The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 276

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

Chapter 276   After declaring independence

The next day, after waking up, I and the rest of the team decided to go to a restaurant in the royal capital for breakfast.

My father said, “Since we’ve come all the way here, it would be boring to just eat at the inn.” I agree, but I can’t help feeling like, is it okay to play around in this situation?

Well, we’re in the royal capital, so whether it’s in the inn room or some random restaurant, the level of danger probably doesn’t change.

So, we ended up at a peculiar restaurant that uses materials from magical beasts for its dishes. The contents of the menu include things that you can’t even imagine from their names. I caught a glimpse of some dishes being carried, and there were also dishes that seemed mentally challenging just by looking at them. I can’t help but wonder if people really eat those, but as long as the restaurant serves them, they should be proper dishes. Probably.

I can’t believe we’re eating something like this in the morning, and it’s the kind of place I would never visit alone. However, I’m not uninterested, so I decided to casually place an order.

Wriggly, squishy, slimy…

“―So, what is it?”

After entering a private room and receiving the dishes, my father started eating a bluish-purple lump on his plate without hesitation. Is it safe to eat that? It looks kind of off-color.

However, since there’s no way I can refuse while being afraid, I cautiously reach out to try it.

“They’re preparing the military.”

Yesterday, after returning to the inn, I collaborated with the castle’s plants and listened to the king’s story, and although there were some disputes, the conclusion was to prepare the military.

…Ah, this is no good.

The first dish I reached for had a relatively inconspicuous appearance, but the moment I ate it, not only did the smell spread throughout my mouth but also my entire body. It wasn’t just a smell; it was an overpowering stench.

I managed to swallow it somehow, but the smell crawled up from the depths of my stomach, permeating my entire body and reaching the tip of my head. It was a violently strong smell.

As for the taste… well, it’s not bad, and I can eat it. In fact, in terms of taste alone, it might even be delicious. Some people might even develop a taste for it.

However, the problem is that the smell is unbelievably intense.

“As expected.”

“However, it will take time because they are bringing people from various places.”

“By various places, do you mean from the borders and outskirts?”

“No, they are apparently going to bring the ‘Eight Heavens.’ And not just anyone, but a few of them. It seems their intention is to call all of them if possible.”

“Ah, those guys. Even though they belong to the military, they are essentially allowed a considerable amount of freedom. Bringing them in is quite serious business, considering the situation.”

The ‘Eight Heavens’ refers to the powerful individuals of the tenth tier who are affiliated with this country. To mobilize them, the country grants them land, authority, and autonomy, allowing them to ignore certain laws in their territories. Even if they belong to the military, they are essentially free agents. Convincing them to act requires making a limited number of requests. Although they have been reluctant to call upon them until now, it seems they’ve decided it’s necessary.

“… Are you okay with this?”

“Huh? … What, are you getting cold feet?”

“Well, you can’t blame me for feeling that way. Talking about the top ten tiers, they’re like heroes in a story. If there are several of them, it’s bound to be tough.”

In my mind, I see my mother, manipulating the earth and battling dragons. If they’re on the same level as that, it’s natural to feel uneasy when facing multiple opponents like that.

“Hey, don’t give me that. Even if they’re from the tenth tier, they’re just that. The so-called ‘Sword Saint’ I cut down this time claims to be one of those ‘Eight Heavens.’ Well, you’re about to reach the tenth tier yourself. It’s pretty much the same thing.”

“It’s not the same… Besides, combat jobs and non-combat jobs are different.”

I’m currently on the ninth tier, but I should be reaching the tenth tier soon. However, even if I were to become a tenth-tier, I would likely be inferior in combat compared to a combat-oriented tenth-tiers. It’s only natural; they have a job specifically for that. While I might be able to counter with surprise attacks or clever tactics, a straightforward confrontation is uncertain.

“Well, considering your case, I’m not sure if it’s really accurate to call you a non-combatant…”

Father mutters something, but without absolute certainty, there’s still room for concern.

“Anyway, it’s fine. Now that we know their plan, let’s go back.”

Since we understand the kingdom’s intentions, there’s no point in staying here any longer. In fact, it’s better to return and prepare for what’s to come. Well, I’ve been preparing for the fight for a while now, considering that it might happen.

We nod at father’s words and decide to return to Karakas.

…Oh, I should buy some souvenirs before leaving. If I come back empty-handed, Lilia will probably complain.

And so, having achieved the goal of conveying our intention to become independent from the kingdom, we returned to Karakas.

“I’ll let glasses know, so you guys can rest.”

I was thinking about preparing various things, but as soon as we returned to Karakas’ mansion, my father informed us, and with the garden on my mind, I decided to head to the mansion quietly.

“Welcome back!”

“Oh, souvenirs!”

The first words to greet us upon our return are about souvenirs. Couldn’t they have welcomed us properly?

Upon our return to the mansion, Lilia came running toward us with a lively noise, but her response to our return could be described as somewhat delicate.

Well, it’s pointless to complain now, and considering her as a pet, she’s still cute.

…Well, maybe a bit more training would be nice. It’s a bit tiring to come back and immediately be asked for souvenirs.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got something for you.”

“Here, take this.”

Even though I said I had prepared something, it was just something I randomly ordered at the restaurant where we had breakfast on our way back.

“Yay… Huh? What’s this?”

However, Lilia’s reaction to the souvenir I handed her was quite subtle. I picked it out especially for you, you know.

“What’s this? A souvenir, you say? It’s unusual, right?”

“Unusual… um well, it’s kinda strange.”

“Strange? That’s harsh. I bought it thinking you’d be happy.”

“When you were picking this, you were laughing like crazy, weren’t you?”

The souvenir I gave to Lilia was a dish from a restaurant that used monster ingredients, and it was the specialty. Not a metaphor, but literally an eyeball dish. A dish made with eyeballs.

In the storage box, there were several eyeballs of some unknown monster, surrounded by a jelly-like substance. On top of that, some unknown red sauce was poured, creating a visually unappetizing dish that significantly diminished one’s appetite. I chose it because, thanks to borrowing a Blast Boar from the elves instead of using a horse, we were able to shorten the travel itinerary. If we had used a horse, even with the storage container, it would have likely spoiled, making it impossible to bring along.

“Well, try it. Think of it as a surprise.”

I also tried it, and while the appearance was bad, it tasted quite good. …The appearance was terrible, and I was really curious about what kind of monster they used, but considering the taste alone, it wasn’t a disappointment.

“Ugh… Hmm… Nom!”

Initially making a disgusted face, Lilia picked up one eyeball, but after putting it in her mouth, she showed a surprised reaction.

“Surprisingly good!”

Saying that, Lilia started on the remaining eyeballs. Meanwhile, we asked her about the situation during our absence.

“How’s Treant? Any changes?”

“No problems at all. It grew properly and can talk now.”

“I see…? It can talk?”

“Yeah.”

Well, that’s a change. While there may not be any issues, the fact that Treant can talk is quite a significant transformation, isn’t it?

“…Well, whatever. Which ones grew?”

“All of them.”

“All of them? Including the ones, planted in the village?”

“Ah, not those yet. But all the ones around here, yes. There’s a Sacred Tree nearby, right? So, it’s natural, isn’t it?”

It hasn’t even been a month since they were planted, and they’ve already grown this much. Certainly, since I used the “Growth” skill initially, they might have reached a decent size. But I didn’t expect them to develop self-awareness so quickly…

However, considering Flora gained self-awareness in just half a day, is it really that surprising?

“…Alright. It seems like a good idea to check them directly.”

Thinking about it here won’t lead to any answers, and it’s probably faster to see for ourselves.

So, we decided to head to the Sacred Tree’s garden, the Treant Zone.

“So, this is a Treant. It has certainly grown big.”

“But somehow, it looks quite ordinary.”

“If it were in the forest, you might mistake it for an ordinary tree.”

“That’s precisely why it’s considered a dangerous magical creature, isn’t it?”

We arrived at the location where the Treants were planted, and honestly, just by appearance, they looked like regular trees. Are they really capable of self-awareness?

“For now… Uh, are you awake?”

Not sure, but just like with the Sacred Tree, I touch the trunk and try talking.

“Hmm… Oh, Daddy.”

“…………Huh? Daddy?”

The response I received caused my thoughts to momentarily come to a halt.