Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 16

“The price went up?”

“That’s right, nya!”

“How much is it?”

“0.07… Top Coin, nya!”

Theo spoke softly, his voice barely louder than a whisper. He peeked nervously at the tall humans around him, his big eyes darting from face to face. His timid nature was unavoidable.

Theo looked shy and unsure. The hunters saw this and felt sorry for him, and they readily accepted the increased price of the magical cherry tomatoes.

‘It’s worth raising the price.’

‘He probably didn’t look too happy when he sold them cheaply last time.’

‘Look at that dazed expression. He must be taking a loss.’

‘That’s probably a reasonable price.’

Because of what kind of creature Theo was, the hunters liked him and trusted him.

“Alright. I’ll buy 200,” Kim Dong-shik said, handing over 14 Top Coins. His original plan was to buy only 100, but as he entered the tower, his wife approached and quietly asked him to get some for her too.

‘Honey, daughter, trust me!’

Kim Dong-shik currently had 200 Top Coins, an amount that could buy 1000 magical cherry tomatoes.

The expiration date for the magical cherry tomatoes was 30 days, so this was the limit. If there was no expiration date, Kim Dong-shik would have bought them all for his wife and daughter. Of course, the other hunters felt the same way.

“Oh?! I’ll take 500.”

“I’ll take 200!”

“I’ll take 400!”

As Kim Dong-shik made the first move, Jessica and the other hunters quickly handed over their money, stating the quantities they wanted to buy.

“Sold out, nya. All 1500 magical cherry tomatoes I brought today are sold, nya!”

One hunter asked for 400, but Theo said, “Sorry, nya! I only have 250 left!” So, that hunter could only buy 250.

“When are you coming back next time?”

At Kim Dong-shik’s question, the hunters’ attention focused on Theo. They wanted to trade with him again.

Especially the hunters who couldn’t trade this time were even more focused. Since they couldn’t buy this time, they had to buy next time.

“Will you be waiting here next time, nya?”

“Yes.”

“Then it will be about 10 days from now, nya.”

To become a mid-sized wandering merchant before Se-jun found out, there was no time to rest.

“Alright. See you in 10 days then.”

As leader Kim Dong-shik finished speaking, several female hunters approached.

“Kitty, can we take a picture with you?”

“My name isn’t Kitty, it’s Theo, nya.”

“Ah. Your name is Theo. Theo, can we take a picture with you? If we do, we’ll give you this.” The female hunters held out a squishy bag.

“What is that, nya?”

“It’s called Churu, and you peel it open like this and lick it.”

“Is that so, nya? It smells good, nya.”

That’s how Theo was able to take pictures with the female hunters and receive Churu.

Meanwhile, far away in a cave, Se-jun was having a very different day.

Stranded, Day 149.

“Hum hum hum.”

Today, Se-jun was eating breakfast and humming along as he harvested cherry tomatoes.

[Harvested a ripe magical cherry tomato.]

[Job experience slightly increases.]

[Proficiency in Harvesting Lv. 2 slightly increases.]

[Acquired 10 experience.]

Swish.

The sound of water being poured on the white rabbits’ crops and

Squeak!

Peep!

The sound of the black rabbit hitting the wall pushed out the cave’s silence along with Se-jun’s humming.

At that moment,

Whirr! Whirr!

An unfamiliar sound began to be heard.

“Huh?”

Squeak?

Pyaa?

Squeak?

Not only Se-jun but also the other rabbits were puzzled by the unfamiliar sound and looked towards where it was coming from.

The honeycomb of the poison honeybee, who had been reclusive for several days, causing concern. From there, 10 thumb-sized bees were hovering around the honeycomb.

[Baby Poison Honeybee]

“It was raising babies.”

Only then did Se-jun realize why the poison honeybee hadn’t come out of its home.

A moment later,

Whirr! Whirr!

The poison honeybee also came out of the honeycomb. There wasn’t much difference in size from before, but its body had become more colorful and its belly was plump.

And then,

[Queen Poison Honeybee]

Its name had changed.

Whirr! Whirr!

Whirr! Whirr!

As the Queen Poison Honeybee flew to Se-jun’s side, the baby poison honeybees followed to escort the queen.

However, the baby poison honeybees’ purpose was to protect their queen.

Snap!

The baby poison honeybees took out their stingers when they saw Se-jun.

“Huh?!”

Squeak?!

Peep?!

When Se-jun and the rabbits were taken aback by the baby poison honeybees’ actions,

Whirr! Whirr!

The Queen Poison Honeybee stopped and began to scold the baby poison honeybees with strong wing movements.

Fortunately, with the queen’s education, the baby poison honeybees realized that Se-jun was not an enemy and put away their stingers.

And then,

Rub rub.

As the Queen Poison Honeybee rubbed her body against Se-jun to show friendliness and began to suck honey,

Whirr! Whirr!

Rub rub rub.

The baby poison honeybees also followed the Queen Poison Honeybee, rubbing their bodies against Se-jun to show friendliness, and then followed the queen to suck honey from the cherry tomato flowers.

That’s how Se-jun’s cave family grew.

The next morning.

“Oof!”

Se-jun got up energetically and walked to the cave wall where he recorded the date.

And then,

Scratch.

He added a stroke to complete the third row.

正正正正正 正正正正正
正正正正正 正正正正正
正正正正正 正正正正正

“It’s already been 150 days.”

Se-jun looked at the time marked on the wall with a fresh perspective. It was just one more stroke than yesterday, but the feeling was different.

In the past, he felt overwhelmed each time a stroke was added, but these days, he was proud of himself for surviving another day here each time he drew a stroke.

It was thanks to the crops that grew vigorously and the rabbits and bees that kept him from being lonely. Even the person in charge of the tower, who Se-jun had talked to before, had been a little helpful.

“Park Se-jun, you’re living well.”

Se-jun said as if making a pledge to himself. It wasn’t just self-consolation. Se-jun was really living well. The 48 Top Coins in his hand proved it.

He made money even in the adverse conditions of being trapped in a cave. An amount equivalent to 48 million won outside, more than Se-jun earned working for a year at the company.

He earned this money in just a few days, and another 48 Top Coins would be collected in a few days. Since coming here, the situation was getting better day by day.

‘If you live long enough, you’ll find a way out.’

Just as Se-jun was steeling his resolve,

Whirr! Whirr!

The diligent baby poison honeybees woke up and approached Se-jun.

“Did you sleep well?”

Rub rub.

The baby poison honeybees answered by rubbing their plump bodies.

The ones that couldn’t rub against Se-jun’s face rubbed their bodies against Se-jun’s hands.

“Cute things.”

The baby poison honeybees had grown to the thickness of three fingers in just one day. He wondered how they could grow so much just by eating honey.

Whirr! Whirr!

The baby poison honeybees clocked in with Se-jun and went to suck honey. The Queen Poison Honeybee had confirmed that the babies were sucking honey well yesterday and went back into the honeycomb and didn’t come out.

It seemed like she was laying eggs again.

A short while later

The rabbits came out of their burrow, chirping a cheerful “Peep! Pyaa! Pyak!” to greet Sejun.

“Good morning to you too!” Sejun replied.

Another day began with a burst of energy.

Today, Sejun had another job besides picking cherry tomatoes in the afternoon: teaching the black rabbit how to swim.

The black rabbit had been hunting piranhas by himself for days and had become stronger yesterday. Feeling very proud, he went into the pond alone. But he sank quickly, like a rock, and almost drowned.

The black rabbit didn’t know he was such a bad swimmer.

Sejun thought it was too quiet. He went to the pond. He was just in time! If he had been slower, the piranhas would have eaten the black rabbit.

So, Sejun decided to teach the black rabbit how to swim.

After lunch, the black rabbit stood in front of the small pond, wearing the earplugs made from ivy leaves that Sejun had prepared for the Blue Moon.

“Ready to learn swimming?” Sejun asked gently.

“Pyak!” the black rabbit chirped back, full of excitement.

“Okay, first, let’s learn to kick.” Sejun carefully held the black rabbit and lowered him into the pond until the water reached his chest. The water was cool and clear.

“Straighten your body and try kicking your legs like this,” Sejun showed him, moving his own legs in a gentle kicking motion. “Try to kick underwater.”

“Pyak!” The black rabbit tried hard, but water splashed everywhere! Splash! Splash!

“Oops, too much splashing!” Sejun chuckled kindly. “Try to kick gently under the water, like this.” He showed him again.

“Pyak!” This time, the black rabbit focused. He kicked under the water.

Slowly, Sejun let go of the rabbit.

Paddle paddle paddle!

The black rabbit moved through the water! He reached the other side of the small pond very quickly. He puffed out his chest, so proud of himself.

“That’s it! You’re doing great!” Sejun praised him. “See? You’re swimming! Now, let’s learn about breathing.”

A short while later,

Splash! Splash!

The black rabbit finished Sejun’s swimming class and swam around the small pond.

The black rabbit was very proud of himself. He practiced swimming all afternoon. The next morning, he was already hunting piranhas in the pond, swimming like a pro!

And the sixth Blue Moon was coming soon.

The rabbits went into their burrow early and closed the entrance. The poison honeybees also went into their hive and blocked the entrance.

It seemed that small monsters avoided the Blue Moon in this way.

[The Tower’s Administrator requests one of the crops with the Blue Moon’s energy if you grow any this time.]

“Alright,” Sejun said.

There were no dangers these days, and the Administrator wasn’t as rude as before, so Sejun agreed easily.

The day changed to Sejun’s 152nd day stranded on the tower. The Blue Moon began, and blue light came down through the hole in the cave’s ceiling.

Sejun had prepared earplugs and cherry tomatoes in case the monsters roared. He held his breath and watched from the corner of the cave to see if the crops changed.

How much time had passed?

Sssss.

Slowly, a soft blue glow started to appear on the cherry tomato plants. It was like tiny blue stars were growing on the branches. The tomatoes themselves began to shine with a faint blue light. Five magic cherry tomatoes with the Blue Moon’s energy were growing.

“Wow,” Sejun said.

Sejun stared at the mystical and beautiful sight. Just as the Blue Moon’s energy began to go into the cherry tomatoes…

Sssss.

Then, something else caught Sejun’s eye. A carrot stalk was also glowing blue! It was like a hidden treasure suddenly revealing itself.

“Huh?! It’s not time to pick the carrots yet, is it?”

Even a few days ago, when he tried to pull one out, it was only the size of a finger.

“I should pick it later,” Sejun said.

Sejun waited for the Blue Moon to end and then fell asleep.

Slap! Slap!

Sejun woke up to the familiar sound of the Husband Rabbit slapping him.

“Ugh,” Sejun groaned.

As Sejun opened his eyes,

Peep!

Pyaa!

Pyak!

The rabbits were very excited.

“What’s wrong?” Sejun asked.

The black rabbit pulled Sejun, who was rubbing his eyes.

“Just a moment, let me mark the date,” Sejun said.

Sejun drew a line on the cave wall with a piranha spine, marking the morning of his 152nd day stranded.

Then he went to where the rabbits were leading him.

“Ah!”

There, a carrot was shyly showing its blue top above the soil.

Peep!

Pyaak!

Pyak!

The rabbits drooled and begged him to pick the carrot quickly. They really wanted to taste it.

“Alright,” Sejun said.

Whoosh.

Sejun grabbed the carrot stalk and pulled it upwards. The blue carrot came out easily. It was as thick as a tumbler.

Peep!

Pyaak!

Pyak!

The rabbits were excited by how big the carrot was.

[You have harvested a Carrot of Agility with the Blue Moon’s energy.]

[Your job experience greatly increases.]

[Proficiency in Harvesting Lv. 2 greatly increases.]

[You have gained 70 experience.]

“Carrot of Agility?” Sejun wondered.

Sejun looked at the carrot in his hand.

[Carrot of Agility with the Blue Moon’s energy]

[This carrot, grown inside the Tower, has lots of nutrients, making it delicious.]

[Also, with the Blue Moon’s energy, its taste is even better.]

[Eating it will increase Agility by 0.05.]

[Grower: Tower Farmer Park Sejun]

[Expiration Date: 45 days]

[Grade: E+]

The grade was E+. He had gained 70 experience instead of 50 because he harvested a good crop.

“Here. Enjoy,” Sejun said.

He was curious about the taste, but he decided to save it for later. The rabbits deserved it because they helped with the farming.

Crunch.

Peep!!!

Pyaa!!!

Pyak!!!

The rabbits tasted the carrot and squealed happily.

Tap. Tap.

Sejun then picked the magic cherry tomatoes with the Blue Moon’s energy.

Five blue cherry tomatoes.

“Here. Take it,” Sejun said.

Sejun gave one of the blue cherry tomatoes to the Tower’s Administrator.

[Quest completed.]

It seemed that the previous quest was done.

[The Tower’s Administrator is grateful.]

“If you’re grateful, give me another skill later,” Sejun said.

[The Tower’s Administrator says they might give you one soon.]

“What could they give me soon?” Sejun wondered.

Sejun put one of the blue cherry tomatoes in his mouth and bit down.

Pop.

“Krooh,” Sejun sighed.

It burst! It burst! The sweet and sour taste exploded in Sejun’s mouth like fireworks.

[You have eaten a Magic Cherry Tomato with the Blue Moon’s energy.]

[Magic Power increases by 0.05.]

Sejun didn’t care about the message and enjoyed the taste.

Pop.

He put the rest of the blue cherry tomatoes into his mouth one by one. The cherry tomatoes disappeared quickly.

In the afternoon,

“I have returned, meow!” Theo announced.

Theo was back, having sold everything for the second time.