Theresis? "Tesik"? Was he being worked like a slave in a salt mine?
Yujin immediately dismissed the possibility. Theresis possessed strength that surpassed most Infected. If he wanted to, he could put up a fight against Yujin.
Yujin stood blankly, staring at the scene. Sensing his presence, Theresis looked over. He sighed once, then shouted to the people waiting for him.
"Wait a moment. I won't be joining you for lunch today."
"Huh? You need to eat to work."
"I might need to skip work this evening too. A friend is waiting for me over there."
The farmers looked back and forth between Yujin and Theresis before nodding. Theresis trudged out of the paddy, still wearing his rubber boots, and greeted Yujin.
"It's been a while. I assume you've been well."
"…Did you quit everything to become a farmer?"
"No. I'll explain on the way."
Theresis glanced behind Yujin at Shining and Chongyue. Seeing Chongyue, Theresis frowned.
"Where did you pick up another monster?"
"I didn't pick him up. He approached me."
Yujin, Theresis, Shining, and Chongyue walked and talked. Yujin realized that Theresis was closely connected to the person he was going to meet.
"…You almost failed the inspection, but a woman named Shu helped you?"
"Yes. Technically, the soldiers were right to deny me. An Infected Sarkaz entering Dahuang... the risk is obvious."
Theresis recalled the contempt in the soldiers' eyes. Just another Sarkaz, they must have thought.
So he waited for Yujin, wandering near the entrance, until he met Shu.
She asked why he was waiting. When Theresis explained his desire to learn Yan's farming methods and experience Dahuang firsthand, Shu used her influence to help him.
The result? Theresis returned to Dahuang and was currently experiencing the life of a laborer.
"She said learning from books isn't enough. To understand the meaning and hardship of farming, I had to do it myself. So she handed me over to the farmers."
"Sounds like she just sold you into slavery."
"…Shut up."
"Oh my... Tesik!"
"It didn't bother me when the farmers said it, but hearing it from you makes me want to hit something."
Bickering as they walked, they soon arrived at the center of Dahuang. Before them lay a vast dam, a natural fortress flanked by mountain ranges. In the flat center, various facilities and neatly arranged paddies stretched out.
They reached a building. The guards naturally moved to stop Yujin, but Chongyue, who had been silent until now, stepped forward smoothly and presented a token. The guards immediately snapped to attention.
"I-it is an honor to meet you!"
"No need for excessive formality. Just let us through."
Guided by Chongyue, Yujin and Shining entered easily. Yujin turned to Chongyue.
"You must hold a high position in Yan."
"I climbed up with some minor talents."
"Minor talents don't make guards bow that low."
Passing through the entrance and several people, they reached the center of the building. There stood a statue of a person and a massive tree. People were gathered there, praying.
"This is..."
Shining looked up at the statue.
"Shennong. The being revered as a god here in Dahuang, the deity of abundance. Legend says he cultivated this land long ago, bringing flowers and fruit," Theresis explained skillfully.
Yujin watched the praying people. Glancing at Chongyue, he noticed the man wasn't looking at the statue with kind eyes.
'…Why?'
Was there a reason to look at the guardian deity of Dahuang like that?
People of all colors prayed with closed eyes. Their wishes varied, but all were for the safety and prosperity of Dahuang.
Do your best and wait for heaven's decree. They recited the mantra.
Yujin disliked the idea of things happening by divine will. If everything was God's will, then the world was merely a plaything for deities.
But praying or seeking solace wasn't bad. Yujin passed the praying people, following Chongyue, with Shining trailing behind, eyes sparkling at the mysterious tree and statue.
At the end of the path lay a woman. She looked young, barely an adult, with a small frame, yet her eyes held a depth that belied her appearance. Like painting the world with watercolors, she stood alone and distinct.
Yujin‘s insight pierced through—those weren't human eyes. They were dragon eyes.
A long tail like Chongyue‘s. Pure white, with a mane the color of rice and autumn harvest.
Pointed dragon ears and horns.
Her flowing hair resembled the green of beautiful fields. Her face was as fine as a child's, yet beautiful, like a masterpiece carved by an artisan.
"…Why."
But Yujin already knew her. The woman from his dream stood there. She was smiling brightly, reading a farmer's palm.
"This line is the intelligence line, not the life line? Does that mean my head is in danger, not my life?"
"Not exactly. This broken line means you might face a truly difficult decision when you're over twenty..."
The old farmer respected Shu. Shu spoke to him casually.
"My goodness, it's true. When I was 23, a Catastrophe swept through my hometown's fields. I was at a complete loss."
The farmer looked nostalgic. He asked Shu, "I heard the Tianshi of the Tianshi Bureau were miraculous, but to be proficient in so many fields..."
"…I just learned knowledge a little earlier than others, just as some learn faster or slower. And I merely pass on what I've learned."
"Truly amazing. Oh, by the way. That young man over there is staring at you without blinking. Is he your lover?"
"Huh...?"
Shu's eyes met Yujin‘s. Her eyes were clear and dustless, while Yujin continued to stare.
Chongyue stepped forward. With a refreshing smile, he opened his arms to Shu, embracing her like long-lost family.
"Sorry for visiting so suddenly, Shu."
"…Brother."
To an onlooker, a touching family reunion. But Yujin‘s eyes were special. While Theresis and Shining watched blankly, Yujin saw the essence. The suspicion he had felt when he first met Chongyue.
"You guys aren't human."
The quietly spoken words struck like a dagger. Shining‘s eyes widened, and Theresis narrowed his gaze.
To Yujin, the standard for "human" was Shining, Theresis, and the residents of Terra. Even if Yujin himself was outside the norm, by Terra's standards, these two were not human.
He had felt it faintly with Chongyue. But looking at Shu, the woman from his dream, the suspicion became certainty.
Shu and Chongyue looked at Yujin simultaneously. Yujin sighed under their gaze.
"We've just met, and you say we aren't human. What do you mean by that...?"
Shu‘s eyes held no warmth for Yujin. Naturally. It was rude to call someone non-human upon first meeting.
"…I misspoke. I apologize."
Revealing too much now would bring no benefit. Yujin bowed his head. Shu‘s glaring eyes softened as she looked at Chongyue.
"Shu, they are my guests. And they made an interesting request, so I granted it."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Hear the request directly from that young man."
Shu approached Yujin. Looking clearly different from ordinary Terrans, she extended a hand. A handshake. Yujin looked at her hand, then took it. She smiled and shook it.
"So, what brings you to Dahuang?"
Shu spoke casually, like an old grandmother caring for children. Yujin felt a strange comfort in her demeanor.
"…I heard you know Theresis."
"Ah, that child..."
She glanced at Theresis, then back at Yujin. She looked at him with praiseworthy eyes. She naturally tried to pat his head, but she was too short, so Yujin had to bend his knees.
"Yes, I heard a lot about you from Theresis. Did anything happen on your way here? No bandit attacks?"
"…I can handle a few petty thieves."
Shu‘s eyes shone with goodwill again. What had Theresis told her to make her look at him with such curiosity and kindness?
"Good, I'm glad nothing happened. Follow me. I'll teach you what you want to know."
Shu turned and led the way. Everyone followed, but Yujin stood blankly, recalling the touch of her hand on his head. Theresis nudged him, and Yujin snapped out of it and started moving.
"Wake up. I don't know what you're thinking about."
"…It's nothing."
Just now, when Shu placed her hand on his head.
The figure of the statue in the center of the building.
Shennong, in a field of swaying rice, was looking at Yujin with sad eyes.
...Why?
He didn't know what the look meant. But the image of Shennong looking at him like that wouldn't leave his mind.
Why? Only questions remained, with no answers. Yujin calmed his mind and followed Shu.
Trying to erase the feeling that the Shennong he just saw resembled the Silver Master who had taught him in Kazimierz.