Three Years

Time passed by.

Months had gone by, and I couldn’t even tell how many.

Frostia hadn’t returned yet.

“Frostia… where are you…?”

The petals drooped slightly.

Belez was there, so I wasn’t completely alone, but a part of my heart felt empty.

When two months passed without Frostia returning, worry began to grow.

Frostia was gone longer than usual, which was unusual.

By the third month, suspicion crept in-could something have happened to Nis?

By the sixth month… fear gripped me-could something terrible have happened?

“Frostia… could it be that Nis has done something strange?”

“No… no, that can’t be. Frostia is much stronger than Nis.”

“But why hasn’t she returned…?”

These thoughts raced through my mind dozens of times a day.

One day, it became too unbearable, and I comforted myself by reminiscing about memories with Frostia.

“Frostia… I remember when we first met.”

In the middle layer, enjoying the festival of slaughter, a gigantic dragon suddenly appeared.

Frostia transformed into a silver-haired woman and took me with her.

I fainted, but…

At first, it was terrifying, but now it feels warm and comforting.

The memory of Frostia’s icy expression appeared.

Cold, yet incredibly beautiful to me.

“When Frostia first stroked my petals…”

Her cold hands gently caressed my petals.

At the time, my petals were much smaller and more delicate.

Under Frostia’s touch, my petals slightly wilted before blooming again.

“And when she named me…”

Lycoris.

The joy I felt when I first heard that name…

It made me feel like I was someone’s precious being.

She said she thought of it as soon as she picked me.

“Frostia really loved my nectar…”

The expression on her face when she first tasted my nectar.

I don’t know how happy that made me.

I would have wanted to make nectar for Frostia for a thousand years if I could…

It felt like we had become a family.

Her smile at the time was truly warm.

Tears almost welled up.

A sad fragrance wafted from the petals.

After Frostia left, many humans visited.

Among them, Haphel and Brian were especially close to me, so I paid them extra attention.

Whenever they visited, I offered them plenty of nectar and cut them some poisonous roots.

“Brian, Haphel… have you heard any rumors about Frostia outside?”

I asked them by carving letters into the ground with my roots.

My heart was earnest.

Please…

But their answers were always the same.

“No, we haven’t heard anything…”

Brian even said he had asked around other places.

His sincere efforts were touching, but the lack of news about Frostia made me more anxious.

Sometimes, strange humans came in and tried to harm me.

But they were just low-level knights, easily subdued.

Their mana was quite absorbable, though…

Still, polymorph remained impossible.

That alone was frustrating.

If I could become human and go find Frostia…

The thought exhausted me further.

“Guys… forget the labyrinth cleaning. Just stay by my side…”

My personality had changed so much that even Belez noticed.

In truth, I just wanted them to stay with me because I was depressed.

…

One day, as the wind blew through the ice walls, causing the petals to dance lifelessly.

Suddenly, I wanted to check my status window.

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

  【Attributes】

  HP : 3,064/3,064 + (1,220,138)

  MP : 2,735/2,964

  Attack Power : 3,064

  Magic Power : 2,964

  Defense : 2,964

  Magic Resistance : 2,964

  Agility : 0

  【Skills】

   「Domain Control LV6」  「Crimson Apocalypse」  「Frost Resistance」  「Photosynthesis LV6」  「Annihilation Toxin」  「Dark Root Dance」  「Pollen Bloom LV7」  「Pollen – Allure (True) LV5」  「Pain Resistance LV4」  「Unconscious Action LV8」 「Pollen – Paralysis (True) LV6」 「Pollen – Recovery (Extreme)」 「Pollen – Hemorrhage (True) LV2」 「Pollen – Corrosion LV6」 「Pollen – Decay (True) LV3」 「Elysian Essence Honey」 「Nectar – Will (True) LV4」 「Bloodline」 「Red Moon」 「Intimidation LV7」 「Radiance LV6」 「Poison Resistance LV7」 「Overwhelm LV3」

  【Traits】 

  [Inferno Stigma]  [Michel’s Encouragement]  [Demon Charm]  [Frostia’s Beloved Plant]  [Blood Delicacy] [Michel’s Flower] [Auto Outfit (Basic – Black Dress Set) – Polymorph]  

[Polymorph Effect – Black & Red Smoke]  [Perfect and Flawless]  [Noble Dignity]  [Noble Lady Etiquette] [Guardian of Sia Kalt] [Mana Collector]  』

‘Level 262… I’m already six years old.’

Three years had passed.

The auxiliary battery for strength had exceeded 1.2 million, and my skills and traits had grown significantly.

The trait “Guardian of Sia Kalt” had appeared, so I was officially Frostia’s representative now.

Still…

‘What’s the point… if Frostia isn’t here…’

Belez had also grown incredibly strong.

The average level of Belez was around 150.

Miel had surpassed level 160, and Cecilia had reached 170.

Glacia, despite her lazy nature, had grown tremendously and was now at level 210.

Rote… occasionally ate Proten minerals and had achieved level 200.

When high-level monsters lingered, I let them fight among themselves while I watched.

The monster population control system was well-established, it seemed.

But now, even strong monsters rarely entered.

They were probably afraid of me and Belez.

The petals felt slightly wilted.

Miel gently sat on my petals and began to stroke them softly.

Miel always tried to comfort me.

The sensation of her small feet tapping on my petals was warm.

Cecilia also sat beside me, spreading her fiery wings and radiating a comfortable heat.

Their consideration touched my heart deeply.

Whenever my petals drooped even slightly, Miel would gently stroke them, and Cecilia would envelop me in a warm, not-too-hot embrace.

Their small kindnesses soothed me.

Still, a part of my heart remained hollow.

Rote continued to guard me, and Glacia… occasionally sat up before lying back down.

Truly one-of-a-kind.

‘Ugh… I don’t want to do anything…’

I slumped, letting my petals droop lifelessly.

Belez, perhaps mimicking me, lay sluggishly around.

The atmosphere was quietly subdued.

Then…

Suddenly, a brilliant light poured down from the ceiling of the chamber.

‘…? What’s going on??’

The petals snapped open, and I tensed up.

Belez immediately straightened up and went on high alert.

Even Glacia jumped up and became vigilant.

In that moment, a very clear, noble voice echoed in my mind.

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

‘Huh! Michel!’

The sudden appearance of Michel startled me, causing the petals to tremble.

This was truly a miracle!

Michel was speaking to me directly!

『I am not a god who loves blood and slaughter-』

‘Michel! Is Frostia safe? Where is she?!’

This might be my only chance to ask!

『No, no, what I wanted to say-』

‘Please, Michel! Just tell me if Frostia is safe!’

Please…

I pleaded again.

My petals trembled with desperation, turning white.

『…』

Michel fell silent for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.

『Frostia… had a drink with Nis and the dwarves and passed out. She hasn’t woken up yet…』

‘Huh?’

Really…?

I was stunned for a moment.

Did I hear that right?

‘Really? Frostia is just drunk and sleeping?’

『Yes, really. It’s true…』

A mix of relief and incredulity washed over me.

Frostia wasn’t in danger, nor captured by someone else…

She was just drunk!

Still, it was a relief!

‘Ah… thank goodness! Thank you, Michel! Thank you so much!’

A fragrance of joy burst from my petals.

The worries of the past years vanished in an instant.

‘Michel! I’ll work hard for you for the rest of my life! Thank you so much!’

『Ahn!』

Michel suddenly exclaimed loudly.

It sounded like admiration, but it was startling!

The light began to fade slowly.

My time communicating with Michel was ending.

‘Michel, thank you for telling me about Frostia!’

Heehee!

I said my final farewell and prayed once more.

As the light disappeared, the chamber returned to silence.

But my heart was now filled with joy.

‘Great! Once I can polymorph, I’ll go wake Frostia right away!’

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

My petals bloomed fully, and the pistils swayed energetically.

Belez, sensing my change, regained their vigor too.

Miel hopped joyfully on my petals.

Her small body radiated happiness.

Cecilia spread her three pairs of wings and flew around, creating a trail of beautiful flames.

Rote’s orbit around me became faster and more harmonious.

And Glacia… finally stood up, stretched her wings, and yawned.

Oh… it’s been a while since she’s fully woken up…

I felt sorry for her, as she seemed sluggish because I had been depressed for so long.

Belez was clearly influenced by my emotions.

‘Sorry, guys. For being so depressed for so long…’

But Belez didn’t seem to resent me at all; instead, they appeared happier.

For them, my happiness was enough.

‘Okay, let’s go clean the labyrinth for the first time in ages!’

A new energy surged through me.

At that moment, my Domain Control Radar detected a group of humans.

‘Hmm? Who is it?’

Focusing, I saw seven humans entering the fork in the path of the deeper layer.