Chapter 33 A Secretive Whisper

Amid the hilarious atmosphere, Olivia approached the goblin with a severe expression. With a swift movement that took the goblin entirely by surprise, she reached out and firmly grabbed his ears, as if he were a misbehaving rabbit. Without hesitation, she yanked his naked form out from behind the potted plant, his naked body exposed for all to see. His legs flailed awkwardly as he found himself dangling in Olivia's grasp, his limbs contorted in a shameful manner.

 The goblin let out an undignified squeal as his stealthy attempt came to a rather abrupt end. He dangled in Olivia's grasp, his eyes wide with shock and embarrassment. It was as if reality had just crashed down on him in the most unexpected and humiliating way possible.

"Hey, what are you doing? Please! Master Olivia! Do not expose me to further humiliation!" the goblin begged, his voice an odd blend of offense and resignation.

 Olivia lifted the goblin up to her face and while looking intently into his eyes, asked, "And just what do you think you're doing, my dear goblin friend? Or should I say, my dear exhibitionist goblin friend?" 

 The goblin's face turned a deeper shade of red, his ears practically burning from the combined sensations of being held by them and his own embarrassment. He stammered incoherently, struggling to find words that would somehow salvage his dignity.

 "I, uh, well, you see, I was just... um, training! Yes, training!" he blurted out, his voice a strange mixture of defensiveness and humiliation. 

 Olivia's lips twitched with suppressed jest as she released the goblin's ears, allowing him to stand on his own two feet. She crossed her arms, her eyes dancing with mirth as she regarded the poor goblin with an intimidating look. 

 "Training, you say? Well, I must say, your training methods are quite... unconventional," she remarked dryly.

Olivia's tone was stern, but a glint of enjoyment danced in her eyes.

"I think it's time for you to abandon your unconventional stealth practice and find some more appropriate attire."

Amid the chuckles and bemused stares of onlookers, the goblin stood there, naked, rubbing his ears and attempting to regain a semblance of dignity as he realized just how absurd his excuse was.

Olivia's voice carried a flirtatious lilt as she playfully teased, "Oh, come on, don't let those goblin ears droop like that, my little buddy. Let's go hunt down your butler uniform. I've got a hunch it's having a grand old time scattered around the fountain, thanks to your goblin antics, you silly."

The goblin, his small frame slumping in shame, cast his eyes downward. His oversized ears drooped like wilted leaves, dragging on the ground behind him as he trudged behind Olivia.

I seized the moment as an opportunity to engage Helen in a more serious conversation, my voice tinged with earnestness.

 "Helen, if you have a moment, I'd like to discuss something of greater importance."

Helen nodded, her gaze focused on me. 

"Of course, Kazuki. What's on your mind?"

Meanwhile, the goblin's mutterings of his distress reached my ears as he mumbled incoherently about his predicament.

 "Uniform... fountain... why always me...? I am so unlucky, goddess Helen witnessed me in the most humiliating manner possible... owe pore is me."

Olivia, still leading the downtrodden goblin, couldn't resist a chuckle at his antics.

 "Cheer up, little goblin! It's not like we haven't seen a naked goblin before. All of you slave goblins running around naked for all of your lives, don't be ashamed now."

Goblin's voice quivered, tinged with a mix of frustration and despair, as he lamented, "I try to serve, but I keep messing up... maybe me not cut out for this..."

In the midst of the goblin's comical misery, I turned back to Helen, my expression becoming more serious.

 "Helen, I've been hearing unsettling rumors about Valerius, and Vincent shared some worrying information with us. He mentioned seeing Valerius associating with questionable individuals."

Helen's eyes narrowed slightly, her interest piqued. 

"Vincent, you say?" she mused, a hint of mockery tingeing her tone.

 "Well, well, this promises to be interesting. What did our dear Vincent decide to share with you?

I leaned in, lowering my voice. 

"Vincent mentioned a meeting involving adventurers with less-than-savory intentions, and he even mentioned Valerius exchanging gold coins with them. It's starting to look like Valerius might be linked to the attacks on Lumi. And that is not all, I think Boss Cat, the council member, is working with Valerius."

Helen looked pleasantly surprised and asked, "Oh! Really? And why do you think that? Please, enlighten me."

Taking a breath, I began to recount recent events. 

"Yesterday, Lumi and I were assaulted by the same group of adventurers Vincent mentioned. Their leader openly confessed that Valerius had hired them and paid them a significant amount of gold coins. This lends credibility to Vincent's information. But it gets more interesting. Right before the attack, we had a run-in with Boss Cat. I believe he might have instructed the catpeople patrolling the area to ignore our emergency, allowing the attack to occur without any interference. I admit, it's still a theory, but it's one that raises alarms."

Helen's eyes lit up with intrigue as my theory hung in the air like a tantalizing mystery waiting to be unraveled. She leaned forward, her tone casual yet laced with curiosity. 

"Well, well, Kazuki. You've certainly given me something to ponder. Your insights are quite enlightening," she remarked, her words trailing off into a secretive whisper that seemed to hint at a depth beyond the surface, "More than you think."

Just as we were enveloped in our serious conversation, a sudden burst of animated energy erupted nearby. The goblin and Olivia were engaged in lively banter, their voices a delightful symphony of laughter and playful arguments. The goblin, it seemed, was resisting Olivia's attempts to dress him, his pride getting the best of him as he insisted on handling the task himself.

Olivia's melodious voice danced through the air, playfully taunting the goblin. 

"Oh, come on, little green! Let me work my magic and make you shine like the star you are."

The goblin, however, had other ideas. His chest puffed out with an exaggerated sense of pride, he retorted in a voice that could only be described as hilariously stubborn, "No need, no need! I can handle this. Goblin pride, me tell you!"

Olivia rolled her eyes, an expression that seemed to say, "Oh, the drama!" She attempted to reach for the goblin's attire, only to be met with a wild flail of his tiny arms.

 "Whoa there, little buddy! We're just dressing up; it won't hurt your... goblin dignity. Come on now, you stubborn little creature! It's time to put on your butler suit," she chuckled.

The goblin crossed his arms defiantly, his tiny stature infused with a surprising measure of stubborn pride.

 "No, no! I wear a suit by myself. No help needed from tall humans," he told, puffing out his chest in a futile display of independence.

The goblin's attempt to wrangle his butler suit was a spectacle in itself, resulting in a tangled mess of fabric and mismatched buttons. With each twist and turn, his efforts seemed to lead further into disarray.

"I can do this! Me butler suit expert," the goblin declared, his voice brimming with misplaced confidence.

However, the suit's collar ended up positioned over his face rather than around his neck. His pants were upside down and his shirt was on top of the suit. But the goblin pushed on, determined to conquer the elusive butler suit. As he wrestled with the fabric, a button popped free and pinged across the floor. 

"Button fly away!" the goblin shouted, his frustration turning into a perplexed expression. He seemed to be puzzled by the sudden act of rebellion from the object.

Olivia, trying to suppress her laughter, attempted to lend a hand.

 "Okay, let's try this together. One... two... three!"

In a joint effort, they managed to take the wrangled butler suit off the goblin's tiny frame, although with sleeves bunched up and the collar crooked.

"There! Butler suit Off! I will try again, on my own!" the goblin announced, striking a pose that was a bizarre fusion of pride and absurdity.

Amid the spirited exchange, Helen seized the opportunity to transition into a different topic, smoothly shifting gears. She regaled us with tales of the upcoming feast, her words brimming with excitement as she described the bustling activities of Alitia and Lumi. 

"You wouldn't believe how busy those two are, I just came from their quarters, and let me tell you, I don't want any of that trouble. And if that wasn't enough Alitia and Olivia were having one of their infamous heated debates. They're quite the duo, those two."

Helen's words resonated with me, sparking a mental image of the intense but endearing dynamic between Alitia and Olivia. Their strong personalities clashing in a whirlwind of passion and camaraderie was a sight indeed.

Amid our conversation, the goblin's voice rose above the others, a comical mixture of panic and resistance. 

"No, no, Master Olivia! I'm telling you, I don't need the top hat! Please, just let me be, I beg of you! I don't want to be dressed like a... like a toy poodle!"

Olivia's laughter rang out, a musical accompaniment to the goblin's protest. 

"Oh, come on, you adorable little goblin! You need a touch of elegance. Just a touch!"

The goblin's voice cracked in distress as he whined, "Elegance? But I'm a goblin, not a fluffy poodle!"

Helen and I exchanged glances and continued our conversation. 

"Oh, yes! It nearly slipped my mind," Helen said with a flourish of enthusiasm. 

"If all goes as planned, the grand opportunity to harness the magic box power will present itself right after Lumi's celebration. Perfect timing, don't you think? Your enrollment to Magic Box University will be right around the corner, and the acquisition of such power will undoubtedly set you on a remarkable path. I was actually on my way to see Valerius for the final signups, but it seems he's absent at the moment. No need to fret, though; I'll ensure your approval, Kazuki."

A sense of joy mixed with a tinge of unease washed over me.

 "That sounds promising, Helen. Thank you for all your help," I said, my gratitude sincere yet tinged with a hint of wariness.

Curiosity burning within me, I asked, "By the way, when will Lumi's celebration begins?"

In response, Helen's demeanor shifted, her once composed demeanor replaced by an intense gaze that sent shivers down my spine. Her eyes transformed from their usual golden yellow to a startling bright red, a mere flash that unsettled me to my core. A reflexive step back betrayed my unease as I grappled with the unexpected intensity of her presence.

Sensing my unease, Helen leaned in slightly, her voice carrying a chilling undertone. 

"What's the matter, Kazuki? Why the sudden fear in your eyes?" she inquired with a sly curiosity.

Regaining my composure, I mustered a response.

 "Oh, it's just... your eyes seemed to change color for a moment. I thought I might have been mistaken," I explained, my voice a tad unsteady.

A chilling chuckle escaped Helen's lips, a sound that held a hint of menace. 

"Ah, yes, that. It's merely a quirk, you see. My eyes tend to shift colors when I'm excited... or when I'm on the brink of dispatching someone," she revealed, her words dripping with a macabre playfulness.

Swallowing audibly, I struggled to keep my composure intact.