The records of truth are often sharp.
Even if they are a history of glory.
Or merely a chronicle of decline.
"...."
The 2nd Star Master kept his mouth shut.
And the fifteen branches trembled.
Today, he witnessed unexpected scenery at the Demon King's Castle. A potato field—so absurd that it seemed impossible, yet undeniably real.
It was because of the unexpectedly fertile landscape.
Suddenly, the 2nd Star Master recalled the days of his sapling years.
'A thousand years ago, back then, the swamp of decay... wasn't a toxic swamp.'
It had been green.
It had been clear.
A time when it was not the swamp of decay, but known as the Lake of Silver Plate.
A crystal-clear lake where hundreds of species of fish and other creatures coexisted. At that time, the lake was the most abundant land of the abandoned lands, a treasure trove that produced food for the entire demon race.
But the greed—or perhaps the overzealous ambition—of the 2nd Star Master of two generations prior ruined everything.
That Star Master thought: yes, the lake is clear and abundant in fish, but the individual fish were too small. Wouldn't it be nice to have some bigger species?
So, he brought over large fish from the human world's Kyle River.
Their name: Kyle Bass.
A monstrous fish species, up to 5 meters long and weighing nearly a ton when fully grown. He released them into the lake. They spread across the waters.
That was the beginning of disaster.
The small creatures originally inhabiting the lake stood no chance against the Kyle Bass.
They didn't even know how to avoid them.
They were hunted helplessly.
They went extinct.
Dozens of species, one after another.
And so, the lake's food chain and ecosystem were shattered from the roots.
One extinct species, in particular, had lived by feeding on the lake's toxic water plants. When it disappeared, those toxic plants proliferated endlessly in the lake.
Poison spread throughout the waters.
It became a lake of death.
'Eventually... by the time a hundred years had passed, the remaining creatures capable of neutralizing the toxicity were also eaten by the Kyle Bass and went extinct, and even the Kyle Bass, having lost their food source, went extinct as well…'
Thus, the lake became a sticky, toxic swamp.
That was during his sapling days, about 900 years ago.
"....."
The 2nd Star Master let out a sigh of regret.
That's why he was unaware of two things.
One, that the story of the lake he had experienced was almost identical to the destructive ecological disturbance caused by the British in real-world Earth's Lake Victoria in Africa.
The other, that the Demon King had been staring at him without blinking for dozens of seconds now, silently observing the hidden intentions blooming in his heart.
'Tsk. This guy... something's definitely off, isn't he?'
Really strange.
No, suspicious.
Kim Jangcheol glanced sharply at the 2nd Star Master's profile, his eyes full of suspicion.
To activate the Bloodshot Eyes skill.
Enduring the oncoming dry eyes.
'He's definitely acting weird. Especially his gaze, there's something about it.'
The way the 2nd Star Master looked around the potato field.
It was not normal.
But strangely... it was also a familiar look.
Where had he seen that gaze before?
Yes. That's right.
Professors.
The professors who tried to swoop in and steal credit for his research with a single spoon. They had that exact look in their eyes.
So, it was that.
That look of someone trying to ride the bus in a group project without doing anything. Someone who thought someone else's rice cake looked bigger. Someone trying to score something for free while speeding down the expressway of greed. That was the look.
"...."
No way.
My potato field?
Suspicion surged up like a spring deep in the mountain woods!
And just then—
Whooosh!
"....!"
The wind blew.
Kicking up dirt.
Dust flew straight into Kim Jangcheol's eyes, which hadn't blinked in about 130 seconds.
He couldn't close his eyes, so he couldn't dodge it either.
Reflexively, he shut them.
"Ugh!"
"What's wrong, my lord?"
"Ah, wait. Dust got in my eye."
Kim Jangcheol quickly opened his eyes. But the Bloodshot Eyes skill had already been canceled.
The 2nd Star Master bowed politely with a respectful expression.
"Please go back now, Demon King. It is more than an honor that you've accompanied me this far."
"Oh, I could walk a bit more with you."
"No, my lord. We've already come far enough. I shall take my leave."
".....Right."
The 2nd Star Master gave a courteous bow. From his gestures and expression alone, he seemed the very image of loyalty.
Which made things even more unsettling.
He wanted to read his true thoughts.
But it didn't go as he'd hoped.
'Ugh, damn dust!'
Even under normal circumstances, not blinking for 200 seconds wasn't easy. Let alone right after taking a full blast of dust to the eyes.
It was nearly impossible.
Forget 200 seconds—20 seconds felt impossible.
Whether he knew of Kim's burning frustration or not, the 2nd Star Master walked away toward the cliff. Despite his plant-like appearance, he moved at a surprisingly brisk pace.
"...Tch."
In the end, Kim Jangcheol gave up on activating Bloodshot Eyes. The distance was already too great.
Even if he stared at that now-tiny figure for 200 seconds, he'd end up focusing on the sky and reciting a weather report.
'No matter how I look at it, that guy's gaze was shady and fishy. But well, if anything happens, I'll just dive into the swamp and go log-splitting again.'
It'd be ridiculous to chase after him now and activate Bloodshot Eyes.
Letting go of what's impossible is good for your mental health.
Focusing on what you can do now is the best option.
Kim Jangcheol turned back toward his precious potato field.
***
Time passed steadily.
The potato field, now done with flowering, was watered generously every day.
Hartok, now the Chief Captain of the farming corps, was more enthusiastic about watering than anyone.
Of course he was.
Whenever he used his specialty—conjuring fog—to moisten the field, the farming corps cheered his name in unison.
The more fog he spread—
The more the field grew damp—
The more Hartok's self-esteem swelled, plump and full. His happiness level from the dopamine party skyrocketed. His ambition to seize the Demon King's throne vanished like an eel doing an ascent dance.
And Hartok wasn't the only one truly devoted to the potato field anymore.
"Hartok. I hope you haven't forgotten that you're not the only one who can water this place."
Beside him, conjuring fog, Sirgi drew her ice blade with a shhhink. Walking quickly around the field, she swung six ice blades through the air.
Susa-sak! Tsusa-sak! Tsak!
Each time the blades sliced the space, the surrounding air instantly froze. Moisture in the air condensed. The condensed moisture fell to the ground, collecting on the potato leaves and stems.
Witnessing that astonishing display, Baal shouted—
"Sirgi! Don't dance with blades in the potato field! Baal protects the potato field!"
KWAANG—!
Baal was horrified by Sirgi's actions.
What if those blades injured a single potato leaf? What if the sword energy harmed the stems? Perceiving a crisis of sorts, Baal charged at Sirgi.
And so, Asurat, sensing a true crisis, stepped forward.
"Baal, you lunatic!"
Just before Baal trampled the field into chaos, Asurat blocked the way. They collided—or rather, it was like being hit by a dump truck. Asurat went flying.
Thunk!
"...Keurgh!"
"Oh? Fragile Asurat! Got hurt! Baal saves you!"
"Get away! Don't carry me like a princess, you psycho!"
"Asurat! Safe! Baal happy!"
"Put me down!"
"Baal puts you down!"
"...Kuh! Hff, you idiot."
"Asurat, are you still hurting?"
"Of course I am, you crazy bastard!"
"Is that why your face is yellow like a potato leaf?"
"What part of my face is yellow... what?"
"Asurat! Face is yellow! Like a withering potato leaf!"
"...Hold on? What? Potato leaves, yellow?"
"That's right!"
"Which potato leaves."
Asurat felt something strange at Baal's words.
Potato leaves turning yellow and wilting? What? A lie? No. Baal was too dumb to lie properly.
But then—
"...Huh? Huhh?"
They existed.
When he looked to where Baal was pointing, they really were there.
Just as the idiot said… yellowed leaves could be seen!
"Emergency! Emergencccy!"
Asurat shouted urgently.
Hartok and Sirgi, who had been in a standoff, came running. Their expressions turned serious.
Even the members of the farming corps began to stir. The potato leaves—leaves that had looked perfectly fine—had really turned yellow! As if diseased! As if they were about to wilt any second!
"...That is the report flooding in, my lord."
"Yeah. So?"
"The Four Heavenly Kings are all requesting an audience with very serious expressions."
"Yeah. And?"
"Nearly all members of the farming corps are extremely frightened, and some have even collapsed on the spot in terror of a poor harvest and begun weeping uncontrollably."
"Hmm. I see."
"My lord?"
"Yeah. What is it."
"Why are you so unconcerned?"
Zephyros asked earnestly.
The report he'd just delivered to the Demon King—
It was no joke, no exaggeration.
All the demons within the Demon King's Castle were in great upheaval over this unprecedented and serious crisis.
"The potato leaves have turned noticeably yellow. At first, it seemed like just a couple stems, but in less than half a day, the yellowing has spread throughout the entire field."
"Yeah. That's about right."
"This isn't something to be brushed off... Excuse me?"
"I said, that's about right."
"......."
That indifferent reply from his lord.
The way he spoke, the look on his face, the glint in his eyes—it was like he'd expected this.
What could he possibly mean by that?
"You expected this to happen?"
"Mm."
"How?"
It was strange.
Just earlier, when he was hurrying to report the news, his heart was pounding. Like the Four Heavenly Kings and the farming corps, he had been full of worry.
But now, seeing the Demon King's demeanor, he felt relieved.
A potato field turning yellow and wilting?
It didn't feel like such a big deal anymore.
And that wasn't right. He should be taking this seriously. And yet, just because his lord remained so unbothered—just from seeing that—
'I feel... this reassured?'
What's going on with me?
When did I come to trust the Demon King this much.
I don't know.
I don't know how much I can rely on this trust yet.
Then—
Kim Jangcheol spoke again, still in his nonchalant tone.
"This is how it's supposed to be. The baby potatoes growing underground suck up all the nutrients. So, the leaves and stems start to yellow."
"...Are you saying this is a natural phenomenon?"
"Exactly. You could say it's a sign that harvest season is nearing."
"Harvest..."
"So tell everyone to stop panicking. Don't be afraid or anxious. Just pray that the baby potatoes turn out big and hearty."
"...Understood. But, my lord?"
"Mm?"
"When you say 'this is how it is'... have you harvested potatoes before?"
"......"
"My lord?"
"Tsk. Of course not."
"Then how did you know this...?"
"How? Didn't I tell you before? I attend lectures in my dreams. Why? Is that weird?"
"Yes. That is plenty weird."
"Then go ahead and write that in the Demon King's Chronicles."
"I will, of course, record it."
"Good. Then go handle your duties. Reassure everyone."
"...Understood, then."
Clack.
The door closed.
Zephyros left the throne room, leaving him alone.
Leaning back on the throne, Kim Jangcheol thought—
'No matter how I think about it, this throne is so damn uncomfortable.'
It wasn't a joke.
It was true.
Honestly, the yellowing potato leaves weren't even the biggest issue right now. The reason was simple. The Demon King didn't have a bedroom, or even a bed!
"......."
Did previous Demon Kings seriously do everything—eat, sleep, live—right here on this throne, without a bed?
That seemed to be the case. Since arriving here, he'd been doing exactly that.
'I need to build a bed. Might as well make it king-sized.'
This life of curling up to sleep in the throne every night—
Was his herniated disc even okay?
No, he needed to focus on harvesting the potatoes first.
Getting a bed came after that...
...Srrrhh.
His eyes started to close.
His whole body felt a little drowsy.
Was it because of the news that the potatoes were maturing?
Because the harvest was finally just around the corner?
It felt like the tension that had gripped him constantly was finally loosening just a bit. Along with it came sleepiness.
Now that he thought about it, he hadn't slept more than two hours at a time since arriving here.
Partly because the throne was uncomfortable—but mostly because he'd been living each day wound up tight.
So now—
'Maybe I can... get a bit of shuteye.'
Maybe tonight he'd have a peaceful dream.
Hopefully, it would be a dream that let him peek into happy memories.
Like his late grandmother.
Or his childhood before his family went poor.
Or the memory of that one and only family trip they ever took.
Kinda pathetic and cliché, but that's what made them meaningful—
Memories that brought happiness when you looked back.
The kind that, when you're awake, feel a bit too bittersweet to revisit often.
That's the kind of dream he hoped for—
THWACK—!
"......!"
From beneath the throne, a massive Venus flytrap stem burst through the floor and wrapped around his entire body.
[T/L: Read more chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]