Chapter 293 Honorable Battle Wounds

Silvia continued with excitement, “I also got these wooden blocks for building exercises. They can use them to understand basic construction principles before they start working on real projects. And these,” she said, pulling out a set of small, intricately carved figurines, “are for role-playing and teaching them about different professions and social roles.”

Suzuka nodded, impressed by the collection.

“You’ve done an amazing job, Silvia. These will be perfect for helping the goblins learn and grow. I can see you’ve put a lot of thought into this. Thanks, you will help them a lot.”

Silvia beamed with pride.

“Thank you, Helen. I just want to make sure they have the best start possible. I’m looking forward to teaching them and seeing them improve.”

Suzuka placed a comforting hand on Silvia’s shoulder.

“And they will, with you as their teacher. We’re going to create something amazing together, Silvia. Get some rest now; we have a big journey ahead of us.”

Silvia nodded, her eyes already drooping with fatigue.

“Good night, Helen. I’m excited for tomorrow.”

That night, as Suzuka lay in bed, she went over every detail in her mind. She thought about the goblins, the dwarves, and all the resources she had gathered so far. She thought about Olivia and if she could make it back in time to join her. Most importantly, she thought about the town she was going to build - a sanctuary for all races, a place where everyone could thrive.

The next morning, Suzuka and Silvia woke up early, feeling more determined than ever. They packed their belongings meticulously, ensuring everything they needed for the journey was in place. Suzuka double-checked her supplies, not wanting to leave anything to chance. Once ready, they made their way to Wara's guild, where Jacob was already waiting, looking more composed and ready for the trip, his belongings packed into a large travel bag.

"Good morning, Jacob," Suzuka greeted warmly.

"Morning, Helen," Jacob replied, his usual witty demeanor shining through. 

"And who might this little lady be hiding behind you?"

Suzuka stepped aside to reveal Silvia, who was shyly peeking out from behind her.

 "This is Silvia. Don't let her size fool you, she's got a heart of gold."

Silvia, feeling small and intimidated by Jacob's towering presence, managed a tiny, "Hello," and sat on her large luggage, her gaze cast downward.

"Hey, hey, big guy, don't scare her with your big muscles, okay?" Suzuka scolded Jacob playfully.

 Silvia, feeling shy around unknown people, was especially intimidated by Jacob's giant and powerful presence. 

Jacob chuckled. 

"Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to intimidate you, Silvia."

As they talked, Isaac showed up. He walked up to Suzuka and Jacob, greeting them with a smile.

"Good morning, Helen. And Jacob?"

 His eyes flickered towards Silvia, who remained seated on her luggage, still feeling a bit shy and overwhelmed by the strong personalities around her. She whispered a quiet "hi" in response to Isaac's greeting.

Isaac and Jacob exchanged a familiar look. Suzuka noticed and asked, "You two know each other? I will ask right away. Do you two have bad blood between each other? Will there be any problems? Is there something I should know?"

Isaac shook his head.

 "No, not at all, Helen. Just a familiar face from the guild in Windmill Town."

Jacob added, "Yeah, we met once or twice, that's all. Maybe had a few drinks together. That's about all."

Isaac said, "Jacob, you look better than the last time we met. Good to see you're back on your feet. With what happened to you, most of the guild people gossiped that you would end up ruined or worse. And when you left town, people just assumed you ended up dead."

Jacob shrugged.

 "Yeah, well. As you can see, I'm well and kicking. How about your business? Got any luck?"

Isaac sighed. 

"No, nothing yet. Can't even find that snake Clive. Helen had run into him, but it was a long time ago. All I know is that he might be back in Windmill Town. And without him, I can't find the others. So yeah, running in circles."

Jacob nodded sympathetically. 

"Yeah, tell me about it. That sucks."

As they talked, Larry and his team showed up. Suzuka quickly introduced them. 

"Hey Larry, Jake, Max, Mia. Meet our muscles for the trip. Jacob here is a powerful 4-star earth mage. He'll be a great help on our journey. And this," she gestured to Isaac, "is Isaac. He's a 5-star ice mage, and he's strong, I can tell you that. With them on our team, we've got nothing to fear." 

She then gestured to Silvia, who stirred at the sudden attention. 

"This is Silvia. She will be vital to my vision. She'll teach the goblins some common sense. Probably the hardest part of my dream."

Larry and his team greeted them warmly, and they all began to chat and get acquainted. As the group was mingling, Suzuka saw Olivia approaching from a distance. Olivia's presence was always magnetic, drawing eyes and attention. Suzuka's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement.

Olivia walked up to the group with her usual flirtatious smile, her eyes lighting up when she saw Suzuka. 

 "Good morning, everyone," she said, her eyes twinkling mischievously as they landed on Suzuka.

Feeling her usual shyness around Olivia, Suzuka responded with a warm yet reserved smile. 

"Olivia, glad you could make it."

Olivia leaned in, her tone teasing. 

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. So, what's the plan?"

Suzuka briefed Olivia on their journey, her confidence bolstered by the strong team she had assembled.

 "We're heading out soon. With Jacob and Isaac, along with Larry's team, we'll be unstoppable. Silvia will handle the goblins, and with your skills, Olivia, we're in for a smooth ride. We are waiting on the last two fellas to show up and we are ready to go."

Olivia nodded, her playful demeanor turning serious for a moment. 

"Sounds like a solid plan. And I have to admit, a fine team you have here. Well done. How about you introduce them." 

Jacob, picking up on the chemistry between Suzuka and Olivia, smirked.

 "Looks like someone's got a special admirer."

Isaac chuckled. 

"Helen, you never mentioned you had such charming friends."

Suzuka blushed slightly, trying to maintain her composure.

 "Olivia, meet the team. Jacob, Isaac, Larry, Jake, Max, Mia, and Silvia."

Olivia nodded to each of them, her smile never wavering. 

"A pleasure to meet you all. I'm sure you'll take good care of Helen on this journey."

She clapped her hands and called out in a cheerful voice, "Alright, everyone, we're almost set to go! We're only missing the two dwarves who should be here soon. In the meantime, double-check that you haven’t forgotten anything. We've got a long journey ahead of us!"

They began preparing the four-wheelers, ensuring everything was in order. To save space for the goblins, she used her magic item storage to stow away everyone's bags and supplies. The magic item storage shimmered with a faint, ethereal light as it absorbed the belongings, creating more room on the vehicles.

As they finished the preparations, Suzuka spotted the dwarves, Thorin and Dwalin, approaching. She greeted them with a broad smile. 

"Hey, Thorin! Dwalin! Glad you could make it!"

Thorin, the taller of the two with a gruff exterior, gave a curt nod. 

"We're here, as promised. Ready to get started."

Dwalin, shorter and stockier with a more jovial demeanor, chuckled.

 "Aye, let's see what grand adventure you have for us, Helen!"

Suzuka quickly briefed them on the plan and introduced them to the rest of the team. 

"Alright, everyone, meet Thorin and Dwalin. They're our architectural experts for this project. They will direct the workflow of the goblins. Teaching them how to work properly."

Thorin gave a serious nod while Dwalin offered a friendly wave. The team responded with a mixture of nods and waves, appreciating the dwarves' presence.

With everyone ready, they mounted the four-wheelers and set off towards the outskirts of town where the goblins were hidden. The journey was filled with a sense of anticipation, everyone chatting and sharing stories as the four-wheelers rolled over the terrain.

Upon reaching the concealed shed, they parked the four-wheelers and dismounted. Suzuka's demeanor turned gentle yet firm as she approached the shed. She could see the goblins’ frightened faces peeking through the cracks of the door, their eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.

Suzuka knelt at their level, her voice soft and reassuring. 

"Hey there, it's okay. You're safe now. We’re here to help you. Remember me? Where is Hermit?"

The goblins' eyes darted nervously between Suzuka and the rest of her team, the fear visible in their eyes. One of the goblins who knew a little human tongue dared to step forward slowly, his small frame trembling. His eyes held hope and fear as he gazed up at Suzuka.

"Beautiful lady," he stammered, "y-you're not here to hurt us?"

Suzuka shook her head gently, her warm smile radiating reassurance.

 "What? No! No, we're not here to hurt you. We're here to take you to a better place, where you can live freely and safely. We are going to my lands, where you will be able to live in peace and be happy. A place where you will be able to build your own homes. Didn't Hermit tell you? Where is that little devil?"

The mention of Hermit brought a flicker of recognition to the goblins' faces. The brave goblin turned and whispered to his companions, who began to emerge from the shed with cautious steps. Their eyes, filled with a mix of fear and curiosity, scanned the new faces around them.

Thorin stepped forward, his voice gruff but kind. 

"Aye, lass speaks true. We're here to help you build a new home. No more hiding. We'll work together to create a place where you can thrive."

Dwalin added with a reassuring grin, "You'll see, it'll be a fresh start for everyone."

The goblins, reassured by the genuine concern and kindness in Suzuka and the dwarves' voices, began to step out of the shed. Their initial trepidation started to fade as they realized these strangers were their allies, not their enemies.

The goblin, emboldened by Suzuka's kindness, spoke up, his voice a bit steadier now. 

"Master, our great leader, Hermit, is still resting. He got hurt really badly, protecting us from those terrible men. He is nursing his honorable battle wounds from the drunk man's attack when they beat us. They... they violated us, but Hermit fought bravely. He’s a hero to us, you know?"

Suzuka's smile softened as she listened. She nodded, her tone gentle but still light-hearted, "Ah, I see. Hermit sounds like quite a brave soul. You all must be so proud of him."