Chapter 232 Goblin Medicine Recipe

As Suzuka announced their departure, Hermit stirred dramatically, his wide eyes filled with fear. His tiny frame quivered as he stammered, "B-b-b-b-but Master! What about the scary monster? What if they attack again? Hermit is scared, I don't want to be crushed again! I don't! I don't! Let us stay here, tiny room safe! Outside scary... painful!" 

Suzuka, seemingly unimpressed by Hermit's theatrics, responded with a calm voice, "I dealt with the monsters. I killed them all while you were enjoying your poop feast."

Hermit's already nut-size and dimwitted brain temporarily short-circuited, struggling to compute the meaning of her casual proclamation of killing what, to Hermit's meager brains, looked like the most formidable monsters. Slowly, his eyes bulged, and his mouth gaped open as if trying to absorb the reality of the situation. In an instant, he launched into an exaggerated bow, falling to his knees and starting to worship Suzuka with fervor.

"Oh, goddess! You are the mightiest! Hermit will follow you; Hermit will trust you without a doubt from now on!" he yelled, his tone a mix of awe and reverence.

Suzuka sighed, both amused and annoyed by Hermit's over-the-top reaction. She reached down, grabbing the goblin by the scruff of his neck and hoisting him to his feet. 

"Save the worship for later, Hermit. We have things to do and places to be. Lead the way back to town and keep that goblin nonsense to a minimum."

The goblin, still in a state of adoration, nodded vigorously, his floppy ears bouncing with each movement. As they left the room, Hermit, now slightly cleaner and with new shorts, walked beside her with an air of subservience, eager to please. Suzuka, however, kept a wary eye on him, unsure of what antics the goblin might pull next.

She strolled with a satisfied smile, her mind buzzing with the promising profits safely stowed away in her item storage. The successful trip had left her satisfied and the anticipation of the rewards awaiting her back at the guild added an extra bounce to her step. However, her joy stood in stark contrast to the pitiful sight trailing behind her.

Hermit, on the other hand, desperately scuttled along, struggling to keep pace with Suzuka's brisk stride. The recent encounter with The Beast had left him in agony, cruel injuries still throbbing with every movement. To make matters worse, his unfortunate encounter with the rats had subjected his crotch content to their nibbles, rendering his scuttle awkward and painful.

He hobbled along behind Suzuka, his tiny hands constantly rubbing at his aching crotch. With each touch of the fabric against his tender skin, he winced and let out soft moans of pain, trying to endure the discomfort as he did his best to keep up with his master.

Suzuka, seemingly oblivious to Hermit's plight, continued on her way, the rhythmic clicking of her shoes echoing through the corridor. Her satisfaction was evident in the way she carried herself, the promise of profits overshadowing any concerns for the diminutive goblin struggling behind her.

Hermit's attempts to match Suzuka's strides were a pitiful sight, a tiny goblin in distress, each step a painful reminder of the recent ordeal. He longed for the sanctuary of his makeshift haven beneath Suzuka's bed, where the world was warm and comforting, and the pain could be momentarily forgotten.

The relentless pain reached a breaking point. When they finally left the remnants of the abandoned bandit camp, he fell to the ground with a painful cry, his tiny form crumpling. He clasped his hands together in a pitiful plea, his eyes brimming with tears as he begged his master for a short break.

"Master, p-please! Hermit can't endure anymore," he whimpered, his voice a mixture of pain and desperation.

 "Every scuttle feels like a thousand knives stabbing me. The rats, The Beast, it hurts so much. Just a short break, please. Just a little! Hermit promises to catch up. Just a moment to ease this unbearable pain, Master. Let me look around for herbs to mend my injuries. Please!" His plea echoed with genuine misery, the tiny goblin's resolve finally crumbling under the weight of his injuries and the relentless pace set by his master.

Suzuka turned around, her eyes assessing the pitiful state of her goblin companion sprawled on the ground in pain. Despite Hermit's plea for a break, her expression remained stoic, betraying neither sympathy nor impatience. She crossed her arms, a slight furrow appearing on her brow as if contemplating the cost of granting him a moment of respite.

"Hermit, we don't have time for this," she declared, her voice firm but not unkind.

 "We've got places to be, and lingering around here won't help. You're tougher than you look, so shake it off. A little pain won't kill you. Now, get up. We move forward."

Hermit's ears drooped as he registered her response. Despite the pain coursing through his tiny frame, he struggled back onto his feet, his face a canvas of suffering. Suzuka, unfazed by his misery, continued on her way, expecting Hermit to follow. The goblin, wincing with every step, scuttled behind her, his loyal but aching form a stark contrast to Suzuka's brisk stride.

As she pressed forward to maintain their pace, Hermit, weakened and in agony, did his best to follow. However, after only a few minutes of painful scuttling, his endurance reached its limits. The relentless pain, worsened by his injuries, overwhelmed the goblin. With a heart-wrenching cry, Hermit collapsed once more, his frail form crumpling to the ground.

This time, when he tried to rise, a jolt of searing pain shot through his body, causing him to gasp audibly. His shorts, already stained with blood from the rat bites, now bore fresh marks. The ground beneath him served as a cruel reminder of his struggle, smudged with traces of his goblin blood.

Suzuka, ahead and unaware of the goblin's deteriorating condition, continued her brisk pace. Hermit, desperate and on the verge of tears, managed to call out in a strained voice, "M-master, please, I can't go on. It hurts too much. Just a moment, please."

The goblin's plea hung in the air, a fragile request for rest. Suzuka, now realizing the severity of Hermit's situation, halted her steps. She turned to see the goblin on the ground, shorts stained with blood, his tiny body shivering from pain and exhaustion. 

A flicker of concern crossed her face, and with a sigh, she unwillingly conceded, "Fine, forget the short break. We camp the night here. I was expecting to get some distance before the night becomes pitch black, but with you slowing us down, that's impossible. We might as well camp here for the night. And just so you know, you're not the only one feeling tired. I've been on my feet for two days straight without a wink of sleep. And I'll need to stand guard tonight as well. So, you better recover overnight because tomorrow, we'll be rushing the pace."

"Thank you... Master. M-must find herbs... for medicine," Hermit mumbled to himself, his voice a pitiful undertone in the quiet forest. His oversized ears twitched nervously, catching the rustling sounds of unseen creatures lurking in the darkness.

He wasted no time and still nursing his wounds, jumped to his feet to scavenge the dangerous forest campsite for herb ingredients essential for making goblin medicine. His tiny frame scuttled through the underbrush, his movements awkward and uncoordinated as he sought out the elusive plants. The pain from his injuries made each step a wince-inducing ordeal.

His oversized ears twitched nervously as he mumbled to himself, his pitiful monologue echoing through the dense foliage.

 "Yes, yes, Hermit needs herbs. Stupid, dangerous forest. Why can't herbs just appear near Hermit? Why must Hermit go to them?" His ramblings were punctuated by the occasional yelp as he stumbled over roots or narrowly avoided thorny bushes.

The first herb on his list was the Whispering Willowbark, known for its soothing properties. Hermit hopped around a cluster of trees, his eyes scanning the ground anxiously.

 "Willowbark, where are you? Whisper, whisper, stupid bark." He cautiously plucked a few leaves, muttering, "This better work, or Hermit's egg-laying straw and balls will never stop hurting."

Next on the list was the Glowfern, a luminescent plant that thrived in the darkest corners of the forest. Hermit tiptoed through the shadows, his eyes wide with fear.

 "Glowy herb, glow for Hermit. Where are you, little glow?" His fingers grazed the soft glow of the fern, and he let out an excited squeal, "Found you! Now, how many more?"

Hermit's third target was the Firefly's Delight, a flower that only bloomed near areas inhabited by fireflies. He ventured deeper into the forest, squinting at the faint glow of distant insects. 

"Delight, delight, where's the stupid delight? Oh, there it is!" He reached for the petals, chuckling nervously, "Hope it's the right one! Too dark to tell! Master won't be happy if Hermit dies. She will punish me if I do!"

The fourth herb, Shade Moss, thrived in the shadow of the old trees. Hermit stumbled over roots, his eyes scanning the ground for the telltale shimmer. 

"Stinky moss, stinky moss, where's the root's shadow? Ah, found you, sneaky moss!" He gingerly plucked the silvery strands, his expression a mix of triumph and relief.

Finally, the last herb on the list was the "Stingleaf Herb," which was infamous for its ability to numb pain. However, Hermit's clumsiness struck again as he inadvertently brushed against the herb's stinging leaves. Yelping in pain, he mumbled through gritted teeth, "Stingy plant... hurts goblin. But good for medicine, yes."

As Hermit gathered his loot of herbs, he stumbled back to the campsite, his arms laden with a mishmash of flora. His pitiful mumbles continued, "Make medicine, rub on hurts. Hermit be strong, not hurt anymore. Yes, yes," he chanted, his voice carrying the innocence of a child goblin.