Chapter 392 Going on Adventure to Save Kaka

To them, she was the mountain crusher, the protector of the weak, the closest thing to a deity they had ever seen. And now, as they watched her put up with Hermit’s tantrum, their faith in her only grew. In the breeding farms, such behavior would have ended in a swift and brutal death penalty. But here? Suzuka didn’t even raise her voice. She just sighed, dragging Hermit behind her like a stubborn child clinging to their parent’s leg.

The goblins began to whisper among themselves, their voices filled with awe and admiration.

“Did you see that? She’s not even mad!” one goblin murmured, his eyes wide with wonder.

“She’s so patient... like a true goddess,” another added, clutching his hands to his chest.

“Hermit’s so brave... or maybe just crazy,” a third whispered, shaking his head in disbelief.

As the commotion grew, more goblins started to crowd nearby, their curiosity piqued. They watched with bated breath as Hermit, still clutching Suzuka’s ankle, looked up at her with tear-filled eyes and shouted, “Master, you said you would do me one favor—anything I want! You promised! And a promise is not to be broken! Please, Master, I ask you, do me this favor—help me rescue Kaka! This is all I ask, please!”

The crowd gasped, their whispers turning into a low murmur of shock. A favor? Suzuka, the mountain crusher, the ruler of their town, the closest thing to a deity they had ever seen... owed a favor to a lowly goblin? It was unheard of. Unthinkable. To them, it was almost blasphemous. Goblins didn’t get favors—they were the ones who owed favors, if they were lucky enough to survive long enough to repay them.

The goblins clutched at their chests, their minds struggling to comprehend what they had just heard.

Suzuka sighed, rubbing her face with her hand.

 “Alright, Hermit. You win. I did promise you a favor, and I don’t break my promises. But let’s get one thing straight—this is it. If you really going to waste your one favor on some hallucination you had from hitting your head, there will be no second thoughts. So, I will ask you again, are you sure?”

Hermit’s grip tightened, his voice trembling but determined.

 “I know, Master. But this means everything to me. I want this, I'm sure.”

Suzuka sighed, crossing her arms as she looked down at Hermit, who was still clinging to her leg like a barnacle. 

“Alright, you just wasted your favor. I was ready to grant you anything and I mean anything you ask but hey, it’s your decision. I’ll accompany you on this wild journey of yours until you’re satisfied. I am a woman of my word.”

Hermit’s face lit up like the sun breaking through a storm. He scrambled to his feet, his joy overflowing as he threw his arms around Suzuka’s soft thigh in a tight hug. Before she could react, he began peppering her leg with small, frantic kisses, his voice trembling with gratitude.

 “Thank you, Master! Thank you, thank you, thank you! From the bottom of my heart, I—”

“Okay, that’s enough! You're getting awfully comfortable down there!” Suzuka interrupted, prying him off with a grimace.

 “I don’t need your slobber all over my skin. Save the theatrics for when we actually find this Kaka of yours.”

She turned to the crowd of goblins, who were still ogling the scene with wide eyes and open mouths. 

“Hey! Less staring, more moving! Get back to work! Nothing to see here!” 

The goblins scattered like leaves in the wind, though a few lingered just out of sight, whispering excitedly to each other about what they had just witnessed. Suzuka rolled her eyes and turned back to Hermit, who was bouncing on his toes with barely contained energy.

“So, Your Royal Sadness, when do we go?”

“Master! We go now! No time to waste! Let’s go now!”

 “Are you sure about that? You know it’s going to be a long way, and we need to—”

“Master, there’s no time to chat!” Hermit cut her off, his voice rising to a near-shriek. 

“We need to move! Every moment counts! Please, we need to hurry!”

Suzuka held up her hands in surrender.

 “Okay, okay! But don't say I didn’t warn you. Don’t come crying to me when you’re exhausted and begging for a break.”

As they were talking, Jacob and Larry walked up.

 “What’s going on?” Jacob asked, glancing at the lingering goblins.

 “Why’s everyone crowding and making noise?”

Suzuka waved a hand dismissively.

 “It’s just Hermit’s usual nonsense. Apparently, he got some kind of message that his father—or whatever Kaka is to him—is being held in one of the breeding farms in the mountains. Now he’s dragging me on a wild goose chase to go rescue him.”

Jacob scratched his head, looking skeptical. 

“In the mountains? That’s weeks away. Are you sure about this?”

Suzuka shrugged.

 “I made a promise, and I’m not about to break it. Besides, it’s not like I can let him go alone. He’d probably trip and break his neck before he even made it out the front gates.”

Larry crossed his arms, a thoughtful expression on his face as he watched Hermit scamper toward the gates, still muttering about Kaka and the mountains. He turned to Suzuka, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“You know, what you’re doing for Hermit? It’s pretty great. Not just for him, but for all the goblins. Seeing you go out of your way to help one of their own—it’s going to boost their morale like nothing else. They already worship you, but this? This’ll make them believe you’re not just their protector, but someone who genuinely cares about them.”

He paused, glancing toward the lizardmen and cat people who were watching the scene from a distance, their sharp eyes taking in every detail.

 “And it’s not just the goblins who’ll notice. The lizardmen and cat people—they’re watching too. Seeing you keep your word, even to a ‘lowly’ goblin, is going to show them what kind of ruler you are. That you’re fair, that you care about everyone in this town, no matter their race or status. That’s the kind of thing that builds loyalty, Helen. Real loyalty.”

She turned to Larry.

 “Since when you became such a philosopher, Larry?”

“Hey, just because I like to keep things light doesn’t mean I don’t pay attention. You’re doing something big here, Helen. And helping Hermit? It’s going to pay off big.”

“Alright, Larry, listen up. While I’m gone, you’re in charge of this place. That means you’re responsible for keeping everything running smoothly—construction, patrols, supplies, the works. I'm counting on you and your team to make sure everything runs smoothly. Got it?”

Larry straightened up, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. 

“You can count on me. I’ll keep things in order.”

As Larry walked off to begin organizing the town, Suzuka turned to Jacob, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a low, almost inaudible whisper as she leaned in, her breath brushing against his ear.

“Jacob, while I’m gone, I need you to keep an eye on things. It's not that I don't trust Larry, it's just that he will not do what needs to be done if things get ugly. And if anyone makes trouble—anyone at all—I want you to make sure they disappear. Quietly. No fuss, no mess. I don’t need anyone who’s against us or holding a grudge stirring up problems while I’m away. Understood?”

Jacob’s jaw tightened, and he met her eyes without flinching. 

 “You have my word. No one will cause trouble while you’re gone. I won’t disappoint you this time, Helen. I’ll make sure nothing goes wrong while you’re away.”

Suzuka gave him a curt nod.

 “Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a mountain range to hike and a goblin to babysit.”

As she turned to leave, Hermit was already halfway to the gates, his tiny legs moving at an impressive speed. 

“Master, hurry! We’re wasting time!”

Suzuka sighed, “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming, you walking disaster.”

Suzuka stopped at the gates of the town, her sharp eyes narrowing as she watched Hermit sprinting ahead on his spindly legs, his oversized ears flapping like sails in the wind. She crossed her arms and called out, her voice cutting through the crisp morning air. 

“Wait up, you lousy goblin! Do you intend to walk all the way to the mountains? Just stop and listen for once!”

Hermit skidded to a halt, his momentum nearly sending him tumbling into the dirt. He turned to face her, his wide eyes filled with a mix of impatience and guilt. He whined and winced like a scolded puppy, his voice trembling as he spoke. 

“But Master, we need to hurry! Every moment counts! Kaka could be—”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it,” Suzuka interrupted, holding up a hand to silence him.

 “But running yourself ragged before we even leave the town isn’t going to help anyone. Now, stand still for a second and let me show you something.”

Hermit fidgeted nervously but obeyed, his twitchy fingers clutching at the hem of his tank top. Suzuka reached into her magic item storage and pulled out a compact machine. It was a magic-powered four-wheeler. The vehicle was small, just big enough for two grown people to ride, with sturdy wheels and runes etched into its frame that glowed faintly with magical energy.

“Ta-da! Look at this beauty. I got it cheap when I was in town. Perfect for navigating dense forests and rough terrain. This little thing will cut our trip by at least a few days. Maybe more, if you don’t slow us down.”

Hermit’s jaw dropped, his eyes widening to the size of saucers as he stared at the four-wheeler. He took a hesitant step forward, his hands trembling as he reached out to touch it, then pulled back as if afraid it might bite him.

 “M-Master... this is... this is incredible! It’s so beautiful!"