I had a secret.
The secret was that I was Saint Iris.
If the world ever discovered that Saint Iris hadn’t actually died, but had instead been reincarnated as the plant monster Alraune, it would surely cause an uproar. My former fiancé—the Hero who murdered me—and that shitty junior apprentice saint certainly wouldn't stay silent.
Fortunately, Nina was the only one who knew my true identity. Even so, she still didn't know the full truth behind my death. I wondered what would happen if I told her that I had been betrayed and killed by the Hero and his accomplice.
Given how much Nina still adored me, even in my current form, she would surely have been furious on my behalf. But that anger would put her in a precarious position. I worried whether she would be able to hide her hostility when she eventually came face-to-face with the Hero or that shitty junior.
When Nina had first tried to kill me, believing I was the enemy of Saint Iris, she had been incredibly reckless. If she directed that same impulsive aggression toward those two, they might catch wind of my existence.
Therefore—
"The fact that I am still alive must remain a secret between the two of us, Nina."
"Why? You've managed to survive against all odds. I don't understand why you would want to hide yourself, Lady Iris," Nina replied.
She cast her gaze toward my lower body. Seeing my inhuman, botanical form, she bit her lip and spoke with a pained expression.
"Just because you’ve become a plant monster doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to this! You were human once. There must be a way for you to live as a human—as a Saint—once again!"
A deep chasm existed between humans and monsters. I had never heard of the two races living in harmony, let alone holding hands. Returning to the kingdom as a Saint simply wasn't realistic. The moment Saint Iris died, that path had been severed forever.
"I... am no longer... human..."
I was a creature that craved water, performed photosynthesis in the sunlight, and swallowed monsters whole with my lower mouth. For someone like me, living like a human was nothing more than a fading dream.
A heavy silence fell between us. Deep down, Nina likely realized that returning to my old life was impossible. I started to feel somewhat guilty for the somber mood, so I decided to change the subject and give her a task.
"Nina, I have a request. I want you to investigate the Hero and that girl... the current Saint."
I needed information on the two who had betrayed me. I couldn't help but be curious about what they were doing.
"The Hero and the Saint?"
"Yes. In as much detail as possible. And of course... my existence must remain a secret."
"Investigating them is fine, but since he was your fiancé, wouldn't it be alright to at least tell the Hero that you're alive?"
No, Nina. That was the one thing I absolutely could not allow. If he found out I was alive, that shitty junior would inevitably find out as well.
However, I couldn't just tell Nina that the Hero had betrayed me. Since there was a risk she might contact him out of some misguided sense of loyalty, I decided to hint at the truth.
"Nina... the story that I lost my life fighting the Demon King's Army... is not the truth."
"What...?"
"I can't tell you the details. If I did, your life would be in danger."
"I don't care about the danger! I want to know what happened to you, Lady Iris!"
"I can't say. However, the one thing I can tell you is this: do not place your trust in the Hero or the Saint of the Lamp."
She might have realized those two were involved in my death, but a little suspicion would be fine. Instilling a sense of distrust toward the Hero and that shitty junior was enough for now. When the time was right, I would tell her everything.
"...I understand. It's frustrating, but I'll settle for that for today," Nina said, reluctantly accepting my words. "I'll do everything I can to investigate those two!"
"Thank you. When you return from the Royal Capital, please tell me what you've found."
"Of course. Leave it to me!"
A short while later, as Nina prepared to return to Tower City, I asked her to stop by one more time the following morning before she departed for the Royal Capital.
"I don't mind, but why tomorrow?"
"There is something... I want to give you."
The next morning, Nina arrived at my grove before the carriage for the Royal Capital departed. I had already cleared the area of others so we could speak privately.
"This is a present for you, Nina. To celebrate you finishing your training and becoming an apprentice saint. It’s a few years late, but..."
I handed her several golden bird feathers.
"They're beautiful... but Lady Iris, these feathers are imbued with Light Magic. What exactly are they?"
"Those are the feathers of Golden Birdman, one of the Four Heavenly Kings."
"The Four Heavenly Kings!?"
These were the golden plumes of the "Stalker" Golden Birdman. I had asked Kiri to retrieve some of them during the battle with the Dragon Dryades, and she had gone back to the Sanctuary yesterday to fetch the dozens of feathers that she and the Little Witch hadn't been able to carry the first time.
"Why are you giving me feathers from one of the Four Heavenly Kings?"
"Because they will be useful when you are investigating those two in the Royal Capital."
It would be difficult for a rookie apprentice saint like Nina to poke around the affairs of the Hero or that shitty junior, who were at the heart of the nation’s power. However, if Nina reported that she had repelled one of the Four Heavenly Kings, her prestige within the kingdom would soar. People would be much more likely to grant her favors, making it easier for her to gather intelligence.
Claiming she had defeated the famous Beast King Marticoras was too much of a stretch, and the same went for Big Sister Dryades. Therefore, I decided we would claim she had subjugated Golden Birdman, who was relatively the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings.
"I want you to claim credit for defeating a member of the Four Heavenly Kings in my stead."
"Me!?"
"I cannot allow the people of the Royal Capital to know I exist. Besides, Nina, you were very helpful during the battle against the Spirit Princess."
While Nina hadn't been there for the Golden Birdman fight, she had fought alongside us against Big Sister Dryades. Her presence had been a factor in our eventual victory. Thus, indirectly, it wasn't entirely a lie to say she had helped defeat one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Since there was no physical evidence left of Big Sister Dryades, I decided to let her have the credit for Golden Birdman.
"But I'm not strong enough to defeat a member of the Four Heavenly Kings alone..."
"The defeat of the Spirit Princess was partly thanks to you, wasn't it?"
"That was your achievement, Lady Iris. Besides, no one in the Royal Capital will believe I took down a member of the Four Heavenly Kings by myself, no matter how many feathers I bring as proof."
"Then you can report that you defeated him in cooperation with the Forest Dryades."
I had already cleared this with Lady Dryades the previous day. As a powerful spirit, it was believable that she could stand against the Four Heavenly Kings. Since she had always been hostile toward the Demon King's Army, it wouldn't be strange for her to have fought alongside a human.
It served my interests better for the world to believe Nina and Lady Dryades had defeated a member of the Four Heavenly Kings, rather than rumors spreading about a Forest Alraune. I wanted to keep my existence a secret for as long as possible to protect my peaceful life.
"You really do insist on keeping yourself a secret, don't you, Lady Iris?"
Nina closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if making a firm resolution.
"Understood. It sounds like a difficult task, but I'll gladly accept it for your sake!"
"Nina, thank you...!"
"However, in exchange, I have one request of my own!"
"...Wh-what is it?"
Nina suddenly leaned in close, her eyes sparkling with an intensity that caught me off guard. She looked genuinely thrilled. I didn't know what she was about to ask, but since I was putting her through so much trouble, I was prepared to do whatever was in my power.
"Could you give me a Nectar Ball too?"
...Eh? A Nectar Ball?
"I heard about it from Holger. He said the Crimson Flower Princess gave him a mass of nectar that was so delicious it seemed out of this world."
Who even was Holger!?
Let's see... I'd given Nectar Balls to the nectar-crazed boy, to Bear-papa, and then...
"Lady Iris, please give me a Nectar Ball! If you don't, I'll go straight to the Royal Capital and tell everyone you're still alive!"
Nina’s eyes held the exact same glint as those of the other nectar-crazed ones. I could feel the raw determination radiating from her—she was going to get her hands on my nectar no matter what.
Oh dear. It was already too late for her.
In the end, I gave Nina a special Nectar Ball imbued with Light Recovery Magic. I also provided her with a large supply of liquid nectar. Apparently, drinking my nectar had become a daily ritual for her at every meal, and she was now completely addicted.
Nina... you know that nectar is my bodily fluid, right? Are you really okay with that?
"Well then, I shall go and carry out my mission perfectly for your sake, Lady Iris!"
"Be careful out there."
Carrying the feathers of the Golden Birdman, her Nectar Ball, and her massive stash of nectar, Nina departed for the Royal Capital. I waved my vines to see her off.
It was just then, right as Nina disappeared from sight, that a visitor arrived from the sky.
Nina has finally departed for the Royal Capital. Perhaps now I will finally learn what is happening there.
Next time: An Invitation to a Secret Meeting.