The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 565

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

Chapter 565   It feels terrible

“What the—”

Before issuing any instructions, my body moved, scattering seeds around Lilia to ensure she wouldn’t get harmed.

This time, I unleashed coconut projectiles without holding back. While it caused parts of the Pope’s body to explode, he still clung tightly to Lilia, refusing to let go.

Then, in his embrace, he grotesquely morphed and began enveloping Lilia’s container.

I’m not sure what he’s trying to do, but it can’t be good.

“Everyone, attack him! But don’t harm Lilia and her container in the back!”

The focus of those who had been purifying the curse shifted entirely to the Pope, and I joined in by splashing water.

Though I couldn’t help but think that splashing water in this situation seemed somewhat futile, it was the most effective method against the curse, even if it didn’t look very impressive.

“He’s still not dead?!”

With most of his body vanished, only his head and right hand remained.

Yet, the Pope, despite his condition, continued to cling to Lilia’s container without letting go.

And then…

“What’s happening?!”

The container Lilia was in emitted a faint light, gradually growing stronger.

“Ugh…”

“Flora! What’s wrong—argh?!”

Just as the light intensified, Flora fell to her knees clutching her chest.

Seeing her distress, I rushed over, but the moment I touched Flora, I too couldn’t remain standing.

“Lord Vesnar?!”

“What’s going on!”

Sofia and the others rushed over, but there was no time to respond to them.

What is this? Is some kind of power being drained? It feels like the power is flowing from me to Flora, similar to when I cooperated with Flora to use skills, or perhaps like when I first created Flora’s body.

Despite that, Flora doesn’t seem to be accumulating any power. …Is it flowing from Flora to someone else, somewhere?

Naturally, the suspicious thing is that device that just lit up.

So, the immediate thing to do is…

“Ugh… Stop that device…!”

If we stop that, there should be some kind of change. Whether it’s good or bad, I don’t know, but it feels dangerous. Something must be done.

But before Kyle and the others could act on my command, I suddenly felt lighter. Looking around, Flora also showed signs of fatigue, but she didn’t seem to be suffering.

“What the—!?”

Turning towards the device, I saw the alchemist who should have collapsed—Aluc—standing up.

But that’s not all. The mutated beings we defeated also began to—no, not revive.

What are they? We definitely dismembered the mutated beings to ensure they were dead. Rather than simply regenerating, they seemed to be reconstructing themselves independently. It’s more accurate to say they were remade rather than revived.

“What are these things!?”

“Weren’t they supposed to be dead?!”

Our subordinates launched attacks against the revived mutated beings, but they couldn’t defeat them.

Not only were they numerous, but their regeneration ability was incredible. Even when severed in two, they would regenerate into two separate entities. Burning them to ashes seemed effective in preventing their regeneration, but it required significant firepower to take down a single entity, making it difficult for just us here to defeat them all.

“——《Sowing》《Growth… Ugh…”

What’s this… Why do I feel so nauseous…

As I released the seeds and attempted to use the skill to promote growth, a sudden sluggishness came over my body. I thought it might be the influence of the curse, but this sensation is familiar. There’s no way I could be mistaken. This is the discomfort from overusing my skills.

Sure, I’ve used them a fair amount today, but I should still be fine. So why…

Well, it’s concerning, but for now, I need to deal with the current situation first.

“——《Growth》”

Despite feeling nauseous when using the skill, I’m accustomed to this level of sensation. It’s nothing to hesitate about now.

As I used the skill, the seeds I unleashed on the revived mutants and Aulc rapidly grew, restraining them just like before.

“We don’t need to deal with them! Fall back for now! Hurry to retrieve Lilia and search for the other elves!”

Following my orders, some of my subordinates remained to guard me, while the others moved to retrieve Lilia and search for the elves.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know… But earlier, I felt like my power was being drained. Probably, Flora too?”

“I felt like it flowed to Mama’s side. Why?”

To Lilia? So, my power flowed to Flora, then further to Lilia? …Why?

“……Do you know what that device is?”

While I’m pondering the recent events, Sofia asks me.

She probably asked me because, like Aluc, I come from another world. She’s seeking any insight from our knowledge that might shed light on the situation.

“I suppose it’s something that absorbs power. I think it takes the absorbed power and channels it somewhere else through those pipes.”

I can’t say where it goes, but it’s probably to some kind of barrier or magical artifact.

“In that case, could Vesnar-sama and Flora have been affected by it as well?”

“No, even if they say they had their power drained, it should only be from those inside that device. Otherwise, everyone nearby would have been affected.”

“But considering the circumstances, the phenomenon of power drainage is occurring, which is hard to explain otherwise. Isn’t it possible that something exceptional happened?”

“Something exceptional, huh…”

Indeed, as Sofia suggests, the current situation is unusual. It’s not common for such bright lights to appear every time it activates, and considering the fact that the Pope was attached to it, it’s plausible to think that something went wrong with the device.

“Even so, everything seems strange. The fact that the Pope was attached to it, the overflow of curses… even Flora being a Sacred Tree.”

“Perhaps, when Lilia and Flora cooperated to use magic before, some kind of connection was established? It’s possible that through that connection…”

“Ah, I see.”

Kyle follows up on Bell’s words, and it’s a plausible explanation. When purifying the stump that became the Sacred Tree, Lilia allowed Flora to possess her. It’s conceivable that a connection was left behind from that.

Or perhaps, during that time, the purification power flowed from the Sacred Tree to here, and that connection made Lilia and Flora recognized as the same entity. So, while draining power from Lilia, they inadvertently absorbed power from Flora, who was nearby.

And indirectly, I, with my connection to Flora, might have been recognized as the same entity and had my power drained.

It’s all speculation, but it’s the most plausible explanation so far.

“Anyway, regardless of the reason, the phenomenon of ‘having our power drained’ remains the same. Probably, it’s because of the power they absorbed that we’re in this situation.”

As we discuss this, my subordinates return within a few minutes.

Among them are Lilia and the rescued elves.

They’re quick with their work. Well, given the circumstances, nobody has time to slack off.

“Well then, let’s wi—”

CRASH!

A sound like something shattering echoes through the room.

At the same time, the protective power I’ve been feeling disappears, replaced by a surge of curse power.

Presumably, the barrier that covered this city has been lifted—or rather, broken.

Whether it’s because we recovered Lilia and the elves, or because of the recent anomaly, is unclear, but that’s beside the point. What’s important is that the barrier has been broken, leading to an increase in the curse power.

And then—

“W-What the—!?”

“Boss! You didn’t use any skills, did you!?”

As the barrier breaks, plants start sprouting from beneath our feet. No, not just beneath our feet. They’re growing from the walls surrounding this room as well.

It’s not as if I’m deliberately causing this growth; it’s happening naturally, albeit at a faster pace. In a few more hours, this room will be completely overrun by plants.