Nis 2: Heart-Pounding Reunion
My heart pounded. 'Master!' How long had it been? Her longed-for silver hair sparkled beautifully. And the person next to her...
【Nis】
Yormungand
LV□□□
'As expected, 7 stars! Level hidden!' Nis... That was the name I'd heard back when I became the manager and spent sweet times with Master in the labyrinth. The ruler of another great labyrinth, I think... And if it's Yormungand, her true form must be a massive snake...?
"Oh my! What exquisite beauty!"
A voice I'd never heard before echoed out. Elegant yet brimming with playfulness. Nis's crimson eyes sparkled.
"These ruby-like petals, this pitch-black stem, and this graceful form... Frostia, where on earth did you find this child?"
'Hehe.' My petals flushed pink without me even realizing it. To receive such lavish praise...
"Hold on a moment."
Nis suddenly stared at me with a hardened expression.
"No way... Is it really a flower?"
"Yes."
At Master's curt reply, Nis blinked in astonishment.
"I thought... you were someone pretty like a flower..."
'Huh?' What did that mean? Anyway, I should greet Master first.
Master, welcome!
A smile spread across Master's lips as my roots carved letters into the floor. But Nis beside her burst into even louder laughter.
"Oh my! Writing words? What kind of magic is this? And the handwriting is so cute too?"
Th-thank you...?
Nis's eyes widened even more as my roots etched more words into the floor.
"Th-this! A flower writing letters with its own will!?"
A proud smile graced Master's lips.
"That's why I said she's special."
'Heehee. Special...'
"I can't believe it... Oh, sorry. I was just so shocked... I'm Nis, ruler of Desmeer."
Nis still looked stunned but greeted me elegantly.
'Ah! Right, Desmeer!' The abyssal labyrinth in the deepest ocean, one of the eight great labyrinths. So she was its ruler... Of course, all I knew about Desmeer Labyrinth was that it was in the deep sea.
It's an honor to meet you!
My roots trembled slightly. Nis circled around me, observing closely.
"Wait, what's that over there?"
Her gaze turned to the bugs cowering in the corner. As the Frost Moss fluttered its wings in greeting and approached, Nis jumped back in alarm.
"Eek! B-bugs!"
Nis, it's okay! They're good bugs!
The girl butterfly circled around the now-seated Nis. The other bugs began gathering one by one.
"Frostia! What in the world...!"
"Ricoris's subordinates."
"Huh? Subordinates?"
Nis stared at Master in shock.
"You... have this many subordinates? Hundreds of them...!"
"I said they're Ricoris's subordinates, not mine."
Master corrected her coolly. Nis stared blankly at the bugs for a long while before snapping back to reality.
"Hmm...! These petals are truly stunning. Like blood-red hue. And this stem's sheen... Oh, and these roots' sharpness too! Frostia, you've raised her so well."
Nis examined every inch of me again.
'Hehehe...' My whole body wanted to twist in delight. Am I that weak to compliments...?
Master wore a satisfied expression.
"Of course. She's my child."
That's right!
"By the way, is this honey? Let me just..."
'Eek!' Nis lightly touched my sensitive spot. Pollen burst out involuntarily. Too stimulating from someone so strong!
"Oh! Such a cute reaction!"
"Nis, stop toying with her..."
"Aw, Frostia, you asked me to teach polymorph and now..."
My imaginary ears perked up. Right! Master brought Nis here for me!
C-can I become human like you and Master too?
"Hmm... For a plant-type monster's polymorph, you should've asked the World Tree."
Nis shot Master a cold glare.
She couldn't tell I was a plant!?
"Do I look like I know the World Tree?"
At Master's words, Nis pondered briefly.
"Fair point. Anyway, your mana is overflowing and your intelligence is high, so..."
My petals fluttered in anticipation. Master watched Nis tensely too.
"You'll need about seven hundred years."
What...?
"It's too early yet. Trying polymorph now would shatter your body. Your mana's density is still unstable..."
Seven hundred years... My petals drooped in disappointment.
"See? What did I tell you."
Nis shook her head at Master's words.
"Seven hundred years is actually fast. Most need a thousand... This child's growth speed is astonishing."
"Hmm..."
Nis's eyes sparkled as if struck by an idea.
"Actually... there is a faster way."
Really!?
My heart raced. Please! Seven hundred years is too long!
"Yes~ To transform into human form... Absorbing human mana is the fastest."
Human... mana...?
A chill settled in my chest. That meant...
"Right. Kill humans and steal their mana."
Master's cold voice rang out.
"Shall I fetch some from the nearest village?"
N-no!
I hurriedly carved words with my roots.
Please don't go that far...
'Just for polymorph, killing innocent people...' The bugs, oblivious to my feelings, writhed as if ready for battle. Of course, if they were bad humans... Yeah, enemies are fair game... But I didn't want to harm innocents just for polymorph. Memories of my human past life lingered...
'Even Michael, who loves slaughter, wouldn't want senseless killing.'
Right...?
"Oh my, how kind!"
Nis chuckled playfully.
"But you really want polymorph that badly, huh?"
Yes... but not like that...
"Alright. Shall we look for another way then?"
Nis's eyes gleamed suspiciously, like a snake eyeing prey.
'Eep.'
But her gaze quickly shifted behind me.
"Oh, and what's this?"
Cecilia, sensing the conversation wrapping up, flapped over.
'Chance for a mood shift!'
Ah! My daughter Cecilia!
"Daughter!?"
Nis looked utterly shocked again.
'Her reactions are spot-on...' She seemed like a total social butterfly, the type who'd befriend anyone. In contrast, our Master...
"Hm. A butterfly now."
No detailed explanation, total opposite! How did they even become friends...?
Lost in thought, I spaced out briefly, then felt two gazes. Oops!
Yes! She evolved a few days ago!
Cecilia shyly flapped her wings. Nis still looked stunned, but Master seemed unfazed.
And Cecilia started as an ice monster egg! Frost Lunaris left it behind...
As I spoke, Cecilia fluttered around us.
At first, when she hatched, she only wanted to eat my petals, which worried me. But she kept eating the poisoned ones, got addicted to the toxin... I'd save her with healing pollen each time, eat and save, eat and save... Then one day, she burned the poison with flames and became this pretty butterfly!
"Oh my, such a grueling process? Mastering fire to overcome poison..."
Nis looked at Cecilia anew, her eyes intrigued like a scholar eyeing a specimen.
Yes! She got poisoned every day but never gave up! I kept saving her, and before I knew it, she grew this strong. Now her flames light up every corner of the labyrinth!
I was rambling more than usual. No one can stop a parent bragging about their kid...
Sensing my pride, Cecilia proudly spread her wings, scattering tiny flames.
"Hmm..."
Nis's eyes gleamed oddly. Her gaze on Cecilia was deeper, more serious now.
"Pretty."
Master said shortly. But she turned to me and continued.
"But Ricoris is more impressive. Sprinkling healing pollen every day, never giving up... Without you, Cecilia would just be an ordinary fire butterfly by now."
'Master...' Better than a social butterfly who's kind to everyone—someone cold to others but warm only to me! No, dragons are the best!
And there was something even more amazing! A hero and saintess came to the labyrinth...
"What? A hero and saintess?"
Nis furrowed her brow slightly.
"Hah! Humans these days are so arrogant. Venturing to the edge of a great labyrinth without fear."
Beatrice and Seraphina... The hero wielded a silver holy sword, the saintess used divine power. Both were really strong...
"Ricoris, that happened?"
Even Master looked at me in surprise.
Yes! The bugs wanted to fight too, but I thought it was a trial from Michael. The clueless saintess seemed to misunderstand Michael, so I had to set her straight.
"Michael's trial?"
Nis's expression grew even more intrigued.
Yes! So I sent the bugs back and fought alone. Hid their vision with blood mist, attacked with poisoned roots... And in the end, I won!
"You took on a hero and saintess by yourself?"
Admiration colored Nis's voice.
"My instincts were right after all."
Nis flashed a meaningful smile.