Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Bottom Farm (4)

#08

Bran was assigned to the new workplace as soon as the conversation with Delgato ended.

The sentry who had cleaned up the dwarf’s corpse guided him.

“This is the guy who will work here from today. Since it’s the most important zone, teach him properly.”

In front of him and Bran, seven slaves were lined up.

All robust men. Perhaps because they were in the middle of work, their entire bodies were soaked in sweat.

Scanning the faces, Bran frowned.

‘Even if it was an amateur bodybuilding contest I would believe it.’

Everyone’s bodies were so good it was disgusting.

There was a clear difference from the slaves of other cultivation sites who were skinny and dying.

One slave walked forward.

“Yes. I will take responsibility and teach him.”

It was the man with the best body.

Age around mid to late twenties similar to Delgato.

The exceptionally developed arm muscles proved that he was an excellent worker.

“Yes, if it’s you Cardo I can entrust it. I’ll go back.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Take care.”

The sentry nodded.

The youth named Cardo was bowing his waist until he was out of sight.

When only Bran was left alone, the silent slaves began to stir.

“What. He’s completely a kid?”

“Wait. Why does that guy have a gas mask? It’s an item even Brother Cardo didn’t receive.”

“Must have offered his ass to that homo or something.”

Public opinion was cold but it wasn’t particularly unpleasant.

This was the place performing the highest intensity work even in the Bottom Farm.

Even if he were in their position he would have shown a similar reaction.

‘Was Delgato that side after all. I didn’t want to know this kind of setting.’

Not only the lipstick but the gestures were somehow subtly feminine.

When he had time he should sprinkle salt on the place where he had put his arm around him.

Finally raising his body, Cardo restrained the slaves.

“That’s enough. Even though he’s still young, there must be a reason he was assigned here.”

“What about the gas mask?”

“That too··· there must be a reason. Don’t try to fathom Lord Delgato’s intentions.”

The slightly narrowed brow of Cardo returned to normal.

The slave who had been pointed out lowered his head.

The ignorantly thick arms made even the rough men obedient.

Cardo said.

“Introduction is late. I am Cardo in charge of the overall team leader.”

“I am Bran.”

“Yes Bran. I heard you volunteered, do you know what kind of work we do?”

“It’s the work of hunting a dragon.”

When Bran said it calmly, the eyes of some slaves widened round.

Cardo let out a hollow laugh.

“Quite something. To know even that metaphor.”

“I don’t think it’s a simple metaphor. Because it’s that glorious a work.”

“Well, I understand. Looking at something like that, awe is bound to arise.”

With his hands in his pockets, Cardo turned back.

Bran followed and raised his head.

An unrealistically huge tree came into view.

“Huh.”

An exclamation came out automatically.

The red trunk was penetrating the Bottom Farm up and down.

Neither roots nor leaves were visible.

The thick bark was gleaming with a color closer to mineral than organism.

Harmeno.

The fairies, revering its strength, called it the dragon that wraps the earth.

A member of the Three Dragon Trees, and a great giant tree also used as the main beam of the pantheon.

‘Ridiculous. To think this isn’t fully grown.’

The surprising fact was that the Harmeno he was looking at now was still a young individual.

A young tree inferior in all aspects compared to a mature tree.

Even so, it was the greatest treasure to the Crow Bandit Group.

‘When I first discovered it in the game I was surprised. To think the Bottom Farm was on the path where Harmeno grows.’

They were guys with extremely good luck.

Even if a young tree, Harmeno is a dragon.

Products made from Harmeno’s sap boast profitability incomparable to any crop.

It was also a very special existence to Bran.

Because even a young Harmeno had no hindrance in obtaining the hidden piece he was aiming for.

Cardo tilted his head.

“Hmm? Why are you smiling?”

“······Ah, sorry. The tree is really cool.”

“Haha, it seems you properly liked it. But the moment work starts you’ll want to burn it.”

Cardo smiled meaningfully.

Clangclangclang!

Suddenly a noisy bell sound rang out from the tree side.

“Just in time the break time ended. I’ll teach you the work so follow.”

“Haa··· damn. Starting again.”

The slaves sighed deeply.

Bran moved his steps with them.

The workplace was not far. In front of the majestic tree, a small building that looked like a dormitory was erected.

Thinking of being crowded with these sweaty guys there already made him want to set it on fire.

“Newbie. You said our work was the work of hunting a dragon?”

“Yes.”

“Having pride is a good thing but reality is not that romantic. Rather it’s closer to the work of scratching the dragon’s back. Want to see once?”

Cardo stood with his back to the tree.

It seemed they implemented a shift work system.

Slaves wearing cloth scrap masks were working while screaming.

“Kraaaat!”

“This! Damn! The damn! Tree! Bastard!”

“M-my hand!”

It was a scene of desperate life.

Just hearing the sound it felt like coming to some mine.

Every time they swung the pickaxe, the red bark that seemed to blaze was peeling little by little.

In the place where the bark fell, pure white inner flesh was revealed, and the slaves who had been waiting in advance drilled holes in the inner flesh with drills.

“Our work is divided into three teams. The peeling team that peels the bark, the drilling team that drills holes in the inner flesh, the sap team that receives that sap in bottles. Other miscellaneous work is handled by the youngest of the sap team.”

The sap team was composed of slaves with relatively ordinary builds.

They were receiving the sap that flowed from the holes with specially made glass bottles.

The red sap was emitting steam like blood freshly drawn from a beast.

“A single drop is an item more expensive than your life so be careful. The sap before processing is no different from a deadly poison so absolutely make sure it doesn’t enter your mouth.”

Bran nodded.

Harmeno’s sap could become the best elixir or an extremely wicked poison.

There had been an incident where a max level character died instantly after gulping down the sap of a mature Harmeno when he didn’t know this, so its toxicity was absolutely not a level to ignore.

Cardo said.

“You’re the sap team. You can take over the miscellaneous work from the existing youngest.”

“Yes?”

At the sudden notification Bran frowned.

It was a considerable difference from the work he wanted.

“Wait, I···”

“Seeing he’s not visible he must be in the dorm. Hey, Troublemaker!!”

Even before Bran could raise an objection.

Cardo rolled his hands to his mouth and shouted.

When the echo disappeared, a spirited voice burst out from inside the dorm.

“Yes! Troublemaker is coming now!”

Then with a crashing sound a youth popped out.

It was a friend with such a sturdy build that one wondered how the nickname Troublemaker had been attached.

Thwack!

The slave next to Cardo struck his head.

“Bastard. Won’t you move quickly? Loafing around.”

“S-sorry··· the laundry piled up a bit···.”

The youth called Troublemaker lowered his head.

He himself looked like he had a temper but as expected there was no business in front of seniority.

Suddenly, examining the Troublemaker’s face, Bran frowned.

“Mog?”

“What, you’re definitely Kale’s···.”

Mog froze.

The flesh had thinned a bit but the vicious impression remained.

It was certain. It was Mog who had planned the Shawshank escape with Kale.

The guy he had knocked down early because it was clear he could fight well.

Bran asked back.

“Why are you here? Weren’t you working with Kale?”

“That’s what I want to ask. This is not a place a kid like you comes.”

“The place a guy who got hit by a kid and fainted comes doesn’t seem to be either.”

“What, you two knew each other?”

Cardo cut in.

Recognizing that his action was not youngest-like, Mog hurriedly lowered his head.

“Yes. Before··· when working in the dining hall I received a favor.”

“A wondrous connection. Anyway it’s good that the youngest can escape. Since we’ve decided to work together from today, teach him carefully.”

Cardo left those words and departed.

Slowly raising his face, Mog smiled crookedly.

“I don’t know how you ended up here··· too bad, Bran.”

“Why are you making that kind of expression?”

“The youngest here is a slave among slaves. You have to do everything from cooking rice to cleaning and laundry. If even a little sign of acting up appears you’ll get group lynched by the peeling team monkeys. You’ve fallen into hell.”

His mouth was smiling but his eyes were pitying.

Judging from the reaction, the youngest life seemed really not easy.

Anyway I understand why he’s called Troublemaker. I broke his front teeth after all.

Mog continued.

“······Still since you’re my life’s benefactor I’ll do it together for the first month. If you’re extremely lucky a newbie might come.”

“Only a month?”

“Here it’s a time like eternity. Instead you do the underwear laundry alone. If I do that stuff any more my soul will be destroyed.”

Mog clenched his teeth while looking at both hands.

Just looking at the face it already seemed destroyed.

It was an expression that only a person who had smeared something evil on their hands, insufficient to say dirty, could make.

“···Pitiful guy.”

He felt pity for no reason.

No matter how much he soaped, that nightmare-like sensation would follow Mog forever.

It was truly regrettable, but unfortunately Mog’s pain was destined to last a bit longer.

“Sorry. Mog.”

“Huh?”

I didn’t put my arm around a homo to do this kind of menial work.

Turning back and running out, Bran shouted at the top of his voice.

“Team Leader! Team Leader Cardo!”

“What?”

Cardo turned his head.

He was just about to start the peeling work with the other slaves.

A large pickaxe was gripped in his hand.

Bran stopped in front of him.

“I couldn’t tell you. I want to peel the bark.”

“What?”

The faces of the peeling team slaves contorted.

Mog who had hurriedly followed opened his mouth in shock.

The dumbfounded Cardo burst into a hollow laugh.

“My··· peeling bark is not something anyone does. You probably can’t even swing a pickaxe properly.”

“I can.”

“Listen to me. Even if it looks ordinary it’s more than twice as heavy as a normal pickaxe. There’s a reason we make slaves do it instead of regular members···”

“I can do it.”

Cutting off the words, Bran took a step closer.

The previously generous Cardo’s face hardened in an instant.

“If you want to peel the bark that much why don’t you flip your own thing?”

“Puh, that is also definitely important work.”

“What is this Mog bastard doing? See if I leave you when I go back.”

Sneers were blooming at the mouths of the other slaves.

Whether they did or not, Bran was facing Cardo upright.

Chewing his lips, Cardo nodded.

“······Alright. Try once.”

And he held out the pickaxe.

Bran politely received the handle.

It was quite heavy but not to the point he couldn’t hold it.

“Just strike the bark with all your might. If you swing ten times and peel off even a palm-sized piece I’ll acknowledge it.”

“Understood.”

“Instead, if you fail you’d better be prepared.”

Cardo threatened.

Hearing his conditions, the slaves stirred.

“Ten times. Hehe.”

“Brother seems really angry.”

Thinking of the strength of the bark it was absolutely impossible.

Even if it was Cardo it would take striking thirty times to be possible.

Anyone could see it was words to charge him with the crime of being impudent.

The slaves gathered while stopping the work they were doing.

Standing in front of the tree, Bran took a deep breath.

“Huuu···.”

Harmeno’s bark was shedding a dusky red light like dragon scales.

Honestly he was a bit tense.

There was nothing as embarrassing as failing after posing like this.

If he failed by any chance the difficulty of the already tough youngest life would soar to hell.

But the tension was only for a moment.

Bran raised the corner of his mouth.

“So what if I fail.”

At times like this he had to take it easy.

Fully trusting the sweat he had shed so far.

Grasping the shaft, tendons rose on his arm.

“Hup···!”

When working on the surface he had never put this much strength.

Bran who had raised the pickaxe above his head struck the bark with all his might.

Crunch-!!!

A bursting sound as if a glacier was splitting rang out.

“Uwaat!”

Sparks flew.

At the sharp sound Cardo and all the slaves closed their eyes.

The moment they opened their eyes again, exclamations of shock burst out from all sides.

“Huuuk!”

“I-impossible!”

Bran’s pickaxe was embedded deep in the bark.

Cracks were occurring on the bark that had swallowed more than half the blade.

But it wasn’t over yet.

“Haaap!”

Bran pulled the shaft with full power. The muscles of his entire body swelled.

Creakcreak!

A bark the size of his torso was torn off from the trunk in one go.

“······!!!”

This time no one shouted.

Pure white inner flesh was revealed inside the bark.

Cardo’s eyes were trembling.

“Sorry. Mog.”

One strike one kill.

The result achieved by the Strength and swinging proficiency he had steadily raised.

Bran raised the corner of his mouth.

“For a while you’ll have to wash my panties too.”

Effort does not betray.

At least for the character called the Nameless Hero it is so.

Just as he was thrilling at the memory of the passing hoeing.

『You destroyed a substance exceeding the character’s level. Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『The proficiency of the swinging motion has reached the target. A new skill is created!』

Translucent windows rose one after another before his eyes.

『Acquired the new skill “Smash”!』