The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 490

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

Chapter 490   Papa and daughter

“Why do you hate it? Did something happen?”

Flora doesn’t usually dislike anyone. Even if she does, it’s usually in a cute, joking manner, like when dealing with rude and arrogant customers who come to the flower garden for shopping. She doesn’t openly express hatred like this.

“I don’t know… I don’t know, but it just feels unpleasant.”

Flora, who shifted her gaze directly to me, reached out to me with concern and grabbed my clothes. However, her grip was not light; it was firm.

“An unpleasant feeling, huh… How about the rest of you?”

Lilia mentioned a feeling of fullness in her stomach, but Flora feels something unpleasant. I don’t understand either, but would Sofia and the others, the remaining three, have any insights?

“I don’t know. It seems like there’s nothing unusual…”

“Me neither.”

“Me too, but I’ll go check on the other elves for a bit!”

The three couldn’t provide a straightforward answer to my question, but the agile Bell jumped out of the window, saying so.

“With this sudden change, could that place be the cause?”

Watching Bell disappear out of the window, I sighed lightly and turned my face towards the direction the carriage was heading—the capital of the Holy Capital, Alfreya.

Without sticking my face out of the window, I couldn’t see the state of the city. However, even without looking, I could imagine the situation.

After all, it was so impressive. The city was abnormally overgrown with greenery in the current circumstances.

The abnormality of plants thriving and the abnormality of something related to the existence of plants. If both of these occurred simultaneously, it would be normal to assume some kind of relationship.

“That possibility seems likely. If Lilia is saying she feels full, maybe there’s a special barrier there? It could be blocking the inside and outside, preventing curses from the sacred tree. The power infused into that barrier might have triggered something, or curses might be stronger there than in other places, causing a ripple effect.”

“That sounds plausible, but both scenarios are possible, and there could be other explanations.”

Sofia’s words seemed reasonable and quite persuasive, but since we, who couldn’t understand the discomfort felt by Lilia and the others, couldn’t judge what was actually happening.

To make a judgment, we would need to observe a bit more. At the very least, without knowing what is happening there, why there is so much greenery, we can’t come up with an answer.

“I’m back. I didn’t see everything, but it seems that elves in other places are experiencing similar symptoms to Lilia.”

As we were discussing, Bell returned through the window, just like when she left. It seems that elves in other places are indeed showing similar symptoms.

“I see. … Normal humans didn’t experience anything, right?”

“Yes. Only the elves were reporting abnormalities.”

In that case, it might be acceptable to think that something related to plants is indeed happening.

“Among them, did anyone express a ‘unpleasant feeling’ like Flora?”

“No one mentioned anything like that.”

In response to Kyle’s question, Bell answered, but it seems that Flora is experiencing something different from the other elves. However, it’s unclear whether it’s happening only to Flora or if it’s because of the sacred tree.

But probably, considering the sacred tree’s power, it should be assumed that something unusual that is not apparent to ordinary beings is understood.

“In that case, it seems there’s something only detectable by the sacred tree.”

“I have a bad feeling about this…”

Upon hearing my words, Kyle made a displeased face, but well, that’s understandable. If there’s something incomprehensible and unpleasant about a being with the power of the sacred tree, then being headed towards the place where that ‘something’ is likely to be is a cause for concern.

“You should have known that trouble was brewing the moment you decided to come here.”

“Yeah, I knew… Well, there’s no choice but to see it for ourselves given the current situation.”

Kyle sighed and turned his face once again towards the holy capital Alfreya.

Feeling drawn in that direction, I also turned my face towards the holy capital, but soon redirected my attention back to Flora.

“Flora, you mentioned feeling uncomfortable. Are you still okay? If it becomes too much, we can split the team here and have them standby. Alright?”

“Naa, I’m okay. Flora wants to go there. I think it’s necessary to go.”

“I see. I’ll take you, but don’t push yourself. If something is bothering you, let me know right away.”

“Thanks, Papa.”

‘Papa,’ huh. Another unusual way of addressing…

“If anything happens, I’ll handle it somehow. You’re my important daughter.”

Saying so, I gently stroked Flora’s head. Meanwhile, Sofia and the other two were smiling at our interaction. However, Lilia, who is her ‘Mama,’ seemed to be on the verge of vomiting and groaned, completely ruining the atmosphere.

“Anyway, it seems there’s no sign of an attack for now.”

After making various preparations, when we arrived at the holy capital, we temporarily halted our progress and underwent a brief inspection.

However, it was more in name than in reality, as there was nothing significant thanks to the response from the Holy Maiden and the Hero.

Being criminals, there was nothing to stop us, and instead, we were welcomed with knights lining up for a reception.

After that, the knights who had been lined up for the welcome surrounded our caravan and escorted us into the interior of the holy capital.

I had thought that an attack might happen at this point to trap us, but there was no sign of such intent at the moment. It seems they don’t plan to attack us right here.

Well, there are many people around here. We’re also on high alert, and if they were to attack, they would probably wait until we were inside, making it harder for us to escape.

“I know you probably understand, but don’t let your guard down.”

A woman who had purposely moved from her own carriage to mine during our previous stop gave me a warning.

But, I understand that. This is enemy territory, and it’s not a place to be careless.

“I understand. But you, Granny, you shouldn’t let your guard down either.”

I thought it might be more dangerous for Granny, and I voiced my concern, but I quickly dismissed that thought. After all, this old lady is tenth ranked. If she were careless, who knows what could happen, but with her, there’s unlikely to be any issue.

She climbed her way up in that chaotic city, earning the title of ‘Boss’ and maintaining that position. She excelled at reading people, outsmarting them, and handling assassinations—skills far superior to mine.

“Who do you think you’re talking to? I’ve managed to survive this long for a reason. I won’t mess up in such a pointless place.”

In reality, Granny probably had confidence in handling things well. She laughed and denied my words as if to say there was no need for my advice.

“Alright then, can I trust you with that side of things?”

“Yeah. I came here for that reason. I’ll entertain these fools with talk while you investigate the anomaly and exert pressure. That’s all.”

This time, the main role in negotiations is assigned to Granny. I’m here, but my role is to investigate the anomaly and represent the country’s symbol by being here.

Discussions about food aid, cooperation in that regard, future relationships, and various other matters… such discussions are to be handled by Granny, who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Ideally, it might be something I should handle, but well, I don’t have the confidence to skillfully navigate political maneuvering among those in power.

I understand that it’s not good to rely on others like that, and eventually, I’ll have to learn to handle it myself, but for now, Granny is taking care of it.

I observe, learn, and incorporate her approach into myself. That way, I can grow.

However, it’s a bit nerve-wracking because it’s different from fighting.

Even if I’m called a king, I’m the king of Karakas, and that place is ‘that kind of place,’ so ultimately, we can handle things with violence. Besides, this time, we are in the superior position, offering food aid, so the burden should be minimal. As long as we watch out for ambushes and assassinations, I don’t think we’ll make any major mistakes.

However, even with all that said, it’s still different from what I’m used to, so it’s naturally a bit tense.

“Is it acceptable for Lady Carmena to remain in her current appearance?”

Trying to alleviate the tension, Sofia softly exhaled and spoke to Granny.

“Huh? Oh, right. Maybe it’s time for a change.”

“A change…”

The current appearance of GRanny is exactly that of an ‘old lady.’ She appears to be in her late seventies or early eighties.

The figure of the old lady contorted as if kneading dough, without the magical transformation scenes you might see in a magical girl anime. It was quite unsettling to watch as her form warped right in front of us.

However, the transformation lasted only a few seconds, and after it was complete, a young woman appeared where the old lady had been as if an entirely different person.

“W-Who… no, is this a disguise?”

Seeing her dramatic transformation, I momentarily couldn’t recognize who this woman was. But then I remembered that the old lady had the skill of ‘Disguise.’

While her appearance changed, her clothes remained the same, and thinking calmly, it made sense. However, even with that understanding, the old lady’s disguise was so masterful that I hesitated.

“That’s right. Isn’t this appearance more pleasing to the eye?”

Well, certainly, negotiating with a beautiful young woman might put the other party in a better mood, and they might let their guard down.

But…

“There’s something really off. It doesn’t suit you.”

She’s beautiful, and it’s not that it doesn’t suit her, but there’s just a strong sense of dissonance. Maybe because I’m too accustomed to her old lady appearance, the change feels odd.