The Marketplace, Root of All Evil!
The marketplace is the root of all evil! The more I talked with Iris, the more my head throbbed. What the hell are these rumors! I'm depicted as a total monster! Hundreds of eyeballs dangling from octopus-leg roots—a man-eating plant! I'm a pretty flower! And sucking people's blood on sight, haunting them with nightmares every night... Ridiculous! Without me, your kingdom would've been devoured by Abraksas's cultists!
"Where the hell did you hear that crap!?" I burst out, and Iris flinched before answering.
"Um... mostly at the market. I overheard people chatting when they gathered."
The market! I slapped my knee. So the marketplace really is the root of all evil! The solution's simple then. Head to the market and clear it up myself!
"Alright! Let's go to the market!"
"P-Pardon...? Right now?" Iris's eyes went wide.
"Yeah! Time to judge these idiots!"
"Y-Yes!?" Iris looked utterly terrified. Did "judge" scare her that bad...? I'd just said I wasn't some evil monster...
"No, I mean... just gonna straighten out the rumors."
"Ah...." Iris let out a sigh of relief. But she still looked uneasy.
I hurried from the third floor down to the first-floor banquet hall. Iris trailed cautiously behind, asking, "Will it really be okay? What if people get even more scared?"
"It's fine! Once they see me, they'll know how nice I am!" I replied confidently. Super simple! Just go say, "I'm Ricoris, not an evil monster!" and done!
I flung open the banquet hall doors and shouted, "Owner! Be right back!"
But...
"Huh?"
The hall was empty. Well, two servants were cleaning, but that was it.
"Where is everyone!?" I yelled louder, and from down the hall, I spotted Cecilia flying in on Glessia. Her flame-red hair fluttered in the wind—adorable as ever.
"Momma!" Cecilia beamed and landed in front of me. Glessia's massive wings whipped up a gust, fluttering my dress.
"Where's Owner?"
"Gwanny went walkies with Auntie-Gwanny!"
Ah, off strolling the gardens with Nis, huh? She hasn't seen the whole lair yet.
"No sign of Levy or Liandel either?"
"Wevy an' Wianny went to dey woom!"
Eh, no need for them anyway. Better to zip out alone and back quick.
"Okay, I'll be right back!"
"Me too!" Cecilia popped up on Glessia, arms shooting sky-high.
"Huh? Wanna come out?"
"Yeah! Wif Momma!"
Her sparkling eyes made it impossible to say no. Plus, with Cecilia around, her cuteness and innocence would charm them way faster than me solo!
Flutter flutter! Miel swooped in from somewhere, circling my head.
"Sweet! Everyone together!" Glessia blinked her big eyes happily too. Lote must still be with Nis. "Let's roll!"
We headed to the lair entrance. The guards spotted me and freaked, scrambling. "R-Ricoris! Where to so suddenly...!"
"Uh... going out, ma'am?"
"Yup! To the market!"
"The market? We'll prep a carriage!"
Huh? My carriage already here? Nah, it was a different one. Makes sense—not here yet. Takes over a month from that barren old land, and the horses turned into pigs anyway.
Still, fancy ride. White base with silver trim—posh. But compared to my gold-embellished royal carriage... meh. Liked the crest though: red flower ringed in ice crystals. Totally me and Owner!
"So coow! Momma an' Gwanny!" Cecilia gushed at the emblem.
"Right? Got taste!" Can't wait to engrave this on mine when it arrives. No—fancier! Gold thread, gems embedded!
The coachman politely opened the door. Spacious and cushy inside. The carriage rolled out smooth.
Cecilia used Glessia as a stepstool, nose smooshed to the window, sightseeing. Poor Glessia...
Flutter flutter! Miel yanked a hair and scribbled in the air.
Oh yeah! Forgot my SS-rank one! Hmm... Lote upgrade means national power level, but SS for now's fine.
"Yeah, swing by the guild too."
"Lady Ricoris, adventuring?" Iris asked, intrigued.
"Yup! One-of-a-kind SS-rank adventurer!"
"SS-rank...?" Iris looked dubious.
Sigh... Word of the only SS-rank doesn't spread, but weird rumors do.
"Momma! Wotsa peopwe!" Midway, gloomy, Cecilia pointed out the window, yelling.
Market nearing. Crowds thickening, shops everywhere. Fish grilling, bread baking, spices—scents flooding the carriage.
It halted at the market square. Fancy carriage draws eyes, murmurs rising.
"Noble at the market?"
"New crest?"
"Ice and flower...? That house exist?"
Curious voices. All wondering who'd step out.
Coachman opened the door; I descended regally. Eyes locked on me instantly. Familiar whispers.
"Whoa... stunning."
"Which house's lady?"
"Eyes... red?"
"Bet she's engaged..."
Yeah yeah, super pretty, right? No way I'd be a monster!
Then Cecilia flew in on Glessia.
"Eek!"
"Wh-what monster!"
"That kid taming it...?"
Moods flipped. Glessia's sheer intimidation.
But some reacted different.
"That hornet... from the guild last time?"
"Yeah! S-rank left it!"
"So the cute kid...?"
They'd seen Glessia. Nobody saw me? I wandered the capital too! And it's SS, not S! And me, not Cecilia!
Sigh...
"You idiots!"
All eyes on me. Murmurs hushed. Like spotlight on stage.
"I saved your country from Abraksas cultists! So why the rumors!"
They panicked, glancing around. Whispers erupted.
"Beat Abraksas cultists?"
"That happen...?"
"Noble district cult sweep! That it?"
One timidly asked, "Um... who are you?"
Chance! Reveal time!
"Ricoris!"
Some screamed, fleeing. "Agh! Ricoris!" "Run!" Others froze solid, petrified.
Ugh, seriously! I just said I saved you!
"Listen! Came to clear up your dumb bullshit rumors!"
Quiet settling. Eyes darting, whispers.
"S-so... blood-sucking's a lie?"
One quavered.
"Uh, I do drink blood... just did before coming."
Terror faces, trembling like death loomed.
"No! I don't kill people willy-nilly for it!"
One regained wits, whispering, "Then... tried eating the prince, so he knelt? True?"
"Nope! Uh... I said kidnap prince, got lair instead?"
Faces stiffened again. Hmm... explaining's making it worse? Like gunman turns out sword-wielding...
What now...! Oh, right! Michael's apostle!
"Hold up! I'm Michael's apostle—watch my power!"
Faces softening. Good!
"Hya! Divine whatchamacallit, body-lightening power!"
Arms out dramatically to crowd, posing epic. But... nothing. Just awkward pose.
...Huh? Oh yeah, holy power sealed! But seal should've lifted by now? Why not!
They eyed my flop, slinking away. No! More weird rumors incoming!
Iris whispered close, "Lady Ricoris... show your true form? Seeing that beautiful flower might reassure them."
Genius! Foolproof!
"Humans! Think I'm some thousand-eyed octopus!? Behold my true self!"
Polymorph
Dark-red mist enveloped me. It cleared, revealing my gorgeous flower: ruby petals blending red and pink, long violet stamens, glossy black stem... Sunlight made me sparkle, utterly fantastical.
Domain radar scan: crowd's eyes wide.
"Whoa..."
"A real flower!"
"So beautiful!"
Phew, working! Iris gawked too. You suggested it—didn't believe? Or just stunned by my beauty? Yeah, admit it!
They edged closer. "Shapeshifting—amazing!" "Rumors twisted, huh?" "Yeah! If true, we'd be dead!"
Success! Plan working!
Then—buzz buzz! Glessia excitedly flapped, charging me.
? Why!? What!
Tongue out toward my stamens. Ah! Nectar! You crazy bitch—no nectar!
Glessia's lunge unbalanced Cecilia on her back. "Wahh!" Tiny body wobbling midair.
No! Cecilia!
I shot up multiple roots. Thwack! One smacked Glessia's head; another caught Cecilia safe.
But Cecilia's way stronger—no fall damage. Just her cuteness tricked me into overreacting.
Problem: hasty roots spiderwebbed the market pavement, wrecking stalls. Fruit stands toppled—tomatoes, apples flying. Splat red juice, oranges rolling. Baker's sign smashed by root, fish tank spilled icy water everywhere.
"Agh!" "Run!" "We're dead!"
Screams, scattering.
Uh...? Not like this...
I shifted back human, surveying the chaos. Dust clouds, debris crashing. Total disaster.
Ah... shit...
Iris trembled alone; others bolted pale-faced. "L-Lady Ricoris..." she quavered, ashen, staring.
This wasn't the plan... not at all...
Cecilia dashed to me. "Momma! Okay?"
"Yeah... you hurt, Ceci?"
"Nope! Momma caught me!"
Her bright grin hugging my leg softened my heart a bit.
Miel fluttered up, scribbling.
"Gyaah!" Not how I meant to clear things up!
Glessia huddled in corner, head clutched. Root hurt, huh?
Still not enough! "You nectar freak!"
Boink!! Knuckled her head.
"Ow!" But my hand hurt! Her shell swelled my fingers red. Shouldn't hit with hand! Forgot already!?
Clutching hand, Cecilia puffed mad, stepping up. "Hmph!"
BOOM!!!! Massive blast; Glessia eyes rolled, collapsed. KO...? Not dead—level unchanged.
"Punished fow Momma!"
"Good job, Ceci!" I petted her head, scanning ruins. Market trashed, people gone, rumors doomed...
Ruined...
"Maybe just live up to the rumors..."