Chapter 37: Not Your Average Farm Stay

For the past two weeks, all eyes had been on the Promotion Team.

You could see it in the team’s email account.

Hundreds of emails arrived each day—collab requests, sponsorship offers, event invitations, even merchandise proposals….

At this point, it felt like every creator in the Flower Field of Jeoseung had sent them a love call.

“All the Kings of the Afterlife are weird, but Yeomra is on another level.”

Sara leaned way back in her chair, showing off.

“She doesn’t even keep any Ice Prison Guards and just farms all alone. It’s a miracle she even has a GoddoG account. Did you see the Revelation Hell channel? All she does is upload hours-long wide shots of herself farming.”

Sara clicked her tongue in disbelief.

“Princess Bari’s always out and about anyway. Why not wait a bit and meet her somewhere else? Revelation Hell is just…”

“Farming is great.”

Mujae, who’d only been listening until now, suddenly cut in.

“A hell that’s all about farming and the Seocheon Flower Garden? That’s a perfect match.”

“You…!”

Sara was so dumbfounded she couldn’t even speak, and in that moment, Hallakgoong and Zack joined in.

“He’s right. Come to think of it, you seem to hate Yama more than Princess Bari, Dad.”

‘Instead of just getting offers, let’s send some proposals ourselves to good channels!’

Sara regained her vigor and shot back at Zack’s suggestion.

“Why should we, when our inbox is overflowing with offers? Why would our million-subscriber channel need to propose to a channel with only seventy thousand?”

It used to be 950,000, but now Sara was boasting an extra 50,000 again. Still, she wasn’t entirely wrong, and the Promotion Team’s momentum waned a bit. Sara shouted triumphantly.

“When opportunity knocks, you row your boat! Don’t get any weird ideas—just sift through the emails and find a channel with good terms…”

“It’s here!”

“Huh, what is?”

As Mujae cried out in excitement, Hallakgoong and Zack rushed over. Soon, Mujae thrust his phone at the flustered Sara.

“Look at this!”

“…Yeomra?”

Sara’s face twisted into a grimace.

Sender: @king.yeomra

Recipient: @seocheon.garden

Subject: Collab OK

Sounds like it’ll be fun, let’s do it together.

But I’ll have to start soil improvement work soon,

So if you’re coming, come quickly.

Compared to all the emails they’d received so far, this one was strikingly simple.

Sara’s face flushed red and blue as she read it.

“Wh-what’s supposed to be fun about it? Wait, did you guys already send out the proposal email?”

“Yep, so hurry up and stamp it.”

Hallakgoong grinned in satisfaction.

“The minute you sent us to the Northern Ice Hell, Dad, all your arguments lost credibility.”

“……”

Sara’s lips puckered in frustration.

In the end, Sara had no choice but to stamp the travel permit with the Saengbul Flower Seal.

Having spent their week of vacation productively, the Promotion Team once again mounted their saddles.

Suddenly, Hallakgoong remembered something and asked Mujae,

“Don’t we need to prepare anything for Revelation Hell? Like heat-resistant suits?”

“No need for that there.”

When it came to business trips, Mujae was a reliable senior.

“It’s just like here.”

“Everyone got your reins?”

At Facilities Team Shinsomi’s words, Hallakgoong quickly grabbed hold of his.

One moment it was hot, the next shivers ran through them, then it turned humid again….

“Huh?”

“Oh, you’re finally here!”

Hallakgoong looked up at the figure standing before him.

A wrinkled face, glowing in the orange of sunset, looked down at him with a sly grin.

That strange vibe made Hallakgoong shudder without realizing it.

“Welcome, little ones from the Seocheon Flower Garden.”

Soaked from the journey, the Promotion Team dismounted.

Before them stretched an endless plain.

As far as the eye could see, there wasn’t a single mountain—just fields all the way to the horizon.

The sky was painted in the orange of sunset, and beneath it, red tomatoes, purple eggplants, and green crops tinged orange swayed in the breeze.

It was a scene nearly identical to the Seocheon Flower Garden.

While the Promotion Team stood in a daze from the long ride, the old woman examined their pile of luggage.

“How long are you planning to stay, bringing so much with you?”

“Um? We thought maybe two nights and three days…”

“What? You thought you could learn all my farming in just two nights and three days?”

The old woman burst out laughing in disbelief, holding her belly and even shedding tears. The Promotion Team could only glance at one another awkwardly.

Finally, as if she’d had her fill of laughter, the old woman slung one of their bags over her shoulder.

“You’ll see. Let’s go!”

“Um, excuse me, are you Yeomra?”

At Mujae’s question, Yeomra shot a sharp, sideways glance.

“Who else would I be?”

“Ah…”

“Come on, my friend is waiting for you.”

With her long legs, Yeomra strode forward in big steps. Dressed comfortably, she was distinctly different from other Kings of the Afterlife. The Promotion Team hurried to keep up with her brisk pace.

After walking for a while, passing red Gochu Field and Mu Field, Yeomra reached out her hand.

“That’s my hut.”

“The Farm Hut…?”

“That’s right.”

Yeomra turned to point elsewhere.

“You can set up your own hut over there.”

“Oh, isn’t there any other accommodation?”

“What accommodation? We’re surrounded by fields—it’s more convenient this way.”

Ignoring the flustered Promotion Team, Yeomra kept moving. Soon, someone sitting at a table under a tree beside The Farm Hut waved at them.

“Hello.”

Just as they’d heard, it was Princess Bari, the gentle guide of souls with soft eyes.

Recognizing her, Hallakgoong called out in a loud voice.

“Hello!!”

“Hah, looks like this kid wanted to see my friend?”

Catching on quickly, Yeomra commented, and the others pretended not to hear as they offered greetings.

“Hello, Princess.”

“We’ve heard so much about you. You’re really popular these days, aren’t you?”

With a demure laugh behind her hand, Princess Bari looked every bit the graceful lady.

As Yeomra sat beside her, the Promotion Team naturally gathered around the table.

To a stranger, it might have looked like a peaceful scene—people relaxing in the shade of a tree.

But from the sly look in Yeomra’s eyes, her fingers interlaced atop her belly, the Promotion Team sensed the scent of Sara and couldn’t relax.

“So, what’s the plan?”

‘Sir, indeed!’

Sensing that this hell wouldn’t be any easier, Mujae gave a hollow laugh.

“I’m sure you saw the proposal we sent in advance, but first we’d like to film right beside you as you work the fields, Yeomra…”

“I didn’t see it.”

“Pardon?”

“I said, I didn’t read the proposal.”

Caught off guard, Mujae froze. Hallakgoong cautiously tried again.

“But… you replied that it sounded fun…”

“Yeah.”

Sipping the tea that Princess Bari had poured, Yeomra answered.

“It’s just fun to have someone asking me for my farming secrets.”

“……”

The Promotion Team quickly made a mental note—Yeomra was even more unpredictable than Sara.

Whether she realized how nervous they were or not, Yeomra gently pushed a teacup forward.

“Drink up, it’s Ueong Tea I grew myself.”

After exchanging glances, the Promotion Team each took a sip. Yeomra regarded them skeptically.

“But… [00-749].”

Mujae’s eyes grew wide as saucers.

“You really think you can farm here? You know what it’s like.”

“……”

With Mujae too pale to speak, Hallakgoong stepped forward.

“Mujae may be on the Promotion Team, but he works the fields with us at the Seocheon Flower Garden.”

“Ah, your name is Mujae?”

Yeomra looked at Mujae with interest. But unlike before, Mujae couldn’t even lift his head, let alone meet her gaze.

He looked just like a frightened mouse.

“You’re the child of the Flower Stone, aren’t you?”

“Pardon?”

Surprised by the unexpected term, Hallakgoong faltered. Yeomra giggled.

“Sorry, sorry. I keep getting forgetful these days. What’s the official title again?”

“Could it be… Ggotgam Officer…?”

“That’s it! Ggotgam Officer. We used to just call you Flower Stone back in the day.”

Yeomra took another slurp of tea.

Princess Bari simply watched on with a soft smile.

“You might not know this, but farming here isn’t so easy. You know why?”

Stretching out her long arm, Yeomra pointed toward the horizon.

“From over there, all the way over there—our fields keep getting bigger. Every year, every hour, every minute, every second. Do you know why?”

Her proud smile split wide across her face.

“These fields, you see, are all made up of Prisoner’s Tongues.”

“!!”

For a moment, Hallakgoong and Zack didn’t quite get it. But when they looked down again at the earth beneath their feet, a slow, chilling shudder crept up their spines.