Chapter 170 Relentless Scuttling

Hermit emerged from the trash can like a feral creature, clutching the kebab in his embrace as if it were a treasure forged in gold. With a mighty shake that sent debris flying in all directions, he cast off the remnants of the garbage, steadfast to enjoy his newfound prize.

Unfazed by the filth on the kebab, Hermit got back on the bench and wasted no time stuffing it into his mouth with passion. His eating display was a symphony of grotesque sounds - gurgling, squelching, gagging, and chomping - accompanied by loud smacking and lip-clapping that echoed through the small park like a dreadful melody. His gurgling and squelching sounds filled the air, creating a symphony of grotesque noises that made even the bravest onlookers wince. 

A nearby parkgoer couldn't help but comment, "Ugh, that's the nastiest eating I've ever heard!"

A mother nearby tried to shield her children from the repulsive spectacle.

 "Kids, don't look! That's not how we eat our food," she whispered with a cringe, trying to preserve their innocence.

Hermit's mouth chomped and smacked with frenetic intensity, and his lips clapped and smacked together loudly, creating an ear-splitting cacophony that reverberated throughout the small park. The sound was so deafening that even the birds stopped chirping and fled to quieter surroundings.

Hermit, oblivious to the discomfort he was causing, simply grinned with a mouthful of kebab, spewing crumbs and grease as he spoke. 

"Grrgle! It'sh ssssoo delishshsh! Mmmmf! Grrrgle! Buuurrrp! More kebab! Gllooorrrp! Squueeeelch! Mmmphh! Glooorrrp! Mmmf! So good! Must enjoy! Munch-munch!" he garbled, cheeks bulging like inflated balloons.

Suzuka, taken aback by the ghastly sight, couldn't hide her repulsion. Hermit's dining performance was like watching a horror show, and she instinctively moved a few inches away from the goblin, trying to distance herself from the unsettling spectacle.

Hermit, oblivious to Suzuka's discomfort, was entirely absorbed in his feast. He devoured the kebab with the voracity of a starved beast, seemingly undeterred by the filth that clung to the food. To him, the kebab was a rare delicacy, and he relished every morsel as if it were a meal fit for kings.

As the last bits of the kebab disappeared into Hermit's mouth, he let out a satisfied belch, oblivious to the revulsion he had caused. His belly bulged with the intake of food, and he patted it with a contented smile as if he had just partaken in the grandest feast of his life.

He wiped his mouth on his elbow and looked up at Suzuka with a blissful smile as he savored the last morsels of the kebab, licking his fingers with exaggerated slurps and loud lip-smacking.

 "Mmm-mmm! Best kebab ever!"

Suzuka struggled to find the right words, torn between irritation at Hermit's repulsiveness and a lingering sense of disgust. Her face twisted in an exaggerated expression of disgust as she addressed him. 

"Hermit, I don't get disgusted easily, not even by the stench of decaying zimmers, but you, watching you makes my stomach turn, you are beyond disgusting," she proclaimed dramatically, trying to temper her reaction while her body language revealed her revulsion.

Hermit simply shrugged and replied, "I-I'm sorry, Master Helen but the food is food. Hermit must eat to survive. It would be a sin to leave such a divine meal to rot."

Suzuka shook her head.

 "Sorry won't cut it, Hermit. You need to learn some manners and self-control," she declared, crossing her arms in front of her with a snooty expression.

Hermit bowed his head, feeling utterly chastised. 

"Yes, Master Helen. Hermit will try to improve," he replied meekly, knowing that he had indeed been just a little bit impulsive.

Suzuka softened her stance slightly, realizing that her theatrics might have been a bit much.

 "Good. Just remember, you're representing me when we're together. I don't want people thinking I associate with someone who acts like a pig," she said, trying to convey the importance of his behavior.

Hermit nodded earnestly.

 "I understand, Master. Hermit will do better, I give you my word," he vowed, determined to prove himself worthy of her trust.

Suzuka couldn't help but let out a small smirk.

 "Alright then, let's continue our way to the guild. Just remember, you're not a wild beast; you're a goblin with potential," she said, offering him a glimmer of hope.

As he cheerfully agreed to Suzuka's request, "Yes, Master, I will be a good goblin, no more shenanigans, I promise!" they began to walk away from the bench where they had been sitting.

But just as they were about to leave, something caught Hermit's eye - a half-eaten sandwich discarded in the nearby trash bin. His goblin instincts kicked in, and he couldn't resist the allure of the abandoned treat. With a sudden leap and a mischievous grin, he dove headfirst into the bin, basking in the treasure trove of discarded goodies.

Suzuka's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched Hermit dive headfirst into the trash bin, his mouth filled with the half-eaten sandwich. The heartwarming moment of his promise quickly faded into disappointment, and she let out a sigh.

"Hermit, what are you doing?!" she asked, frustration evident in her voice.

 "I thought you said no more shenanigans!"

With his mouth still full of food, Hermit looked up at Suzuka with a sheepish expression, bits of sandwich falling from his lips. 

"Mmmph... I-I couldn't help myself, Master," he mumbled, his voice slightly muffled by the food.

"Hermit, really? We just had a talk about manners and self-control, and now you're diving into the trash?" she said, trying to keep her voice composed despite the absurdity of the situation.

But Hermit was lost in his own little world of delight, munching on the half-eaten sandwich while eagerly searching for more hidden treasures within the bin. 

"Mmm, Master, you won't believe the things people throw away! So much deliciousness!" he exclaimed, his mouth full of sandwich.

Suzuka couldn't help but shake her head in jest, her annoyance giving way to a smile.

 "You really are something else, Hermit," she chuckled.

 "I suppose one man's trash is another goblin's treasure, huh?"

Hermit nodded enthusiastically, his eyes shining with happiness. 

"Yes, Master! Hermit loves discovering hidden treasures in the trash. It's like a treasure hunt!"

Suzuka nodded, willing to give him another chance.

 "Alright then, let's keep going. Just remember, you need to be stronger than your cravings," she reminded him, hoping he would take her words to heart this time.

Hermit swallowed the last of the sandwich, looking genuinely apologetic.

 "I'm sorry, Master Helen. It's just... the food, it's so tempting," he admitted, his ears drooping in shame.

But Hermit seemed oblivious to her warning, completely engrossed in his newfound treasure trove of discarded food. He rustled through the trash bin, finding half-empty drinks and food boxes with remnants of spoiled food. His greed took over as he scooped up the grubs with his hands and shoveled them into his gaping maw without a hint of hesitation.

After a few minutes, Hermit finally emerged from the trash bin, his face smeared with dirt and food remnants. His wild feast was grand, his hunger was satisfied and his belly stuffed to the brim.

"Master, I-I couldn't help it. It was just too tempting," he mumbled apologetically, his voice tinged with shame.

Suzuka said, "If you're done then let's go, and no more trash bin adventures."

Hermit gave her a mischievous grin, his cheeks bulging with the remnants of his trash treasure.

 "Yes, Master," he replied with a nod, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

 "No more trash temptations, I promise... unless something really delicious catches my eye!"

Suzuka was walking at her casual leisure pace, Hermit scuttled behind her, desperately trying to keep up with her pace. The mix of various quenchers he had drank from the trash bin only added to his discomfort, sloshing around in his belly like a turbulent sea mixed with the massive amount of food he ate.

"Mmm... why... did Hermit drink so much... from the trash? Oh, the food... so delicious," he drooled, "But now... so heavy... like a stone in the belly..." he mumbled to himself, his words barely coherent as he struggled to keep up. 

"Belly... feels like... whirlpool... ugh... Master Helen... so elegant... Hermit... like a muddy slug."

With every scuttle, he fought to quell the unsettling sensation in his gut, muttering, "Slosh, slosh, slosh... too much... too much... Legs... like noodles... no strength. No rest... just keep moving... like a rabbit."

His body was weary and hurting from the encounter with the wrestling raccoon earlier, and now, his scuttling movements drained his stamina rapidly. His face was riddled with sweat drops, and he panted heavily, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. His legs burned with fatigue, and he could feel his knees wobbling like spaghetti.

His vision began to blur, the world around him becoming a hazy blur as exhaustion took its toll. Yet, he pressed on, desperate to keep up with his Master, even if it felt like a sprint for his life.

Suzuka glanced back and noticed Hermit's struggle. With a sigh, she slowed her pace, realizing she had underestimated his stamina. 

"Hermit, you don't have to rush like that. Take your time," she called out, her voice tinged with concern.

But Hermit was too determined to prove himself to slow down.

 "I-I'm fine, Master Helen. I can keep up," he insisted barely catching his breath and his voice trembling with fatigue.

Suzuka shook her head, deciding to humor him for a moment.

 "Alright then, but remember, it's not a race. We're just walking," she said, hoping he would ease up a bit.

But the strain on his frail body was too much to bear. Every step felt like an uphill battle, causing his legs to tremble and his breaths to become shallower. The pain from his encounter with the wrestling raccoon intensified, gnawing at his already weary limbs.

"Wreee... I need to prove...ugh... I'm a good goblin... wreee... I'll keep up...ugh... no matter what...even if it kills me..."

He desperately tried to ease the pain by clutching his side with both hands, but it only made matters worse. His broken ribs screamed in protest, sending sharp waves of agony through his body. He gasped for air, but the stabbing pain in his sides made it difficult to take deep breaths, leaving him huffing and puffing in short, quick bursts. His vision darkened, and he struggled to breathe, gasping for air like a drowning man.

"Ughhh... Hurts... so much...," Hermit mumbled to himself in a weak tone, his voice quivering with distress.

 "Stupid... ribs... why you betray... Hermit? Ughh... Can't... breathe... It's like... drowning... on land... Huff... puff... like a... broken... bellows...," he muttered between gasps, his scuttling becoming slower and more strained.

His once majestic ears, resembling ship sails in the wind, now lay broken in half, dragging behind him on the ground, dirty and disgraced. They hung lifeless and limp, a painful reminder of the fight he had endured.

As they reached the guild building, Hermit's condition deteriorated further. Each step became a grueling struggle, and his movements grew slower and more labored. The half-hour of relentless scuttling had taken its toll on his already exhausted body.

With a final effort to keep up with his Master, Hermit tried to take another step, but his legs simply buckled beneath him. He collapsed to the ground, his body giving out from the immense strain. It was as if all the energy had drained from him, leaving him completely lifeless.

He fell forward like a limp rag doll, his face slamming into the ground with a sickening thud. The impact echoed through the guild, making it sound like a chunk of raw meat had fallen from the sky and splattered on the ground.

Hermit lay motionless on the ground, his body broken and battered from physical exertion. His limbs sprawled out in odd angles, and his face pale as if he had encountered the Grim Reaper himself. His breaths were shallow and ragged, each inhale a Herculean effort, and his eyes were vacant, showing no signs of life. Even a tumbleweed rolling by seemed more animated than poor Hermit at that moment.

Suzuka, with her heart seemingly made of stone, stood over him, her face betraying no emotion as she gazed upon his lifeless form. She gave him a nonchalant nudge with her foot as if to confirm his unconscious state. Then, with an air of indifference, she decided to roll him under the table by gently nudging him with her shoe, like a discarded piece of trash, so no one would accidentally step on him while he rested under there. The cold, hard ground beneath him offered no solace, but Suzuka paid no mind to his discomfort, leaving him to rest in his solitude.

And just like that, she happily rushed off to join Lisanna, as if Hermit's broken and battered body had no consequence. Her laughter echoed through the air, a stark contrast to the lifeless scene she had just left behind. It was as if she had completely forgotten about the goblin who had struggled to keep up with her, pushing himself to the limits of his endurance to prove his worth.

As Hermit lay there, all alone under the table, the world continued around him, oblivious to his plight. The hustle and bustle of the town carried on, the people passing by without sparing him a second glance. He felt like a forgotten soul, abandoned and left to fade away in the shadows.

But perhaps there was a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. Maybe, just maybe, someone would notice the small goblin under the table, battered and broken but still clinging to life. And perhaps, they would extend a hand of kindness and compassion, giving him the chance to rise from his defeated state and continue his journey to freedom. Not!