Chapter 203 Forgiveness And Understanding

 "Master Helen," he began, "I will not stoop to violence, never! I will not raise my hand! I will not. Will not! Violence is never the answer. We should all strive to be better, kinder beings. Violence brings only more violence and pain!"

Suzuka watched Hermit closely with a stern expression waiting to see what he would say next. Hermit, well aware of the severity of his master's earlier advice, swallowed hard before continuing.

He cleared his throat and continued, his voice barely louder than a whisper, "It is true, this man has wronged me in many ways. But I... I wish to show a different path, a path of understanding and forgiveness. I believe that violence only breeds more violence, and I refuse to join this cycle of cruelty. I will not seek revenge. I will not!"

"Master," Hermit resumed, his tone wavering as he addressed the man who had tormented him, "M-master, whose name I do not know. I... I forgive you," he stammered, his tiny green hands quivering.

 "I understand that you were only... trying to have fun in your way, and... and, well, I'm a forgiving goblin, you see. Yes, I am!"

 "I know you hurt Hermit very, very much, but you see Master, I've come to realize something. In this world, where there are those who crush the weak underfoot and find joy in the suffering of others, there must also be those who offer a hand in forgiveness."

The man, still recovering from Suzuka's punch and struggling to breathe, looked at Hermit with a mix of disbelief and astonishment at the goblin's sincerity.

 Hermit continued, his words now gaining an air of forgiveness.

"I understand that you, Master, were simply misguided in your actions. Perhaps you had a tough childhood, or maybe you had a bad day, or perhaps you're just a bit... challenged. But fear not, for I, Hermit, am here to extend the hand of forgiveness. Let us cast away our past grudges and embark on a journey of inner healing together. Forgive yourself, Master, and remember that Hermit will always be here, ready to forgive your misdeeds."

Tears welled up in Hermit's eyes as he continued his emotional speech, "I've seen darkness, but I choose to walk in the light. Let us all find it in our hearts to forgive, to give people a second chance, even when they don't deserve it. Master, I've always dreamt of a world where goblins like me and townfolks can coexist in friendship and love. A world where we can share our joy, stories, laughter, and fun without fear or hate."

He looked at the man who had caused him pain and, with a compassionate tone, said, "Even you, sir, can change. We goblins may be different, but in our hearts, we share the same desires for happiness, peace, and love."

Hermit extended his arm toward the man and said, "Let's strive to build a realm where goblins and townfolks can come together, hand in hand, to create a better future, free from hatred and fear. Live in peace and harmony, in a world where we could walk holding hands and laugh all together." 

Hermit paused for a second, extending his scrawny arm closer toward the man, and asked, "What do you say, Master? Friends?"

The man looked at the goblin, his eyes wide in surprise and bafflement, hearing the goblin speak like some preacher. He blinked a few times and said, "You really are a special kind of stupid, aren't you? Or did I really bang you that hard so that you got your nut-sized brains even more dimwitted? In any case, the moment I get my hands on your round butt, Gobbie-chan, I will pound it even harder than the last time. You will scream what a 'good little boy' you are until I'm done with you. Just like the last time."

Suzuka's irritation grew as Hermit's speech took a turn toward hope and unity. She muttered under her breath, "I am not gonna lie, Goblin Fucker, listening to the goblin preach made even me gag in my mouth a little."

She mockingly tapped Hermit's bald head, ridiculing him, "That was some emotional speech you gave! You should be called Preacher Hermit! Hahaha! Or should I address you as a Father Hermit from now on? Hmm? Or better yet, Saint Hermit! Hahhahha! Oh! Father Hermit, listen to my confession and forgive my sins! Buahahaha!"

Hermit froze in place, his honest feelings did not reach the man at all, instead, he was mercilessly ridiculed for it. He stammered, his one eye nervously twitching as he said, "D... did... did you? Did you... hear... what I said? I... I forgive... you."

The man's response was far from what Hermit had expected. He chuckled, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Forgive me, eh? What's this, a goblin turning into a saint? Oh, woe me! How touching. Listen! I'll let you in on a little secret, Gobbie-chan. I don't need your forgiveness, nor do I care about your preachy words. You're just a tiny, insignificant goblin whose ass I will destroy and then move on to another goblin just like you. Your goblin slave kind is so fun to destroy, you little green freaks are so submissive, I just can't get enough of you. But be not mistaken, Gobbie-chan. I do not touch real goblins, they are no fun. I only enjoy your kind."

With a wicked grin, the man continued, "Your forgiveness won't change a thing, little goblin. I'll keep treating you and your kind just the way I like. So go on, keep dreaming of your utopian world where goblins and townfolks hold hands and sing along. It won't ever happen. You will always be someone's little bitch, just a pet for someone to have fun with."

Suzuka urged the man, "Yeah! Tell this idiot. Maybe he will finally understand that there is no room for such nonsense he was just sputtering about. I keep on telling him to man up for god sake but he just keeps spitting this preaching nonsense about nose boops and cuddles. For god sake, man! I mean, you're a goblin, who in their right mind would ever touch such a disgusting freak? Or be friends with?" 

Listening to the cruel words of the man who had hurt him and being continuously mocked, something deep within Hermit snapped. A noise of cruel laughter echoed in his mind, his eye twitched uncontrollably, and his head throbbed with a rising fury. The goblin clenched his jagged teeth and slowly curled up his minuscule fingers into a tiny green fist, his minuscule frame trembling with a new sensation he thought he never had - rage.

With a sudden, hurtful screech, Hermit lunged at the man, his tiny fist winding up widely as he aimed a ferocious swing at his tormentor's face. His sloshing, full of beer belly comically rattled and bounced around as he closed in on the man. The goblin's scrawny arm extended with unexpected strength, his fury driving him to strike back at the one who had caused him so much pain and humiliation.

But as his fist was about to connect with the man's face, Hermit felt a sharp, burning pain in his cheek. His vision blurred, his world spun, and the ground seemed to slip away from under his feet. Hermit flopped onto the ground several meters away from the man, his vision fading into darkness. Before he lost consciousness, he could hear the last words of his master Helen, "Ah-ha! You shouldn't have done that, Goblin Fucker." Hermit's vision blurred and turned to darkness.

Some time passed and Hermit stirred, his sensitive sniffer twitching from the vile stench that surrounded him. His eyes fluttered open. He winced as the vile urine stench registered in his mind, "Ughh! Stinky-stink! Stinky burn my sniffer! Yucky! Stinky goblin piss!"

Hermit was still baffled as he licked the vile liquid he was in, wriggling on the ground, and realized he was lying in a massive puddle of his own piss. As he was knocked out, all the beer he had consumed, left his body.

The goblin gagged, sputtering, "Blueeeegh! Goblin piss! Gueeegh! Why does Hermit sleep in goblin piss!? Yucky! Yucky!"

Looking around, he saw Suzuka and the man. Hermit jolted and tried to crawl backward, but after a closer look, he saw that the man was dirty, beaten up, and holding his side while limping in pain.

Hermit's vision was still somewhat blurry, but he could make out the general state of his tormentor. The man was a pitiful sight now, cradling his injured side and struggling to stand up.

Hermit shakily got to his feet, wobbling as he moved closer, his drunkenness had faded, and his cheek stung from the pain delivered by the smack from earlier. He gazed at the man, his expression a mixture of confusion and fear.

 "W-what happened to GoblinFucker?" Hermit mumbled, his words slightly slurred. 

"Hermit... Hermit didn't do that... did he?"

Suzuka stepped forward, a hint of pride in her voice as she replied, "No, Hermit, you didn't. I did. But at least you tried."

The man, now seated on the damp ground, groaned in pain and glared at Hermit.

 "You... are one lucky goblin," he wheezed, "I won't bother you again, I will find some other gobbie-chan to have fun with. I will not mess with you anymore." 

He then turned to Suzuka and said, "My fault for touching someone else's slave. I will not hold a grudge or seek revenge. I am sorry for touching your slave."

With that said, he got up and walked back inside the inn. 

Hermit scuttled close to Suzuka and gasped, "No, Master! He will hurt other innocent gobbies like me! You have to stop him! Please! I do not want my fellow gobbies to suffer, endure such horrors as I did! You must! You have to... you have to stop him! Their little sweet butts will not survive!"

Suzuka looked at the goblin and said, "Shut up. Before you worry about others, worry about yourself, and at least clean that stinking piss, you reek. You stink from miles away."

Hermit tried to argue, stammering, "Master! Please, have mercy on innocent gobbies! Help them! Stop this man! They did nothing wrong! They are good gobbies, friendly, cheerful, loving and-"

But Suzuka did not care. She grabbed the goblin by the neck and dunked him into the rainwater collected in the barrels, submerging him in ice-cold water and leaving the goblin sputtering and shivering. She rinsed him a few times like a dirty rag. The cold water sobered Hermit right away, washing away any lingering drunkenness like it was blown away in the wind. 

Gasping, Hermit pleaded, "M-Master, I b-beg of you, pl-please don't abandon my fellow gobbies. Th-they are innocent, they n-need love and care, not m-mistreatment. I-I'll do whatever it takes t-to help them, just don't l-leave them to th-the horrors of that man."

Suzuka, unfazed by his words, finally pulled him out of the barrel. With Hermit in her hand, she walked back to the inn, she glanced through the inn's window, spotting Jacob and David sleeping soundly at the table, completely passed out. With a sigh, she muttered to herself, "Pathetic bunch."

She looked down at Hermit, his green skin now pale from the cold water, and said, "Oh well, we're going to my place, Hermit. David's out cold and in no condition to look after you till Larry picks you up. It looks like you're staying with me."

Hermit, his chattering teeth and dripping wet, let out a half-protest, half-whimper as he tried to argue, but his words were barely intelligible due to the shivering, "M-Master, pl-please... my f-fellow gobbies... th-they need you."

Suzuka paid no heed to his pleas, carrying the drenched goblin back to her place.