The carpenters arrived in the forest to begin construction on the tree house.
However, they seemed to be heading directly to the site without stopping to see me. It appeared they had no intention of offering even a basic greeting.
Left with little choice, I asked the Corporal to bring the Master Carpenter and his crew to me.
The moment the Master Carpenter laid eyes on me, he grumbled with clear irritation, "What is it you want now?"
I offered a polite, beaming smile and greeted them with my best manners.
"Good day to you all."
"You didn't call us over just to say that, did you?"
"Of course not. I have gathered you here so you might understand that I am not merely a monster. I am a monster capable of performing construction work alongside humans."
My younger sister figure, the Amazoness Treant, had managed to bond with the humans by working alongside them despite her monstrous nature. If I could prove that I was a plant capable of being productive, perhaps I could bridge the gap and become friends with the carpenters as well.
Following Kiri’s advice, I decided to showcase the unique abilities only I possessed.
"Allow me to demonstrate my power for you today."
To start, I activated 'Plant Generation,' sprouting massive trees from my vines one after another. Seeing such a vast amount of lumber manifest in an instant, the carpenters stood frozen, their mouths hanging open in shock.
"The trees... they just grew out of nowhere!" "Trunks that thick, and in a single heartbeat...!" "What kind of sorcery is this!?"
I was quite pleased with myself. After all, I was likely the only one capable of producing such high-quality timber on a whim.
"Please, use as much of this as you require for building materials."
As I puffed out my chest with pride, the Master Carpenter let out a sharp "Hmph."
"You have a flashy trick, I'll give you that. But as it stands, that wood is full of moisture. It's useless for construction right away. It has to be seasoned and dried first; otherwise, the wood will warp and deform later."
Oh, was that how it worked? Now that he mentioned it, I recalled that the wood used in houses always seemed dry. It appeared that using fresh, living wood for a building was a poor idea. That was a revelation to me.
"We'll bring our own lumber," he added dismissively. "Don't meddle, monster."
—Gunu-nu.
If that was the only issue, the solution was simple. If they needed dried wood, I just had to use my plant powers to extract the moisture myself.
"In that case, how does this look?" I asked.
I focused on the trees I had just grown and began absorbing their internal water. In the blink of an eye, I had produced perfectly seasoned timber.
Ignoring the Master Carpenter as he gaped and stammered, "That’s impossible...!", I moved on to the next phase of the work. I took the axe I had borrowed from the Corporal and began hacking down the logs to be used as materials.
"To think a process that usually takes months could be skipped entirely... She's creating construction-ready materials in seconds..."
"How do you find these?" I asked.
"In that state, all that’s left is the milling. It would certainly make our job much easier."
"Milling?"
"Processing the logs. Cutting them into pillars and planks. You can't build a house out of raw logs, after all."
That made sense. Since they couldn't be used as-is, the logs needed further refinement. I didn't know the first thing about those technical details, so I decided to leave the rest to the professionals.
The carpenters began the arduous task of hauling the logs to the tree house construction site. The wood was clearly heavy, and they looked like they were struggling just to move a single piece.
This was my moment to shine.
"Allow me to carry them."
I used my vines to pluck the logs upward, lifting them with ease. Not even the Amazoness Treant could beat me when it came to strength!
As I extended my vines toward the construction site, one of the carpenters whispered in awe, "It's like the logs are flying through the air..."
To the humans walking on the ground, the sight of logs soaring overhead supported by numerous vines must have been quite a spectacle. Perhaps the Master Carpenter recognized my hard work even a little, as he spoke to me with what sounded like reluctant respect.
"I see what you're capable of now. I'll reconsider my opinion of you."
"Then, what do you say? Would you permit me to join you as a colleague?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Do you plan to build the tree house from all the way over here? An Alraune who can't walk should just stay put and wait quietly for the finished product."
With that, the Master Carpenter led his crew away toward the construction site.
—Wait just a minute!
It was true that I couldn't walk, but I had plenty of other abilities that no one else could match! I wanted to work alongside them!
Perhaps the Master Carpenter still hadn't fully accepted me. His attitude was one of grudging acknowledgement, which suggested he hadn't seen my true potential yet.
Fine. I would just have to try a little harder. I wanted to earn their respect and work together harmoniously, just like the Amazoness Treant. I would become the Architect Alraune, and the Little Witch would surely praise me for my brilliance!
However, I couldn't do any of that if I was left behind here. That was far too lonely.
But there was no need for concern. By using 'Teleportation,' I could reach the site in an instant.
I sprouted an Avatar Alraune near the tree house construction site and then activated my skill. My consciousness flowed through the roots, successfully shifting my spirit into the avatar.
Now I could work right alongside the carpenters!
Back in my Saint Era, opportunities like this were rare, and I found myself genuinely excited. I remembered how much I had wanted to work with the common people in the city, but it was almost never permitted. Because I was the nation's sole Saint, a high-ranking noble, and the Royal Fiancé, those around me had strictly controlled my actions.
I had tasted a bit more freedom during the journey to defeat the Demon King, but even then, I wasn't allowed to act on my own whims.
But I was no longer a Saint. I was no longer a noble, nor was I anyone’s fiancé. While I had lost much by becoming a plant monster, I had gained so much in return.
I was finally free!
I wanted to befriend the Master Carpenter and work with the crew, just like my younger sister. To achieve that, I was going to give it my all!
The construction of the tree house would continue a little longer.
Next time: "I am not a Dryades."