Chapter 394 Finding Shelter in the middle of a Snowstorm

Hermit trudged behind Suzuka, his spindly legs sinking into the waist-high snow with every step. His skin had taken on a bluish hue, his face covered in a mask of snow and ice. His clothes were soaked through and frozen, the melted snow freezing into a thin layer of ice that clung to his body. He looked less like a goblin and more like a walking snowman, his movements stiff and jerky.

Suzuka turned around, brushing the snow from her curves as she called out to him.

“Hermit, which way do we—?”

She stopped mid-sentence, her sharp eyes narrowing as she took in his frozen state.

“Oh, for the love of...”

Hermit stood frozen in place, his arm still outstretched, pointing in the direction he’d insisted Kaka was. His teeth chattered uncontrollably, and his breaths came out in shallow, visible puffs. 

Suzuka sighed heavily, muttering under her breath as she stomped over to him.

 “You’re lucky I don’t leave you here, you walking icicle.”

 She grabbed him by the back of his neck, lifting his stiff, shivering form. Dragging him through the snow, she scanned the area for shelter, her sharp eyes cutting through the blizzard.

A few minutes later, she spotted a giant tree stump, its hollow interior partially shielded by its massive, snaking roots. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to provide some relief from the storm. Suzuka crouched down, crawling inside the hollow space. It was cramped, but there was enough room for a few people to lie down—assuming they didn’t mind being cozy.

She set Hermit down near the entrance, his frozen body clinking against the ground like a block of ice. 

“Stay put,” she ordered, though it was clear he wasn’t going anywhere in his current state.

 She reached into her magic item storage and pulled out a bundle of dry firewood. Within moments, she had a fire crackling by the entrance, its warmth slowly filling the space.

Suzuka dragged Hermit closer to the fire, propping him up so the heat could reach him. The ice on his body began to melt, dripping onto the ground as his skin slowly regained some of its natural color. His shivering intensified as the warmth seeped into his bones.

Hermit managed a weak smile, his teeth still chattering.

 “T-thank you, M-Master... for not... l-leaving me...”

Suzuka leaned toward the entrance of the hollow tree stump, poking her head outside to assess the storm. The moment she did, a gust of wind slammed a wall of snow into her face, covering her from forehead to chin in a thick, icy layer. She jerked back, sputtering and wiping at her face with her hands. She looked like someone had just shoved a cream cake into her face.

“Ugh, fantastic, snowstorm cum on my face,” she muttered, brushing the snow off her cheeks and hair. She glanced outside again, more cautiously this time. The clouds were pitch black, blotting out any trace of sunlight, and the snow fell so heavily that she couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of her. The wind howled like a pack of wolves, its icy fingers clawing at anything exposed.

She pulled her head back inside, shaking off the snow that had clung to her. She turned to Hermit, who was still shivering by the fire, his frozen body slowly melting into a puddle of water.

 “Well, we’re stuck here for a while. I suspect this storm will last a day or two. Maybe longer, if we’re unlucky. Hope you brought some food with you. Oh, wait—”

 She paused, her smirk widening as she looked at him.

 “You didn’t. Because why would you, right? It’s not like we’re traveling through a frozen wasteland or anything.”

Hermit whimpered, his teeth still chattering as he hugged himself tightly. 

“S-sorry, Master... I didn’t think...”

“Yeah, I know. You didn’t think. That’s the problem. Lucky for you, I actually plan ahead. Otherwise, we’d both be starving. And thanks to me, only one of us will.”

Suzuka reached into her magic item storage and pulled out a small, foldable table. She set it up near the fire, the legs sinking slightly into the soft ground. Next, she retrieved a cast-iron skillet, a kettle, and a few other cooking utensils, along with a selection of fresh ingredients. Hermit watched in awe, his eyes bulging as she worked.

Suzuka filled the kettle with water from a canteen and set it near the fire, using a bit of mana to heat it up quickly. The water began to steam, and she poured it over a handful of tea leaves in a small cup, the rich aroma filling the hollow. Next, she placed the skillet over the fire, adding a slab of seasoned steak that sizzled loudly as it hit the hot surface. The smell of searing meat made Hermit’s stomach growl so loudly it echoed off the walls.

Suzuka glanced at him, her smirk widening as she flipped the steak with a fork. 

“Hungry, are we?”

Hermit nodded vigorously, his finger in his mouth as he gulped loudly.

 “Y-yes, Master... that smells so good...”

Suzuka chuckled, her tone teasing.

 “Well, it’s a shame you didn’t think to bring any food, isn’t it? You know, like a responsible person would.”

Hermit whimpered, his ears drooping. 

“I-I was in a hurry, Master... I didn’t think...”

“Yeah, I noticed,” Suzuka interrupted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 

She pulled a small jar of mashed potatoes from her item storage, along with a few pickles, and arranged them neatly on a plate. The steak was perfectly cooked, its juices pooling around the edges as she placed it on the plate beside the potatoes. She sat down cross-legged, her back against the wall of the hollow, and began to eat with exaggerated relish.

“Mmm,” she hummed, taking a bite of the steak and closing her eyes as if it were the most delicious thing she’d ever tasted. 

“Perfectly seared, tender, and juicy. Just the way I like it.”

Hermit’s stomach growled again, louder this time, and he clutched at it as if trying to silence it.

 “M-Master... could I... could I at least lick the plates clean when you’re done?”

Suzuka paused mid-bite, raising an eyebrow at him. 

“Nope. You should’ve prepared instead of rushing off like a headless chicken. This is what happens when you don’t plan ahead.”

Hermit’s shoulders slumped, his expression one of utter despair. Suzuka took another bite, her smirk returning. 

“You know, if you’re really that hungry, you could always dig into the rotting walls of this stump. Maybe you’ll find some maggots. You goblins love those, right? Have fun.”

Hermit stared at her, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. 

“M-Master... that’s... that’s cruel...”

Suzuka shrugged, her tone light and unbothered.

 “Cruel? I’m just giving you options. You’re the one who decided to charge into a snowstorm without so much as a snack. Don’t blame me for your poor planning.”

She continued eating, savoring every bite while Hermit watched in silent agony. Finally, after what felt like an eternity to him, Suzuka set her empty plate aside and leaned back with a satisfied sigh.

 “Ah, nothing like a hot meal to warm you up on a cold day.”

Hermit’s stomach growled again, and he looked at her with pleading eyes. 

“P-please, Master... just a little bite...”

Suzuka pretended to consider it for a moment, then shook her head. 

“Nope. Lesson learned, right? Next time, maybe you’ll think before you act.”

Hermit whimpered, curling up into a ball by the fire. 

“Y-yes, Master...”

Hermit’s stomach growled again, the sound echoing loudly in the small hollow. He clutched at his belly, his eyes fixed on Suzuka as she sipped her hot tea. The steam rose from her cup, the rich aroma of the tea mingling with the lingering scent of her meal. She smiled at him, her eyes glinting with amusement as she watched his misery.

 Finally, the hunger won. With a groan, he pushed himself up from the ground and shuffled over to the rotting walls of the stump. He began to scrape at the soft, decaying wood with his fingers, his movements frantic and desperate. The wood crumbled easily, but there were no bugs or maggots to be found—it was too cold for anything to fester. Undeterred, Hermit grabbed a handful of the rotting wood and shoved it into his mouth, chewing furiously.

“Hunger’s a powerful thing, isn’t it? Makes you do crazy stuff. Like, say, scraping at rotten wood for a meal.”

The taste was awful—bitter, earthy, and utterly revolting. Hermit gagged, his face twisting in disgust, but he forced himself to swallow. His stomach growled again, as if demanding more.

Suzuka smirked, taking another sip of her tea. 

“Yes, you lousy goblin, enjoy your meal. Maybe next time you’ll think twice before rushing off unprepared. So, how do you like our little adventure so far? Any thoughts of turning back? We can continue if you still want, though.”

Hermit paused, his hands still clutching a chunk of wood. He looked at her, his eyes filled with a mix of exhaustion and determination. 

“N-no. I’m not turning back. Kaka’s out there, and I’m going to find him. No matter what.”

Suzuka studied him for a moment, her smirk fading.

 “Alright, then. Just remember—you’re the one who signed up for this. Don’t come crying to me when it gets worse.”

As Suzuka sipped her tea and watched Hermit scrape at the rotting wood, a particularly fierce gust of wind slammed against the hollow tree stump, causing the walls to creak and groan. The sound was loud enough to make Hermit jump, his hands freezing mid-scrape as he glanced nervously toward the entrance.