I was Alraune, a plant monster girl.
The long conflict with the Witch Queen and her cohorts had finally reached its conclusion.
If I traced the thread back to the beginning, the very reason the Little Witch and I had met in the forest was also because of the Witch Queen.
That meant we had been connected by fate even before I ever met the Witch Queen face-to-face.
When I thought about it that way, it really had been a long journey.
The weight on my shoulders had lifted just a little, and I was able to sleep peacefully for the first time in a while.
The Little Witch seemed to feel more at ease now, too.
Several days had passed since the battle with the Witch Queen.
Today was the day of the long-awaited festival in Tower City.
The humans in the city seemed eager to finally let loose, but for me, having become a monster, it felt like someone else's business.
Enjoying a festival as a human was something I could never do again.
I cast my eyes toward my lower body, which had become a plant, and my former legs, which had transformed into roots.
It was a bit difficult to go and enjoy a festival with a body like this, wasn't it?
Besides, human festivals had nothing to do with the residents of the forest.
Therefore, I decided I would work hard on the forest's restoration instead!
The forest had suffered salt damage because of the Witch Queen.
Fortunately, the scope of the damage was limited to my direct sphere of influence, known as Alraune's Forest.
The Dryades' Forest appeared to be safe. I was just glad the damage had stopped here.
When it came to dealing with salt damage, the answer was desalination.
My Younger Sister Treant was spreading lime in the forest, while Fairy Kiri used Spirit Magic to remove the salt.
Soil that has suffered salt damage can be restored to some extent using lime.
I didn't remember the details clearly, but I had a feeling it was enough to pour in fresh water and wash the salt away.
For now, I decided to experiment—telling myself we should just try whatever we could!
Amazoness Treant and the Wood Golem went through the forest spreading the lime, which had been provided as an indemnity gift from the Witches.
The Little Witch used Storm Magic to conjure rain, bringing fresh water down upon the woods.
Then, Fairy Kiri used Spirit Magic to gather the salt that washed out into a single mass and remove it.
I was glad Kiri could use Spirit Magic, which allowed her to manipulate all things.
It wasn't particularly useful in combat, but in terms of support, Kiri was quite convenient.
In fact, she was almost too talented compared to other fairies.
Thanks in part to Kiri, the desalination work progressed at a visible rate.
Even if the salt wasn't completely removed, the salt tolerance of the Mangroves and Ice Plants ensured they wouldn't wither.
In the near future, I would likely see the forest fully recovered from the salt damage.
Until then, I was going to work even harder!
While the forest dwellers were busy with their tasks, Tower City was holding a festival alongside its reconstruction.
It was an annual event called the Spirit Festival.
Apparently, it had begun as a way to pray to the Forest Spirit for a bountiful harvest.
The Master Carpenter's grandmother mentioned that she had met Big Sister Dryades decades ago.
Supposedly, that meeting had happened during this very Spirit Festival.
The Forest Dryades was said to always watch over the city.
Lord Manfred told me that as a result of the people's deep respect for the Dryades, the name of the event eventually changed to the Spirit Festival, even though it had been called the Prayer Festival in ancient times.
I felt the humans should enjoy the festival amongst themselves.
Just as I was thinking that, however, a messenger arrived in the forest.
"The Lord said to please participate in the Spirit Festival, as you promised," the messenger said.
The one who had come to deliver the message was the Former Corporal, Franz.
Now that he mentioned it, I realized I had promised Lord Manfred that I would participate!
Because of the Witch Queen commotion, the memory had completely slipped my mind.
Keeping a promise was a matter of course for a lady.
I decided to leave the desalination work to the others and go do my job in the city.
"Well, then... shall we... go?"
I teleported to Tower City through my roots.
I had become quite accustomed to teleportation by now.
As long as it was within the range my roots reached, I could create an Avatar Alraune and then teleport my consciousness into it.
To be honest, I occasionally went to see the state of the city in secret.
I had more acquaintances there now, including Yasmin, the demon who had become my friend.
I teleported in front of the Goddess's Tower.
What awaited me there was the sight of a city with a completely different atmosphere than usual.
"Whoa... so this... is the... Spirit Festival!"
The city was overflowing with people.
No matter where I looked, there were humans everywhere.
It was the first time I had ever seen so many people in this city!
Wooden dolls decorated the streets.
They looked like tiny Wood Golems and were quite cute.
There were also many people in costume.
Knights, Heroes, Saints—there were even costumes of non-human beings. Though, as expected, no one seemed to be dressed as a Witch.
"I haven't... heard music... in a... long time... either."
Musical bands had been deployed, and cheerful music was playing throughout the city.
In the forest, I only ever heard the chirping of birds and the roars of wild beasts, so I was moved to hear a cultural piece of music for the first time in years.
"Welcome, the beautiful spirit who protects our city, Alraune-dono!"
The one who welcomed me was the Lord, Manfred.
He was as plump and friendly as always.
"As I thought, you are beautiful and resemble Saint Iris... rather, you are even more so."
Manfred, being a fan of Iris—me—showered me with praise every time we met. Well, it didn't feel bad!
However, it bothered me that Manfred kept nodding "mm-hmm" while glancing at my chest.
"If the late Saint Iris had grown up, I'm sure she would have possessed such a grand figure."
Wait, was he picking a fight with me?
It wasn't like I was particularly small back then. I was still in my growth period.
It was just that I was always being compared to her because that Shitty Junior was so oversized, but I had a respectable amount myself.
Or rather, wasn't that a blasphemy against the Saint?
Excuse me, Lord Manfred, would it be alright if I tied you up with my vines for a bit?
"Now then, please take this. It is a present from me."
Manfred handed me a box.
When I opened it, I found a pure white dress inside.
Actually, Manfred had suggested that I wear a dress when participating in the Spirit Festival.
He said he wanted to add more divinity to the festival by having me clad in the attire of a Goddess, but I suspected he had another motive entirely.
I was pretty sure he just wanted to see me in a dress because I had the same face as Iris.
—It had been a long time since I wore clothes.
I let out a small "ho-ho" at the sight of myself in a dress after several years.
It almost made me feel like I had returned to being a Saint.
Well, since my lower body was a bulb with its mouth wide open, I looked like a monster no matter how you viewed it.
Clothes after such a long time... it felt strange.
Rather, it felt like nothing but a sense of wrongness!
Apparently, because I had spent too much time doing survival work in the forest as a monster, a Vine Bra alone felt more natural to me now.
For now, I would only wear clothes for today.
Once I was done, if I had the Little Witch deliver the dress to the wood house, I could save it for another occasion.
"It suits you, Alraune-dono!"
"Is... that... so?"
"Of course! It is a beautiful appearance that reminds one of Saint Iris. If you had come earlier, I could have welcomed you in many other ways as well."
"I didn't... want to... get in... everyone's... way."
Dusk had already fallen.
The festival had reached its climax.
I had actually been asked to come during the day, but I had intentionally arrived late.
Even though it was a human festival, if I, a monster, were wandering around the city, I was afraid everyone might lose their excitement.
It was my own way of being considerate.
"No one would think you're in the way. Everyone has been waiting for Alraune-dono to arrive. Look!"
Manfred raised his arms high.
Immediately, cheers echoed through the plaza.
"Kyaa!" "Lady Alraune!" "It's Lady Crimson Flower Princess!" "You're beautiful today, too!" "It's the spirit who protected the city from the Demon King's Army and the Witches!" "Please give me Saint Nectar!" "Goddess of Saint Nectar!"
The space in front of the Goddess's Tower was overflowing with a crowd of people who wanted to catch a glimpse of me.
"Now, Alraune-dono. Everyone is waiting!"
Everyone was observing my every move.
The gaze of a crowd was something I had been so familiar with during my Saint Era, but now that I had become an Alraune, it was somehow embarrassing.
After all, I wasn't human anymore.
"Greetings, everyone."
When I spoke, the noisy voices fell into a hushed silence.
Recalling the past, I spoke with my chest puffed out like a noble.
"Thank you... for the... invitation... today. I will... do my... best to... help make this... a fun... festival."
As I gave my greetings, I made flowers bloom all at once throughout the city.
Red, blue, yellow, purple, navy, orange, pink, and many other colors.
I made a wide variety of flowers appear in every corner of the city.
At the sudden change in the cityscape, a roar of "Ooh!" erupted.
It seemed they had accepted the scenario Manfred and I had decided on beforehand.
I was happy that I could make everyone glad.
Come to think of it, I had been through a lot with the people of this city.
At first, I was misunderstood as a Man-eater Alraune, and we had started off in a hostile relationship.
But how was it now?
There were no longer any humans who looked at me and tried to exterminate me because I was a monster.
In fact, there were many people who greeted me warmly.
The number of my acquaintances had increased significantly.
I had been accepted by the people of this city while remaining a plant monster.
That was exactly why seeing everyone's happy faces made me feel blissful.
At the same time, it reminded me of those days when I was a Saint.
Those memories were helplessly painful, yet dear to me.
But my work was only beginning.
After all, I had been called here as the guest of honor for the Spirit Festival!
The Spirit Festival was an event to pray for the peace and prosperity of the fief's citizens, as well as for a bountiful harvest.
One prayed to the spirit for the protection of the city and simultaneously offered prayers for fertility to the spirit who manipulated nature.
That spirit was, namely, the Dryades.
In place of the shut-in Lady Dryades, who never appeared at the festival, I had been selected to play the role of the spirit.
"Now then, let us begin the ritual."
Manfred gave me a small signal.
As the spirit protecting this city, I had to display my dignity to the people.
The strategy was to put the people of this disaster-stricken city at ease by showing them that they were under the protection of an absolute power like myself.
"Alraune-dono, this way."
Manfred knelt on one knee and offered the Holy Chalice to me.
Of course, it wasn't the real thing; it was merely a fake.
I extended my arm and held my hand over the chalice.
I produced a Kangaroo Pocket in the palm of my hand.
Then, I snapped open the leaf Water Storage Sac, which was shaped like a pouch.
"It's Saint Nectar!" a woman shouted.
The Fanatic Faction Sister briefly entered my field of vision.
Drip, drop. The nectar flowed down from the Kangaroo Pocket and began to pool in the Holy Chalice.
Up until now, I had been able to produce my nectar from my mouth or my chest, but I thought it might be inappropriate to show that at a festival.
So, I had practiced for this day so that I could produce nectar from other places as well.
Thanks to that, I succeeded in creating a Kangaroo Pocket filled with nectar!
The Holy Chalice filled to the brim.
Manfred brought it to his lips while displaying the chalice to the masses.
"Freshly produced Saint Nectar... how sweet... I shall gratefully partake!"
Manfred gulped down the holy nectar.
I didn't miss him quietly marveling, "It's delicious."
"With this, our city has obtained the blessing of the spirit. Everyone, give your thanks to Lady Alraune!"
At Manfred's command, the citizens began to offer their prayers.
They were praying so fervently it was as if they were mistaking me for a Goddess.
"Praying is... a bit... too much."
I'm just an Alraune.
I'm not a Goddess, you know.
"Alraune-dono, now, as planned," Manfred whispered.
I gave a small nod and executed the teleportation.
"Now, for the festival's finale!"
With Manfred's signal, fireworks were launched.
At the same time, I teleported to the very top of the tower.
Of course, I withered and collected the Avatar Alraune I had been using until a moment ago.
A spirit that vanished along with the fireworks—it seemed he intended to increase my divinity by showing everyone a feat impossible for humans.
"I wonder... if it will... go... that well."
I was worried, but it wasn't really my concern.
I was merely a collaborator.
I wouldn't meddle in every single thing Manfred, the host of the festival, was thinking.
"The wind... is strong... here."
Before I knew it, the sun had set and night had fallen.
Even so, the clamor of the festival did not subside.
"I like... that the... view is... good."
I hadn't climbed to such a high place since I grew massive during the fight with Big Sister Dryades.
Being alone on top of the tower also felt somewhat nice.
My job was over, so I decided I would just quietly watch the festival from here.
I looked down at the city from the top of the newly rebuilt tower.
Many festival lights were lit against the dark sky, creating a fantastical landscape.
The lanterns installed along the streets were particularly beautiful.
The plaza was especially bright, allowing me to see it clearly even from this height.
"The one... over there... is the... Master Carpenter. Yoo-hoo!"
The Master Carpenter and the other carpenters were waving toward me while sharing drinks.
I waved my vines back just as vigorously.
"The ones... over there... are probably... the adventurers."
Franz, who had come to fetch me earlier, seemed to be making a fuss with his adventurer comrades. That kind of thing was nice, too. It looked fun.
"Everyone... is dancing. That's... nice..."
In front of the tower, many men and women were dancing.
Now that I had become an Alraune, that was a dance I could never do again.
"Come to... think of it... when was the... last time... I danced... with the Hero?"
There were many times I had danced with the Hero, my fiancé.
We were both nobles and engaged, and we were often invited to parties.
Recalling those scenes from my time as Iris, I watched the people dancing freely with a sense of envy.
"If only... I had... legs... too..."
Even if I were to just move my roots, the bulb on my lower body was too large and would likely scare people instead.
In order to be able to walk, I would have to obtain a human lower body.
But such a thing was impossible.
I would continue to keep my roots set modestly in the ground, like a plant.
"The girl... dressed as... a Saint... is dancing... wait, that's Nina!"
Nina was dancing in the formal attire of a Saint.
It was quite a lavish outfit, visible even from above. It suited her.
The one escorting Saint Nina was none other than my cousin, Vol-nii.
As expected of a son of a noble family, he was a perfect gentleman.
The two of them had been together on the journey to get here, so perhaps they had become close.
Wait, the ones dancing over there—could it be Yasmin the demon and Drink Bar-san?!
Eh, those two were acquaintances?
Or rather, they were on terms where they would dance at a festival? That was a bit unexpected.
I thought Yasmin hated humans, but I suppose that was a lie after all. I’ll have to ask her about it next time I see her.
"Everyone... looks... happy..."
I could tell just by looking at this scene.
The Spirit Festival was a great success.
Everyone had forgotten about the difficult incidents and was enjoying the present.
If it were possible, I would have wanted to join that circle, too—
Was it because I was thinking such a thing?
Someone spoke to me, even though I was atop a tower nearly a hundred meters high.
"Alraune!"
When I turned around, the Little Witch was floating there.
Her silver hair was flowing in the wind like the Milky Way; she was very beautiful.
"Rufe... what's... wrong?"
"I came to get you because you were late, Alraune. Everyone is waiting in the forest."
Now, I had many comrades who looked up to me.
So, let's go home.
To my place!
—But, before that.
Even though I was on a tower close to the sky, I could hear the music all the way up here.
If so, then since we were here, won't you dance with me?
My Swan Prince... I recited the nostalgic name in my heart.
"Rufe... won't you... dance... with me?"
Imitating a gentleman, I offered a vine to the Little Witch.
She must have realized what I wanted to do.
The Little Witch let out a small sigh and smiled gently.
"If it's what Alraune wants to do, I'll go along with it. After all, I'm the big sister."
The Little Witch took hold of my vine.
Atop the tower, the Alraune and the little witch began to dance quietly.
There was no one in the city who knew of that moment.
Next time, the time comes to speak my truth.