I’ve received my very first tribute.


Huh, from whom, you ask?

Don’t be surprised.
It came from the forest animals themselves.


A few days after I defeated Papa Bear, the forest’s lord, a group of them appeared.

A massive pack of raccoons.

Drool…
What a feast, walking right up to me like that.

There must be at least a hundred of them, easily.
Though, they’re just ordinary animals, not monsters.

Not an enemy of mine.

Why did they come here, then?
They don’t look aggressive, and they don’t seem to have any business either.

Do they even realize that showing up in a group like this is basically suicide?

For now, I decided to observe what the raccoons wanted.
Even if they tried to flee, I could easily catch them.

After a while, a single raccoon stepped forward from the horde.

It was an old raccoon dog with a white beard, its fur graying around the muzzle. Each of its steps were careful and deliberate as it slowly approached me.
The representative of the group, perhaps?

It was noticeably larger than the others.
Perhaps it was the elder of this hundred-strong pack.
After all, unlike the regular raccoons behind it, this one was a monster.


A raccoon-type monster, a Grandmulderhund.

While it’s not particularly strong in combat, the long-lived ones are said to possess intelligence close to humans.

I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I’ve heard they can create illusions to trick hunters who wander into the forest, escaping danger without fighting.


Ah, raccoons are so cute.
I used to see them all the time in the forest behind my house back when I was in high school.
As a child, I even named one of them “Pompoko.”
They never really warmed up to me, though.

The representative raccoon took another step closer.

It kind of looks like an elder, doesn’t it?
That long white beard really stands out.

Yes, let’s call it Elder Raccoon.


Elder Raccoon stopped right in front of me, bowing its head.
In unison, all the raccoons behind it bowed their heads toward me too.

Huh, what’s this?
The raccoons are bowing to me.


Raccoons are smarter than I thought…
Or maybe it’s just the Elder Raccoon that’s wise.

But either way, they’re showing complete submission.
Could it be that they recognize me as the ruler of the forest?

By defeating Papa Bear, I’ve been self proclaiming myself as the Lord of the Forest.
But now, it seems like the other animals have also been recognizing me as the forest’s ruler.

Not that I mind, of course.

Being respected by raccoons is kind of nice.
It’s like a loyal knight paying homage to the queen of the forest.

Could it be that the time has finally come for me to level up from being a duchess’s daughter to queen of the forest?

You there, raccoon, raise your head.
I shall grant you an audience with the queen.

But no trouble, alright?

I just want to live peacefully here.
If danger awaits me at every turn, even the title of queen won’t be worth it.


Seeing my expression, Elder Raccoon glanced back at the pack.

Then, like a parting wave, one raccoon stepped forward

The raccoon was large and sleek, even among the group.
But unlike the Elder raccoon, this one was still an ordinary raccoon.

When it reached me, it rolled onto its back, belly up, paws stretched toward the sky.

A perfect submissive pose.
This raccoon is offering its body and soul fully to me.


Wait… what am I supposed to do with this?

Elder Raccoon gestures with its mouth, like telling me to bite.

Am I meant to eat this raccoon?

A tribute?
No, this is a sacrifice.


I guess this large raccoon was chosen as an offering from the raccoon pack.
How considerate of them, providing such a generous meal.

But what does this offering really mean?
That they recognize me as the ruler of the forest?
They must be trying to say, “We raccoons will now live under the new forest master’s rule.”

Raccoons aren’t exactly strong, after all.
I bet they hid away when the forest ecosystem became unstable.

Instead of fighting for themselves, they sought protection from the powerful. This sacrifice is proof of their allegiance.
Make sense.


So… if I eat this raccoon, I’d be responsible for protecting the pack.
Sounds complicated.

I want to eat it and run off, but I can’t.
Because I’m a plant.

Hey roots, don’t you ever feel like walking? I want to walk. Even if it’s impossible, I can’t help but want it.


Actually, even while I’m standing here all confused, the tanuki haven’t stopped staring at me.
Their gaze seemed to say, “Hurry up and take it.”

If I eat this raccoon, a contract will be formed.
They’ve probably come here thinking that if anything happens, I’ll protect them.

If an enemy attacks, they’re likely counting on me to shield them with my body.
Thinking about it that way, I have only one choice.

I can’t move.

In other words, whether I eat this raccoon or not, If they bring enemies here, I’ll be forced to fight anyways.

Either way, the result is this same.
I might as well fully accept it now.
I’ll probably get sick of it if they keep sending dangerous enemies my way without my consent.
Better to get it over with rather than coming to terms with a decision that didn’t matter in the first place.

Alright, I get it.
I inherited the position as the forest lord when I defeated Papa Bear, so I have no choice but to accept.

Besides, I haven’t eaten anything new since Papa Bear.
I’m malnourished.

So, I’ll take it.

Chomp.

Mmm… the raccoon is not enough.


Elder Raccoon bowed respectfully again, stepping back.

Wait, stop.
I’m not satisfied yet.

I’ll let the Elder Raccoon off for now since it’s the leader, but the younger ones will have to keep me company.


I manipulated the vast network of vines I’d hidden underground.
From the raccoons’ perspective, it must’ve been shocking to see countless vines suddenly shooting up from the ground.

Hey, you young ones over there, why don’t you send over two or three more?

One by one, I caught the raccoons with my vines.
The pack tried to flees in panic, and I scooped up the clumsy ones.
It was a raccoon buffet, like I was eating them as they danced around.

“Raccoon, raccoon, let’s play~”
You’re running, but that’s fine. I’ll be “it” in this real-life game of tag.

Get caught and you’ll be eaten
So, let the game begin.

And so, glancinig sideway at the trembling Elder Raccoon, I tossed the young raccoons into my lower mouth.


Munch munch.
Yes, I’m satisfied for now.

I managed to few captured, so in return, I’ll do my job.
If anything happens, don’t hesitate to tell me.


Elder Raccoon trembled violently and slowly retreated.

And with that, the raccoons are under my control.
Since I’m bored, you’re welcome to visit once in a while, Elder.



But the sacrifices didn’t just end with the raccoons.

Perhaps this was some law of this forest.

After that, other animals kept offering me their comrades
.
Foxes, wild dogs, mountain cats, squirrels, rabbits, all kind of creatures.
There’ve been a few other times when monsters have lead a group of animals, just like with the Grandmulderhund and raccoon.

It’s like they’re saying, “Please protect our kin.”

Even now, a herd of deer has come to offer tribute.


But, wait. This doesn’t make sense at all.
I can’t move. I’m a plant.

So unless they come near me, their lives aren’t in danger.
Yet, they’re deliberately bringing me offerings to nourish me.

Could it be… that?
It must be because I’m the forest lord.

The Lord of the Forest bears the duty of protecting the forest.
After all, the Lord of the Forest is the strongest in the forest.

Being strong means they expect me to act as the forest’s guardian.
Perhaps Papa Bear did the same, defending the forest against intruders.

I wonder if he felt the same way as I do now.

Even if I want them to leave, they won’t go until I force them.
I sense a fierce determination to make me accept their demands no matter what. Such resolve… it’s actually kind of scary.

They probably want me to take over Papa Bear’s role.
That’s why they’ve come here with an offering to curry favor for their pack.

After all, there’s no stronger presence in the forest.

If adventurers hunting monsters or village hunters started coming into the forest one after another, no one will be able to live in peace anymore.
The animals and monsters under my control will likely guide those outside threats to me.
I guess the idea is for me to deal with those enemies. Just a guess, but it makes sense.


Well, if someone must protect the forest, I’ll do it.
I defeated Papa Bear, so the responsibility falls on me.

So, here I go–

Chomp.

Munch munch. Still not enough.

I need more nutrients.
You there, bring two or three more.

Yes, I’ll activate the trap.
Using the vines underground, I captured about ten more deers.

Oops, a little too many again.
No big deal, right? More food makes me happy.

Welcome~ munch munch gulp.

Wait, just one more…
If possible, I’d even invite the whole clan into my belly… would that be wrong?

——Ah, I guess not.
The others escaped.

Or maybe I let them escape.

Either way, If I did eat them all at once, then there’d be none left for later.
So come back after you’ve reproduced.


Now then, having taken the lives of their companions, I’ll help them if needed.
I’m doing this out of kindness as a fellow resident of this forest.

Alright!
The unemployed flower has graduated.
From now on, as the forest lord, I’ll protect everyone.

It’s my first job, so I’m not used to it, but I’ll do my best.

If it goes well, perhaps peaceful days of photosynthesizing quietly with my cheerful animal subordinates will await me.

That’ll be awesome!

My goal, my dream might be finally arriving.

At last, I can live quietly.
After being betrayed by my damn junior saint apprentice and my fiancé, the Hero, I’ve been through a lot,
but I can finally settle down.

I can firmly root myself and live.
Because I’m a plant, after all.

And so begins my new life as the forest lord.

***

Author’s Note:

Tomorrow, there will be two updates again.

Next time: Starting Today, I’m Going to Become a Bagworm