The blue flower had withered and fallen onto the floor.

It was the same blue flower the older Dryad sister had used to parasitize the golden birdman and the giant eagle monster.

So it wasn’t the Dryad who was controlling the devil maid, but Trolly. And since I defeated Trolly, does that mean the brainwashing was lifted?
For now, let’s ask the devil maid what happened.


“How much… do you… remember… about what happened… here?”

“From the moment the foam struck my face. I must have swallowed one by accident. When I spat the water back out, this blue flower fell on the ground. The moment it did, it was like I’d awakened from a dream, and my mind became clear again.”


By foam, she must’ve been talking about my bubbles.
Which means my attack as the laundry maid had affected the devil maid as well.
But the bubbles mixed with my nectar should have been harmless to ordinary people. How strange.

I’ll worry about the complicated stuff later. Right now, I have to report this to Fire Dragon-sama and get help as quickly as possible!


“Could you… please tell… Lord Grüschwanz… that the Alraune… was attacked?”

“I can’t possibly take the words of some Alraune whose identity I don’t even know.”

“Then… at least… could you take me… to him?”

“…Well, an Alraune can’t walk, so I suppose I have no choice.”


The devil maid carried me towards Fire Dragon-sama’s office.
When we arrived, he wasn’t there.
Instead, Uncle Teddy was waiting inside, so I explained to him everything that had happened in detail.


“Attacked by one of the Spirit Princess’s subordinates… it’s difficult to believe, but first, please show me the scene.”



Together with Uncle Teddy and the devil maid, we returned to the room where I’d been attacked.

However… the room was empty.
Not even Trolly’s remains were left behind.


“How strange… there’s no one here.”


──We’ve been had!

Trolly had allies.
While we were gone, they took the opportunity to erase all the evidence.
There was no doubt about it. Even the blue flower that had fallen onto the floor was gone.


“No. What this Alraune said is true. I don’t know who the attacker was, but there was definitely a troll lying here.”


The devil maid is defending me!
She called me a “vase” before, but maybe she has a good side too.


“I understand that you’re also a witness. It does seem like someone did attack her. However, we have no conclusive proof that the culprit was one of the Spirit Princess’s subordinates.”


Please believe me, Uncle Teddy.
It really was the Dryad’s clone who attacked me!


“For now, I shall handle things here. Alraune, go to the botanical garden and get yourself a new flowerpot.”


That’s right. I was originally on my way to the botanical garden.
And that’s when I was attacked!

Without a flowerpot, I would eventually wither away.
I should leave this matter to Uncle Teddy and hurry to the botanical garden with the devil maid.

As soon as we reached the entrance of the botanical garden, we ran into the caretaker, the Hydra.


“So you’re the Alraune’s… child. I heard she’d given birth, but you really do look just like your mother.”


The Alraune who had lived in the botanical garden was considered dead.
So as far as everyone here was concerned, this was our first meeting.
I have to keep pretending to be her daughter.


“More importantly… what happened to your flowerpot?”

“It broke. Do you… have another… one?”


In shock at my exposed roots, the Hydra said, “Wait here,” and hurried off somewhere.
When he returned a short while later, he was carrying a flowerpot that was just the right size for me.

Ahh, having soil around my roots really does put me at ease.
My body is simply unable to live without a flowerpot now.


“Oh, right. There’s a Barometz in the garden that has been wanting to see you. Sorry, maid, but could you take the Alraune to her?”


Still being carried in the devil maid’s arms, I returned to the botanical garden for the first time in several days.
Before long, we arrived at the place where Barometz was rooted.

Barometz, a plant monster just like me, was waiting there.
Just as I last saw her, she had the upper body of a girl with sheep’s horns, while her lower half was covered in golden cotton.
Despite it not having been that long ago, it still felt weirdly nostalgic.


“So you’re Alraune’s precious child she left behind… I’ve wanted to meet you!”


A cotton hand reached towards me.
Snatching me from the devil maid’s arms, Barometz pulled my flowerpot close to her face and burst into tears.


“Alraunnneeeeee! How could you leave your friend behind and die before me?! That’s so cruel! Waaaaaaaaah!”


Oh no, Barometz thinks I’m dead too!
A sense of guilt washed over me. It was like I was deceiving one of my friends.


“I’ll raise this little one myself! In Alraune’s place, I’ll see to it that she grows into a fine lady!”

“U-Um…”

“Don’t worry. You can think of me as your mother. As your family, I’ll do everything Alraune would have… Uuu… why did you have to die, Alraunneeeeeeee?!”


Still sobbing uncontrollably, Barometz hugged me tightly.

Knowing someone is mourning me this deeply is kind of nice.
Back when I was betrayed and murdered by my fiancé, the Hero, and that trashy junior saint apprentice of mine, there hadn’t been anyone to grieve for me.
That’s why my heart feels so warm right now.

Seeing her cry, I felt tears welling up in my own eyes. I can’t keep deceiving Barometz, who cares about me so much, any longer like this.


To make sure the devil maid waiting in the hallway couldn’t hear us, I quietly whispered into Barometz’s ear.


“I’m… not dead. I just… became little… but I’m still the same… Alraune.”

“…………Huh?”

“It’s been a while… Barometz. We promised… we’d meet again… remember?”


I’m a plant who keeps her promises.


“……Alraune? Is that really… you?”

“Yes. But this… must stay our secret. If anyone finds out… I’ll be killed.”

“Alraunneeeeeeee!!”


Overcome with emotion, she squeezed me even tighter.
B-Barometz, I can’t breathe!


“What in the world happened to you?”

“I’ll explain… everything another time. Right now… I’m looking… for a plant.”

“It sounds like you got caught up in quite the predicament. Very well. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll gladly do so.”

“I’m looking… for a plant… that was brought here… four days ago. Do you know… where it is?”

“It’s right in front of you. The spot where you used to grow became vacant, so they planted it there instead.”


Huh? The spot where I used to grow!?
I spun around without a moment’s delay.

There, growing quietly, was the very plant I’d been searching for all this time.
Brown, round fruits hung from its vines.


“Barometz… can you… do me one favor?”

“For your sake, I’d do anything.”

“Can you pretend… what I’m about to do… was actually… your doing?”

“Ufufu, of course. Alraune, you’ve always been quite the little glutton, haven’t you? I’ll tell Mr. Caretaker that I was the one who ate it.”

“Thank… you.”


I swear I’ll repay your kindness.
Someday, I’ll definitely show you the forest.
I won’t ever forget that promise.


While the devil maid was distracted looking at the other plants, I quietly consumed the plant I’d been searching for.


The plant I ate was the Javan cucumber.
With its power, I could escape the Demon King’s castle on my own.



If I was lucky, I could return to the Forest of Dryades in about the same amount of time it took to bring me here.
If I was unlucky… it might take me my entire life to make it back to the forest.
Even so, I had to go.


I have to reunite with everyone and protect the forest from the older Dryad sister.
The little witch is waiting for me to come back.


But don’t worry anymore.

I will return to the forest, no matter what!

***

Author’s Note:

Our protagonist has finally found a way to escape the Demon King’s castle. Now that she can finally return to the forest, she’s feeling relieved.

Next Time: Fire Dragon-sama Caught Me