Chapter 385 - Episode 4: Glory's Blooming
Glory is going to bloom.
Finally.
A bud had formed in early spring and had been gradually swelling. It was being said that it would bloom soon.
Flora, when Fiona is present, does patrols of the Flatlands together with Lyudmila. She apparently noticed it when she was preparing to go to the Flatlands with Lyudmila, who had finished setting the rat bait as usual.
"Look, the tip of the bud is facing the sun. It's been chasing the sun ever since the morning sun rose. So, it's today. It will bloom when the sun rises to the true south."
I don't really understand, but apparently that's how it is.
"When it blooms, will a baby come out of the flower?"
"It'll be bigger than a baby, I guess. But it won't come out of the flower for a while. About a year. Not until it's tall enough to return to the flower on its own."
When I asked about the necessary height, it's apparently about the height where its fingertips reach the center of the flower if it stands up on both legs and reaches out. Since the main body when planted in the ground is about the height of my shin, it's quite small compared to a human child. Since Flora's height is almost the same as mine, it will probably grow taller over many years.
Glory is planted in a pot. There's height from the pot, and it would be a disaster if it tipped over when entering or exiting. For a while, both mother and child were to be transplanted into the hut where the pregnant Flora had taken root.
The hut is triangular with walls on two sides. The walls have a corner on the north side, with walls on the northeast and northwest, and the roof also rises diagonally toward the south, so the sun enters well. It has a door, so it can be closed on days with strong wind and rain, and if necessary, they can move inside the building.
I give it plenty of water and add soil taken from the forest. The Alraune who is the father is in Serena's forest, but he apparently doesn't usually attend. It's the same regardless of male or female, and the Fourth Shop is left to the triplets.
Of course, Flora will take care of her daughter, but Serena, Renata, and Little Serena also rushed over. Serena is busy with moving trees in the Flatlands, Renata with the regeneration of the Northeastern Forest, and Little Serena with her own forest-making, but they are apparently going to watch all day today.
"Eventually, it would be nice if several colonies could be formed in the Northeastern Forest too."
"It will surely be fine, Sister."
Serena followed up on Renata's words.
More than two years have passed since the regeneration plan for the Northeastern Forest began. Gradually, the green parts have been spreading, and the rustling of green leaves has returned around Renata's tree. It's still a grove of young trees with low height, but the ground is also becoming mossy.
"Come to think of it, what's happening with Little Serena's forest now?"
Actually, I don't know much about the details. It should be at the foot of the mountain range that serves as the boundary for the Orcs' habitat north of Nakanohara. I know up to the point where she moved trees when we made the road together with Little Serena and made a forest at the foot.
"You know, there are human fortresses, right? Two on the east of the highway and one on the mountain."
Little Serena explains. The fortress on the mountain would be the cliff where the Lindwurm's nest was.
"I'm removing the trees at the foot of the two southern fortresses and replanting them around my forest."
A Dryad's forest apparently needs to have a forest that serves as a boundary with the outside world firmly made around the central forest. The foot of the western mountain was one thing, but the eastern side was a patchwork of forest and wasteland. That patchwork wasteland must be turned into forest.
"How much is done?"
"Still just a little. But I can properly hide the area around my tree with mist now."
"Isn't that amazing. You've become able to protect yourself properly."
Since Renata says it's amazing, it must be amazing. She is happy to have her head stroked.
"Are there Orcs?"
Little Serena's forest is, so to speak, a boundary between humans and monsters, and it's a premise that neither will enter. The human side is already designated as a no-entry area, and the Eastern Plains Jaegers and hunters like Angus-san are keeping watch. Basically, monsters do not enter a Dryad's forest. If they do enter, it means a strong demon is involved.
"Hmm. They don't come. Violet, you see, drove away the monsters that were trying to come from the western mountain. Ogres are persistent and I hate them, but she seems to be defeating them."
Ogres are hated by everyone. They are cruel and like to torture the weak to death, and on top of that, human meat is their favorite food. They use Fire Ball and their physical abilities are not inferior to Orcs. Despite that, they do not become leaders. There's the fact that Orcs are more numerous, but normally, Ogres who use magic should be stronger.
Isn't it monsters to fight and follow the strong?
"I wonder what Ogres are? They're strange compared to other monsters, aren't they?"
I heard from Keira that monsters like Orcs were originally created as a result of evil spirits from ancient times possessing living creatures.
"Violet says it's better to wipe out all the Ogres. Since they can use magic, they make allies of Orcs too, but they don't seem to get along very well."
I believe the Dullahan also hated them.
"Aren't there guys like that among humans too?"
Renata said it. There certainly are. The type that isn't liked much by everyone but is somewhat useful, so you have no choice but to make them allies. They are never chosen as leaders.
"In short, it's probably how you use them. Even among those where things are clear like monsters, there are parts they leave ambiguous."
In the case of humans, it's probably even more ambiguous.
"But Sister. As Violet says, is it possible to eradicate only the Ogres?"
"Hmm, I wonder. I wonder if Violet or the Dullahan would know. Maybe Keira too."
Hmm. Defeating them because they're unpleasant might be short-sighted, but they are originally things that shouldn't exist in this world. If they are exceeding limits, it might be okay to consider punishing them.
"If it's possible, is it better to defeat them?"
"You should check with Dune and Mel."
I was cautioned by Serena. According to the Dryad, humans desire rapid change too much. If it's something truly unnecessary, it will be weeded out and disappear over hundreds or thousands of years. This is likely a difference in lifespan.
"Right. Next time we have a banquet, I'll call the Salamander too and ask."
"Speaking of the Salamander, the fire spirit?"
"Oh, Jeanne. Have you made an ally of the fire spirit this time?"
Serena and Renata were surprised.
"Ah, right, I hadn't told you yet. Sorry, sorry. I'll introduce him next time."
While we were talking about dangerous things, Henry-sama's group arrived.
"I heard Glory is going to bloom. I came to see how things are, partly as a celebration."
Since they had been saying they wanted to be present from before, I had told the vigilantes. Looking at the bell tower, about two people are waving. No sooner had I thought that than the vigilantes came swarming in. Captain Lewis-san and the adjutant are also there.
"It seems it's finally blooming. Everyone wants to see. We won't be a hindrance, so let us be present."
Saying it's an auspicious day, Paul-san brought the Goblins led by the Elder. Robinson-san and Violet are also there.
"It seems it will bloom at noon, when the sun comes to the true south."
"I've heard from the Alraunes north of Nakanohara Lake. It's about two hours away. I've bought celebratory sake, so let's wait while having a drinking party."
They've started a drinking party on their own.
In this regard, they are indeed men. Also, aren't they mistaking it for a birth?
Since the vigilantes also started a banquet, it couldn't be helped. I called Dune, Mel, and the Salamander, and it became a full-scale banquet.
"Oh my, you've received a fire stone too."
Mel chuckled.
After showing the Salamander to everyone, I'm having him drink together with the vigilantes and Goblins as planned. He has to keep his distance from Dune.
"Well, it's fine. We'll be careful not to let our bodies get close."
Dune also laughed for me.
"What happens if you get close?"
Beatrix asks.
"I guess a huge explosion will occur, and this whole area will be gone."
Eh?
Beatrix, who heard it, also froze.
"Since we resist each other so that doesn't happen, we take quite a bit of damage."
"I-Is it better not to call you together?"
"It's fine. As long as our bodies don't touch, nothing will happen."
Let's be very careful about that.
I call Violet and Keira and talk about the Ogres.
"It's better to slaughter them all. They're a disgrace to monsters."
Violet is a hardliner.
"Yeah. Ogres sometimes aim for low-level demons possessing animals. So I hate them too."
Keira also joined the side of agreement.
When I asked Dune, Mel, and the Salamander, the reply came back that they are not things that should exist in this world, so there is no objection.
The one who advocated opposition... or rather, a cautious view, was Alex.
"Isn't it difficult to eradicate them in the first place? Besides, you'll inevitably have to fight the Orcs who are with them."
Even if you eradicate them, they'll just spring up again. It would be best to cut them off from the source, but I don't know how to do that.
When I consulted Eleanor-sama, she folded her arms and began to stare into the air. She seems to be thinking.
After thinking for a while, she said there are three problems. First, the method of eradication itself. Second, the method to prevent them from springing up after being exterminated. Third, the measures against Orcs. She says she doesn't know these.
"We need to give the Orcs a compensation."
"A compensation?"
"Yes. If the Ogres are gone, they will become unable to use fire magic or magic defense. It's to suppress the backlash against that."
Both offense and defense will be weakened. It might not be necessary for a territorial battle, but they will hate it if it becomes unusable. It's best to have the Orcs actively distance themselves from the Ogres.
"The first is easy. I'll strengthen the patrols. Though it would be faster if the Goblins or Jeanne and the others helped."
She pulls my sleeve.
Well, I am a monster exterminator. Besides, if it's those who disturb coexistence and mutual prosperity, I might as well do it.
"The second can also be managed somehow. We just have to track down the source and annihilate the evil spirits that are gathering. Jeanne can do that, right?"
This time, Keira pulls my sleeve.
Come to think of it, humanoid monsters like that are apparently the result of evil spirits that have been unable to ascend since ancient times gathering in a place, and there the evil spirits possess some living creature and even its physical body changes. Previously, Alex formulated a hypothesis that there is a queen-like being laying eggs, but in this case, the queen is the place of occurrence. If we defeat and purify the evil spirits there, it might prevent recurrence. It might be possible to some extent with high-level Light. Depending on the case, it might be the turn for Harrison-san or the Headmistress.
"The problem is the third. Next time, we could catch an Orc and try asking."
In Violet's case, wouldn't 'asking' turn into an interrogation or something?
"For now, it's enough if the Ogres around the area Violet is managing are gone, right? Let's try asking the Dullahan too."
Renata, who dispatched a clone, said, and we decided to first gather information on methods where the Orcs wouldn't get upset.
When the dangerous talk unsuitable for an auspicious day ended, it was a good time.
Since the sun was at a sufficient height, everyone gathered around Glory.
Next to Glory is Flora.
In front are the Goblins, then the spirits. However, the Salamander is in a distant position, riding on the shoulder of one of the vigilantes. I and Lyudmila, who gave blood during the pregnancy period, are also with the spirits. The others loitered behind them.
"When it blooms, can we see its face?"
"It's still impossible. The first time it shows its face is when only Alraunes or Dryads are present. If there are this many people like now, it'll be wary and won't come out. We have to get it used to it little by little."
When Lyudmila asked, Flora replied.
First, the bud blooms. After a while, it shows its face. It becomes able to speak simple words and learns human words at the same time. It seems it will be a long time before we can actually see Glory's face. After all, the lifespan is different. The pace must be slow.
"It's almost time for the sun to come to the true south."
At Eleanor-sama's words, everyone gulps. I instinctively make fists with both hands.
"Sorry, but from here on, could you refrain from making loud noises? I'd like you to watch over it quietly if possible."
"Understood. We shall cast Mute on the humans."
At Renata's words, Eleanor-sama reacted instantly.
While the agonizing time passed, the red part of the bud slowly extended.
It has finally begun. Despite Mute being cast, several of the vigilantes cover their mouths with their hands.
The tips of the five extended red petals blossomed and the inside became visible. When the pistil inside rose as if being pushed out, the petals spread as if unfolding a folded cloth, and when they slowly and slightly softly warped outward from the cylindrical shape they had formed, they began to sway quietly. Just like that, the entire petals opened wide. The fluttering, wavy red petals spread out, and it bloomed softly.
"Good. It bloomed safely."
At Flora's words, the vigilantes made voiceless cries while making grand victory poses. They seem to have forgotten that Mute is cast.
"You did your best, Glory."
"You're magnificent, Glory."
When Renata and Serena praised her, Glory's small red flower swayed gently.
"I'm glad it bloomed safely, Flora."
"Congratulations, Flora."
After everyone took several deep breaths, Mute was deactivated. Immediately, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama said their congratulations, and everyone said congratulations one after another in low voices, as if sharing a secret.
"Thank you very much. This child might be the first even among Alraunes to have this many people, and of various species, say congratulations on her blooming."
Wiping the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, Flora said.