I am the plant monster Alraune.
Having learned that the Glanz Empire and the Demon King Army were plotting to strike the Royal Capital, we decided to pick up the pace of our journey.
Part of that involved entrusting the Child Alraune to my sister, Tulpe, to serve as the protector of Edelweiss—my own birthplace back when I was Iris. With that settled, I no longer had any lingering anxieties about what I was leaving behind.
Well, as far as the single concern of whether the Child Alraune can live a normal life under Tulpe’s care goes, I couldn’t help but be worried. My sister is quite the eccentric, after all. I’m certain she’s doting on the Child Alraune with the same obsessive madness she showed toward me when I was Iris. She was already calling the girl "Niece Alraune."
She had even said something nonsensical about formally adopting her, but surely my sister wasn’t that foolish. A monster being adopted into a ducal house as a noble is simply unheard of. And yet… knowing her, she just might go through with it. In fact, it was terrifyingly likely.
I wondered what those two were up to at this very moment…
"Alraune, are you okay?"
Reacting to Witch-ko’s voice, I snapped my head up. My eyes met hers as she peered into my face with concern. I told myself that the House of Duke Edelweiss would be fine as long as I left it to Tulpe and the Child Alraune. For now, I needed to focus on our own path.
"I’m fine, Rufe. More importantly, we need to hurry to the Royal Capital."
"It’s just the two of us now. How should we get there?"
Currently, only Witch-ko and I remained. Our other companions, led by the Fairy Kiri, had returned to Edelweiss for the time being. Even the Wood Horse Golem we used for transport had headed back to the city.
So, how were we going to reach the Royal Capital? When it came to the two of us traveling together, there was really only one option.
"Right now, I’m just a little Alraune in a flowerpot. In that case, I’d love to enjoy a trip through the sky for the first time in a while."
When I made the suggestion, Witch-ko’s face immediately brightened. She replied with a joyful smile.
"I understand. We can fly through the sky… just the two of us, after such a long time!"
Her innocent, childlike smile was radiant. Witch-ko often showed me this side of herself when it was just the two of us, and the sight of it warmed my heart.
While I was truly happy to have reunited with my biological sister, Tulpe, the time I spent with Witch-ko brought a different kind of joy. To protect this peaceful life, I first had to prevent the upheaval brewing in the Royal Capital.
"All right, Alraune. Here we go."
"Wait a moment!"
I stopped Witch-ko just as she was about to lift my flowerpot. Since we were no longer in the familiar Dryad Forest or the Alraune's Forest, we couldn't be too careful.
"It would be bad if someone saw you flying in your human form. It’s too dangerous to go as you are."
"True. It would be a pain if we were spotted by Imperial Soldiers or the Demon King Army."
Agreeing with me, Witch-ko quietly set me down on the ground. Then, her form began to blur and distort. Her entire body condensed as if caught in a swirling vortex, and the white-haired girl transformed into a single bird.
Through Witch's Magic, Rufe was able to change her shape. Even though I was used to the sight now, I had been truly astonished the first time I saw it. Back then, I had left the burning forest with Witch-ko in her White Bird-san form, and we had set out on an aerial journey to find a new home. That was how we eventually reached the Dryad Forest.
About two and a half years had passed since then. And now, for the first time in a long while, the two of us were traveling through the sky together once more.
Witch-ko gripped my vines with her talons and took flight, floating gently into the air. Dangling like a swing, my body left the ground behind. The grasslands spreading out below expanded in my vision, while the nearby woods grew smaller and smaller. It was a special vantage point reserved only for creatures of the sky.
As a plant, being distanced from the soil always made me feel a little melancholy. Still, as long as I was with Witch-ko, I felt no fear.
I happened to glance back. I could see the massive city covered in deep green—Edelweiss. I thought I had pruned them thoroughly, but those plants that were once part of me were still fiercely asserting their presence.
Though it had been turned into a forest through various circumstances, that city was still the home of my former self, Iris. However, for me as the plant monster Alraune, perhaps my true home was simply wherever Rufe was. As long as I was with her, I could go anywhere.
"Flying like this with you reminds me of that time, Alraune."
"I was thinking the exact same thing."
It seemed Witch-ko was also reminiscing about our first flight together. Knowing our hearts were in sync made me happy. It seemed she felt the same; even in her White Bird-san form, her expression seemed to soften. I had never realized a bird could look like it was smiling until that moment.
"By the way, traveling by air really is fast."
Looking down at the endless wheat fields, we passed over several forests and villages. Not much time had passed since we left Edelweiss, yet we had already flown past the next town. We had been in the southern part of the Kingdom of Gardenia just a moment ago, but we were already entering the central region. The Royal Capital was located in the northern part of this area.
The Wood Horse Golem, capable of traveling at three times the normal speed, had been impressively fast. Even while pulling a carriage, it had easily overtaken horses carrying only riders. But even that extraordinary speed was no match for a bird. A creature bound to the ground was no competition for something that could fly freely through the sky.
"It’s no wonder the witches can move between countries and pull strings behind the scenes like this."
The witches led by the Witch Queen had extended their influence not only to the Kingdom of Gardenia but also to the neighboring Glanz Empire. After all, Crown Princess Marai’s true identity was that of a witch. It was safe to assume the Empire was already being manipulated by them.
And now, that same Empire was planning to attack a wedding ceremony in the Royal Capital. Furthermore, they were apparently in secret collusion with the Demon King Army. If the witches were acting as the intermediaries between the Empire and the Demon King Army, many of the strange events started to make sense.
I hadn't liked witches much during my time as a Saint—they were our natural enemies, after all. My impression changed after becoming an Alraune and meeting a rogue witch like Witch-ko, but after encountering the Witch Queen and the Goddess of Darkness, Hecate, my perspective shifted again.
Witches were dangerous. At the very least, I couldn't let my guard down as long as they were targeting Rufe.
I looked up at Witch-ko. I didn't know when Hecate might possess her again. One of the reasons I was heading to the Royal Capital was actually for Witch-ko’s sake. I had heard that Hecate was trying to reclaim the Witch Queen, who was being held prisoner there. If we went to the capital, I might encounter Hecate once more.
However… Witch-ko didn't know she had been possessed. I had been unable to tell her because I was afraid it would terrify her. Anyone would be horrified to learn their body was being controlled by someone else without their knowledge. That was why I wanted to keep it a secret for as long as possible.
I didn't know how long I could hide the truth. But one thing was certain: no matter what happened from here on out, I would always be on Rufe’s side.
"—Hm?"
Just then, I noticed something unusual. Witch-ko was lowering her altitude as if she were about to land.
"What’s wrong, Rufe? Is it time for a break?"
"Alraune… look over there."
"Over there? Wait, is that something flying!?"
Something was soaring through the sky far ahead of us. It was too large for a bird. Yet, with wings sprouting from its back as it flapped through the clouds, it looked exactly like someone I had seen recently.
"Wait, that’s a Harpy!"
My friend Parca-san is a Harpy, but this one appeared to be someone else entirely. Still, I had learned from Parca-san that Harpies were part of the Demon King Army. That meant this one was likely an enemy.
The Harpy was flying from the direction of the Royal Capital, heading west. Fortunately, she hadn't noticed us yet, thanks to my small size and Witch-ko’s quick thinking in lowering our altitude.
"Alraune, what should we do?"
There were still a few days left until the wedding of Imperial Princess Freundliche and the Lord of Tower City, Manfred. Since we could reach the capital quickly by air, a small detour wouldn't hurt.
"Let’s follow her. Can you stay out of sight while we move?"
"Leave it to me."
I couldn't imagine a Harpy was just out for a casual stroll. She surely had some kind of mission, just like Parca-san usually did. It wouldn't be too late to head to the capital after we found out what she was up to.
For a while, we tracked the Harpy through the sky. I was worried we might be exposed if she looked back, but it turned out to be a needless fear. As rulers of the sky, their only real rivals were the witches. Since the witches and the Demon King Army were allied, no one on the human side could fly. She likely never even considered the possibility that she was being tailed.
Eventually, she reached her destination.
"The Harpy landed in the forest. What now?"
"Of course, we follow her down!"
Witch-ko glided through the trees and perched on a thick branch. In the distance, I saw the Harpy talking to someone on the ground. She was having a secret meeting—and surprisingly, her contact was someone I recognized.
—Wait, is that the Bear Squad Leader!?
There she was, meeting with a member of the Demon King Army whom I had previously bribed with Saint Nectar—or rather, made into an "old friend" back at the Beast-ear Race Village. It was the Saint Nectar-loving Bear Beastman-san.
Next time: The Bear, the Harpy, and the Alraune.