Epilogue: Baby Sister’s Secret Orders

Epilogue:
Baby Sister’s Secret Orders

The curtain had closed on the entertainment district’s Barometz issue.

The rogue tree was gone, but the palm-sized sheep that were its seeds remained here and there throughout Lindworm. Aluloona had decided to plant them around the city.

Aluloona Plantation was a lifeline for Lindworm, providing food for all the city’s residents. Its owner gazed out over the vast fields spread across the town’s south side, nodding her approval.

“They were planted well,” Aluloona said.

“You’ve worked so hard, and done a great job, Miss Aluloona.” Glenn agreed.

The Barometz seeds had burrowed into the ridge. There must have been a hundred or so. Aluloona wondered when they would bud.

“The Barometz tree affected a wide area, but at least there were no casualties. According to Skadi’s letter, Duke Auchraw of the human regions was the mastermind behind it. But she took care of him.”

“I’m sorry for what my fellow humans did.”

“Everyone is different. You can’t assume that someone is bad or good based on whether they are human.”

Across the plantation, minotaurs and similar monsters worked the fields, in addition to alraune like Aluloona. The plantation was an important source of jobs in Lindworm. Many residents worked there during the peak seasons.

“Luckily, I had extra land. And the sheep burrow into the ground when they find good soil. It will take years, but they will bud, bloom, and make trees, and then sheep will grow from the ground again.” Aluloona spoke of the trees as if they were her own children.

It was hard to believe that this was the same person who used pollen to try and seduce Glenn. Aluloona had many different faces.

“And then the sleeping disease will take over again…?”

“No, the fertilizer caused that. There likely won’t ever be that many sleepy sheep again. And if we keep researching them, we might even develop medications based on the trees’ unique properties.”

“When Cthulhy comes back, I’ll have to speak to her. I have high expectations for you, young doctor.”

“Y-yes.”

Hearing that made Glenn nervous.

“Even though Sioux had to cut it off, the Barometz flower was quite beautiful. But I suppose that, in time, we’ll get to see it again.”

“That is a really sweet thought, Miss Aluloona.”

“Hmph.”

The flower growing on the side of Aluloona’s head opened and spread pollen. Plant monsters did that when they were embarrassed.

“Sweet… Pff. Who do you think you are speaking to?! I am Aluloona, and I’ve had my share of men, both human and monster! Don’t treat me like a silly girl!”

“I don’t know what to say when you brag about men.”

“Hmph! You’re so brazen!”

“I-I just said what I thought.”

“Shut up!”

Glenn didn’t know what she was angry about.

Aluloona had closed all her flower petals, and she was in bulb form, just like when he’d first met her. She must have felt really embarrassed.

“I didn’t plant these new Barometz trees on a whim, you know. I thought it through.” Aluloona spoke through her bulb.

“I know.”

Arahnia suddenly came swooping in on her silk. Even though her body was huge, she was very light. She looked like some sort of phantom.

“Here, Miss Aluloona. I caught some tiny sheep.”

“Oh! Give them to the workers over there.”

“Will do!” Arahnia heaved the sheep over to the alraune workers passing by, as if the seeds were toys. “When you spin the wool from these sheep into yarn, it’s incredibly durable. I’ve decided I want to buy it from you for Loose Silk Sewing.”

“An exclusive contract. It will cost you, of course.”

“I know, Miss Aluloona, but it’s worth it. I need to think about what to do if my seamstresses can’t produce silk. Barometz yarn is at least worth researching as an alternative.”

“It’s perfect for both of us!”

The two bewitching monsters giggled.

Whenever Aluloona and Arahnia got together, they looked as though they were hatching some evil scheme, but their conversations were almost always innocent. Finding an effective use for the Barometz plants would be good for the city. Plus, if there were more sources for high quality yarn, it would lower the risk of any arachne coming down with Mourning Silk Syndrome.

“I just realized, Doc. I didn’t thank you for treating me, did I?”

“Huh? You paid me…”

“That’s not enough at all! How about I knit you a scarf? It will be ready in time for the cold.”

“I would be really grateful, but…”

Arahnia giggled, flashing a genuine smile.

Perhaps it was Glenn’s imagination, but it seemed as if Arahnia had matured even more since he treated her. He suddenly worried that it was all a trick, that she’d caught him in her web. When he looked around, though, he couldn’t find a single thread.

Besides, he knew that Sapphee was watching them from afar. As soon as she’d gotten to the plantation, she started sorting the herbs the workers gave her. Even from this distance, though, Glenn could see the daggers in her eyes.

“What is it, Doc?” asked Arahnia. “You didn’t tell Sapphee what happened when she was sleeping, did you?”

“Umm… N-not yet.”

“Then it’s just our little secret.”

“N-no! I’ll tell her…later.”

“Heh. I can’t wait.”

What did Arahnia mean by that?

Glenn knew he should tell Sapphee that Arahnia had cooked him food while she was asleep, at the very least. He could feel Sapphee’s eyes still on him, however. He decided to wait just a little longer, until things settled down, before he told her.

“Ooof! Aggh!”

Sioux Litbeit appeared on the plantation, striding toward them.

Glenn’s sister had faked running away from home to fulfill their brother Souen’s secret orders. She’d also infiltrated the patrol team to follow the Duke’s lackeys, although she hadn’t known that they were using the Barometz to spread the sleeping disease. Still, in the end, Sioux took down the Barometz, doing a fine job of fulfilling her duties.

“I am sorry to be late. I was making new patrol clothes.”

“What are you doing here, Sioux?”

“Hee hee! Sister called me. Is that a problem?”

Sioux’s patrol team uniform was dyed red. She had been recognized for defeating the Barometz, and a dyed uniform was a common promotion for skilled patrol team members. The vermilion uniform suited her well.

Glenn noticed that Sioux didn’t have her sword on her hip. It was probably being polished. Again.

“Are your horns okay?”

“Yes! They don’t hurt at all. And the sensitivity is good, too! But, Brother, it seems like they’re still growing…”

“Probably because we peeled the skin away. Not much is written about demons, but it’s possible the horns will grow for your whole life.”

“Will they hurt again?” Sioux flinched, perhaps recalling her treatment a few days prior.

“We already tore the skin, so I think it will be okay now. The horns can grow to a certain length without affecting your daily life. If we need to, we can file down the tips, but that shouldn’t hurt.”

“Ohhh… Why am I the only one who grew horns?”

“Well…”

Sapphee had snuck up behind them. She hugged Sioux, wrapping her lower body around her.

“S-Sister, what are you…?”

“Let me tell you something. When a living being has horns, it’s usually a sign of power and strength. In other words, they make you sexy.”

“Whaaaat?!”

“If your horns keep growing, that means you have strong desires that aren’t being fulfilled.”

The conversation’s biological turn flustered Sioux. Her face grew so red, it looked like it might burst into flames.

“Th-that is not true! You are making me sound dirty…”

“Well, they’re only legends, but horned monsters like ogres and minotaurs say the same thing. There’s no debating that longer horns are more appealing. Horns also mean that your body contains excessive nutrients.”

Glenn smiled awkwardly. Sioux’s face grew even redder.

“Sister! Just because you are sexually frustrated does not mean you should take it out on me!”

“Who’s sexually frustrated?”

Sapphee tightened her lock on Sioux’s body. She was probably holding back, but Glenn had to imagine that her grip was still painful.

“Aggghhh!”

“Sioux, I don’t care about your sexual desires. But you better cough up some answers soon.”

“Ugh… I am about to cough up my lunch!”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. Tell me why you ran away. You never gave me an answer when we were drinking that night.”

“I-It was on Souen’s orders…”

“I know Souen told you to catch the troublemakers who smuggled in the Barometz, and caused all the pandemonium. But wouldn’t it have been better if Glenn and I helped you from the beginning? Why did you change the spelling of your name? Why didn’t you trust us?”

“Ohhh…” Sioux looked as though she was trying to escape Sapphee’s tail. If she struggled too much, though, she would probably overheat.

“If you’re going to continue living in Lindworm, then you shouldn’t hide things from your siblings.”

“I-I know.”

Sapphee stroked Sioux’s horns with her finger.

“N-no, not the horns.”

“C’mon, out with it.”

“A-actually, the subject of Brother came up when I was talking with our family about coming here…”

“Huh? me?” said Glenn.

“About when you are going to get married.”

Sapphee froze.

Married? Glenn hadn’t expected that, either. What did marriage have to do with Sioux sneaking into Lindworm?

“I told Mother I would secretly see what was happening. I also had orders from Souen, of course, but…”

“W-wait a minute,” stammered Glenn. “I cut all ties with the family, so what’s this about marriage?”

“They know that you are running a clinic in Lindworm with Sister. I said I would check and see if you had any intimate partners.”

Sapphee was still frozen. Sioux had freed herself from the lamia’s tail, and now turned her gaze to Arahnia, Aluloona, and the graveyard city in the distance.

“It seems you have many relations with women.”

“N-no, that’s not true.”

While Glenn protested, Sapphee glared at him.

“It is true! How many relationships do you have with women?” Sapphee demanded. “I can’t even count them.”

“You misunderstand!”

“Well then, when I was sleeping, what did you do with Arahnia?”

“She just made me dinner. How did you know that?!”

“We work in the same clinic! I can tell when dishes and foods are moved!”

Arahnia did everything she could to stifle her laughter. She’d known something like this would happen.

“I am disappointed in you, Brother. I thought you were loyal to Sister,” said Sioux.

“Nothing happened…”

“Shh! No excuses! I cannot report your condition to our parents!”

Glenn sensed that he should tread carefully. He cowered as Sapphee and his little sister glared at him. He hadn’t done anything bad. He only did his job, working to cure Lindworm’s citizens. For some reason, though, he was being blamed for this, too.

“There is nothing for me to do but find you a suitable wife, Brother.”

“What are you talking about?”

Sapphee glowered at Glenn without even a hint of a smile. Arahnia’s ears perked up as well.

Glenn was so busy running the clinic that he had no intention of getting married anytime soon. However, Sioux was serious. He buried his face in his hands, perplexed by his sister’s statement.

With no regard for anything Glenn might be feeling, a palm-sized sheep appeared out of nowhere and dug itself into the soil at his feet, as if it had decided that it was the best spot.

Despite the plantation’s peaceful scenery, a host of problems seemed to await Glenn.