I reached out a hand to Alex, the man who had served as my personal guard back when I was Saint Iris.
“Let us protect this city together!”
Alex looked bewildered, his gaze darting back and forth between my hand and my face. Doubt and confusion clouded his eyes.
I could understand why he was so perplexed by my proposal. Only moments ago, he had been ensnared by my vines and doused in nectar.
Yet, even so, Alex had seen glimpses of Saint Iris in my Alraune form. He had even shed tears; surely, he would accept my offer.
As I watched him quietly, he finally found his voice.
“You said earlier that you love this city. But that’s impossible. You’re a monster—you shouldn’t have any ties or connection to Edelweiss!”
Come to think of it, I had let that slip in the heat of the moment. I must have gotten swept up in my own emotions while trying to persuade him. Still, I could work with this.
“For me, Edelweiss is… not… completely without… ties.”
“Liar! I’ve lived in Edelweiss since the day I was born, and I’ve never once seen an Alraune here!”
“That may… be true… for an Alraune. However… please look… at this face.”
Alex’s gaze was drawn back to my features. I could sense his internal struggle; he was clearly happy to see my face again after so long, yet looking at it seemed to cause him immense pain.
I pressed the point home.
“It seems my face… resembles… the human known as… Saint Iris… does it not?”
“Th-that is…”
“Is it not… so similar… that it caused you… Master Alex… to be so… shaken?”
“Well, that is true, but…”
“If there was someone… who resembled me… that much… I cannot… think of them… as a stranger.”
Because I possessed my memories from my past life—my life as Saint Iris—it was only natural to me that I looked exactly like my old self.
But what if my primary personality hadn't been Iris? What if I were simply the flower monster that had consumed her? Surely the memories of Saint Iris would have faded, and I wouldn't have understood why I carried her face.
Even then, if every person I met insisted I was the spitting image of a certain Saint, I would eventually become curious about her. So, in a way, my words weren't a total lie. It was also true that I couldn't view Saint Iris as a stranger.
After all, I was Saint Iris.
Even if I had lost my life as a human and been reborn as a plant monster, the fact that I was once her remained unchanged. Even as an Alraune, my feelings for this city were the same.
So, I would say it. I was no longer her, and yet…
“I am no longer… Saint Iris… but I… care deeply… for this city… which has ties… to her. In that feeling… whether one is… human or monster… should not… matter.”
“……It doesn't seem like you're lying.”
“Yes. Because I… love… this city.”
Alex looked up at the sky, lost in thought. I followed his gaze and saw the canopy of the fresh green forest I had conjured, covering the area like a heavy curtain. Edelweiss had turned into a literal forest before I even realized it.
Just as I was considering whether I should thin out the greenery, Alex sniffled and spoke again.
“Do you… know of Lady Iris?”
“…………No. I do not… know her… well.”
“Guh… Lady Iris… Lady Iris is already… she passed away…!”
“Alex?”
Oh, no. What should I do? Alex was crying like a child. Tears streamed from his eyes, yet he kept his gaze fixed stoutly on me.
“Even at my age, I still cannot forget that day…”
“That day?”
“The day I last saw Lady Iris.”
When was the last time I had seen Alex? I had departed the Royal Capital for the south as part of the Hero's party, stopping by Edelweiss on the way. That must have been the last time—only a few months before I was killed.
“When the news first reached us, I thought it was a mistake. I couldn't believe Lady Iris could actually die. The Master, the Madam, Tulpe-sama… everyone thought it was a false report.”
“…………”
“But the news was true! The entire Ducal House was so shocked they were bedridden. To heal my heart, I spent hours gazing at Lady Iris’s portrait and was even allowed to view Tulpe's Treasured Iris Collection… but even then, the void in my heart remained!”
“Tulpe's Treasured Iris Collection!?”
Wait, what was that? Don't tell me she's hiding even more strange things besides that creepy room full of my portraits?
“Lady Iris is gone… It was a mistake to leave her protection solely to that Hero prince and his companions. If only I had gone with her, even if it meant defying orders!”
I remembered now. Alex had tried to follow the Hero's party on his own, but he had been sent back immediately for the breach of discipline.
How nostalgic it all felt. If only I could go back to those days—the days when I lived as a human, as Saint Iris.
But it was impossible. Saint Iris was dead. Just as I couldn't return to my human body, I couldn't turn back the clock. Still, I was truly glad I could speak with Alex today. It made me realize all over again the depth of the grief my death had caused the people of this city.
I made a silent vow. This time, I would protect this city as an Alraune. That was the final wish of the girl who had been born here.
“I heard Lady Iris was murdered by a monster from the Demon King's Army. And now an Alraune—kin to those hateful monsters—claims she wants to protect this city while wearing Lady Iris's face! Do you have any idea how that makes me feel!?”
“…………I suppose… I do not… understand.”
But I was happy, Alex. It moved me deeply to know there was someone who cared for me this much. Nina and Vol-nii had worried for me too, but hearing this confession from a knight of House Edelweiss—someone I considered family—truly touched my heart.
The frustrating part was that Alex was confessing these feelings to an Alraune, not realizing he was speaking to Iris herself.
“I hate monsters! And yet… for some reason, I cannot bring myself to hate you. I don't know if it's because you share her face, or if I'm just under the illusion that I'm speaking to her…”
It isn't an illusion, Alex. I am the Iris you admired.
But I couldn't tell him that. And I still remembered what he called me earlier. I am an Alraune, Alex. I am not an exhibitionist. You should really watch your mouth!
After a long silence, Alex quietly took my hand. My feelings had finally reached him. His face flushed red with embarrassment as he eventually let go, looking as if he regretted the loss of contact. He wiped his tears and let out a roar.
“Message to all knights! This Alraune is not an enemy! Do not attack her under any circumstances!”
The knights looked on in confusion as Alex continued.
“I will take full responsibility! If any of you puts so much as a scratch on this Alraune who resembles Lady Iris, I’ll never forgive you!”
And just like that, the Edelweiss Knight Order accepted me. They approached me timidly, taking turns to speak.
“Thank you for protecting the citizens.”
“I can't believe an Alraune could be this strong! It’s amazing!”
“I heard you were protecting people in other parts of the city as well. As a knight, I offer you my gratitude.”
“You are so beautiful… I’ve fallen for you. I love you!”
“Hey, what are you saying to her!?”
“Shut up! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to talk to someone who looks exactly like Lady Iris, the Hero of Edelweiss!”
“Then count me in too! I thought you were the enemy because you’re a monster, but you’ve changed my mind!”
“Back off, all of you! Don't you dare start fawning over her just because she looks like Lady Iris! Get back!”
“Master Alex, you were the one crying a minute ago! You were fawning over her more than any of us!”
“Well, at the end of the day, none of us can really forget Lady Iris, can we?”
I watched the knights laughing and bickering. Edelweiss really was a wonderful place. For a fleeting second, I felt as if I had truly returned to being Saint Iris. My birthplace always brought me peace. Looking closely, I recognized several other familiar faces among the knights besides Alex. Getting along with them, even in this form, made me happier than words could say.
The knights began the task of clearing away the remains of the shattered Urn Golems. I turned my attention to the president of the Pilz Trading Company, who was still slumped on all fours nearby.
“President… what is… the matter?”
“I’m bankrupt…”
Oh dear. Now the President was the one crying. I hadn't seen this many grown men cry in a row for a long, long time. I did the only thing I could do.
“President… please sell this… and manage… somehow.”
“……What is this?”
“It is nectar.”
I let the liquid pool slowly in the president’s cupped hands. This was Saint Nectar undiluted solution, a substance currently said to be worth more than its weight in gold.
“This is… all I have… for now… but later… I will give you… a full barrel… as a gift.”
“Ugh… th-thank you… I will never forget this kindness as long as I live…!”
Giving the president a small smile, I focused my awareness on the vibrations traveling through my roots. There was only one location left in the city under attack by Urn Golems. Once that was settled, Edelweiss would finally be at peace. As long as I was here, I wouldn't let another person die.
Wait for me. I’m coming!
──Teleportation!
I blinked and appeared in the center of the city. I scanned the area immediately to assess the situation.
My heart nearly stopped. There, right in the path of a terminal Urn Golem explosion, was Fairy Kiri.
Next time: Saint of Edelweiss - Part 6.