A week had passed since the boy left me.

He was the first real conversation partner I ever had since being born as an Alraune.
Sure, whenever he opened his mouth, all he ever said was “give me nectar” like some obsessed nectar-licking pervert, but even someone like that is better than being alone.

Speaking of which, the first monster I ever ate was that honey-obsessed bear, and he was also quite the pervert.
Maybe all the kids around here are deviants.

No matter how perverted a kid might be, just having someone to talk to made up for every flaw. But, now I was alone again.

Since the boy left, maybe I remembered what it feels like to be lonely.

Recently, there is someone who has caught my attention.

And that someone is that tree over there.
Before I realized it, a withered tree had appeared about ten meters away from me.

I guess it must have been healthy and green once, but I have no memory of it ever being alive.
After all, within ten meters of me there are no weeds left, let alone trees.

That is because of me.
I ate them. I do not regret it.

It was because of that drought.
But that was not the only reason. It’s also because of my ability.

Even after the drought ended I continued absorbing plants.
I discovered that I could generate the traits and forms of the plants I consumed.

I wanted to expand my arsenal while I still had the time.
And besides, they were getting in the way of my sunbathing.
They were also a nuisance to my water intake too.

Stealing the water meant for me was unforgivable, especially for a girl who needs hydration as much as me.
So I always wanted to wipe out the surrounding plants, and recently, I finally made it happen.

I used my vines to pull the trees out roots and all.
Turns out I am surprisingly strong.

At the time, I was sure there had been no withered tree in that spot.
What in the world happened.
It’s one of the seven mysteries of the forest.

Right after I finished making my living space comfortable, he appeared.

That evening, I saw a giant wolf.

It was like a city bus walking through the forest.
Baring fangs dripping with saliva, the monster had cold and ruthless eyes, like a hunter stalking its prey.

It was a wolf-type monster, a Höllenwolf.
A demonic beast feared by adventurers, it’s often called the Hell Wolf.

The moment I saw it I understood.
That thing was on a completely different level.

Even if I fought I would lose instantly. It would not even consider me as an opponent.
I’d be crushed in a single move, and that would be the end.

Scary. So scary.
It was not even night yet but I wanted to close my bud and hide.
The only reason I did not was due to my pride as a living being.

If I gave up on life every time death loomed over me, I would never survive in the wild.
That kind of mindset would have kept me from defeating any monsters up until now.

Closing my eyes meant death. That thing would crush me.

Did my determination get through to it?
The Höllenwolf lost interest in me and walked away.

…………Thank goodness.
I survived.

I felt like my soul had flown out of me.

That wolf must be the lord of the forest.
It had to be.

I am just a lowly flower girl. Territorial disputes in the forest have nothing to do with me. So please do not ever come back.

That’s right, that terrifying wolf.
I used to think the Höllenwolf was the lord of the forest.

But I’m sorry, I was wrong.
You are the true lord.

***

A few days later.
What I saw was many times more terrifying than that first wolf.

I encountered a bear that appeared from the forest.

A bear taller than the trees by a whole head and with eyes of a seasoned killer.

That monster, whose head seemed to pierce the heavens, was the same species as one I had met before.

The bear-type monster, a raub bear.

The honey-obsessed pervert bear I once met was just a cub about two meters tall.
But the bear I was looking at now was over ten meters tall. Do they really get that big as adults?
I was right to take care of the small one early.

Hello Mr. Bear.
Could you perhaps be the father of that honey-loving pervert bear? .
No, should I say esteemed gentleman?

Oh what, he went missing.
Of course I know nothing about that.
I think I saw him run off that way.
Oh, yep, I understand.
You must be worried. Being separated from your child for months is awful.
But you know, it wasn’t me.

Please believe me. I am not the culprit. Do not glare at me like I am your enemy.
I did not eat him.
I am innocent. The real culprit is someone else.

Yes, it was the bulb below.
The bulb ate him!
Even if the bulb and I are connected, we are different! I am innocent!!!

My pleas fell on deaf ears as the Papa bear began to take a snack stored above his head and eat it.
Raub bears have a long horn on their heads.
And something familiar was impaled on that horn.

I had been mistaken, thinking that the Höllenwolf was the ruler of the forest.
But it was already dead, pierced clean through on Papa Bear’s horn.

The sight was so shocking I almost thought I had stumbled into the presence of a demon.

I once read in a monster encyclopedia that raub bears skewer their prey and carry it home as preserved food.
But I never thought I would witness that terrifying Höllenwolf being so brutally devoured.

Honestly, if I could, I’d switch to worshipping another god or goddess right this second. I’d pray and beg them to send a miracle down from the sky.

Papa Bear finished eating the Höllenwolf.
After stroking his horn with satisfaction, he turned and locked eyes with me.

Looks like he remembered his son’s killer.

How did he figure out I was responsible?
No, maybe he didn’t realize, and he’s just a delinquent who thinks he can crush any stranger just in case.

Either way, I was now his target.
Papa Bear started walking toward me.
I saw the trees in his path fall one after another.

There is no way I can beat that monster.
I’m just a fragile flower.
I cannot possibly fight a 10-meter-tall bear that eats giant wolves.

So please.
Please go home for today.

We can talk again tomorrow. I will properly apologize about your son.
Though of course the moment he leaves I will flee in the night. Running away may be shameful but it helps you stay alive.

Aaaah!
That’s right, what a stupid thing I was thinking!

I completely forgot while trying to escape reality.
I can’t walk! I am a plant!

Noooooo!
My body is a flower!
I am not tasty!

So please spare meeeeeee!

***

Author’s Note:

Thank you for reading.
There will be two updates again today.

Next time: Humiliation Smells Like a Bear’s Tongue