#1087 Nudging the Uncharted Lands Will Reveal the Saint

S-Rank adventurer Corey here.

Right now, we’ve got a bit of a pesky problem.

No matter how many times we shoos them away, those annoying demon pioneers keep coming back to harass us.

It was puzzling that both humans and demons were trying to settle this land at the same time, but that doesn’t mean we have to give in.

When they demanded, “This is our turf, so get out!” we didn’t bow to that unreasonable request. Instead, we did what any self-respecting adventurers would do and settled it with a good old show of force.

Surprisingly, it was over before we knew it.

Basically, it was a one-punch knockout.

Sure, that means the enemy was weak, but it also shows how strong we are.

These adventurers, pushed to the frontier, aren’t just any folks, they’re ex-mercenaries, and that background isn’t just for show.

In straight-up, no-nonsense battles, they’re way more competent than your average adventurer.

Naturally, the demon pioneers, probably with zero real combat experience, were smashed in one blow and ran back home.

I did feel a bit uneasy, wondering, “Was this really okay?” But I was happy we could protect the land we’d all worked hard to cultivate.

But of course, the problem didn’t end there.

Believe it or not, even after being chased off, the demons didn’t give up and started attacking us repeatedly from the next day.

We had no choice but to fight back, and each time, we repelled them without much trouble.

But they’d just come back the next day.

This was getting ridiculous.

Under my orders, our side made sure not to inflict unnecessary harm on them.

Obviously, killing was out of the question.

I was a bit worried about how well these rough-and-tumble adventurers would follow orders, but being ex-mercenaries, they knew how to restrain themselves.

They kept their cool and didn’t go overboard.

It seems they’ve learned the hard way that those who can’t follow orders on the battlefield are the first to go.

On the flip side, it meant they recognized me, appointed as their leader, as someone they could trust, which made me really happy.

We’d been at war with the demons until a few years ago.

Even though the war’s over and we’ve made peace, things are still a bit... delicate. So we can’t go around doing things that would upset that balance.

As an S-rank adventurer, I have a duty to think about the survival of all humanity.

So, I tried to settle things as peacefully as possible, but those demons just kept coming back, pestering us.

Sure, our battle-hardened adventurers could easily chase them off, but dealing with this day after day was super stressful.

Even the ex-mercenaries’ battlefield-honed patience was wearing thin.

I was worried that if this kept up, something irreversible might happen. But before that could happen, something unexpected occurred.

Our settlement was attacked by monsters!

Monsters had never shown up here before.

And not just any monsters: orc and goblin types.

“Captain! This has gotta be the work of those demons!”

“They control monsters! Even during the war, their attacks started by siccing monsters on us!”

The ex-mercenaries had plenty of war stories.

So, are the demons upping their game in this little skirmish over the frontier?

If this escalates any further, we might end up back at war!

But as I watched, something seemed off.

The orcs and goblins attacking our settlement weren’t just going after us, they were attacking the demons too.

Equally.

It was total, indiscriminate mayhem.

Well, they weren’t killing anyone, but still.

The monsters were overwhelmingly strong, and even our tough ex-mercenary adventurers couldn’t hold them off and were subdued.

We were tied up and lined up, teeth chattering, feeling like this was the end.

But then, the situation changed.

I recognized the person who appeared before us.

“Lord Saint!!!”

Yes, it was the legendary Saint of the Farm, the absolute being said to reside somewhere in this world.

I knew him because I’d met him before.

During my S-rank promotion exam, Silver Wolf had taken me to his farm, the very place where Lord Saint lives.

I thought, “As expected of Silver Wolf—knowing Lord Saint, one of the world’s greatest mysteries.”

To think I’d meet Lord Saint again...

And in a place like this.

Why is he here in this remote frontier?

“...You need to think about why things have come to this,” the Lord Saint speaks.

His tone is much sterner than when we’d met before.

He must be angry.

“It took you five minutes to settle down. You need to consider why it took five minutes.”

Wait... does he mean it took the orcs and goblins five minutes to subdue us?

They managed to take down a group of seasoned adventurers in just five minutes?

What on earth?

Meanwhile, the other adventurers and the demon pioneers must be utterly confused.

Probably none of them realize that the man before us is Lord Saint.

To them, he’s just some mysterious guy who suddenly appeared with monsters and subdued them in no time.

It’s no wonder they’re freaking out.

But Lord Saint continues his lecture, ignoring their confusion.

“A wise person once said, ‘There’s no such convenient thing as teamwork for us. If anything, teamwork arises from individual efforts.’ Even if you’re from different lands, you’re working hard in the same place toward the same goal. Can’t you end up helping each other?”

It’s really starting to sound like a lecture.

How long is he going to keep talking?

We’re surrounded by orcs and goblins, can’t move, listening to a lecture we don’t quite understand, and we have no idea what’s going on.

This situation is definitely stressful, and I was worried someone might snap.

“Don’t mess with me, you!”

And there it is.

Somebody stands up, eyes bloodshot, shouting.

“Who the heck are you?! This is demon territory! We were sent by the Demon King to make this into new demon land! You’re interfering! If you keep defying us, the Demon King himself will come to crush you!”

“That’s not going to happen.”

The one who snapped was a demon.

They probably thought that mentioning the Demon King’s name would make anyone quake in their boots.

But...

“No way the Demon King and I would be enemies. After all, we’re pals.”

“What?!”

“Do you think the Demon King will help you when you don’t understand his intentions at all?”

Such harsh words.

The demon pioneer, completely blindsided, starts sweating bullets.

“Damn... you subdued us so easily with monsters, didn’t flinch at the mention of the Demon King, and you don’t seem to be on the humans’ side either. Just who are you? What are you?”

“If you ask who I am, I shall answer with compassion...”

Lord Saint strikes a pose.

I thought about stepping in to explain, but seeing how into it he is, I decided to just watch.

“I’m just a humble farmer running a farm deep in this forest.”

“What?! Don’t give me that! This is uncharted land where no one has set foot for hundreds of years! That’s why we were sent to pioneer it! Are you saying people were already living here? No way!”

The demon has a point.

Wait, if what Lord Saint says is true, then his farm is ahead in this forest?!

“If there’s something deep in such a mysterious land, it could only be the legendary farm where the Sage is said to live! Many have searched but never found it—the Saint’s Farm, the last great mystery of this world...”

“Yep, that’s the one.”

“Huh?”

At Lord Saint’s words, everyone is dumbfounded.

People couldn’t process it, leading to an awkward silence.

“That’s right. People call the farm I built the Saint’s farm.”