Actually, I have a secret plan for Papa Bear.

But first, there’s something else I need to do.

After all, the guests haven’t had their fun yet.

The tea party is over, and the ball begins.
So come, let us dance.

Papa Bear, would you be so kind as to be my dance partner?

Of course, my lady.
He seemed to say as he stepped forward.

Oh my, Papa Bear isn’t wearing a tailcoat. Are you sure that kind of attire is really acceptable?
You’re completely naked, you know?

Well, I don’t have an evening gown either.
Just my vines, which basically leave me half-naked too. In a way, we’re a fitting pair.

In the forest, the standard formal attire usually means nothing at all. So I suppose this will just do.

A forest ball of naked and half-naked dancers.
It might sound a little indecent, but that’s just my imagination.

Since it’s just a bear and a plant, there’s no problem.

Papa Bear glanced at Mama Bear and, letting out a roar, approached me.

Was he so eager to dance with me that he’s leaving his wife behind?

Careful, Papa Bear. If you get too carried away with other women, your wife will start giving you the cold shoulders.

Look, she’s collapsed over there with her eyes rolled back. She’s so furious that foam is coming out of her mouth!

Ignoring his late wife completely, Papa Bear just kept staring at me intensely, drooling as if he couldn’t wait to dance with me.

When he stares at me with such forcefulness, I can’t help but feel a little embarrassed.
Though, there’s nothing I can really do about it.

Papa Bear, would you please dance with me?

I summoned the poisonous brambles from the ground as an invitation.

I know it’s bad manners, and it’s a little sad not to be escorted by a gentleman, but I get it. Papa Bear probably found it hard to ask me himself with his wife watching.

So really, he should be thanking me for being considerate.

The brambles held not just his hands but his entire body, securing him in place.
Now, step to the rhythm.
I can’t walk, so Papa Bear has to dance in my stead.

A waltz with a bear.

But Papa Bear didn’t seem to like the fact that I can’t dance.
He ripped the brambles holding him, stripping away the vines as if refusing the dance.

What, did he just refuse to dance with me?!

It’s kind of shocking to be turned down for a dance I went out of my way to invite him to
As a former saint and duchess, my dignity has been hurt.

Perhaps it’s best to let Papa Bear follow his wife’s path.

The ball is over.
playtime ends here.

Now, it’s time to fight.

Papa Bear should’ve felt pain from the brambles, yet he doesn’t look hurt at all.

In fact, even though his whole body should be pierced by my thorns, he looks untouched.

Right. Papa Bear isn’t like any enemy before.
My thorns… can’t hurt him.

Bear Papa’s tough, thick skin deflected them, preventing the thorns from penetrating.

That alone shows he can’t be lumped in with the other monsters I’ve faced.
Indeed, Papa Bear is stronger than any opponent I’ve faced.

The Varmschlange, Kreig Tiger, and Mama Bear all easily fell to my poisonous brambles, offering themselves as nutrition.

But nothing worked on Papa Bear.
My previously unbeatable attack had been nullified.

Impressive.
Papa Bear is the first one to withstand my sure-win tactics.

That’s exactly what makes you the true lord of the forest, the strongest bear there is.

Honestly, knowing my attacks can’t harm him is enough for me to want to surrender.

It’s utterly hopeless.
I’ll have to endure the licking hell again.

It’s true that if I fought him head-on, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

But I haven’t been feasting on the forest’s monsters for a month for nothing.
I’ve been preparing a strategy for this very rematch.

Alright.
It’s time to execute the plan.

I decided to take out something I specifically reserved for Papa Bear.
If attacking from outside doesn’t work, then I’ll just attack from the inside.

Papa Bear… do you know what this is?

It’s an apple.
They call them “ringles” in this world.

Juicy red apples are delicious, aren’t they?
I grew it myself, so I hope Papa Bear likes it.

Plant Generation sure is handy. It lets me grow fruits anytime, like this.

I harvested the apples with my vines and tossed them to Papa Bear.

You’re hungry aren’t you, Papa Bear?

If you’ve been holed up, feeding only on my nectar ball, you must’ve barely eaten.
Because the nectar was so sweet, you didn’t feel like eating anything else.
Even the boy who ate my nectar said he didn’t need anything else afterward. Maybe it’s the same as with you, Papa Bear.

So now, Papa Bear is likely hungry.
If an apple flies over at a time like this, he couldn’t possibly resist.

Papa Bear bit into the apple, swallowing it in one gulp.

And this apple contained a little of my nectar as well.
So I can guarantee it’s delicious.
And if you want more, don’t worry. There’s plenty left.

Here, open wide!

I threw apples one after another.
Papa Bear must’ve been waiting for this, as he devoured them all.

But after thirteen apples, he stopped.
Ignoring the apples flying at him, he  stared blankly at the sky with his mouth open.

Ah, I think it’s starting to kick in.

To tell you the truth, Papa Bear, those apples were poisoned.

When I grew them, I mixed in a bit of toxin.
The plan was for animals to eat an apple, collapse, and then I’d eat them for nutrients.

But, as expected for Papa Bear.
Even after eating thirteen apples, which one is enough to knockout a small animal with, he’s still standing.

Papa Bear glares at me. Eyes fixed, perhaps he’s angry.
He probably realized the apples were poisoned. As expected, he’s clever.

The apples contained honey too, making them sweet and irresistible.
Torn between the pleasure of honey and the pain of poison… his desire is all directed at me.

Papa Bear charged forward on all fours.
I moved the brambles I’d hidden in the ground as a trap and formed a wall of thorns.

But that didn’t work on Papa Bear.

He simply smashed through the bramble shield.
Even my thorny shield did almost no damage against Papa Bear’s defenses.
Because most of the spikes didn’t pierce him, it wasn’t a decisive blow.

As I thought, Papa Bear is impressive.
He truly lives up to the title of Lord of the Forest

He’s the first one I’ve ever failed to defeat with this method.

I fired poison pollen at Papa Bear.
However, the wind pressure from his charge scattered it into mist.

I’ve used every offensive technique.
I even gave him the poisoned apples.

Still, Papa Bear won’t fall.
I could not beat him in a straight fight.

I had gotten stronger too.
I even started to feel like there were no more enemies left, but the Lord of the Forest is simply terrific.

Once again, I lost.


Papa Bear came right in front of me.

Being over ten meters tall, his presence is really imposing.

Even though the poison should be taking effect and making him suffer, his expression is dominated by an overwhelming hunger for my nectar.

He must’ve really liked it.

Of course he would, after all, he had toyed with me so much before.


Papa Bear tried to lick me.

The scene of the first time Papa Bear licked me flashed before my eyes.
Back then, I couldn’t do anything.
And now again, defenseless, I was about to be licked by Papa Bear’s tongue.

The thick, sticky tongue touched my face.

Squish.

What a disgusting feeling.

There was nothing I could do as the nectar on my face was licked away.
Just like that day, I was being licked by his tongue.

The emotion of despair and the word called humiliation began rising in my head.

But this time, I didn’t allow those thoughts to overwhelm me again.

I hate being licked.
I never want to be licked again.
I don’t want to taste humiliation.

But that alone would not ease my resentment.

So I steeled myself.

Even if I am to be licked, I will resist Papa Bear.
To do that, I looked him squarely in the face.

Papa Bear’s tongue worked desperately, trying to savor me.
While he ravaged my face with his tongue, I grinned back instead.


My nectar is delicious, isn’t it.
After all, you licked me so much back then.
If that’s the case, then go ahead and keep licking me, Papa Bear.

Having come this far, I won’t stop you from.

Come on, Papa Bear.
If you’re going to do it, then do it.

I had prepared for your arrival.

I will offer you the finest nectar, unlike anything you’ve tasted before.
A specially crafted, sweet nectar I brewed as my secret weapon.

It should be so delicious it feels like you’re ascending to heaven.

Because, you see, this nectar contains poison.
I made it, poisoned nectar.

I wonder if you’ll like poison-laced nectar.

Hehehe.

So… Papa Bear.
This is goodbye.

***

Author’s Note:

Next update: Pavlov’s Bear