episode_0009

Foggy Forest, Day 5.

Morning broke.

Even if one stayed quietly indoors, it was easy to discern whether it was morning or night through the plants’ perspective.

And then.

Gurgle.

Stomachs growled.

It wasn’t my stomach that made the sound.

Teo.

Sheria.

Floren.

The three humans each clutched their stomachs.

Unlike Albertho, who was half plant, these three were human. They had woken up after a good rest but had nothing to eat.

Humans in need of a meal.

They seemed anxious.

Soon enough, Teo, the only male, spoke up as the spokesperson.

“I… It’s embarrassing, but may we ask for something to eat?”

“There’s none.”

“I see…”

Desperate eyes.

Seeing that, I thought.

What if I make some fruit?

If I convert about 99% of the fruit Shaela ate into food, it wouldn’t be a big loss. It should be enough to fill their stomachs.

As I entertained this thought, Sheria opened her mouth as if angered.

“Don’t lie! You live here alone. There’s no way you don’t have stored food. You’re just being stingy!!”

She pointed to a corner of the house.

There, a toxic fruit had grown on top of the Shaela fruit.

“You’re going to eat that, right? It’s right there in plain sight, so what do you mean there’s nothing? Are you saying it’s not ripe enough?”

My recent thoughts vanished entirely.

An uncomfortable anger filled the space.

The yellow-haired woman.

Sheria.

In a moment of crisis, she insulted her comrades and tried to manipulate me.

Now, she showed no gratitude, only resentment.

Perhaps it was because I didn’t accept yesterday’s offer.

I don’t like it.

Sigh-

“What, what is it? Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong-”

“Sheria!! Stop. We’re in a rescued position.”

“Ha. Floren… Shut up!! I’m the one speaking as the representative. We’re not going to starve. We’re trying to get food! That’s why I’m saying this!! If you were going to help, you should have helped properly.”

“You really!!-”

What should I do?

They started fighting amongst themselves.

The rising anger that was incomprehensible also quickly subsided.

Perhaps Teo sensed my feelings; he intervened promptly to stop them.

“Both of you, stop! There’s nothing good about us fighting amongst ourselves. Let’s calm down first.”

“Fine!! Don’t talk to me when you annoy me.”

“Hahaha… The kid has become sensitive. Please forgive generously.”

“I’m sorry. Our comrade caused trouble. Please, release your feelings.”

Sheria retreated angrily, and Teo and Floren apologized on behalf of me.

However, I still didn’t like the situation itself.

I even contemplated killing them, to the point where such thoughts revolved around me.

But….

Honestly, I don’t feel inclined to do so.

Even if I’ve become a monster, my humanity hasn’t completely disappeared.

Saving Shaela is proof of that.

Being unable to control anger simply means lacking intellect. There’s no need to become an irrational being who acts based on fleeting emotions.

Let’s think rationally.

There’s nothing worth killing for yet.

Instead.

“Second chances won’t be given.”

“Yes?… Yes. Thank you.”

Afterward, a silent atmosphere prevailed.

Silence flowed.

No.

Gurgle.

Stomachs growled.

It’s a responsibility I can’t continue to neglect, so I stood up and headed outside.

“Where are you going?”

“To find food.”

“Oh! I’ll help too.”

“You’re in the way. Stay put.”

“Pardon?”

“If you don’t want to be driven away, think about how you can help before you come back. I don’t plan on carrying dead weight with me.”

“…Understood.”

Teo nodded slightly.

I have no intention of volunteering. If they’re not helpful, I will drive them away.

Whether they will be of any help to me remains to be seen, but that’s their problem to figure out.

Let’s go hunting.

*

Thud!

“Kwahh!!”

Slashing at the bear-like monster with a sword, but its massive size made the wounds superficial.

“Just picked it up for nothing.”

This was the sword used by Teo’s comrade. Although I had retrieved it after storing it in separate pieces, my skills were lacking to handle it.

Therefore,

Thwack!!

Swoosh!!

“Kwaaah!?”

Extending the body’s tendrils, I subdued it with poison. After dodging its struggling attacks a few times, it collapsed dead on the ground.

Squelch…

Absorbing the dissolved monster’s nutrients.

Abundant nourishment.

Overflowing mana.

It was the best meal for me.

As I buried the incinerated tendrils nearby and focused on the main stem, even if I transferred my consciousness to an avatar, I could feel everything about the main body anytime, anywhere. In other words, I am constantly monitoring the rescued humans.

The tree stem house.

They are currently conversing.

I eavesdropped on their conversation.

“How can you be so cruel? Aren’t you even a bit remorseful!?”

“Enough. How long will you blame others?”

“Blame others? So this is my fault? If you guys had done a little better—”

“Sheria!!! Please stop. If you hadn’t been so greedy for points, we wouldn’t be in this mess. It’s all because of you!!”

“Hah!… On the contrary, if you had followed my advice, we would have succeeded. You should have listened to me earlier!!”

Sheria and Floren are arguing.

The man sighed.

He looked quite exhausted.

They are truly kind-hearted folks.

It would be easy to solve the problem by simply killing Sheria, but they refrain from doing so.

Grrr~

“Fine. When is that person coming? I’m starving to death here.”

“Watch your words. If it weren’t for that person, we would have died long ago. Don’t speak carelessly and put us in harm’s way.”

“What’s with you? Are you so thrilled to be rescued by some primitive wearing strange clothes?”

“Do you keep talking like that?”

“Whatever. I’m hungry~”

Seemingly tired, Sheria rubbed her stomach and glanced around. However, her gaze landed on the Shaela fruit above, a dark red poisonous fruit.

In a flash,

Did she come up with a good idea?

“Hey, let’s eat that.”

“What?”

“A couple won’t hurt. You’re not going to count every single fruit, right?”

“You really…”

In short, they plan to steal and eat the Shaela fruit.

They keep pushing the boundaries.

Somewhat bewildered, I watched silently.

That’s a poisonous fruit.

Swish.

Sheria moved towards the fruit.

“I guess I should eat that. It might help ease my anger.”

Chomp!

Floren grabbed Sheria’s wrist.

“Stop! There’s a reason we have no food. Don’t just move as you please.”

“Ugh. Look at this, Floren. I made a suggestion, but you’re opposing it again.”

“This isn’t about opposition.”

“Bull. Then I’ll just eat it alone.”

Smack!!

Pushing his hand away, Sheria reached for the fruit.

In the end, he ate the poisonous fruit.

Thud.

Vomit.

“Ugh… Not very tasty.”

Isn’t it ironic?

I warned them and promised to get new food, yet Sheria casually ignored it and ate the poisonous fruit without knowing what it could do to her body.

“Is it undercooked? Why does it taste so bad?”

Thud~

She ate another poisonous fruit.

Without hesitation.

Thanks to them, their fate was sealed.

I said there wouldn’t be a second chance.

She lightly dismissed it.

That guy is a hindrance no matter what.

Helping such a person is something I cannot tolerate even from a humane perspective.

With that thought, I grew and moved the main stem of the ceiling.

Swoosh!!

Crash!!

“Kkiyah!!?….”

The stem growing from the ceiling struck Sheria, hitting her forehead, causing her to fall backward.

“What….”

“Stem?….”

While they were surprised, I struck the stem again.

Boom!!

“Kk!?”

Rolling over and over.

Shelia rolled on the ground.

Next, she gathered stems and formed them into human form.

Even after Shaela’s death, whenever bored, she practiced her voice.

“Get out right now. Before I kill you.”

“Gulp!!… M-Monster!!! Aaaah!!!!”

Thud!!

Before she could say more, Shelia got up, pondered for a moment, and fled.

“What, what just happened?”

“Shelia!!”

No need to kill her.

She’ll die somewhere in the misty forest anyway. No need to dirty my hands.

That way would be more despairing.

Swoosh.

“Stems!… Floren!! We need to get out too!!!”

“Ugh… Dammit!!!”

Thud!

The remaining comrades all fled.

It’s over.

Food.

Kindness.

Help.

I have nothing to offer.

They were worthless fellows.

I’ve shown enough mercy. Let them be torn apart and die somewhere.

“…Guess I need to rest.”

But still not feeling good.

Ordered Alberto’s body to return on its own and came back to my main body.

Today, I rested.

Silent house.

Quiet again.

Because I’m alone.

Thump.

Alberto’s body returned.

I stood it in a corner and contemplated.

By now, are they all eaten by monsters?

Wriggle~

Shaela’s fruit began to sprout.

As usual, stroking it with a stem felt invigorating.

“…Wake up soon, even you.”

Drip….

Injected nutrients absorbed from the ground.

However, the fruit ripens slowly.

Unlike the half-plant doppelganger, Shaela seemed like a separate organism. It might take another 10 days for her to awaken.

Also… whether fortunate or problematic.

Despite lacking nutrients, the fruit is turning red.

In other words, Shaela will wake up in exactly 10 days.

How will you react then?

I don’t know.

After tending to the fruit, I sat there blankly.

As always.

Boring.

Tedious.

Lonely.

Swoosh~

Gathered extra stems together. It’s good to focus on something when in this state.

Thought about my physical body.

I am.

A core like a bean.

Surrounded by stems.

Numerous stem fragments.

Doppelganger Alberto.

This is how I’m divided.

The bean-like core is subtly growing as it absorbs nutrients, emanating an extraordinary power beyond just compressed nutrients and mana.

Ultimately, my essence lies in this small core.

Strength.

Control.

Influence of the stems.

All depend on the core. In simple terms, it’s a vessel of strength. The larger it grows, the stronger I become. If I protect the core, even if I lose the stems, I can quickly recover.

For reference, right now it’s about the size of three beans.

Moreover.

Stems connected to the core, like my body.

Separated stems at my will.

Can regulate growth.

Bear fruit.

Imitate other plants and change properties like my current treehouse.

I can directly control Alberto’s body and command it with my will when not doing so.

An intermediary between the core and separated stems.

Simply put, a doppelganger.

“A doppelganger….”

Suddenly, a crazy idea struck me.

What if I create more doppelgangers?

There’s no harm in trying.

Having more intermediate bodies can rapidly expand my domain. With a larger territory, the daily nutrient absorption will increase.

Swoosh!

Gathered stems into human size.

Thump.

Focused on the core sensation.

Like when bearing fruit.

Creating Alberto.

Enveloping Shaela.

Let’s create my new body.

Woosh~

Some stems clustered and merged.

Transformed into something else.

A considerable amount of nutrients, mana, and poison were input, and the merged giant stem changed in nature, gradually becoming a deep green.

Compared to Shaela’s fruit, it’s significantly less, but I administered more nutrients than to Alberto.

Thus, a new body was conceived.

Fruit gazed at quietly.

Shaela’s fruit.

Next to it, the fruit gestating a new body.

This fruit is scheduled to be born a week earlier than Shaela’s fruit.

I don’t know.

What outcome will this bring?

However, it is clear that a much stronger body will be born than Alberto’s.

Then Alberto’s body will become useless.

…It becomes useless.

So, would it be better to reabsorb it?

No, it’s better to feed on it with determination.

The size of power is not important for expanding the domain.

As I pondered over this carefully.

Thud!!

“Help me!! Please!! Please save me!!!”

An abrupt voice.

Someone came to the door.

A familiar voice.

It was Sherrya’s voice, the one who ran away earlier.

For some reason, she had returned alone, seeking help from me.

Squish!

Realization!!

She tries to force the door open.

Of course, it didn’t open.

A desperate sight.

“I was wrong. Please!! I’ll do anything you want. I’ll lick if you want me to lick, and I’ll give my body if you want it!! Please save me!!!”

There was no trace of her previous arrogant attitude. She was mentally cornered.

What could she have experienced outside?

Obvious.

She must have encountered a monster.

She must have been shocked by the loss of strength.

She managed to come back here.

No, maybe this is the only place to go.

Well.

It’s not worth worrying about.

The answer is already decided.

Approaching the door, I repeated the warning from before so that she could hear it.

“Get lost. If you don’t want to die.”

If she was being chased by a monster.

I am willing to become a monster too.