I'm Just a Flower
The room was utterly quiet. Everyone seemed wary of me. I quietly scanned the surroundings. A large desk, a window... and a flowerpot. That was all that stood out. For a city lord's office, it felt surprisingly modest.
There were a few flowers in the pot. Unfamiliar ones, but pretty. I'd never seen their kind before. Looking at them brought a faint smile to my lips.
"Please, have a seat," the City Lord said.
I nodded. Then tilted my head. "But I don't have legs?"
"…"
"Pfft."
"Kh."
"Heh."
The maids and knights standing nearby burst into short laughs. The City Lord stared at me for a good while before finally speaking.
"First of all... thank you for coming to our city. The knights told me you came with the Hero Party."
I nodded. The City Lord smiled gently, like he was soothing a child. His gaze drifted down to my root-like lower half, then back up.
"If I may ask... what was your relationship with the heroes?"
I thought for a moment. Relationship, huh.
"Friends I met a few days ago."
One of the officials coughed softly. Someone stopped writing; another stared at me. The City Lord kept his friendly smile and nodded.
"...I see. Friends you met just a few days ago...."
I nodded quietly. It was the truth. Nothing wrong with that.
"So, were you with them in the Demon King's Castle?"
"Sort of?"
"Then did you witness the moment they defeated the Demon King?"
"No."
The officials' pens suddenly scribbled faster. The scratch of ink on paper filled the air. The City Lord asked slowly,
"So... the Demon King subjugation was a success, correct?"
I started to nod, then hesitated. I'd only heard about it, never seen it myself.
"Probably."
The City Lord wiped the smile from his face and stared at me intently. The shift in atmosphere caught me off guard. The air grew heavy in an instant.
"In that case... what happened to the Ma왕군 간부—the Demon King's executives?"
I toyed with my hair, then reached toward the flowerpot. A fly perched on one of the petals. I gave the flower a slight nudge, sending the fly flying away.
"I flicked them off like this."
The flowers in the pot. The fly on one of them.
"......Did you kill them?"
I recalled my encounters with the executives.
"No."
One official dropped his pen. The City Lord maintained his smile, but his eyes narrowed slightly.
"I see."
He interlaced his fingers.
"The knights called you... the heroes' benefactor."
I pondered that. Was I their benefactor?
I answered honestly. "I'm just a flower."
One knight cleared his throat awkwardly. The City Lord's smile faded.
"......"
That was when the door burst open and a soldier rushed in.
"Lord! The city...!"
"What is it?"
"Grass...! It's suddenly sprouting up all over the city!"
The soldier waved his hands in the air. An official by the window cried out in alarm.
"Trees are growing now too! A tree just appeared in the square...!"
The officials exchanged glances. The City Lord blinked.
"...Grass?"
"Yes! Between the cobblestones, out of nowhere!"
He gestured wildly. "Like...! This big!"
I pushed past them and approached the window, opening it wide. Outside was just as I'd expected—transformed. Grass sprouting everywhere. More and more green. A huge smile spread across my face. The sunlight felt great. The breeze was perfect. And the grass? Even better.
I hadn't loved plants this much before. Back then, I just enjoyed the leisure of gazing at flowers. But now? It felt strangely wonderful. No reason for it. Just was.
The City Lord looked at me slowly.
"...Do you know what's happening?"
I nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
The officials all turned to me at once. So I answered brightly.
"I did it!"
Silence. Absolute silence.
The officials froze with mouths agape; one knight's hand went to his sword hilt. The City Lord stared at me, same expression as before. But his eyes were different. Slowly. Very slowly. He spoke.
"...Everyone, please leave us."
No one argued. They filed out, and the door closed. Just the City Lord and me now.
He looked at me. No smile this time. Just sharp eyes.
"Let me ask again."
A brief silence passed.
"...Did you really cause what's happening in the city right now?"
I nodded. "Yes!"
I leaned my upper body against the windowsill. Outside looked peaceful. Grass quietly rising from stone cracks, wall bases, shadowy corners. In the square's center, a tree—not too big, not too small—stretched its branches.
"It's growing more!"
"Look over there!"
It wasn't that serious, though. No direct harm to anyone—just trees, grass, and flowers sprouting up. Honestly, what was bad about it? No reason not to feel good. I felt great. So I smiled.
"There wasn't enough grass in the city."
I added, "So I planted a little."
The City Lord said nothing for a long time. His face was grave, but I kept smiling. The sunlight was warm. A gentle breeze blew. I just gazed blankly at the scene.
A small sigh came from behind.
"...Haa."
I didn't turn. I stayed leaning on the window, watching outside. People gathered under the tree in the square's center. Kids played by plucking leaves; lovers exchanged flowers. A beautiful sight. Young grass swayed in the wind. The city... looked oddly nice now. Neat. Like modern landscaping.
The City Lord sighed again.
"...You."
I answered while watching outside. "...Can you do other things too?"
"Yes."
"For example?"
I pulled away from the windowsill and approached the wooden desk. Smooth, with pretty grain. I placed my hand on it. Felt the wood's texture.
In that instant. And the next.
The desk crumbled away. Its form collapsed. Wood splintered, splintered more, splintered endlessly—until it was nothing but dust. Just a pile of sawdust where the desk had been.
"..."
I looked down at my hand. A bit of dust clung to it. I shook it off. The powder drifted to the floor.
"Like this?"
The City Lord was speechless for a while. Silence stretched. His gaze dropped low, then rose again. I turned back to the window. Grass swayed in the breeze. Felt good. So I smiled again.
A faint creak of a chair from behind. The City Lord standing.
"...I see."
Another silence. He exhaled slowly.
"I understand."
His shoulders relaxed a bit. Tension easing. His eyes met mine again. No sharpness now.
"Hahaha...!"
Laughter echoed in the room. After a long moment, he caught his breath.
"My apologies."
But a smile lingered on his lips.
"Just now... didn't you say you were just a flower?"
I nodded. "Yes."
The City Lord's mouth curved up. His face much more at ease than before.
"Not a simple flower, it seems."
I nodded. "A slightly strong one."
I looked outside again. Beyond the city. Past the walls, fields stretched out. The same view from when I'd first entered. What lay at the end of that road? Another city? The Capital? Lots of grass, at least. So I smiled.
"Well, I'll be going then."
"Pardon?"
I added, "It was a nice chat."
The City Lord stared at me briefly. Then he laughed too. Oh, right.
"Tell the Hero Party I went ahead."
I climbed onto the windowsill. And—
Plop.
I threw myself forward. A panicked shout from behind.
"—Wait—"
Wind rushed past. My body fell.
But.
Thud.
I landed lightly. Nearby people froze and stared. Some gaped; others widened their eyes. Whispers of "monster" or "what is that" didn't faze me.
I crossed the city to the opposite gate. The one on the far side from where I'd entered. Leading out of the city. Two guards stood there. They turned to stone at the sight of me.
"...Huh."
"...What?"
They both grabbed their spears at once.
"H-Halt!"
The guards looked me up and down. Their gazes started at my head... and stopped at my roots.
I pointed back into the city, grinning. "Just finished talking with the City Lord."
"...Pardon?"
I smiled. "No need to worry."
The guards glanced at each other. Then back at me. I slipped past the dumbfounded pair and stepped outside the gate.
Beyond lay vast fields. Full of grass, with a forest in the distance. A familiar landscape. Completely different from the stones, walls, and stares of moments ago.
"...Nice."
I murmured softly and glanced back. People gathered on the walls. I gave a light wave. Some flinched; others stayed rigid.
I turned away. No reason to stay. No one holding me back, no reason to linger.
One step. My roots touched soil. In that instant, the grass beneath subtly perked up.
Two steps. The green deepened a shade.
I looked down at it quietly. And chuckled softly.
Felt good. So I just walked on, slowly, toward the swaying green in the breeze.