Milla, whose countenance before radiated only fear, disgust, cofusion and wrath, suddently recieved yet another aboninable ingredient. Curiosity.

Her previousy appaled face elongated under the shock and surprise which Hans’ words put it under.

Her eyes fixated on my flower, no longer fearing my visage or attempting to flee. After staring at my motionless flower for a moment, her gaze returned to Hans.

”...Surely, you jest...”

Despiste her words, the tone of her voice carried no doubt of Hans. Instead, it seemed more of a formality.

Hans shook her head lightly in response. Turning to me, Hans nodded lightly, as if to say ”Go on. Show her.”.

And, as the polite and responsive creature i was, i responded.

My eye, which had previously hid in my leaves, and my eight root-legs all escaped my pot. The legs took their places on my side, and, as if to show off their strengh, lifted my pot. My eye slithered into the air and met Milla’s gaze.

It was rather frightning to look such a large creature in the eye.

I heard her clearly gulp.

Her corpse-white skin turned a shade whiter and became snow while she stopped sweating entirely. Luckily, she didnt fall or go unconcious.

”Come on Bob, greet Milla.”

I nodded slightly using my flower, and did a cortous bow, the kind nobles and the such used to do. I couldnt say hi or anything, so this would have to be my only way of greeting.

Millas eyes went even wider, and i was afraid that they might just dry up.

I feared the situation might just turn awkward, so i extended only of my eight leg-roots to shake her hand. I was unsure whether this was a custom in this world as she just stared at her, but after a moment or so a flaccid hand grasped my root between its fingers and shook it lightly. I could feel Hans’ heavy stare on my back. She was probably thinking about how i defeated that beast, but i could turn it off! dont worry bout it!

Milla loosened her grip and i retrackted my hand. Hans released a breath and smiled bitterly.

”See? He wont kill everybody, because he has humanity.”

”...i-, is that s-, so...”

”Bob?”

I nodded slightly.

”Would you kill everyone in the Divine City of Jormundgand if the chance arose?”

...What? No!

I vigerously shook my head.

Hans nodded, satisfied by my answer.

”See? He both understood my question and answered it.”

”...He might be lying...”

”He wouldnt.”

”...And why not?”

”I trust him. He saved my life.”

”Eh?”

”When i was sleeping, a wild beast attacked me. Had he not attacked the beast and felled it, i wouldnt be here.”

”...That might be true, but its far from ideal... Even if he might have concious and even if he is malevolent, i doubt hell be able to control the way he scents.”

”Smell him.”

”Wh-, I... Id rather not.”

”When i first encountered him, he bore the scent of my deceased love, and so i believed him to be my love who took the form of a flower. However, that was not so. After a conversation with him, i discovered that he was not my lover, and what cemented this fact was his scent.”

”What do you-,”

”He no longerbore the scent of my love. He had a sweet scent, and that was all.”

”But-, But that cant be-”

”And niether should a flower have concious. Yet, here we are. Had this flower, Bob, had any ill intentions, he would have used my love’s scent to charm me, or pretended to be my lover. He did not.”

”...”

”...”

”...I cannot refute you, however. I dont want it in here.”

”Very well, Ill leave this shop post-ha-”

”In this city.”

”...”

”...”

”...I cannot d-, do that.”

”Ill just have to call on the guards, then. Whether you believe in the stories or not, i do not doubt that the soldiers do.”

”...No choice. Bob!”

huh?

”Kill her.”

What, but, wait, what

Milla gasped.

”No! You wouldnt!”

”Ive already given him the order. Too late for take-backs.”

No, but,

”Do you know how powerfull this flower is?! It wont kill only me or you, itll take out the entire city!!”

”’Pose its better that way, then.”

no, i

”Perheaps this city never should have existed to begin with.”

i

”Go on, Bob. Dont doubt now.”

...

”Come on. Arent we friends?”

...

”Oh, dont be like that.”

i...

i vigerously shook my head.