I was Alraune, a plant monster girl.
The skinhead who had once been an associate of the Witch Queen had grown an afro and become an Imperial general.
They say a man can change completely if you don’t see him for three days, but I had never seen anyone undergo such a radical transformation.
"I’d hoped we might cross paths again, missy, but I never imagined it would be quite this soon, you see," the man said.
His name was apparently Diesel.
Not only had he traded his bald head for an afro, but the mercenary who had served the Witch Queen was now an officer of the Empire. What in the world was going on?!
"Ah, the hair? I tried using some of that trendy shampoo everyone’s talking about, and it just sort of ended up like this, you see."
"...By any chance, is that shampoo the Saint Hair Tonic?" I asked.
"You’re well-informed. But then, you are the Alraune from the bottle, aren't you?"
I’d been caught!
N-No, that wasn't right. I hadn't been trying to promote myself; they’d just drawn my face on the bottle without asking! But that didn't matter right now. I needed to know what was happening.
"Why are you with the Empire? What about the Witch Queen?"
"I’m a mercenary, you see. I’ll wag my tail for anyone who pays well enough."
That was a lie. This man had seemed so devoted to the Witch Queen; I couldn't believe he’d just abandoned her. Besides, no mere mercenary could suddenly become an Imperial officer. There had to be a catch.
"Now, don't give me such a scary look. We didn't come here for a mindless invasion, mind you. We’re just here for a legitimate reason—to welcome a certain someone home."
"A certain someone? You don't mean..."
"That person is a one-of-a-kind existence on this continent, stolen from the Imperial Palace years ago. I’m talking about Barometz of the Golden Fleece."
I knew it! It really was about Barometz. She happened to be a very dear friend of mine.
"We searched the entire continent after Barometz-sama was kidnapped, but we found nothing. It was only recently that we finally tracked her down."
Diesel gave a pleasant laugh and pointed at the Alraune Brand Saint Hair Tonic.
"A merchant with an Imperial warrant brought this Saint Hair Tonic back from Tower City, along with some golden cotton products. It seems golden cotton is being cultivated in Tower City, you see."
A smirk twisted Diesel’s lips as he pulled a golden handkerchief from his pocket. It was unmistakable—it had been made in Tower City.
"The Emperor is absolutely livid. That’s why he sent this army—to 'rescue' Barometz-sama and bring her home."
Barometz had indeed lived in the Imperial Palace once. She’d been stolen by Uncle Teddy and planted in the Flame Dragon Lord’s botanical garden, but the Empire had no way of knowing the inner workings of the Demon King’s Army. Because of my products, they’d mistakenly concluded she was in Tower City.
I had to clear up the misunderstanding.
"Barometz is not in Tower City," I stated firmly.
"That’s for us to decide after we’ve searched the place, you see. If I go back empty-handed, the Emperor will have my head."
"So... you’re refusing to leave?"
I flared my vines wide in an intimidating display. For good measure, I even let the mouth of my lower bulb hang open!
"I can’t exactly walk away, you see... But if you want to protect the city, missy, then you’ll just have to stop us yourself."
His words almost sounded like an invitation—like he wanted me to stop the army. I couldn't fathom what his goal was.
"If I fight you, won't the Empire put a target on my back?"
"You’re a monster, aren't you? Even if an army gets roughed up by a monster in a neighboring land, the Empire isn't going to go out of its way for a revenge mission."
That made sense. I hadn't heard of nations launching full-scale wars against wild monsters unless a high-ranking noble was involved.
"Of course, if the soldiers start dying, that might be a different story."
It seemed we were on the same page. Was Diesel actually trying to get me to neutralize his own men? It certainly sounded like it. I didn't know his motive, but I decided to play along. Tower City was my neighbor, after all. I couldn't let such rowdy guests cause a nuisance.
"Is stopping four thousand men too much for the Alraune missy? Perhaps I’ve overestimated you, you see."
"Don't worry," I replied.
I manifested a Man-eater Flower Field, encircling the Imperial soldiers in an instant. To ensure they stayed put, I snared every last one of them with my briars.
"The meadows in this entire area are already a part of my body."
The Imperial soldiers cried out in alarm as the mass of floral monsters appeared, shifting into battle stances. A few tried to slash at the plants, but it was futile. Those Man-eaters were extensions of myself; I could make them bloom forever.
"You were standing on top of me from the very beginning."
The power I possessed now exceeded that of a Dryad. Compared to growing a massive forest from nothing, providing flowers for four thousand people was child's play.
"Now then... sleep well."
I released hypnotic pollen from the mouths of the Man-eaters. The sleeping powder blanketed the four thousand men simultaneously. To be certain, the briars holding them also pricked their skin with hypnotic thorns.
"That should do it for now."
Four thousand soldiers lay slumped on the grass, all of them drifting off into a deep, peaceful slumber.
"Are you satisfied?" I asked Diesel.
But he had already closed his eyes and departed for the world of dreams. He was fast asleep.
"Maybe I overdid it..."
The Imperial invasion had begun with a roar, but the "great battle" had ended far more anticlimactically than I’d expected.
"Why am I the one doing this?!" I grumbled.
Using dozens of vines, I began neatly arranging the sleeping soldiers. I even flipped over the ones who had fallen face-down so they could breathe easier. They were technically enemies, but I hadn't come here to slaughter them. If babysitting four thousand Imperial soldiers was the price for a ceasefire, I was willing to pay it.
"Wait... I feel a strange presence over there."
In the middle of the sleeping army sat a luxurious carriage meant for nobility. It was far too ornate for a battlefield. It bore the Imperial Household Emblem, and given the number of elite guards sleeping around it, it clearly housed someone important.
Even from a distance, I felt something odd coming from inside. It was faint, but it was definitely the aura of light magic.
"Let’s just move this over here..."
I lifted the carriage with my vines and pulled it toward me.
Rattle.
I jumped. There was a sound from inside! Someone was still awake. The sleeping powder must not have penetrated the carriage’s seal.
"You out there... who are you? You aren't one of the soldiers. What have you done to my carriage?"
It was a woman's voice. Someone inside a carriage with the Imperial crest—she was certainly no commoner.
"I’m not a soldier," I said. "I’m going to open the door now. I’m not going to hurt you."
I slowly opened the door and found myself locking eyes with a girl in a shimmering golden dress.
"...How dare you! Wait... what? You... why are you a monster?!"
The girl froze in shock the moment she saw my face. It was only a split second, but she had definitely reacted to my facial features before even noticing the flower that made up my lower body.
My own reaction was identical. I knew this girl.
I didn't need her to introduce herself. We had met before, back when I visited the Empire during my time as Saint Iris. I had felt a trace of light magic from the carriage, and now I knew why.
In the Empire, light magic users were incredibly rare. Her power was too weak for her to have been a candidate for a Saint in the Kingdom of Gardenia, but in the Empire, it made her a rarity. Because her power wasn't suited for combat, she had been raised as a typical princess.
"Why does a monster have that face?!" she cried, pointing a trembling finger at me.
She hadn't forgotten me. That was both heart-warming and incredibly awkward given the circumstances. She’d had so little power, yet she had been so determined to improve that she’d begged me for advice. We had a history.
That was the problem. I wasn't ready to meet anyone from my past besides Nina and Vol-nii yet.
"It’s so similar... to the face of someone I once knew."
The princess reached out and touched my face. Even though I was a monster, she wasn't afraid. Not since Witch-ko had a human touched me like this—and Witch-ko was a witch, so this was a first for a "normal" human.
"From the look of it, you aren't human. You’re a plant monster... an Alraune, aren't you?"
"...I am."
The princess began poking and patting my cheeks. Her complete lack of personal boundaries hadn't changed at all over the years.
"How strange. You’re a monster, yet I know your face. I heard she had died... but were you alive all this time?"
She looked at me with pure, inquisitive eyes—the same eyes she’d had when she first begged me to be her master.
"I came all this way to see Barometz-chan, but I’ve found someone much more unexpected."
After finished inspecting my face, she moved her hands down to my lower body. She felt the petals and leaves, her expression lighting up with delight. "It’s a real plant!"
I appreciated her curiosity, but I really wished she’d show a bit more caution. She was currently being held by the monster who had just neutralized four thousand of her soldiers.
"I don't recognize this plant body, but I could never forget that beautiful face. How many years has it been?"
About five years, I thought. Back then, she’d been a little girl younger than me. Now, she had surpassed me in age. She’d grown up well.
"Don't just stand there in silence. Answer me. I know you can speak."
I was answering her in my head, but the words wouldn't come out. This was too sudden. I wasn't prepared for this encounter. I had shared my secret with Nina and Vol-nii, but I hadn't intended to tell anyone else...
"Answer me clearly. Are you just a monster who happens to look like her... or are you Master Iris?"