The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 555

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

Chapter 555   Demon King vs. Hero Battle・1

When I ordered the Pope to rise, he staggered and struggled to get up, eventually managing to stand.

But his appearance was quite dreadful. After all, plants were sprouting from all over his body.

While it may seem normal for plants to sprout, it’s actually quite unsettling when you stare at it. I mean, they come out squirming from holes in the ground, right? You might not feel it with fully grown flowers, but take a look at plant sprouts popping out from the ground. It’s creepy, like a scene from a horror movie.

Some of you who have actually grown plants might understand what I’m talking about.

Moreover, this time, they weren’t just sprouting from the ground; they were sprouting from a “ground (human).” It was beyond the normal level of unsettling.

“He’s still alive. However, he can’t move on his own, and even if you guys retrieve him, there’s no guarantee he’ll recover.”

I averted my gaze from the disturbing sight of the Pope, which I had caused myself, and explained to the here while pointing at him. Although the hero and party grimaced at the unfortunate sight of the Pope, they returned their attention to me when I addressed them.

“He won’t recover? But I have ‘Light Magic’ and ‘Healing Magic.'”

“We get it, you’re boasting about your divine abilities. But such trivial magic won’t work. It’s simple. As you can see, the plants are getting in the way. Those plants aren’t curses or magic; they’re physically there. So using healing magic won’t remove them. Normally, healing magic can expel foreign objects or debris from the body, but it’s impossible with something in this condition. Think about it, it’s common sense. Trying to remove plants that have grown by devouring the body will inevitably be obstructed by the surrounding flesh. Organs would be destroyed too. You can’t just ‘expel’ them unscathed. So, unless those plants are somehow removed, it’ll stay like this indefinitely.”

“Can you do something about it?”

“Well, I can. But I won’t.”

If I talk to the plants and ask them to wither away, then normal healing magic would suffice to cure the Pope. Any remaining debris, if not living, can be eliminated with skills.

However, whether I do that or not, I won’t. It’s kind of pitiful to tell them to wither away after they’ve grown so well, isn’t it? Besides, I don’t see any benefit in helping him in the first place.

“――Slash!”

The moment I answered, Darado suddenly rushed forward and attacked me. Moreover, he did it with a skill, clearly showing his intent to kill.

“You think I’ll let you do as you please!”

As Darado lunged at me with his sword, Kyle intercepted.

Kyle is from the Seventh rank while Darado is from the Tenth. Normally, there would be no contest with such a difference in rank, but unfortunately for Darado, his profession primarily focuses on defense even though he’s in the Tenth rank. His ability in defense is indeed troublesome, known as the “Shield Master.” However, that’s all there is to it. Apart from defense, if he switches to offense, he can’t produce better results than someone of the same tier.

That’s why, despite being lower-tiered, Kyle could intercept him.

Well, there’s also the factor of the quality of armor involved. Even if the attack is weak, if it were just fists, I would have been injured even if I managed to counter. But unfortunately for us, we can obtain even illegal goods in Karakas. There’s no way the Demon king’s guards would be equipped with shoddy gear, right?

“We’re in the middle of a conversation, supporting actor. If you’re going to fight, your role is to move when the hero does.”

Normally, in this kind of situation, the standard flow is for the enemy’s leader, the hero, to say, “Let’s go!” and for the Demon King to respond with, “Bring it on!” Isn’t that how it usually goes?

The crucial hero has drawn his sword and is poised towards us, but it seems he’s slightly confused by his companions’ rash actions.

“You’re spouting nonsense! Once I defeat and capture you, there’s no choice but for you to cooperate in healing His Holiness, willingly or not!”

“If you can catch me, that is. But remember, I’m not your only enemy here. In the midst of these guards… not quite the Four Heavenly Kings, but still, amidst them, do you really think you lot can capture me without killing me?”

Darado is being restrained by Kyle, but he’ll probably lose that battle eventually. Despite Darado’s lower attack capability, there’s still a difference in physical abilities.

So, I take a handful of seeds here. And then, with “Sowing”…

“Kuh! Useless!”

As expected of a Tenth rank focused on defense. All my attacks were deflected.

However, even so, perhaps judging it would be tough to fight Kyle while dealing with my interference, Darado retreated from the scene.

“Canon, Lina! We’re fighting too!”

As Dardp returned to their side, the hero snapped back to attention and shouted at the other two.

“Oh, and just one more thing before we begin.”

Everyone stares me down as they ready their weapons.

I always knew it would come to this, but now it’s “Hero” versus “Demon King.” It’s kind of sentimental, in a way.

The search for Lilia and the others isn’t over yet, and we need to buy some time.

Besides, not just the Hero, but I want to deal with Darado and the Holy Maiden here as well. We don’t know what moves they’ll make, but they’ll surely turn against us, and leaving them be would be troublesome. Ordinary soldiers wouldn’t be able to defeat them, so it would only increase our casualties if we leave them alone. I have no choice but to take them down myself.

So, that’s why I chose to engage in this battle. Since the stage is set, it’s only appropriate to deliver a fitting line.

“The Demon King isn’t in the Demon King’s castle. The Demon King… is right where I am.”

I’ve heard this kind of line somewhere before, but I’ve always wanted to say it myself.

“Now, come at me, Hero party. Defeat me, and everything will be resolved, and your glory will be within your grasp.”

“Let’s go, everyone!”

“Holy Breath!”

As the Hero shouts, Canon activates some kind of magic towards the Hero.

It must be an enhancement spell. If what Lilia said is true, but she wouldn’t lie about something like this. Mistaking its effect… well, I don’t think that’s likely.

“Tremor! Tiger Cannon!”

Kyle uses his skill, enhancing his powerful strike, causing the ground to shake. With that, he approaches the Hero and strikes.

“Not on my watch!”

However, Darado slams the lower part of his shield into the ground, creating a transparent shield in front of the Hero, blocking the attack.

“Haaah!”

Seizing the opportunity created by Kyle’s failed attack, the Hero swings his sword down towards Kyle.

Kyle manages to dodge the sword, but just barely. He’s unable to follow up with his own attack, and instead, he inadvertently allows the Hero to unleash a flurry of strikes.

Well, the Hero seems to be around the Tenth rank too. It’s tough for Kyle, who’s only at the Seventh rank. Unlike Darado earlier, this Hero is genuinely an offensive Tenth rank. Kyle’s ability to keep evading is quite impressive.

Despite having been summoned only a few years ago, he’s grown so much, not necessarily due to his efforts to the point of death.

Thanks to his passive skill, his growth rate is fast, and he can use skills a fair amount of times, making it somewhat unfair.

However, even with enhanced physical abilities and the ability to use skills, he should lack combat experience, especially against humans. That’s probably why Kyle is still holding up.

Also, maybe the Hero isn’t giving it his all yet. He hasn’t used any skills yet, it seems.

But well, they’re the Hero party after all. If they fought seriously, I might also have a hard time.

“But don’t think you can defeat me so easily.”

As I say this, I command the plants above Canon and Lina’s heads to burst their fruits.

“Kyaa!”

“Ugh…!”

As the fruits burst overhead, the white liquid inside splatters, dirtying the two.

“A saint and the mage covered in milky fluid… It’s gonna be quite a sensation, isn’t it?”

Unable to avoid or react to the sudden downpour of liquid from above, the two are completely drenched in the white fluid. This liquid is the adhesive I used during the battle with the Pope earlier. Having been showered with it all over their bodies, they probably won’t be able to move properly for a while, as it solidifies within seconds upon contact with air.