Volume 9 Chapter 16 Sea of Trees Flower (Part ①)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Princess Kuzuha was strong. Her companions had believed that by following her, they could overcome any obstacle—but this was the enemy’s stronghold. The two pursuers from before had only been scouts; no one could say what might come next. And then there was the Succubus Queen, a threat on her own. Considering the worst-case scenario, Gina wondered if she should stop hiding her skill.
She explained her reasoning, though that wasn’t the true cause of the uneasy silence.
”I’ve never heard of a Unique Skill that changes based on time,” Kuzuha remarked.
Gina nodded, seeming to share the same thought.
”My Unique Skill is apparently a rare one,” she said. “After it awakened, I tried to understand it better—searched through records, studied past cases of Unique Skills. So far, I haven’t found anything like mine.”
”That’s not just rare,” Kuzuha replied. “You’re saying one skill has multiple effects?”
”Well… something like that, yes.”
”Unique Skills are supposed to be single abilities. It’s not normal for one ability to have several powers.”
Her words were sharp but reasonable. Unique Skills came in countless forms, yet it was practically unheard of for one to transform. It was as though Gina possessed multiple skills wrapped into one.
”You can make sense of one Unique Skill used cleverly,” Kuzuha continued. “But multiple effects from a single one… maybe only Heroes with what they call Stellar Skills fit that description.”
”Stellar Skills…?” Gina echoed.
”They’re said to wield powers like the sun itself,” Kuzuha explained. “I don’t know the details, but a single ability gives them a range of powers. Their strength is absurd—like the embodiment of the sun.”
”The embodiment of the sun…? As expected of a Hero. That’s incredible,” Gina said in awe.
Klock’s eyes widened too. Perhaps he had heard of such legends, but it was still astonishing. Heroes were figures of myth—so far removed from ordinary people that they felt unreal.
”You said your Unique Skill awakened,” Kuzuha asked. “When did you first realize it?”
”At twelve. During our exile to the Theocracy… it just awakened then.”
She hadn’t noticed until that age. Klock murmured a quiet “huh,” realizing how different their experiences were. Even if he had told Gina about his skill, it would never have been something they shared equally.
Klock possessed a Unique Skill too—**Bandit (Plunder)**. It was said someone with that same power had existed long ago, and the name had stuck. As for when it awakened, he couldn’t recall. He’d known it since his earliest memories. Like breathing or walking, it had always been part of him.
”So, your ability,” Kuzuha pressed. “You said your shield is all you use, but you can attack too. Why not use that?”
”Well…” Gina faltered.
If she could attack, why hold back? Perhaps she wished to keep it secret. Many chose to conceal their Unique Skills—even from family. Once you got used to hiding them, revealing them felt impossible. Maybe it was simply habit.
Still, keeping it secret forever wasn’t wise. She understood the risk—balancing caution with action was a matter of survival. As someone who also bore a Unique Skill, Klock knew that well.
”Is the second stage of your ability unusable in combat?” Kuzuha asked.
”As you suspect. If I use it, I’d drag the princess and my brother in with me.”
To involve others—did that mean it was powerful? Or uncontrollable?
”Gina,” Kuzuha said calmly, “your question is whether to attack or not, right? You can just use the shield.”
”…Are you sure?”
”There’s no other choice. I don’t mind if you or I die, but he must live.”
”You’ve noticed my ability…?”
”Of course. It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
But it wasn’t obvious to Klock. The young fox princess spoke with effortless confidence, her hair stirring in the breeze, a distant and commanding figure. She seemed impossibly far away—so unlike him. Klock couldn’t help but wonder how someone like him, the son of a mere local lord, had become the husband of a princess. She surpassed him in intellect, judgment, and sheer power. He wasn’t her equal in any sense.
”Why the long face?” Kuzuha snapped.
”Huh? No, nothing—”
Before he could respond, she grabbed his arm.
”My feet are starting to hurt. Carry me again.”
She lifted her arms like a child. It was an unexpectedly cute gesture.
”Carry you? Not a piggyback?”
”Why not? I’m your wife. Carrying me shouldn’t be an issue.”
”Ah—right…”
Even with her small frame, carrying her long-term would be tough. But before he could protest, she drew a symbol in the air—casting magic to lighten the burden. And so, they moved forward, Klock carrying her in his arms.
When he glanced back, he caught Gina smiling warmly, watching them with folded arms. Despite her composed, adult demeanor, there was a tender glint in her eyes—as though she was witnessing something precious.
Kuzuha rested her head against Klock’s chest with a soft *posun*, fitting perfectly into place like a contented fox.
”You smell a little different now,” she murmured. “I can even smell the Succubus on you. It’s annoying.”
”You… remember scents?” Klock asked quietly.
”Of course,” she said, leaning closer. “Your body scent, your clothes, the house, the futon, even the soap you use. I remember all of it.”
A shiver crept up his spine. Maybe all Beastkin were like this.
”After you left,” she continued, “your scent faded from the house. At first, Elna and I still visited—even when you weren’t there. Lona and Rosetta too, making a mess as usual. But lately, no one goes anymore. As your smell disappeared, the house just felt… empty.”
The words struck him like guilt—a loyal creature waiting for someone who never returned.
”I’m sorry,” he said softly. “When I get back, I’ll come home as soon as I can.”
”You’d better,” she replied. “And bring back the Demon Lord’s head. Elna wants to taste its meat.”
”…Wait, what?”
The sheer difference in values left him speechless. How had his future self ever married her? If they ever fought, she might genuinely bite his throat. Maybe divorce wouldn’t be the worst idea after all.
—
”What is this place?” Kuzuha muttered. “What kind of dream creates a landscape like this?”
They stood before a sea of trees—dense, endless greenery filling every inch of sight. It wasn’t just a forest; it was a world swallowed by vegetation.
”This is… quite something,” Gina murmured.
”We have to go through this?” Klock asked.
The air was thick and humid, sweat beading instantly. Even in midsummer, he had never felt such suffocating heat.
”I’ll go first,” Kuzuha declared. “I’ll burn a path.”
At her word, **Foxfire** flared to life. Leaves hissed and darkened, steam rising before turning to ash.
”This will take forever,” she sighed.
”With it so fresh, fire won’t spread,” Gina said. “Let’s just push through. It’s a dream—we won’t get dirty.”
The three forced their way forward, trampling grass and tearing vines. It was miserable, worse than any mountain trail.
”There aren’t any bugs,” Kuzuha noted suddenly. “That’s strange.”
Now that she mentioned it, the silence was uncanny—no gnats, no spiders, nothing. Dreams often shaped themselves around convenience. If there were no insects, perhaps the dreamer didn’t like them… or wasn’t human.
”I have a bad feeling,” Kuzuha murmured.
Klock, honestly, was just relieved there weren’t bugs. If a web hit his face, he’d lose it.
They pressed on until Kuzuha abruptly raised her hand.
”Gina. Battle stance.”
Gina froze, startled. Kuzuha’s tail bristled, eyes fixed on the trees ahead. She had sensed something.
”…Succubus?” Klock whispered.
”I’ve seen this place before,” she said flatly. “Exactly the same.”
”I don’t see the difference,” he muttered.
”I can feel the magic. It’s illusion magic.”
Her tone sharpened. She raised her hand. “I’ll burn this whole area down.”
”Wait—!” Klock lunged, stopping her before she could act. “Fire won’t work here! What are you even trying to do?”
He grabbed her from behind, accidentally pulling her into an embrace—awkwardly close, but necessary. She didn’t resist, just lowered her arm.
Then, her ears twitched.
”Something’s wrong.”
”Huh?”
”I activated my skill—but nothing happened.”
Both Gina and Klock froze.
”What do you mean?”
Kuzuha’s eyes narrowed. “We’re under attack. This is illusion magic—a Unique Skill called *Daydream.*”
”Daydream…?”
”It turns your actions into dreams. Makes you *think* you’re acting when you’re not. One of the worst abilities to face.”
Kuzuha shouted, “Show yourself! I can smell you!”
She hurled a fallen branch ahead. From the thicket came a rustle—a heavy sound, like a creature moving.
Then, a massive flower emerged. A bud the size of a person, pale pink and green. Its petals slowly opened, and Klock whispered in shock:
”…Ms. Melfidis…!!”
Notes:
• Gina – A kind choir member who shows genuine concern for Adelina. She’s a rare ally in this unfamiliar place, offering some comfort and companionship.
• Elna – Female. A young apprentice mage. Her appearance is that of a child with white hair reaching her shoulders. She wears a black hooded mantle with strange patterns. Her relationship is as an apprentice to Hermine, the Great Mage. Her power involves advanced magic, including spatial teleportation. Her combat style is magical, and she is described as childish and easily provoked.
• Lona – Female. A young apprentice mage. Her appearance is that of a child with black hair reaching her shoulders. She wears a black hooded mantle with strange patterns. Her relationship is as an apprentice to Hermine, the Great Mage. Her power involves advanced magic, including spatial teleportation. Her combat style is magical, and she is described as childish and easily provoked. Elna’s sister; a black cat Beastkin who’s relatively normally developed physically compared to Elna.
• Melfidis – Plant-like Succubus, female, “Lady Kispe’s delicate ring finger.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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