The World Is Overflowing with Monster, I’m Taking a Liking to This Life

Chapter 170: A Huge Pillar that Split the Mountain

TN: Shout-Outs Section!

<<Scheduled report.>>

<<Shout-Out Progress for February: 2/4>>

*****

And thats what basically happened.

After returning to the base, I had to explain what transpired to Ichinose-san and the others.

Peony, the vine monster, and Igarashi Touka, the Student Council President.

Ive already summarized my encounters with them to some extent through Mail, but it seems that they are nevertheless shocked.

Nishino-kun and Rikka-chan have been stunned silent.

(Rather, everyone is still awake)

The time is already past 4 in the morning.

Its now early morning rather than midnight, yet no ones asleep.

Smiling, Ichinose-san says, For a Hiki Komori, isnt this the prime time for activity?

But Rikka-chan whos next to you looks quite sleepy.

To come across such ridiculous monsters one after another Kudou-san, do you have some sort of aggro skill that attracts monsters? Oh, here you go.

Haha, I have nothing to say in that regardsAh, thank you.

I drink the cup of coffee which Nishino-kun has brewed.

Oh, its delicious.

Its just instant coffee, but its aroma and taste are quite nice.

Is there some trick to this?

I should ask later on.

A giant vine monster, you say

Yes, its name is Peony. Were speculating that its a Superior Species or a Variant Species of Treants. Its strength, however, is at another level compared to regular Treants or even the Flowered Treants.

Honestly, its strength is foul play.

If it wasnt for Momos Shadow Migration skill, we wouldnt have been able to leave there.

Recalling it gives me the shivers.

Well, we havent even fought against regular Treants yet, so the comparison doesnt really help. Its got a name, so I understand that its terribly strong, though.

Rikka-chan points this out as she takes a sip of her coffee.

Perhaps its too bitter for her. She adds sugar and milk into her cup.

Makes sense lets see, think of it as each vine being as fast, if not faster, than I am now, with destructive potential comparable to the pile bunker. In addition, dozens of them can simultaneously shoot out at any given time. (Kazuto)

Thats straight up cheating. (Rikka)

Not to mention that Peonys area of attack is ridiculously wide.

After all, the vines are from the neighboring town which is dozens of kilometers away from here.

(Maybe that Dragon had fled from there?)

Looking back, I remember the Dragon appearing from the direction of the neighboring town.

It might have been fleeing from Peony, the vine monster, after having engaged it in combat.

If so, that would mean that Peony is stronger than even the Dragon.

Waa~, thats bonkers. (Rikka)

Rikka-chan took the words right out of everyones mouths.

Deafening silence ensues, and only the sounds of people sipping coffee are heard.

Sohow likely is it for that monster to attack this place?

Nishino-kun breaks the silence and cuts to the chase.

He should already know the answer, but it seems like he wants my confirmation.

Very.

As I thought

Haa

Nishino-kun sighs loudly.

Recently, hes only been showing an exhausted face.

In fact, his expression looks deader than when I was a corporate slave.

Try not to get used to that expression, Nishino-kun.

I get that were worried about the Super Treant, but what about President Igarashi? She was with you when you fled, yes? Did she do anything strange to you?

Nishino-kun flinches at Rikka-chans words.

This reactionsomething must have occurred between Nishino-kun and Igarashi-san.

Everythings fine on that end. She wont be causing any more problems.

Huh? What do you mean?

Before the vine monster ambushed us, we had a shortdiscussion where I made her promise not to interfere with our work.

You can rest assured, Nishino-kun.

She wont be a threat to you any longer.

I tell this while looking as friendly as I could.

Regardless, the trio throws their suspicions at me.

Onii-san, what did you do?

A short discussion.

Furu furu.

I worked super hard!

Aka, in its mimicked form, shakes as if to let this be known.

Youre right. Its all thanks to you, Aka.

Im curious.

Jiiii

Ichinose-san stares at me with narrowed eyes.

I-I didnt do anything excessive, okay?

Jiiii

U-uhhh

I sense something other than curiosity in the mix

Yup, honesty is the best policy.

(Whatever, theres nothing to hide.)

I dont want to hide things from Ichinose-san or Momo.

I reveal what I did to President Igarashi outside the Safety Zone only to see them distance themselves from me.

Uwaa~ Onii-san, never knew you were sadistic.

An Eroge protagonist. Theres an Eroge protagonist here.

I knew you were ruthless, but this

Those are the impressions of Rikka-chan, Ichinose-san, and Nishino-kun, respectively.

Hey, arent you guys being too mean to me?

Wasnt this all for you guys sake?

You dont have to be that repulsed. Everyones doing similar things nowadays, no?

Were joking, or so Nishino-kun claims as Ichinose-san and Rikka-chan avert their eyes.

All jokes aside, Im really thankful. To be honest, I was troubled by the President.

I dont think shell cooperate with us, but she wont actively try and drag us down either. I believe you can rest assured.

That would mean a lot.

Nishino-kun bows his head.

He appears relieved.

Although I havent looked into the details, I can see that a lot has happened between them.

By the way, where is she right now?

She returned home. Ive marked her with Tracking so that Ill know where she is at all times.

Actually, when we returned to the Safety Zone, she kept pestering me to bring her along.

I was only able to have her back down by threatening to snap my fingers.

I apologize for all the trouble

Theres no need for apologies. As the saying goes, we should help each other in times of need.

Youre right. Ill work harder from now on to repay you.

Our conversation ends on that note.

Ill report back at the City Hall after a moment of rest.

Im totally spent.

I left the previous night with the intention of cleaning up some regular Treants. I never imagined that I would end up encountering a Named Monster

HuuIm beat.

Wan!

Kyu!

Back in my room, Momo and Kiki appear from the Shadow as I lie on my bed.

Apparently, they want to sleep together with me.

It cant be helped.

I beckon for them, and they both curl up on the futon.

Good work, everyone. Thanks for your effort.

Wan~

Kyuu~

Furu furu.

I think back to everything that has happened today as I stare at the ceiling.

A Slime Jellyfish, an Intelligent Zombie, a Dragon, and a vine monster

How unbelievable is that?

How can all this happen in the span on a single day?

The monster encounter rate is so high that I might actually turn bald from stress.

Fuaaa.

Drowsiness overtakes me almost immediately, and I sink into sleep.

*****

-The next day (or rather, a few hours later)-

Things have suddenly changed.

What in the world?

Having woken up, I mutter while gaping at the scenery outside the window.

Vines.

Huge, thick vines are stuck in the air.

(Those are)

Kudou-san!

Onii-san!

The door to my room jerks open so abruptly that it wakes me from my thoughts.

Ichinose-san in her jersey and Rikka-chan in her tank top and hotpants enter the room.

Good morning, you two.

Good morning.

Good mornNonono, its not the time to be greeting each other! Look outside!

Rikka-chan points her finger at the huge vine outside.

Yes, the other side is quite eager it seems

I didnt expect it to arrive in a matter of a few hours.

The pressure that Im feeling and the size of the vines erase any doubt that Peony, the vine monster, has come.

The vines are sticking onto an invisible wall, probably because they cant bypass the Safety Zones barrier.

Some of the vines are acting like whips and repeatedly hitting the transparent barrier of the Safety Zone.

As the vines are from a monster, they cant enter the premise.

Theyre so big that its hard to get a sense of scale

Some of them are extended higher up than the buildings around themthis is crazy.

Both of them are overwhelmed by the vines size.

Wheres Nishino-kun?

Nisshi rushed to the City Hall, worrying that the people would be in a panic.

Hes fast to take action.

We should also head over then.

Through Enemy Detection, I perceive that there is indeed a panic going on in the City Hall.

(Everyones panicking)

Just a day before, a Dragon had appeared.

In a sense, this panic was unavoidable

The panic might devolve into something worse if its left unattended.

I hope Fujita-san and his colleagues can manage it.

Will they be okay?

(Also, whats that?)

Whats happening at the City Hall is worrisome enough, but something else thats outside the barrier catches my attention.

Im not talking about the vines that are sticking to the invisible wall of the Safety Zone.

Far behind the vines, I see a tall, pillar-like object standing in the mountainous regions.

(Is itmoving?)

The tall pillar is advancing slowly but surely.

In reality, it appears to be moving slowly due to its sheer size.

(Could that be)

I check what the pillar is using Telephoto.

Conclusion: its not a pillar.

There are many thin branches extending out of it.

Furthermore, although theyre partially hidden by the clouds, huge leaves and red flowers are present.

Further information wont be required.

That must be Peonys main body.

It came all the way here from the neighboring town

Its nothing surprising.

Flowered Treants, which are the Superior Species of regular Treants, have the ability to walk around. Ive witnessed them do so with my very own eyes.

Theres no reason for Peony, which is even above Flowered Treants, to not have the same ability.

Despite that being the case

(Its too big)

I expected it to be huge considering the length and size of its vines, but its larger than I anticipated.

Assuming that thats its main body, isnt it hundreds of meters tall?

Titan was around 10 meters tall.

In other words, Peony is dozens of times taller than Titan.

It may very well be as tall as the Sky Tree Tower.

This is ridiculous.

Its completely at a level of its own.

How the hell are we supposed to kill that?

While wrapping my head around this question, we head to the City Hall.

*****