Rapid Growth

‘Let’s not think about scary things…’

After Nis-nim and Master left, I shook off the anxious thoughts that filled my mind.

I should think about the Polymorph ability I’ve acquired.

Originally, I would have had to wait 700 years, but thanks to absorbing the knights’ mana, it was reduced to just 5 years.

‘Maybe I can do it now?’

My chest fluttered at the thought.

The petals trembled with excitement.

‘Should I give it a try?’

Flap flap!

Miel noticed my tension and flew to my petals first.

Then, one by one, the Belez began to gather.

Their antennae twitching with interest, they watched me with wide eyes.

Cecilia fluttered her fiery wings excitedly.

Rote circled me steadily, like the moon orbiting the Earth.

But Glacia… was still lounging casually in the corner.

They really have unique personalities…

Oh well.

‘Okay! Watch closely!’

With a mix of excitement and nervousness, I began my preparations.

First, I used the Radiance skill to make my body glow brightly.

The light emanating from me illuminated the cavern.

‘Hehe… I think I’m all set!’

I mentally pumped myself up.

‘Polymorph!’

…

Nothing happened.

The Belez continued to stare at me with their innocent eyes.

Miel tilted its antennae slightly, as if to say, “What’s going on?”

‘Should I try again?’

This time, I shouted louder in my mind.

‘Polymorph!!’

I vividly imagined the human form.

…

Still, nothing changed.

Only my petals sparkled a bit more.

The Belez’s expressions turned from anticipation to concern.

Miel approached my petals and tapped them gently with its thin legs.

It was as if saying, “Don’t worry…”

‘Don’t pity me!’

My petals drooped in disappointment.

Is this method not working?

I tilted my body and shook my petals, but nothing changed.

I even wriggled my roots, but it was useless.

‘I should have asked Nis-nim and Master before they left…’

A sudden idea struck me.

‘Maybe I just need to gather my strength! Transformation is all about willpower, like when I evolved!’

I clenched my petals and focused all my energy into my roots.

‘Hrrrrr!’

I concentrated all my mana into one spot.

My pistils quivered violently!

‘Yap!!!’

Suddenly, my body grew hot.

It felt like I was bathed in scorching sunlight.

‘What’s happening?’

A red glow began to emanate from my body.

It felt like smoke was enveloping me.

The Belez watched with renewed anticipation, their eyes wide with excitement.

Miel’s wings fluttered faster, and Cecilia’s fiery wings glowed brighter.

‘This is it!’

The light surrounding me intensified.

A warm sensation spread throughout my body.

‘Yes, this is Polymorph!!!’

I’m finally becoming human!

I’ll be able to walk alongside Master and talk…

‘Wait, what’s this?’

My body was getting heavier.

The petals were growing larger, and the stem was elongating.

The roots dug deeper into the ground, strengthening their grip.

The Belez buzzed with excitement, circling me rapidly.

Their wings fluttered wildly, antennae twitching with curiosity.

Even Glacia, who had been lying down, was now watching me with wide eyes.

When did she get up?

But I couldn’t focus on that now!

‘This isn’t Polymorph-it’s just getting bigger!’

My petals and stem had grown to a size slightly larger than Master’s.

The stem thickened, and the petals changed from black to a reddish hue.

The pistils, which once moved like a snake’s tongue, grew longer and more defined, resembling small whips.

‘Ugh… This is all I get? Just bigger?’

The human form I had imagined was nowhere to be seen.

I was just a larger, more vibrant flower.

The status window flickered late.

『  You have evolved into the Dominant Thanatos Crown.  』

‘What?!’

There was no indication of this evolution in the status window!

What kind of Easter egg is this?!

『  Your stats have slightly increased.  』

‘Huh?’

Checking the status window, all my stats had increased by 400 points.

A 40-level growth all at once!

‘Not bad…’

Getting stronger is good, but…

‘Ugh… But I don’t like getting bigger…’

It’s harder to be cute now…

My petals wilted slightly in disappointment.

I missed Master, who used to gently stroke my soft spots.

A mix of joy from growing stronger and sadness from growing larger filled me.

Then, the Belez swarmed around me.

Now that I was bigger, more Belez could gather around.

Those that crawled stayed near the base of the stem, while the flying ones circled the petals, dancing.

It was like a small village had formed.

Each Belez had its spot, moving busily in unison.

‘I’ve become an apartment for insects…’

Still, seeing the Belez so happy lifted my spirits.

‘But I can’t stay like this!’

I want to shrink back down!

Let me try!

‘Shrink!’

Shouting in my mind did nothing.

‘Minimize!’

‘Miniaturize!’

‘Loli beam!’

None of the terms worked.

No matter how hard I tried, my body remained the same.

‘Sigh…’

It seems I have to live like this…

At least until I can Polymorph.

I should just wait patiently for 5 years as Nis-nim advised.

My petals opened wide with newfound determination.

‘Five years will pass quickly!’

And when adventurers like the knights come to offer their mana, it might speed things up!

Though my larger size wasn’t what I had hoped for, it was unavoidable.

The Belez enjoyed exploring my new, massive body, claiming more space.

Miel hopped around my petals, using its antennae to draw something.

It looked like it was drawing me.

‘Huh? Can it draw?’

When I carved letters with my roots, Miel fluttered its wings happily.

…

Time passed like this.

It had been about two weeks since Master and Nis-nim left.

Every day, the Belez worked diligently like responsible apartment residents.

Our Belez apartment became more organized over time.

Some cleaned every corner of the cavern, while others patrolled the labyrinth, detecting external dangers.

Glacia remained a homebody…

And Rote continued to orbit me like a black satellite, maintaining its defensive role.

The Belez had grown accustomed to Rote and sometimes even rested on its back.

Crackle, crackle!

Since losing to Rote last time, Cecilia had been passionately eating my petals.

Like an athlete training at the gym, she ate my petals daily and flapped her fiery wings, training rigorously.

Today, an unusual energy emanated from her.

Her fiery wings glowed brighter than usual, and suddenly, intense flames engulfed her body!

‘Hot!’

In the flames, Cecilia’s form began to change.

Her wings spread wide, and her body grew slightly larger.

And the most astonishing part…

She grew an additional pair of wings!

『 ☆☆ 【Cecilia】 Celestial Flame Trinity LV140 』

‘Wow! She evolved!’

The heat was forgotten as my petals glowed brightly with joy.

Cecilia had become a magnificent fiery butterfly with three pairs of wings!

Each wing was like a miniature sun, dancing with orange and red flames.

The wings had grown larger and more vibrant.

‘Trinity… Does it mean three wings?’

Celestial Flame Trinity…

What a magnificent name.

Cecilia circled me proudly, showing off her new form.

Her flight left trails of fiery sparks in the air.

It was like a fireworks display.

The Belez gathered to watch Cecilia’s dazzling flight.

Even Miel, flapping its wings to join her, couldn’t compare to her brilliance.

Glacia, still lying down, gazed at Cecilia with a flicker of interest in her eyes.

Rote slowed its orbit, watching her with curiosity.

‘Wow, she was already beautiful, but now she’s even more stunning!’

I gently stroked Cecilia’s wings with my roots.

The warmth from her wings was a precious comfort in this cold ice cave.

I was incredibly proud of her.

She had grown so much, reaching level 140, and her wings were now a trio…

Of course, it’s because she ate me…

Flap flap!

Cecilia, full of confidence, flew toward Rote!

‘Huh? Again?’

As expected.

Cecilia charged at Rote with her fiery wings blazing!

‘Eek!’

But the outcome was the same as before.

Rote remained unharmed, its surface gleaming even more brightly.

Cecilia wasn’t thrown back as hard as last time, but her attack had no effect.

‘Still…’

Cecilia returned to me, her large wings drooping in disappointment.

Her defeated appearance tugged at my heartstrings.

‘Don’t worry, Rote’s defense is unbeatable.’

I comforted her by stroking her wings with my roots.

‘You just need to be beautiful!’

Flap flap!

Cecilia gently landed on my petals and began to rest.

Her three pairs of wings folded slowly, a truly lovely sight.

I suddenly missed Master.

Cecilia had evolved, and I had grown.

But I just got bigger.

‘Master, when will you come back…’

Time seemed to pass slower with each day.