Kingdom of Normitz – Northern Town
【Eight Lafoule Flowers have appeared! HP 1230】
【Ten Great Flower Tentacles have appeared! HP 860】
From the ground, roots burst forth, sprouting flowers in a row. Those are the Lafoule forms of the people I defeated back then. If I take them down, they’ll probably regenerate immediately. If I’m going to fight, I need to target the large flower blooming boldly over there.
“Ahhh! Monsters, monsters!”
【Gilbert protected the townspeople!】
“Get inside the buildings! I’ll hold them off here!”
Down below, Gilbert stood in armor, wielding a large shield. He was managing to withstand the onslaught of those tentacles, and I thought he was quite strong. But the real issue was the status ailments. If he gets hit by those, it’s game over. I slashed at the flowers and tentacles attacking Gilbert while making my way toward that monstrous flower.
【Rua’s attack! Dealt 5,102,852 damage to the Lafoule Flower! HP 0/1230
Dealt 5,298,215 damage to the Great Flower Tentacle! HP 0/860
Defeated the Lafoule Flower and the Great Flower Tentacle!】
“I’m sorry, Rua…”
“Gilbert, I’m getting everyone evacuated to that field over there, so make sure to lead the others too. Also, it’s better to protect everyone like you did earlier than to focus on defeating them. From what I can see, you’re better at defense than offense.”
“Got it, I’ll do my best!”
I spoke quickly, unsure if he understood, but Gilbert acted swiftly. Before more flowers could spawn, he was guiding the residents to safety in the fields. Still, there were far too few capable fighters. If this drags on, the damage will only increase. There might even be people getting killed while I can’t cover them.
“Lafoule!”
【Rua unleashed the Sonic Ripper!】
The slash struck the thick stem of the giant flower, severing it. Before the severed flower could fall onto the town, I unleashed another strike.
【Dealt 494,181 damage to the Bewitching Great Flower Lafoule! HP 1/33,000】
“…This isn’t good.”
【The Bewitching Great Flower Lafoule has regenerated! HP 23,210/33,000】
From the severed stalk, hundreds, thousands of tentacles sprouted rapidly, intertwining and returning to the original massive flower. It’s frustrating, but I have to acknowledge the resilience of plants. But Lafoule, I’ve been fighting for ten years in the Abyss Cave. Even Nanoka and the others managed to survive and build a village after being abandoned deep in the mountains of Azuma. My own Ikana Village is the same. We thrive despite harsh conditions, putting down roots and living on.
Humans and plants are alike. Even if we can’t regenerate at that speed, we can recover. In the Wizard Kingdom, despite being ravaged by Golems, they are striving positively to rebuild. This country is the same; we will never lose to you.
“Ahaha, just as the rumors say, you’re ridiculously strong. But this means I win. Can you do something like this?”
Lafoule’s tentacles had captured several townspeople. By the time I realized it, it was already too late. The tentacles and the people were merging into the stalk, about to be consumed.
“H…help me…”
【The Bewitching Great Flower Lafoule has healed! HP 24,990/33,000】
【Furthermore, the maximum HP of the Bewitching Great Flower Lafoule has increased! HP 33,000 → 34,100】
“Greedily consuming to grow larger. It’s the simplest and most primitive method that all creatures have used since ancient times. If I keep eating like this, I might even surpass the Demon Lord! Ahaha, did that scare you? You’re still just a child, after all; it’s understandable!”
“I’ll be taking that person back.”
“…Huh?”
Lafoule, lost in her chatter, hadn’t noticed me approaching from directly beneath her. I tore the person free from the stalk, pulling them out along with the stem. They were covered in a disgusting, sticky liquid, but thankfully, they were still alive. However, they were extremely emaciated, nothing but skin and bones. If I had been even a few seconds later, they would have been completely dead.
“…You don’t get it, do you? Why would a monster like you care about the life of a single human?”
“You wouldn’t understand, you monster.”
Honestly, I had no desire to continue talking to this flower monster. She seemed so smug, but did she even realize her own weaknesses? There couldn’t be a monster that could regenerate infinitely, no matter how much damage it took. Even the monsters in the Abyss Cave had their weaknesses. The real issue was whether those monsters were aware of them and trying to compensate. That would determine whether they were a formidable foe. And as for her…
“Ahahahaha! You won’t know left from right and just die! No matter how strong you are, you can’t prevent all status ailments!”
【The Bewitching Great Flower Lafoule released the Pollen of Doom!
Rua nullified all status ailments!】
This is dangerous. If something like this spreads over a wide area, any party would be annihilated. Not to mention, an entire country could face utter destruction. People would be thrown into chaos, losing their sense of self, poisoned until they could no longer move, or they might experience the horror of feeling poison coursing through their veins while paralyzed.
There were plenty of large, destructive foes like Chiruchiru and Dridon, but this one was more about breaking the spirit. Insidious—that’s how Lafoule fought.
“…Seriously?”
It’s true. Lafoule asked me if I was serious, but I answered her in my heart. Suddenly, dozens of tentacles erupted from the ground, wrapping around my limbs and body. The constricting force was considerable. A normal person would likely be torn apart at this point.
【Thirty Great Flower Tentacles have appeared! HP 860】
“Then how about I inject it directly into your body?”
“Ugh! That’s… disgusting!”
【Defeated thirty Great Flower Tentacles! HP 0/860】
As the tentacles began to crawl over me in a revolting manner, I ripped them apart instead. I scattered them like weeds being pulled from the ground, but more tentacles came at me again. I couldn’t waste any more time; I needed to stop their regeneration.
“Over here, Lafoule.”
“Wha…!”
With all my strength, I leaped high into the air. I had never jumped with such intensity before, but I never expected to reach a vantage point where I could see across the entire continent. It felt exhilarating. The world was so vast. I wondered if the Wizard Kingdom was beyond that sea. Maybe Azuma was over there. For just a moment, I let myself bask in that tranquil feeling.
“I won’t let you regenerate, Lafoule. Even if I don’t truly want to kill the Demon Lord Army. But how much longer will you continue to rampage?”
As I descended, I aimed my sword at the center of the flower. This was the only way to completely defeat Lafoule, who extended her roots deep into the ground. However, using the Sonic Ripper would cause too much collateral damage. That meant I needed to focus with the Sonic Spear.
“This is the end for you!”
“You little brat!”
【Rua unleashed the Sonic Spear!】
Countless tentacles, pollen, and leaves formed a barrier. Lafoule had exhausted all her defenses to protect herself. The flower part was covered with several enlarged leaves. Surrounding it were clouds of pollen that seemed to have no effect, and I could see hundreds, if not thousands, of tentacles ready to intercept my descent.
【Defeated 1,233 Great Flower Tentacles! HP 0/830】
The moment the tentacles touched the Sonic Spear, they disintegrated. They regenerated and attacked again, only to vanish once more. This cycle repeated at an incredible speed, all within less than a second. No matter how many times they regenerated, it was the same; I had already thrust that point into Lafoule. The pollen failed to serve its purpose, scattering due to the wind pressure of the Sonic Spear, and I finally struck the flower within the gaping hole I had created.
【Dealt 842,019 damage to the Bewitching Great Flower Lafoule! HP 1/33,000】
“No matter how many times you try, it’s useless! I’ll regenerate again!”
Even with a gaping hole in the flower, resembling a hollow stalk, she could still speak. But I didn’t think this would be enough to defeat her. The finishing blow was yet to come. I fell into the hole that the Sonic Spear had opened, not knowing how deep it reached, but I had a different purpose. It was the roots.
“There they are.”
“N-no way…”
It was exactly as I thought. Upon landing underground, I surveyed the numerous roots that were fraying around me. I didn’t want to think about how far they extended, but I had no choice.
“Take this!”
As I destroyed the roots buried in the soil, I dug deeper with my sword. Just a simple stroke with my sword was enough to obliterate both the earth and the roots.
“I’m just getting started! Here I go! Here I go!”
“Stop… stop it, you little brat!”
Swinging, digging, and pushing forward. Digging deeper. One by one, I eliminate the roots stretching in all directions. Once I completely eradicate a root down to its tip, I move on to the next, feeling like a mole. The only worry is whether this will cause chaos above ground.
Once, when I tried to dig a big hole to create a cave in Ikana Village, my father jokingly scolded me about the risk of ground subsidence. I don’t even remember why I did it; perhaps it was just a part of playing as a child. I never imagined I would actually be doing something that could lead to real ground subsidence.
“This is the last one… here I go!”
I’ve been shouting “here I go!” repeatedly, but I can’t think of any other battle cry. Still, I never expected tentacles to sprout from the roots. When those tentacles, resembling Lafoule’s upper body, attacked me in droves, I truly realized the power of plants.
“Such a trivial thing… I… I…”
【You have defeated the Bewitching Great Flower Lafoule! HP 0/33000】
Lafoule’s irritating voice completely vanished. I should be celebrating the arrival of peace in the Kingdom of Normitz, yet for some reason, I can’t bring myself to feel that way. Perhaps it’s the worry about ground subsidence, but more so, it’s the words Lafoule spoke. The Demon Lord Army has endured like plants, and that thought lingers in my mind.
“…What does it mean?”
Even if I ponder alone in the dark underground, I won’t find an answer. More importantly, if the ground were to truly collapse and bury me alive, I would struggle to escape, no matter how capable I am.
“Oh, I forgot to ask about the Demon Lord Castle…”
Even if I asked, they probably wouldn’t tell me anyway. I made excuses in my mind, trying to brush off my oversight.
◆ Kingdom of Normitz – Square ◆
“Uwoooooo! Uwoooooo!”
【Ai’s Important Slash! You dealt 558 damage to Thorn Queen Baara! HP 1138/2570】
“How dare I be attacked by such little girls…!”
【Thorn Queen Baara unleashed a venomous whip!】
【Ai took 83 damage! HP 105/321】
“Ai, big sister!”
When I arrived at the square, I saw Mai kneeling while drawing her bow, and Ai, roaring like a wild beast in a frenzy. Mi was trembling beside Mai, completely seated on the ground.
“Mai! You’re seriously injured…”
“Rua… Hehe, I guess I showed you a not-so-cool side of me…”
“That’s not true; you’re fighting well. Since I can’t see Churippu and Laventa, I take it you defeated them?”
“Yeah… but Mi’s magic power is almost depleted, and I can’t move from here… Ai’s stamina is also nearing its limit. Maybe this was a reckless plan after all.”
“Leave the rest to me, okay?”
“Go ahead. I mean, please help me!”
Seeing Mai stick out her tongue playfully made me think it wasn’t that serious, but in reality, if I hadn’t come, the odds would have been fifty-fifty. I couldn’t help but be concerned about Ai, who looked like a different person with her hair wildly disheveled, but first, I needed to defeat Baara.
“Baara, over here!”
“You… weren’t you killed by Lafoule…? Huh?! L-Lafoule…?!”
Baara froze upon realizing that the towering giant flower was gone. The roots that had protruded from the ground had also vanished, leaving only the hole they had created.
“Hehehe… So, where did Lafoule go after breaking the End?”
“I defeated Lafoule. There’s no point in fighting any longer, so I hope you’ll surrender.”
“Then I should just kill this little girl, right? Understood, hehehe!”
No good, even if we can communicate, she’s still a ghost of a rose. With her thorny tentacles writhing, she was clearly aiming for me. But still, I should at least do what I can one last time.
“Baara, where is the Demon Lord Castle?”
“Far to the north, beyond the Great Garnis Glacier… ah.”
“You can’t just hide that, Baara.”
“You set me up, didn’t you?! Kiiiiiiiii!”
Mai’s surprisingly upbeat retort seemed to hit Baara hard, causing her to lash her tentacles against the ground in a fit of rage. Even if I said I was just asking, the tentacles closing in on me wouldn’t retract. They only pricked my forehead slightly; the tentacles themselves were neither painful nor itchy.
【Baara’s attack! Rua takes no damage!】
“…Take this!”
【Rua’s attack! You dealt 530,986 damage to Thorn Queen Baara! You have defeated Thorn Queen Baara! HP 0/2570】
“A human… how could…”
A single rose petal floated through the air, eventually fading away.
“We struggled so much against an opponent that you took down in one blow…”
Mai, who had been watching my strike with a strained expression, dropped her bow. Even though they had grown stronger, it was clear that the realization drained the strength from their bodies. I felt sorry for them, but more than that, I thought it was better to help Ai, who was wandering around with her axe held in both hands, hunched over. I didn’t want to say it, but I didn’t want to see Ai like that either.
【Thorn Queen Baara HP 2570】
The eldest of the three sisters, the strongest among Lafoule’s minions.
She possesses a variety of attack methods, including tentacle strikes, poison, and ambushes from the Oil Beetle.
Though she often speaks condescendingly, she has a flaw of accidentally letting slip her true thoughts.
【Sucking Flower Princess Churippu HP 2240】
The second sister of the three. While she lacks flashy attacks, she has the ability to drain the opponent’s stamina and magic power, returning it to the other two.
【Fragrant Flower Maiden Laventa HP 2130】
The youngest sister. The sweet fragrance wafting from her petals brings various effects to her opponents.
While she lacks direct destructive power, she specializes in status ailments.