Chapter 24 The Sweet Nectar

The morning sun painted the room with its gentle glow, and as I opened my eyes, I felt surprisingly well-rested despite the unfamiliar surroundings. 

"Ah, what a refreshing slumber!" I thought to myself with a smile.

As I began getting dressed, the doors suddenly swung open, and in stormed Lumi, full of boundless energy and beaming with excitement. She practically dragged poor Goblinworth behind her, his ears and limbs flailing like flags in a wild storm. With a cute and hurried demeanor, she started speaking a mile a minute, barely pausing for breath.

"Kazuki! Oh, Kazuki! There's so much to do today! Urgent matters for the feast, you know?" Lumi bubbled with joy, her words tumbling out like a waterfall.

 "Food selection, room decorations, invitations to write and deliver, and more! It's going to be the most amazing feast ever!"

As she prattled on, she gently placed the jumbled Goblinworth in front of me, giving him a little pat on the head. Her voice grew cuter by the second.

 "I'm so sorry, K-Kazuki! I won't be able to spend time with you today, but don't worry! This good boy here will show you around town. There's so much to do and so little time! Ehehe... Goblinworth will take good care of you, I promise! Isn't he adorable? Look at him, he's just the cutest little thing, isn't he? He's an excellent guide! I am truly sorry, I have to run! Big sister Alitia is waiting!" she said with an adorable pout.

Before I could even respond, she rushed out of my room, leaving me slightly puzzled but also charmed by her infectious energy. 

"Well, I guess I have a guide for the day," I chuckled as I turned to face Goblinworth.

The dizzy goblin butler stood there with a goofy grin on his face, twitching his head and letting out a weak giggle. 

"Haha, M-miss Lumi is always like this, sir," he managed to say in between giggles.

 "We never know what to expect, but she's got a heart of gold, she does!"

I turned to the goblin and playfully asked, "Hey there, my little goblin friend! What kind of mischief are we getting into today?"

The goblin's eyes widened with excitement, and he hopped up and down, his pointy ears twitching in delight. 

"Oh, oh, lots of things to do! Morning means food first, yes! We go eat food, and drink quenches too! Food is very important in the morning, yes! Need food to move and be big and strong!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the goblin's lively spirit. 

"Alright then, let's go find some delicious morning munchies! Lead the way, my goblin friend!"

With a happy squeal, the goblin scampered ahead, beckoning me to follow. As I followed the goblin butler to the grand dining hall, he couldn't contain his excitement, bouncing around with unparalleled enthusiasm.

 "Come come! Delicious treats waiting! Fruits, bread, cheese, and more! Goblins serve the best breakfast, yes, yes! This way to yummy food! Goblins show the kitchen for tasty treats!" he declared proudly.

"Wow, sounds like we're in for a treat," I remarked, amused by the goblin's animated demeanor.

As we strolled through the opulent halls of the mansion, my curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't resist asking the goblin butler about his life before taking up his current role. 

"Say, little buddy, what was life like before you became a butler? I bet it was quite the tough adventure!"

With a hint of excitement in his beady eyes, the goblin eagerly began to recount his extraordinary tale, his voice filled with a mix of nostalgia.

 "Oh, yes, yes! My life before being a butler was, uh, rough and tough, it was! You see, us goblins, we were hatched and trapped in those breeding farms, tortured and in pain, we were! Forced to dig and dig, mining minerals from the ground with just our bare hands, oh yes we did! Ouchies!"

He continued, waving his tiny goblin hands animatedly as he spoke, "But then, hoo boy, came the Great Leader Hermit! Oh, he's so glorious, with his big, meaty ears that make him so beautiful! His fleshy ears, oh, they're just gorgeous! Like big, juicy figs, they are! He's a real legend! The feats he accomplished, oh my! Leading the saving party, rescuing us enslaved goblin hatchlings, he did! A true hero, he is!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the goblin's enthusiastic storytelling. 

"Wow, that's amazing! So, after he saved you, you became a butler here, right?"

"Indeed, indeed! The Great Hermit saved me, he did, and I pledged my loyalty to him. Now, I'm living the good life as a butler in this fancy mansion! Serving the great ones, I am!" the goblin yelled with pride.

"And how is it being a butler? Do you like your job?" I asked, genuinely curious about his current life.

"Oh, yes, yes! Being a butler is fun, it is! I get to do all sorts of stuff, making things all nice and tidy for the great ones, oh ho ho!" the goblin replied, his voice full of glee.

As we approached the kitchen door, the goblin's energy seemed to skyrocket to new heights. He began performing a comical dance, a spectacle that defied all logic and reason. With each hop, his tiny form bounced like a ball of chaotic energy. His arms flailed about like a windmill caught in a tempest, adding to the comedic display.

"Behold, oh great and mighty guest, the wonders of the kitchen!" the goblin squealed in a high-pitched voice that echoed through the halls as if he was about to unveil the world's most astonishing secrets.

His words were delivered with an exaggerated accent that made it sound like he was a quirky character from a fantastical comedy. The sheer enthusiasm and nonsensical theatrics were both endearing and utterly ridiculous.

Curious and amused, I played along with the goblin's antics.

 "Lead the way, oh great kitchen master! Show me the culinary marvels that await!" I shouted, matching his over-the-top energy.

As he led me into the kitchen, I was met with a sight that was both impressive and chaotic. The goblin darted from one counter to another, pulling out utensils and ingredients with manic speed.

"First, we have the pots and pans, oh so shiny and ready for action!" he declared, brandishing a spatula like a triumphant warrior brandishes a sword.

"And here, behold the magnificent spice rack, filled with flavors that will tantalize your taste buds!" he proclaimed, grabbing jars of spices and shaking them in the air as if performing some culinary ritual.

I couldn't help but be entertained by the goblin's antics. His enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself caught up in the spirit of the moment.

"Next, let us not forget the majestic oven, where delectable dishes come to life!" he yelled, flinging the oven door open and dramatically pretending to place an imaginary dish inside.

"Oh, but the most glorious part of the kitchen is the magic-powered fridge!" he swore, hopping over to the fridge with excitement. 

"It holds the treasures of the culinary world, the meat! Oh! The glorious meat! Mmmm! Delicious!"

With a grand gesture, he swung the fridge door open, and a gust of cold air rushed out. The goblin's eyes widened in amazement as he peered inside.

 "Ah, behold! The wonders within! Fresh fruits, savory meats, and the most delectable treats!" he exclaimed, his voice reaching a crescendo of excitement.

I couldn't help but laugh at the goblin's antics, his energy contagious. As he continued to give me a tour of the kitchen, his over-the-top enthusiasm turned even the most mundane kitchen tools into objects of wonder and awe.

Truly, this goblin had a passion for the culinary arts like no other, and in his world, the kitchen was a realm of pure magic and delight. As we concluded our culinary adventure, I thanked the goblin for his lively tour, unable to wipe the smile off my face.

"Thank you for showing me the wonders of the kitchen."

The goblin beamed with pride, his eyes twinkling with delight.

 "You are most welcome, oh esteemed guest! Should you ever desire another culinary adventure, you need only ask!"

"Oh? In that case, how about a meal? Surprise me, make me your special."

"Oh, meal! Yes, yes, I shall make it!" the little goblin yelled with unwavering enthusiasm, his beady eyes gleaming.

"But first a quencher! Yes, yes! Quencher we need, quencher for you!" He scurried toward the fridge with excitement.

He grasped the handle with all his feeble might, legs kicking in the air as he gave it his all.

 "Grr, come on, you stubborn beast! C'mon, you pesky thing! Yield to my strength! Come on, you naughty door, open for me!" he muttered under his breath, stubbornly refusing to give up as he grumbled through clenched teeth.

Finally, with a triumphant yelp, he managed to crack open the door, his achievement celebrated with a series of gleeful giggles. 

"Ha-ha! Gotcha!" he cheered as if he had won an epic battle.

He swiftly grabbed a few clementines and tossed them on the table, the fruits bouncing with a thud.

"Climb, my feeble legs! Pull, my scrawny arms! I need to get on top of this chair! Come on, you can do it!" His tiny body wobbled as he crawled onto the chair with a grueling effort.

His beady eyes darted around the room until they settled on a set of intricate-looking pliers. "Oh, the tool is so high up! I must reach it! Must... reach... it... Gotcha!" he declared, finally grasping the pliers triumphantly.

With trembling hands, he took a clementine and cut it in half, each movement executed with painstaking caution. 

"Must be careful, careful not to cut me," he muttered, showing surprising precision in his actions.

He placed cut clementines in a peculiar-looking device and closed it, ready to extract their precious juice.

 "Come on, give me a sweet nectar," he urged the fruits, his excitement building.

Gripping the handles of the device, his scrawny arms struggled to muster the strength needed.

 "Push it! Push it, you wimpy arms of mine! Push it! You can do it, come on!" he encouraged himself, his voice wavering with determination.

The room filled with the sounds of his efforts, the creaking of the chair, and the strained grunts as he squeezed the juice from the clementines. With each squeeze, his face contorted with grueling effort.

"Almost there! Just a little more!" he cried, pushing his limits, refusing to give up.

Minutes passed, and finally, he let out a triumphant cheer as he achieved his goal.

 "Yes! I did it! The sweet nectar all squeezed out!" he cried, his scrawny arms trembling with exhaustion and his face glistening with sweat.