The Manager's Joy and the Saintess's Dream
Ricoris wrote, “Then... is Master my mom too...?” The moment Frostia saw those words, it stirred up old memories. Back in her hatchling days, in the cold ice nest... cold mother dragons who only cared for their young out of duty. Once they grew, all ties were severed... She hated that kind of relationship.
“Hehe... No, that won't do... We'd never get closer that way.”
At first, Frostia had thought she'd just found an unusual subordinate worth bragging to Nis about. But after two weeks of watching Ricoris learn language and command her bugs, that notion had changed. Ricoris was her one and only subordinate, the second-in-command of Sia Kalt Labyrinth. Among the eight great labyrinths—the only one without a manager, an intermediate ruler—Ricoris would claim that spot.
Then, suddenly, Ricoris spewed out an enormous cloud of rainbow pollen and went limp.
“Ricoris?”
No response, like she'd fainted. Surely she wouldn't wither away like those three years ago...?
Right, if I taste her nectar, I can tell her condition.
'Ehehe...' A pink-tinged wave of happy intent seeped into her mind. Overjoyed to the point of fainting? Thrilled at becoming the manager, getting closer to her?
'Hm? But did Ricoris even know what a manager was?'
Come to think of it, she'd written words like traits, status window, stars, levels. She seemed to grasp concepts Frostia didn't know.
Of course she does. Ricoris is a genius.
'She's special, after all.'
'More importantly, I need different blood.'
Frostia gazed at Ricoris's limp form, lost in thought. The Blaze Gargan's blood had been a failure. Whether to show off to Nis or raise her own manager, she needed another way.
'Hm...'
'And Ricoris wants to polymorph...'
Frostia had said it would come naturally after a millennium or so, but she wasn't certain. Capture a polymorph-capable monster, spare it if helpful, feed it to Ricoris if not? Or extract info first and eat it anyway. Perfect plan—fulfill Ricoris's wish and boost her growth.
“Hmph.”
A soft smile crept across her face naturally.
'Ughhh...'
When consciousness returned, the sky shimmered so brilliantly it felt like being inside a rainbow. What was that? All her own pollen...?
'Oh right! Kahahahaha, getting closer!!!'
What the heck?! Was that what she thought it was!?
She glanced slyly at her master.
“Hmph.”
'Eek!'
Pollen nearly burst out again. That killer smile struck her right in the heart! If she had one, it'd be cardiac arrest!
Ricoris wrote, “Master! I'm awake!”
“Good. Ricoris, how did you know about managers?”
'Huh?'
What was that? Never heard it in any game...
“What's a manager...?”
“Huh? Weren't you thrilled thinking you'd become one?”
'Oh?'
Getting closer meant becoming manager...? Sounded like the labyrinth-managing role. Under the ruler? Mid-boss...?
“Manager... like, something that runs the labyrinth?”
“A manager is the position right below the ruler in a labyrinth. The highest among the ruler's subordinates.”
She paused, then added, “Though you're my only subordinate...”
'Ugh...'
Her whole body stiffened. What had she been thinking just now!? Petals flushed pink with embarrassment.
Wait! Something felt off.
'How do a ruler and manager get closer than family!?'
She'd had family in her past life. They fought big and drifted apart, but she knew family warmth.
'Is this an isekai cultural difference...?'
But she wouldn't give up easily!
'Alright... someday... someday I'll seduce Master!'
She shook her petals, steeling her resolve.
“So... how do I become manager?”
“Don't worry.”
Master smiled softly. “You don't have to do anything, Ricoris. I'll handle it all.”
Kuh! If this wasn't romance, what was!?
'Ah? Just a different name...?'
Rulers and managers were always like that, right? Boss and secretary in dramas!
'Heehee!'
As excitement bubbled over becoming manager, a warm sensation crept in.
'Oh, right, that little guy...'
She'd forgotten amid master-talk, turning to the tiny lifeform. The Blaze Lava sluggishly crawled toward her.
A living flame inched closer.
'Uh... you're not gonna set me on fire, right?'
Drunk on forbidden ruler-manager love, now childcare? Larva-rearing?
'But it drank tons of blood and level's still the same?'
She'd assumed blood absorption birth meant rapid growth on blood. No such skill?
What a scrub...
The Blaze Lava slowly climbed her stem.
'Warm...!'
Like a living hot pack! Cute and toasty—you're useful after all. Level gap made it warm? Wouldn't burn when grown, right?
It reached the flower, ignored nectar, and started munching petals.
'Eh...?'
Being eaten felt like gentle scratching.
Oh! Leveled up! Larva grows on leaves?
Then the munching larva writhed in agony.
Ehh, why?
Writhing wildly!
“Ricoris! What's wrong with it!?”
Master's eyes widened more than hers, panicking.
'Dunno...?'
Fierce Poison LV3 skill level has increased.
'Oh right! My body has poison!'
No time to explain. She dumped green healing pollen bombs on the larva.
Sluggish... sluggishly...
'Phew.'
Okay now...?
“Seems fine now. Good thing.”
“My body has poison! Saved it with healing pollen!”
“Hehe... Ricoris is so versatile. Special, as expected.”
'Gah!'
'Special... special...'
Shivers ran through her! Boss and secretary confirmed...!
As she tried showing heart-shaped roots, the larva munched petals again.
'No! Why eat again!'
Writhing!
'You idiot larva!'
She healed it, pondering. Low bug IQ...? But butterfly origins...
It stubbornly ate poisoned petals to hit LV10. More eating raised her Fierce Poison, and it built poison resistance—perfect balance. Endless life tug-of-war! Without her heals, it'd be toast. Her poison and healing pollen leveled nicely. It gained resistance too.
'Oh? Mutual win-win?'
Butterfly smarts predicting this for max gain...?
The larva looked different now.
'You're a genius...?'
Sluggish! It spun silk from its tail, forming a cocoon. Evolution! Day-one evolution!
“Looks like it's pupating already.”
“Yeah!”
She watched intently too.
White silk-wrapped, it swiftly became a red-glowing pupa.
'Whoa...'
Like carved ruby—transparent, perfectly matching her ruby-thought petals. Diamond-sparkled crystalline surface, swirling magma heat inside. Flickering flames pulsed like a heartbeat, warming the air each time.
So toasty...!
Faint moonlight filtered through the temple's stained glass, illuminating two kneeling before the altar. One was the saintess in pure white habit, pink hair sparkling in the light; the other, a hero in silver armor with flowing golden hair.
“Seraphina.”
The hero sighed, calling her old friend's name. “After five years, this is your request...”
Moonlight bathed the silence.
The saintess gently took the hero's hand. “Bea, I know. Timing's awful.”
“You've heard about Geomun Canyon. Monsters raging mad. If I don't go now...”
“But this is Michael's revelation.”
Seraphina's pale purple eyes gleamed desperately. “Every night in dreams: Sia Kalt's snowy peaks, and the flower blooming there...”
“That dream again.”
Beatrice gripped her hand back. “But people are dying now.”
“I can't go alone.”
Seraphina pleaded. “Road to Sia Kalt's too dangerous... Bea, please...”
Beatrice studied her longtime friend. Had the ever-certain saintess's eyes ever burned so urgently? Not even when she suddenly became saintess during knight training as kids.
“...What about that flower?”
“It glows with Michael's divine power.”
Her voice trembled. “Every night... it prays Michael's name like it's alive. Calling me.”
The hero sighed deeply. She knew the saintess's revelations never failed.
But now...
“Geomun...”
Beatrice made a last stand. “Other heroes can handle it.”
Seraphina begged. “But I must meet this flower. My soul feels it. That meeting... it'll be hope for us all.”
Beatrice squeezed her hand. Moonlight softly lit her silver armor.
“...Fine. We'll go together.”
Relief bloomed on Seraphina's face. “Thanks, Bea...”
“But.”
The hero added firmly. “If nothing's there, we head to Geomun immediately.”
“Yes.”
The saintess nodded. “It's there... surely. The flower to save us...”
Moonlight quietly watched them, as if Michael oversaw their journey.