I was Alraune, a plant monster girl.
The Witch Queen was dead set on turning me into an ingredient for an aphrodisiac.
Honestly, a lot had happened since I reincarnated as an Alraune. I had almost been pollinated, and I had almost been eaten. But this was the first time anyone had suggested using me as a component for a medicinal draft. And of all things, she wanted to make a love potion.
I had absolutely no desire to become an aphrodisiac!
"If you’re going to make such a sour face, how about I make you the ingredient for that girl’s first concoction? Surely you wouldn’t mind being plucked for her sake, right?"
As if! No matter how much I cared about the Little Witch, I flatly refused to be brewed into a stimulant!
If it was going to be like this, I was going to fight back with everything I had. I used Plant Generation to sprout my Teppou-uri Machine Guns.
However, a sudden wave of confusion washed over me. I couldn't control my body properly. I had intended to generate four machine guns, but for some reason, over forty of the organic barrels burst from the ground.
"Wait, what’s happening? It won’t stop...!"
My Plant Generation continued to trigger of its own accord, ignoring my will. Countless Venus Flytraps stretched toward the sky, and vines grew with frantic speed. Every plant I had preyed upon in the past began to bloom in a chaotic, overlapping profusion.
Something was definitely wrong with me. My body wouldn't listen, and I had no idea how to throttle my own power anymore.
"My, what vicious-looking greenery. It looks like taking a hit from those would be quite nasty~"
The Witch Queen launched her counterattack. She began manipulating the thunderclouds overhead, and arcs of lightning crackled around her body.
Since my roots were anchored in the earth, I figured I could probably bleed the electricity into the ground. However, a direct hit might still incinerate that part of my body. Acting on instinct, I thrust my vines into the air.
The vines served as lightning rods, catching the strike. A thunderous roar vibrated through the air, sharp enough to tear the atmosphere apart.
I did it! I successfully channeled the surge from the vines into the earth without my body catching fire.
"Lightning doesn't work? Don't tell me you've already built up a resistance... It seems the Crimson Flower Princess has successfully integrated the Spirit Power."
I had the power of a spirit?
Was this internal rampage also because of that power? I certainly felt a level of strength that was incomparable to anything I had felt before. Things that would have been a struggle for the old me now felt as effortless as breathing.
"The way the Crimson Flower Princess is churning out those plants is the spitting image of that Dryades’ Spirit Magic from earlier, after all~"
She was referring to "Dominion of the Great Forest (Herrschaft Pflanze)," the spell Lady Dryades had used. That Spirit Magic, which made the entire forest surge as if it were a single living organism, was indeed similar to my current state of hyper-generation.
I’d always been able to use Plant Generation, but now I could manipulate dozens of plants simultaneously. In that sense, I really had inherited a portion of the Spirit Power. By preying upon the Big Sister Dryades, I had undergone a massive power-up.
"Oh dear, what to do? Before I knew it, the Crimson Flower Princess became just as much of a headache as a Dryades."
"Then... will you surrender?"
"I’d much rather you be the one to yield. But let me tell you one thing: if I hadn't stepped in, that girl would have been slaughtered by Vergissmeinnicht’s subordinates. Did you know that?"
Was that true? I knew the Little Witch would have struggled against the Priest Dryades, but I hadn't realized she was in such mortal peril.
"I am her savior. If she’s precious to you, I’d appreciate it if you didn't forget that~"
The Witch Queen gave me a playful wink. I wasn't about to be won over by a cute gesture, though.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, the ice binding Lady Dryades suddenly shattered with a loud crack. It seemed she had finally broken the spell on her own. As expected of a Great Spirit.
"Alraune, I apologize for the trouble. Thank you for waiting."
With Lady Dryades back in the fray, it was now two against one. Even though we had the numerical advantage, the Witch Queen didn't seem particularly bothered.
"You seem intent on a tag-team match, but while I was playing with the Crimson Flower Princess, my assistant already took that girl far away~"
I looked past her. While I was occupied with the Queen, the subordinate witch carrying the Little Witch had disappeared beyond the horizon. The Queen had successfully stalled us; I had failed to get her back.
However, if I captured the Queen and held her hostage, I might still be able to trade for her. If the Queen was right and I could use Spirit Power, then all my abilities should be heightened. I decided to put that theory to the test.
I altered the seeds inside the Teppou-uri Machine Guns into specialized ammunition.
"Alright—fire!"
Zupopopopopopopon!!
The launched seeds ignited in mid-air, cloaking themselves in flickering orange flames. I had imbued the seeds with the properties of the "Psychopath of the Plant Kingdom," the Rockrose. The burning projectiles tore through the distant trees one after another.
I had also applied the hardness of a Coconut to the shells. Between that and the Spirit Power, the seeds now possessed the destructive force of Volcanic Bombs. A single hit would be enough to finish any normal human. Before I had eaten the Big Sister Dryades, these probably would have been nothing more than simple flaming seeds.
"Don't go spitting such dangerous things at me!"
The Witch Queen summoned her lightning again. My Flame Seeds collided with her bolts, the two forces canceling each other out in a series of mid-air explosions. However, my machine guns were producing far more seeds than she could match with her lightning.
"Nyahaha, I can't dodge all of these."
The Queen, who had been nimbly weaving through the air, suddenly dropped her arms as if giving up. Dozens of massive Flame Seeds slammed into her small frame. Great sparks erupted upon impact.
I won!
Or so I thought for a fleeting second. Then, the Witch Queen stepped out from the flames.
"I didn't expect the Crimson Flower Princess to be quite this strong. You’ve exceeded my expectations~"
Her body was riddled with holes and charred by burns. Yet, in the blink of an eye, her flesh began to knit back together.
"Nyahaha. You should be proud of yourself for making me use this. It’s been a long time~"
The wounds vanished completely. It looked exactly like a Saint's Light Magic, but there was no way a witch could use that. Besides, having enough recovery power to instantly bounce back from a lethal attack was something only I—among all the Saints—was supposed to be capable of.
What in the world had she done?
Clearly, just dealing damage wasn't enough. I needed to weaken her and then use my numbing Briars to seal her movements. As I was refining my strategy, the Witch Queen suddenly stopped and stared at the western sky. Her expression turned sour and troubled.
"This presence... it’s him... Ugh, and just when it was getting good! Is he really going to interfere now?!"
The Queen began fuming and muttering to herself while facing west. I had no idea who she was talking to.
"It was just about to get fun, but sorry, Crimson Flower Princess. It looks like a nuisance is approaching, so I’ll be heading home for now~"
"Wait! Hold on!"
"Don't worry, I'll make sure that girl grows up happy~"
The Queen's body distorted as she used Transformation Magic to turn into a massive White Hawk.
"I'll save our little date to turn you into an aphrodisiac for next time. See you later~"
With that, she took flight.
Don't "see you later" me! Who would ever agree to be an ingredient? I was going to shoot that shameless witch right out of the sky! I unleashed a continuous barrage from my machine guns.
"Whoa, easy there! If you hate being away from me that much, why don't you chase me? Assuming you can even leave the dirt, that is."
Laughing her signature "Nyahaha," the white hawk soared away into the northern sky.
What is with that woman?! She picks a fight and then just runs away the moment things get inconvenient? Fight me like a woman!!
"Lady Dryades, we have to chase her!"
"That is easier said than done. We are not beings who can move about as we please," Lady Dryades replied with a helpless tilt of her head.
I knew that. I knew it better than anyone, but that didn't stop the metaphorical tears from welling up in my heart.
"Still," Lady Dryades mused, "why would the Witch Queen retreat so suddenly?"
She was right. The battle had been a stalemate. I was putting on pressure, but the Queen clearly had more tricks up her sleeve. She had mentioned sensing a presence—was that really the reason?
I looked toward the western sky, but I couldn't see anything from ground level. At the time, I hadn't yet realized that the person I wanted to see most in the world was approaching from that direction.
But very soon, I would have an unexpected reunion.
By preying upon the ancient tree that was the Big Sister Dryades' main body, Alraune absorbed Spirit Power and achieved an overall level-up.
Next time: An unexpected visitor.