Sponsored by: M.H. Anderson
Chapter 29 – I’m Dying
I'm Alraune, a plant monster girl.
Because winter is here, as it's the fate of all plants, I too might be defoliated. My body would wither away, fall to the ground, and return to the soil.
Ugh, I don't like it. That's too scary....
But although I'm a plant, I'm also a monster, so I must be stronger than normal plants and can survive the winter without defoliating, right? If only I were a coniferous tree like pine trees or cedar trees, I wouldn't need to worry about defoliation.
I'm angiosperm while they are gymnosperms. I don't know if that determines whether I'm a deciduous plant or a coniferous plant, but I don't think I'm related to them.
If anything, I am a woman from the nightshade family.
I am a relative of eggplants.
In any case, I have to avoid defoliation no matter what. The only way to achieve that is to make sure this body gets a lot of nutrients throughout this winter.
However, all wild animals and rogue monsters around here have either gone into hiding or moved into my stomach. There’s nothing I can do about that.
I wonder if Arlaune is a cold-resistant plant? I honestly don't know.
It's also possible that Alraune won't defoliate because they're monsters, but I can't say for sure that's not the case. I don't want to gamble my life on that possibility.
My heart wouldn’t be able to take it if I suddenly wither away. I would like to prolong this life as long as I can.
I wish I had a proof that I'm a cold-resistant plant. Or maybe I should find a way to become one myself....
That's right!
If I eat a cold-resistant flower, I will also become cold-resistant and avoid the danger of defoliation. I have the ability to acquire the characteristics of the plants I prey on, after all. The problem is that not even a single flower is blooming around me.
Withered flowers are no good. I need flowers that bloom beautifully in spite of this freezing weather, because it means that they have an excellent cold resistance.
If I could at least walk to look for the flowers, I would have still had hope. But unfortunately, that's not possible because I'm a plant.
Oh, good day, White Bird.
You know what, I'm really envious of you who can roam the forest freely unlike me who stuck here....
That's it!
When I held a music class for her the other day, I felt that she understood my words to some extent. Maybe there's still hope for me.
"Hey, White Bird.... I have, a request...."
Despite talking in such cold weather, there was no white breath coming out of my mouth. I was reminded once again that I had become a plant.
"Please, bring me, flowers....."
I just assumed she understood my words, but did she really?
In addition to that, I also did my best to express that I wanted flowers with a gesture. Then the white bird just flew away without making a sound.
Please, you are my only hope!
The flowers that bloom in this kind of weather means they are cold-resistant. Let’s hope she brings something like rosemary or Christmas Rose. That would be reassuring.
Ah, God, Goddess, White Bird, or I don’t care whoever it is.
Please grant my wish!
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To my surprise, the white bird really brought me a flower the next day. It was a luxurious-looking white flower, similar to a Christmas Rose.
If this flower is the same breed as Christmas Rose from my previous life, it would have a very strong cold resistance, and should be able to withstand temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius. I don’t need to be scared of winter anymore.
Then, without further ado, let's dig in!
*swallowed*
Hmm, I feel like I've started getting used to the cold now. Maybe my body has become resistant. I guess I have evolved once again.
Thank you, White Bird.
I will be able to survive the winter with this.
Speaking of which, there's no such thing as a Christmas celebration in this word.
The current season is winter. If it were Japan, I'm sure people would be already in a Christmas mode.
I, too, have a dream of spending Christmas together with my special one someday. However, my fiancée --- the hero, was stolen by my shitty junior --- the saint apprentice.
Those two newlyweds must be making out so much that they forget the cold and break out in a sweat right now. Living comfortably in the castle, they drink hot soup in a room warmed by a fireplace, and afterwards they lay their skin on each other and feel each other's warmth.
Even though those two are having such a good time in their lives, why am I here alone in the cold forest, half-naked, and lamenting the lack of nutrition?
What have I done to deserve this? It's absolutely ridiculous.
Once I got over the cold, various unpleasant thought started flooding my head.
I'm thirsty.
I want some water.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I said I wanted water, but I didn't mean the frozen one like this.
White, tiny crystals, came swaying down from the sky one after another. Snow had started to fall.
If it melts, it will turn into water, so I guess it's not so bad. Everything will be fine as long as the moisture return to the soil.
Snow is also delicious....
No, I mean, it's delicious, but that's not important now.
What is this amount of snow?
Is this place located in a region with a heavy snowfall?
My surroundings had become a silver-white world. It was snowing so hard that I started wondering if a once-in-a-decade winter season had come.
The bulb below is already buried in the snow and can't be seen anymore. I will be in danger at this rate.
I started shoveling the snow around me. However, there was a limit to how much snow I could scoop with my vines. Meanwhile, more and more snow coming down from the sky like a waterfall. The height of the snow kept increasing as time passed.
I might not be able to survive if it’s really a once-in-a-decade winter season.
I wonder if someone could move me to a safer place.
Even if I somehow don't freeze to death under the snow, I won't be able to get the sunlight and carbon dioxide I need for photosynthesis. Then no matter how resistant my body to the cold, I will wither away and die in the end.
If I weren't stuck to the ground, I could crawl out of the snow.
If I had legs, I could move to a place where I can take shelter from the snow.
I do not have the means of transportation that most creatures have. Therefore, I can only accept my fate without being able to do anything.
Why!?
Why am I a plant!?
Why can't I move!?
I hate it! I hate this body!
Because I can’t even move from here, I will die buried in the snow.
Oh well, maybe that’s a fitting end for a loner like me.
Ah, I miss a warmth of human skin.
I feel lonely both in body and soul.
The snow had already reached my chest. My vines could no longer move as if they had frozen. Then I closed my eyes in resignation.
My life as a plant.... is surprisingly short....
My female knights, even thought we have become so close, we may never see each other again.
Elder Raccoon, it seems that I won’t be able to keep the promise to protect you and the other raccoons.
White Bird, thank you for the flower and sorry because your effort was wasted.
I'm already at my limit.
My eyelids feel so heavy and my consciousness is getting fuzzy.
Goodnight, everyone....