Chapter 210 A little Snack For The Trip

Suzuka satisfied that she had successfully manipulated Hermit into revealing the treasure's location and the knowledge of the bandit's secret stash, shifted her focus to her original purpose. She knew she had to meet with Larry and hand the goblin over to him. The treasure hunt would have to wait.

She turned to the excited goblin and quickly dampened his enthusiasm, her tone stern and serious, "Relax, goblin! We're not going to look for your treasure right now. We need to go meet Larry. He will take you to meet some important people. But you better not screw it up, Hermit, or you can kiss goodbye to your dreams of a better tomorrow."

Hermit, upon hearing that he would be meeting unknown individuals, lost all his bravado. His once-erect, meaty ears now drooped, touching the ground as if he were a miserable, mistreated dog with sad, puppy-like watery eyes. His lips quivered, and his voice cracked as he asked, "M-master? Will you be there? Will you hold my hand? Hermit is scared. If Master could hold my hand or at least give me a warm hug, I would try to be a brave goblin."

 She spoke to him in a calm and measured tone, attempting to dispel his fears.

 "No. No hugs or holding hands, little baby. You don't need to worry about anything. It will be really simple. Just tell them what they want to know and agree with everything they say. Because in the end, it will not matter, Hermit." Suzuka's words, though lacking the comfort of physical affection, offered Hermit some reassurance.

"Listen," Suzuka continued, her voice calm and patient, "Larry and these people, they're not like the others who hurt you in the past. They have their own goals and needs, just like we do. They're interested in something you can provide, something that they need."

Hermit tilted his head, his large eyes reflecting curiosity.

 "But what is it, Master? What do they want from Hermit?"

Suzuka smiled and knelt to be at eye level with the goblin, wanting to make sure he understood. 

"They want your knowledge, Hermit. Your knowledge about the places you've been, the things you've seen, and the secrets you might hold about the goblin farms. Larry and these people want to learn everything there is about goblins like you, to know about your experiences in the wilderness."

She continued after a short pause, "You see, they are interested in the locations of the goblin outposts, farm structures, and resource incomes. They want to understand how the economy and infrastructure of the goblin outpost, camps, and breeding farms operate. This knowledge is essential to their plans, and that's why they've chosen you to help them."

The goblin listened to her words, his nut-sized brain barely comprehending her explanation. He nodded, faking his understanding, "I understand, Master."

Suzuka continued, laying out the bigger picture for Hermit.

 "Remember, we are building the town. We will use them in our favor, and slowly, with their help and support we will build our town. I know I am vague with my plan, but just trust me. It will work out."

With a hint of caution, she added, "Oh yes, do not mention your painful adventure in the alleyway. Just pretend 'that' never happened. It will be better this way. Larry doesn't need to know about it. It might complicate things. And, it goes without saying, not a word to anyone about us building a town, or our grand plan will fail, and there will be no safe sanctuary for goblins, only a shelter with people like the ones who had fun with you in the alley the other day."

It appeared as though the goblin was listening intently, his beady eyes fixed on the table behind Suzuka, gazing at something, but in reality, his dimwitted brain had experienced a momentary short-circuit. As her words washed over him, a blank expression overtook his face, and his gaze turned distant. He was lost in a mental fog, unable to process the complexities of Suzuka's explanation.

A small droplet of drool began to form at the corner of Hermit's mouth. It hung there for a moment, trembling on the brink of falling. Slowly, it broke free, making its descent down his chin, drooling, all the way to the ground. With each word she said, her voice blended into a jumble of words in Hermit's mind as his gaze fixed on one point on the table: a plate with a sandwich.

Suzuka, unaware of Hermit's mental lapse, assumed he was still attentive to her instructions. She waited for a moment before speaking again, "Hermit, do you understand everything I just told you?"

But Hermit remained in a daze, his vacant eyes fixed on a morsel in the distance, and drool dribbled from his mouth. Suzuka sighed in frustration, realizing that she might have overestimated the goblin's ability to comprehend.

"Never mind," she muttered, shaking her head. She decided to simplify her instructions for the goblin, recognizing that he needed more straightforward guidance. 

"Just remember, when we meet Larry, be polite, agree with everything, and don't mention anything about our plans for the town or the alley incident. Can you remember that, Hermit?"

The goblin's head bobbed in response, his drool-soaked face displaying an odd mix of blankness and vague understanding. Suzuka decided to take this as a sign of agreement, though she couldn't help but worry about Hermit's ability to handle the forthcoming meeting.

Suzuka, aware of Hermit's mental short-circuit, assumed that he at least absorbed a little of her instructions. She gave him an encouraging pat on the head and said, "Good. Just keep those points in mind, and you'll do fine. Now, before we go, I got you a sandwich for breakfast. Eat and let's get going."

Hermit, drool still clinging to his chin, snapped out of his daze at the physical contact and the mention of food. He blinked a few times and wiped away the drool with his tiny hand.

 "Yes, Master. Food! Thank you! Tasty morsel! Hermit likes tasty food! Gime-gime! Yey!"

Hermit looked at the sandwich in anticipation. His tiny green fingers reached out, and he took the square sandwich from Suzuka's hand. In his mind, It looked like a delightful creation, a culinary masterpiece that seemed to defy the laws of balance.

The journey of flavors began with a slice of crunchy soft bread, lovingly laced with butter, providing a smooth and creamy foundation for the symphony of tastes to come. On top of this foundation, a colorful medley of veggies made their appearance, each one contributing a unique crunch and freshness to the ensemble.

The adventure continued as the sandwich revealed a perfectly cooked egg, its yolk just a shade runny, creating a harmonious blend of creaminess with the other textures. The layers of vegetables persisted, contributing their vibrant colors and earthy flavors.

Next in line was the succulent ham, its smoky essence enveloping the sandwich with a savory embrace, perfectly complementing the vegetables' freshness. More vegetables, each one chosen for its distinct flavor and crunch, followed suit.

The culinary journey reached its end with the placement of another slice of tasty bread on top. This slice, like the first, was a marvel of softness and crunch, a delightful conclusion to a sandwich that defied convention.

Hermit, having taken his first bite of the scrumptious sandwich, seemed to lose himself in the flavors and textures. His eyes sparkled with delight, and without thinking, he grabbed his jaw and pulled his maw impossibly wide. With an almost manic fervor, he shoved the sandwich down his throat, all the way to the bottom of his stomach.

Suzuka watched in disgust as Hermit's tiny hand disappeared down his throat, the sandwich vanishing into the depths of his goblin stomach. There was a moment of tense silence as he struggled to retrieve his hand, and then, with a squelching gag, he finally pulled it out, sandwich remnants clinging to his slimy fingers.

He looked at Suzuka, his face a mix of satisfaction and euphoria as if he had just experienced the greatest culinary delight of his life. 

"Wrehe! Master, that was so delicious! So good! More? More tasty food, please!"

She looked at Hermit and said, "No, Hermit, breakfast is done. Your eating habits are disgusting, this is all you are getting. It's time to go meet Larry and those people. Remember what we talked about. Just follow my lead, and you'll be fine."

Hermit's heart sank, and his tiny green shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world had been placed upon them. The sandwich he had eagerly devoured only moments ago now felt like a fleeting taste of heaven, cruelly snatched away. His eyes welled up with exaggerated tears, and he let out a dramatic sigh. 

"Oh, Master, Hermit's tummy still rumbling. Hungry, starving, wasting away!" he moaned, his tiny frame quivering as if on the brink of starvation, though in reality, he had just enjoyed a hearty breakfast. He pressed one hand against his tiny, pulled-in belly, feigning starvation in an attempt to provoke sympathy from his master.

With a mock sigh, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small snack, handing it to the goblin.

 "Here, a slice of cheese, Hermit, just a little something to keep you from wasting away. Now let's go, and don't forget what I told you."

As Hermit examined the slice of cheese, the sharp and smelly aroma attacked his sensitive sniffer. His curiosity got the best of him, and he couldn't resist taking a closer look. He hesitantly licked it, then gave it a cautious nibble.

 "Mmm, what's this? Stinks delicious! Let me try a little nibble..." The taste and texture were a delightful surprise, and a burst of flavor filled his tiny mouth.

"Mmmm! Cheese is so yummy, Master! Hermit loves cheese!"

Suddenly, Hermit screeched with jubilant cackles of delight, a high-pitched, gleeful sound that echoed through the room. His tiny teeth eagerly sunk into the cheese, and he munched on it with absolute joy. The cheese became a newfound treasure, a delightful snack that brought an extra layer of happiness to his day.

"Wreheee! Cheese is best! I want cheese every day! Wrehe! So Munchy-munch!"