Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 128

The air in the Wandering Merchant Association Headquarters on Floor 75 was thick with worry.

Mason, the head of the Wandering Merchant Association, spoke quickly, his voice full of worry. “Have you found out why the Black Minotaurs left Floor 99?”

His subordinate answered, “I’m sorry. We’ve only found out that all the Black Minotaurs have entered Floor 77.”

“Floor 77?” Mason frowned. Floor 77 had no strong fighters, no abundant food, and no great wealth. There was no reason for the Black Minotaurs to go there at all.

“Yes! And even more strange, the Black Wolf tribe and the Silver Wolf tribe also received some kind of communication and joined them on Floor 77.”

“What?! Even them? What on earth is happening on Floor 77?”

“The wolves told us the Minotaurs will go back when they find who they are looking for,” the subordinate said.

“The entity they desire? So, they went to find someone?”

As far as Mason knew, Umawang was the only one who could command 500 Black Minotaurs. But Umawang was stuck at the Waypoint and couldn’t possibly know anyone on another floor.

Everything was a mystery.

“Quickly send agents from the Secret Surveillance Bureau to Floor 77! We need to find out who the Black Minotaurs are looking for!”

Mason’s instincts told him that the person the Black Minotaurs were seeking was likely to have a significant impact on the Tower in the future.

“Yes!”

Agents from the Wandering Merchant Association’s Secret Surveillance Bureau were quickly sent to Floor 77.

Kkueng ran straight ahead, following the compass Kaiser gave him.

Monkeys screamed and scattered as Kkueng charged through the forest. If a slow orangutan or chimpanzee got in his way, Kkueng simply pushed them aside with a growl.

“Kkueng?” he asked a passing monkey, grabbing it gently. “[Have you seen my daddy?]” The monkey shook its head, chattering in fear. He asked a chimpanzee the same question, but got the same answer. He asked every monster he met, but no monster outside the monkey village had seen Sejun. Kkueng’s ears drooped a little. He missed his daddy.

After running for a long time, Kkueng saw a large village glowing red in the distance.

Kkueng’s bag was gone. He had eaten all his lunch. Even his honey snacks were finished.

Kkueng! He wanted to get to the village quickly.

As Kkueng tried to enter the village…

“Guooo?! (Who are you?!)” roared a gorilla, blocking the path to the village. It was big and angry, its teeth bared. Other gorillas joined it, growling and beating their chests. But Kkueng was determined to find his daddy.

Kkueng! He roared back and charged. *Thwack!* Kkueng punched the first gorilla hard, sending it flying. *Thwack!* He kicked another one away. The gorillas attacked all at once, but Kkueng was too fast and too strong.

Kkueng? “[Have you seen my daddy?]” Kkueng grabbed a gorilla who was still awake.

“Guooo! (I haven’t seen him!)” the gorilla groaned.

Kkueng! “[You smell like Daddy’s food! You must know him! You are lying!]”

*Thwack!* Kkueng hit the lying gorilla one last time.

Just then, a huge roar shook the village. “Guooo?! (Who dares cause a ruckus in my village?!) A giant gorilla, 10 meters tall, ran towards Kkueng, his eyes blazing with rage. This must be the boss.

[Boss Gorin of Floor 77]

Kkueng knew this gorilla was strong. He needed to be bigger. Kkueng roared and grew, his body stretching and swelling until he was 22 meters tall. He was even bigger now!

Kkueng! He slammed his hands together and brought them down on Gorin’s head as the giant gorilla charged.

*Kawaaaang!* The ground shook. Dust and leaves flew everywhere. When it cleared, Gorin was lying still, his head buried in the ground. Kkueng stood tall, breathing heavily.

That was the end of the fight.

Kkueng moved again, following the compass.

As he moved, Kkueng became hungry again.

Kkueng…

“[There’s nothing left to eat…]”

As Kkueng clutched his empty stomach and walked towards the direction where Sejun was…

Sniff sniff.

A delicious smell came from somewhere.

Kkueng?! Kkueng!

“[That’s?! It’s Daddy’s honey potato smell!]”

There was also the smell of roasted sweet potatoes and other dishes that Sejun used to make.

Kkueng!

“[Daddy, Kkueng is hungry!]”

Kkueng hurriedly ran towards the place where Sejun’s cooking smell was coming from.

Sniff sniff.

A gorilla with a woven grass skirt around her waist sniffed the air and entered the monkey village.

She sat down heavily in front of the monkeys’ food and began to devour it. The other gorillas stood behind her, guarding the gorilla in the skirt.

[Gorina, Daughter of the Gorilla Chieftain]

‘A named monster. That means she’s strong,’ Sejun thought, watching from his hiding place. She wasn’t the boss, but still dangerous.

“President Theo, what do you think?” Sejun whispered.

“What do you mean, meow?”

“Can you beat her if you fight her?”

“Meow?!” Theo’s fur stood on end. He started to tremble. He had hoped he could, but no. “Sorry, Chairman Park,” he whispered sadly.

“But!” Theo puffed out his chest. “If Chairman Park is in danger, I will still fight! Don’t worry, Chairman Park!”

Squeak squeak! (Me too! I’ll fight with you too!) The golden bat spread its tiny wings as wide as possible, trying to look brave.

“You guys…” Sejun felt touched. He knew he depended on Theo and the others. “Thank you,” he said softly.

“That’s right, Chairman Park! Remember who is protecting you! Meow!” Theo said proudly.

(Chirp chirp. Thank you too!) chirped the bat.

Sejun watched the gorillas. They were eating his food! He held his breath, ready to fight. Theo and the Golden Bat stood beside him. He gently touched their heads, thankful for their help. He hoped the gorillas would just eat and leave. But if they didn’t, he would fight.

“Dark Cloud Creation,” Sejun whispered. Dark clouds suddenly filled the sky above the gorillas. They swirled and crackled with blue energy.

Gumo.

A gorilla, having eaten its fill, began to look around.

“Gumo?!”

The gorilla’s eyes widened.

“Gumo! Gumo!”

The gorilla saw Sejun’s face and became excited. The gorilla seemed to like Sejun.

“Gumo!”

The gorilla pointed at Sejun and commanded the other gorillas, “Bring him here!”

Sejun was strangely popular with monsters.

“Get ready, everyone! Thunder Throw!”

At Sejun’s cry, streaks of blue lightning fell from the dark clouds towards the gorillas.

Wham!

Bzzzt!

Ten of the gorillas were knocked unconscious by the lightning, and the rest were unable to move, seemingly paralyzed by the electric shock. Fortunately, they were clustered together, making it easy to attack.

‘Thunder Throw.’

Sejun used Thunder Throw once more, knocking out the remaining gorillas who were paralyzed by the electricity.

And finally, there was Gorina left. Gorina was alone, but she didn’t seem worried at all.

“Gumo!!!”

Rather, she became even more excited watching Sejun fight. She thought he was handsome and strong.

“Gumomo!”

Gorina looked eager and ran towards Sejun.

“Thunder Throw!”

Since she was the last enemy, Sejun used Thunder Throw with all his magical power.

However,

“Gumooo!!!”

Boom!

Gorina struck the ground hard, causing the surrounding earth to rise up and envelop her. Gorina could control the earth. She had earth power.

Wham!

Thanks to that, Sejun’s thunder struck the earthen wall Gorina had created and disappeared.

‘I’m doomed!’

Wobble.

Sejun’s body swayed as his legs gave way. He was out of magical power.

Crack!

Gorina emerged, smashing the earthen wall that had melted and hardened from the thunder.

And then,

Thud. Thud.

“Gumomo.”

Gorina approached Sejun with a chilling smile.

Khee… what should I do?!”

Far away, Aileen was worried.

“Sejun is too weak…”

He could die before the Black Minotaurs even found him.

So, she hurriedly began searching for a new Authority to give to Sejun. Aileen knew Sejun didn’t have enough ‘contribution points’ yet to get a new Authority. But luckily, he had many Tower Coins. (Tower Coins were like special money in this world.)

“Well… it’s not the best way, but if it helps Sejun stay safe… ”

10,000 Tower Coins could be converted into 1 contribution point. And the minimum contribution points needed to purchase an Authority was 10,000. In other words, it would cost at least 100 million Tower Coins to buy an Authority with money.

Fortunately, Sejun had the 100 million Tower Coins he received from Kellion.

“Let’s see. What Authority would keep our Sejun from dying…”

Aileen quickly scrolled down the list of Authorities from the top. The Authority Aileen wanted cost 10,000 contribution points. It was listed at the very bottom of the list.

Authority: Punch of Great Destruction

Authority: Assemble Under Me

…

..

. Authority: Strong Agility

Authority: Strong Magic Power

And the Authorities visible at the very bottom.

“Sejun was already very tough. Now he needed more magic power to make him even stronger. Great! This is it!”

Aileen chose a new Authority to give to Sejun.

“I will protect Chairman Park, meow! Chairman Park, it was fun, meow!”

(Mr. Sejun, I enjoyed it too.)

Theo and the Golden Bat were saying their last goodbyes to Sejun.

“Guys… Ugh!”

This wasn’t right.

‘I can’t just keep being protected by them!’

As Sejun gritted his teeth and moved his body to fight alongside them,

[100 million Tower Coins deposited in the Seed Bank will be charged.]

[The Tower Administrator grants >Authority: Strong Magic Power> to the Tower’s Intermediate Administrator Mark.]

[You can later strengthen >Authority: Strong Magic Power> using contribution points or Tower Coins.]

“Huh?! Authority?!”

[Magic power increases by 50 due to the effect of >Authority: Strong Magic Power>.]

[Magic stat exceeds 100.]

[His ‘Magic Circuit’ talent became stronger and changed to ‘Enhanced Magic Circuit’.]

“Oh! Guys, step back! Thunder Throw!”

Feeling the magic power suddenly overflowing from his body, Sejun shouted at Theo and the Golden Bat and used the skill. He didn’t have time to understand the new power. He just used it.

Wham!

As the thunder fell,

“Gumooo!”

Boom!

Gorina created an earthen wall again, blocking the thunder.

“Rainfall!”

Sejun shouted, making rain fall only around Gorina, soaking the ground. He planned to make the ground conduct electricity by making it wet.

Swish!

A torrential downpour fell only around Gorina, drenching the ground.

‘This is the end!’

As Sejun prepared his final attack,

“Huh?! Kkuengi?!”

Sejun saw Kkuengi running towards him from afar. Kkuengi was rapidly approaching.

“Kkueng!”

[Found Daddy!]

Kkuengi, who had suddenly grown gigantic at Gorina’s feet, extended his right forepaw upwards and delivered an uppercut to Gorina.

Wham!

“Gumomo!”

Gorina screamed her last as she was sent flying so far away that she disappeared from sight by Kkuengi’s full-force punch.

Sejun sighed in relief. It was over.

It was fortunate. If he hadn’t been able to defeat her with thunder, it would have been truly dangerous.

“Kkuenge! Kkuenge?”

[Daddy, I missed you! Are you hurt anywhere?]

Just a moment ago, Kkuengi had looked strong and scary when he punched Gorina. But now, that strong look was gone. Kkuengi, now small again, hugged Sejun and cried.

“Kkueng!”

[I thought Daddy was going to be eaten!]

Kkuengi had been following the scent of Sejun’s cooking and had run at full speed when he saw Gorina drooling as she looked at Sejun.

“It’s okay. But did you come here alone?”

“Kkueng!”

[I came with the Mino uncles, but I lost them on the way!]

With that, Kkuengi began to tell his adventure story.

Smack smack.

While eating the food Sejun had made.

“Kkueng!”

[So, I beat them up!]

Kkuengi’s story was about fighting, but the mood was calm and happy. As Sejun listened to Kkuengi’s adventure story, the night of Sejun’s 284th day of being stranded drew to a close.