Chapter 20

"Alright, I like it! I'm going to make this place mine!"

Carmilla, with an innocent smile, said this, leaving me and Leidia bewildered.

Her ominous words just now had shattered the warm atmosphere from before.

"…What do you mean by making this place yours?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. I'll make this field mine and have Hashira and Leidia grow delicious crops for me alone."

"You mean you won't buy it or hire us?"

"That's right. It will become the tribute land of the daughter of the Demon King. Isn't that an honor?"

She said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

It seems she intends to exploit us unilaterally, not through business but by wielding her status.

I thought she was a cute, innocent girl with a bit of arrogance, but she's quite tyrannical.

"Wait a moment. This is indeed part of your country's territory, but no one is governing it, and it's supposed to be unclaimed land. While it's true that we're living here without permission, you can't just come and exploit us unilaterally!"

Leidia strongly countered the sudden declaration.

Living together and cultivating the field, I could tell she had grown attached to it, and I was very happy about that.

"I don't care about such complicated talk. If I want it, you should hand it over."

Her innocent expression suddenly changed, and a menacing atmosphere surrounded her.

Now that I can sense magic, I can tell that the magic leaking from Carmilla is far from ordinary. It's much more concentrated and powerful than Leidia's.

Even Leidia, who was being assertive, gasped and paled.

If she wants something, she will force it to be hers, regardless of the other party's will.

Truly the work of the daughter of the Demon King. What a brat.

"What if we refuse?"

"Until you listen to me."

Carmilla said this, then spread her wings and ascended into the sky.

She looked down at us and, to our horror, began casting fire magic.

The fire magic from Carmilla struck the house and the field, setting them ablaze.

My head turned white with anger, but the first thing to do was to extinguish the fire.

I used plant manipulation to twist the burning crops to prevent the fire from spreading to the others.

I separated the burning roof of the house and evacuated to the open area.

"Leidia, use water magic to extinguish the fire!"

"Got it!"

If Leidia can extinguish the fire, the damage should be minimized.

However, I couldn't help but see the damaged crops at the edge of my vision. Even with the blessing of Elphira, the goddess of abundance, burned crops cannot be restored.

"Hey! If the field burns, it's meaningless!"

"Even if it burns, you can just grow it again!"

What does she think of the field we've worked so hard to cultivate?

I had been holding back, but her words pushed me over the edge.

"What? Are you going to fight?"

Carmilla smiled wickedly as I impulsively released my abilities.

Numerous trees and vines sprouted from the surrounding soil, attacking Carmilla.

"Whoa! What is this!?"

Carmilla, fearing the approaching trees, fled into the sky.

But as long as she was within the forest, she couldn't escape me.

The trees approached faster than she could fly, closing in from all sides.

Carmilla destroyed them with dark magic, but the trees quickly regenerated and began to pursue her.

"Is that all!?"

This time, she tried to burn the trees with fire magic, but the vines entangled her, stopping her magic.

Carmilla tried to tear them apart with her strength, but the vines were layered, making it impossible.

While struggling, she was restrained by the pursuing trees.

While it might be enough to restrain ordinary monsters or beasts, she is the daughter of the Demon King.

If she uses fire magic like before, it would be disastrous.

I won't feel safe unless I prevent her from using magic.

As I thought this, the trees and vines restraining Carmilla began to rapidly absorb her magic.

"Ah! Stop! My magic…!"

I could see the trees and vines absorbing her magic, and my own plants growing stronger.

I intended to drain her magic until it was empty.

"Stop it, Hashira! If you keep this up, Carmilla will die! If you kill the daughter of the Demon King, it will start a war!"

Just as I was about to increase the amount of magic being absorbed, Leidia suddenly hugged me from behind.

Her scream and the shock calmed the burning anger inside me.

Looking at the restrained Carmilla, she clearly looked in pain and lacked vitality.

If this continued, as Leidia said, it would be fatal.

While the field was burned by fire magic, it wasn't entirely destroyed. Killing a younger girl in retaliation would be going too far.

Moreover, if the Demon King's daughter were killed, what actions would the Demon King take? He might invade the forest to avenge her.

I don't want that kind of trouble in my peaceful life.

Calmly, I quickly released my abilities and lowered Carmilla to the ground.

Due to the loss of magic, Carmilla seemed severely weakened and showed no signs of getting up.

"She's in a state of magic depletion."

"I'll get some medicine."

I left Carmilla to Rent and Leidia and went to get medicine from the house.

I had prepared a potion to restore magic, using magic herbs I had found and collected in the forest.

I hurriedly took the pill and returned to Carmilla, bringing it close to her mouth.

"Swallow this. It will restore your magic."

Even in her dazed state, Carmilla seemed to sense the magic in the pill and swallowed it.

"Her magic has recovered significantly. She should be fine if she rests for a while."

"That's good to hear."

"Your medicine is as unpredictable as always, Hashira."

Indeed, my medicine seems to have a correction factor.

Regardless, I'm glad Carmilla is out of danger.

"Sorry, Leidia. I lost control in my anger."

"You might have gone a bit too far, but she is the daughter of the Demon King. I would have been angry too if she said that."

"Still, thank you for stopping me. It was almost too late."

I don't want to be a Demon King's daughter killer. If it had gone too far, it would have been a very bad situation.

I can't thank Leidia enough for stopping me.

"Stop worrying so much. It's fine. Let's carry this girl to the house."

"Alright."

I knew Leidia was just covering up her embarrassment, but I nodded without pressing the issue.

Thank you for reading.

If you think:

'Looking forward to the next chapter!'

'Can't wait for the next part!'

'Keep up the good work!'

Please bookmark the story and give it a star by scrolling down. I would be very grateful! Thank you!