Chapter 194

All around, foreign people practicing foreign traditions; up above, a foreign sky, tri-mooned and full of strange constellations...

In Reinhardt, Jae-Hyeok had become a stranger in a strange land. So on the second day of his farming lessons, Jae-Hyeok was overcome with gratitude at meeting an uncle from Earth.

Thunder Emperor Denovine...

If it hadn’t been for him, Jae-Hyeok would’ve long suffered from homesickness.

“Hey, are you okay? Can you stand?”

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Jae-Hyeok moved to help the Thunder Emperor, who was clearly injured after being hit by a fireball that had expanded mid-flight.

“Let go of me!”

The Thunder Emperor wasn’t of a mind to recognize Jae-Hyeok’s intentions and lashed out angrily. “Do you think I’m so pathetic that I need help from a kid like you? Don’t misunderstand. You might be treated better than me, but that’s nothing more than Kyoreh’s whims. It means nothing.”

As a player and as a farmer, I am much better than you.

The eyes of the Thunder Emperor were fierce as he glared at Jae-Hyeok.

This...

Jae-Hyeok felt the obvious hostility and took a step back. He didn’t want to worsen his relationship with the Thunder Emperor. Although his current appearance resembled an old punching bag, he was still one of the strongest people Jae-Hyeok had ever met in his life.

“I’m sorry if I was being out of line.”

Jae-Hyeok bowed with one hand over his heart, a gesture of formal apology among aristocrats.

Anyone watching would mistake him for a descendant of a centuries-old aristocratic family... As expected of the Communist Party, they don’t skimp when it comes to their top weapons. Not only did they program him with impeccable etiquette, but just look at his face. I wonder how many surgeons it took to get it so perfect...

Wait. Am I actually jealous of this kid?

At first surprised, the Thunder Emperor came to his senses and quickly sneered. He was someone who was ninety-nine percent satisfied with his life, a man close to perfection. So he had little experience with emotions like envy or jealousy. The number of times he’d harbored jealousy or malice toward someone could be counted on one finger. Even still...

Why am I always focusing on that brat?

Throb!

Just as the Lightning Emperor had that question, the lightning-shaped scar on his chest pulsed painfully.

“Are you okay?” The handsome blond-haired man eyed Thunder Emperor’s wounds with an apologetic expression.

The Thunder Emperor ignored the flaring pain of his old wound and swept the useless thoughts from his mind. The Thunder Emperor looked at the man before him cautiously. The blond-haired man looked to be in his early thirties, but a good player could use mana to make their appearance younger.

He’s probably some old hundred-year-old monster. He must’ve been training while I was still in diapers in order to easily overpower a National Treasure. I shouldn’t be surprised, he’s a minister, after all. That’s got to mean something.

The title “Minister of Agriculture” was a bit annoying to the Thunder Emperor.

It gave a strange feeling, like he was a bigshot but also not one. Yet, reflecting on the power of farmers in Reinhardt, the Thunder Emperor concluded that the Minister of Agriculture before him likely represented someone at the core of Reinhardt’s power hierarchy.

Thinking about it, this minister guy seems to oversee the treatment and handling of otherworlders arriving through the warp gates. He’s like the commander of an elite army stationed at the front lines.

The more the Thunder Emperor thought about it, the more obvious it was that the blond-haired man, Boland, was a bigshot.

The Thunder Emperor gulped nervously before saying respectfully, “If you’re truly sorry, can you listen to my complaint?”

“Tell me.”

Boland and Kyoreh didn’t comment on the Thunder Emperor’s tone. Just as they expected outsiders to adapt to their culture and traditions, they also tried to respect the culture of outsiders to some extent.

“Kyoreh has been mistreating me!”

The Thunder Emperor expressed his grievances, and for the next few minutes, Boland listened with a serious expression.

“So you’re saying that despite this boy being less capable than you, he advanced faster because of Kyoreh’s favoritism?”

“That’s right!”

“Why did he do that?”

Boland tilted his head and raised a finger. Unlike his elegant face, his fingers were rough and covered with dirt. An inch above his fingertip, a flame sparked to life. It flickered feebly like a candle. However, the concentration of mana contained within it felt as enormous as a mountain.

Why is he using magic all of a sudden?

The startled Thunder Emperor instinctively threw himself to the side, forgetting about his wounds and rolling on the dirt. The heat coming from Boland’s flame had him convinced that one touch would leave him seriously injured. It was not a conscious thought, and neither was his reaction.

No!

In contrast, Jae-Hyeok suddenly threw himself toward Boland’s slow-flying flame. The reason was simple: Boland’s spell was traveling in the direction of the fields, right where bags of threshed rice were piled up. Jae-Hyeok couldn’t stand by and watch as the grain the farmers had spent the last year tending went up in flames.

A true noble would never ignore the predicaments of the innocent. And having experienced the life of a farmer, he knew what every crop meant to them. How could he allow their sweat and hard work to be reduced to nothing?

“This crazy guy!”

The flames.

The sight of Jae-Hyeok shooting toward Boland’s overwhelming flame magic horrified the Thunder Emperor. The kid's gruesome end naturally appeared in his mind. The result wasn’t far from what he imagined; Jae-Hyeok drew his blade, but the dark shaft ignited like a torch the moment it touched Boland’s flame..

“Drop the sword!” the Thunder Emperor shouted urgently. No matter whether he liked the kid or not, the kid was still a human; he didn’t want to see him die in vain.

Meanwhile, Kyoreh, who usually favored the kid, stayed silent with his arms crossed. It was as if the kid's impending death didn’t matter one bit.

Dammit... As expected, although we look the same, we’re from different worlds after all.

The Thunder Emperor had already disliked Kyoreh, but now he was filled with profound disgust for the man. It seemed Reinhardt’s natives were no better than monsters wearing human skin.

The Thunder Emperor activated Thunder Armor and, enveloped in crackling lightning, shot toward the Chinese kid.

He was a National Treasure, someone who bore the weight of protecting a country. Regardless of his temper, he wasn’t someone who ignored moral principles.

“Iyarugt?” The silent Kyoreh suddenly muttered something strange to himself.

Just then, something fantastic occurred. The Chinese kid’s black blade emitted a red radiance that drowned out the flames.

No, it wasn’t light but sword energy—it was the hallmark of a real swordman.

“

Haap

!”

Jae-Hyeok stepped back and struck the sphere of flame once more, his blade—now in the form of Iyarugt—sliced the sphere in half.

“*C

an’t be destroyed.”

That was the effect of the legendary-tier weapon Iyarugt. Once in its true form, the blade could withstand even the most overwhelming magic. Even so, the flames quickly spread from Iyarugt to Jae-Hyeok’s dirty work clothes, which caught like tinder, engulfing Jae-Hyeok in seconds.

It seemed like Jae-Hyeok would be turned to ashes within moments. Yet, several moments passed, and Jae-Hyeok’s white skin remained perfectly unscathed. Only his clothing burned.

Just before Jae-Hyeok became totally naked, Boland snapped his fingers and dispelled the magic. Then his gaze shifted to the Thunder Emperor.

“Now, do you understand why Kyoreh shows him favor?”

The Thunder Emperor was stunned by the incomprehensible situation. Eventually, he came to his senses and lowered his head. “... I understand.”

Kyoreh favored the Chinese kid out of recognition of the kid’s mentality. Sure, his current skills were still lacking, but his mindset was already that of a loyal farmer. Kyoreh saw this and tried to teach him a bit more.

“I didn’t care about the fields while that kid willingly threw himself into the fire to protect them. He is a farmer.”

They say that the younger a person is, the easier it is for them to adapt to new environments. However, it’s only been a few days, and this kid already sees himself as a true farmer.

The Thunder Emperor laughed in a dumbfounded manner before raising his hands.

“I acknowledge my defeat. Even if Kyoreh chooses him to pass the test before me, I won’t have any doubts or complaints.”

“Defeat is an inappropriate word,” Boland said gently. He removed his gold-trim coat and set it over Jae-Hyeok’s shoulders.

“Even beans grown on the same stalk have different sizes and shapes: your mindset might not be as good as this boy’s, but your skills are excellent. It isn’t that you are inferior.”

Kyoreh added, “In the first place, you both agreed to study farming with me for ten days. What each of you learn from the lessons might differ, but your lessons will end on the same day.”

“...... ” The Thunder Emperor’s face turned red. He’d allowed himself to become so jealous of a child that he couldn’t see the truth of the situation. It was as if he’d been possessed since accepting Kyoreh’s quest.

And no wonder,

the Thunder Emperor realized.

It’s all because of these damn farmers!

To earn the right to enter Reinhardt, one had to endure extreme labor day after day. Yet despite coming here four times and even resorting to

special

tactics to reach the wall, he had failed every time.

After my last failure, I don’t think I ever really calmed down...

While the Thunder Emperor was busy reflecting on the source of his behavior, Boland took an interest in Kyoreh’s words. “Did you say ten days? Why not half a month?”

The farming program designed to test outsiders was meant to last at least half a month. That was the standard rule.

“I shortened it since the boy has limited time. If I’ve overstepped my authority, I’ll accept your punishment.”

“No. I don’t mind. It’s just... ”

Suddenly, the air became heavy, and it was as if gravity had increased severalfold. Jae-Hyeok and the Thunder Emperor couldn’t even breathe under the tremendous pressure. Their trembling eyes were locked on Boland, who was smiling calmly.

Something’s changed...

Before, Boland's eyes had been bright and playful, giving the impression of someone cheerful and warm. But now, his eyes were cold and sharp—too sharp to peg him as a magician.

A swordsman?

Jae-Hyeok recognized it instantly, and not a moment too soon, Boland slowly reached for the hilt hanging at his waist.

Is he angry about the special treatment we received?

Before they realized it, the frightened Jae-Hyeok and Thunder Emperor found themselves standing shoulder to shoulder.

“No time, you say?” Boland broke into a grin. “Then you should receive a real crash course.”

Finally, Boland drew his weapon—

A hand plow...

As expected of the Minister of Agriculture, Boland was a farmer before he was a magician.

“Free Farming—”

[An unexpected quest has occurred!]

“First Style—”

[Survive the attack of Boland, the Minister of Agriculture!]

"Sowing.”

Hundreds of seeds were scattered in the air.