I am Alraune, a plant monster girl.
The second winter since I had become an Alraune had arrived, and with it, my first winter living in the forest with Little Witch and the others. This was the first time since my transformation that I wasn’t spending the cold months alone. It seemed like I wouldn't have to deal with any lonely thoughts this year.
Despite the season, I was hard at work from the early hours of the morning.
"Alraune, work harder!" Little Witch called out to me. She was currently hovering in mid-air using Levitation Magic, cheering me on from a safe distance.
I had used Plant Generation to create a wooden shovel and began the snow shoveling that was fast becoming my daily routine. Last year, a Great Cold Wave had buried this region in snow, but against all odds, we were seeing a repeat performance this year. This abnormal weather was lasting far too long. To be honest, I was worried about whether we would all make it through the winter safely. While the weather wasn't quite as extreme as the previous year, the sheer volume of snow was still staggering. No matter how much I cleared, the work never seemed to end.
"Can I... take a break... soon?" I panted.
"No," Little Witch replied firmly. "Alraune, you overslept again today, so you have to work extra hard to make up for it."
"Ugh, but I didn’t... oversleep..."
I really didn't! Snow shoveling wasn't the only thing bothering me this winter; Little Witch’s "big sister" routine had been accelerating lately. Every morning, when I opened my bud and woke up, she was always there to greet me with the same line.
"Alraune, did you oversleep again today? I suppose it can't be helped since you're a child, but you've been waking up quite late recently."
I couldn't wake up any earlier than that! Even when I tried my best to force my bud open, it was still pitch black outside, and my body just wanted to keep sleeping. Because the sun rose so late in the winter, even if it was "morning" by human standards, it was still "night" for a plant. Besides, there was no point in waking up if I couldn't perform photosynthesis in the dark!
"Or are you feeling unwell?" Little Witch asked, peering into my face with concern. "You haven't seemed very energetic lately..."
She kept her white hair hidden under the hood of her robe, which was currently being dusted by a fresh layer of falling snow. I used a vine to gently brush the snow off her head and gave her a smile. "I'm okay," I said.
However, despite what I told her, I hadn't actually been feeling like my usual self. When it was this cold, I just couldn't find the same vigor I had during the summer. Even my roots, which I usually spread far and wide, had remained dormant lately. I was fairly certain the cause was the lack of energy from photosynthesis. There simply wasn't enough sunlight. I missed the sun so much.
Because of the light shortage, the bottomless energy I’d felt during the summer had settled down as if I had gone into hibernation. In the middle of all that, I had managed to generate a massive amount of nectar at Nina's request from the Royal Capital, but that had been an exhausting ordeal. I couldn't imagine what she planned to do with that much nectar. I didn't think she would eat it all herself, but the thought still worried me.
"I know you aren't good with the cold, but keep at it," Little Witch said. "This is for your own sake, you know."
She was likely referring to how I had ended up buried in the snow last winter. If she hadn't saved me then, I probably would have withered away by now.
"I really think Alraune is the only one who can clear this much snow at once. It's quite amazing. I'm always relying on you, my Alraune."
"I'll... keep going...!" I declared.
It was the same during my time as a Saint, but I just couldn't say no when someone asked me for a favor. After being alone in the forest for so long, the mere fact that someone relied on me made me incredibly happy. More than anything, I was being relied upon by Little Witch, who was as precious to me as family. That fact alone sent a surge of energy through me.
I manipulated ten vines at once, each clutching a shovel, and set back to work with renewed vigor. Satisfied with my progress, Little Witch used her Levitation Magic to fly off for her secret training. She continued her magical practice even in the dead of winter. I had been hoping she would show me the results of her hard work, but she kept it all a closely guarded secret. I was dying to know how much she had improved.
"Good luck... with your training! Be careful... of the cold!"
"I will! And make sure you don't get buried again like last year!" she shouted back, ascending toward the canopy.
However, just as she reached the treetops, she suddenly descended back to my side.
"Is something... wrong?" I asked.
"There’s a massive blizzard blowing in from the western sky," she said.
Now that she mentioned it, today was significantly colder than the previous few days. Perhaps a cold wave was approaching.
"It looks like the blizzard clouds are heading right for us. I'm worried you might freeze again, so I think I'll stay here today."
The direction she was looking was toward the Dryades' Forest. Further beyond that lay the Fortress City, the front line between the Kingdom of Gardenia and the Demon King's Army. I remembered that when I was attacked by the Minotaur in my former forest, it had come from that direction. I had been wondering if something had happened at the Fortress City, but I didn't have any way to check. I decided I would ask the Corporal or Drink Bar-san the next time I saw them.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, Little Witch whispered, "Someone’s coming."
Because of the deep snow, I couldn't use my roots for reconnaissance, meaning I couldn't detect intruders or guests until they were right on top of us. Pushing through the drifts was my "little sister," the Amazoness Treant. I had asked her to handle the snow removal for the vegetable fields, but it seemed she had detoured to guide some visitors to me.
Accompanying her were Kiri the fairy, the Corporal—who acted as the liaison between me and the city—and Drink Bar-san, who was in charge of watering the forest.
"To come to the forest... in such snow... did something happen?" I asked.
"We came specifically because of the snow," the Corporal replied. "At this rate, the city won't survive."
It appeared the Corporal had come as a representative for the Lord, Manfred. He informed me he had a consultation and cut straight to the chase.
"There are two problems. First, the city's food supplies have finally run out because of the weather. If things don't change, Tower City might not make it through the winter."
The troll incident caused by my Big Sister Dryades had resulted in most of the city's food being devoured by the transformed residents. Combined with the poor harvest from the previous year's cold wave, Tower City had already been struggling. They had been scraping by using my vegetables and imports from nearby cities, but that system had finally collapsed. The highway was completely blocked by snow, cutting off all supplies.
It seemed the merchant caravan that carried my nectar to Nina had been the last group to make it out of the city. If I had been any later in sending that nectar, Nina might have been left heartbroken.
"I understand," I said. "I will... increase... vegetable production."
"We're already bringing in a huge amount, but can you really increase it even more?"
"Please... rest assured. I will... manage, somehow."
In truth, increasing production any further was going to be incredibly difficult. If it were summer, it would be a different story. However, I was still a Former Saint. Even if I had become a plant monster, I couldn't abandon people in need.
"I'm grateful, Alraune-lass... but there's another complication," the Corporal said, trailing off. He looked like he was wrestling with whether or not to say more.
Seeing him hesitate, Kiri flew over and spoke up for him. "There are some idiots in the city who refuse to eat Lady Alraune’s vegetables. They say they'd rather die than eat anything made by a monster."
Kiri filled me in on the local politics, sounding quite annoyed. "The city is currently split into four groups. There's the Moderate Faction, who have eaten the Saint Nectar and are friendly toward you; the Radical Faction, who believe all monsters are evil and want to stage an uprising; the Neutral Faction, who will eat anything to survive; and then there's a small but growing Fanatic Faction."
She took a breath before continuing. "The Fanatics worship you as the 'Crimson Flower Princess Alraune,' the hero who saved the city and produces holy nectar."
...Wait.
I felt like I had just heard something very wrong.
"Fanatic Faction"? Why on earth were there humans worshipping me?! What was going on in that city?!
While I was clutching my head with my vines in shock, the Corporal resumed his explanation.
"That brings us to the second problem. It's... strange."
You're telling me! The fact that there's a cult worshipping me is beyond strange!
"Tower City is on high ground, so we have a good vantage point," he continued. "For some reason, this blizzard is only blowing in from the west."
"From the west?" I repeated.
To the west of Tower City was the Dryades' Forest.
"And from that same direction, monsters are swarming out in massive numbers. The city's adventurers and the Knight Order are fighting to protect the walls, but in this weather, everyone is reaching their breaking point."
Fighting in the freezing cold was brutal for humans. It was hard enough for me, and I was a plant.
"In truth, we shouldn't be asking for more help from a monster, but I'm doing it anyway. For the sake of the city, will you lend us your strength?"
First Little Witch, and now the people of Tower City... I certainly seemed to be in high demand.
Very well. As a Former Saint, I couldn't just stand by during a crisis.
"I understand. I will... take care of that, as well."
This was the perfect chance to save the city and build a better relationship with the people. It was a classic case of killing two birds with one stone. Alright, it was time to get to work outside the forest for the first time in a while!
I would be the one to protect the city!
The winter forest is cold, isn't it? It's even colder when the snow falls.
Next time: The Alraune of the Snowfield.