Chapter 295 Gifts From The Gods

The goblins, despite their weariness, gazed up at the mountain with awe. Hermit stepped forward, his eyes shining with fear.

 "This place... it feels bad, it is not safe here, master. So much nasty mist. Lots of nasty mist means lots of nasty monsters." he said, clutching his hatchling close.

"Yes, It is," Suzuka replied.

 "This land is rich with corrupted magic and also danger. We'll need to be cautious as we settle in. But I promise you, we will turn this place into a sanctuary."

Jacob, looking up at the mountain, felt a shiver run down his spine. 

"That mist... it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. If any of us steps into it we are done for. I doubt even anti-corruption crystal would help." he muttered.

Larry nodded.

 "We'll need to be on our guard. A sudden shift of strong wind and that mist might come right at us. And if that happens, we would be in some serious trouble."

Olivia placed a reassuring hand on Suzuka's shoulder.

 "I'm with you, Suzu. Even if you grow a third leg from that mist."

Suzuka smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude. 

"Thanks, Olivia but everything will be fine. Now, let's find a suitable spot to set up camp for the night. Tomorrow, we get down to business."

They set up a camp with the mountain looming majestically in the distance. The unfamiliar surroundings filled the goblins with dread. As they set up camp, the goblins huddled together, their small bodies trembling with fear. Their eyes darted nervously around, the unfamiliar foliage casting eerie shadows that seemed to conceal lurking dangers. The forest, dense and dark, whispered of hidden monsters, and the rustling of leaves made their hearts race with terror. The thought of stepping into the tall grass, where unseen perils could be waiting, left them paralyzed with fear, clutching their tiny hatchlings close to their chests.

The hatchlings, barely the size of a goblin’s palm, added to the miserable scene. Their small, fragile bodies clung to their caretakers, their wide eyes reflecting the same terror. Some hatchlings whimpered softly, their tiny hands gripping the coarse fabric of their caretaker's clothes, while others nestled deeper into the safety of their embrace, their little bodies shaking with fright. It was a heart-wrenching sight: a tangled mass of goblin bodies, adult and young, trembling in fear and anxiety.

Hermit, despite his fear and pain, stepped up to comfort his kin. He moved among them, whispering words of encouragement and reassurance. His presence, though humble and awkward, had a calming effect. Slowly, the goblins began to settle down, forming a collective pile of tangled bodies, seeking warmth and security in each other’s presence. They rested like this, under the watchful eye of Hermit, until the morning light broke through the canopy, waking everyone with the promise of a new day.

With the dawn came renewed energy. The goblins, having rested and filled their bellies with food, were ready to face the day. Suzuka, feeling a surge of eagerness from the goblins, approached her team to issue orders.

"Larry, your team is responsible for scouting the area and keeping watch. Any sign of danger, you call. We will obliterate all threats in the area." She handed him a detailed map of the land. Larry took the map, assuring her that the job would be done.

Turning to Hermit, she continued, “Hermit, you need to tell your fellow goblins that we must cut down the trees surrounding the mountain. We’ll need the wood to be repurposed for planks and other building materials for our town and the Goblin district. It is very important and needs to be done as fast as possible.”

Hermit’s face drained of color, a wave of painful memories crashing over him. The brutal days in the goblin farms came flooding back - the relentless gnawing on tree trunks with their teeth and nails, he could clearly remember the taste of the blood and splinters in his mouth. He convulsed in terror but managed a meek, “Alright, Master. We will do our best.” His movements were awkward and pitiable as he wobbled dragging his feet in despair towards his fellow goblins with a horrible task, each step reflecting his inner torment.

Suzuka then turned her attention to Jacob.

 “Jacob, you’ll be responsible for leveling the ground and turning it into cobblestone - flat and even, nice and smooth. Once the goblins cut down the trees, make sure the ground is even and turned to stone so that underbrush and trees won’t regrow. We need to flatten the area around the mountain to a nice, flat level.”

Jacob nodded, his face set in resolute.

 “Understood, Helen. I’ll make sure it’s done right.”

Next, Suzuka addressed Olivia and Isaac. 

“As for you two, I’m counting on you to guard our camp. If anything dangerous shows up, blast them or cut them down.”

Olivia smiled, a glint of excitement in her eyes. 

“You got it, love. Nothing’s getting past us.”

Isaac gave a firm nod, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

 “We’ll keep everyone safe.”

While Suzuka was busy issuing commands, Silvia with the help of dwarves was setting up her tent, preparing to teach the tiny hatchlings. One of the goblins, who knew a bit of human language, joined her to help translate. The tent soon echoed with delightful chirps and clicks as the hatchlings eagerly absorbed new knowledge, their tiny faces lighting up with joy.

Hermit, gathering his courage, turned to his fellow goblins and explained the need to cut down the trees for their new home. The collective trauma of years of slavery surfaced, and the goblins recoiled in horror, memories of gnawing on tree trunks until they fell tormenting their minds. They pleaded with Hermit, their voices quivering.

 “Oh, great leader, please, do not subject us to the same fate as the evil goblins did. We are but measly slaves; you know our suffering. You do! We can’t cut these trees. We are weak, we are feeble.”

Hermit stood with his head cast low, tears streaming down his cheeks.

 “I know, fellow gobbies. I do! I still feel the bitter taste of the sap, my blood, and wood in my mouth. But we must. We do. There is no other choice. We must obey; we must do as told. Goddess told us to clear the forest around the mountain for the town, our goblin district. We must not anger her, we must do as told.”

The goblins trembled, haunted by the memories of their past torment. But with pathetic whimpers and a collective sense of resignation, they reluctantly wobbled to the nearby trees and began to nibble at the trunks, their small, blunt teeth gnashing through the bark. Each bite was a reminder of their suffering, but also a step towards a hopeful future.

Suzuka, watching from a distance, could hardly believe what she was seeing. Her palm met her forehead in a dramatic facepalm as she rushed over to Hermit, who was pathetically nibbling on a tree trunk with tears streaming down his face, whimpering in pain.

She whacked him on the head and asked, "What in tarnation are you idiots doing? There is no time to fool around. Stop this nonsense, now."

Hermit, feeling the sting of the hit over his head, flopped to the ground in the mud but quickly scrambled back to his feet. 

"Ouwies, Master," he whimpered.

 "We are doing as told. We are felling the trees as told. We are clearing the forest for the town."

Suzuka sighed deeply, shaking her head.

 "You dumb goblin, you're being stupid. That's what you're doing, not cutting the trees. Who told you to nibble on them until they fell? I said get your fellow goblins ready to cut down the trees. I have tools ready to help you with the job. Not this nonsense. Tell them to stop and line up. Now!"

Hermit, his face a mix of confusion and realization, quickly did as he was told. He scampered around, waving his arms and shouting in his high-pitched voice, "Stop! Stop nibbling! Line up, as Master Helen says!"

The goblins, equally confused and relieved, slowly stopped their pathetic nibbling and formed a wobbly line. Suzuka pulled a bunch of tools from her magic item storage, revealing goblin-sized axes and saws. The goblins marveled at the instruments, each taking one in hand and inspecting them closely with wide eyes full of awe as if they were holding a piece of a miracle.

The first goblin, a wiry little fellow with a crooked nose, took hold of a small axe and turned it over in his hands as if it were a sacred relic. His eyes were as wide as saucers, mouth agape in disbelief. He raised the axe above his head, squinting at it against the sunlight, his face a mix of reverence and confusion. Another goblin, a scrawny one with patches of skin missing from his head, grasped a saw and immediately began to sniff it, then licked it cautiously, as though testing its authenticity.

A chorus of gasps and murmurs of astonishment spread through the line. One goblin tapped the blade of his axe with a trembling finger, giggling hysterically when it made a clear, ringing sound. Another, with an expression of utter rapture, held his saw to his chest and rocked back and forth, tears of joy streaming down his face.

The scene was almost comical in its absurdity. The goblins, with their exaggerated expressions and clumsy movements, looked like a group of bumbling children presented with magical toys for the first time. One goblin, eyes bulging and tongue lolling out, held up an axe and began to dance a little jig, his scrawny legs kicking up clouds of dust. Another tried to put the saw on his head like a hat, only to yelp and pull it off quickly, rubbing his scalp with a confused pout.

Hermit stood at the front of the line, holding a small axe. His hands shook with excitement as he turned to Suzuka, his eyes brimming with gratitude.

 "Master Helen, these... these are gifts from the gods," he stammered, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Oh, come on, Hermit. They're just tools."

The goblins, still overwhelmed by the sheer wonder of their new possessions, nodded vigorously. One goblin, unable to contain his excitement, threw his arms around Suzuka's legs, weeping uncontrollably.

 "Thank you, thank you, Master Helen! We will use these wisely! We will build a great home!"

Suzuka patted the goblin's head, feeling a mixture of amusement and compassion.

 "Alright, alright, let's get to work. We have a lot to do, and these tools aren't going to use themselves."