Chapter 17: The Great Cabbage Campaign, a Shower of Green Rain

Three days later, in the afternoon.

In the stronghold’s hall, Kobayashi called out loudly, “Everyone, are you ready?!”

“Of course!”

“We’ve been itching for this for a while now.”

“I even crafted a detailed plan last night.”

“Hmph, same here.”

The group’s responses were full of enthusiasm; it was clear they had been eagerly awaiting this moment.

With a grand gesture, Kobayashi declared, “Then let’s go and make a big splash... move out!”

“Yeah!” came the chorus.

Fully geared, everyone headed straight for the city gates.

Today was cabbage harvest day, and Axell was bustling with excitement. Everyone was prepared to show their skills and make a good profit.

But cabbages were no easy catch. Anyone who thought they were just ordinary flying vegetables was gravely mistaken!

Because they refused to be eaten, they fought back as one.

Many ants can kill an elephant.

The cabbages swarmed in groups, posing a real threat to ordinary townsfolk and novice adventurers alike.

“Children and women, quickly head home and shut your windows. All other adventurers, prepare to face them at the city gates. Are you ready?”

“Stay sharp!”

“One wrong move and you could be overwhelmed.”

Watching the adventurers tense up as if facing a great enemy, Sato Kazuma thought they were making a mountain out of a molehill.

In his view, no matter how many there were, they couldn’t possibly be too much for so many adventurers to handle—after all, they were just cabbages.

Yet—

“Can this be real...?”

A massive horde of cabbages darkened the horizon, clustering so densely that the entire town of Axell was cast in shadow. It was like night had fallen at midday.

“This is a full-on cabbage army!”

“I told you to stay alert!”

One of the adventurers cursed and then directed the group, “Form squads and spread out!”

“Got it!” came the replies.

“Everyone, let’s make the most of our time.”

Kobayashi called to her companion, “Megumin, I’m counting on you to lead the charge and announce the arrival of... the Phoenix Chick.”

“No problem! Leave it to me!”

Megumin could hardly wait. Without hesitation, she raised her staff and unleashed an explosion spell on the cabbage horde.

“—Explosion!!!”

The magical nuke descended from the sky!

But its effect was underwhelming; it nearly harmed other adventurers nearby, and the blast was so intense that the cabbages at the epicenter were vaporized, while only a few on the edges fell as her spoils.

Thud—

Weak and exhausted, Megumin collapsed to the ground.

But it was no problem—Kobayashi had prepared a backup plan for her.

“Here, take this.”

***

“What’s this?”

“It’s an upgraded magic item: the Enchanted Herb Ring.”

The Enchanted Herb was a powerful plant capable of putting both humans and monsters to sleep. It was also the main ingredient for the strongest sleeping potion.

Once crafted into a magic item, its effect radius expanded to 10 meters.

However, it had a drawback.

To activate the ring, the wearer’s body heat was needed to awaken the herb at its core, which meant the wearer would also be affected by the sleep-inducing herb.

And frustratingly, aside from purification magic, there was no way to resist its effects. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be called the strongest sleeping potion.

Megumin couldn’t help but yell, “Who on earth made such a bizarre magic item...?”

“Better ask your father that one.”

Indeed.

This was a magic item purchased from Wiz’s shop.

Though its effect was strange, its price was a staggering 190,000 Eris!

Its high price and limited practicality meant it sat untouched in a corner of the shop until Kobayashi discovered it, putting it to use today.

“Look! The cabbages are voluntarily dropping down!”

“And right near that delusional Red Demon Mage with his chuunibyou antics!”

“What’s going on here?!”

Many adventurers noticed the oddity and couldn’t understand the situation.

At this moment, Kobayashi stepped forward.

“Hey, hey, I know, I know!”

“Kobayashi, you know?”

“Of course! She’s using the Enchanted Herb Ring she bought from Wiz’s magic item shop! As you can see, it puts surrounding monsters under the herb’s influence.”

The adventurers nodded repeatedly upon seeing this.

“Wow, it really works.”

“Amazing—it can put so many to sleep.”

“The effect is incredible!”

Seeing their interest, Kobayashi continued promoting Wiz’s shop.

“Everyone, you’ve seen the ring’s effect! The magic item store is having a special sale. The ring isn’t 1,990,000! Not 990,000! Now, you only need 190,000 Eris to get one! So what are you waiting for? Hurry and buy your rings!”

“Whoa, 190,000...”

“Too expensive!”

“That’s enough for two high-quality magic crystals.”

Many adventurers balked at the price, unwilling to pay.

At this point, Kobayashi said, “I know it’s a bit pricey, but let me do the math. One cabbage sells for 10,000 Eris, and just look around Megumin—there are at least 100 cabbages! Such a high return, isn’t that tempting enough?”

That tactic worked like a charm.

Seeing the cabbages accumulate around Megumin, the adventurers were instantly tempted.

“What are you waiting for? Go grab them!”

“Hurry, or they’ll be gone.”

“Damn! I should’ve prepared earlier.”

Many adventurers rushed to Wiz’s magic item shop to buy rings.

Of course, some remained rational and abstained.

Not only was there the question of whether they could get a ring, but the round trip would consume precious time—by the time they returned, the harvest day might be over.

***

Kobayashi’s scheme had succeeded.

Tricking them into buying the magic items was one thing; having too many people around to hinder them was another.

“Darkness, Aqua, Sato-kun, you’re up.”

“Alright!” the three responded.

True to form, Darkness charged recklessly, ignoring the blows battering her body and plunging straight into the cabbage horde. She often shielded struggling novice adventurers, absorbing damage on their behalf.

Seeing the tall blonde knight standing firm despite being repeatedly hit, the adventurers were moved by her fearlessness and bravery, showering her with praise.

But Kobayashi, who knew her true thoughts, was far from moved.

“Awesome! Awesome! More! More!! Even more!!! I want more! Ahahahahaha—”

She was done for—completely mad.

But this was one of the few times she could let loose, so let her be.

Though Darkness absorbed much damage, her clumsiness meant she gathered the least spoils—probably the smallest haul among everyone.

She wasn’t short on money anyway, so it didn’t matter.

Aqua, full of childlike innocence, tried catching cabbages with a net. Unsurprisingly, she was likely second from last in yield, next to Darkness. Hopefully, she wouldn’t beg Kobayashi for pocket money afterward.

In contrast, Sato Kazuma was clever.

He used his newly learned skills—Stealth and Theft—exploiting the cabbages’ inattentiveness to ambush and collect many.

As for Kobayashi, she was versatile.

Nearby, she stole like Sato Kazuma; from afar, she shot arrows, alternating between close and long-range to maximize her haul.

But the most impressive was Rizu.

“It’s about time.”

Seeing the cabbages gather, attempting to form a shockwave, Kobayashi knew this was the last chance.

“Rizu, it’s your turn.”

“Yes, obeying Lord Kobayashi’s command.”

Rizu lifted her skirt gracefully but with a sharp tongue: “Next, I will perform the most magnificent dance for you. Unfortunately, like a blind person, you won’t be able to see it. How disappointing.”

“Sorry, but if it’s a normal dance, I could dance with you, Rizu.”

“Then it’s settled—my reward will be a dance with Lord Kobayashi.”

“Ah, I agree.”

A happy smile played on Rizu’s lips as she slowly approached the cabbage horde, her demeanor elegant and serene—an aura completely opposite to the anxious, chaotic battlefield.

“Here we go; it’s starting.”

—[Imaginary Switch]!

In an instant!

In just a blink, Rizu suddenly appeared in the middle of the cabbage army.

This was incredibly dangerous.

Before anyone could warn her of the danger, the energetic cabbages seemed to hit a pause button, suspended in midair.

Once again, Rizu elegantly lifted her skirt and bowed gracefully toward Kobayashi, who stood at a distance.

At the same time,

Green rain began to fall from the sky.