The Bloom of a Lily and the Birth of a Spider Lily

The ‘Dandelion’ flower tea shop, a place recommended for girls seeking relaxation and wellness, often seemed quiet offline. Yet, online, its beautifully packaged tea bags sold in bulk, achieving impressive monthly sales figures.

Saint Lily entered, pushing open the door. The gentle shop owner smiled, wiping a cup as she greeted her.

“Saint, you’re here.”

“Uh…” This shop served as a gathering point for everyone from ‘Lucky Garden’, and its owner, whose flower name was also the shop’s name, was one of their own.

“Dandelion.”

Saint Lily spoke with a hint of helplessness. “Please, don’t call me that. Just Lily is fine. I cannot bear such a title.”

Miss Dandelion let a strand of hair fall over her shoulder as she gently replied, “If that is your wish, Lily.”

“Would you like a cup of herbal tea if you’re feeling weary? Your spirit is far too tense.”

“Mm… thank you.”

Saint Lily did not refuse.

“No one wished for what happened to White Rose and the others,” Miss Dandelion said, retrieving a pre-packaged tea bag. She placed a suitable amount of water into a health pot, plugged it in to boil, and waited. The tea bag would be added once the water boiled, stirred lightly, and steeped for about five to ten minutes.

“That is my responsibility,” Saint Lily simply stated.

Miss Dandelion smiled, though a touch of helplessness graced her features. She never shied away from responsibility, yet she feared accepting undue accolades, or worse, failing to meet everyone’s expectations.

‘But it is precisely because you are this way that you are our light, our leader. This cannot change, my cherished Saint.’

“So, Lily, have you decided what you’re going to do?”

“I plan to ‘bloom’,” Saint Lily declared earnestly. “That should grant me the ability to reverse petrification.”

“……”

“Blooming, huh…” Miss Dandelion was one of the few who understood Saint Lily’s condition. “It might be possible… but Saint… Lily, you might only reach ‘bloom’ as your final skill. Are you truly certain?”

“My potential is limited to this, but if it can help everyone more, then it will be meaningful.”

“……” Miss Dandelion fell silent, pondering. She remembered. In the beginning, Saint Lily was active on the front lines, wanting her younger sister to see her heroic self.

However, with the establishment of ‘Lucky Garden’, she gradually retreated to the second line, focusing on assisting newcomers and serving the group.

“But this person might not need you! We could just find another newcomer, guide them consciously… perhaps then they could…” Miss Dandelion began.

Saint Lily shook her head.

“The vibrant essence of a Flower Seed Maiden lies within her yearning for her ideal self.”

“Only this cannot be interfered with.”

“Even when helping others, such interference is truly detestable! Though children are innocent and might not articulate what’s wrong, or even be swayed, we inherently recognize such actions as ‘moral blackmail’ – a truly repugnant practice.”

“Therefore, the correct choice is to let those truly responsible bear the burden. The Garden is a place where flowers can grow strong, isn’t it?” Saint Lily offered a smile, so pure, so warm, so utterly sacred.

“Saint…”

“So, Dandelion, please take me to where the disaster occurred. Take me to the people who need help. Take me to where my abilities can be put to use.”

“It is my honor, Saint Lily.”

****

………………………….Time’s Dividing Line……………………….

The maiden, neither Su Mu nor Su Mo, now possessed a new identity, a new name.

Red Spider Lily.

“There’s a scent of blood over there ~”

She wrinkled her nose. This body was remarkably sensitive to such things.

The light, fluttering skirt felt unfamiliar. Though she wore leggings underneath, it still left her feeling a little exposed.

A ring of fabric encircled her over the leggings.

Despite the added layers, she felt somehow less clothed. Perhaps this was the essence of art.

With no time to lose, she would act.

So why could they fly while she had to run? Red Spider Lily complained as she sprinted.

“Don’t know ~ Maybe Dearest Host has doubts about people being able to fly.”

“Then why can Su Mo do it?”

“Well, that’s because she’s Su Mo.”

“……” ‘That’s a surprisingly valid point.’

Red Spider Lily sighed, feeling like the most unglamorous magical girl.

“I need to buy a motorcycle.”

“Host, want to check out the mall? I have a super cool motorcycle here! It can even transform into a robot and assist in combat!”

“How much?”

“One thousand Good Deed Points.”

“……”

She merely glanced at it, a thoughtful expression on her face, but offered no words.

“Alright, Host isn’t interested. It is quite expensive, and it’s just a mode of transport…”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t buy it. I’m just thinking about how to earn the money.”

“Eh?!”

Su Xiaoqian’s eyes lit up. “Host, you’re going to buy it? Why?”

“It’s a transforming motorcycle! Super cool! How could anyone refuse that?”

“Is… is that so?”

Su Xiaoqian couldn’t quite grasp it, but seeing her Host so motivated, she didn’t press further. She added, “Oh, right! If you buy it within three days, you can even design your own logo and paint graffiti! If you have no design experience, there’s even master-level AI guidance…”

“Xiaoqian, we need to speed up. Can you keep up with my pace?”

“Eh?”

“Host, wait for me!”

Saint Lily faced a wolf-type disaster beast. Though it had been a long time since she had confronted an enemy directly, her skills had not dulled. She deftly dodged an attack, and her staff spun, applying a ‘Protection’ spell upon herself.

Crimson claws struck the shield, which bore the imprint of a lily and had manifested on its own. It wavered for a moment, then stood as firm as bedrock.

Saint Lily swept her staff upwards, divine light radiating outwards. “Seal.”

“Roar!”

The wolf-type disaster beast yelped in pain and leapt away, but it was useless; escape was no longer an option. A ‘Barrier’ had already been erected.

It roared in fury, attempting to intimidate this aggressive assailant and force her retreat.

‘Don’t you dare come any closer! If you do, I’ll call for help!’

“Protection of Might.”

“Protection of Agility.”

“Protection of Immovability.”

“Protection of Edge.”

With every step, Saint Lily manifested another radiant halo.

Then, she swung her staff, delivering physical blows utterly devoid of any magical girl grace to the disaster beast’s body.

“1 hit!”

“Ow~”

“10 hits!”

“Ugh~”

“100 hits!”

“Grand Sealing Art!”

With the final strike, her staff pointed directly at the wolf beast. Light erupted, and the wolf’s massive form gradually dissolved into countless lily petals, its purification complete.

In that same instant, the seal shattered, and the protective halos vanished.

Saint Lily collapsed to her knees, utterly drained.

‘If White Rose and the others were here, it would certainly be much easier for them than for me.’

She exhaled a long breath. Just as she managed to stand, before she could regain her balance, a warning echoed.

“Lily, be careful! A new disaster beast fluctuation has appeared nearby! It’s heading straight for you!”

“Eh?”

Saint Lily froze. Her body reacted faster than her mind could process. In the moment the lily-imprinted shield autonomously opened and then shattered, she had already rolled to the side. Yet, the sharp attack still grazed her arm, leaving a gruesome crimson gash.

“Awoo!!!”

This disaster beast was also wolf-shaped, but it now stood upright, walking on two legs, and was far larger than the previous one. Its eyes gleamed with cold intelligence, a gaze that instantly ignited with crimson rage.

“Roar!”

Saint Lily was in grave danger.