Chapter 287 Cozy Little Cafe

Suzuka crossed her arms, watching as Larry gently approached Hermit and the hatchlings. Hermit, still dazed from his ordeal with the fox, looked up at Larry with a mixture of fear and hope. The hatchlings, tiny and fragile, clung to Hermit's side. He approached them with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with Suzuka's indifference.

"You really care about these creatures, don't you?" Suzuka said with a slight smirk, watching Larry kneel beside the fragile beings.

Larry ignored the teasing tone, his focus entirely on the goblins. He gently lifted Hermit, cradling the scrawny goblin with a reverence that spoke volumes.

 "These goblins have been through hell, Helen. They deserve a chance at a better life."

Suzuka rolled her eyes, leaning against the doorframe.

 "Well, it will all depend on them. If they work hard and build a home for themselves on my land, I can at least promise them protection."

Larry carefully picked up the hatchlings, his movements slow and deliberate to avoid causing them any distress. Cradling the hatchlings in one arm and helping Hermit to his feet with the other, gave her a mock salute.

 "Until next time, Helen. Take care of yourself."

As Larry left, leading Hermit and the hatchlings out of the room, Suzuka watched them go, a mixture of joy and admiration in her eyes. Larry was relentless, always on the move, always fighting for what he believed in. It was one of the things she respected most about him.

"Good luck, Larry," she murmured to herself, closing the door. 

Suzuka dropped onto her bed, exhaustion weighing heavily on her. She barely noticed as Silvia quietly entered the room, slipping into her bed next to Suzuka. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from the single lantern casting long shadows on the walls.

Before Silvia drifted off to sleep, she turned towards Suzuka, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of the day's events.

 "You know, Helen, Hermit, and I had quite the chat today."

Suzuka, half-asleep already, murmured, "Oh yeah? What about? More of his sad stories?"

Silvia's eyes sparkled with a mix of fascination and empathy as she propped herself up on one elbow, leaning in to share the tale.

"Well, Hermit told me all about his life while he was enslaved," she began, her voice filled with a captivating mix of sorrow and intrigue.

 "It's absolutely heartbreaking, really. He even shared his book with me - Hermit's Diary. Can you believe it? He wrote down some of his life stories in there. The details are just so graphic and tragic. It's hard to believe a goblin wrote it. He said he is working on the second volume. And I promised that I would read it."

She paused for effect before continuing, her tone growing more dramatic. 

"Listen to this. He hatched in a small, wretched goblin breeding farm, a place of unimaginable cruelty. From the moment he drew his first breath, he was surrounded by suffering, subjected to the brutal whims of those evil goblins who ran the place."

Silvia's eyes widened as she recounted the next part, her voice trembling with emotion.

 "Then, one fateful day, the farm was attacked by adventurers. It was chaos, pure and simple. In the blink of an eye, he lost everything - his family, his home, everything he had ever known. The pain of that loss is something he carries with him every day."

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper. 

"But during that chaos, he managed to escape with his beloved caretaker, Kaka. Can you imagine? Kaka was everything to him - his Muma and Dada, as he said. Kaka was the only source of love and kindness in his brutal world. He was his family and he loved him very much."

Suzuka's eyes fluttered open, just a crack, barely enough to see through the haze of sleep. With a lazy yawn and a stretch that made her seem more like a lounging cat than concerned, she turned her head slightly towards Silvia.

"Uh-huh. Kaka? Sounds like another word for shit than a name, if you ask me. And?"

"And," Silvia continued, her voice tinged with sadness, "he talked about his hopes for the future. He wants to see his kin free and thriving. He's got this dream of building his village, making it a haven for other goblins who’ve suffered like he has."

Suzuka shifted on her bed, pulling the blanket over herself. 

"Should we call him Preaching Hermit or Saint Hermit? Both... that sounds about right... noble, I guess."

Silvia nodded, her expression softening.

 "It is noble. But he didn’t just talk about his dreams. He also told me about the goblin culture, their traditions, and stories. Did you know they have this beautiful custom of talking and singing to the eggs before they hatch? It's supposed to help the hatchlings grow strong and smart."

"Yeah... someone... mentioned something like that. It was Valerius, I think, so must be true," Suzuka muttered half asleep.

Silvia's eyes widened.

 "Really? That's amazing! Hermit even sang a little bit of one of the songs. It was so... haunting and beautiful, Helen. It’s hard to believe such a small, fragile creature has been through so much."

Suzuka sighed, more awake now, and turned to face Silvia.

 "And what about you, Silvia? What do you think of all this?"

Silvia's expression turned thoughtful. 

"I think... I think we have a real chance to make a difference. Hearing Hermit’s stories made me realize how much these goblins have endured. If we can help them rebuild, give them a chance at a better life, then all this fighting, all this effort will be worth it."

Suzuka gave a small, tired smile. 

"Jeez, you have a big heart, Silvia. Just don’t let it get you killed."

Silvia chuckled softly. 

"I'll try my best. But Helen, I believe in this mission. And I believe in you. We can make this work."

Suzuka closed her eyes, feeling the weight of Silvia’s words. 

"Yeah. Maybe you're right. Now get some sleep. Tomorrow's gonna be another long day."

Silvia settled back into her bed, a happy smile on her face.

 "Goodnight, Helen."

"Goodnight, Silvia," Suzuka replied, letting herself drift off into a deep, much-needed sleep.

The next morning, Suzuka was roused from her sleep by a soft knock on the door. She groggily dragged her feet to the door without bothering to put on any clothes, opening it in just her skimpy lingerie. With a yawn, she asked who it was, her voice still heavy with sleep.

As the door swung open, she saw Olivia standing there, a mischievous smile spreading across her face at the sight of Suzuka's barely clad form. Without a moment's hesitation, Olivia pulled Suzuka closer, her fingers trailing up Suzuka's belly with a teasing touch. 

“Ara, ara, what do we have here? Ain't you a sight for sore eyes,” Olivia purred, running her finger up Suzuka’s belly.

 “I missed my love and decided to come for a visit. But I found you half-naked. Are you inviting me to your bed? How about we go out for a cup of coffee first, before the fun? Hmmm?”

Suzuka’s sleepy mind struggled to process the sudden shift in the morning’s events. She blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly as she felt Olivia’s touch.

 “Hey, Olivia. Coffee, huh? Yeah, yes. I would like to,” she murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Olivia laughed softly, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on Suzuka’s skin.

 “I thought you could use a little pick-me-up. Besides, it’s been too long since we’ve had some time to ourselves.”

Suzuka’s initial grogginess faded, replaced by a growing warmth at Olivia’s presence. 

“Alright, give me a minute to get dressed,” she said, stepping back into the room.

Olivia leaned against the doorframe, her eyes never leaving Suzuka.

 “Take your time, love. I’ll be right here.”

Their conversation woke up Silvia, who was still in bed. She sat up, stretching and yawning. 

"Good morning, both of you," she greeted cheerfully.

Suzuka, feeling friendly turned to Silvia.

 "Good morning! Do you want to join us for a cup of coffee?"

Silvia shook her head with a smile. 

"Oh, I don't want to be a third wheel between you two. You're dating, right? You must want some time alone. I would just be a bother. Plus, I have some plans for today. I'm going to check some shops for utilities we need to teach the goblins. The coins you gave me will be enough to get everything we need, so don't worry about me. Go have fun, you two."

Suzuka nodded, appreciating Silvia's understanding.

 "Alright, just don't push yourself too hard. You still need some rest."

Silvia waved her off with a smile. 

"I'll be fine. You two enjoy your date."

Suzuka turned back to Olivia and smiled. 

"Well, it looks like we have the morning to ourselves."

Olivia's eyes sparkled with delight. 

"Perfect. Let's get you dressed, and then we can head out."

Suzuka quickly dressed, the lingering touch of Olivia’s fingers on her skin adding a sense of urgency to her movements. Once ready, she stepped back out, feeling more awake and interested in the day ahead.

As they walked through the bustling inn, Olivia’s arm slipped around Suzuka’s waist, pulling her close.

 “So, tell me, how’s everything going with your grand plans?” Olivia asked, her tone genuinely curious.

Suzuka sighed, the weight of her responsibilities momentarily overshadowed by Olivia’s presence. 

“It’s been... tough. But I think we’re making good progress. I have a lot of work ahead, though.”

 “I’m sure you’ll manage. You always do. And if you ever need help, you know where to find me.”

Suzuka smiled, appreciating the support.

 “Thanks, Olivia. It means a lot. I would love to have you. I will need your help in a few days, would it be alright if you joined me?”

"Yes, of course. I have finished all my business with Thomas. We are taking a break from the quests, so I am free. I will gladly join your side."

They found a cozy little cafe and settled into a corner booth, the morning sunlight streaming through the windows. As they sipped their coffee, the conversation flowed easily, a mix of updates, reminiscing, and playful banter.