I’m an Alraune, a plant monster girl.
And I’m experiencing my first taste of peace since coming to this forest.


That said, it’s only been a day since I defeated that member of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Still, I wish these quiet days could go on forever.


Basking in the warm sunlight, I felt so relaxed that whenever I found a spare moment, I would end up blooming white lilies along my vines.
The lily the little witch gave me… it just makes me so happy.


Now I can make her lilies bloom anytime, anywhere like this.
They’ve quite literally become a part of me.
It’s as if her heart and mine are connected through these flowers, and whenever I look at them, I can’t help but smile.


While I was idly enjoying myself like this, the little witch slung a small barrel onto her back and set off to sell nectar in Tower City.
In her hands was also a bucket filled with several small wooden tubes.


After protecting the forest from the Demon King’s army, I asked Lady Dryad for a reward.
That’s where the barrel and those wooden tubes came from.


With the barrel holding more than a bucket, the amount of nectar we can sell has increased.
And since I’m no longer a little girl, I produce much more nectar than before.


Then there were the wooden tubes.
I originally wanted bamboo tubes, but since we couldn’t find any, we went with wooden ones instead.
Thanks to Lady Dryad’s spirit magic, we were able to make small wooden tubes for dividing the nectar.

Now we can sell the nectar right in the tubes. That gives us a lot more ways to distribute it!


“I’m off, Alraune.”

“Be careful… good luck.”

“I’ll do my best… for my little sister’s sake!”


Don’t get the wrong idea, little witch. I’m the older sister here, you know.
You’re the younger one.

I watched my little sister off as she tried to act like an adult, waving my vines until she disappeared from view.
Only after I could no longer see her did I let them fall, feeling a little down.


Ah, I’m so bored.


The fairy Kiri is out patrolling the forest with the Treant.
They’re checking whether any remnants of the Heavenly King’s forces remain in the eastern forest.
I sent the Treant along as protection, so they should be fine… but since we were just attacked by the Demon King’s army, I do feel a little worried.

For the sake of our peace, I hope they do their best on patrol.


Because of that, I ended up all alone, so of course I’m bored.
Even my “job” of blooming lilies around me is finished.
Wouldn’t it be nice if a guest showed up?


I took a bite of one of my vines with my upper mouth and let the smell of the nectar drift into the air.
Hopefully the scent will lure my next meal over to play.



As if in response to that thought, visitors really did arrive.

From far away came the buzzing of something flying.
And it was getting closer.
Ah, like moths to a flame!


A swarm flew into view, roaring with a heavy, helicopter-like thrum.
From within it, a monster with a regal aura fluttered down, drifting gracefully through the air.

Wait… this sound… I’ve heard it before.


Drawn by the familiar noise, I lifted my gaze.


From beyond the forest, a swarm of bee-type monsters, Zornbienes, appeared.

And trailing behind them were butterfly-type monsters, Lustschmetterlings.


There’s no mistaking the distinctive white patterns on those wings! It’s Lady Butterfly!



They’re everyone from the Forest Club, the ones I got separated from in the forest that was burned by Fire Dragon-sama.
I can’t believe it… my old friends actually came to see me!


“E-Everyone!”


The members of the Forest Club gathered around my nectar-covered vines as we reunited at last.

The moment they tasted my nectar, the bees and butterflies fluttered around happily.
It seems they realized I’m the same Alraune from that forest.


Ahh… this is amazing!
Seeing everyone again like this feels like a dream!
I’d been so worried about whether they had managed to escape the fire, so I’m just glad they’re safe.


To be honest, I had a feeling they might have made it to the Forest of Dryades too.
After all, the withered Treant from my old forest made her way here.
So it wouldn’t be strange if the other monsters had drifted here as well.

Anyway, I’m just really happy I got to see my friends again!
Let me treat you all to a feast!!


I eagerly bit into the tips of my vines, coating several of them in nectar.
The bees and butterflies moved to the ends of my vines, our hands joining together.


Come on, let’s dance.


It’s time for our Forest Club’s usual ball!

My female knights buzzed around energetically, while Lady Butterfly and the others fluttered gracefully as they extended their proboscises to sip my nectar.


Ahh… this feeling… it’s been so long.
It’s so soothing.

To have so many friends who need my nectar…
They’re all so cool and adorable.


Before I met the little witch and the others, this was my only source of comfort.

Maybe that’s why, even now, the act of sharing nectar fills me with such satisfaction.


Dance like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
and waltz together through nectar-laced vines.
This is the Forest Club’s ball.


It’s been so long since I’ve been able to spread my wings and have fun like this!
Well… I guess they’re actually vines, not wings.



But as always, fun flies by in the blink of an eye.

With plenty of nectar gathered, the bees and butterflies headed back home.

I wonder how far they’re going.
I hope they’re nearby.
Come visit again, okay?
I’ll always be waiting.


I waved my vines until they disappeared from sight.
But unlike last time, this isn’t a final farewell, so I don’t feel lonely.



Now then, after that heartfelt reunion, it’s time to eat.


That’s right, an all-you-can-eat bird feast!
There are about a hundred bird monsters here, the former subordinates of that Heavenly Stalker.
I’m planning to eat them all.

Honestly, thanks to the golden birdman’s light magic, I’ve already got more than enough nutrients.
Stocking up on food never hurts though.


Now that I’m no longer a little girl, eating large amounts is easy.
But the current me has a much more efficient way to eat.


I grew Venus flytraps at the tips of twenty of my vines.
With those flytraps, I gobbled up the birds one after another.

The nutrients they digest seem to flow through the vines and back into my bulb.
So even without eating with my main mouth, I can now enjoy meals through countless others.


Alright then, let’s eat!

Chomp chomp.

Mm… having so many mouths really speeds things up.


As I was enjoying my little flytrap munching time, I suddenly heard a man screaming.


“Gyaaaaaaah!!”


W-what was that?!


“M-Monster!!”


A monster?
Where?


I turned towards the voice and saw two human men pointing straight at me, shouting in pure terror.


──T-There’s humans hereeeeeee!!



The two of them, probably adventurers, locked eyes with me.
Their bodies trembled as they let out cries of shock.


“I didn’t expect there’d really be a monster here, but I definitely didn’t expect to see a plant monster devouring bird monsters like this!”

“How horrifying…!”


Looks like my little munching time startled them.
Sorry about that. I guess I scared you
I was just testing whether I could eat a hundred birds at once using my flytraps.

The sight of twenty giant flytraps bursting out of the ground and devouring bird monsters might look scary, but it’s really not.
I’m just inviting them down to my lower mouth with my vines, that’s all.


Hey, you two. You look like adventurers.

If you’d like, want to try some too?

Raw birds are quite delicious.
Though the fact that it’s not cooked might be a problem for humans… but once it’s digested in the stomach, it’s all the same, right?


I wiggled my vines, beckoning them closer.
However, in response, the two adventurers bolted away like startled rabbits.


“That carnivorous plant is targeting us!”

“I can’t believe the saint’s request was this dangerous!”


…Wait.
Did they just say “saint?”


“I don’t want to get eaten by a plant!!”

“Run!!”


H-Hey, don’t go yet!

You just said “saint,” right? What did you mean!?
Now I’m really curious!


As the adventurers ran off with their backs to me, I shot vines out towards them.

The moment I did, their screams grew even louder.


I’m not scary, you know!
Really, I’m very gentle!
Just a pretty flower!


Oh! That’s it. Humans, why don’t we have a little tea party together?
You can sit down and take your time explaining everything to me.


I may be a carnivorous plant monster, but I’d really like it if we could get along.

I won’t eat you, so don’t worry.

***

Author’s Note:

The barrel and wooden tubes were made in a single day by Lady Dryad and the fairies.
Once the stock runs out, they’d promised to make more, so the little witch can keep selling plenty of nectar without any trouble.

Next Time: Discovered by Adventurers