The storeroom had a window.
Opening it, I checked the outside while continuing through the vine-filled forest.
It was a small window, so insect-type monsters couldn’t get inside. Of course, the vines were invading the interior, but it was easy to deal with such a small intrusion.
I continued the exploration for a while.
"Luke, I see something red over there!"
"You're right."
Amidst the green vines, Selen noticed a patch of bright red. The blood-like red color spread out in that area.
"The vines are flooding in through the window...!"
"Looks like it doesn’t want us to get closer."
As I moved the storeroom toward the red area, vines poured in from the window, more than before. It seemed like there were also a large number of insect-type monsters, and their attacks caused the storeroom to shake violently.
Still, I pushed forward and finally discovered the source of the mysterious red color.
It was a huge flower.
Among the dense vines, a deep red flower was in full bloom.
"And there's something inside the flower,"
"Is that... a girl?"
Deep within the flower petals, a young girl stood quietly.
Her hair was the same red as the flower. Her skin was terrifyingly pale, and she was not wearing any clothes.
"What? A naked girl here? How strange. I must see this with my own eyes."
"Guy, seriously, stop being such a pervert."
I pushed Guy away, who was trying to peek through the small window.
"That’s clearly not human. It’s probably an Alraune."
"A plant monster that looks like a human woman, huh? But I’ve never seen one grow this large before," Philia and Gori-chan explained.
"Hey, Guy? What are you trying to do?"
At that moment, Guy opened the storeroom door and tried to go outside. I rushed to stop him. However, Guy ignored me and tried to unlock the door.
"Oh, I must see this with my own eyes... I’ll regret it if I don’t..."
"What the hell are you doing, you perverted monk?! Don’t do whatever you want!"
Even as Hazena yelled at him, Guy didn’t even glance her way.
...Something’s clearly wrong. It’s not just the usual perverted behavior.
His eyes look vacant, and the mumbling words he’s saying are strange.
"I want to see her too..."
"Alex!?"
"Y-Yeah... I can’t hold back, I guess..."
"Barlath too!?"
It wasn’t just Guy who was acting strange. Alex, Barlath... and even Goate, Ganzas, and Dorial...
"Wait, all the men...?"
"It’s the special scent that the Alraune releases! It attracts and charms human men before devouring them!"
Gori-chan grimaced as she explained. Now that she mentioned it, there was a faint sweet smell in the air...
Looking around, the women were unaffected. Gori-chan, being a woman, was totally fine.
As for me... I didn’t really feel much either.
I wonder why? ...Could it be because I’m still a kid?
"Ugh... In front of Philia... this is..."
"My head... feels so dizzy..."
The youngest members, like Selius and Noel, seemed to be struggling to resist. It was probably because the effect wasn’t as strong on them.
"Shouldn’t I be affected more? Does it mean I’m just a kid? I’m already fourteen, you know!?"
"Luke, this isn’t the time to be worried about that!"
"What do you mean, 'not the time'?!"
I shouted in frustration at Selen’s words.
To me, it’s incredibly important!
However, with more than half of the men charmed, this situation was looking pretty bad.
The storeroom door was already being forced open with great strength.
"I guess the men have to be sent back to the village."
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