Kisuke's smile looked completely natural, without the slightest hint of pretense. From the way he spoke, I could tell that he genuinely intended to help me, not merely out of courtesy toward the village chief or in hopes of earning praise from others.
Even so, I kept a measure of caution in my heart. A person's kindness was certainly something to appreciate, but that didn't mean I could immediately place my complete trust in Kisuke.
Experience had taught me that people could hide their true intentions behind even the warmest smiles.
After giving it some thought, I finally decided to accept his offer.
By staying at Kisuke's house, I would at least be able to observe the villagers' daily lives more closely without attracting too much attention.
If anyone wondered why I hadn't chosen to stay at the village chief's house instead, the reason was actually quite simple.
The old man did seem friendly and wise, but in this world—especially if this really was the world of ninjas as I suspected—it was often the elderly who appeared the kindest that were the hardest to read and the most dangerous.
"In that case, I'll be in your care for tonight," I said, bowing my head slightly in gratitude.
...
...
...
After saying goodbye to the village chief, I left with Kisuke and headed toward his house.
Along the way, I once again observed the state of the village. The atmosphere felt very different from anything I had imagined.
There was no pressure, no tension—only the simple lives of the villagers going about their day as usual.
We walked leisurely along the village path. The dirt road we followed was clean, while the trees lining both sides of the path swayed gently in the cool afternoon breeze. Every now and then, a few dry leaves drifted down to the ground, adding to the peaceful atmosphere.
Thin wisps of smoke rose from several chimneys, while the laughter of children running along the roadside occasionally drifted over with the wind.
Some of the villagers we passed greeted us with warm smiles, showing just how close the relationships between the people of this village were.
Several housewives were sweeping their yards, while a few men were repairing fences or chopping firewood in front of their homes.
Such a peaceful sight made the village feel incredibly warm, far removed from my image of a world inhabited by ninjas.
Even a few elderly villagers could be seen sitting leisurely in front of their homes, enjoying a cup of tea as though they had nothing to worry about that day.
From time to time, birds chirped from the trees surrounding the village, blending with the gentle breeze that carried the scent of earth and leaves.
The atmosphere brought with it a sense of tranquility that was difficult to put into words, as though time itself flowed a little more slowly in this place.
It was this peaceful atmosphere that helped me understand, at least a little, why this small village had been able to preserve such a quiet way of life.
A short while later, we arrived at Kisuke's house. It turned out that he lived with his wife and their young son.
Their house wasn't particularly large, but it was clean and well maintained. Several simple plants grew in the front yard, while a row of sandals was neatly arranged beside the entrance.
The warm aroma of freshly cooked food drifted out from inside the house, making the place feel even more welcoming.
Most of the walls were made of wood, and they appeared to be well cared for, with hardly any signs of rot or damage.
The windows were opened wide, allowing the fresh air to flow freely into the house. The afternoon sunlight streaming through them brightened the interior, filling it with a warm and inviting atmosphere that left a pleasant impression at first glance.
Although modest, the house gave the impression that Kisuke's family took great care of their home.
When they learned that I was someone who had lost all of my belongings after being robbed and had nowhere to go, they immediately showed sympathy.
They did not ask many suspicious questions. Instead, they were more concerned with making sure I had a comfortable place to rest.
Even Kisuke's son, who had been quietly watching me from behind his father the whole time, showed no sign of fear. Instead, he displayed only the innocent curiosity of a young child toward a guest visiting their home for the very first time.
Every now and then, the boy would peek at me before quickly hiding behind his mother again, making me almost smile at his innocent behavior.
Their genuine kindness caught me slightly off guard. In a world so often filled with conflict and suspicion, there were still people willing to open the doors of their home to a complete stranger without expecting anything in return.
"You must be exhausted. Stay here for as long as you need," Kisuke's wife said kindly.
I fell silent for a moment after hearing their generosity. A gentle warmth gradually spread through my heart, as it had been a long time since I had received such a sincere welcome from people I had only just met.
After that, Kisuke showed me to a room where I could rest. However, before I entered, he told me to take a bath first.
"Go use the bathroom first. You must feel uncomfortable after walking for so long," Kisuke said calmly.
"In that case, you and your family should bathe first. I can wait," I replied quietly. As a guest, I didn't want to trouble them over something as trivial as who should bathe first. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping(.)com.
However, Kisuke immediately shook his head.
"There's no need. You're the one who needs it more. You've been walking since this morning, and you look completely worn out."
Kisuke's voice remained calm, without the slightest hint of hesitation. From the look in his eyes, I could tell that he genuinely meant every word, rather than simply offering polite hospitality to a guest he had only just met.
After hearing what Kisuke said, I could no longer refuse. In the end, I simply nodded and accepted the kindness of Kisuke and his family.
I also sincerely thanked them before taking the change of clothes they had lent me.
Such a simple act of kindness might have seemed ordinary to them, but to someone like me, who had just arrived in this world with nothing to my name, their help meant far more than words could ever express.
In the end, I decided to take a bath first, just as Kisuke had suggested.
As the warm water began to wash over my body, I stood still for a moment, reflecting on everything that had happened since I first woke up in this world.
Thin wisps of steam gradually filled the room, while the sound of falling water broke the silence of the bathroom.
The warmth surrounding my body unconsciously steadied my breathing, as though the burden I had been carrying since earlier had finally become a little lighter.
The exhaustion that had weighed on my body gradually faded as the warm water flowed from my head all the way down to my feet.
The running water washed away the dust and dirt that had clung to me throughout the long journey.
My hair, which had felt sticky before, gradually became lighter, while the soreness throughout my body slowly gave way to comfort once more.
For a brief moment, my mind felt a little calmer, even though countless questions still continued to fill my thoughts without end.
The muscles that had grown stiff from walking such a long distance gradually relaxed, yet my vigilance did not fade in the slightest.
Even when I closed my eyes for a few seconds to enjoy the warmth of the water, my mind continued to work, piecing together all the information I had managed to gather since the moment I first arrived in this world.
[Note: This is my other novel: As a Blacksmith in the World of Jujutsu Kaisen. As the White Spider-Man in Earth-76 with the Spider-Man System]