This world is something shaped by God.
Therefore, this world is originally perfect.
As such, there is no land in this world that is without value.
Even so, the reason not all land fulfills its potential is solely because of humans—the only imperfect beings in this world.
Therefore, humans must give their utmost.
That must be the mission God has bestowed upon them.
"...Reivaj Asrahan, son of Jozef Asrahan, pays respects to His Majesty the King, rightful sovereign of this land."
"...…"
A clear voice rang in his ears.
The King of the Camilan Kingdom, Palinos Giovani Camilan, slowly opened his eyes. Then, he looked down toward the direction the voice had come from.
A young man knelt on one knee, offering a formal greeting.
Would even the finest painter, pouring their soul into the brush, be able to produce such a masterpiece?
As he beheld the young man's remarkable appearance, the king couldn't help but smile.
Truly fitting.
That youth's appearance might well be the very perfection God aspired to.
King Palinos opened his mouth, satisfied.
"My loyal subject, Reivaj Asrahan. I am filled with great joy at your safe return."
"I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty's grace. That I have returned safely from the Abandoned Land is thanks only to Your Majesty's immense favor."
"...Hoho, do you truly mean those words?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"I see. Very well."
The king's smile deepened with satisfaction.
"Then, son of the Asrahan family. I have high expectations. What did you see, what did you discover in the Abandoned Land?"
…Thump, thump.
The king's heart fluttered with anticipation.
He believed there could be no land without value in the world shaped by God. To test that belief, he had sent the most outwardly perfect person he knew to the Abandoned Land.
What, then, had Reivaj Asrahan discovered there? Had he found something that would shatter the perception that the Abandoned Land was nothing but barren, lifeless death?
At that moment, Reivaj Asrahan responded.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I have seen, and I have discovered."
"Very well, what is it?"
"This, Your Majesty."
Reivaj Asrahan undid the large silk cloth placed at his side. With a rustle, the fabric fell away.
What emerged was...
'A… dung… lump…?'
It was huge.
Pitch-black.
Unimpressive.
That was the king's first impression upon seeing the chuno made from a super potato.
He was inwardly baffled. He even briefly wondered whether this beautiful young man dared to mock him. But the king was not hasty.
Suppressing his confusion with practiced grace, he asked calmly,
"...I believe a bit more explanation is needed."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This is what is called chuno."
"Ch… chuno…?"
"That is correct, Your Majesty. Additionally, this is also a potato that has been dried through a special process."
"A potato, you say? That?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"...…."
The king, who had tilted his head at the name chuno, changed expressions at the mention of a potato.
'Truly a potato…? That large?'
Could it be that Reivaj didn't actually know what a potato looked like? Had he mistaken a pumpkin for one?
That's how big the thing was.
The king spoke.
"Very well. Bring it here."
"It is an honor, Your Majesty."
Reivaj lifted the massive potato with both hands.
"...…."
It was big.
No—damn big.
The king nearly blurted out a crude expression he hadn't used since his crown prince days, twenty-five years ago.
Seeing the sheer size of the chuno up close, he asked in astonishment,
"If this is truly, as you claim, a potato… can it be eaten? This thing?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"Then let us taste it."
The king gestured.
A Chamberlain quickly approached in small steps. In his hand was already a silver spoon.
The king gave an order.
"Taste it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The old Chamberlain chewed the chuno with his wrinkled lips. The king watched him with equal parts concern and anticipation.
"Well? How is it?"
"Though somewhat dry, it is mild and savory, Your Majesty."
"Any signs of toxicity?"
"None that I can detect, Your Majesty."
"...…."
In other words, it was edible. This chuno. This enormous potato.
Thanks to that, the king felt as though he'd been struck by lightning.
'My word… oh Lord…'
He looked anew at the super potato chuno and thought,
'My stubborn belief that no flaw could exist in the world God shaped… that there would be no useless land… is this finally bearing fruit?'
His shoulders trembled.
Suppressing his overwhelming emotions, the king asked to confirm,
"Son of Asrahan family. Is this chuno you've brought… the only one?"
"No, Your Majesty."
"You mean there are more?"
"I have brought enough to fill half a cart, Your Majesty."
"Half a cart… worth?"
"That is correct, Your Majesty."
"Then, are you telling me that such massive potatoes were found in great quantity in the Abandoned Land? Where exactly?"
"A map of the Abandoned Land was never made, so I cannot specify the exact location. But it was a place so deep and remote, none had ventured there before, Your Majesty."
Reivaj answered nervously. Of course, that answer was a lie.
The note Kim Jangcheol left behind.
He had followed it faithfully.
'...'
Kim Jangcheol had said that if he answered this way, suspicion would not fall on him, and the credit for bringing the chuno would be accepted.
Please, let it be so.
He waited anxiously for the king's reaction.
At that moment, King Palinos burst into hearty laughter.
"Hoho, hohoho!"
The king was thoroughly pleased.
And he thought,
'Judging by that answer, this potato's origin must not be false. No—nowhere in this world have I heard of potatoes growing to such size!'
Perhaps it truly was found in the Abandoned Land.
That made the king all the more delighted.
'Indeed. The world had simply misunderstood. There is no such thing as useless land. No land is truly abandoned. If such a thing appears to exist, it is only because imperfect humans have failed to draw out its true value.'
He thought to himself.
'That such a potato could exist, could grow—then how fertile and rich must the depths of the Abandoned Land truly be? A golden land of abundance!'
Just imagining it made his heart pound.
A barren, desolate wasteland where no one could live, where no life was said to grow—known to all as the Abandoned Land.
But what if he were to explore it properly?
What if he developed it and claimed it as a colony of the kingdom?
"...…"
His name would be etched forever in the history of the kingdom—no, of the entire continent. Furthermore, he would be inscribed into the sacred annals of the Holy Order as the one who proved God's perfect creation.
Having reached that conclusion, the king finally made up his mind.
"...Chamberlain."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I shall organize a larger, more systematic expedition than the one we sent before. Immediately, at once."
"At Your Majesty's command."
Chamberlain bowed his head.
The king's smile grew even more satisfied.
The king who issued the command.
The Chamberlain who received the command.
Neither of them could have imagined.
That the much larger expedition they were sending into the Abandoned Land would awaken some unimaginable being slumbering deep within it.
***
"Hwaa… this is seriously incredible."
A sigh of admiration came out naturally.
So did a regular sigh.
"Look at this dirt, will you? Good grief."
The deepest part of the Abandoned Land.
While some king was showering praises and dreaming of golden fertility—this was the front yard of the Demon King's Castle.
Kim Jangcheol, who was actually inspecting the soil there, let out a five-hit combo of deep sighs.
"Ugh. This place, seriously. Sigh. Every time I look at it, there's just no hope. Sheesh."
Could there be soil worse for farming anywhere in the world? And yet, who else but a fool would try to survive here by making compost, dumping it in, and tilling the land?
'…Yup, that fool is me.'
Suddenly, a wave of self-loathing filled his chest!
But Kim Jangcheol quickly shook off the pessimistic thoughts. They wouldn't help reality or future progress.
Instead, he focused on the miraculous results he and his subordinates had achieved despite the terrible conditions.
Then, raising his voice, he announced the results to all.
"Hear me, demons of the Abandoned Land!"
The sighs he'd just been letting out were gone without a trace. Now, the Demon King's booming declaration echoed across the field!
"In the field we cultivated together with our strength! The corn seeds we sowed with effort! Have finally grown! And surpassed a handspan in height!"
"A handspan! A handspan!"
"That's right! We've achieved our first goal: breaking through the one-handspan milestone for corn sprouts! Now then! What should we do next!"
Kim Jangcheol shouted and asked.
The demons responded loudly.
"Soybeans! Soybeans!"
"Soybeans! Soybeans!"
"Soybean planting day!"
"Soybean planting day!"
"..."
Why do these guys repeat everything with soybeans twice? Does the curse of the soybeans actually exist in this world?
Kim Jangcheol quickly set aside that strange thought and refocused on reality. Then he shouted,
"That's right! Today, we plant soybeans!"
"Plant! Soybeans!"
"Plant! Soybeans!"
"Now, what must we remember when planting soybeans? Listen up!"
"Around the corn stalks—north, south, east, west! Plant four soybeans evenly spaced!"
"Four evenly spaced soybeans!"
"Good! Begin! Soybean team, deploy!"
"Plant! Soybeans!"
"Plant! Soybeans!"
The 2nd and 3rd Star legion soldiers making up the soybean team shouted fiercely as they dashed down the furrows. The crustacean of the 3rd Star Legion used its pincers to quickly poke the soil four times around each corn sprout.
Puk puk puk puk!
Small holes were dug to the north, south, east, and west of each corn stalk!
Then the carnivorous plant of the 2nd Star Legion followed behind. Using its Venus flytrap, it delicately picked up kidney soybeans and dropped them into the holes made by the 3rd Star Legion soldier.
And thus, the entire process of soybean planting proceeded smoothly.
Days passed.
Finally, the soybeans sprouted leaves. They grew. They began to climb the previously sprouted corn stalks. Everyone's hopes for a successful farming season swelled even further.
And at that same moment.
The large-scale expedition sent by the King of the Camilan Kingdom arrived at the borders of the Abandoned Land and made a discovery.
A sealed ruin—where a previous Demon King of the Abandoned Land had been imprisoned.
[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 ]