I’m Alraune, a plant monster girl.
Facing me was the Flame Dragon, a kaiju-sized beast who had come to avenge his fallen subordinates. He was on the verge of incinerating me with his Flame Breath at any second.
At this rate, I was going to be turned into charcoal. It was only natural, I suppose, given that he was here for revenge. But I wasn't ready to burn just yet.
If the alternative was being killed by fire, I would much rather become a decorative plant that served as both a dessert and a pet. Unlike those barbaric Minotaurs, this Flame Dragon felt quite intellectual. We were actually holding a conversation, after all.
And despite his terrifying appearance, he was surprisingly caring toward his subordinates. Judging by how he was trying to burn me without mercy—despite the fact that I was exactly his preferred type of flower—I gathered he was the type of Dragon-san who was kind to his allies but ruthless to his enemies.
So, how could I change his mind and avoid being scorched? I had no choice but to drive up my own value.
The Flame Dragon had just admitted that he liked both my appearance and the scent of my nectar. That meant, deep down, he probably didn't actually want to burn me. I had to exploit that tiny sliver of hesitation.
"I shall turn you to ash in an instant, so that you do not suffer," he declared.
"Please, wait, Flame Dragon-sama!"
At my cry, the Flame Dragon paused.
"Would you... perhaps... please lick me? Even just a single taste?"
"What... did you say?"
Aah! This was so embarrassing! This was the first time I had ever asked someone to lick my nectar. I felt incredibly flustered.
"I promise that my nectar will satisfy you, Flame Dragon-sama."
I bit down on one of my vines, coating it with a generous amount of nectar before offering it to him. The vine was practically dripping with the stuff. As the glittering nectar caught the light, I saw the Flame Dragon gulp.
It was working. Even for a Dragon, this nectar was an irresistible temptation.
"Hmm. If I burn you now, I will never be able to taste it again. I suppose it would be fine to take a single lick as a final meal."
For some reason, the Flame Dragon-sama was acting quite haughty. I didn't mind, though. In terms of both strength and height, he was clearly my superior.
The Flame Dragon took the nectar-coated vine into his mouth and bit down, devouring the whole thing. He was certainly a bold Dragon-san to eat the vine along with it.
"Th-this is..."
His eyes widened. I had him hook, line, and sinker.
"The amount was too small to be certain, but that was a sweet liquid unlike anything I have ever tasted. It is... delicious."
Did you hear that? I actually received a compliment from the Flame Dragon-sama. Now I just had to use the nectar as bait and negotiate for my life.
"It might be wise to place you near my sleeping quarters. I would wake to the sight of your beautiful form and enjoy your nectar for breakfast. Yes, that might not be a bad life at all."
Wait, what? I hadn't even said anything yet, and the Flame Dragon-sama was already planning out our domestic life together. While being appreciated that much was a point of pride for a flower, hearing such mundane lifestyle details from a terrifying beast was a bit of a shock.
To think the day would come when I’d become a breakfast dessert and pet decorative plant for a Dragon of the Demon King's Army. Honestly, back when I was a Saint, I never could have imagined a situation like this.
Still, this meant I had bought myself some time. If I was going to be kept in his bedroom, I might eventually be able to soak him in enough nectar to poison him. Of course, even if I succeeded in killing him in his lair, I wouldn't be able to escape. Because, well, I’m a plant...
"Hmm? Alraune. What is that?"
The Flame Dragon's gaze fixed on the area near my roots.
"That is a Minotaur's Great Axe. Is that not Dickkopf’s property?"
Yes, it was indeed the Eyepatch Minotaur's Great Axe. It was my trophy, after all.
"What happened to Dickkopf’s remains?"
"..................I buried them."
No, wait! Don't misunderstand! I didn't eat him! Please don't look at me with such suspicious eyes!
Ugh, the truth was that I had enjoyed him thoroughly. Just one big gulp. But I was suffering from a lack of nutrition after the battle! It couldn't be helped, right?
"You have another mouth besides that human one. That one looks quite carnivorous and voracious."
"Actually, despite appearances, I have a very delicate appetite," I claimed, putting on my best modest lady face. I’m just a frail little flower, after all. I would never do something as unseemly as overeating.
"Then why are the sets of armor belonging to Dickkopf and the others—the ones you supposedly buried—sitting right there?"
I flinched.
Swallowing metal equipment was hard on the digestion, so I had been collecting them in case they were useful. That was why the stripped armor and helmets were always piled near the Great Axe. Not only that, I had even confiscated the clothes and belts they wore under their armor. I might have been a bit too thorough with my looting.
"As I thought. You preyed upon my Minotaur subordinates."
Oh no. Instead of sweat, I felt like nectar was about to leak from my eyes.
"Unbelievable. To think a single Alraune ate four Minotaurs and five of their Ehrestier subordinates. I have never seen a flower so driven by gluttony."
—Well, yes, I am actually a massive glutton. I’m the kind of eater who can polish off the ten-meter Bear-papa and eight-meter Bear-mama in just a few days.
But don't get the wrong idea! Hachi-san took two of the bull-type monster Ehrestiers home to her nest. So, I only used four Minotaurs and three Ehrestiers for nutrition. I didn't eat five of those huge cows! Please don't misunderstand that part! My constitution just makes me get hungry easily; it’s not like overeating is a hobby. I do it to survive!
"As I thought, I cannot take you back as you are," the Flame Dragon declared heartlessly. "My heart will not be at peace until I have properly avenged my subordinates. Therefore, you shall burn after all."
The Flame Dragon unleashed his Flame Breath.
Whaaat?! Wait a minute! A second ago, we were on the "take-home" course! I know I ate your subordinates, and I get why you're mad, but don't just flip the script so easily!
The Flame Dragon's Flame Breath made a direct hit.
I immediately shielded myself with a Vine Cocoon, making sure to set up a double Vine Wall on the outside as well. But even that wouldn't last long against his heat.
Thinking fast, I lined up the Minotaurs' Great Axes to create an makeshift Iron Shield. Since they were made of steel, they should be able to withstand even a Dragon's fire. I even threw on the Minotaurs' armor for good measure.
I was fully fortified. I positioned the axes and armor inside my Vine Wall. Hidden first by the vines and then by the blinding flash of his own breath, my defensive wall was invisible to him.
If I could just make him think I’d been incinerated and get him to leave, I might survive. The only question was whether the axes could hold out.
The scorching flames turned the steel Great Axes glowing red, but they held firm, parrying the brunt of the Flame Breath. The fire was slightly more powerful, but the attack and defense were locked in a stalemate. To my surprise, by using three of those axes as a wall, the fire didn't reach me at all!
I could actually make it! The surrounding vines were all ablaze, but as long as a few roots survived, I could recover. To sell the act, I pushed some of the burning vines toward the outside, putting on a show of "I am burning quite intensely right now."
From the Flame Dragon's perspective, he was looking at a roaring bonfire of vines. He surely wouldn't suspect that the center was perfectly fine. Thanks to the three Great Axes and four sets of armor, I had successfully cheated death.
To signal that I had finally perished, I let a vine that hadn't quite finished burning slump lifelessly to the ground.
The Flame Breath stopped. Simultaneously, I heard heavy footsteps moving away.
Seeing me "on fire," the Flame Dragon must have been satisfied that justice was served. Normally, no one would think a plant could survive a direct hit from a Flame Dragon's breath.
In any case, he was gone. This was an achievement made possible only by those three Great Axes. Perhaps because they belonged to that fire-using Minotaur, or because their boss was a Flame Dragon, that gear had incredible heat resistance.
However, even the axes had reached their limit. The iron had begun to melt and warp; they were useless as weapons now.
But that was fine; I had other blades. I began to dismantle the charred cocoon of vines that had protected me. Using the spears and knives I’d scavenged from the Kingdom's Army soldiers, I cut through the remains and stepped out into the open.
My vision cleared. Ah, the air outside the flames was wonderful. I had actually survived. Even with the axes, it was a miracle I hadn't burned.
Maybe he held back a little? He had taken a liking to me once. Since he liked me enough to want to take me home, he might have felt a twinge of guilt about killing me. He was surprisingly sentimental toward his own, after all.
Now that the Dragon thought I was dead, I just had to survive the forest fire. I’d start by digging a hole. If I hid underground, I could ride out the blaze. It would be fine; I’d survived a Dragon's assault, so I could handle a forest fire. Everything had worked out so far, so I’d be okay this time too.
Alright, time to get to work on that hole!
"I am impressed."
—Eh?
A voice dropped down from directly above me. I looked up, and there was the Flame Dragon-sama, gazing intently at me.
"To think an Alraune who does not burn even from my flames actually existed in this world."
No way. Hey, weren't you supposed to have gone home?
Flame Dragon-sama, why are you still here?!