Chapter 371 Mr. Reliable

Suzuka leaned back again, her expression growing serious as she tapped her fingers lightly on the desk. 

"Yes, you heard me right. Rejoice, Hermit. This might be your moment to shine. Now listen closely—I need your expertise."

Hermit straightened his posture slightly, though his nerves were far from calmed. 

"We caught some scouts before I left for town. Remember? Lizardmen and Cat folk. Do you think we could make use of them? I’m thinking of inviting them to live here, to build, to coexist in this town. To form friendly relationships. What’s your take?"

Hermit’s mouth opened, but no words came out, so Suzuka leaned in, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly. 

"And Hermit," she added, her voice dropping to a dangerous low, "tell me the truth. No lies. Not a single exaggeration. I want to know if they’re trustworthy. Can we work with them, or should I crush them where they stand?"

Hermit swallowed hard, his throat dry as sandpaper, and nodded quickly.

 "Y-Yes, Master. I’ll tell you everything I know." 

Hermit squirmed in his seat, looking nervous as he wrung his hands together, sweat dripping down his brow. He cleared his throat and started talking, his words stumbling out in a rush.

"Well, M-Master, the Lizardmen… they're... uh, dangerous, I suppose? Not that they’re all bad! N-no, they’re not evil or anything, I swear! They’re just... tough, y’know? Like, really tough! Th-they live mostly in swampy places, really hot and damp areas. The kind of places no one wants to go... except for them... and, well, us goblins." 

He cleared his throat, swallowing hard before continuing.

 "Uh, I had some run-ins with them Lizardmen. Some good, some bad, but one time... I was real hurt. Almost dead, in the woods. Got myself in a mess, and this big ol' Lizardman found me. Took me back to their den, patched me up good. Didn’t have to, but they did. Even though I was just a stupid goblin, barely alive, they cared for me. They don't go around doin’ that for just anyone, though."

Hermit wiped his sweaty hands on his shorts, continuing with a little more confidence.

 "Lizardmen, they’re not like most others. They keep their word. If they say something’, they mean it. No tricks, no lies. They’re not all nice, but if they say they’ll help, they will. And they expect the same in return. They’re big on honor. You do something’ for ‘em, they won’t forget. But they don’t do things for free. They expect something’ in return."

Hermit finally looked Suzuka straight in the eyes. 

"So, if you want ‘em in, working with us, I think it’s possible. But you gotta show 'em you got power. That’s the way they work. They can be reasoned with, Master. They respect strength, yes, but they're not mindless brutes."

Suzuka leaned back in her chair, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth as she listened to Hermit’s nervous ramblings. Her eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement as she tapped her fingers lightly on the table.

"You know, Hermit, I’ve had my own encounter with the Lizardmen. Trust me, I know exactly what you’re talking about." She chuckled softly, recalling the moment. 

"I ran into a group of them myself while I was on a job from the guild. Not exactly friendly at first, but... I spoke to them. Negotiated a bit, let’s say. How about the Cat people?"

As Suzuka spoke, Hermit's mind drifted away from her words, his thoughts spiraling into a chaotic mess. His chest tightened, and a cold sweat broke out across his forehead. The memories hit him like a flood, an overwhelming tide of pain and guilt that he couldn’t seem to escape.

He remembered the warmth of her smile, the way she used to laugh. Her eyes—those vibrant, emerald eyes—shone with a kind of innocence that made him believe there could be a place for a goblin like him in the world. The Cat People had welcomed him with open arms once, offering him a sense of belonging that he'd never experienced before. He had been accepted, even loved, and he had... loved her.

But that was before everything fell apart. The nightmarish day when everything had shattered. His thoughts tumbled back to that horrific scene—the blood, the screams. He had watched helplessly as she was taken from him, her body cold in an instant, her life snatched away by the claws of a brutal, unrelenting enemy. He had been there, frozen in shock, too weak, too small, to do anything.

Her father... her father had seen him there, kneeling in shock over her broken body, and the rage in his eyes was something Hermit would never forget. The Cat People’s clan, once kind and welcoming, had turned on him in an instant. They saw him as one of the killers, even though he had no part in it. He tried to explain, tried to beg for mercy, but the pain of her loss—and the need for vengeance—had blinded them all. Only her father, his fists shaking with rage, had spared him in the end.

Hermit's mind raced back to the present, and he found himself trembling in his chair, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He didn’t want Suzuka to see how much it still hurt, how deeply it cut him. He couldn't tell her the truth—the truth that he was the reason his love was gone, the reason the Cat People had turned so cold toward him. The guilt gnawed at his insides, making him feel like the monster they had accused him of being.

He swallowed hard, trying to shake the feeling of suffocating dread, trying to focus. His hands trembled as he spoke, his voice cracking slightly.

"They... they can be trusted too, Master Helen," he stammered, forcing the words out.

 "The Cat People, I mean. They... they just need to be convinced. If we show them we're... we're not like the others, we can earn their trust. I think... I think they could join us if the right approach is made."

“Great! That’s exactly what I wanted to hear, Hermit! Good news for once! We can work with this. The Cat People will come in time, but for now, we’ve got a real opportunity with the Lizardmen. They’re strong, fierce warriors, and we could really use them. Now, think you can find them? I don’t need every single tribe, but it would be nice to get at least a few on our side. I’ll need you to track them down, figure out where they’re at. Lizardmen in our ranks? That’s a good move. Their strength will help us protect our town.”

Suzuka’s hands rested on her hips, a confident grin spreading across her face. 

“We’ll start with them, and once we’ve got them settled, then we can turn to the Cat People and work on making things right. But first, let’s get those scales and claws on our side. We need them—so make it happen.”

Hermit looked up, his nervousness slowly melting away now that Suzuka seemed pleased with the direction things were going. 

“Well, it’s not that hard to track a Lizardman, master. They’re close by. You just gotta follow the river. They’re always near the swamps and river caves. They like those places. The warm, damp spots help with their eggs. The conditions are perfect for them to hatch their little ones.”

He paused for a moment, thinking, then continued.

 “If you follow the river down, you’ll find the tracks. It’s a swampy area, so you’ll know you’re close when you start seeing the tracks in the mud. They’re not hard to spot, especially when you know what you’re lookin’ for. Just need to keep an eye out for those swampy patches, and you’ll be able to find their camps or dens.”

Hermit gave a small, relieved grin, feeling more confident.

 “I can lead the way. Just say the word, master. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Wow, Hermit, look at you!” she said, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm. 

“All confident and reliable now, huh? Who would’ve thought? You’re practically a seasoned tracker, a real professional! Call me impressed. Next thing you know, you’ll be leading expeditions and giving motivational speeches. ‘Follow me, I’ll show you the way to greatness!’”

She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand with a teasing grin.

 “Seriously, though, don’t let it get to your head, Mr. Reliable. But hey, good job for once. Keep this up, and I might actually start believing you’re useful.”

Hermit’s shoulders slumped, and his eyes dropped to the floor. He fiddled nervously with his hands, his earlier moment of confidence crumbling under Suzuka’s playful mockery.

“Yes, master,” he muttered, “I’ll... I’ll do my best to not disappoint.”

His wrinkled hands wrung each other tightly, his claws clicking faintly as he fought to keep his composure.

 “I know I’m not much, and... and I know I mess up a lot. But... but I’ll find them for you. I promise.”

He glanced up at her briefly, his large eyes full of a mixture of guilt and longing for approval.

 “I... I just want to help, master. That’s all.”

With that, Hermit’s gaze dropped again, and he sat silently, awaiting further orders, looking smaller and more fragile than ever.

“Awww, poor little goblin. Did I hurt your feelings? Boo hoo,” she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement. 

“Well, guess what? You’d better get used to it, Hermit. Life’s tough when you’re my number one choom.”

 “Now, cheer up, puff out that tiny chest of yours, and get ready. We’re going out to track down some lizards, and I need my ‘reliable’ tracker at the top of his game. Let’s go, Hermit. Adventure awaits!”

Suzuka gave him a pat on the shoulder, half encouraging, half dismissive, before heading for the door with her usual confident stride.