The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 192

Chapter 192
“What do you mean, ‘I can’t see it’? Are you talking about that kid's use of mana?”
The Thunder Emperor immediately realized the so-called difference was between himself and the unconscious Asian kid. He laughed.
“Kyoreh, you should know it well, right? Once you reach my level, my mana naturally circulates in time with my breath. It flows like blood, without conscious effort.”
Excellent mana control was what made a great player great. After all, so long as the mana control technique was suitable, a greater mastery meant mobilizing mana at greater speed and potency. However, things became different at the level of National Treasures. They didn’t rely much on techniques to enhance themselves.
“Trying to forcibly block the flow of mana that naturally strengthens my body is no different from forcing an athlete to run while holding their breath,” the Thunder Emperor said.
Kyoreh snorted. “That’s a big exaggeration. Then how many hours do you think this kid ran while holding his breath?”
The Thunder Emperor frowned in annoyance. “Hmph, I was making an analogy, one that applies only to me; that kid’s situation is different. He’s a mortal who has to control his mana consciously.”
The Asian kid was only in his mid-teens. Granted, visiting Reinhardt at his age meant he couldn’t be ordinary. To have reached here, he was clearly talented, and he was probably one of the top in the world in terms of luck. Even so, the kid was, after all, still a kid. He couldn't infuse his body with mana—not without relying on a mana control technique. On this, the Thunder Emperor was certain.
After all, a National Treasure’s ability to directly manipulate mana as finely as the fingers on their hand was a matter of experience. How could a random boy achieve it?
The Thunder Emperor was convinced of his reasoning, but... Kyoreh stared at him, then questioned, “Do you really think he’s a mortal?”
It was a statement that made the Thunder Emperor’s heart sink.
“Are you really saying he’s in the same realm as me?” The Thunder Emperor knew Kyoreh’s personality well. He was someone who never spoke empty words. To be exact, the old farmer had no social skills and spoke rudely.
Kyoreh shook his head. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
The Thunder Emperor relaxed. Despite Kyoreh’s high evaluation, it seemed the Asian kid wasn’t at the level of some unprecedented monster.
Kyoreh continued,
“Mana is still a conscious effort for the boy. But that’s what makes him more remarkable; since starting his training, the boy has crossed his limits countless times, passing in and out of consciousness as he did, but he never once drew on his mana.
“The more difficult something is, the more a person relies on mana. And at the threshold of our limits, drawing on our mana is a deep-rooted survival instinct.”
Countless outsiders visited Reinhardt to become farmers—or more precisely, countless outsiders aimed to become farmers to visit Reinhardt. Either way, Kyoreh and the other farmers had witnessed many geniuses. And indeed, some had admirable persistence; however, none had overcome their survival instincts. At the brink of collapse, they inevitably protected themselves, drawing upon their mana just before losing consciousness in order to supplement their strength and energy.
Meanwhile, Jae-Hyeok showed no signs of doing the same. His mana never stirred, not in the slightest, even as his eyes rolled back and he slipped into unconsciousness.
“Um.”
Though reluctant, the Thunder Emperor eventually grunted in agreement with Kyoreh’s words. He glanced at the unconscious boy. Rivalry still burned in his heart, but now there was something else, something more:
A seed of respect.
***
This place...
Jae-Hyeok opened his eyes in an unfamiliar place to an unfamiliar, musty smell.
The ceiling and walls were made of logs—the old-fashioned construction immediately orientated Jae-Hyeok.
Ah, right. I’m in Reinhardt.
Slash, slash, slash.
The sound of rice being cut could be faintly heard. Jae-Hyeok got up from the hard bed and looked out the window.
It was night. Stacks of straw were burning in the middle of the field, lighting the farmers’ way as they continued harvesting rice.
Did I faint?
“How pathetic.”
Jae-Hyeok opened the door of the hut and stepped outside. The farmers heard the sound and turned their heads to greet Jae-Hyeok.
“Oh! You're up.”
“You could’ve rested a bit longer.”
The atmosphere seemed different from—
“Fill your stomach first.”
—Even Kyoreh didn’t urge him to work and instead handed him some food.
I was worried they might kick me out for fainting...
Relieved, Jae-Hyeok gratefully accepted the two boiled potatoes.
Kyoreh stared at him before laughing heartily. “I’ve never seen an outsider thank me for plain boiled potatoes. In particular, humans from Earth tend to be picky about food.”
Kyoreh’s gaze drifted to a large farmer in the distance. From his broad back, the farmer looked like a bear.
Somehow, he looks familiar...
Jae-Hyeok tilted his head before saying politely, “Any food is precious, I’m grateful for any hospitality. Besides, root crops are rich in nutrients.”
In this world, Jae-Hyeok was a stranger. He was like a lone boat floating at sea. So as far as he was concerned, having food in hand was already a great blessing. Not to mention, Butler Hwang often went on about the nutritional density of potatoes, so he knew it was good to have them.
Jae-Hyeok began peeling the skin of the warm potato. His eyes suddenly went wide.
“Huh?”
A radiant light shimmered across the potato.
Am I seeing right?
Jae-Hyeok rubbed his eyes and brought the potato closer. No, he wasn’t mistaken. The potato really shimmered with a faint, rainbow-colored light.
Is it rotten?
Usually, rotten food turned yellow or blue-green. In that sense, a potato that was red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet should be dangerous.
Still, it’s pretty,
Jae-Hyeok thought.
Seeing his expression, Kyoreh explained, “This is a Rainbow potato, one of Reinhardt’s specialties.”
Well, it would be rude to hesitate any longer.
Jae-Hyeok nodded and bit into the potato.
Salty, sweet, spicy, sour, savory—a plethora of flavors bombarded his taste buds. Having been born and cultivated in an aristocratic family, Jae-Hyoeok was rarely so openly shocked, but now he forgot his etiquette and exclaimed with a mouth full of potato, “Wow!”
Jae-Hyeok was in awe.
Not even gourmet food can compare. I’ve never tasted anything like it.
The smile on Kyoreh’s face deepened as he said, “So, how is it?”
“Well, my first thought is that Reinhardt’s people must be happy.” Jae-Hyeok’s voice trembled slightly as he answered. “I can see why you’re all so serious about agriculture.”
Those were Jae-Hyeok’s sincere thoughts. The Rainbow potatoes... were a food that could satisfy everyone’s taste.
People who lived on them must always be looking forward to mealtime.
Not to mention, the golden walnuts are also grown by farmers...
Jae-Hyeok realized that Reinhardt’s farmers had every reason to be proud.
He could also understand why they were trying to recruit more farmers for the harvest.
Well, that was good. Jae-Hyeok thought that if he could become a farmer, it could be a great thing; the golden walnuts were a treasure-level elixir. If he could grow one for his father, then it would be worth it.
“Hmm.”
Seeing the glowing sincerity in Jae-Hyeok’s eyes, Kyoreh’s cheeks twitched as he fought down his laughter. Jae-Hyeok misunderstood Kyoreh’s expression and quickly grabbed a sickle.
“I’m full. I’ll go and help with the harvest right away.”
“Leave out the words ‘right away.’ What matters for you isn’t getting things done quickly, but doing them correctly.”
In other words, don’t be hasty...
Jae-Hyeok kept Kyoreh’s advice in mind and obediently nodded.
“Yes.”
Jae-Hyeok went to join the other farmers. That farmer who was as big as a bear lowered his sickle and approached him.
“Hey, you’re from Earth, right?”
The man’s voice carried the weight of years, and he had a presence that was hard to fathom. Startled, Jae-Hyeok turned his head and shivered in recognition.
Thunder Emperor Denovine—National Treasure of Earth’s top superpower, the United States, and one of the strongest players in the world—was staring intently at Jae-Hyeok while wearing a sweat-soaked hat pressed low over his face.
“Thunder Emperor... ”
“The fact that you recognize me shows that you’re from Earth. You are a talented Asian. You must be from China or Japan.”
South Korea wasn’t even mentioned. Such was the current position of South Korea that the Kang family had protected for generations.
Father, our country has fallen to such a state in just eight years...
Jae-Hyeok was swallowing his sighs when the Thunder Emperor continued.
“I tried to work in the fields using your method while you were unconscious, but it wasn’t easy. At the very least, in this place, I acknowledge you as my rival.”
He extended his hand for a handshake.
Jae-Hyeok realized what was meant by his “method” and politely shook the other person’s hand. He replied, “It is an honor.”
One was the most arrogant man in the world; the other, an unknown boy. And yet—
“I won’t lose.”
Jae-Hyeok declared without bowing his head. He respected the strong, but he didn’t admire them. Not to mention the Thunder Emperor, he had even once sworn to never follow in his father’s footsteps.
“You are more cocky than I thought. Rather, I like it... Huh?”
The Thunder Emperor studied the confident expression of the boy before him. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain from the scar on his chest, an old wound from ten years ago.
Is it going to rain?
The Thunder Emperor paid it no mind. He returned his attention to Jae-Hyeok and said, “I’ll end the small talk here. We will see who earns that old man’s recognition first within ten days. The competition starts now.”
“Okay.”
Jae-Hyeok and the Thunder Emperor—though different, they each had things to learn from the old farmer. In this competition, which would proceed day and night without rest, the starting line was fair.
By the end of the second day, even the farmers were dumbfounded.
“Wow. Not bad at all.”
“Kyoreh, you’ve brought two talented people this time. At this rate, Boland might pay us a visit.”
“Perhaps... ” Kyoreh said.