I was Alraune, a plant monster girl.
For the first time since arriving in this forest, I was experiencing a moment of true peace.
Granted, it had only been a day since I defeated a member of the Four Heavenly Kings. I really hoped these quiet days would last forever.
Basking in the warm sunlight felt so good that whenever I found myself with a spare moment, I couldn't help but sprout white lilies from my vines. The flowers were a gift from the Little Witch, and they filled me with a quiet sense of joy. Now, I could make her lilies bloom anywhere, at any time. They had literally become a part of me. It felt as if our hearts were connected through these blossoms; just looking at them brought a smile to my face.
While I was lost in my thoughts, the Little Witch prepared to head to the Tower City to sell nectar, a small barrel strapped to her back. The bucket in her hand was filled to the brim with small wooden tubes.
I’d actually asked Lady Dryades for a reward for defending the forest from the Demon King’s Army. That was where the barrel and tubes had come from. Since the barrel held much more than a simple bucket, she could sell a far greater volume of nectar. After all, I was no longer just a young girl; I could produce much more than I used to.
Then there were the wooden tubes. I would have preferred bamboo, but since we couldn't find any, we settled for wood. I’d convinced Lady Dryades to use her Spirit Magic to craft these tubes as a sort of side-project, allowing us to sell the nectar in smaller portions. Now, customers could buy the nectar and the tubes together. Our business model was expanding!
"Well then, Alraune, I'm heading out."
"Take care. Good luck."
"I'll do my best... for my little sister's sake, too!"
Don't get it twisted, Little Witch. I’m the older sister here. You’re the younger one.
I watched her walk away, acting like a little adult as she pushed herself, and waved my vines to see her off. I kept waving until she was out of sight, then let my vines drop despondently.
Ah, I was so bored.
Fairy Kiri was out patrolling the forest with her underling, Treant. They were checking the East Forest for any remnants of the Four Heavenly Kings' forces. I’d sent Treant along as a bodyguard, so they should be fine, but having just been attacked by the Demon King’s Army, I couldn't help but worry. Work hard out there, guys—our peace depends on it.
Since I was all alone, I was back to being bored. I’d already finished decorating my surroundings with lilies, too. I found myself wishing a guest would drop by.
I bit into one of my vines with my upper mouth, letting the sweet scent of nectar drift through the air. Maybe a snack would be lured in by the smell?
As if in response to my thoughts, a visitor actually arrived. A heavy, droning sound—the sound of something flying—drifted from the distance. It was getting closer.
A moth to the flame!
A legion appeared, thundering with a heavy, helicopter-like thrum. Fluttering behind them were monsters that resembled noble ladies.
Wait, I recognized that sound... I looked up, reacting to the nostalgic vibration.
From beyond the trees, a swarm of the bee-type monster Zornbiene appeared. Following them were the Rustschmetterling butterfly monsters. I’d know those white-patterned Tefutefu anywhere—it was Madam Butterfly!
It was everyone from the Forest Circle! We’d been separated when the Flame Dragon Lord burned down our old forest. I couldn't believe it—my old acquaintances had come to find me!
"E-everyone!"
The members of the Forest Circle converged on my nectar vines for an emotional reunion. As they tasted my nectar, Hachi-san and the Tefutefu began to flutter about with joy. They clearly realized I was the same Alraune from back then.
Oh, this was incredible! Seeing everyone again was like a dream come true. I’d worried so much about whether they’d escaped the fire, but they were safe. I’d actually suspected they might have ended up in Dryades' Forest. After all, the Withered Tree Treant from the old forest had managed to find its way here.
Regardless, I was just so happy to see my friends again. I decided to be extra generous today!!
Without missing a beat, I bit into the tips of my vines over and over. I readied several vines, dripping with sticky nectar, and linked up with Hachi-san and the Tefutefu. Time to dance—it was time for the Forest Circle Ball!
My Lady Knights, the Hachi-sans, buzzed around me. Madam Butterfly and the rest of the Tefutefu fluttered about, extending their proboscises to slurp up the nectar.
Ah, it had been so long since I’d felt this. It was so therapeutic. There were so many friends who needed my nectar, and they were all so cool and lovely. Before I met the Little Witch and the rest, this sight had been my only source of comfort. Maybe that was why this act of providing nectar still filled me with such satisfaction.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. We waltzed together with my nectar vines. This was the true Forest Circle Ball. I felt like I was finally letting my hair down and having some fun! Well, I wasn't letting my hair down so much as I was stretching my vines, but you get the idea.
But all good things must come to an end, and the fun was over in an instant. Once Hachi-san and the Tefutefu had had their fill of nectar, they headed back to their homes. I wondered where they lived. It would be nice if they were neighbors.
"Come see me again! I'll be waiting!"
I waved my vines until they disappeared, bidding them farewell. Since this wasn't a permanent goodbye like the last one, I didn't feel lonely.
Now that the emotional reunion was over, it was time for a meal. Specifically, an all-you-can-eat bird buffet!
There were about a hundred bird monsters left behind—subordinates of that Stalker from the Four Heavenly Kings. I decided to help myself to every single one. Honestly, thanks to the Golden Birdman’s Light Magic, I was already well-nourished. But there was no harm in stocking up, right?
Now that I’d outgrown my young girl phase, eating in volume was easy, but I had discovered a much more efficient way to do it. I sprouted Venus Flytraps on the ends of twenty of my vines. Using them, I began to swallow the birds whole, one by one.
The nutrients digested within the flytraps' mouths flowed through the vines and straight into my bulb. This meant I no longer had to rely on the mouth on my bulb; I could enjoy my meal through dozens of mouths at once.
Time to dig in!
Munch, munch.
Yeah, having multiple mouths really sped things up. While I was busy enjoying my "munching time," a man suddenly screamed.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
W-what happened?!
"It's a monsterrrrrrrr!!"
Eh? A monster? Where?
I turned toward the sound and saw two human men pointing at me and shouting.
H-humans! They’re actually hereeeeeee!
I locked eyes with the pair, who looked like adventurers. They were trembling, their voices thick with terror.
"I didn't think there'd really be a monster here, let alone a plant-thing devouring birds like that...!"
"How horrifying!"
I guess my little snack time startled them. Sorry about that! I was just seeing if I could polish off a hundred birds at once with my flytraps. I mean, sure, having twenty giant Venus Flytraps bursting out of the ground to gorge on bird monsters might look a certain way, but it's not actually scary or anything.
I was just using my vines to guide the birds toward my lower mouth, too. Anyway, you two look like adventurers. Do you want some? Raw bird is actually pretty good. It’s not exactly fresh, which might be a dealbreaker for humans, but it all ends up the same once it's dissolved in a stomach, right?
I beckoned them with my vines. In response, the two adventurers bolted like frightened rabbits.
"That flytrap's coming for us!"
"I never thought a request from the Saint would be this dangerous!"
Wait, hang on. Did they just say "Saint"?
"I don't want to be plant food!"
"Run for it!"
W-wait! Don't go! You mentioned a Saint—what was that about?! I need to know!
I reached my vines toward their retreating backs. My movement only triggered a fresh wave of screaming.
I’m not scary! I’m actually very kind! Just a lovely little flower. Hey, humans, why don't we have a tea party? You can tell me everything. I might be a carnivorous plant monster, but I’d love to be friends. I won't eat you, I promise!
Lady Dryades and the fairies managed to make the barrel and tubes in a single day. She promised to provide more as soon as we run out, so the Little Witch can sell as much nectar as she wants without worry.
Next time: Found by adventurers.