Volume 2 Chapter 10 I Didn't Think of This
The twisting branches attacked one after another, but Minori skillfully dodged them as she ran, circling around the Evil Tree.
However, the Evil Tree had neither a front nor a back.
No matter where she circled, another branch would strike her.
As a vine tried to wrap around her legs, Minori frantically jumped back.
"Ugh! I can't get close, and I can't read its movements!"
With animals, you can somewhat predict their actions from their gaze or muscle movements, but with a plant that has no eyes or muscles, you can't predict anything from preparatory movements.
It must be a difficult opponent for Minori, who fights by using her agility.
And to make matters worse, there's a slope on the left and a large rock blocking the right.
If she wants to go around, it's toward the big rock, but there's no guarantee she can get through.
"Minori! Don't push yourself! If it's too much trouble, it's okay to run away and go around!"
"No... Big Bro Ryuuji, look at the base."
"The base... Seriously?"
Following Minori's calm voice, they looked at the base of the Evil Tree, and thick roots were emerging from the ground.
It seemed to be ignoring the handicap of being a plant that can't move on its own.
"Alright!"
Lene threw a potion from behind, and it fell on the base of the Evil Tree, which was starting to emerge, exploding upwards with a roar.
The Evil Tree caught fire──
"Whoa! Close one! Close one!"
The flames spread to the entire Evil Tree in an instant, but as if it didn't care about the heat damage, the Evil Tree swung its burning branches around, and Minori ran away, screaming.
"S-Sorry! Minori!"
"I-It's okay! Just startled me!"
Nevertheless, the burning Evil Tree had become a dangerous thing that could cause burns just by getting close.
There's also the option of waiting for it to burn out completely, but its roots are now completely exposed from the ground and have started to move on their own.
"Lene, stay back with Belle! We'll handle this!"
Since the alchemical gun still uses Magic Power, I can't push Lene too hard.
After getting the two of them out of the way, Suzu and I will fight back with magic.
However, it seems like this golden series has some kind of magic barrier, which makes our attacks less effective.
"Is there any way to manage this with the magic stones we have on hand? Should I use Magic Stone of Sigmund...?"
With Magic Stone of Sigmund, I could ignore the magic barrier and create a hole in the malevolent tree.
But the real issue is that I'd run out of Magic Power and collapse.
It's frustrating.
While I was lost in thought looking for a solution, I felt a light tap on my waist.
It was Suzu, who was also struggling to come up with a plan.
"Big Bro Ryuuji, using that could lead to a Magic Power shortage afterward, so Magic Stone of Sigmund is risky. If you're going to use something, go with the Magic stone of Fyrel."
"Well, sure, if I had a Normal Temperature magic stone, I wouldn't get burned, but getting through those branches and vines to reach the trunk is going to be a challenge."
Using the Magic stone of Fyrel, which brings significant benefits from not wielding a weapon, effectively means I have to engage in close combat.
If even Minori is struggling to dodge, I can't imagine I'll be able to get in close and avoid attacks either.
"It's okay. Suzu has a plan."
She said this with her usual poker face, but there was an air of confidence as she shared her strategy.
I was a bit taken aback by the details of her plan.
"Hey, are you really sure this will work?"
"It's fine. ...If we can sync up, maybe it'll work."
I asked, feeling anxious, but my little sister gave me a completely unreliable answer.
If I mess up, my legs could get broken.
Just in case, I'm giving my coat and magic bag to Lene and the others, since things could get bad if they caught fire.
I really don't want to report "my clothes burned" in front of my sisters a second time, so I also made sure to tell Suzu to put me out with her water magic if I somehow catch fire.
"Alright, are we ready? ...Minori! Clear the center when I give the signal! I'm gonna launch something big!"
"Huh? What? What's big!?"
"It's big, alright!"
It's not much of a conversation, but Minori looked confused, though she replied, "O-okay!"
"Oh great god of magic, grant a fragment of your power to my hand, a hammer to strike down my brother!"
Suzu starts her chant without hesitation.
Wait, "my brother?"
It's true, though.
"Hmm? My brother?"
Minori also seemed to have doubts about the chant's content.
She tilted her head while dodging branches and vines.
Yeah, I get that.
I timed it right, jumped high on the spot, and tilted my body so my head faced the Evil Tree.
My physical abilities have drastically improved, so I have enough height.
"〈Mjolnir〉"
Suzu's chant is complete, and I can tell that an invisible hammer made of magic power has appeared.
"Get out of the way, Minori!"
Shouting at the top of my lungs, I landed right on the hammer that swung horizontally, bending my knees.
"Ugh...!"
I felt tremendous pressure from the soles of my feet, but I couldn't lose, so I straightened my knees.
The force of the hammer added to the power in my knees, and my body flew sideways toward the Evil Tree.
"Eeeh... no way!?"
Minori looked like she was shocked to see her brother flying off at such an incredible speed, but I didn't even care.
I spun in mid-air, dodging branches and vines, and slammed my legs into the Evil Tree.
The kick that came from my 100-kilogram body, flying through the air, smashed the Evil Tree in the middle with no mercy.
"Magic Core, found it."
It was right where I'd kicked it, and the Evil Tree's Magic Core was lying near the corpse──I mean, I'm not sure what to call it.
"I've been Ryuuji's little sister for a long time...but I've never seen him fight like this."
"You better complain to Suzu. I didn't come up with this."
"Peace out."
Suzu, with a blank expression, gave me the two-finger salute.
What does he think of my brother's body?
"Mr. Ryuuji, this..."
"Huh?"
Lene, who had been hiding with Belle just a moment ago, seemed to have been examining the Evil Tree.
She held out something wrapped in cloth, having found something.
"This is...that needle, right?"
Even though it was blackened by flames, there was no mistaking it for the golden needle that had been used to create demon beasts like bears.
"That means this tree was also turned into a monster with this."
"Yes, probably."
Beistein Kingdom's Prime Minister Elmer and the Dark Mage Ferron, who had been involved with the 〈Berserk〉, are already dead.
So, there must be another Dark Mage using this needle to operate in secret.
"...Speaking of which, didn't we sense a reaction moving away to the south before we got close to this Evil Tree?"
"Yeah, I noticed that. Maybe that's the Dark Mage who created this Evil Tree."
It seems that the clever Suzu quickly caught on.
If that reaction was from the Dark Mage, then this time it might be possible for them to be operating covertly in the south... that is, within Marquis Reichner's domain.
"Let's return to Sartzstadt immediately. We must inform Marquis Reichner and His Excellency Duke Hoffman about the developments."
We left the forest early and hurried south towards Sartzstadt as fast as we could.
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