Chapter 324 Newfound Resolve

The goblin's tears mingled with those of the hatchling as he whispered, "We will heal together, little one. We will find peace. I promise you, the suffering will end, and you will know joy and safety. Just hold on a little longer."

The hatchling's tiny fingers clutched tighter, its body shaking with sobs.

"No more evil goblins? No more pain?"

"No more evil goblins, little one, no more of those nasties," the goblin assured, his voice choked with emotion.

"No more pain. Only love and care from now on."

The hatchling's eyes, filled with tears, looked up at the goblin, a glimmer of hope within the sorrow.

"You... you stay with me? Will you be my Papa? Will you protect me and love me?"

"Always, my precious one. I'll never leave you," the goblin vowed, his heart swelling with a fierce protectiveness.

The hatchling buried its face in the goblin's chest, its sobs slowly subsiding.

"So scared... so cold. Hug, I need a warm hug. Please, hug me and hold me tight," it whispered.

"I'll keep you warm," the goblin murmured, wrapping his arms tighter around the tiny form.

"I'll keep you safe."

The hatchling's breaths began to even out, the warmth of the goblin's embrace providing a small measure of comfort.

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise, and promise not to be broken," the goblin said, his voice breaking with the intensity of his feelings.

"You're my little one, and I'll protect you with all my heart."

The hatchling's eyes fluttered closed, exhaustion overtaking the small body.

"Love you," it whispered before his tiny body fell limp, succumbing to exhaustion.

"Love you too, more than anything," the goblin replied, his voice filled with a profound tenderness as he cradled the hatchling.

As the hatchling drifted into a fitful sleep, the goblin held it close, his heart aching with a mix of sorrow and love. He knew the road to healing would be long, but he was ready to be there every step of the way, offering comfort, warmth, and unwavering love. The tiny hatchling had endured so much, but in the goblin's arms, it had found a sanctuary, a place where love would be a constant presence, guiding it toward a future free of pain and filled with hope.

As the last of the hatchlings were freed, the goblins gathered them together, creating a small, makeshift nursery in the corner of the tent. The hatchlings, despite their trauma, began to exhibit signs of their natural curiosity and playfulness. They nuzzled against their rescuers, their tiny fingers exploring the unfamiliar but comforting touch of freedom.

Hermit, his heart swelling with a mix of pride and sorrow, turned to Suzuka, who had entered the tent.

"Master Helen," he said, his voice choked with emotion, "thank you for saving them. Thank you for giving them a chance to live."

Suzuka glanced over with an indifferent shrug, her expression a mixture of casual ease and subtle amusement.

 "Oh, don’t mention it," she said, her tone light.

 She smirked slightly, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. 

"Besides, who knows? Maybe they’ll turn out to be a bit less of a hassle if they get a chance to live. A little freedom never hurt anyone - well, maybe a few people, but that’s a different story."

She gave a casual wave as if the entire act of saving the goblins was as trivial as flipping a coin. 

"So, yeah, you're welcome. Just don’t expect me to start giving out medals or anything. I'm here to do what needs to be done, not the sentimentality. Besides, it’s not like I’m out here saving the world or anything. Think of it as a little favor, nothing more."

Hermit, clutching the tiny hatchling protectively in his arms, looked up at Suzuka with wide, fearful eyes. His voice trembled as he spoke, "Y-yes, Master Helen. Of course. I-I understand."

He swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the ground as he continued.

 "W-we’re just... very grateful. We didn't expect... anyone to help us."

Hermit shuffled his feet nervously, his scrawny frame seeming even smaller in Suzuka's presence.

 "I-I'll do my best to take care of them, I promise. Th-thank you for... giving us a chance."

He hesitated, glancing up briefly before quickly looking away again. 

"We... we won't disappoint you."

His voice trailed off into a whisper, his body tense with the effort of speaking up. Hermit clung to the hatchling a little tighter, his heart pounding as he waited for Suzuka's reaction, desperately hoping she wouldn't see through his cowardly facade.

Suzuka, leaning casually against the tent wall, glanced down at the trembling Hermit. Her eyes glinted with mild annoyance.

 "Why are you talking like this? You look like you’re expecting me to crush you under my boot. Stop acting so scared and cowardly."

She straightened up and took a step closer to Hermit, her gaze piercing through his meek demeanor.

 "I need you to be the leader these goblins need, not some sniveling joke. Stand tall, and look confident. Stop stuttering and speak your mind."

Suzuka's voice took on a slightly sharper edge, though still tinged with her usual nonchalance.

 "I’ll remind you one more time, you are my partner in building this town. You’re second in command after me, after all, and you need to act like it. The last thing I need is for others to look down on you."

She folded her arms across her chest, staring down at Hermit with a mixture of impatience and expectation. 

"And believe me, If you don’t, soon others will start looking down on you. And that will be bad for me and your kin. So you better put on your big boy pants and start acting like the leader of your kin."

Suzuka's eyes softened slightly, though her tone remained firm.

 "I chose you for a reason, Hermit. You have potential. But potential means nothing if you can’t show it. These goblins need someone to look up to, someone who isn’t afraid to stand up and take charge."

She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. 

"Think of this as your chance to prove yourself. Not just to me, but to all of them."

These goblins were an especially sorry sight, their bodies thin and frail from years of relentless suffering and hardship. Their faces, once hardened by pain and fear, now bore the fragile glow of tentative hope as they looked at Hermit. 

Still trembling slightly, he took a deep breath and tried to straighten his posture. His eyes darted nervously around before finally meeting Suzuka's gaze, his voice quavering but carrying a hint of newfound resolve. 

"Y-yes, Master Helen. I-I understand. I will... I will do my best to lead them. I-I know they need someone strong. I-I'll stand tall and... and speak my mind. I won't let them down. I'll... I'll prove myself. Thank you for believing in me. I-I won't disappoint you."

Suzuka's smirk softened into a more approving grin as she watched Hermit muster his courage. With an easygoing, almost indifferent tone, she clapped him lightly on his hunched back.

 "That's the spirit, Hermit. That's more like it. Now go on and take care of your fellow goblins. Show them what a leader looks like. You've got this, Hermit." She waved him off with a casual flick of her hand.

Hermit, emboldened by Suzuka's encouragement, straightened his posture and took charge. He rallied the goblins who could still muster the strength to move despite their brutalized bodies and overwhelming exhaustion.

Their first priority was the hatchery, where the future of their kin lay in fragile eggs. Hermit led the charge, his heart heavy with a mixture of hope and dread. A few other goblins started to make makeshift baskets, hastily fashioned from scraps, ready to transport the precious eggs to safety when the time came. Hermit, with a few fellow goblins, scuttled to the cave where the hatchery was located and burst through the shabby doors inside.

The hatchery was a scene of utter neglect and despair. Eggs were strewn around carelessly, many cracked or broken, the remnants of what should have been new life. The lack of care had resulted in poor-quality hatchlings, many of which had perished without ever seeing the light of day. The eggs, usually submerged in a special mixture of goblin feces, urine, and fertilized soil, were left cold and barren. Hermit’s heart ached at the sight, tears welling up in his eyes as he surveyed the devastation.

With a grim desperation, Hermit and his comrades sprang into action. They worked quickly, mixing the right amounts of goblin feces, urine, and fertilized soil to recreate the nurturing environment the eggs desperately needed. Their hands moved with anxiety, scooping up the surviving eggs and carefully placing them on the mounds of filth. Each egg was handled with the gentleness of a mother, their movements tender and deliberate despite the rush.

The process was harrowing. Many eggs were beyond saving, crushed underfoot or left too long in the cold. Hermit’s heart broke with each loss, the sight of the tiny, lifeless forms inside the shells tearing at his soul. He and his fellow goblins cried and sobbed as they worked, their tears mingling with the filth and grime of the hatchery floor. They managed to save a little over a hundred eggs, a small victory in the face of such an overwhelming loss.

But the saved eggs did little to soothe their pain. The number of lost hatchlings was staggering, each one a symbol of the cruelty and neglect they had endured. Hermit, holding a particularly fragile egg, whispered a prayer for the lost ones, his voice choked with sorrow. The goblins around him mirrored his grief, their sobs filling the dank cave with a heart-wrenching melody of loss and despair.