Romance is beautiful.
It moistens everyone's heart.
Sometimes it unites the hearts of its members.
That is why romance can be praised by all.
"What a load of crap."
"......"
"Romance? What is that? Y'all not picking the flowers?"
"......"
Deflated.
The shoulders of the farming corps drooped.
And everyone had the same thought.
Sigh.
It was the first crop they had grown properly on a land where nothing could grow. A flower of their life—no, their demon-life—that they nurtured and bloomed with their own hands.
Would it wear out just from looking?
Couldn't they harvest it a day later?
It should be okay, right?
But to Kim Jangcheol, it was nonsense.
"Alright, repeat after me. If you don't pick the flowers, the potatoes underground will shrink!"
"If we don't pick the flowers... the potatoes underground shriiiink..."
"Too quiet. If you don't pick the flowers, the kids at home starve!"
"...!"
"So, everyone, get to it!"
Papapak!
The eyes of the farming corps changed.
The kids at home.
The kids growing bigger by the day.
Are you saying those little ones would go hungry?
Cry from hunger?
That was unacceptable.
They all charged into the potato fields. They mercilessly plucked off the flowers blooming daintily on each stem.
Of course, at the same time, a teardrop welled up from the lingering emotions of romance. Honestly, it was a shame. Because they were so pretty.
Even the Four Heavenly Kings felt the same.
"......."
Ssshhk.
It's such a waste to just pluck them and throw them away.
Hartok, the Archduke of Fog, thought as he watched the flowers being snapped off like dewdrops by the hands of the farming corps. He never imagined he'd have thoughts like this. It felt strange and awkward.
But his honest impression was this.
They were beautiful. A sight he never thought he'd witness in this abandoned land. So he wanted to see them a little longer. It was a shame to lose them.
The other Four Heavenly Kings felt similarly.
"...."
Asurat thought.
'Those were the flowers I nurtured while squatting down painfully. Should I stash away a few of them? Maybe if I brew them, they might be pretty effective against muscle pain.'
"......"
Sirgi thought.
'Those flowers, all of them bloomed from the seed potatoes I carefully and diligently prepared. Should I stop the Demon King right now? Or maybe show some anger? Or should I just pluck a few and decorate my room? Nah. That might just make my room messier.'
"...."
Baal thought.
'Ah, I'm hungry.'
Then Zephyros spoke.
"My Lord?"
"Yeah."
"I admire your pursuit of efficiency."
"Mm, thanks for the compliment."
"But at the same time, morale seems to be dropping."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, definitely."
"Even though if we leave the flowers, will the potatoes shrink? Even though the yield will go down?"
"Still, how about showing a bit of flexibility?"
"What kind of flexibility?"
"Remove most of the flowers for efficiency, but leave a few for appreciation purposes. Just a few."
"Hmmm. For appreciation, huh."
"If I've overstepped, I apologize in advance."
"No need to apologize. It's not even your real feeling."
"Was I found out?"
"How shameless of you."
Kim Jangcheol let out a dry laugh.
Then gave an order.
"I, Demon King Credos, am moved by the hearts of all who find the flowers beautiful and love them. I have decided to respect everyone's beautiful hearts. Therefore, I permit leaving some potato flowers."
"...!"
Everyone's eyes widened.
Is this for real? Murmur murmur.
Did we really just hear that? Whisper whisper.
My gosh, what's gotten into our Demon King? Chatter chatter.
Everyone chattered like high school girls sprinting to the snack shop at lunch break, surprised and excited.
But then it happened.
Kim Jangcheol threw cold water on all their tightly packed excitement and swelling anticipation with a sudden drift-like comment.
"Just one flower."
"....!"
"Only one, from the entire potato field—the single most beautiful one."
".....!"
What the hell.
What do you even mean by that?
Everyone wanted to question the Demon King.
But of course, they couldn't.
So everyone racked their brains.
Just one flower.
The prettiest one in the entire potato field.
Which one should be left?
Is this real life? Murmur murmur.
Did my ears just hear that correctly? Grumble grumble.
Knew it. That's our Demon King alright. Freaking hell. Swear swear.
Everyone looked like worn-down office workers who had just received a company-wide announcement for a Friday night all-hands mandatory meeting, drenched in stress.
But there was no choice.
Orders are orders—that's the rule of the organization!
The strong speak the truth—that's the rule of this abandoned land!
The Four Heavenly Kings and the entire farming corps put their heads together.
They shared their wisdom.
Showed off their keen eyes.
And finally, selected the most beautiful single flower in the entire vast field. Just that one, and no more.
"Whew...."
Everyone let out a sigh of relief.
And they looked at the only remaining potato flower.
In that moment, everyone's hearts became one.
Yes.
You are our hope.
The final flower we nurtured and kept alive.
Only you, with your small and delicate petals, are cleansing the desolation of this abandoned land.
"........"
Their chests tightened.
Their tear glands ached.
Then it happened.
"Oh? A gust of wind."
Whoooosh, FWOOOSHHH—!
With Kim Jangcheol's words, a sudden gust of wind unique to the Chavín de Huantar region of the Demon King's Castle blew in. It swept across part of the potato field. And of all places, it hit the spot where that final potato flower had been left.
Whooooshhh...!
The sudden gust disappeared just as suddenly. The potato flower, which had been carefully preserved, was struck dead center and vanished.
"......."
Their chests ached.
Their tear glands tightened.
Kim Jangcheol calmly spoke.
"Potato flower season's over. The end. Bang bang bang."
"......"
"Alright, everyone back to work."
"......"
"C'mon now. The flowers will bloom again next year anyway."
"...."
"And that flower will remain in everyone's hearts. Okay?"
"........"
"Hartok! Water it! What did I say!"
"Y-you said that this blooming period is the most important!"
"That's right. And why is that?"
"Because for the potatoes to grow plump, they need a lot of moisture!"
"Exactly. That's it!"
"......."
Hartok, without realizing it, choked up as he summoned fog.
He didn't know why, but he felt sad. Just because of a single flower, he felt sorrowful. It was strange to feel this way, and yet he couldn't help it. The same went for the other Four Heavenly Kings and the members of the farming corps.
Only Kim Jangcheol was the exception.
"Ah, the weather's great. Gusts of wind blowing right on time. Plucked off all those inedible flowers, nice and clean, too."
"..."
So mean.
Too cruel.
And so, they felt sorrowful.
But there was no helping it.
They had to work to survive.
The potato farm absolutely could not fail.
A sigh soaked in remorse and regret formed in everyone's hearts! And with it, the potatoes underground grew plump and sturdy.
And that afternoon, an unexpected figure visited the Demon King's Castle.
The ruler of the Swamp of the Decay.
The 2nd Star Master, Planus.
***
"...Oh, right. So you came all the way here just to give thanks?"
"That is correct, my Lord. Also, having driven out all remnants of the 3rd Star legion who invaded the swamp, I came to report that matter as well."
Crack...!
This was the hall where the Demon King's throne was.
The 2nd Star Master, Planus, bowed his massive body.
And his trunk made the sound of twisting wood. Naturally so—Planus's body itself was made of tree bark.
"......"
Kim Jangcheol looked at the 2nd Star Master with an intrigued gaze.
'Same with the 3rd Star Master—these guys are way more intimidating in person.'
And it was true.
The appearance he saw while playing the game on screen—
The feeling of facing it in real life—
The difference was massive.
Especially with the 2nd Star Master in front of him.
'Maybe it's the carnivorous plant theme.'
Eight roots walking on the ground.
A massive and solid trunk above them.
Knots and twisted lines etched into the trunk formed a face—eyes, nose, and mouth.
And on the tips of fifteen branches, there were various carnivorous plant structures. Nepenthes pitchers, Venus flytrap spikes, and sticky tendrils like sundew.
'Scary.'
There was a reason the 2nd Star Master looked like this.
His territory—the Swamp of the Decay—
It was a region polluted with toxic substances. So, unlike normal lands or wetlands, he couldn't absorb nutrients properly.
So in the end, he and the soldiers of the 2nd Star legion had become these twisted, warped carnivorous plants.
"...."
Well, anyway.
His nostalgic thoughts of rampaging through the 2nd Star legion's territory in the game ended there. Shaking off the brief self-induced reverie, Kim Jangcheol asked the 2nd Star Master,
"So what's the purpose? That's it?"
"...Pardon?"
"No other business?"
"Ah... No. That is all."
"You climbed that sheer cliff just to thank me?"
"That's right, my Lord."
"Whew. How devoted."
"It's just proper gratitude. If Your Majesty hadn't arrived at the perfect time to save us, my legion and I would now be groveling at the feet of the 3rd Star Master."
"Nah, nah. I'm sure you could've held out a bit longer."
"No, truly. We were desperate."
"Eesh. That's a bit heavy."
"Still, I hope you will accept my gratitude."
"Just words?"
"Pardon?"
"...Hmm, no, never mind."
Kim Jangcheol gave an awkward smile.
And he thought for a moment.
You rascal.
What's with the empty hands, huh?
If you're gonna show gratitude, at least bring a fruit basket or drinks, or heck, even a set of Vita500.
A sudden surge of nostalgia for K-manners!
Suppressing his instinctive nature from bursting forth, Kim Jangcheol said,
"Still, I appreciate you coming all the way here to express thanks. I feel reassured."
"Such praise is undeserved, my Lord."
"Alright. Since your business is done, it's time for you to head down."
"Yes, I was about to."
"I'll see you off."
"Pardon? I wouldn't dare trouble Your Majesty for such..."
"It's fine. Just to the nearby area."
"Ah, yes...."
The reason I'm seeing you off isn't because you came empty-handed. Absolutely not. It's definitely not because your empty-handed visit rubbed me the wrong way and I want to personally chase you out.
With a friendly smile, Kim Jangcheol saw the 2nd Star Master off outside the Demon King's Castle. They passed through the vast potato field. Along the way, Planus kept expressing awe as he looked around.
"To think... I'd see a field. In the abandoned land."
"Really?"
"Yes. When I first arrived and saw it, I stood there completely mesmerized."
"You must've been shocked."
"Indeed. This is the abandoned land, after all."
That's right.
This was the abandoned land.
A field wasn't something you'd expect to see here. So, the Demon King's declaration of farming had seemed like nothing more than an excuse.
An excuse to stop the invasion of the human world.
That's all he thought it was.
And yet—
He never imagined Demon King Credos would actually farm. That he would truly cultivate such fertile land.
Coming here to see for himself has been worth it.
"........"
The 2nd Star Master quietly thought.
Unlike the toxic swamp where he had lived, this land looked overwhelmingly fertile. A land full of nourishment and life.
If...
If he could monopolize this fertile land... If his withered roots could absorb the nutrients of this place...
'Then I could become stronger than anyone else in the abandoned land—even stronger than Credos.'
Then maybe, he could seize the throne.
"......"
Crack!
A greed that bloomed without him realizing.
An ambition he secretly entertained.
But at that moment, the 2nd Star Master, Planus, did not know.
That although he had acted loyal and polite on the surface, though he spoke words of gratitude, he had come empty-handed—
And because of that, the Demon King, ever so slightly displeased, had been staring at him without blinking for several dozen seconds already.
[T/L: Read more chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]