'Why? For what reason? Am I…'
Happy?
Because of the applause from these idiots?
Because of the praise I received in front of these utterly pathetic fools?
Over something so trivial?
Is that why my heart was pounding with joy?
'That's ridiculous.'
Hartok shook his head violently.
A sudden and inexplicable sense of crisis surged through him.
He couldn't afford to get swept up in the mood. He mustn't fall for the sweet talk of inferior beings. Praise and recognition from the likes of these people were utterly worthless.
He reminded himself of this.
He tried to regain his cold, rational mindset.
But… it wasn't that easy!
"Then Hartok? While we're at it, I'd like to ask you one more thing."
"…Please, ask me, Demon King."
"When the time comes for potato sprouts to emerge, what else might appear in a potato field?"
"Hmm...."
"Do you have any guesses?"
"Perhaps, some other plant unrelated to the potatoes… like weeds, maybe?"
"Oho, and what led you to that guess?"
"Well, the potato field itself was artificially prepared to ensure the potatoes grow well. We spread a lot of compost for nutrients, turned the soil to help air and water circulation, and removed all the rocks that could interfere with growth."
"Oho, and so?"
"If potatoes grow well in such conditions, then it likely means it's also a good environment for other plants, like weeds."
"Oho, then? What should we do?"
"I think it would be best to pull out all the weeds… except for the potato sprouts, that is."
"Oho, and your reasoning?"
"Even if the potato field is well-prepared, there's still a limit to the total amount of moisture and nutrients it holds. If the weeds are left there, they might steal the nutrients and water meant for the potatoes..."
"Correct! Applause and cheers! Fire away!"
"Waaaaaaaah!"
Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap!
Once again, the thunderous cheers poured down.
Even the clapping made his eardrums throb.
"Alright, everyone heard that, didn't you? Our wise Four Heavenly King, Hartok, once again gave a perfect answer. And he did it without any experience in farming, purely through his remarkable reasoning and analytical ability."
The Demon King looked around at everyone.
And then pointed at Hartok.
"That's why I'm pleased. That someone so wise and intelligent is one of our Four Heavenly Kings. I feel proud and reassured. Knowing that such a person will lead the way in working with the soil and growing potatoes with us."
"......"
The Demon King.
Credos.
What is he trying to say?
Hartok couldn't help but feel his heart pounding. This feeling—it was so strange. So unfamiliar. But not unpleasant.
Why?
Why?
'He's acknowledging my superiority…'
And not in secret, either. In front of everyone. In front of the other dumb Four Heavenly Kings. He was being officially recognized and even declared as such.
And by the Demon King himself!
"...."
A strange feeling kept creeping up.
He was flustered, yet couldn't help but smile.
And while he was feeling that way, the Demon King's pleasant declaration continued.
"Therefore, I hereby declare— from now on, I will appoint Hartok as the official Chief Captain of the Farming Corps. Hence I ask you, Hartok?"
"...Yes, Demon King."
"Will you willingly take on the heavy duty of Chief Captain of the Farming Corps, a position I now bestow upon you?"
"..."
The Farming Corps… Chief Captain.
What kind of position was that?
Was it a better position than others?
Was it fitting for his superior abilities?
Hartok hesitated for a moment.
But perhaps the Demon King, Credos, anticipated this hesitation.
He smiled faintly and declared,
"The Chief Captain of the Farming Corps is, excluding myself, the highest authority within the corps. It also signifies becoming the official head among the Four Heavenly Kings."
"…..!"
His eyes widened.
He looked to the side in surprise.
The first to meet his eyes was Sirgi.
Sirgi, sending a look that said, You?!—a surprised expression. Asurat wasn't much different. A look of disbelief. Baal… well, he looked like he didn't even understand what was happening.
"...."
Seeing the reactions of the other Four Heavenly Kings, it became clear.
They were all jealous.
Struggling not to accept it.
'That I'm far superior to you lowly fools… finally, at long last, everyone is beginning to realize it.'
...Zzzzt.
A strange pleasure crept up the back of his neck.
He was happy.
His long-held wish.
His aged, aged desire.
That knot was finally starting to loosen, just a little.
"Therefore, I ask again, Hartok of the Four Heavenly Kings. Will you accept my proposal and become Chief Captain of the Farming Corps?"
"...I shall faithfully carry out the duty entrusted to me."
Hartok, as if in a trance, unknowingly bowed his head.
Once again, cheers and applause poured down.
And in that moment, clarity struck.
'.......'
Why did I bow?
Why did I accept the offer?
I was supposed to one day seize the Demon King's throne, to trample the inferior beneath me. I wanted everyone to finally realize who the truly superior one was.
Then why… am I taking the position of Chief Captain of the Farming Corps…?
"....."
I don't know.
For some reason.
Why this situation makes me happy.
I have no idea, and that makes it even more confusing.
And so, Hartok tasted for the first time a new kind of happiness—something he had never imagined before, and had never realized he could feel.
It was at that moment.
Ding-dong!
As Hartok felt this pure and unexpected happiness, a sudden message popped up in front of Kim Jangcheol's eyes.
[Hartok felt genuine happiness from your public praise, which stimulated his desire for recognition.]
[You've earned 1 Happy Point.]
[Current Happy Points: 252]
'...Huh?'
A random message.
But that wasn't the end.
[You have recently achieved two significant gains through psychological tactics.]
[You manipulated the honest and upright psychology of 3rd Star Master Raster to lead a one-sided victory in battle.]
[You also stimulated and fulfilled the deep-seated desire for recognition within Hartok, thereby taking the first step in dissolving much of his former hostility toward you.]
[This continued success in identifying and utilizing others' psychology for tangible benefit has made a significant impact on your skill tree.]
[Due to this influence, a new skill has been granted to you.]
[Skill: Bloodshot Eyes has been registered in your Bloomable Skill list. (Bloom Cost: 200 Happy Points)]
"......."
A new skill?
A completely unexpected reward.
'I just thought Hartok would be useful in a lot of ways. And he kind of seemed talented at farming too. That's why I buttered him up a little.'
So, he gently warmed his heart with praise.
But he never expected this kind of reward.
'Still, Bloodshot Eyes?'
What kind of skill is that?
He was getting curious.
At the very least, it didn't seem like a bad idea to unlock it.
'The Happy Points I've saved up are just about right.'
After disbanding the Four Heavenly Kings and the Farming Corps, Kim Jangcheol opened the skill bloom menu.
Ding-dong!
[Opening the Happy Points usage menu.]
[Searching for Bloomable Skills.]
[Skill: Bloodshot Eyes (Bloom Cost: 200 Happy Points)]
[Current Happy Points: 252]
"......."
Alright, let's do this.
He pressed the bloom button with a flick of his eyes.
The response was immediate.
Ding-dong-dong!
[200 Happy Points have been deducted.]
[Current Happy Points: 52]
[The skill Bloodshot Eyes has bloomed.]
[Skill Name: Bloodshot Eyes (Lv.1)]
[When activated, allows you to discern the target's current condition and psychology. Additionally, you can partially foresee changes in their mental state over the next six hours.]
[Activation Requirement: Must maintain eye contact with the target for 200 seconds without blinking even once.]
[As the skill level increases – Activation requirements may be eased, accuracy of psychological reading increases, and prediction duration extends.]
"......."
Kim Jangcheol blinked for a moment.
And then he realized.
'Holy crap. Jackpot.'
It lets you read someone's mind.
And even predict, to some extent, what they'll be thinking in the near future!
'This is literally seeing through others' minds!'
This wasn't a joke.
If used properly?
The possibilities were endless.
At this rate, the 200 Happy Points he spent were definitely worth it.
'Of course, the activation requirement seems a bit tough.'
200 seconds.
During which you have to stare at your target without blinking even once.
"........"
Is that even possible?
Maybe I should test it out first.
"Zephyros?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"From now on, I'm going to glare at you a bit."
"...Excuse me?"
"Just stand still."
"......"
Zephyros tried his best to hide his disbelief.
Kim Jangcheol stared at him.
Hup.
5 seconds,
10 seconds,
20 seconds.
His eyeballs were starting to feel tight.
30 seconds,
40 seconds.
It felt like his eyes had been thrown into an air fryer.
50 seconds,
60 seconds.
80 seconds.
'...Gaaaahhh!'
The tears that had welled up were evaporating. His eyeballs felt like they had sandpaper stuck to them. Was this really okay? Were his eyes going to vanish?
100 seconds.
110 seconds.
His vision darkened.
But he endured.
If he failed now, he would feel too guilty toward his poor eyeballs that had gone dry from all the effort.
And finally—
200 seconds,
...Pop!
It felt like something burst somewhere deep inside his eyes. Probably a blood vessel. Ah. So that's why this skill is called Bloodshot Eyes.
That thought surfaced just as—
Ding-dong!
A notification rang out like a bell of salvation.
A message floated before his sandy-dry eyes.
[Bloodshot Eyes (Lv.1) skill has been activated.]
[Target: Zephyros]
[You discern Zephyros' current condition and psychology, and predict changes in his mental state over the next six hours.]
[Zephyros is currently indifferent. However, upon seeing your bloodshot eyes, he is thinking: "Pathetic."]
"....."
[Over the next six hours, Zephyros will feel a mild sense of duty. The reason is that he hasn't written today's log entry yet. Especially since today includes the rare sight of the Demon King bursting a blood vessel in his eye from staring for 200 seconds, he feels more compelled than usual to record it in the Demon King's Chronicles with burning passion.]
'Don't burn passion for that kind of duty!'
Kim Jangcheol frantically rubbed his dry eyes.
And internally, he cheered.
The skill's description was real.
This thing—if leveled up and raised right, had the potential to be a real MVP.
'Then, I wonder if it works not just on other demons, but on entirely different targets?'
Like, say, a dragon.
A completely different kind of lifeform.
Would it work on them too?
If it did, that would be huge.
Crash!
Right then, a suitable test subject was running around nearby.
The baby dragon—Tyrannus.
"Tbong?"
Crash, thud!
"Tbong? Don't go into the potato field."
Dash dash dash!
What had him so excited? Was it the thrill of using the well for fast travel for the first time?
Tbong was so hyper he couldn't stay still. He kept running. Dashing here. Rolling there. Then dashing again.
"......."
Well, whatever. Let's try it.
Glare
He fixed his gaze on Tbong.
Swearing to himself that he would not blink, even if it killed him.
He tracked the rapidly-moving Tbong with his eyes.
10 seconds.
30 seconds.
60 seconds.
90 seconds,
And then… 200 seconds!
Kraaah!
He did it again.
His dry eyes already felt like they were screaming, but still—he pulled it off!
'Alright, show me!'
Ding-dong!
[Bloodshot Eyes (Lv.1) skill has been activated.]
[Target: Nearby Sky]
'...Huh?'
Kim Jangcheol flinched.
The sky?
Not Tbong?
'Don't tell me, because Tbong was moving so frantically… the target lock picked up the background sky instead of him?'
That seemed to be the case.
Which meant—
[You discern the current condition of the sky in your area, and predict changes over the next six hours.]
'What the heck is this…'
Then came the flood of information.
Looking at it, Kim Jangcheol realized.
This newly bloomed skill, Bloodshot Eyes, had an unexpected use.
It was none other than—an incredibly important tool for a farmer: a weather forecast.
[T/L: Read more chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]