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Chapter 7

Chapter 7

(Those lights…! That’s not a goblin settlement! That’s probably a human village!)

As I crested a gentle hill, I spotted a cluster of lights in the distance, too orderly to be a monster den. They had to be human homes. It was already past sunset, so I decided to wait until morning to approach.

A stranger showing up at night would just look suspicious. Plus, I still couldn’t speak. Visiting during daylight, when I could at least flash a friendly smile, might make things go more smoothly.

(Alright then, guess I’ll camp out here tonight. I can’t wait for tomorrow!)

To camp like a proper human, I started gathering firewood. Mandragoras don’t actually need it, but a normal person would use fire for light and warmth while camping.

I could see just fine in the dark, of course. I didn’t need light. But a human hanging around in pitch darkness with no fire or lamp would be unsettling. Up until now I’d moved about freely regardless of time, but with a human settlement nearby, I had to be careful not to get spotted.

(I could use a lampflower for light, sure… but it’s still cold at night, and having a fire feels more natural, right?)

Lampflowers are one of the plants I’ve absorbed, each one resembles a lily-of-the-valley, about the size of two fists, glowing like a lantern. According to my 【Status Display】 skill, humans sometimes use them as portable lights too.

While gathering firewood, I used a lampflower to light my way. I grew one at the tip of my vine-hand and plucked it with a pop.

(Ow… Yep, still hurts. I wish I could do that without pain…)

The moment I thought that, a ping chimed in my head and a message appeared: 「【Pain Nullification】 acquired.」 …Oops. I’d been trying to avoid spending evolution points since leveling up any further seemed unlikely, but I’d just accidentally triggered another skill. Ten points gone. That’s the downside of a monster’s body, wish for it, and evolution happens whether you mean to or not.

(Well, whatever. I mean, pain sucks, so it’s probably for the best… let’s just call it a necessary evolution.)

With the lampflower in one hand, I continued collecting firewood. I’d gathered quite a bit when I noticed something strange. A clump of filthy fur was lying on the ground. On closer inspection, it was breathing. Alive.

(…A dog?)

Tongue lolling out, the furball lay still. It had four legs. Not a lump of fuzz, but some kind of animal. If memory served, it looked like a long-haired dog.

I set the firewood down and picked up the dog instead. Shining the lampflower on it, I could see it was in terrible shape, maybe sick, definitely weakened.

(A dog, huh. Sick animals probably don’t taste very good… and besides, as someone who used to be Japanese, I have certain… ethical hesitations about eating dogs. Oh! I know. I’ll make it a pet!)

Dogs are deeply connected with humans. Keeping a dog is an incredibly human thing to do. Even if I looked a little odd, having a dog with me might make me seem more relatable.

(It’s weak, but if I give it a healing potion and keep it warm, it’ll probably recover. Gotta thank this body for being able to produce full recovery potions on demand.)

I wasn’t sure how to administer the potion, but it is a dog. Dripping medicine from the mouth might be weird when dealing with a person, but with a dog, it should be fine.

Using my Diversification skill, I grew a plant with a hollow stem like a straw, and with a bit of careful maneuvering via vine control, I slipped the stem into the dog’s mouth and poured the potion in from my own.

I briefly considered just putting my mouth on it directly, but touching it that way might trigger my absorption. My 「face」 is technically the root zone, probably better not to let living creatures make contact there.

(Though really, it’s not even a proper mouth… I eat with my hands, after all…)

The 「mouth 」 I have is just a hole on the root-side that lets me emit voice or medicine. I don’t eat through it, and it doesn’t produce saliva. Maybe because this body isn’t human, I didn’t feel any discomfort doing that. …It kind of feels like my human sensibilities are slipping away.

Still, for most injuries or ailments, this potion should be enough. The dog should be feeling better by tomorrow.

(Let’s get a fire going so it can stay warm.)

I stacked the firewood I’d gathered and was just about to light it when I realized—I didn’t have a way to start the fire.

(Honestly, humans really do rely on a lot of tools. Hmm… fire… Maybe I can use firecracker grass?)

I grew a fruit of the firecracker grass at the end of my hair and plucked it. Thanks to the Pain Nullification skill, I didn’t feel a thing. It made harvesting way more efficient. …My remaining points were down to about twenty now, but I still think it was a good skill to have.

The firecracker grass produces fruits that, when crushed, spark like fireworks. Humans use them as fire-starters. But since I can freely manipulate any plant I create, I just had to command it to ignite.

I placed the fruit on the ground, rebuilt the firewood over it, and mentally instructed it to explode. Sparks flew up within the pile, catching the wood—fire, complete.

(I wonder if that’s warm enough. …Maybe I should make a bed for the dog too.)

A bed of grass would be nice. I created some seeds for a soft turf-like plant and dropped them to the ground. Plants born via Diversification grow even after leaving my body, as if they’re extensions of me. I can guide their shape, even control them a little—it’s pretty handy.

I had them grow in a dense cluster, forming a soft, fluffy bed. Then I gently laid the dog on top.

(I can just wither this grass tomorrow to get rid of the evidence. First, let’s focus on helping the dog recover… How do I get it to like me?)

Food usually does the trick. Tomorrow I might try hunting some animals or monsters nearby. I can’t use my voice to attack, so maybe I’ll make some plant-based traps. Come to think of it, I’m getting hungry too. …This dog could technically be an emergency ration, but I’d rather not eat something I just saved.

Thinking about all that, I sat down beside the dog on its grassy bed. Honestly, burying myself in the ground would’ve been comfier, but that might look suspicious. If a human saw me half-buried, they might think I was some kind of mummified monk.

So I sat upright, closed my eyes, and rested till morning, listening to the crackle of the fire.

(Is it morning already…? How’s the dog—WHAAAAA!?)

And then, when I looked over in the morning.

The dog was gone.
And in its place… was sleeping a completely naked child. The shock caused me to let out a scream, silently, inside my mind.