Chapter 42: Stampede (Part 1)
“Hmm? It feels like the monsters aren’t coming around much anymore.”
It had been three days since I began practicing my “Automatic Garden Level-Up Method.” Yet now, even when I burned incense to lure them in, the monsters that used to appear so eagerly at my garden had all but vanished.
Maybe… I’d already wiped out every monster in the area. When I thought about it, of course they wouldn’t spawn endlessly. Even monsters must have limits.
“Well, I guess I’ll take a break until they start showing up again,” I murmured, setting down my tools. “Besides, my level’s gone up nicely already.”
– – – – – – – – –
Geo’s Home Garden
Level 30 13／150
Garden Area: 201,000／∞
Skills: Fence Creation ・ Barrier Creation ・ Wall Creation ・ Guardian Creation ・ Mega Guardian Creation ・ Garden Concealment ・ Inter-Garden Transfer ・ Garden Relocation
– – – – – – – – –
〈Level has increased〉
〈Derived from “Barrier Creation,” you have acquired “Wall Creation”〉
〈New crops can now be cultivated〉
Finally, I’d reached the milestone—level thirty.
But one thing puzzled me: the area limit now showed a strange symbol. “∞”? What was that supposed to mean? Infinite? Did that mean my garden could now expand without limit?
“‘Wall Creation,’ huh… so it lets me make an even bigger wall?”
〈Would you like to create a wall?〉
“Yes.”
With a rumbling roar, the ground trembled— Zugogogogogogo!
“Whoa!?”
Before my eyes, an enormous wall erupted from the earth, rising higher and higher until it easily surpassed ten meters in height, with a thickness of at least two.
It looked sturdier—far sturdier—than the defensive walls that protected Arcel City itself.
“This thing… might even withstand a dragon’s charge…” I muttered, half in awe.
Not that I’d ever seen a dragon before.
Still, a fortress wall of that size was far too excessive for a mere home garden. I sighed and dismissed it, reverting to the normal defensive barrier.
Come to think of it, I’d never mentioned this before—but I usually kept my Second Home Garden concealed using the “Garden Concealment” skill. If anyone were to stumble upon a towering wall suddenly jutting out of an empty field, it would certainly cause a stir.
◇ ◇ ◇
“So, what became of that marshland?”
“My lady,” the knight reported, kneeling. “When our troops investigated the site, they found nothing but bare ground. It has become an empty field.”
“…What? An empty field?”
Elisabeth, the Lady of Arcel City, furrowed her brow. “But that area was once a vast swamp—almost bottomless in places—and teeming with large monsters. Are you saying it’s simply… gone?”
“Yes, my lady. The swamp is completely gone. Not just the water—the vegetation as well. Even the thick undergrowth that covered the area has vanished without a trace.”
“How can that be possible…?”
Elisabeth folded her arms and fell silent, her mind turning over the report.
The land in question had been given away precisely because it was useless—swampy, infested, and good for nothing. She had even chosen it to test that odd little merchant’s capabilities. It had seemed safe: a barren patch of land that wouldn’t ruffle her vassals’ feathers.
But now…
“There is something else, my lady,” said the knight nervously. “When the soldiers attempted to approach the area, they found themselves stopped by some kind of invisible barrier. They could go no further.”
“What? An invisible wall?”
“Yes. We conducted the investigation discreetly, so we could not study it in depth—but the report suggests that a high-level ward or barrier has been erected there.”
“Hmmm… What in the world is she doing out there?”
Elisabeth frowned deeply.
As the ruling lord, it was her duty to protect her lands and her people. If something dangerous was being done in secret, she couldn’t simply ignore it.
“Still…” she murmured, tapping a gloved finger against her chin. “For her to accomplish such a feat in so short a time… provoking her carelessly may be unwise.”
Even so, she had come to trust that small, polite merchant. The Popit clan were known to deal fairly, never engaging in deceitful trade. And after meeting her in person—alongside those cheerful young adventurer girls—Elisabeth could hardly believe they harbored any ill intent toward her domain.
“For now, we’ll observe quietly,” she decided. “Continue to keep watch—on that land, and on their dwelling as well.”
“As you command.”
The knight bowed low—
—when suddenly, the doors burst open.
“My lady! Emergency report!”
“What is it? What’s all this commotion?”
“A stampede, my lady! A massive horde of rampaging monsters is advancing toward the city!”
“What—!?”
“R-reporting! The monster horde is approximately five kilometers from the west gate! Over a thousand strong and moving fast!”
“Gh… then they’re definitely headed straight for us.”
“Most civilians have already taken shelter in the churches and underground sanctuaries. But if the monsters breach the walls—”
“I know,” Elisabeth said firmly. “We’ll stop them here—at the west gate. Understood?”
“Yes, my lady!”
At the first alarm, Elisabeth had immediately ordered the evacuation of her people. Then, donning her armor, she rode to the west gate—the first line of defense—to take direct command of the troops.
“What about the adventurers? Have we called for their aid?”
“Yes, my lady. The guild has issued a compulsory summons, but… most adventurers are currently exploring the recently unlocked dungeons. Only about thirty or forty have gathered so far.”
“Of course… the volcanic and underwater areas were both conquered in quick succession. I should have expected such timing to backfire…” she muttered grimly.
Still, not all news was bleak.
The mithril weapons and armor she had ordered for her soldiers had just been delivered days ago. Their morale was high, their equipment gleaming in the firelight.
Now, the army formed ranks before the closed west gate—an unyielding shield between the city and the oncoming tide of monsters.
“Stampede incoming!”
The cry echoed across the ramparts.
And then, through the haze of dust and rising wind, they saw them— A sea of monsters, howling and snarling, surging toward the city like a living storm.