My name is Nina.
I’ve finally returned to Florenz, the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Gardenia, after a long time away.
Surrounded on all sides by towering walls, Florenz is known as the most fortified city on the continent. Its Holy Magic Barrier, the Dämonenwand, is famous for repelling any and all Beings of Magic that might attempt to invade.
History tells us that during the Dark Age five hundred years ago, when the Demon King Army trampled almost the entire continent, this city stood alongside the Holy Capital of the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light as one of the last beacons of hope for humanity.
Neither demons nor monsters—not even a Witch—can set foot inside.
For humanity, it is the safest place in the world.
Florenz is also known by another name: the "Flower City." It supposedly earned the title because so many different cultures and arts blossomed here throughout its long history. Many people consider the Royal Capital to be the true center of the continent.
In fact, I don't know of any other city so vast and prosperous. The Holy Capital where I stayed until recently was quite magnificent, but in terms of sheer scale, it couldn't hold a candle to Florenz. With a population of roughly one hundred thousand, the only city that could possibly rival it is the Imperial Capital of the Glanz Empire.
It is a city of dreams, a place everyone longs to visit at least once. A historic metropolis and the "Flower Capital" at the heart of the world.
However, over the past few months, that Royal Capital had begun to change.
I witnessed that reality the moment we entered the city.
Flanked by the Holy Knights of the Selene Church, our carriage made a grand, triumphal return. Word had apparently been spread to the citizens that high-ranking members of the Church were traveling with the Lady Shrine Maiden of the Goddess, and they turned out in droves to welcome us as if we were part of a parade.
"Lady Shrine Maiden, look! There are so many people!"
"Mm. This, too, is a testament to the majesty of Goddess Selene. I am pleased to receive the welcome of such devout followers."
It was difficult to read the expression of the Lady Shrine Maiden of the Goddess as she sat across from me, but I could tell from her voice that she was in high spirits.
"By the way, Lady Shrine Maiden, have you ever been to the Royal Capital before?"
"It was a long time ago, but I have visited many times. This place... it has not changed since the days of old."
She gazed quietly at the stone-built streets through the carriage window. In the distance, several church spires were visible. There are many such churches built throughout the capital, but the Saint Cathedral where I used to work was the grandest of them all—a masterpiece of architecture that drew countless tourists and pilgrims.
Even so...
The Lady Shrine Maiden of the Goddess looked to be about the same age as me. If she visited a "long time ago," perhaps she meant she hadn't been here since she was a small child.
But I knew the truth. Compared to just a few years ago, the scenery of the Royal Capital had changed—just a little. Ever so slightly.
"Hmm... What is that?"
The crowds of welcoming citizens had finally thinned out, and the area was growing quiet, but then the Lady Shrine Maiden spotted something.
"L-Lady Shrine Maiden... T-that is, well..."
"What on earth are those people doing there?!"
The carriage happened to be passing a plaza. In one corner, a massive display of red flowers had been set up, and a large crowd was gathered there, offering prayers.
The Selene Sect has no doctrine involving prayers to red flowers. Naturally, there are no myths associated with them, either. And yet, those people were praying to the flowers with as much fervor as if they were standing before a god.
"Are they praying to red flowers? I have never seen such a sight."
"Y-yes, I suppose so..."
Before I left the capital, I had already started seeing scenes like this quite often. But I wouldn't dare say that to her.
"Mmu?! Look, Nina... What is that?"
"W-what could it be, I wonder..."
Tucked among the red flowers arranged like an altar was a small wooden figurine. Not only that, but over a hundred people gathered there were holding identical figurines in their hands.
"They appear to be made of wood... I wonder what they are. They look like dolls of some sort, but I cannot be certain."
The Lady Shrine Maiden has incredibly good eyesight. I suspect her vision is sharp enough to see distant landscapes from the top of a tower.
Please don't notice, I begged internally. Please, whatever you do, don't realize those wooden dolls are carved in the shape of an Alraune!
"How strange... I never saw such a thing in the Holy Capital."
"Y-yes, I suppose so..."
The carriage passed the plaza and continued through the city streets.
Thank goodness—I'd managed to keep the Alraune Faith from being exposed to the Lady Shrine Maiden for now.
"The Elves practice a form of spirit worship that includes such prayers, but I have never seen it in these parts. Could it be that the Elves have gathered in the Royal Capital without my knowledge?"
"W-who knows..."
"But there wasn't a single Elf among them. And it was clearly different from any Spirit Faith I have seen before. What was that...?"
That was a gathering to offer prayers to Iris-sama—the Alraune. There hadn't been nearly that many people when I was last in the city. It seemed the number of believers had grown significantly over the past few months.
"Konrad! Is Konrad there?"
"Cough, cough... Did you call for me, Lady Shrine Maiden?"
Knight Commander Konrad, still mounted on his horse, pulled up alongside the carriage. The Lady Shrine Maiden opened the window to issue her orders.
"Investigate that mysterious gathering in the plaza. Immediately."
"By your command."
Lord Konrad relayed the orders to the Holy Knights. I watched as several riders broke off and headed back toward the plaza.
"This should reveal the truth behind that suspicious gathering."
"Y-yes, I suppose so..."
"One can never be too careful. There is always the possibility of interference by a Witch or the Demon Race. We must nip the seeds of danger in the bud."
"Y-yes, I suppose so..."
"Nina. You have been acting strangely for a while now. Is something the matter?"
"N-nothing at all! I'm always like this!"
"If you say so... Wait, mmu?!"
The Lady Shrine Maiden stood up and pressed herself against the window, pointing outside.
"What is that?!"
"T-that is..."
The church she was pointing at was relatively small, though it sat along the main thoroughfare. It was a historic, dignified building that had stood there for centuries.
But its appearance was more than a little off.
"The front of that church is covered in those red flowers!"
"Ah... It's finally happened..."
That wasn't all. At the very peak of the building sat the symbol of the church, representing Goddess Selene. That was normal, but lashed right next to it was a large wooden doll.
"To tie such a suspicious doll to the holy sign of Lady Selene... I-I cannot forgive this!"
The Lady Shrine Maiden was livid!
Oh, what was I going to do? As the true supreme leader of the Church, there was no way she wouldn't be offended by such a sight. I understood that, but the problem was that the person behind this outrage was someone I knew.
"I can endure no more. Stop the carriage!"
"A-ah, Lady Shrine Maiden?!"
The Lady Shrine Maiden climbed out of the carriage and stormed into the church. I hurriedly chased after her, only to be met by a bizarre—no, a truly wonderful sight.
"T-this is...!"
It was supposed to be an ordinary, historic little church. Yet the interior had been transformed since my last visit.
Slurp.
My appetite was suddenly piqued, and I almost started drooling. The scene before me was just that intoxicating.
"I can see an Aura of Light... Is that Saint Nectar?"
The walls inside were lined from floor to ceiling with bottles and barrels of Saint Nectar. Most were empty crates and bottles, but plenty of full ones were lined up as well. I couldn't help myself.
In one fluid motion, I pulled the black canteen from my waist and took a long drink.
Gulp.
Ah... so delicious. It was so sweet my tongue felt like it was melting. It felt as if my entire body was being stained by the nectar. As I thought, the Saint Nectar from Iris-sama—from the Alraune—is the absolute best!
Gulp, gulp.
I didn't forget to take a second swig. I can't even imagine a life without Saint Nectar anymore. Ever since I learned it was Iris-sama's nectar, it has become even more precious and dear to me.
And I wasn't the only one. The church was packed with fellow believers. They were all offering prayers to the red flowers and wooden Alraune dolls while drinking the nectar.
And this wasn't just some plaza. This was a church dedicated to Goddess Selene.
"Saint Nectar and red flowers... Does that mean that doll is... an Alraune?"
It seemed the Lady Shrine Maiden had finally realized it, too—that this "mysterious gathering" was the Alraune Faith.
My heart felt heavy. What was I going to do now?
"My, my! You've returned to the Royal Capital, Lady Nina!"
As the Lady Shrine Maiden stood there bewildered and I drained my canteen while clutching my head, a woman appeared before us.
She had a smile without a single cloud and a voice as bright as the sun. Looking at my friend, who hadn't changed a bit since we met in the Tower City, I felt a wave of dizziness.
"It is wonderful to see you well, Lady Nina!"
"Sister Hildegard... you seem well, too..."
The madwoman—no, the culprit responsible for spreading the Alraune Faith throughout the capital—spoke to me without a hint of guilt.
"Look! While you were away, Lady Nina, I increased the number of Lady Alraune’s believers, just as I promised!"
P-please stop, Sister Hildegard! I never promised any such thing!
I could feel the Lady Shrine Maiden staring at me with icy eyes. How was I going to explain this later?
"This church has embraced our faith. Lady Alraune will surely be pleased by such a wise decision."
Applause echoed through the building. Everyone gathered there had been saved by the nectar and had resolved to offer their devotion to the Alraune.
In other words:
This church had been completely taken over by the Alraune Faith!