Now then, today marked the opening of the Joint Dance Party hosted by the Forest Circle and the Demon King’s Army.
The rules were simple: the side that kept dancing the longest would be the victor.
I wasn't going into this alone. I had thirty of the Lady Knights—Hachi-san and her swarm—and about ten Tefutefu led by Madam Butterfly.
Against us were our "gentlemen" suitors: one Eyepatch Minotaur who wielded Fire Magic, two ordinary Minotaurs, and five of their subordinate Bull Monsters, the Ehrestier.
If we were just counting heads, the Forest Circle had the advantage at forty-one against eight, but it wasn't nearly that simple. Every one of those Minotaurs was a warrior, clad in armor and fully armed.
Moreover, the Eyepatch Minotaur was a fire-user. Even now, his massive axe was wreathed in flames, burning with a roar. One touch from that thing and we’d all be reduced to cinders. As a plant, I was obviously at risk, but Hachi-san and the Tefutefu were just as vulnerable to fire. The matchup couldn't have been worse.
I decided the Eyepatch Minotaur was the biggest threat. I’d handle him myself. While I left the subordinate Minotaurs to the Lady Knights and Madam Butterfly for the moment, that still left five Ehrestier bulls to deal with.
These weren't nutrient-rich dairy cows full of sweet milk. No, these were battle-hardened beasts with their fighting instincts at full throttle—the kind of bulls that charged at red capes.
Wait... come to think of it, my Corolla was bright red. If they mistook my petals for a matador’s cape and charged me, what would I do? I couldn't exactly dodge. I was, after all, a plant.
But then I noticed something. Those five Ehrestier were strapped with heavy bags. It looked like they were being used as pack animals for the march. If so, their combat ability might not be very high. Still, their charging power was a nuisance.
Fine. I’d take the Bull Monsters out first.
"Come now, gentlemen. Let us begin our Welcoming Ball—otherwise known as a Martial Arts Tournament."
It turned out I had the widest attack range of everyone present. Thanks to that, I managed to land another preemptive strike. First, I had to thank the gentlemen for their attendance.
"I trust you are having a lovely day. Greetings. I am Alraune, the host of this ball. I hope we shall be well acquainted... though I suppose that depends on whether there is an 'after' for you."
I delivered a gift of poison pollen as a formal greeting.
The Minotaurs were fast, though. One of them lunged in front of the nearby Ehrestier to act as a shield, using his axe to protect himself and his subordinate Bull Monsters from the toxic cloud.
To think he’d prioritize holding hands with a fellow bull over dancing with me... I hadn't realized their bond was that "close." Oh my, I’ve never seen that sort of thing in person before.
Only the remaining two bulls seemed truly "moved" by my greeting. They collapsed, foaming at the mouth in what I liked to imagine was a fit of overwhelming praise. Well, I’d take it.
That brought the count to forty-one against six.
"Now, gentlemen, you have your pick of the ladies. Come, everyone! Attend to our guests. The social season has begun!"
Hachi-san and the other Lady Knights surrounded the subordinate Minotaurs and the Ehrestier. As expected of their numbers, the gentlemen couldn't seem to "escort" so many partners at once. The Minotaurs looked bewildered, swinging their axes wildly, while the Ehrestier were already being pricked by the ladies' stinging needles.
Madam Butterfly and her group also began performing their dance around the other enemies. Scale Powder rained down upon the gentlemen in time with the beautiful choreography. The Ehrestier who inhaled the powder began to twitch and stiffen; clearly, it contained a component like Paralysis Powder. The Minotaurs were forced to cover their mouths to avoid the same fate, making it difficult for them to counterattack with their axes.
As expected of the ladies of the Forest Circle, Hachi-san and Madam Butterfly were doing a wonderful job. At this rate, while it would be difficult for them to deal a fatal blow, they seemed capable of keeping the Demon King’s Army occupied.
If I could secure a victory while everyone was buying me time, we had a chance. I had to properly play my part in attending to the gentlemen as well.
The Eyepatch Minotaur approached, brandishing his flaming axe.
"I believe this dance is mine."
I invited him with my Briars. Right, left, right, left—I extended my vines one after another, attempting to "link arms" with him.
However, I was rejected. Apparently, he wasn't a fan of thorny women.
With sharp axe-work, he mowed down my Briars. Because the parts cut by the flaming axe were scorched, the Fire Magic prevented the surfaces from regenerating easily. As expected, plants had terrible compatibility with him.
The Eyepatch Minotaur looked at me mockingly. Drool leaked from his mouth, and his leering gaze was "hot." I couldn't afford to lose to a guy like this.
Whether it was because I was fired up for battle, I felt like even I was becoming a bit "hot." Maybe I got a little too absorbed in the dance.
—No, wait. I was actually on fire!
Hot, hot, hot!
One of my Briars had ignited. It must have been scorched by the flaming axe. The fire was traveling along the Briar like a fuse, racing toward my main body.
Eh, wait a minute! This is bad!
As long as my Bulb and Briars were connected, if the vines burned, I would burn too. I couldn't exactly detach them! I desperately swung the Burning Briar around to try and extinguish the flame, but it had no effect. If I tried to smother it with my other vines, the fire would just spread.
Was this the end for me?
He was a more difficult opponent than I had anticipated. My greatest and strongest enemy—fire. I couldn't win against the flames.
Ugh, I don't want this! I don't want to burn!
The parts of the Briars engulfed in flames were turning into black charcoal. My beautiful green vines were being transformed into a wretched sight. That was my future.
Once the fire reached me, it was inevitable that my entire body would ignite. First, the Bulb would go up, then my Corolla and leaves would be incinerated in an instant. While my body was ablaze, my Pistil would be enveloped in fire, melting away. I would become a pile of black soot and return to the earth. My ashes would be carried by the wind and dissipate into the sky.
I would vanish from this world. That was the despairing future awaiting me just a few dozen blinks away.
At a time like this, I wanted water—not as nourishment, but to save my life. I wanted to give up on everything, enjoy photosynthesis as my "last supper," and forget it all. There was nothing more I could do.
It was hopeless.
—If I had been alone here, I might have given up just like that.
But I had allies now. For everyone's sake, I had to keep fighting until the very end. It would still take a little time for the fire to reach my main body. For now, I would do everything in my power. For the sake of everyone in the Forest Circle who came to help me. It was the least I could do to repay them!
The Eyepatch Minotaur gave his final ultimatum in broken speech. "SURRENDER. I WON'T TREAT YOU BADLY."
He looked incredibly composed.
But I had no intention of becoming an ornamental pet or a side dish. Before I burned out, I would at least take these bulls down with me and turn them into barbecue!
Now then, the real show starts here. Even a plant monster has a passionate heart.
How about I show you a Flower Dance, performed with my Burning Briars? I shall show you a dance of passion, burning in both body and soul.
Behold the Alraune’s crowning glory!
Today will be a double update.
Next time: Covering One's Mouth While Smiling Is the Etiquette of a Lady.