Rumble...!
Is it going to rain?
A thunderstorm, heard from somewhere.
That sound made Aged Kimchi open his eyes.
"........"
Was I dreaming?
Even in that dream, was I in the midst of bloodshed? No matter how hard I tried to escape, was I at the center of the carnage, unable to break free?
And so, did I cry and beg?
I don't know.
The past nineteen lives.
Lives filled solely with struggle and slaughter.
Have I broken free from those past lives?
I hope, that's what this is.
Rustle.
Just then, the rag covering the entrance to the cave was pulled aside.
A familiar face appeared beyond the rag.
"Oh? You're awake?"
The servant, Frontera, smiled warmly.
"It's almost noon. Come on out, sir. You should eat."
"........Ah."
Has that much time already passed?
That's not good.
In the past, I used to wake up right as the sun rose. No, even the slightest sound nearby would have me spring awake like lightning.
"......."
Have I grown dull?
I don't know.
Whether this is a good thing, or a bad thing.
Aged Kimchi shook off his thoughts and stood up. He didn't have any specific clothes to change into. The only thing on him was the fluttery, pink magical girl outfit. That's what he'd fallen asleep in.
"But about that outfit you're wearing, sir…"
As he was about to leave the cave, the servant Frontera, walking ahead, cautiously asked.
"By any chance… aren't you planning to change out of it?"
"........"
Not really.
He didn't feel the need to.
Because it was comfortable.
Because it fit him perfectly.
That's all he thought until now.
But perhaps, it was a little different now.
"It's just… the folks here in the Exiles' Village, they seem a little… how should I put it, uncomfortable. Maybe even a little anxious, you know?"
"My outfit… does it really look like that?"
"Oh, not to me, sir."
"It doesn't?"
"Yes, I'm someone without prejudice, sir."
"Prejudice?"
"Yup. What's the big deal about clothes, really? As long as a person earns money properly and consistently, that's all that matters. Hehehe."
"But life isn't all about money."
"Oh my, don't say such dangerous things. It is all about money, sir."
"That's a rather narrow worldview."
"Please just call it pragmatic. At least for me, sir."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Anyway, people here seem to be a little nervous around you, sir."
"My outfit… well, I suppose that could be the case."
Aged Kimchi looked down at his outfit.
A frilly skirt that barely covered half his muscular thighs. Above that, a tight-fitting top adorned with sparkling pink lace. And those cotton candy-like puffed shoulders. Not to mention the Heart-Sparkle Magical Girl Wand he held in his hand.
"......."
But this wasn't just clothing.
In the nineteen lives before,
It was the Summon of Duty that had always guided him, a divine outfit imbued with tremendous holy power.
And yet, even so, I...
"......."
Suddenly, he recalled what had happened three days ago.
When he'd first arrived at this Exiles' Village.
He was almost driven out.
Because of his outfit.
The villagers had thrown stones as soon as they saw him and shouted—
"You pervert! Get out of our village!"
"......"
It stung, in its own way.
It hurt emotionally.
His first encounter with a human settlement in this twentieth life.
"If not for our young master's good looks clearing up the misunderstanding, we wouldn't have been able to stay here, sir."
"Yeah. That was a relief."
This won't do.
This outfit, filled with holy power.
As precious as it is, now...
"I'll have to take it off. Do you happen to have anything I can change into?"
"Oh my, I've been waiting for you to say that, sir."
Swish!
The moment he finished speaking—
As if he'd been waiting for it, the servant Frontera swiftly untied the bundle in his hands. From it, he pulled out some worn but ordinary clothes—a shirt and pants.
"Don't worry about it. I got these for free from the locals."
"..... Thank you."
If he went to eat in his current outfit, he'd surely face those wary (?) stares from the villagers again. That wouldn't be good for his companions—the young master and the servant.
"Phew."
Resolved, Aged Kimchi grabbed the top.
He was determined to pull it off in one go.
But then...
Squish?
"Huh?"
It wouldn't come off.
He couldn't take it off.
No matter how hard he pulled.
It was like it was fused to his skin.
Or like an inescapable fate.
No matter what he tried, he couldn't remove it!
"What... is this…"
Rumble—!
A thunderclap boomed overhead, much closer now.
***
Boom!
A bolt of lightning struck inside his head.
No, more like a lightbulb flicked on.
[Bloodshot Eyes (Lv.1) skill has activated.]
[Observation Target: Nearby Sky]
'What... is this.'
Kim Jangcheol swallowed dryly without realizing.
He couldn't help it.
It was the Bloodshot Eyes skill he had acquired today.
He had meant to test it out by glaring at Tbong.
But Tbong had been so rowdy that his aim (?) slipped, and it registered as staring at the sky instead. So now... he was analyzing the sky!
'This is... nuts.'
He was speechless.
It didn't feel real.
But it was real.
Ding-dong!
A cheerful alert sound.
And along with it, a flood of information.
[Observation Target: Nearby Sky]
[You analyze the current state of the atmospheric layer in your location and predict changes over the next six hours.]
[Current temperature: 23.3℃] [Humidity: 21%] [Wind direction: East-Northeast] [Current wind speed: 1.2 m/s] [Accumulated rainfall: 0.0mm] [Precipitation chance: 0%]
[In 6 hours — Temperature: 14.6℃] [Humidity: 23%] [Wind direction: East-Northeast] [Expected wind speed: 1.5 m/s] [Accumulated rainfall: 0.0mm] [Precipitation chance: 0%]
[Clear, dry, and pleasant weather is expected to continue, but occasional sudden and strong gusts of wind may occur. Please take care to ensure nearby young demons or small demonic beasts are not blown away.]
Kim Jangcheol was at a loss for words.
And instantly, he realized.
This was...
'It's a weather forecast?'
That's right.
No matter how you looked at it, turned it upside down, or squinted through the corn on your pinky toe, this was a weather forecast!
'Insane.'
His heart thudded heavily.
He thought he'd just acquired a reasonably useful skill called Bloodshot Eyes. But this seemed to be far beyond just reasonably useful.
No, this was outright...
'Jackpot.'
A weather forecast that activates when you glare at the sky?
For someone farming, this was practically divine intervention. Farming and weather were inseparable.
'Of course. Whether it rains today or not—knowing that lets you decide whether to spray pesticide or make other plans for the day.'
That's why all farmers are sensitive to weather forecasts.
He was no different.
Even after coming here, he'd been the same.
While working on the potato field, he'd been anxious inside. The unfamiliar environment and climate he was facing for the first time. He couldn't accurately predict the weather here, and it always felt like walking on thin ice.
'...But that's goodbye now.'
Right now, he could only see six hours ahead, but if he kept developing this?
He could eventually forecast tomorrow, the day after, even next week's weather.
Kim Jangcheol gazed at the forecast floating before his eyes with deep emotion. Then suddenly, his eyes caught a note added at the bottom.
A wind advisory.
'Young children could be in danger, huh.'
That can't happen.
And suddenly, he remembered.
This place, Chavin de Huantar, where the Demon King's Castle stood.
Even in the game, while fighting here, there were times when random, sudden windstorms would hit.
And it wasn't just a strong breeze.
If you got caught in it, you'd be lifted sky-high and come crashing down.
Which, of course, meant a fall-death.
The problem was that no one knew when or where those tornado-like windstorms would strike.
'It didn't happen often, but if you got unlucky, the game difficulty spiked hard. Especially before you leveled up and your HP was low, those winds were brutal.'
He remembered struggling with windstorms until about his third run.
And now, one was apparently on its way.
".....Zephyros?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Can you call Hartok for me?"
"Here, to this place?"
"Yes. Right now."
Zephyros entered the Demon King's Castle. Soon after, he returned with Hartok and came back to the potato field.
"What business does the Demon King have with me?"
Maybe because he was summoned so suddenly.
Hartok looked a bit bewildered.
Kim Jangcheol said to him,
"A windstorm is coming."
"...Excuse me?"
"You know about it, right? That troublesome windstorm that blows through sometimes."
"Yes, I know of it. But what does that have to do with anything..."
Hartok was puzzled.
Why would the Demon King call him over for this?
Just for a mere windstorm?
'That's nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Is that really why he called for me?'
He furrowed his brows without realizing.
Yes, windstorms could be dangerous.
But not to him.
And certainly not to the Demon King.
There was no way they'd suffer damage from some silly gust of wind.
But then—
"The children could be in danger."
"...What?"
"So inform all the farming corps members, as their newly appointed chief captain. A sudden windstorm is expected in the next couple of hours, so restrict children from going outside, and if they absolutely must go out, make sure they're accompanied by an adult."
"Why... would I do that..."
Hartok looked even more confused.
If there was something to announce, couldn't the Demon King just say it himself?
Why delegate this to him?
…That's when—
He heard an unexpected answer from the Demon King.
"If the children are kept safe because of this, the farming corps will respect and revere their wise new chief captain even more, won't they?"
"......"
"And more people will recognize just how capable our newly appointed chief captain is."
"........"
"Wouldn't you agree?"
"Ah, yes... Yes, indeed."
"You agree, right? I'm hoping for that too."
"......"
Hartok's heart quietly, subtly thumped.
Kim Jangcheol continued.
"I trust you. Please deliver the message well. Oh, and after sending the children home, have all farming corps members gather at the potato field. We need to prepare in case the windstorm hits the fields."
"Ah, understood."
"Then go."
"Yes. But... um..."
"Hm?"
"Why have you been staring at me without blinking since earlier…"
"Hm? No reason."
"..."
"Go on. Quickly."
Hartok had a growing list of questions.
Why was he suddenly being treated with such favor?
And how could the Demon King predict a windstorm no one else could? Was that prediction even trustworthy?
'I just... don't get it.'
As Hartok turned to leave, the wrinkles in his brow deepened.
The Demon King, Credos, who had started to change at some point. He had no idea what that man was thinking anymore.
And then six hours passed.
During that time, three windstorms struck.
But not a single demon child died.
Even the potato field survived without damage.
Kim Jangcheol gave all the credit to Hartok.
"Our wise new chief captain! Not only did he predict the unexpected windstorm no one else foresaw! But he also issued the perfect orders to everyone! Preventing all misfortunes and damage that could have occurred! So now, everyone! A round of applause for our proud and capable new chief captain, Hartok! Clap! Clap! Clap!"
Clap! Clap! Clap!
It was a moment of roaring applause from everyone.
Hartok, once a schemer who had opposed the Demon King.
His internal sense of achievement, his thirst for recognition, his happiness index—all soared to their peak, shouting eternal loyalty to Kim Jangcheol.
It was the birth of a loyal vassal, one who would forever look only at Kim Jangcheol—an only-Jangcheol-devoted loyalist.
[T/L: Read more chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]