Location: Solencia Summit Courtyard (Morning)
The marble dais gleamed beneath a pale sun as Itsuki Hiroto stood at its center, tattered baker's disguise clinging to his shoulders. Around him, the great embarkation of the Peace Summit's final ceremony unfolded: drummers laid down rhythms of triumph, trumpeters echoed fanfares of unity, and floating lanterns drifted overhead, trailing ribbons in the gentle breeze.
Chancellor Beltram, clad in ceremonial regalia of gold and violet, stepped forward with a velvet scroll. Clearing his throat, he addressed the crowd of assembled envoys and citizens alike. "By the joint will of Solencia's Crown and the Demon King's Pact, we now inscribe our everlasting vow into the Tome of Eternal Accord."
A hush fell. Each envoy approached in turn—the Elven queen in her moonlit robes, the Dwarven chieftain with a hammer in hand, Beastfolk leaders bearing carved talismans, Merfolk representatives dripping seawater, Sky Riders in feathered finery, and Emperor Caldor himself—pressing wax seals and engraved rings onto the scroll. With every signature, the parchment glowed a little brighter, until it emitted a soft white light that coalesced into a crystalline orb hovering above the dais.
Hiroto's heart pounded against his ribs. He had brokered peace by playing dead, yawning through tensions, and accidentally healing plagues—but this? This was the moment the world's hopes crystallized into tangible magic.
As the orb pulsed once, casting prisms of color across the courtyard, the crowd erupted in thunderous acclaim. People cheered, banners snapped in the wind, and even the silent walls seemed to hum in celebration. Hiroto offered a weak bow, brow slick with sweat. When had peace become so loud?
Virelya pressed close. "It's over," she shouted, voice barely audible above the roar. "You did it."
Sera landed beside him, cheeks flushed. She brandished a bowl of steaming noodles. "Time for real food—no ceremonies attached."
Hiroto managed a shaky smile. "I'll eat anything after that."
Location: Peace Parade Route (Noon)
The Summit Courtyard emptied into the city's main thoroughfare, which had been transformed into a jubilant procession. Musicians and dancers led the way, followed by floats draped in flowers and crystals, each celebrating a different realm's alliance. Hiroto, now flanked by Virelya and Sera, tried to slip through the gathering, but every corner presented another wreath, another fan chant: "Hail the Silent Savior!" "Protector of the Seal!" "Healer of Nations!"
An Elven harpist paused mid‑tune to present him with a laurel wreath; a Dwarven brewer insisted he sample a "Peace Ale" brewed in his honor; Beastfolk children pressed woven headbands into his hands; Merfolk urchins splashed him with freshwater blessings; and Sky Rider scribes scrawled his likeness onto scrolls. Each gesture, meant in gratitude, weighed heavily on him.
He ducked into a narrow side street, offering a tired wave. "Thank you… but I need air."
Virelya gave a curt nod. "Next left." She pointed him toward an unassuming gate at the edge of the festivities.
Location: Eastern City Gate (Early Afternoon)
The Eastern Gate stood half‑obscured by jasmine vines and sat at the threshold of the great forest beyond Solencia. Hiroto approached its guardhouse, slipping the false permit from Sera's satchel into the grizzled sentinel's hand.
"Herb‑Gathering Excursion," the permit read. The guard, yawning himself, stamped it with indifference. "Enjoy your walk in the woods. Bring back flowers—not trouble."
Hiroto ducked under the gate's arch and exhaled, the scent of pine and damp earth washing over him. He felt something like relief for the first time in days. No banners, no chants, only the distant murmur of leaves.
"Free at last?" Sera whispered, falling in step beside him.
"Almost," Hiroto said, drawing a slow breath. "Just need to reach the cottage."
Location: Outskirts Cottage Path (Late Afternoon)
A well‑worn dirt road led to a modest cottage with smoke curling from its chimney—Hiroto's humble refuge since arriving in this world. Wildflowers bordered the path, their petals trembling in the breeze. He savored every footstep, the gravel crunching beneath his boots.
At last, the door swung open to reveal a single lantern lit on the porch and a steaming pot hanging over a small hearth inside. Hiroto's simple furnishings—wooden table, straw mattress, stacks of scrolls—looked inviting in a profoundly ordinary way. He stepped forward eagerly, then froze.
A rustle from the cottage's shadowed corner drew his gaze. There, stepping into the lamplight, stood a woman with silvery hair and jeans tucked into well‑worn boots. Her eyes widened, and tears glistened as she took in his face.
"Shi‑matsu…?" she whispered, voice trembling.
Hiroto's jaw dropped. "Mom?"
Location: Cottage Interior (Moments Later)
He backed into the room, almost knocking over a stack of travel guides he'd collected. His mother—identical in features, yet fully materialized in this fantasy realm—closed the distance in two strides and embraced him.
"You said if you ever got reincarnated, you'd find me," she said, voice thick. "I—I thought it was a joke. But here you are!"
Hiroto's eyes watered. "Mom… how did you—?"
She pulled back, studying his battered cloak and ink‑smudged robes. "I followed you through the magical rift. I had to see if the rumors were true."
Virelya and Sera stepped inside, swords and pouches momentarily forgotten. Sera's eyes flitted between mother and son. "This… complicates things."
Virelya inclined her head respectfully. "Welcome. But what brings you to the Elven Forest at dusk?"
Hiroto's mother laughed, wiping her eyes. "I just wanted to make sure my boy was okay. All I heard were tales of a 'Silent Savior' and a yawn that stopped a war."
Hiroto massaged his temples. "Mom, you missed my noodle recipes, at least."
She beamed. "I brought them. And I brought laundry. And—" She gestured to Virelya and Sera. "—I'm guessing these are your friends?"
Location: Elven Forest Clearing (Dusk)
They followed Hiroto through a grove of silver‑leafed hollies where fireflies blinked like distant stars. At the clearing's center, a circle of moss‑covered stones served as an impromptu shrine—iced with flower garlands and scattered praise scrolls. Elven watchers peeked from behind trees, bows lowered in reverence.
A hush enveloped the group as Hiroto's mother stepped forward, offering a basket of homemade rice balls. "In my world," she said softly, "we call this comfort food." She placed one at the forest‑shrine's center.
Hiroto knelt beside her, heart pounding. "This… isn't the world I knew."
She patted his hand. "It's the one you saved, haven't you? Now you've saved me, too."
A breeze stirred the gathering; elf sentinels bowed their heads. Sera exhaled. "He's a reincarnated sage now."
Virelya smiled wryly. "Just when he thought he was done."
Hiroto looked at the basket of rice balls—symbols of home, destiny, and hope. He swallowed. "I… guess this is my next quest."
His mother hugged him. "I'll stay by your side, no matter what world you're in."
As dusk deepened into night, fireflies danced among the hollies, and the circle of stones glowed with moonlight. Hiroto realized that his journey—born of accident, rumor, and yawns—had come full circle to something truly extraordinary: family.
And though his sanity teetered on the edge of legend, for the first time, he felt something steadier than destiny's silent hand. He felt… love.