67-Episode 67: The Wooden Guardian God and the True Storm King

A few days had passed since the wooden golem was placed near the hidden field.

'It's coming again.'

For the umpteenth time, a swarm of demons came towards the hidden fields of the forest again.

And the next moment, they were blown together by the Wood Golem.

''Yeah, it looks like the fully automatic demon repelling device is working fine.

In fact, this wood golem has a slightly different structure from the ordinary golem.

Normally, it is made by collecting materials such as stones and lumber to make a golem.

However, an acquaintance of mine in a previous life was a bit of a freak who devoted his life to the Golem, and one day he said "I've come up with a revolutionary way to make a Golem! I said.

That's what this regenerative golem is.

By creating a golem as a half-life form, we succeeded in giving it the ability to regenerate itself like a living organism.

The revolutionary thing about this golem is that, because it has the ability to regenerate itself, it doesn't need maintenance such as repairing damaged parts or replacing worn out parts.

Well, even though it's regenerative, it's not perfect, and sometimes it needs to take in prey that it has defeated as material.

According to him, something is not born out of nothing.

Even so, there was no need to process and replace parts, so it was still a breakthrough.

Well, about a week later, the revolutionary technology was designated as a curse and he disappeared as soon as possible.

During his escape, a friend handed me a piece of his research results.

Yes, when I came to, I found myself in a magic bag without permission.

I'm not quite sure why they treated this research as a forbidden curse, because I've seen people in power in my past life and past lives.

Because they all did more egregious things.

Anyway, this golem, which was made against this backdrop, is both a golem and a tree.

In other words, even if its branches break off, it'll still grow back.

The growth speed is also increased, so the golem can quickly repair the damage by absorbing all the defeated monsters as nutrition.

And I've given such a golem orders to protect the west village, the inhabitants of the village, and the hidden fields.

However, I also instructed them to do whatever they wanted at other times.

It seems that they are half living creatures, so if you give them a stiff order, their efficiency for the order will decrease.

That's why the Wood Golem, while protecting the village and the fields, would occasionally move to a sunny or well-drained place of its own volition.

Since it's such a big deal, I'll make some nourishment for the wood golem.

If I give the recipe to the people in the village, it could be used for the poorly grown plants as well.

.........Nourishment?　Do you feel like you're forgetting something?

Okay.

What the hell is this?

The next morning, I was woken up by the village chief's shouting and came outside to find the people of the village looking at the forest in amazement.

What in the world are they surprised about?

When I looked at the forest with him, there was a huge tree that must have been 50 meters long, standing tall.

"Hmm~?

Didn't we have a tree like that?

Hey, Mr. Lex, what are those things?

Huh?　You're asking me, Miss Liliella?

No, I'm the wrong person to ask.

But yesterday, you were pouring some kind of potion on the trees in the woods, weren't you?

Like a potion?

Oh...

Sheesh. That nourishment is the nourishment I used in the village where I commissioned the demon repellent potion.

I used it on those huge vegetables that had grown so big, and then I poured it on the wood golem.

You've grown.....

'You've grown up!　What are we going to do about it?　The people in this village are in trouble, I'm telling you!

Speaking of which, the village chief was very surprised, but what was the reaction of the villagers?

I move my gaze to re-check the reaction of the villagers who had startled me earlier.

I'm a little scared.

Then the villagers were all prostrating themselves towards the Wood Golem.

''Huh?''

What's this?　What's the situation?

'The spirit of the tree is growing!　Surely this must have shown you more power to protect us!

""Haha!"

Oh, so that's what you've decided.

Apparently, the villagers interpreted it as Wood Golem getting serious about protecting them.

''Then that's how it happened.''

That's not what you're talking about!

You're not going to be able to do that.

Is Mr. Lex in here?

When I was checking to see if the big wood golem worked properly, knights came from outside the village.

It's not us and the knights who stayed in the west village, but the knights who came from outside the village, probably from the sky castle.

When the knights found me, they came straight at me.

''What's wrong?''

'Oh my God!　Bahamut!　A new Bahamut has appeared!

What is it?

A new Bahamut!

I didn't expect to see a second Bahamut in here.

And this Bahamut is nearly twice the size of the last one!

Double?

Oh, come on, you mean like....

"Hey, Mr. Lex, if you're doubling up, that means...

I knew Liliera-san had guessed it, too.

''Yes, I think it's an adult Bahamut.

An adult Bahamut came out after the small Bahamut was defeated?

........Huh?　You're saying.

Does that mean that he's the parent of the Bahamut we just defeated?

Yeah, I know.

The knight and Liliera-san roll their eyes in surprise.

''Well, considering that the previous Bahamut was unnaturally small, and the sudden appearance of an adult Bahamut a few days later, I guess that's what happened, isn't it?

And if they came to take the territory, they would have taken it by force a long time ago.

When you think about it, it makes more sense to think of them as family.

''Don't tell me they came to take revenge on us...?

Hmm, I don't know.

A basic animal is something you raise to a certain extent and then you let it leave the nest, and as for demons, I wonder what about Bahamut?

I know how to fight, but I don't know much about their biology as creatures.

Also,

And then the knight tries to tell me something more.

'It's Bahamut, but he's holding something in his hand that I've never seen before.

Have you ever seen anything like it?

Yes, by the looks of it, it's an artifact. I think it's probably something made on the ground.

Bahamut with an artifact of some kind.

"So, the Lord Commander asks you to join him in his reconnaissance.

Ah, from Mr. Calm.

Well, Bahamut is finally gone, and it would be unbearable if a new Bahamut came out again, wouldn't it?

And even more so when it's clearly stronger than before.

''I understand. I'll join you.

If the reason the new Bahamut came was because I defeated the previous Bahamut, I'd be partly to blame.

'Oh, thank you!'

The knight comes with his head bowed in thanks.

'By the way...'

Huh?　What do you have left?

What is this conspicuously large tree?　I don't think it was there before.

You're over there!

Well, I guess he's grown up.

What, growing up...?

Okay, now that I've explained it to you, let's get the hell out of here and meet up with Mr. Calm and the rest of the guys and go to Morishima Island!

You're not going to be able to do that.

Then we met up with Mr. Calm and the others, and we came near the perimeter of Mori Island to scout it out.

The reason we didn't go inside the island was to avoid provoking the rumored Bahamut.

'Look, that thing that looks like a black mountain is the new Bahamut that has suddenly appeared.

It was easy to understand the new Bahamut that sat on Mori Island, without having to explain it to Mr. Carm.

After all, it was towering through the forest, right?

'But what is that thing Bahamut is holding in his hand?　Does this mean that Bahamut uses tools the same way humans do?　I've never seen a demon like that before.

As I listened to Mr. Calm's words, I was looking at the object in Bahamut's hand.

Yeah, I'm sure. That was.........

It's a ship.

A ship?　What is a ship?

Apparently, Calm and the other celestial beings who live in the sky island don't know what a boat is.

''A boat is a vehicle that floats on a river or sea and is used to move around and catch fish.

'Floating in the river?　But if we put it in a river, it will be swept away and fall to the ground.

Oh, the river in Kashima will eventually fall to the ground like a waterfall.

It's a cultural difference, isn't it?

There's no place for the river on the ground to fall any further.

'What?!'

The knights shout in surprise at my explanation.

Well, there's a river with a waterfall, too.

It's not that I don't like it, but that boat looks kind of familiar....

It's not just familiar, but....

Hey, isn't that a ship...

That's when Liliera spoke to me.

Bahamut turned to me, moving only his head.

'Oh no, he's seen me!

I thought they were pretty far apart, but I'm surprised they have good eyes.

And then Bahamut lets out a loud yell and turns its body toward me and spreads its wings to threaten me.

No, it's not a threat.　It's a gesture of intent to hunt you down from now on.

All hands retreat!

Mr. Calm gives the command, but it's too late.

Bahamut raised the ship in his hand and threw it toward us.

His form is messed up, but the ship is so big that if it hits you, you're in trouble.

And if there were people in the boat, the people in it.

Physical Boost!

I use my physical abilities to strengthen my body and also activate wind magic.

But it doesn't trigger offensive magic.

Guidestream!

The magic I've activated creates an air current around me.

'Let's go!'

I leapt to the front of the flying ship.

"Mr. Lex!

"Lex-dono!

Liliella and Mr. Calm's voices overlap.

But I'll explain later!

Using my enhanced vision and reflexes, I adjust my speed and the speed of the ship, using my enhanced vision and reflexes to the fullest extent, as I retreat backwards and gradually approach the ship.

When I'm close enough to make contact, I have my speed completely in sync with the ship.

I then place my hand on the ship and slowly slow down to be slower than the ship.

Naturally, the ship is trying to crush me with its weight, but it doesn't hold me down all at once.

I don't want to crush it all at once, because if I catch it like this, the shock will knock the person inside into the wall.

Slowly, I slow down the ship as I slow myself down.

Further activated, the air currents of the guiding stream blow slowly but forcefully from the opposite direction of the ship.

This guide stream magic is used to guide large flying magic items and other items to the port of the air-continent, and it is also the magic used to catch flying magic items that have lost control.

In other words, it's an effective spell for this kind of situation as well.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.

'Okay, you managed to catch it softly. Now let's retreat to lower this ship to the safety of the empty island.

As I lift the boat, I suggest to Mr. Calm.

'......

But Calm-san and the others were frozen as they rolled their eyes and looked at me.

Oh, Liliera-san is also frozen.

Excuse me, gentlemen, can we get out of here for a while?

"?

When I called out, everyone finally huffed and regained their movements.

''Ugh, I caught it!''

Huh?　Why are you so surprised by that?

We even got Liliella together.

◆

I am a tree.

Originally, I was a fruit of a tree with an earthly tree as my parent, but I was carried by birds to an island in the sky that humans call the Sky Island.

I was one of the trees in a forest, and I was growing up fast.

Then one day, a human began to grow his little brothers and sisters near me, playing with the soil.

Humans are super convenient to take care of us, and they are worthy to take care of us.

Just when I was thinking that, the demon came.

Oh, hey, don't attack the little brothers and sisters.

And don't attack me either. I promise!

Hmm?　My branches are kind of itchy.

The branch!　The branch is growing!

And it's attacking a demon of its own accord?

My body is moving of its own accord!

I'm super scared!　I can't control my body at will!

.... but I'm a tree, so I was stuck in the beginning.

I don't know what it was, but a human began to worship me.

And then it poured water on me.

Mmm~!　Delicious!

Well, it's good to live like this sometimes.

When I was thinking that it would be good to live like this sometimes, a human was playing with my body.

Roots and branches are moving and attacking the monsters.

What's happening here?

Something told me to protect the village, the people and the fields from the humans.

Huh?　Why do I have to listen to that order ... oh, my body again.

Well, other than that, can I do what I want?

Oh, it's true. When you're not fighting, you move.

If you try to fight of your own free will, you can move freely.

I see, you can move freely if you don't disobey orders.

Ok, let's assume that he can catch a meal by himself now.

Also, when I defeat a demon, a human now worships it and gives me things.

Hmm, I wonder if this kind of life is possible.

Oh, that colored water is delicious. It's super delicious.

The next day, I grew up a lot.