Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 72

“You little rascal! Park Se-joon!” Kaiser shouted.

Jealousy for his granddaughter made the old man act foolishly. He used the black dragon statue at Aileen’s 100th birthday fountain. Water blasted from the statue like a cannon, aimed right at Se-joon.

“Father, hold steady,” Anton said.

Anton, who had better control over the black dragon statue, took over from Kaiser.

“Ahem.” Kaiser stopped. He saw what he had done. He felt embarrassed because he was too excited and acted badly. “Let’s watch this human, Park Se-joon, for a while.”

“Why bother?!” Kaiser asked.

“This human, Park Se-joon, is our hope for healing Aileen’s Dragonheart. We need to know what kind of person he is,” Anton explained.

“Ahem. Understood,” Kaiser replied.

They kept watching Se-joon through the black dragon statue and discovered something strange.

“What is this human?” Kaiser wondered.

Even though he was weak, he was commanding monsters with crops he grew. The monsters seemed happy to be helping him. The crops also seemed to be helping Aileen’s Dragonheart.

“Hmph! The lad has some skill!” Kaiser grudgingly admitted.

As they watched through the black dragon statue, they saw a Fallen Ent scout approaching Se-joon’s farm.

“Looks like the Fallen Ents have spread again,” Anton observed.

“Tsk. Like weeds,” Kaiser added.

Fallen Ents were a nuisance on the 99th floor of the tower, always bothering the black dragons. If they weren’t dealt with, they would quickly multiply and wipe out other monsters.

The black dragons wanted to get rid of the Fallen Ents completely, but the tower administrator wouldn’t allow them to exterminate creatures living in the tower.

Se-joon was defending the farm well with the help of his monsters.

Then Anton noticed something.

“That one has absorbed the aura of the Blue Moon.”

“That’s going to be difficult,” Kaiser said.

A Fallen Ent that had absorbed the aura of the Blue Moon was very dangerous, even for a black dragon.

“We’ll have to use that,” Anton decided.

“This isn’t what we planned to use it for,” Kaiser grumbled, but he didn’t stop Anton from saving Se-joon.

“Activating the black dragon statue,” Anton announced.

The red magic stone in the eyes of the statue glowed, and the statue began to move as if it were alive.

Anton had used golem magic to put this skill into the red magic stone, in case Aileen was ever in danger.

Anton defeated the Fallen Ent using the black dragon statue, then flew back to Se-joon and spoke to him. After watching Se-joon for several days, Anton trusted him.

Boom!

The giant Fallen Ent, which had absorbed the aura of the Blue Moon, disappeared in a massive mushroom cloud.

“I wanted the last hit,” Se-joon said with regret.

He wouldn’t level up much because of the level 30 job quest, but he was still disappointed.

As Se-joon watched the mushroom cloud, the black dragon statue flew over.

“Thank you for your help, Aileen’s father,” Anton said.

“Just Anton is fine,” the black dragon statue rumbled, but its voice seemed softer now.

“Okay, Anton,” Se-joon replied, still a little nervous talking to a statue.

“What we did just now… it’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for Aileen,” Anton continued. “Thank you. Truly, thank you for helping my daughter.”

“It was… nothing,” Se-joon mumbled, feeling his cheeks warm.

Se-joon felt like he was meeting his girlfriend’s parents, even though he had never had a girlfriend before.

Se-joon was in a similar situation to Theo. He just didn’t show it.

“I would like your help in the future as well,” Anton requested.

“Help? Are you talking about healing Aileen’s Dragonheart?” Se-joon asked.

“That too, but I would like you to manage the Black Tower for Aileen,” Anton explained.

The Black Tower wasn’t being managed well because Aileen couldn’t leave the administrator area. Kaiser had been helping every 10 years, but he couldn’t even do that this time. Problems were starting to arise on different floors.

Kaiser and Anton were worried about this.

Then, they noticed something.

“Isn’t that?!”

“Red Locust?! When did they invade?”

They didn’t know that the Red Locusts had invaded the Black Tower. They were surprised to see wolves bringing carts full of Red Locust corpses.

Once the Red Locusts started to increase, there was no way to stop them. That’s why the tower was created.

They were relieved to hear from the wolves and Se-joon that they were stopping the Red Locusts on the 67th floor of the tower.

They realized that Se-joon could solve some of the tower’s problems. Just being able to move the monsters on the 99th floor could solve most issues.

So Anton decided to ask Se-joon to be the acting manager of the tower for Aileen.

“Manage the Black Tower?” Se-joon asked.

“Yes. It won’t be difficult. We’ll support you,” Anton assured him.

“We…?”

“That’s right! Park Se-joon! I am Kaiser Fritani! Aileen’s grandfather!” A hearty voice boomed from the black dragon statue.

“Ah! Kaiser, nice to meet you. I am Park Se-joon,” Se-joon replied.

“Ahem. He knows his manners,” Kaiser said, slightly relieved by Se-joon’s polite bow.

“But I can’t leave this floor,” Se-joon pointed out.

“There is a way!” Anton exclaimed.

“Really?!” Se-joon asked, surprised.

“That’s right! First, put the magic cherry tomato in the mouth of the black dragon statue!”

“Pardon?!”

“Ahem! It’s all for a reason! It’s definitely not because I want to eat it!” Kaiser said, sounding guilty. He was definitely Aileen’s grandfather, always insisting on things.

“Understood,” Se-joon said.

Se-joon picked a few cherry tomatoes and put them in the mouth of the black dragon statue.

The cherry tomatoes disappeared as they glowed.

“I need to recharge my energy, so let’s talk again later. Hurry and go to where the Fallen Ent died. There might be something there that will help your weak self,” Kaiser instructed.

The black dragon statue went back to the fountain and started spitting out water.

Se-joon, with the black rabbit Kkueng, rode on the back of the mother Crimson Giant Bear to where the Fallen Ent had died.

“What’s there?” Se-joon asked.

The mother Crimson Giant Bear answered, “There is a strengthening orb near where the Fallen Ent died.”

“An orb that makes you stronger if you eat it?”

“Yes. It’s a blue orb,” the bear confirmed.

They arrived at the place where the Fallen Ent had died. In the middle of a huge pit, there was a blue orb the size of a fist and a branch about 10m long and as thick as a wooden stick.

Se-joon picked up the blue orb and the branch.

[Acquired the strengthened seed of the Fallen Ent.]

[Acquired the strengthened branch of the Fallen Ent.]

“Wow!” Se-joon exclaimed.

He looked at the options for the seed.

[Strengthened Seed of the Fallen Ent]

This is the seed of the Fallen Ent that has absorbed the aura of the Blue Moon. The seed has been strengthened by the aura of the Blue Moon.

When consumed, all stats permanently increase by 10.

If left on the ground, the seed will germinate and grow into a powerful Fallen Ent.

Expiration date: 100 years

Grade: A

“If I eat it, all stats permanently increase by 10…” Se-joon mused.

That was a pretty good option.

“Is this what he was talking about?” Se-joon wondered if Kaiser meant this seed when he said there would be something helpful.

Se-joon, the tower farmer, believed that planting one seed would multiply it many times. He thought about planting it first. ‘What if Firey gives it the Flame of Purification buff here?’

Even though it was corrupted, it might be possible to purify it. If it didn’t work, he could eat it later. The expiration date was far off, so there was no need to worry.

“I need to store it for now,” Se-joon decided.

He put the seed in his pocket and looked at the options for the branch.

[Strengthened Branch of the Fallen Ent]

This is the branch of the Fallen Ent that has absorbed the aura of the Blue Moon. The hardness of the branch has been strongly enhanced by the aura of the Blue Moon.

You can control the size by putting in mana, making it a good material for transforming weapons.

Usage restriction: Lv 35 or higher, Strength 50 or higher, Magic 30 or higher

Grade: A

“I can’t use it,” Se-joon said, noting that he didn’t meet all the requirements. It was picky for a branch.

Kkueng!

Kkueng wanted to use the strengthened branch of the Fallen Ent, because he had always envied the black rabbit’s hammer.

“Okay. You use it for now,” Se-joon agreed.

Kkueng was happy to receive the branch.

After collecting the items and returning home, the rabbits were getting up and preparing for the morning farming.

“It’s ambiguous,” Se-joon muttered.

Se-joon started the morning farming with the rabbits.

On the 75th floor of the tower, in the shopping district, Theo was leading his party.

“Follow me quickly, nya!” Theo urged.

“Yes!” Intern Jeff responded.

“Oh! Intern Jeff, your answer is loud, nya! Contract period shortened by 1 day, nya!”

“Thank you!” Jeff replied.

Theo wasn’t going straight to the 38th floor. He was taking his party to the headquarters of the Wandering Merchant Association to apply for the high-speed merchant passage.

A mid-level wandering merchant could apply for the high-speed merchant passage if they had the application fee of 10,000 tower coins.

It took about a day for a regular merchant passage to move through 10 floors of the tower, but only half a day for a high-speed merchant passage.

Theo wanted to quickly finish the transaction and return to Se-joon’s lap. He had always wanted to use the high-speed passage, but he hadn’t been able to because he had no money.

This time, Theo was able to apply for the high-speed passage after receiving 20,000 tower coins from Se-joon as a transaction incentive.

“10,000 tower coins have been received. Mid-level wandering merchant Theo, you can now use the high-speed merchant passage. Here is your new pass,” the Wandering Merchant Association employee said, handing Theo a silver pass.

“Thank you, nya!” Theo exclaimed.

‘Puhuhu! I can finally use the high-speed merchant passage, nya!’ Theo thought.

Theo received the new pass and left the Wandering Merchant Association headquarters building with a dignified walk.

Iona, humming a tune, passed by.

“Iona, nice to see you, nya!” Theo greeted.

“Ah! Representative Theo, hello,” Iona replied.

The two had a brief conversation.

“Are you going down to the lower floors now, Representative Theo?” Iona asked.

“No, nya! I’m going to Granier Village, nya!” Theo answered.

“Ah! Really?! That’s great! I’m going to Granier Village too, let’s go together!” Iona happily crawled onto Elka’s head, who was waiting outside.

Theo had planned to quickly descend to the 38th floor through the high-speed passage, but Oren suggested a change of plans.

“I have urgent news to deliver to my father. I will pay 1000 tower coins if you take me to Granier Village instead,” Oren offered.

“Okay! I’ll take you, nya!” Theo agreed. The desire to show off his success to the cats in his hometown was stronger than the money.

‘Puhuhu. I’ll show you my successful self, nya!’ Theo thought.

“Representative Theo, who is this person?” Oren asked, looking at Iona.

“This is Iona, nya! We’re going to Granier Village together, nya! Let’s go, nya!” Theo announced.

The party set off with Theo’s shout.

‘Damn it!’ Oren thought, his face hardening briefly at the addition of a new being.

‘Just a hamster,’ Oren thought, quickly smiling faintly and hurrying after Theo.