I was Alraune, a plant monster.
It seemed that, quite without my realization, I had grown into something truly formidable. No matter how I looked at it, I found it hard to believe that I possessed the power of a god. Still, being praised by both Priest Pandia and the Flame Dragon Lord didn’t feel entirely bad.
"But surely you’re overestimating me," I replied, my voice hesitating.
"It is true that I have never heard of a plant ascending to the divine realm," Pandia admitted. "However, the fact remains that my 【Holy Song】 was ineffective. Perhaps it is precisely because Alraune-san is a plant that she is so special."
Unlike humans, my body was composed of plant matter. Perhaps because my biological structure for processing sound differed from that of an animal, I had unintentionally neutralized the priest’s magic.
"Even from my perspective, having observed you for some time, you are an exceptional existence. Do you not have any inkling of this yourself? Surely you have noticed how you’ve changed."
To be honest, even when told I had power rivaling a deity, I had no real sense of it. I couldn't even use Divine Realm Magic. However, when it came to the general evolution of my abilities, I did have a few suspicions.
My roots currently stretched across the southern reaches of the Kingdom of Gardenia. With a single thought, I could transform that entire expanse into a lush forest or a breeding ground for my Avatar Alraunes. Even compared to Lady Dryades, my current power was prominent.
But more than that, I was concerned about the Saint Nectar.
These days, my nectar possessed enough potency to regrow lost limbs. It wasn't surprising that the people of the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light mistook it for a legendary Elixir; in fact, the term "divine" felt appropriate. According to myth, the original Elixir was created by the Goddess Selene herself. Being able to produce the same substance was a strong indication that my power was indeed approaching the divine realm.
But why did I have such power?
Ever since my Saint Iris Era, those around me had called me a special existence. There were even rumors that I was the reincarnation of the First Saint Nemea, but I didn't think I had reached a non-human level back then. Since I didn't believe I was born with this strength, I had to assume it was something I acquired as I grew after becoming an Alraune.
Well, setting that mystery aside for a moment, I needed to deal with the situation at hand.
"Priest Pandia... did you come to Tower City specifically to monitor me?"
"I heard reports of an exceptional plant monster who had defeated Witch Queen Kirke, so I came to investigate. I judged that a regular Saint from the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light would be no match for someone capable of toppling the Witch Queen, so I chose to come directly."
I never imagined an angel would appear on the heels of the Witch Queen. It seemed I had become quite famous if I was drawing the attention of heaven.
"My mission was twofold: to investigate Alraune-san, and should you prove to be an enemy of humanity, to eliminate you."
To eliminate me?!
That meant the Church had suspected me of being a dangerous monster. I might have been in a much tighter spot than I realized.
"At first, I suspected you were a wicked creature who controlled people using nectar, so I tried to provoke you in various ways. It seems all of that was born of my own misunderstanding, however."
When I first met Priest Pandia, she had been scouting me. She had made several provocative remarks back then, and now I knew she was doing it on purpose! If I had risen to the bait and acted in a way that marked me as a threat to mankind, she would have killed me.
The thought was terrifying. There was a possible future where Priest Pandia and I had fought to the death. I certainly didn't want to engage in a lethal struggle with an angel.
"Contrary to my expectations, however, Alraune-san proved to be friendly toward humans. Not only have you taken in the Witch Child, but your willingness to reach out to anyone regardless of race has deeply impressed me."
There were all sorts of people around me now. Not just those friendly to humanity like humans, Fairies, and Elves, but I also maintained close ties with monsters, the Demon Race, and even Witches.
And now, I could add an Angel to that list.
"In all my years, Alraune-san is the first person to ever ask me—an angel—to be her friend."
It seemed I had done something incredibly audacious. If I had known her true identity from the start, I never would have been able to suggest friendship so casually. After all, during my Saint Era, I had prayed to the Goddess Selene multiple times a day. On those occasions, I had even offered prayers to the angels themselves.
What had I done? Thinking about it now, the fact that I was having a casual conversation with an angel was staggering. I could feel my heart racing just having the object of my lifelong admiration standing right in front of me.
"Alraune-san? Your complexion looks poor. Are you quite alright?"
"Y-Yes!"
The Angel-sama had just touched one of my vines!
I wondered if any Saint in history had ever shaken hands with an angel. Probably not. Does that make me the first Saint in the world to do so? No, wait—I wasn't a Saint anymore. I was just a plant. In that case, did that make me the first Alraune in the world to shake hands with an Angel-sama?
"U-Um... Angel-sama?"
"Please, do not call me that. It would make me sad if Alraune-san, who treated me like an ordinary friend, suddenly began acting so formal..."
"Even if you say that... it’s not that easy with an Angel-sama as my friend."
"Are you perhaps angry that I interrupted the party? I apologize for that once again. Please... I do not wish for you to dislike me..."
Seeing Priest Pandia looking so dejected pierced my heart. Because I was used to her always being expressionless, her current vulnerability was incredibly cute. She was truly like an angel!
"It is embarrassing to admit, but I have long held an admiration for the lives of humans. I used to watch them from atop the tower, wishing I could make a friend someday."
I pictured her looking down at the Holy Capital from the Tower of the Goddess. She had mentioned an interest in human festivals before; now I knew it stemmed from that long-held longing. Despite being a sublime celestial being, she possessed the pure emotions of a child. I had misunderstood her because of her awkwardness and lack of expression, but she was actually a very kind person.
"Or... do you intend to stop being my friend simply because I am an angel?"
She peeked at me from the corner of her eye, looking genuinely worried. Despite her status, she was as precious as a small animal. Pandia-san was seriously an angel.
"Please, don't worry. There is no way I would ever stop being your friend!"
"I am so glad... I am truly happy to hear you say that."
Honestly, I was the one worried about whether a monster and an angel were allowed to be friends. It felt like it might violate some core Church doctrine, which was a bit concerning.
"Since we are friends, I ask that you stop using my title. Please, just use my name."
"Th-Then... Pandia-san."
"That has a lovely ring to it. Alraune-san is the first person to ever call me that."
Pandia-san remained as expressionless as ever, but I could have sworn she looked happy. And so, we renewed our bond as friends. For a solitary celestial being like her, finding someone who could treat her as an equal was likely a rare treasure.
But it was the same for me. It felt wonderful that she saw me, a plant monster, as a person.
Still, an Angel Pandia-san... Now that I knew her secret, there was no reason to stay on guard. In fact, the gap between her true identity and her personality made everything she did seem adorable.
Pandia-san tilted her head curiously and leaned in close. Then, she whispered softly in my ear.
"You must tell me about that Saint's power of yours eventually, too."
She had seen right through me. She knew I still possessed the power of a Saint, yet she was choosing to keep it a secret. I realized then that I would eventually have to tell her the truth. The truth about my previous life as well.
"It seems the talk is finally over."
The Flame Dragon Lord, who had been watching our exchange in silence, finally spoke up with a weary sigh.
"I do not mind waiting, but how long do you intend to keep this party on hold?"
That's right! Everyone was still fast asleep!
"Pandia-san!"
"I understand. But before that..."
At Pandia-san's word, shimmering particles of light rained down upon the clearing. The entire venue began to glow in a kaleidoscope of colors, as if a grand illumination had been lit.
"It's... it's beautiful!"
This was her light magic. The surrounding forest looked like a winter wonderland, transforming the party into something out of a dream.
"I am the one to blame for the interruption," she said, "so let us make this the best party possible."
The sound of the harp ceased. The guests who had been slumbering slowly blinked their eyes open. They seemed to have forgotten they had even been asleep, their attention immediately captured by the breathtaking display of light surrounding them.
With a grateful nod to Pandia-san for her quick thinking, I returned to my duties. Since I had the literal power of an angel on my side now, I had to make sure this was the greatest celebration ever!
Next time, it seems the many races and factions had a festive riot together in harmony.