A knock on my door came before dawn.
Not reacting at the knock since I was still dreaming, mother entered and shook me awake. Her voice has a sense of urgency. I rubbed my drowsy eyes and thought, 「So this is what it feels like to be woken up by your mother.」 just like my friends used to say back in middle school. It made me oddly happy.
However…
「Hurry up. That plant is about to bloom.」
With those words, all sentiment vanished, and my eyes snapped wide open.
I jumped out of bed and mumbled stunned.
「…Eh? Already?」
※※※
Without even changing, I rushed out into the garden.
In that brief moment, I pondered many things.
First, the regret that crossed my mind was whether I should have consulted with Ji Liz.
Looking back, I had wondered about it when we traveled to the dragon village. Passing through that place, Pochi had seemed uneasy. But amidst the four-day journey and everything that happened upon our arrival, I’d completely forgotten about it—no, perhaps that’s just an excuse.
Because if I had truly felt the need to consult with Ji Liz, I should have contacted them promptly yesterday and asked him to come.
After deciding to 「observe the situation」, I went back home, organized the souvenirs, took a bath, had dinner, and then went to bed in a relaxed manner.
Why hadn’t I consulted him last night?
And now, as the moment of flowering approached, why did I suddenly feel the need to consult him?
The answer was clear. I wanted to see for myself.
And now, when the time had come, I was afraid to see the outcome.
-0-
That massive plant had surprised me a lot and it made me cautious too.
When I’d heard the legends about Alraunes, I thought it shouldn’t be malevolent.
Conversely, if it turned out to be dangerous, I had resolved to deal with it myself. That determination remained unchanged, even if it took on a human form.
Still, I wanted to see it. To witness it with my own eyes and understand.
Why has it grown so big? Why did it grow in our yard?
Yet, there was fear. Fear of disappointment if my anticipation and excitement were betrayed.
And above all—such anticipation and excitement were, in themselves, a selfish and cruel blasphemy against the life about to be born.
Life knows no guilt or morality. It merely exists, grows naturally, kills, is killed, lives, and dies. I learned this from the Lamia who solemnly sent off the mutant—once perceived as enemies threatening their very lives—at the dragon village that day.
-0-
Leaving through the gate, I arrived at the dismantling site.
It wasn’t just mother waiting there. Karen, Chocola, and even Pochi had awakened, gathering to witness the plant’s blooming. Pochi, in particular, looked a bit nervous, peering at us from inside the gate, eyes fixed on the garden.
「Chocola, I’ll be fine. Stay by Pochi’s side.」
「Bark」
Was it truly out of concern for Pochi that I sent Chocola to him?
Or did I merely wish to conceal my clumsy, selfish inner thoughts?
「Oh, mou….」
My mind is a mess.
Nevertheless, I maintained an outward appearance of someone resolute and determined.
Karen stood quietly beside me, her hand gently holding mine—a reassuring presence.
I stood before the plant.
Yesterday, its leaves had been tightly closed, but now they were gradually unfolding.
The outermost ones had already spread radiantly, followed by the next layer, and then another. Slowly but surely, they moved and grew, perceptible in their determined pace.
Surely, mother had kept vigil over it all night. That’s the reason why she managed to inform us promptly. She had supported my inexperienced and clumsy decision—watching over it all along.
Thank you.
The presence of mother behind me warms my heart.
And even during that time, the blossoming continues.
Leaf by leaf, they unfold, and finally—the part resembling a stem becomes visible. I held my breath. Perhaps Karen and my mother did too.
A child.
At least that’s how it appears from the outside.
Five or six years old, perhaps.
With both arms crossed as if hugging herself, she keeps her eyes closed.
Her lower half is buried in the leaf-covered base, seemingly without legs.
Her hair is green—reminiscent of leaves.
Her eyes are golden—like ears of rice.
And on the side of her head, a single purple bud.
TN: Of course it’s a loli. No idea how he managed to see the closed eyes though.
Something…
Something within me clicked into place.
Her crossed arms begin to loosen.
Her body is covered with ivy like material that looks like a dress. The combination of her key features—her face, the vine dress, and the length of her hair—makes her look like a little girl.
As she opens her eyes.
The flower attached to her temple blooms.
It’s a shade of purple—violet.
「…Ah, ah…」
A voice escapes from her throat.
Just like that of a young girl—high-pitched and endearing.
「Ah… ooh!」
She smiles.
She giggles.
I approach it step by step.
If I consider only the possibilities, this smile could be a trap. The original form of the Alraune, the mandrake, lures prey with its upper body resembling a human, weakening their guard, and then devours them. There’s no definitive reason to claim that this smile is any different.
Yet, despite not having any evidence to back it up, I am certain.
Because of…..the magic power I sense from this child…
「…Could it be? No way…..」
Mother’s trembling voice murmurs in astonishment from behind.
「Sui-kun, Karen, mine… Chocola and Pochi’s too. And oh, what a revelation.」
Interwoven.
「It is as mother said yesterday.」
The Alraune grows by absorbing the magical energy of the land, using the bodies of deceased creatures as its nursery.
These deceased creatures refer to the forest animals we’ve hunted and consumed until now.
And the magic power of the land is none other than this deep part of the Void Forest, simultaneously…
「The magic power of this house… It belongs to our family, to everyone.」
Hatano Sui
Viole Mucare Hatano
Karen Totoria Quioy
Chocola.
Pochi.
And the remains buried in the garden, Hatano Kazuteru…
「Ji Liz’s blood truly purifies. To ensure our magic power doesn’t turn malevolent, this girl was born like this because of that.」
I reach out toward the child.
Slowly, as if confirming, I place my hand on her cheek.
「Ooh… ahaha.」
The child gazes at me with round eyes, then giggles. She rubs her cheek against my hand, her expression filled with joy and delight.
So I turn back and gently ask the watching group,
「What name shall we give this child?」
—Night gives way to dawn.
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