It seemed like we’d managed to finish the preparations in time, one way or another.
Today was the wedding celebration for Lord Manfred and Imperial Princess Freundliche. As someone who had spent so much time preparing for this day, I was deeply moved, but the real show was only just beginning. I had to pull myself together and give it my all.
As I was raising my vines in a solitary "Hip-hip-hooray!" cheer, the Fairy Kiri looked up at the sky and spoke.
"Alraune-sama! It looks like the guests are already arriving."
Wait, they were here already? There was still plenty of time before the party was scheduled to start. I looked up to see who could possibly be so early, only to find a massive monster hovering in the air above the forest.
A dragon was flying!
Moreover, it looked like someone was riding on its back. There was only one person I knew who would show up to a forest party on dragonback. That’s right—it was the Flame Dragon Lord himself, Glühschwanz-sama of the Demon King's Army!
The dragon landed in the forest clearing, and the man seated in the saddle appeared before me.
"Flame Dragon Lord, it has been, a long time."
"It is good to see that Alraune is well. I see you are attending in your potted form today."
I was participating today as the Potted Alraune. I’d decided this form would be much more convenient for a party. I’d even dressed myself up by making a variety of flowers bloom from my head and body.
The one carrying me was my little sister figure, the Amazoness Treant. When I had given her a set of matching flowers, she’d been absolutely delighted.
"You bloomed those flowers specifically for today, I see. They are quite beautiful."
"I am honored, by your praise. Your outfit, today, Flame Dragon Lord, is also, very wonderful."
Glühschwanz-sama had transformed into his human form, appearing as a handsome, red-haired man. Exquisite dragon patterns were woven in gold embroidery onto the collar and cuffs of his elegant suit. He radiated an aura that went beyond mere nobility; you could have called him royalty without anyone batting an eye.
Since explaining that he was a high-ranking official of the Demon King's Army would cause nothing but trouble, I decided I’d try to pass him off with that cover story.
"As promised, please, pretend to be, a human, while you are here."
"I am aware. I have come incognito today; simply consider me one of the many guests."
There was no way I could just treat him like "one of the many guests"! Glühschwanz-sama was a super-VIP. Not only was it vital that his true identity remained a secret, but I also couldn’t afford to let him get into a bad mood.
Above all else, I had to make sure he didn't run into Priest Pandia. If I failed and Glühschwanz-sama lost his temper, the forest—no, the entire Tower City—might be burned to the ground!
"I have simply come to enjoy this forest party of yours. And, of course, I am looking forward to your nectar."
Right, it was decided. I would make sure Glühschwanz-sama had plenty of my nectar to drink.
By the way, Uncle Teddy the butler had also come along as Glühschwanz-sama's attendant. To me, he looked like nothing more than a stuffed teddy bear, but apparently, he appeared to everyone else as a dandy older gentleman in a top hat. Since we’d already arranged via letter for them to attend as humans while hiding their identities as the Demon Race, everything was perfect.
"I have brought a gift for you. Accept it."
"Eh... Ohhhhhh!?"
This was the literal definition of "gold, silver, and treasures"! I’d heard that dragons liked to hoard wealth like gemstones, and it turned out the rumors were true. Was it really okay for me to take all of this?
"Consider this a token of gratitude for the nectar you have sent me. You may also pass some along to the guests of honor."
"By guests of honor, you mean, the humans, who are the lords of the city... Are you, sure about that?"
"It matters not. They may do as they wish with it, even if they use the gold to bolster their armaments."
Glühschwanz-sama was incredibly generous! Far from just aiding the enemy, he was sending a fortune as a wedding gift. Everyone would be shocked if they knew the Demon King's Army was giving presents to humans. Then again, I suppose it didn't matter how much they expanded their military, because if Glühschwanz-sama ever got serious, he could just burn it all down anyway.
"There is another gift. This is a surprise from me to you."
A second dragon carrying luggage descended from the sky. It seemed to be carrying a large flowerpot. Just as I was wondering if he was giving me a plant as a present, something growing inside the pot waved its hand at me.
"I have wanted to meet you, Alraune-san!"
"A-Are you... could it be!?"
Standing on five rhizomes, a golden-furred sheep beastman girl was growing out of the pot. Her hair was like soft cotton, and two sheep horns extended from her head. While her upper body had the air of a delicate, beautiful girl, she turned into a round, fruit-like shape from the waist down.
There was no mistake. It was Barometz-san of the Golden Fleece, whom I’d met in the Demon King's Army Botanical Garden!
"I have finally reached the forest of my dreams!"
Back when I was in the Demon King's Army Botanical Garden, Barometz-san and I had talked about many things. What remained most vivid in my memory was her deep yearning for the forest. She had told me nearly two years ago that she wanted to visit one, even if only once.
Today, her dream had finally come true!
"But Flame Dragon Lord, why, on earth...?"
"She said she wished to see you, so I brought her. I shall leave Barometz in your care. Let her roam the forest as she pleases."
Barometz-san was a dear plant friend of mine. I’d thought I might never see her again, so being able to meet face-to-face like this made me truly happy. After expressing my gratitude to Glühschwanz-sama, I turned back to Barometz-san.
Embracing with vines and cotton, we had a touching reunion. There were mountains of things I wanted to talk about, as so much had happened since we’d parted.
And so, Barometz-san became a temporary member of our forest community. Deciding to save our long stories for later, she was carried over to a corner of the party grounds. Since she was here, I definitely wanted her to enjoy the festivities.
"That’s right, Flame Dragon Lord, I, have, a request."
"It is rare for you to ask for something yourself. Very well, let us hear it."
"Well, you see, please, let, one of my clones, work, in the Demon King's Army Kitchen."
"Wha... what!?"
Glühschwanz-sama froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected proposal. Honestly, I hadn't even dreamed of making such a request until this morning either.
I had simply lost to the enthusiasm of my cooking-loving clone. I wanted her to have the chance to train in a place where even a monster could become a first-rate chef.
"Accepting a single clone of yours is no issue. I shall take her in."
This negotiation also went through smoothly. It wasn't me personally, but my clone would be able to see Scylla the cook again! It brought back so many memories of making tapioca milk tea together.
Wait, I’d completely forgotten—I actually knew how to make tapioca milk tea! Tapioca pearls were out of the question on such short notice, but if it was just the milk tea, I could still make it in time if I hurried. I needed to have Kiri act as a messenger and get the cooking squad on it immediately.
Thus, as a result of the discussion with Glühschwanz-sama, the cooking-loving Alraune clone was officially going to the Demon King's Castle Kitchen for culinary training. In the end, it turned into an exchange program where my clone was sent off in return for looking after Barometz-san in the forest.
"Additionally, I have brought a large quantity of wine for the party. Use it as you see fit."
Glühschwanz-sama was being incredibly attentive to every detail! I started to wonder if it was really okay to receive this much. In a way, it was almost becoming a little scary.
"So, Alraune... do you have a moment?"
Gently tilting his head, Glühschwanz-sama shifted his gaze toward a more secluded spot. It seemed he wanted to have a private conversation. I realized then that this was the real reason he had arrived before the party started.
We moved to a location away from the Treants and the other guests. Here, there was no need to worry about anyone eavesdropping. I was a little nervous, wondering what he intended to discuss.
"Alraune, do you know the whereabouts of Witch Queen Kirke?"
The secret talk was unexpectedly about a Witch Queen matter. Come to think of it, Glühschwanz-sama had been close to her, hadn't he? Unfortunately, I didn't actually know where she was.
"I know, that the Witch Queen, left the Holy Capital, of the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light, but after that, I have no idea..."
"I see... If you do not know either, then it cannot be helped."
It seemed even the Demon King's Army hadn't managed to track her down. According to Nina's letter, the Church was supposed to have sent pursuers after her. That meant there was a chance the Church was already holding her in custody.
"Flame Dragon Lord, do you, have any, idea, regarding the Witch Queen's, whereabouts?"
"If you do not know, then there is only one possibility remaining. Most likely, the Witch Queen is in the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Gardenia."
The Witch Queen was in the Royal Capital!? But the capital was protected by the Holy Magic Barrier, the Dämonenwand. She shouldn't have been able to enter—no, wait, she could! The Church had the Goddess's Feather Robe. If they used that, they could bring her into the Royal Capital right through the Dämonenwand!
Once she was inside the barrier, she wouldn't be able to escape easily, and her fellow witches wouldn't be able to break in to rescue her. For the Witch Queen, it would be a perfect prison.
Still, I wondered why they would take her to the Royal Capital. Isolating her in the Holy Capital of the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light seemed like it would have been more secure.
"Finally, let me give you one more warning. In truth, this was the primary purpose of my visit today."
Glühschwanz-sama's expression turned grim. He spoke with a heavy tone, as if announcing a grave reality.
"A certain person has begun to move in search of Witch Queen Kirke. Be on your guard."
"...A certain person?"
"I cannot say who they are or where they come from. However, they seemed to have taken an interest in you as well. Be extremely careful."
I wondered if he meant his sister, the Prime Minister. But the atmosphere felt far more serious than that. If it were her, I didn't think he’d need to hide her identity from me. The only other noteworthy person I could think of was the Demon King, but the Demon King was probably...
If that were the case, I couldn't think of anyone else dangerous enough that their name couldn't even be spoken. Who could it be? Was there another powerhouse significant enough to make Glühschwanz-sama go out of his way to warn me?
"To that person, the Witch Queen is like a daughter. That is why they have finally stirred to save her."
The Mother of the Witch Queen. The biological parent of Kirke herself. At that moment, a single question occurred to me. All witches were created by the Witch Queen... but by whose hand was the Witch Queen herself created?
The secret talk ended there. I was carried back to the party venue by Glühschwanz-sama, where Yasmin's dad was waiting for us.
"Gl-Glühschwanz-sama!? Wh-Why are you here!?"
"You are the Demon Nebiros, are you not? I recall you applied for long-term leave. Why are you here?"
"A-Actually, I was searching for my missing daughter, and after a series of events, I ended up helping her friend..."
So the Demon King's Army actually had long-term leave policies. It was such a "white company" that I felt a twinge of envy! This worked out perfectly, though. I decided to leave the task of looking after Glühschwanz-sama to Yasmin's dad.
I was handed over from Glühschwanz-sama back to my little sister, the Amazoness Treant, and returned to the final party preparations. The venue setup was perfect, and the food was progressing steadily. All that was left was to wait for the guests!
With everything finally ready, the next guests arrived.
"Franz-san, welcome!"
It was Franz-san, the former corporal. He’d been in the Royal Capital until recently, so this was our first meeting in quite a while.
"Thanks for the invite. I actually brought a souvenir for you—I saw this being sold in the Royal Capital."
He handed me a gift from the capital. Wait, was this Saint Nectar? No... something was off. It was a fake!
"I bought it at a shop in the capital. It seems that along with low-quality imitations, outright fakes are starting to circulate."
To think people were already selling counterfeit Saint Nectar! But the surprises didn't stop there. Franz-san told me about a shocking rumor regarding me that was spreading through the capital.
"The injuries, of people who, drank the Saint Nectar, are being completely healed!?"
I had no idea that drinking my nectar could regenerate missing limbs! Apparently, by spreading my roots, my power had leveled up far more than I’d realized. My spirit power might already have surpassed that of a Dryad. It seemed the efficacy of my Saint Nectar had powered up significantly without me even noticing.
Following Franz-san, more guests began to arrive in quick succession. Next were Drink Bar-san and his party of adventurers. Yasmin, acting as part of the serving staff, went to greet them.
"Yasmin, that maid uniform really suits you. It reminds me of the first time we met."
"D-Don't say such stupid things and just get inside already! Everyone's watching!"
Those two were flirting the second they saw each other! I’d heard they’d started dating, but they really did seem to be on great terms. Even so, they were a demon and a human. I truly hoped they could find happiness together, regardless of their races.
After them came the Master Carpenter and his crew, people from the Adventurers Guild, the merchants I traded nectar with, and the local farmers who provided me with fertilizer and eggs. I’d decided to invite everyone who looked after me on a regular basis.
Of course, Manfred-san and the others had given their consent. Normally, nobles didn't party with commoners, but Manfred-san treated everyone equally regardless of their social status. He even treated me—a monster—like a normal person. People like him were rare. I was sure he would grow into an excellent Lord.
Suddenly, a massive cheer erupted. The Flashy Man had carried a whole roasted bear into the venue. The way he hoisted the giant beast proved he definitely wasn't human. The guests were stunned by his monstrous strength and couldn't hide their excitement for the "Bear Dismantling Show" that was about to begin.
There was no way they could finish that much meat, though. As the organizer, I’d have to take care of the leftovers. I was actually looking forward to having some bear meat again after all this time. Slurp.
While I was staring longingly at the bear meat, a voice called out from behind me.
"Alraune-san, I look forward to your kind cooperation today, I do indeed."
It was Priest Pandia. She was scheduled to play the harp for us. To ensure the success of my most important mission—not letting Glühschwanz-sama and Priest Pandia meet—I had to get her to the performance space immediately!
Just as I thought that, the Flashy Man finished setting down the bear and let out a loud shout as he looked our way.
"Gah!? Why is she here!?"
He looked terrified at the sight of Priest Pandia. Were they acquaintances?
"I do not know that man, not at all. However, I sense a rather ominous presence from him, I do indeed."
Oh right, the Flashy Man was also of the Demon Race! I’d been so worried about Glühschwanz-sama that the Flashy Man had completely slipped my mind!
"Ah! I just remembered! I forgot to bring the butchering knives!" the Flashy Man shouted before making a run for it.
Fortunately, Glühschwanz-sama was busy chatting with Nebiros and didn't seem to have noticed us. Now was the chance to hide Priest Pandia behind the curtain!
"That man's presence... I feel as though I remember it. Could he be...?"
"Now, Priest Pandia! The performance space, is over there, so please, get to work, okay?"
I used my vines to push Priest Pandia along and tucked her safely behind the curtain. From the main venue, she was now completely out of sight. Phew, crisis averted!
While I was dealing with that, the guests of honor, Manfred-san and Imperial Princess Freundliche, finally arrived. Now all the actors were on stage.
Let the forest party begin!