Season 4: Chapter 104. Feudal Society (3)
Donuts had built a farmer’s group, the Nonghyup, and used it to manipulate prices at will to secure an overwhelming position of power. On top of that, his Ivy League economics background made people treat him like a god. Donuts delivered results in return.
In the beginning, everything went great. Even if the Nonghyup’s individual members couldn’t match Sweet Radish, they were unmatched in Cheese Village as a group. That was until they met Almond.
“Woo-woo-woo! Step aside!”
“The Nonghyup isn’t yours anymore, Donuts!”
Completely outplayed by Almond’s potato illusion, Donuts’ standing plummeted.
“How does an economics major lose to a gym guy!?”
“Get out before the Ivy League sues you!”
Everyone told him to step down, but he couldn’t.
“There’s still... still a chance, everyone!”
He still had one shot left. A single move that could turn things around.
“Tonight, we’ve sent some physically capable members of the Nonghyup. If they can identify exactly what crops are planted... we can at least stop the Sweet Radish House alliance from buying their own cold storage warehouse. If we do that... the era of the Nonghyup will return!!”
Cold storage was an extremely important facility in farming. It allowed one to sell crops at high prices when the market was up, and stockpile when it was down.
However, it was absurdly expensive, required land to maintain, and impossible for an individual to buy in the current Cheese Village economy. Even with one, it was pointless unless one could profit from price fluctuations.
Donuts had formed the Nonghyup for that very reason because only he could respond to those price changes.
‘If another person gets one, I’m in trouble.’
Right now, Sweet Radish’s alliance was making suspicious moves. They had deployed Fertile Soil everywhere, started farming, and already made huge profits from price arbitrage. It looked like they would actually be able to afford their own cold storage with their own capital. That made tonight a do-or-die.
“Alright, everyone. You’ve all stocked your crops in the warehouse, right?”
“Yeah, but... is this even going to work?” Horn Ramen glared at him with open frustration. “If this fails again, you’d better be ready! Got it?!”
Even though it was just a game, the pressure in his tone was real.
Donuts nodded stiffly. “Just trust me one more time. I’ve done well so far, haven’t I? This time, Black Tea’s group will find out exactly what they’re growing! We go all-in on sell orders, and they’re finished!”
At that moment, a wolf’s howl rang out. “Awooooooo!!!”
***
Hiding in the darkness, Black Tea gave a hand signal to the rear. “They’re coming.”
The monsters were approaching.
Rumble... rumble... rumble...
The ground shook violently enough that they didn’t need a signal to notice.
“Grrrrrr!”
There were so many of them that the wolves’ growls rumbled from the village outskirts.
“There they are.” Green Tea pointed into the distance.
From that direction, the monsters charged.
“Good...” Black Tea grinned. “That’s a hell of a crowd.”
“Hehe! Right, sis? This is gonna be a total bloodbath~”
“It’s a festival~”
“Festival, festival~”
They giggled excitedly.
— LOL
— They’re way too hyped
— These monsters are on a whole different tier
— This is gonna be fun
— RIP Sweet Radish
Maybe they had expected another mole swarm, but not this.
“We might not even have to lift a finger.”
“Heaven’s on our side.”
White Chicken and Green Tea nodded as they watched the monsters approach. The closer they came, the more their numbers became apparent. Maybe heaven really was helping them. Even Almond couldn’t possibly stop this with his gear, not alone. The sheer difference in numbers was overwhelming.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble!!!
They quickly grew closer. Thinking about the wolves tearing through Sweet Radish’s farm at that speed almost made the others feel bad.
Black Tea began to rise. “They’re coming. Once they engage the monsters, slip in quietly and...”
WHAM!!!
A mass of black monsters slammed into her and sent her flying.
Only her scream echoed out, “Kyaaaaaaaaah!??”
Lemon was swept away with her.
“Wh-What!?”
“Guh!”
Green Tea and White Chicken, who had been a bit further back, tumbled to the ground and managed to raise their heads. They looked around for Black Tea.
“Wh... What the hell...?”
The monsters had passed right by Sweet Radish’s house. They had no idea where the wolves were headed.
Black Tea, thrown a good fifty meters away, was trembling. “Wha... what the hell is this...?”
— ??
— ?
— lol what
— What’s going on?
The viewers felt just as confused.
Lemon asked from nearby, “Sis... were they not targeting Sweet Radish’s house? It looks fine...”
She was right. Sweet Radish House remained completely untouched.
“No, Donuts said they always target the largest farm, right?” Green Tea tried to reason it out.
White Chicken nodded. “That’s true. It’s always been that way.”
It wasn’t just once or twice. On every night of the siege, without exception, the monsters had gone for the largest farm. That hypothesis was solid, so why an exception now of all nights? On the very night of their big operation?
Black Tea ground her teeth. “Dammit!”
Thud!
In frustration, she kicked at Sweet Radish’s field.
“Huh?”
A clump of dirt flipped up.
Everyone froze. This was definitely Sweet Radish’s property, which was protected by anti-tamper restrictions. A light kick wasn’t supposed to do anything. At the very least, Black Tea’s name would only turn red to mark her as a criminal, but neither happened.
“Why... How can I dig this up?”
Thud, thud, thud.
She grabbed a pickaxe and dug deeper. “There’s nothing planted here?”
There wasn’t a single crop in the soil.
“Gulp.”
Everyone swallowed hard.
“No way...”
BOOOOM!!
A massive explosion drew all their attention.
Somewhere in the village... a fire had broken out.
“F-Fire?”
“What the hell?”
Part of a house had collapsed, spilling lantern oil and quickly spreading flames. Some poor soul’s house was cursed beyond belief. Whose unlucky home could it be?
Green Tea reacted first. “Hiiiiiiiiiik?!”
— ?
— What?
— huh?
— Wait, isn’t that my house?
“T-That’s Black Tea’s place, isn’t it?”
“What kind of cursed crap are you spouting!?” Black Tea refused to believe it.
The monsters had attacked her farm instead of Sweet Radish’s?
“N-No, I’m serious! Run! Run, dammit, run!!”
Reality was cruel. It was her house.
It didn’t take long for everyone to accept the truth. The position on the map was unmistakable. Any thoughts of Sweet Radish’s field being diggable flew out of their heads. Panic took over instead.
“No... no, noooo!!”
They could only run for their lives. A massive swarm of monsters tore through everything Black Tea owned, and the flames leapt from her home to the one beside it... and the one beside that.
Fwoooosh...!
“Holy shit?”
Ding!
[jpg has donated 30,000 won.]
[I heard there was a fire somewhere... and then realized my house was burning down...]
Along with that donation, the inferno completely consumed Black Tea’s house.
CRAAASH!
***
Almond, Radish Servant, and Potato Servant watched the roaring blaze from their window.
“Complete success, Radish Servant!”
“Heh~ burn, baby, burn~”
— Radish Servant LOL
— Sweet Radish is a genius~
— lmao this is it
Sweet Radish’s plan had gone off without a hitch.
Almond nodded in satisfaction. “Well done, Radish Servant.”
“Thank you, sir!!”
Thanks to Radish Servant, they not only secured the Village Benefactor Coin but also completely avoided the monster attack and made a fortune in the process.
“I have something for you two.”
Back in his archery club days, Almond believed in giving credit when it was due. He stood up, pulled something out, and set it down on the table. It was a sign of absolute trust and the start of a new business venture.
[Iron Armor]
[Iron Sword]
[Iron Helmet]
...
He gifted each of them a full set of iron equipment.
“Th-This is?” Radish Servant’s eyes welled up with tears.
He felt a mix of gratitude and resentment.
‘This madman... He had this all along?’
Why hadn’t he shown them this earlier? He could’ve sold it for a fortune.
— Wait what? lol
— He had THAT much???
— Bruh
— Iron tycoon alert
— Who even IS this guy???
All the memories of struggling against countless monsters flashed through Sweet Radish’s mind, but Almond’s next words instantly cleared his head.
“Both of you, wear it.”
“Huh?”
“Back when I had a boss obsessed with stocks, he used to say this...”
“What?” Radish Servant’s hands trembled.
Who knew what absurd thing Almond would quote this time?
“Sell in fear.”
— ?
— ??
— ???
— Isn’t that backwards?
— lol
— that’s not how it goes LOL
It was supposed to be, “Buy in fear,” but Radish Servant didn’t bother correcting him. It wouldn’t matter anyway.
“Right now, Black Tea is drowning in fear.”
“Y-Yeah.”
“So we sell.”
“Sell... this iron set?”
“No, no.”
Thump.
Almond pointed at himself.
“Us.”
“Us?”
“We protect her from the monsters, then collect protection money.”
— Either get robbed or join up lol
— Silver or lead... damn
— Almond cartel confirmed
— Breaking Nuts!
Radish Servant’s eyes wavered. “T-That’s... extortion, though?”
How far was this guy planning to take things? Didn’t he just want to fish?
“Wikipedia says a landlord must protect their tenant farmers.”
— Wikipedia lmao
— He’s really out here researching landlord roleplay LOL
— Why’s he so committed to the bit??
Radish Servant nodded. “W-Well, that’s true... but Black Tea isn’t a tenant farmer, so why her...?”
Before he could finish, Potato Servant cut in after sniffing the possibility of getting a junior under him. “Ah, so we’re recruiting Black Tea as a servant, right?!”
Exactly, Almond meant that Black Tea would soon become a tenant farmer.
— So it’s prepayment lol
— LMAO
— Potato Servant is getting a junior~
— Servant Black Tea incoming~
— Ohhh so that’s what he meant!