I’m an Alraune, a little plant monster girl.
And the one flying over there is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s army, a golden birdman who radiates the light of a saint.


I had let it slip and asked him about light magic.
It’s only natural he’d find that suspicious. After all, how could an ordinary plant monster like an Alraune living in the forest see through the fact that a Heavenly King could use light magic?


And to make matters worse, this Heavenly King, Garuda Hræsvelgr, apparently knows what I looked like back when I was a saint.

We’re supposed to be meeting for the first time, but it seems he’s seen me before.

He said he observed me in secret, but… could he have been a fan?
I really hope he’s not a stalker. A stalker among the Four Heavenly Kings isn’t funny.

Though honestly… I might not be entirely wrong.
That intense, probing gaze of his is making me feel seriously unsettled.


I absolutely cannot let him realize that I used to be a human Saint.
If he realizes who I am, then the little witch and Kiri listening nearby will find out too.
And that’s the last thing I want.

So I have to bluff my way through this.
Act like a carefree, airheaded plant.


“Light magic… what’s that…?”

“…What did you just say?”

“The light was… like… reflecting… so I thought it was magic…”

“…Huh?”

“Your feathers are shiny… photosynthesis… yummy…”


That’s right.
I’m just a simple plant monster.
Instead of acting like some sharp, magic-savvy Alraune, I need to sell the idea that I’m a total airhead with nothing but flowers in my head.


“Magic… is that like… the sun? It’s always… warm and nice…”


Come on, me!
Cast away whatever scraps of pride and dignity you have left.

You’re not a former saint.
You’re not a high school girl from a past life.
You’re an Alraune, born and raised in the forest.


I’m supposed to be a wild plant in the shape of a girl who doesn’t even understand the concept of human clothing, just barely covering her chest with vines.
I can’t even write a single character. In fact, I don’t even know what writing is in the first place. That’s the kind of plant I’m supposed to be.

So come on!
Act like a plant! Say something even dumber!


“I love… basking in the sun…!”

“…The saint Iris I observed for years was not this foolish. She was far more refined, modest, and brilliant… Have I made a mistake?”

“Saint… what’s that? Is it tasty?”

“…Indeed. A mere plant monster like an Alraune couldn’t possibly know anything about light magic.”


──Y-Yes!

Honestly, I didn’t think he’d fall for such a simple act.


This Heavenly King is looking down on me just because I’m a plant monster.
Thanks to that, I managed to avoid being questioned too closely.
I should be grateful he’s not the overly suspicious type.


…Actually, he said he’s been watching me for years, right?
He’s totally a stalker, right?
Yep. Definitely a Heavenly Stalker.



Just as I was about to return a suspicious look of my own, the ground began to shake.
From behind us, a massive bear-type monster appeared, a Raub bear.

This Raub bear, who was Papa Bear’s relative, serves as the gatekeeper of Lady Dryad’s sanctuary.
It looks like Lady Dryad sent him over after hearing the commotion.


I never thought the day would come when I’d be fighting side by side with one of Papa Bear’s relatives.
With someone like that on our side, it feels like we’ve got a hundred men’s worth of strength!

Alright, let’s take down this member of the Four Heavenly Kings together.
I’ll show this birdman that the forest has its own Four Heavenly Kings, and that we’re strong too!


“I came because I was surprised to hear that the Begia Adler had been defeated, but I see. So it wasn’t that little Alraune over there, but this Raub bear who took it down. Yes, that makes sense.”


No, actually, I’m the one who took down the giant eagle, Mr. Birdman.
Well, to be precise, my children and I worked together and poisoned it.



“A human, a treant, a fairy, an Alraune, and a Raub bear. Hmph? What a peculiar combination. Still, since the topic of light magic has come up, I shall introduce myself and offer a small greeting.”


The birdman’s golden feathers began to shine.
He was about to use light magic.


“Rainbow Arrows—Regenbogen!”


A rain of seven-colored arrows poured down from the sky.
I raised a shield of vines and blocked the attack.


It really did seem like nothing more than a greeting. There weren’t that many arrows that came down.
Spreading his arms wide, the Heavenly King proudly showed off.


“I am the Golden Birdman, Garuda Hræsvelgr. I alone in the Demon King’s army can use light magic, a power reserved for human saints.”


Looks like he only fired those light arrows to show off his light magic.
For a demon, being able to use something only saints can wield must make him pretty proud.


But… he’s not wrong.
A demon who can use light magic shouldn’t exist.
So yeah, that does make him a rare case. It’s no wonder he’s bragging about it.


And it seems I wasn’t the only one surprised to see light magic.
Kiri, the fairy who probably knows the most about magic after me, raised her voice at the Heavenly King.


“Hey, wait a second! How can a demon use light magic? That’s supposed to be something only human women recognized by the Goddess could use!”


Kiri actually said something useful for once. I wanted to know that too.


“Hmph. If you are a fairy serving a Dryad, it’s not strange that you know of light magic. Very well, I shall grant you an explanation.”


The birdman, looking down on us, folded his arms and began to speak with a smug air.


“Behold. I am Hræsvelgr, Devourer of Corpses. I possess the ability to take on one attribute of magic from those I consume.”


That’s unbelievable. A demon who can make another’s magic their own just by eating them?
I’ve never heard of a demon with that kind of power.


“The attribute I chose was light magic. That is why I am now graced with these golden, radiant wings.”

“…Which means…?”


Before I knew it, I found myself calling out to the Heavenly King still hovering in the sky.

I couldn’t stop myself.
And yet… at the same time, I didn’t want to hear the answer.

Conflicting emotions twisted together inside me, churning into a dark vortex that threatened to overflow.


“Of course, I devoured those so-called saint apprentices. Quite delicious, I might add. The tender flesh of  young human girls as they slide down my throat, those rich screams of despair as their life fades… I would gladly partake again.”


It felt as though the water and nutrients within my vascular system were flowing backwards.
If I still had a human body, blood surely would’ve rushed straight to my head.


Unbelievable, he said it.
He said he ate saint apprentices.
In other words, he devoured my former comrades. My own kind.

But the golden aura of light radiating from him wasn’t just one, it overlapped in layers.

Which could only mean one thing.

He had absorbed the light of not just one, but several saints.


“I am fond of saints, you see. That is why I study them, along with light magic, day after day. But whenever I see one, I can’t help but want to swallow her whole.”


I know all too well what it feels like to be swallowed whole.
It’s suffocating. Agonizing. A kind of death so cruel it makes you want to give up on everything.

Those saint apprentices… this Heavenly King killed them and devoured them just like that.


I never knew how infuriating it would be to have your comrades eaten, their power stolen.


Even so, I was once a saint.
If he is an enemy of saints, then he is my enemy too.

I will defeat this Heavenly King.


As I thought of my fallen comrades, I made that vow deep within my heart.

***

Author’s Note:

Thank you for reading.

Next Time: Catastrophic Light Magic