Who are the two ladies disappeared from village blacksmith’s life?

The two people were his wife and the other girl I don’t remember

An authors use of situational irony builds a foundation of events that lead up to a stark conclusion. Murakami is an excellent example of this, given that through his novels he writes his characters into situations that are clearly antithetical to whatever has been occurring to said character. This can establish a frame of reference for the reader to assume the finale will go the same way, subverting expectations and providing a surprise. classic mystery trope.