Kays Translations

Chapter 26: The Secret Nectar of the Flower Witch

Guided by the tree roots that occasionally burst from the ground, beckoning me onward, I finally arrived at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.

More accurately, its ruins.

Even in winter, the concrete pillars were lush with vivid green moss. A massive beehive had taken over the sign that once read “Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.” Every single pane of glass in the grand windows was shattered, replaced by a thick curtain of ivy that shielded the building from the elements.

Young camellia trees planted near the entrance were blooming quietly with crimson flowers, but their positioning was unnerving—every bloom seemed to face my direction, as if they were watching me.

It was obvious, even from a distance, that this was the stronghold of the Flower Witch. A massive tree, so ancient it seemed to be a thousand or even two thousand years old, had burst through the building’s interior and pierced the roof. Towering fifty or sixty meters high, its branches bore snowy white leaves that stood out brilliantly against the blue sky. There was no mistaking it for a tree of Earthly origin. Flocks of small birds perched in its branches, chirping incessantly and fouling the roof with their droppings.

Only this area around the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan teemed with life. It felt like a natural sanctuary that had emerged in the heart of the concrete jungle, shielded by the fragrance of flowers and foliage.

At the entrance, I parked my bicycle and trailer and hoisted the Blue Witch onto my back. Her body was chillingly cold to the touch. I’d stopped every hour along the way to rewrap her in blankets and confirm she was still alive, but her heartbeat was dangerously faint. Even a small jostle might extinguish it completely. Moving as gently as possible yet with all due haste, I carried her deep into the building.

The Flower Witch was waiting for me in the heart of the structure.

The rumors about the Flower Witch had not exaggerated her beauty.

Her throne sat in the shadow of the great tree, cloaked in dim light. Yet even in the gloom, she bloomed with resplendent grandeur.

In the center of the rubble-strewn chamber, a massive green leaf supported by entwining vines formed her pedestal. Upon it, a single crimson flower, unlike anything I had ever seen, was in full bloom.

I had never seen such a vivid shade of red. It was like freshly spilled blood, roaring flames, and precious rubies all at once. Each petal pulsed with life, radiating a beauty so mesmerizing that it seemed otherworldly—a perfect harmony forged by nature.

At the heart of this giant crimson blossom stood a human figure. She was a strikingly beautiful young woman, her body draped not in fabric but in an avant-garde ensemble of leaves and vines.

Her upper half, shaped like a human, was breathtaking, though I couldn’t fully appreciate it. Beautiful women tended to blur together for me. Her green hair, though? That was striking. I’ll give her that much credit, not that it matters.

“Welcome to my sanctuary. I’ve been waiting for you.” 

She said, smiling seductively as her vines stretched toward me, caressing my cheek.

Uh, excuse me? That’s creepy. Why are you touching me? Are you tasting me?

We’re on the same page here, right? You’re not going to strangle me with those vines, are you?

“I’ll grant your wish. I’ll heal the Blue Witch for you. The Seer Mage told you so, didn’t he? I’ll even give you enough of the cure to spread across all of Japan.”

“B-but…?”

“Yes, but. You must pay a price.”

The Flower Witch smiled gracefully, shifting the skirt of petals she wore.

Beneath it lay a tangled mass of vines, roots, and stems. They pulsed rhythmically and twitched faintly, a grotesque display that could make anyone with trypophobia faint five or six times over.

“My first offspring… it couldn’t be born. I’m trying to give birth to a second one, but the remains of the first are tangled up with it. At this rate, they’ll both die.”

She spoke with a sorrowful tone.

“I’ve tried to separate them, but the more I attempt, the more they entwine. I cannot cut even a single strand. It would kill the second offspring. Time is running out. The second one should’ve been born under the last full moon. You’re the only one who can untangle them. Save my offspring, and I’ll give you the cure.”

“Oh, is that all?”

I let out a breath of relief, feeling the tension drain from my shoulders.

Her lower half was, well, gross, but the tangles themselves weren’t that complicated. Just a glance told me how to undo them.

Seriously? She can’t untangle this? The Flower Witch is that clumsy? Poor thing.

Thanks to her lack of skill, though, this means I’ll get the cure for the mushroom disease easily. I’d braced myself for some outrageous demand, but this is child’s play.

“Um…”

“Lay the Blue Witch down over there. You can’t work while carrying her, can you?”

“Oh, thanks.”

I gently placed the Blue Witch on a bed of dry leaves and twigs that had been prepared, brushing the hair away from her face to make it easier for her to breathe. Then, I turned back to the Flower Witch and rolled up my sleeves.

“Be careful. If you fail, I’ll kill you and the Blue Witch and drain you dry.”

“Ha, you’re joking, right? That’s like saying you’ll kill me if I fail to build a house of cards.”

“…Doesn’t that mean it’s difficult?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

I mean, it’s harder to fail than to succeed. How’s that not clear?

I ducked under her petal skirt and deftly untangled the vines, roots, and stems.

“All done. Here’s your offspring. She’s a healthy baby girl! Now, the cure, please.”

“Huh?”

When I handed over the offspring, the Flower Witch looked stunned.

The small, miniature version of the Flower Witch that had been suffocating in the tangled roots was unharmed. As I offered her the newborn, I held out my hand. Gimme the cure already.

Yet, as she accepted the offspring, she seemed momentarily flustered.

“So… so my offspring is safe. And it was so easy… for you, at least. I see…”

“Uh, about that cure?”

The Flower Witch, who had been visibly shaken, softened the moment she cradled the newborn.

She began cooing to the baby in a melody that sounded like rustling leaves and the murmuring of trees—a sound both songlike and primal.

Well, I guess the baby takes priority over me and the cure. Fair enough—it’s literally a newborn.

Watching her tenderly care for her child, I decided to pass the time by digging a grave for the first offspring—the one that had died.

Using my bare hands, I cleared away the compost in a corner of the throne room, flipping broken tiles and creating a small burial pit.

Laying the lifeless, mummified offspring to rest, I felt no fear or discomfort.

Amen. Namu Amida Butsu. Rest in peace.

I clasped my hands in prayer, made the sign of the cross, and silently recited every blessing I could recall. Then, I covered the body with soil.

What a tragic story. Never even got to live, let alone love anything.

This poor child couldn’t even experience life, and it almost killed its sibling.

At the very least, rest peacefully now. It’s not much, but I’ll make sure you have a grave.

When I finished covering the body with soil, I picked up a light-looking stone from the rubble and placed it as a makeshift gravestone. Then, I found a piece of broken glass among the dead leaves, sharpened it with a pointed rock, shaped it into a flower resembling her mother, and offered it at the grave.

“Well, that should do it. Goodbye, next life. Rest in peace!”

It was about time for the emotional reunion of the mother and child post-birth to wrap up.

As I brushed the dirt off my hands and turned around to collect my reward, the Flower Witch, cradling the peacefully sleeping sapling, was staring intensely at me.

I turned pale and froze in fear.

“Eep! I-I’m sorry for meddling! U-uh, I’ll put it back right away! I’ll dig it up immediately! Right now!”

Oh nooooo!

I messed up big time! I was only supposed to assist with the birth. Who asked me to make a grave? No one! This is completely unnecessary! Ahh, what have I done?!

Panicking, I tried to dig up the grave to restore things to their original state, but then my arm was grabbed by the root of a tree. I froze in place.

This is bad.

I’m going to die.

I was hopelessly terrified, but when I glanced at the Flower Witch’s face, she didn’t look angry.

She was staring at me with a curious intensity, as if I were some sort of strange, fascinating creature she was seeing for the first time.

“I’ve only ever focused on the future of this child. All I wished for was for this child to be born safely. But you… you saw what I refused to look at. You saw that child.”

“Huh? Uh… is that so?”

The Flower Witch’s voice was calm. The tree root holding my arm didn’t tighten its grip.

Maybe I wasn’t going to die after all?

“I’m grateful. Thank you. I’ll give you the remedy now.”

“Ah, um, thank you very much.”

Not only was I forgiven, but the Flower Witch seemed to be in a good mood. Something about what I did must have struck a chord with her.

Maybe she liked the design of the offering? See, art studies do come in handy.

The Flower Witch let go of my arm and started manipulating roots and vines to craft a wooden bucket, which she then separated from her own body. She placed the bucket on the ground and extended the tip of a branch over it, dripping a clear liquid into it.

A refreshing, forest-like fragrance spread through the air, so invigorating that the mushroom growing on the head of the sleeping Blue Witch immediately turned black and withered, just from the scent.

“?! Wait, just the smell?! She didn’t even drink it!”

This is like healing magic, isn’t it? How does this even work?

I rushed over to check on the Blue Witch. Her skin, which had looked almost like that of a corpse, was regaining color. Her breathing became steady, soft and peaceful.

While I was still in shock, the Flower Witch explained as she continued dripping liquid into the bucket.

“Plants like us secrete special substances to protect ourselves from fungi and insects. They’re called essential oils. Normal essential oils wouldn’t work on this mushroom, but mine are particularly effective. No one in my district was infected, right?”

“Ah, um, I wasn’t really paying attention since I was watching the ground while walking.”

“…I see. You’re shy, aren’t you?”

She sounded almost considerate, but there was a subtle undertone of pity.

She totally pegged me as socially awkward. So what if I am?!

“This oil’s vapor alone is enough to kill the mushroom. Even a solution diluted 1,000 or 10,000 times—or even 100,000 times—would be effective. It’ll also kill other magic fungi and insect monsters, but that’s fine, right?”

“Of course.”

I nodded.

Some people might complain, but eradicating the mushrooms takes priority, no matter what.

“I believe this mushroom might grant immunity after the first infection is cured. There shouldn’t be a second or third pandemic. Of course, research and precautions are still necessary, but you can leave that to foresight or the Watchers. Now, this should be enough.”

As she spoke, the bucket filled to the brim with the essential oil. The Flower Witch covered it with a lid made of vines and branches.

Just as I reached out to take the bucket—the hope of humanity—the Flower Witch suddenly grabbed my hand with a tree root and pulled me close.

“Wha-wha-what?! What is it?! What’s going on?!”

As I stumbled and wobbled, she grabbed my mouth with her hand, pried it open, and tilted my head back. Without a word, she smiled beautifully and dripped three drops of golden liquid from a bundled flower into my mouth.

I was terrified. What is this?! What did she just make me drink?!

I tried to spit it out, but she inserted a thin vine into my throat, forcing me to swallow it.

After confirming I had swallowed the liquid, the Flower Witch released me.

I dropped to all fours on the ground, coughing violently.

It didn’t feel unpleasant—in fact, the golden liquid I had been forced to drink was sweet, fragrant, and gave me a comforting sensation, as if the power of nature was filling my body. But still, it was far too mysterious to put my mind at ease.

I drank it. What was that? What did she do to me? Explain!

“W-what was that just now?”

“It’s better if you don’t know. But it’s nothing bad.”

“No, I do want to know. What did you make me drink?”

“There are plenty of people in the world who would want to know what you drank so badly they’d kill you for it.”

“Eek…”

This was getting way too scary.

Could she not have me drink something so dangerous?!

The Flower Witch simply smiled gently while rocking the sapling in her arms, clearly unwilling to give me any further explanation.

That lying Seer! Didn’t the foresight say this deal was supposed to be safe?!

Wait, did it say that? No, I think it just said, “It won’t be painful or difficult.” It never promised it’d be safe.

Damn it, I’ve been duped!

On the bright side, the liquid was probably harmless. I mean, I helped with the delivery as agreed, so there’s no way a witch, no matter how morally skewed they might be, would poison the midwife after the job’s done… right?

Surely, it’s safe.

But what did she mean when she said there are people who’d kill to find out what I drank?

Isn’t that exactly the kind of thing you’d call dangerous?!

I wanted to press her for answers, but I figured it would be unwise to intrude on the mother-child bonding time too much. Besides, every moment I wasted, someone else might be losing their life to the mushroom disease.

Whether it’s someone I foresaw or Professor Ōhinata herself, there’s no time to linger.

Whatever I drank, I trusted it wouldn’t kill me and decided to leave. I had to deliver the remedy to the Bunkyo Ward Office as soon as possible.

Carrying the peacefully sleeping Blue Witch on my back and securely fastening the heavy wooden bucket to my belt, I left the sanctuary of plants.

As I was walking away, the Flower Witch called out to me in a friendly tone.

“I hope we’ll have a long and good relationship. Do stop by once in a while, won’t you? You’ll be welcome.”

[Alraune’s Secret]

A natural elixir that keeps the drinker young and extends their lifespan.

Only one drop of this nectar is produced per year, but when Alraune dies and dries up, a large barrel’s worth of nectar overflows. If one can secure enough of it, it is as good as gaining eternal life.

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