The Crumbly Apple
Before long, full spring had arrived. The breeze carried the scent of flower petals. The sunlight was warm and pleasant. It was the perfect weather to lie down on the grass and take a nap. Just the right day for an outing. It'd be nice to go flower-viewing somewhere. But I couldn't go play right now. I had to run an errand to the neighboring village.
"Noel, did you pack the lunch?"
"Yeah. Probably, I think?"
"Probably? Why can't you say it for sure?"
"I left it to Cecily. Don't know about it."
I glanced at Cecily beside me. She was holding a basket in her hands.
"Yeah, I packed it. Can't wait to eat."
Cecily lifted the basket high like she was showing it off. She seemed especially excited today.
"Just so we're clear, this isn't a picnic, right? It's an errand."
"Yeah. So we're picking up potion ingredients from the neighboring village's guild. With Guild Master Kirke."
"You remember well."
"It's been so long since I left the village! Makes me nostalgic for my adventurer days."
We were gathered in front of the carriage now. We planned to ride it to the neighboring village and back. Kirke had already climbed aboard first and was waiting for us.
Kirke called out from inside the carriage, grumbling at us.
"You guys are acting like it's a total picnic..."
What's wrong with that? It wasn't dangerous, and we had the strong escort Kirke with us.
Kirke asked slyly,
"By the way, why's the church nun coming along?"
"I asked her to."
Yuria answered Kirke's question.
"Cecily had the day off today."
"And?"
"I wanted her to keep an eye on Noel too. And..."
Yuria hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"...I was a little uneasy leaving Noel alone with you."
"With me? Why?"
"Well, last time... with Noel's hand..."
"No, no, that was a misunderstanding!"
Kirke hurriedly defended herself. But Yuria and I had seen it clearly. Back then, Kirke had stared at my hand intently and fiddled with it for a long time. I never knew she was so into little girls' hands. Never imagined she'd have that kind of taste. We'd known each other since our knight order days, but this was new.
"Anyway, it makes me uneasy. So I asked Cecily."
Cecily clenched her fist and declared,
"Got it! So my mission is to stop Noel from doing anything weird and keep her from being alone with Kirke?"
Heavy responsibility for Cecily. Monitoring both me and Kirke at once.
"Leave it to me. I'm a former adventurer, you know? Pretty skilled, too."
Seemed like a mission even veteran adventurers would struggle with. Could a former adventurer really handle it?
"Thanks, Cecily. You're the only one with time."
Kirke made an aggrieved face. But no one believed her.
Time to head out now. Couldn't delay departure any longer.
"Cecily. Give me your hand. Time to get on the carriage."
"Okay. Thanks."
I gently took the hand of the blind Cecily and slowly guided her inside. I helped her up first, then climbed in after. Before closing the door, I gave Yuria a final wave.
"See you later."
"Yeah, come back safe. I'll make something tasty and wait."
"Sounds good."
I waved to Yuria, then shut the carriage door.
Looking forward to that tasty meal. Better finish quick and get back.
Inside the jostling carriage, only our group was riding. No other passengers. Looked like Kirke had rented the whole thing. She seemed uncomfortably on edge for some reason.
"Tch... Didn't expect this... Would've been nicer just the two of us..."
She was muttering softly to herself. Guild troubles? Being guild master must be tough.
This could get awkward. I asked,
"Something wrong?"
To help resolve whatever was bothering Kirke.
She glanced at me and replied,
"...No, nothing."
"Good."
Silence filled the carriage for a while. Cecily couldn't stand the awkward vibe and broke it.
"Um... Kirke?"
"Yeah?"
"Want some of this?"
She pulled a bottle of wine from the basket. Not tea or milk—wine? Drinking in broad daylight? How much does Cecily love booze? Is that okay for a nun?
"No, we're on duty. Wine later."
Kirke shook her head firmly. She was strict about that stuff. Back in the knight order, she was like a nagging boss enforcing rules on her subordinates. Feared inside the order. Earned her the nickname "witch."
"Yeah... guess not..."
Cecily replied in a dejected whisper. I comforted her.
"It's fine. Kirke's always strict about that. We'll drink together."
"...Should we?"
"Don't you two drink either. How many times do I have to say we're on duty? Not a picnic."
Cecily quietly put the bottle back. Head hung low, she looked really disappointed. That much? Fitting for a former adventurer, though... Awkward silence returned.
A bit later, Cecily tilted her head, pondering deeply before asking me,
"Hey, Noel."
"Yeah?"
"Did you know Kirke before?"
Out of nowhere. What? How'd she figure it out?
"Huh...?"
"You just said she's always been strict like that."
Ah. Slip-up. Got too relaxed? Play it off casually.
"Oh, no? She just gives off that vibe."
"Vibe?"
"Kinda rigid..."
"Ah, yeah. Kirke does seem like that."
"Probably occupational habit from being a knight captain."
Kirke was listening intently to our chat. Better change the subject.
"What's in the basket besides the wine?"
"Huh? Yuria's lunch. And some fruit I brought."
"Fruit, nice! That should be okay to eat."
"Yeah? Want one?"
Cecily took two apples from the basket. Handed one to me, offered the other to Kirke.
"Here, Kirke. You too."
Kirke took it, examined it closely, and took a bite.
"Tasty."
A short compliment after one bite. A smile bloomed on Cecily's face. That little praise made her happy. Good to see her in high spirits. Hope this trip goes smoothly without issues. My head was full of such thoughts. Anxious already, but I'd believe it'd be fine.
I took a bite of the apple. The dry sweetness of the crumbly fruit filled my mouth. Spring apples are usually like this—stale and crumbly. Harvested long ago, after all. Old apples are naturally dry and not fresh. Their outsides don't look much different from fresh ones. Hard to tell by appearance. But one bite reveals it. The inside has withered away. And you're the same.
Hero, Noel. Right now, that kid's exterior is a girl's, but inside it's something entirely different. She's no fresh little girl. She's a worn-out, crumbly, old hero.
I figured it out from that slip just now. I never told you I was from the knight order. No reason to. Yet you knew. Almost no one in this village knows my background. Didn't tell the guild folks much. Unlikely she heard from someone else.
Now I get it. The source of that familiar vibe from you. Of course. You are a familiar face.
Didn't expect you'd give it away so easily. Not even trying to hide it? Or just clueless? Are you actually an idiot? Drains my energy.
I'm not a clueless idiot like you. Quite perceptive, actually. Sharp enough to catch sloppily hidden secrets like this.
When they brought the church nun, I thought it was a wrinkle... but nah.
I sighed deeply and took another bite. Chewed the crumbly apple hard and swallowed. Then looked at Noel.
Chatting happily with the nun like they're on a picnic. There was one thing I'd wanted to ask her all this time. Ever since the war ended. Only she—the one who slew the Demon King and ended the war—could answer.
Hero, Noel. Are you happy now?
Are you happy the war's over? Do you feel rewarded for slaying the Demon King and ending it? Sorry to say this, but... I think I was happier during the war.