"I never realised people could do business like this. They love taking advantage of travellers who don’t know any better. They know we haven’t seen these things before, so they put out all kinds of rare?looking items just to trick us into buying them!" Hiroshi said with a wry smile as he unlocked the door.
It was exactly as he said — every shop in the village was set up right next to the famous Lake of Mirrors. That way they were guaranteed plenty of customers and could sell much more. You had to admit, these people really knew how to make money.
"Time’s getting on, and we’ve rested enough. After such a long break, my stomach feels much lighter — the food has settled properly. I’m sure we can cover a huge distance this afternoon and get closer to home," Hiroshi said, standing up slowly from his chair and walking a couple of laps around the room, feeling much more comfortable now.
They had eaten really well these past few days. Finding good restaurants in the village had been easy, and they’d enjoyed several delicious meals — a real treat.
"Alright, we’re ready to go now. My stomach is back to normal, no more heavy feeling. All we need to do is pack everything up, leave the village, and we’ll be officially on our way home," Hiroshi said cheerfully while organising their things and glancing out the window.
Harumiko got up too. She felt completely rested and full of energy — after a full day of relaxation, her stamina was back to its peak.
"Hiroshi, it’s getting late and I’m fully rested. Can we set off now? I’m really eager to get going!" she said with a bright smile.
She climbed down from the bed, walked over to him, and stood looking out the window as well.
"It’s strange... even at this time, there’s hardly anyone outside. It’s so quiet now, but tonight it will be completely different — streets full of people, lights everywhere... like a totally different place," she murmured softly.
Hiroshi nodded in agreement.
"You’re right. This village has such a weird rhythm. From morning until late afternoon, almost no one goes out. The few people you see are only there to run errands. Tonight will be noisy and lively again... but honestly? I have no desire to come back here ever again. Apart from that one lake, there’s really nothing worth seeing."
Harumiko nodded. "I feel the same — no need for a second visit. But anyway, we have to leave today. If we wait any longer, we’ll waste the whole day."
"True. Let’s go — I’ve packed everything. We just need to put on our bags and we’re out of here," Hiroshi said.
She smiled and nodded. They shouldered their packs and walked slowly out of the place they had called home for the last couple of days.
"Finally we’re on our way! I’m so excited... just thinking about heading home makes me happy!" Harumiko whispered happily as she stepped outside.
Hiroshi nodded gently and patted her head. He felt just as excited himself — it had been over a year since they were last home.
"Alright, it’s around two or three in the afternoon already — time to get moving. Let’s aim to travel as far as possible tonight; every mile we cover now saves us time later," he said softly.
With their packs securely fastened, they set off. First, they had to get out of the village before their journey home truly began.
Their accommodation had been right in the centre of the village, so it would take a while just to reach the edge. But neither cared — with two or three days of travel ahead, this short distance was nothing at all.
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Monday - Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday - Sunday - Off