The royal capital.
After the Nine Mixed Unit went outside the outer wall, the soldiers and residents began preparations for interception. They would not let the Sharshar Kingdom be taken from within by bandits and villains. Residents who cooperated distributed lumber and clean cloth. Golems, which were mostly knights, built barricades, but perhaps it was a matter of morale.
“Finally, it’s complete.”
“Waaaaaaaah! Long live!”
The soldiers reconfirmed communication lines. They reported the completion of the barricades to the king and ministers. Discussions about the restoration plan for the devastated south. Confirmation of the war situation in the west. In the royal castle, heated opinions and information were exchanged.
One of the shelters. The “Amamanjaro,” who had safely infiltrated as an abandoned child. Church officials desperately searched for the parents.
“You couldn’t find them, huh?”
“Yes. Perhaps this child’s parents…”
It was due to stray bullets at the South Gate… With that, the conversation shifted to who would care for the infant. A widow who had lost her husband and son in the war and the battle against bandits was chosen.
“Me?”
“Yes, could you please?”
“You can lactate. Those breasts, the infant needs them.”
They persuaded the widow.
“Goo goo…”
The “Amamanjaro” also cooperated with the church.
Sip, sip, sip.
Receiving milk from the widow. The people who had evacuated around them—especially the men—stared with envious, jealous gazes, but “Aren’t you envious!” they thought, grabbing their breasts with both hands and sipping.
Charlsharl Kingdom Royal Castle. Soldiers who had been monitoring the northern part of the royal capital discovered those who had gone to fight the invading army with the Hero (deserters) and found them. It seemed they had not encountered the Nine Mixed Unit (they reluctantly called them that because the country recognized them).
“R-reporting, Your Majesty and Ministers.”
The invading army initially took a defensive stance, as if to provoke the Hero and the officers.
“Did the Hero fall for that provocation?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Just as you perceptive.”
The officers tried to stop him, but to no avail… Guided by the invading army’s commander, the Hero charged alone. The officers, unable to follow such a reckless charge, temporarily left the battlefield.
“You abandoned the Hero!?”
“While the Hero has many problems, he is a valuable asset! And you abandoned him…”
“Your Majesty, Minister of Right, please calm down.”
The Minister of Left appeased the two who were angered by the report. The survivors, appearing calm, lowered their heads until prompted by the Minister of Left to continue.
“Alright, continue.”
“Yes.”
Thanks to the officers’ quick judgment. Taking the Hero as the rear guard, they returned to the royal capital without further damage. En route, they discovered a town with several plumes of black smoke rising ahead. They marched on, wary that it might be a detached unit of the invading army. Judging by the town’s size, they assumed it had been attacked by a considerable force. The officers dispatched multiple reconnaissance teams. Within tens of minutes. The death throes, thought to be from the reconnaissance teams, arrived. Panic spread through each unit.
“And then?”
“Was the town attacked by the invading army?”
“No, Your Majesty. It was not.”
“It’s a tentacled monster, so horrifying to look directly at.”
“Humans killing each other. Even monsters… Your Majesty! Please compose yourself! Is anyone there!? Your Majesty has collapsed!?”
The King was taken to the infirmary, leaving only the ministers and the survivor.
“Continue.”
“Yes.”
“The monster appeared from the town and attacked us. The Golem unit became our shield, but the number of tentacles was overwhelming. The tentacles regenerate. The fleeing Golem force had no remaining firepower strong enough to damage the main body.”
“…”
The monster was faster than its size suggested. And it was intelligent. After destroying the Golem unit’s legs, we were targeted. Whether mounted or running, it attacked without discrimination.
“It was hell… It’s a miracle I’m alive to report this.”
“You did well to report.”
The ministers placed a hand on the survivor’s shoulder to comfort him. They gave the reporter generous financial compensation and temporary rest.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Go safely.”
The ministers were at a loss over three domestic problems.
“Such a monster near the royal capital.”
“The army can’t handle it.”
“Minister of Left! With our current combat power, we can never subjugate it.”
Regenerative ability? The main body is unknown. Such a powerful disaster-class monster.
“You understand that it’s not wise to lose any more precious combat power.”
“But if we ignore it, our economy…”
“It’s wartime. With the invading army and this disaster-class monster still active, the economy comes later.”
“Ugh.”
The Minister of Left headed to the training room for a military conference. The Minister of Right went to check on the evacuees, to see if they lacked anything.
***
The “Lord Vegetarian,” recognized as a disaster-class by the ministers. In the chaos of the war, those with high possessed magic power were secretly assassinated. Now, having evolved into an existence capable of easily conquering towns surrounded by large outer walls with sufficient defenses, he was nicknamed the “Tentacle King.”
“Insects that don’t thank vegetables!”
“Hii! Help! Help—”
*Crack!* The neck bone breaks. No matter how much I explain, no one listens to my voice.
*Swish!*
“I-it’s coming this way!”
“Runnnnnnn!”
It’s useless to hide. I can see the magic power of you insects.
“Uwaaaaah—Gah!”
“…Over there.” *Grrr.* The food storage. You cowards!
*Clang! Clang!*
“Kyaaah!”
He shakes the food storage with tentacles. A part of the roof is cleanly removed, so precisely that no debris falls on the vegetables inside. To remove the bugs clinging to the vegetables…
*Swish, swish…*
“Waaaah!?”
“Let go of my brother! Kyaa!”
The “Lord Vegetarian” spreads extremely thin tentacles on every wall of the food storage, leaving those who fled suspended in mid-air. He changes locations and kills them in places where blood won’t stain the vegetables. From the corpses, a part of the diffused possessed magic power is absorbed into the “Lord Vegetarian’s” main body.
*Thump! Thump!!*
Independently of the “Lord Vegetarian’s” will. The main body demands more magic power.
Ah, the vegetables are being trampled. I want to eat them. But I have no mouth to consume food! Even after existence evolution. I gained new skills. I can create a pseudo-mouth by combining tentacles, but I have no digestive function. I can expel a melting liquid, but that would be disrespectful to the vegetables, like spitting.
Oh, my god, Hapichu, God of Harvest and Gourmet. Please forgive my powerlessness this time.
He models the tentacles into large arms, bows his head on the stone floor, and spreads both hands to the heavens in a confession. May it reach Hapichu, God of Harvest and Gourmet. I pray that in my next physical change, I will be granted a mouth and stomach. The “Lord Vegetarian” continues his normal exercise today.
The confession is over. He heads to the next town infested with many insects. Incidentally, if he continues this way, he will eventually return to the western war zone. Should I thank the remnants of the kingdom’s army? It’s unfortunate for the residents of the towns along his path, but it’s good that one threat to the Sharshar Kingdom will be eliminated. My god is watching!
Squawk! Squawk!
The flapping of birds.
*Swish, slosh.*
The sound of slippery objects rubbing against each other.
Kyaaaaaa.
People’s screams.
Behind the “Lord Vegetarian” as he advances, only gruesome corpses and unnaturally arranged fields remain.
