Stratum 15: Resting Scene at the Flower Garden

So, as you know, I'm about to take a nice, long nap.

Yes, sir.

However, old people and flower fields are a surprisingly dangerous combination, even under normal circumstances.

So no matter how much time you have on your hands, I don't want you looking down on me with a look of profound pity in your eyes while I'm asleep.

Of course, sir. I wouldn't dream of it.

I'll just stick to decorating you with the flowers I picked.

You will do no such thing! I don't want to be buried!

I'm only kidding, sir. Enjoy your nap.

Oh, wow. What an incredible field of flowers!

Hey Nhị, would you like to make flower crowns with me? We haven't done that since we were kids!

S-sure.

If that's what you want to do, Sister, of course I'm up for it!

Ah, how elegant. How refined. These flowers may not be cherry blossoms, but they are still beautiful enough to make one forget the time and lose oneself in them.

The only way to improve this moment would be with a cup of sake rather than tea. Alas, one cannot have everything.

Looking at...pretty flowers...so fun! I like...this place!

Hop, hop, hop. Hey guys, check out the cute bunny hopping through the flowers♪

Wait. Whaaa...!?

What do you mean, "Whaaa...!?"

Oh, sorry. I just never expected to see you of all Servants sitting out here picking flowers. That's all!

What, did you think I was attempting to weave a flower crown or something? What an absurd notion.

Have you never heard the phrase, "Every rose has its toxin"?

...Hm. I may be misremembering that expression.

My point is, I am not familiar with these flowers, so I decided to take some time to study them more closely.

Should I manage to acquire toxins of which no one is aware from a flower with which no one is familiar, I could poison people without leaving a shred of evidence.

Oh, never mind. That's the Semiramis I know.

Um, Lord Rikyu? Those flowers you're picking...

Yes, I've never seen them before, so I was going to taste them to see if they would be fit for tea. What about them?

Were you not listening to those people over there? One of them's a queen who's trying to extract toxins from them!

Of course I was listening. However, when properly prepared, even a deadly poison can become a miracle cure.

Which means there is no reason these flowers could not also be used for a new tea.

I've been given a second lease on life as a Servant. Of course I mean to spend it trying to make new teas delicious enough to leave your tongue tingling.

If you just want your tongue to tingle, wouldn't a can of soda work just as well?

Besides, if the tea is poisonous, all your hard work will be for nothing.

Oh, I'm sure I'll still be able to find a use for it.

Huh? What use could you possibly have for poisonous tea?

Hehe. Do you really want to know?

No. No, I do not.

Anyway, can you please hurry up? I want to go home and browse the internet with a nice matcha latte.

I knew putting that computer in the tearoom was a mistake.

Hohoho. This really is a lovely flower field.

Although...there's still one thing it's missing.

A unified color scheme.

On which note...

Wahahahaha! Now that's more like it!

Just a little appearance change, not unlike an illusion, but it's still incomparably better this way!

Hey! What do you think you're doing!?

I do not care how many different varieties of flowers there may be. With me here, you should have known to make them all bright and vivid!

I am the Rose Emperor, and as such am rightly associated with the crimson rose. THIS is what they should look like!

Imperial Privilege, full power! Let these flowers bloom like the fires of Etna!

Umu! See that, Taoist!? Now that is a color worthy of a proper banquet!

Red is the symbol of passion and excitement, which is exactly what the people want!

With all due respect, Your Imperial Majesty, this is absolutely ruining what is meant to be a peaceful place.

Rest spots need to be relaxing above all else. They're not for passion or excitement.

Hmph! Quite the stubborn one, I see!

One moment, a flower I thought yellow turns red, then yellow again. Truly a sign that impermanence governs all things, and that which prospers will inevitably decline...

...Ahh, how elegant...