The humans I had grown slightly fond of during the half-moon fled in a hurry down the mountain.
“Humans… try not to meet Master and live long, healthy, happy lives…”
As I watched the pitiful retreat of humans, I found myself slipping into a broadcasting tone from my previous life without realizing it.
Hmm, why do humans seem so insignificant?
Is it because I’ve become a monster, specifically a plant-type monster?
“Alright, shall we spend some time alone now?”
“Hissss!”
Before I knew it, pollen of all colors sprayed out.
Master has missed me too!
I’m so happy!
One of the Iceflies with red cheeks quickly left somewhere with Verlez.
You! That’s the one who peeked at my fantasies back then!
Even as the red-cheeked butterfly flew away, it kept looking back.
It was as if it was saying “Enjoy your time!”
I felt a bit embarrassed for a moment, but there was no time to worry about such trifling emotions.
“Hehe, some alone time…”
Finally, I’m alone with Master.
“Finally… Finally, I can talk to Master!”
It felt like my stem was going to burst.
All this time, I haven’t been able to exchange a proper word.
It’s unbelievable that I can finally have a real conversation now.
《Master! So much has happened in these two weeks!》
“Hmm…” Master gently smiled.
“Tell me about it.”
《First! I cleaned the front yard!》
“The front yard?”
Master’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
I was even more excited and carved the letters.
《Yes! Dami Palace is Master’s house! So! The mountain range is the front yard!》
I added after a moment of thought.
《I took care of it all with Verlez!》
“Verlez…?”
《Ah! They are my subordinates! The insects!》
One of my roots pointed behind.
I couldn’t see how far the butterfly had taken Verlez, but I appreciated it.
“Ah… so you call those insects Verlez?”
《Yes! Since they eat honey! They have sworn loyalty!》《Ah! Now my will is infused in the honey!》
“Huh? Will?”
Swoosh
As soon as Master saw my words, one of Master’s long, thin fingers dove in.
“Ack! Just a moment…”
Fondling
“Ah… Hiiit…!”
After so long, this strange feeling again…
I reluctantly admit, it feels too good.
Gulp
During that time, Master drank my honey.
“Umm… Doing this will result in my will being delivered strangely…?”
“Hmm…? Was my touch that pleasant to you, Riko?”
“Heck.”
《Sleep..》
Before I could write the word, Master’s hand darted towards me.
No way!
Fondlingfondlingfondlingfondling
“Uwaah!”
…
“Hah… Heh…”
“Hohoho… Don’t you like it too much, Riko?”
《I… It’s not that…》
“I’ll pet you often~”
《Yeah!》
The life of being petted by Master like a dog or a cat was surprisingly pleasant…
A happy pet-animal, rather, pet-plant’s future awaits.
“Hehe. I’m happy.”
Hmm, wait just a moment…
Feels like I’m forgetting something important.
Ah! That’s right!
《Master!》
“Mhm?”
《I want to transform into human form too!》
“Polymorph? Hmm… Can you even do that?”
“No way! Can’t be that I can’t do it!”
《How could Master… do it?》
“Hmm… You really want to become human?”
“Yes! Just like Master!”
“Hohoho… Young dragons can naturally transform from birth.”“Other monsters who polymorph usually start around a thousand years? That’s about right?”
“Wha… 1,000 years!?”
“Riko will probably be able to do it after about a thousand years too?”
“Too… Too long!”
“Hmm? A thousand years, it’ll feel like a short nap.”
‘What?’
How old, rather, how many years old exactly is Master…
The great change I’ve been longing for is another 1,000 years away?
“Ah, right. I caught Blaise Gargan for you, Riko.”
“Blaise Gargan?”
I’ve never heard of that name before.
Ah, now I remember, Master mentioned this when leaving last time.
Leaving to find food for me.
And I mistakenly thought I was being released…
“Hieee, I’m sorry…”
BOOM!!!
At that moment, a massive block of ice fell from the sky.
Inside,
『 ☆☆☆☆☆☆ 【Solteo】 Blaise Gargan LV481 』
“Kyaa! Six stars!? Level 481!?”
The corpse of an enormous lion with a mane that flamed like the sun was trapped in the ice.
Even frozen, heat radiated off its body powerfully.
“Mi, mi…d!”
《Master… You defeated such a strong monster… Alone…?》
I glanced at Master.
『 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 【Prostia】 Ice Dragon LV□□□ 』
Master’s level was still unreadable.
Even with nearly level 500 monsters around…
Just how high is it?
“Hohoho, for my dear Riko.”
The silver edges of Master’s dress fluttered in the wind, and victory sparkled in Master’s smile.
‘Sure enough, Master is the strongest…’
Being selected by Master is undoubtedly greater luck than being born a prince or princess in this world.
“Come now, eat up. It’ll be delicious.”
Master smashed the ice imprisoning the lion and placed the corpse beside me.
The blood seeping out gradually moistened the snow.
Such a luscious bright red color—definitely top-quality blood!
It will surely be delicious with the synergy of Hemoglobin Amplification this time!
《Thank you…!》
With great joy, I dipped my black roots into the blood—Then
‘KEEEEEEEEEEYAAAAAAAAAA!!’
『「Tolerance to Pain LV5」 skill level has increased.』
『「Tolerance to Pain LV6」 skill level has increased.』
『「Tolerance to Pain LV7」 skill level has increased.』
The end of my roots began to catch fire.
Like a wick catching fire, flames climbed up my roots and scorched my entire body.
‘AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!’
『「Tolerance to Pain LV8」 skill level has increased.』
『「Tolerance to Pain LV9」 skill level has increased.』
“Riko!?”
『「Tolerance to Pain LV10」 skill level has increased.』
『「Tolerance to Pain LV10」「Pain Barrier LV1」 skill has evolved.』
『「Pain Barrier LV2」 skill level has increased.』
I could hear Master’s surprised voice, but the unbearable pain made it impossible to write any words.
All I could do was watch as black roots caught on fire, gradually burning away like charcoal.
『「Pain Barrier LV3」 skill level has increased.』
『「Pain Barrier LV4」 skill level has increased.』
“How do I…!”
A blue light flashed.
Master’s ice magic immediately swallowed the flames.
‘Phew… Haah…’
『HP: 1,564/1,564 + (627,913)』
My backup battery, which had been over 700,000, dropped to 600,000.
Without the backup, it would have caused me to die over 50 times.
Even though I’ve been hit before, Kevin’s flame magic didn’t hurt much…
Was it because the blood’s owner, particularly a strong fire-type monster, affected it this way?
And yet, no flame resistance skill came…
Only the tolerance to pain skill was cheerfully climbing, evolving…
Could it be that the Inferno Stigma is something I can never overcome…?
“Are you okay, Riko…?”
“Ah… I need to explain it to Master…”
I barely regained consciousness and, with trembling roots, began to inscribe my message.
《It’s because of the Inferno Stigma…》
“Inferno… Stigma…?”
“Yes… It’s my trait. It makes me weak to fire-based attributes…”
“A trait?”
Master’s eyes were full of confusion.
《Then… don’t you know about the Status Screen, stars, and levels…?》
“What does that mean?”
“Huh…?”
I was confused.
Status Screen, levels, traits…
Master, who seems to have lived for thousands of years, doesn’t know about these foundational elements of my world?
‘Truly… just me…?’
As I was lost in this strange sense of reality, the egg on the petal began to tremble.
“Eh? What?”
As if desperately saying “Give me that blood.”
“Master… This egg…”
I hesitated to speak.
The blood of the Blaze Gargan that Master caught especially for me…
But looking at the egg, the yearning for life beyond the blue shell was palpable.
“I’m sorry, Master…”
“Hooh…”
Master looked at the egg with interested eyes and elegantly picked it up.
“Ahh… That precious egg…”
My heart sank.
It was the precious egg Frost Lunaris left behind.
What if it catches fire too…
But the egg shivered even more violently, as if it had been waiting.
《Could we give the blood I couldn’t drink to this child…?》
The white tips slowly moved the egg towards the pool of Blaze Gargan’s blood that had gathered.
The sapphire-like blue hue that had been transparent began to change instantly.
As if dawn was breaking, red began to seep in, gradually taking on a burning flame-like color.
Tock—
A small noise, and the egg broke open.
“Wow.”
『 ☆☆ Blaze Lava LV1 』
A life form that descended onto the white snow resembled dancing living flames.
The cherry-sized crimson larva shone like condensed flames.
Every time the small body wriggled, tiny flames could be seen flickering inside.
“Cute… But… why just two stars…”
Your mom was five-star!
Even though it was born after consuming the blood of a six-star, high-level monster!
…Could your dad have been a one-star?
It was truly adorable, but my expectations were too high.
“Wow…”
A warm smile appeared on Master’s lips.
“Didn’t know you’d turn into a mother, Riko.”
“Wha… Why doIhave to be the mother!?”
But the other mother is still alive!And how can a flower and an insect become parent and child!And I’m only three years old!
“Hmm? Isn’t Riko going to raise it?”
“Eh? Is it supposed to be like that?”
Wait a moment, then perhaps?
《Then… Is Master also my mom…?》
“Hohoho… That wouldn’t work… then we couldn’t get closer, would we?”
“Whooa!”
I then released radiant rainbow-colored pollen and fainted.
