Chapter 338 Immense Weight

Megan shook her head in wonder.

“I never would have guessed. What you’ve been through is amazing. I’m just relieved you’re back with us unharmed.”

Still processing the unexpected twist in his daughter’s story, Steven looked at Suzuka with pride and concern.

“Well, it sounds like you’ve had quite an adventure. I’m glad you made it through and returned to us. It’s a lot to take in, but we’re just grateful you’re here.”

Suzuka’s gaze softened as she looked around at her family.

“I’m grateful too. It’s good to be home. Also, by the reaction, I assume any of my letters didn't reach you guys. That's a shame, I hoped that they would. I wrote a few, I wanted you to know I was fine.”

Steven’s face fell slightly as Suzuka mentioned the letters she had sent. He shook his head, a look of regret crossing his face.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t receive any letters from you. Not even one. If we had, it would’ve been such a relief to hear from you, even if it was just a letter. Just knowing that you are alive and well.”

He sighed deeply, the lines on his face deepening with the weight of unfulfilled hopes.

“But honestly, it’s not surprising that they didn’t reach us. Mail delivery between towns is incredibly difficult. We don’t have proper roads connecting the towns, so if anything happens to the caravan - be it bad weather, an attack, or even just a breakdown - you can forget about anything getting delivered and I don't even start on monster attacks.”

Steven looked down at his hands, clearly troubled by the difficulties that had kept him from hearing from his daughter.

“It’s a tough system, and the isolation can be brutal. We’ve had issues with the mail for as long as I can remember. Your letter, It would been a small miracle, but it seems like we were out of luck.”

Megan, standing beside him, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“We always kept our hopes up, Suzu. You’re here now, and that’s what truly matters. We’ll have to make up for all the lost time.”

Suzuka leaned back in her chair with a carefree grin.

“Umm, yeah, about that,” she began, her tone light and nonchalant.

“There’s actually a lot going on in my life right now. Funny you mention the roads - I'm planning to have an audience with the town ruler to discuss that very issue. And just to manage your expectations, I won’t be staying for long. Maybe a week tops. Got to get back to my plans soon. Got a lot of things to handle.”

Olivia, who had been quietly listening, couldn’t resist joining in. With a playful smile, she chimed in, “Yeah, she’s kind of a big deal now. Suzuka’s building a town and, believe it or not, she’s the ruler of it.”

Steven’s eyes widened in astonishment once more, and he blinked rapidly, trying to process the new information.

“Wait, what? Are you a ruler now? Building a town?”

Suzuka beamed with casual nonchalance.

“Yeah, I’m a ruler of Luminecia now. That's the name of my town,” she said, her tone vibrant and full of excitement.

“I bought some land between Rockmine and Woodmill towns. I’ve got, well, let’s say ‘people’ taking care of the deforestation and building things up. But don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not some grand king or anything. Right now, it’s mostly just empty land with a few basic buildings. Nothing too fancy. Not even a small village. The work began not long ago and there's not much to show.”

Olivia, with a warm and encouraging smile, leaned in to add her touch to the conversation.

“Oh, don’t be so modest, Suzu. You’re doing something truly amazing. Tell them how you rescued all those poor slaves and gave them a chance at a better life. It’s not just about the land and buildings; it’s about the lives you’ve changed.”

Suzuka chuckled, rolling her eyes playfully.

“Alright, alright. I suppose I can’t hide the full story. Yes, I did rescue a lot of slaves who were suffering in terrible conditions. I gave them a place to call home, a chance for a fresh start. It’s not just about constructing buildings; it’s about building a community and giving them hope.”

Steven and Megan listened intently, their faces a mix of astonishment and pride. Megan, her eyes moist with emotion, said softly, “That’s incredible, Suzuka. I’m so proud of you. It sounds like you’ve done something truly impressive.”

Steven’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief as he processed Suzuka’s story. He leaned forward, his voice tinged with both curiosity and amazement.

“But where and who did you save from slavery? I can’t imagine there being a place with that many enslaved people. It would take thousands of them just to make a dent in something as grand as building a town. How did you even find so many people in need?”

He shook his head, clearly trying to wrap his mind around the enormity of what Suzuka was describing.

“I mean, I’ve heard rumors about slave markets and such, but to actually gather enough people to start a town? That’s just... amazing.”

Suzuka shifted slightly, her expression becoming more guarded as she prepared to answer Steven’s probing question.

“Um, well, about where I got the slaves,” she began, her tone reluctant.

“They’re technically not people in the way you might think.”

She took a deep breath, clearly choosing her words carefully.

“You see, they’re slaves from goblin breeding farms. The ones I’m talking about are goblins who have been enslaved and forced to do the bidding of the evil goblins running those farms. They’re bred in these horrible places specifically to serve, and I want to make it clear before you even ask - they’re not like the goblins you might encounter in the forest or those that attack you.”

Steven’s eyes widened in confusion and concern.

“The ones you rescued are from breeding farms? Wait, so you’re saying they’re... goblins? Those vile, filthy creatures! Goblins! Building your town?”

Suzuka nodded, her voice steady despite the discomfort in her tone.

“Yes, exactly. Goblins. But they’re not the same as the aggressive goblins you might think of. These are creatures who’ve been forced into terrible situations, and they’re not representative of the goblins you encounter in the wild. The ones from the farms are different - they’ve been mistreated and manipulated, and they needed help just as much as anyone else.”

Steven’s face tightened with disbelief and anger as he absorbed the full impact of Suzuka’s explanation.

“Goblins? Needed help? From breeding farms?” he said, his voice rising with frustration.

“So, you’re telling me these are not the same creatures that attack our lands, that bring chaos and destruction? Not the same goblins that sneak at night and kidnap young women to rape them and breed more of these vile creatures?! I can’t believe you’re asking us to believe such a thing. It’s hard enough to deal with the ones that come out of the forest; now you’re saying that you welcome more of them in your town? I'm sorry but this is insane, have you gone mad?”

Megan, her expression darkening with concern and anger, chimed in sharply.

“Steven’s right. How can we just overlook what these goblins represent? Even if they’re from breeding farms, they’re still goblins. They’ve been bred to be servants of evil, and that’s not something we can easily ignore. It’s not just about their past suffering; it’s about what they are. You have to think about your safety and the safety of everyone in your town.”

Steven’s voice grew more intense as he continued, “It’s one thing to rescue people from terrible conditions, but it’s another to bring potential threats into your home. What if they turn on you? What if they bring trouble or danger?”

Megan added.

“Exactly. You have to be cautious. You don’t know what kind of schemes they might be plotting.”

Suzuka’s face fell slightly at her parents’ disbelief, her earlier enthusiasm dampened by their concerns.

“I understand your fears but these goblins are different. They’ve been through unimaginable suffering and are not the same as those who attack our lands. They need a chance to rebuild their lives, just like anyone else.”

She paused, then an ominous grin spread across her face.

“And besides, if any of them try anything, I’ll crush them like bugs. Seriously, I’m a lot stronger than you know. I’m actually a 5-star MBPU now, so you can relax about my safety. If one or a hundred of them come at me it will not matter, I will crush anyone who causes trouble, I’ve got this covered.”

Steven and Megan exchanged wide-eyed glances, their expressions a mix of incredulity and reluctant amazement. The term “5-star MBPU” carried immense weight. Those who held that rank were revered, the elite few who had ascended to the pinnacle of magecraft. Their numbers were so limited that towns would go out of their way, offering immense favors, just to entice even one of these powerful individuals into their ranks.

To hear that their daughter, who once wasn't even worthy to tap into the power of the Magic Box, now stood among the ranks of a 5-star mage was nothing short of astonishing.

Steven was the first to break the stunned silence.

“You… a 5-star MBPU? Suzu, that’s… that’s unreal. Do you know what that means? You’re not just strong; you’re at the very top! How did this happen? This is a serious matter, you need to be very careful.”

Megan, her disbelief etched into every line of her face, shook her head as if trying to wake herself from a dream.

“When you went missing, you could barely show a compatibility rating. And now… this? A 5-star mage? It’s beyond incredible. It’s... how is this even possible?”

Suzuka’s lips curled into a playful grin as she leaned back in her chair, clearly reveling in their stunned reactions.

“Surprised, huh? I mean, I get it. Back then I could barely light a test crystal and now I’m crushing whole mountains!” She laughed, playfully puffing out her chest like she was showing off.

“But hey, it was an unpleasant experience. Don't really want to talk about it. Let's just say I had the right push… a few kidnappings and battles with monsters.”

She waved her hand dismissively, still grinning.

“You don’t need to worry, though. I’m not planning on letting all this power go to my head. Well, not too much, anyway.” She shot them a wink.

“But seriously, being 5-star isn’t just a fancy title. It means I can protect myself, protect others, and most importantly, crush any monster that steps on our doorstep.”

Her playful expression softened just a bit as she added, “You taught me to look out for others, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. These goblins deserve a second chance, and I’m making sure they don’t waste it.” She leaned in, her voice full of playful confidence.

“So relax. Your little Suzu’s got this all under control.”