Chapter 361 Farewells and New Horizons

She pushed herself off the wall, brushing her hands together.

 "Well then, seems like my business here is wrapped up. Time to say my farewells to everyone, visit the marketplace, and then it’s back to my town."

With Isaac gone, Suzuka decided to check on Olivia before heading out. She found her sprawled on her bed, clutching her head and groaning dramatically.

"Still fighting that hangover, huh? I can safely assume you never had this many drinks before. How about a little walk, can you stand? " Suzuka quipped, leaning against the doorframe.

Olivia groaned in response, waving her hand weakly.

 "Don’t start with me. The world is spinning, and I don’t even want to think about standing up right now. I need to rest."

"Got it. I’ll let you recover in peace. I’m heading to the marketplace. Need anything?"

"Water. And maybe a new liver," Olivia muttered, burying her face into a pillow.

With a chuckle, Suzuka left her to rest and made her way to the bustling marketplace. She pulled out the hefty pouch of gold coins she’d taken from Baron Gideon, feeling its satisfying weight.

“Well, Gideon. Your money’s going to good use. It's time for some serious shopping spree."

She began weaving through the stalls, her keen eye scanning for anything useful or interesting. First, she focused on essentials for her growing town—barrels of preserved food, tools for construction, and supplies that would help the goblins she’d enlisted for manual labor.

A blacksmith’s stall caught her attention, and she purchased an assortment of nails, hammers, and even a large anvil. At another stall, she picked up farming tools—plows, seeds, and sturdy ropes and many other junks.

Her magical item storage allowed her to carry an impressive haul, and Suzuka took full advantage of it. As she loaded up on supplies, she also kept an eye out for gifts for her friends back home.

For Silvia, Suzuka found a beautiful necklace with an intricately carved silver pendant. The merchant assured her it was enchanted with a minor protective spell, making it both beautiful and practical.

For Jacob, she couldn’t resist a finely crafted beer mug made from polished wood and engraved with intricate patterns.

 “He’ll probably like this more than any fancy sword,” she mused, grinning.

When she stumbled upon a stall selling ales, she immediately thought of the dwarf brothers. She picked out two bottles of the finest ale the merchant had to offer, envisioning the brothers’ delight as they cracked them open.

By the time Suzuka had visited every stall she was interested in, her magical storage was filled to the brim, and her purse was significantly lighter. She didn’t mind, though. Every purchase felt like a step toward her town’s growth and her people’s happiness.

As she walked back toward the inn, Suzuka reflected on her spree.

"Gideon’s gold is doing wonders. I bet he’d hate to see it being spent on goblins and common folk.”

She stopped at a stall selling cold beverages and picked up a large flask of fresh water for Olivia.

 "One liver replacement coming up," she joked to herself as she continued on her way.

By the time Suzuka returned to the inn, her coin bag was lighter, and her item storage full. She couldn’t wait to see the smiles on her friends’ faces when she hands out her carefully chosen gifts. But first, she needed to check on Olivia—and maybe share some of her wild marketplace stories.

Olivia’s groans had quieted by the time Suzuka returned, but she still looked like a shadow of her usual self. Suzuka tossed the flask onto the bed, startling Olivia awake.

"Hey, sleepy head, got you some water."

"Thanks, but I will need a little more than just water to recover."

As Olivia gulped down the water, Suzuka excused herself to deliver her goodbyes. She made her way through the familiar streets to her parents’ modest home. Her mother greeted her at the door with a warm hug. 

"Hey Mom. I know it's sudden, but I dropped by to say I'm leaving the town."

"You’re leaving so soon?"

"Yeah, I finished what I needed here. Now I have to go back." 

Her father appeared behind her mother. 

“I thought we’d have a few more days before you went off chasing those big dreams of yours.”

"Sorry, Dad. I wish I could stay longer, but the town needs me. I still got so much to do.”

Her mother placed a hand on her cheek.

 "You’ve always been stubborn, but you’ve got a good heart. We’re proud of you, Suzuka. Just… don’t forget to come back and visit, alright?"

"Don't worry, I will visit," Suzuka promised, hugging them both tightly.

From her parents’ house, Suzuka made her way to the vineyard on the outskirts of town. The rows of grapevines stretched out before her, their green leaves glistening with morning dew.

Antonio was the first to spot her, waving as she approached. His younger siblings, Nick and Anna, were nearby, busy tending to the vines.

“Suzuka! What brings you here so early?” Antonio called out, his voice cheerful.

She grinned, leaning casually against the fence.

 “Just came to say goodbye. Olivia and I are heading back to my town. Wrapped up all my business here, and it’s about time to get back to work. You know how it is—my town won’t build itself. It was a short visit this time, but next time I’m here, I’ll make sure to book a bit more time. Who knows, maybe we can actually sit down for a proper chat without someone trying to kill someone else in the background.”

Antonio leaned his elbows on the fence, giving Suzuka a warm smile.

 "Well, that's a shame, it was such a short visit. The place already feels a bit dull without you stirring things up."

Suzuka chuckled, waving a hand.

 "Oh, don’t get all sentimental on me now. I’ll be back before you know it. I’ve got a town to build and a lot of work to do. But next time, I promise I’ll set aside some time for more... leisurely pursuits."

 "Leisurely pursuits, huh? I’ll hold you to that. I owe you a drink or two, at the very least."

Suzuka smirked and crossed her arms. 

"Deal. But don’t think I’ll go easy on you in a drinking contest. You’d better be ready to lose."

As Suzuka and Antonio bantered, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. She turned just in time to see Nick and Anna rushing over, their faces lighting up when they saw her.

“Suzuka!” Nick called out, “We overheard you were leaving! Is it true?”

Anna nodded as she caught her breath.

 “You’re not sneaking out on us, are you? We want to say goodbye before you go too.”

“Sneak out? Me? Come on, I’m way too loud for that. But yeah, I’m heading back to my town. Got too much to do to stick around.”

Nick crossed his arms and pouted. 

“Aw, that’s not fair! You just got here! Can’t you stay a little longer?”

Anna elbowed him gently.

 “Nick, she’s got responsibilities. You can’t just hog her all to yourself.” 

Then she turned to Suzuka with a small smile. 

“But… we’re really going to miss you. It’s always more exciting when you’re around.”

Antonio leaned on the fence, smirking.

 “See? I’m not the only one who thinks this place gets dull without you.”

Suzuka ruffled Nick’s hair and winked at Anna. 

“I appreciate the love, guys. But you know how it is. Duty calls. Besides…”

 She gestured to her bag.

 “I got something for you both before I go.”

Nick’s eyes widened. 

“You got us more presents?!”

Suzuka pulled out a pair of small, fancy, hand-carved wooden animal figures, one resembling a wolf and the other a fox. 

“Here. Though these might suit you two. Something to remember me by until next time.”

Anna’s expression softened as she held the fox figurine. 

“These are beautiful… Thank you, Suzuka.”

Nick beamed, clutching the wolf figurine tightly. 

“This is awesome! I’ll keep it forever!”

Suzuka smiled, her voice teasing. 

“Good. But don’t let it go to your head, Nick. You’ve still got a lot of growing up to do before you can keep up with me.”

Antonio chuckled. 

“Careful, Nick. She’ll keep you in check even when she’s miles away.”

Nick puffed his chest out dramatically.

 “I’ll train harder! Next time, I’ll show you how strong I’ve gotten!”

Suzuka laughed and gave him a thumbs-up. 

“I’ll hold you to that. Take care, you two. And keep an eye on this guy.” She nodded toward Antonio with a wink.

Anna smiled.

 “Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered.”

With farewells exchanged and promises made, Suzuka turned back to Antonio.

 “Alright, now I really have to go before anyone else shows up to guilt me into staying.”

Antonio smirked, tipping an imaginary hat. 

“Travel safe, Suzuka. And don’t forget—I owe you that drink.”

Suzuka gave a playful salute. 

“Deal. Catch you later, everyone!”