Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 222

“Kkueng!” he mumbled happily, his mouth full.

[Delicious!]

Kkueng was munching on the honey-flavored arrowroot. It smelled like warm honey and sunshine, and the sweet taste made his tummy happy.

*Thump.*

Suddenly, strong hands grabbed the fur on the back of his neck! Kkueng’s happy moment was ruined. He got angry right away.

‘How dare they stop the great Crimson Giant Honey Bear, Kkueng, from eating?!’ he thought fiercely. He wanted to grow bigger than a tree and scare whoever dared to bother him!

“Gotcha! You little rascal!”

That voice! Kkueng’s ears perked up. He knew that voice. It was Dad! His heart sank like a stone.

“Kkueng?”

[Why do I hear Dad’s voice?]

Creak. Creak.

Kkueng felt something bad was going to happen. He tried hard to turn his head.

And then,

“Kkueng, do you know what you’ve done?!”

Kkueng’s eyes met Sejun’s. Sejun was holding him by the scruff of his neck with a ‘I’ve got you now, you little rascal!’ look. Kkueng knew he was in trouble, and his eyes darted back and forth.

“Kkueng… Kweeng…”

[Dad, I’m sorry… Kkueng just really liked the honey flavor… ]

Kkueng’s ears drooped as he confessed his mistake to Sejun, whimpering. What if Dad doesn’t like me anymore…

Kkueng trembled with worry, afraid Sejun would be angry.

‘How adorable!’

Seeing Kkueng like this, Sejun’s lips twitched. He was trying not to smile.

However,

‘No, I mustn’t!’

Sejun made himself be serious. He had to teach him right from wrong. If he didn’t, Kkueng would keep doing it.

“Kkueng, you know it was wrong to eat all that yummy stuff by yourself, right?”

Sejun let go of Kkueng’s neck. He held Kkueng under his arms and looked right at him as he asked.

“Kweeng… Kweeng…”

[Yes… Dad, I’m sorry… ]

Kkueng whimpered, his voice small and shaky, “Yes… Dad, I’m sorry…” Tears started to fill his eyes.

“If you do something wrong, you have to be punished, right?”

Sejun tried hard not to feel soft inside. He spoke in a stern voice.

“Kweeng… Kweeng…”

[Yes… Kkueng was wrong, so he must be punished… ]

Kkueng nodded at Sejun’s words.

“So, for the next ten days, you’ll only get the bitter arrowroot. You’ll think about what you did while you eat it.”

Sejun wasn’t trying to get back at Kkueng. He really just wanted to teach him a lesson…

Sejun kept telling himself that he wasn’t trying to get even with Kkueng.

“Kkueng!”

[Understood!]

Kkueng had never eaten anything bitter before, but he knew he was wrong. So, he said he would do the punishment.

“Good. But Dad’s still not happy.”

Sejun wiped the tears from Kkueng’s eyes, trying to look serious.

“This is what you get for eating all that yummy stuff by yourself! Pffft!”

Sejun put his face close to Kkueng’s belly and blew air, making silly noises.

“Kwee…? Kuehehehe!”

[I hope Dad feels better…? Hee hee hee!]

Kkueng thought he was still in trouble at first. But then he knew that Sejun wasn’t really angry anymore, and he started to laugh.

“Kkueng, you know if you laugh right after crying, you’ll grow hair on your butt?”

Sejun teased Kkueng.

“Kkueng? Kkueng!”

[What does that mean? Kkueng already has hair on his butt!]

Kkueng puffed out his chest and wiggled his rear proudly. ‘Kkueng already has hair on his butt!’

“Oh, really?! Then get ready for more silly noises! Pffft!”

“Kuehehehe.”

And so, Sejun gave Kkueng a few more belly raspberries.

“Is this the honey-flavored arrowroot?”

“Kkueng!”

[Yes!]

Sejun looked at the blue arrowroot that Kkueng had dug up.

[Arrowroot of Blue Potential]

The root of an arrowroot that has grown by absorbing the life force from a living host.

It has absorbed almost all of the host’s life force, making it very strong.

It has lots of good things in it, so you feel full for a long time.

Eating it will make all your stats go up by 5.

It tastes like honey.

Cultivator: Top Farmer Park Sejun

Expiration Date: 180 days

Grade: B

Sejun read the description and knew why Kkueng hadn’t been looking for food.

“This makes all stats go up.”

Sejun knew what the blue arrowroot did. He put it in his mouth and chewed.

Crunch. Crunch.

It felt like eating a radish, but the honey flavor made it seem like he was eating a pear.

Gulp.

[You have eaten the Arrowroot of Blue Potential.]

[The potential of all stats has increased by 5.]

“Wow! It’s so sweet!”

Sejun had only eaten the bitter arrowroot before. He was very happy.

Crunch. Crunch.

He put another blue arrowroot in his mouth.

And then,

Crunch. Crunch.

“Kku-ep! Kku-ep!”

[Yes! It’s delicious because it tastes like honey!]

Kkueng was eating the bitter arrowroot next to him. He made a face.

“Kkueng, have one.”

Sejun gave a blue arrowroot to Kkueng, who was eating the bitter one.

Sejun had told Kkueng to only eat the bitter arrowroot that he dug up. Sejun would eat the honey-flavored ones, and Kkueng would eat the bitter ones.

“Kku-ep! Kku-ep!”

[No! Kkueng was wrong, so he will only eat the bitter arrowroot for ten days!]

Kkueng said no to the honey-flavored arrowroot. He was being even harder on himself.

“Oh, really?! Then you won’t eat honey either?”

Sejun took out a jar of honey from his bag.

“Kkueng! Kkueng!”

[No! That’s different!]

Tap tap tap tap.

Kkueng ran to Sejun and held out his two front paws.

“Here, I’ll give you one jar a day from now on. Use it to make the bitter taste go away.”

“Kkueng! Kkueng!”

[Thank you, Dad! I’ll enjoy it!]

Sejun gave him the jar.

Clink.

Kkueng quickly opened the jar.

Plop.

Lick. Lick. Lick.

He dipped his paw in the honey and started to eat it.

‘I know how you feel.’

Sejun nodded as he watched Kkueng make the bitter taste go away with honey.

A short while later,

“Kkueng! Kkueng!”

[I feel better now! I’ll go dig up more arrowroot!]

Kkuengeui, having finished his small snack, stood up to dig for kudzu roots, and Sejun followed him.

As they were digging, a sound broke through the air.

Goroong.

Korreureuk.

Kkyurorong.

Even over the snores of Theo and Iona, who had fallen asleep, Kkuengeui’s stomach rumbled loudly. It was earlier than lunchtime, somewhere between morning and noon, but he was already hungry because he hadn’t eaten much earlier.

Kkuengeui tried to hide his rumbling stomach, glancing nervously at Sejun.

“Kkuengeui, are you hungry?” Sejun asked.

Kkuengeui… Kkuengeui…

“Yes… I am hungry,” Kkuengeui replied quietly.

“Eat this for now. Crop Giantification.”

Sejun used his skill to give Kkuengeui a giant sweet potato and gathered nearby wood and stones to build a small brazier, a makeshift fireplace to cook over.

Snap!

Sejun snapped his fingers, and the fire he created ignited the brazier.

Fwoosh.

The branches began to burn.

“Alright.”

Sejun, having confirmed that the fire was burning properly, placed a pot on the brazier.

Chop chop chop.

While the pot was heating up, Sejun quickly sliced hundreds of potatoes. The dish Sejun was making was stir-fried potatoes. Slicing the potatoes thinly allowed for quick cooking.

Sizzle.

After slicing all the potatoes, Sejun melted tuna fat in the heated pot.

Fwoosh.

He poured the sliced potatoes into the pot, stir-frying them and seasoning with honey and salt for a sweet and savory flavor. Soon, the pot was filled with the comforting aroma of cooking potatoes, sweetened with honey and a hint of salt, promising a delicious and warming meal.

A short while later, a message appeared, indicating that he had achieved an accomplishment as the dish was completed.

[You have achieved the feat of creating sweet and savory stir-fried potatoes for the first time in the tower.]

[The recipe for sweet and savory stir-fried potatoes has been registered at Cooking Lv. 7.]

[Cooking Lv. 7 proficiency slightly increased.]

“Kkuengeui, come and eat.”

Ooh! That smells amazing! And look at it! So delicious!

At Sejun’s call, Kkuengeui, who had been drooling while waiting for the dish to be completed, rushed over.

And then,

Kkuengeui!

“I will enjoy the food, Sejun!” He bowed to Sejun, who had cooked the dish, at a 90-degree angle and began to eat the stir-fried potatoes.

Kkuengeui! Kkuengeui!

“It’s so delicious! You’re the best cook, Sejun!” Kkuengeui wiggled his bottom with delight, his ears twitching as he savored every bite, making happy little sounds as he ate the stir-fried potatoes.

‘He’s eating well,’ Sejun thought, watching Kkuengeui with a pleased expression.

They continued digging for hours, the sun slowly moving across the sky. Finally, as the shadows grew long, Sejun said,

“Let’s go back now.”

Kkuengeui!

“Okay!” As it was time for dinner, Sejun called Kkuengeui and returned home.

The next morning, Sejun spoke to the animals in the brewery, where 3,000 jars and 300,000 glass bottles were piled up.

“Alright, everyone, are you ready?!”

“Yes, meow!”

Kkuengeui!

“Yes!”

Squeak!

Ookkie!

The animals replied. Today was the day to transfer the Samyangju, which had been aged in 3,000 jars, into bottles. Since there were many bottles to fill, Sejun requested help from the other animals. The brewery was a busy place. Jars of fermenting Samyangju lined the walls, their earthy scent mixing with the sweet smell of the brew. Stacks of sparkling glass bottles waited to be filled, reflecting the morning light.

The 300,000 glass bottles were obtained from the wizards in exchange for providing cherry tomatoes to Iona’s magic tower, and the wizards diligently made them.

“Alright, let’s start!” As Sejun was about to start the work,

Kaiser chuckled, a deep rumbling sound. “Kuhahaha! Of course, we’ll help! The sooner this is done, the sooner we get our share!”

Kellion nodded eagerly. “Yes, we’ll help! Let’s get these bottles filled quickly!”

With a flick of Kaiser’s powerful claw, magic flowed from him. Samyangju streamed from a hundred jars at once, pouring neatly into the waiting bottles.

Kellion mirrored his action, and soon, thousands of bottles were being filled at dragon speed.

As the two dragons were almost finished transferring the Samyangju from the 3,000 jars into glass bottles, a message appeared, indicating that the quest had been completed.

[30,000 bottles of Samyangju have been distributed to all dragonkin.]

[Quest completed.]

[You have acquired a large amount of job experience as a quest completion reward.]

[Job experience greatly increased.]

[All stat potentials have increased by 100 as a quest completion reward.]

[You have been granted the qualification to challenge the 10th Tower’s trial as a quest completion reward.]

[As a congratulatory gift for obtaining the qualification to challenge the 10th Tower’s trial, a seedless grape vine for beginners is provided.]

“Huh?! A grape vine?”

[The first trial of the 10th Tower will now commence.]

[10th Tower’s First Trial: To farm, you need a strong body that won’t easily fall ill. Grow the grape vine well, eat the grapes, and raise all stats above 300.]

A large grape vine without fruit appeared in front of Sejun, and the first trial began.

“Seriously? Since when did the standard for strength become all stats at 300?”

Stroke. Stroke.

[Farmer’s Warm Touch Lv. 4 is activated.]

[The growth of the seedless grape vine for beginners is slightly accelerated while touched.]

Reading the absurd trial conditions, Sejun diligently stroked the grape vine. He intended to grow the grape vine diligently for now.

“Hehehe. I wonder when it will bear fruit?” Sejun had been wanting to eat grapes lately anyway.

Black Dragon’s Territory

Kugugung.

“What is that sound?” The great Black Dragon Miles soared into the sky to find the source of the sound.

“Where is this vibration coming from?”

“I don’t know either.”

The dragons living in other territories also flew into the sky, searching for the source of the vibration.

“Hey!? There’s something moving down there!” One of the dragons pointed to the lower part of the Ruin, which was surrounded by nine towers.

“Where?!” As the dragons followed the gaze of the dragon who had found the source of the sound,

Kugugung.

They saw a tall, conical tower of gray stone emerging from the ground, its peak sharp against the sky. It rose slowly, silently, as if pushed from beneath the earth, a new and unknown presence in the landscape.

“Hey?! That’s a tower!”

“What kind of tower is it?” As the dragons tensed at the appearance of the new tower,

Thud.

The gray tower rose to a height of about 10 meters and stopped moving.

“I need to report to the family head first!” The dragons hurriedly reported the appearance of the new tower to the heads of their families.