Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 572

Sejun’s eyes widened as he stared at the stone tablet. “What does it say?” he wondered, already thinking about Aileen.

Excitement bubbled inside Sejun. Aileen would know what it meant! He couldn’t wait to show it to her, imagining her delighted face.

Just as Sejun reached out to touch the stele, wanting to quickly store it away…

Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in Sejun’s mind. ‘[The Four Precepts…]’ it began. Sejun jumped, startled. He looked around and saw Grave Renma, the administrator of the Brown Tower, standing nearby. Grave, with his powerful dragon presence, had clearly read the stele already.

“Oh… really? Hello, Grave!” Sejun stammered, feeling like he’d been caught stealing cookies. He hadn’t meant to be sneaky, but he *had* been trying to take the stele without anyone noticing.

Grave’s voice continued, ‘[Since you found it, I won’t stop you from taking the stele.]’ Then, after a pause, ‘[But I do have a favor to ask.]’ *A favor?* Sejun wondered. *Please don’t ask for all my attribute liquor again,* he thought with a slight worry.

Sejun’s mind raced, trying to guess what Grave wanted. Then Grave spoke again, ‘[My favor is this: please let my grandson, Garlic, take the Creation God’s stele to the Black Tower.]’

Grave explained further. ‘[Garlic has been crying for two days. He kept asking me to find the stele. He wants to take it to Aileen. He finally fell asleep, exhausted from all the tears.]’

“Okay,” Sejun agreed. “But I have one condition. Please don’t tell Aileen *I* found this stele.” He wanted Aileen to be the one to discover it, so she could feel proud and important.

Aileen *would* be happy. Just imagining her smile made Sejun grin wider. He pictured Garlic bringing the stele to Aileen, and her delighted reaction.

[I understand,]’ Grave replied. “Thank you,” Sejun said. They had a deal.

“Since you’re doing me this favor,” Sejun added, feeling generous, “let me give you something in return. How about 500 bottles of attribute liquor and 50 black beans? Any kind you prefer?”

[Dolbae liquor and Kudzu liquor,]’ Grave replied quickly, his voice sounding much happier now. ‘[250 bottles of each, if you would be so kind.]’

“Of course,” Sejun said, and sent the liquor, black beans, and the stele to Grave from his storage.

[It will take Oric a little while to get here,]’ Grave said. ‘[Register the waypoint first. Then the timing will be perfect.]’ “Okay,” Sejun replied. He nodded, understanding.

As Sejun finished registering the waypoint, a familiar chuckle echoed. “Kekeke. Sejun, I brought him!” Grave announced, and Oric stepped forward, dragging Rekron, the leader of the Hot Brown Warriors, behind him.

Rekron looked terrible. He was a Sphinx cat, furless and pinkish, but his face was now a shocking blue and puffed up. Oric grinned, looking pleased with himself. It was clear what had happened on the way.

“Theo, stamp him,” Sejun instructed. Theo puffed out his chest. “Puhuhut! Understood, meow! Rekron,” Theo hissed, glaring at the swollen cat, “don’t you *dare* disgrace cats by fighting our amazing Chairman Park again, meow!” *Stomp.* Theo slammed the Nine Dragons Corporation contract seal onto Rekron’s forehead.

Sejun blinked, confused. He didn’t understand why fighting him would be a disgrace to cats, but Theo seemed very serious about it.

“Ganes,” Sejun announced, “you’re the new leader of the Hot Brown Warriors. Rekron will be the rookie.” “Huh?!” Ganes gasped, eyes wide. “Huh?!” Rekron echoed, but his swollen face showed a very different kind of shock.

“Oric, help Ganes learn to lead the Hot Brown Warriors,” Sejun instructed. “Kekeke! Trust me, Sejun!” Oric chuckled, a sly grin spreading across his face. Sejun felt a tiny flicker of doubt, but then he remembered Theo. Theo would keep an eye on things. It would be fine.

“Let’s go home,” Sejun said. He tapped his Dragon Scale Return Bracelet, thinking of the 99th floor of the Black Tower. In a flash, they were gone.

*** … .. . Back on the 99th floor… [Sejun! You’re back!] Podori’s voice boomed in his mind, its branches waving excitedly. [I missed you!]

Fire Flower had been visiting while Sejun was gone. Just now, Podori had finished a special treat – Dimensional Special Nutrient Solution – that Fire Flower had brought. It had taken Podori five whole hours to eat it all, but it had been wonderful.

“Podori,” Sejun said, noticing how thick its branches had become. “Have you been eating something good? All by yourself?” [Huh?!] Podori made a surprised noise. “You should share with Fire Flower, you know. It’s good to be kind to Fire Flower.”

[No… but…]” Podori thought desperately. *I wish Fire Flower would eat all the good stuff herself!* Sejun, completely missing Podori’s real feelings, continued to talk.

“Oh, and the sausage tree!” Sejun remembered. “Make sure Fire Flower gets some sausage too.” *Sausage!* Podori perked up at the word.

[Thank you, Sejun!]

Podori’s branches danced with joy. Then Sejun frowned. “Wait… where’s the sausage tree?” He looked around. The spot where he’d planted it was empty.

[I’ll find it, Sejun!]

Podori sent its roots searching, reaching out in all directions. But then… *Thud. Thud.* Heavy footsteps approached.

[Let me go! I don’t want to go back!]” a squeaky voice protested. *Moo!* “[Sejun, I caught the tree! It was trying to run away!]” The Ox King lumbered into view, holding the sausage tree firmly in his mouth. The sausage tree, it seemed, had been trying to escape.

The sausage tree, it turned out, had been slowly creeping away from the farm each day. It didn’t want to grow too big, didn’t want to be *successful*. But now, like Podori, it was being forced to grow, whether it wanted to or not.

[Hee hee hee. Sausage, eat up!]

Podori cooed. “[Yes…]” the sausage tree squeaked weakly. “[Oh my, you need to eat a lot to become a World Tree! Hee hee hee!]” Podori felt a warm glow of happiness. It was wonderful to give the sausage tree the same delicious food that Fire Flower had given *it*.

Sejun, completely unaware of the drama happening beneath his feet, smiled. “Sausage skewers tonight?” he said, and started picking sausages from the replanted tree.

Just then, Aileen’s voice popped into Sejun’s mind, bubbling with excitement. “[Sejun! Sejun! Guess what? I got another Creation God’s stele! How are my abilities, huh?!”

So Garlic had delivered the stele! “Aileen, you’re incredible!” Sejun exclaimed. “I knew you were beautiful, but you’re also the most amazing dragon ever! The best ability dragon in the whole universe!”

[Oh, stop it,]’ Aileen replied, though her voice still sounded thrilled. ‘[There are lots of dragons better than me. I’m not *that* great.]’ “Pfft!” Sejun chuckled. Her words and her excited tone were completely opposite! He laughed, shaking his head at Aileen’s playful boasting.

*Thud.* “[… Gotta go! Something urgent came up! Bye!]” Aileen’s voice cut off abruptly. Sejun grinned. She was probably a little embarrassed that he’d seen through her. A moment later, the Creation God’s stele appeared beside him, and Aileen was gone.

[One more stele of the Creation God is placed around the temple.] [The divine power… increased by 12 times!]”

“Mutddabak did it again!” someone shouted in the Seed Shop. “Mutddabak! Mutddabak!” Excited cheers erupted, and the Seed Shop was filled with happy noise once more.

88th floor of the Blue Tower. “Theo, anything?” Sejun asked. Theo’s ears drooped. “Meow… nothing, meow… Sorry, Chairman Park, meow…” he mumbled, his voice full of disappointment.

“Hey, it’s not your fault,” Sejun said gently, stroking Theo’s soft fur. “Don’t be sorry. It’s just not here, that’s all.”

Sejun had been coming to the Blue Tower every time he got a new land deed, hoping to find another Creation God’s stele. But even after using twenty land deeds, he’d had no luck.

“A whole month already,” Sejun murmured. It felt like just yesterday he’d…

He thought back over the last month. First, there was the amazing appearance of Dragon Fruit and Star Fruit seeds in the Seed Shop – transcendent-grade seeds! And he’d even met Sejun No. 2 again! Lighting seven stars in the sky had also increased his divinity by 7, thanks to the title ‘The One Who Lights the Stars.’ The only slightly disappointing thing was that Sejun No. 2 couldn’t cook this time. His skills were more about brewing and cleaning – Fermentation Lv. 7 and Cleanliness Maintenance Lv. 5, to be exact.

So, Sejun No. 2 was now happily in charge of the brewery, making attribute liquor, and keeping everything sparkling clean around the farm.

And then there was the Blue Moon. That had been truly amazing. As the blue moon filled the sky… *Beep! Beep! Bbyak!* Suddenly, Wolgang, Wolha, and Black Moon Bok appeared on the 99th floor! They should have been on the 55th floor! The rabbits explained excitedly that they’d been praying to Luna, the Goddess of Moonlight (the one Sejun had built a monument for). Luna had heard their prayers! ‘[Your prayers are heard,]’ Luna’s voice had echoed in their minds. ‘[I sense moonlight in you. I make you Moon Rabbits, protectors of the moon.]’ Luna had given them a new skill – ‘Blue Moon Jump’ – which let them travel to wherever the Blue Moon was shining.

“Skills from praying?!” Sejun had exclaimed. “Luna, please give *me* skills too!” So, after the Blue Moon, Sejun had also prayed at Luna’s monument, very diligently. But… nothing happened. Maybe Luna didn’t like his prayers. Or maybe, he thought with a sigh, he just didn’t smell enough like moonlight.

He imagined Luna’s voice saying, ‘*Mutddabak, I’m sorry, I’d love to make you a Moon Rabbit, but… you’re not a rabbit.*’ Right. Moon *Rabbit*. It made sense, really.

Also, in the last month, both the White Tower and the Green Tower had grown enough to become Giant Towers. They were transforming even now.

“I wonder if the White Giant Tower is finished yet?” Sejun mused. He called out to Ajax, “Ajax, how much longer until the White Giant Tower is complete?”

[About an hour,]’ Ajax replied. “Really? Great!” Sejun grinned. “Then we’re having a party tonight! To celebrate the White Giant Tower!”

[I’m very excited!]’ Ajax’s voice echoed. ‘[I’ll get the party ready!]’ “Perfect,” Sejun said. “Theo, let’s go home.” “Puhuhut! Understood, meow!” Theo purred happily, his tail swishing.

Back on the 99th floor, Sejun started thinking about what to cook for the White Giant Tower celebration. Meanwhile, in the White Tower Management Area…

[The White Giant Tower is complete!] [Functions activated!]

“Ehehehe!” Kellion cackled, watching the crystal ball that showed the White Tower’s status. “Six towers below me now!” Just then, new messages flashed on the crystal ball. [White Giant Tower connected to >Earthworm<.] [White Giant Tower guarding >Earthworm<.] [120 White Giant Towers installed on >Earthworm<.] Meanwhile, far away in the desolate Outskirts of Destruction… “Good,” a deep voice rumbled. “Digestion is almost complete.” Jormungandr, who had devoured nearly all of Hydra’s power, turned his massive head towards >Earthworm<, licking his jaws in anticipation.