I was Iris.
A human Saint, born as the daughter of a duke.
That was what I wanted to say, but I could no longer claim that name. I was now an Alraune, a plant-based monster girl. Since I had abandoned my humanity to become a mere monster, the name Iris no longer belonged to me.
The Apprentice Saint standing before me demanded to know what I had done to the real Iris. I knew this girl well. Her name was Nina. Although she was of commoner birth, she possessed a special pair of eyes that could see the Light Magic dwelling within others. She was an Apprentice Saint who had once been very attached to me. I remembered vividly how she used to look up at me with eyes full of pure adoration.
A scene from several years ago flickered through my mind.
If I recalled correctly, it happened when I was exhausted from a mountain of official duties and tried to sneak away to the back of the Saint Cathedral to hide. There, I stumbled upon a girl who had only just become an apprentice. She was about ten years old. The life and training of a Saint were clearly taking their toll on her, as she was crying all by herself. When I saw those tear-streaked eyes, I realized that the power of Light Magic was already beginning to take root within them.
Everything about those days felt so nostalgic. It was a shock to see how much Nina had grown; four years ago, she had been no bigger than the Little Witch is now, yet here she was, looking so formidable.
Nina had asked what I had done to Iris. But I was Iris.
Now then, what was I supposed to do?
If possible, I didn't want anyone to find out that the woman who had been the symbol of the country was now a monster. It was even more mortifying to think about an old acquaintance discovering the truth. Furthermore, if Nina did find out I was Iris, there was no way she—as an Apprentice Saint—wouldn't report it to the Royal Capital.
If that happened, the Hero and that shitty junior of mine would almost certainly come to finish me off. While having my archenemies hand-delivered to me could be seen as a perfect opportunity for revenge, the desire to never let them see me in this hideous, monstrous form was much stronger.
What would those two think if they saw a Saint who had lost her humanity and turned into a plant? They would likely laugh at how miserable and pathetic I was. They would look down on me with scornful eyes or point at me like I was a freak. I could handle anyone else judging me, but I couldn't bear the thought of my former fiancé, the Hero, looking at me that way.
At the same time, the idea of that loathsome shitty junior seeing me like this and mocking me was absolutely unacceptable. Besides, the Hero and his group had likely already spread rumors that I was a traitor who had colluded with the Demon King's Army. If Nina believed those lies, she would just assume I had truly fallen from grace and betrayed humanity by becoming a monster. That would only make my current situation even worse.
Given the risks, letting Nina realize I was Iris didn't seem like a very wise move.
All right, I decided. I would keep my identity hidden until the very end.
"L-Lady... Iris..."
Suddenly, Nina began to sob.
Wait, what happened? It wasn't like the lachrymatory substance from the onions had reached her eyes, was it?
Nina stared at me intently while wiping her tears with her sleeve. As our eyes met, she spoke in a low, trembling voice.
"...What was I thinking? I didn't even need to ask a monster. It's perfectly obvious what happened to Lady Iris."
Trembling with rage, Nina leveled her staff at me.
"There is only one reason a monster like an Alraune would have Lady Iris's face and her Aura of Light."
Taking a shallow, sharp breath, Nina glared at me with pure hatred.
"You must have eaten her!"
Tears spilled over and rolled down Nina’s cheeks. They fell one by one, leaving small, dark stains on the soil. She looked at me as if I were the one who had murdered her parents.
It was heartening, yet deeply saddening. Nina had truly been fond of me. I had cared for her and supported her because of her unique talent, making us closer than most other Saint candidates. To see this girl grieving so deeply for my "death" and being so furious on my behalf... there was no way I couldn't be touched by that.
"Answer me! You... you ate... Lady Iris... sob!"
Nina denounced me through her heavy sobs.
But you see, Nina, I am Iris. It's impossible for me to have eaten my—... wait, hold on.
Wait a minute.
—I think I did eat Iris!
This body was born from the fusion of the flower monster that swallowed me whole and my own original form. In a sense, that flower monster was also "me." Therefore, this Alraune body really had consumed the Saint. I was Iris, but Iris had been eaten by me.
"I suppose... I really did... eat her..." I murmured.
"You ate... Lady Iris... So it really was true..."
Ah. In my shock at realizing her accusation was technically correct, I had let the words slip out.
The moment I spoke, an Aura of Light Magic began to pour out of Nina’s entire body. At the same time, she released a wave of intense killing intent directed straight at me!
Aaaah, what do I do!? By telling the truth, I’ve made her even angrier! But even though it’s technically true, it’s not the whole story! The truth is much simpler! I’m Iris!
"Not only did you eat Lady Iris and steal her face, but you even dared to steal her Light Magic!?"
The power of Light Magic?
Ah, that’s right—Nina’s eyes can see the Aura of Light Magic. That's why she noticed that I, as an Alraune, was emitting the same aura I had when I was a Saint.
"No, it's not that I stole the power or the face from a human, exactly..."
"A monster's lies are so transparent. Did you really think I would believe the nonsense of a Saint-eating Alraune?"
Hieee! She completely thinks I’m some kind of ultimate evil monster!
"You devoured the treasure of our nation! You killed the senior I adored and respected! As an Apprentice Saint, I will slay you, monster of the Demon King's Army, right where you stand!"
"Being praised like that... makes me feel a bit shy..."
"To be so proud of devouring a Saint—only a monster could be so depraved. I have never encountered a plant as loathsome as you in my entire life!"
Whaaaat!? No, you’ve got it all wrong! Not that part!
I only felt shy because Nina suddenly started calling me a "national treasure" and a "respected senior." I wasn't feeling bashful about the "achievement" of eating myself!
"Lady Iris... to be eaten by such a wicked plant... you must have suffered so much. I will strike down this man-eater plant and put your soul to rest!"
No, no, no! If you do that, it'll be a "memorial service" in more ways than one! I'll actually die again!
Nina brandished her magic staff. Light Magic Energy began to swirl and condense at the tip of the wood.
"I will have Lady Iris's revenge!"
Nina's eyes glowed with a fierce, brilliant light. I had never seen an Apprentice Saint capable of concentrating that much magic into her eyes before. Even in my Saint Era, I might not have been able to pull that off.
Driven by a rage that could pierce the heavens, Nina began to chant her spell, her killing intent focused entirely on ending my life. I never expected her to be this angry on my behalf. It was a happy realization, but a dangerous one.
Because of it, I had turned Nina into a total enemy. It seemed I was about to be executed by the very girl trying to avenge me.
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Next time: The Vengeful Apprentice Saint and the Saint's Keepsake