Chapter 161 Seeking Warmth

With a victorious huff, Hermit finally ascended the chair, his tiny form teetering precariously as he fought to maintain his balance. At long last, he conquered the insurmountable obstacle and claimed his rightful place beside the plate. Lowering it gently to the ground, he nestled himself beneath the table, his senses overwhelmed by the anticipation of the flavors that awaited him.

As he peered down at the culinary masterpiece before him, his heart soared with delight. Two tantalizing submarine sandwiches beckoned with their layers of succulent pork ham, crisp vegetables, and a delicious-looking sauce. The glasses of freshly squeezed clementine juice shimmered like liquid gold, offering a refreshing respite from the feast that awaited him.

Though to people it may have appeared as a simple meal, to Hermit, it was a regal banquet fit for a king. The very essence of these flavors, the mingling aromas that tickled his senses, transported him to a realm of culinary bliss he had never even dared to dream of.

As Hermit reached for the sandwich his hands uncontrollably trembled from nervousness. Taking the sandwich into his eager hands, Hermit relished in the soft, yielding texture of the bread, its tender crumb caving to his touch. As he took a greedy bite, the flavors exploded upon his tongue, a symphony of taste that enveloped his entire being. With each loud and unabashed chomp, his lips smacking in delight, Hermit reveled in the gastronomic ecstasy that flooded his senses.

"Eeeeeargh! Oh, oh, oh!" Hermit moaned with unrestrained pleasure, his eyes widening with delight as he screamed.

 "Mmmmm! The bread is so squishy and yummy! Gobly goodness in every bite! Eugh, eugh, eugh! Mmm! The flavors are dancing in my mouth like a wild goblin festival! Oooh, ah, ah, ah! So tasty, so divine! Gobly, gobly glee!"

The greed overwhelmed him in a moment of indulgence. He abandoned all restraint, his primal desires taking hold as he seized the remaining portion of the sandwich. With reckless abandon, he thrust it into his gaping mouth, relishing the tantalizing flavors that danced upon his tongue. Undeterred by the impending danger, Hermit's desperation knew no bounds. Gripping the end of the sandwich, he shoved his arm into his mouth, inch by inch, until his elbow disappeared within the depths of his gaping maw. But the sandwich stubbornly lodged within his throat, defying his efforts to push it down and swallow it.

"G-gurgle! Grghh! M-Master! H-help! Ughh! This is d-disastrous! Glurp! Glargh! I-I can't b-breathe! Hurk! The sandwich is d-deadly! Glop! Grrrr... I-I can't believe I w-went too far! Blech! Gurgle! Glorp! It was so delicious, but n-now it's betraying me! Glack! Gargh! Help me, M-master! Mrrgggh!" Hermit gasped, his voice choked and distorted as he gagged on the sandwich lodged in his throat. 

"Mmmmph! Brrrbleeeghh...!" He desperately tried to speak, but his words were reduced to unintelligible gurgles, his vocal cords straining against the obstruction.

Each attempt to utter words was interrupted by violent coughs and gagging, as the sandwich stubbornly lodged itself in his constricted throat. He clawed at his neck, trying to dislodge the choking impediment, but the more he struggled, the tighter its grasp became.

"Graaaarrrghhh! Master, hurry! Hurry! Help, it's stuck!" he croaked, his voice strained and raspy.

The morsels of deliciousness became an obstruction, causing panic to surge through his body. The sheer size and density of the sandwich left him gasping for air, its presence a torment to his desperate need to breathe.

 "Urrrgghhh! Gagghhh! I-I can't breathe!" he sputtered, his breaths becoming shallow and labored.

Hermit's eyes widened in a mixture of terror and regret as he grasped at his constricted throat. He coughed and gagged, the sandwich lodged firmly in his windpipe, leaving him gasping for even the tiniest breath of air.

 "Warghh! Gluggh! It's gonna kill me!" he wailed, his voice gurgling with the sandwich lodged in his windpipe.

In his frantic struggle, Hermit's face turned blue, veins pulsating against his skin as he fought against the sandwich's unwavering grip. His weakened attempts to dislodge it only worsened the situation, intensifying his agony.

"Master! Gurrghhh! Gagghhh! Help! M-Me!" he gurgled, his eyes brimming with tears.

As he writhed and wrestled against the obstruction in his throat, Hermit's mind raced with regret. How he longed for a chance to turn back time and savor the sandwich with patience and moderation. But he was left to confront the consequences of his own gluttonous folly.

Desperate for relief, he frantically searched for a solution. He recalled the hidden treasures beneath Suzuka's bed - her secret stash of toys. Hastily, he scurried towards them, his tiny hands fumbling with fervor, searching for a peculiar shape that could serve his urgent purpose. Finally, he found it, a toy resembling a twisted serpent.

With a sense of urgency, he selected a toy, wielding it as a makeshift pole to push down the food. Plunging the toy down his throat, he used it to push against the lodged sandwich.

"Ughh... ghhk... Come on... c-come on, you delicious morsel... I need... grheeeh... need to get you out..." Hermit gagged, his words knitted with choking sounds as he wielded the serpent toy like a demented surgeon preparing for a gruesome operation.

With beads of sweat forming on his furrowed brow, he inched the twisted toy closer to the lodged sandwich. 

"Almost there... just a little... gghhh... gentle push... ueghh... and you'll be gone," he muttered between violent gags.

Hermit pushed the toy further down his throat, attempting to dislodge the stubborn sandwich.

 "Hrrghh... c'mon, surrender... y-you're no match... uehhh... for me!" he growled, a strange flickering in his beady eyes.

The sandwich seemed to resist, mocking his efforts with every relentless gag. 

"Grrrr... I'm... I'm not giving up... gghheh... I'll... uehhh... I'll conquer you yet!" he snarled defiantly, the serpent-toy inching deeper into the dark recesses of his throat.

Hermit's body writhed in a grotesque symphony of agony and resolve, each gag and convulsion pushing him closer to victory.

 "Urrgh... just... just a bit more... gghh... just a little... ueghh... uegh... got you... g-got you!"

Finally, with a triumphant roar of victory, the sandwich surrendered to Hermit's unyielding will.

 "Hah... hah... g-got it... uhuf... ugeh... won't... won't defeat me..." he wheezed, his chest heaving with exertion.

He let out a guttural sigh of relief, his wild eyes wide with fright.

 "N-never... underestimate a... gghh... a goblin's will... we endure... ugghhe... ghough... endure the worst..." Hermit said as he gulped it down with a loud swallow.

Hermit looked at the toy, his eyes wide with newfound understanding.

"Ahh! So that's how you use this thing, to push down food! So clever! Master's toy saved Hermit's life!" Hermit shouted, a mix of gratitude and awe in his voice.

After surviving the ordeal, Hermit decided to savor his meal more cautiously. He savored the second sandwich at a leisurely pace, relishing each bite. And when he thought the culinary ecstasy couldn't be elevated any further, Hermit reached for the clementine juice, its vibrant hue beckoning him with promises of sweet nectar.

"Oh, glorious juice!" Hermit yelled with unbridled glee, his eyes widening in delight as he clutched the glass in his tiny hands. 

"You shine like the radiant sun, beckoning Hermit to partake in your sweetness!"

As the liquid caressed his lips, an explosion of refreshing citrus notes burst upon his tongue, intertwining with the remnants of the sandwich's lingering flavors. The combination was a symphony of taste, a symphony that resonated deep within his very soul.

"By the twisted roots of the wailing forest! This...this is divine!" Hermit yelled in a high-pitched, guttural voice with glee. 

"I-I've never tasted such liquid delight in all my years!"

Overwhelmed by the sheer magnificence of the flavors that engulfed his senses, Hermit's senses soared to dizzying heights. The taste, so heavenly and exquisite, threatened to render him senseless as if he were floating on a cloud of pure bliss. Even the purest honey he had ever discovered in the depths of the forest paled in comparison to this unparalleled gustatory revelation.

Lost in his blissful daze, Hermit couldn't resist making silly slurping sounds, each gulps a joyful symphony to his ears.

 "Slurpity-slip! Slurpity-slop!" he chanted playfully, his eyes twinkling with pure delight.

But even consumed by the heavenly bliss of the food he couldn't escape the cold biting his skin. With his teeth chattering and his body shivering, Hermit couldn't escape the relentless grip of the cold that seemed to penetrate his very bones.

 "Brrrr! So cold! Master Helen's room is like the lair of a frosty demon!" he squeaked in his squeaky goblin voice, his ears twitching with each frigid gust.

As he crawled from under the desk, Hermit's beady eyes darted around the room, searching for anything that could provide some warmth or comfort.

 "Hmm... Hermit must find something to keep warm. No snooping in Master's things, or she'll squish me like a bug!" he mumbled to himself, his voice barely audible in the chilly air.

With caution, he examined the scattered items on the floor, tiny hands reaching out to inspect each one. 

"Oh, what's this? A crumpled piece of paper? Maybe I can make a blanket out of it!" he chattered excitedly, though the thought of a paper blanket seemed more absurd than comforting.

"Sniff, sniff! What is this? Smells nice... Oh, the treasures, the treasures!" Hermit's eyes widened with glee as he spotted the laundry basket. 

"Master Helen's laundry! Precious finds await!" he squealed with excitement, his tiny hands rubbing together in anticipation.

"Shhh... Hermit, be quiet," he muttered to himself, knowing that any noise might alert Suzuka to his mischief. 

"Mustn't wake the master, mustn't make a mess," he chattered nervously, his heart racing with the thrill of the forbidden.

Gently, Hermit lifted the lid of the laundry basket, peeking inside like a curious little thief.

 "What do we have here? Soft, fluffy fabrics! So many smells!" he giggled, inhaling deeply as his sensitive goblin nose detected a medley of scents.

A different kind of pleasant aroma wafted from within, tantalizing his senses. Quietly, he tumbled the basket, its contents spilling onto the floor, revealing a collection of Suzuka's unwashed clothes. Hermit's eyes glistened with delight as he seized each intricate garment, one by one, pressing them against his nose and inhaling deeply. The unwashed clothes emitted a unique scent that enchanted him, he enjoyed the bliss of their tasty aroma.

Taking his time, he carefully draped the unwashed clothes over his shivering form, hoping that they would provide some insulation against the cold. However, their slight dampness offered little in terms of warmth, leaving him disappointed and yearning for a better solution.

"Ughh... these clothes are so moist and chilly," grumbled Hermit, shivering as he clumsily draped the unwashed garments over his tiny, trembling frame. 

"It's like wearing soggy, icy rags! No warmth here at all!"

 He returned the remaining clothes to the laundry basket, ensuring it was placed back in its original position, and continued his search, hoping to find a source of warmth within the room. 

"These clothes smell nice but provide no warmth to Hermit. Need to keep looking before cold claims Hermit's life."

His eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any overlooked possibilities. As he scuttled about, Hermit's keen eyes darted across the room, searching for a glimmer of hope amidst the chilly atmosphere. The frigid air hung heavy around him, causing his goblin form to shiver involuntarily. 

"Oh, no warmies! Hermit needs warmies, so coldies!" Hermit grumbled to himself, rubbing his tiny hands together in a futile attempt to generate some heat.

 "Stupid clothes, why no warmth? Hermit needs snuggly clothes!"

 Hermit, with his ears flapping like tattered flags in the wind, scurried around the room, his tiny feet pitter-pattering on the ground like a troupe of tap-dancing bugs.

He navigated past towering furniture, ducking under tables and squeezing through narrow gaps. His hands traced the walls, seeking out hidden passages or secret compartments that might house the comforting embrace. Every corner held the potential to unveil a treasure trove of warmth, and he was determined not to let a single nook go unexplored.

Hermit's gaze fell upon a small crack in the wall, a sliver of hope amidst the frigid atmosphere of the living room. 

"Oh, shiny crack! Hermit loves you!" he squealed with delight, his voice resembling the high-pitched squeak of a curious mouse.

With renewed resolve, he scurried towards the crevice, his small frame expertly navigating the space with an agility born from years of eluding danger.

As he reached the crack, Hermit hesitated for a moment, his beady eyes assessing its potential as a sanctuary from the biting cold. 

"Oooh! A loose planky-plank, you look like a perfect hidey-hole!" Hermit squeaked excitedly, his beady eyes sparkling with delight. 

"Come to Hermit, my precious little sanctuary!"