First Steps and Honey Havoc
Honey... I greeted them, but the humans still stood there with their mouths agape, frozen in place. As if time itself had stopped. Are they loading...? I muttered to myself in frustration. Their faces were so hilarious it was hard to hold back my laughter. Especially Liandel—his eyes were bulging like they might pop out. Next to him, Roderick, drawing on years of experience, subtly shifted his hand toward his sword in caution, while Levy and Karl's mouths hung open without closing. Elina covered her mouth with both hands, lost in shock, and Terry blinked repeatedly, unable to accept reality. The only one unfazed was the dwarf Torben, stroking his beard with an intrigued expression as he observed me.
I decided to stand up. Slowly... carefully... Even centering my body was no easy task. As a flower, I could just root myself in the ground, but now I had to stand on two legs. Center of gravity... center of gravity... I tensed my calves, straightened my knees, lifted my thighs... Who knew raising my body would be this complicated? When I finally stood, I felt a bit dizzy. The world seemed to spin. Ugh...
Instinctively, I took a step forward. In that moment, a sensation both familiar and alien swept through me. Hng... My chest swelled with emotion. The simple human ability to walk wherever I wanted felt profoundly moving right now. Finally...!
Just as I tried to take another step—
"Eek!"
My body wobbled, balance slipping. I quickly stomped to steady myself, but regaining these forgotten sensations would take time. Standing up, everyone around me looked much taller. Especially Roderick—he seemed twice my size. Even the dwarf Torben was a bit bigger than me. I looked up at them. I'll... grow more, right...? I fiddled with the hem of my dress, thinking. I seemed shorter than 140cm...? After evolving into the Dominant Thanatos Crown, I'd been much larger than humans, but becoming human made me this small—an irony. I'd hoped to shrink upon evolution... but human form was too small! Ugh...
Ah! Right! I'm only six years old! Thinking about it, for a six-year-old, this height was ridiculously tall. Wait, did that mean I'd grow a ton more...? No way! I want to stay smaller than Master! Grrr...
Deep in serious height worries, Cecilia on my shoulder flapped her wings, tickling my nape. The sensation made me burst out laughing.
"Heehee. That tickles~"
The humans' faces grew even more shocked at my voice. Liandel's hand trembled faintly. Their reactions were so funny I grinned.
"A-Are you... Seraphina Bloom?"
As the silence dragged on awkwardly, Levy snapped out of it and spoke.
"That's what everyone seems to call me, but my name's Ricoris." I answered with a smile. I wondered how my voice sounded to others. Not the wind through petals, but a real voice from my mouth. It felt funny and amazing.
"To think you'd perform a polymorph—something even legendary dragons are said to do..." Liandel muttered in disbelief.
Legendary dragons... Hearing that made my heart swell. I was becoming more like Master. I felt happier, resembling her more and more. She'd be thrilled to see me now, right? Meanwhile, having finished inspecting me, Glessia was rolling the now-empty orb I'd absorbed around playfully. Liandel's eyes shook violently at the sight. Clearing his throat, he spoke cautiously.
"Um... that Frenel Orb was a treasure of the Golden Tower. Kept in the tower for thousands of years, brought specially for this commission..."
Sadness and bewilderment filled Liandel's eyes. The orb I'd absorbed must have been incredibly valuable. But I stood tall.
"You all fled from monsters, right? Without me, you'd be dead anyway, and the orb would have rolled around the labyrinth until my bugs brought it to me. So it was fated to be mine regardless."
"Just think of it as trading one doomed orb for your lives."
The humans seemed speechless at my bold declaration. Levy stared at me with wide eyes. Even I thought that was pretty smart. I felt incredibly proud. Right then, my status window chimed.
「Polymorph」
Takes on a human form. Some skills are altered or restricted.
Whoa... this time it's super late notifying me? What a weird system. And 'some skills altered or restricted'... That's why my Territory Domination Radar isn't working right. I figured I'd test the other skills. First, the evolved Dark Root Protrusion—now Dark Root Thicket.
Imagining roots, black tendrils surged from the ground at my will.
"Gah!"
The humans startled and backed away. Their reactions were fun, so I made more. Roots danced in the air like tentacles, sprouting suddenly from below—but they were definitely mine, feeling like extensions of my body. I controlled them freely, then willed them gone, and they vanished instantly.
Whoa, real magic! I clapped in delight. Miel on my head flapped in sync with my joy. Cecilia's flame wings glowed brightly, flapping rhythmically. As the roots disappeared, the humans relaxed. Why are they so scaredy-cat?
Next, pollen. Thinking of healing pollen, green specks scattered from my hair. It felt just like when I was a flower. Perfect. Good good.
"Whoa..."
The humans marveled at the cavern filled with pollen. Now for the evolved Sweet Nectar—Elysian Essence Honey. Where did it come from? As a flower, from the pistil—but in human form?
Hmm, where...? Picturing the pistil's equivalent made my cheeks burn. No way it'd come from there! Hand seems natural? I raised a hand, cupping my palm and focusing. Honey... honey... come out...
Nothing. But my lower belly felt heavy. Something... weird? N-No way... Then a slow trickle downward... W-W-W-Wait...!
My panties grew wet.
Aaahhhhhh!!! Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!
No! It really came from here!!! My face burned crimson.
"Hm?"
"Huh!?"
"Suddenly so sweet..."
The humans tilted their heads, making it even more mortifying. But the real problem was my bugs, excited by the honey's scent.
"Wait!"
Miel tugged my hair and dove toward my skirt. Glessia dropped the orb and buzzed over. Hundreds of bugs swarmed toward my skirt. Only Cecilia and Lote ignored the honey.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!"
Screaming, I bolted for the deepest chamber. Legs still unfamiliar, but instinct moved them. The stunned humans just stared.
"Humans! Stay there!"
My bugs chased fiercely! Especially Glessia—her size matching mine made her terrifying. Had I ever run this fast in my past life? No! Never!
Bzzz! Skitter skitter!
The wingbeats and crawls closed in. At this rate, they'd catch me.
"Shoo!! Get awaaaaaay!!!"
Bzzz! Skitter!
Ignoring me, they pursued madly. I'd barely made honey lately from depression—they were starving.
"Sorry for no honey lately! But I can't give any like this!!!"
Nearing the depths, my legs tangled.
"Ack!"
I pitched forward, face-planting on the ice. Owie... It didn't hurt—defense stats worked fine. But now the bugs had me. Oh right! Quick!
"Polymorph!!!!!"
Imagining flower form, I shouted. Please! Work now! My body glowed red, black mist erupting. Human limbs melted, elongating into stem and roots. My small body expanded to original size. Long hair rose into petals. Balance snapped firm—from unstable legs to rooted stability. Free from human limits, I sensed all around again. Like shedding tight clothes—refreshing.
Phew... Here, eat up!
I produced tons of honey; bugs swarmed the flower's center.
Lick lick! Lick lick! Lick lick!
Haa... Bugs devouring my honey... Glessia's massive maw occasionally shoving in. Ha... too panicked to think of reverting... But honey really from there? Too much! I'll never make honey as human...
…
After feeding the bugs, I polymorphed back to human. Too embarrassed to return upstairs.
"Ha... shouldn't have told them to wait..."
Why'd I say that...? Since I was here, I explored the depths. Walking slowly, I looked around. Expecting treasures and decorations, it was surprisingly neat.
"Wow..."
I gasped. Fitting Master's lair—beautifully minimalistic and elegant. Walls of sparkling blue ice with faint silver patterns, like dawn light. Ceiling dangled ice crystals like a starry sky. Mirror-smooth floor reflected me perfectly. I admired my face—prettier than expected. Red eyes, black hair... really me?
Miel fluttered beside me, guiding a direction. There, a large door.
"What's this?"
Opening carefully revealed Master's treasure vault. My jaw dropped.
"Whoaaa..."
The room brimmed with treasures: gold, jewels, magic items, especially weapons. Ornate armors, elegant staves, cool swords, jewelry...
"Yeah, the stuff I gave Seraphina and Beatrice was definitely low-tier..."
Up close, far superior gear everywhere. I admired for a while. Lots looked amazing, but nothing suited me. Jewelry too big for my size, swords and staves oversized. Short height's crime...
Flap flap!
Miel flapped at a small display in the corner.
"Found something?"
A red-glowing sword—smaller than others, perfect for me. I picked it up carefully. Silver hilt with red gem, red aura on blade. Status popped up.
◈ Dagger forged by the ancient lich Asterix from blood.
"Crimson Bind...?"
My eyes widened—the name matched my main skill Crimson Apocalypse! Asterix was unknown, but blood-forged? That's me! This is it!
Swinging it felt light and easy. Perfect for my new body. Dagger used as sword, but long for one!
"I'm taking this. Master said use the vault freely!"
Miel flapped agreement. Bugs seemed happy too. Leaving the vault, I explored more. Along the corridor, a small side passage.
"Where's this go?"
Curiosity led to a prettily decorated small room—unlike the rest, full of red decorations. Red gems and magic patterns on walls, small hole in floor.
"This is..."
Probably where I'd slept frozen. Seeing Master's careful setup touched me. How precious I was to her. From hunting mid-layers to this growth—all thanks to her. Bugs stronger, levels up, skills and traits galore.
"No time to hide from embarrassment."
Honey fiasco was mortifying, but not the priority.
"Gotta wake Master!"
Resolved, I strapped Crimson Bind securely. Bugs' eager eyes on me.
"Okay, who stays behind?"
Waking Master important, but guarding home too. Can't forgive burglars.