Chapter 52: Homecoming
The sun had barely risen over Rosen City. Tanaka stood outside the city gates with his storage ring filled, his notebook safely tucked away, and his mind already focused on the Great Verdant Forest. Nira stood in front of him. Neither spoke. For six months, they had been together almost every day.
Now...
It was time to separate.
"I guess this is it," Tanaka said. Nira nodded. "Yeah." Tanaka smiled. "I’ll find you someday." Nira looked at him. "You better." "I will." She lowered her head. For a moment, Tanaka thought she was going to say something. Instead, her shoulders began shaking. "Nira?" She looked up. Tears were already running down her face. Tanaka froze.
"Why are you crying?" He asked in concern. "You really don’t understand, do you?" She said shaking her head. "Understand what?" Nira laughed through her tears. "Nothing." She suddenly stepped forward. Then hugged him. Tanaka’s eyes widened. Nira held him tightly. "Take care of yourself, Tanaka." Tanaka slowly raised his arms. "Okay I will." She smiled finally. "Don’t get yourself killed." "I’ll try." He chuckled. "Don’t fight something ridiculously stronger than you." Tanaka paused.
"I can’t promise that." He replied and Nira laughed. She pulled away. Her face was still wet with tears, but she was smiling. "I’ll find you." Tanaka nodded. "I’ll be waiting." Nira suddenly turned around. Then she ran. Tanaka stared after her. She didn’t look back. Instead, she raised one hand while running. "Goodbye, Tanaka!" "Goodbye!" She disappeared through the city gates. Tanaka stood there for several seconds.
Then he tilted his head. "Why is she smiling?" He looked toward the city. Then back toward the forest. "People are complicated." Tanaka turned around. The Great Verdant Forest was waiting.
_______
Six months.
For Tanaka, they had passed one lesson at a time. For the town hidden deep within the forest. They had passed one achievement at a time. As he followed the familiar forest trails, Tanaka immediately noticed the first change. The old patrol markers were gone. In their place stood carved stone pillars no taller than his waist. Strange symbols had been engraved into each one. Tanaka crouched beside one. They weren’t random. They were directions. One symbol pointed toward the town. Another toward the Wolf Den. A third marked hunting grounds that ordinary residents were forbidden to enter.
Tanaka smiled.
"Eldrin..."
"You’ve been busy."
He continued deeper into the forest. Not long afterward, several shadows darted silently through the trees. Tanaka stopped walking. He didn’t draw his sword.
Instead...
He waited.
Moments later, three crimson wolves emerged from the undergrowth. Their fur had become sleeker than before. Their movements were sharper. One stepped forward confidently before suddenly freezing. Its ears stood upright. Its eyes widened.
Then...
"THE GREAT ONE!"
The telepathic shout exploded through the network. The other two wolves immediately lowered themselves.
"He’s back!"
"The Great One has returned!"
Tanaka laughed.
"I’ve only been gone six months."
"Six months is a long time!"
One of the younger wolves immediately turned around and sprinted toward the town.
Apparently...
The news couldn’t spread fast enough. Tanaka shook his head.
"Some things never change."
He resumed walking. He hadn’t gone much farther before familiar blue shapes began bouncing through the forest.
Slimes.
Dozens of them.
The moment they saw him, they surged forward like an excited tide. The little slime burst through the crowd faster than anyone else.
Boing!
Before Tanaka could react, it launched itself straight into his chest. He barely caught it before it bounced off again. "You’ve gotten heavier." The little slime puffed up proudly. Then it bounced around him repeatedly, unable to contain its excitement. Several larger slimes followed behind it. Tanaka paused. They had grown. Not just in size. Some were darker blue. Others had thicker bodies.
A few possessed faint patterns swirling inside their gelatinous forms. Every one of them felt stronger than before. "So everyone has been training..." The slimes bounced enthusiastically. Tanaka smiled. "Good."
________
By the time Tanaka reached the edge of the town. He stopped. "This..." He shocked. "This can’t be..." The town had transformed. The dirt roads were gone. Stone-paved streets connected the different areas. Wooden houses had multiplied. The Craft Quarter had doubled in size. New storehouses stood beside workshops. The herb gardens had expanded into organized fields. Near the entrance, a proper gate now stood between two sturdy watchtowers. Tanaka slowly turned in a circle.
"I was only gone..."
"Six months."
His voice carried genuine disbelief. The town he remembered was still here. But it had grown a lot. The gate suddenly burst open. A familiar goblin hurried toward him.
Except...
He no longer looked quite so elderly.
Eldrin had changed. His back stood straighter. His movements were lighter. The name had done more than strengthen his mana. It had restored some of his vitality. Without hesitation, Eldrin bowed. "Welcome home, Great One." Tanaka immediately pulled him into a hug. "It’s good to see you." The old goblin froze. Then awkwardly returned the embrace. Around them, cheers erupted. "The Great One has returned!"
"He’s really back!"
"Welcome home!"
Tanaka looked around. For the first time in six months. He felt like he was truly home.
________
Soon, nearly everyone had gathered in the central square. The Alpha Wolf approached first. His fur gleamed beneath the afternoon sun. "You have returned safely." "I have." The Rabbit Leader stepped forward carrying a basket overflowing with fresh fruit and herbs. "Then your first meal home is already prepared." Tanaka’s eyes lit up. "I missed your cooking." Several rabbits nodded proudly. The little slime bounced onto his shoulder.
Apparently, it had decided he wasn’t leaving again. Tanaka laughed. "I missed you too." The little slime wobbled happily.
_________
After the celebration settled, Eldrin guided Tanaka through the town. "I want to see everything." The goblin smiled. "Then prepare yourself." The tour lasted nearly the entire afternoon. The workshops had begun producing better tools. Several goblins now specialized in different crafts instead of doing everything themselves. The rabbits had created proper greenhouses using crystal panels harvested from deeper inside the dungeon. Medicinal herbs once considered rare now grew in carefully managed gardens. The wolves had expanded their patrol network far beyond the original borders. Observation posts hidden among the trees allowed them to monitor nearly every approach to the town. Even the moss turtles had become useful. Large wooden platforms had been secured to their shells, allowing them to transport stone, timber, and supplies throughout the settlement.
Tanaka listened quietly.
Every improvement reminded him of something he had seen in Rosen City.
Trade.
Specialization.
Organization.
He hadn’t even needed to explain all of it. His people had discovered some of these things themselves. Pride quietly filled his chest. "You’ve all been working hard." Eldrin smiled. "We couldn’t simply wait for your return." Tanaka nodded. "Good."
_________
As evening approached, the leaders gathered beneath the Crystal Tree. The familiar warmth of the telepathic network spread through every connected mind. Tanaka looked around.
Six months ago he had left behind a promising town. Now he had returned to something much greater. Not because he had done everything himself. Because everyone had continued building together. Tanaka smiled. "You’ve all exceeded my expectations." Pride echoed through the network. Then Eldrin stepped forward. "Great One while you were learning about the world the world was also changing." He unfolded a map. Several unfamiliar markings had been added beyond their known borders.
Tanaka’s expression became serious. "Our scouts discovered new monster tribes." "Some are peaceful." "Some avoid us." "And a few..." Eldrin pointed toward several markings. "...have begun watching our territory from a distance." Tanaka studied the map. Six months ago, he would have immediately thought about fighting them.
Now...
He thought about something else.
Information.
Trade.
Territory.
Relationships.
The things he had learned in Rosen City had changed the way he looked at the world. He rolled the map closed. "Then let’s learn about them first." Eldrin smiled. Tanaka looked toward the surrounding forest. His home had grown while he was away. Now it was time for him to grow with it. He smiled. "I’m back."
He looked at everyone. He had left them not knowing how they’d grow. But now they did even without him. He needed to reward them.
The message burst through the telepathic network. "Let’s have a feast and unwind."
The fires were lit by the time the stars came out. Meat sizzled, fruit was passed around, and the whole square hummed with stories, laughter, and the quiet pulse of the telepathic network. Even the watch wolves came down to eat.
Tanaka sat on a stump with the little slime in his lap, a wooden cup in his hand, and Eldrin at his side. The map with the new markings was folded and tucked away. For tonight, there would be no decisions. No plans. No borders. Just home. He raised his cup. The network, the town, the forest answered back as one. "To six months gone," Tanaka said. "And to everything we build next."