The year had turned.
Having welcomed the new year, we were back to spending our days in the usual fashion.
I never had much energy in the winter. As a plant, my strength always seemed to wane during the colder months. I found myself wishing for the warmth of spring to arrive sooner.
It was while I was chatting with the fairy Kiri in the forest that I first learned about the new arrivals in Tower City.
"Is the population of Tower City really growing?"
"Seems so. An adventurer who came to the forest to pick vegetables the other day was muttering about it, so I’m pretty sure that’s the case."
Kiri, perched atop my Corolla, spoke with a nonchalant air. The "adventurer" in question was likely either Franz, the Former Corporal, or Drink Bar-san.
While I had been busy with my adventurer work in the southern forest, Kiri had apparently become quite friendly with the townspeople.
"Until just a while ago, the town’s fate was a candle in the wind because of the Demon King’s Army. Now, it’s suddenly become a safe haven, even if it is out in the sticks. The Lord is supposedly thrilled because the town is enjoying a massive economic boom thanks to the Saint Nectar special demand."
Whether the rumors were true or not, word was that my Saint Nectar and Alraune-branded shampoo were selling like wildfire in the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Gardenia. Perhaps because of that, merchants had been visiting Tower City incessantly for quite some time.
Moreover, because fresh Saint Nectar could be enjoyed here at a lower price than anywhere else, tourists were flocking in from neighboring territories. With merchants, tourists, and adventurers looking to make Tower City their new base of operations all gathering at once, the town’s service industry was thriving alongside them.
Thanks to all that, Tower City was bustling with people this winter. The town had been grappling with a food crisis only a short while ago, so this sudden prosperity was truly impressive.
The influx had apparently caused a bit of a panic because the stockpiled vegetables were running low. I was supplementing the supply myself, so it wasn't a major problem. For my part, I didn't mind the neighborhood becoming a bit livelier.
"Migrants are flocking to the town, too. It’s like it’s returning to how it was in the old days."
"Were there even more people in the town back then?"
"Oh, definitely. But once the Demon King's Army’s invasion reached the Dryades' Forest, the numbers dropped off sharply. I mean, nobody wants to die, so I'm sure most of them just cut and run."
No one wants to live in a dangerous place, after all. Many had likely moved to the relative safety of the area surrounding the Royal Capital.
"Well, not that it matters to a fairy like me."
Even as Kiri said that, I knew she had changed. The old Kiri wouldn't have cared about the townspeople at all.
But the current Kiri remembered people's names and actively worked to help out. If I asked, she would even run errands in town for me. While I was away, she had protected the forest alongside my little sister figure, Amazoness Treant. Despite her attitude, she was a very reliable fairy.
"Kiri, I have a favor to ask. I want you to deliver this letter for me."
"A letter for Saint Nina and Wolfgang... those humans? Got it."
I decided to have Kiri send letters to Nina and Vol-nii. Since those two were in the Royal Capital, they might have information regarding the Witch Queen, the Empire, or the capital itself. Right now, I wanted every scrap of information I could get.
That said, it would probably be quite a while before I received a reply. In the meantime, it might be a good idea to head into Tower City myself to do some digging.
"Oh, right. Lady Dryades said she has some business with you, Lady Alraune. She asked if you could stop by."
"Business? Did something happen?"
"Hmm, it didn't sound like it was urgent or a major problem. Just show your face when you’ve got some free time."
"I understand."
Come to think of it, I hadn't visited Lady Dryades lately. Not since I went to give my New Year’s greetings. Just as Kiri suggested, I should probably head over for tea once I had a moment to kill.
Satisfied now that she had said her piece, Kiri hopped off my Corolla and onto the head of a Treant.
"Well, I'm off on my rounds!"
Kiri and Amazoness Treant set off on a walk they called a patrol. As I waved my Vines to see them off, another guest appeared in their place.
"Lady Crimson Flower Princess, it is an absolute honor to see youuu!"
It was the Sister from the Church, a prominent member of my fanatic faction. It had been a while since she had come all the way to the forest. Normally, she would be offering prayers to me at the Tower of the Goddess in town; I wondered what brought her here today.
"Today, I have someone I simply must introduce to you, Lady Crimson Flower Princess!"
Standing beside the Sister was a woman dressed in liturgical robes. Holding a golden staff, she offered a greeting with a perfectly expressionless face.
"It is my honor to meet you. I am Pandia, a priest of the Selene Sect. I have been sent here from the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light."
—She reminds me of someone.
That was my very first thought upon seeing her. It appeared a new priest had been assigned from the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light, and a female one at that.
The previous priest of Tower City had been killed by Big Sister Dryades, and a substitute had been filling the role ever since. Since more than a year had passed, I suppose they had finally decided on a formal successor.
"So you are the Alraune of the rumors? You are... quite something."
As the priest muttered those words, I realized she was quite something herself. She looked to be about twenty. Despite her youth, the fact that she had already been ordained as a priest suggested she was far from ordinary.
But more than that, a massive Aura of Light was radiating from her body. In other words, this new priest was a user of Light Magic. Furthermore, I sensed a power within her that exceeded even Nina’s or that of my Shitty Junior, Zelma.
That meant her strength surpassed that of a typical Saint. I had never seen anyone besides myself who was quite so loved by the Goddess of Light. With this much talent, it wouldn't have been strange for her to be famous back in her home country, yet I had never heard of her. She seemed to be around the same age as I was as Iris, so I wondered what her history was.
"And to think your face resembles Saint Iris to such a degree... that, too, is beyond my expectations."
She knew about me? Perhaps we had met during my Saint Era, though I had no memory of her.
"I have many questions I wish to ask, but today I have come merely to offer my greetings. I look forward to our future acquaintance."
The priest’s staff struck the ground with a sharp clack. She cast one final glance over my body before leaving me with a parting remark.
"I see that you are loved by Goddess Selene just as I am. However, to have fallen... it is truly a hollow existence, is it not?"
I watched Priest Pandia’s retreating back, pondering the meaning of her words. I felt a surge of irritation at what sounded like a blatant insult, but what truly bothered me was her comment about the Goddess.
Perhaps she possessed the same ability I did—the power to see the presence of Light Magic as an aura. If so, she might have realized that I possessed the power of a Saint despite being a monster. That was not a good development.
Moreover, while I usually hoped to get along with fellow Saint-class magic users, I had a feeling that would be difficult with her. Her choice of words and tone felt incredibly pretentious. I could understand some arrogance from someone who had reached her rank at such a young age, but it was more than that. I felt like she was looking down on me.
Maybe it was just because I was a monster. To a priest from the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light, I was probably nothing more than a common weed.
Sensing something from my expression, the Sister quickly chimed in. "Lady Crimson Flower Princess, please don't take it personally! Lady Pandia didn't mean any harm, truly!"
"She's expressionless, so it's hard to tell what she's thinking, but I feel like her atmosphere is somehow similar to Lady Saint Iris! So I'm sure she's a good person at heart!"
—She reminds her of me?
Now that she mentioned it, her aura did feel a little like mine had in my previous life. Our faces were entirely different, but the air she carried felt familiar.
"Was Pandia-san... a Saint... before?"
"I don't know the full details, but it seems she has been in the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light all this time!"
If she were a Former Saint, there should have been some rumors about her. I was becoming more and more curious. I had just sent a letter to Nina, but perhaps I should send another asking her to look into this.
"Well then, Lady Crimson Flower Princess, I shall take my leave. I'll be back soon to receive more of your blessed Saint Nectar!"
The Sister hurried off after Priest Pandia. I waved my Vines to see her off, as I always did.
It seemed the stories about the increasing number of migrants were true. Tower City was certainly drawing a lot of attention lately.
Come to think of it, Merk wasn't the only one staying; Chara-o had decided to live in town as well. Merk had her research as an excuse, but I couldn't imagine why Chara-o would stay. I didn't think there were many reasons for a member of the Demon Race to live in a human town...
On a side note, the siblings Anna and Armin had departed for their home village. They promised to come visit again once things settled down, so I was looking forward to seeing them again.
The Sister and the priest disappeared from sight, and just as I was about to head toward Lady Dryades' place, someone descended from the sky without a sound.
"It’s been a while. Do you remember me? I’m Yasmin’s papa."
A winged demon appeared before me. It seemed Yasmin’s papa had come to pay a visit. I certainly was having a lot of guests today.
"Actually, I came to give you my greetings today."
Yasmin’s papa bowed politely. Standing beside him was a beautiful woman I had never seen before. She had wings and horns just like a demon, so she was clearly not human. She bore a striking resemblance to Yasmin, which meant—
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Crimson Flower Princess Alraune. I am Yasmin’s mother."
So this beautiful woman was Yasmin’s mother! I never expected to meet her mother so soon after meeting her father. Both of them were clearly demons, yet they were dressed exactly like humans. They were likely using a disguise, just like Yasmin. That was all well and good, but I wondered why both of Yasmin’s parents were here together.
"This is just a small token of our appreciation."
Yasmin’s papa handed me a gift. I accepted it with my Vines; it was quite clearly a towel. A golden one, at that. When I looked closer, the wrapping paper read: Demon King's Castle Specialty: Barometz of the Golden Fleece Towel!
"Um, what is this for...?"
"It’s a housewarming gift. We’ve decided to move to this town as a couple."
—Wait, moving? The demons are moving here?!
"Our daughter, whom we thought was dead, is actually alive. Since we have this chance, we decided to take the leap and relocate so we can all live together as a family again."
"I... I see. Congratu... lations on your move..."
Talk about taking a leap! As I looked at the smiling faces of Yasmin’s papa and mother, my own heart felt like it was turning to stone.
What on earth was I going to do? It wasn't just human migrants anymore—little by little, the town was filling up with monsters!