The Market is the Root of All Evil!

The more I talked to Iris, the more my head hurt.

Why is the rumor like this!

I’m being portrayed as a complete monster!

A flesh-eating plant with hundreds of eyeballs and octopus-like roots!

I’m completely a beautiful flower!

And the fact that I suck people’s blood and give them nightmares every night…

It’s really ridiculous!

If I weren’t here, your kingdom would have been devoured by the followers of Abraxas!

“Where did you hear such rumors!?”

I exploded in frustration, and Iris shrank back, replying,

“Well… I heard it from the market. People were talking when they gathered…”

The market!

I slapped my knee.

So, the market is the root of all evil!

The solution is simple.

I just need to go to the market and clear things up!

“Okay! Let’s go to the market!”

“N-now?”

Iris’s eyes widened.

“Yes! I’ll judge these fools right away!”

“Y-yes?”

Iris looked terrified.

Not that kind of judgment…

I just told you I’m not a bad monster…

“No… I just want to correct the rumors.”

“Oh…”

I quickly clarified, and Iris let out a sigh of relief.

But she still looked anxious.

I hurriedly headed to the first-floor banquet hall from the third floor.

Iris followed, asking cautiously,

“Are you sure it’s okay? Maybe people will be more shocked…”

“It’s fine! They’ll see how kind I am!”

I replied confidently.

It’s really a simple task!

Just go there and say, “I’m Lycoris, not a bad monster!” and that’s it!

I opened the banquet hall door and shouted,

“Master! I’ll be back soon!”

But…

“Huh?”

The banquet hall was empty.

Only two butlers were cleaning.

“What’s going on! Where is everyone?”

When I raised my voice, Cecilia, riding Glacia, appeared from the hallway.

Her fiery red hair fluttered in the wind, looking really cute.

“Oh my!”

Cecilia smiled pleasantly and landed in front of me.

Glacia’s large wings fluttered, blowing my dress.

“Where is the master?”

“The grandma went for a walk with the other grandma!”

Aha, she must have gone to see the garden with Nis.

She hasn’t seen all of the lair yet.

“Where are Levi and Ryandel?”

“Levi and Ryandel are in their rooms!”

Well, it’s not necessary for them to be here anyway.

I should just go quickly.

“Then I’ll go for a bit!”

“Me too!”

Cecilia jumped up from Glacia, raising her arms.

“Huh? Do you want to come?”

“Yes! Let’s go together!”

Seeing Cecilia’s sparkling eyes, I couldn’t refuse.

Besides, having Cecilia with her cuteness and innocence would easily charm people!

Flap flap!

Miel suddenly flew over and circled my head.

{Gg}

Miel tugged my hair lightly and wrote in the air.

“Right! Let’s also get the adventurer’s certificate!”

Yes!

I didn’t receive my SS-class certificate before leaving!

Even if Rote is upgraded to the national level…

Still, I should get at least the SS-class one!

“Yes, I’ll stop by the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“Lycoris, are you an adventurer?”

Iris asked curiously.

“Yes! I’m the one and only SS-class adventurer!”

“SS-class…?”

Iris looked incredulous.

Ugh…

The fact that I’m the only SS-class isn’t known… and only strange rumors are spreading…

“Ugh! You people are so ignorant!”

Everyone stared at me.

The murmuring stopped abruptly, and it felt like I was under a spotlight on a theater stage.

“I saved you from being devoured by the followers of Abraxas! Why are the rumors like this!”

People looked at each other in confusion, murmuring here and there.

“Did you really defeat the followers of Abraxas?”

“Is that even true…?”

“There was that incident where the cultists in the noble district were wiped out, right?”

Someone cautiously asked,

“Who are you?”

Good, an opportunity!

Now, I’ll reveal my identity!

“I am Lycoris!”

At my reply, some people screamed and ran away.

“Ahh! It’s Lycoris!”

“Run!”

But some froze in place, unable to move out of fear.

Oh no!

Believing in your strange rumors…

“Hey! I just saved you, but you believe such nonsense!”

People’s reactions gradually calmed down.

They exchanged glances and whispered.

“Then… is the part about drinking blood a lie?”

Someone asked tremblingly.

“Well… I do drink blood… I just had some.”

People’s faces turned pale with fear.

Shaking all over, they looked like they were staring at death…

“No! I don’t kill people to drink blood!”

Then, someone asked in a small voice,

“Then… is it true that you tried to eat the prince and knelt before the queen?”

“No! What did I say before? Ah… I think I was going to kidnap the prince and take the lair instead.”

People’s expressions stiffened again.

Uh…

Explaining only makes the atmosphere weirder…

Like when the robber with a gun turns out to have a knife…

What to do…!

Ah!

I’m Michel’s apostle!

“Wait! I’ll show you my authority as Michel’s apostle!”

People’s faces slightly relaxed.

Good!

“Yap! Divine something authority, lightening my body!”

I stretched out my hands towards the people and struck a cool pose, trying to demonstrate my authority.

However, my cool pose only looked awkward, and nothing happened.

…

Oh right!

My divine power is sealed!

But… isn’t it time for it to be lifted?

Why isn’t it working!

People saw my powerless act and began to leave quietly.

No!

This will only make the rumors worse!

Then, Iris approached cautiously and whispered,

“Lycoris… why not show your true form? If people see your beautiful flower form, they might feel reassured.”

Ah! That’s right!

It’s guaranteed to work!

I shouted to the people again,

“People! Do I have millions of eyes like an octopus!? I’ll show you my true form now!”

“Polymorph!”

A deep red fog enveloped my body.

When the fog cleared, my beautiful flower form was revealed.

Ruby-like petals in a mix of red and pink, long violet stamens, and stems shimmering in black…

My appearance, glistening in the sunlight, was fantastic.

Checking the area with my Domain Control Radar, people stared at me with wide eyes.

“Wow…”

“You’re really a flower!”

“So beautiful!”

Phew…

This is working!

Even Iris looked at me in astonishment, seemingly unprepared for my beauty.

Well, you asked for it, yet you didn’t believe me!

Or maybe you’re just amazed by how beautiful I am.

Well, acknowledge it!

People began to approach me slowly.

“You can transform… really amazing!”

“So the rumors must have been exaggerated!”

“Yes! If they were true, we’d all be dead by now!”

Finally!

My plan is working!

But then…

Woong!

Glacia suddenly flapped her wings excitedly and charged towards me.

Why? Why!

What’s wrong!

Glacia stuck out her huge tongue towards my stamens and approached.

Ahh! Nectar!

This crazy bastard!

You’re not allowed to have nectar!

Due to Glacia’s sudden movement, Cecilia, who was on her back, lost her balance.

“Ew!”

Cecilia began to fall from Glacia.

Her small body wobbled in mid-air.

No!

Cecilia!

I quickly raised several roots from the ground.

Bang!

I hit Glacia’s head with a root, and another root caught Cecilia.

But Cecilia, stronger than me, was barely harmed from that height.

Her cute appearance made me reflexively raise the roots.

However, the problem was that I hastily raised the roots…

The market floor cracked like a spider web, and the roots messed up the market.

Vegetable stands overturned, tomatoes and apples flew everywhere.

Tomato juice splattered everywhere, and oranges rolled around.

A sign from a bakery fell, shattering on the ground.

A fish shop’s water tank tipped over, spilling water everywhere.

“Ahh!”

“Run!”

“We’re doomed!”

People screamed and scattered.

Uh…

This isn’t right…

I slowly returned to my human form.

Looking around, the market was in complete disarray.

Dust filled the air, and debris fell here and there.

Ugh…

Crazy…

Only Iris remained, trembling with fear, while the others had fled.

“L-Lycoris…”

Iris said in a trembling voice.

She stared at me with a pale face.

This isn’t what I wanted…

Cecilia came over and said,

“Ema, are you okay?”

“Yes… are you hurt, Cecilia?”

“Yes! Ema caught me!”

Cecilia smiled brightly and hugged my leg.

Her pure smile softened my heart a bit.

Miel flew over my head and wrote,

{Now the rumors will get even worse lol}

“Ahh!”

This isn’t how I wanted to clear things!

Glacia was crouched in a corner, holding her head.

My root must have hurt her.

But it wasn’t enough!

“You nectar addict!”

Bang!!

I slapped Glacia’s head with my hand.

“Ahh!”

But it hurt my hand instead!

Glacia’s hard shell had my fingers red and swollen.

Why did I hit her with my hand!

Haven’t I learned my lesson yet!

As I held my hand in pain, Cecilia stepped forward, looking angry.

“Hey!”

Bang!!!!

There was a massive explosion, and Glacia collapsed, looking away.

She fainted, I think…?

Not dead, I hope…

Seeing Cecilia’s level, she seemed alive.

“Gotcha, Ema!”

“Good job, Cecilia!”

I patted Cecilia’s head.

Looking around again, the market was destroyed, people had fled, and the rumors would only get worse…

It’s a disaster…

“Maybe I should just live with the rumors…”