I was an Alraune, a plant monster girl.
While Fairy Kiri and I were chatting, a shadow wearing a top hat emerged from the forest thicket.
My eyes widened in surprise at the sight of this sudden visitor.
After all, I hadn't expected a guest like this.
Just what was that top-hatted creature?
H-He was so cute!
A stuffed bear wearing a monocle stepped out from the trees.
He was quite the stylish bear, dressed in gentleman’s clothes and a top hat.
No matter how you looked at it, he was a Teddy Bear.
A human-sized Teddy Bear approached, a sharp, dignified expression on his face.
Fairy Kiri spoke up, her voice laced with caution.
"What, just a human? You're still here?"
──Wait, a human?
Kiri, what on earth were you saying?
No matter how you looked at him, he was a stuffed bear.
"He looks like a human to you, Kiri?"
"What are you talking about, Alraune-sama? He's clearly an elderly human man."
So, Kiri saw a person.
The fact that he didn't look that way to me meant he was disguising his appearance.
I understood then.
This Teddy Bear was definitely using Illusion Magic.
A subset of Dark Magic, Illusion Magic can distort one's form and cause others to misperceive what they see.
He was likely mimicking a human form.
Dark Magic generally has a poor affinity with Light Magic, and high-level practitioners of the latter can see through such illusions. That was why I could see his true identity.
Only members of the Demon Race can use Dark Magic.
That meant this Teddy Bear was a member of the Demon King’s Army.
I was being watched by a demon from the Demon King's Army.
Thinking about it that way, it might have been a blessing in disguise that Nina had fainted earlier.
If I had continued chatting happily with her, Nina would have realized I was Saint Iris.
If that had happened, the Demon King’s Army would have found out too.
That explosion... good job, Nina!
The top-hatted Teddy Bear looked between Kiri and me, then slowly opened his mouth.
"An Alraune accompanied by a fairy... The fact that a fairy has taken up residence is proof that you are a specimen of the finest quality."
H-Hold on a second.
His voice... it was so deep!
What was this?
A suave, middle-aged man’s voice was coming out of that adorable Teddy Bear!
The gap moe was overwhelming; it felt like my heart had been pierced by the Teddy Bear’s fluffy arms.
How wonderful...!
From now on, I shall call you Uncle Teddy with the utmost respect.
"The fairy is in the way. I believe I'll have her sleep for a while. Forced Sleep《Zwangsschlafen》."
Upon hearing Uncle Teddy's deep voice, Fairy Kiri flopped onto the ground.
She hadn't been swooning over his dandy voice; she had been put to sleep by Dark Magic.
"As I thought, sleep magic doesn't work on plants. If you had fallen asleep with her just now, my work would have proceeded much more easily."
"Who... are you?"
"I am merely a butler. I have come to fetch you."
"Fetch me...?"
"Well, perhaps 'collect' is more accurate. You may consider this a bout of Plant Hunting."
Plant hunting? That sounded dangerous.
He said "collect," so Uncle Teddy was after my body.
I didn't know his goal, but I wasn't a flower that could be plucked so easily.
"If you intend to try... I shall... provide you... with an opponent."
Good day to you, Uncle Teddy.
I shall invite such a dashing gentleman to a forest tea party.
But please, do not lump me—the Dryades’ Forest Bodyguard and President of the Forest Circle—in with the common flora.
I've even repelled the Stalker Four Heavenly Kings before.
No matter how much of a battle-hardened veteran you may be, a Forest Young Lady like myself does not engage in such behavior as exposing her roots to a gentleman so easily.
Prepare yourself before joining my tea party.
"Judging by the previous battle, fighting an Alraune head-on seems like a chore. Therefore, I shall use the method reserved for collecting ferocious plants."
"I won't... be taken... easily... you know."
"We shall see. I doubt a mere plant can withstand this."
"Then... just try it!"
I went for a preemptive strike.
Let us shake hands with my Briar whip!
The moment I offered my Briar invitation, Uncle Teddy chanted a Dark Magic spell.
"Sound of the Night-Descending Bell《Zeitglocke Nacht》."
A heavy, resonant chime echoed from Uncle Teddy.
Immediately, a sphere of midnight darkness expanded from him.
The space around us, including me, turned pitch black in an instant, as if it were night.
It was likely a Dark Magic spell that transformed a certain range into darkness.
It felt like the real thing.
But just because it was dark didn't mean I could be stopped.
I already knew exactly where Uncle Teddy was through the vines in the soil.
"It appears night has fallen."
While dodging my Briar, Uncle Teddy spoke to me.
His voice rang in my ears like a magical suggestion.
But I wouldn't be fooled!
The only reason it was "night" was because of the darkness spell he cast.
It was still only midday; night was hours away!
"............Wait."
For some reason, the movement of my Briar was growing sluggish.
In fact, my vision was starting to blur.
I felt... so sleepy.
Well, if it was this dark, it must be night.
────Ah, I see.
It was night time.
Even though my mind knew better, my body refused to listen.
Following the biological rhythm of a flower entering its bud state at night, I began to close my petals.
Come to think of it, I had recently eaten Morning Glory and Oxalis.
Both were plants that closed their flowers and became buds when night falls.
Since I had just consumed those two, I likely hadn't fully mastered their traits yet.
Because of that, my instincts as a flower were forcing my bud to close.
This was no time for a nap!
I had to endure!
Fight it!
"G'night..."
It was no use.
I was at my limit.
Succumbing to the anti-plant sleep magic, I closed my bud.
Zzzzz.
Mumble, mumble... Hah!
Where was I?
When I woke up, I was soaring through the sky.
Wait, hold on—the ground was so far below!
"So, the Alraune is awake. Be quiet, or I'll have to put you back to sleep."
A deep voice spoke from above.
I looked up and saw a dragon.
Uncle Teddy was riding on its back.
On the dragon's flank was a mark depicting two black wings.
This was the emblem of those belonging to the Demon King’s Army.
Just as I thought, Uncle Teddy was a member of the Demon King’s Army.
I checked my situation.
It seemed I had been repotted into a massive flowerpot.
The dragon was carrying the pot I was in while flying through the air.
I was being forcibly transported somewhere.
"What... do you... plan... to do... with me?"
"Taking you back with me, naturally. Since I was the one who collected you."
I wished he wouldn't talk about "collecting" me like I was a piece of driftwood he found.
Still, looking at myself repotted like this was quite embarrassing.
I'm a plant, so I suppose I don't have human rights...
Which meant...
Wait. Could it be?
I've been kidnapped!
Morning Glory: An annual plant of the Convolvulaceae family. Its name can be written with the single kanji 「蕣」. Interestingly, it belongs to the Ipomoea genus.
Oxalis: Part of the Oxalidaceae family. Their leaves look like clovers, so many people have likely seen them without realizing what they were.
Next time: I Have Been Kidnapped.