Chapter 56:
Yeah, maybe losing the happiest possible future isn’t such a big deal.
After all, I’m the girl destined to become a super-rich beauty. If I lose the happiest future, I’ll just be a billionaire with 9.9 billion instead of 10 billion. That’s still pretty great, right?
『…The contract is complete.』
The spirit whispered joyfully, then turned back into smoke.
The smoke rushed toward me and passed right through my body. Behind me, it transformed once again into the shape of a woman.
『That thing is a Mandragora, born from the cracks of the world. A mixed child. Because of your existence in this world, that child was born as a kind of “penalty.”』
The spirit, Laspisia, no longer wore her veil.
Despite her ghostly blue appearance, her features were stunning. But where her eyes should have been, there were only dark, empty holes.
『Mandragoras grow their roots endlessly until they destroy the world that gave birth to them. There’s only one way to stop them.』
A mistake in the world?
‘Is she talking about me possessing someone in this world?’
Just what is the connection between me, this world, and the book I read?
『Do not make the Mandragora angry. If angered, it will grow again. Taking care of it is the only way for this broken world to survive.』
…Wait a second. I didn’t ask to be possessed!
Did anyone here even want a possessor to show up?
You drag me into this world without asking, and now you’re giving me a warning like, “Oops, yellow card for being here”? How is that fair?
“Mm-muah.”
The root baby—also known as the Mandragora—waved its four stubby limbs around.
Actually, the more I look at it, the cuter it seems.
It’s hard to believe this little potato-looking thing once transformed into a giant root monster.
“What happens if this thing dies?”
That wasn’t me asking. It was Winter, who was staring down at the Mandragora with a serious expression.
『If the Mandragora dies, the error dies. And if the error dies, the Mandragora dies too.』
Hearing that, I subconsciously held the Mandragora closer.
“One more question. Was this made from this girl’s soul?”
『Yes and no. More precisely, it was created from one of the possible futures that could branch from her.』
Winter turned his gaze from me to the Mandragora, eyes thoughtful.
“I asked because this creature smells a lot like you. So it really is like that…”
So… it’s from a possible future of mine?
“Wait, is this really my child?!”
Oh no. Am I like the Virgin Mary?
Dear heavens!
“The child is cute. Since she resembles you, she’ll surely grow up beautiful.”
“Which part of her resembles me?! You even called her a monster earlier!”
I glared with triangular eyes, but Winter seriously shook his head.
“Izana, even if you truly were a sweet potato, I would still cherish you. I’d plant you in a nice big pot, place you by my window, and let you bask in the sunlight.”
“Your Grace, my future child might be a sweet potato, but I am definitely not!”
“I don’t know yet whether you’re a human or a potato at heart.”
Oh my god.
It seemed like Winter was trying to explain every mystery about me with the theory that I was some kind of all-powerful super potato hero.
“I’ll plant some handsome potato friends next to you too, so you won’t be lonely. And when the time comes, I’ll take you all out for walks. If you’re worried I’ll be disappointed in who you really are, let me say that’s the most pointless worry in the world.”
I’m not a potato!
What made it worse was that Winter looked completely serious. As if this “potato theory” was actually worth considering.
Is this what people are like once they’ve reached total enlightenment?
Laspisia, on the other hand, couldn’t care less whether I was a human or a root vegetable. She just continued giving information.
『It’s only one of many possibilities. It’s just a Mandragora, so don’t worry.』
Still… My baby is a sweet potato?
Whether it knew my feelings or not, the Mandragora kept smiling sweetly, tickling my arm with its little root arms.
Laspisia, who had been watching the scene silently, turned toward the vault and spoke.
『Descendant of Estelle Rohia, that is all you need to know. You may return now.』
Wait, what? That’s it?
“Hold on. You still haven’t told me how to free you.”
『I already gave you what you wanted. And you still intend to free me?』
It seemed Laspisia didn’t believe me at all. Her mistrust of humans ran deep.
Well, I guess if I’d been betrayed and turned into a slave for hundreds of years, I’d be the same.
“Yeah. I keep my promises.”
I’m not some saint or anything, and I don’t always follow through. But I want to be someone who tries.
Laspisia stared at me silently, then finally spoke.
『Blood. You must fill this with the blood of Rohia.』
Smoke poured from her form and took shape in front of me, turning into a glass container.
Fill this entire thing with my blood?
“You could empty my whole body and it still wouldn’t be enough.”
As cold as it was, Winter was right. There was no way I could fill it.
Sensing my confusion, Laspisia said,
『Return. I need to rest.』
“Sorry. I guess I can’t free you right away.”
『I didn’t expect you to.』
“Today, that is.”
I looked closely at the size of the glass container.
I’ve never donated blood before… How much can you give at once? How often?
I’ll have to ask Grandpa Perez.
“I’ll fill it with my blood. But it’ll take time. I have important things to do, and I can’t afford to get too weak. So I’ll do it slowly, little by little.”
『I don’t believe you.』
I looked around and saw a letter opener on the desk.
It was pretty sharp, so I boldly sliced my palm with it.
This wasn’t a big deal for someone like me. I’ve been through worse.
…Okay, it stung a little.
Carefully holding my bleeding hand over the container, I opened the lid and let my blood drip in.
Barely even a hundredth of it filled.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I scratched my cheek.
“I’ll come often. I’ll free you before I die. Compared to the time you’ve spent waiting, my effort will feel like just a moment.”
Laspisia silently stared at me with her hollow eyes.
I carefully closed the container lid and licked my lips.
Now for a slightly sneaky request.
“By the way… since things turned out this way, I want to ask you one favor.”
『I knew it!』
As Laspisia shouted in frustration, I hugged the Mandragora and spoke politely.
“Sometime in the future, a boy named Boris Rohia will come here. He’s not really a Rohia, but… if he asks, please open the vault for him.”
Laspisia turned her back without saying a word.
Even so, I kept talking as she slowly faded away.
“I’ll come again soon. It was nice meeting you!”
She disappeared completely.
But the glass container remained.
I smiled a little.
Winter approached, grabbed my hand, and gently peeled open my clenched fingers.
Revealing my bloody palm.
He stared at it quietly.
I shrugged and said,
“This kind of thing heals with spit.”
“Among potatoes, that treatment must be popular.”
I gave up.
“Yup. If you add soybean paste too, it can even bring the dead back. Too bad I can’t show you.”
Winter held my hand and muttered something. The wound vanished instantly.
I quickly pulled my hand away, hugged the root-baby, and said,
“Sounds noisy outside.”
I looked out the window. The knights were coming through the castle gate, with Loti, Rena, and Alfred behind them.
They looked panicked when they saw the burned stables and damaged walls.
I suddenly remembered the four robbers.
“Those guys… they’re still alive, right?”
“Of course. They only got a few scratches—spit will fix them. They’re still gasping and struggling like worms. Totally healthy. But if you want them to look dead, we’ll need to go further.”
Perfect. This time, everything went perfectly.
***
Not long after, in a stable full of malice in Elahi—
“Please write a letter.”
Perez blinked in confusion, staring at the girl holding out a fancy piece of gold-trimmed paper.
