The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 241

The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I’m a “Farmer”, Not a Demon King! ~

Chapter 241    The End of an S-Rank

My scarecrow, no matter how much you try to be aware of it, cannot be completely placed outside of your consciousness. If there were just one or two, you might have been able to ignore them, but if there are so many within your field of vision. Trying to concentrate on something means inevitably becoming aware of at least one of them that comes into view.

Even if you try to be cautious not to be conscious of them, once you’ve noticed them, it’s challenging to completely ignore them. Instead, you end up being more conscious of them.

In addition, scarecrows are originally meant to repel beasts — to create an aversion and prevent them from approaching. The ability to attract hostility and induce aggression is merely an additional effect. If I provide something that induces aversion, Litt will unconsciously cease targeting my surroundings.

Though they may look the same, there’s a difference between something that attracts hostility and something that emits aversion. If he doesn’t realize the effects of these two scarecrows, Litt’s attacks will never hit me.

Well, even if he does realize, it’s questionable if he can hit us. If he manages to use a wide-range technique and blow the area away, it might work somehow, but even then, I might inadvertently avoid using the scarecrow emitting aversion.

Or, if Litt were to unleash a random attack not influenced by his consciousness, it could prove effective. Yet, in this particular situation, Litt likely wouldn’t opt for such a crude method. Despite his seemingly foolish behavior, he has diligently worked to attain the prestigious rank of an S-rank adventurer.

At first, I thought his behavior was similar to Lilia’s, but she is a genius type who can excel without effort, while Litt is a talented individual who has risen through effort. Well, in Lilia’s case, it’s probably more about her lifespan than talent. Because she has a long lifespan, she managed to reach a high rank by casually using skills every day.

However, since Lilia is favored by the Sacred Tree, it’s not accurate to say she lacks talent. In conclusion, they may look similar, but they are entirely different.

Can such a hardworking prodigy possess rough and brute techniques? No, he doesn’t. Litt may have boasted about his skills, and yes, that “Arrow Barrier” is undoubtedly an impressive technique. He must have put in considerable effort—cutting down time spent honing other skills for it. To master such a complex ability in the midst of battle would have required significant training and time.

Therefore, he wouldn’t have any other techniques. And even if he did, they would likely be of inferior quality compared to the “Arrow Barrier.”

“Why…”

After a while, perhaps realizing that his efforts were futile, Litt not only stopped preparing arrows but also refrained from even raising his bow. It’s understandable; if none of his proud attacks could land, and he couldn’t even aim properly, he might as well give up.

“Vesnar-sama!”

“Tch, allies…!”

At that moment, Bell, sensing the situation, came running from the mansion towards us.

“《Wind, Blow》!”

With the arrival of allies, my determination to do something strengthened.

“Now using magic. Did you think you could definitely hit by involving the area? Well, not a bad idea. So, I won’t let you use it.”

“What… ugh!”

Wind magic seems unfamiliar to him. Of course, he’s trained enough to use it in combat, and the control I witnessed earlier was impressive. However, the activation is slow, and there are plenty of openings. With a quick disruption at his feet, he immediately halted his magical preparations and leaped back from the spot.

“Hey, what happened to your proud ‘Arrow Barrier’? If it’s such an amazing technique worth boasting about, rely on that instead of resorting to magic.”

“Hmph, if you say so, I’ll show you!”

As if taking the bait of my provocation, Litt frowned and raised his bow.

“Well, I won’t let you do that, though.”

However, there’s no way I’d let the attack proceed as it is. There’s no need to engage in this any longer. The preparations have already been completed, and I have a reason to hurry.

So, this battle is already over.

“It’s true that being able to release and control arrows from various directions is impressive. But if you have time to do all that, put effort into finishing with a single strike—like this.”

While saying so, I released the seed when Litt was blown away and caused the embedded seed to sprout.

“What—argh, what is this!?”

I anticipated that if his concentration was interrupted, the sowing would pass through, so I had prepared a follow-up attack. It worked out well.

Whether it’s a surprise attack from stealth or a strike powerful enough to penetrate even if defended against, it doesn’t matter. Being an archer doesn’t mean competing with quantity upfront.

In the first place, his strength lies in long-range sniping from outside the target’s perception. While he has the ability to respond to close-range encounters, that’s not where his true capabilities lie.

He probably misunderstood that by honing the skill of the “Arrow Barrier.” The very assumption of anticipating close-range encounters is a mistake. Sniping effectively from a distance is the advantage of using a bow.

I think perhaps this guy admired heroes. That’s why he behaves that way. He makes flashy moves, spouting words that sound like justice.

Even the “Arrow Barrier,” I wonder if he created it out of such a desire. It’s not about reliably taking down enemies; he just wants to face them like a hero. So, he devised a technique to make that possible.

… Well, it’s just my speculation, and it doesn’t really matter.

“I won’t say you lack skill, but your technique is just acrobatics. It looks good, but it can never become a true ‘technique’ in the real sense.”

A ‘technique’ is the result of mastering a path, embodying an appropriate way of being in that field. The path of archery is simply shooting to kill the enemy. Drawing the bow, releasing the arrow, killing the enemy – that’s the essence of archery. It’s not about manipulating arrows to show off and boast. If you have time for that, shoot the arrow. If you’re found and dealt with, then run, hide, and shoot a new arrow. Even the kids in Karakas know that much.

If you want to know about ‘technique,’ look at my old man. By mastering just ‘cutting,’ he turned the sword into a ‘technique,’ and with that alone, he can solve most problems.

I saw it before, but how can he, without any skills, just swing a sword down and cut a rock that’s out of range… I truly can’t understand it. Truly, he is a lump of talent, rightfully given the main and sub-job of a ‘swordsman.’

“Well then, thanks for the hard work—《Growth》.”

Even though shoots were already sprouting all over his body, it had only shown itself a little until now. Even so, it must have been extremely painful, yet Litt was still alive.

But this time, I won’t do anything half-hearted. I’ll grow the shoots that have emerged into something large enough to be called a tree.

“Gah—”

At the moment when plants all over his body grew due to the skill, Litt’s screams, which had been audible until then, suddenly came to an abrupt end.

“Flowers are meant to be admired, not trampled.”

Due to the battle with Litt, the flowers we had planted and nurtured around us were in a state of remarkable disarray. Moreover, due to the “Arrow Barrier,” the area around us was in chaos, resembling a storm.

“At least be useful as nourishment for the next flowers—《Fertilizer Generation》.”

Approaching the eerie object that Litt had become, covered in plants from head to toe, I used the skill. Litt, entwined with the plants, lost his form and crumbled away.

For an S-rank adventurer, the end was unexpectedly anticlimactic, but well, that’s life.

“So, what now? If someone like him came, it means they’re already planning to attack, right?”

“Well, probably. I’ll contact Edward, and we’ll head towards the enemy.”

If someone like him launched an attack, the goal was likely to create chaos by eliminating the commander. Perhaps they aimed for surrender after taking the head. Doing such a thing implies that the enemy is already very close.

“Vesnar-sama!”

“Are you alright!?”

Just the two of them coming at the right time.

Sofia and Bell, who had rushed towards us upon hearing about our battle, seemed to have understood that intervening now would be a hindrance. They had stopped midway, given our advantage in the battle, but as soon as the fight was over, they hurried towards us.

“I apologize for arriving late.”

Unlike Sofia, Bell, who has a combat profession, might be regretting not being able to fight, but that’s not an issue. No one got injured, and we didn’t struggle. Well, Kyle might have had some burden because I hesitated to use my skills a bit, but that’s about it.

Moreover, considering she wasn’t in this garden, it’s fair to say she arrived here soon enough.

But well, more than that, what comes next is crucial. Since the enemy will likely attack, we need to discuss how to deal with it.

“No, there’s no particular problem. More importantly, what comes next. Probably because the enemy is likely to attack—”

“It’s not ‘probably.'”

I was about to discuss what happens next when Flora showed herself from my abdomen in a torso-only state.

I wondered why she appeared in such a state from there, but I decided not to dwell on it. The meaning of her words was more important.

“Flora? When you say ‘not probably,’ does that mean the enemy has come?”

“Yeah. Lots from over there.”

Flora pointed in a direction, and that was the same direction where Flora previously informed us that the army was coming.

At the same time, the bell rang, signaling that the enemy’s presence had been confirmed.

“Looks like it. Well then, shall we go that way?”

And so, we started walking towards the outer wall to deal with the approaching enemy.