"Haa..."
It's a total mess.
Hartok, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Abandoned Land and the official Chief Captain of the Farming Corps, let out a sigh deep enough to cave in the earth.
Then, he looked up at the ceiling.
"..."
The Demon King's Castle, which had collapsed because of the 2nd Star Master.
The temporary farming tents built beside it.
The Demon King had declared he would make this the new Demon King's Castle. When asked if he didn't need a bigger, grander structure, he simply shook his head.
Said he'd just have to feed the kids more potatoes.
"…I miss you, my Lord."
A mutter, quietly spreading through the space where he was completely alone.
It was a sincere feeling. He missed the Demon King who had left for the human world. These days, he found himself thinking every day that he wanted his Lord to return quickly.
Was it merely because of loyalty?
No.
It was because of the various problems that had arisen recently around the Demon King's Castle. More precisely, it was because his own position had started to waver, due to his failure to properly resolve those problems.
"..."
Things weren't like this when the Lord was around.
Where had it all gone wrong?
Maybe…
It must've started a few days after the Lord left.
Before that, everything was fine.
The temporary storage was packed with the super potato chuno. Thanks to that alone, the Abandoned Land had entered an unprecedented period of abundance in its history.
Everyone was happy.
Hartok had been proud.
And as the acting Demon King in the Lord's absence, the sweet taste of being in command was absolutely euphoric. Seeing everyone look to him—even if just temporarily—as their leader had filled his chest with joy.
It was an emotion and an experience worthy of being called ecstasy.
I really am someone to be revered.
Asurat?
Sirgi?
Baal?
Those fools who only shared the title of Four Heavenly Kings in name—he was fundamentally different from them. That's why he alone remained here to manage the Demon King's Castle, fufufu.
Every day, his self-esteem pierced the heavens.
He'd been humming all day long.
At least, until exactly a few days after the Demon King left. Until then, things had been good. And then, the first signs of an ominous crack started slowly appearing here and there.
"Haa…"
Thinking about everything that happened since then, and recalling how he still hadn't managed to properly deal with it, he sighed again.
And with it, a deep sense of self-loathing spread.
Maybe...
Maybe I'm not as great or special as I thought.
Maybe I'm actually on the same level as those idiots—Asurat, Sirgi, Baal. Maybe I was the only one who didn't realize that, pitifully strutting around like a fool.
"...…"
I feel like I might cry.
It'd be nice if I could just bawl my eyes out.
…It was at that very moment.
BANG!
With no warning, no sign, and from completely out of nowhere, the tent's door suddenly burst open!
"...!"
Who dares—?!
Even if my authority's dropped lately!
Hartok, startled and slightly emotional, turned sharply toward the door that had been thrown open.
Thanks to that, he saw it.
"Huh?"
The Demon King stood there.
"Hartok? Why's your face so gaunt?"
"…My Lord?"
"Yeah. I'm back. What's with the tears, though?"
"L-Loooord…!"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Loooooord!"
Ta-dap!
Without even realizing it, Hartok jumped from his chair. He vaulted over his desk with a papap, and ran toward his Lord who had finally returned.
Ahh, what bliss!
Thud!
Hartok dropped to one knee at lightning speed.
"The Four Heavenly King, Hartok, greets the Lord—sniffle!"
"…Are you crying?"
"S-sniff…!"
"…Tch, you really are."
Kim Jangcheol let out a disbelieving chuckle. Then, he spoke to Hartok.
"Your face looks like it's collapsed in, and the moment you saw me, you cried out of joy and sorrow… Is it because of the problems I saw on the way in?"
"…You've already seen them?"
"Of course. How could I not?"
Kim Jangcheol shrugged his shoulders.
And recalled the scenes he'd witnessed in the few minutes between arriving near the Demon King's Castle and walking to the tent.
"...…"
The first thing he saw upon arriving at the Demon King's Castle area—was a member of the Farming Corps grabbing a 3rd Star legion soldier by the collar, locked in a fierce argument.
"They were fighting at the potato distribution center. Yelling stuff like, 'You think you deserve the same ration of potatoes as me?'"
That was the Farming Corps member shouting.
Then, the 3rd Star legion soldier, who'd been grabbed, shouted back without backing down.
"You think being in the Farming Corps makes you better? You think you can pull rank on me? I know I'm shameless, but my kid is crying in our refugee tent because she's hungry. Isn't it common decency to at least share a little?"
"...…"
Hartok's face turned solemn.
Kim Jangcheol continued.
"It got even worse after that. Started with 'Do you even know the Farming Corps' exercises? Do you know the hardships of potato farming?' Then escalated to, 'The Demon King didn't stop us from coming here, so who are you to deny us?' Eventually, even the bystanders who were trying to stop the fight jumped in, and it turned into a full-on group scuffle."
"…So, did you break it up?"
"Nope."
"...…"
"They were full of spirit. Hahaha."
"…I apologize."
"Nah, nah. I saw other exciting things too."
"…You saw something else?"
"Yeah. When I passed by the temporary refugee camp where the 4th Star legion soldier families are gathered—"
"No way…"
"They were soaked in blood, all of them."
"...…."
Hartok was speechless.
Kim Jangcheol continued speaking.
"Legit trying to kill each other. So I asked what the hell happened. And their answer… Wow."
"...…."
"Due to the previous Star Master's death, the vacant Star Master seat needs to be filled—it's only natural. Those traces of brutal fighting were all because of that."
"......"
"But even now, they still haven't chosen a new Star Master. There are just too many candidates, and the competition is too fierce."
Thud.
Kim Jangcheol pulled an empty chair toward him with a joking air and sat down. Then, he stared steadily at Hartok.
"Recently, three problems must've arisen around the Demon King's Castle, right?"
".....Yes, my Lord. That is correct."
"......"
As expected.
Kim Jangcheol pieced together everything he had seen. Thanks to that, he could summarize the three major issues that had stormed through the Demon King's Castle in his absence.
"The first is a fairness issue. The native Farming Corps members who've toiled hard growing potatoes started getting disgruntled when they had to share equal rations with the other legion soldiers flooding in like refugees. But the refugee legion soldiers must have been just as desperate, so they wouldn't have backed down easily. Right?"
"Yes, my Lord. Exactly."
"The second is the Star Master seat dispute. The 2nd and 4th legions lost their Star Masters, so they need to elect new ones. Naturally, they resorted to the method everyone is most familiar with, the traditional method of the Abandoned Land—fighting to determine the strongest. That's why there have been casualties every day."
"...That too, is correct."
"Then the third and final issue is centralization—no, the concentration around the Demon King's Castle. The soldiers who should have been guarding the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Star territories probably all rushed over here after hearing potato rumors. Which means the other regions outside the Demon King's Castle must be growing increasingly empty."
"Probably... Yes, most likely."
"It would've been hard to fix all that by yourself. You've done well. Truly."
Pat, pat.
Kim Jangcheol didn't reprimand Hartok. Even in his eyes, these were not the kind of issues Hartok could have handled alone.
Scolding him into submission?
Sure, that might work on the surface, but it wasn't a real solution.
But Kim Jangcheol didn't even hesitate. He had already come up with a comfortable way to resolve all these problems.
Which is why—
"Our admirable Hartok. My most reliable Four Heavenly King, Hartok."
Pat, pat.
He wore a compassionate smile, lighting up his whole face.
His voice softened into a gentle, coaxing tone.
And then, he began beating Hartok down—gently, with words.
"Tsk, still. I mean, come on. I thought someone like our Hartok would handle these problems in a flash. But I guess, it wasn't that easy after all?"
"..."
Thump.
Hartok's heart sank.
He hurried to offer an excuse.
"Well, um, I, I just…"
"Shh. I know. I know it's not as easy as it sounds."
"....."
"None of those problems are easy. The fairness issue, the Star Master election, the decentralization problem caused by focus on the Demon King's Castle."
"....."
"You must've had a hard time all on your own. Trying to handle those overwhelming problems somehow, secretly pushing yourself to the brink—how much effort must you have poured in? Truly admirable. And at the same time, how pitiful, our Hartok."
"I, I just…"
"You may cry. You've earned that right."
"...Really... is it okay?"
"Of course. Tears are no shame for one who has given their all."
"....K-Kkh!"
At last, Hartok broke into tears. The prideful and arrogant Four Heavenly King buried his face in Kim Jangcheol's broad chest and began bawling like a child.
"I really! I really tried my best! Khuhuhk!"
"There, there. I know how you feel."
"But no matter how much I scold them, they only act like they're listening at that moment!"
"Geez. They really went too far."
"If I so much as turn away for a second, they're at each other's throats again! Huhuhk! Huk!"
"Goodness. That must've been so frustrating. Pat, pat."
"So I really, truly just—Kkhehhung!"
"It's okay, it's okay. You did your best."
"But now, that the Demon King—my Lord—is back, really—!"
"Yeah, and since you trashed the place while I was gone, I came prepared."
"That makes me hap—... huh?"
"You're ready, right?"
"......"
What… does that mean?
Hartok, who had been sobbing and unloading all his sorrow against Kim Jangcheol's chest, blinked with wide eyes.
And then, with a twang of realization, he looked up at his Lord, tears still smeared across his face.
And that's when he realized—
The smile on Kim Jangcheol's face, though warm at first glance, wasn't entirely kind. Something about it was… off.
Like someone who had just discovered the perfect, dependable slave.
Or like a nobleman preparing to raise a sharp, loyal workhorse with care.
Kim Jangcheol beamed.
"Our Hartok, you're talented, right?"
".....Uh, y-yes…"
That was true, but—
Why did he feel such a bad vibe?
"And you don't want to hear those low-ranking demons whisper again that you can't do anything without the Demon King, right?"
"O-of course not."
"Right. That's great to hear."
"......"
That smile was only getting deeper.
And now, I'm scared.
Hartok gulped dryly without realizing it, a foreboding sense growing in his gut.
Kim Jangcheol smiled even brighter.
"So let's study."
".....Pardon?"
"Let's study."
"Wh-what… study…?"
"How to grow the new crops. Just like during potato season."
"........"
What in the world is he talking about?
Hartok was just starting to feel confused when—
"Beans, pumpkins, and corn. Those are the crops we'll be growing this season. Based on that, we'll divide everyone—Farming Corps and refugee legion soldiers—into three teams: the bean team, the pumpkin team, and the corn team."
Kim Jangcheol said confidently.
"The Three Sisters farming method. A method that requires cooperative community effort from three teams. While growing those three crops, we'll solve all three social problems."
"That's…"
Is that really possible?
Hartok asked with his eyes.
Kim Jangcheol nodded.
"It means I'll be putting you at the forefront of that new farming method, my most trusted Four Heavenly King—Hartok."
"........"
"Our Hartok, you're capable of that much, right?"
"......"
Can I?
Can I really?
I… guess I can?
That's probably why he's saying all this, right?
The Four Heavenly King, Hartok, who had felt his self-worth crumbling, now sensed a glimmer of hope. His ears twitched involuntarily, perked up by the sound of purpose.
And thus began the hardship of graduate-student(?) Hartok, under Professor Kim Jangcheol, who was now pushing for the Three Sisters farming method, the traditional agricultural technique of the Mesoamerican natives.
[T/L: I am not getting any support from webnovel platform, so please support me and read ahead chapters on my ko-fi page "RevengerScans" : https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]