Chapter 166. The Old Man and the Baby Dragon (1)
Transplanting Method.
Originally, all plants grow where their seeds are sown. That is the law of nature, and since the creation of the plant kingdom, it has generally been the accepted rule.
But for humans?
"There’s no such thing as the laws of nature!"
Trickle!
Kim Jangcheol poured water heated to 50℃ into a large bowl. Then, hundreds of rice seeds began to dive and bubble in the steaming water.
"In the Swamp of Decay, the transplanting method is the best."
He was certain.
And he thought, transplanting.
The word may sound complicated, but in truth, it's a simple farming method.
"Instead of planting the seeds directly into the paddy field, you grow them separately in a seedbed first, and then transplant the young rice plants into the field."
That is the transplanting method.
Just the small difference of growing the seedlings elsewhere beforehand and then replanting them into the paddy. A minor change in method.
But the difference in results?
Tremendous.
It was at that moment—
"But, my lord, if you soak the seeds in water like this and then grow them separately in a seedbed like you said... what benefits does that bring?"
A voice pierced through his thoughts.
Turning around, he saw one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Hartok, casting a curious gaze toward the rice seeds in the warm water.
"Hmm, what kind of difference do you think it would make?"
"Umm... I think it would allow you to weed out the underdeveloped ones first."
"Really?"
"Yes, my lord. Since you're growing the seedlings separately in the seedbed before transplanting them into the actual field later, you could discard the weak ones during that stage and only choose the healthy ones to plant in the field."
"Exactly."
Kim Jangcheol smiled faintly.
As expected of Hartok, the top scholar among the Four Heavenly Kings.
He continued.
"That's right. Thanks to that, we can select only the strong seedlings and create an elite batch. Naturally, the yield increases. It also becomes more resistant to pests and diseases."
Indeed.
Being able to start with a small, elite group—
That alone gives a significant advantage over direct seeding methods.
"So, what other benefits do you think it might have?"
"Umm..."
Hartok fell into deep thought.
Then soon asked back,
"Umm, this is just a guess of mine, but how long does it take to grow the seedlings in the seedbed?"
"The duration? It varies depending on the variety or environment, but this one we’re planting now takes about 40 days?"
"…Ah, then during those 40 days while the seedlings are growing in the seedbed, we could possibly plant other crops in the field space and harvest them quickly before transplanting."
"Ohh, you thought that far ahead?"
"Uh, yes. I just kept thinking about it and…"
Hartok gave an awkward laugh.
At the sight, Kim Jangcheol was genuinely impressed.
'This guy... he might really be a farming prodigy.'
Suddenly, he was reminded of his own undergrad days.
He had been just like that with his professors.
Whenever he had questions or sudden ideas during lectures, he’d go to the professor afterward to ask about them.
And the professors, always delighted, would toss him special little challenges—like personal quests.
And what did he do then?
He’d push himself to come up with answers by combining what he’d learned with his own reasoning.
Thanks to that—
He got into graduate school.
And became the professor’s personal slave.
“……….”
He should have skipped that dinner the professor invited him to. Should have ghosted them. What came over him, seriously... Ugh.
Sigh.
A sigh escaped him before he even realized.
Kim Jangcheol looked at Hartok. And for a brief moment, he understood how his old professors must have looked at him.
This guy was worth raising.
He’d be extremely useful.
Just as that realization hit him, Hartok suddenly felt a chill shoot up the back of his neck.
"………"
What was that just now?
Why is the Lord looking at me like that?
"..."
He didn’t know.
But one thing was for sure—the Lord was looking at him with sparkling eyes. And oddly enough, he seemed... excited?
"Right. There's another major advantage to the transplanting method. Most of the time while growing rice, you need to keep the paddy filled with water. Because of that, weeds can’t grow."
"...Ooh, then that would reduce a lot of labor needed for weeding, right?"
"Exactly. The water filling the swampy field cuts off oxygen to the soil surface. Plus, compared to haphazardly scattering seeds, you can neatly line up the seedlings during transplanting, which makes maintenance easier and helps distribute nutrients evenly in the soil."
"And... am I supposed to memorize all this?"
"Of course. You’re getting it now."
"…………"
Kim Jangcheol beamed.
Hartok’s face turned slightly pale.
"Why? Is it overwhelming?"
"No. It’s not that. It’s just—"
"Just?"
"I'm worried if I can learn it all without making any mistakes..."
"Tsk, Assistant Manager Ha, not this again?"
"…Y-yes?"
"Assistant Manager Ha, you’ve done well so far, haven’t you? I don’t have anyone else I can trust to handle this kind of work in the abandoned lands."
"…………"
Thump thump, dong-dong...
Once again began Kim Jangcheol’s Self-Esteem Boosting Flirting! Or perhaps Pride-Targeted Gaslighting!
Thanks to that, Hartok’s heartbeat started to draw an involuntary rising curve. And the more it did, the more skillfully and slyly Kim Jangcheol’s tongue danced.
"Now, think about it. Who else would I trust? Baal? Asurat? Sirgi? Would it be easier to make those guys memorize all this, or to teach it to Assistant Manager Ha?"
"Of course…"
"It’s Assistant Manager Ha. Isn’t that obvious?"
"Y-yes, sir."
"Right. That’s why I only trust Assistant Manager Ha. If it weren’t for you, could I even be pulling off a project like this? No way. Not even in my dreams. Am I wrong?"
"N-no, you’re right."
"So I’m counting only on you, Assistant Manager Ha. Hmm?"
"I’ll definitely live up to your trust..."
"No, no, you don’t have to push yourself that hard. Just having you here like this gives me strength."
"…………"
"So, since we’re on the topic, why don’t we start the lecture?"
"…Y-yes!"
Before they knew it, Hartok’s eyes were blazing!
Fueled by determination, he thought to himself.
That he would absorb the knowledge the Lord was passing down, one drop at a time. That he would flaunt that knowledge in front of the Farming Corps. That he would prove, clearly and undeniably, that he was a being of an entirely different level from the other Four Heavenly Kings.
"Alright, let’s begin the lecture. Transplanting isn’t without its downsides. The biggest drawback is that if a drought hits during the rice-planting season, the lack of water can ruin the entire year’s harvest. And it requires a huge labor force for transplanting. That’s why, in an ancient kingdom called Joseon, they were initially wary of this method. Too much of a gamble, they thought. Got that memorized?"
"Yes. Joseon, huh… There was a kingdom like that?"
"Yup, way back in the day."
"I see. Then was Joseon a region prone to spring droughts, when rice planting usually happens?"
"Roughly, yes."
"But here in the Swamp of Decay, there’s always plenty of water… So I think the drawbacks Joseon faced could be offset in this region?"
"Exactly! That’s our Assistant Manager Ha, alright!"
...Feeling super proud.
Hartok’s happiness index shot upward in a dramatic curve.
Kim Jangcheol’s smile deepened.
"Okay, I think we’ve got the basic concept of transplanting down. It’s going to get harder from here. Focus and memorize well."
"Yes."
"Now, let’s start from seed germination. The minimum temperature for germination varies by variety. Traditional varieties need 8–9°C, general rice needs 9–10°C, and unified strains need around 12°C. The optimal temperature is 30–34°C."
"Optimal temperature is... between 30 and..."
"And hot water sterilization. You see how I’ve soaked the seeds in hot water just now? That’s to prevent rice seedling nematode disease. You soak them in hot water at about 52°C for 10 minutes. Any hotter or longer, and you risk inhibiting germination, so be careful."
"Rice... drying... nematode disease…"
"Tsk! Watch your mouth! It’s ‘rice seedling nematode disease.’ Use the right term. Do you want an 18+ rating on this lecture?"
"...Yes, sir?"
"Anyway. Rice seeds can germinate once they absorb water equal to about 23% of their seed weight, and at 15°C, that takes about six days."
"Rice seeds... 23% of seed weight…"
Hartok’s head felt like it was going to explode.
Honestly, it just wasn’t sticking.
But every time he struggled, he hypnotized himself.
‘I am! The only one the Lord believes in! A genius!’
So I can do this.
I have to do this.
Because one day, I’ll show off this knowledge in front of everyone!
‘For that moment!’
With burning resolve, Hartok’s knowledge steadily, boldly accumulated, brick by brick.
"Shoo, I’m really looking forward to this, fufufu..."
"Right? We’ve all worked so hard for the end of this season."
"Gasp, you too?"
"Of course. Isn’t that a given?"
This was the far west of the Swamp of Decay—once called the pit of rot. But now, all the toxic marshland had been purified, and it was being transformed into rice paddies!
Drainage work was underway on the levees, which would be used for real rice farming in the near future. The Farming Corps members, digging with shovels on the embankments, each stole glances around them with faces full of anticipation.
And they searched eagerly.
"Where’s Tbong...?"
"Yeah. It’s about time he showed up, right?"
"Fufufu. Just let him show up—I’m ready to blow him away with a performance that’ll make last season look like a warm-up and sweep every praise sticker in sight."
Everyone remembered it.
The declaration the Demon King made at the end of the last Three Sisters Farming season.
That the accumulated praise sticker count would carry over to the next season. And that once this season ended, the vacant seats for the 3rd and 4th Star Masters would be filled based on performance.
‘…I can do it too! I can become a Star Master!’
Innate strength?
Overwhelming ferocity?
That era, where you earned a Star Master title with things like that, was over.
The days of devouring one another or invading the human realm just to feed yourself were history.
Now?
‘This is the age where the one who works hard, and shakes Tbong’s heart with an amazing performance, becomes a Star Master!’
‘And that someone is me!’
Thump thump!
Unbelievable.
That someone like them, born a powerless and ordinary member of the demon race, might become a Star Master—it was an electrifying thought.
‘If I do well!’
‘Just see how much my acting has improved!’
‘I’ve prepared even more than last season!’
‘So hurry up and show up already, Tbong!’
Even while digging, they waited—just for Tbong to arrive.
But it was strange.
A day passed after starting the levee repair. Then two. Then three.
And yet, Tbong didn’t show even a trace of his presence.
"…………"
What’s going on?
Could it be that Tbong is secretly watching this season? Hiding, observing our work from afar, scoring us in secret?
Everyone grew confused.
And worried.
And because of that, the only human among them—the former merchant turned Farming Corps recruit, Richmond—found things even tougher.
"This won’t do. Hey, Mr. Rich?"
The demon race farmers called over Richmond with a wave.
"Put down that shovel and go take a look over there."
"Eh? Over there...?"
"Yeah. Go check if Tbong’s around."
"B-but that area’s not fully developed yet..."
The stench there was overpowering.
And it made him dizzy.
...But he couldn’t finish that sentence.
"Ah, alright."
He was a sinner here.
A man who once manipulated the market with overflowing wealth, toyed with farm owners, hoarded grain, twisted prices, and tormented the starving, all for even more money.
That man... was himself. And the demon folk here hated him like a pest.
".........."
Richmond swallowed his bitter emotions and walked.
As he reached the edge of the undeveloped paddies, a stench hit him hard enough to make him faint on the spot.
‘Urgh…’
But he had to endure it.
If he collapsed here, he’d be scolded harshly by the very demon farmers who might help him back up. And that would be even more painful.
So...
It was then.
‘...Huh?’
Barely enduring the stench as he looked around, Richmond froze in place.
Because what he saw... was beyond belief.
".............."
It was a silver-haired human boy—toddling precariously through the still-untamed, dangerously toxic swamp.
This one is so exciting! I'm waiting for further interaction between Aged Kimchi and Kim Jangcheol!
I really enjoy reading this, and I adore the loyalty Credos' people held to him!