The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 570

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

Chapter 570   Divine tree’s destination

“Scout!”

Upon realizing the answer, I rose with a clatter and called out to the subordinate who would likely be nearby as the scout.

“Yes, sir!”

“Any new information?”

“Just a moment, please.”

As soon as I called out, the man who swiftly entered the turret immediately covered his ears upon hearing my question and fell silent for a few seconds. He was probably using a skill to communicate with someone.

Then, it seemed like he received some information as he removed his hand from his ear and began speaking while looking at me.

“…Currently, that large tree seems to be absorbing the vegetation at its feet and bringing it under its control. While the appearance of the town remains, its functionality as a town has been almost completely destroyed.”

Well, that’s to be expected. Even when we came out, the vegetation was already starting to engulf the area. After this much time has passed, it wouldn’t be surprising if it’s completely swallowed up.

But that’s not what I want to know.

“Is it moving?”

“I cannot confirm with the people in the town, but it seems that it is approaching us, albeit faintly.”

“Any possibility of misperception due to distance or the illusion of enlargement?”

“Highly unlikely.”

Someone in the role of a scout wouldn’t make such a mistake. It might be possible in a regular army, but not in Karakas.

So, most likely, the report is accurate, and the Divine Tree is heading towards us.

“What about the town residents?”

“Some have been engulfed by the large tree, but the rest seem to have fled outside the town or taken refuge in the castle.”

“The castle? What’s the point of fleeing there? Won’t they be swallowed up anyway?”

The church and the castle were relatively close by. If such a massive tree occurred at the church, I’d expect the nearby castle to be swallowed up too…

“The castle seems to have a barrier as well, so it’s currently being protected by it.”

“I see. Well, even if they’re powerless royalty, they’d have some sort of defensive barrier.”

They went as far as creating tools to brainwash their own children to counter the Church’s influence and have passed it down. They must have prepared for emergencies.

“Nevertheless, it’s not something that’ll last forever. Especially with that thing nearby.”

“Indeed. Well, if there’s any hope, it’s that it’s in motion.”

Even with the barrier, they’re undoubtedly within the domain of the Divine Tree, and if it continues like this, it won’t hold up for long. However, if that Divine Tree (pseudo) is moving, we should be fine if we can completely distance ourselves from that location. The issue is whether we can endure until then, but what choice do we have? We’ll just have to tough it out.

“But if it’s moving, does that mean it’s heading somewhere?”

“It said ‘here’, didn’t it?”

While saying so, I turned to the scout, who nodded in response.

“Most likely it’s towards us. However, given its size, even if we can tell it’s moving, we can’t pinpoint its exact direction. We’ll need to observe for a while.”

Well, that’s understandable. Even if it’s moving, it’s probably only a small distance, so it’s no surprise we can’t pinpoint it.

“Got it. Let me know when you think you can make a judgment. Also, inform me if anything unusual happens.”

“Understood.”

With that response, the scout quietly disappeared from the spot.

As I watched where the scout had been, I let out a sigh. This situation has become quite troublesome…

“So, assuming it’s heading towards us, huh? Is it targeting us directly, or perhaps aiming for what’s behind us? What do you think?”

Our future course of action will depend on what it’s aiming for. If it’s just moving in our direction, we could potentially buy time without engaging, or even ignore it altogether. But if it’s targeting someone among us, running away won’t resolve the situation. We’ll have no choice but to confront it.

“Even if we say ‘behind us,’ all that’s there is wilderness and a deserted village, right? So it’s gotta be us, right?”

“To be more precise, it could be you or Miss Lilia. And then there’s Flora, or maybe all of you, I suppose.”

Yeah, that makes sense. Around here, there’s nothing much except for us. If it’s aiming for something, it’s more convincing to say it’s targeting us rather than an empty place.

However, from our perspective, it might seem like there’s nothing there, but for the Divine Tree, there could be a significant meaning to that empty space, or perhaps even the possibility of it being a place where something important exists.

While considering that…

“Beyond us and the wilderness, there’s the possibility of Flora’s main body or the Sacred Trees belonging to Miss Lilia and the others, correct? If that thing is the end result of a Sacred Tree—of the Divine Tree, then it might find significance in assimilating its kind, or even if it was once a evil god, it might want to deal with the Sacred Trees, which are its enemies.”

Certainly, now that it’s mentioned, it’s not necessary to confine the discussion to just this area, and it’s quite conceivable that it’s seeking something beyond us as it continues to move in our direction.

“Indeed, that’s possible. In that case, the most obvious indication would be if we move from here, right? If it keeps following us even if we divert, then it’s clear that we’re the target.”

It feels like a waste after setting up the fortifications, but right now, it’s more important to clarify its intentions. Besides, if it’s just going straight towards this direction rather than targeting us specifically, then even if we have a base here, we’ll just end up being swallowed up.

“Well, let’s say we’re clear on its target, but what’s important is what happens afterward, right?”

“Afterward… you mean what to do about it?”

“Yeah, exactly. Let’s cut to the chase: Can you take that thing down?”

Upon being asked by Granny, I look at the Divine Tree again. If I’m asked if I can fight it, I can’t nod in agreement. At least, it’s not an opponent I want to engage with voluntarily.

After all, it’s assimilating the surrounding plants, right? My main method of attack involves manipulating plants, but that won’t work here. Even if I use “Incineration,” I don’t know how effective it’ll be, and lifting it with “Earth Reversal” is out of the question.

So, there’s not much I can do. Honestly, I consider it my archenemy.

“…Looks impossible, huh?”

“Yeah, it does.”

Perhaps understanding that too, the old lady shrugs her shoulders and nods while murmuring.

“If there’s a possibility, it would involve strengthening the Divine Tree’s power to overcome the evil god. But it’s uncertain whether it’ll work. Besides, I can’t choose a target for my ability without touching it first. So, the question is whether I can even touch it. If I can touch the tip of its roots, then maybe…”

Using “Growth” can enhance the abilities of plants, and if the Divine Tree is still alive, it might be possible to strengthen its power, even after being assimilated by the evil god. However, there’s doubt about whether that plan will actually work.

“It’s like a hodgepodge of various plants, right? I guess I can only enhance the part I touched, and that’s it.”

“In that case, after dealing with all the roots and branches, breaking open the core, and letting you touch the insides, right? …That’s quite an outrageous plan.”

As Granny said, it’s quite an outrageous plan indeed. Moreover, even if touching it is difficult in the first place, even if I manage to do so and use my skills, if the opponent is completely taken over or assimilated, it might only serve to strengthen its power.

“How about you, Granny? Let’s be real, you’re stronger than me, aren’t you?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. What do you expect from an old lady like me? There’s no way I’m stronger than someone who calls himself the Demon King.”

“A monster who can use skills continuously all day long is saying what now?”

Even though she’s not transformed right now, when she’s in Karakas, she constantly used her transformation skill whenever she was in public. That’s clearly abnormal. With power at the level where she can claim to be the strongest in the world, it’s fair to call her a monster.

“Besides, I specialize in dealing with humans. Do you really think I can charm something like that?”

“Well, maybe the tree might understand the goodness of humans. Look, it’s got enough consciousness to talk to people to some extent.”

“Hmph. If it can do that, then I’ll give it a try. After you’ve tried it first, kiddo.”

In other words, she has no intention of doing it herself. Well, I’m the same way. But usually, in situations like this, shouldn’t you let the king go first? Even if it’s a lie, you’re supposed to say, “I’ll do it myself,” right?