Chapter 147 Sink Bath

As Hermit shrugged and surrendered to the refreshing embrace of the cold water, Suzuka turned on the faucet, allowing the icy stream to flow down upon Hermit's head. The goblin, filled with childlike delight, began to vigorously scrub his head and body, resembling a little duck joyfully frolicking in a puddle.

 Though he found himself in a humble sink, to Hermit, it felt as though he were immersed in the vast expanse of the mighty ocean. This was an entirely novel experience for him, a sensation he had never before encountered.

"Ooooh! Master! Hermit like's the bath, so nice! This is the first time Hermit can enjoy a real bath, oooweeee! So nice, thank you, Master."

"Yeah, yeah! Get that filth off you, you stink!"

In a moment of sheer relief, Hermit leaned his head back, tilting it to such an extreme angle that it appeared as if his jaw had dislocated and taken flight. With the water forcefully pouring into his open mouth, a noise of repulsive sounds erupted from deep within him. The goblin made a symphony of retching, gurgling, and guttural noises as he sought to cleanse his palate from the unpleasant taste that had plagued him. His prodigiously long tongue slithered inside his agape mouth, resembling a serpent reigning over the watery depths of the sea.

The sink's basin filled steadily with icy cold water, shimmering under the light. Hermit, seeking peace from his agony, leaned back with a cautious sigh, carefully submerging his grotesquely swollen ears beneath the surface. As the cool liquid enveloped his ears, a wave of relief washed over him, momentarily transporting him away from the relentless torment that plagued him.

His ears, delicate and hypersensitive, had become the epicenter of his suffering. The throbbing ache and searing heat that emanated from them were beyond comprehension. Every twinge, every subtle movement sent electrifying jolts reverberating through his entire being, rendering him temporarily paralyzed in anguish. The simplest touch, even the brush of a gentle breeze, inflicted excruciating agony upon him, amplifying his misery to unimaginable heights.

But now, as the cold water enveloped his swollen ears, it was as if a balm of ease had been bestowed upon him. The icy temperature created an immediate numbing effect, easing the unbearable pain and soothing the fiery sensation that had tormented him relentlessly. Hermit closed his eyes, allowing the icy embrace to brush every crevice, every intricate fold of his tortured ears.

He lay sprawled in the sink, resembling a massive disgusting frog relaxing in an extravagant bathtub. The water enveloped him, rendering his legs and hands drenched and soggy, while his misshapen ears remained submerged, allowing the cold liquid to envelop his senses.

 With his soggy legs and hands dangling over the edges of the sink, he embraced the peculiar pleasure of the moment. Hermit was in a state of unimaginable delight as the icy water tingled his skin.

Huffing and puffing with uncontainable joy, Hermit reveled in the simple pleasure. The sensation of the water lapping against his greenish-gray skin brought him a sensation of bliss he had never experienced before. Each droplet seemed to caress his warts and blemishes, creating a soothing symphony that transported him to a realm of pure euphoria.

Observing the goblin's ecstatic display, Suzuka couldn't help but smile. "I see you're having quite the time in there," she remarked with a hint of amusement in her voice. "I'll leave you to it. Take as much time as you need. Here, I'll leave a towel nearby so you can dry yourself off when you're finished."

 Even though his ears were submerged in the watery cocoon, he managed to understand Suzuka's kind gesture. A gurgling sound of delight escaped his throat, distorted by the water that surrounded him. "Y-yes, Master," he managed to gargle, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you."

With that, Suzuka walked out of the restroom, allowing Hermit to bask in the tranquility of his sink oasis. The goblin's eyes sparkled with pleasure as he stretched his tiny arms, relishing the water's cool embrace. Time seemed to dissolve as he surrendered himself to this newfound delight, cherishing every moment as if it were an irreplaceable treasure.

As the minutes melted away, Hermit's giddy amusement persisted, his mind drifting to whimsical fantasies and silly musings. The water, once clear and pristine, now carried traces of his filth, swirling with the remnants of his dirt as he playful splashes. Hermit closed his eyes and relaxed. 

Suddenly, a malevolent force seized him, its icy grip sending shivers down his spine. His face was forcefully pushed beneath the surface of the water. Panic surged through his veins as his lungs pleaded for air, but the unyielding hand showed no mercy.

His ear, subjected to the firm grasp of another hand, was cruelly pulled out of the suffocating water. Through the muffled noise of his surroundings, a familiar voice emerged - a voice belonging to David. His voice only intensified Hermit's struggle, as his scrawny limbs thrashed about desperately in an attempt to break free from the unyielding grip that held him captive. But his efforts were in vain, for the unrelenting hand mercilessly submerged him further into the sink. Hermit tried to scream for help but water only filled his lungs. 

The world around him became a distorted blur, his senses dulled by the enveloping water. Panic welled up within him, mingling with the lingering hope that someone would come to his aid. But at that moment, he heard a whisper, "You damn goblin, what are you doing swimming in the sink? I told you what to do! You better go and do it or I will drown you in this very sink. Or maybe I should remind you of the punishment your ears received," David griped harshly Hermit's swollen ear and twisted it with the intent to rip it off.

The goblin twisted and jolted, his arms and legs squirmed like frenzied snakes. David whipped the corner of the sink couple of times with Hermit's appendage and continued to whisper in his ear, "As I told you, I will find you and I will punish you no matter where you hide or no matter who is protecting you!"

He then placed Hermit's ear on the edge of the sink and mercilessly started to punch it while whispering, "I will torment you unless you do as you are told. So when I leave the bathroom you better come out and do what I told you to do. And not a word to anyone about me!"

As Hermit's consciousness waned, his feeble limbs lost their strength, hanging limply as if devoid of life. His body slouched, numbed by the ordeal it had endured. In the midst of this frailty, David plucked him from the water. 

He looked at the lifeless limp body of the goblin and with a resounding backhand slap across the face, David jolted the goblin back to consciousness, Hermit shook startled and disoriented. However, David's aid was short-lived, for he callously tossed him back into the sink and sauntered out of the bathroom, leaving him to fend for himself.

Gasping for breath, the goblin began to cough out the water he had unwillingly inhaled during his near-drowning. The minutes ticked by slowly as he struggled to regain his composure. Seeking relief for his throbbing ear, he submerged it in the water, hoping for comfort. He waited patiently for respite, the pain echoing through his weary being.

Finally, after his ear got a little better, Hermit knew it was time to emerge from his watery haven. He delicately pulled his hands and legs from the sink's edges, water dripping from his glistening green skin. He spotted the small towel Suzuka had left for him nearby, a beacon of warmth and comfort.

Hermit clambered out of the sink, water cascading down his body in a miniature waterfall. He reached for the towel, droplets of water dripping from Hermit's aging body. He emerged from the sink, his scrawny frame glistening as a retail watery skin.

Slowly, he reached for the small towel, delicately grasping its soft fabric between his tiny, scrawny hands. His fingers trembled with fear, aware of the task that awaited them. With utmost care, Hermit guided the towel toward his ears, the very essence of vulnerability. The injured, swollen lobes demanded tenderness, as they stretched outward, seemingly as large as his head itself. His touch, akin to the brush of a feather, embarked on a journey from the delicate tip of his ear, tracing a path along the intricate contours, and finally reaching the crown of his head.

With the utmost care, Hermit delicately cradled his tiny, scrawny hands upon his swollen, aching ears. His fingertips, like whispers upon a breeze, graced the contours of his tender skin. The touch was slow, deliberate as if he was coaxing away any lingering discomfort, one stroke at a time. 

In the quiet sanctuary of his cupped hands, Hermit gently cradled his hurt ears, seeking solace and comfort within his own touch. With a tender embrace, he whispered seeking to mend the wounds that lingered within. With each stroke, he whispered silent words of solace and healing, his touch a soothing balm to his hurt and weary ears.

"Be still, dear ears. It will be alright, my precious, lovely ears. You will get better, hang in there. It will be alright. Rest now, my cherished, little ears." 

His fingers traced delicate patterns over the surface of his ears, a delicate dance of reassurance and love.

 "You have endured much, dear companions, but know that you are not alone. Together, we shall mend and heal, finding comfort."

The slow, deliberate strokes were an intricate dance between pain and ease. Hermit's fingertips danced upon the surface of his sensitive ears, their long and graceful curves mirroring the elongated beauty of a rare flower. As the towel caressed the damp skin, a hushed sigh escaped his lips, betraying the pain that coursed through his weary body.

"Ouchiee, my poor ears, my beloved treasures. Ouwiee!"

With a towel in hand, he meticulously wiped away any speck of dirt or imperfection from his delicate auditory organs. As the final strokes of his cleaning ritual concluded, the goblin leaped off the sink, his agile form landing with a slap on the ground as his twisted ankle shifted his balance and he crashed on his side. 

Curling up into a tiny, ball-like shape, the goblin pulled his knees tightly to his chest, protecting his precious cargo: his ears. With the tender touch of his raccoon-like hands, he gently guided his majestic, elongated ears into view. Placing them delicately upon his hunched-together knees, the goblin embarked upon an intimate inspection, his hands gliding with care across the intricate curves and contours of his magnificent auricles.

In the realm of goblins, the beauty of these creatures was measured by the grandeur of their ears. The larger, meatier, and more alluring the ears, the greater the goblin's allure in the eyes of their kin. It was a world where the value of a goblin's identity rested solely upon the splendor of their auditory adornments.

However, the ear that David had destroyed previously, regrew leaving a lingering scar and discoloration upon one of his prized ears. Determined to preserve the magnificence of his sole remaining unblemished auricle, Hermit vowed to shield it from harm, treating it as the most valuable treasure he possessed.

 The weight of this responsibility hung heavy upon the goblin's slender shoulders as he continued his careful inspection, ensuring that his ear, his symbol of beauty and individuality, remained untarnished. 

He embraced his good ear with his tiny arms and while holding it tenderly he said, "Oh! Hermit's treasure, look what that monster did to you. He took one of my beloved ears already, now he hurt my one and only beautiful ear. What a monster, even goblins themself didn't punish the ears. Our sacred treasures, my poor, poor treasure." Hermit's eyes watered with the thought of losing the remaining beautiful ear.

After mustering resolve he stood up and reached for his tunic but it was still wet so he took the small towel and wrapped it around his waist like a makeshift skirt. The fabric absorbed the excess moisture, leaving behind a trail of damp footprints as he ventured back into the guild's main hall.

Hermit emerged from the restroom, his fragile frame wrapped in a worn, tattered towel. With each step, his weathered feet kissed the cool tiles beneath him, leaving behind moist imprints.