Chapter 372 Old Acquaintance

Hermit swallowed hard, nodding as he shuffled out of the office behind Suzuka, his mind racing. The idea of tracking down the Lizardmen was daunting but having Suzuka lead the charge filled him with a strange mix of anxiety and determination. As the pair stepped outside, the goblin workers scattered around the area looked up curiously. Her commanding presence always drew attention, and Hermit’s nervous demeanor wasn’t helping him blend in.

She clapped her hands loudly, drawing everyone’s focus.

 “Alright, everyone, listen up! Hermit and I are heading out on a little expedition. Larry’s in charge while I’m gone. Keep working on the wall, and don’t slack off. Got it?”

The goblins nodded and squeaked affirmations, scurrying back to their tasks. Larry approached; arms crossed with his usual confident swagger.

“Heading out again? What’s the plan this time?”

“We’re off to find some Lizardmen tribes,” Suzuka replied casually, slinging a small satchel over her shoulder. 

“They’ll make solid warriors if we can convince them to join up. Hermit here says they’re nesting along the river and in swampy caves, so that’s where we’re headed.”

Larry glanced at Hermit, who was fidgeting nervously behind Suzuka.

 “Well, good luck with that. You’ve got the charm to pull it off, but if those lizards give you trouble, please don't kill them all. They can be reasoned with.”

Suzuka chuckled. 

“Thanks for the advice, Larry. Hold down the fort while I’m gone, and if anything, big and nasty shows up again, try not to die.”

With that, she turned and started walking toward the forest, motioning for Hermit to follow. He hesitated for a moment, then scrambled after her, trying to keep up with her brisk pace. As they approached the edge of the riverbank, Suzuka glanced over her shoulder.

 “Alright, Hermit. You’re the tracker here. Where to?”

"We should go upstream, master. I think."

After a few hours of walking Hermit saw something that resembled footprints. He took a deep breath, trying to focus. He crouched down and examined the muddy ground near the water’s edge, searching for any signs of recent activity. After a moment, he pointed further upstream.

“Th-there,” he stammered.

“See those claw marks? Lizardmen leave tracks like that when they come to the river to drink or fish. If we follow them, we should find their camp... or at least one of their hunting parties.”

“Not bad, Hermit. Keep it up, and maybe I’ll stop teasing you for a whole five minutes.”

Hermit didn’t reply, only let out meekly whimper. The two continued along the riverbank, keeping an eye out for any signs of movement. The sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the water, and the chirping of insects grew louder as they ventured deeper into the wilderness.

After about an hour of tracking, Hermit suddenly froze, holding up a hand to signal Suzuka to stop.

“There,” he whispered, pointing toward a cluster of tall reeds near the water. A faint rustling sound could be heard, followed by a low, guttural hissing noise.

 “Lizardmen?”

Hermit nodded.

 “Sounds like it. Maybe a small group.”

Suzuka smiled, her red eyes gleaming with anticipation.

 “Perfect. Let’s go say hi.”

Without waiting for response, she stepped forward confidently, her boots crunching against the damp soil. Hermit hesitated for a moment, then hurried after her, silently praying that the Lizardmen would be in a cooperative mood.

As they approached the reeds, the hissing grew louder, and suddenly, three tall, scaly figures emerged from the foliage, their weapons drawn. The Lizardmen were covered in shimmering green scales, their yellow eyes gleaming with suspicion as they took in Suzuka and Hermit’s unexpected arrival.

Suzuka raised her hands in a gesture of peace, flashing her most disarming smile.

 “Easy there, boys. We’re not here to fight. Just looking to talk.”

The largest of the Lizardmen stepped forward, his spear held at the ready. He tilted his head, regarding Suzuka with a mixture of caution and curiosity.

“Talk?” he hissed, his voice low and gravelly.

 “What does a human want with us? And a goblin?”

Suzuka’s smile widened. 

“I’ve got an offer for you and your tribe. One I think you’ll find very interesting. Take me to your leader, trust me, you won't regret it.”

The Lizardman eyes narrowed, and he glanced at his companions, who exchanged wary looks.

 “Alright, then. Follow us.”

Suzuka and Hermit followed the lizardmen deeper into the marshy terrain, the muddy ground squelching beneath their feet. The air grew heavier with humidity, and the faint smell of fish and algae clung to the area. Soon, they arrived at a shabby camp nestled along the riverbank. The camp consisted of makeshift huts constructed from reeds, mud, and large leaves, with a few fire pits scattered around, their embers glowing faintly.

The other Lizardmen stopped what they were doing as Suzuka and Hermit passed, their yellow, slit-pupil eyes tracking the newcomers with curiosity and suspicion. A few hissed softly, their tails flicking behind them, while others gripped crude weapons—spears, clubs, and even sharpened bones.

The lead Lizardman guided them toward the mouth of a large cave at the edge of the camp. The opening was partially obscured by thick vines, and the air around it felt cooler, damp with the moisture of the shaded cavern. Inside, the light dimmed further, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed off the walls.

The lead Lizardman stopped just inside the entrance and turned to his companions, nodding once. One of them moved forward, brushing the vines aside to reveal a deeper chamber illuminated by bioluminescent moss glowing in shades of green and blue. At the center of the chamber sat a massive Lizardman with dark emerald scales that glistened in the dim light. He was seated on a raised platform of stone, surrounded by a pile of bones, feathers, and other primitive trinkets. His piercing golden eyes locked onto the visitors immediately.

The Lizardman guide lowered himself to one knee, bowing his head low. His voice came out in a sibilant, rasping tone as he addressed the leader.

“Great Zalthar, master of thisss tribe, we bring word and wanderersss. A human female and... a goblin. They ssseek parley with you, oh mighty one. They claim to bring wordsss of worth.”

Zalthar’s eyes narrowed as he studied Suzuka and Hermit. His tail swished slowly behind him, a sign of both contemplation and restrained tension. He leaned forward slightly, his elongated snout twitching as he sniffed the air.

“A human and a goblin?” he began, his tone laced with suspicion. Then, his head tilted slightly, and a spark of recognition flickered in his gaze. 

“Wait... you look familiar...”

“Yesss... I remember now,” he hissed, his voice dropping an octave as realization dawned.

 “You were the one... the human who spared us on the edge of the river not long ago. We were outmatched by your power, and yet you did not masacre us. You showed mercy where othersss would have shown none.”

Zalthar’s gaze intensified, his slit-pupil eyes locking onto Suzuka’s with an inscrutable mix of curiosity and respect. 

“Why have you returned to the marshesss? And why do you come before me now with a goblin in tow? Ssspeak, human, for I know you are no ordinary traveler. What do you ssseek from my tribe?”

Suzuka’s eyes widened in playful surprise as she placed her hands on her hips and leaned slightly forward, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“Wait a second! You’re the same lizard from before? Well, talk about a small world! Here I was thinking I’d be meeting some big, scary leader, and instead, I run into an old... acquaintance. What are the odds, huh?”

She straightened up and gestured broadly, as if showcasing the world around her.

 “Well, this makes things so much easier! You already know I’m not in the habit of killing everything that crosses my path, so let’s skip all the posturing, yeah? I’m here with a proposition. You see, it just so happens that I own the lands you and your tribe are walking on. Yep, this whole stretch of swampy, river-laden paradise? All mine. And guess what? I’m building a town close by—walls, houses, farmland, friendly people!”

Zalthar’s eyes widened in astonishment, and he rose from his seat, towering over everyone in the room. His tail flicked with fear as his scales glimmered faintly in the dim light of the cave.

“Own the lands? A town?” he rumbled, his deep voice reverberating through the cave. 

“Then it is true... you must be her—the Mountain Crusher! The one who vanquished the Mountain of Horror, the Spawn of Abominations!”

He took a step closer, his clawed hand resting against his chest in a gesture of respect. 

“I heard from my scouts... of a human with impossible power. One who crushed the cursed mountain into dust and ended the terror that plagued this region with abominatios. And now you say you claim these lands?”

Zalthar’s gaze fixed on Suzuka with a newfound respect, his slit pupils narrowing as he studied her.

 “I never thought you would be the one from the stories. The slayer of nightmares, standing here, offering peace instead of destruction.”

He paused, a slow, toothy grin spreading across his reptilian face.

 “If these tales are true, then I would be a fool to refuse your words. Speak, Mountain Crusher, and tell me more of this town you wish to build.”