The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 553

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

Chapter 553   The Pope is a flowerpot

“Stop…! Don’t come any closer!”

All the waiting soldiers were defeated, and their proud Tenth rank couldn’t do much before dying.

Ah. It seems there are a few survivors from some group called the Saint Squad on the upper floors, but since there’s no attack coming their way, they probably have no intention of fighting.

So, it’s just us here.

Navigating through the plants wriggling around and the piles of people, I approach the Pope.

“What’s wrong, Your Holiness? Your manner of speaking has significantly deteriorated. Where did that composed demeanor from earlier go? Planning to escape on your own now?”

“Wait! W-what do you want?! If it’s something I can fulfill, I’ll do whatever I can!”

“So you want me to spare you? …If you’re trying to pass misfortune onto someone else, be prepared for the consequences.”

The Pope’s earlier politeness is nowhere to be found. Desperately weaving words to survive. Perhaps, this is his true nature. Or maybe, when humans are cornered, anyone’s speech will crumble.

“I-I’m not supposed to die here! I’m a priest serving God! I-I was chosen by God! Do you think it’s okay to do something like this!?”

“To God, humans are all the same. As evidence, God has equally bestowed vocations upon all humanity. There’s no one special. If there were any special beings, it would be those who have honed their power up to the Tenth rank.”

Humans discriminate by calling some jobs unlucky or dishonorable, but I don’t think God, who divides power, considers such things at all. After all, it would be troublesome for oneself if they were to assign useless jobs.

Therefore, God does not discriminate or differentiate people by their vocational rank.

However, those who have advanced to the Tenth rank may be noticed as individuals who have splendidly cultivated their own power. But even that is just a matter of ‘noticing’. There won’t be any actual intervention. In fact, throughout history, there’s not a single instance of God intervening in this world.

“Now here’s the problem. Between me, who has raised both main and side vocations up to the Tenth rank, and you, who are stuck at a half-baked level, indulging only in money-making and power struggles. Who do you think God would favor?”

“I-Is there nobody here?!”

As I approached the Pope, who was still miraculously remaining, circling around the desk, he crawled along the ground, moving towards the broken wall from the earlier battle.

However, sensing his movement, one of the guards (formerly under the Pope) stood in front of the broken wall, and the Pope, as if in despair at seeing this, widened his eyes and stopped moving.

“Rejoice, it’s a bleeding-edge offer at 70% off. Surpassing the 50% mark, it’s 70% off. Isn’t that delightful?”

“70%, you say…? M-Money? How much? How much do I need to give you to let me go!?”

Thinking he could be spared because of my offer, the Pope looked up at me as if he found hope and shouted.

I really adore this petty smell emanating from the current Pope. It’s much more amusing this way. It would be dull if he were to die with an air of self-importance, having made up his mind as if he were facing a great ordeal.

Or rather, wouldn’t that not be a punishment at all?

“To let you off… haha. My apologies. Unfortunately, by 70% off, I don’t mean money. It’s about reducing your growth by 70%.”

Trash like you, who wouldn’t even be at this Tenth rank if fully grown, would die quickly.

Maybe even a 50% reduction in growth might kill you. So, if I’m letting you live, it’s more like a 30% or at most a 40% reduction.

And thus, you’ll continue living, engulfed by the plants.

Oh well. It’s what I’ve been doing. If I’ve done it to others, then it shouldn’t be a problem if it’s done to him, right? “Don’t do unto others what you wouldn’t want done unto you.” You’re the head of the Church preaching justice. You’ve learned that much, haven’t you? You’ve probably even said it yourself, right?

Dropping his extended hand limply, he looked around before quietly starting to shed tears.

Perhaps, realizing his fate by seeing the people around him lying scattered or the sorry state of the Tenth rank.

But his reaction is disappointing. I need more crying and screaming. Ending it with an attitude like ‘I’ve resigned myself to everything’ is just a joke, isn’t it?

“Consider yourself lucky. Normally, if fully grown, you’d definitely die, but in this state, you won’t. At least, you should be able to live for about an hour.”

The Pope, who had been opening his mouth as if in a daze, saw me squatting in front of him, showing him a seed. I tossed that seed into his open mouth.

I continued talking while putting seeds in his ears and embedding them in wounds that might have occurred when he fell.

But that’s not enough. So, I touched the Pope with my fingers, turning that part into fertilizer, creating wounds, and embedding seeds there too.

However, perhaps thinking he could endure for an hour and then die, the Pope, despite groaning in pain, didn’t cry out or scream.

“Oh, but don’t worry. You see, I’ve learned a lot through various experiences. By using leaves to clear the mind and ingredients for healing potions together, you can keep on living without losing consciousness. I won’t say it’s just an hour. Even if you wish to die, you’ll be able to live indefinitely. Congratulations, it’s the dream of eternal youth and immortality.”

As I kindly explained this, the Pope widened his eyes, staring at me, then began trembling violently. He seemed to be trying to say something, but it disappeared before it could become a voice.

Well, if he’s trembling like that, he must be ecstatic beyond words. That’s great. Truly. Oh, I’m so happy that he’s reacting like that.

“Well, even if I say injuries will heal, blood will still flow, and the pain will be severe, don’t you think? I did mention it’s a bleeding-edge offer, didn’t I? Well, if you don’t die, it’s cheap, so be thankful, okay?”

“Aaaaaah!”

After explaining so politely and kindly, the Pope finally couldn’t bear it anymore and started crying in a pitiful manner.

Ah, yes, that’s it. That’s how it should be.

Cry, scream, wail. Regret, regret, regret… and then die. Otherwise, I won’t be satisfied.

“Now then, are you ready? Are you prepared, Your Holiness?”

“W-Wait——”

“I won’t wait. You’ve done similar things before, haven’t you? Abducting elves, torturing them. Eventually turning them into trees to be a source of energy until they break. Ah, yes, that’s right. This is the perfect opportunity. I’ll break the current barrier, but that would inconvenience the people of this town and even the king. So, perhaps it’s best to create a new barrier.”

“N-No… please…”

“Tell me, what do you think? The Church of Justice, dedicated to protecting and loving its people. You’re its leader. You love humans, and you want to protect them, right? You’re prepared to sacrifice yourself for the people, and if doing so can save them, isn’t that something to be happy about, something to be proud of?”

With a smile, I said this, intending to activate my skills, but…

“Your Holiness!”

At that moment, the hero and his party appeared from the broken door.

“N-No, please… help——”

“—[Growth].”

The Pope reached out towards the heroes, but it’s pointless to do so now.

The seeds embedded throughout his body began to sprout, covering the Pope’s entire body.

“W-What is this?!”

“W-What on earth…”

“What in the world…”

“…Ah, this is a bit…”

Seeing this sight, the here and his party were stunned as they looked at the Pope.

But, considering they’re witnessing me growing plants from a human body for the first time, their reactions are natural.

As for the Pope in his bewildered gaze, at first, he writhed in pain from the plants growing on his body, but gradually, as the influence of the plants spread throughout his body, he seemed to lose control of his own movements, occasionally twitching but otherwise unable to move.

It should be fine to leave him alone now. Once the parasitic trees embedded in his head grow to a certain extent, they should move on their own. With this, the ‘plant pot’ for the parasitic trees is complete.

With that settled, I turned my attention back to the hero.