Chapter 38: The Reason it was Sealed
Hearing that herbicide was in great demand, we hurried to the village....
However even with the speed of Firo's legs it took us a few days before getting close to the area around the place.
"Master~."
"What is it?"
"Uh um, the plants are amazing~."
"What?"
Raphtalia and I looked outside the carriage.
There were vine-like plants filling up the whole area while wriggling.
"Wh-what the-!?"
Our progress was slow, but we were definitely advancing through the plant-infested area by going over them.
"Where's the village..."
Confirming our surroundings, I discovered a place that looked like a refugee camps with people gathering nearby.
"Firo, go over there."
"Okay."
We made it to the camp, and started peddling.
"Now then, how much should we charge for herbicide."
The must want it to exterminate those encroaching vines.
It made sense, with that situation I get why the accessory salesman was able to assure that we would make a lot of money.
Now then, how much money will this get us.
"There's a possibility that there is someone here that's an expert at haggling."
"That true."
I got off the carriage and started asking about the situation.
By the way, I had my shield changed to the Book Shield. I had it reversed on my arm so I could act like a peddler holding a book.
If the shield doesn't stand out then people won't notice that I'm the shield hero.
"I'm someone who came here after hearing that herbicide was selling for a high price."
I called out to someone in the camp who was wearing some important-looking decorations.
"Ohh...you're a peddler? Your really saving us."
I was told to wait for a bit.
"Still, what exactly is this?"
I muttered while looking at the field infested with plants.
"Um...our village was suffering a famine."
Ahh, come to think of it I heard a rumor about that.
But if it's that, didn't Motoyasu already solve the problem?
"However the spear hero visited us and obtained the miraculous seed that had been sealed long ago. The famine was no longer a problem but..."
"Don't tell me that miraculous seed did this?"
I looked towards the encroaching vines. Looking carefully I saw that a lot of different fruits and vegetables were growing from the vines.
It didn't look like this camp was troubled for food, there wasn't any kind of soup kitchen going on. Like they were getting potatoes from the roots, farmers were going towards the encroaching vines and digging.
In other words, they were able to get food from the plants, but it's spread was too fast and their own living area was taken over.
This is idiotic.
If you just try thinking it through there must have been a good reason that it was sealed. If there was no problem with it then it would still be in use.
Motoyasu, what was that guy thinking when he did this?
"On top of that, out here there is still no problem, but if you head towards the village you will find the plants are transforming into mosters."
I guess you call that plant mutation.
This is idiotic.
Why do I have to feel like this after just listening for a little time.
Seriously, that guy's a genius at making me uncomfortable.
"And that's why you want herbicide?"
"Yes."
Farmers seem like they should know how to exterminate plants...
"At first everyone rejoiced thinking we were rich, but when they grew from the fields to our houses...everyone in the village tried hard to cut them back, but even that couldn't stop them..."
"By the way...how long has this been happening?"
"After hero-sama left, there was no problem for 2 weeks, but about half a month ago..."
"Hmm. Did you contact the authorities?"
"Yes, but it seems the heroes are busy so we will have to wait a little longer. Right now we are to use herbicide to keep it from encroaching any further."
Sigh...I couldn't help but sigh.
"Couldn't you just burn it down?"
"We have tried everything we could think of but..."
"Ah, you've already tried that then."
They've probably also asked for help from adventurers.
Looking around, I saw people who weren't villages holding weapons.
"UWAAAAAAAAAAA!"
We heard a scream coming from the direction of the village.
"What was that!?"
"An adventurer would not listen to our warnings and headed in saying he was going to raise his level, I think that was his voice."
The villager answered like he had half given up already.
"Che-! Firo!"
"Yeeees!"
I pointed in the direction of the village and Firo, who had been stuffing her face with fruit from the plants, took off running.
She sped through the plants at top speed and picked up and carried back three worn out adventurers.
"How was the village."
"Uh um, plant monsters were all wiggling around. There was a fun one that spit up poison and acid and stuff too. You're pretty stupid for going there even though you're weak~."
"You didn't need to say that last part."
"Okaaay!"
Firo was speaking clearly so the villagers were shocked.
"A-are you the saint riding the heavenly bird carriage that has been talked about recently?"
The villages, after even been here for a while, pressed their hands together and asked me.
"Well...I don't know about any saint, but I am the owner of a bird and a carriage."
"Please! Please grant us your salvation! There are those who have been infected by the plants here!"
"It even has parasitic powers, seriously...."
Holding remedies in one hand and herbicide in the other, I went the tent to which I had been guided.
Upon entering, I saw several people laying down with half their bodies turned into plants.
"I don't know if I can heal them or not alright. Also, I'm not running a charity so pay for these remedies."
"Yes..."
A lot of people were around and in small voices I heard them saying things like 'If the spear hero had not come none of this would be happening'....it put me in a bit of a good mood.
For now, I got close to the child that was closest to me. He was sleeping while looking like he was having trouble breathing. I had him drink a remedy.
A pale light shone, and the child's breathing settled down. Then I applied the herbicide to the affected areas.
The child was in pain for a bit, but the plant withered, and fell to pieces. From looking at him it seemed like a complete recovery.
"Oooh..."
"As expected from saint-sama."
Voices of admiration spread out.
Continuing, I had the rest of the victims drink medicine and applied herbicide.
When I was done healing everyone, for some reason the feeling in the camp had become brighter.
Well, if there are some signs of improvement I guess it would become brighter.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
A lot of people express their thanks to me.
"First is the remedies."
I charged a little more than their market value.
There was a problem here. If they had already requested rescue from the authorities, then the risk of meeting the other heroes here was high.
If that happened, they would reveal who I was to these guys and it was likely their attitude towards me would change for the worse.
The villagers handed over the money to me with a smile.
"Right then, so after this I'll be selling herbicide so please come buy some, after that I'll be done here."
"Um...saint-sama, could you not please somehow consent to saving this village?"
"Huh!? You asked the country's heroes to do that right?"
"Um...."
Uuu....it seemed like all the villages were gathering and appealing to me like they were praying.
I'm not a person who can do anything. Especially when I have no obligation.
"I refuse."
"Please. If it is money then we will somehow raise it."
"...Payment in advance, also...whatever happens I won't listen to complaints afterwards. Plus tell me what you know about the seal the spear hero broke."
At my response, the villagers gave donations from their own pockets, gathering their assets. During that, I gathered all the information I could.
Listening to the story, it seemed the plant's seed had been sealed in some nearby ruins and protected by a stout guardian.
Did they not consider that if it was being protected by a guardian like that then there might have been some problem with it?
I felt a strong urge to point that out, but I held it in.
According to the villagers investigation, it was one of the works created by an alchemist who long ago had his stronghold here, but he had sealed it.
From the descriptions left, it seemed like this area had shortly been ruled by plants....
"If there's a story like that then don't undo the seal! Did nobody notice?"
All at once everyone averted their eyes.
They must have thought it was safe since a hero had brought it to them.
It seems this was all the information they could find.
And so, while I was talking for a while the donations were gathering.
....it was a good amount of money.
Since it's payment in advance, they can't back out even if they know my real identity.
"I got it. Well then, let's give it a try."
And then I transformed my shield into the Chimera Viper Shield used for battle.
"T-the shield hero!?"
Ignoring the villagers voice, I advanced into the vines. Behind me Raphtalia and Firo were following.
Fixing the bag filled with money on my hip, I walked into the area consumed by plants.