They continued walking until they had covered no less than five hundred meters.
Eugene turned to Freed. "Which furniture store are we going to?"
Freed snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze refocusing on Eugene. "How much money are you carrying?"
"Thirty-five silver coins."
Freed rested a hand on his chin, looking upward in thought. "Alright. We'll go to Benjamin's. They have excellent-quality furniture at reasonable prices."
"Is it far?"
Freed glanced around until his eyes landed on a bicycle rental shop. A faint smile curved his lips as he looked back at Eugene. "It is, if we go on foot. But… we can rent bicycles and cut the distance short."
When he looked again, Eugene was already heading toward the rental stand.
"He's impatient," Freed murmured softly, mildly amused, before following him.
Eugene was studying the bicycles lined up neatly in a row. They were uniform in size, painted black, fitted with brown leather seats and golden bells. A sign hung above them: Rental — Half a Silver Coin.
"Half a silver coin isn't expensive," Eugene said cheerfully.
Freed took a silver coin from his pocket and placed it into a coin-splitting device nearby. The machine was designed to divide larger denominations into smaller ones—splitting a silver coin into two bronze pieces, or into halves.
With a soft click, it dispensed two half-silver coins.
Each of them inserted one into the lock securing a bicycle. The locks sprang open.
"I was going to pay. Why did you?" Eugene asked, looking at Freed.
Freed wheeled his bicycle forward. "Save your money for the furniture."
Eugene took his own bicycle, lifting his chin slightly. "I don't like owing people. I'll pay you back later."
Freed waved a hand dismissively, as if to say it wasn't necessary.
They mounted their bicycles.
The frame feels rough… but the seat is comfortable, Eugene noted silently.
Ting. He tested the bell.
Freed glanced at him, raising a brow. "Have you never ridden one before?"
Eugene placed his feet on the pedals.
With a sharp whirr, he pushed forward. Freed followed.
"No. I haven't."
They rode at a moderate pace. The streets were wide but crowded with pedestrians. The wind lifted Eugene's hair, and he found himself exhilarated.
A rush of joy surged through him, urging him to accelerate.
"Wait, Eugene—slow down!" Freed called, his voice nearly swallowed by a sudden gust of wind.
Eugene glanced back, grinning broadly, excitement ringing in his voice. "Come on. You only live once—why slow down?"
Freed's lips curved faintly. He increased his speed as well, catching up beside him.
Leaves scattered across the pavement as they sped past.
"Where exactly is the store?" Eugene shouted over the wind.
Freed pushed ahead, moving in front of him. "Just follow me."
They wove through wide streets and narrower passages alike. The scent of bakeries drifted through the air. Vendors' voices blended into the hum of the city as they passed between rows of houses.
Riding a bicycle is actually really fun, Eugene thought, laughing quietly to himself.
…
Seven minutes later, Freed came to a sudden stop in front of a massive building.
A green sign hung above it: Benjamin's.
The structure rose four stories high, dark brown in color, with golden lights flanking the entrance. Trees and flowerbeds framed the storefront.
Eugene braked sharply, the wheels scraping against the pavement.
"It's enormous," he breathed, awe plain on his face.
They dismounted.
The instant their feet touched the ground—
A soft chime sounded, and glowing, winding lines flared across both bicycles.
Eugene stared, eyes widening as the bicycles turned on their own and began rolling back the way they had come.
His mouth fell open. He looked at Freed, pointing. "Did you see that?"
Freed remained calm. "They're enchanted. Once the rider dismounts, they return to their original place."
"Wow… this world is bigger—and stranger—than I imagined."
Freed stepped inside first. Eugene followed through a white-framed glass door.
From the outside, the store had seemed large. Inside, it felt even larger.
Families filled the space—men, women, children. Long staircases rose to upper levels. Furniture of every type, shape, size, and material was displayed across the hall.
Then someone approached from behind Eugene.
A dwarf—long pointed ears, white hair, dressed in refined, immaculate clothing.
Eugene blinked in surprise. What kind of creature is that?
Freed calmly produced his national ID card and handed it over.
The dwarf took it. His eyes widened slightly.
"Welcome back, esteemed student of Sun Academy," he said politely, his tone smooth and measured.
He extended his hand toward Eugene.
Is this to verify our identities? Eugene wondered, quickly presenting his own card.
The dwarf reacted the same way. "Welcome, esteemed student of Sun Academy."
Once Eugene had his card returned, the dwarf produced a small green bell with a brown handle. A painted jester's face decorated its side.
Freed's expression did not change.
The bell rang.
The sound did not echo through the hall—it echoed inside Eugene's mind.
A faint swirl of violet dust spiraled around him.
The world shifted.
When the sound and dust faded, Eugene's eyes widened in shock.
The store was gone.
In its place stretched an immense, almost boundless expanse.
The gray stone floor had transformed into a vast crimson carpet, thick and richly patterned, covering the entire ground.
A pleasant fragrance filled the air.
The handful of families they had seen before had multiplied into dozens—no, hundreds.
"W-what's happening? Where are we? What happened to the store?"
Freed chuckled lightly. "This is the store. We were in what's called a spatial shell."
He gestured around them. "This is the true interior. It revealed itself once our entry was registered—after the attendant verified our identification."
Eugene swallowed. "Then… how do we leave?"
Freed pointed toward what looked like a tear in the fabric of space—a doorway without a door, glowing in luminous blue-violet light, large and pulsing softly.
"That," he said calmly, "is the exit."
End of Chapter.
We apologize for the delay in releasing the chapter, as there were some problems.