though Death itself were stalking him, its icy grip inching ever closer.

Yet, in his panicked state, Hermit failed to notice the treacherous flight of stairs before him. With a sudden and violent slip of his feet, he was sent hurtling downwards, his body tumbling and bouncing with each unforgiving step. Pain seared through his fragile form, his limbs flailing as he desperately clutched at his ears to shield them, seeking any semblance of protection from the relentless assault.

The descent seemed to last an eternity, Hermit's body contorted into a pitiful ball of flesh, each impact resonating through his being. With a final, bone-jarring thud, he crashed onto the ground below, his mangled form splattering upon impact like a rotten tomato, discarded and forgotten.

Hermit lay crumpled in agony, Suzuka turned back from the reception desk, a tray of food in her hands. Her gaze fell upon the scene, her expression a mixture of surprise and mild amusement. The wet clap of his body hitting the ground echoed in her ears.

As Suzuka approached the crumpled goblin, her initial amusement faded, replaced by concern. She knelt down beside him, her eyes narrowing with a hint of frustration.

"Oh, for the love of god," she muttered under her breath, her tone a combination of worry and annoyance.

 "I left you alone for five minutes, and you couldn't even last that long without almost killing yourself. How in the world did you manage to survive in the forest if you can't even survive a pair of stairs?"

Hermit, battered and broken, looked up at Suzuka through pained eyes, his expression a mixture of guilt and sheepishness. He struggled to find his voice amidst the throbbing ache that consumed his body.

 "I... I'm sorry, Master," he managed to utter, his words laced with a mixture of pain and remorse. 

"I didn't mean to... it was an accident... I-Is my ears safe?"

Hermit lost consciousness and lay motionless, only able to grunt and moan in pain. Suzuka, still holding the tray of food in one hand, wasted no time in taking action. With a somewhat relaxed sigh, she grabbed the limp goblin by his feet with her free hand and dragged his lifeless body behind her as she made her way upstairs.

Each step proved to be a torturous journey for the unconscious Hermit, his head bumping and bouncing with every rough bump along the stairs. His big ears dragged behind like massive dust sweepers cleaning the stairs. Suzuka's carelessness further added to his unfortunate plight. 

Upon reaching the second floor, Suzuka's attention was diverted to a surprise encounter. Before her, stood a woman, her presence evidently unexpected and greeted with joy. In her excitement, Suzuka released her grip on Hermit's feet, dropping him.

"Hey! Olivia!" Suzuka yelled with a joyful shout, her voice filled with genuine surprise.

 "What a surprise to see you here. When did you come back?"

Meanwhile, Hermit's unconscious body tumbled down the stairs once more, each step served as a merciless instrument of torment, his fragile form crashing and colliding with a wet splash as he landed on the unforgiving ground below.

Olivia's expression turned serious as she addressed Suzuka, her voice laced with suspicion.

 "Hey Suzu, I just returned, and imagine my shock when I stumble upon a wretched goblin in your room, with your panties shamelessly decorating his head and the audacity to sniff the scent of another pair."

Suzuka's eyes widened in disbelief as she denied the outrageous claim. 

"What? Olivia, you must be out of your mind! Why would this goblin dare to sniff my well-worn panties? That sounds ridiculous! I told him to stay put and do something useful, he must have tried to clean the room and was about to put them into the laundry basket. I'm sure of it."

Olivia gave her an incredulous look, her skepticism unwavering. 

"Um, maybe because he's a goblin, Suzu? You know, those creatures with peculiar and rather unsavory habits. And... wait, you told him? What do you mean?"

"Wait just a moment, Olivia. I'll apprehend this little troublemaker, you go ahead and wait in my room. I will return with answers."

 Suzuka descended the stairs, reaching the spot where Hermit lay unconscious, and without a moment's hesitation, she seized him by the leg, dragging him back up the stairs, each thud of his head against the unforgiving steps serving as a grim reminder of his dire situation.

Returning to her room, Suzuka placed the food tray on the table before nonchalantly tossing the battered and unconscious goblin into an empty corner.

 Olivia, now observing the peculiar scene, couldn't help but express her confusion.

 "Suzu, love, could you kindly shed some light on the puzzle that is unfolding before my eyes? What on earth is a goblin doing in your room? If it's some kind of a joke, it is not a funny one."

Suzuka sought to calm her concerns.

 "Do not let your imagination run wild, Olivia. This goblin happens to be under the protection of a guild, and I have been assigned the task of safeguarding him, classified information and all. He goes by the name Hermit, but Lisanna and I have given him a rather fitting nickname -Naked Scuttle."

Olivia's gaze shifted toward the injured goblin, his battered form languishing in the corner. Concern etched itself upon her face as she voiced her worries.

"Suzu, are you sure he will recover? He looks terribly worse for wear. Your assignment may be at risk if he doesn't pull through. Well, not that I care what happens to a foul goblin but you should not play with your enemy. You should put him out of his misery, even if he is a monster, we should not torment them."

Suzuka waved away her friend's concerns dismissively, a confident smile gracing her lips.

 "Oh, fret not, Olivia. He had much worse than falling off a few steps. A few moments of rest are all he needs. Soon enough, he will scuttle around the room like a rabbit overdosed on caffeine, you'll see."

However, Olivia's discerning eyes caught something alarming.

 "I'm not so sure, Suzu. Look at him - his breathing is uneven, he's convulsing uncontrollably, and foam is dripping from his mouth. I fear the poor creature may be beyond saving. Don't torment the poor thing and ease his pain. Even if I hold deep hate for goblins, It pains me to watch his suffering. Poor creature."

Startled by Olivia's observation, Suzuka leaped from the bed she had been perched on and rushed toward the goblin. A surge of panic coursed through her as she swiftly lifted him into the air, desperately seeking a solution. With haste, she grabbed a stack of papers and spread them hastily on the ground, dropping the trembling goblin onto the makeshift bed.

 "There, that should do it! I was momentarily afraid that his gross drool might stain the carpet. Ew! How disgusting!" she yelled, her face twisted with disgust.

With a slight nudge from her boot, Hermit emitted a few pained moans. Suzuka turned towards Olivia, a confident smile plastered across her face. 

"See? He's perfectly fine, just asleep. Let's put him out of our minds for now. Trust me, he'll be alright. Now, tell me all about your thrilling adventure!"

Olivia, her eyes filled with profound sadness, approached the lifeless goblin. She stood in front of Suzuka, taking one of her hands in hers while gently caressing Suzuka's cheek with the other.

"Suzu, my love, please don't be so uncaring. Even if he is a creature of darkness, we should not treat him with such cruelty."

Suzuka withdrew her hand from Olivia's gentle touch, her expression filled with a mix of confusion and annoyance. 

"Cruel? Olivia, what are you talking about? This goblin is nothing more than a nuisance, a creature with no value or significance. Why should I waste my compassion on such a disgusting being?"

Olivia's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she spoke, her voice filled with empathy and understanding.

"Suzu, love, I ask you to look beyond appearances. It is not about the creature's worth or value, but rather about our capacity for kindness and empathy. We must treat even the most unlikely beings with respect and dignity. We kill monsters not torture them."

Suzuka's face softened slightly as she gazed at the lifeless form of Hermit, contemplating Olivia's words. A pang of guilt tugged at her heart, and she began to realize the truth in her friend's compassionate plea. Hermit, despite his goblin nature, deserved to be treated with some measure of kindness.

A sigh escaped Suzuka's lips as she turned her attention back to Olivia.

 "You're right, Olivia. I let my prejudice cloud my judgment. Let us not forget our capacity for compassion, even in the face of the goblin. I will strive to be better."

Olivia smiled, relieved by Suzuka's change of heart. 

"That's the spirit, Suzu."

"I got an idea of how to make him feel better," Suzuka said with a warm smile.