Noel of the Potion Shop (1)
I grasp my hazy, foggy mind. Looks like I dozed off for a bit. Coming to, I realize I'm lying in a carriage. Something warm and soft presses against the back of my head. It's Cecily's lap. She must have offered it so I could sleep comfortably.
I sit up. No sense burdening her any longer.
"Awake now?"
"Yeah."
"Perfect timing."
Come to think of it, the carriage—which had been rocking rhythmically all along—has come to a stop.
"We're here. Right in front of the neighboring village's guild."
I rub my eyes and look around. Inside the carriage, it's just me and Cecily. No sign of Kirke.
"Where's Kirke?"
"She went ahead to the guild. Said we could take our time."
"Oh?"
That figures for Kirke. Blunt on the outside, but always considerate underneath.
"Then shall we join her?"
I stand and offer Cecily my hand. She takes it, and I help her down from the carriage.
It's parked right in front of the guild. The main entrance looms as soon as we step out.
We push through the doors into the neighboring village guild. It's bustling inside—way more people than back home. More receptionists, too.
In the back of the reception area, Kirke is talking with a woman I've never seen before. They both wear serious expressions, locked in what looks like a grave discussion.
I approach and stand beside Kirke.
"Kirke."
"Hm? Oh, you're here."
She pauses her conversation with the woman and turns to me.
"Check this first."
She pulls a small wooden box from her coat pocket and holds it out. I take it and open it up.
A few mandrake roots inside. Matches what I remember. Probably the real deal—no chance we got scammed.
"Looks good. Probably."
"Good enough."
Kirke pockets the box again and resumes her talk with the woman.
"That wraps up today's business. Thanks for the cooperation."
"Heading out already? You could stick around a bit. Have some tea before you go?"
"Normally, sure. But I've got companions this time."
She gestures toward me and Cecily.
"Can't be helped, then. Leaving right away? There's a great skewer place right out front."
……
Skewers?
I stare at Kirke. She pointedly avoids my gaze.
I call out to her pleadingly.
"Skewers… Kirke."
"…What."
"Takeout?"
"We're busy. This isn't a vacation."
"Isn't it done now?"
"Well, yeah, but…"
Mission accomplished. Time to head home—and why not wash it down with some wine? Might as well grab a few skewers since we're here. Wine and skewers sound perfect. I've been good so far.
Kirke's face hardens. The look she gives insubordinate subordinates.
No choice, huh? Better back off before I get chewed out…
"Eh, what the hell. It's fine."
"Huh?"
Didn't see that coming. Kirke, flexible?
"Cecily, wait in the carriage. Noel and I will grab the skewers."
Something feels off. I know Kirke isn't the type for this.
Why's she acting like this now?
We leave Cecily in the carriage and head out—just me and Kirke—to the skewer joint.
This place is crowded. Busier than our village, for sure. The guild was bigger, too.
"Bustling, huh."
I glance around. Workers, adventurers, local kids—streets full of everyday life. Peaceful scene.
Then… my eyes catch on a shadowed corner.
An alley between buildings. Shabby-looking folks huddled there. Limbs mangled, eyes or ears damaged, vacant stares like their minds are gone…
A few clutch small vials. Familiar ones. Empty recovery potion bottles, for sure.
I look away. Don't want to meet their eyes.
Kirke speaks up.
"You see a lot of them here, right? People like that."
"Yeah. More than back home."
This village has way more. Stands out compared to ours.
"Big cities are like this. Our little village just hides it better."
"Oh."
"The whole country's gone this way since the war."
I know that all too well. Hell, I'd be one of them without Yuria. Might be squatting in that alley right now.
Kirke keeps going.
"They got discarded after the war. No use for them anymore."
"……"
"Knights, adventurers—all tossed aside. No proper rewards or treatment. Because they don't need us now."
Her voice rises, bit by bit. Is she angry?
"All those promises during the war? 'We'll reward you when it's over.' Lies."
I agree, of course. No rewards for me, either. Not for slaying the Demon King, not even basic veteran pension. Bet it's the same for them. If the hero gets nothing, what chance do they have?
Kirke stops dead and turns to me.
"Do you think those people find this peaceful world happy?"
Her long blue hair sways in the breeze. She takes a deep breath and asks:
"What about you, Hero… Noel."
"……"
So she knew. Probably clocked it when the serious talk started. Wouldn't unload this on a random little girl.
Sharp as ever, Kirke.
"After slaying the Demon King and ending the war, are you happy now? Don't you miss being treated like a hero on the battlefield?"
"Kirke, I…"
"I do. The war was better. I had a purpose then—as Knight Commander. People respected me."
She grits her teeth, voice rising as words spill out.
"I could fight on the front lines. Look at me now—demoted to village guild master."
She's staring right at me. Raising her voice, but not at me. That anger's aimed elsewhere. Somewhere it can't be unleashed.
"And look at those people in the alley. They're just like…"
She hesitates, words caught. Debating if she should say it.
After a long pause, she spits it out.
"Pigs. No different. Addicted to potions, minds broken, bodies wrecked—can't even work. Pigs."
"Pigs?"
"Useless now, discarded by society, can't do a damn thing. That's our fate."
"Kirke…"
Her words border on self-loathing. It'll just eat her up—no gain in it.
But I can't argue. Plenty live that miserably, unlike our lucky asses.
Kirke catches her breath. Calmer now, she asks softly:
"So, are you happy? Now that the war with the Demon King's army is over?"
Her deep blue eyes bore into mine—hazy today, somehow.
"Ever think: if the war hadn't ended, if it kept going, maybe we wouldn't be treated like this?"
I answer her honestly. Firmly, clearly.
"Kirke… I don't agree."
"What?"
"I don't agree with you. You're wrong."
"……"
Happy the war's over? Damn right. Not thrilled about no rewards or pension—that stings—but surviving and coming home? Huge relief.
Meeting Yuria again? Blessing.
Truth is, I never should've been there. Never should've been a hero. Should've just lived quietly in the village with Yuria.
Same for everyone. No one deserved to throw their lives away. They fought because of promises of rewards. Got duped into enlisting.
You too, probably, Kirke. You said you're discarded now, same as them. You were expendable, too.
It's not the war you miss. Not hoping it dragged on.
You just hate how pathetic you feel now. Reduced to a "pig," in your words.
"I'm glad the war ended. Don't care about hero treatment on the battlefield."
What good's a hero with no rewards or pension? Worthless.
Better off as…
"Hate being a hero. Prefer being a little girl mooching off the potion shop."