Volume 6, Chapter 47 – The Terror of the Evil Treant (2)

“Let go of Fiene-samaaaaa!”

I can see Chris-san running toward me at breakneck speed. Even while hanging upside down, I try to assess the situation.

A tree branch has wrapped itself around my left leg like a vine, and it’s that vine that’s hoisted me up.

I see. Either there were seeds left that hadn’t sprouted, or there was a Treant that hadn’t been burned away.

I’m not entirely sure which, but either way, it seems some Treants survived.

“Hmm. I released the Barrier too early.”

I could escape with Mist Form, but with my Skill Level still so low, using it once means I can’t use it again for a while.

Alright, I’ll let Chris-san save me.

I glance over at Chris-san.

Tree branches lash out to try and catch her as she charges, but she cuts through every single one of them as she advances.

Then, she cut down the trunk of the Treant restraining me and sliced through the branches wrapped around me, rescuing me.

“Thank you. You saved me.”

I say my thanks from within Chris-san’s arms as she carries me bridal-style.

“Not at all. More importantly, the Evil Treant is gone.”

“Eh?”

Surprised by her words, I look around.

Indeed, while other Treants are present, the massive Evil Treant that had been so conspicuous is nowhere to be seen.

“Where on earth did it go?”

Around me are Chris-san, Lu-chan and Mashiro-chan nearby, and Shizuku-san sitting a short distance away with her eyes closed as if meditating.

Rеaԁ οn KatReαԁіոɡCαfе

Once I’m back on the ground, I set fire to the Treant that had restrained me.

*Rumble rumble rumble*

Suddenly, a sound like a subterranean rumble echoes through the ground, and the earth shakes violently, forcing me to catch myself with my hands.

“An earthquake!?”

“Kh!”

“W-what is this!? What’s happening!?”

We instinctively brace ourselves on the ground and look around.

In the next instant, a giant Evil Treant suddenly erupts from directly beneath Shizuku-san.

“Shizuku-san, below you!”

“What!?”

Reacting to my scream, Shizuku-san tries to leap back in a panic, but because she had been sitting in meditation, her reaction is delayed—and Shizuku-san is caught by the Evil Treant!

“Shizuku-san! Shizuku-san!”

“Kh… aaaaah!”

A thick branch of the Evil Treant winds around Shizuku-san’s neck and begins to coil around her body.

Kirinagi slips from Shizuku-san’s hand and rolls across the ground with a dry clatter.

“Shizuku-dono!”

Chris-san starts running to rescue her. In response, the Evil Treant hoists Shizuku-san up so we can see her and begins to strangle her.

“Guaah… kah…”

Rеαd oո ΚаtRеαԁіnɡСafе

Shizuku-san lets out a pained groan.

This thing! A mere tree, and it’s taking hostages!

“Kh, Shizuku-dono…”

Chris-san slams on the brakes and stops.

“The underground… was unexpected.”

I bite my lip in frustration and at my own lack of foresight. I knew from last time that Treants weren’t easy to defeat; I should have at least borrowed one Fire Attribute Mage.

“Fiene-sama!”

“Onee-sama, Shizuku-san is…!”

The Evil Treant pulls the unconscious Shizuku-san close to its thick trunk and gradually begins absorbing her into it.

“A-ah, Shizuku-san! W-we have to do something!”

But how?

“L-Lumia! Provide cover!”

Chris-san dashes toward the Evil Treant.

“Mashiro!”

At Lu-chan’s instruction, Mashiro-chan fires a Wind Blade slightly above the Evil Treant, likely to avoid hitting Shizuku-san.

However, the Evil Treant shifts Shizuku-san’s body directly into the path of the Wind Blade.

*Squelch*

The Wind Blade hits Shizuku-san’s thigh, slicing it wide open, and a large amount of blood pours out.

“A-ah, ah! Mashiro, stop, stop!”

Rеad οո ΚatRеαⅾіոɡCαfе

Lu-chan hurriedly stops Mashiro-chan.

Next, the Evil Treant moves Shizuku-san exactly to the spot where the approaching Chris-san is about to strike.

“What! Gh!”

Chris-san stops abruptly, barely managing to halt her sword.

“Chris-san, look out!”

I scream, but it’s too late. A branch from the Evil Treant entangles Chris-san’s leg and hoists her upside down.

Then, the branches coil around her, tightening their grip on Chris-san’s body.

“Guaaaaaah!”

Chris-san’s scream echoes, and the Holy Sword slips from her hand.

“O-Onee-sama! At this rate, Chris-san and Shizuku-san will…!”

Lu-chan pleads with me, her voice on the verge of tears.

“If it’s come to this, I’ll just set it on fire!”

Having made up my mind, I dash toward the Evil Treant. Seeming to realize I am unarmed, the Evil Treant extends its branches to capture me.

“Defense Wall!”

I block the branches with a Defense Wall and rush right up to the Evil Treant.

“Defense Wall, there!”

I create a Defense Wall to obstruct the movement of the trunk as it tries to absorb Chris-san, then I roll across the ground and pick up the Kirinagi that Shizuku-san dropped.

“Onee-sama! Above you!”

Reаd оո КatRеαdiոɡСаfе

Reacting to Lu-chan’s voice, I instinctively deploy a Defense Wall above me.

*Gagagagagagaga*

The branches are all repelled, but the Defense Wall protecting Chris-san vanishes.

“Oh, for goodness sake! Kirinagi! Your master is in a pinch! Save her!”

Half taking my frustration out on it, I screamed as I drove Kirinagi deep into the Evil Treant.

*Squelch*

I feel the sensation of piercing wood, but also the sensation of piercing something soft.

Blood begins to flow from the wound.

This thing! It can move its captured prey around inside its own body!

“Ugh, fine! Desperation Purification!”

Using Kirinagi as a medium, I slam Purification Magic into the Evil Treant’s body—and hopefully into Shizuku-san, where Kirinagi is likely embedded.

Purification Magic should have no effect on Shizuku-san.

Furthermore, though I don’t quite understand why, I can tell it’s having some effect. It is having an effect… but whatever it is, it’s unbelievably stubborn.

“Kh… uuuu. Be… purified!”

I continue to pour in Purification at full power, and my MP is quickly depleted.

“Onee-sama!”

I hear Lu-chan’s heartbroken voice.

The light of Purification fades, and before me the Evil Treant stands as though nothing had happened.