Chapter 38

"Let's harvest the new crops!"

It had been about two weeks since we enjoyed our day off.

The new crops that Claire had brought and planted had started to bear fruit, so I decided to harvest a few of them.

Thanks to the growth-promoting effects and the magic stone fertilizer, they were growing beautifully.

"Wow, it's time to harvest! I'll go get a basket!"

"I'll go too."

When she heard about the harvest, Carmilla, who was the first to cheer, went with Claire to get a basket.

"Sure enough, the crops that Hashira has grown are growing at an incredible speed. I can't believe they're already ready to harvest."

"With these new ingredients, we'll have more variety in our cooking."

There are limits to what we can gather in the forest, so it's simply great to be able to eat a lot of commonly available crops.

"Sure. I'd like to try a vegetable-rich tomato soup."

Leidia loves vegetables, so she looked very happy to have more vegetables to work with.

As we were talking with Leidia, I suddenly felt a powerful magic presence above us.

Looking up, I saw a tall man with long, bright red hair standing with his wings spread wide.

His face was very handsome but had a haughty look. However, there was a charisma that made this somehow not bothersome.

He was wearing a well-tailored red and black robe, adorned with glittering decorations and rings.

He didn't come from anywhere; he suddenly appeared on the spot. It felt right.

Not only his appearance but also his sudden appearance made it clear that he was not an ordinary person.

"Hahaha! I have come from the Demon Kingdom Belgios—"

The red-haired man was laughing loudly when the Mother Plant started to move.

Whether or not there was any hostile intent, it must have judged that it should neutralize the powerful magic user who had suddenly intruded on the premises.

Thorny, poisonous vines sprouted from around the Mother Plant and were launched at the hovering red-haired man.

Not only that, but the Insect Killers and Killer Plants around us also extended their vines to entangle him or spat out seeds to launch at him.

"Wait, wait! I didn't hear anything about a nation-destroying Mother Plant!"

The red-haired man's face turned pale as he faced the Mother Plant's saturation attack, and he immediately disappeared.

The vines that were trying to capture him cut through the air in vain.

Tracing the magic reaction, he had instantly moved in the opposite direction.

"Did he just move to a different location in an instant?"

"It's a teleportation spell...!"

Leidia shouted in shock.

It's something you often hear about in games and manga. A spell that allows you to move to a different location instantly, regardless of distance or obstacles.

From Leidia's shock, it's clear that it's a highly advanced spell. Leidia, who can usually handle most spells, wouldn't be surprised by an ordinary one.

However, the Mother Plant quickly reacted by moving its vines.

The vines that had missed their target were immediately launched at the man again.

Each time, the man used the teleportation spell to escape from the vine net.

The Mother Plant couldn't seem to capture the man who was teleporting instantly.

It's unfair to be able to move around so freely like that.

"Hahaha! No matter how powerful the Mother Plant, it cannot easily capture me while I am teleporting—Ow!?"

He was laughing as he dodged the vines, but Rent, who had quietly approached from behind, hit him with a powerful punch.

Normally, that would have been a fatal blow, but the man was protected by a defensive spell.

However, he was still blown away by the impact.

Then, Rent Jiro, Rent Saburo, and Rent Shiro attacked.

The three Gaia Notes were ready, raising their fists, which came flying towards him with a sound like breaking glass.

It seemed that the threads of the Itotsumugiaris were already spread around to prevent teleportation, and the Mother Plant's vines and Rent's fists were raised to deliver the final blow.

"Wait, wait, wait! I am the Demon King! I only came to see my daughter; I have no intention of fighting!"

In a life-or-death situation, the man lost his composure and desperately shouted.

"Stop the attack."

Hearing his words, I ordered the monsters to stop their attack.

The vines and the fists that were about to strike stopped right in front of the man.

"Oh, so it was Father's magic after all! It's been a while!"

"Lord Demon King, it's been a long time."

In the tense atmosphere, the calm voices of Carmilla and Claire, who had come back with the harvest basket, echoed.

"I thought it might be from the Demon King's magic, but it really is the Demon King."

"Seems so."

From what Carmilla and Claire said, it seems the red-haired man is indeed the Demon King.

Despite his grand appearance, he quickly begged for his life, which made his regal aura dissipate.

However, his red hair and somewhat haughty demeanor are very similar to Carmilla's.

"Claire! I wasn't told about such dangerous monsters! There are four Gaia Notes, and a nation-destroying monster!?"

"They increased after the report. Specifically, by Lord Hashira..."

Claire looked awkward as she directed her gaze towards me, and the Demon King gaped.

"Father was attacked by the Mother Plant and Rent! It's amazing you didn't die!"

"Considering I couldn't even defeat a Killer Plant, being attacked by the likes of Lord Rent is terrifying."

Carmilla and Claire, who have already experienced the pain, calmly shared their thoughts.

"...Isn't it scary that the Demon King can be so easily defeated by Rent and the others?"

"Have you not realized that until now!?"

Realizing this shocking fact, I muttered, and Leidia, standing next to me, looked disbelieving.

Well, I'm from another world, and I've never left this forest, so I don't know the general strength of people or monsters.

But even I can see that the Demon King being defeated is a sign of overwhelming power. Still, to survive in this forest, that level of strength is necessary. I shouldn't worry too much about it.

"Um, may I ask your name again?"

"Of course! My name is Zebal Lysis Redcruise. I am the Demon King who rules the Demon Kingdom Belgios and Carmilla's father!"

The Demon King introduced himself, dramatically spreading his cloak.

Such grand gestures can be impressive when done with the presence of a king. If he has practiced this, it's quite endearing.

"Just to be sure, you are Carmilla's father, right?"

"Aye, I am her father."

Though I already knew from our earlier conversation, I wanted to confirm it properly.

"My name is Hashira, and I represent those who live here."

"Aye, I have heard from Claire. You are the unusual human who is developing this forest. Ah, and you can speak to me as you normally would. It feels stiff if you use formal language even in private."

"Then I'll speak as I usually do. Did you come to see your daughter, Carmilla, today?"

"Aye. And I was curious about you. I didn't expect a human to be strong enough to defeat my daughter."

His eyes were filled with curiosity, reminding me of Carmilla's when she finds something interesting. It felt like being stared at by a snake.

It was uncomfortable, but as I stood still, the Demon King's curious gaze shifted.

"Moreover, to see that the Forest of Death is truly being developed. I am truly surprised to see it with my own eyes."

The Demon King looked around the fields, genuinely surprised and impressed.

"If you'd like, would you join us in the harvest? We have a few crops ready to be harvested."

"Interesting. Let me join in."

I thought inviting the Demon King to help with the harvest was a bit odd, but he unexpectedly agreed.

It seems he has the same curious nature as Carmilla.

Despite his grand title as the Demon King, he's quite approachable once you know that. I can think of him as a larger version of Carmilla.