I was Nina, a newbie Saint.
I had finally achieved a long-awaited reunion with the woman who had been my idolized mentor since my days as an apprentice.
Before the Four Heavenly Kings Subjugation Party, a massive clump of vegetation sat enthroned. It was a bulb with a mouth large enough to swallow a human whole, featuring green leaves wider than a cloak and a single, deep crimson bud. The human form seemed to be hidden inside the petals, but there was no mistake. This plant was the current form of the woman I admired most: Saint Iris.
However, one thing concerned me. Her bud was closed.
If I recalled correctly, Saint Iris had once mentioned that in an Alraune’s body, she closed her flower to sleep so that pollen wouldn't stick to her while she rested. The fact that she was a bud meant she was currently fast asleep. Her way of sleeping was entirely different from a human’s, which made me realize all over again that she had truly become a plant monster.
Unlike the days when she was active as a Saint, she was no longer human, but she was still my most precious person. Even if no one else believed in her now that she was a monster, I alone would remain her ally until the very end.
Our leader, Wolfgang, muttered, "As I thought. Even though we defeated that small Alraune before, we didn't manage to kill the main body."
As for me, I felt a wave of relief just seeing that Saint Iris was safe.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the Knight Commander, Hoffmann—who had been injured in the earlier scuffle with the Treant—let out a howling scream. "It’s this one! This is the evil source, the Man-eater Alraune that attacked the city!"
I couldn't help but glare at him. I could not forgive insults directed at Saint Iris. For such a man to be the Knight Commander of Tower City was absolutely insane. I even wondered if I should appeal directly to the Lord to have him replaced.
In response to the Knight Commander’s outburst, the mercenary Diesel let out a dry chuckle and pulled something from his vest. "It looks like the Alraune is sleeping. This is the perfect opportunity to exterminate it, don't you think?"
That was a fire bottle!
I recognized it immediately because I had once received a similar one made with fire magic from Franz. Back then, I had actually used a fire bottle against Saint Iris in her Alraune form. It was a shameful memory now.
"Well then, Leader, shall I?" Diesel asked.
"Yeah. Do it," Wolfgang replied.
Diesel prepared to hurl the fire bottle at Saint Iris. This was bad!
"Wait! Please, wait a moment!" I rushed in front of Diesel, spreading my arms to act as a shield for Saint Iris.
"Saint, you’re at it again," Diesel sighed. "Surely you aren't going to say we should wait and see because it hasn't been confirmed as an enemy yet, right?"
"N-no, that’s not it! I just thought we should act with more caution..."
"Caution, eh? Well, since the opponent is one of the Four Heavenly Kings, that’s a fair point." Diesel lowered his arm. It seemed he had accepted my plea and stopped his attack.
"Thank you. I’m so glad you understand."
"……Did you really think I’d say that?"
"Eh?"
"The opponent is defenseless. A chance like this will never come again!"
To my horror, Diesel threw the fire bottle the exact moment I let my guard down. It sailed over my head in a lethal arc. At this rate, Saint Iris would be engulfed in flames!
"Holy Light Barrier (Magdeburg)!"
Instinctively, I threw up a barrier of light magic in front of her. The magical explosion from the bottle was perfectly neutralized by my light.
Phew… that was close.
"Saint, what exactly was the meaning of that?"
Before I knew it, suspicious glares from Diesel and all my other comrades were fixed on me. Oh, no. What should I do? I might have really overstepped this time. I couldn't think of a single plausible excuse to talk my way out of this.
Wolfgang stepped forward, his hand on his weapon, approaching me one slow step at a time. "Saint of the Yellow Wings, why did you protect the Alraune?"
"Th-that is..."
Wolfgang’s sharp, wolf-like gaze was terrifying. I had been putting on a brave face to act like a proper Saint, but inside, I was just a commoner apprentice. I didn't have the confidence to survive this confrontation on my own.
My throat was so dry from the tension. I pulled a black tube from my pocket and replenished my energy with Saint Iris's Saint Nectar. With that, the tube was finally empty. However, a supreme, sweet fragrance drifted from the bud behind me. Yes, if I ran out, I just had to ask for more!
I wanted to talk to Saint Iris as soon as possible. To do that, I had to find a way through this mess.
Just as I steeled my resolve, Diesel spoke up. "Huh. That’s strange. That sweet smell drifting from the Alraune over there... I’ve smelled it before. If I recall, every time the Saint of the Yellow Wings takes her medicine, that exact same scent fills the air, doesn't it?"
"...I-I don't know what you're talking about. This is the first time I've smelled it. It's quite a lovely scent, isn't it?"
"No, no, no, there’s no way it’s your first time. Actually, I bought something interesting in a town on the way here." Diesel pulled out a familiar-looking tube and waved it at me. "This is nectar from a rare flower, apparently called Saint Nectar. They say it cures everything from cuts to incurable diseases, and the taste is supposedly out of this world."
I swallowed hard. That was definitely Saint Iris's Saint Nectar. I hadn't expected Diesel to already know about it.
"Could it be that the 'flower' we're talking about is that Alraune right there?"
Anna, the magic sword user, drew her blade, and Rudiger, the heavy knight, leveled his axe. I could feel the hostility radiating from them. Finding myself facing the entire subjugation party alone, my legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
"In Tower City, it was reported that the citizens were being brainwashed by the Four Heavenly Kings Dryades," Wolfgang said coldly. "Could it be that something similar has happened to you?"
"Are you suggesting that I am being brainwashed?"
"Yes, exactly," Diesel added. "You shielded the Treant and protected the Alraune with light magic. You look like nothing but a monster sympathizer. Though, if you're doing this of your own free will, that’s even worse."
Brainwashed by Saint Iris. Of course it wasn't true, but if I pretended it was, I might be able to save my status and my life.
—But there was no way I would ever do that!
I secretly gripped the white handkerchief in my pocket. It was a treasure I had received from Saint Iris when I was ten years old. She had been my emotional pillar and my idol. That hadn't changed just because she had become a monster. I would never betray her. I had already decided to be her ally, no matter what!
"Lord Diesel, let me tell you two things." I readied my Saint's staff and puffed out my chest with a smile. "I am not being brainwashed by the Crimson Flower Princess. And I firmly believe this Alraune is not our enemy."
"So you've finally shown your true colors... The Saint of the Yellow Wings has defected to the Alraune's side."
"I haven't defected. And I have no intention of becoming your enemy, either."
"My employer ordered me to deal with traitors. Don't take it personally."
Ignoring Wolfgang’s shout to wait, Diesel hurled another fire bottle at me. Simultaneously, he let out a sharp whistle.
I cast Holy Light Barrier (Magdeburg) to block the bottle, but in the next second, dozens of birds descended from the canopy. They were clutching fire bottles in their talons. Diesel had said he was an animal tamer, and he wasn't lying. The birds’ target was undoubtedly Saint Iris.
"I won't let you!"
I tried to rush toward her, but my legs wouldn't move. My vision suddenly tilted. I collapsed onto the grass, my body refusing to respond.
What happened?!
I looked down at my feet and saw a large snake sinking its fangs into my leg.
"That little one is my pet, too," Diesel said. "She's a good girl who produces a very special neurotoxin."
The snake had been hidden inside his clothes.
"You won't be able to cast any more magic. Your light is sealed."
The birds above Saint Iris released their fire bottles all at once. Oh, no. I could do nothing but crawl on the ground and watch as the bottles fell toward Saint Iris’s human form. As a plant, she was weak to fire. If she burned, she might never recover.
...Saint Iris, I’m sorry. I couldn't protect you.
"Nina... what... are you... doing... there?"
Startled by the voice, I realized the bud had opened! But it was too early to celebrate. Over a dozen fire bottles were inches away from her. Having just woken up, she couldn't have noticed them yet. I had to tell her!
Saint Iris, look up!
Because of the toxin, my scream was silent. Even if she saw them, how could a plant dodge a dozen projectiles?
"Nina... thank you... for... telling me."
As Saint Iris spoke, countless vines exploded from her bulb. At the tips of the vines, mouths made of leaf-like petals sprouted instantly. They snapped the fire bottles out of the air one after another. Every single bottle was captured. It was a feat of incredible speed; her growth rate seemed even faster than the last time we had met.
"Are you... perhaps... injured?"
Her vines wrapped around me, lifting me gently to her side. She used a vine to carefully pry my mouth open. I saw her cupping her hands like a bowl, preparing nectar.
"Please... drink... this."
She poured the Saint Nectar into my mouth. A warm light enveloped my body, a sensation even more pleasant than light recovery magic. But more than the healing, I was overwhelmed with joy. To think I would ever be allowed to drink nectar directly from her hands—I was moved to tears!
The nectar tasted many times sweeter than usual. Once I finished every drop, I finally offered my greeting.
"...It has been a long time. I have returned, Lady Iris."
"Yes... Nina... welcome... home."
And so, after my long years in the Royal Capital, I was finally home with Saint Iris.