3 bar menu

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

It was late at night, with the entire village sound asleep. I quietly slipped out of my hammock and stepped outside.

(Noel’s sleeping soundly… Looks like the sleep-inducing fragrance worked.)

Today, I had mixed some sleep-pollen-producing flowers into the array of plants growing around the house. I’d suspected someone might be watching me, so I’d prepared this just in case. With this scent, Noel wouldn’t wake up or go looking for me. …It’s just a sleep aid for a child. I’m not doing anything shady or suspicious at all.

(Now then, gotta get far enough away that no one can hear my voice.)

Instead of heading toward the village, I made my way up the mountain. As I walked, I grew a trail of grass that herbivores tend to like, something like pasture grass. I left a small thread of awareness in it, like a passive sentry. If anyone stepped on the path, I’d know immediately.

It would serve as both a trail marker and an intrusion alarm, and on the way back, I could just dissolve the clone and leave the grass behind for wild animals to feed on. Two birds with one stone.

It was a full moon tonight, and the moonlight was beautiful. The village had gone completely dark, so everyone really was asleep.

(I definitely can’t grow mandragora where people are. …Okay, no one’s followed me. Should be safe.)

I followed the river upstream, where the purification blossoms were now blooming. Their white petals glowed faintly in the moonlight, beautiful in the dark. Around the river, other wild grasses were beginning to spread too, likely thanks to the purification blossoms. And sure enough, herbivores had started showing up to graze. A deer-like monster spotted me, and froze solid.

…That tends to happen. Herbivores and herbivore-type monsters usually either freeze in place or run for their lives when they see me.

(Perfect timing… Come forth, mandragora!)

I dropped a mandragora seed on the ground and forced it to grow rapidly. The land, nourished by the purification blossoms, made the growth cost minimal. Before the deer could flee, I yanked the plant out of the ground.

「Kyaaaaaaa!!」

(Sorry for the scare. …If the mandragora leveled up from that, maybe I can evolve it to run?)

From the corner of my vision, I saw the deer collapse. So it must’ve worked. When I gave the command, the mandragora’s thin root-limbs thickened, becoming usable legs and arms.

(Can you move? …Oh, and try to be harmless and cute, okay? It’s important to look non-threatening to humans!)

I tried making it walk. The little round body waddled about the area with a soft bobbing motion.

When I connected my consciousness to it via the clone skill, I could control its movements freely and even share its vision.

Controlling two bodies at once would take practice, but just monitoring its vision wasn’t hard, it was like watching two security camera feeds at the same time.

(This could be super handy for surveillance. Having a few of these running around would be useful.)

When I let go of its movement control, the mandragora plopped down and started resting. It seemed to have a bit of will of its own, simple thoughts, at least. Right now, it was doing what it thought was 「cute.」 …A bit calculated, but that might help disarm human suspicion.

(Okay, so monsters created through diversification can level up, evolve, and be controlled like puppets. Normally they act on their own, but I can override them when needed. That’s good.)

I commanded the clone mandragora to run, absorb the deer, and return. It did so promptly. I scooped it up in both hands.

(But I can’t just bring this into the village. It might scream and kill someone. If the deer had been stronger, maybe it would’ve gained a second level… Got any evolution points left? Try making a plug to seal your voice.)

The mandragora in my hands raised a tiny arm in a salute. That meant 「got it」 Now, even if it screamed, the sound wouldn’t escape. I also needed to tell it not to scream on its own.

Since I now lived in a human village, I hadn’t used my own voice in a long time. I was starting to worry I might forget how to speak. So I figured, while I was away from people, I could practice quietly. Just a little.

「From now on, you must never raise your voice. You must never harm a human. Other than that, you’re free to do as you like.」

「!」

The mandragora raised its hand again in acknowledgment. With its round, haniwa-like face and small bobbing body, it looked like a little mascot character. Now that I’d sealed its voice and made it harmless, it shouldn’t pose any danger to humans.

To prevent any accidental absorption attacks, I fashioned a set of clothes for it from my vine hair, just like mine. Except for the eyes, the clothes covered its entire body. That should make it look safe.

The vine-fabric I tore from my own clothes was connected to the mandragora like a graft. With this, the outfit wouldn’t wither. It was like a live cutting.

(Oh—right. Since it’s technically my clone, I can probably view its status screen, right?)

I tried it—and sure enough, text popped up in my vision. I should’ve checked this from the beginning. I could’ve just read the stats before giving commands.

【Species】Mandragora (Familiar)
【Level】3
【Vitality】D
【Magic Power】B
【Skills】None
【Evolution Points】1
【Description】
A mandragora grown with nutrients from purification blossoms. As a familiar-type clone, it faithfully obeys its master’s commands.
It has evolved to be mobile, but due to orders from its master, its lethal scream and any ability to harm humans have been sealed.
Currently low-threat and serves as a high-quality potion ingredient.
Easily captured, but provoking its master is not advised.
Should orders be lifted, it may instantly transform into a shrieking, death-dealing weapon.

(Okay, weird description as usual—but at least it’s really harmless now. I’m satisfied.)

Still… there’s something that keeps bugging me.

(Why is my description still listed as a calamity? I don’t hurt anyone either…)

I’ve tried hard to act in service of humans, but my own profile still flags me as dangerous. I’d love to one day be described officially as 「a gentle mandragora」.

As I pondered this, I heard the sound of a branch snapping. I lifted my head.

In the moonlight stood a man with platinum hair, tinged silver under the pale glow. His one golden eye fixed squarely on me, and his hand was gripping the sword at his waist.

(Wha—wait, what?! There’s no way… I checked! No one was following me!!)

I had carefully made sure no one was trailing me, yet here he was. And worse, he’d appeared from the opposite direction I came from. Which meant he might not have followed me… he might have been here already.

Had he heard me speak? But he looked fine. I’d spoken. The mandragora had screamed. And yet he showed no signs of damage, so chances are, he might’ve not heard anything——

「Witch-dono… so you can speak after all.」

——Nope. No such luck. He definitely heard me.

He’d survived hearing my voice once before, so he must have some kind of protection against the mandragora’s scream.

I might be totally screwed.

I screamed inside with everything I had.

And the mandragora in my arms trembled as if screaming too.