Chapter 49: 3 years

Time passed.

It had been months already.

The master still hadn’t returned.

‘Master… Where are you…?’

The flower petals drooped slightly.

Although I wasn’t completely alone because of the bugles, I felt a sense of emptiness in my heart.

Two months had passed since the master left, and I began to worry more and more.

Because the master hadn’t come back for so long, unlike usual.

When three months had passed, I began to suspect that maybe Nissama had done something.

When six months had passed… I began to fear that something truly terrible had happened.

‘Master… Did Nissama do something strange?’

‘That couldn’t be… That couldn’t be. The master was much stronger than Nissama.’

‘But why didn’t he come back…’

I had these thoughts dozens of times a day.

One day, it was so hard to bear, so I consoled myself by recalling memories of the master.

‘Master… I remember when we first met.’

A giant dragon suddenly appeared while enjoying a festival of slaughter in the middle layer.

At that time, the master transformed into a silver-haired woman and took me away.

I fainted, but…

At first, I was scared, but now that I think about it, I feel a warm comfort.

At that time, the master’s icy expression came to mind.

It was cold, but to me, it was such a beautiful sight.

‘When the master first stroked me…’

I remembered the moment when he gently caressed my petals with his cold hands.

At that time, my petals were much smaller and more fragile than they are now.

My petals slightly closed at the master’s touch, and then bloomed again.

‘And you named me…’

Licorice.

The joy I felt when I first heard that name…

I felt like I had become someone’s ‘precious being.’

As soon as he picked me up, he said he remembered.

‘The master really liked my honey too…’

The expression on his face when he first tasted my honey.

I can’t tell you how happy I was at that sight.

I wanted to make honey for the master for a thousand years…

I was so happy because it felt like we had become a family.

At that time, the master’s smile was really warm.

I almost cried.

A sad scent leaked out from the flower petals.

After the master left, many humans visited.

Among them, Hapel and Brian were my close friends, so I paid special attention to them.

Whenever they visited, I gave them lots of flower nectar and cut off the roots full of poison.

“Brian, Hapel… Have you heard any rumors about the master outside?”

I asked these trustworthy humans, carving letters on the ground with the tip of my root.

My heart was desperate.

Please…

But the answer I got was always the same.

“No, I haven’t heard anything…”

Brian even said that he had asked in other places several times.

I felt grateful for his sincere efforts, but the fact that I had no news of the master made me even more anxious.

Sometimes, strange humans would come in and try to harm me.

However, they were just sloppy people below the rank of knights, and I subdued them in an instant.

I absorbed a lot of their magic power…

But polymorphing was still impossible.

It was even more frustrating because I couldn’t do that.

If only I could become human and go find the master…

That thought made me even more tired.

‘Guys… I’m done cleaning the labyrinth. Just stay by my side…’

Now, I’ve changed my personality to the point where I even make Bugles clean.

In fact, I just wish you’d stay by my side because I’m depressed.

…

It was one day when the flower petals were dancing listlessly in the wind blowing through the cracks in the ice wall.

Suddenly, I wanted to see the status window.

『 ★ 【Licorice】 Dominant Thanatos Crown LV262 6 years old ♀

【Ability】

HP: 3,064/3,064 + (1,220,138)

MP: 2,964/2,735

Attack: 3,064

Magic: 2,964

Defense: 2,964

Magic Resist: 2,964

Agility: 0

【Skill】

「Area Control LV6」

「Crimson Apocalypse」

「Freeze Immunity」

「Photosynthesis LV6」

「Annihilation Toxin」

「Dark Root Dance」

「Pollen Bloom LV7」

「Pollen – Temptation (True) LV5」

「Pain Tolerance LV4」

「Selflessness LV8」

「Pollen – Paralysis (True) LV6」

「Pollen – Recovery (Ultimate)」

「Pollen – Bleeding (True) LV2」

「Pollen – Corrosion LV6」

「Pollen – Corruption (True) LV3」

「Elysian Essence Honey」

「Flower Honey – Will (True) LV4」

「Blood System」

「Red Moon」

「Overwhelming LV7」

「Brilliance LV6」

「Poison Resistance LV7」

「Overwhelming LV3」

【Trait】

[Inferno Stigma]

[Michel’s Cheer]

[Demonic]

[Prostia’s Attachment Plant]

[Blood Heavenly Rush]

[Michel’s Flower]

[Automatic Costume Donning (Default – Black Dress Set) – Polymorph]

[Polymorph Effect – Black & Red Smoke]

[Perfect]

[Noble Dignity]

[Noble Lady’s Etiquette]

[Guardian of Shia Kalt]

[Magic Collector]

『Level 262… Already six years old.』

Three years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Her stamina reserve battery had surpassed 1.2 million, and her skills and traits had also increased and improved a lot.

Seeing that she had also gained the trait ‘Guardian of Shia Kalt’, did she really become her master’s representative now?

But…

‘Then what should I do… When the master isn’t here…’

Not only me, but also the bugles became incredibly strong.

The average level of the bugles reached 150.

Miel was over level 160, and Cecilia has now reached 170.

Glessia, despite her lazy personality, has grown incredibly quickly and has now reached level 210.

As for Lotte… She sometimes eats a mineral called Proten to grow, and has reached level 200.

Sometimes, even when high-level monsters would hang out, I would just let them fight each other and watch.

I guess the system to control the number of monsters was well-equipped.

However, now, even strong monsters hardly came in.

It seemed that they were all afraid of me and the bugles.

I felt the sensation of the flower petals slightly sinking.

Miel carefully sat down on my flower petal and began to gently stroke it.

Miel always tried to comfort me.

The feeling of her small feet tapping the flower petals was warm.

Cecilia also sat down next to me, fluttering her gorgeous flame wings.

The feeling of the warm heat touching me felt good.

These kids had comforted me before, but now they seemed to know how to read my mood better.

Even if the petals were slightly drooping, Miel would lightly caress me, and Cecilia would wrap me up with moderate warmth that wasn’t too hot.

Their small considerations seeped deep into my heart.

Still, there was still an emptiness in a corner of my heart.

Lotte was still orbiting me and guarding me, and Glessia… would occasionally get up and then lie down again.

She was really full of personality.

‘Ah… I don’t want to do anything…’

I just sat there blankly, my petals hanging down.

The bugles, like me, were lying around in a loose manner.

The room was just a quiet, calm atmosphere.

That was when.

Suddenly, a strong light poured down from the ceiling of the room.

‘…? What is it??’

The petals suddenly opened, and I became tense.

In an instant, Bugles straightened his posture and became alert.

Even Glessia suddenly stood up and looked alert.

At that moment, a very clear and noble voice came from within me.

『Licorice, can you hear me? It’s Mikel! I only have one minute to speak, so you must listen carefully!』

‘Gasp! Mikel!’

The flower petals trembled at Mikel’s sudden appearance.

This was truly a miracle!

Mikel speaking to me herself

『I am not a god who likes blood and slaughter—』

‘Mikel! Is my master safe? Where is my master?!’

This might be my only chance to ask the goddess!

I couldn’t remember what Michel-nim had said.

I immediately asked what I was most curious about.

“No, no, what I was trying to say was—”

“Please, Michel-nim! Just let me know if my master is okay!”

Please…

I asked again, pleading.

My petals trembled whitely in desperation.

“…”

Michel-nim was silent for a moment and then let out a deep sigh.

“Prostia… drank some of the Dwarven liquor and passed out. And she still hasn’t woken up…”

“Huh?”

Really…?

I was dazed for a moment.

Did I hear correctly?

“Really? My master is drunk and asleep?”

“Yes, really. Really…”

Relief and bewilderment came over me at the same time at Michel-nim’s words.

My master wasn’t in danger, and he wasn’t caught by anyone else…

It was just because of the alcohol!

But that was fortunate!

“Whew… I’m so glad! Michel-nim! Thank you so much!”

The scent of joy exploded from my petals.

It felt like all my worries had disappeared in an instant.

‘Mikel! I will continue to work hard for you, Michel, for the rest of my life! Thank you so much!’

‘Ah!’

Michel suddenly let out a loud voice.

It sounded like an exclamation… but was he happy?

I was surprised because the sound was so loud.

The light slowly began to fade.

It seemed like the time of communication with Michel was coming to an end.

‘Mikel, thank you so much for telling me about my master!’

Hehe!

I prayed inwardly once again as I said my final goodbyes.

When the light completely disappeared, the cave became quiet again.

However, my heart was now filled with joy.

‘Good! If I just polymorph, I will go wake up my master right away!’

With my great worries lifted, I felt true happiness for the first time in three years.

My petals bloomed and the stamens swayed lively.

The bugs around me also regained their energy, perhaps sensing my change.

Miel expressed her joy by jumping around on the petals.

I could feel the happiness radiating from her small body.

Cecilia spread her three pairs of wings and flew around, drawing a splendid afterimage of flames.

Lotte still didn’t react much, but her orbit changed faster and more harmoniously.

And Glessia… she finally got up completely, stretching her wings.

Oh… it’s been a long time since I woke up…

I felt sorry that these kids couldn’t cheer up because I was depressed for so long.

I realized once again that Bugles were greatly affected by my emotions.

‘I’m sorry, guys. I’ve been depressed for so long…’

However, Bugles didn’t show any resentment at all and seemed even happier.

It seemed that just being happy was enough for them.

‘Thank you! Then, let’s go clean the labyrinth for the first time in a while!’

I felt a surge of new energy.

At that moment, my area control radar suddenly detected a group of humans.

‘Hmm? Who are they?’

When I focused, I saw seven humans entering the deep crossroads.