Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 112 Will you inherit her legacy?
An ancient legend that has been covered in dust is about to reveal its truth in the hands of travelers. But before that, let's shift our focus to another place and pay attention to the other developments of the story. Because maybe it is possible that this is also part of the legend?
……

The herb garden, which grows various magical herbs, is located in a remote corner of the underground garden. Few people usually step on it, so the stone road looks clean and clear, without any traces of trampling. On the bushes beside the road, the tips of the green leaves are still condensed with dew from the morning mist, as if blooming with vitality.

The footsteps of two little girls broke the tranquility here. Shemi took Metien's hand and led her to the simple iron gate at the end of the cobblestone road. Here, flower branches that had not yet budded stretched out from the railings, swaying gently as if waving to passers-by, and the ends of the branches were just showing some tender green.

"The herb garden grows golden mint, mimosa, pink moonflower, wild chrysanthemum, Bohemian vanilla... as well as precious medicinal herbs such as silver dragon grass. My eldest and second sisters spent many years transplanting them from the mountains." Xie Mi counted on his fingers, listing them all.

These names sound much more normal than those weird magical vegetables in the vegetable garden. Metien blinked his eyes, unable to suppress his excitement and curiosity: "What are their effects and what diseases can they cure? Is the silver dragon grass you just mentioned really related to dragons?"

"Yep."

Xie Mi nodded his head seriously. "It looks like a giant silver dragon, so we call it Silver Dragon Grass."

"...What about other than that?"

"Besides that? Nothing else. Doesn't that matter?"

"Uh."

The sunflower, which was immersed in a dream, was awakened by someone. It rubbed its sleepy eyes with two large green leaves and muttered incoherently: "Who is it? Why are you not sleeping so early in the morning to disturb me?"

As he spoke, he swallowed subconsciously.

"Don't think about it." Shemi interrupted her recollection and introduced: "Her name is Metien, she is a guest of the hotel and also my friend."

As they were talking, they had already arrived at the iron gate of the herb garden. Next to it was a potted plant with a plant similar to a sunflower. On the golden flower disk was a vivid human face, which was leaning against the railing in a lazy posture and sleeping soundly.

"So that's how it is. The hotel finally has a new guest?"

Xie Mi came closer and called her name in a higher voice: "Little Sun, don't sleep, Little Sun, wake up!"

The pink-haired little girl was speechless.

"It's me, little sun." Xie Mi reached out and shook her flower pot: "Wake up, open the door and let me in."

By the way, I turned around and explained to Metien: "This is sunflower. We all call it Little Sun. Its fragrance can heal spiritual trauma and relieve negative emotions. Sunflower seeds can be used to cook... Yeah, it's delicious."

Her voice sounded very childish. If it were a human voice, it would probably be a little girl around seven or eight years old.

"Hey stop shaking me, I'm awake!"

Metien: “…”

Metien also stretched out her hand and shook her leaf gently: "Hello, little sun, nice to meet you."

The sunflower stretched out its big leaves and greeted the pink-haired girl in a friendly manner: "Hello, Metien, I am the sunflower, you can call me Little Sun."

After being shaken by her, Sunflower finally perked up. He opened his eyes wide and said in surprise, "Shaymi, why are you here? What are you doing here? Is anyone injured in the hotel? And, this person is... a human, right? Oh my God, I can't even remember the last time I saw a human. Let me think, was it yesterday, the day before yesterday, or last week?"

"Well, your hands are very warm. You seem to be a kind-hearted girl." Sunflower seemed to be talking to herself, but deliberately spoke loudly: "Next time you come to see me, I hope you can bring me some gifts."

Metien nodded vigorously: "Okay, I'll remember it!"

"Don't worry about her, Metien, she just likes to ask for gifts from others." Xiemi pulled his good friend to his side, and then said to Sunflower angrily: "You haven't returned the bow I gave you last time, but I don't care. Now open the door and let me in." Sunflower's true nature was exposed, but he didn't care. He said slowly: "As for the return gift, I've already considered it... You have to tell me why you want to go in. Isn't Shesta usually in charge of picking herbs?"

Xie Mi raised his little face and said confidently: "Nothing, just accompanying my friend for a walk and introducing her to various magical herbs!"

"Then I can't let you in." The sunflower shook its flower disk to refuse: "Mrs. Shu is still sleeping in there. What if you wake her up?"

"I promise not!"

Xie Mi patted his chest and vowed: "Also, if you let us in, you don't need the bow as a return gift. I will give you an extra bow in your favorite gold color!"

"this--"

Looking at the expression of Sunflower, she was obviously a little tempted and was struggling with the pros and cons. But Metien felt that this didn't seem good. She had seen similar behavior in a book before. I remember it was called...bribery?
Bad people are good at buying people off, while good people convince others with reason.

"Why don't we go back to find Sister Alice?" She tugged at her friend's sleeve and whispered, "Sister Alice is the best at convincing people with reason."

Sunflower shuddered for no apparent reason, feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

She was about to speak when suddenly a voice came from the depths of the herb garden. It was gentle, generous, and kind, like the outline of the sun and the shape of a tree crown. It sounded warmly in the ears of the two people and one flower: "Let them in, little sun."

"what?"

Metien tilted her head, a hint of confusion in her eyes. She inexplicably felt that the voice was very familiar, as if its owner deliberately conveyed a friendly and amiable emotion to her, soothing her heart.

"Madam Tree!?"

Sunflower at the door was startled: "Why did you wake up?"

"Haha, if you sleep too long, you have to wake up. Otherwise, you will forget what this world looks like." Mrs. Shu smiled gently: "Besides, I also want to meet this guest who came from afar. Maybe she can... inherit... that relic..."

The voice became smaller and smaller, until it disappeared completely, as if it was submerged in the sea. Metien could not hear clearly what she said afterwards, but he knew that the tree lady seemed to want to meet him very much.

Xie Mi also understood what was meant, so he put his hands on his hips and said to Sun Kui triumphantly, "Did you hear that? This is what Madam Shu meant. Let us in!"

Now I don’t have to worry about being discovered by my sisters.

"Okay, okay, I'll open the door right away, don't rush me." The sunflower slowly pulled its roots out of the flowerpot, rummaged in the soil for a while, and finally took out a small rusty key and inserted it into the lock of the iron gate.

With a click, the door was opened, and leading to the depths of the garden was a path hidden by tall shrub walls and bright flowers.

"Let's go, Metien!"

Xie Mi happily took his friend's hand and led her into the herb garden.

The two gradually disappeared at the end of the road. Sunflower put away the key, buried her roots in the soil again, closed her eyes and planned to take a nap. But before she fell asleep, she murmured unconsciously, "Do we really have to give that thing to humans..."

"What if... it's not?"

She turned over and fell asleep.

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)