Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 118

“Kke-eck?” a mushroom ant chirped.

Sejun told them to stop. Instantly, the mushroom ants, busy picking mushrooms, froze in place.

“I’ll pick these now,” Sejun said gently. “You don’t need to work anymore.”

“Kke-eck!” the ants replied. They started to line up, facing Sejun, as if ready to help anyway.

“Not yet, little friends,” Sejun chuckled. “Breakfast first! Then we can work.”

“Kke-eck…” The mushroom ants drooped slightly, their antennae twitching with disappointment.

“But what do you guys eat?” Sejun asked.

Kke-eck?

At Sejun’s question, one of the mushroom ants pointed its front legs at a pile of cherry tomato branches stacked beside the field, repeatedly pointing to its mouth.

“Ah, is it okay to eat that?” Sejun asked.

Kke-eck!

The mushroom ant nodded its antennae at Sejun’s words.

“Then it’s okay to eat. Eat it all,” Sejun said.

Sejun had pruned the cherry tomato plants. These branches were left over. They were too many to throw away easily. They were branches cut off to help the tomatoes grow better. Sejun was happy the mushroom ants liked the branches.

Kke-eck! Kke-eck!

With excited ‘Kke-eck!’ sounds, the mushroom ants scurried towards the pile of cherry tomato branches, their little legs moving quickly.

“Then, shall we quickly eat breakfast and start harvesting!” Sejun said.

As Sejun approached the cafeteria to eat the pork dish,

“Wow! That smells amazing,” a rabbit said.

The sweet, delicious smell of the pork cooking with fire carrot wine filled the air, even outside the cafeteria. Just by the smell, one could tell that the pork dish was properly cooked.

Just then,

“Kkueng!”

Kkueng, who had been waiting for Sejun and guarding the entrance to the cafeteria, called out to Sejun. It seemed the cooking was almost done!

“Alright,” Sejun said.

As Sejun entered the cafeteria, the rabbits were sitting in a circle around the pot where the pork dish was being cooked, gathering their hands as if chanting a spell and staring only at the pot.

“Kkueng!”

Kkueng grabbed Sejun’s pants and led him to the front of the pot, standing in the front row of the rabbits and looking at the pot. Everyone was focusing all their attention on the pork dish.

Except for the two dragons who couldn’t smell it.

“Drip.”

-Now, give it to me. It’s my turn.

The two dragon statues were shaking the bottle that contained the fire carrot wine, taking turns drinking the wine one drop at a time. Sejun wondered what kind of magic the dragon statues were using to drink the wine.

“Is it ready?” Sejun asked.

When Sejun opened the lid of the pot, a cloud of thick, fragrant steam billowed out, smelling of rich meat and something sweet. The steam rose so much that he couldn’t see in front of him. And as the steam cleared, the glistening, milky-white meat, half-submerged in the water, came into view.

The fire carrot had completely melted away and was not visible.

‘It’s done,’ Sejun thought.

As Sejun was about to take out the pork dish,

[You have achieved the first feat of making a greedy and hot wild boar pork dish in the tower.]

[The recipe for the greedy and hot wild boar pork dish is registered in Cooking Lv. 4.]

[Proficiency in Cooking Lv. 4 greatly increases.]

[Proficiency in Cooking Lv. 4 is filled, and the level increases.]

A message appeared that the cooking was complete.

“Shall we take a look?” Sejun asked.

Sejun picked up the pork dish and checked its options.

[Greedy and Hot Wild Boar Pork Dish]

With skillful cooking, wild boar meat, detoxifying green onions, and fire carrot wine are added together and boiled for a long time, making the meat moist and tender.

All the fire energy of the fire carrot wine is concentrated in the wild boar meat.

The greediness remaining in the wild boar meat minimizes the loss of nutrients.

Upon consumption, it greatly increases fire attribute affinity and burns away waste products in the body.

Detoxifying green onions reduce the side effect conditions of fire carrot wine by half.

If magic power is below 50, the body cannot handle the fire energy as a side effect, and the fire energy burns the body along with it.

Cook: Tower Farmer Park Sejun

Expiration Date: 100 days

Grade: B+

“Oh!” Sejun exclaimed.

By making it into a pork dish, the effects of the fire carrot wine were maintained while the side effects were reduced by half. It was welcome news.

Slice.

Sejun hurriedly took out a piece of meat and cut a slice with a dagger. The bouncy meat was cut smoothly without resistance.

Pop.

Sejun put the cut meat in his mouth.

Melt.

Gulp.

“Oh!” Sejun exclaimed.

Words were unnecessary. It just melted without even chewing a few times. It was a shame that there were no cabbage wraps, kimchi, or salted shrimp to eat with the pork dish.

“Kkueng?”

From behind, Kkueng and the rabbits were drooling, curious about the taste.

“Here you go,” Sejun said.

Sejun quickly cut the pork dish into sizes that were easy for the animals to eat and gave it to them.

“Kkueng!”

“Squeak!”

“Pyaa!”

The animals began to gobble up the pork dish.

“Golden Bat, slice this for me,” Sejun said.

(Yes!)

In the meantime, Sejun had the Golden Bat thinly slice the green onions and made a simple seasoning using red pepper powder, soy sauce, salt, and honey. Then, he mixed the seasoning with the sliced green onions that the Golden Bat had sliced to complete the green onion salad.

“Now, shall we eat?” Sejun asked.

Slice. Slice.

Sejun sliced about 10 pieces of pork dish and put them on his plate, then put a piece of green onion salad on a piece of pork dish and put it in his mouth.

“Mmm. This is it. This is it,” Sejun said.

It was good before, but eating it with the green onion salad made the texture and taste richer and more delicious. It also got rid of the greasiness, leaving a clean aftertaste.

“Kkueng?”

Kkueng hurriedly followed Sejun’s example, putting green onion salad on the pork dish and putting it in his mouth. The only thing Kkueng had failed at so far when following Sejun’s example was coffee.

‘Dad said it becomes delicious when you become an adult,’ Sejun remembered.

He couldn’t understand why it became delicious when he became an adult, but since it was his dad’s word, he thought it must be so.

“Kkueng!”

As expected, it was a success this time as well. Kkueng, who had discovered a new world of taste with the combination of green onion salad and pork dish, shouted excitedly.

And seeing Kkueng’s reaction, the other rabbits began to take interest.

“You guys,” Sejun said.

Sejun’s heart warmed as he watched the animals happily eating. It felt good to share food he had made, to see them enjoy it so much.

“Eileen, try some too,” Sejun said.

Sejun sent a bowl of pork dish and green onion salad to Eileen.

A moment later,

[The administrator of the tower is shocked, saying that this is the first time they have eaten such tender meat.]

“Eat it with the green onion salad next to it. It’s more delicious that way,” Sejun said.

[The administrator of the tower says that you are definitely a culinary genius.]

“No. Not that much…” Sejun said.

Sejun was embarrassed by Eileen’s compliment. And honestly, Eileen’s cooking skills were below average. But he couldn’t bring himself to say that.

As Sejun was sharing the pork dish with everyone,

Rising. Rising.

Steam began to rise from the bodies of the rabbits one by one.

“Ugh!”

Along with a foul smell.

“It stinks! Go wash up quickly!” Sejun said.

Sejun deliberately said it more exaggeratedly. It was revenge for avoiding him before because he smelled like poop. Sejun held a grudge for a very long time.

“Squeak!”

“Pyaa!”

The rabbits panicked and rushed to the fountain.

At that moment,

[You have consumed the greedy and hot wild boar pork dish.]

[Fire attribute affinity increases.]

[Talent: Fire Proficiency is awakened.]

[Waste products in the body are burned away and discharged.]

Rising.

Steam began to rise from Sejun’s body as well.

“Meow! Chairman Park smells like poop again, meow!”

Theo hurriedly took out a nose plug from his bundle and blocked his nose. It was an item he had prepared in case of the same situation as before.

“Kkueng!”

Kkueng screamed, blocking his nose with his front paws. Dad smells like poop!

“Ugh!” Sejun said.

Sejun also rushed to the fountain. It was his own smell, but it was really terrible.

Splash.

As Sejun entered the fountain, the rabbits’ eyes were not good. It was a reproachful look asking why he had scolded them when he was going to come in like this anyway.

“Sorry…” Sejun said.

A moment later,

“Kkueng!”

Splash.

Kkueng also came into the fountain, reeking of foul odor.

“Kkueng.”

[I’m sorry.]

Kkueng, who had embarrassed Sejun for smelling bad, massaged Sejun’s shoulders as an apology.

The cafeteria where everyone had left.

-Shall we just taste it?

-Shall we?

The two dragons who remained in the cafeteria took the pork dish. And the green onion salad too.

Tap tap.

“Ah. That feels refreshing,” Sejun said, shaking off the water from his body. He had unintentionally taken a group bath with the animals.

“Kkueng!”

“Pyaa!”

All the animals were shaking off the water from their bodies with refreshed expressions, perhaps because the waste products had disappeared from their bodies.

However,

“It’s uncomfortable, meow!”

Theo, who didn’t need to go into the water, grumbled and diligently shook off the water. Theo had been caught up in the immersion while clinging to Sejun’s knees.

“Heh. President Theo, you were all about the fur. You’re really ugly,” Sejun said.

Sejun laughed at Theo, who had become unsightly after getting wet, not knowing Theo’s annoyance.

“Meow… I’m not ugly, meow…”

Theo immediately lost his spirit at Sejun’s words.

“Sorry. I was just kidding. How handsome is our President Theo,” Sejun said.

When Sejun picked up Theo to cheer him up and personally shook the water out of his fur,

“Puhu! I know, meow! I’m the most handsome cat in the world, meow!”

Theo, who had quickly become elated, shouted loudly. Theo’s confidence was like a reed, bending easily in the wind of Sejun’s words.

At that moment,

(Sejun, I’ll dry your hair for you!)

The Golden Bat flew around Sejun’s head, diligently moving its wings to create wind.

Flap. Flap.

The wind was weak and didn’t help much.

(Hee hee. How is it?)

“Oh! It’s cool,” Sejun said.

Sejun told a white lie for the Golden Bat, who was flapping its wings hard enough to be out of breath for him. His heart, on the other hand, warmed up.

“Let’s work now!” Sejun said.

Sejun, who had finished drying Theo’s fur, massaged the shoulders of the Golden Bat, who was exhausted from flapping its wings, and went to find the mushroom ants.

[You have harvested oyster mushrooms.]

[42,871 more times until the job quest is completed.]

[Job experience slightly increases.]

[Proficiency in Harvesting Lv. 5 slightly increases.]

[You have gained 1 experience.]

“Okay, next,” Sejun said.

Kke-eck.

At Sejun’s words, the ant that had finished harvesting left, and another ant behind it showed its back to Sejun so that he could harvest easily. It was easy to harvest because Sejun just stood still and the mushroom ants moved on their own.

Kke-eck.

Kke-eck.

In addition, the mushroom ants even sorted the mushrooms that Sejun picked according to their condition and type.

There were really many types of mushrooms growing on the backs of the mushroom ants, including king oyster mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and reishi mushrooms.

It was a bit disappointing that the mushrooms didn’t have item effects, but it was satisfying enough since he could use the harvesting skill and eat the mushrooms.

“Good,” Sejun said.

Thanks to them, Sejun focused only on harvesting.

As he continued harvesting, lunchtime approached.

“Kkueng, bring some dry green onion leaves and branches,” Sejun said.

“Kkueng!”

Kkueng, who had been lying on the floor looking at the sky, jumped up.

Bringing dry green onion leaves and branches meant he was going to make a fire, and that meant he was going to cook.

“Kkueng!”

Kkueng hurriedly ran out,

(Brother Kkueng, I’ll help you too!)

The Golden Bat flew after Kkueng.

A moment later,

“Kkueng!”

Rumble.

The giant Kkueng put down a huge amount of dry green onion leaves and branches. I brought them!

(I brought them too!)

Flap. Flap.

The Golden Bat also brought a thin branch following Kkueng.

“Good job,” Sejun said.

Sejun stacked the branches well and put dry green onion leaves in between them so that the fire would catch well.

And

Snap.

Whoosh.

Sejun flicked his finger and created a small flame the size of a 50-won coin. It was thanks to the newly acquired talent: Fire Proficiency.

[Talent: Fire Proficiency]

-This is a talent that allows you to use fire more skillfully.

-You can create flames by flicking your fingers.

It wasn’t powerful enough to be used in battle, but just being able to create flames was a great help in everyday life.

When Sejun used the flame on his finger to light the thin branch that the Golden Bat had brought and put it in the pile of firewood,

Whoosh.

The fire caught on the firewood.

And

Thud.

Sejun took out the back of a fire ant from his subspace warehouse. Today’s lunch menu was grilled mushrooms. The back of the fire ant was flat, so it was perfect as a grill.

Sizzle.

As the mushrooms were grilled and the scent of the mushrooms spread around, the rabbits came on their own.

“Squeak!”

“Kke-eck!”

At first, the rabbits and mushroom ants were wary of each other, but workers recognize workers. The rabbits and mushroom ants quickly became friends.