Noel of the Potion Shop (2)
“Why would you say something like that? You're the guild master. Is it okay to say that about the adventurers in your own guild?”
Cecily's angry shout echoed loudly through the room.
“Does it make sense to say broken people don't need help? They're your guild members.”
Kirke hung her head and just listened. Droplets of water fell from her bangs.
With her head bowed deeply, Kirke muttered, “......It's warm. Good thing the tea hasn't gone cold.”
“It should have cooled off and been ice-cold... That might've snapped you out of it.”
Cecily shot back sharply, her tone laced with anger.
“You need a splash of cold water to stop saying crazy things like that.”
“You mad? Sorry about this.”
“How could I not be?”
Kirke stood up from her seat. She shook the water droplets from her wet hair.
“What I said is true. Those potion-addicted adventurers are people you don't need to get involved with.”
“They could get better. If they just cut back on the potions a little...”
“It's not the potions. The root cause is somewhere else.”
Kirke swept her damp bangs to the side as she spoke.
“They're people who aren't needed anymore. In this peaceful era, they're useless.”
“Useless?”
“They were useful on the battlefield. But now that the war's over, they're not.”
Kirke was overlaying herself onto them. Herself, kicked out of the knight order after the war ended. And the adventurers who couldn't even return to everyday life, let alone receive proper rewards or treatment. Kirke truly believed their situations were fundamentally the same as hers.
Honestly, I don't think she's entirely wrong either. We're all discarded people, just the same.
“Just like how I got demoted to guild master in this rural village, it's best to leave them to quietly suck on their recovery potions. Don't get tangled up with people unnecessarily.”
That's why her words hit me even harder, sadder. She looked like a wounded child rejecting even a helping hand.
Listening made me angrier. I wanted to say something to Kirke. I couldn't just leave my former comrade looking like that.
“Hey, Kirke... mmph.”
The moment I tried to call out to Kirke, Yuria clamped her hand over my mouth.
What the hell? I glared at Yuria with eyes full of complaint.
Yuria raised her index finger and pressed it to her lips.
“Shh.”
“......Why'd you stop me?”
“Just watch. Leave it to Cecily.”
Leave it to Cecily? I turned back to Cecily and Kirke.
Kirke straightened her chair. She took a step as if to leave.
“I'll head out now. Sorry for ruining the mood.”
She bowed her head slightly in apology to us.
“Stop right there.”
Cecily called out to the departing Kirke.
“What else is there?”
“Apologize to me too.”
“......Sorry for interrupting your tea time. That was rude.”
“Not that.”
Cecily approached Kirke. She drew closer until they were face-to-face.
“I'm a veteran of the Demon King war too. An adventurer, and I've shown signs of recovery potion dependency before.”
“......”
“But I overcame the dependency in the end. I didn't just keep drinking recovery potions.”
Cecily took a breath. She cleared her throat as if about to say something important.
“What you're saying is that I'm one of those unnecessary people. That I should've lived as a junkie.”
Kirke stared silently at Cecily. More precisely, at the bandages covering her unseen eyes.
After staring for a moment, she apologized.
“Sorry. I was short-sighted. That's not what I meant.”
Kirke bowed her head again. Then she turned and left the room.
Left in the room were just me, Yuria, and Cecily.
......
“Yuria. I'm gonna step out for a bit.”
“Where to?”
“Gonna go see Kirke.”
I had to catch Kirke. And hear what she really meant. I'd settle this with her today.
Yuria chuckled softly. She rummaged in her pocket and pulled something out.
A handkerchief.
“Take this to her. Her hair's all wet.”
“Got it.”
I took the handkerchief from Yuria. Then I approached Cecily by the door.
“Cecily.”
“Yeah...?”
“You did great.”
I said, gently patting her back.
“Now, leave the talking to me.”
I tried to make my voice as cool and reliable as possible, but this body wouldn't let me. All that came out was the voice of a cute little girl.
But right now, a cute little girl was enough. That was plenty to convince a friend. No need for some hero.
What was needed now was the cute girl from the potion shop.
Cecily smiled at me and made her request.
“I'm counting on you, Noel.”
“Leave it to me.”
I stepped out of the house. The sun had already set, and a dark night hung low.
Far ahead, I could see Kirke trudging away.
I called her name loudly and ran after her.
“Kirke!”
Kirke turned around. Spotting me running toward her, she stopped and waited.
I ran as fast as I could and arrived in front of her, panting heavily.
“Hah... huff...”
“What now, Noel.”
I shoved the handkerchief from Yuria into Kirke's hand.
“Dry your hair and face. You'll catch a cold.”
Kirke tried to refuse and hand it back.
I stopped her.
“If you catch a cold, you can't go to work tomorrow. That okay for a guild master?”
“Tch...”
Kirke clicked her tongue once and dried her wet hair. After wiping roughly, she handed the handkerchief back to me.
“There. Happy now? Go home.”
“Alright, I'll walk you. To the guild, right?”
“No, that's why I'm telling you to go back...”
To make it impossible for her to refuse, I started walking ahead first.
Kirke sighed deeply and followed behind me.
We walked side by side, one in front and one behind.
It was quite a distance from here to the guild. We walked in silence for a long while. Only the sound of our footsteps echoed in the quiet street.
“You really planning to go all the way to the guild?”
“Yeah. Told you, I'm seeing you off.”
“The area around the guild isn't safe. You shouldn't wander at night.”
“Even with the guild master? Shouldn't it be fine with the guild master right next to me?”
I stared straight into Kirke's eyes.
Kirke averted her gaze slightly.
“You can't rely on someone like me. I'm useless. As a guild master, and as a knight captain.”
Kirke spat out something negative. But I knew that wasn't true.
“That's not right.”
I hadn't seen her work many times, but Kirke was handling guild duties diligently. At least way better than someone like Ilene.
Kirke was trying hard to adapt to this peaceful world after the war. She just didn't seem to realize it herself.
Then I'd have to tell her. As a friend.
“You've been working hard. No way you're useless.”
Kirke stopped. She looked at me with a sad expression.
“Noel, I don't know.”
“Know what?”
“If I can do well.”
Kirke's voice trembled. I could feel her emotions welling up.
“I don't know if I can adapt to a world like this. It's so different from wartime.”
My answer was already decided. I...
“I believe in you, Kirke.”
I truly believed Kirke could pull it off. If it was Kirke, she could do it.
Kirke stared at me intently. I didn't avoid her gaze.
Suddenly, the wind blew. It tousled Kirke's hair.
In the dark night, her blue hair flowed like silk. Blue hair shimmering faintly in the moonlight.
A sight I never saw when it was a bob cut. It was so beautiful, I blurted it out without thinking.
“Long hair suits you way better, Kirke.”
“Ugh...”
Kirke groaned shortly and clutched her head. Dizzy or something?
“Noel... you're just a girl on the outside, huh.”
“Huh?”
“Your body's a girl's. But inside, you're the same as when you were the hero. No, maybe even worse.”
She's saying the same thing. Yuria said something similar last time. I still have no idea what that means.
“So, about what Cecily suggested...”
“Got it. I will. I'll help.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah, but I'll make sure it's as safe as possible. Tell them to cooperate quietly.”
I grabbed Kirke's hand and shook it vigorously up and down.
“Deal sealed? No take-backs?!”
“Yeah, but why are you so happy? It's not even your business.”
Well, I went out here putting on a show. If I couldn't convince her, it'd be embarrassing.
Heading back like this, Yuria would praise me. Good thing it worked out.
Kirke seemed a bit cheered up too, which was a relief.
I saw Kirke off to the guild, then returned to the potion shop.
My footsteps felt light on the way back.