Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 576

Black Tower, 99th Floor.

Sunlight streamed through a tall window, making the room feel warm. “We have to feed him quickly before Sejun gets back!” Flower Flame thought, hurrying to the food bowls. Sejun was away for a while, so Flower Flame decided to visit the tower’s top floor.

“[Welcome, Flower Flame!]” Podori called out, sounding extra happy today. Usually, he was quiet, but now his voice was full of energy.

“[Flower Flame, hello…]” Beside Podori stood another small tree.

“[Huh?! Sausage?!]” Flower Flame blinked. It was Sausage, looking guilty. “He was trying to run away from Sejun’s farm again!”

“[Flower Flame, Sausage tried to run away! He didn’t ask Sejun!]” Podori rushed to tell Flower Flame as soon as she arrived.

“[Sejun, you tried to escape the farm?! Sausage! Did I not teach you better than that?!]” Flower Flame’s voice became sharp and hot, like fire.

“[I’m… I’m sorry!]” Sausage mumbled, drooping his branches.

Pohehe. Good.

Podori felt pleased watching Sausage get told off.

A moment later, Flower Flame said, “[There’s no time to waste! Eat quickly!]”

“[Yes!]”

“[Okay!]”

Podori and Sausage replied. Flower Flame then started giving them their special food.

Podori usually made a fuss, saying he was full after just a few bites. But today, he was different. ‘Well, if Sausage is eating, I can too,’ Podori seemed to think. Maybe having a friend eating with him made it easier. Podori ate steadily, without any of his usual whining.

“[Nom nom.]”

Sausage was also eating everything up.

“[Oh! Podori, you’re really eating well today!]” Flower Flame smiled, happy that Podori was eating so nicely even without her telling him to. Suddenly, a strange feeling went through her roots – like a warning bell ringing. *Zzzzzing.* Flower Flame felt a chill of worry.

“[Huh?!] What was that?! She quickly tried to feel what was wrong. Sejun?!”

The feeling was coming from Sejun! Flower Flame had put a special tree magic on Sejun before he left for his trip. This magic would tell her if he was ever in danger. ‘Sejun is in danger!’

Her leafy heart pounded. ‘I have to protect Sejun!’ Flower Flame quickly sent her roots moving, ready to help.

***

Far away, in a place called the Outskirts of Destruction, chaos raged. *Boom!* ‘Just a little more!’ Jormungandr roared in his mind. *Boom!* ‘I’m almost there!’ He was fighting with all his might against a strong wall of energy that trapped him.

He had planned to smash through the energy wall quickly, using the last bit of power from the Hydra and the huge strength he got from eating the Earthworm. But now, he had to break free *now*! Jormungandr was usually lazy, but now he was moving with frantic energy, feeling the hot breath of dragons getting closer. He was stronger than before, but still, fighting dragons would hurt him badly. And if he died this time… Destruction, the powerful being he served, wouldn’t help him again. He had to escape! Just as Jormungandr put all his effort into breaking the wall…

Crack.

‘What is that again?!’

Whoosh.

A tree root slowly approaching from afar, burning the aura of destruction.

The murderous intent felt from the root was more vicious than that of the dragons, telling him that the root was definitely not on his side.

I can’t win if that comes!

Jormungandr became anxious.

Please!

With a desperate heart, he moved his energy again and attempted to break through the barrier.

Boom!

Boom!

The wall of the barrier did not break even with added desperation.

Then…

…!

He felt a different sensation than before, and he felt a slight crack in the wall of the barrier.

Got it!

Seeing a possibility, Jormungandr desperately broke through the wall.

Kwagwang!

Eventually, the wall blocking the barrier broke, and

“Heh heh heh. Finally, me too!”

Crack.

Jormungandr’s eyes glowed red, and his body began to grow rapidly.

Of course, it wasn’t just his body that was growing.

Ascending a level meant surpassing one’s limits.

And Jormungandr, who had already reached the very last level, surpassed his level once again, even surpassing the limits of his species.

Crack.

A horn sprouted from Jormungandr’s head.

“Now I am the Gluttonous Jormungandr who devours the world!”

Jormungandr, who realized his new name as he surpassed his level, roared as he shouted his name,

Jormungandr’s immense presence dominated the surroundings.

Wherever Jormungandr’s presence reached, Jormungandr’s gluttony began to steal power.

“Our power is being stolen!”

“Get out of here!”

The Great Dragons hurriedly escaped from the area under Jormungandr’s influence,

[The enemy is getting stronger in this state!]

Flower Flame also hurriedly pulled out her roots and began to surround Jormungandr with her roots.

***

Inside Jormungandr’s stomach.

Sejun, who was eating and planting Devouring Predator seeds again.

At that moment,

Whoosh!

Horns sprouted from the heads of the digestive cells, the white snakes, and their power grew stronger.

“Meow!”

Of course, they were still no match for the group.

[Guardian Bakteo has defeated the digestive cells of the Third Seat of the Apostles of Destruction, the Gluttonous Jormungandr who devours the world.]

[Guardian Bakteo has acquired 1 million experience points, which is 50% of the experience acquired.]

“Huh?! My experience went up!”

Instead of getting stronger, the experience points also doubled.

Hehehe. This is a total honey pot.

Sejun smiled contentedly as he looked at the increased experience points.

The outside was hell, but the inside of hell’s belly was paradise.

After 3 days passed like that,

Thud! Thud!

The energy of creation overflowed in the Earthworm, and the defense became so strong that the white snakes could not easily penetrate it.

“Everyone, let’s eat!”

“Puhuhut. Good, meow!”

Kkueng!

Squeak!

“Okay! Bro!”

Thanks to this, Sejun and his party now had the leisure to gather together for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Ppoo!

[Deokgu! Water!]

Bebe!

[Deokgu! Milk!]

Ppoo!

[Deokgu! Refill!]

Of course, the youngest, Sipdeokgu, was busy running errands for Meokppupal and Besugu.

A little later.

As lunch ended,

Kkueng!

[Dad, here’s coffee!]

“Okay! Thanks!”

Slurp.

“Kuh.”

Sejun had a tea time while drinking the coffee that Kkueng had made.

“Puhuhut. I, Vice Chairman Te, am also drinking coffee, meow! Churu coffee, meow!”

Kkuhehehe. Kkuu! Kkueng!

[Hehehe. Kkueng is drinking chocolate milk coffee!]

Little Theo giggled, his tiny paws clutching a small cup. “Hee hee hee! Squeak! Thank you for the sweet potato milk coffee, Brother Sejun!”

“Ehehehe,” Kkueng chuckled, his whiskers twitching. “Mine is tomato juice coffee with honey! Delicious!”

Sejun smiled warmly at his companions. The little creatures, each with their strange but happy-making drinks, climbed onto him, snuggling close. Theo settled on his shoulder, Kkueng nestled in his lap, and Ajax perched on his knee.

Kkueng purred contentedly, “Kkuee-nyang!” as he sipped his drink. The others made similar happy sounds, mimicking Sejun’s gentle hums as they enjoyed their unusual tea time.

Soon, soft snores and little rumbles filled the warm, humid air of Jormungandr’s stomach as they napped against Sejun. ‘Kororong… Kkurorong… Kkirorong…’

After their rest, Sejun and his companions were ready for the afternoon’s work.

The afternoon work was nothing special. Theo, Kkueng, and Ajax patrolled the Earth Dragons and Earthworms, eliminating the white snakes that entered through the breached barriers.

[You are Farmland Lv. 9 is activated.]

[You have planted a Doom Devourer Seed in the body of the Nine-Headed Serpent Hydra, one of the Ten Seats of Destruction.]

Sejun planted seeds. When the Doom Devourer Seeds ran out, he planted other seeds or harvested the fruits of the crops he had already planted.

Life here, even inside a giant worm, felt surprisingly similar to his days in the Black Tower. He still farmed, he still worked hard, and he still missed Aileen.

“It’s been too long since I talked to Aileen.”

He wanted to talk to Aileen.

Sejun missed his conversations with Aileen and thought, ‘I’m feeling depressed, so I should eat something spicy for dinner tonight.’

Plop. Plop.

He harvested well-ripened chili peppers.

At that moment,

[You have harvested Calm Cheongyang Chili Peppers.]

[You are Farmland Lv. 9 is activated, inflicting additional damage.]

[You are Farmland Lv. 9 is activated, harvesting the stats of the Nine-Headed Serpent Hydra, one of the Ten Seats of Destruction.]

[Strength +10, Stamina +12, Agility +15, Magic Power +5.]

Suddenly, power surged through him! The chili peppers were taking the Hydra’s strength.

Perhaps because the Hydra had lost its power, not many stats were harvested.

Sejun’s chili pepper harvest continued,

[You have defeated the Soul-Lost and Weakened Nine-Headed Serpent Hydra, one of the Ten Seats of Destruction.]

[You have gained 430 billion experience points.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have gained 1 bonus stat.]

[Strength increases by 30.]

[Strength potential increases by 1%.]

The Hydra’s body, having exhausted its life force, disappeared.

And then,

[A job quest has occurred.]

[Job Quest: Make the soil of 1 million pyeong of land top-grade.]

Top-Grade Soil (0/1 million pyeong)

Reward: 151 Level Unlocked, 100 Billion Tower Coins, All Stats +300

Sejun received a job quest upon reaching level 150.

Sejun smiled. “Easy,” he thought. “This is exactly what I do every day.”

The quest content was something Sejun did every time he fed the Earth Dragons, so it wasn’t difficult.

Each time he fed the Earth Dragons, he was making the soil of about 200,000 pyeong of land top-grade.

As time passed,

“Puhuhut. Work is done for today, nyaang!” Theo announced happily.

Starting with Theo, Kkueng and Ajax returned to Sejun, clinging to Sejun’s lap and sides, and they ate dinner and fell asleep together.

Late at night.

Bat Bat woke up,

Chomp. Chomp.

He ate the fruit lunch box Sejun had prepared and patrolled the skies of the Earthworm, checking for any white snake intrusions.

Bat Bat flew back quickly. “Bat bat! All clear! No white snakes tonight!”

As soon as the patrol was over,

Bat Bat quickly flew and created a dimensional gate.

However, perhaps because it was inside Jormungandr’s stomach, the dimensional travel continued to fail.

“Bat bat! I won’t give up!”

Sejun wants to see Aileen!

Bat Bat, never giving up.

He continued to try to open the dimensional gate,

“Bat bat! I succeeded!”

As soon as he saw a familiar place, he cheered with joy!

“Sejun! I did it!”

Bat Bat returned to the Earthworm through the dimensional gate and informed Sejun,

“Huh?! It’s home!”

Sejun took his companions through the dimensional gate back to the 99th floor of the Black Tower and slept at home.

The next morning.

“Euchha.”

As soon as Sejun opened his eyes,

Aileen’s voice, full of joy, filled his mind. “Sejun! You’re back! When did you return?”

Aileen, who had been waiting for Sejun to wake up, rattled off words.

“Aileen, calm down.”

Sejun calmed Aileen down and continued the conversation.

“Really? Has Jormungandr gotten stronger?”

So that’s why the digestive cells have gotten stronger.

Aileen said that is correct.

Aileen continued, her voice trembling slightly, “We thought… we thought Jormungandr had eaten you and the Earthworm! We were so worried we’d never see you again!”

“Ah. Does Kellion know that Ajax is back too?”

Aileen said they don’t know yet.

“Really? Then tell him quickly.”

Kellion loves Ajax deeply. He must be incredibly worried right now.

Aileen said they understand.

Aileen said they will go and tell him quickly, so don’t go anywhere.

“Okay. I understand.”

Sejun answered Aileen and then,

“Hehehe.”

Since Aileen told him not to go anywhere,

He wriggled his toes under the warm blanket, enjoying the feeling of being home and safe in his bed.

Ah. Good.

With Theo, Kkueng, the Blackie Family, and Ajax hugged tightly in his arms.

While Sejun was enjoying his morning healing time,

-Sejun! Are you hurt anywhere?!

-Our grandson! Are you okay?!

-Oh my! Sejun, you’re alive!

-It’s such a relief that both Sejun and Ajax are safe!

The Dragon Council Dragons, hearing the news, hurried into Sejun’s bedroom.

The dragons examined Sejun and his companions’ bodies, checking every nook and cranny for injuries, and upon confirming that there were no problems, they hurriedly left.

They had to inform the other dragons of Sejun and Ajax’s safe return and come up with a plan to deal with the suddenly strengthened Jormungandr.

After the dragons left,

Kuaaaah!

Kkueng!

[It’s Mom!]

Pink Fur, Kkueng’s mother, also rushed in to check on them, her eyes full of worry. Seeing they were safe, she gave a relieved sigh and then left them to rest.

After the parents’ visits ended,

“I’m hungry.”

Sejun and his companions ate breakfast.

And then,

“Aileen, I’ll be back.”

“Puhuhut. Aileen, I’ll be back, nyaang!”

Aileen tells you to be careful.

Sejun, seeing Aileen off, went back to work at the Earthworm through the dimensional gate created by his companions and Bat Bat.

Sejun returned to the Earthworm, where the white snakes still slithered, the crops still needed tending, and new quests awaited. He was back in his routine, and in a strange way, it felt good to be working again.

“Why isn’t it digesting yet?! I can’t eat anything else!”

Jormungandr, suffering from indigestion, couldn’t swallow anything.