“If I absorb some more mana, I should be able to polymorph right away.”
If it’s someone I know, I’ll let them live; if it’s someone I don’t know acting cocky like those knights, they should die.
No!
It’s already happened!
They’ve interrupted my important time!
Just then, a new group of humans appeared on my detection radar, my domain awareness radar.
『 ☆☆☆ 【Havell】 Human LV108 』 『 ☆☆ 【Hawyn】 Human LV95 』 『 ☆☆ 【Brian】 Human LV58 』 『 ☆☆☆☆ 【Edgar】 Human LV121 』 『 ☆☆☆ 【Adrian】 Human LV92 』 『 ☆☆☆☆ 【Rain】 Human LV102 』
“What is this combination?”
Familiar faces from the mountaintop where I spent time with Brian and Havell.
Three people I’ve never seen before.
And one of the knights who escaped?
In fact, Edgar, one of the knights who escaped, was clinging to Brian, his whole body battered and bruised.
“Hmm? I thought he escaped in decent condition?”
How did this happen?
Could he have brought the knight back to me?
Did I miss a knight and tell them to kill?
“Haha! These fools! I deliberately let you go to spread rumors!”
It seems they’ve done me a favor by beating up the escaped knight and bringing him back to me.
Perhaps I’m somewhat impressed by these guys?
But what about the other one who escaped?
I sent alluring pollen to the commendable humans, inviting them to come.
Then the humans began quickly running towards me.
However, when the humans entered the cave and saw Master, they froze as if turned to stone.
Just like time had stopped, their movements paused all at once.
Their mouths half-opened, their eyes widened, and it was as if six humans had turned to statues.
” Hmm? I told you never to show yourselves to me again.”
Master turned his gaze towards Brian and Havell, speaking in a cold voice.
“Ah, that’s right! They were warned.”
I remembered that Master had threatened them when they met on the mountaintop before.
Trouble!
They’re my favorite humans!
《Just a moment! These humans are commendable!》
I quickly inscribed words on the ground with my roots.
The sound of black roots scraping against the floor echoed through the cave.
Using the roots near Master, I swiftly carved large letters into the ground.
The sound drew the humans’ gaze downward.
A look of relief passed through the humans’ eyes.
Some life returned to their faces as if they’d been saved.
Brian nodded, giving me a grateful look, while Havell slightly lifted the corners of her mouth.
“Hmm? Did you teach them language the last time?”
《No no! Look here! I thought I missed a knight, so I brought him back!》
I hurriedly moved my roots to carve more words.
This time I pressed the tips of the roots deeper to leave large letters.
And at the end, I quickly added a cute flower picture.
But the humans’ expressions hardened again.
Despair clouded their eyes upon seeing my writing.
Especially Brian’s gaze wavered.
Hmm?
It’s not…?
“Ho? Is that so?”
Master glanced at the humans with an interested tone.
However, the humans stayed frozen in fear, unable to utter a word as their whole bodies trembled.
In the oppressive silence that consumed the space, Brian took a trembling step forward.
His face was pale, but determination shone in his eyes.
“I’m sorry… But we didn’t bring the knight.”
Brian’s voice quivered.
“This knight… is my younger brother, Edgar. And…”
He paused briefly, lowering his head before looking up at Master again.
“I’ve come to ask Lady Lycoris for healing.”
“Eh!?”
I was taken aback by the unexpected story.
The escaped knight is Brian’s younger brother?
And he’s come here for treatment?
Hm…
“Healing?”
Master’s cold voice echoed through the cave.
“You have the audacity to demand so shamelessly?”
Master’s irritated voice made the air freeze.
Brian’s shoulders shrank.
“It’s not a demand… It’s a plea. My younger brother fought something and became like this. If not…”
Brian’s voice trailed off.
At that moment, Glesia, who had been lying in the corner, suddenly twitched.
The large compound eyes of the wasp-like creature briefly gleamed before dimming again as if uninterested.
“Hmm? Glesia?”
Slowly lowering his head, Brian continued.
“You may take my life. But please, only not my brother’s…”
“Ugh… I’m at a loss for words.”
The knight who escaped was Brian’s younger brother?
And he’s offering his life for his younger brother?
A pang of sorrow filled my chest.
“Hmph. The amount of mana I’d gain from your pitiful life is negligible and insignificant.”
Master’s piercing gaze cut through Brian.
《Master! Not Brian and Havell!》
I urgently carved words on the ground with my roots.
《The last time I taught them language, we shared many stories! They’re kind humans!》
I added a small heart at the end.
Master sighed after seeing my writing.
“I know, but… fine… do as you wish.”
Master said gently with a warm smile, then turned his gaze to the humans.
“But I will not tolerate rudeness.”
Though their shoulders relaxed slightly with relief, the tension still lingered.
I began slowly looking over the humans.
The three unfamiliar humans each gave off unique auras.
The strongest-looking man, Rain, stood tense, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly in his hand.
His eyes kept moving between me and Master, as if trying to assess the situation.
The lean-bodied man, Hawyn, stared wide-eyed at me.
His gaze held both caution and more prominently, curiosity.
Next to him, Adrian’s eyes sparkled with inquisitiveness.
He looked like a scholar observing a rare plant specimen.
And he kept reaching into his pouch bag.
The faintly leaking mana from the bag was fascinating.
“Hmm? What’s in there?”
Curiosity got the better of me, and I stealthily extended a root to snatch the pouch.
“Eh?!”
Adrian exclaimed in surprise.
The other humans looked shocked as well.
Not really caring, I opened the pouch and spread its contents before me.
Inside were various colored potions, strange liquid containers, and… bottles of alcohol!
“Eh? Alcohol?!”
This brought back memories of the alcohol I used to enjoy before reincarnating to this world.
Images of drinking with friends during my college days flashed through my mind.
《Let me have a little taste~》
I quickly wrote with my roots and pulled out a bottle, breaking it with another root.
I started sucking up the clear liquid spilling on the ground through my roots.
“No!”
Adrian exclaimed in panic.
“That’s brewing alcohol! Extremely potent 95-proof liquor!”
“…Huh?”
I’d already absorbed the alcohol through my roots.
Hmm, 95 proof…
I’ve already drunk it all…
“Ahhh… This feels great! So it is 95-proof, huh!?”
Filled with happiness, my domain awareness radar began acting strangely.
My vision started wavering as if the space was distorting.
Human figures became blurry, and their shadows seemed to be dancing against the walls.
“Eh… I can hold my liquor…”
『「Poison Tolerance LV1」 skill acquired.』
『「Poison Tolerance」– Gains resistance against poison attributes.』
“Eh…?”
The status window seemed to be saying something.
The words rippled and danced as if some of them overlapped.
“Shh… Ugh…”
My roots scratched the floor irregularly.
The letters I tried to carve became crooked and messy.
What was I trying to write?
I couldn’t remember.
My vision continued to sway.
The ceiling spun around, and the floor rippled like water.
My head felt cloudy, and my petals unfurled vibrantly.
The petals felt like they were dancing on their own.
“Ah… Master looks especially handsome today…”
Some strange courage surged within.
Though everything else was blurry, Master shone brilliantly.
His silver hair appeared doubled… no, tripled, but all were equally beautiful!
Yes, confession time!
The confession I missed earlier!
“Ho ho ho…”
Slowly… no, wobbling, I extended my roots towards Master’s ankles… no, knees… well, somewhere around there, beginning to wrap around.
Master looked down at me with a surprised expression, but his face looked stretched out.
“Riko? What are you doing?”
Master’s voice sounded muffled as if heard underwater.
More roots began climbing… Master’s legs… body… somewhere… embracing like a hug.
Though they kept slipping.
「Poison Tolerance LV2」 skill leveled up.
The status window appeared again, but the letters looked even blurrier.
“Mm… Master is so handsome… I love you…”
With the courage from the liquor, I boldly spoke what I didn’t dare to say earlier.
Hee hee…
Roots scratched the floor awkwardly.
The letters turned distorted and overlapped.
Was this even what I wrote?
Master’s face looked blurry, but the usually cold and composed expression was gone.
Redness seemed to spread across his cheeks.
His silver hair moved like dancing.
His hands shook slightly… were there two? Three? Multiple?
The Master who always appeared so certain… why does he look like multiple people?
“Hehe… still feels great…!”
“Riko, you’re drunk?”
But I was already happily clinging to Master with my roots.
The warmth and coziness mixed with the alcohol enveloped my whole body.
“Master… I love you…”
“Ahhehe… I confessed boldly… Hee hee…”
Shaky roots scratched the floor.
Other roots were still tightly embracing Master.
Some roots seemed to be moving on their own.
The humans… eh? How many were there? Three? Eight? Their forms kept overlapping.
Some voices were muffled in the distance.
“That’s really… the rumored flower?”
“They seemed closer than usual the last time we saw her…”
“That… Edgar…”
The wasps showed various reactions, though they all appeared blurry and overlapping.
Where’s Miel?
Ah, there are several blue lights moving. Are they all Miel?
The flickering sounds came from various directions.
Glesia…
There’s a large mass in the corner.
Unclear if it’s one or multiple.
The gleaming lights from the compound eyes appear as multiple points.
Cecilia…
Red flames circle around the flowers.
That must be Cecilia.
The spreading redness looks like little fireworks.
The flower petals feel slightly warm.
The cave is filled with a mixture of sweet floral fragrance and alcohol, creating a strange aroma.
「Poison Tolerance LV3」 skill leveled up.
The status window appeared again, but this time I barely saw it.
Just a fuzzy light flickered.
“Ah, that’s right. Where did Nis go?”
Can’t remember if Nis was even here.
Everything around feels blurry and whirls around.
I felt embarrassed being watched by everyone, but the alcohol numbed my care.
“Hmm~”
Master seems to be doing something.
Carefully untangling my roots?
But Master’s pupils appear blurry.
A gentle warmth is felt.
“Riko, now is not the time… there are humans…”
“Eh? The humans… around here?”
