I was Alraune, a plant monster girl.
In that moment, both my heart and my briars were burning with a heat akin to the flames of passion.
The fire from the Flame Axe had spread to my briars. Creeping toward me like a fuse, the fire served as a countdown—the hourglass of my remaining life. If the flames reached my main body, I would be reduced to nothing but cinders.
The Eyepatch Minotaur had delivered his final ultimatum: become an ornamental plant for his dessert and pleasure, and he would spare my life. Of course, I had no intention of spending my days offering nectar to a Minotaur. I would fight alongside my friends in the Forest Circle until the very moment my life flickered out.
Because he was waiting for my response to his ultimatum, the Eyepatch Minotaur had grown careless. The fact that he was content to simply watch me was a stroke of luck. His stillness was my opportunity.
I glanced toward Madam Butterfly. Her Scale Powder seemed to have done the trick; the bull monsters remained collapsed and paralyzed. Their Minotaur partner was also struggling to act, as he had to keep one hand clamped over his mouth to avoid inhaling the powder.
Might this be my chance to ask for a dance?
While the Eyepatch Minotaur was distracted, I sent reinforcements to Madam Butterfly. Briars erupted from the earth, firmly pinning the arms of the subordinate Minotaur who was covering his mouth.
"It is time to switch partners with Madam Butterfly. Next, you shall dance with me."
If the host only danced with one bull, the other gentlemen might grow jealous, so I sent my briars toward the Eyepatch Minotaur and the other remaining enemy as well. I liked to think of myself as quite considerate.
"Now, let us find our step."
"Please, take your hand away from your face. Otherwise, I cannot behold your gallant features."
Oh, Mr. Minotaur, you really did have a face like a cow, didn’t you?
"To a bull as sturdy as yourself, I shall grant a secret invitation."
"Should you find me to your liking, perhaps we can slip away from the ball together later."
I sprouted a Man-eater from the briars pinning the Minotaur’s arms and "mailed" my invitation directly into his gullet. It looked quite a bit like poison pollen, but that was simply my personal style of invitation.
I used my briars to pin the limbs of the thrashing Minotaur.
"You dance quite violently, don't you? Perhaps it would be best if you attended a proper dance school."
As I taught the ABCs of movement to his very bones, the Minotaur rolled his eyes back and vomited foam, expressing his "gratitude" for my lesson. It seemed he had decided against slipping away with me after all, opting instead to depart for another world entirely. My invitation had been rejected.
Whether he wanted to take his subordinate’s place or simply save him, the Eyepatch Minotaur charged toward Madam Butterfly, hacking through my briars. I sprayed a volley of invitations from my main body's corolla at the leader. For a bull of his high rank, I provided a truly special amount of gifts.
The Eyepatch Minotaur raised his flaming axe, conjuring a Flame Circle around himself. My poison pollen was incinerated in an instant. Fire truly was terrifying.
In that opening, I turned my attention to the bull monsters paralyzed by Madam Butterfly’s Scale Powder. I forced them to inhale my poison pollen, politely asking them to exit the ball.
Good. That left four opponents.
There was movement on the Lady Knights' side as well. Driven by Hachi-san’s fierce momentum, the final bull monster collapsed to the ground. That left two Minotaurs and one bull monster—an Ehrestier.
While the Minotaur was busy dancing with the Lady Knights, I sent an invitation to the other Ehrestier, who was already on the verge of death from Hachi-san’s stings.
"You should go and join your comrades."
"That way, no one will be lonely."
The Ehrestier, battered by the Lady Knights, had no strength left to refuse and immediately departed the ball. Now, only the two Minotaurs remained.
However, the Lady Knights' side had not escaped unscathed. Many Hachi-san were already lying still on the ground, staining the earth yellow.
Gunuu.
How dare he do that to my Lady Knights. It was unforgivable.
But reality was equally unforgiving. My time limit was fast approaching. The briars acting as a fuse had burned away, and the fire had finally reached the space directly in front of my main body.
Was this the end of my ball? How disappointing. I had wanted to dance so much longer with everyone in the Forest Circle. Dying by fire wasn't a particularly pleasant end for a plant. I had wanted to bloom beautifully in this forest for a long time to come.
The Eyepatch Minotaur swung his axe, showering Hachi-san and the others in flames. One by one, they were turned into black ash and forced to leave the ball. I truly could not forgive this Minotaur.
At the very least, I had to save everyone. Though, I supposed I needed to save myself first. I was at a total loss.
The Eyepatch Minotaur turned his axe toward Madam Butterfly and her followers.
—Wait, the axe!
I had completely forgotten because I was a plant monster, but there was no rule saying a plant couldn't wield a weapon. Since I had never seen a flower gripping a sword or a spear, the idea hadn't even crossed my mind.
I turned my gaze toward the spoils I had taken from the scout Minotaur earlier. I had kept those belongings safe. Using my vines, I hoisted the axe I had acquired.
Yes, I could hold it. I had suspected as much, given my rather extraordinary strength.
First, I had to destroy the timer. I sliced the Burning Briars off at the base. It was a shockingly simple solution, but it successfully prolonged my life. Weapons really were wonderful—the true fruits of civilization.
I realized I could use the axe as a weapon, though as a former Saint, I had no idea how to actually wield one. In that case, I had only one option: throw it.
To kill time after becoming an Alraune, I had often practiced plucking nearby trees and throwing them at targets. Because of that, I had a fair bit of confidence in my aim.
I switched places with Madam Butterfly and snatched up the axe from the Minotaur I had just defeated. Dual-wielding now, I hurled both axes at the remaining Minotaurs simultaneously.
The Eyepatch Minotaur guarded himself with his own axe. As expected of a leader. His subordinate, however, fared differently. Preoccupied with swatting down Hachi-san, the axe slammed into the subordinate’s head. His helmet went flying.
He was bleeding, but the helmet had prevented a fatal wound. Even so, as long as he was on the ground, he was mine.
"Poor Mr. Subordinate. You must have grown dizzy from the dance and suffered a concussion. Oh dear, I really must help you."
I sprouted briars from the earth and bloomed a Man-eater beside him, spraying poison pollen directly down his throat. There. I had finally put him at ease.
In the area around that subordinate, nearly twenty Hachi-san had been cut down. Many others had been burned. Even several of Madam Butterfly’s Tefutefu followers lay in ruin, their wings crushed against the dirt.
Nectar spilled from my eyes like tears.
We had all known from the start that we were at a disadvantage. Even so, I had wanted everyone to survive.
—I absolutely could not forgive this.
I would avenge the Forest Circle. Only one enemy remained.
Hachi-san and the Tefutefu were covered in wounds. I could not afford to lose any more of my friends.
"Lady Knights, Madam Butterfly—please, rest now. I will handle that bull myself. Watch me from there."
The remaining Eyepatch Minotaur turned toward me, looking stunned. His eyes seemed to protest that an Alraune throwing axes was somehow "cheating." Or perhaps he simply didn't approve of a lady brandishing an axe at a ball?
"Please, do not misunderstand."
"At first glance, this may appear to be an axe, but it is actually a prop for the ball."
"It is a fan. Can you not see?"
It was flat and spread out in a fan shape. Therefore, it was a fan. You often saw young ladies at dance parties carrying those fluffy feathered fans, didn't you? It was just like that.
"Do you not understand? This is an Iron Feather Fan."
Since I, the host of this ball, say it is a fan, then it is a fan regardless of what anyone thinks.
I snatched up another weapon from a fallen Minotaur and brought it back to my main body. An axe—no, a fluffy, feathered fan.
"How do I look? Does it suit me?"
I spread the Iron Feather Fan in front of my face, hiding my mouth. Then, I flashed him the most alluring smile I could muster.
"Now, Mr. Leader. Shall we have the last dance?"
Thank you for reading. It has been about three weeks since I began this series. I’ve been able to come this far solely thanks to your support. I’d like to express my gratitude once again. Since I have a little extra energy, I plan to post two updates tomorrow as well. I look forward to your continued company.
Next time: The Final Ball.