I’m an Alraune, a plant monster child.
And now, a battle over pollination has begun against a group of nectar-obsessed lizards.


More than a dozen green, lizard-type monsters called Kusai-dex came charging at me, moving as if they were dancing.


Why did these lizards suddenly appear in the first place, anyway?

Maybe this area was originally their territory.
Then the little witch and I went and settled here, so we ended up running into them. Yeah, that actually sounds pretty plausible.


Honestly, it’s terrifying facing off against lizards whose eyes look like those of an addict.

One option would be to have the little witch fly us up into the air and escape.
But if we did that, Fairy-san over there who’s being bitten by a lizard would surely be eaten alive.


She helped us out, so there’s no way I can just leave her behind.
That means the only choice is to face the lizards head-on.
Yeah. I’ve made up my mind.


Very well, I’ll deal with these frenzied lizards.


Greetings.
You must be the green lizard delegation.

Thank you so much for attending the housewarming dance party for my new home.


That dignified-looking lizard over there seems to have already paired up with my fairy friend and is dancing with her.

Tonight, Fairy-san is a little different than usual.
For she is wrapped in a dress of nectar, making her whole body shimmer.


But you see, Mr. Lizard.
The ball hasn’t started yet. No touching allowed.
We understand you couldn’t resist that sweet, inviting scent, but let us ask you to release her for now.


I extended an invitation to dance toward the lizards in front of me.
It seems quite a few gentlemen wished to dance with me, as the lizards who took the hands of my poisonous thorny vines collapsed to the ground one after another.


Apparently, they were so enamored with me that mere skin contact was enough to make them faint.
We are delighted that you are feeling so shy.


Still, being courted by this many lizards at once is far too much to handle.
No matter how many thorns for arms I have, I only have one head to manage them all.


As I continued to dance, fending off the advancing lizards with my poisonous thorns, I heard something fall from the rock behind me.


Turning around, I locked eyes with a green lizard.
It seems another guest has arrived from behind.


What should I do?
All of my thorns are busy dealing with the lizards in front.
So I can’t reach out to the gentleman who’s slipped around behind me.


The lizard behind me sprinted straight toward me at full speed.
He’s radiating an aura of an addict, reminiscent of a nectar-obsessed bear.

At this rate, I’ll be attacked from behind and licked by a lizard!

There is only one person in this world who is allowed to take my nectar.
And it’s the little witch, the only one who’s cared for me enough to even replant me in a bucket.

Just before the charging lizard could reach me, my body lifted into the air.

“Alraune, we’re flying.”

Holding me in her arms, the little witch leapt up into the sky.

Hovering in midair, I surveyed the scene below.
More than a dozen lizards stared up at us, completely dumbfounded.


It seems the lizards, who can only dance on the ground, couldn’t keep up with an aerial performance.
Dancing in the sky like this is only made possible by the little witch’s levitation magic and by the fact that I’m a potted Alraune.

Cradled in the little witch’s arms, I pointed my thorns down at the lizards below.
Like hauling up fish, I snagged them one by one.


Now then, dear lizards.
The second act begins.

Allow me to show you a most unusual aerial dance.


Perhaps so delighted to be dancing with me, as if they were ascending to heaven, the lizards clung to my thorns, blowing bubbles and showering me with ecstatic praise.


From above, it was easy to pick out my targets, and thanks to that, nearly all of the lizards on the ground ended up taking my hand.

Dozens of lizards dangled from the many thorns stretching out from me, swaying back and forth in the air.

It was like a merry-go-round.
With me at the center, the lizards, now my white horses, bobbed up and down joyfully. Seeing them so excited that they were frothing white bubbles, it seemed they were getting dizzy.
It’s been a while since I got to do something truly befitting a carnivorous plant, so I’m rather pleased with myself.

This is the latest trend—an aerial dance party.
Did you enjoy it, dear lizards?


Only one lizard remains, the one with the dignified face.
It seems he’s still holding Fairy-san in his mouth.


Saving the fairy comes first.
I slapped a sticky sundew vine right onto the lizard’s jaws.


Mr. Lizard, did you enjoy your dance with Fairy-san?
Next, I shall be your partner.

I forced his mouth open, then caught the fairy with my sticky vine.
And just like that, I successfully caught her with a single pull.


On the ground below, the dignified lizard stared up at me sadly, his mouth still hanging open.
Please don’t make such a lonely face.
Are you really that jealous that I danced with all the other lizards?

Don’t worry, I won’t leave you lonely anymore.
I’ll send you to join your friends right away.
You too shall become part of this merry-go-round.

I hooked the lizard up with my poisonous thorns.

With tears of blood streaming from his eyes, the lizard showered me with applause.
Looks like he’s happy to finally dance together with his friend.

Yes, yes, that’s wonderful!


With more than a dozen lizard monsters dangling from me, I declared the end of the aerial dance party.


Together with the little witch, I landed back on the ground.


All right then, after dancing so much, it’s time for dinner.
Let’s eat!


Chomp.


Munch, munch.
Mm, it’s been a while since I’ve had something this big!

Lately I’ve only been eating fish or small animals.
As expected, monsters are a whole different level—eating them feels nothing like eating ordinary animals.


“Alraune… I think you might be eating a bit too much……”

The little witch spoke to me with a strained smile.


She’s probably right, I may have overdone it.
Now that I’m a little girl, my stomach isn’t as big as it used to be.
So after I swallowed a whole lizard in one go, my bulb started to swell.


My bulb might split open if I go any further.

Going by my old standards, I still haven’t quite had enough to eat.
Being a little girl might be inconvenient in moments like this.

It’s fun being able to move around, so I’ve ended up continuing this potted lifestyle longer than I should, but maybe it’s about time I put down roots in the soil again.

Well, it can’t be helped this time.
Let’s call the meal finished here.



Just as I had my fill of Mr. Lizard, the little witch started eating.
She nibbled on her bread, looking like she was lost in thought.

Huh, now that I think about it, it feels like I’m forgetting something…


“I was humiliated by a lizard… even though I’m a fairy…………”


Right, I had left Fairy-san lying on the ground.
Between my nectar, the sundew’s sticky mucus, and the lizard’s saliva, her whole body seems to be coated in a slimy mess.

Somehow, she always seems to be covered in slime.
I wonder why?


Leaving the fairy where she was, the little witch started talking again while stuffing her cheeks with bread.

“I’m happy we have food, but I kinda want to eat something warm for a change…”


She seemed kind of lonely.
Maybe eating human food again after so long made her remember the meals her parents used to cook for her.


The meals she had with her family were surely warm dishes.
But all we have here right now is cold bread and dried meat.


“If only we could start a fire, but I guess it can’t be helped.”


The little witch muttered in resignation.
If only we had fire, I could give her something warm to eat.


“It’s okay… leave it to me.”

“Huh? What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“I’ll… start a fire… I promise.”


All right, I’ve decided.
Since the little witch is always watering me, this time it’s my turn to do my best for her.


If she can eat something warm, I’m sure she would be happy.
She might even respect me and acknowledge me as her big sister!

My body’s a plant, so fire is dangerous, but if it’s for the little witch, a little risk is worth it.

Okay, here we go. Time to do this!


For the little witch’s sake, I’m going to learn how to start a fire!

***

Author’s Note:

Thank you very much for reading.

Next Time: Hiring Fire-Starting Plants