That Time Hori And Miyamura Got Reincarnated In Another World (COMPLETED)

Chapter 13: A Looming Shadow

It had been peaceful in the Tempest Kingdom for several days now. The villagers had resumed their daily routines, and the atmosphere in the village was filled with a sense of contentment. Yet, deep down, there was a quiet unease that neither Hori nor Miyamura could shake.

Miyamura stood at the edge of the village, his gaze fixed on the path that would take him to the Dwarves’ Kingdom. Ranga was already waiting for him, sitting patiently by his side, ready for the journey ahead. But despite his resolve, Miyamura couldn't help but feel a strange weight in his chest.

Before he could leave, Hori appeared, her steps light but her expression unusually serious. "Miyamura," she called softly, her voice carrying an edge of concern.

He turned toward her, offering a small smile. "You caught me just before I left."

Hori approached him, her eyes searching his face. She could tell something was off; it was the same feeling she had been trying to push aside for days now. Without a word, she took his hand and led him away from the village to a quiet, secluded spot where they could talk alone.

There, standing side by side under the shade of a tree, Hori finally broke the silence. "Miyamura... I don't know why, but I have this terrible feeling. Like something bad is going to happen."

Her words echoed his own unspoken thoughts. He had felt it too—the sense of something ominous lurking on the horizon. But neither of them had wanted to give voice to it, as if speaking it out loud might make it real.

"I feel it too," Miyamura admitted, his voice low. He looked at Hori, seeing the worry etched on her face. "But everything’s been going so well lately. Maybe we’re just... overthinking things?"

Hori’s grip on his hand tightened. "I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I can’t shake. What if—"

Before she could finish, Miyamura pulled her into a tight embrace, his chin resting on the top of her head. "Hey," he whispered softly, "whatever happens, we’ll face it together. You know that, right?"

Hori buried her face in his chest, her arms wrapping around him as if trying to hold onto the moment. "I know. But I just don’t want anything to happen to you."

Miyamura pulled back slightly, looking down at her with a gentle smile. "I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be back before you know it, and we’ll have plenty of time to worry about these strange feelings later."

They stood there for a long time, neither wanting to break the embrace. The warmth between them was comforting, but the unspoken fear lingered in the air, like a storm cloud on the distant horizon.

"I’ll miss you," Hori said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I’ll miss you too," Miyamura replied, his fingers brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "But it’s just a trip to the Dwarves’ Kingdom. I’ll be back in a few days."

Hori nodded, though the unease in her heart remained. She forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Just don’t get into any trouble, okay?"

Miyamura chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eyes. "Me? Trouble? Never."

Despite the joke, the weight of their earlier conversation still hung in the air. Hori could feel it in her bones—the sense that something was coming, something they couldn’t yet understand. But for now, she pushed the thought away, trying to focus on the present.

As Miyamura leaned in, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, lingering for just a moment longer than usual. "Take care of everyone while I’m gone," he whispered.

"I will," Hori replied, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

With one final glance, Miyamura stepped back and gave her a reassuring smile. "I’ll be back before you know it," he said again, more for his own reassurance than hers. And with that, he turned toward Ranga, who had been waiting patiently.

"Let’s go," Miyamura called, and Ranga immediately bounded forward, his large form moving with ease.

Hori watched them go, her heart heavy as she stood alone at the edge of the village. She wanted to run after him, to ask him to stay, but she knew he had important business with the dwarves. Still, the strange feeling of dread lingered, gnawing at her, no matter how hard she tried to shake it off.

As Miyamura disappeared into the distance, Hori whispered into the wind, "Come back safe."

---

Far off in the distance, Miyamura rode atop Ranga’s back, the wind rushing through his hair. He couldn’t help but think about Hori’s words—their shared sense of foreboding. He had shrugged it off, tried to laugh it away, but deep down, the unease still gnawed at him too.

He glanced up at the sky, watching as the clouds slowly drifted by. "What’s waiting for us out there?" he muttered to himself, his voice carried away by the wind.

Little did he know, the answer was closer than he thought.

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End of Chapter 13