Every Rose Has Its Thorns

We walked slowly through the eerie mansion, unsure what might happen.

Then we emerged outside.

Ahead was a covered walkway, and the path continued onward.

The walkway appeared to lead to a garden.

"These are all… roses, aren't they."

"Yes. Different colors, but yes."

Roses in full bloom enveloped the walkway.

Red, white, pink, purple, yellow. Black roses too. I could even see blue roses, said to be extraordinarily rare.

If I could get just one flower, I wondered.

Lady Anatia would be thrilled.

"I feel like I'm going to throw up from the rose smell."

"Best not to breathe through your nose. A handkerchief over your mouth helps."

When Alexia complained, Finn gave her advice.

Trying it, I found it did help.

Soaking it with holy water made it even more effective.

With roses this densely packed, the air was like someone had splashed rose perfume everywhere.

If you let your guard down, you'd start coughing.

This went beyond simply liking roses.

It felt as if a rose itself was waiting ahead.

Entering the garden, we found a large chair and table set up in the center.

Perhaps it could be called an open conservatory.

Roses were arranged in a circle around it.

I'd half expected someone to be waiting, but it was empty.

"Ah!"

The moment Azu cried out, the walkway we'd come through was blocked off by rapidly growing roses.

Apparently we'd come the right way, and we were meant to continue forward.

The floor had changed from dark wood back to white quartz as soon as we stepped onto the walkway.

Moving to the center, we found a letter.

I couldn't read it.

It was in that ancient language I'd seen used for the tower's name.

"Can you read it?"

"Yes. Let me see."

I picked up the letter and handed it to Elza.

"'To the visitors of the tower. Did you enjoy my rose garden? I am pleased that after so long, warriors have come to attempt the trial.'"

This seemed to have been left by the master of this mansion.

The opening words felt welcoming.

"'However, I do not believe you are worthy of an audience with Lord Oscar. Therefore, please turn back now. If you comply, I shall bestow upon you treasure befitting your journey here.'"

As Elza spoke, roses in one part of the garden shifted aside, creating a path.

Beyond it, I could see a large chest overflowing with wealth and magic tools.

Taking it home would make someone fabulously rich overnight.

"'But should you foolishly refuse my words, the outcome will be most regrettable. Please make the wise choice. From the Rose Witch.'"

The moment Elza finished reading, the letter dissolved into mist.

It seemed the Rose Witch was the master here, and she wanted to turn us away without letting us meet Oscar.

"What should we do? We don't appear to be welcome."

"I want that treasure, but just turning back as told doesn't sit right. Being led around by someone else's whims isn't my style."

Getting here had been truly grueling.

We'd nearly frozen, nearly dried up.

There'd even been a lava zone.

Combat and dangerous mechanisms had been handled by Azu and the others, of course, but it had still been hard.

I'd rather not come back a second time if I could help it.

Which meant reaching the top now would leave the fewest regrets.

"Agreed. Who does she think she is, talking down to us like that?"

The moment Finn spat those words, the treasure chest rapidly weathered and vanished.

Apparently, since we hadn't chosen to leave, it had been confiscated.

Then rose vines began stretching toward us.

Alexia stepped forward, on guard.

The vines entwined, forming a human shape.

As it took the form of a voluptuous woman, the vines transformed into a person.

Standing there boldly was a woman with vibrant red hair, and she was completely nude.

Azu tried to cover my eyes for some reason.

Black rose petals wrapped around the woman, transforming into a jet-black dress.

She was the exact image of the woman in the mansion's enormous painting.

"Why are humans so foolish? If you had stopped there, you could have been happy."

Her voice resonated pleasantly.

It seemed to seep into every corner of my body.

My head felt floaty. Like when you drink enough to feel good and your judgment gets fuzzy.

The others seemed affected too; we all nearly felt an instant sense of closeness with the woman before us.

"Ahem."

Elza cleared her throat, and the strange intoxication vanished.

Along with the budding sense of familiarity.

Apparently the woman had done something with just her words.

Elza had stopped it.

"… How boorish. I was trying to end this gently."

"And then turn us into fertilizer for your roses, I suppose."

"You caught on. My roses bloom most beautifully when humans are used as fertilizer."

"I wonder why Oscar keeps you by his side."

Elza and the Rose Witch locked gazes.

"Balance is important. Master and servant needn't both be kind. That's why you keep falling behind."

"…"

"Heh. In honor of the fine warriors who made it this far, I shall grant you the honor of knowing my name. Since you are about to die, consider it a parting gift."

The Rose Witch lifted the sides of her dress skirt with both hands and bowed deeply in curtsy.

"I am Ent Weihenstephan, Apostle of Oscar. I shall judge through trial whether you are worthy of an audience with the god Oscar."

Apostle of Oscar.

The moment she spoke that name, her magical power was laid bare and my heart pounded.

… That was a disaster in human form.