[Phew. I need to digest this quickly.]
While Flamie’s surveillance was gone, Podori began to expel the nutrients absorbed under Flamie’s coercion.
Although the nutrients were used to produce grapes, there was still a lot left over, so the remaining nutrients were all spread into the surrounding soil.
[Phew. Now I feel like I can finally live.]
As Podori relieved itself by expelling the overeaten nutrients,
[Really? You think you deserve to live after throwing away everything I took care of for you?]
[…?!]
Podori was startled by the sudden cold voice of Flamie. Flamie’s gaze had returned and was glaring at Podori. The gaze was very cold.
Fwooosh.
Conversely, Flamie’s roots wrapped in fire became hotter and hotter.
[Um… Flamie~nim…]
As Podori felt the heat as if it was going to burn to death, it hurriedly begged for Flamie’s forgiveness.
[What are you doing?]
[Eh?]
[Draw back in the nutrients you expelled! Quickly!]
[Yes!]
Thus, Podori absorbed back the nutrients it had spread around to avoid burning to death under Flamie’s watch.
Then,
[Wow! Master, it’s my first time going outside!]
“Really? It’s your first time here? Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”
[No. I like being by Master’s side the most.]
Podori noticed a small being chattering on Sejun’s shoulder and Sejun. It was Flamie with five green leaves moving like its head and limbs.
[Flamie~nim?]
There was no mistaking it since the energy felt the same.
[Flamie nim, you’re full of pretense. It’s despicable.]
As Podori spoke while looking at the roots of Flamie in front of it,
[What?! What?! You know what happens if you tell the Master?! You die! You’re going to die!]
Flamie raised its voice in embarrassment, threatening Podori.
***
In front of the kitchen.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“Meow… I’m bored, meow…”
Theo lay in front of the door, waiting for Sejun, listening to the sound of Sejun kneading rice noodle dough. He was banned from approaching during kneading because of his fur.
“I can’t stand this, meow!”
It was too unfair for Theo to be kept off Sejun’s knee because of his fur.
Lick. Lick. Lick.
So, Theo diligently licked his fur, swallowing it all.
And then,
“Puhuhut. Chairman Park, I won’t shed fur anymore, meow!”
Theo called out to Sejun and scampered into the kitchen.
“Are you sure?”
“Puhuhut. Yes, meow!”
“Let me see.”
Swoosh.
Sejun ran his fingers through Theo’s body, grabbing a handful of fur. There would be no reason to ban Theo if his fur was easy to manage.
Swoosh. Swoosh.
A clump of fur quickly formed after a few strokes.
“That’s not true.”
Sejun showed the clump of fur he had caught to Theo,
“Meow… I definitely ate all my fur, meow. That’s strange, meow… Should I eat more, meow?”
Theo, with his tail and ears drooping, walked out dejectedly.
“Hey! Why would you eat fur?! Come here.”
Chuk.
Sejun’s heart softened at Theo’s behavior, lifting his right leg and saying, Vice Chairman Theo, my right knee is yours.
“Puhuhut.”
Thump.
With Sejun’s permission, Theo hung onto Sejun’s leg with a beaming smile.
“But you have to stay still without shedding fur. Got it?”
“Puhuhut. Understood, meow!”
As Theo joyously claimed Sejun’s knee,
Piyo!
[Theo~nim, I have returned from scouting!]
Flap. Flap.
Piyot, who had been scouting the farm, entered through the kitchen window.
Chuk.
Piyo!
[There was nothing unusual in the surroundings!]
Piyot, saluting Theo with its wings, reported on the scouting.
“Puhuhut. Good job, meow!”
‘Puhuhut. As the future right front paw of Theo~nim, I always scout the surroundings for Theo nim’s safety!’
Piyot was intoxicated with pride from Theo’s praise.
Then,
[Heheh. The sun feels good.]
Piyo?
Piyot saw a strange creature sitting on Sejun’s right shoulder, basking in the sun. How dare! That’s my spot?! You are done now!
Even though he had been failing at making subordinates lately, he thought he could manage with a guy like that.
‘Puhuhut. I, Pirururur Yotra, the future right front paw of Theo~nim, will grant you the honor of becoming my first subordinate!’
Flap. Flap.
Excited at the thought of making a subordinate, Piyot climbed onto Sejun’s shoulder.
Tap. Tap.
Piyo? Piyo! Piyo?!
[Do you know whose spot this is? It’s the spot of me, Pirururur Yotra, the future right front paw of Theo~nim! Move aside quickly, won’t you?!]
Piyot, trying to sound as intimidating as possible, hit Flamie’s shoulder with its wings. Puhuhut. I’m so scary. What if this guy gets too scared and faints?
While Piyot was intoxicated with its own frightening appearance,
Slap.
A leaf slap flew towards Piyot’s face.
“Humph, humph, humph.”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Currently, Sejun was immersed in kneading dough and concentrated. Flamie was docile only when Sejun was watching; when not, it was… very scary.
Piyo?
Piyot, who suddenly received a slap, had tears circling its eyes.
Piyo…
When Piyot, feeling wronged, was about to complain about being hit,
Chuk.
Flamie put up a leaf like a finger and covered Piyot’s mouth.
‘Piyong! Why did you hit me?!’
So Piyot asked with its eyes, looking at Flamie. It seemed like making a sound would result in an even harsher beating.
[Because you’re Theo~oraboni’s subordinate, I only hit you once, so be careful from now on.] (TL: oraboni = formal way of saying oppa aka brother)
It was a quiet and gentle voice, but
Shudder. Shudder.
Piyot’s legs, already completely intimidated by Flamie, were shaking severely.
‘Getting the first hit in a fight is important!’
Piyot learned something new today.
***
Black Tower Administrator Area.
“Ugh. This is hard.”
Aileen, exhausted from engraving magic into the shard of Kai-ra’s heart with all her might.
“Khihihi. But it’s almost done.”
Aileen smiled proudly, looking at the densely engraved magic circles on the shard of Kai-ra’s heart.
It seemed like she could give Sejun the gift on the planned date with a few more days of work.
Yum. Yum.
“Khihihi. Sejun’s cherry tomatoes are delicious.”
As Aileen was eating the Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes given by Sejun for magic recovery and checking the crystal orb’s alarm,
[One of the Black Tower’s growth conditions has been exceeded.]
A golden message caught her eye.
“Eh? Exceeded?”
When Aileen pressed the message,
[Black Tower Growth Conditions]
– Tower Farmer (A): Achieved
– Create more than 10 new varieties: Exceeded (15/10)
– Cultivate more than 330 million square meter of farmland: Unachieved
– Grow a World Tree: ?
– Acquire More than 10,000 World’s Energy Pieces: Unachieved
– Own more than 5 relics: Unachieved
– Achieve 3 great achievements: Unachieved
– Increase the number of Black Tower entrances to 120: Unachieved
The Black Tower growth conditions appeared.
“Ah?! When did we get 15 new varieties?”
Aileen said, checking the conditions.
“But is there any benefit to exceeding?”
As Aileen hovered her hand over the words ‘exceeded,’
[If you exceed 2 of the Tower Growth Conditions, one additional condition will be considered as achieved.]
A new message appeared.
“Khihihi. Good job, Sejun! I need to work harder too!”
Whoosh.
Aileen stuffed her mouth full of Elixir: Cherry Tomatoes and began to engrave magic on the shard of Kai-ra’s heart again.
***
Han Tae-jun and Kim Dong-sik, surrounded by the Blue-Backed Penguin Tribe, were trapped in a prison on the 44th floor of the tower.
“What day is it today?”
“It’s May 6th.”
When Han Tae-jun asked Kim Dong-sik for the date, Kim Dong-sik checked his hunter phone and answered.
Initially, they fought the penguins to avoid being captured, but the armor worn by the penguins was so strong that not even Han Tae-jun’s magic missiles could penetrate.
“Dong-sik, throw away the weapon.”
“Yes.”
Since the penguins didn’t seem to have any intention of killing them, they surrendered without resistance.
“We’re running out of time.”
“We need to hurry and deliver the kimchi to Sejun~nim…”
Kim Dong-sik said in a regretful voice.
They had planned an event to deliver kimchi and other food items to Sejun on May 11th, a year since Sejun’s disappearance.
And today, under the supervision of Sejun’s mother, Kim Mi-ran, the Awakeners Association staff were scheduled to prepare kimchi and record recipes.
Furthermore, 1000 members of the Earth Defense Force had entered Korea to transport the food made by Kim Mi-ran to the tower.
Originally, they would have had enough time in their schedule if they had returned before defeating the boss on the 43rd floor, but this situation arose because Han Tae-jun insisted on just defeating the boss and leaving.
Consequently, the two highest commanders of the kimchi transport operation were unable to lead.
“Timing is crucial for kimchi…”
By the time it was delivered to Sejun, the kimchi might have completely spoiled.
“Cough… I only intended to defeat the boss and leave. Who knew it would turn out like this? Still, the kids will deliver it to Sejun~nim on our behalf.”
Han Tae-jun, feeling sorry, spoke quietly, a bit unusual from his usual self, where he might have yelled or thrown a punch at Kim Dong-sik’s words.
Then,
“Do you guys know Sejun~nim, peng?”
One of the penguins guarding the jail asked them.
***
“Dough is done.”
Sejun stored the completed 1000kg of dough in the void storage.
Since the state is maintained in the void storage, noodles can be made with a noodle machine whenever needed.
“Puhuhut. Finally done, meow?! Eunyanya!”
At Sejun’s announcement of completion, Theo yawned and stretched, having been asleep.
Piyo!
Piyot, who had been dozing off, leaning its head on Theo’s leg on Sejun’s instep, also hurriedly stretched its wings following Theo.
Having lost its spot on Sejun’s right shoulder to Flamie, Piyot settled on Sejun’s right instep, allowing it to stay even closer to Theo.
“Time for a coffee break.”
For the brief coffee time,
Drrrrk.
Sejun grounded the beans with the millstone,
Tap. Tap.
and placed the coffee grounds into a black glossy dripper,
Chororok.
and began pouring hot water, making circles.
The dripper, made from dragon scales by Aileen, had a warmth-retaining magic spell, maintaining the water temperature hot.
Thanks to this, coffee extraction was faster, allowing for a rich brew.
Slurp.
“Kuh. It’s strong.”
As Sejun enjoyed his freshly brewed coffee, sitting at the table for coffee break,
“Puhuhut. Nice, meow!”
Theo from Sejun’s lap,
[Heheh. It’s warm.]
Flamie from Sejun’s shoulder,
Piyiyi.
[Hehe.]
Piyot, sitting on Sejun’s instep, basked in the warm sun along with Sejun.
Then,
Kueng!
[Dad, Cuengi brought herbs!]
Dadadada.
Cuengi, having met Pink-fur and visited the herb garden, ran towards Sejun with herbs and
Jump.
leaped into Sejun’s arms.
Kueng!
[Here are the herbs!]
Cuengi, nestled in Sejun’s arms, began to take out herbs from the snack pouch.
Ten blue kudzu roots with sweet taste, one white kudzu root with bitter taste, and one green kudzu root with sour taste.
[Heheh. Hello, Cuengi?]
Flap. Flap.
Flamie waved its leaves in greeting to Cuengi, who had handed over the herbs to Sejun.
Kueng?
[Is it Flamie~noona?]
Cuengi asked, sensing the unique energy emanating from Flamie.
[Yes. Now I can travel together.]
Kueng! Kueng!
[Hehehe. That’s great!]
As the two conversed,
“Let’s head down now.”
Having finished his coffee, Sejun went down with the plants and animals to the 79th floor of the tower.
And then,
[Oh?! There’s also a good candidate for the World Tree here? Come forth, my roots.]
Seeing the Birds Bearing Tree, Flamie guided its roots to the 79th floor of the tower.
*****
1/10
*****
