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Chapter 33

(This feels like a privacy invasion… Oh, but there’s no footage of the inside of people’s houses. I guess it’s basically like street surveillance cameras, so… maybe it’s fine…?)

The memory visuals from the seedlings aren’t like a real surveillance camera that records everything constantly. They seem to forget the uneventful, unchanging scenery. It’s especially clear when they’re watching the village entrances, they only remember the moments someone enters or exits. In that sense, it’s more like a motion-activated security camera.

(Seems like they do remember interactions with villagers though. Like who talked to them or who seems to like them.)

According to their memories, each seedling seems to have a particular villager they’re fond of, someone who pets them or gives them treats. They’ll approach those people on their own. It’s kind of like a cat remembering who feeds it. But this too is likely a tactic to demonstrate their harmlessness. …In other words, they’re targeting people who seem easy to win over. Ritter is a prime example.

It also seems the other seedlings have been influenced by the purple one and are now trying to develop their own personalities.

(Well, I guess this side of things isn’t much of a problem… it helps with the whole 「we’re harmless「 image.)

This doesn’t need suppressing. If left alone, the seedlings will likely start showing more individual quirks.

The water in the bath barrel was getting low, so I got out and put on my clothes. I used vines to tip over the tub and drain the remaining water and wilted petals. That’s when I noticed the white petals drifting down the river.

(Hm? …Are there more purifying flower petals than usual?)

The purifying flowers grow along the river that stretches up to the edge of the magical wasteland. Their flowers bloom and scatter after breaking down toxins or rot, so thanks to the wasteland’s influence, the river is always carrying a few white petals.

But… the amount seems to have increased. It might just be coincidence, though.

(Did a powerful toxic creature get born? That’s scary…)

This only reaffirms that living peacefully in a human village is the best option. And that means I really have to get Ritter to stop his weird behavior. If he keeps getting drained and dies on me, that’d be a problem.

(When I talk to Leonhart, it’s best if no one else is around. My voice spreads too easily…)

The first skill I acquired when I was born was 【Echoing Voice】. It activates automatically and makes my voice carry far. Thanks to that, I survived in the mountains, but it’s a real hassle when living among humans. There’s no way I can let them hear me… except for Leonhart.

(I wonder if I can make some kind of soundproof room. Then I could invite Leonhart in…)

I could use sound-absorbing plants and build a wall out of the same stuff that mutes my voice. That would create a small, private space for confidential talks. It might look like a plant-made basket or a topiary, so visually it wouldn’t seem too out of place. …Though for me, it would kind of feel like letting a human inside my own body.

I could probably do it if I really tried. But then I realized, if it’s just the two of us alone in an enclosed space, how would that look? Technically I’m not female, I’m a dual-gender body, but to a human, it’d still look like a man and a woman.

(That would be a huge hassle for Leonhart! Better not!)

So I’ll stick to clearing the area of people and whispering instead. If I keep my voice low, it shouldn’t spread too far. It should only reach as far as I can see, at most. As long as I make absolutely sure no one’s around when I speak, it’ll be fine.

As I was thinking that and heading back to the front of the house, I found Noel and Ilai waiting.

「Oh, Witch-sama. Perfect timing, this merchant said he has some business with you.」

「Hello there, Witch. I hope you’re doing well. You look as stunning as ever.」

Ilai greeted me with the same sycophantic smile and rubbing hands as usual. I gave him a polite smile in return. Come to think of it, I still don’t have a clear idea of what I actually look like. I’ve only ever seen myself in water reflections.

「I’m here to collect the fairy candy jam you had made. And of course, I’ve brought payment for the labor.」

「I’ll go get the jam.」

As Ilai held up a pouch full of clinking coins, Noel gave him a somewhat rude look before heading into the house to fetch it. Watching the boy’s small back retreat, Ilai scratched his head.

「Well, he sure doesn’t like me. …I guess he really does care about you, huh, Witch?」

Noel apparently still hasn’t forgiven Ilai for once trying to kill the seedlings and for suspecting whether I was a real witch. He only helped now because I agreed to the business deal.

Honestly, since his suspicions were justified, I don’t blame him. But from Noel’s point of view, it must’ve been unforgivable.

The only others who’ve doubted me this much are Ilai and Nikolaus.

(Maybe Ilai has a skill that lets him see status? Like Nikolaus? And since my mana completely overshadows his, it made things hard to read and triggered his suspicions.)

I don’t know what others see when they look at my status. But for someone who uses status as a measure of judgment, not being able to read mine must’ve seemed eerie. That would explain his initial caution.

「By the way, Witch, I wanted to offer you a gift today. A little apology, and a thank-you.」

With that, he pulled a large, cloth-covered object from the back of his wagon. Just then, Noel returned carrying several baskets full of jam jars.

「Oh! Beastkin kids really are strong. Mind helping me load those onto the cart?」

「…Fine. What’s that board?」

「Heh. I’d like you to see for yourself, young Noel. But go ahead and put the baskets over there first.」

After Noel placed the jam on the wagon and returned, Ilai removed the cloth. Underneath was a gleaming silver mirror, framed in ornately carved wood, clearly an expensive item.

(Oh wow, so this is what I look like… Gotta say, I really did craft myself into a stunning beauty.)

It was the first time I truly recognized my own appearance. A seductive, enchanting woman smiled back at me from the mirror. But I’m just a mandragora inside. Somehow I felt kind of sorry, sorry that such a beautiful face was wasted on a mandragora like me.

「Whoa… This thing must be super valuable… The carving is gorgeous. But it really suits you, Witch-sama!」

The frame was designed with floral motifs and had a glamorous, plant-themed style that fit perfectly with my flower-filled house. Noel wagged his tail in joy as he peered into the mirror.

「I’m glad you like it. Young Noel, here’s your payment for the jam. Please accept it.」

「…Isn’t this a bit much for a down payment?」

「No, no. I’m confident this will turn a healthy profit.」

I don’t understand the value of money, but Noel didn’t seem to think it was an unreasonable amount. He accepted the pouch of coins, and with the mirror in hand, looked quite pleased, his tail didn’t stop wagging.

「If there’s anything else you need, I’d be happy to get it for you as a priority. What do you think?」

That offer gave me an idea. I can control any plant I’ve absorbed, but most of them come from the magical wasteland. If I had access to more rare or region-specific plants, I might find uses for them. What I really need right now are regular, edible plants.

(The stuff that doesn’t grow wild, I haven’t absorbed that at all…)

This village grows wheat as a staple crop, but other vegetables are limited to small backyard gardens. The variety isn’t great.

Plants developed for human consumption, nutritious and tasty thanks to centuries of selective breeding. I don’t need them myself, but Noel should eat well. If he’s living on nothing but wasteland flora, his nutrition might be unbalanced. That’s not good for a growing child.

So I pointed at the fields, then at Noel, then at my mouth. Ilai looked puzzled, but Noel seemed to understand and looked up at me with tears of joy in his eyes.

「…Witch-sama wants food plants.」

(Yep, that’s right.)

「I see. You’re right, this village has a lot of rare plants, but not much in the way of common vegetables. Got it, I’ll prioritize bringing in any plants you don’t already have around here.」

Ilai agreed readily, which was a relief. With that taken care of, and the business talk winding down, Noel carried the mirror inside. Then,

「Oh, that mirror, by the way. It’s enchanted with a special magic.」

(Wait, what?)

「It’s a truth-reflecting mirror. If someone’s using illusion magic to change their appearance, it’ll show their real form. So I suggest placing it where it can reflect the front entrance. That way, you can easily see whether someone approaching is actually human. It’ll give you some peace of mind.」

…Which means that if I’d been disguising myself with some kind of magic or skill, the moment I looked into that mirror, everything would’ve been exposed.

I let out a silent scream as I smiled.

Ilai just grinned back like nothing happened. …This guy definitely still didn’t trust me. He’s harder to read than a mandragora.