Shared Dreams, Different Thoughts
I grab Irene's hand and sprint desperately through the forest. Beside me, her ragged breathing comes in irregular bursts. Far behind us, Kirke is chasing after us. The sight reminds me of a wild boar. Just brushing against her feels like it would be fatal. The aura around her is that terrifying. Right now, we're prey being hunted by an apex predator. There's no choice but to keep running. Irene, her face pale as a ghost, shouts at me.
Kirke is gradually closing the distance. There's no way we can beat her in pure physical ability. If Irene tried to fight, she'd be subdued in less than five seconds. Even I, in this current body, wouldn't stand a chance. I'd probably last less than ten minutes. The difference between my body as the Hero and this one now is just too vast.
But there's one way out. As small as I look, I'm still a former Hero. I've walked countless battlefields and ultimately slain the Demon King. Even though I'm a little girl now, I've been through situations like this more times than I can count. My body may have shrunk, but my mind is the same.
"I've got a plan."
"You do? Really?!"
While dashing through the forest, I explain the details of the plan to Irene in a low voice.
"Irene, you draw Kirke's attention."
"Me?! Why?! Why does it have to be me!"
"You draw Kirke's attention, and in that opening, I'll snatch that hideous wooden stick from her."
Irene waves both hands frantically in refusal.
"No way! Why are you making me do something like that?!"
"Then are we just going to keep running like this?!"
"Well..."
"If you can't think of anything better, just follow my lead!"
Even after I put it like that, Irene is still hesitating. Fine. Time to set the mood.
I take off the flower crown on my head and hold it carefully with both hands.
"Irene. I really liked this crown you made for me."
"Noel..."
"It's pretty, right? I've never worn anything like this before."
I hand the flower crown to Irene. Then, with the most sorrowful and wistful smile I can manage, I say,
"So I'm entrusting it back to you. To the one who made it for me."
Irene grits her teeth and mutters,
"I guess I have no choice..."
There's an oddly solemn determination in the way she says it. Matching her energy, I deliver a cool line I've always wanted to try.
"Let's begin. The operation that stakes our very fates."
"Yeah."
"And when this operation is over..."
"When it's over?"
"Make me another crown."
Irene nods once. Then she spins around and dashes straight toward Kirke.
......Perfect.
The truth is, there is no plan. That was all made up on the spot. Once Irene draws Kirke's attention, Kirke will definitely chase after her. That idiot is the bait. She's been completely fooled. While Irene is getting scolded by Kirke, I just need to make my way back to Yuria's side. As long as Yuria is next to me, even Kirke won't be able to punish me too harshly.
Irene, why did you have to laugh? If you'd just held it in from the beginning, none of this would have happened.
In the quiet forest, beneath the deep, dark shade of the trees, Yuria is crouched down, digging up something by the roots. I approach her and crouch down right beside her.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm gathering potion ingredients."
I watch Yuria's face as she silently digs up the materials. Sweat is trickling down her cheek. I gently wipe it away with the sleeve of my arm. Then I look around. This spot is quite a distance from where we spread out the picnic blanket. So she'd come all the way out here by herself to work?
"Hey, Yuria. Aren't you lonely?"
"Lonely? Why would I be?"
"Everyone else is over there playing, but you're here working all by yourself."
"Not at all. Not even a little."
"R-really?"
After answering like that, Yuria focuses back on her task. I can't stray far from Yuria right now. If I do, I won't have her protection. I spot a fallen log nearby. It looks perfect to lean against. I walk over and plop down heavily. Then I quietly watch Yuria work.
Even after staring at her for a long time, she doesn't pay my gaze any mind. She just keeps working in silence. I lean back against the log and lie down. Looking up at the sky, I see the afternoon sunlight and the blue expanse above. Some nameless grass brushes against my legs. Every time a breeze blows by, it tickles them. I stare blankly at the clouds drifting slowly across the blue sky. It's a peaceful scene.
Watching the lazily drifting clouds, my consciousness gradually starts to fade. I let out a long yawn. Before I know it, my eyes are slowly closing. It's such a boring landscape that I nearly lose consciousness.
Aren't you lonely?Noel had asked. I couldn't agree with that at all. I didn't feel even the slightest bit of loneliness or isolation. That's not what loneliness means. With Noel, Irene, Kirke, and Cecily all chatting noisily in the distance, how could I possibly feel lonely? Even though I'm working a little ways away, I can hear everything. They're all such rowdy people, after all.
I glance to the side. At some point, Noel had lost the battle against boredom and fallen asleep. Leaning against the log with her mouth slightly open, she looks quite adorable. I move closer and poke her cheek playfully. Noel twitches slightly. She makes a brief uncomfortable face before continuing to sleep as if nothing happened.
Noel herself might not realize it, but she has one truly remarkable ability: the talent to draw people in. That's the one thing she's genuinely gifted at. She pulls those around her close and becomes their sanctuary. Everyone feels at ease just being near Noel. Irene, Kirke, Cecily, and I have all fallen for that ability. It's far too precious a talent to have been wasted on her as a Hero. It's not the kind of power that would be useful in war.
And that Noel is right here beside me. She always stays with me, living in the same house. So there's no way I could ever feel lonely. Above all, no matter where Noel goes, she always comes back to my side. She's done so every time until now. Even now, she's sleeping peacefully right next to me. Even if she wanders a little far, she will eventually return to me. I have that absolute certainty.
That's why I'm never lonely. Working alone while everyone else plays is nothing at all.
The gathering is nearly finished. Just a little more and I'll be done. I focus and continue the work. Before long, I've collected a satisfying amount. I stand up, stretch my arms and shoulders, and let out a big yawn. Then I look over at Noel. She's sleeping so deeply that someone could probably carry her off without her noticing. I lie down beside her. Leaning against the log side by side, we look up at the sky. The clouds drift slowly by as the sun begins to set. It's about time to head back.
I gently shake Noel awake.
"Noel, it's time to get up."
"Hmm? Mmm..."
Noel opens her eyes halfway and slowly sits up. Once upright, she smooths down her messy hair. I stand up as well and brush the dirt off Noel's back.
"Let's head back now."
"Yeah... we should."
I gather up the collected ingredients and hand some of them to Noel. She takes the load without complaint, handling it with practiced ease. I can feel the experience of the potion shop girl in her movements. She's completely become a child of our house now. The work looks natural to her.
Chatting with Noel, we head back toward where the others are.
"By the way, what were you doing at the guild today?"
"Ah. I was just about to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Noel. From now on, we need to deliver recovery potions to the church on a regular basis."
"...On a regular basis?"
"Yes. Regularly. Little by little."
"That sounds... annoying. Can't we just deliver them all at once?"
"Of course not."
Cecily's plan is to gradually reduce the quantity of recovery potions supplied, bit by bit. Handing over a large amount at once is obviously out of the question. No one knows what kind of reckless behavior the addicts might do if they saw a huge stockpile of potions.
"It might be a bit of a burden, but can I ask you to handle it?"
"...Yeah."
Noel nods. Even though it must be a hassle, the way she endures it is admirable. She seems unusually obedient today.
"The guild will cover the cost of the potions. They'll also set the exact schedule and quantities."
"Really? Kirke's going to be busy."
"Yes. She's being surprisingly proactive, completely different from how she reacted when I first brought it up."
"Kirke always keeps her promises. She did agree to cooperate, after all."
But that's not all there is to it. Something must have changed in Kirke's heart that night after she talked with Noel. Kirke has changed. The cold, cynical attitude she showed that day is nowhere to be found. And Noel is the one who brought that out in her.
Noel really is an amazing person. If there's one thing she's talented at, it's winning over women. In a different sense, she's like a Hero. Not the kind of Hero who slays the Demon King and marches off to war, but a Hero who changes people. That's Noel's true nature.
While talking, we soon arrive. In the distance, I can see three people on the picnic blanket. For some reason, Irene is kneeling, and Kirke is standing in front of her, scolding her furiously. Cecily is a few steps away, quietly eating fruit. I think it's a peaceful scene.
But when Noel sees it, she suddenly stops walking. Her feet seem frozen in place. She stands still, turns her head, and looks up at me with a steady gaze. I notice her body trembling slightly.
"Yuria."
"Yes?"
"I'm really glad you're here."
Out of nowhere, she says something so embarrassing. I don't know what kind of mood she's in, but I respond with genuine feeling.