Chapter 212 Hanging by a Thread

Larry knew that the goblin tended to inflate and exaggerate his stories. The sight of Hermit slamming his head into the table, and a fork lodging in his forehead, only confirmed his suspicions. After Suzuka's explanation about Hermit's drunken dreams, Larry took a moment to reflect. 

He turned to the man named Jacob, a hint of skepticism in his eyes, and asked, "So, you're Jacob, right? Is it true what Helen told me about the drinking and becoming buddies?"

Jacob put down his drink and after a moment of thought, he said in a serious and stern tone, "Listen, my man. Let me tell you something. I am not too kind to goblins. After one unpleasant encounter with them, I lost dear friends. So I am going out of my way to kill every last one of them when I get the chance. I mean, I really do hate these ugly, disgusting freaks that we call goblins. I really do."

He continued, his voice softening slightly, "But Hermit, that little buddy over there," he gestured to the trembling goblin, "he's alright. I've even gone as far as to call him a buddy. See, he's not a real goblin; he's one of those miserable goblin hatchlings used and abused by the actual goblins. And to answer your question," Jacob's tone shifted to cheerfulness as he burst out, "Yeah! We had an absolute blast, my man! You should've seen the goblin sing and dance; it's top-notch entertainment, baby!"

As his tone returned to its usual demeanor, he explained further, "So, yeah, we're sort of buddies now. And from what I saw while I was there, David was indeed having a good time with the goblin, and the goblin seemed to enjoy it too. Well, maybe a little too much, ending up in the back alley under the dumpster in a puddle of his own piss. Let me tell you, I've had my share of misadventures, but nothing quite grand like that."

Larry nodded, taking in Jacob's words and realizing that things might not have been as they seemed. He turned his attention back to Hermit, who was shivering, shaking his head in denial, tears still in his eyes, and Larry's trust in him hanging by a thread.

 He looked directly into Hermit's glossy eyes and, with a hint of disappointment in his voice, said, "Hermit, I've told you before that dreams can be mistaken for reality, and it's not right to falsely accuse others. You should remember that, especially when you speak of peace and unity with the townfolks. I'm truly disappointed..."

Before Larry could finish his sentence, David interjected, his tone filled with remorse and concern, "Larry! Don't be mad at the goblin! I'm really sorry for what happened, but I promise I didn't hurt Hermit. We were just having fun, and it got a bit out of hand."

Suzuka chimed in, still trying to stifle her laughter, "That's right! The goblin turned into a party animal, and he kept trying to teach us some wild goblin dance moves. It was a hilarious sight!"

Hermit's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he gazed at Larry, his small hands clasped together in a desperate plea for forgiveness. Despite being the victim in this situation, the look of disbelief in Larry's eyes weighed heavily on the goblin's heart.

With a quivering voice and a soft, humble tone, Hermit implored, "Please, Larry... I swear, I didn't mean to... Please, Larry... Hermit is... is sorry if he made a mistake. Hermit didn't mean to... to cause trouble. I... I thought what happened was real. The pain, the fear... it all felt so real. I'm so, so sorry if I made a mistake. Please, Larry. Be my friend, I do not want you to become a master."

Larry looked at the pitiful goblin, he sighed and said, "Alright, Hermit. I'll give you another chance, but please, be more careful with your accusations in the future. We're trying to build trust and peace here, and false claims can be just as damaging as the truth. Now go and sit by Helen, I need to talk with David in private."

Hermit looked at Suzuka and convulsed in fear as he saw irritation in her eyes toward him. He looked at Larry with pleading eyes, his fear of Suzuka evident in every trembling movement. With a tremulous voice, he whispered, "L-Larry, please, don't leave me alone with her. Master Helen is angry, and she'll hurt me or scold me. I don't want to be hurt or scolded."

Larry maintained a stern expression and replied, "Go, now." Despite Hermit's fear, Larry's tone made it clear that he should obey.

Hermit whimpered and, with tears in his eyes, slowly moved closer to Suzuka, a sinking feeling in his stomach grew more intense. She appeared cheerful as she extended her hands toward the goblin, saying, "Come here, little buddy. I'll give you a warm hug." These words were something that she would have never said to the goblin, and that made him even more frightened. 

Timidly, Hermit stepped into her reach and whispered, "I'm sorry, Master. Goddess... Please... forgiveness, I disobeyed. I'm so sorry. Please, don't harm Hermit. I promise I'll listen and be a good boy. I'll worship you like a goddess. Please forgive me."

Suzuka picked up the goblin, pretending to be gentle while she dug her nails into Hermit's side. The goblin winced and moaned in silence, his scrawny form stirred and convulsed enduring the self-inflicted punishment for not following his master's orders. He clenched his teeth, biting his lips as he tried to bear the sharp pain in his sides. She sat him on her lap and whispered in his ear, "You foolish goblin, didn't I tell you to forget about what happened yesterday? Have I not? All you had to do was say nothing and you failed at that too, you miserable goblin."

Her nails dug deeper into his skin as she continued, "You've been a bad boy, and so I need to punish you, you little shit."

Hermit sat motionless, his lip bitten tightly, and his teeth clenched as hard as he could manage, tears welling up in his glistening eyes as he endured the piercing pain in his sides.

Jacob leaned in closer to Suzuka and whispered, "Hey now, cut the little guy some slack. He's just a miserable goblin. They're a bit dimwitted, that's all. There's no need to hurt him. Let's focus on business, the opportunity you mentioned. I want to make things right between you and me. I will help you in any way I can."

Suzuka responded, her irritation still evident, "Oh, we will talk about business, but first, I need to discipline this goblin. You have no idea how unbearable he is. I've only had to put up with him for a few days, and I already want to wring his scrawny neck, not because he's a monster or a disgusting goblin, but because he's an insufferable pathetic crybaby. Ugh!"

Jacob adopted a gentler tone and said, "Just let him go, let him rest under the table or something. No need to punish him further."

Suzuka's eyes met Jacob's, and she replied in a stern whisper, "Since when did you become so soft, huh? When I begged you to let me go, you fed me to a monster."

Jacob's gaze remained steady as he locked eyes with Suzuka, his tone serious as he answered, "On the day I kidnapped you and lost everything dear to me. I am sorry for all that happened. I really am. Now I know that simple apologies will not make things right between us so I'm here, ready to try and fix my wrongdoings by actions."

Suzuka heaved a heavy sigh and, with a lack of any empathy, let the goblin tumble to the cold, unforgiving ground. Hermit's limbs sprawled out as he crashed down, his little body shaking. He crawled away, seeking refuge by the sturdy leg of the table. Curling up into a tight ball, he clutched his giant, floppy ears with his tiny arms, desperately attempting to muffle the sounds of the cruel world around him.

He shut his big, glossy eyes tightly, trying to block out the overwhelming injustice and emotional pain he had just experienced. His thumb instinctively found its way to his quivering lips, a feeble attempt to find solace and prevent sorrowful sobs from escaping his trembling mouth.

As he lay huddled in the shadows, Hermit began to mumble to himself, his words filled with a sense of woe and self-pity.

"Betrayed... That's what I am... Betrayed by Master Helen, by everyone, by Larry. I just wanted... a bit of kindness... some cheese... a hug, maybe... But it's always the same, every time..."

The goblin's thumb found its way to his quivering lips again as he muttered, his tiny body trembling with every word, "I'm just a little goblin... a poor, pitiful goblin. They're all so mean to me... even Master Helen, everyone. They laugh when I hurt. Larry's my friend, he shouldn't let this happen... But I guess I'm just too stupid for anyone to take seriously. Nobody cares about Hermit... I'm all alone, always alone. I just wanted a friend... someone who would be kind to me. But the world's so cruel. Why do I have to be a goblin? Why do I have to be me? They laugh at me when I cry... they think I'm just a stupid, crybaby goblin. I'm so small, so weak... I can't do anything right. I try so hard, but it's never enough. They just push me around like I'm nothing."

Under the table, Hermit continued to mumble in solitude, his voice quivering with hurt and betrayal, "Oh, why does the world hate Hermit so? It's not fair... not fair at all. Why must it hurt me? Hermit just wanted to be happy... No one understands, no one cares... And those big, scary people... always chasing, always frightening me. Why won't they leave Hermit alone? Hermit's just a little goblin, trying to survive in this big, scary world. Hatching into this world was... the first mistake Hermit made... a life of torment..."

His voice was a pitiful whisper, barely audible, as he continued to mumble, all alone and lost in the depths of his misery.

"Why did they have to hurt me, precious ear? Why? I just wanted to be happy... Shh, big ear, you'll protect me, won't you? You won't let those meanies hurt me again... Big, floppy ear... you're my only friend now," Hermit said as he gently stroked his giant ear. 

"Maybe... maybe Hermit should just stay here, safe under the table. It's so warm and quiet... but then, what about fellow gobbies? Hermit doesn't want to be all alone... Unfair... unfair world... Hermit just wants... a little cheese... and a warm bed..."

He continued to rock back and forth, his arms wrapped tightly around his floppy ears as he whispered in a broken tone, "People... so mean. Goblins... even meaner. Where can Hermit go? Where can I hide? Every day... pain, hunger, thirst. No one understands... no one ever will." His voice grew even softer as if he were speaking to the shadows and the cold ground beneath the table.

In an attempt to calm his emotions, Hermit started to sing to himself in a sad whispering tone, seeking some sort of solace in his solitary refuge, "In the dark beneath the table, Hermit hides away... Safe from all the world's troubles, just for today... Thumb, you're my only solace... I won't let them see me cry..."

He rocked back and forth, hugging his ears tighter, lost in his pitiful world of self-pity.