The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 190

“Oh? It’s been a long time since Kyoreh brought a newcomer. I guess Boland’s scolding motivated you to put in more effort, eh?”

“It has nothing to do with him. This guy just deserves to be a farmer. That’s all.”

“You are as picky as ever.”

It was harvest season in Reinhardt.

The crouching farmers duckwalked along the crop rows. With every step, bundles of golden rice stalks fell to their sickles.

The speed was astonishingly fast, and the surrounding rice stalks visibly receded. But even so, the golden fields spanned to the horizon—the farmers’ efforts were akin to draining an ocean using teacups.

They must be really lacking manpower. Is that why they kidnap people? Looking at the golden sea, Jae-Hyeok’s expression dropped; this wasn’t the life he’d imagined for himself in Reinhardt.

Exploring an unfamiliar civilization, fighting terrifying monsters, leveling up, gaining fame, receiving quests from the locals, and eventually standing before Princess Iris as a hero... that was more or less what he’d expected. After all, here he stood: in a secret world, and at the request of a princess, no less. Jae-Hyeok couldn’t have helped but imagine great things were in store for him.

The reality?

I couldn’t even cross the wall and got kidnapped by a random farmer....

Jae-Hyok fell into a daze. At some point, the farmer called Kyoreh handed him a farming tool.

“Take this.”

“......”

“I hope you will also help in the harvest.”

“......”

Being kidnapped and forced to work in the fields?

Could he just stay here like this?

There was no way.

Jae-Hyeok took a deep breath and stared directly into Kyoreh’s eyes.

“I’m in a position where I can’t waste even one minute or second. I don’t wish to offend you, but I’m in no position to help with an unscheduled harvest.”

Jae-Hyeok cautiously expressed his position. He hoped the farmer would show some mercy. After all, not helping wasn’t the same as harming.

Of course, it didn’t work.

“In front of the flow of the fields, an individual’s circumstances are trivial. If we miss the harvest season, the crops we’ve worked hard to grow will rot where they are, and someone somewhere will starve to death. Can you shoulder the weight of this grave sin? Can you accept it?”

“......?”

What the hell kind of logic is that?

Jae-Hyeok was so dumbfounded he couldn’t reply, causing Kyoreh to click his tongue in disapproval.

“That expression shows that you don’t understand a thing. Aren’t you human? Tell me, boy. How could we stand without the earth below us? How could we survive without the soil’s bounty?

“If you are a human being, you owe a debt to the land. It would be one thing if you weren’t given the chance to repay it. But I’m giving you the chance.”

“You’re saying that the harvest is an opportunity to repay the earth?” Jae-Hyeok asked.

“That’s right. The more you help with the harvest, the less grain goes to rot. The bounties of the land are precious and life-sustaining. By working hard to accept its gifts, we show our sincerity to the land. And by sharing its gifts, we foster life and all its vibrance, which is of itself a repayment to the land. It’s a wonderful thing. Besides... ” Kyoreh’s eyes narrowed. “You have no reason to refuse, right?”

Maybe... I shouldn’t refuse?

Jae-Hyeok gradually got a strange feeling. Unless the farmer in front of him was a lunatic, there must be a clear reason for his insistence. Just what am I missing? Jae-Hyeok returned his attention to the fields, and a chill ran down his spine.

He’d noticed it, then: the sound of the farmers cutting rice was monotonous. Each time the dozens of farmers swung their sickles, hundreds of rice stalks fell, and a single slicing sound resounded across the fields.

It was clearly abnormal, sounding as if only one farmer was working the fields.

How? Jae-Hyeok’s dark eyes fell on the farmers. Men and women of all ages were chatting casually while swinging their sickles. Every person seemed to be holding different conversations, and their eyes were looking at different places. Yet, the motion of their sickles moved in perfect unity. It reminded Jae-Hyeok of soldiers who’d been training together in the same camp for several years.

In addition, Jae-Hyeok paid attention to the farmers’ posture: with each swing, they straightened their backs and lifted their heels, bearing their full weight in their toes alone to maintain perfect balance and control.

As impressive as it was, it looked like torture. However, the farmers’ expressions were placid, as if they were used to it.

This is why they are strong, Jae-Hyeok realized.

The reason why Kyoreh could single-handedly overwhelm the S-class crocodile beastmen wasn’t because he was exceptional, but because he was a farmer: these are people who push themselves with brutal training methods. Jae-Hyeok was awed. Reinhardt’s farmers had reinterpreted farming as a martial art.

“Hmph. It looks like you understand. As expected of the one I chose.”

Kyoreh smiled with satisfaction when he saw the realization in Jae-Hyeok’s eyes.

[A hidden quest has been created.]

Along with the unfamiliar System message, a question window appeared in front of Jae-Hyeok.

[Fun and Enjoyable Training!

★ Hidden Quest ★

Live together with Kyoreh, a farmer of Reinhardt. Your time with him will make you grow into a great farmer.

Quest conditions: live with Kyoreh for three weeks. During this time, complete every task he assigns to his satisfaction.

Clearance reward: Strength +30. Stamina +60. Any Mastery-type Skills will increase by 2 levels. The Skill “Farming” will be obtained.]

Just by farming, my stats will increase by 90?

Jae-Hyeok gained 8 stat points per level-up; through a simple calculation, the stats awarded by the quest were worth more than 10 levels. And yet the stats weren’t the true reward; rather, that would be the 2-level increase to his Master-type Skills.

[Noble Chivalry Level 2.

Type: passive.

* Knights excel in all martial arts. The All Mastery passive is unlocked.

* A knight’s mind is as firm as iron. Resist most status conditions and endure pain well.

* For every achievement that aligns with the virtues of bravery, devoutness, courtesy, honor, righteousness, and loyalty, you will unlock and develop a new Code of Chivalry.

* For every fifth Code of Chivalry, a beneficial event will occur.

* First event: Invited by Reinhardt’s third princess, Iris.]

[All Mastery Level 2.

Type: passive.

Attack power, accuracy, defense, and evasion rate are permanently increased by 12% for all weapon types.]

Mastery-type Skills were rare. Most players went all their lives without acquiring one. Were Jae-Hyeok also such a person, he might’ve forgone the stat points and dismissed this ridiculously-named quest outright.

But he had All Mastery, the pinnacle of all Mastery-type Skills. There was no way he could turn his nose up at this so-called “Fun and Enjoyable Training quest.”

There was just one problem—

The National Treasure candidate exam is in ten days.

No matter how precious the opportunity before him, even if it was a chance he would never get again, he couldn’t give up on the National Treasure candidate examination. He simply didn’t have three weeks to spare for the farmer’s quest.

If I back down from the candidate exam, Ji Cheon-Myeong will advance a hundred steps... Under Ji Cheon-Myeong’s influence, the South Korean media would unite to paint him as cowardly and weak, smearing not only his reputation but the reputation of the Kang family, once again.

In the end, Jae-Hyeok squeezed his eyes shut and bowed to Kyoreh, making a request. “... Ten days. Can I receive your precious teachings for just ten days?”

“Hmph, it turns out you’re as arrogant as the rest of the outsiders after all. You think you can digest my teachings in only ten days... ”

Kyoreh frowned and was about to lose his temper, only to slowly close his mouth. He studied Jae-Hyeok a moment longer, taking in the boy’s eager face, as well as the pain and regret in the boy’s black eyes.

“It seems you really have unavoidable circumstances.” He murmured. Then Kyoreh seemed to realize something and asked, “Is this your first time receiving a quest?”

“No, I have several experiences.”

“So you know what’ll happen if you leave early and fail to meet the quest’s conditions?”

“Yes, I won’t receive the rewards.”

In fact, it was common for failed quests to come with further penalties. But fortunately, Kyoreh’s quest didn’t have any.

Kyoreh wondered, “You know that and still want to only learn for ten days? You claim that every minute and second is precious, but you want to waste ten days?”

“Sir, I am sure that ten days with you will be a valuable experience in and of itself.”

An increase in stats and Skills... It was definitely a waste to miss out on the clearance rewards.

I’ll probably feel regret every time I think back on this moment. But it can’t be helped. Sometimes, choices come with sacrifices. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

How much had he and his family lost over the years? Under fate's stern hand, Jae-Hyeok had come to understand certain life truths earlier than most.

Jae-Hyeok firmed his resolve. Rewards are useless if they come at the cost of my family’s honor.

More than anything, he strove to grow stronger in order to restore his family. So, how could he choose quest rewards over the opportunity to defend his family’s honor? That would be putting the cart before the horse, an insult to his life’s mission.

Spending ten days refining my bodily control will still be a huge help. Besides, it’s also an opportunity to get to know the farmers.

Jae-Hyeok calculated that if he gained enough favorability this time, he might be able to avoid getting kidnapped on his next visit to Reinhardt.

That’s right. Even without the quest, I won’t lose out. Jae-Hyeok tried to console himself with this thought.

Suddenly, Kyoreh said with a serious expression, “There is a way to compress the three weeks into ten days.”

He explained, “By its very nature, farming is subject to changes in the weather. Sometimes, because of a harsh drought or unexpected rainy seasons, we are forced to delay or hasten the harvest.”

Ding!

Just then, the content of the quest window changed in Jae-Hyeok’s vision.

[Even More Fun and Enjoyable Training!

★ Hidden Quest ★

Live together with Kyoreh, a farmer of Reinhardt. Your time with him will make you grow into a great farmer.

Quest conditions: live with Kyoreh for ten days. During this time, complete every task he assigns to his satisfaction.

Clearance rewards: Strength +30. Stamina +60. Any Mastery-type Skills will increase by 2 levels. The Skill “Farming” will be obtained. Affinity with Kyoreh will increase.

*If you don’t complete the schedule within the allocated period, affinity with Kyoreh will decrease significantly.]

“A farmer’s schedule is always changing, so I can adjust your training period to ten days, but are you prepared?”

After refreshing, the quest now included a penalty—namely, should Jae-Hyeok fail, he would lose favor with the monstrous farmer before him. It was a risk to accept. But... It’s a hundred, no, a thousand times better than giving up without being able to do anything. Jae-Hyeok nodded firmly.

“Yes, I’m ready.”

[The quest has been accepted!]

“Okay. Let’s see if you can handle it.”

Kyoreh smiled with satisfaction. Then he took a breath and stood on his tiptoes.

His toes, covered with calluses, dug deep into the soil.

Watching the farmer, Jae-Hyeok was again in awe. Although he’d also trained himself to have explosive and stable footwork, it was a far cry from the farmer’s level.

“Detecting groundwater veins and cultivating the land—this is the essence of the farmer’s steps, and the foundation of agriculture.”

Having finished his explanation, the farmer took one step, and the earth opened into a wide, neat trench. It looked like it had been dug with a plow or shovel.

“You have to master this first,” said the farmer.

Meanwhile, not far away...

“Dammit! Let me go! I am the Thunder Emperor!”

“Thunder Emperor? What nonsense. You’d better shut up before the Thunder God hears you and drops a thunderbolt on your head.”

A middle-aged man whose face was smeared in ochre-colored camouflage paint was arguing with two farmers.

“I’m going in! I must get over that wall!”

“I told you. Prove your qualifications! This time, I hope you’ll behave and finish your training.”

“Kuaaah! Do you really want to be roasted alive?” The middle-aged man roared. He, Denovine, was a top ranker of the United States, the exalted Thunder Emperor!

When others debated the strongest in the world, the name Thunder Emperor was always brought up. Yet, here he was, wailing in Reinhardt’s fields; he’d lost count of how many times he’d tried to climb the city wall—only to be caught by the crazy farmers. Today, his patience had finally run out.

“Fine! I’ve held back and been respectful because I didn’t know what type of punishment I would suffer if I hurt you. However, you’ve crossed the line! Taste the power of the Thunder Emperor... Huh?”

The Thunder Emperor was gathering his mana when his eyes widened. In the distance, there was a farmer he recognized:

Kyoreh, the farmer who humiliated him during his first journey to Reinhardt!

He yelled, “You picked the wrong day to come here”—crackling mana gathered at the Thunder Emperor’s fingertips. But just as he prepared to release a thunderbolt, he froze; the farmers who were carrying him away had noticed the boy who looked like a newcomer, standing next to Kyoreh and talking with him. They whistled.

“What an impressive kid. I have never seen an outsider who gets along so well with Yeum’s son, who is known for being strict.”

“If Kyoreh has acknowledged him, then he must have great talent. I wouldn’t be surprised if he crosses the wall soon.”

“What?” The Thunder Emperor shook off the farmer’s hands. “Do you think I, the Thunder Emperor, will lose to a little boy who hasn’t even grown a beard?”

“......?”

The farmers watched in amazement as the Thunder Emperor jumped into the fields on his own.