Quiet Life
I will live quietly from now on.
Leaving the capital didn't take as long as I thought.
My luggage was nothing special.
A few clothes.
Alchemy tools.
Books.
And medicine.
The problem was the last one.
“Are you taking all of this?” Liana looked at the boxes on the floor.
“Yeah.”
“All of them?”
“Yeah.”
There were six boxes.
Of those, four were medicine bottles.
Liana opened one.
Glass bottles were packed inside.
“This is most of the luggage?”
“It’s important.”
“More important than clothes?”
“Of course.”
Liana looked away from the box and at me.
“More important than you?”
I hesitated for a moment.
It might be better not to answer.
Liana’s eyes narrowed.
“Evan.”
“It’s a joke.”
“Too late.”
She pinched my arm.
“Ouch.”
“Does it hurt?”
“A little.”
“Take some medicine.”
“That’s a bit late.”
“I can’t even take medicine?”
“Why does that story come up?”
Liana looked at me with an incredulous expression, then eventually laughed.
“I really can’t stop you.”
Still, she picked up one side of the box.
“I’ll carry this.”
“It’s heavy.”
“I’m a Spiritist.”
“What does being a Spiritist have to do with carrying a box?”
“I can summon spirits.”
Liana flicked her hand.
A small breeze slipped under the box.
The box lifted from the floor by about a finger.
And.
Thud.
It fell again.
“……”
“……”
I looked at Liana.
Liana had a face that said nothing happened as she lifted the box herself.
“Just let me carry it.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t laugh.”
“I wasn’t laughing.”
“Your mouth is upturned.”
“What?”
“It’s up.”
I closed my mouth.
If I said anything more, the box might fly towards me.
Anyway.
With that, we left the capital.
My parents would stay in the capital for now.
Since they became the parents of the hero who defeated the Demon King, it was difficult to return to the hometown right away.
They were called from the palace.
Nobles came to visit.
People I’d never heard of came with gifts.
After my brother left, some people secretly glanced at me.
Since I was the hero’s brother, they probably thought I should take his place or something.
I pretended not to notice.
I hadn’t caught the Demon King.
My brother had.
I had only made potions.
So, I came down.
To the place I originally lived.
With Liana.
It took several days by carriage from the capital to the hometown.
The first day, familiar noble estates appeared.
From the next day, buildings became fewer.
High walls disappeared.
Carriages became less common.
In their place, fields increased and the forest came closer.
The smell coming through the windows changed too.
I rested my arm on the window frame.
“This is better.”
After all, this side was comfortable.
“Evan.”
“Hm?”
Liana next to me tapped my shoulder.
“Sleep.”
“What?”
“You’ve been dozing off since earlier.”
“I’m not sleepy.”
A yawn came out.
Liana smiled.
“You’re not sleepy.”
“……A little.”
“Come here.”
There was no need to refuse.
I leaned my body.
Putting my head on Liana’s shoulder, I smelled a familiar scent.
It wasn’t perfume.
Herb scent.
Tree scent.
A very slight mix of dried flowers and soil scent.
It was the scent of someone who had been in the forest for a long time.
Liana brushed my hair once.
“Comfortable?”
“Yeah.”
“Heavy.”
“Then shall I put it down?”
“No.”
While saying that, I adjusted my posture a little more.
I closed my eyes.
This had lasted a long time.
When we entered the forest together as children, one of us was always exhausted.
Most of the time it was me.
Liana was fine even if she wandered the forest all day following spirits.
I would gather herbs and collapse first.
Then we would sit side by side under a tree.
When I fell asleep, I would use Liana’s shoulder.
When Liana fell asleep, she would use my knee.
There was no one who came first.
It was always like that.
“This is good.”
Ordinary.
Quiet.
No need to think hard about it.
I didn’t want to save the world like my brother.
I had no intention of making a name for myself in the palace.
One pharmacy.
One forest.
And Liana.
That was enough.
“If you’re going to sleep, sleep.”
Liana said.
“Wake me when we arrive.”
“Yeah.”
“I really need to be woken.”
“Why?”
“If I don’t wake you, I won’t be able to sleep at night.”
Liana said casually.
“Then I can put you to sleep at night.”
I opened my eyes.
Liana was looking out the window.
I closed my mouth for a moment.
“Did you say that on purpose?”
“What?”
“Okay.”
“Why?”
Liana turned her head.
The corner of her mouth was upturned.
“Your ears are red.”
“The carriage is hot.”
“Shall I open the window?”
“Liana.”
“Hm?”
“You’re going to sleep.”
“You’re running away.”
I didn’t answer and closed my eyes.
A small laugh came from behind.
***
We arrived at the hometown around sunset.
The village was surprisingly the same as before.
A tilted sign at the entrance.
A small square.
A fountain on one side slightly cracked.
A bakery that had been there since childhood.
If there was a change, it was probably the people’s gazes.
“Lord Evan?”
“You really came back.”
“Miss Liana came with you too.”
“Aren’t you the brother of the hero?”
I stopped walking.
“I originally lived here.”
The merchant smiled.
“Still, it’s different now.”
“What?”
“You’re the brother of the hero.”
“I was your brother’s brother before too.”
Liana covered her mouth next to me.
Her shoulders were shaking.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I wasn’t laughing.”
“You were.”
“It’s just my mood.”
The mood I sensed with my ability was very pleasant.
It was a lie.
People kept talking to me.
It was only about my brother.
Stories that he was different since childhood.
Stories that he defeated the Demon King.
Stories that he was the pride of the village.
Hearing that, it felt a bit strange.
These people seemed not to know that the hero had fallen into a winter pond as a child and cried while coming home.
The hero was really convenient.
Embarrassing pasts disappeared on their own.
“Don’t mention it.”
Liana whispered softly next to me.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“It’s written on your face.”
“What?”
“Brother’s dark history.”
“Can a Spiritist use mind-reading?”
“You can tell just by looking at your face.”
It was scary.
After greeting the people for a long time, we finally arrived at the house.
The Arden family’s hometown estate.
It was called the main house, but compared to the estates of capital nobles, it was just a big house.
Since my parents and brother stayed in the capital and most servants followed them, it was almost empty now.
I opened the door.
Dust greeted me first.
Liana covered her nose.
“I’ll have to clean first.”
“Can’t we do it tomorrow?”
“Where were you planning to sleep tonight?”
“Just shaking the bed would do.”
“What if you eat dust and die?”
“Take medicine.”
Liana picked up the broom.
“I’ll kill you first.”
It didn’t sound like a joke.
In the end, I cleaned.
I opened the windows first.
When light came in, dust was more visible.
I thought it was a mistake to open them.
I checked the workshop first.
Fortunately, the alchemy table and storage were fine.
I picked up an old flask.
“This is still here.”
Liana leaned against the door and looked.
“Wasn’t this the first thing you bought?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought it would break.”
“It’s good.”
“You said it was cheap.”
“It’s good if it creates memories.”
“Suddenly?”
“I don’t want to throw it away.”
Liana chuckled.
“Then I won’t throw it away.”
A little later, it was the opposite: Liana found an old box.
Inside were dried flowers and leaves full of it.
“This was still here.”
I asked.
“What?”
Liana picked up one flower.
It was completely dried, and the color had almost faded.
“Don’t you remember?”
“Yeah.”
“The one you gave me when I first entered the forest with you.”
I looked at the flower.
“I gave it to you?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Liana slowly looked at me.
The mood dropped a little.
“Are you asking me about that?”
“It was when we were kids.”
“Don’t you really remember?”
“Not at all.”
Liana held the flower in front of my eyes.
“Do you know what you said to me that day?”
“What did I say?”
“This flower looks just like you.”
I stared at the dried flower for a long time.
“Did I say that?”
“Yeah.”
“I was more romantic when I was a kid.”
Liana smiled.
“Now?”
I looked at the flower again.
“It looks like herbs.”
Thud.
The box closed.
“Shall we think about remarrying?”
“Sorry.”
“You’re quick.”
“This seems like I did something wrong.”
“Do you know that?”
The mood relaxed again.
I felt relieved inside.
It was a good ability.
Sometimes it really saved my life.
After cleaning the house for a while, it was time to choose a room.
Liana naturally spread out her luggage right next to my room.
I stood in front of the door and asked.
“Are you going to use that?”
“Yeah.”
“Right next to my room.”
“So?”
“No.”
Liana said while putting down the luggage.
“When we get married, we’ll use it together anyway.”
I paused for a moment.
“That’s true.”
Liana turned around.
“What?”
“What?”
“Are you embarrassed now?”
“I’m not embarrassed.”
“Your ears are red.”
“It’s because of the dust.”
“Did dust only get in your ears?”
“It could happen.”
“Alchemists are really comfortable.”
I didn’t answer and picked up the empty box and came out.
Laughter came from behind Liana.
Would I hear this laughter every day?
It wasn’t bad, actually.
Good, even.
“I really think I can live here.”
***
The next day.
After eating breakfast, we entered the forest.
“Today, we’ll go all the way inside.”
Liana said.
“Let’s gather some herbs.”
“Is this a date?”
“Kind of.”
“We just arrived yesterday and it’s herbs?”
“We’re going to open a pharmacy.”
“We haven’t even set up a place yet.”
“It’s better to gather in advance.”
Liana sighed.
Still, the steps entering the forest were light.
The forest north of the village.
It had a slightly thicker magical energy than other places, making it a good place for herbs to grow.
It was also where I learned alchemy.
It was also the place where Liana first met a spirit.
It was a place we entered countless times since we were kids.
“Do you remember this?”
Liana pointed to a large tree by the roadside.
There was a long scar carved in the middle of the trunk.
I looked for a moment, then remembered.
“You fell there.”
“I?”
“Yeah.”
“You pushed me.”
“I didn’t push you.”
“You did.”
“I got stung by a bee and fell backward.”
“You suddenly yelled.”
“I told you there was a bee.”
“Right next to your ear?”
“It was urgent.”
Liana glared at me.
It was over ten years ago.
“So, who carried whom home that day?”
I asked.
Liana’s mouth closed.
“Who was it?”
“Noisy.”
“Don’t you remember?”
“Evan.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m leaving you in the forest today.”
“I know the way better.”
“Ask the spirits.”
It was cheeky.
I smiled and bent down.
I saw a small leaf next to the tree root.
I touched it with my fingertips.
A subtle sensation rose.
“This won’t do.”
I didn’t pick it.
Liana squatted next to me.
“Why?”
“The condition is bad.”
“It looks fine.”
“The inside is weird.”
“Can you see it?”
“No.”
I lightly touched the leaf with my finger.
“It just feels that way.”
The exact name wasn’t visible.
Whether good or bad.
Comfortable or uncomfortable.
It only vaguely grasped the direction.
It was similar for people.
Whether Liana was in a good mood.
Somewhat uncomfortable.
Angry.
I could feel that much.
The problem was that it didn’t tell me the reason.
“Are you in a bad mood now?”
I asked, and Liana looked at me.
“Suddenly?”
“It dropped a little.”
“You were teasing me with old stories.”
“Ah.”
“Your ability is really annoying sometimes.”
“Why?”
“You can immediately sense people’s feelings, but you don’t know why.”
“I really don’t know that.”
“That’s even more annoying.”
The mood dropped again.
I scanned the surroundings.
“Over there, moonlight grass.”
Liana bit her lip.
Eventually she laughed.
“You’re still the same at turning the conversation.”
“It worked back then.”
“One day it won’t.”
“Find another way then.”
“You say that so boldly.”
We walked again.
Small lights followed around Liana.
Spirits.
One was hovering above her head.
One was going in and out between the leaves.
Liana extended her hand, and one small light landed on her palm.
“North?”
The light blinked twice.
Liana nodded.
“It says it’s fine that way.”
“Then let’s go.”
“You said it was a date earlier.”
“Can you ask the spirits where the herbs are?”
Liana stopped walking.
“Evan.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m a little regretful right now.”
“What?”
“Becoming a Spiritist.”
Still, she asked.
A decent amount of herbs came out.
The bag was half full.
It wasn’t great materials.
Things to relieve fatigue.
Things to lower fever.
Things used for disinfection or light magical recovery.
It would be the most frequently used material if we opened a pharmacy.
I put the herbs in my hand into the bag.
“No matter how well I make it, there’s a limit.”
Liana asked.
“What are you thinking now?”
“A pharmacy.”
“Suddenly?”
“Thinking about it makes me think of opening one.”
I shook the bag with the herbs.
“You can’t grow new arms on people with this.”
“That’s obvious.”
“So.”
What I could do was get closer to not ruining good materials.
Avoid things that didn’t match.
Mix them a little better according to the person’s condition.
Select good ones from the same herbs.
I didn’t create new effects from nothing.
I couldn’t make a legendary medicine that could save a dying dragon with a few herbs from the hometown forest.
But now there was no reason to make such things.
The Demon King was dead.
The war was over.
What I would face from now on was colds, fevers.
Minor wounds.
Occasionally adventurers who got injured.
That would be enough.
“Liana.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s make the pharmacy near the house.”
“You decided suddenly?”
“Yeah.”
“Will customers come all the way here?”
“If they’re sick, they’ll come.”
“Are you planning to do business?”
“As long as I don’t starve to death.”
Liana sighed.
“Then I’ll have to feed you.”
“As a Spiritist?”
“Why. Don’t you think I can?”
“I think you’ll make good money.”
“Right?”
“More than me.”
Liana proudly puffed out her chest.
“Then it’s good.”
Then she naturally took my hand.
I intertwined my fingers with hers.
Liana didn’t react much.
It was familiar enough for us.
“Let’s do it together.”
Liana asked.
“What?”
“Opening a pharmacy.”
“Yeah.”
“Fix the house too.”
“Yeah.”
We walked for a while.
I held her hand more firmly.
“Get married too.”
Liana’s feet stopped.
I stopped following.
“……Isn’t that a given?”
“Even if it’s given, I have to say it.”
The corner of Liana’s mouth lifted a little.
The mood brightened quickly.
“When?”
“What?”
“Marriage.”
“After cleaning the house and opening the pharmacy—”
Liana’s eyes narrowed.
The mood dropped too.
I stopped talking.
“This year.”
I said immediately.
The mood rose again.
“Let’s do it this year.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Liana stared at me for a while.
“Why?”
“Just.”
“Why just?”
“I really didn’t know how to say it.”
“I have a plan too.”
“What plan?”
“A plan to get married.”
“Is that the end?”
“And open a pharmacy.”
“And?”
I thought for a moment.
“And keep coming to the forest together.”
Liana’s expression softened a little.
“Even after marriage?”
“Can’t come to the forest after marriage?”
“No.”
“Then come.”
I looked around.
It was a path I had walked countless times since childhood.
I thought I would keep walking it in the future.
“Let’s come together once a week.”
“To gather herbs?”
“And that too.”
“That too?”
“Dates too.”
Liana laughed.
“Isn’t the order reversed?”
“We can do both.”
“Then promise.”
“Yeah.”
“Even if I’m busy with work?”
“What work would be that busy.”
The Demon King was dead.
My brother left.
What could interfere with us now?
“I promise.”
Liana shook my hand once.
The mood was very good.
I was good too.
No need for grand gestures.
Close the pharmacy door and eat together.
Occasionally enter the forest and watch Liana and the spirits play.
Then when we both get old.
My brother returned to his own world.
The original story ended.
Now it was really my life.
***
We returned home around sunset.
Liana put down the herb bag on the floor.
“What should we eat for dinner?”
“Meat.”
“We had meat yesterday too.”
“Then today too.”
“There’s only one choice.”
“It’s okay to eat good things every day.”
“Vegetables.”
“To get nutrition with medicine—”
Liana looked at me.
Closed her mouth.
“You did well.”
“You’re getting more like a mother.”
“No meat today.”
“Cancelled.”
“You’re late.”
“Liana.”
“Why?”
“I love you.”
Liana chuckled.
“Only then?”
The mood improved.
It worked.
I was satisfied.
It was peaceful.
Really.
It seemed like such days would continue.
At that moment.
Knock knock.
There was a knocking sound at the door.
Liana turned her head.
“Who is it?”
“I wonder.”
If it was village people, they would usually call out the name from outside.
Almost no one would knock with ceremony.
Looking out the window, there was one unfamiliar horse.
A travel saddle.
Legs covered in a lot of dirt.
It seemed to have come from quite far.
I put down the herb bag.
“I’ll check.”
I opened the door.
And paused for a moment.
Silver-white hair.
Silver armor visible under the travel cloak.
A long sword at the waist.
A face that was easy to remember once seen.
I knew that woman.
I had seen her at the victory ceremony.
I had known her much longer than that.
In the original story.
The Sword Saint of the hero party that defeated the Demon King.
Cecilia Valenstein.
She was also looking at me.
For a surprisingly long time.
Like a sword saint, her posture was straight.
There was no particular emotion on her face.
But up close, things that weren’t visible at the victory ceremony appeared.
Very faint fatigue under the eyes.
Lips slightly roughened.
Traces of a long journey.
Then she asked in a low, calm voice.
“Are you Leon Arden’s brother?”
I turned around once.
Liana had come out to the entrance by now.
I looked at Cecilia again.
“Yes.”
The moment I answered.
An odd sensation rose.
It wasn’t my feeling.
It was the mood felt from the woman in front of me.
It was uncomfortable.
Very much.
It wasn’t just the level of feeling tired from a person who had traveled.
Something had been sinking for a long time.
And it felt suffocating like another thing was constantly covering it.
I unconsciously scanned Cecilia’s face again.
Externally, she was fine.
Her waist was straight.
Her hand was away from the sword.
Her voice didn’t waver.
The Sword Saint who defeated the Demon King.
Anyone would see that.
But what I felt was completely different.
“……What is this.”
At first, I thought it was fatigue from the journey.
It wasn’t.
It wasn’t just bad mood.
This level of mood was new to me too.
“This person.”
Why is the condition like this?