Chapter 18

A wild boar charged straight at the girl.

Its speed was considerable. The phrase "charging like a boar" is aptly used.

However, I am also a home center employee who has been running around the vast sales floor of the home center like a charging boar, day and night.

I'm not boasting, but I have confidence in my leg strength.

Faster than the boar's charge, I successfully positioned myself in front of the girl.

"Don't move!"

As I shouted, I activated *Alchemy*.

In the forest dyed by the night, the magical light emitted from my body was only for a moment.

The boar, in the midst of its charge, could not possibly judge that I had created something with magic.

It would only see me standing there, defenseless, with my arms outstretched toward the approaching boar.

I thought—no, I had been thinking.

About the characteristics of the magical tools I create.

From the "sword" and "pipe" I had created before, I deduced that the magical tools I create become lighter—meaning, they become a manageable weight for the user—by being imbued with magic.

Furthermore, it seems that the magic can be released as a cutting or striking attack.

Then, what about defense?

The boar had already charged to within a hair's breadth of me.

"Kyaa!"

Behind me, the girl let out a scream.

—A high-pitched metallic sound rang out immediately after.

"……～～～～～"

Right before my eyes, the boar collapsed as if it had hit an invisible "something."

"Eh, eh?"

"Mako!"

The confused girl and Mawr, who hurriedly ran over.

"Are you okay!? Mako"

"Yeah, there's no problem."

Mawr then noticed what my outstretched hands were holding.

"Mako, this..."

It was a large metal net.

A galvanized steel wire mesh, approximately 1m x 2m in size, in a grid pattern.

This is a "wildlife fence."

Its purpose, as the name suggests, is to prevent animals like monkeys and boars from entering places like farms.

"I see, if I imbue a 'wildlife fence' with magic, it can become such a formidable barrier."

Looking at the boar that had collapsed, I inwardly sighed with relief.

...Actually, I was a bit nervous, as it was my first time doing this on the spot.

"Well then,"

I turned to the girl again.

The girl, with an unusual appearance, like a "flower fairy," looked up at me with a frightened expression.

I bent my knees to meet her eye level, as I would with a child who had gotten lost in the store and was separated from their parents, and softened my expression.

"It's okay now. Are you hurt?"

In response to my question, the girl nodded with a startled expression.

And then, immediately after,

"I'm... I'm sorry!"

She cried out and began to shed tears.

* * * * *

"I am Fressa. Fressa of the Alraune."

"Alraune?"

"Yes."

We are now walking through the forest with the girl—Fressa.

Fressa, as if she knows the way, proceeds without hesitation through the darkness.

"We are a race called Alraune, and we lived in the Alraune Kingdom, which is far from here..."

Alraune.

I think it's a name I often see in RPG games.

A race that is a mix of plants and humans, perhaps.

"But one day, humans came to our country and drove us out..."

"An invasion?"

"The Alraune who lived there scattered... My sister and I fled here."

Fressa explained the situation with a dejected look.

"Ah, we're here. My sister is in there."

In the depths of the forest, a cave appeared.

We entered the cave and followed Fressa.

"My sister fell ill during our escape and can't move now."

"How have you been eating?"

"We Alraune live by taking nutrients from the earth and flowers. But this land has no nutrients at all..."

I see.

"That's why you were taking nutrients from the garden plants earlier."

"Yes... I'm sorry. I knew it was wrong, but if we didn't, my sister would..."

It seems she was gathering nutrients to help her sister.

"It's okay, don't worry. If there's a reason, it can't be helped."

Mawr gently reassured Fressa.

He's always such a good kid.

We followed Fressa into the cave.

Eventually, we came to a slightly open space where the ceiling had collapsed, allowing moonlight to shine through.

"Sister!"

In the moonlight, a woman lay on the ground.

"Wow..."

I couldn't help but gasp.

She was a stunning beauty.

A well-proportioned adult woman—her key body parts were hidden only by vines extending from the flower on her head, giving a rather daring impression.

Even as a woman, I was taken aback by her beauty.

"Mm... Fressa"

She opened her eyes weakly, perhaps hearing Fressa's voice.

"...Who are these people?"

"Um, well, they..."

"I have heard the story."

I knelt beside her and sat down.

"You were driven from your home by human invasion and barely made it to this place... It must have been difficult."

"...Ah, I apologize for my appearance."

Fressa's sister slowly tried to sit up.

However, her movements were still unsteady, so I gently helped her by touching her back.

"I am the fourth princess of the Alraune Kingdom... Alflund, and my name is Orchidea."

"Princess?"

That was news to me.

Fressa is in a pretty significant position, isn't she?

"Perhaps Fressa, who was out for a walk, got lost and was helped by you? Hehe, I'm so clumsy..."

Orchidea, though weak, spoke with a strong demeanor.

She is indeed a princess.

...Or maybe she's just naturally this way.

"Sister, I'm sorry!"

"I, I tried to take nutrients from the plants that Mako and Mawr were growing without permission!"

"Oh, what have you done..."

Orchidea looked shocked by Fressa's words.

"I am deeply sorry. You must be very angry. If there is any way I can make amends, please let me know..."

"No, no, it's fine. As I said before, I understand the situation. Fressa was trying to help you, Orchidea. Please don't scold her."

As I advised, Orchidea glanced at Fressa and looked sad again.

"Why did this happen... We were just trying to live peacefully..."

...I can't really say anything about that.

I can't judge everything humans do as wrong.

But if I can help in any way, I will.

(...'I don't have a dream, but I can protect someone else's dream'... It's a bit different, but...)

Thinking of the clumsy yet reliable figure of Kamen Rider 555, Inui Takumi, I generated an ampoule in my hand.

"This is..."

"I have the power to make plants healthy, Orchidea."

Judging from the withered state of the flower on her head, a mixture centered on phosphoric acid would be best.

I mixed the *liquid fertilizer* and brought it to Orchidea's lips.

"This should make you feel better."

"Oh, thank you, Mako. This kindness..."

Orchidea, after drinking the *liquid fertilizer*, jumped up with a loud, uncharacteristic scream. Her eyes were teary.

Ah, it's probably not good, this.

* * * * *

—The next morning.

The central square of the Abatos village was filled with the murmurs of the gathered *Beowulfs*.

"Um... this is..."

"Everyone, hello! I am Orchidea, the fourth princess of the Alflund Kingdom!"

"And I'm Fressa, her sister!"

In front of the gathered *Beowulfs*, the now fully recovered Orchidea and Fressa stood.

Their head flowers were in full bloom, and their bodies radiated a vibrant life force.

"We were driven from our home and fled to this place. In the midst of our wandering, we were on the brink of death when Mako saved us last night!"

The *Beowulfs* turned their gaze toward me.

I scratched my head and tried to deflect the attention.

"To repay the kindness of being saved, we will live in this village and do whatever is needed! Please command us!"

"Command us, you say..."

"Hey, Mako. Is this really true? The Alraune princess?"

"It seems so."

Responding to Lam and Bagos, I said as much.

Last night, the fully recovered Orchidea and Fressa had enthusiastically insisted on "repaying the kindness!" and "command us!"

Well, if they want to do it, I won't stop them.

"But, what can you do to repay the kindness?"

"Physical labor is impossible with those thin arms."

The *Beowulfs* pointed out, and Orchidea thought for a moment.

"Then, how about letting me take care of the flowers?"

Without waiting for a response, Orchidea squatted down next to a small flower in the field and placed her hand over it.

Light flowed from her hand into the flower, and the small flower bloomed into a large one.

I see, she can take or give life force from/to plants.

"Beautiful flowers will surely bring healing to everyone's hearts."

"Ooh."

"Indeed, that's true."

"If they're good, they might even sell in the city."

"Plus, having three beautiful girls in the village might have a healing effect too."

Several *Beowulfs* looked at Orchidea with dreamy eyes.

Greedy males.

But, Orchidea is indeed beautiful, so it can't be helped.

"Mako, the people in this village are all so kind!"

Thinking this, Orchidea spoke to me.

She took my hand and said with a smile.

"It reminds me of the country where we lived. It had a similar population and size."

Hmm, even a "country" isn't that big.

Well, different races have different values.

"I must thank God for meeting Mako. I am truly happy."

She looked at me with a passionate gaze, making my heart race.

I wish she would stop with the unconscious seduction.

"Mako, I will do anything to repay you. Please don't hesitate to ask."

"Ah, yes..."

Then, first, I want her to wear clothes like humans.

It's hard to know where to look.