Chapter 377 Luminesia—a Town that will be a Sanctuary for all who Wish to Live in Peace

Suzuka took a steadying breath and fixed her gaze on Cat Boss.

"Our vision here is simple. As I was saying, I’m building Luminesia—a town that will be a sanctuary for all who wish to live in peace, regardless of race. I need allies to help guard the borders, trade, and keep things running smoothly. In return, you get a safe haven, proper shelter, and a community that respects you. No strings attached. If it doesn’t work out, you can always pack up and leave, but I’ve got a feeling you’ll want to stay once you see what we’re creating. Oh, and I promise that your people will be treated fairly and that your voices will be heard in the decisions that shape our future."

Suzuka folded her arms, tilting her head with a small grin.

"Now, I won’t sugarcoat it—I need capable hands to help keep things in order. Your tribe looks strong, disciplined, and honestly, I could use more folks like that. You’d get real homes, protection, and a place to settle down instead of wandering from one camp to another. So? What do you say? Feel like trading this nomadic life for something a little more… stable? Can we count on you to join us?"

Cat Boss leaned forward, placing his large paws on the table as his sharp eyes studied Suzuka carefully. His voice was steady, carrying the weight of a leader who had seen too much to believe in fairy tales.

"You speak of a dream come true, but words alone are not enough. If what you say is true, then yes, settling down would be what we want. In these past few months, we have been forced to move from place to place, never knowing when we will have to pack up and leave again. It wears on my people. They need stability, a place to call home."

He exhaled, his clawed fingers tapping against the wooden surface. 

"But I am not a fool. You offer us homes, security, a future, and in return, you ask us to join you. To trust you. That is not a decision I can make lightly."

His golden eyes locked onto hers, unblinking. 

"I need details. What exactly are you offering? What are your rules? And what will be expected of us in return? These are things that must be settled here and now, before I make a choice that affects my entire tribe."

Behind Suzuka, Hermit remained silent, though his small hands clenched onto her clothing. The tension in the tent was thick, but Cat Boss was not being hostile—just cautious. He had lost too much to place his people's fate in the hands of blind hope.

"Smart. I wouldn’t trust an offer like this right away either. Alright, let’s break it down."

She raised a finger.

 "First, land. You and your people will have a place in my town, no more packing up camp every few months. You’ll have proper homes—not just tents and makeshift shelters, but real buildings, sturdy and warm. Even the design will be up to you. You’ll be free to live as you please, so long as you follow the town’s rules. No theft, no pointless fights, and no causing trouble for your neighbors. Simple, right?"

She lifted a second finger.

 "Second, security. The town is growing, and I need people who can hold their own. Lizardmen are joining, goblins too—the freed ones, not the scummy ones—and I need strong warriors to help protect everyone. In return, you’ll get proper weapons and armor, not just whatever scraps picked from the ground. No more scavenging for gear, I’m talking real craftsmanship."

A third finger. 

"Third, trade. My town isn’t just for warriors—it’s going to be a center for trade, work, and prosperity. You and your people won’t just survive—you’ll thrive. Trade with the lizardmen, with humans, with whoever else decides to join. You’ll be able to grow, to make something better for yourselves instead of just running."

She lowered her hand and met Cat Boss’s gaze directly.

 "And lastly, if you join and decide it’s not for you, you can leave. No chains, no obligations, no tricks. You’ll be free to walk away. All I'm asking is to give it a shot. That’s my deal. So, what do you think? Sound fair?"

Cat Boss took a long, deep breath before shifting his gaze downward, locking eyes with the trembling goblin still clinging to Suzuka’s leg.

"Hermit, I know your kind of goblins. You are not warriors. You fear violence, you shrink from pain, even harsh words shake you. But one thing I know for certain—your kind cannot lie. At least, not to my face. You lack the cruelty for deception."

Hermit flinched, his grip on Suzuka’s thigh tightening. He wanted to disappear into the floor, to be anywhere but in this moment, caught between the past and the future.

"So, I ask you, Hermit," Cat Boss continued, his sharp feline eyes watching every twitch of the goblin’s face. 

"Is this human trustworthy? How has she treated your kin? Has she truly given your people the freedom she claims? Can we believe in the future she offers?"

The tent fell into heavy silence. Every cat-person present turned their attention to Hermit, their ears twitching, their tails stilling. Even Suzuka, normally so quick with a joke or a smirk, remained quiet, waiting for the goblin’s answer.

Hermit swallowed hard. His small hands trembled as he clenched them at his chest. He hesitated, not out of doubt, but because the weight of his words had never felt so heavy before. Finally, he took a shaky breath and spoke.

"Master… She—she is cruel with her words, and she scares me half to death all the time…" 

He paused, glancing up at Suzuka’s face, then back down. 

"But… she has never hurt us. She calls us weak, makes fun of us, yells at us… but she never abandoned us, never treated us like slaves. Not even one promise was broken. She let us be free. More than that… she gave us purpose."

His breath hitched, and he squeezed his eyes shut before continuing.

 "She could have ruled over us like tyrants do, but she didn’t. She could have used us, but she didn’t. She fought for us. Protected us. Stood up for us, even when she didn’t have to. She…"

 He hesitated, then forced the words out. 

"She is the only person outside our kind who saw us as something more than dirt or vermin."

Hermit wiped his eyes quickly, trying to hide the tears before anyone could see them. Then, he looked up at Cat Boss, his voice steadier now.

 “M-Master… She is… she is unlike any human I’ve ever seen. Or any other being, really. She doesn’t just talk about helping us—she does it. She fought for us, freed many fellow goblins from the breeding farms, gave us food, shelter… a home.”

Hermit swallowed hard, forcing himself to look directly into Cat Boss’s piercing golden eyes. 

“I don’t know much about ruling, or towns, or politics… but I do know this: If Master gives her word, she will keep it.” 

He hesitated, then added with certainty, “You can trust her.”

Cat Boss studied Hermit for a long moment, then, slowly, he leaned back, his sharp claws drumming lightly against the table. His tail flicked once, thoughtful.

“I see,” he murmured.

 “For a goblin of your kind to speak with such conviction… that alone tells me much.”

Slowly, he crossed his arms over his broad chest, his claws lightly tapping against his biceps in thought.

"It seems the goblin is very keen on you. And I have no reason to doubt his words. His kind do not possess the cruelty required to deceive. If he says you have treated them well, then it must be true."

He took a step forward, his heavy presence filling the tent. 

"We are well aware of your feat—how you destroyed that accursed mountain, the root of so much suffering. We have known its evil for years, watched it spew monsters into our lands, devouring everything in their path. And yet, it was a single human who finally brought it down. That alone is proof of your strength."

His feline ears twitched as he continued. 

"Someone of such status, such power, could indeed provide my people with the protection they so desperately need. For too long, we have been hunted—not just by beasts, but by mercenaries and slavers who see us as little more than prizes to be sold to the highest bidder." 

"And yet, you offer us more than just protection," he continued, "A place to settle… to stay. A home."

He exhaled, as if letting go of some invisible burden. 

"That is what we have been searching for. No more moving from camp to camp, no more restless nights listening for footsteps in the dark. If what you say is true, then it is more than we could have hoped for."

Cat Boss locked eyes with Suzuka once more, his tone now resolute.

 "And if all you ask in return is that we stand guard over such a place—a home worthy of its name—then you will have no complaints from me. We would be honored to fight for a land that we can call our own."

A hush fell over the tent. The cat-people standing nearby exchanged glances, their tails flicking with cautious hope. This was the moment they had been waiting for—an end to their wandering.

"But understand this, Helen," he added, "If we come to your town, we come as warriors, not servants. My kin will not be treated as lesser. If we fight for you, we fight as equals. That is my condition."

He tilted his head slightly, waiting for Suzuka’s response.