The devil maid carried me back to the Demon King’s castle.

When we returned to Fire Dragon-sama’s bedroom, he was already waiting for us.

After setting me down by the window, which had become my usual spot lately, the devil maid turned to leave before being stopped by Fire Dragon-sama.


“I’ve already heard the situation. Maid, tell me everything you saw and heard.”

“As you wish, Lord Grüschwanz.”


From what the devil maid said, it seems her memories of everything over the past few weeks had become hazy.
Before she knew it, she had found herself in that empty room, where she witnessed me burning the troll.
She finished by explaining to Fire Dragon-sama that she knew nothing else.


“I understand. You may leave now.”


After the devil maid exited, it was my turn.
Both Fire Dragon-sama and Uncle Teddy turned their attention towards me.


“You claimed that one of Feagismeinnicht’s subordinates attacked you, yet that maid appears to have seen nothing. Besides, trolls are common throughout the Demon King’s army.”


This is bad!
They might not believe I was attacked by one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Maybe I should just tell them the truth.


“The maid… was being controlled… by a blue flower.”

“A blue flower? What do you mean by that?”

“The Spirit Princess… was using a blue flower… to control… the maid.”

“Oh? And where exactly did you learn that?”

“I saw the Spirit Princess… controlling monsters… with blue flowers… back in the forest.”

“……You were only just born in the Demon King’s castle a few days ago. How could you have possibly been to any forest?”


────Ah.

I’m still supposed to be only a few days old!


“I’ve found your behavior strange for quite some time now. Your fluent speech. Your extensive knowledge. Your ability to create entirely new dishes. And above all that, your battle sense, which demonstrates a complete understanding of your own abilities. You behave as though you possess memories of living in the outside world for years.”

“So…?”

“It means you’re either a genius from birth… or you’re not an Alraune who’s only a few days old.”


Ahhhh, what do I do?!
He’s definitely suspicious of me now!
This was supposed to be a report about me being attacked by the older Dryad sister, but somehow it’s turned into an interrogation instead!


“Despite my appearance, I am a dragon who has lived for a very long time. And throughout all those years, there is one principle I’ve always adhered to. What do you think it is?”


Something he’s always adhered to?
What could it be? Maybe something like valuing his comrades?
After all, he cared enough to burn me for killing one of his subordinates.


“If I have decided on something, I will see it through. If I vow to avenge a subordinate, then no matter what happens, I will kill their murderer.”


──WHOOSH!

A blue flame ignited in the palm of Fire Dragon-sama’s hand.
The flame had the exact same blue color as the magical flame that burned me alive back in the forest.
To be blunt, it was my trauma.


“Eek!?”

“It’s only a blue flame. For a mere spark to frighten you this much… I suppose plant monsters truly are weak against fire.”

“Or perhaps…” Fire Dragon-sama said with a sharp glare, narrowing his eyes at me.

“…you recognize this flame?”


──My heart skipped a beat.
Far from just recognizing it, I still remember the terrifying heat and murderous aura that radiated from the blue flame.


“So you really are hiding something. Since we’re already here, why don’t you spill everything right now.”


The blue flame twisted into the shape of a ring and flew towards me.
It wrapped itself around my torso.
It was like a giant pair of handcuffs had bound my body in place.
I’ve been caught!


“Should you try anything funny, that blue flame will burn you alive. Now be a good girl and tell me everything.”


──Ugh.
W-What should I do?


I thought I had finally found a way to escape the Demon King’s castle, but I never imagined it would turn out like this.
I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do anymore… I feel like I’m going to cry.


“If someone is behind all of this, tell me now. I won’t treat you unfairly.”


Huh? Behind me?
What are you talking about, Fire Dragon-sama?


“That puzzled reaction… looks like my suspicion in that regard was unfounded. I already know that you are a terrible liar. Which means the Spirit Princess really did attack you.”


Was Fire Dragon-sama trying to find out whether the Dryad and I were working together?
I suppose it wouldn’t have been strange for him to assume two plant monsters would be allies.


“Did you think that because… the Spirit Princess and I… are both… from the Forest of Dryades?”

“…You really are an intelligent plant.”


In other words, Fire Dragon-sama had considered the possibility that I was an Alraune that the Dryad had magically modified.
If that were true, then my knowledge and abilities to do all sorts of things would certainly make sense.


“If that’s not the case, then only one possibility remains. Though I find this explanation even harder to believe. You… why are you still alive?”


Even if you ask me why I’m alive, I don’t know what to tell you, Fire Dragon-sama.
I mean, I’m alive because… I’m alive. What else am I supposed to say?


“I kept you beside my bed so you’d be the first thing I saw every morning. Your nectar makes for a delicious breakfast. And yet, it seems fate intends for me to burn you once again.”

“……What do you mean… by that?”

“Tell me every secret you’re hiding. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to burn you.”


So he still hadn’t let go of his suspicions.
How much of my secret would I have to reveal before Fire Dragon-sama would forgive me?

Should I tell him that my mother, who withered away the other day, was actually me, and that I could transfer myself into a new body by becoming a seed?
Do I need to tell him that I’m the very Alraune who killed his subordinate, and that I was still alive?

On top of that, do I also need to confess that I was a human and a saint in my previous life, or even that I carry memories from a world entirely different from this one…?


“Excuse me, Lord Grüsch. There’s something you need to see immediately.”


Uncle Teddy came through the door.
Perfect timing!


Fire Dragon-sama gave a thoughtful “Hmm” and nodded, all the while he shot me a piercing gaze.


“Stay put.”


He left the room together with Uncle Teddy.

Stay put? As if!
This is my chance to escape!

The blue flames were still binding me, but that hardly affected me.
I couldn’t move to begin with. It’s not like I was planning to escape by walking away.


After all, my escape route was through the sky!


I used my vines and pushed open the window.
This was the upper section of the Demon King’s castle.
And since the castle itself was built halfway up a mountain, the altitude was pretty high up.


My plan? It’s to escape by flying through the air.


I had eaten the Javan cucumber.
The Javan cucumber is a member of the gourd family, but its seeds are very unique.
Javan cucumber seeds are capable of flying on their own.

Each seed is round and fitted with wings like a glider.
When the fruit splits open, all of the seeds fall into the air at once.
The seed itself is about three centimeters long, while its wingspan reaches roughly fifteen centimeters.
Soaring through the sky by gliding, these seeds can travel long distances.

In fact, gliders were originally inspired by the seeds of Javan cucumbers.

My plan was simple. By becoming a Javan cucumber seed myself, I could glide my way from the Demon King’s castle back to the Forest of Dryades!

To be honest, this is going to be a gamble.
Depending on where I land, I might have to become a seed again, flying over and over before I finally reach the forest.
But the Dryad did say the wind is blowing from the Demon King’s castle to the Forest of Dryades, so I’m sure it’ll work out somehow.

At the very least, it’s definitely better than getting caught by Fire Dragon-sama.
So I’m escaping from the Demon King’s castle!


Using the ability of the eucalyptus, I ignited my vines.
I’m covering my tracks too.
If I left behind a burned corpse, Fire Dragon-sama would think I was dead and stop hunting me, right?


Before the flames consumed my body, there was one thing I had to do.
That is, pollinate myself.

This might be the first time I’ve ever pollinated myself while in this smaller form.
I just hope there wasn’t some restriction where I had to be fully grown in order to produce seeds.


Praying with all my heart that it would work, I bloomed a male Alraune flower from one of my vines.
I bit into it.
Wrapping my tongue around the anthers, I stripped away the pollen and swallowed it whole.


This was the third time I’d pollinated myself.
The pollen extended its pollen tubes toward the ovules inside my ovary.

And then, I felt it. I could feel pollen reaching the ovules inside my belly.


This time, I was also burning my own body to erase the evidence, so I used the Banksia’s ability as well. It’s the one with the ability to scatter its seeds when a fire breaks out.

By combining the Banksia’s fire-escaping seeds with the Javan cucumber’s glider-like seeds, I’ll be able to soar away from the Demon King’s castle.
While I’m at it, I’ll genetically enlarge the Javan cucumber seed too, letting it glide further.


My once-small stomach gradually swelled into a round fruit.
Looks like it worked.


Until the very last moment, before the fruit that would become my new body enveloped me and completely blocked my vision, I kept looking towards the door.

Fire Dragon-sama, thank you for everything.
But I hereby resign from my position as your maid.

I’m sorry. I was a very naughty maid. The kind who can’t be trusted even when she’s been restrained by a pair of handcuffs.
The kind of mischievous Alraune who pollinates herself and flies away all on her own.
So, this is goodbye.
We’ll probably never meet again.



The next instant, my body burst apart.
My Alraune body burned away, and the fruit split open due to the Banksia’s ability.


My body felt incredibly light.
I couldn’t see anything, so I wasn’t completely sure, but I was probably soaring through the sky like a Javan cucumber seed.
Once again, I’ve become a seed.

This is how plants spread their seeds.
Just because we can’t walk doesn’t mean you should underestimate plants.


And with that, my life in the Demon King’s castle, which felt both short and incredibly long, finally came to an end.

Little witch, wait for me.

I’m coming to see you now!

***

Author’s Note:

Javan cucumber (also known as Alsomitra macrocarpa): A climbing vine of the Cucurbitaceae family that grows up tall trees before releasing its seeds from high up. Around the same time the Wright brothers achieved powered flight for the first time, Ignaz “Igo” Etrich and his father are said to have studied the gliding seeds of the Javan cucumber and used them as inspiration for their aircraft designs, including inventions such as the Etrich Taube.

Next Time: Essay; For Whom the Butler Serves


TL’s Note:

Fruit and seed of the Alsomitra macrocarpa.