Chapter 275 Stroke of Luck

Suzuka's carefree demeanor faltered for a moment as she listened to Silvia's troubles, her brows furrowing in confusion. 

"Wait, you're broke? But didn't you enroll at Magic Box University? I mean, that place is like a breeding ground for rich kids with more money than sense, right? I was able to join only by luck alone as a Magic Box power user with the possibility of reaching five stars. I thought joining that place cost a small fortune, even for the most basic admission. How did you manage to swing it?"

She paused, a thoughtful frown creasing her features as she considered Silvia's trouble.

 "And what about your parents? Surely they'd be willing to lend a hand, right? I mean, joining the Magic Box University isn't exactly cheap, especially for someone with only one-star power user status. They must have paid your way in, right? Maybe it's time to ask your parents for help. I know it's not easy, but sometimes you've just got to go back to square one and start from there. Trust me, it's better than drowning in debt or giving up on your dreams altogether."

"I-I'm all alone, Helen. I-I come from a small orphanage in the slums, a forgotten corner of the town where hope is a rare commodity. I was lucky, I guess, and a bit smarter than the others. The teacher at the slum school noticed my talents and managed to help me join the best university."

A faint glimmer of pride flickered in her eyes as she spoke, a fleeting reminder of the dreams she had once dared to dream. 

"The university offered a scholarship for one student with the top results, and by some miracle, it was me. Free tuition, free dorm, free food, everything covered, and even a monthly allowance. I thought I had finally found my ticket out of the slums, for the first time in my life, I thought maybe... maybe I had a chance."

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, tinged with the bitterness of shattered dreams.

 "But I was nothing but a commoner girl... no... not even that. I was just a low life from the slums. A nobody from the streets with nothing left to support her. And when Sterling and his goons found out about my past, they made sure to remind me of it every chance they got. They bullied me, they made my life a living hell, mocking me, and humiliating me, every single day. And no matter how hard I tried to prove myself, to show them that I was worth more than the dirt beneath their feet, they never stopped. I felt so alone, so helpless... like I was drowning in a sea of hatred. If not you, Helen, they would have crushed me." 

"You know, Silvia," she began, her tone laced with humor, "now I wish I had broken both of Sterling's arms for being such an asshat."

With a quick shift in conversation, Suzuka attempted to steer the discussion towards lighter topics, her tone adopting a more casual air as she asked about Silvia's job prospects.

 "But enough about Sterling and his nonsense, let's talk about something more exciting, like that job you've been trying to score. What do you want to do?"

Silvia's response came with a softness that belied the weight of her troubled thoughts, her words carrying a quiet determination born from a deep-seated desire to make a difference in the world.

"I... I want to be a teacher," she confessed, "In a school, you know? Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of standing in front of a classroom, inspiring young minds and helping them realize their full potential. I want to... to help young generations realize their dreams, just like my teacher helped me."

As she spoke, a flicker of nostalgia danced in Silvia's eyes, memories of her time in university flooding back to her with a bittersweet taste.

 "Despite everything... all the bullying, I... I enjoyed my classes, I learned so much, and... and I want to pass that knowledge on, to help make better people."

"I picked all the subjects, I wanted to learn everything I could, to be the best teacher I could be," she added with a sad chuckle, her gaze meeting Suzuka's with a fading glimmer of pride.

 "Except for the combat-focused ones, of course. And... and I finished with top results."

But as she spoke, the sadness in her voice deepened, her fragile facade crumbling under the weight of her shattered aspirations. 

"But it was all for nothing. My dream... it shattered like glass. I'm weak, Helen, fragile, and helpless. And now that my only hope is gone, I fear... I fear that I'll end up dead in a cold, lonely alleyway, forgotten and alone."

A choked sob escaped her lips, her shoulders shaking with the weight of her sorrow. 

"Or... or worse," she added, "I'll be forced to sell my body just to make ends meet, to survive another day in this cruel, unforgiving world."

 Suzuka sank into the chair beside Silvia, her ample curves enveloping the slender form of her friend in a tight embrace that sent shivers of warmth coursing through Silvia's fragile frame. As Suzuka's strong arms wrapped around her, Silvia felt a rush of comfort wash over her, a sensation she hadn't felt in far too long. Her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, met Suzuka's with a mixture of gratitude and longing, her lips quivering with the effort to hold back the torrent of emotions threatening to spill forth.

With a soft whimper, Silvia buried her face in Suzuka's soft chest, her sobs muffled by the warmth of their embrace. Though her situation remained unchanged, the simple act of being held offered a measure of comfort that she had long forgotten. It was a simple gesture, a hug offered in a moment of need, but to Silvia, it meant the world. Despite the weight of her troubles, she found solace in Suzuka's arms, a sanctuary from the storm of despair that raged within her, even if it was just for a moment.

For Suzuka, the embrace was more than just a comforting gesture; it was a reminder of her struggles and hardships, a reflection of the loneliness and uncertainty that had once consumed her.

With Silvia nestled snugly in her strong arms, her soft curves pressed tantalizingly against Suzuka's voluptuous form, a devious idea began to take shape in Suzuka's fertile imagination. The goblins, stupid as bricks and utterly devoid of common sense, were little more than dimwitted creatures in Suzuka's eyes, their usefulness to her town project sorely lacking.

But what if she could change that? What if she could transform these dim-witted creatures into valuable assets for her burgeoning town? And who better to teach them the ways of the world than someone as knowledgeable and skilled as Silvia?

With a wicked grin, Suzuka realized that she had stumbled upon a stroke of luck that she simply couldn't ignore. Silvia's expertise in a multitude of fields made her the perfect candidate to serve as a teacher for the goblins, molding them into productive members of society and increasing their usefulness tenfold.

"S-Silvia," she murmured, masking her excitement.

"I know things seem bleak right now, but... but I have an idea. A way to turn things around, to make a fresh start. Will you... will you hear me out?"

In a moment of unexpected intimacy, Silvia found herself snuggled up against Suzuka's inviting bosom, the warmth of her friend's body enveloping her in a comforting embrace. With a soft sigh of bliss, she nestled her cheek against the soft swell of Suzuka's breast, the gentle rise and fall of her chest lulling her into a state of blissful relaxation.

"Mmm, Helen," Silvia murmured, her voice muffled against the plush fabric of her friend's tube top, "I'm ready to listen. Just... let me stay like this for a bit longer."

Suzuka hugged Silvia tighter as she asked, "First, I would like to know what you think about goblins. Do you think they're misunderstood creatures, just trying to find their place in the world? Or are they truly as fearsome and evil as the stories make them out to be? What if I told you there are good goblins?"

As the words left her lips, Suzuka's gaze fixed intently on Silvia's face, eager to hear her friend's thoughts on the matter.

Silvia's response was soft and hesitant, her voice gentle as she spoke. 

"You know, Helen, I sometimes wonder... Wouldn't the world be a better place if goblins were good?"

Her gaze drifted to the table, her fingers tracing absentminded patterns on the surface as she continued, her voice growing more animated with each passing word.

 "I mean, I don't have any hate towards them, you know? Sure, I've only encountered a few goblins up close during Professor Silva's survival training sessions, but... if there were good goblins out there, I think it would be cool to meet them someday."

A faint blush colored her cheeks as she admitted her unconventional thoughts, her eyes shining with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue.

 "And you know what? I don't find them as disgusting as people depict them to be. In fact, I think they're kinda... adorable, in a way."

With a shy smile, Silvia looked up to meet Suzuka's gaze, her eyes sparkling with a newfound sense of wonder.

"But why you ask?"

Suzuka's eyes lit up with excitement as Silvia confessed her lack of hatred towards goblins. Leaning in closer, Suzuka's voice took on a sultry edge as she began to regale Silvia with tales of her encounters with these enslaved goblins.

"Oh, Silvia, you have no idea. There are goblins out there who are just... simply misunderstood. They're not all evil, you know? Some of them are just victims of circumstance, forced into slavery by those evil goblin lords. That's why I've come up with this grand plan. I'm going to build a town where every race can live together in harmony and friendship. And it all starts with rescuing these poor goblin slaves. I've already begun the process and I have the lands for my town all sorted out. We will start building at any moment."

Silvia's surprise was a mix of awe and disbelief as she absorbed Suzuka's audacious plan. It was as if she had stumbled into the pages of a fantasy novel, a world where anything was possible and desires knew no bounds.

Her gaze lingered on Suzuka, her eyes widening as if she took in the older woman's confident demeanor. At that moment, Suzuka seemed to radiate a raw, primal energy, her figure exuding an aura of strength and sensuality that left Silvia feeling both intimidated and inexplicably drawn to her.

Physically and mentally, Suzuka appeared leagues ahead of Silvia, a veritable goddess of power and prowess. The idea that such a feat could be within her grasp seemed nothing short of miraculous, a tantalizing prospect that sent shivers of excitement coursing through her veins.

But even as she marveled at Suzuka's boldness, a nagging doubt crept into Silvia's mind. What role could she possibly play in such a daring endeavor? It seemed ludicrous to even entertain the idea that she could contribute anything of value to a plan of such magnitude.

"Um, Helen," she began tentatively, "I-I don't know... I mean, what... what would be my part in all of this?"