Today, I had a friend I wanted to introduce to everyone.
I raised my voice so the onlookers could hear me. "I have... someone... who will help... rebuild... the tower. I... will bring... him... now."
Next, I issued a command to the Wood Golem, which was connected to me through its roots, telling it to come to our location. After a short while, heavy thuds began to echo as the ground itself trembled.
The residents, who had been completely entranced by my nectar, suddenly fell silent the moment they saw a wooden giant roughly five meters tall. One of the onlookers whispered, "What is that...?"
I was delighted they asked! This boy was my newest companion, Wood Golem-kun. He was large and strong, a very good boy who listened to everything I said.
"Now... Wood Golem-kun. Let us... greet... everyone... in the city."
Despite my command, Wood Golem-kun didn't introduce himself. Since he was a golem, it seemed he really couldn't speak. In that case, I would have to explain in his stead.
"This... Wood Golem... will... rebuild... the tower... for us."
Even after my introduction, the townspeople remained silent. They seemed frightened; I could even see some of them trembling. Unable to watch the awkward situation unfold any longer, Lord Manfred stepped in to supplement my explanation.
"This golem is the legendary golem that built the Goddess’s Tower of myth! Furthermore, since it is currently under the command of the Crimson Flower Princess, there is no danger of it rampaging in the city. Everyone, burn the sight of this Holy Relic of myth into your very eyes!"
I see, so they were simply afraid of his appearance. He looked like a guardian of the forest, but he was actually a gentle golem who cherished nature. I truly wanted them to feel at ease.
However, one person who was "at ease" in a completely different sense stepped forward. Upon hearing Lord Manfred’s words, the Sister cried out in joy, tears streaming down her face.
"The Crimson Flower Princess is controlling an ancient golem from the myths! The Crimson Flower Princess, who can perform such a miracle, truly is the Holy Alraune sent to us by the Goddess!"
The Sister began to pray so fervently that one might have mistaken the scene for the Goddess herself descending upon the world. Led by her enthusiasm, the crowd began to buzz with excitement. It seemed they couldn't hide their agitation at witnessing a legendary golem with their own eyes. As expected of a city at the foot of the Goddess’s Tower, her popularity was quite something.
Soon, people began to look at me with even more respect than before—simply because I commanded the Goddess's Golem. These were, of course, the members of the Fanatic Faction.
"Let us build the Crimson Flower Princess's tower here!" they started shouting, only to be promptly restrained by the guards.
Leaving them aside, it seemed the number of people from the Moderate and Neutral Factions who looked upon me favorably had increased. I wasn't a monster on the side of the Demon King’s Army, but one on the side of humanity. Thanks to this ancient golem said to have been created by the Goddess, that message finally seemed to reach them.
However, mixed in with those warm gazes, I felt a distant, piercing bloodlust. I searched for the source, but the crowd had already grown to over a hundred people. I couldn't identify the person emitting such malice from within the throng.
Since I was a plant monster, I suppose it couldn't be helped. It would likely take time to win over the hearts of the Radical Faction. I decided not to rush and to do my best one step at a time. Thus, under the weight of many different gazes, the reconstruction of the Goddess’s Tower began.
Strictly speaking, the "Goddess’s Tower" referred to the one located in the Holy Capital of the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light, the largest nation on the continent. As the power of the Church grew, imitations of the original tower were built all across the land. The tower in this city was one of those replicas.
Since rebuilding the tower exactly as it was in stone would be difficult, I followed my plan with Lord Manfred to rebuild it as a wooden structure. First, we needed to erect the main pillar. I decided to create the Center Pillar, which would serve as the core of the wooden tower. For the height, I figured I would base it on the image of the five-storied pagodas I had seen during my High School Girl Era.
I turned to the Master Carpenter, who was assisting with the design. "How... high... should... I... make it?"
"It can be as high as you want! Even if it takes decades, we’ll build Lady Dryades's tower for you!"
No, I really didn't want to turn this into such a massive, multi-generational project...
Hypothetically, I wondered how long of a tree I could grow if I went all out. The largest tree in the world during my High School Girl Era was over a hundred meters tall. However, I didn't know if I could currently create something that massive. My Big Sister Dryades had reached a considerable size once she became a Divine Tree, but creating something like that would require a staggering amount of energy. She was a Divine Tree, after all.
If I generated a tree that reached the heavens, the Master Carpenter's descendants would be working on it for generations. I had no intention of taking that long. I wanted to work efficiently and finish the reconstruction as soon as possible!
So, I used Plant Generation to grow a tree roughly the height of a five-storied pagoda. I planned to have this tree processed into the Center Pillar.
Actually, the Wood Golem did the bulk of the assembly work. Despite his giant body, he was unexpectedly skilled at delicate tasks. I found myself captivated watching him build the tower with such fluid, graceful motions. The Master Carpenter and his team assisted him, overseeing the fine decorations the golem couldn't manage and handling the intricate design details.
I merely supported the carpenters with my Plant Generation. Otherwise, I spent my days being watered by Little Witch while listening to the rumors Kiri picked up in the city.
Speaking of rumors, Kiri mentioned that a cute Receptionist had joined the Adventurer Guild. Despite being a newcomer, she was already becoming quite popular. Speaking of adventurers, I had recently started seeing men who looked the part lingering near the construction site.
I was curious, so I asked the Corporal and Drink Bar-san. It turned out these weren't local adventurers. I wondered if they had come here looking for work. Since Tower City sat on the edge of the Demon King’s territory, there was also a chance they were preparing for an expedition.
After several days of continuous work, the tower was nearing completion. However, as I was watching over the Wood Golem and the carpenters, disaster struck without warning.
Just as Little Witch and Kiri headed toward the forest to check on the Amazoness Treants, it happened. While I was looking up at the tower, I saw something flying toward me from the corner of my vision.
I wondered what it was. As that thought crossed my mind, I looked down at my own body and realized a flame arrow had buried itself in my chest.
—Wait, what?
Immediately after, I felt a wave of bloodlust. I snapped my head forward and saw multiple flame arrows arching toward me. In an instant, I grew a shield of vines to block the incoming projectiles.
That was close. If I had been even a second slower, I would have been executed by fire right then and there.
"She blocked it!" "But she should be weak to fire!" "Don't stop, keep the pressure on!"
Before I knew it, I was surrounded by forty unfamiliar adventurers. Every one of them had their weapons drawn and was charging at me. It was so sudden that I was genuinely shocked. This was bad; if things continued like this, it would turn into a full-blown battle.
Even with an arrow stuck in my chest, I didn't want to cause a scene. I wanted to resolve this peacefully.
"I... am... not... an enemy... of humans. Please... put... your... weapons... down."
The adventurers only screamed back at me.
"As if we'd listen to a monster!" "It’s obvious you’re here to attack the city!" "Pawn of the Demon King, we'll exterminate you!"
It seemed they had no intention of sheathing their swords. They unleashed their various attacks against me. Fighting in the middle of the city was far too dangerous, especially with the carpenters working on the tower right next to me. Before anyone got hurt, I decided to neutralize them all at once.
I generated a Water Storage Sac in my Kangaroo Pocket. Since Little Witch had just watered me, I had plenty of moisture. I began transpiration, releasing the water from my body as vapor through the stomata in my leaves.
As soon as the adventurers inhaled the mist, they began to collapse one by one, muttering, "It’s sweet..."
I had mixed nectar containing Sleeping Powder into the water vapor. My Sleeping Nectar Mist. I hadn't used it in a while, but transpiration was quite a convenient way to defeat opponents without hurting them.
I looked down at the fallen men. They were likely adventurers from another city, but I had no idea why they had targeted me so specifically. Regardless, the adventurers had all departed for the world of dreams. Peace had returned to the city.
"Crimson Flower Princess-sama, the fire!"
The Master Carpenter came running toward me, shouting frantically. Oh, that’s right—the flame arrow was still stuck in my chest. I used the water from my storage sac to douse the flames and then used a vine to yank the arrow out.
As I was regenerating the wound to return my body to normal, the Master Carpenter let out another shout. "It’s terrible! The forest is burning!"
—Wait, the forest!?
He didn't mean my body—he meant the actual forest?
The site of the Goddess’s Tower sat on a hill, giving me a clear view of the surrounding area. Looking out, I could see thick smoke rising from the trees.
"My... forest..."
In that moment, I felt the parts of my body that made up the forest beginning to vanish. The forest and fire—that combination brought back the memory of the Flame Dragon Lord burning my former forest. Back then, I had been one step away from death. If I hadn't performed self-pollination, I would have been nothing but ash by now.
I feared the forest burning more than anything. I never wanted to experience that again.
Little Witch and Kiri were heading there now. My younger sister figures, the Amazoness Treants, were also there guarding the place. I was terrified for them.
I had to go back. They might be waiting for my help.
However, if I used Teleportation while leaving this Avatar Alraune here, this body would become an empty, unconscious husk. If the remaining adventurers found me in such a defenseless state, they would surely do something horrible. To prevent that, I decided to pollinate this body and revert it to a seed.
"Master Carpenter... I... must return... to the forest. I... leave... the golem... and tower... to you."
With those final words, I bit into an Alraune's Male Flower that I had bloomed on a vine. Feeling my body begin to compress into a seed, I activated Teleportation to return to my main body.
Judging by the amount of smoke, it was likely still a small fire. I could still make it. I would put out the flames immediately and protect my forest!
And so, I returned to the forest in the midst of the flames.
Notice: It has been decided that the print version of "Plant Monster Girl Diary" will be released by Morning Star Books on June 16th! I am only able to share such happy news thanks to the continued support of all my readers. Thank you all once again! m( )m I have also posted a notice in the activity reports, so please feel free to take a look.
Next time: The wanderings of a lost Demon Maid through a human city.