Chapter 228 Culinary Treasure Flamboshta!

Suzuka, finishing her meal, watched the goblin's comical scavenging efforts with mild amusement. Hermit returned to the campfire with his sack filled with an assortment of forest "goodies" - an unappetizing mix of unknown berries, strange mushrooms with a nauseating odor, unidentified insects with wriggling legs, an assortment of questionable plant matter, and suspicious-looking roots.

"Master, feast your eyes on the culinary treasures I've unearthed! If I had a pot and a little bit of water I could make Flamboshta!" Hermit announced proudly, presenting his sack with pride.

Suzuka eyed the contents skeptically and said, "The hell is that? Sounds disgusting, I bet it tastes even worse than poison. Make sure whatever you bring back won't make me regret letting you eat it. You better be in top shape tomorrow or I will punish you."

With a half-hearted nod, Hermit continued his wobbly quest for sustenance and started munching on a questionable-looking mushroom, blissfully ignorant of the potential consequences. Suzuka couldn't help but chuckle at the goblin's resourcefulness, even if his taste in forest snacks might lead to the goblin getting food poisoning.

As the night wore on, Suzuka's senses remained sharp. Her eyes darted from shadow to shadow, scanning the perimeter for any signs of movement. The air was thick with tension, and the soft hooting of owls and distant calls of unknown creatures added to the symphony of the night.

To stay alert, Suzuka occasionally tossed small twigs and dry leaves into the fire, creating bursts of sparks that illuminated the area around her. She gripped the hilt of her sword, ready for any sudden threat that might emerge from the surrounding darkness.

Meanwhile, poor Hermit, overwhelmed by the darkness and the eerie sounds of the night, succumbed to his endless state of misery. After he finished his disgusting meal, he rustled and patted the ground to soften it, then curled into a ball and clung to his oversized ears like a makeshift security blanket, desperately seeking solace in their fleshy embrace. His thumb found its way into his trembling mouth, a feeble attempt at finding comfort amid the unsettling ambiance.

Hermit's pitiful existence played out in a pathetic picture - a goblin huddled in his own ears, sucking his thumb, and weeping himself into a fitful slumber.

The hours passed slowly, each one feeling like an eternity in the deep, mysterious woods. Suzuka's eyes never wavered, and her ears remained finely tuned to the sounds of the night. As the first hints of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, Suzuka's watchful vigil began to ease.

She took a deep breath, the tension in her shoulders dissipating. It was a long and restless night, but she had successfully guarded their makeshift camp against the unseen dangers that lurked in the darkness.

The morning light gently crept through the trees, casting a warm glow on the campsite. As the sun's rays kissed the forest floor, Hermit, still lost in his dreams, began to squirm and wriggle on the ground. Unaware of his surroundings, he kicked his spindly legs in the air, his tiny goblin snores accompanied by occasional mumbles.

The peaceful scene took a sudden turn when Hermit's restless movements reached their climax. In a wild and uncontrolled yawning spasm, his feet shot into the air and, much to his own misfortune, landed directly in the dwindling campfire. The sizzling sound of burning goblin flesh filled the air, accompanied by the acrid smell of singed and charred skin.

As the flames licked at his toes, Hermit's eyes shot open with a crazed scream that echoed through the forest, "WREEEE! IT BURNS! IT BURNS! THE EVIL FIRE DEMONS ARE DEVOURING MY FEET!" His small frame convulsed in pain, and he desperately scrambled away from the smoldering embers, leaving behind a pungent odor of burnt goblin as he screeched, making erratic circles around the campsite, his goblin toes twitching in agony.

Suzuka's eyes widened as she witnessed the spectacle before her - Hermit hopped around, frantically trying to cool his scorched feet on the dew-kissed grass like a deranged goblin, one foot still smoldering from the unintended encounter with the campfire. He continued to whimper and cradle his singed foot, casting accusatory glances at the now-tamed campfire as if it were an insidious foe plotting his demise.

"Master, the wicked fire demons attacked Hermit's delicate feet! They tried to roast me alive!" Hermit wailed, his eyes wide with feigned terror.

Suzuka rolled her eyes at the dramatic display.

"You threw your own feet into the fire, you dimwitted goblin. No need for the theatrics."

Despite the goblin's misfortune, she found the situation oddly entertaining. She couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Hermit dancing around the campsite, nursing his burnt feet. 

"Looks like you've added 'roasted goblin' to the morning menu," Suzuka quipped, a smirk playing on her lips.

Hermit shot her an unhappy look, his eyes narrowing in a mix of pain and irritation.

 "Wreee! Master, Hermit's feet are on fire! It hurts! What should Hermit do?"

Suzuka rolled her eyes, "Stick them in the puddle or something. Just stop making a scene; we don't need the whole forest knowing we're here."

Wincing, Hermit hobbled toward the nearby puddle, plunging his burnt feet into the cool water. The relief on his face was delightful as he sighed, "Aah, much better. Master, you could've warned Hermit about the fiery morning ambush."

Suzuka simply shrugged, unapologetic.

 "Consider it a lesson. Now, get yourself together. We've got a bandit camp to find."

With the morning sun gaining strength, Suzuka and Hermit packed up their makeshift campsite, leaving behind the scent of burnt goblin and a few scattered ashes. With goblin on her shoulder, she resumed their journey toward the bandit camp. 

As they delved deeper into the ominous woods, Hermit clung to Suzuka's shoulder like a lifeless sack of potatoes, his goblin eyes darting nervously in all directions. With a mixture of fear and horror, he led the way, desperate to guide Suzuka without veering into the clutches of the forest's dangers.

Suzuka spoke to the goblin riding on her shoulder, "The territory surrounding the abandoned bandit camp is a breeding ground for danger. If you catch wind of any lurking threats, scream, or squirm, do whatever it takes to get my attention. The calm facade of the forest won't last; we're heading into a realm teeming with nasty monsters and creatures. The abandoned bandit camp has transformed into a haven for all sorts of lurking monsters."

Hermit, painfully dangling on her shoulder, nodded eagerly, his eyes wide with both fear and anxiety. 

 "Wree! Hermit understands, Master! Hermit will be like a shadow to you, silent and vigilant!"

Suzuka couldn't help but crack a smirk at Hermit's choice of words.

 "Good, just make sure your 'shadow' self doesn't catch fire or trip over its own clumsy feet."

For the next day, they pressed on through the dense foliage, the atmosphere growing tenser as they approached the rumored location of the bandit camp. The forest seemed to come alive with mysterious sounds - rustling leaves, distant growls, and the occasional eerie howl of a distant creature.

Hermit occasionally shivered, his beady eyes darting nervously from side to side. He pointed out hidden traps and pitfalls that the bandits had set around their camp. Suzuka was impressed by the goblin's knowledge of the area; it seemed Hermit had indeed spent quite some time around the bandit camp, whether willingly or not.

As they approached the abandoned castle outpost, now a shadowy relic turned into a beast nest, Suzuka and Hermit moved with silent steps. The once-menacing structure stood eerily quiet, casting long, ominous shadows that seemed to move with every rustle of the leaves.

As they drew closer, a foreboding feeling clung to the air. The bandits who once plagued this hideout had met a grim fate. Signs of a gruesome struggle painted a chilling picture of their demise. Broken weapons, scattered belongings, and an eerie silence filled the outpost, whispering tales of a battle fought in the dark.

Hermit clung to Suzuka's shoulder, his grip tighter than ever.

 "Wreeee, Master, Hermit feels danger in the air. Lots of it! We should leave, and go back to the town, yes? Wreeee!"

Suzuka pressed on, driven by the promise of whatever treasures this forsaken outpost might hold.

 "No turning back now, you coward. We're here for a reason, remember? The treasure chest. Keep your eyes peeled, and lead the way to the secret bandit stash. The faster you show the way the faster we get out of here."

As they stood outside the run-down structure, Hermit, with an audible gulp that echoed through the stillness, raised a trembling finger, pointing toward a shattered wall with a gaping hole - an ominous entrance to an unknown corridor.

His voice barely above a whisper, the goblin stammered, "Th-there, Master. We can go through there."

Fueled by a surge of cautious excitement she wasted no time. Lowering herself, she moved with a stealth that belied her strength, the trembling goblin still awkwardly clinging to her shoulder. The corridor beckoned them into its dimly lit embrace, shrouded in a stifling air of mystery and danger.

Inside the narrow passage, Suzuka, her senses on high alert, spoke in hushed tones, "Where next?"

Hermit, with a shaky finger and a voice that barely rose above a whisper, pointed toward a turn in the hallway. 

"Straight that way... turn left on the first corner... go downstairs... second door."

Suzuka, like a shadow, followed Hermit's anxious instructions. Navigating the maze-like corridors, she reached the designated door. With a gentle push, she entered a cramped room resembling a storage space.

 The goblin jumped down from Suzuka's shoulder and scampered toward a peculiar wall in the cramped room. With deft movements, he pushed aside debris, revealing a hidden keyhole. Then, with a squirm and a gag, he jabbed his arm down his through, all the way to the depths of his stomach, and extricated the key from the makeshift pocket in his belly where he had been keeping it. Next, with his hands trembling, he inserted the key into the lock and turned it with a rusty creak.

As if responding to a secret command, a section of the wall shifted, bricks loosening to form a narrow door. Hermit proudly ushered Suzuka toward the revealed passage. 

"Behold, Master! Bandit's secret treasure!" he declared with a mix of pride and anxiety in his voice.

Hermit took a step to the side, revealing a small alcove with a weathered wooden treasure chest. With an almost timid expression, he presented the chest to Suzuka, pleading for validation. 

"See, Master? Hermit speaks true. The treasure is real, not a goblin dream. Hermit has done a good job. Praise, please?"

Suzuka approached with cautious skepticism, her smirk obvious as she warned, "Don't get your hopes up, Hermit. If this turns out to be a goblin prank, my praise won't be as gentle as you think."