Chapter 135 – The End of Lily's Journey

“We’ll be parting soon.”

Amid the wagon’s heavy jolts and rattles, Tally hugged me tight and said that.

I didn’t want to leave Tally. I’d come to love her so much.

“Is Tally going back to the capital? Will I never see you again?”

I buried my face in her chest as I asked, and she gently stroked my hair.

“It’s okay. If I get a job that takes me over the mountains, I’ll come visit.”

“Promise?” I said, clinging to her even tighter.

“I wish I could stay with Tally forever. I’m jealous of Marie in the capital.”

“Lily, you’re grown up now. Besides, Marie was all alone from a much younger age.”

That was true. Because of Mom, Marie had grown up in the church.

“Did Marie cry?”

Tally chuckled and pulled away from me, gently tucking my hair behind my ear. “Of course not.”

“Marie never gives up, no matter how tough things get. Remember the story about the stones thrown at her?”

“Yeah. If it were me, I’d probably fall apart and never recover.”

“Marie just laughed it off. ‘Bring it on—stones, spears, whatever. I’ll take you all on anytime.'”

“Sounds just like her. Marie’s so strong.”

“You’re strong too, Lily.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Have more confidence in yourself.”

Even though I’m such a bad kid.

“Hey! The village is in sight!”

At Gobas’s shout, I poked my head out, leaning on Tally for support.

“Wow, so pretty.”

The freshly watered herbs stretched out across my entire view, sparkling under the midsummer morning sun.

“Not a cloud in the sky—a beautiful blue.”

Tally shaded her eyes with her hand and gazed up at it.

Finally, I get to see Kirika!

“Hey, get back inside—it’s dangerous.”

I’d leaned out too far, and Tally pulled me back into the wagon.

“Once we handle the request fulfillment at the town hall, we’re heading straight back, so wait here, Gobas.”

“Got it!”

“Lily, don’t forget what I taught you on this journey.”

“I won’t. ‘Be grateful to those around you. Don’t compare yourself to others.’ Got it.”

“Good girl.”

Tally patted my head like always.

“We’re at the town hall.”

Gobas hopped down and handed me my small bag.

While talking with Tally, we’d entered the village without me noticing, and suddenly we were right in front of the town hall.

“Take care, Lily.”

I knew that scary-looking Gobas was actually super kind and a crybaby at heart.

I felt like crying too, so all I could manage was a nod.

I wanted to rush home, but part of me wanted to stay with them longer—my heart wavered.

With mixed feelings, I entered the town hall with Tally and completed the guild request procedures.

Was it my imagination?

The town hall staff, who I knew, seemed strangely distant.

“Well then, this is goodbye.”

“Tally, Gobas… thank you so much.”

Somehow, it felt like bowing deeply, just like Marie would, would convey my feelings best.

I stood there waving until the wagon was out of sight.

This year-long grand adventure had changed my entire outlook on life.

As Tally said, I’d apologize properly to Kirika, thank Dad and Mom, and then…

I wonder if Dad and the others will be happy I’m back.

Or maybe they’re worried.

As I trudged toward home, Mr. Keln and the other villagers watched me from afar.

“What’s that about?”

My clothes were all ragged from crossing the mountains anyway—I shouldn’t look that different from before.

Man, it’s hot. The sun beat down mercilessly on my hurried steps.

Almost there. Almost time to see Dad and Mom.

When I reached the house, I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart.

Forcing a smile to hide my nerves, my chest pounding with joy, I opened the door.

“I’m home~”

Dad, Mom, Kirika, and even Serina—Mr. Keln’s daughter—all stared at me with wide eyes.

“Sorry. Actually, a lot happened…”

“No word for nearly a year! What nerve do you have showing up here!”

I’d been grinning awkwardly, ready to apologize, when Dad suddenly yelled at me.

Startled, I dropped the bag I was holding.

“Dad, let’s at least hear what Lily has to say.”

Mom tried to calm him down like always.

“She hurt Kirika, told us not to call her family anymore, and ran off! What does she want now?!”

Mom made a troubled face and fell silent as usual.

“Dad, we’re heading out. Come on, Serina.”

“Okay.”

Kirika calling him Dad…?

Kirika shoved his chair back with a loud scrape, took Serina’s hand protectively, and headed outside.

They looked just like a couple. A sharp pang hit deep in my chest.

The door closed slowly behind them, and Dad sat down, pointing sternly at the table.

“Sit. What do you think you’re doing?”

Mom poured tea and set it in front of me, then sat next to Dad—for the first time.

I stared at the white porcelain cup placed before me.

It felt like an obvious wall had been built, a guest cup from Mom that screamed rejection. An inexplicable anxiety washed over me.

“Actually…”

As Marie had instructed, I embellished the truth a bit: how I’d been tricked into going to the neighboring country and ended up helping Marie by chance.

Marie said Dad would get emotional if I told the whole truth, and I’d have nowhere to come back to.

I was truly grateful from the bottom of my heart. Marie, who’d lived apart from him for 13 years, knew Dad better than I did.

“Here… this letter from Marie for the two of you.”

Before Dad’s mood could sour further, I hurriedly pulled the letter addressed to them from my bag and placed it on the table.

But Dad just glared at it, refusing to touch it.

An awkward silence stretched on.

Is he not going to read it…?

After a while, Dad reached for it with a trembling hand and carefully opened the seal.

Once he finished reading, he quietly handed it to Mom.

Mom took it, read through, and tears spilled from her eyes.

Dad clutched his head and hung it low.

I wonder what it said…

But knowing smart Marie, she probably anticipated this reaction.

“Fine. You can stay here for a while. But Kirika’s getting engaged to Serina next year. Kirika’s my son now. Once you’re settled, get out.”