I'll Protect My Companions!... It Pisses Me Off!

Hm?

Something about the atmosphere feels unpleasant.

I look around to see what's going on, but I can't find anything unusual.

I search for anything unusual inside the barrier with my drone's Clairvoyance, but everything seems fine.

But I still feel uncomfortable.

The stick insects come rushing over in a panic.

So they use all six legs when they run.

They can't exactly run like humans... I'd been hoping, just a little, but what a shame.

If the stick insects are panicking, could it be the tree monster?

...

It looks no different, but it seems to be suffering somehow.

Besides, its magic power is seriously out of balance. Isn't this dangerous if it continues like this?

Touching it and sending my magic into it makes things a little better, but that only provides temporary relief.

Hmm... I wonder what's wrong.

Is taking root here the problem?

Then maybe I should uproot it and move it somewhere else.

But this is the place the tree monster chose.

There might be some reason for it.

...Could there be something underground?

Let's see... maybe the soil doesn't suit it, or perhaps fungi in the soil are harming it.

I feel like I've heard of fungi getting into trees... or maybe I haven't.

I'm no expert.

For now, let's deal with things one at a time.

Um, first, assuming it's being attacked by fungi from outside, what should I do?

Since it's under attack, should I start by defending it? Or should I increase its immunity?

I'll raise the tree monster's own immunity to the maximum with my magic.

Then I also need to do something about whatever is attacking it.

No, it might not be fungi. It could be pests.

In that case, immunity is important, but there may also be holes being bored into its roots.

This calls for defense. Should I raise its defense to the maximum, too?

Hmm... First, I need to find out what things the tree monster doesn't need.

I should spread my magic out from the tree monster and investigate as wide an area as possible.

Pests and fungi probably spread extensively through the soil.

...If there are things nearby besides enemies, I should protect them so they aren't affected.

Um, if they're not enemies, then defense... And if they've already been affected, correct the abnormalities, I suppose.

Anything the tree monster identifies as an enemy should be isolated... No, I'll burn it.

They burned things to deal with bird flu in Japan, too.

Burning it is probably best.

Burn it until it is completely reduced to charcoal.

If there are insect nests or clumps of fungi, I'll annihilate them completely.

Keep them from getting near the tree monster.

If there are already fungi or pests inside the tree monster, I should use my magic to determine whether they're enemies, too.

I can't burn them inside its body. It'd be better to kill them and let the monster use them as nutrients.

Once my magic determines that they're enemies, crush and absorb them.

Can it absorb them like water?

...Will it be okay even if it absorbs them?

Um, let's just try it for now.

Now, while fixing that image firmly in my mind...

"Wide-Area Check"

"Filter"

"Designation"

"Immunity Maximum, Defense Maximum"

It seems to have worked. The tree monster's magic power has stabilized.

Next,

"Non-Enemy Defense, Anomaly Correction"

"Enemy Designation, Complete Incineration"

"Complete Annihilation and Erasure"

Oh, the leaves are swaying happily.

Did it work?

Now for the rest...

"Internal Check"

"Designation"

"Crush and Absorb Enemies"

I tried having it absorb them, but is everything okay?

Are you all right?

Whoa, it got bigger.

That startled me.

Are you okay?

Really?

Thank goodness.

The stick insects are happy, too.

Phew... I was worried there.

Even so, I don't know what caused it, but it really pisses me off.

My companions looked extremely worried, too.

If the stick insects hadn't come...

Honestly, I'd never seen magic power so out of balance before, and I was nearly in tears thinking it might die.

I don't know what caused it, but...

"You bastard! Don't you dare lay a hand on my companions!"

I let out a huge scream for the first time in a while.

Bottling things up isn't good.

Taking it out on my companions isn't good, either.

It's better to vent all at once by shouting.

Ah... what a relief.

Hm?

Sorry for suddenly shouting. I was seriously scared.

It's okay now.

Thanks for worrying about me.

Thanks for letting me know, stick insects. You really helped.

You did a great job.

Maybe I should give the tree monster a name, too.

Maybe I should name the stick insects, too.