The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 442

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

Chapter 442   Reunion with the Sacred Tree. Or, perhaps, the first encounter.

After seeking advice from Leireine and obtaining permission to visit the Sacred Tree, I headed alone towards the heart of the forest where the Sacred Tree resided.

Note that I didn’t bring Lilia with me this time. I already know the way, and even if I gets lost, I can always ask the plants for directions. Besides, since I brought her here this far, it wouldn’t be fair for me to drag her around everywhere.

Walking through the forest for a while, I saw light ahead, and as I continued, I entered into an open space.

In that place, there was a relatively large spring, and at its center stood a significantly large tree. The Sacred Tree.

The Sacred Tree, existing in this place and protecting it. Flora calls me and Lilia her parents, but in my opinion, this Sacred Tree is a much more fitting entity to be called a parent.

Nevertheless, I have no intention of giving up my role as Flora’s parent. I am curious about what the Sacred Tree thinks about this situation.

Leaving that aside, this time I came alone, but I wonder if it will communicate with me?

Last time, Lilia was with me, so things worked out, but this time, I left her behind just in case. Although the level of “Mindlink” has increased compared to last time, and I believe we can communicate properly this time.

Moreover, if there were any issues, and I couldn’t communicate or if I were to be expelled, I trust that Leireine, at the very least, would have stopped me when I expressed my intention to visit here again or would have assigned Lilia to me once more.

…Is that really the case? Given that it’s Leireine we are talking about, I can’t completely rule out the possibility of her forgetting.

Anyway, I won’t know until I try talking, so let’s give it a shot.

“Long time no see. We couldn’t really communicate last time, but can you respond now?”

Muttering to himself, I approached the Sacred Tree and stopped by the edge of the spring, calling out to the Sacred Tree.

“Hey, I have something to talk about. Can we chat for a bit?”

Despite waiting for a few seconds after I called out, with nothing happening, I started to think it might be futile. However, at that moment, the Sacred Tree rustled and swayed slightly. Since there was no wind, it must have been the Sacred Tree’s reaction.

Yet, as usual, there was no audible response.

What should I do? Since it reacted, it’s not like my voice didn’t reach it at all. If I keep calling, maybe it will respond eventually?

“Hmm? Oh, you came. Good morning!”

Thinking that, a voice suddenly reached me from above.

Though there was no presence until then, I hastily turned my gaze upwards.

In the direction I looked, a woman with brown skin and green hair was peering down at me from the branches’ shade.

“Is it fine to call you the incarnation of the Sacred Tree?”

The woman I saw had an air about her that was far from ordinary. It wasn’t the kind of atmosphere that hinted at strength or a formidable opponent. It was more like a simple sense of superiority.

Under normal circumstances, one wouldn’t encounter someone exuding such an atmosphere so readily. However, I’m familiar with something similar.

Flora. She doesn’t give off as strong a vibe, but I still felt something akin to this woman.

Judging from the quality of the power and the current location, I concluded that this incarnation is the same as Flora’s manifestation as a spirit, the “Sacred Tree’s incarnation.” But… well, how should I put it?

“Hmm? Oh yeah, that’s right.”

…Quite laid-back.

“So, what brings you here?”

While saying that, the Sacred Tree’s incarnation slipped through the branches where it had been leaning, gently descended, and lay down.

“Anything wrong?”

Unlike Flora, the Sacred Tree’s incarnation, who descended dressed, tilted her head as I remained silent.

Stumped by the nonchalant attitude, I managed to regain my composure when asked.

“No, it’s our first meeting, and I just thought your demeanor was surprisingly casual.”

“Oh, I see. But whether it’s the first or hundredth meeting, it doesn’t matter, right?”

“Well, if you put it that way, it’s true. It’s just that, despite your appearance, I expected something more…”

Certainly, adjusting one’s attitude based on the person one is interacting with is a common human practice to maintain relationships. However, if you can live without worrying about such things, if you have enough strength to get by, then there’s no need to change your attitude regardless of who the other person is. So, the demeanor of this Sacred Tree isn’t necessarily unusual.

But considering the tremendous power emanating from the Sacred Tree, I expected a more dignified presence…

“Did you expect me to be more like an old man?”

“I wouldn’t go that far… but something like that.”

“Hmm. Well, that’s a shame. This is just how I am.”

While saying that, the Sacred Tree began to rotate for some unknown reason. Not like spinning in ballet but more like the hands of a clock, or perhaps like the needle of a vertical compass, something along those lines.

“Well, considering that those kids ultimately come from me, can’t you understand?”

“Those kids? …Do you mean Lilia and the others?”

“That’s right. Lee-chan. Also, the other kids in this forest.”

“…Certainly, when you think of it that way, they do resemble you.”

They share that characteristic of not straying far from their place and lazing around.

…But could you please stop rotating while talking? It’s really bothersome and annoying.

“However, their appearances seem quite different.”

Lilia and the others have fair skin and golden hair, whereas this Sacred Tree has brown skin and green hair. In terms of looks, it feels a bit too different to be considered children. Although, considering the entity before me is a plant, this color scheme isn’t really strange.

“That can’t be helped, right? Those kids aren’t pure spirits. They are, after all, ‘humans.’ The colors of the humans they originated from tend to be more prominent.”

“The humans they originated from, huh…”

“That’s right, right, right. People I loved. Well, they’re already gone.”

The Sacred Tree stopped abruptly, and its tone, rather than dragging on, conveyed a mixture of a smile and a somewhat sorrowful feeling.

But that’s only natural. The existence of the Sacred Tree mimicked a human form to be together with someone. If that someone passed away, there’s no way it wouldn’t be sad. Even if one says it’s in the past or that they’ve moved on, it doesn’t mean they’re not sad at all.

“I still regret that we could only be together for three hundred years.”

“Three hundred years?”

I hadn’t intended to interject with the personal feelings of this Sacred Tree, but those words slipped out of my mouth involuntarily.

Well, it’s understandable, right? After all, ‘that person’ was not an elf but a human. Normally, human lifespans aren’t that long. If they haven’t reached the Tenth Rank like us, it’s unlikely to be the case. Or perhaps, was that person also at the Tenth Rank?

“Hmm? Ah, yeah. That’s right. Even though I’m a Sacred Tree, I could extend a person’s lifespan by giving them a specially-made fruit. Well, at that time, my power wasn’t as strong, so I could only extend it by two hundred years or so.”

While saying that with a smile, there was a hint of regret apparent.

Extending a human lifespan by two hundred years is impressive enough for normal humans, but for a Sacred Tree capable of living for thousands or tens of thousands of years, it might be considered a ‘failure.’

“—Leaving that aside, finally, we can have a proper conversation.”

The Sacred Tree wiped away its previous expression, changed its demeanor entirely, and spoke with a smile.

I didn’t want to see the expression from earlier, nor is it a topic for outsiders to delve into deeply, so I decided to go along with this new direction of conversation.

“The reason you didn’t show yourself last time was that I lacked the qualification?”

When I came here last time, I couldn’t have this kind of appearance.

Even if my power was insufficient to hear voices in the plant state, couldn’t she have spoken in this form? Flora can adjust whether she can be seen or heard, even if they can’t see spirits.

“Qualification? Haha, no no. There’s no such qualification at all. It’s just that at that time, I wasn’t in the mood, I was sleepy, and I had just finished adjusting the barrier, so I took a break. Well, I didn’t really have a reason to dress up like this in the first place.”

She’s saying various things, but in essence, it was troublesome, wasn’t it?

…Somehow, it feels like the sense of being relatives of the elves here has suddenly become stronger. Well, they are the ancestors of these elves, after all.

“Oh, and recently, things have been going really well, so I got more chances to dress like this.”

“You’re saying that the Sacred Tree also has a condition of ‘going well’?”

“Well, of course. You see, the humans you brought over. Thanks to those kids, things have been lively around here.”

“Lively? I haven’t received any reports about those kids meeting the Sacred Tree?”

In the context of training the ranks, I sent a few ‘farmers’ to this place, but I haven’t heard anything special about them meeting the Sacred Tree. Could it be that they’re hiding the fact and planning a rebellion? It’s Karakas, so I can’t say it’s impossible.

But then, the Sacred Tree shook its head and replied.

“We haven’t met directly~, but this whole forest is under my control~. If they’re spreading potent water around there, the power flows in from there, you know~. Didn’t you know~?”

“Ah, no. I absolutely had no idea.”

But now that it’s mentioned, the other plants seemed delighted even at locations separate from where I watered, and there seemed to be something like the spread, transport, or infiltration of that power. So, even if the main boss, the Sacred Tree, appeared, it wouldn’t be strange.

“So, as a gesture of gratitude, let me give you a piece of advice.”

The Sacred Tree erased the relaxed atmosphere it had maintained until then, straightened up, and looked directly at me while saying so.

I was momentarily confused by this sudden change, but quickly understood that this attitude was not ordinary. I switched my mindset from casual conversation to something urgent.

“Advice?”

“Yes. You might be incredibly surprised, but—”

The Sacred Tree paused for a moment, closed its eyes, and after a few seconds, opened them again to continue speaking.

“—I can no longer hear the voices of ‘everyone.'”