Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 473

Sejun chuckled to himself. “Park Sejun, you genius. Solved it again!”

Sejun finished his breakfast of warm mushroom soup with his companions. The morning air was still cool from the festival night, but the sun was starting to peek through the trees. “Time to work,” he announced, pushing back his chair.

Since there were no competitions on the third day of the Harvest Festival, he decided to spend the morning working in his subspace warehouse – a special place where he grew his crops.

“Kkuengi, my little friend,” Sejun said, smiling at the fluffy raccoon creature beside him. “Here’s some pocket money. Go buy lots of delicious treats at the raccoon market.”

Kkuengi squealed with delight, “Hehehe! Thank you, Daddy!” He grabbed the coins and dashed towards the raccoon market, disappearing quickly into the crowd.

From the sling bag on Kamangi’s back, a small bird-like creature, Kareureu, peeked out. “Caw…” he mumbled nervously. “(How could the Demonic Energy of the End…)” He had been whining and clinging to Kamangi, scared to be left alone while Kkuengi was gone.

He never imagined he would actually see the Demonic Energy of the End – something Kareureu had only heard terrifying stories about.

“Caw! (Kamangi, Captain, I survived! I saw the Demonic Energy of the End and I’m still here!)”

But all he heard was Kamangi’s loud, rumbling snores. Kkirorong.

Kareureu suddenly felt all his energy drain away. Being around Kkuengi, who he called the ‘Demonic Energy of the End,’ had made him incredibly tense. Now that Kkuengi was gone, the tension vanished, leaving him completely exhausted.

Karorong. He fell fast asleep.

Suddenly, a loud *Clang!* echoed in the air, followed by excited cries of *Kyakyakya! Kiki!* Sejun smiled. “Good morning,” he said as he stepped into the subspace warehouse. He was greeted by the Pioneers of Destruction – small, energetic creatures that looked like living flames – and the Devourers of Destruction – plant-like beings with sharp, thorny vines.

As he entered, a familiar feeling washed over him – the subspace warehouse recognizing his presence as a skilled farmer, Field Level 8. A message appeared in his mind: *A Devourer of Destruction seed has been planted in the body of Kurugeo, the rock that destroys the 7th Seat Mountain of Destruction.* It was a strange, magical system, but Sejun understood it meant his seeds were working.

The subspace warehouse was a vast, bright space filled with rows of neatly tilled soil. The air hummed with magical energy, making the plants grow faster and stronger than in the outside world.

Sejun got to work, carefully planting the Devourer of Destruction seeds with the help of the Pioneer creatures. He also planted rows of other crops, his hands moving quickly and efficiently.

Two hours later, Sejun straightened his back, wiping sweat from his brow. He looked over his work, but frowned. “But why aren’t these growing?” he muttered, staring at two empty patches of soil.

He was staring at two empty patches of soil where he had planted the special dragon fruit and All-Swallowing Jelly seeds he had bought from the seed shop. These were supposed to be top-quality seeds, ‘transcendent-grade,’ the shopkeeper had called them.

He knelt down, examining the soil. “Hmm,” he thought, tapping his chin. “Maybe they need something special to grow. Different conditions?” He racked his brain, trying to remember anything the seed shop owner had said. Then, his eyes fell on the name ‘dragon fruit.’ “Dragon fruit… dragons?” he wondered. “Could it be related to dragons?” He decided to look for clues in the names of the seeds themselves.

He carefully dug up the soil with his hands, the sound of *scritch scritch* filling the quiet warehouse. He found the dragon fruit seed. Not even a tiny root. It was exactly as he had planted it. “Nothing,” he sighed. He picked up the seed and placed it in a small pot. “Maybe it needs something different.” He decided to try a new approach. “Eileen?” he called out. Eileen, the Tower Administrator who often helped him in the warehouse, appeared beside him. “Eileen, could you do me a favor and keep this pot near you for a few days?”

Eileen, who was more used to being taken care of than taking care of others, looked worried. *The Tower’s Administrator says in a very nervous voice that she is worried about whether she can grow plants well.*

“It’s okay, Eileen,” Sejun said gently. “I’ll tell you exactly when and how much to water it. And if it starts to look sick, I can heal it with my magic skill.”

*The Tower’s Administrator says she will trust you and try to grow it.* Eileen nodded, taking the pot carefully. She felt a little braver because of Sejun’s words.

“Thanks, Eileen. I appreciate it.”

He carefully dug up the soil with his hands again, the sound of *scritch scritch* filling the quiet warehouse.

“Huh?!”

Unlike the dragon fruit seed, the All-Swallowing Jelly seed had changed.

Its size had increased, growing from tiny like a grain of rice to about the size of a small pea.

The name had changed to *All-Swallowing Jelly Seed (1 Gulp)*. “One Gulp?” Sejun wondered. He looked closer at the seed’s description. It was still mostly question marks, saying *You must harvest to check the options*, but a new line had appeared: *Swallowed water.* ‘It swallowed water?’ Sejun realized.

“Then should I give it more water?”

Sejun dropped a few drops of water on the seed and examined it, but there was no change even after 10 minutes.

“Is this not it? Hmm…”

“Since the name is All-Swallowing Jelly, should I give it something else?”

He didn’t know how many kinds the All-Swallowing referred to, but he thought it might sprout if it swallowed various kinds.

So he started giving the seed this and that.

He tried to feed it small crops that the seed could swallow, such as rice and corn kernels, but failed.

When he gave it honey, *drip*, the seed seemed to quiver slightly, then *gulp*, it opened a tiny bit and absorbed the honey. It was like watching a tiny mouth drink.

Sejun continued to give honey until the seed stopped swallowing it, and when the seed stopped swallowing honey, the name changed to *All-Swallowing Jelly Seed (2 Gulps)*.

He looked closer at the seed’s description. It was still mostly question marks, saying *You must harvest to check the options*, but a new line had appeared: *Swallowed water and honey.*

“Could it be?” Sejun thought aloud. “Maybe it only swallows liquids!” To test his idea, he quickly grabbed a piece of sugarcane and squeezed out the juice, letting it drizzle onto the seed. *Drizzle.* And again, the seed reacted! *All-Swallowing Jelly Seed (3 Gulps)*, the name changed again.

“This is it!”

Heh heh. Park Sejun, you genius. He solved it again.

Sejun praised himself and hurriedly started squeezing juice from various crops, increasing the number of gulps of the seed.

Raccoon Market buzzed with activity. Stalls overflowing with shiny trinkets and delicious-smelling treats lined the crowded paths. As Kkuengi entered, a group of black bears spotted him.

“We greet Kkuengi-nim!”

“We greet the boss!”

The black bear Rak, who managed the melon farm on the 80th floor of the Tower of Trials – the massive structure where many people lived and worked – and the other black bears of the Kkuengi faction from the 1st floor, all bowed deeply to Kkuengi.

Kkuengi giggled happily. ‘Kkuhehehe! Kkueng! Kkueng?’

“*Hehehe! Nice to meet you all! Are you all doing well?*”

“Of course, Kkuengi-nim!”

“Yes! We’re still dealing with anyone who causes trouble – marking them and making them work for us!”

“*Kkueng! Kkueng!* [No! Daddy said no more slaves!]”

“No more slaves?”

“What should we do then?”

“*Kkueng! Kkueng!* [From now on, if someone starts a fight, we hire them to work for us instead of making them slaves! And we have to give them three meals a day!]”

“Ah, okay!”

“Yes, we understand!”

Kkuengi beamed with pride. He had successfully explained the new rules of Sejun Company to his followers.

“Kooeng! Kooeng!”

[Everyone, follow Kooeng! Kooeng will buy you something delicious!]

Kooeng spent Sejun’s money, taking the black bears to eat at the street vendors.

However,

“Kooeng…”

[I’ve used up all the money Daddy gave me…]

Kooeng’s money was gone very quickly.

This was not surprising. Kooeng was using money meant for one person to feed 301 very hungry black bears.

Just then,

“Uhehe. How much is this?”

A familiar voice reached Kooeng’s ears.

“Kooeng!”

[It’s Yuren, hyung!]

If I stay with Yuren, who has lots of money, I can feed my friends as much as they want!

Kooeng felt he had to take care of his friends. So, he quickly ran to Yuren. Just then—

“Oh?! Kooeng…”

Yuren was about to greet Kooeng when he was surrounded by figures wearing black hoods.

And then,

“That’s it! Let’s get out of here quickly!”

Bang!

The figures in black hoods set off smoke grenades. Thick grey smoke filled the air.

“Kueeeeeng!”

Kooeng quickly used his special breath, Kooenghoo, to blow away the smoke, but Yuren and the black hoods had already disappeared.

“Kooeng?!”

[Where did Yuren, hyung, go?!]

Kooeng was confused by Yuren’s disappearance.

“Kooeng-nim, it seems Yuren-nim has been kidnapped,” Lark explained to Kooeng.

“Kooeng?! Kooeng!”

[Yuren, hyung, has been kidnapped?! Then Kooeng will go save him!]

“Shall we start tracking him right away?!” Lark and the Kooeng group were ready to move quickly, but—

“Kooeng! Kooeng!”

[No! We have to tell Daddy first!]

Daddy will worry!

Kooeng was a good son.

Kooeng hurried to find Sejun to tell him he was going out.

A short while later.

“What?! Yuren was kidnapped?! Then Detective Sejun must step in.”

Sejun sighed. “Of course it’s Yuren,” he thought. “He can’t even have a peaceful day without something bad happening.”

After hearing Kooeng’s words, Sejun put a jelly seed in his pocket and got up.

“Puhuhut. Then Detective Sejun’s excellent assistant, Teotson, will also step in, nyaang!”

“Kooeng!”

[Then Detective Kooeng will also step in!]

Sejun, Theo, and Kooeng set out to find Yuren.

And then,

“We’re not detectives, so what should we do?”

“Still, the boss is going, so shouldn’t we follow him for now?”

The 301 black bears also followed behind.

***

“…Machun?”

Yuren, who had been kidnapped, opened his mouth as he looked at the pink pig in front of him.

“It’s been a while, Yuren. I’ve heard you’ve been busy. So, where are my younger brother Magin and the others?”

“Machun, don’t tell me you were involved too?!” Yuren looked disbelieving.

Unlike Magin, Machun had always helped him. He also had a good reputation in the family.

However,

“Yes. I was the one who ordered it, to become the head of the Damon family.”

We now learn Machun’s secret. He was the one who made sure Yuren was kidnapped. Machun wanted to become the head of the Damon family.

“Eek! How could you?!”

“If a softie like you becomes the head, our Damon family will collapse in no time.”

Yuren, angry at Machun’s words, tried to get up, but he couldn’t because Machun’s men were holding him down.

He didn’t kill them. He’s still soft.

Machun was sure that Magin and the others were not dead.

“Tell me where Ebis and Nelli are right now. Or you will be tortured.”

He said this while holding a knife to Yuren.

In fact, Machun’s situation was not good.

Problems arose when Ebis and Nelli disappeared. They were the heirs of the Nokdon and Hongdon families.

The Nokdon and Hongdon families said they would stop supporting the Damon family if their heirs did not return.

The Damon family had five branch families: the Blackdon, Cheongdon, Hongdon, Nokdon, and Hwangdon families.

The Blackdon family supported Yuren, the Cheongdon family was neutral, and the other three supported Machun.

If the Nokdon and Hongdon families withdrew their support, Yuren and Machun would have the same number of families supporting them.

However, the Blackdon family was the strongest and the Hwangdon family was the weakest. This put Machun at a disadvantage.

Also, rumors had spread that Yuren was getting back the money he had lost, and Yuren’s reputation was getting better.

The support of the two families is very important!

So Machun took the risk of kidnapping Yuren.

Of course, it was a terrible mistake.

Thud!

“…?!”

“Kooeng!”

[Detective Kooeng found them by smell!]

“That’s not it, nyaang! My paw, Teotson, assistant to Detective Sejun, pointed this way first, nyaang!”

“Kooeng! Kooeng!”

[That’s not it! Detective Kooeng found them!]

“That’s not it, nyaang! Teotson found them, nyaang!”

Kooeng and Theo broke through the cave wall and argued about who found them first.

“Puhuhut. This is a locked room case. Everyone, stop! The culprit is in this room!” Sejun shouted as he slowly entered.

“Kkyut kkyut kkyut. Oh, power of ice. Freeze everything. Freeze,” Iona said, using magic.

“Okay. Everyone except Yuren is probably the culprit, right?”

The Yuren kidnapping case ended quickly.

“Puhuhut. Chairman Park, is he a permanent employee, nyaang?”

“Of course. He dared to try to kidnap Yuren, who is very important to Sejun Company.”

“Puhuhut. I understand, nyaang! Then it’s a permanent contract, nyaang!”

Stomp.

At Sejun’s words, Theo stamped Machun and his men with the employee contract stamp.

“Puhuhut. Deputy Jeff, these are the new interns, nyaang!” He handed Machun and his men over to Jeff.

And then,

“Hyung!”

“Machun-nim!”

“Madaf!”

Machun met Magin, Ebis, and Nelli, who were working as wandering merchants.

***

Silver Tower, 82nd floor.

Whooooosh.

They walked into a wasteland. Sharp winds whipped around them, carrying stinging sand that scratched at their skin. Jagged rocks, shaped like twisted teeth by the wind, stood scattered across the barren land.

“Sephiro, is it not here yet?”

“Great Chieftain, it is almost here.”

Two men walked through the wasteland.

The man being guided was much taller than the man next to him.

Their hair was silver, and strangely, the wind did not blow around them.

A short while later.

“It is there.”

The man pointed to a grape vine with only bare branches.

“Sephiro, you said you saw a lot of grapes growing there yesterday?”

“Yes! It is certain.”

“Hmm. It is definitely the harvest festival.”

“Then?!”

“Yes. The first grape harvest competition is over, so the second grape eating competition will be held soon. Sephiro, this is an opportunity to eat your fill. Hurry and tell everyone in the tower about this.”

“Yes!” At the command of Queen, Sephiro flew away.