Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 431

A warm wave washed over Sejun, surprising him. He blinked, feeling a strange lightness he hadn’t felt in ages. Beside him, Kkuengi, his furry companion, puffed out his chest, a tiny, defeated creature clutched in his paws.

*Level Up!* The words flashed in Sejun’s mind, clear as a bell. *Herbalist Kkuengi Park has gained experience.*

“Oh,” Sejun murmured, a smile spreading across his face. “Level up. Just like that.” He hadn’t even lifted a finger! All thanks to Kkuengi.

*Kkuhehehe. Kkueng?* Kkuengi tilted his head, his bright eyes sparkling. *[Hehehe. Daddy, did Kkuengi do good?]*

Kkuengi rummaged through his snack pouch, which also served as his allowance purse, and took out a praise card.

“Of course, you did very well. But shall we see how much allowance our Kkuengi has saved up?” Sejun said, stamping the praise card with a nervous expression.

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[Kkuengi saved a lot! Here it is!]

At Sejun’s words, Kkuengi, wanting to show off the allowance he had diligently saved, hurriedly handed his allowance pouch to Sejun.

“Oh! Kkuengi, look there!” Sejun said. “A convenience store! They have lots of tasty things there, shall we go take a look?”

Sejun was planning to refill the allowance pouch with 3000 Top Coins, the local currency, while Kkuengi was looking at the convenience store snacks.

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[No! Kkuengi wants to quickly meet Grandma and have her make tasty things!]

Tsk.

Although he drooled, Kkuengi had integrity and didn’t fall for the wicked temptation.

“Excuse me, Dongshik, could I borrow your phone for a moment?”

“Yes, here it is.”

So, changing his tactics, he borrowed a smartphone from Dongshik.

“Is it okay if I make a video call?”

“Of course! Use it as much as you like.”

He made a video call to Kim Miran.

-Hello?

“Mom, it’s me, Sejun.”

-Sejun, darling! Is that really you? You’re finally out of the Tower?!”

“Yeah. But I think I’ll have to go back in a little later.”

-How long will you be?

“About 3 hours? Mom, just a moment. I’ll let Kkuengi talk to you.”

-Oh my! Kkuengi’s out too?!”

Mom, why are you happier that Kkuengi is out? Your son is going to feel left out.

“Kkuengi, it’s Grandma.”

As Sejun gave the phone to Kkuengi,

Kkueng!

[Kkuengi is happy to see Grandma!]

Kkuengi held the phone with both front paws and bowed deeply to Kim Miran.

-Our Kkuengi, have you been well?

Kkueng!

[Kkuengi wants to eat the delicious food Grandma makes!]

-Yes. Kkuengi, Grandma has made lots of tasty things, so come quickly.

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[Kkuengi is hungry! Kkuengi can eat a lot!]

Even though they clearly couldn’t understand each other, the conversation flowed smoothly.

While Kkuengi was talking with Kim Miran, Sejun quickly took out 3000 Top Coins and put them in the allowance pouch.

“Mom, we’ll probably arrive in an hour, so tell Sedol to order all my usual delivery food.”

-Okay. Come quickly! I miss you.

“Okay.”

He felt like they were more excited to see Kkuengi than him, but Sejun tried to ignore it and ended the video call.

“Wow. Our Kkuengi saved up 3000 Top Coins?” He said in a surprised voice, nonchalantly taking out 3000 Top Coins from the allowance pouch.

Kkueng! Kkueng!

[That’s right! Kkuengi is rich!]

At Sejun’s words, Kkuengi puffed out his belly instead of his chest, feeling proud.

Good. Perfect.

“Yes. Our Kkuengi is rich.”

[Skill: Kkueng’s Myriad Steps (Master) has been copied.]

Sejun stroked Kkuengi’s belly and copied the skill. Sejun’s research showed that the higher the level of intimacy with the other party, the greater the probability of copying the desired skill with a Skill Stealing Stone. Of course, it had to be a usable skill.

Thanks to that, Sejun was only able to copy Kkueng’s Myriad Steps.

Sejun planned to personally remove the aura of destruction within 500km using Kkueng’s Myriad Steps. Because the destruction was in the sea. If Kkuengi were to deal with it using Kkueng’s Myriad Steps, the countries around the East Sea, West Sea, and South Sea might suffer tremendous damage from a massive tsunami.

[Kkueng’s Myriad Steps (Master)] This powerful skill, learned from the Bull Demon King, allowed Kkuengi to strike enemies far away. This skill can attack even enemies that are very far away as long as they can be detected. Destructive power decreases as the enemy’s distance increases by 1km. Usage Restriction: All stats 1000 or higher

Let’s finish this quickly and go home!

“KkuBak Myriad Steps!”

Whoosh.

Sejun subtly added his name to the skill and vigorously extended his fist towards the place where he felt the aura of destruction.

Of course, nothing happened in front of him.

Heh heh. Now a message will appear saying that the destruction in the East Sea has been dealt with.

Sejun kept waiting for the message, but the message didn’t appear.

[Skill: Kkueng’s Myriad Steps (Master) has been copied.]

Whoosh.

He used the skill several more times on the aura of destruction that was nearby, but the message didn’t appear.

“Ah. I’m tired. Vice Chairman Theo, take this.”

Eventually, Sejun collapsed after using KkuBak Myriad Steps 7 times. He gave the Skill Stealing Stone to Theo and had him use the skill instead.

“Meow!”

[Guardian Theo Park has defeated the Giant Vampire Leech.]

[Guardian Theo Park has acquired 5000 experience points, 50% of the total.]

Theo defeated the enemy.

“Puhuhu. I’ve completed a new skill, meow!”

Theo, having grasped the principle of the skill, quickly created a new skill.

Why can Theo create skills so easily, but I can’t?

“President Park, this is a combination skill, so please name it, meow! Puhuhu. I hope President Park’s name is included, meow!”

Theo asked Sejun to name the new skill.

“Meteor Kick?”

A foot that drops meteors on the enemy from Myriad Steps away.

“Wow! I came up with this name?! I’m crazy! I just got goosebumps!”

Sejun was surprised even after naming it himself. Because it was so well-named.

Following TheoKkuBak Drill Storm, another bizarrely named combination skill was created.

“Meow! Meow!” Theo’s small paws were a blur as he fought the giant leeches. Each strike sent the slimy creatures flying. While Theo was busy with the messy work, Sejun thought, *I should head home now.*

“Mr. Dong-shik,” Sejun asked, “where is our new house exactly?”

“Follow me. I will guide you.”

“Yes.”

As they drove, Sejun held Theo’s paws and playfully waved them out the window. Suddenly, a message popped up in front of Sejun.

[Guardian Theo Park has defeated the giant blood-sucking leeches.]

[Guardian Theo Park has acquired 5000 experience points, which is 50% of the earned experience.]

He defeated the giant blood-sucking leeches, and

[You have eradicated the second calamity sent by Extinction: the giant blood-sucking leeches.]

[You have achieved a great feat that no one has ever accomplished before.]

[As a reward for this great achievement, the third calamity of Extinction, the giant blood-sucking leeches, cannot invade Earth.]

The giant blood-sucking leeches were eradicated from Earth, and a great achievement was accomplished.

[As a reward for this great achievement, the stay cost on the 0th floor of the Black Tower will be reduced by 2%.]

Thanks to that, the stay cost was reduced by 2%.

“Only 2%…” Sejun mumbled, a little disappointed. But then he thought about it. Blackie had made the stay cost incredibly high. Even 2% of a huge number was still a *lot*. “Wow,” Sejun said to himself, “that’s actually amazing!”

“But what is this place?”

Sejun frowned, looking at the messages. “North? Underground?” he wondered. “That’s strange.” He thought about where in the North it could be. Suddenly, he felt a wave of heat. “Theo,” Sejun said quickly, “I think there’s something else. This time, make your paw print bigger!”

“Understood, meow!” Theo replied.

Whoosh!

Theo moved his front paw.

And

[Guardian Theo Park has defeated the fire moths.]

[Guardian Theo Park has acquired 3000 experience points, which is 50% of the earned experience.]

…

..

.

[You have eradicated the third calamity sent by Extinction: the fire moths.]

[You have achieved a great feat that no one has ever accomplished before.]

[As a reward for this great achievement, the third calamity of Extinction, the fire moths, cannot invade Earth.]

Theo moved his paw, and a giant, glowing paw print appeared in the sky above the North. It slammed down near Mount Baekdu with a silent force.

[Guardian Theo Park has defeated the fire moths.]

The fire moths, which had been secretly building their strength underground, eventually disappeared from Earth without anyone knowing.

[As a reward for this great achievement, the crops cultivated by Black Tower farmer Park Sejun can absorb a small amount of Extinction’s power and turn it into nutrients.]

[As a reward for this great achievement, the stay cost on the 0th floor of the Black Tower will be reduced by 2%.]

This time, in addition to the 2% reduction in stay cost, the amount of Extinction’s power that crops can absorb has increased.

And

[All detected auras of Extinction have been removed.]

[Quest completed.]

[As a quest reward, the extinction of Earth is postponed.]

The quest was finally completed.

[Quest completed.] Messages flashed in front of Sejun’s eyes. He stared at them, hardly daring to believe it. “It’s… it’s really over,” he whispered. A huge smile spread across his face. “Yes! It’s over!” He hugged Theo, Kkuenge, and the Black Rabbit tightly, laughing with pure joy. “Now all I have to do is play and eat!”

Kuh-uh.

Goro-rong.

Pya-ro-rong.

Kkuro-rong.

Kki-ro-rong.

In the brief moment he fell asleep,

“Mr. Sejun, we have arrived home.” Kim Dong-shik stopped the car in front of a huge mansion.

“Ah. Yes.”

Sejun quickly came to his senses and got out of the car. His family was waiting in front of the house.

Kim Dong-shik had contacted them in advance.

“Mom, Dad, little brother…”

“Mr. Sejun, we have arrived home.” Dong-shik’s voice pulled Sejun back to reality. He blinked and looked out the window. In front of him was a huge, beautiful house. His house. He got out of the car, his heart pounding. His family was waiting on the steps. His mom, his dad, his little brother. He hadn’t seen them in so long. “Mom… Dad… Se-dol…” His voice was thick with emotion. His mother’s eyes were already wet with tears. “Sejun…” she breathed. “Son…” his father said, his voice trembling. “Hyung…” Se-dol whispered. It was like a dam breaking. All the feelings Sejun had kept inside rushed out. “Ugh! Mom, Dad, Se-dol!” He ran to them, and they rushed to him. They hugged tightly, tears flowing freely.

“Sejun…”

“Son…”

“Hyung…”

“My son, you’re really home,” his mother sobbed, holding him tight. “We missed you so much,” his father said, patting his back. “Hyung, you’re back!” Se-dol exclaimed, his voice full of happiness.

While the family members were hugging each other and crying,

Lick. Lick.

While the family hugged, Theo, Black Rabbit, Kkuenge, and Blackie were getting ready to meet them. Theo puffed out his chest. “Hello humans! I am Theo Park, Sejun’s best friend!” he announced proudly. Kkuenge bounced excitedly. “Kkuenge! Kkuenge is here too!” The Black Rabbit just wiggled his nose cutely. Blackie, however, looked down his nose at the family. “Hmph. So, *these* are Sejun’s family. You are lucky to meet the great Blackie.”

Each of them greeted.

Of course, Sejun’s family could only understand Theo’s words, so Sejun translated for them,

“You only eat a lot of money, where are you acting up!”

Thump.

Kking…

The arrogant Blackie had to be lightly flicked on the forehead by Sejun.

“Please accept my bow. I have returned.”

Sejun bowed deeply to his parents on the street.

Then,

Plop.

Kkuenge hurriedly prostrated himself, following Sejun’s bow.

When Sejun got up, Kkuenge got up with him and held out his two front paws to Sejun’s parents. He thought Sejun was giving a New Year’s bow.

“Kkuenge, this is not about receiving New Year’s money.”

Kkuenge?

[It’s not New Year’s money, yo?]

Kkuenge made a sulky expression at Sejun’s words.

But

“Okay,” Sejun’s mother said, wiping her eyes, “let’s go inside. I’ve cooked so much food!”

“Yes! Let’s eat!” Sejun said, his stomach rumbling. Kkuenge’s ears perked up. “Food! Kkuenge loves Grandma’s food!” he cheered. Smiling, Sejun led his family and his animal friends towards the warm, inviting house. As they disappeared inside, a small firefly watched from behind a bush, sighing in relief. (Baet baet. Phew. I’m glad they didn’t see us.) Another firefly next to him nodded. (Baet Baet. Yes. We need to be careful around them.)