The older Dryad sister took out the Hero’s Helmet that had been kept inside the sanctuary.


Standing behind me, Nina stared at it and muttered, “I’ve never seen such… immense light before.”

So she could see it too.
The Hero’s Helmet was a holy relic said to have been created by the Goddess herself.
It contained an immeasurable amount of magical power, far exceeding that which any human could ever hope to wield.


If I were still a human saint, I probably would’ve found myself wanting to worship the divine radiance in front of me.
But now that I’ve become a plant, a completely different thought came to mind.

──It looks delicious.

I wanted to eat the light magic contained within that helmet.


The older Dryad sister held up the helmet as if showing it off for everyone to see.


“The Hero’s Helmet can’t be used by ordinary humans and demons. Only the Hero, who is said to have received the Goddess’s blessing, can wield it. But as Dryads, being spirits, we know of a little workaround that lets us tap into parts of its power.”

“You mean… the forest barrier?”

“Oh? So you already knew, princess?”


Kiri had told me before that Lady Dryad used the Hero’s Helmet to maintain the barrier.
So the helmet has the power to create a defensive barrier?


“As long as the Hero’s Helmet rests in the Hero’s grave inside the sanctuary, the eastern forest and Tower City remain protected. But since I removed it, the barrier has disappeared.”


She was talking about the invisible wall that separated the eastern and western forests.
Kiri had explained that the barrier prevented the monsters from the Demon King’s army from entering the eastern forest and Tower City.

Now that the helmet was in the older Dryad sister’s hands, that meant the barrier had already been broken.


“It won’t be long before my monsters from the western forest come flooding in.”


The more time passes, the more likely it becomes for reinforcements from the Demon King’s army to arrive.
The reason why the older Dryad sister didn’t attack us while we were discussing our strategy was because she’d been stalling for time.


This is bad.
The western forest is teeming with monsters on the level of the forest’s Four Heavenly Kings like Höllenwolfs, Kreig Tigers, and Varnschlanges.
The last thing we need is for them to become enemy reinforcements!


As if responding to my internal panic, the adventurers shouted confidently.


“Monster hunting is an adventurer’s specialty. Leave them to us!”


M-Mr. Drink Station?
So you do have a cool side after all!

Then I’ll gladly leave the monsters to you.
But if an entire army arrived, they probably wouldn’t be able to hold them. Even so, I do feel a bit more at ease now. I’m counting on you.



Still, unless we defeat the older Dryad sister before the massive horde of monsters from the western forest arrive, our chances of winning are practically zero.
As I racked my brain for a way to fight her, Nina suddenly cried out.


“Look! The priest is gone!”


It seemed the priest, the cloned Dryad, had taken advantage of all the commotion to slip away.
Well, her troll army was wiped out. Retreating wasn’t exactly surprising.

For some reason, the older Dryad sister kindly explained where the last of the Three Spirit Beasts, who had vanished like smoke, had gone


“Aren’t you going to chase her? She’s headed back to the town to replenish the number of trolls.”

“Why… would you tell… me that?”

“Hmm… who knows?”


She only smiled, wearing that same unnerving, smug grin.
Is she trying to weaken our forces by making us send someone to chase after the priest?
But if we send someone now, I’m not even sure if they would be able to catch up.

The little witch spoke up then, interrupting my troubled thoughts.


“Alraune, I’ll go!”


Huh? The little witch is going after the priest Dryad?
Sure, she could catch up to her in no time if she flew, but it’s too dangerous!


“I want to help you too, Alraune. Because, I’m your big sister.”

“No… I’m the… older sister.”

“Little sisters should be quiet!” The little witch shouted, squishing my cheeks between her palms.

“I’m your caretaker and big sister. I don’t want to just stand by and watch while you’re working hard.”


The determination in the little witch’s eyes pierced straight through my heart.

If she feels that strongly about it, I can’t stop her.
I’ll leave the priest to the little witch.


“Just… don’t overdo it… okay?”

“I’ll be fine. I’m just going to throw trees at him from the sky.”


Using her levitation magic, the little witch flew into the air and headed in the direction of the town.
The sight of a human flying drew gasps from Nina, the other adventurers, and even the older Dryad sister.


Be careful, little witch.
But remember one thing.
You’re the little sister, and I’m the older sister.
And I won’t ever budge on that!


After watching the little witch disappear into the distance, the older Dryad sister turned back to me.


“That human… who would’ve thought she was actually a witch. It seems even your companions are quite unusual, princess. How fitting.”


She carefully tied the Hero’s Helmet to a tree growing from the land tortoise’s shell.
Then she gently stroked it with the palm of her hand.
At that moment, I noticed something. Her eyes had taken on a softness I’d never seen before.


Once, the Hero from fifty years ago and the older Dryad sister were lovers.
Perhaps seeing the relic of her former lover had made her reminisce about him.
Back at the Demon King’s castle, she said she hated the Hero. But now that his relic rested in her hands, perhaps the memories they shared had come flooding back.


The reason I thought so was because I felt the same thing.


I had been abandoned and killed by my fiancé, the Hero.
No matter how desperately I wanted to forget, the pain of being betrayed by the person I trusted with all of my heart never disappeared.
Even though I knew this helmet belonged to the previous Hero, whenever I see it, the image of my fiancé would always inevitably pop into my mind.


First, I would remember all the warm memories of his kindness. Those memories would then be swallowed up as the flashback of my death, the moment the Hero and that damn junior saint apprentice tried to kill me, came rushing back.
Any trace of nostalgia was smothered beneath the black, suffocating haze of betrayal.

A crushing pain gripped the place where my heart should have been, even though I no longer had one.


Instinctively, I looked up.
The older Dryad sister was pressing a hand against her chest, just like I was.

Yet unlike me, there wasn’t a trace of sorrow on her face. Only a bright refreshing smile.


“I can’t remember the last time I felt this good. After all, I’ve finally obtained both the helmet I’ve always wanted and my little sister’s life.”

“I’d… appreciate it if you… were satisfied with just… the helmet.”

“Not a chance. I won’t be satisfied until every last one of those detestable humans, just like that Hero, becomes fertilizer for my plants. I suppose I’ll start with those humans over there.”


I extended thorns from my bulb, shielding Nina and the others behind me.

Ever since I became a plant, humans have done nothing but hurt me.
But when I thought about the ones who became my allies, people like the little witch and Nina, I just couldn’t bring myself to hate humanity completely.
Besides, I used to be a human saint.
Protecting my precious companions and the people has always been a saint’s duty.

No matter what happens, I’ll protect the little witch and others with my life!


“I’ll ask you one last time. Won’t you help me create a world for plants?”

“I refuse. I cannot walk… the same path… as you.”

“I thought you’d say that… very well, princess. Shall we begin?”


The trees behind the older Dryad sister suddenly swelled.
The entire forest began to pulse as if it were growing at a rampant rate.


“Spirit Magic: Dominion of the Great Forest—Herrschaft Pflanze. The forest is practically an extension of a Dryad’s body.”


Massive roots burst from the earth, writhing like enormous serpents.
The entire forest squirmed and twisted in response to her voice.
It seemed like she was controlling every plant in the forest with spirit magic.


“Shall I teach you what happens when a mere plant monster dares to challenge a Dryad?”


Older Dryad sister…
Just because you’re a spirit doesn’t mean you get to act so high and mighty.


Who decided that plant monsters are inferior to spirits?

Perhaps the only plants you’ve ever encountered until now have been nothing but pampered little ladies and gentlemen. But to judge all plants by that alone would be rather hasty

The world is a big place.
After all, standing before you is a plant monster who used to be a saint.


I’ll show you just how extraordinary an Alraune can be!

***

Author’s Note:

At last, the clash with the older Dryad sister begins.

Next Time: Diary; The Little Witch’s Solo Adventure Amid the Turmoil of the Forest of Dryades