Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 236

Mount Bukhan, South Korea.

“Let’s quickly hit Baegundae Peak and then go get a drink!”

“Sounds good. Great.”

Two hikers, eager for a refreshing drink after their sweaty climb, excitedly started down the trail.

After a few steps, one of them stopped.

“Wait… what is that?” he asked, pointing.

His friend looked in the same direction, his eyes widening.

“Whoa… is that… a Black Tower? But… what’s it doing *here*? I’ve never seen one on Bukhan Mountain before.”

They stared at the Black Tower towering over Mount Bukhan. It was the 101st tower to appear as the tower’s influence grew.

Just then, a man in a uniform approached them.

“Sorry, folks, you can’t go any further this way. This area is closed off right now.”

“Huh?!” The hikers were surprised.

The Awakened Association employees guarding the trail stopped them. This 101st tower had never appeared before, and they were restricting civilian access, fearing something might emerge from the tower.

“Oh well. Have a good one.”

“You too.”

The hikers sighed, a little disappointed.

“Aish, of all places for a tower to appear…” one muttered, but then shrugged. “Well, a drink is a drink.”

He chuckled.

“Hehehe. So, it can’t be helped.”

The hikers, already thinking about their morning drinks, turned away from the trail and headed straight to a shop at the entrance.

News about the 101st Black Tower appeared briefly on screens and in newspapers. ‘Another tower in Korea?’ some people shrugged. ‘They’re all clustered together anyway.’ Since the towers only seemed to be for hunters, and South Korea already had three, most people quickly went back to their daily lives. The mystery of the new tower was quickly forgotten by the busy world.

***

“Here you go.”

Sejun smiled warmly at Theo. “Here you go, Theo. Take as much as you need. Don’t worry about paying me back right away.”

Sejun readily handed over 500 million Tower Coins to Theo, who had asked to borrow money. As the saying goes, generosity comes from a full storehouse. With two hefty money pouches in his hands, Sejun’s generosity had indeed increased.

However,

“Thank you, meow! This is plenty, really!”

Theo kept only 100 million Tower Coins from what Sejun gave him and returned the rest. The maximum amount of money that could be infused at once was 100 million Tower Coins.

Moreover, after infusing money once, he needed time to adjust to the enhanced abilities. These were things he had learned after infusing Yuren’s money.

“Are you really sure?” Sejun asked.

“Yes, meow!”

“Alright, I understand.”

As Sejun was putting the money Theo returned back into the money pouch, a thought sparked in Sejun’s mind, as if whispered on the wind. *Authority… you could enhance your Authority.*

“Authority? Oh, right!”

Come to think of it, he also had a way to become stronger by infusing money.

“How much do I have?”

Sejun began counting the money in the pouch Kaiser had given him. The pouch contained 1.4 billion Tower Coins, after deducting the 100 million Tower Coins he had given to Theo.

Combined with the 1 billion Tower Coins Kellyon had given him, Sejun had a total of 2.4 billion Tower Coins. It was an enormous sum.

“Aileen, what kind of Authority can I get with 2.4 billion Tower Coins?”

[The Tower Administrator asks you to wait a moment.]

Shortly after, a list appeared in his mind, clear as day: *Strong Power, Strong Agility…* these Authorities were within his reach.

[Grantable Authority]

>Authority: Strong Power>, >Authority: Strong Agility>

[Enhanceable Authority]

>Authority: Mighty Stamina>, >Authority: Mighty Magic Power>

Aileen showed Sejun the Authority that could be granted and enhanced with the money he had.

“So, I can enhance the Authority I already have. Aileen, is it possible to grant and enhance all the Authority here?”

Sejun was brimming with confidence, given that he had 2.4 billion Tower Coins.

Moreover, knowing that granting Strong Power and Strong Agility cost 100 million Tower Coins each, Sejun thought enhancing Authority would cost around 500 million Tower Coins at most.

However,

[The Tower Administrator says that it is difficult.]

[The Tower Administrator says that >Authority: Mighty Stamina> and >Authority: Mighty Magic Power> each require 2 billion Tower Coins to enhance.]

‘Mighty,’ the next level after ‘Strong,’ was far more expensive than Sejun had anticipated.

“Really? Then I’ll take Mighty Stamina, Strong Power, and Strong Agility.”

Prioritizing survival, Sejun naturally chose Mighty Stamina first to extend his lifeline, and then selected the other Authority with the remaining money.

[The Tower Administrator says that they will begin granting Authority.]

[The Tower Administrator says that it might be a little painful.]

“What?!…”

It might be painful?! They didn’t say anything about that! Before Sejun could finish his sentence, the granting of Authority began.

[200 million Tower Coins deposited in the Seed Bank have been charged.]

[The Tower Administrator grants >Authority: Strong Power> and >Strong Agility> to the Black Tower Intermediate Administrator Mark.]

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

[Agility increases by 50 due to the effect of >Authority: Strong Agility>.]

[You can enhance >Authority: Strong Power> and >Authority: Strong Agility> later using contribution points or Tower Coins.]

As Aileen had said, the two Authority were granted first.

However,

“Huh? It doesn’t hurt?”

Sejun was relieved.

At that moment,

Oooong.

The Black Tower Intermediate Administrator Mark on the back of Sejun’s right hand began to move.

Sreureureu.

The black dragon tattoo disappeared as if seeping beneath Sejun’s skin.

[You have acquired all the most basic, lowest-grade Authority.]

[Your body is too weak to handle the next level of Authority.]

[Body modification will begin to allow you to handle the next level of Authority.]

At the same time, a message appeared stating that his body would be modified. No… Body modification?! By whose authority?! This isn’t…!!!

Panic flared in Sejun’s chest. He hadn’t agreed to this! He tried to stop it, to scream, but his voice was trapped in his throat as his body was taken over by something he couldn’t understand.

Crack.

Contrary to Sejun’s wishes, his body was forcibly modified, and his muscles began to twist.

“Aargh!”

It wasn’t just a little pain. It felt like a thousand burning needles were stabbing him all over, inside and out. His muscles clenched and twisted in ways they shouldn’t, a horrifying, unnatural dance under his skin.

“President Park, what’s wrong, meow?! Where does it hurt, meow?!”

Press. Press.

Seeing Sejun in pain, Theo hurriedly began to massage Sejun’s body with his front paws.

Crack.

The body modification lasted for about a minute before disappearing.

Kuh-uh-uh.

Sejun, who had already fainted in the meantime, fell asleep snoring.

Press. Press.

“But what was that awful smell?!”

Theo, who was massaging Sejun’s body, looked around for the source of the odor, which stung his nose.

And

“I know, meow!”

He found where the stench was coming from. The source of the stench was Sejun. As his body was being modified, the bad waste products in Sejun’s body were being discharged along with sweat, causing the stench. He definitely didn’t poop himself. No!

If there was such a stench, one would usually wash the body or move away from Sejun, but

Thump.

Theo didn’t mind any bad smells when he was on Sejun’s lap. He could handle it.

Curled up like a ball on Sejun’s knees, Theo felt warm and cozy, like bread baking in an oven. He purred softly.

Purrrr.

He snuggled his face into Sejun’s lap and fell fast asleep.

The highest floor of the Black Tower.

“Kkyut kkyut kkyut. This is so helpful!”

In the Tower Master’s office, Iona hugged the Theo ball made of Theo’s fur and oversaw the Tower’s affairs.

Just then,

Knock. Knock.

Fren, the Vice Tower Master of the Black Tower, entered. Fren was a red panda, originally an elder of the Tower of Destruction, but after being absorbed into the Black Tower, he became one of the three Vice Tower Masters managing the Tower under Iona.

“Fren, what is it?”

“I’ve come to get your signature on the payment documents for the cherry tomatoes purchased from Sejun-nim’s farm this time.”

“Kkyut kkyut kkyut. Here are the documents.”

Normally, Iona would ask meticulously about various things before signing, but she quietly reviewed the documents and signed immediately. She seemed to be in a very good mood today.

“Oh, right! Tower Master, have you heard the rumor?”

Fren blurted out a rumor he wouldn’t normally mention.

“What rumor?”

“Have you heard the rumor? People are saying you’re dating a simple merchant. Isn’t that silly? Someone like you with a low merchant…”

As he spoke, Fren, worked up on his own, began to rant excitedly.

And then,

Tremble. Tremble.

Iona trembled as if she was also furious.

‘I knew the Tower Master would be furious too!’

Fren, who had always liked Iona, was pleased with Iona’s reaction.

‘Indeed, the rumor is just a rumor! There’s no way Iona-nim would like such a cat!’

As Fren was feeling relieved,

“Kkyu-kkyu-kkyu- What’s wrong with Theo-nim?!!!”

Iona shouted. Contrary to expectations, the direction of her anger was not towards the cat Theo, but towards herself. Fury level 3! If he misspoke here, he, the Vice Tower Master, would disappear along with the tower.

“No… I didn’t mean that, but the rumor…”

Fren had to desperately explain himself to survive.

One hour after Sejun fainted,

“Ugh… what is it?!”

Sejun, who had opened his eyes, moved his body around, marveling. He had fainted feeling the pain of his muscles twisting all over, but now his whole body felt so refreshed.

Sniff. Sniff.

“Ugh! But what is this smell?”

Sejun frowned at the stench that was creeping up from his body.

“Nya…”

He hurriedly took Theo, who was sleeping on his lap, and headed to the fountain.

At that moment,

“Kkueng? Kkueng!”

“[Where are you going, Daddy? Kkueng has brought you good kudzu roots! ]”

Kkueng, who had returned from tending to herbs in the west forest, discovered Sejun and approached, taking out blue kudzu roots from his snack pouch.

However, Kkueng’s pace gradually slowed.

“Kkueng…”

“[Daddy smells like poop… ]”

Kkueng covered his nose with his front paws and handed over the kudzu roots, keeping as much distance as possible from Sejun.

‘Is it really that bad?’

“I’m going to take a bath, do you want to join me, Kkueng?”

“Kkueng!”

“[Yes! ]”

Sejun, feeling a bit hurt even though he knew why, tempted Kkueng, who loved playing in the water, with a bath.

Shortly after, Sejun arrived at the fountain and thoroughly washed away the stench.

Snap. Whoosh.

Using his Talent ‘Friend of Fire’, he created fire on his finger and turned the fountain into a hot spring, enjoying a half-bath.

And then,

Splash. Splash.

Kkuhehehe. Kkueng!

“[Hehehe. This is fun! ]”

“Ahhh. So refreshing.”

As Sejun watched Kkueng and sipped his iced Americano with a happy expression,

[The Tower Administrator says that you have worked hard and will now enhance your Authority.]

Eileen, who had been busy with other tasks, spoke, now realizing that Sejun had woken up.

“What?! Can’t I skip it?”

Sejun recalled the pain from before.

[The Tower Administrator says that your body has already changed to withstand the next stage of Authority, so there will be no pain this time.]

“Really? Then I’ll do it.”

Sejun immediately enhanced his Authority upon hearing that there would be no pain.

[2 billion Tower Coins deposited in the Seed Bank are being charged.]

[The Tower Administrator enhances the >Authority: Strong Physique> granted to the Tower’s Middle Manager Badge to >Authority: Mighty Physique>.]

[As a result of the >Authority: Mighty Physique> effect, your Health increases by an additional 100.]

Flash.

Along with the message that the Authority had been enhanced, the enhancement ended this time with the eyes of the black dragon tattoo on the back of his right hand briefly shining brightly.

And then,

Bubble. Bubble.

Theo, who had been clinging to Sejun’s lap to stay there, was submerged using his water-based Talent.

‘Chairman Park spent so much money, nya! Now he’s broke, nya! Puhuhut. It’s my turn, Vice Chairman Theo, to make money, nya!’

Theo decided that he had to get up immediately and go down to the 65th floor of the Tower, where the pink pig sucker was.

However,

‘It’s so warm, nya… I feel like my body is melting, nya…’

The temperature of the hot spring interfered with Theo’s decision.

Purrrr.

In the end, Theo was baked in the warm hot spring and fell asleep as if he had fainted.

The next morning,

“Chairman Park, I’m going to make a lot of money, nya!”

“Just don’t cause any trouble.”

“Puhuhut. Trust me, nya!”

Theo waved his front paws at Sejun, who was seeing him off, and ran off quickly.

Saying trust him after being told not to cause trouble?

“I’m anxious…”

Sejun felt uneasy as he watched Theo’s back as he headed towards the 65th floor of the Tower with great fanfare.