It was decided: I would be participating in the city’s festival.
To bring the festivities to a close, it seemed they intended to make use of the Goddess’s Tower. Consequently, we were tasked with completing the tower’s reconstruction by the day of the event.
Regarding the actual building process, the Wood Golem, Kiri the fairy, and the carpenters all seemed more than willing to put in the hard work. I had already ordered the Wood Golem to follow whatever Kiri told him, so I was certain the work would proceed smoothly.
Besides, the Master Carpenter had spoken with absolute confidence, telling me to leave it all to them and promising the tower would be finished in time for the festival. He really was quite reliable.
With the construction no longer requiring my direct oversight, I suddenly found myself with far too much free time. I suggested helping with the festival preparations in the city, but Lord Manfred turned me down flat. He told me that until the city’s safety could be guaranteed, I was strictly forbidden from entering.
Still, I really wanted to see the preparations for myself.
Because I had been raised as a Duke’s Daughter and a Saint, I knew next to nothing about how ordinary people conducted their celebrations. Had I continued my previous life as a Saint, I would have rarely, if ever, been granted the chance to watch a festival being set up. That was exactly why I wanted to see it—just once! I wanted to feel that atmosphere.
That was when I had an idea.
If being an Alraune made it too dangerous to visit because I might be attacked, then the solution was simple: I just had to make sure no one realized who I was. I simply had to mimic a human!
After all, my upper half was already human in appearance. I was sure I could make it work somehow. Though, I did feel a little uneasy going alone. Perhaps I should find a companion first.
"Little Witch... would you... like to go... to the Tower City... with me?"
"Sorry. I actually want to check out the neighboring town."
Well, that was unexpected. I was genuinely shocked that she turned me down.
"Why... do you want... to go to... the neighboring town?"
"An adventurer said they’re handing out Wanted Posters for the Alraune there. I won't forgive any humans who try to hurt you, Alraune. So, I’m going to go see what’s happening."
I hadn't realized she was planning to go all that way just for my sake. However, as far as I knew, the Little Witch had never traveled that far on her own before.
"Going... alone... is... dangerous."
"It's fine. Unlike you, Alraune, I'm already an adult. Don't treat me like a child."
"...I understand. Please... be... careful."
"You make sure not to push yourself too hard either, Alraune."
With that, the Little Witch transformed into a White Bird and took flight toward the east. She said she would be back by tomorrow evening, but I couldn't help but worry. I just hoped she would return safely without any trouble.
Since the Little Witch was away, I decided I would head to the city by myself. My "younger sister," the Amazoness Treant, was busy patrolling the forest. She was concerned that remnants of the hostile adventurers might still be lurking in the woods.
Leaving the forest in her capable hands, I decided to begin my infiltration mission.
Early the next morning, I grew an Avatar Alraune in the Tower City’s plaza and teleported my consciousness into it. Then, using my Spirit Power to its full extent, I forced the body to grow from its usual young girl form into that of a teenager.
The people of the city had only ever seen me as the "Young Girl Alraune." I figured that if I changed my size and silhouette, they wouldn't realize it was me.
I had arrived in the early morning specifically to do some "structural work" before the citizens woke up. It was time for my disguise!
Since having a plant for a lower body would immediately give me away, I first crafted a wooden screen to block it from view. However, a simple screen wouldn't stop people from seeing me from the side, so I went ahead and built an entire small shack. I left a window open so that only my human upper half was visible from the outside.
Of course, I didn't forget to dig a hole in the ground to bury my bulb slightly, allowing me to adjust my height. There! Now, didn't it look exactly like I was a shopkeeper sitting behind a counter?
Still, a random shack appearing in the middle of the plaza might look suspicious on its own. To solve that, I set out several wooden cylinders filled with portions of my nectar to sell.
No matter who looked at me now, I was nothing more than a simple Nectar Seller!
Hehe. Honestly, I was impressed with my own ingenuity. There was no way anyone would realize I was the Alraune. It was perfect!
Just then, as if on cue, a pair of humans walked into the plaza. Now then, let’s show them just how well I can blend into human society as a merchant.
"What’s with that shack? It wasn't there yesterday, was it?" "Whoa, look. That girl inside... she’s dressed in something incredible."
...Incredible?
I took a moment to look at myself again. Ah, right. I was only wearing my Vine Bra.
I had grown completely used to it while living in the forest, but this was a human settlement. While no one would blink if a monster like an Alraune dressed like that, a city girl would certainly stand out. They might even get the wrong idea about what "kind" of business I was running. As a Former Saint, this was a rather distressing realization.
Feeling the heavy weight of their stares, I forced a bright smile to avoid suspicion. The two men looked at me with lingering doubt, but eventually, they passed through the plaza and went on their way.
"I completely... forgot... about... clothes..."
I felt like someone had told me something similar once before...
But clothes, hmm? What was I supposed to do? I didn't own any clothes. I was a plant, after all. For now, I would have to create something to serve as a substitute.
A plant wearing clothes...
Thinking about that reminded me of my friend Barometz, back in the Demon King's Castle Botanical Garden. Barometz of the Golden Fleece covered her body in cotton. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that functioned as her clothing.
Come to think of it, back when I was in the Botanical Garden, I had eaten a plant that seemed perfect for making clothes. Let’s give that a try.
Using Plant Generation, I produced several Watagetouhiren and began growing them across the surface of my body. The Watagetouhiren is an alpine plant from the Asteraceae family whose leaves and flowers are covered in thick, downy fluff. To survive the freezing temperatures of high mountains, it creates balls of hair to insulate itself.
Such specimens are known as "Sweater Plants." They look like incredibly fluffy, overgrown balls of wool.
I grew a thick layer of this fluff over my upper body, styling it into something resembling a sweater. Now, at a glance, I looked like a Nectar Seller in a cozy top! While I was at it, I mimicked a lap blanket with the downy wool to hide my lower bulb as well. I even incorporated some of the golden cotton I'd inherited from the Golden Fleece for a bit of flair.
Yes, this was an outfit that truly respected Barometz's style. I wondered how she was doing. I really wanted to see her again...
Regardless, with my cotton sweater finished, my disguise was finally complete! Surely no one would find me suspicious now.
As time passed, the plaza slowly began to fill with people. Everyone gave me a curious look, but no one started screaming about a monster. It was working! Thanks to the shack hiding my lower half, I was successfully passing for a human.
The people in the plaza mostly ignored me and began their festival work. Some practiced dancing and music, while others were busy crafting decorations. I even saw people doing costume fittings for their disguises.
The thing that caught my eye the most, however, was a group building a massive figure in the center of the square. They were assembling a giant doll made of wood and straw. It looked a bit like the Wood Golem. I wondered what it was for.
The spring festivals I remembered didn't use anything like that. Perhaps it was a local custom unique to this city. The workers seemed to be struggling with the heavy wooden frame; I figured it would be over in a flash if I helped.
If I was careful and manipulated the wood from here without letting them see, no one would ever know it was me. Yes, I should help!
Just as I made up my mind, a voice called out, "Hey, you! Girl!"
Before I knew it, three unfamiliar men were standing in front of my counter. The one in the middle, who looked rather important, sighed as he reached for one of my nectar cylinders.
Oh, was he a customer?
Welcome! Would you like to buy some of my nectar?
"You seem to be selling Saint Nectar. Do you have a permit?"
"...Wh-what?"
"A permit...?"
"Just as I thought. You don't have one."
The man sighed again and continued.
"To sell Saint Nectar in this city, you need a permit issued by the Lord. I don't know where you got your hands on this stuff, but smuggling is a crime. Furthermore, erecting a shack in the plaza without authorization is a violation of city ordinances. I’m going to have to ask you to come with us."
...This was an emergency.
I was about to be arrested red-handed for "smuggling" my own nectar!
And what on earth was a "Saint Nectar Permit" anyway?! When the Little Witch sold nectar here, there was no such thing!
Honestly, Manfred! When did you go and start a permit system? I’m the one producing the nectar, and even I didn't know about this!
Regardless, I did not want to be arrested. I was innocent!
"There are... deep... reasons... for this..."
"You can explain your 'reasons' to the magistrate. Now, come out of there."
"Even if... I wanted... to... I cannot... come out..."
My roots were literally buried in the dirt. The truth was, I was a plant...
"If you aren't going to come out willingly, we’ll just have to take you by force."
The trio of men started toward me. This was bad. Not even Bear-papa could pull my roots out easily, so there was no way these men could do it. However, if they tried, they would immediately realize I wasn't human!
I was in a massive bind!
"Hold it right there!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out across the plaza. I looked up to see a girl in a maid uniform standing defiantly behind the three men.
"That girl is an acquaintance of mine!"
That maid uniform... it was exactly the same as the ones worn in the Demon King's Castle. There was no mistaking it.
That girl was a Demon Maid!
But wait a second. Why was a Demon Maid here?! This was a human city!
Watagetouhiren: A "sweater plant" of the Asteraceae family found in the Himalayan region. It is entirely covered in cotton, forming a spherical ball of fluff that makes it look as though it is wearing a sweater.
Next time: Two maids are better than one.