Inside the flower shop, Misono Mika admired the few varieties of flowers displayed before her. There weren't many—only wild chrysanthemums, bellflowers, kudzu blossoms, and lichen flowers.
Compared to the hideous Kabane and the nauseating Fused Colonies, these beautiful blooms were far more pleasing to the eye.
Happening upon this shop felt like fate. She planned to buy a few to take back; if she ever had a house of her own in the future, they would serve perfectly as decorations.
Still, in an environment where survival was such a struggle, it was surprising to see someone cultivation flowers. They truly weren't afraid of losing everything. After all, most people these days could barely fill their bellies; who had spare cash for "useless" plants?
Mika tossed dozens of pots into her Inventory Module in one go. Turning around, she placed more than enough money on the counter and addressed the shop owner.
"I'd like to ask, if I wanted to start flower cultivation myself, are there any books you'd recommend? I can pay you extra for them."
She suddenly felt like trying her hand at running a flower shop for fun.
Now that the 'plot' she found interesting was nearly over, she needed to find something to do. Otherwise, how would she endure the remaining two years? There were simply too few ways to kill time in this world.
As the saying goes, it's hard to go from luxury to frugality. Having grown up scrolling short videos, playing online games, and navigating the entire world through a single smartphone, she really wasn't used to this lifestyle.
"O-Of course! I have all the books you need right here. I'll even throw in the cultivation notes we've compiled over the years. I'll go grab them for you now."
The shop owner snapped back to reality. He swallowed hard and hurried toward the back room where he usually rested.
This was huge!
A genuine big shot had actually stepped into his shop! He couldn't afford to be disrespectful.
Mika waited a few minutes until the owner returned, clutching a thick stack of books which he set heavily onto the counter. He had even thoughtfully included quite a few seeds.
Mika scanned the pile, her gaze lingering for a second on the notebook at the very top.
"May I see this?"
"Please, feel free. It's a handwritten copy, but the content is identical to the original. You needn't worry about that."
Mika picked up the manuscript, flipping through a few pages with anticipation. Thanks to the system, she never suffered from language barriers. Thus, she could read the Japanese written here without any trouble.
The handwriting was elegant and the prose style felt comfortable—not at all like something written by the muscular man standing before her. After a quick skim, Mika closed the notebook with satisfaction.
An unexpected harvest. These were the precious experiences of someone who truly loved flowers; they would be very valuable for reference.
"This is a huge help. Please take these."
Mika placed all the cash she had on her onto the counter. She placed great importance on the contents of that manuscript. Once she stowed the books and seeds into her Inventory Module, she turned and left.
The florist was left alone, staring at the small fortune on his counter, feeling somewhat lost. This was a bit too much money. But more than that, he feared whether his mother would give him a beating if she found out he sold her notebook.
★ ★ ★
As she prepared to return to the lodgings Ayame Yomogawa arranged for her, Mika encountered a few familiar faces along the way.
On a stone bridge, Kajika, Mumei, and several steady-looking older women were pushing three heavily laden carts. They had just reached the middle of the bridge when they spotted Mika, looking quite surprised.
"I didn't expect to run into you here. Are you heading back? Not planning to look around more?"
Kajika had changed into a teal kimono, radiating the unique youthful energy of a teenage girl. Beside her, Mumei wore a pale pink kimono printed with cherry blossoms, her hair tied in cute twin tails.
"I did want to keep looking around, but..."
Mika let out a faint sigh, complaining with a bit of gloom, "But no matter where I go, a huge crowd gathers to watch me. I can't enjoy shopping at all."
She wanted to observe the daily lives of ordinary people in Iwato Station, but she hadn't expected to become the object of observation herself. Being stared at by so many people the entire way was becoming unbearable.
Hearing this, the group immediately pictured the scene of Mika being surrounded. They understood her frustration. Then again, there was no helping it; Mika was so striking that anyone would find it hard not to steal a glance or two.
"However, I bought several books on flower cultivation and got a lot of seeds. The trip was quite productive."
At this, the gloom on Mika's face vanished. She continued enthusiastically, "If there's a chance in the future, you're all welcome to visit my flower field."
Though she lacked the confidence to guarantee success, everyone needed a goal to work toward.
"Do you intend to start a flower business, or do you just want to grow them for yourself?" Kajika asked, curious. She hadn't expected Mika to be interested in plants.
"I just want to open a flower shop to pass the time."
Mika stated her purpose honestly. She looked at Mumei and asked with a smile, "When the time comes, would you like to help out in my shop, Mumei?"
"Me?"
"Yes. You can't fight forever; that's too exhausting. If you don't have plans for the future yet, why not stay by my side and help out?"
"But... Lady Mika, you'll be leaving eventually, won't you?" Mumei lowered her head dejectedly.
She was indeed tired of fighting Kabane and found Mika's invitation tempting. But if Mika eventually left, what would she do then? Without Mika, would the people of the Koutetsujou still accept someone like her?
The future held too many uncertainties for Mumei to take the risk. As it stood, the only place that explicitly accepted an outlier like her was the Hunters.
"I am leaving, yes, but I never said I wouldn't come back. Perhaps in the near future, I might decide to stay in this world for good."
Mika painted a grand vision for them. If she increased her stats enough, manifesting ten thousand versions of herself would be a simple thought. Leaving an avatar in the world of the Koutetsujou would cost her nothing.
"Really?!"
Mumei looked up quickly, a flash of joy crossing her eyes before her face lit up completely. "In that case, I'll give you an answer as soon as possible within the next few days!"
The Hunters were expected to arrive at Iwato Station tomorrow morning. She wanted to have an open and honest talk with Amatori Biba. There were things she needed to confirm for herself.
"I look forward to your answer."
Mika nodded slightly.
It proved that once a clear path of retreat existed, even someone hesitant could find the courage to face the cruel reality they eventually had to confront.