Chapter 369 Big Progress

With that settled, Jacob turned without another word and headed back to the barn. He needed rest, and after the strain of his earlier magic and the toll of his injuries, no one dared question him. The goblins parted to let him through, their eyes wide with fear and reverence.

Suzuka, however, clapped her hands sharply, snapping the goblins out of their daze.

 “Alright, enough gawking! Hermit, see to the injured. Patch them up as best you can. If they can’t walk, find a place for them to rest.”

Hermit scrambled into action, his small, bony hands shaking as he started directing a group of goblins to carry the wounded into a makeshift infirmary. 

“The rest of you who can work, get back to it. We’ve wasted enough time. Repairs, cleaning, whatever needs doing—do it now. I want this camp running smoothly by sundown!”

The goblins scattered like startled chickens, scrambling to obey. Suzuka’s sharp gaze swept over the crowd, ensuring no one was slacking.

Olivia stepped up.

 “I’ll take guard duty. If any more monsters decide to show their ugly faces, they’ll regret it. You’ve got enough on your plate without worrying about more trouble sneaking in.”

“Good,” Suzuka said with a nod. 

“Stay sharp, Olivia. We can’t afford another surprise attack.”

Meanwhile, a team of goblins who had been assigned kitchen duties hurried out toward the forest to retrieve the impaled bodies of the Pig Wolves. They carried crude tools and bags to haul the meat back. The feast Suzuka promised would be a welcome distraction for the shaken group, but for now, the grisly task ahead of them loomed large.

As the goblins moved to their respective duties, Suzuka turned her attention to her own task. She reached into her magic item storage, a shimmering, dragon scale attached to her hip and began unloading the supplies she’d purchased from town. Out came barrels of fresh water, bundles of fabric for makeshift bandages, sacks of grain, and even crates of specialized tools for crafting and repairs. She worked efficiently, sorting everything into neat piles as she mentally tallied what they had and what they’d need.

A thought started to nag at the back of her mind as she worked. Larry. He should’ve been back by now.

“Where is Larry?” she muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing as unease crept in. 

“He was supposed to be back by now.”

She looked to Hermit, who was scurrying past with a bundle of herbs and bandages. 

“Hermit!” she called, making the nervous goblin flinch.

“Yes, Master Helen?” he squeaked, hurrying over.

“Have you heard anything from Larry? He should’ve returned by now.”

Hermit’s face scrunched up in thought, then in worry.

 “No, Master. Friend Larry not returned. He supposed be back yesterday, but... we haven’t seen him.”

Suzuka’s lips pressed into a thin line. Something didn’t sit right about this. She was gone for over three weeks and Larry should have taken two weeks to finish the errand—Larry should have returned long ago.

She muttered to herself as she stacked the last of the supplies from her magic storage.

 “If Larry doesn’t show his face in another week, I’ll have to make the trip to Rockmine Town myself. Knowing him, he should be alright, but I just hope he did not get himself into trouble.” 

Over the following days, the camp buzzed with activity. Suzuka’s sharp commands kept everyone working double-time, and the goblins, eager to redeem themselves after the recent disaster, put in an extraordinary effort. Slowly but surely, Suzuka’s once-empty patch of land began to transform into a small village.

The skeleton of the wall grew higher and stronger each day. By the week’s end, the goblins led by the dwarven brothers and Jacob's help had completed a significant portion of it, reducing the area that needed patrolling and bolstering the camp’s defenses. The change brought a new sense of security.

The crops, carefully tended under goblins care, bore their first harvest. The sight of ripened vegetables and grain made the goblins squeal with joy, their excited chatter filling the air as they carefully plucked and carried the bounty to the barn. The storage room, previously half-empty, was now bustling with activity as the goblins meticulously arranged the harvest.

Meanwhile, the 'Goblin District' was finally starting to take shape. What had once been a scattered, chaotic mess of tents and crude shelters was now an organized cluster of small, decorative houses. They weren’t grand by any means, but to the goblins, they were palaces. For many, it was the first real home they’d ever had. The dwarven brothers, Thorin and Dwalin, oversaw the construction with meticulous care, ensuring that every building matched the blueprints Suzuka had provided. The houses, though simple, had personality—brightly painted doors, small windows with shutters, and little gardens where the goblins eagerly planted flowers or vegetables.

The dwarves beamed with pride as they inspected the finished homes.

 “Not bad for a bunch of goblins,” Thorin remarked, stroking his beard.

 “Though I wouldn’t mind adding a bit more stonework.”

Dwalin chuckled.

 “You just want to turn this place into a miniature mountain hall.”

“Maybe,” Thorin replied with a grin.

Suzuka allowed herself a moment of satisfaction as she looked over the progress. The settlement was finally starting to feel like something worthwhile. The goblins, once a chaotic and unreliable bunch, were beginning to show their potential under her leadership.

But just as she was about to head back to her house for some rest, a commotion near the gate drew her attention. She turned to see goblins rushing toward the entrance, their squeaky voices rising in excitement.

Larry had finally returned.

Suzuka’s sharp eyes immediately caught sight of him, leading a small caravan of wagons into the camp. His team, though visibly tired, walked with a sense of accomplishment, their arms loaded with supplies and goods. The caravan itself was a sight to behold—several wagons piled high with crates, barrels, and bundles of fabric and tools. A few humans and dwarves, followed alongside the wagons, their expressions wary but intrigued as they took in the bustling goblin village.

Larry, waved dramatically as he approached.

 “Ruler Helen! We have returned with treasures and alliances! Behold the fruits of our labor!”

“Took you long enough. You were supposed to be back days ago. I got worried you know.”

Larry grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. 

“Ah, well, you know how it is. Negotiations took longer than expected. But it was worth it! We brought everything you asked for and more. The trip to Rockmine Town was smooth at first. We got there in no time, unloaded the treasures, and started trading for supplies. Took a few days longer than expected to sell everything, though—turns out not everyone’s ready to pay top coin. Had to haggle like mad, but we managed.”

Larry waved his hand dramatically, as he continued, “And while Valerius and I were making deals, we came across some folks who were... curious about this whole ‘mixed-race town’ idea you’re cooking up. Apparently, word’s gotten around that we’re doing something different out here. A few of them got intrigued, wanted to give it a try. They figured life here might be better than wherever they were—merchants down on their luck, a couple of adventurers looking for a quieter life, and a few others.”

He gestured toward the back of the caravan, where a small group of humans, dwarves, and even a couple of elves were mingling hesitantly near the wagons. 

“Valerius talked them into coming along. Said they could be part of something special.”

Suzuka nodded slowly, her gaze flicking toward the newcomers.

 “Fine. And the blacksmith?”

“Ah, yes, Walter!” Larry said, snapping his fingers.

 “Walter the blacksmith didn’t want to leave his forge in Rockmine, but he sent his apprentice instead—a spry young lad with more enthusiasm than sense, but he’ll do fine. He’s eager to get started, and I think he’ll be a good addition. We even managed to grab some tools and materials for him to work with.”

 “So far, nothing that explains why you’re so late, Larry.”

 “Ah, but here’s the big one. On our way back, we ran into trouble—or rather, trouble ran into us. A wandering group of evil goblins ambushed us, dragging along a bunch of their enslaved kin. They thought we’d be an easy target.”

 “And?”

 “And I wasn’t about to let them get away with their disgusting little operation. We fought back, hard. Took out their leaders, killed the rest, and freed their slaves. Roughly a hundred of them.”

He gestured grandly toward the back of the caravan, where a large group of weary but hopeful goblins huddled together, their eyes darting around nervously. Their naked bodies married with brutal scars and wounds, their bodies thin from mistreatment, but now there was a flicker of hope in their expressions.

“These poor souls,” Larry continued, his tone more somber now, “had been through hell. Starved to death, brutally beaten, worked to the bone. But they’re alive, and they’ve got a chance now. We couldn’t just leave them out there, so we brought them back.”

"You did great, Larry. They’ll need food, shelter, and training. Hermit can handle the sorting, but you’ll be helping with the rest. Okay?”

Larry straightened up, a grin spreading across his face.

 “Sure thing, right away. I’ll get these folks sorted and make sure they’re taken care of, then help around the camp.”

He paused, glancing around at the transformed camp. His eyes widened in admiration as he took in the fortified walls, the neatly built goblin houses, and the bustling activity all around.

 “Wow, I gotta say... the place has really grown while I was out. Looks like the goblins have been putting in some serious work. They did a damn good job. Guess I’ll have to step up my game if I want to keep up with all this progress, huh.”