《Then… does Master mean I am your mother…?》
The moment I saw Riko’s message, it stirred up a long-forgotten memory.
During the hatchling period, inside the cold ice nests…
The frosty mother dragons who only cared for their young out of obligation, tending to them until they grew enough to sever all ties…
I disliked that kind of relationship.
“Ho ho… That won’t do… Then we wouldn’t be able to grow closer, would we?”
At first, I just thought I’d acquired a unique underling to show off to Nis.
But after Riko learned the language in a fortnight and demonstrated her ability to command insects, my opinion changed.
You’re my sole subordinate and second-in-command of Shia Kalt.
In this Dami Palace, the only one among the eight great Dungeons that was missing a manager—an intermediate overseer—you will take that position.
Suddenly, Riko emitted a tremendous amount of iridescent flower dust and collapsed.
“Riko!”
She seemed unconscious, showing no reaction at all.
Surely she hasn’t withered away like she did three years ago…?
Right, feeding her honey should give us an idea of her current state.
“Muh-he-he…”
A faint, pinkish happiness crept into my mind.
Did she faint from sheer joy?
Happy about our closeness, or about becoming the manager?
“Hmm? But does Riko even know about managers?”
Come to think of it, she mentioned terms like characteristics, status windows, stars, and levels, suggesting she might already understand concepts that were unknown to me.
Of course, it makes sense—Riko is a genius.
“Indeed, you’re special.”
“But first, I must find alternative blood.”
As I looked at Riko’s limp form, my thoughts drifted.
Blaise Gargan’s blood had failed. Without question, I needed a new approach—to cultivate her both as Nis’ impressive underling and as my manager.
“Hmm…”
“Also, Riko mentioned wanting to use Polymorph…”
While I told her it would become possible naturally after a millennium, that timeline wasn’t guaranteed.
Should I capture a monster that knows Polymorph, helping her learn it? If useless, I could always feed it to her. No, even if it were helpful, extracting its knowledge should suffice.
Riko’s desires can be fulfilled as well as her growth nurtured—what a perfect plan indeed.
“Mu.”
A gentle smile formed on my face naturally.
……
“Graaarrr…”
As my senses returned, the sky appeared dazzlingly colorful, almost like I was encased in a rainbow.
What is this?
Could all this rainbow dust be mine…?
“Oh right! Gaaaaa, such closeness!!!”
Wait, what is that supposed to mean?!
Did he mean THAT?
I snuck a glance at Master.
“Hmm.”
“Hieek!”
I almost released another burst of flower dust! That lethal smile hit me again! If I actually had a heart, I would’ve suffered a heart attack.
《Master! I’ve regained consciousness!》
“Good. Riko, how do you even know about managers?”
“Huh?”
What’s that? A term I’ve never heard of, not even in the game…
《What’s a manager?》
“Huh? Weren’t you excited about becoming a manager?”
“Hmm?”
Was being close the same as being a manager…? Hmm… Sounds like a Dungeon oversight role. Could a manager rank below a ruler? Like a intermediary boss?
《So, a manager… manages the Dungeon?》
“A manager is the second-highest position in the Dungeon, right below the ruler. They are the highest among the ruler’s subordinates.”
There was a slight pause before Master continued:
“I only have you as my subordinate…”
“Oooof…”
My whole body froze. What was I thinking a moment ago?
Embarrassment spread across my flower petals.
A moment, something felt off.
“How can the relationship between a ruler and a manager result in a closer bond than family?!”
I had a family in my previous life—at least until we had a big fight. I understood the warmth of kinship.
“Could this… be a cultural difference in this world?”
But I won’t give up easily!
“Alright… someday… I’ll charm Master for sure!”
I gently trembled my petals, reaffirming my resolve.
《Then, what must I do to become a manager?》
“Don’t worry about that.” Master smiled warmly.“Riko doesn’t have much to do—everything will be taken care of by me.”
Kee! Is this not romance, then WHAT IS THIS?!
“Ah? Is it just a difference in terminology…?”
Wasn’t this naturally the relationship between a ruler and a manager? Just like the president and his secretary on TV dramas!
“Hihi…”
Lost in the excitement of becoming a manager, I suddenly felt a gentle warmth.
“Ah, right. That guy…”
I had forgotten about the small creature in my excitement with Master.
Goooomool-goooomool
Blaise Lava crawled toward me, like living flames.
“Uhhh… you’re not trying to set me on fire, are you?”
I was daydreaming about forbidden love between ruler and manager when all of a sudden, I had to baby坐 sit. Or, insect rearing, maybe?
“Isn’t his level still the same despite feeding on so much blood?”
I thought he’d grow rapidly by consuming blood, like me. Does he not have a blood-absorption ability? This amateur…
Goooomool-goooomool
Blaise Lava slowly climbed up my stem.
“Warm…”
It’s like a living hot pack! You’re surprisingly useful!
Hmm… is it the level difference making it so warm? Will this little one become explosive when he grows up?
Goooomool-goooomool
The larva climbed all the way up to the flower section, ignoring the flower honey and starting to munch on the petals instead.
“Uh…?”
I didn’t feel much as it ate.
It was like a mild scratching sensation?
『 ☆☆ Blaise Lava LV2 』
Oh! His level has increased!
So larva grows by eating leaves?
Suddenly, the larva began writhing in pain after eating the petal.
“Huh? Why?”
“Wriggle wriggle!”
“Riko! What’s wrong with this guy!?”
Master’s eyes widened even more than mine, clearly more panicked than I was.
“What do you mean…?”
『 「Deadly Poison LV3」 Skill has increased in level. 』
“Right! There’s poison in my body!”
Before I could explain to Master, I unleashed a shower of green recovery pollen onto the larva.
Goo-moo-goo-moo
“Hmph…”
He should be fine now, right?
“Looks like he’ll be fine. Thank goodness.”
《I have poison in my body! But I saved him with recovery pollen!》
“Ho ho… Riko, you truly are multi-talented. You’re indeed special.”
“Hmm!”
“Special… special…”
The word sent shivers across my entire body!
I was right; the relationship between a president and a secretary fits perfectly!
Just as I was about to show Master a heart-shaped root, the larva began munching on the petals again.
“No! Why are you eating again?”
“Wriggle wriggle!”
“Idiot!”
I recovered him and then started pondering.
Is it because he’s a bug? Is his intelligence lacking? That doesn’t make sense—he’s butterfly-based…
…
『 ☆☆ Blaise Lava LV10 』
After eating poison-laden petals, the little guy finally reached level 10 despite my efforts to recover him.
Each bite increased my deadly poison level, while his poison resistance balanced it out.
A tug-of-war with infinite lives!
If I hadn’t recovered him each time, what would’ve happened?
Thanks to my efforts, my deadly poison and pollen recovery levels improved greatly.
His poison resistance must’ve increased as well.
“Huh? Was this a calculated benefit from the butterfly background?”
The larva has suddenly looked smarter to me.
“You’re a genius…?”
Gooommool gooommool!
The genius larva began spinning a cocoon, pulling silk from its tail.
This is evolution! Evolution at only one day old!
“Hey, he’s already becoming a cocoon.”
《Right!》
Following Master’s comment, I observed with interest.
Quickly, the larva spun itself into a brilliant red cocoon using white silk.
『 ☆☆ Blaise Cocoon LV10 』
“Wow…”
It looked like a cocoon carved from a ruby.
Its translucent structure perfectly harmonized with my ruby-like petals.
The surface was covered in diamond-like crystalline structures, glowing brilliantly, with streams of heat resembling molten magma flowing inside.
The pulsating flames within the cocoon resembled a heartbeat, shining at regular intervals.
Each time it flashed, I could feel the surrounding temperature rise slightly.
So warm…!
The soft moonlight filtered through the stained glass of the shrine, bathing the two figures kneeling before the altar.
One, dressed in pure white with pink hair gleaming in the moonlight, was the saint. The other, clad in silver armor with flowing golden hair, was the warrior.
“Seraphina.” The warrior sighed deeply as she called out her old friend’s name.“To think we’d meet after five years for a request like this…”
The moonlight momentarily illuminated the silence.
The saint carefully took the warrior’s hand.
“Bea, I know this isn’t a good time. But…”
“I’ve heard about the situation at Geo Mon Ravine. The monsters are going wild. If I don’t go now…”
“But this is Mikael’s revelation,” Seraphina’s lavender eyes shone with urgency.“Every night, in my dreams, I see it: the snowy peaks of Shia Kalt, and the flower in bloom…”
“Again, you speak of these dreams,” Beatrice grasped the saint’s hand in return.“But now, people are dying.”
“I can’t go alone.” Seraphina’s voice was filled with desperation.“The journey to Shia Kalt is too dangerous… Bea, please…”
Beatrice looked into the face of her old friend.
Had she ever seen such earnestness in the always confident eyes of the saint? Not even when Seraphina unexpectedly became saint during their childhood training days in the knights’ corps.
“…What did you say the flower was?”
“It is a flower radiant with Mikael’s divine power,” Seraphina’s voice trembled.“Every night, it appears in my dreams… as if alive, praying in Mikael’s name. And it… is calling me.”
The warrior exhaled a deep sigh.
She knew.
The saint’s revelations had never been wrong.
But now…
“Geo Mon…” Beatrice attempted one final protest.
“There are other warriors who can go there,” Seraphina implored, her voice pleading.“But I… must meet this flower. My soul feels it. And that meeting will bring hope to all of us.”
Beatrice gripped her friend’s hand tightly.
The moonlight softly illuminated her silver armor.
“…Alright. Let’s go together.”
Relief spread across Seraphina’s face in a warm smile.
“Thank you, Bea…”
“But,” The warrior added firmly, “If there’s nothing there, we go to Geo Mon immediately.”
“Yes,” the saint nodded.“Surely… surely it will be there. The flower that will save us…”
The moonlight quietly illuminated their figures, as if Mikael himself was watching over their journey.
