Chapter 119: Every Journey Has an End

Inside the small tavern room.

The oil lamp on the table was lit once more, along with two old, yellowed books.

"Resurrection Ritual Magic... Time Reversal!"

Ino marveled at the two books on the table.

This felt like buying a lottery ticket to get some change and then finding out he'd won a ten million-pound jackpot.

This sense of surprise left him a bit dazed, incredulous, and even a little unreal.

Two books, one about time, the other about resurrection, complemented each other well.

Putting resurrection aside for now, what truly excited him was the book on time. Though the content was obscure and required some dazzling auxiliary rituals, its effect was something no one could refuse: time reversal! This reversal wasn't powerful enough to turn back the entire world.

Its effect was only on the caster.

For example, if someone used this magic at the age of 70 and reversed time by 50 years, they would return to their youth, becoming 20 again after the magic ended...

What did this mean? This effect seemed to surpass the Philosopher's Stone, achieving eternal youth and immortality in a certain sense.

This also explained why the old witch had hidden for so many years without anyone bothering her.

And just when Olivia had set up the ritual to revive her lover, the exorcist team descended like divine soldiers.

This foolish princess seemed utterly unaware of how important these two books were to some people.

Even Emily's father, a respectable priest and elite exorcist, would rather live out his days in obscurity in Creelin Town.

"Is this what it means to be the protagonist..." Ino murmured, looking out at the pitch-black sky.

Although his journey was fraught with peril, even facing death, the corresponding rewards were immense.

At this moment, he even faintly enjoyed this feeling.

Being the protagonist was even more exhilarating than drinking Felix Felicis. Because in the story, no matter how recklessly the protagonist behaved, they would never die, and they would always have bountiful rewards.

...

In the morning, the merchant town was enveloped in a light mist.

It was as if a powerful sorcerer had cast a spell, draping this ancient trading town in a veil.

Outside the town, in the square where carriages were parked.

The diligent merchants, after a night's rest, began directing their assistants to load goods onto the carriages.

This seemed like a cycle; after they left, new merchants and carriages would arrive in the evening.

On the other side of the tavern.

Amidst the noise outside, Jacob opened his eyes, washed up, and headed to the tavern bar to get breakfast.

"Two servings? Your wizard companion has woken up?" Sophia, the still charming tavern owner, asked curiously from behind the bar.

"Yeah, he woke up yesterday morning, but I got kicked out!" Jacob shrugged, looking indifferent.

He didn't explain that he was kicked out because Ino needed to apply potions all over his body.

In his understanding, it wasn't a big deal for two boys to be shirtless around each other. Besides, he had been the one to cut open Ino's clothes and wrap him in herbal bandages before.

Though he didn't fully understand, Jacob chose to respect Ino's decision.

"I suggest you choose oatmeal! An injured person shouldn't eat steak and bread. Plus, the harvest festival is near, and I just bought the freshest oats from the caravan yesterday," Sophia said softly.

Not long after.

Jacob, carrying a steaming bowl of oatmeal, knocked on Ino's door.

He opened the door.

"My goodness! This is a miracle!" Jacob put down the oatmeal, looking shocked at the scene before him.

He knew better than anyone the severity of Ino's injuries. It was hard to believe that he was fully healed after waking up just yesterday morning. This was nothing short of a miracle.

Seeing Jacob's astonished expression, Ino chuckled, "There's nothing to be surprised about because I am the marvelous Black Swan Sorcerer!"

"Hahaha! Yes! The marvelous Black Swan Sorcerer," Jacob laughed in response, then shifted the topic, "But it's a pity that Wilhelm isn't here; otherwise, I'd have him add this part to the story."

"The kind Black Swan Sorcerer finally woke up on the seventh day of his coma. It's like a magical spell; no matter how severe his injuries, he always wakes up on the seventh morning, and all his wounds disappear."

Jacob narrated the story's commentary, mimicking Wilhelm's storytelling style.

Listening to Jacob's playful words, Ino almost wanted to tell him to change "waking up" to "resurrecting"...

But reason triumphed over desire. The story of the Black Swan had ended last night, and pushing further would be greedy.

Most importantly, Wilhelm had left the merchant town! This undoubtedly signaled that another person's story had begun.

"By the way, where did Wilhelm go?" Ino asked curiously.

"Where else? He must have heard news from the caravan about someone obtaining three magical items: a table that sets itself, a stick that hits people, and a donkey that spits out gold coins..."

As he spoke, Jacob's expression grew dejected, like a child watching others play games in an amusement park while he could only watch from outside the fence.

"You should go too. I'm already healed! If you leave now, you might catch up with Wilhelm. Besides, the Grimm brothers' stories can't be without Jacob," Ino said.

"You..." Jacob hesitated because he stayed to take care of Ino.

"Go! I'm really healed," Ino smiled and then gave Jacob a reason to leave: "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be leaving in a day or two to continue spreading those wonderful stories."

...

No matter how long the journey, a traveler will eventually return home; they return either as a person or as bones...

But every journey has an end, and every story concludes.

Jacob eventually left the merchant town to follow Wilhelm's footsteps.

Although he left, he left behind half a bag of gold coins.

This included the 15 gold coins from Creelin Town and the proceeds from selling the exquisite candlesticks and silverware they had taken from the tower.

Originally, it was a full bag of gold coins.

Ino insisted that Jacob take half of it. After all, his gains this time were already incredible, and there was no need to hold on to half a bag of gold coins.

Moreover, since he planned to follow a different path from Master Hans, he had to share the money with the Grimm brothers.

Fair exchange, fair trade.

In the Black Swan's story, the Grimm brothers had their share of toil.

Compared to the value of the two magic books, sharing half a bag of gold coins was a drop in the pond.

In comparison, he had taken the entire pond.

...

Outside the tavern.

Ino wore a linen robe suitable for this era, and on his feet was a pair of shoes woven from palm leaves.

Slowly walking out of the small town, he once again stepped onto the dirt road covered with mule and horse dung.

Perhaps it was really near the harvest festival, as countless light blue wildflowers bloomed along the roadside.

They swayed in the wind, as if bidding farewell to the merchants and travelers passing by.

___