“You’re finally home, big brother!” [Ember]

“My baby’s finally home… Lan… sobs” [Mama Venick]

“Son… you don’t have to work anymore, you don’t have to sacrifice anything… just stay here, okay?” [Papa Venick]

“Lan, you big idiot! You sure took your time!” [Vinyl]

I…

I was home.

Their arms were all over me, as if making sure I was real.

I couldn’t shake the feeling of relief, joy and accomplishment.

All the stress, the pain, the suffering, the time lost, the distance, the loneliness, the homesickness, the dread, death; everything just…went away.

Her voice was like a cold gentle breeze in the summer-

“You sure know how to make a girl worry”

The tears streaming down her face mismatched the heavenly smile she wore

“Welcome home Lan” [Ellie]

I could feel everything reset.

As if everything was void, we were in our own space

“I’m… ho-” [Lan]

.

.

.

Then I woke up.

UGHHHHHH

If only this was the dream I woke up from, I’d be at home right now.

I still have ways to go before I can actually return home.

Damn this…

This…

feels weird.

Sleeping on a bed actually feels weird now huh.

After all this time I finally slept under an actual roof without worry.

No monsters on sight, no sir.

There’s no concept of day and night underground so I don’t know how long I slept but I do know it was for a long while.

After having that dream… damn it was just a dream…

But anyway, I feel motivated than ever to come home. I can’t keep my family waiting.

The village chief, well, mostly Stephan, arranged a place for me since he was the one who insisted that I’d stay a while.

Outside the window beside me was a peaceful village.

I just noticed but everything in this place is small, not too small it’s but small for me… it doesn’t really bother me though.

You can see everyone live in content but is this alright?

I mean, this is inside purgatory… shouldn’t they be thinking of getting out just like Enrica?

Whenever I tried asking questions regarding the surface, there’d always be interferences so I couldn’t get any answers, just what is this place?

Hosea and the village chief wouldn’t give any in depth answers….

Maybe I should just find it out for myself?

I’ve got all this time after all.

Welp, enough of that

I’m starving.

.

.

.

I went out in a new change of clothes that the village chief lent me, he’s a real nice guy, now that I think about it.

It didn’t fit quite right though since our sizes are pretty different.

I headed to the town hall.

I figured I might as well ask where to go but when I got in, they were in some sort of meeting so I didn’t bother the village chief.

Ah

Stephan noticed me

“Hey Stephan, busy morning?” [Lan]

“Indeed sir Lan, to what do we owe the pleasure?” [Stephan]

“I wanted to ask if you had any recommendations on where to go. The village chief asked me to stay but not to stay put so I might as well move around” [Lan]

“Hmmm, indeed, idling around would waste the visit. Are you perhaps hungry sir Lan?” [Stephan]

“Uhh, yeah” [Lan]

It started quite some time ago but I noticed that my hunger for food wasn’t frequent anymore.

I could eat once then wouldn’t feel hunger for a few days but now that food is within reach, edible cooked food is within reach, there’s no way in hell I wouldn’t eat my fill.

“Then may I suggest eatery a few blocks from here? It’s called-“ [Stephan]

.

.

.

“McBay’s huh?” [Lan]

So here I am, as Stephan suggested.

There isn’t any money or currency here so there’d be no paying but I’m not a resident here.

The village chief laid down the ground work at the party, what a crafty guy, he told everyone that my treatment should be the same as the elites like Ruin and the others.

When I walked in, there weren’t any customers.

It’s probably way past breakfast right now.

“Oh if it isn’t our savior slash tourist!” [Mac]

“Eh? Savio-?” [Lan]

“Now, come on in, don’t be shy” [Mac]

I was directed to a seat by the window, they’re a hospitable bunch, these dwarves

“So? Waddya wanna eat?” [Mac]

“I’m done with my break honey~…?! Ain’t that the savior slash tourist?! Welcome, welcome!” [Bay]

Again with the ‘savior slash tourist’, what’s that about?

“Hello, umm… what’s this ‘savior’ thing about?” [Lan]

“Oh, you don’t have to be humble like that! HAHA! Oh and this is my wife; Bay, I’m Mac” [Mac]

“Nice to meet you both… but I actually don’t recall doing anything to be called savior” [Lan]

“Oh~ so modest! Saving the elites, saving the village chief and cleaning out the vattles, of course we’d go as far as call you a savior!” [Mac]

“That’s right boy, loosen up, you’re welcome here and have become much more welcome, granted all you’ve done for us~” [Bay]

“Ah no, that was just…” [Lan]

… wait, technically I really did all those things

There were various circumstances to why I did all those things but still!

I’m no savior, I’m just a guy who wants to go home.

“Hey ma, let’s whip up a feast for him” [Mac]

“I was just thinking that honey!” [Bay]

“Ah w-wai-“ [Lan]

Oh well, I don’t know what kind of delicacies they have in store so might as well accept their offer.

“M-Ma… he’s d-drinking the food” [Mac]

“Food can’t be drunk honey but… I get what you’re saying” [Bay]

The couple prepared a few platters, it really was a feast for a single person but after the first bite I just couldn’t stop eating.

Their dishes were exquisite, full with love and care, they must really enjoy cooking with each other.

Looking at the stacked empty plates, this was probably a bit excessive… guess I won’t be eating much any time soon.

“Thank you for the food, Mr. Mac and Mrs. Bay, it was truly delicious” [Lan]

“Looking at you gobble up the food was refreshing, come back soon, savior slash tourist!” [Mac]

“Have a nice day~” [Bay]

Now that I’ve had my fill, I still got a whole day ahead of me.

Stephan told me that Ruin would be training their juniors today, might as well check it out.