I was Alraune, a plant monster girl.
After moving from the kitchen to the office, I sat and listened to the usual exchange between the Flame Dragon Lord and Uncle Teddy.
“Regarding that matter... how is the internal investigation proceeding?”
“Everything is moving along without incident, Sire.”
“Good. Now then, Alraune. What exactly is this?”
“It is... Tapioca Milk Tea!”
Scylla and I had poured our hearts and souls into this masterpiece. I honestly hadn't been sure we could pull it off, but thanks to her help, it was finally complete. I had just presented my pride and joy to the Flame Dragon Lord.
“A most unusual beverage. There are numerous round objects settled at the bottom of the glass.”
“That... is the tapioca.”
The Flame Dragon Lord hummed thoughtfully before taking a sip of the tea.
“To experience the texture of food while drinking a beverage is quite a novel sensation.”
Right? Right? It looked unique and was exactly the kind of rare delicacy the Flame Dragon Lord had been craving!
“Furthermore, this milk is quite rich. It has an interesting quality to it...”
“That... is milk I produced myself.”
“…………Excuse me?”
My eyes met the Flame Dragon Lord’s. We stared at each other in a long, heavy silence. His gaze was so intense it was actually getting a little embarrassing...
“Alraune………… when you say you 'produced' this milk, you don’t mean... it came from your own body, do you?”
—Breast milk?
Wait, no! That's not what I meant at all!
“It’s not like that!”
The misunderstanding was mortifying. I was just a little girl; even if I wanted to produce milk like that, I couldn't! I had to correct him immediately.
“This is where the milk comes from.”
I focused and grew a coconut from one of my vines. As it turned out, coconut palms grew within the Botanical Garden. Coconuts are the fruit of those trees, and they contain what we call coconut milk.
By using the sweet, creamy milk from mature coconuts and the refreshing juice from younger ones, I had created the drink I’d just served. Incidentally, I’d given up on producing the actual tea leaves from my own body. So, if I were being strictly accurate, this was actually Tapioca Coconut Milk Juice.
“I see. No wonder the flavor differed so much from cow’s milk,” the Flame Dragon Lord muttered, looking visibly relieved.
I certainly couldn't produce dairy, after all. I’d made sure to stick strictly to plant-based ingredients.
“I haven't been this startled since the day I first found you, Alraune. For a moment, I was speechless, wondering just what you had made me drink.”
Well, I couldn't produce milk from my chest, but I could certainly produce it from my fruit. Though, to be fair, something else did come out of my chest...
“I was more shocked by your phrasing than the drink itself. However, beyond that, I must praise your ability to manifest other plant species from your vines. It is a remarkable talent.”
Wait, that was strange. It seemed his attention had shifted away from the Tapioca Coconut Milk Juice and toward my abilities.
“As I suspected, you are a most fascinating Alraune. Making you my maid was clearly the right choice.”
Was he... praising me? Being patted on the head by the Flame Dragon Lord didn't feel half bad. It was different from the healing vibe I got from the Little Witch; it felt more... grounding. His hands were so large that they provided a strange sense of security.
“As promised, I shall grant you access to the Botanical Garden. I will have a maid carry you there at once.”
Yes! If I could just consume that specific plant in the garden, I might finally be able to escape the Demon King’s Castle!
While I was celebrating internally, Uncle Teddy—who had stepped out at some point—opened the door and returned.
“Glüh-sama, Lady Vergissmeinnicht of the Four Heavenly Kings requests an audience.”
“The Spirit Princess... Very well. Send her in.”
My sister was coming here? I wondered what she wanted.
The elder Dryad entered the office accompanied by her land tortoise. After a formal greeting to the Flame Dragon Lord, she spoke.
“I have come today to offer my greetings before my departure.”
“Vergissmeinnicht, are you heading to the front already?”
“Indeed. A favorable wind is blowing from this mountain toward the Dryades' Forest in the Kingdom of Gardenia. If I ride the bird monsters and catch the draft, I shall reach the Tower City in no time.”
“I see... I have high expectations for you. Fulfill your duties as the successor to the fallen Garuda-Hraesvelgr.”
“As you command.”
Bowing respectfully, my sister spared me a single, chilling glance before exiting the room.
That meant she was heading back to the Dryades' Forest. She called it a "departure for the front," which meant she intended to attack the forest and the city. She was finally making her move.
I couldn't just sit here. I had to get back to the forest as soon as possible. The Little Witch and everyone else were in grave danger!
“Master... may I go... to the Botanical Garden... now?”
“Very well. Go and call for a maid.”
Uncle Teddy stepped back into the hallway to fetch one. Once we were alone again, the Flame Dragon Lord spoke to me in a low voice.
“Even so, it is hard to believe that an Alraune only a few days old could invent a beverage I have never seen before.”
“You... flatter me.”
“I find myself suspecting that you are actually a knowledgeable Alraune who has lived for many years. Sometimes, I suffer the illusion that the Alraune I thought I’d burned away is still alive, standing before me in a different form.”
“…………I don't... understand... difficult things.”
Yikes! The Flame Dragon Lord’s gaze was terrifying. I was supposed to be a newborn, so maybe I’d shown off a little too much. I felt like I was on the verge of being exposed as the Alraune who had killed his subordinates. I was in a total pinch!
“Pardon the wait. I have brought the maid.”
“Yay! Uncle, hurry, take me... to the hallway!”
Saved by the bell! Uncle Teddy couldn't have picked a better time to return.
“Well then... Master... I’m going now!”
“Take your time. It is your first visit to the garden, after all.”
Oh, I certainly will, Glüh-sama. Ohohoho...
Once in the hallway, Uncle Teddy handed me over to the maid who would serve as my legs for the day: the Demon Maid. She had the typical demonic features—horns, wings, and a tail. She was the same one who had carried me from my sister's room before, and one of the ones I’d overheard calling me a "vase" in the hallway.
I’d already gotten even for that by using my sleeping powder on her, so I considered the debt settled. I had no intention of doing anything else to her.
At least, not of my own volition.
“Maid-san... where are we... going?”
The Demon Maid didn't seem to be heading toward the exit of the Demon King’s Castle.
“This is the correct path.”
Was it a shortcut? I hoped so, but I soon realized I had a reason to complain. The Demon Maid turned and carried me straight into a secluded, empty room.
“……What are you... doing?”
Was this revenge for the sleeping powder incident? Maybe she’d been scolded by Uncle Teddy and wanted to take it out on me. The maids in this castle were so malicious! This literal demon was—well, she was a Demon Maid, so I suppose that tracked.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
A voice suddenly rang out from the back of the room. Someone had been waiting for me? That meant the Demon Maid was in league with them.
“What... do you want... with me?”
“I only have one use for you.”
The owner of the voice was far larger than me, and someone I knew all too well. She was, in every sense, the worst possible person I could encounter.
“You’ll have the rest of eternity in the afterlife to regret refusing my offer.”
Staring me down with cold, unforgiving eyes was my sister, the Spirit Princess Vergissmeinnicht.
Coconut Palm: Arecaceae family. The term "coconut" refers to the fruit of this tree. Because these fruits float in seawater, coconuts that fall into the ocean can wash up on distant continents or islands to germinate, allowing the species to spread far and wide.
Next time: The Attack of the Three Spirit Beasts and the Battle Maid.