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The Otherworld Conquest Method of a Reincarnated Porter Chapter 180

To the Demonic Dragon Mountain Range 3

「Sei, you did well make it out alive.」

As we finally move away from the grassland and take a breather, erasing our noise all the while, Brai speaks to me.

I was really lucky. Not only was I lucky that I was wearing armor that resisted wind magic, I was also saved by the fact that the dragonfly was busy preying upon the bees and didn’t chase me.

「Sei-kun, um, you really saved me there. Thanks to you, I was able to get the medicinal herbs safely.」

「Well, my body just moved on its own.」

Alright, it’s worth taking the risk. This Elmefiora, she must be very grateful to me. However, I must refrain from selling favors so blatantly.

Elmefiora is very beautiful and has a nice figure, so she has been getting sexual gazes from men, and there’s the possibility that she’s fed up with that. Perhaps that’s also why she is hiding her face. I’m different from other men and have no funny ulterior motives; let’s interact with her in such a manner. Yes, unable to just leave alone the admirable Elmefiora who is gathering medicinal herbs due to some kind of circumstances, I support her selflessly, without regard for the danger; let’s go with that. Even if frontal attack is impossible, with this method, the possibility of deepening my relationship with her in the future must have sprouted, even if only slightly.

After that, we make our way through the forest with Elmefiora taking the lead, taking a break in between and fighting monsters a number of times.

「I want to gather one more medicinal herb today. Once that’s done, let’s prepare for the night camp.」

Phew, looks like once we gather the next medicinal herb, we’ll be done for today. I narrowly escaped death earlier, so I’ll stay put next time.

「And, you see, about the next medicinal herb, it’s located in a place that’s very difficult for me to gather…」

It’s difficult for Elmefiora to gather, I wonder if it’s on a rock wall or something of the sort. Somehow, I’m starting to have a really bad feeling about this.

「The magic polypore grows on the trunk of a high-ranked demon tree. Moreover, it’s pretty high up.」

「「「…..」」」

Everyone falls silent.

What the, for it to grow on a monster of all places. How on earth are we going to pick it?

「Which means we’re going to defeat that demon tree?」

「No, it’s impossible to defeat that monster. You have to erase your presence, close in on it and cut off the medicinal herb in one go. Then retreat right away. It’s located in a place I can’t reach, so I’d like to ask someone to do with it for me…」

「I see. In any case, I can’t make a judgement without seeing it. Lead the way.」

I listen to Frederie and Elmefiora’s conversation, and somehow it sounds legit dangerous.

A monster that Elmefiora and the Rhapsody members can’t defeat, the heck is that. It must be a fairly high-ranked monster, but I wonder if Frederie and the others will actually harvest the medicinal herbs without regard for the danger. They have no reason to risk their lives, so it looks like the task of collecting the medicinal herb will fall on me, but… in any case, as Frederie says, we won’t get anywhere without seeing it.

Under the guidance of Elmefiora, we make our way through the forest.

「That one.」

「…..」

Further into the forest, where there is strangely no presence of monsters at all, stands a giant tree. Its height… I can’t tell exactly, but it must be over a hundred meters. That’s the old demon tree we’re looking for, huh.

Looking more closely, there are fan-shaped mushrooms dotted around the trunk of the giant tree. Even the ones closest to the base of the three are probably around ten meters high. They’re in a place that you can’t reach, although not absolutely, without using body enhancement.

「Those are the magic polypore. Can someone go and collect them?」

「「「…..」」」

Everyone falls silent.

It’s that huge of a monster. Its rank should be pretty high too, so it’s just too dangerous.

As expected, even I end up getting cold feet. However, Elmefiora might have some ingenious ideas. She knows there are medicinal herbs here, and she should know how to pick them. Depending on the plan, perhaps I won’t mind going and picking them.

「… It can’t be helped. I’ll go and pick them.」

Huh, seriously? As expected, it’s too much for Elmefiora, a magician, isn’t it?

Elmefiora seems to have made up her mind. From her gaze, I can see her determination to go and pick them no matter what. I don’t know her situation, but she seems to be in a very desperate situation. I’d like to help her if I can.

「Wait, I’ll go.」

「Huh, Sei-kun?」

「I can use presence concealment skill, and I have all kinds of weapons and tools in my storage. Elmefiora-san, tell me more about that old demon tree.」

「Yes, umm, that would be a great help. You can decide whether to actually go or not after hearing what I share with you.」

Having come this far, as expected, I can’t say I’m quitting since it’s too dangerous. That’ll bring shame upon myself as a man.

At any rate, let’s gather information and find the best way to tackle it.

「You see, that old demon tree not only uses earth, wind, water, and shadow magic, but also attacks using its roots, branches, and leaves.」

「I, I see…」

Geeh, that guy is just as dangerous as I thought. There seems to be no escape, up, down, left, right, or even in the air. It might even be stronger than a demonic dragon. Damn it, it makes me want to go home.

「But that monster, you know, sometimes doesn’t notice even if you give it a little bit of stimulation. Sometimes it will stretch out its branches and roots far away to attack, but sometimes it shows no reaction at all. Umm, you could say it’s all down to luck.」

What does that mean? Is it that when it’s hungry it preys on anything that comes close, and when it’s full it deliberately doesn’t attack its prey? Or is it simply a matter of mood?

In any case, there doesn’t seem to be any ingenious idea. While erasing your presence, you close in on it and collect the medicinal herbs in one breath, and then retreat right away; like that’s the only way.

The problem is the earth magic it uses. My armor is weak against earth magic, so if I get hit by earth magic unleashed by a high-ranked monster, I might really die. Since it’s a demon tree, it must have spread its roots across the area, so its attack range is probably large. What should I do?

「Sei-kun, if push comes to shove, I think I can use magic to interfere with earth and wind to block the monster’s attacks, but I can only do either earth or wind at a time.」

「I see, in that case, earth, please.」

「Yes, that would probably be better. I’ll do my best to block the monster’s earth magic and root attacks.」

This is good news. I don’t know how much Elmefiora can hold back the monster’s attacks, but the chances of me being hit by earth magic have decreased significantly. As things stand, it might go unexpectedly smoothly.

I steady my breath and take out a red iron sword from storage. So that I won’t get detected by the monster, I need to cut off the magic polypore without channeling any magical energy. How did I get my hands on this sword, again? I think it’s something I took from the beastfolk bandit band that Ottilie of the Cotton Clouds had defeated.

「Oh, that’s quite a sword.」

「…..」

Frederie stares at me, as if licking me all over.

Damn it, what’s with that guy’s gaze? It’s as creepy as ever.

The others are silent, but they are staring at me curiously. Well, not only do I have physical abilities unthinkable from an ordinary porter, I’m clad in a full set of demonic dragon armor, I use a mithril sword and shield, and now, I’ve taken out a red iron sword of considerable purity. They’re probably curious about my true identity.

「Alright, let’s do it. Everyone, please wait here.」

While using presence concealment, I break into a run towards the old demon tree.

The surrounding area is completely silent. It’s as if there are no living creatures at all. I wonder if everything that comes close ends up getting preyed upon by it.

No matter how hard I try to muffle the noise, every time I step on fallen leaves or dead wood, some kind of sound comes out.

*Thump, thump* I can feel my heart beating loudly in my chest. It seems this guy sometimes shows no reaction to intruders, so please, ignore me.

It’s huge.

I reach a place about a few dozen meters away from the old demon tree. The trunk of the giant tree is incredibly huge, on a completely different level compared to the ones I have defeated before. I can understand why Elmefiora said we couldn’t defeat it.

I concentrate my mind and use my presence detection skill, but there’s no reaction in the surrounding area at all.

I’ve come this far. All that’s left is to close in on it and cut off the medicinal herbs with my sword in one breath.

What should I do? The magic polypores are in a location that can’t be reached from the ground. While using light body enhancement, putting my foot on the trunk, jumping, and cutting them off in one go should do it. As expected, it’ll probably notice me, but if I quickly retreat from this place, I should be able to manage one way or another. There’s also the possibility that nothing will happen unexpectedly. Yes, perhaps all of that is the so-called needless worry.

「Let’s do it.」

I look at the magic polypore growing on the trunk of a giant tree and hold my sword at the ready.

So as not to stimulate the monster, I’ll keep my body enhancement to the minimum. I’ll gently put my foot on the trunk and jump towards the medicinal herbs. Should I channel some magical energy into my sword when I cut them off? I don’t know how hard the medicinal herbs are, after all.

I steady my breath and prepare myself. Let’s do it, let’s go. I’m sure that when I finish collecting the medicinal herbs, Elmefiora will look at me with affection-filled eyes.

Thump, thump, thump… Let’s go.

I leap out towards the old demon tree. I kick the ground a few meters away from it and put my foot on the trunk.

Here it is. There is no room for failure. I put my foot on a slight protrusion on the trunk, jump towards a magic polypore, and swing my red iron sword down.

The magic polypore is semicircular and about one meter long. I sink the red iron sword into its base area, close to the trunk.

「Alright… huh?!」

Shoot, the magic polypore is surprisingly hard, and I cut through about 80% of it with my sword, but it won’t come off the trunk. What should I do, should I do it one more time? No, as expected, that’s not a good idea. The monster will definitely notice me. I can’t afford to miss this chance.

Whuoooooooo.

In addition to my body enhancement, I also channel magical energy into my red iron sword and swing it down in one go.

Slash!!

I, I did it. I successfully cut off the magic polypore.

Before I hit the ground, I put my sword and the medicinal herb into my storage. All that’s left to do is turn back the way I came in a straight line. I did it.

The moment I hit the ground.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble.

「Geeeh?!」

The ground begins to shake violently, and at the same time, I sense an intense flow of magical energy from the surrounding area.

Not good, an attack is coming. At any rate, I’ve got to get out of here…

「Damn it.」

The ground shakes violently, and begins to crack.

Not good, I can’t brace my legs on the ground.

I sense strong magical energy from the ground. Not good, an attack is coming…

「Sei-kun, hurry up!」

At the same time as I hear Elmefiora’s voice from afar, the shaking of the ground stops.

To be precise, it’s shaking slightly, but it seems that Elmefiora is interfering with the ground and holding the monsters back.

I kick the ground using full-strength body enhancement and head towards Elmefiora and the others.

Alright, I can do it.

I succeed in getting away from the hold demon tree. Just like this, I’ll withdraw from the front line…

「Sei, above!!」

At the same time as Brai shouts, both my magical energy perception and presence detection pick up a reaction.

I instantly look up to the sky, and see a large branch of the old demon tree getting swung down towards me.

Not good, at this rate, I’ll get a direct hit.

I quickly escape to the side with instant step.

Booooooooom.

The branch of the old demon tree explodes into the ground. The sound of the impact that splits the ground echoes through the area, and a cloud of dust spread over the area.

Appraisal!

 

Ten Thousand Years Agarwood Great Demon Tree, Rank 108

 

… I’m at a loss for words. All I can do now is to withdraw from the front line.

Instant step!

I blend into the dust and jump out in one go.

Alright, I can do it, just a bit more and I’ll…

「Huh?」

I feel a strange sensation on my legs and end up losing my balance.

What’s going on? Elmefiora should have interfered with the ground…

「This is… shadow magic?!」

That old demon tree, noticing that it can’t use earth magic, it chooses to use shadow magic.

The shadow extending from the trunk of the giant tree is twining around my feet.

However, not only am I quite far away from the trunk, direct sunlight is shining on me, so the binding force shouldn’t be that high.

What should I do? Shall I shake it off by force, or with light magic…?

「Geeeh?!」

Sensing magical energy, I turn my eyes to the trunk, and see that suddenly two large water balls are getting created around it.

Not good, it’s water magic. What should I do? Damn it, first thing first, I need to prioritize my defense.

I give up on trying to undo the shadow magic, take out two mithril shields from my storage, and start to channel magical energy on them. More, I need to channel magical energy into them to the limit.

Whoooooosh!!

With the force of a flood, two powerful water cannons shoot out at me from the water balls.

「Guaaaaaaah!」

I block the magic with my shields, but the impact is so great that I end up getting blown away.

Shoot, my shield…

As the impact hits my whole body, I end up letting go of both of my shields, and my body gets knocked into the ground over and over again.

What should I do, should I heal myself first or run, not good, I’m going to die…

「Sei!」

Brai grabs my body and carries me away.

It seems that thanks to getting hit by the water magic, I have been blown far away towards my comrades.

My body… seems to be fine. I’m bruised all over my body, but my life is not in danger. At most, the wrists of both of my hands, which were holding the shields, are painful.

We somehow manage to get away from that place.