Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 288

“He is weak, like someone I knew a long time ago,” said a small voice. “Meow!”

Fenrir was trapping the dangerous energy inside his body. He did not want the Black Tower to find him inside the Jormungandr piece.

“It’s almost done!”

Fenrir tried to finish sealing it quickly.

A moment later.

“Heh heh heh. It’s done.”

The core, sealed with the energy of destruction, was complete.

Because of sealing the energy, Fenrir became much weaker. But even his weak power was still stronger than the Apostles of Destruction pieces.

Thud.

“Ugh. A little uncomfortable. I need to change my body.”

His body was built for strong power. Now that he was weak, even walking was hard.

Srrrt.

Fenrir restructured his body to match his weakened power.

“Wait and see! You small things from the Black Tower! I am Fenrir, the first Apostle of Destruction, the wolf who eats gods! I will show you how scary I am! Heh heh heh.”

Just as Fenrir was about to show the residents of the Black Tower how scary he was, with an evil smile on his face—

Ting!

Something pierced through the gaps in Fenrir’s body and struck the core.

And then—

“Huh?!”

The impact caused Fenrir’s core to be ejected from his body.

It was Theo’s fast attack.

It was fortunate for all the beings in the Black Tower, and unfortunate for Fenrir.

But Fenrir’s misfortune was not over yet.

Ssss.

The ejected core continued to move outward as the body of the Jormungandr fragment turned to dust—

The speed in the vertical direction converged to 0 due to gravity, and it began to fall downwards.

Squeak!

[Gah!]

Fenrir, who had been reconstituted into an incredibly weak body after the core was removed, struggled and desperately tried to grab the core, but—

Beep!

Whack!

A tiny little fellow snatched him away.

Squeak! Squeak!!!

[Let go of me! My core!!!]

Thanks to that, Fenrir could only helplessly watch his core fall, struggling and unable to do anything.

Squeak!

[I’ll kill you!]

Fenrir sent a very angry feeling towards the fellow who seemed to be the boss of the tiny creature, expressing his rage—

Squeeze.

“Puhu hut.”

The being who appeared to be the boss wore a villainous smile, said something incomprehensible, and then stamped his forepaw on something.

Fenrir, who had lived for thousands of years, was struck by the worst misfortunes in a very short time of less than 10 minutes.

The unluckiest day in Fenrir’s life.

“Puhu hut. I have a great helper, meow! Today, I, Theo, am working hard too, meow!”

Of course, conversely, it was the best day for Theo.

And then—

Beep?

[Mr. Theo, I am still the boss here, right?]

Bbyot looked worried at Fenrir. He was afraid Fenrir might become more important than him.

Sejun used both hands to mix the hot rice, soft eggs, and soy sauce in a big bowl. *Swish, swish.* Then, he made small balls of the rice with his hands. *Press, press.*

He ate a rice ball. *Nom, munch, munch.* ‘Heh heh heh. So good.’ The soy sauce egg rice tasted warm and comforting.

It would be strange if it was not delicious. Soy sauce egg rice is always good, as long as the rice and eggs are good.

“Is the soup ready?”

*Chop chop chop.* He quickly cut green onions and green chili peppers and put them in the soup. The soup smelled spicy and fresh.

“Alright, animals, let’s eat!”

When Sejun called the animals—

Kkueng!

Ookki!

The animals cheered, waiting for the food to be finished.

Thump.

“Kkueng, is it delicious?”

Sejun asked Kkueng, who had emptied his bowl full of soy sauce egg rice in an instant and was holding out his bowl.

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[It’s delicious! Dad is a genius!]

Kkueng, who was eating soy sauce egg rice, praised excitedly at Sejun’s question.

Kkueng was so happy, he started to dance! He wiggled his bottom and moved his shoulders. It was a funny dance he did when he really loved the food, and Sejun had not seen it in a while.

“Heh heh heh. Eat the egg drop soup too. It makes it even more delicious.”

Feeling proud of Kkueng’s reaction, Sejun filled Kkueng’s bowl to the brim with rice.

Kkueng!

[Okay!]

Slurp.

Kkueng took a refreshing gulp of the egg drop soup, perhaps because his throat was a little dry.

Sejun’s egg drop soup had green chili peppers.

The spicy soup cleaned the taste of the rice from his mouth. Then, the little bit of spice made him want to eat more.

At that moment—

Wap.

A bite of greasy soy sauce egg rice.

And then—

Slurp.

Another sip of spicy egg drop soup.

It was a perfect combination! You could eat it forever.

*Pabababa!* As Kkueng ate, his fur started to glow with a bright gold light! It was so bright, it almost hurt to look at it. The rice was making him very strong and healthy.

“Oh?! This is not the time to be doing this!”

‘Oh no! I need to eat faster!’ Sejun thought. He ate very quickly. He felt his body getting stronger and full of energy as he ate.

It was great! He got to eat yummy food and become stronger at the same time.

‘Kkueng, is this how you feel?’

Sejun looked at Kkueng, who was drinking the egg drop soup straight from the pot, with envious eyes.

Later, Sejun went down to the merchant street on the 75th floor of the Tower. He needed to buy ingredients for more food. ‘Please give me 10 trouts,’ he said to the shopkeeper.

“Three gold coins for a rainbow trout? Is that right?” the store owner asked.

“What?! Three gold coins?!” The young merchant’s eyes widened. “Has the price of rainbow trout really gone up that much?” He had just walked into the small food store, hoping to buy supplies. The price was three times higher than it was just two weeks ago!

The store owner chuckled, wiping down the counter. “You’re a rare face these days. Been far away?”

“Yes,” the merchant replied, “a long trading trip.”

“Ah, that explains it.” The store owner nodded, understanding. “The Red Ribbon Kingdom and the Cobb Kingdom are buying up everything – food, supplies, everything! Prices have gone crazy.”

“The Red Ribbon Kingdom and Cobb Kingdom?” The merchant’s voice was worried now. “Is it war?” War would make trading very dangerous.

He could make a lot of money if he took risks, but he only had one life. Staying safe and earning a little less was better.

“War? No, no.” The store owner laughed. “They say it’s a party. A first anniversary party for the Great Black Dragon. No idea what anniversary that is! Honestly,” he joked, “not knowing this, are you sure you should be a merchant?”

“Hahaha…” The merchant tried to laugh, but it sounded weak. “Maybe not…” His long trip had lost him money, and now this news. He felt sad and wanted to give up.

“Hey, cheer up, young man!” The store owner didn’t want to lose a customer who might buy something later. “I’ll tell you something good. If you have anything you want to know the value of, go to the Magic Association. They are checking items for free right now.”

The Magic Association was searching for a special item to gift to Sejun, under Iona’s instructions.

“Free?” The merchant’s eyes lit up. “Wait! I do have something… Should I take it to them?” He remembered a strange item he found on his trip back.

“Yes! Go! You never know, it might be a treasure!”

“Thank you!” The merchant smiled, feeling a little hope. “If it’s valuable, I’ll come back and buy lots of things from you!”

“Good luck!”

“Yes!” The merchant hurried out of the store, towards the Magic Association.

*Pitter-patter.* Theo’s small paws made soft sounds on the stone floor.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Theo asked, seeing Fenrir turn the wrong way.

*Creak!* Fenrir stopped, his wolf head held high.

‘I am Fenrir, a noble wolf!’ he thought proudly.

*Thump.* Before Fenrir could move, Theo jumped and grabbed him by the fur on the back of his neck.

“Whimper! Whimper!” Fenrir yelped.

‘You little brats! Let me go!’ he thought, struggling. But without his core, Fenrir was weak. He couldn’t even move Theo’s tiny toes.

“What’s he saying?” Theo asked Tweet, tilting his head.

*Tweet!* [I don’t know either.]

Theo and Tweet couldn’t understand Fenrir’s wolf words.

“Whimper?!” Fenrir whined.

‘What are you two talking about without me?!’ he thought, annoyed. Fenrir used to be able to share thoughts with others, but now that power was gone. He couldn’t talk to them anymore.

“Let’s go, nya!” Theo said.

“Whimper!” Fenrir whimpered as Theo tied a rope between his paw and Fenrir’s paw. Now Fenrir couldn’t run away. Theo started walking back down the tower.

“Whimper?! Whimper!” Fenrir pulled at the rope. ‘How dare you do this to me! This is for dogs!’ He tried to pull the rope off his paw.

“Don’t pull, Whimpering!” Theo said firmly.

Fenrir was even more embarrassed with the rope now around his neck. And Theo had given him a silly name: Whimpering. It was like Sejun’s bad names, he thought grumpily.

“Whimper!” ‘I’m not moving until you untie me!’ Fenrir refused to walk.

*Drag, drag, drag.* Theo started pulling him anyway.

“Whimper! Whimper! Ah! Hot!” Fenrir’s paws scraped on the stone floor. They were getting hot! He had to walk to stop being dragged.

*Pitter-patter.* Fenrir walked, his proud wolf spirit feeling very low.

But then…

“Whimper… Whimper…” Fenrir panted. ‘These two… how do they have so much energy?’ He was tired after only ten minutes.

“Whimper… Whimper…” ‘I’m too tired… just leave me…’ Fenrir gave up. He lay flat on the ground, forgetting all about being a noble wolf.

*Drag, drag, drag.* Theo kept pulling.

“This won’t work, nya! He’s as weak as Chairman Park used to be, nya!” Theo said, annoyed that Fenrir was slowing him down.

*Thump.* Suddenly, Theo stopped dragging. Fenrir felt himself being lifted. Theo put Fenrir on his back.

“Whimper…” ‘Oh… this is soft and warm…’ Fenrir thought sleepily. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

*Snore.*

Fenrir didn’t know that Theo thought he was weaker than Sejun, who everyone knew was the weakest person on the 99th floor of the Black Tower.

Listening to Fenrir’s snores, Theo reached the 55th floor of the tower.

“Black Rabbit, come to Chairman Park’s party, nya!” Theo called out, going to find his friend.

But then…

*Tweet?! Tweet?!* [Uncle Theo! You’re so late! Why are you telling me about the party now?!] Black Rabbit hopped out, looking upset.

“Nya?! Late? What are you talking about? I told you first, Black Rabbit, nya!” Theo was confused.

*Tweet?* [Really?] Black Rabbit looked surprised.

“Yes, nya!”

*Tweet?* [Then what are all the rumors in the tower about?]

“Phoo-hoo-hoot. Even better, nya! Chairman Park’s party will be even bigger now, nya!” Theo grinned.

*Tweet! Tweet!* [Yes! It’s Uncle Sejun’s first year in the tower! We have to make it the best party ever!] Black Rabbit agreed excitedly.

“Phoo-hoo-hoot. Good, nya! But where’s Boss Rabbit, nya?”

*Tweet? Tweet?* [Boss Rabbit? Oh, you mean Dad?]

“Yes, nya! We need to invite him to Chairman Park’s party, nya!”

*Tweet!* [Coco, take Theo to Dad!]

*Thump!* [Yes!] A big rabbit, Coco, stepped out from the shadows. He was the leader of the guard rabbits.

Coco had been hiding, watching them, but now he showed himself.

Day 364 of being stuck here.

Sejun’s bedroom.

*Snoooore.* Sejun was fast asleep in his bed, snoring loudly.

[Hehe. He’s sound asleep.] Bluggi, the big plant, chuckled quietly. Its roots started to wiggle.

Then, Bluggi spoke to Podori, a smaller plant beside it. [Podori! Sejun is sleeping! Eat your food quickly and grow big now!]

Bluggi pushed a lot of energy into Podori, wanting it to grow stronger.

But Podori complained. [Huh? Bluggi, we have a new friend now, right? Can’t I stop working?] Podori was being silly, not understanding how serious Bluggi was.

[Yes. Don’t worry. I will definitely not let you stop working.] Bluggi answered, its voice firm.

*Whoosh.* Flames suddenly appeared on Bluggi’s roots. It meant: “No stopping work. Only death.”

[No! I’ll keep working!] Podori quickly started to suck up all the energy Bluggi was giving it.

*Boom.*

The ground shook a little as Podori grew as big as it could get.