The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 527

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

Chapter 527   Purification of the sacred tree

“Lilia, you seem to be taking the lead this time, so I’m counting on you.”

“Leave it to me!”

After finishing our conversation with Roroel, we immediately set our plan into motion.

We arranged the elves we brought with us around the perimeter of the barrier, assigning them to assist in the upcoming operation.

Our guards would serve as protection while we were in action, keeping an eye on the hero and members of the Holy Kingdom. There are no dangerous creatures influenced by the curse in this forest, and currently, the Holy Kingdom knights pose the most significant threat.

Dealing with the heroes group could be somewhat challenging, and even without that factor, they outnumber us. In situations where I’m not present, unexpected events could occur.

However, in this particular instance, I don’t think there’s much to worry about. After all, Roroel is protecting us from the outside of the barrier. Even if he has to face multiple Holy Kingdom knights, it won’t be easy for them to overcome him.

With our comrades entrusted with the tasks outside the barrier, we returned inside and continued towards the Sacred Tree.

“It looks like everything is ready.”

In addition to the matters outside the barrier, our comrades had scattered something within the barrier as well. Now, they returned.

Preparations were complete. All that remained was to put our plan into action.

“Flora, lend me your power.”

“Yes!”

Before the cursed, stump-like Sacred Tree, I reached out to Flora.

Flora took my hand, disconnecting from her vessel and smoothly entering into me through the connected hands.

Feeling the Sacred Tree’s power, a sense of tranquility I hadn’t experienced in a while. Though, considering the actual timeframe, I shouldn’t be accustomed to it, probably because I spent a considerable time in a place filled with curses.

I assimilated Flora’s power into my body, checking my condition. Yep, everything seems fine.

Now then, let’s do this.

“―《Growth》”

“Nnnn! Here we go!”

Extending both arms towards the Sacred Tree, I uttered the name of the skill. In response, a voice, as if Flora was channeling her power, resonated in the surroundings.

Immediately after, a change occurred within the barrier, around the Sacred Tree.

Calling it a change isn’t surprising. After all, it’s merely a new species of plant sprouting and rapidly growing.

“…Not done yet. We’re still going, Flora!”

“Mmm… okay!”

What we scattered were plants, modified seeds from Flora’s body, a manifestation of the Sacred Tree. Their effect was to absorb and store curses in the vicinity.

Since they couldn’t expel the curses, using them would curse the plants, but that was fine.

Flora’s body, originally a mobile treant, had absorbed curses spread throughout the forest, and the trees, now resembling stumps, gathered around the Sacred Tree.

These trees, upon returning, had transformed into grotesque and twisted forms, far more distorted compared to the other plants within the barrier.

Twisted trunks and branches, mottled and discolored leaves, a material that seemed more like flesh than plants, eerily gleaming and wriggling. The roots used as legs for movement resembled tentacles more than ordinary roots.

Their appearance emitted an unsettling aura, inducing discomfort by merely looking at them.

Perhaps this transformation was a result of the curses they absorbed. Though being cursed normally wouldn’t cause such drastic changes, absorbing curses beyond their usual limit led to this unnatural transformation.

Now, all that remained was to purify them with Lilia’s abilities, and we would be finished.

“Lilia, I’m counting on you.”

Saying that, I extended my right hand to Lilia, who confidently gripped it with her left hand and flashed a self-assured smile.

“All right, here goes!”

Facing the gathered clusters of curses, Lilia declared confidently. Despite not typically using such items, she received a staff taller than herself from an elf and wielded it with her right hand.

“Light, fill me; let my will be known. Erase those who would harm me. This is judgment, the divine will to correct the world. Yet the divine will does not fill the world, and its judgment is erased by evil. Still, light does not perish, and wishes shine. Manifest before me; illuminate the world with this will. Divine Possession – Flora.”

Flora exited my body, traveled along the hand connecting us, and entered Lilia.

Normally, she would borrow power from the Sacred Tree in Lilia’s village, but due to certain circumstances, we had to use Flora as a substitute. Though this meant the original effect couldn’t be fully achieved, for this mission, it was deemed possible with some effort.

“——■■■■”

It was a melody, a voice, or perhaps a song. It came from Lilia’s mouth but sounded unlike her usual voice.

As this mysterious sound reverberated through the entire area, the forest, which had turned an eerie black, gradually returned to its original state. The altered trees, saturated with curses, crumbled and fell from their branches.

In a world enveloped by light despite the nighttime, the sense of curses that lingered before faded away as the light spread.

And then…

“~~~~~~~~!”

“Huh!?”

The light that enveloped the forest also completely covered the stump of the Sacred Tree. Just when I thought the light had filled everything, a scream-like sound echoed near my ears—or rather, directly in my head.

However, the sound quickly vanished. As I expected, the light surrounding the forest disappeared, leaving behind an ordinary forest with no trace of curses.

“Ugh… Uaaah… feels gross.”

Relieved that all the curses seemed to be eradicated, Lilia, who was holding my hand, suddenly sat down on the spot. I followed suit and squatted down.

“Hey, Lilia. Are you okay?”

“Mm… I’m fine… just a bit tired because it was a bit different than usual…”

Although she said that, her complexion looked pale, and her voice lacked its usual brightness.

“Thanks. I pushed you hard.”

“Hehe~ What are you talking about? I wanted to do something about the Sacred Tree here, too, you know? It’s fine. Besides, isn’t this a fantastic stage for me? This is my solo performance. Just marvelous.”

“Yeah, you did great. I’m glad I brought you along.”

“Hehehe~…”

But that laugh ruined the moment. It’s creepy.

“Why are you laughing in such a creepy way?”

“It’s not creepy! It’s not creepy at all! —Ah.”

As she tried to stand up suddenly, she staggered, and an elf nearby hurriedly supported her.

“Lord Vesnar.”

As I turned towards the voice calling me, Sofia approached, holding Flora, who had returned to her vessel form.

“Hey…”

It seemed Flora had also overexerted herself and was looking unwell.

“Flora, thanks for your hard work. Both I and Lilia used our powers twice and got tired. Thank you.”

“Will everyone be okay now?”

“Yeah, we’ll be fine. I’ll show you that I can recover.”

“That’s great!”

With that, Flora entrusted herself to Sofia and fell asleep.

“Sofia, take care of Flora. Also, let Lilia rest. Our tasks here are done, and you can rearrange the guards as needed to ensure protection no matter what happens.”

“Understood.”

Saying so, Sofia walked away, taking Flora with her, and the elves who held Lilia followed suit.

“Now, it’s my turn—『Incineration』.”

Even though it has become just a normal forest, remnants of the cursed mass that once existed linger in the form of powder. While there’s no longer any sense of the curse, it might still be a good idea to burn everything as planned to ensure its complete eradication.

However, even if I say I’ve gathered it in one place, I can’t literally collect everything in the exact same spot. Trying to burn it will inevitably lead to burning unnecessary things, and the once cursed Sacred Tree, now purified, needs to be burned for complete cleansing.

While burning the cursed powder, adjusting the fire intensity to avoid causing too much damage to the surrounding plants is challenging. But, I’ll show that it can be done within reasonable limits.

“At last—『Irrigation』”

After burning everything to ashes, I proceed to extinguish any remaining embers with widespread irrigation in the surrounding area. The water I produce has properties that seem to promote plant recovery and curse purification, making it ideal for the current situation. I don’t really understand why water from a simple ‘farmer’ like me has such effects, but if it proves useful, then so be it.