Papa Bear licked my face.

But more accurately, he licked the nectar off my face.


Papa Bear thoroughly enjoyed the nectar overflowing from my mouth, his expression filled with pure delight.

You look so happy. I’m just glad you’re enjoying it.
Though, no matter how many times I’ve felt it, I still hate the sensation of a bear’s tongue.

But something’s wrong with Papa Bear.
As suddenly, he started foaming at the mouth and thrashing about.

Yeah, isn’t that right?
It hurts, doesn’t it?

I understand.
Because that nectar is poisoned.

It’s toxic nectar.

If I can produce poisonous pollen and make poisoned apples, then of course I can create poisoned nectar too.

So after experimenting a bunch, I ended up creating toxic nectar.
And it’s not just any poison; it’s even stronger than the toxin in my thorns.
I wonder what happens when something that potent spreads from within the body.

Papa Bear clawed at his own throat.
Nevertheless, drool streamed from his mouth like a waterfall.

His desire for my nectar seemed to outweigh the pain he was feeling.

Once he tasted it, Papa Bear’s body must have changed because he can’t stop himself from wanting more.

Who could’ve trained him to become like this, I wonder.
What a hopeless bear.


Lose the battle to win the war.
It’s a desperate tactic, letting him lick me, but the benefits are worth it.
This strategy is especially effective on a nectar addict like him.

Even if poison is mixed into the nectar, the taste is so intoxicatingly sweet he won’t be able to sense it at all.

Even if he knew it was poisoned, he wouldn’t stop licking it.
Because the nectar is there.


That’s how the nectar-obsessed boy once kept chasing after my nectar.

So even Papa Bear, who’s spent hours licking my face, must already be a nectar addict.

That nectar ball I gave him was heavenly. So much so that he holed himself up in his den for a whole month after that.
You want more, don’t you?

Then I’ll let you have some.
Some of this poisonous nectar.


But you know, there’s something even better than poisoned nectar.
So as a reward, I’ll give that to you, Papa Bear.

He turned down my invitation to dance, but at least I should thank him for coming to the ball.
I do have my pride as the hostess, after all.

This is the perfect gift I’d secretly been preparing for the past month just for Papa Bear.
This was what he truly wanted all along, more than ordinary nectar.

Papa Bear panted heavily, drool dripping down onto the ground.

Watching him from the corner of my eye, I expelled something from within my body.
I caught it in both hands as it left my mouth.

This is it, a nectar ball.

But it’s not just any ordinary nectar ball.

It’s a specially made nectar ball.
It doesn’t contain recovery magic, of course.
What’s inside is poison — a deadly one at that.

I’ve been preparing this nectar ball for a month, as my ultimate weapon for the inevitable day I would face Papa Bear again.

It’s a custom-made toxic nectar ball, made by stacking layers of poison, condensed for over a month into a single lethal orb.

Its effect should be overwhelming.


Here you go, eat up!

I grasped the poisonous nectar ball with my vine and held it before Papa Bear’s face.


Papa Bear stared at the pearl.
The sweet scent of nectar wafted from it. It must smell delicious.

It was good before too, wasn’t it?
So sweet you could’ve floated up to heaven.

You want to taste it again, don’t you, the nectar ball?

Hey, Papa Bear.
Drooling and foaming at the mouth like that is not very polite.

Or maybe you’re suspicious, because I put poison in the nectar before?

Go ahead and doubt me if you want.
But if you do, you’ll never taste my nectar again.

Papa Bear’s tongue slowly reached toward the vine.

Even with blood spilling from his eyes and mouth, he still couldn’t stop himself from trying to eat the nectar pearl.
I get it, Papa Bear.

Go ahead. Eat it.
This will be your last supper.


But remember this.
It’s all your fault for licking me so much.

I have no intention of forgiving you for that.

Still, with this, I can finally have my revenge.

You licked me, so I grew angry.
You licked me, so now the poison will eat away at your body.

You licked me, so your life will end.
And I’ll never taste humiliation again.

So even though you’re my enemy, I can at least show you a bit of kindness in the end.

After all, I’m striving to be a gentle, beautiful flower.

So instead of salt, I’ll give you this nectar ball.
A jewel-like treasure with the finest secret ingredient inside: poison.

Unable to resist any longer, Papa Bear bit down on my poisonous nectar ball, vine and all.
And with a blissful expression, he collapsed to the ground.

Foam gushed from his mouth as his eyes rolled white.
Yet even so, his face looked strangely content, almost happy.

Papa Bear, thank you for everything you’ve done as the lord of this forest.
You’ve worked hard.

See, I am kind. After all, in my past life, I was a saint.
So I’ll let you die by the nectar you loved so much, so you don’t have to suffer.

Enjoy the sweet taste of nectar and rest peacefully.

Goodnight, Papa Bear.

——And so, Papa Bear fell silent.

***

Author’s Note:

I plan to post twice again tomorrow.
If you’d like to support me, please consider rating the story with ★★★★★ or bookmarking it—it really helps keep me motivated.

Next time: The Lord of the Forest’s Throne