Chapter – 03
The body of a monster grows into the shape it desires. Realizing this gave me hope.
If there are humans or similar intelligent beings in this world, then maybe I could live peacefully by blending into their society. If I can grow into the form I wish for, then someday I should be able to become like them.
(Alright, goal: become human! …That said, the only human-like thing I’ve seen so far is this green giant… Wait, don’t tell me that’s what humans look like in this world?)
The green-skinned giant lying by the water’s edge was dead, eyes rolled back and foam spilling from its mouth. It was because of him pulling me out that I had such a terrifying experience.
Now that I observed him closely, his skin was green, his chest area was pitch black, and small horns grew from his forehead. He wore only a crude cloth around his waist, and didn’t seem particularly intelligent.
(Feels more like an ogre than a human. A green ogre… so maybe a goblin? But aren’t goblins supposed to be small?)
I considered the possibility that goblins in this world might be large—but then again, I’m not human either. I’m a mandrake. It wouldn’t be strange if goblins were bigger.
In that case, maybe humans are even larger. …I really need to properly confirm what “human” means before I can transform into one. And there’s also the question of whether humans even exist here in the first place.
“…? …!”
I heard voices from somewhere, so I quickly ran into the bushes and hid. Whether it was another green giant or some other creature, I peeked carefully from within the foliage.
“Honestly, that sorcerer is far too demanding…! Sending us into a magic-infested wilderness like this…!”
Two figures came walking while speaking in words I could understand. Good—there’s no language barrier. And even better, their appearance was just like the humans I knew.
I almost shouted “Yayyyy!” in excitement, but quickly covered my mouth with my webbed hands. …I managed to stop myself just in time. I’m really glad I have webbed hands.
“If it weren’t for us, no one could make it this far. But the mage’s research is for the country, for the people. It’s only natural for holy knights to assist.”
“You really are… honestly, the ideal knight.”
The two adult men were even taller than the green giant. Even if that giant stood up, it wouldn’t reach their waist. I estimated their size by comparing them to the surrounding trees.
Knowing what I should aim for made me strangely happy. Having a clear goal really boosts motivation.
(Since I’m female, I should be shorter than them… Wait, am I even female?)
Mandrakes don’t have a known sex. Maybe they’re dioecious plants, maybe hermaphroditic—but either way, I consider myself female, as I still carry the consciousness of Misaki Hanazono from my previous life. So I’ll build a female body.
(Since I’m making a body anyway… I want a perfect figure.)
In my previous life, I was rather plain and boxy. Now I’m a round, rolling body. But since I can now grow into any shape I desire, I might as well aim for a stunning beautiful woman. Big chest, slim waist, shapely hips—that kind of body.
(Luckily I’ve confirmed humans exist. I should leave before I’m spotted. If I scream, I might end up killing them…)
I sprinted away from the area. I’ll level up by defeating monsters, and someday I’ll become human and live in a human country. Since they called this place a “magic-infested wilderness,” human lands must be safe.
I thought I heard a surprised voice behind me soon after I started running, but it was probably just my imagination. I needed to get far enough away before hunting monsters so I wouldn’t involve those two.
(Alright—let’s do this!)
———
“Hey… did you see that…? A really… really nice-bodied mandrake just ran past…!”
Leohart, a knight dispatched to the magic-infested region alongside his colleague Ritter to retrieve experimental samples for the court mage Nicolaus, found himself worrying about his partner’s mental state.
“…Ritter, are you alright? The miasma is supposed to be thinning, but hallucinating like that…”
Until just a few years ago, this land had been uninhabitable due to miasma—an excess of magical energy harmful to living beings. It had been the remains of a dragon that died five hundred years ago, and its lingering miasma had made the area unlivable for humans, animals, and even monsters.
But now, as the miasma faded, the land had become fertile. New plants sprouted, and monsters began to emerge. Weak monsters devoured each other, evolved, and eventually stronger species were born. This place was now a developing ecosystem of monsters.
“No, I’m telling you I saw it!”
“Even in a magic-infested land, mandrakes don’t run.”
“But the sorcerer said intelligent monsters can choose their evolution path… so a running mandrake isn’t impossible…!”
“You’re imagining things because of that story. Let’s finish the mission and leave quickly.”
Even if a running mandrake were possible, such a bizarre mutation shouldn’t appear in such a newly formed ecosystem. Variants like that take decades, even centuries.
However, as they proceeded, they encountered something strange.
“…That’s odd. Goblins… are dead everywhere.”
“Yes. And this is… a curse. Goblins are weak against curses, but this number is… abnormal.”
Black stains spread across the goblins’ chests, clearly indicating death by curse. Corpses lay scattered everywhere—already more than thirty.
Normally, seeing one goblin meant there were fifty more nearby. If they were seeing this many just by walking forward, there could easily be hundreds dead.
“I don’t have curse resistance, but be careful, Ritter. This could be lethal. Prepare holy water—keep undead-type monsters away.”
“…Hey, what if there really is a running mandrake? What if it screamed while running, and that’s what did this to the goblins…?”
“That’s impossible. It’s more reasonable to assume a curse-type undead monster has emerged.”
They continued carefully until they reached their destination: the place where the dragon’s corpse had once lain.
The bones of the dragon still remained faintly among the grass swaying in the wind.
Their mission was to retrieve mandrakes planted here by Nicolaus.
“If he planted them here, he could probably come pick them up himself.”
“The mage is busy. He probably can’t leave his work.”
“You really need to stop trusting people so easily…”
They searched separately for the mandrakes Nicolaus had planted.
But they found nothing.
Only goblin corpses killed by curses—and a single hollow hole beside them.
“…Hey, Leohart. This is…”
“Ritter, I understand what you’re thinking. …We should report this to the mage.”
Either someone had taken the mandrake—or it had moved on its own.
Normally, the former would be assumed. But after Ritter’s insistence about a running mandrake, the latter no longer felt entirely impossible.
(If there really is a moving mandrake, it’s not a problem here in the wilderness… but if it appears in human lands, it could become a disaster.)
If they see it, they should eliminate it before it brings harm to people.
