To save the Little Witch, who had collapsed from hunger and a high fever, we set out for the Forest Sanctuary.
Carrying me, the girl, and the Fairy, the Treant plowed through the dense foliage as he—or rather, she—advanced.
The Forest Spirit, Dryades.
According to the Fairy, she was the Lord of the Forest, a being who had existed since the very birth of these woods.
I recalled the descriptions of the Dryades I had read in the books back in the Royal Capital. Forest Spirits were famous for rarely appearing before humans. It was said that while they appeared human, their true forms were ancient trees.
A human appearance, yet fundamentally a plant.
In a way, our circumstances were quite similar. However, considering she was a being of a higher order than a monster like me, I felt I should show her the respect due to a senior.
While I was lost in these thoughts, we suddenly found ourselves enveloped in a thick mist. Then, without warning, a massive, black, rock-like object loomed before us.
No, it wasn't a rock. It was a giant bear!
Emerging from the fog was a Laobubear, a bear-type monster. It had to be at least ten meters tall—roughly the same size as Bear-papa!
Nice to meet you. Might you be a relative of Bear-papa? I was on very good terms with him, you see. Therefore, I’m certain we can build an equally wonderful relationship.
While I was trembling like a leaf at the sight of the beast, the Fairy casually called out to it. "Thanks for the hard work on guard duty~!"
Eh? Was this bear an acquaintance of hers?
"This bear is basically a Sanctuary Guardian for Lady Dryades. Don't worry, you're safe."
Just as the Fairy said, Bear-papa’s relative made no move to attack us. To have tamed such a powerful monster... this Forest Spirit was clearly no ordinary individual.
Leaving Bear-papa’s relative behind, we pressed deeper into the mist.
"I have been waiting for you."
A woman’s voice drifted from the air. In sync with her words, the mist abruptly vanished.
Before I realized what had happened, we had been transported deep into the heart of the forest. Standing before us was a colossal tree that looked as if it were piercing the very heavens. When I had been flying over the forest on the White Bird, I hadn't seen anything this massive. It was likely hidden from the outside world by the Sanctuary Barrier.
At the base of the great tree stood a woman, her back against the trunk.
She was undoubtedly the Forest Spirit.
Good day, Lady Dryades. I am deeply honored to be granted an audience with the Forest Queen herself. As this was a sudden visit, please forgive my rudeness in remaining inside this bucket.
Unlike me, Lady Dryades was so breathtakingly beautiful that I found myself entranced. She looked like a goddess stepped straight out of the Holy Scripture. Her features were almost human, but her hair was so unique I couldn't help but stare.
The spirit’s hair was composed of interlocking leaves and vines—a truly botanical mane. It was a sight impossible for a human, and it lent her a certain divine aura. The green vines and thick foliage spread out behind her like a glamorous fan. The way branches grew from her head like natural hair ornaments was also perfectly fitting for a Forest Spirit.
Most surprising of all, however, was her attire. She wore a white dress elegantly accented with vines. It was stunning. It was a world of difference from my own look—merely wrapping a few vines around to cover my chest.
As I expected, when meeting a Forest Spirit, one really ought to be properly dressed. I felt painfully out of place and embarrassed.
But then I remembered: my current form was that of a Young Girl. Surely, a little girl could be forgiven for any manner of dress. I was truly glad to be a child at that moment!
"You are that Alraune, are you not?"
Lady Dryades’s gentle voice reached my ears.
"I heard from Kiri that she had found a most unusual duo—an Alraune and a Witch."
Kiri, it seemed, was the Fairy’s name. Since word had already reached the spirit from the Fairy I had only met yesterday, it meant the "errand" Kiri mentioned had been a trip to report to Lady Dryades. Come to think of it, the books in the capital also mentioned that forest fairies often served the Dryades. It seemed the fairies acted as messengers for the Lord of the Forest.
"I do not believe you are a mere Alraune. I can see a powerful, radiant light within your body."
Light? What did she mean? Could she see the residual power from my former life as a Saint? If she could perceive even that, the Forest Spirit really was on a different level.
"An Alraune capable of speech, an appearance indistinguishable from a human, and a strength unthinkable for a minor plant monster... It seems you are a truly extraordinary, singular Alraune."
Well, I suppose there aren't many Alraunes who used to be Saints. I hadn't met any other Alraunes, so I couldn't say for sure, though.
"Your race may be that of a monster, but your internal power is perhaps closer to that of a spirit."
Oh? Was I being praised? I felt a little surge of pride.
In response to the spirit’s assessment, the Fairy whispered in surprise. "For Lady Dryades to praise this Alraune so highly..."
"This Alraune harbors a strength equal to, if not greater than, the Laobubear guarding the sanctuary entrance."
I had been in my adult form at the time, but I had already eaten two Laobubears. Even if we fought again, I was confident I could win if I used the same tactics.
"What business does such a special Alraune have with me, a Forest Spirit?"
"Please... help... this child."
I lifted the Little Witch with my vines, holding her out toward Lady Dryades.
"I see. It appears the child is ill. Malnutrition, as well. I believe I can heal this."
"Is that... true?!"
The Little Witch was going to be saved. Just hearing those words made it feel as if a path had finally opened up before me.
A single vine extended from Lady Dryades’s feet. It stretched until it hung over the Little Witch’s face, where a single flower bloomed. From the center of that flower, a single drop fell. The small Spirit Drop was drawn into the Little Witch’s mouth as if by an unseen force.
"I have granted her a portion of my life force. Her illness should now subside."
I pressed a vine against the Little Witch’s forehead. It was true—her fever was already breaking! To have such an immediate effect... so this was the power of a Forest Spirit.
While I was marveling at the miracle, I noticed that Lady Dryades looked somewhat weary. Looking closer, while her hair was mostly green, several leaves had turned brown and withered. Perhaps even a Forest Spirit found such feats exhausting.
"As for human food... I shall leave that to the rest of you."
At Lady Dryades’s command, dozens of glowing orbs flew out from the surrounding trees. They were fairies. I never imagined I would see so many at once. They vanished toward the edge of the sanctuary. I wondered where they were going.
Looking down at me, Lady Dryades quietly invited us to stay the night.
"By tomorrow, the child’s food situation will be resolved. Sleep here tonight."
"B-But..."
"No insolent fools would dare attack you here. This is a Garden of Women; you may sleep in peace."
Wait... a Garden of Women? That meant there were no males allowed, right?
I looked from Lady Dryades to Kiri, then to the Little Witch, and finally to the Treant.
Wait, was this Treant a girl? Does that mean she’s a female Treant?!
Lady Dryades’s words seemed to have hit home, as the Treant began to fidget bashfully. Her movements were undeniably girlish.
Eeeehhhhh?!
"Ah~ well, I guess the secret's out~!" Kiri chirped, finally revealing the truth. "This Treant is actually a female. Apparently, she has quite the weakness for beautiful things, and she’s been a huge fan of yours ever since she saw how beautifully you bloom~."
A beauty-loving Treant? So she hadn't been stalking me because she was a male monster, but because she was a fan of the same gender?
"She asked me not to tell anyone she was female, but I guess it can't be helped now. Her appearance and her hobbies are so different, she was probably just embarrassed."
I see! So that was what the Fairy and the Treant had been whispering about! When Kiri had started to say "The Treant is a fe...", she wasn't talking about "features"—she meant "female"! Now it all made sense.
In that case, this Treant wasn't just a subordinate, but a little sister figure! Good heavens, when did I become a Big Sister?
Still reeling from the revelation, I decided to find a place to settle down for the night. As the Treant lifted me up, I happened to spot something near the edge of the sanctuary. In the shadow of a nearby tree, a helmet and a flat stone were lying on the ground.
I asked the Treant to carry me over to them. The helmet looked incredibly old. Judging by its size and shape, it had belonged to a human. It looked like it had been sitting there for decades.
That was when I realized the flat stone was actually a gravestone. Covered in moss and heavily weathered, it had clearly been here for a very long time.
"Lady Dryades... whose grave... is this?"
"It is the grave of a mere human who lost their life in the forest."
It was certainly a human grave, that much was true. However, Lady Dryades hadn't told me everything. After all, the identity of the person resting here was carved right into the stone.
Characters were clearly etched into the surface. She likely assumed I was just a monster and couldn't read human script, which was why she hadn't elaborated.
But unfortunately for her, I was a Former Saint. For someone who had lived as a human, deciphering these words was child's play.
Only one sentence was written on the stone:
“Here lies the Hero.”
It all clicked. This helmet belonged to a Hero.
And this was the Hero’s Grave.