"The Three Sisters method. It's a type of companion planting agriculture developed by the indigenous peoples of ancient Mesoamerica and North America to suit their local environment, where three different crops are grown together in a single field."
"The Three Sisters… farming method… Mesoamerica… indigenous peoples… companion… free-planting farming…"
"Tsk."
Kim Jangcheol's eyes narrowed.
The shoulders of one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Hartok, flinched.
"Not free-planting. Companion planting."
"Ah, y-yes. Companion planting…"
"Get your act together. Do you think this is a joke?"
"…I'm sorry."
In that moment, Hartok was overcome with a rich and bitter sense of self-loathing, like espresso. And he thought to himself.
Why am I… studying right now?
"..."
He didn't know.
He had always believed that he'd never do anything like studying like a scholar. He was confident he'd never sit at a desk, twirling a pen and memorizing content like his life depended on it.
But life—no, since he was of the demon race, "demon life"—was truly unpredictable.
Regardless of his despair, Professor(?) Kim Jangcheol's ruthless lesson rolled on without mercy.
"Focus. The three crops that make up the Three Sisters method are corn, pumpkin, and soybeans."
"Corn, pumpkin, soybeans…"
"First, corn provides sturdy stalks. For whom? For the soybeans. The soybeans grow by winding around and climbing up something, and corn acts as a natural pole for them."
"Corn has stalks… soybeans need a pole…"
"Right. Then what's the benefit that the soybeans give?"
"Well, since they're wrapping around the corn stalks… is it to reinforce the stalks so they don't fall in strong winds?"
"Oh?"
"…Is that right?"
"Sort of? Wow, Assistant Manager Ha, you really are something."
"...…"
Was… that a compliment?
Hartok etched a small piece of pride into a quiet corner of his heart.
Kim Jangcheol continued his explanation.
"That's right. The soybeans wrap around the corn stalks and reinforce their sturdiness. But there's a bigger role. Thanks to a root-nodule bacterium called Rhizobium tropici, which lives in symbiosis with the soybean roots, the soybeans can naturally fix nitrogen in the soil."
"Root nodules… symbiotic… exploding root nodules…"
"Tsk."
"..."
"Anyway, it's a good thing. The soybean roots have something good in them that spreads nutrients into the soil."
"Soybean roots give nutrients to the soil… soybean roots give nutrients to the soil…"
"Exactly. Memorize that well."
"Yes, yes. Got it. Got it."
"…Why are you saying it twice?"
"I don't really know. But just now, somehow…"
"Somehow?"
"It just felt like I had to… as if I were under some kind of curse."
"..."
Is this the power of soybean magic transcending dimensions?
"Well, anyway. The last one is pumpkin. What do you think pumpkin does in the Three Sisters method?"
"I… don't know."
"That's okay. You're here to learn. Pumpkin spreads its large leaves across the ground, creating natural shade. Now, think. If the ground is shaded like that, what happens?"
"Umm… it gets cooler?"
"That's true. But what do plants need to grow?"
"Sunlight and water."
"And shade?"
"…Sunlight is… oh."
"Getting it now?"
"Then the corn and soybeans in the field… won't grow?"
"Tsk, no."
"..."
"Corn and soybeans will spread their leaves above the pumpkin leaves on the ground. So they won't be affected by the shade. Instead, the weeds that sprout later from the ground will be."
"…Ah."
"So the pumpkin leaves cast shade across the soil, preventing weeds that could steal nutrients from growing, and also keeping the soil from drying out in the sun. It acts as a kind of natural mulch. Now, memorize that."
"Yes. It shades the ground… prevents the nutrients from being stolen… mulch grows and… keeps the soil moist…"
"…Is that accurate?"
"Huh?"
"Are you even focusing?"
"..."
Once again, the shoulders of the Four Heavenly Kings shrank. Once known as the Archduke of Fog, a name that struck dread and charisma across the abandoned lands.
Hartok's face darkened.
"S-sorry…"
Why am I apologizing right now?
All my life, all I've ever thought about is how to fight better, deceive my enemies, conquer, and plunder.
This farming stuff… it's all so foreign to me.
Even if I am, admittedly, far superior and wiser than the other Four Heavenly King wannabes, this farming… it's just too far removed from my specialties.
"..."
No.
That's just an excuse.
This is simply… something I'm not good at memorizing.
But why?
Why?
Maybe…
'Was I… not actually a genius after all…?'
A sudden surge of self-doubt.
Doubting himself.
With each scolding and criticism, Hartok's shoulders drooped lower.
'I'm trying my best. I'm even taking notes and trying to memorize. But no matter how hard I try, it just won't stick. Why can't I remember all this in one go?'
Maybe the truth is…
Maybe I really was…
Just an ordinary guy all along. That once you strip away the flashy exterior, I'm no different from the other Four Heavenly Kings.
Maybe that's who I really am. What my true abilities are.
'I…'
But I don't want that.
I want to be better.
I wanted people to see that I'm better.
Maybe now…
Maybe from here on…
'…Am I going to get kicked out…?'
Maybe it'll really come to that.
If the Demon King is disappointed that I can't even memorize something like this, loses faith in me, and stops giving me important tasks… it might really happen.
In the end, I might fall into ruin…
'No…!'
A surge of fear gripped him.
But he didn't know what to do to stop such a disastrous future. The slate for taking notes in front of him felt overwhelmingly empty.
And then, at that moment—
…Tap.
While he was falling endlessly through a pit of despair, a hand gently landed on Hartok's shoulder.
"…Huh?"
Startled, he snapped out of his thoughts.
He looked up to see the Demon King, face serious but wearing a faint smile.
"It's okay."
"…Pardon?"
"To be honest, I believe in you, Hartok—no, Assistant Manager Ha."
"…Huh?"
Assistant Manager Ha?
Me?
Now that I think about it, he did call me that earlier too.
Assistant manager… what does that even mean?
A mix of confusion and curiosity bloomed in his chest.
But it felt… oddly nice.
The Demon King continued.
And somehow, his words felt sweet.
"Think about it. Is there anyone else on this abandoned land I can trust more than Assistant Manager Ha? There isn't. How could there be? You're so smart, Assistant Manager Ha."
"But I… I can't even memorize stuff like this properly…"
"Come on. Who can memorize this kind of stuff all in one go? I can't either."
"R-really?"
"Of course. You know all this knowledge I'm teaching you right now, Assistant Manager Ha? I only picked it up naturally after being scolded and lectured relentlessly every night in my dreams by some mysterious sage. I had to take notes, memorize, and suffer constantly. I must've taken the same class at least ten times."
"Ah…"
"So do you get it now? The fact that you, Assistant Manager Ha, are starting to memorize this stuff even roughly after just one lesson is incredible."
"..."
He says I'm already memorizing it.
Amazing.
I am.
Hartok's slumped shoulders began to slowly return to their original angle.
Kim Jangcheol continued his confidence-boosting pep talk.
"So let's just push through a little more. Honestly, there's no other demon I trust to take on responsibility besides Assistant Manager Ha. That's exactly why I push you and pressure you like this. It's because I'm serious about you. I mean it."
"..."
Sincerity.
Toward me.
Only to me.
He wants to entrust me with important tasks.
That means… I really am…
'The most superior and exceptional being.'
Hartok's shoulders rose high.
Soaring self-esteem gauge!
"Alright, then let's continue the lesson."
"Yes, sir!"
The lesson continued for the newly invigorated Assistant Manager Ha. All the while, Kim Jangcheol quietly hid his sly smile. And he thought,
'Thank goodness.'
That this guy was following along with the lesson pretty well.
Honestly, he was just relieved that such a smart and capable guy—someone he could trust to take on work—was playing right into his plan.
'This is what's going to make my life easier later. It's the principle of auto-hunting.'
Auto-hunting.
A system that runs smoothly on its own.
He wanted to establish that kind of system now, while he had the chance.
Because the scale of farming was going to grow larger and larger.
'With each season, the farmland will expand, and so will the number of people involved in farming.'
That meant more effort would be needed to manage everything.
But for him to handle it all by himself?
To micromanage every single thing?
No way.
Absolutely not.
'If I did that, I'd drop dead before my time.'
Even in the Demon King's body, death by overwork was guaranteed.
He didn't want to face that kind of ending.
That's why—
He decided to borrow a little from the system used by professors he saw back in Korea.
Grad students, endlessly running.
If you push them just right, the results come automatically.
Of course, he had no intention of learning or copying the inhumane exploitation that some professors were notorious for. He didn't want to be like that.
He didn't want to be that kind of person.
'So I'll take responsibility and make sure everyone eats well and lives well. And in exchange, I'll make my life easier!'
A small(?) dream held close to his chest.
Or perhaps a snugly rolled-up ambition.
As he reaffirmed this in his heart, Kim Jangcheol continued raising his star pupil, Hartok, day by day. And when a few days had passed and he judged that the lessons were sufficient, he gathered all the demons near the Demon King's Castle.
"Today! I have gathered you all! To deliver an important announcement!"
The place where the Hall of Destruction once stood.
Now an empty lot, destined to become farmland.
Facing the demons gathered there, Kim Jangcheol made his declaration.
"This season, in addition to our usual potatoes! We will also plant corn, pumpkin, and soybeans!"
…Of course, it would've been better to plant barley or rice.
He did bring back some rice seeds from Daparachia.
But the current climate and conditions near the Demon King's Castle weren't suitable for growing them.
'So we'll research how to cultivate them separately, using methods adapted to this place.'
For now, focus on this season!
"Therefore! I will divide you into three teams to cultivate these three different crops!"
…Three different crops?
Three teams to grow them?
All the demons gathered there—the existing farming corps, the 2nd Star carnivorous plant legionnaires, the 3rd Star crustacean legionnaires, and the 4th Star snakefolk legionnaires—turned puzzled eyes toward each other.
And into the ears of these confused demons, Kim Jangcheol's weighty declaration landed one by one.
"First, the potatoes will be jointly cultivated by all three teams! Now, I will announce the team assignments."
Drumroll…
How would the teams be formed?
Everyone's hearts pounded with anticipation.
"First, the corn team! The existing farming corps will handle corn cultivation! The team leader is Baal!"
"Baal! Can eat anything! Will eat corn well too!"
"Good, love the energy. Next! The soybean team! The 2nd Star and 3rd Star legions will handle soybean cultivation! Team leader is the 3rd Star Master!"
"...Thank you for freeing me from lightning rod duty!"
"I never said you were free!"
"…Huh?"
"Soybeans by day! Lightning rod by night!"
"..."
"Now, finally! The pumpkin team! The 4th Star legion will handle pumpkin cultivation! Team leaders are Asurat and Sirgi!"
"…Gah, Demon King? Why do I have to work with this short-tempered rocket launcher?!"
"That's my line. You can't even launch on your own."
"Alright, alright, don't fight! Hey! Sirgi, put the blade away! With that, the team assignments are complete, and now I will announce the most important matter!"
"…?"
The most important thing?
There's more to be announced?
Everyone was puzzled.
"The three teams just announced! Like the three crops that will grow together in one field! Must not compete or bicker! But cooperate! And every time you sincerely carry out your duties with a cooperative attitude! You will receive a praise sticker!"
"…Eh?"
"What?"
Praise sticker?
Kim Jangcheol continued.
"And! At the end of the season! When the final harvest is complete! The team with the most praise stickers will be declared the winner, and will receive the largest food rations until the next season!"
"…!"
Everyone's eyes widened.
But the bombshell didn't end there.
"Furthermore! Among the winning team, the top two individuals with the most praise stickers! Will be appointed to the currently vacant positions of 2nd Star Master and 4th Star Master!"
"...!"
Boom!
He's giving out Star Master positions?
Just for getting praise stickers?
So the strongest demon doesn't become a Star Master anymore?
Everyone's eyes didn't just widen—they practically popped out.
'So, the one who farms cooperatively and does it well… becomes a Star Master?'
'Then who gives out the praise stickers?'
'Of course it has to be the Demon King, right?'
That seemed like the obvious answer.
Everyone assumed so.
…Until that very moment.
"Thus! I now introduce the one who will be in charge of awarding praise stickers throughout this season!"
'…Huh?'
'Wait, it's not the Demon King?'
'Then who is it?'
As everyone's curiosity reached its peak—
A bright, innocent voice rang out through everyone's eardrums.
"Tbong!"
[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 ]