the ending blurb on the last page makes it look like the not-really-an-ending bit was on purpose. It says "If you're interested in the future of these two, support them by clicking the support button"
So it was probably basically like a "test market". The author puts out the short run series like this and sees if people get hooked enough to justify a longer run with the story. So not an axe and not a specifically vague "wrap-up" on purpose because it's meant to tease the possibility of more.