Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 277

Kkuengi’s Kkueng-Fu Firepower!

On the 3rd floor of the Black Tower, near the shimmering blue glow of the waypoint, stood a rather ordinary-looking building. It was made of dark red bricks, five stories tall, and a sign above the door simply read ‘Gagel’ in plain letters. This was Gagel’s office building, a place to manage his “experience farms” – strange areas in the tower where monsters were raised, like crops, for hunters to train on. Offices like this were placed near waypoints on both the 2nd and 3rd floors.

Inside a room on the 5th floor of the Gagel building, which meant it was high above the 3rd floor of the tower itself, Vice-Chairman Michael paced anxiously. He stopped as his subordinate rushed in, face pale.

“Vice-Chairman,” the subordinate stammered, “the operation… it failed.”

“What?!” Michael’s eyebrows shot up, his frown deepening. *Failed? Impossible!* he thought. He had been so sure.

This mission simply couldn’t fail. The goal wasn’t to fight, but to get some vibrant, fragrant grapes and branches from the grapevines.

With the Black Skeletons’ speed, getting the grapes would mean the mission was a success.

Gagel didn’t just buy the grapes from hunters because the grapes they got as payment didn’t have seeds.

Michael wanted to get seeds or vines and grow his own vibrant, fragrant grapes.

So, after looking into it, he found the warehouse where the Black Skeletons kept the grapes and how many guards there were.

He had also sent over 50 good hunters, even though they weren’t as strong as the Crush Guild. And still, it failed?

“What happened?”

Michael asked his subordinate why the mission failed.

“Well… there were ten 3-meter skeletons hiding around the warehouse.”

“3-meter skeletons?”

“Yes. They weren’t like normal skeletons. They were very tough, strong, and fast.”

“For now, have the slaves work on the grape farm and sneak out grapes or branches.”

“Yes.”

Michael didn’t give up and started another plan right away.

Kkueng!

[Kkuengi is full now!]

After eating for two hours, Kkuengi finally stopped.

Kkueng…

[Kkuengi is sleepy…]

Plop.

Feeling sleepy, Kkuengi snuggled into Sejun’s arms.

Kkulorong.

As soon as it laid its head on Sejun’s chest, Kkuengi fell asleep.

Bbyot!

[I’ll go to the bathroom!]

Tap tap.

Bbyoti, who had eaten too much, went to empty its stomach again. Sejun stopped counting after the 20th time, but he thought Bbyoti’s bottom must be sore.

While Bbyoti was in the bathroom,

“Tell the Black Rabbit that we’re going to the 79th floor of the tower and then straight back to the 99th floor.”

Sejun told Coco he was leaving.

Bbak? Bbak!

[What? Then I will bring the King.]

“No. The Black Rabbit is busy, and we have to go right away.”

Bbak!

[Understood!]

Just as Sejun convinced Coco,

Bbyot!

[I’m back!]

Bbyoti, who had quickly emptied its stomach, returned.

“Then let’s go to the 79th floor of the tower. You guys stay inside.”

Clang.

Sejun opened the subspace warehouse, carefully placed the sleeping Kkuengi on the floor, and spoke to the other animals.

“Understood, Nya!”

(Yes!)

Bbyot!

The animals replied and went into the subspace warehouse.

Clang.

After the animals entered, he closed the subspace warehouse.

Whirr.

Sejun used the land document for the 79th floor of the tower.

[The summoning function for imprinting the first owner of the Black Tower 79th floor farm land document is activated.]

Sejun disappeared.

Bbak!

[Travel safely!]

Coco saluted as Sejun vanished.

[Arrived at the Black Tower 79th floor farm.]

[Moved from the top floor, the 99th floor, to the 79th floor.]

[Descended 20 floors.]

[Due to the effect of >Title: Retrogressor>, all stats increase by 20.]

Sejun arrived at the 79th floor farm. He was about to look around for monsters, but…

[Mantis]

“···?!”

There was no need to look. The place was full of green Mantis monsters that looked like praying mantises. They were huge, with shiny green bodies and sharp claws.

Sejun froze, surprised by how many there were.

Just then,

Whoosh!

A sharp forelimb sliced through the air, attacking Sejun’s back. It was one of the Mantises.

The Mantis silently attacked, showing its back.

Clang!

The Sacred Stone Ice Shield Cube protected Sejun.

Sejun, now aware, pointed his finger at the Mantis and used the Sacred Stone Piercing.

“Piercing!”

Poosh.

Two holes appeared in the Mantis’s head.

“Huh?!”

Sejun wondered about the two holes.

Thud.

[Defeated a young male Mantis.]

[Acquired 1000 experience.]

The dead Mantis fell with a heavy sound.

···!

The other Mantises heard the sound and turned to Sejun.

Kwieek!

The Mantises charged at Sejun, their sharp claws clicking on the ground.

Clang.

The subspace warehouse opened.

“Chairman Park! There’s something I didn’t tell you… Nya?”

Theo, who was rushing to tell Sejun about the Mantises, saw them attacking and knew it was too late.

“Puhuhut. Chairman Park, I, Vice-Chairman Theo, will save you, Nya! Nyanyanya!”

Theo quickly changed his plan, pulled out his Dragon Claw, and shot invisible magic blades at the Mantises.

[Guardian Theo has defeated a young male Mantis.]

[Guardian Theo has acquired 50% of the experience, which is 500.]

And

(Bat bat. I will also save Sejun!)

Bbyot!

[Theo, I will assist you!]

The Golden Bat and Bbyoti flew around, defeating the Mantises.

Scritch.

The Golden Bat slashed at the Mantises with its wings.

Bbyoooot!

Bbyoti body-slammed the Mantises.

Kkueng…

Sejun grabbed the sleeping Kkuengi, lifted it up, and pointed it at the Mantises.

“Kkuengi, fire a powerful Kkueng-Fu blast ahead!”

He made Kkuengi use Kkueng-Fu. Sejun called it ‘Kkueng-Fu’ because it looked a bit like a funny martial arts move.

Kkweang yawned loudly, a sound like a rumbling engine. *Crash!* The noise echoed through the air. Woken suddenly and grumpy, Kkweang let out a blast of air. It hit the Mantises, and they shattered like glass.

Sejun felt a rush of warmth spread through him – he was stronger. But then, he heard a soft sound. *Kreek…* Some of the Mantises were still moving, just stunned by Kkweang’s attack.

Kkweang mumbled sleepily, “Kkweang is still tired, but you woke me…”

“I know, I know, sorry,” Sejun whispered, gently patting Kkweang. “Go back to sleep.”

He then turned to the stunned Mantises, taking out his *Piercing*.

Sejun picked up the *Sacred Stone Piercing*. He frowned. Hadn’t it only had one hole before? Now, there were two. As he looked closer, words appeared in his mind: [Sacred Stone Double Piercing].

“It evolved?” he murmured in surprise.

“Only the Dark Heart left,” Sejun thought, his gaze falling on the black gem resting near his chest. Should he send it to Aileen? As he considered this, a strange pulse throbbed from the gem. A jolt of energy ran through him, making him feel stronger, sharper.

Sejun scanned the farm, making sure all the Mantises were gone. He still hadn’t received the message about owning the land.

“Meow! Sejun, look!” Theo cried, pointing a paw towards the horizon. “The Mother Tree!”

Sejun’s breath caught. In the distance, a tree of impossible size reached towards the sky. As he stared, a chilling thought flashed into his mind: *The Mother Tree on the 79th floor is dying. The Cove Kingdom birds will vanish. You must save it.* A new quest appeared: *Save the Mother Tree. Time: 5 days. Reward: Great riches. Failure: Disaster.*

“Huh?” A large shadow fell over them.

“Theo! You’re back!” King Louis landed gracefully, the ground thudding softly.

“I was watching the farm,” Louis explained. “Everything was covered in Mantises. Now… they’re gone?” He looked at Theo and Sejun, puzzled.

“Meow! That’s right!” Theo puffed out his chest. “Vice Chairman Theo is here with Sejun! No more worries, Louis!”

Bbyot chirped excitedly, “Bbyot is here too!”

“Thank you for coming, Sejun,” Louis said.

“We’re in this together,” Sejun replied.

Bbyot hopped back, chirping happily.

“Climb on,” Louis offered, lowering his back. “I’ll take you to the Mother Tree.”

“Thank you,” Sejun said, gratefully accepting. As they soared into the sky, a biting wind whipped around Sejun.

“It’s cold!” he exclaimed, shivering. He chuckled, pulling Theo and Bbyot closer for warmth.

“Wow,” Sejun breathed. Up close, the Mother Tree was even more immense, its branches like a living sky.

“Right,” he said, shaking off his awe. “Let’s heal it.”

Theo and the Golden Bat nodded seriously, already preparing their magic. Even Kkweang and Iona, woken from their nap, seemed to understand the urgency, a grumble of readiness in their voices. Bbyot hopped excitedly, chirping encouragement.

Sejun reached out and placed his hand on the rough bark of the Mother Tree. Warmth flowed from his palm, and a message flickered in his mind: *Farmer’s Warm Touch activated.* He focused, feeling a faint pulse of life within the giant tree.

*He felt it.* The pain was deep, in the roots. As Sejun focused his healing touch there, another message appeared: *The Mother Tree is fighting back. It senses something draining its life.*

“Something draining its life?” Sejun murmured, a chill running down his spine. *Kreeeeak!* A wave of green Mantises surged from the shadows, rushing towards the Mother Tree. And then, a furious roar: “Kkweang is awake! Who dares disturb Kkweang’s sleep?!”