A Familiar Face at the Guild
The deja vu hangover had vanished completely by the next day. Mandrake root really was as potent as they said. But because I'd scarfed it all down, the shop was out of stock now. Without it, she couldn't make certain potions. She needed to get more ingredients fast from somewhere, but mandrake wasn't sold in ordinary stores. It had to be through a guild commission.
"That's why I'm here."
So Noel was at the guild. All the potion shop errands had fallen to her. And the person in front of her was Ilene, the guild receptionist in charge of potion-related work. She was also one of the laziest employees in the guild.
Noel sat facing Ilene at the reception desk.
"Yeah. But isn't the weather great today? Days like this are perfect for lounging at home..."
"No, that's why you need to process my commission. Stop slacking."
Ilene sprawled face-down on the desk, rambling on about her own stuff. It seemed like Noel's words weren't even registering.
"And get this? I think the guild master has it out for me. Isn't that too much?"
"...That's on you."
Noel remembered how Ilene had slacked off big time during the guild master's last business trip. Getting on the guild master's bad side was no surprise.
"On me? Everyone's so harsh on me. Cecily too, and you too."
"If the whole world is harsh on you, maybe you're the problem?"
"No way. I'm super diligent."
She was spouting nonsense. Noel had never seen this woman work diligently.
"Everyone needs to respect me more. The guild wouldn't run without me, you know?"
"Dunno about that. I've never seen you work."
She's not working right now either. Why wouldn't she just process the commission? Noel wanted it done quick so she could go home.
"Hurry up and take the commission. I need mandrake root."
"...Help me kill some time first."
Ilene's lips pouted as she muttered. She looked like the textbook example of lazy and pathetic.
"I'm busy too. Gotta get back soon."
"Fine... Guess no choice then."
Only then did Ilene rummage through a drawer and pull out a sheet of paper. Commission Request Form was written at the top.
"Go fill it out over there."
She pointed with her finger toward the desks in the back. A few people were filling out forms there.
"I'll be quick. Wait for me."
"Take your sweet time. That's how I get to rest longer."
"In your dreams."
Noel wanted to wrap this up fast and leave. She had zero interest in wasting time with Ilene. She shot up from her seat and hurried toward the desks.
And then...
-Splash. She stepped in a puddle on the floor.
Why the hell is there water here? It's indoors.
Her foot slipped on the puddle. Her balance crumbled, and she started to fall. It was so sudden, so unexpected. She squeezed her eyes shut. All she could do was brace for the impact. Curling up to minimize the pain, right as she was about to hit the ground—someone grabbed her arm.
"Whoa there."
"......"
"Watch your step. The building's old, so leaks are everywhere."
"......"
The person who'd caught her arm and kept her from falling. Seeing who it was left Noel too stunned to speak. Her mouth just wouldn't open.
Deep blue eyes like the ocean depths. Tall for a woman. A lean yet solidly trained body. She had the aura of a fairy-tale knight brought to life. There was no mistaking it. Noel knew this woman.
Even if her short blue bob had grown into long hair and her outfit had changed, Noel recognized her instantly. How could she forget?
Kirke. Knight Captain Kirke. A former comrade who'd fought alongside her.
"Um... little girl."
"Y-yeah?!"
"Why are you staring like that?"
Kirke tilted her head, looking puzzled.
...She doesn't recognize me? Probably not. Noel's appearance back then and now were worlds apart. No one would think they were the same person.
"...It's nothing."
Noel turned her head sharply. Pretending not to know seemed best. She didn't want to get involved. Didn't want to dredge up those memories.
She bowed her head in thanks first. Then hurried back toward the desks.
For some reason, that girl stuck in Kirke's mind. She looked like any other girl. Cute, maybe a bit more than average, but otherwise ordinary. Nothing strange.
But there was a nagging sense of familiarity. She approached the receptionist the girl had been talking to.
"Hey, Ilene."
"Yes?"
Ilene turned slowly to face her.
"Wh-what? I didn't do anything this time."
"......Something to feel guilty about?"
"No! Really, nothing!"
She definitely looked guilty. But that wasn't important right now.
"You were chatting with that little girl for a while."
"No, I wasn't just killing time or anything..."
"......"
So she was killing time with the kid. Normally, Kirke would scold her to work harder, but not today. If they were close enough to slack off together, that was a plus. Meant she could dig for info.
"You friends with that kid?"
"Huh? Why ask?"
"She's nagging at me. Got my attention."
"Yeah, we're close. With Noel."
"...What? Noel?"
Noel was the Hero's name. So the kid shared the Hero's name.
Kirke glanced sideways at the girl. She was filling out forms at a desk across the way.
...Nothing like the Hero. The Hero wasn't that cute. And definitely not a little girl. Plus, the Hero wouldn't slip in a puddle. A clumsy Hero like that couldn't have defeated the Demon King.
Probably just someone with the same name.
"Yeah, Noel. The kid staying at Yuria's potion shop."
"Ah. That place's kid?"
Kirke had met the potion shop owner a few times during trades. So the kid had a clear background—ordinary girl. Nothing suspicious.
But still, something about her felt familiar, like Noel. Kirke trusted her instincts. They'd kept her alive on the battlefield plenty of times. They were a big reason she'd risen to Knight Captain.
Her gut was reacting to the girl. Sending suspicious vibes. Time to gather more info.
"So, that kid... Noel, right? Why's she here?"
"Errand from the potion shop. Came for a commission."
"Commission?"
"Yeah. Mandrake root gathering."
"I see."
Just a run-of-the-mill request. Mandrake was a staple ingredient the potion shop bought often. Kirke had even gathered it herself when short-staffed.
Myself? An idea hit her.
"Hey, I'll handle the mandrake gathering myself."
"Why would the guild master go? No need. Plenty of adventurers available."
"Don't ask. I feel like it. Been a while since I stretched my legs."
"Really?"
Taking the mandrake quest herself would give a chance to confront this Noel kid. Learn more. Her heart raced at the thought of fieldwork after so long. A bit tense.
She ran a hand through her long hair. The soft texture soothed her, easing the tension.
"The guild master doing fieldwork..."
Ilene trailed off suspiciously.
"......"
"...Don't you dare skip work while I'm gone like last time."
Kirke scolded the scheming Ilene. This one was probably planning to bail again.
"Tch..."
Ilene clicked her tongue. Kirke's hunch was spot on. Scolding her was getting tiring. Might as well give up.
"Got it. I'll check the schedule and let you know."
She notified her and headed back to her desk. There, she'd check dates and pick a good one.
"Ilene, done."
"Huh? Oh..."
Ilene took the form and skimmed it. She set it down and nodded once.
"Good. This works."
"Cool. Commission's set?"
"Yeah. Someone from the guild will go gather mandrake now..."
Ilene glanced off into the distance. Following her gaze, Noel saw Kirke at a desk.
...Kirke works here? She quit the knights?
"Um... Ilene, who's that?"
"Our guild master."
"Guild master? Her?"
"Yeah. Super scary."
Definitely. Ilene's lazy, half-assed personality was the polar opposite of Kirke's. She'd be a thorn in Kirke's side. Their dynamic was doomed. Now Noel got why Ilene was on the guild master's shitlist.
"And looks like you're on her list too?"
"...What?"
"She was grilling me about you just now."
"Me? Why?!"
Had she done something to piss off Kirke? What could it be?
"...Probably 'cause she caught us killing time?"
"......"
It was you. You useless idiot.
Did she look like she was goofing off with the receptionist? Well, technically yes. But this was all Ilene's fault. Noel had wanted to finish quick and leave. Ilene was the one holding her back.
She felt wronged. Innocent, yet somehow marked. What if she got banned from the guild now? The worry gnawed at her.